Well, dear readers, Saturday night is the loneliest night of the week. That said, when I’m feeling under the weather, lonely is good – I’m just not very good company and it’s better for me to simply sit alone and eat some worms whilst walking about the home environment aimlessly. And that is what I did last night. I walked about the home environment aimlessly whilst I hummed Yes, We Have No Bananas. And, of course, that was true, we had no bananas and that is because I do not like bananas – they are far too mushy for the likes of me. I think I felt a bit better yesterday, although I’m still clearing my throat too much and occasionally coughing too much. But it was the first day without taking Alavert (I’m still doing the Mucinex). I did get close to ten hours of sleep and that is the best medicine of all. I got up, and the helper came by to pick up some invoices, and then I was just lazy, doing a little work on the computer, listening to music and just relaxing. Then I had a work session with a very talented twelve-year-old singer and that was, as always, fun. I just love being around the spirit and energy of young, talented people. After the work session, we all went over to Casa Vega at three-thirty to have a late lunch. Now, for reasons that are entirely too wacky to fathom, the jernt was jammed with people. We got the last booth. The food was splendidly splendid (the gal’s dad said it was the best Mexican food he’s ever eaten and the gal proclaimed her beef taco tops). The conversation was fun, we had lots o’ laughs, and we left around five – the jernt was even busier by then. Amazing. I then came home, returned some telephonic calls, and then sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched a motion picture on Blu and Ray entitled Last Tango In Paris. When the film came out it caused a huge sensation and I saw it several times and was quite taken with it. All these years later, not so much. It seems very indulgent and I just don’t really care about anyone in the film. It’s certainly done very well, and Brando is being Brando, which, for me, a little goes a long way. The photography is beautiful and Gato Barbieri’s score is dynamic and a huge plus for the film. The transfer is very good and looks pretty much as I remember the film looking back in the day.
Then I listened to two tracks from our next release, which I’m not going to announce this Monday – I may announce mid-week, however, or the following Monday. I think it’s time to shake things up in our release schedule and to take people by surprise. Why not? Anyway, so far so good on the two tracks. The source material we’re dealing with is a little less than optimal but if all the tracks sound as good as what I’m hearing then I think it will be a wonderful release. Then someone posted on Facebook a Jack in the Box commercial from 1980 or thereabouts. And there I was, eating a burger. I had absolutely no memory of ever having done a JITB commercial – two McDonald’s commercials, yes, but not a JITB, and yet there was the proof I had done one. I wonder how many other commercials I’ve done that I have no memory of? Anyway, it was fun to see it, and after having watched it a couple of times I did sort of remember that we weren’t really eating the burger – in fact, it wasn’t edible, as I recall.
Oh, and I forgot that the night before I’d finished watching the latest Woody Allen movie, You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger, a horrible title for a horrible film. Of course some critics had to claim it one of Woody’s best, just as they do every year until the new one, when they promptly claim that’s one of the best and then deride the one from the year before. That’s been going on for the last two decades. However, this film fooled very few of them and it did no business at all. It was so turgid and boring and filled with obnoxious characters (played by very good actors) and almost virtually bereft of laughs. There was a narrator for the entire film, but not a character. Just some anonymous voice telling us things we don’t need to know. It was kind of like Woody’s narration for Radio Days but that had a point – this does not. And then the film, after having set up all these plot conflicts, just ends without resolving any of them save for one. The narrator basically just says okay the movie’s over now. And not one critic, not one viewer has commented on the fact that this was, I believe, the first Woody Allen film to be shot on hi-def and not film. And it looks like it. There’s no texture at all. It’s a shame that the only place Woody can get bankrolled is in the UK or other foreign country. It’s nice that someone doesn’t mind giving him the dough and then losing their entire investment. He’s made some wonderfully wonderful films, but even the ones that are critically lauded these days, like Match Point and Vicky Christina Barcelona, are, for me, just shadows of his best work.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must get these here notes posted and try to get another good night’s sleep.
Today, I have a work session with the musical director of the next Gardenia show. We have to do a couple of little arrangement things, and make some cuts in a few of the songs we’re doing. That way we’ll be prepared for the singers when they come on Tuesday. After that, I’ll meet with The Singer, to go through her show again and start to put talking with songs. Then I’ll eat and try to get to bed early again.
Tomorrow, there’s all sorts of stuff going on, but unfortunately I can’t remember what any of it is. I have been VERY remiss about writing things down. Of course, we have rehearsals and I have meetings and meals, but I must sit down and get it all on my iCalendar, which is the only real way I have of remembering anything these days.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, have a work session, have another work session, eat, and relax and get to bed early. 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, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, whilst I sing a chorus of Yes, We Have No Bananas.