Well, dear readers, I must say that the first day of 2011 was lovelier than lovely, everything the first day of a New Year should be. I hadn’t fallen asleep till quite late, probably two o’clock or later – just so much stuff rumpling around in Ye Olde Cranium, most of which had to do with the new book. But I had a good night’s sleep and I arose at ten-thirty. And at eleven I began writing a new book. I did about four and a half pages in a couple of hours. I go very slowly at the beginning – I start, I stop, I’m not happy with the feel, I redo it until I am happy, then I move on. I took a little break and made a last-minute decision to host a little impromptu party, inviting a few people over. I wasn’t even going to cook – it was mostly so some strays, like me, could have some nice company for the New Year. As soon as I decided, I also decided to make some Wacky Noodles, just so there’d be some food to eat (one of the guests told me she was baking and would bring the result of said baking). I had a few of the ingredients, but needed about five other things. Happily, Gelson’s was open, not too crowded, and I bought the few items I needed. Then I came home, looked at what I’d written thus far, made more fixes, then moved on and wrote two more pages – I’ve never written more than six pages on the first day of a new book, so I felt pretty good about it. And I was pleased with the feel of it, finally. I then did a mile and a half jog.
Then I boiled the water, cooked about a pound and a half of wide egg noodles, and put in all the ingredients for Wacky Noodles. My friend Debbie was the first to arrive. We had a plate of Wacky Noodles (they were yummilicious) and a roll. Then two more guests arrived and they both had nice, big plates of Wacky Noodles. As usual, we all convened in the den. It was so nice just having nice folks over and the conversation was really fun. Then four others arrived – that party included Doug Haverty (the Kritzerland designer) and his ever-lovin’ Dorothy, and Jim Brewer and his new wife, Amy Dondy. They were responsible for the Simply Sondheim evening that’s available on Kritzerland – they’ve been together for twenty years and finally decided to tie the knot and also get married. The knot looked very well tied. They all had big plates of Wacky Noodles and I had a nice second helping myself. And by the end, there was not one Wacky Noodle left, which was a good thing because knowing me as I do I would have eaten whatever was left after people were gone. The result of the baking were yummilicious fresh brownies. Everyone had at least two, and I have a few of those left, which I’ve refrigerated. Doug and Dorothy had to leave first, as Doug had a performance of some show he’s acting in (Doug does a lot of things). Then the others followed about thirty minutes later, and the whole affair was over by about seven-fifteen. I cleaned up what little there was to clean up, and then opened the book document, read what I’d recently written, made adjustments, and then I wrote another four or five pages – I think I wrote a total of ten and a half. I’m sure I’ll be futzing with the last of what I wrote, but I finished the main part of the chapter and now I get to introduce this book’s main plot – I’ll certainly be finished with chapter one by the end of today. Then I finally sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched a movie I’d just TIVOd on HDNet, entitled Silver Streak, starring Mr. Gene Wilder, Mr. Richard Pryor, Miss Jill Clayburgh, and Mr. Patrick McGoohan. Like most people, I loved the film when it came out and saw it several times. It was a real, old-fashioned audience pleaser that worked as an uproarious comedy, a taut thriller, and a romantic adventure. I think I only saw it once during the video era, probably on laserdisc, or maybe on DVD. Certainly I hadn’t seen it in many years. It remains a really entertaining film and you can’t buy the kind of chemistry that Wilder and Pryor had in this film. Gene Wilder never gets enough praise for his performances – he was and is one of the most unique comic presences in all of film. There’s never been anyone like him, really, even though others have tried. His occasionally oddly-constructed line readings, his slow takes, his timing – just brilliant. Pryor is hilarious as a thief who ends up helping Wilder, and recently late Jill Clayburgh is fetching as the heroine. McGoohan is always a great villain, and Ned Beatty does well in a smaller role. One of the most pleasing aspects of the film is the Henry Mancini score, one of his best. The hi-def transfer was clearly not a real hi-def transfer, but some kind of up converted thing that didn’t look that good. But what an enjoyable way to end the evening of a wonderful first day of 2011. All that and Wacky Noodles, too.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because it’s almost time to post these here notes and I’d like to get a good beauty sleep.
One of the things I’m really trying to do this year is to not get so angry and annoyed when I’m driving. And I started to mend my ways yesterday and did a reasonable job – it’s really hard not to get irked with the stupidity of LA drivers but I remained calm in my short trip, and didn’t yell at anyone or get crazy. And that included the dopey gal in front of me who sat at a green arrow and didn’t move – and didn’t move – I did give her a little horn honk, and even then she moved like molasses, but we both got through the arrow (the people behind me were not so lucky) and I was very proud of myself.
Today, I shall sleep as long as I shall sleep, then I’ll probably write a couple of pages before doing part two of the field trip. Since we’ve now decided on the title, I can go directly to the location, take some photographs and get the lay of the land. I also am going back and forth about how to introduce the main plot of the book, which is a little different than the other Hofstetter books – there are a few different ways to go about it, and I’m trying to decide which will yield the most opportunities for interesting, colorful stuff and fun. When I return from the field trip I’ll probably do a jog, and then write a few more pages. Since I did almost double what I thought I was going to do yesterday, if I only do three or four that will be more than fine. Then again, maybe I’ll get on a roll and do a few more than that. Then there’s the possibility of supping with a friend – I may not know about that till the early afternoon. I’m hoping it will happen and that we can go somewhere fun where I can eat a light but amusing supper.
Monday is a very busy shipping day, and then I have to finalize the show order for the Gardenia show and I will hopefully hear about tapes that I desperately need to get. If those aren’t going to come in a timely manner, then I have to instantly make a decision about what to release of the title I already have material on. But, I’m hoping the tapes will come through and all will be well. Tuesday we rehearse, then I have errands and whatnots to do, packages to get, important envelopes to get, meetings to have, and then another rehearsal on Friday.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, write, do a field trip, jog, do a show order, maybe have dinner with a friend, and probably watch a motion picture. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s free-for-all day, the day in which you dear readers get to make with the topics and we all get to post about them. So, let’s have loads of lovely topics and loads of lovely postings, shall we, as I hit the road to dreamland with a tummy-full of yummilicious Wacky Noodles.