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September 24, 2011:

CLASS

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, I must write these here notes in a hurry because she of the Evil Eye will be here all too soon. But before I begin, may I just say that people behave appallingly today? I may? Good. People behave appallingly today in just about every way imaginable, but especially in matters of class. I was at The Smoke House for dinner last night – now, this is a classy, up-scale, pricey jernt that has always catered to the non-Bob’s Big Boy crowd. They serve old-fashioned great food and the restaurant is posh and comfortable, like my father’s steak house was. So in what universe does a sixty-year-old (maybe older) man walk in and sit in shorts? At prime dinner hour? Twenty-five years ago they would not have let this yahoo in the restaurant. In fact thirty years ago they wouldn’t have let him in without a sport coat. I’m glad one doesn’t have to wear a sport coat and tie, but, you know, put on a pair of damn long pant, yahoo, because it is disgusting to see anyone dressed like that in a nice restaurant. It’s even worse when one attends a Broadway show these days? These yahoos spend $130 or more to see a Broadway show – that’s a special thing, not an everyday thing. Then they show up in Bermuda shorts as if they were going to the beach. What is wrong with people? Oh, I remember – they’re ENTITLED. It’s all about THEM. There is no class anymore. I’m not one who needs to have class twenty-four hours a day, but I do need it in nice restaurants, the theater, and wherever else it might be appropriate. What selfish times we live in. End of rant.

Yesterday was a perfectly fine day in most ways. I got up after about seven and a half hours of sleep – not quite enough, but what can you do? I answered e-mails, did some work on the computer, then did the four-mile jog, after which I weighed myself and was happy to finally see that I’m in my mid-170s now rather than the high 170s. Another five pounds in the next two weeks would make me very happy, because then I only have ten pounds or so to go after that. I then picked up one package and no important envelope, after which I moseyed on over to the editing room.

Most of the time was spent trying to get the sound levels evened out. Because he cut the two sections of each episode separately and then joined them, the sound level for the set-up scenes was perfect, but then the sound level would jump way up as the musical stuff started – but not always. So, we just went through it all as carefully as we could – but it’s really hard to tell on the tinny, awful speakers they have. So, come Monday, I’ll get a new DVD and I’ll watch that just to make sure we didn’t bring anything down too far and that everything is playing smoothly, sound-wise. Once we’re totally satisfied, then everything is locked – they will make me two versions in Quick Time – one uncompressed HD, and one compressed HD, just in case You Tube prefers the latter. That all took about three hours. I’m very pleased with the way these look, and it’s fun to see them with the front and end credits. And the actors are really good.

Then I went to The Smoke House where I joined Melody, her folks, and her mum’s mum, in from Montreal. The family has been dealing with some health issues that are not good, but they are strong and resilient and fighters. But Melody is going to have to miss the October Gardenia show (she was going to do a duet with Alet) to be with her mother, who is having some treatment that day. And that’s what family is about. We all looked very nice – no one in shorts or jeans or t-shirts. We had a splendidly splendid time eating splendidly splendid foodstuffs. I, for example, had a cup of their yummilicious clam chowder, a few pieces of their famous garlic cheese bread (the pieces are quite tiny), and then a seafood Louis with too much dressing but not as much as I usually do. Conversation was fun and a good time was had by all.

After that, I came home and did some work on the computer, and listened to a little more of what will be our 100th release. It’s taking the mastering guy a little longer than usual, because part of this is like assembling a jigsaw puzzle. When the LP was done, they literally spliced out bits on the three-track tape to make edited album versions of cues. Those bits were all at the ends of reels, and each bit has to be put back in its proper place. Hopefully he’ll be through by Monday. But the good news is that the usually very slow approvals process with this particular studio didn’t happen on this release – we sent in the packaging and were approved one day later. So, everything is good to go once we get the master done.

Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must try and get some semblance of beauty sleep.

Today, she of the Evil Eye will be here, so I’ll do an early four-mile jog, then do errands and whatnot. Then I will hopefully pick up some packages and an important envelope, write some liner notes, and then I’ll hopefully be joining Cindy Williams in Woodland Hills to sign Nudie Musical Blu and Ray sleeves. After that, I’m not sure what will be what. I do have to relax and get to bed early, though because I must be up very early tomorrow.

Tomorrow I must be up very early to do the four-mile jog, and then I must be at the Catalina Bar and Grill at noon for the Michelle Nicastro event. There are eleven people singing (Guy Haines being one of them) and that starts at one. That should be done by two-thirty at the latest and then they serve a little brunch or something. I have to be out of there by three and back home by three-thirty, at which point I’ll be picked up by Mr. Barry Pearl and taken to the opening of a new musical at the Pasadena Playhouse. Next week is insanely busy with rehearsals, booking camera and sound for the next shoot, shipping stuff to my hotel in Chicago (that all has to go out Monday via three-day UPS or Fed Ex), and get ready for my trip, which I’m very much looking forward to.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do the four-mile jog, hopefully pick up packages and an important envelope, write liner notes, and then join Cindy Williams for signing sleeves. Today’s topic of discussion: What irks you most about people’s behavior these days? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland where I shall have nothing but class.

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