Well, dear readers, I must write these here notes in a hurry because she of the Evil Eye will be here all too soon. It was a strange and oddly lackadaisical Friday. That sounds like the opening line of a novel, doesn’t it? Perhaps I’ll use it some fine day. I do like the word lackadaisical, don’t you? I, for example, have never lacked a daisical, but that’s just me. What the HELL am I talking about? Don’t I have notes to write and a beauty sleep to get? I do and I do. So, it was a strange and oddly lackadaisical Friday. I got up. That was strange. I then proceeded to write but I was feeling lackadaisical and not sure of what I wanted to write. But then I focused and got five or six pages done. Of course, I haven’t really moved ahead, page count-wise, as I’d cut four or five pages the night before. I wrote a nice beginning to a chapter with some pretty funny dialogue. I took a shower and in the shower I figured out something really important for the story – a point of view for Adriana about what she’s discovering. I realized that what I thought of was kind of the moral crux of the book – and I wrote it quickly and it really helps things, I think. I also went back and read from the beginning as I was feeling a little insecure from the night before – but I really liked what I read. It was funny, the pace was good, and because of the nature of the story, its pacing is quite different than the other books, which is interesting. I talked briefly with Muse Margaret to tell her about the thing I’d come up with, which she liked, and she reiterated to me that she likes the structure so far and that it’s good it’s a little different. Then I finally left the home environment – it was a really pretty day out. I picked up an important envelope and one package, did some banking, and then came home and opened the package. It contained an amusing little eBay purchase – a dress. As those who’ve read the Hofstetter books know, she likes to dress in period clothes from other decades. I’d already come up with some fun outfits for her in this book, and when I was talking to Muse Margaret and getting some details about Laura Ashley long, flowery dresses, she mentioned drndl dresses to me. That just made me laugh out loud, that word drndl. So, I knew I had to use it. I searched it on Google and found the long, traditional drndl dresses, but Muse Margaret wasn’t talking about those – she had one that was shorter with a high waist. Well, I found one for sale on eBay and it was so adorable that I bought it (under thirty bucks). I’m seriously thinking of doing some photos for this book, so I may use a photo of the dress. We shall see. I then futzed, fixed, and finessed what I’d written earlier, but I was just feeling oddly lackadaisical and so I went and had lunch at Hugo’s, after which I returned. I wrote another page, and that was it for the day, writing-wise. I then began watching a motion picture I’d TIVOd entitled The Comic, starring Dick Van Dyke, in high definitions. I always want to love this film, and yet I never quite do. I like the idea of it, the performances are fun, but the tone is so erratic and weird I can just never surrender to it. It’s sort of a noble failure. First of all, Carl Reiner just isn’t a visual stylist and this film really could have used a visual director, someone like Blake Edwards. It certainly has its moments, but for every decent moment we get ten moments that are not good. However, the final scene where the aged comic sits watching one of his old films on TV is great – it’s too bad the film couldn’t have achieved that kind of greatness for its entirety.
After that, I wrote another page and cleaned up a few other little things here and there. Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must be up early and get some semblance of a beauty sleep.
Today, will not be a strange and oddly lackadaisical Friday, since it is Saturday. Today, I will be working with the interim helper in the morning – she’s got to prepare all the postage labels for our new release, which is coming in this week. And we have a few packages to ship, as well. Then I’ll write for a couple of hours and try to do at least six to eight pages. I do know where I’m going in the next two chapters so it’s just a matter of writing it. After that, I’m meeting the Wechters for dinner and then we’re going to see Daniel Wechter appear in his high school production of Bye Bye Birdie, which I’m very much looking forward to.
I forgot to mention that we are finally fully cast for the February Gardenia show, so I’ll be spending a lot of tomorrow organizing the music, assigning the songs and making CDRs for the cast. I’m trying to decide whether to have my ensemble gals again. We shall see. This show does have several duets, which is a little difficult in terms of scheduling. That was one of the nice things about the Sondheim show – only one duet. I think there are at least three in the Sherman Brothers show, maybe even four.
Monday, I will be writing, then having a lunch meeting with a young singer (I mean YOUNG, as in twelve) and her family, and then hopefully our cast will come and pick up their music and CDs, as will our musical director. The rest of the week is basically writing and having some meetings and meals.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, work with the interim helper, ship, write, have dinner and see a show. Today’s topic of discussion: Who are your all-time favorite child actors and what are your favorite films or shows they’ve appeared in? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, where I hope I will not dream strange and lackadaisical dreams.