Well, dear readers, what makes some dinner parties great and some dreary? I find most dinner parties where there are more than five or six guests dreary as all get out and I think we all know just how dreary all get out is. So, why would a dinner party with eleven guests turn out to be wonderfully wonderful? Well, I’ll tell you why because why should I withhold such information from dear readers such as yourselves? First off, the dinner party was thrown by the delightfully delightful and brighter than bright Miss Julie Kirgo. And she put together a grouping of people that was just perfect – very different types, but all interesting and fun. In attendance was Julie’s ever-lovin’ Nick Redman, Nick’s stunning daughter Rebecca, author Steven C. Smith (author of the Herrmann bio) and his lovelier than lovely wife, a Brit duo whose names are just escaping me now – he’s a projectionist in the UK and they’re visiting, Stanley Kubrick’s right-hand man and actor, Leon Vitali, author Jon Burlingame and his ever-lovin’ Marilee Bradford, and the amusing dog Morrissey. We all convened at seven. Champagne was served with some delectably delectable appetizers – Marilee’s shrimps with a wonderful mustardy dipping sauce, and her homemade guacamole and chips, and Julie’s bruschetta. I met everyone I didn’t know, hung out with those I did know – at that point I wasn’t quite sure I was going to have any fun, but once we all sat down to dinner, it was just great. I really liked Leon Vitali and I invited him to appear in an Outside the Box episode. Julie made what she called a chicken stew (sort of a coq au vin), and a fresh salad. The stew was brilliant – so tasty and yummilicious. And the conversation was both wild and wooly and wooly and wild, with lots o’ laughs. It was just a whole lot of grand and I’m really glad I attended. It makes me want to do a dinner party – I don’t think I’ve had one since just before the Pogue’s moved away – which means I haven’t made my famous beef stroganoff since then. I might just do it, damn it. The most amazing part of all this is that I left and got on the freeway at 6:10 – rush hour. I dreaded that it was probably going to take me right up until seven to get there, as the 405 going south is always horrible. Well, guess what? I got there in thirty minutes – I couldn’t believe it – there was almost no traffic on the 405 until the split to the Santa Monica Freeway and even that was short-lived.
Prior to that, I’d had nine hours of blessed sleep. I got up and answered e-mails and then did two-thirds of the show order for the upcoming Kritzerland show. Then I listened to the raw tracks of the next Kritzerland release – great music. Then it was time to mosey on over to the Studio Café for a lunch meeting with writer Lissa Levin. She wanted to know what I thought of the forty minutes or so I saw of the musical she’s working on – Hazel. She knew I would be honest with her, but she also knows that even when I’m critiquing that it always comes from a positive place. I was VERY honest and she listened and we talked at length, mostly about the opening of the show. I gave her my opinions and a few suggestions to think about. The good thing about these kinds of dialogues is that even if the suggestion isn’t liked it will usually still cause the person to think about it and come up with something that’s more right for them. So, it was a very nice meeting. We saw and said hello to Ed Asner (Lissa’s worked with him several times), Chuck McCann, and old-time casting maven, Marvin Paige.
Then I picked up two small packages, after which I came home. Then Mr. David Wechter came over and we watched the entirety of the Blu and Ray of Junior High School and all its bonus features. We found a few other picks to nit and then I sent in all the fixes I wanted and we should have a revised check disc in a few days – if everything has been addressed, then it can be readied for the pressing plant and the packaging can go to the printers.
Then Shelly Markham came by and picked up his CDR and sheet music for the Kritzerland show. And then it was time to leave for the dinner party. I had no time to watch anything and I didn’t get home from the dinner party until 10:40. Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I’m quite tired still and I need another good night’s beauty sleep.
Today, I shall finish writing the liner notes I began yesterday. I shall also begin the contextual commentary for the Kritzerland show. I shall also continue prepping our next release. Hopefully, I’ll pick up some packages, and I’m sure I’ll eat something light but amusing, and then I’ll definitely watch the final episode of Those Who Kill, followed by a motion picture on Blu and Ray.
The rest of the week is more of the same and the weekend has a few things to do and at least one event to attend. The following week is going to be more than a little insane, busy-wise, with three Kritzerland rehearsals, two East Coast Singer rehearsals, the Singer’s two shows, followed by our Kritzerland show.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, finish liner notes, begin the commentary, hopefully pick up some packages, eat, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What was your most memorable dinner party – one you attended and, if applicable, one you gave? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have attended a wonderful dinner party.