Well, dear readers, this week has flown by, like a gazelle conducting Mahler’s 5th. Yes, perhaps a piece of Mahler’s. My close personal friend, Mr. Stephen Sondheim, used that line in The Ladies Who Lunch – “perhaps a piece of Mahler’s.” The first time I heard the cast album I went out looking for some Mahler’s candy because I was sure that’s what a piece of Mahler’s was, like a piece of See’s. Little did I know, but I soon thereafter discovered the music of Mr. Gustav Mahler, who became one of my favorite composers. I have many pieces of Mahler’s now. Why the HELL am I going on about a piece of Mahler’s? Don’t I have notes to write? I do and I shall, not necessarily in that order. I had an almost totally stress-free day yesterday, in which I did many stress-free things. I got up at nine, answered e-mails, printed out orders, and had some telephonic conversations. I then headed out to my lunch meeting at Barney’s Beanery. It was a fun meeting, but more importantly I had the most completely yummilicious foot-long chili cheese hot dog ever. I cannot describe how scrumptious it tasted. I had some onion rings with it. My dining partner tasted it and will order it at our next lunch meeting. I think the meeting resulted in at least one new project, so that’s good. After lunch, I headed back to the San Fernando Valley, where I picked up two count them two packages. Then I came home, printed out more orders, and did some work on the computer. Then I sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched a movie I’d TIVOd in high definitions entitled The Goodbye Girl. I’m very fond of the film and really never tire of watching it. It has solid laughs, a wonderful plot, and beautiful playing by its cast. Herb Ross was never a visual stylist but he got the job done, and Dave Grusin’s score is a major plus. It’s fashionable these days to put down the output of Neil Simon, but there was no one better at this sort of comedy than he. Watching it again made me remember just how awful the Broadway musical version was – Mr. Simon, who should have known better, ruined his script by subverting everything that worked about it, and by trying to be more current – sorry, it was what it was and what it was was cherce. It didn’t look like anything more than an upconverted standard definition transfer. I also watched a little of Love Affair in high definitions. This third attempt at An Affair To Remember is so awful on so many levels – I’d forgotten quite how bad it was. Charmless, forced, and a movie that will never look good no matter how good its high def transfer because there are so many filters on the camera that the image looks completely out of focus – apparently that’s how the aging Mr. Beatty wanted to be photographed.
After that, I buckled down Winsocki and spent the next two hours writing the contextual commentary for the next Gardenia show. That was great to get out of the way – I’m sure I’ll finesse it over the next few days, but at least I don’t have to start from scratch this weekend. After that, I listened to some music and that was that.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below whilst we all have a piece of Mahler’s. And one for Mahler.
Today, I shall do errands and whatnot and then have a rehearsal. After that, I’m not sure whether I’ll be going out to eat or whether I’ll have eaten before the rehearsal.
Tomorrow, she of the Evil Eye will be here, and I will be doing several things until she leaves. Once gone, I have to prep our new release (I’ll probably announce here tomorrow at midnight), and then I may or may not have a dinner thing.
And then, of course, it’s our Annual Oscar Bash, the most exciting place to be for all things Oscar. So, be there or be round, and maybe we can break a posting record, although that won’t be easy. We’ll start on the red carpet, and then watch the show with our patented dear reader running commentary. You won’t want to miss one sparkling minute of it.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do errands and whatnot, eat, hopefully pick up packages and an important envelope, and have a rehearsal. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday – what is currently in your CD player and your DVD/video player? I’ll start – CD, many upcoming projects. Blu and Ray, Senso, Sweet Smell of Success, and The Last Unicorn. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland humming a piece of Mahler’s.