Well, dear readers, I reek of Orange Chicken. Yes, you heard it here, dear readers, I, BK, reek of Orange Chicken. This is what happens when you eat Orange Chicken at Genghis Cohen. You reek of it because it is pungent and wonderful but contains ingredients for reeking. Add to that the Kung Pao Chicken, the Crackerjack Shrimp, and the Schezuan Gree Beans and you have a symphony of reeking. You know what else reeks? The number of spellings for Schezuan, which also includes Szechuan and Schezwan. Schezuan, Szechuan and Schezwan – that sounds like an attorney or CPA, doesn’t it? Where was I? Oh, yes, I reek of many things and no matter how much I brush Ye Olde Teethe it doesn’t seem to help. Thankfully, I am alone and therefore no one else must endure the reeking of me. Other than that, I am sated and feeling mighty find fro a gloriously glorious meal at Genghis Cohen. Prior to that gloriously glorious meal I’d gotten a good night’s sleep and futzed and fixed first thing in the morning. I then finished a chapter (only about two pages), the printed the new pages and the previous sixty pages, which contained the little rewrites I did, Xeroxed them and delivered them to Muse Margaret. I then did some shipping and bill paying, picked up a package, and then came home. I began writing and did another six pages or so. Then I had to deal with a Gardenia problem – one of our cast members has a serious illness in her boyfriend’s family. She was still willing to do the show, but would have to fly out of town on a moment’s notice. I felt it was better to replace her for this show and let her do March or April. That way neither of us would be worried – she thought that was the best way to go. So, I immediately called Kim Huber, who did our last show, and thankfully she was available to step in. So, it all worked out easily, thank goodness. I then wrote more pages, for a total of eleven. I also got a call from Muse Margaret who professed to be very pleased with the rewritten pages, and really pleased with the new pages. This last batch was more difficult for me for several reasons (and that’s been the case with each of the Hofstetter books), but I’m thrilled she thought they were just right. She had two very minor nitpicks, both of which I fixed (one of them I’d almost done before printing out, but had decided to let her read them before making that choice). So, I’m in the home stretch now, but again, this section is the trickiest because I now have to tie everything together and let Adriana figure out who the murderer is and how that will all play out. I’ve made no secret that in writing these books I never know who the killer is when I begin. I usually figure it out as Adriana does – this time I’ve narrowed it down to two people, just as I had in the last book. I’ll see which feels right in the next day or so, which is when I have to make the final decision. I’ve had some real fun in this one with Adriana’s clothes and meals. Muse Margaret said the funny stuff made her laugh out loud, so that makes me very happy. Anyway, it was wonderful to hear, and I’ll resume this morning and try to do eight to ten pages. I also began redoing some specialty lyrics for the Linda and Greg show, but did not begin writing liner notes, which I absolutely must do today or tonight. Since I just watched the film, I pretty much know what they’ll be and I should be able to knock them out in an hour or so. Once that happens, the booklet can be put together quickly. The rest of the package is already done. I’ll announce the new title here on Saturday at midnight.
My goodness, I really reek of Orange Chicken and other dishes. Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below so I can go reek in the bedroom environment, as I need my beauty sleep.
Today, CDs are not arriving (they’ll be here on Monday), so that actually worked out fine as I can now write the whole day without interruption, which is my plan. Eight to ten pages of the book, liner notes, and the lyrics. So, a busy day but hopefully a productive one. Of course, I’ll do some errands and whatnot and hopefully pick up a package and an important envelope. I have no plans for the evening, at least I don’t think I do.
In fact, I don’t think I have any plans for the entire weekend, unless I go to Vitello’s to see Jason Graae on Sunday, which I’ll probably do since it’s five minutes from the home environment. Otherwise, it’s pretty much writing all weekend. Next week, of course, is hugely busy with rehearsals, meetings, meals, plus trying to figure out the next Gardenia shows – I really must get ahead of the curve with the planning of these shows. Ideally, if I can map out three shows, cast them now, and pull all the charts and book musical directors for them, then doing them becomes much, much easier. So, Adryan Russ, who’s been co-producing these shows with me, and I will sit down and try to do so next week.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, futz and fix, then write eight to ten pages, write liner notes, redo lyrics, hopefully pick up an important envelope and prep our new release for announcement. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday – what is currently in your CD player and your DVD/video player? I’ll start – CD, various Kritzerland projects. Blu and Ray, Melville’s Army of Shadows and several other films. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I both reek of Orange Chicken and hit the road to dreamland.