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January 18, 2011:

SQUASH

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, it was a very interesting start to the new week. First of all, may I just ask this simple question: How can January be more than half over already? This month is flying by, like a gazelle playing Squash. Does anyone still play Squash? Does anyone still wear a hat? What is Squash anyway? I think it used to be quite popular with the populace but when is the last time anyone mentioned it? As usual we are ahead of the curve, Squash-wise, and perhaps now the once popular game of Squash will come back. After all, everything old is new again. All right, apparently Squash is still quite popular with the populace. The World Squash Federation says there are close to 50,000 Squash courts in the world. And yet, I have not heard the word Squash used in at least thirty years. Go know. I wonder if anyone has ever eaten squash whilst playing Squash. It sounds like racquetball to me. I used to play racquetball but I have never played Squash, although I have eaten squash. What the HELL am I talking about? Why am I going on about Squash when there are notes to be written and sleep to be had? Yesterday was quite an interesting day on many levels, especially level three. I got up just before nine, I think. I then futzed and fixed the eleven pages I wrote the day before, then wrote one new page. After that, I answered some e-mails and took music to be Xeroxed. I also made CDRs for the singers and had to get additional sheet music to a few songs we’re adding that weren’t on the album. Then it was time to mosey on over to Mo’s for a meeting with a twelve-year-old performer and her parents. They’d contacted me asking my opinion about creating an act for said young performer. Basically, there’s just so little musical theater here in Los Angeles, California, USA, and while this youngster works in TV occasionally, her heart is in musical theater, and her parents thought this would be a wonderful project for her. At first I didn’t know what to think, but as I spent time pondering it I began to get very tickled by the idea and began thinking how much fun it would be to do this. I’m tending to only want to do projects that are fun. I’d seen this girl play Annie recently and also saw her in White Christmas on Broadway and she’s terrific. So, we chatted, got to know each other a little, had a yummilicious lunch (I had a grilled cheese and bacon sandwich), and by the time I’d returned home (first I picked up one count them one package) they’d decided we’d go ahead with the creation of an act. I’m really looking forward to this, as I think she’ll be one of the youngest, if not THE youngest cabaret performer ever. So much fun to be had with this, I think. Then I wrote about seven more pages, spoke to Muse Margaret briefly about cutting one more character (only mentioned, we hadn’t met the character yet) as I thought what I’d written about said character was just a red herring and was never going to mean anything, so why have it at all. She agreed and I made the cuts, which actually didn’t even amount to an entire page. I had a really good time writing the eight pages, and then I picked up the Xeroxed music and then went to my dinner meeting at CafĂ© Bizou. I rarely go there anymore, but boy is the food great. I had halibut done in a light tomato sauce – a very light dish indeed – only about five ounces of halibut sitting on a small amount of mashed potatoes with some steamed vegetables. But dessert was not light – it was great, but not light. A chocolate bread pudding with vanilla ice cream – out of this world. The meeting was with the authors of Bukowsical and concerned a new musical they’re working on. I think we’ve decided that I’ll come on as director/dramaturge for this phase of the project. It’s a good idea that needs careful developing, and since I enjoy that sort of thing and am fairly good at it, I think it will be fun. Fun being the key. After that, I came home, made a few additions to what I’d written earlier and then wrote one more page. I also began watching the new Blu and Ray of Sam Fuller’s crazy/wacky The Naked Kiss. I’ll have more to say about that when I’ve finished viewing.

Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because it’s after midnight and I have a long day ahead of me and must get my beauty sleep whilst dreaming of both squash and Squash.

Today, I shall be up early and futzing and fixing what I wrote yesterday, after which I’ll attempt to write at least eight to ten pages. All during the day, singers will be coming to pick up their music, as will the musical director. He and I will be working for about an hour, just going over the charts and figuring out the little things that were changing or adding. I’m still waiting on a few pieces of music, which I’m hoping will be here early this morning. I will hopefully pick up a package or three, and I really will eat very lightly as I’ve been eating way too much over the last week. Oh, I forgot to mention that I added the twelve-year-old to the Gardenia show, doing the Sherman Brothers nonsense-word medley that Jason Graae did on the album. That should really be fun. Then I’ll watch a motion picture or two in the evening hours.

Tomorrow, I may have a lunch, but mostly I’ll be home writing, and also getting the new liner notes done, as well. Tomorrow night, I may go see The King’s Speech at the DGA. Thursday and Friday are more writing, and our CDs arrive first thing Friday morning, so there will be shipping to do. I’m trying to keep the weekend fairly open and free because the following week is very busy with writing, rehearsals and meetings, and really getting down to work on the Linda Purl/Gregory Harrison show, which is coming up really quickly now. I have some special material lyrics to write, which I have to get done this week.

Let’s all put on our pointy party hats and our colored tights and pantaloons, let’s all break out the cheese slices and the ham chunks, let’s all dance the Hora and the Wah-Watusi, because today is the birthday of our very own beloved dear reader Pogue. So, let’s give a big haineshisway.com birthday cheer to very own beloved dear reader Pogue. On the count of three: One, two, three – A BIG HAINESHISWAY.COM BIRTHDAY CHEER TO OUR VERY OWN DEAR READER POGUE!!!

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, futz and fix, I must write eight to ten new pages at least, I must give music to singers, I must work with a musical director, I must hopefully pick up some packages, I must eat something light and amusing, and I must watch a motion picture or two. Today’s topic of discussion: I hate sports – the only sport I’ve ever played is racquetball. So, what sports do you actually like, and what sports have you actually played? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, where I shall be playing Squash and eating squash with the gazelle.

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