Well, dear readers, this year has flown by, like a gazelle in underpants. I have never seen a year go by quite this fast – first it was January and now it’s the last day of December and the last day of 2011. Tomorrow will be a new month, namely January, in a New Year, namely 2012. And let me just say right here and now and also right now and here that I hope and pray that January and 2012 will be a month and year filled with health, wealth, happiness, creativity, and all things bright and beautiful.
I spent the penultimate day of 2011 doing not much at all. Well, that’s not quite accurate. I got up. I did that. Then I did a two-mile jog – I’d intended to do a four-mile jog but about a half-mile in I thought of some lyrics and some dialogue for episode four of season two’s Outside the Box and I was really afraid I’d forget all of it, so at the mile point I turned around and came back home. I got it all written down, and then I sat at the piano like so much fish and wrote the tune – this particular episode has three short songs in it and I think it will be fun for everyone. This will be the first episode that doesn’t begin with a telephone call from Stephen Findle – in this episode the set-up scene is the auditions for the show. I’ll use a lot of LA actors I know and love, and I wrote our very own Barry Pearl something really funny to do. This is also the first episode not based on a movie – it’s based on a novel (albeit one that did have a film version). I have to figure out the casting on the other three episodes I’ve written the music for – until I do I can’t write the set-ups and I’m really hoping I can just shoot everything here. I understand Ron Raines and Danny Burstein are coming with Follies to the Ahmanson, so if there’s any way to delay a couple of episodes until they’re here, I will, because it would be really fun to have them.
After I finished as much as I could finish, I went and had some matzo brei, then picked up a couple of packages but no important envelope, which I hope will arrive today. Then I came home and wrote the audition set-up scene for the episode. That took a bit of time, then I did a few other things, then I sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched another Maigret movie on DVD, this one entitled Maigret and the Old Lady. It was, as are most of these, superb. I just cannot say enough about the casting in these shows – these actors are all perfect for their roles and they all turn in stellar performances. And Bruno Cremer is just wonderful as Maigret. This particular movie was from 1994 in the very first wave of shows.
After that, I did some organizing, and then I went into the book room, turned off the light, and just sat there like so much fish, thinking about how I want to begin the new book, and happily a few things came to me right away, so I should just be able to dive right in tomorrow morning. As always, starting a new book is a daunting thing and I’m sure it will take me a few days to get used to the vibe of it. That’s the way it’s always been and it’s kind of energizing to fly by the seat of your pants in those first couple of days. I really wasn’t sure about writing this book, but I now think the time is right and it’s just the book I need to do, for a whole slew of reasons.
And so, I close out this section and this year just saying that I’m grateful to be healthy and to do what I love doing, and I’m more than grateful to have loving friends, this here website and its amazing denizens, and I look forward to what will hopefully be an amazing 2012. Well, let’s all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must get a good night’s beauty sleep so that I’m ready to rock for our New Year’s Rockin’ Eve bash.
Today, I shall hopefully arise after a good night’s beauty sleep. I shall definitely do the four-mile jog, after which I shall eat something light but amusing, hopefully pick up some packages and an important envelope, and then just relax, think about the new book, maybe do some work on the episodes, watch the last two Maigrets in box set two (box set three is on its way), and then attend the most happening partay on all the Internet, our annual New Year’s Rockin’ Eve Bash. I’m hoping all dear readers will drop in for the merriment and mirth and laughter and legs. It will be a partay to remember and we can watch the East Coast balls drop and then the West Coast balls. I will, of course, spend the last part of 2011 in contemplation – thinking about what I was happy with and what I’d like to improve and change – I always strive to do better and be a better person. I certainly don’t always succeed and I get very frustrated with myself when I find that my impatience makes me into too much of a curmudgeon, or if I get short with people – I really don’t like doing that and every year I try to do better and 2012 will hopefully be the year I can make some real strides in that department.
Tomorrow is, of course, January 1st, 2012, and I begin a brand spanking new book in a brand spanking new month of a brand spanking New Year. I’ll write as much as I can until it’s time to be on my way to the New Year’s Day partay thrown by Barry Pearl and his ever-lovin’ Cindy. It’s always a fun time with nice folks and great food. I’m very much looking forward to it. After the partay, I’ll come back home and do some more writing, and then watch a motion picture or two.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do the four-mile jog, eat something light but amusing, hopefully pick up some packages and an important envelope, relax, write, watch Maigrets, and then attend our annual New Year’s Rockin’ Eve partay. Today’s topic of discussion: What was your most memorable New Year’s Eve? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, after which I shall arise in a New Year and month that I hope and pray will be filled with health, wealth, happiness, creativity, and all things bright and beautiful.