Well, dear reader, sometimes I stand in the middle of the floor – not going left, not going right. I hate when that happens but it happens frequently these days. I’ll think of something I need to do, walk from one room to another and by the time I’ve arrived to do whatever it was I wanted to do I’ve forgotten what it was. I hate when that happens. Of course, sometimes I stand in the middle of the floor – not going left, not going right, is also a Follies reference, which is only natural because by the time these here notes are posted, we will have officially announced our new Kritzerland release, the remixed and remastered Follies. I spent a good deal of the day yesterday going back and forth between the mastered version and what we began calling the “plain” version. My mind was playing tricks on me, as were my ears, because they had different volume levels and I couldn’t quite toggle back and forth in any meaningful way. In the end, I asked my engineer to listen and give his honest opinion, since the mastering guy prepared it both ways. He was finally able to do so and actually listened to both in a recording studio and primo reference speakers – his verdict was that he preferred the mastered version to the “plain” version. I’d been leaning that way, anyway, so that was all I needed to hear and I made the choice, got the web guy the tracks to make the audio samples (remember, those samples are mp3s and not only mp3s but mp3s compressed for the website – they should at least give you an idea of what you’re in for), and got everything ready for the midnight announcement.
The first part of yesterday was very weird indeed. I awoke at eight-thirty, thanks to the ringing of the doorbell. Only it wasn’t the ringing of the doorbell, it was the dream I was having in which a doorbell rang. I hate when that happens. That’s as bad as standing in the middle of the floor – not going left, not going right. The helper arrived at ten after eight days of being gone. She got the invoices and whatever she needed, then she left. And then completely unannounced, the Wayward Bus CDs arrived. They are always supposed to give me at least two days notice of arrival, but there’s a new gal there now so it got by her. The helper had to get those so she could begin shipping. Only we didn’t have enough boxes and she didn’t tell me that until yesterday morning, when I ordered more, which won’t be here until this afternoon. So that was my crazy morning. Then I went and had a sandwich and no fries or onion rings, picked up a couple of packages, then came home. I did some more work on the current set of liner notes, took a swim, listened to the Follies master and “plain” version for several hours, then zonked, finally sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched the second Irene Huss movie. Again, this is a very well done series, but does have some irritating elements. The lead character has two teen girls. One of them is written so clichéd and in both films the mom has to yell at her and get terse with her for making stupid choices and then the mom apologizes profusely. Why? For being a responsible parent? It makes no sense. But the crime stuff is good, but this is the second film in which her family is put in danger, and I hope that doesn’t continue. There’s only one more movie in this set (and only six total), and then it’s back to Maria Wern, which I like a little better. My box set of Cracker also arrived, so I’m looking forward to that, and I’ve got a big stack of Blu and Rays to watch.
After that, I relaxed, stood in the middle of the floor – not going left, not going right, remembered what it was I wanted to do, did it, then approved the Follies page on the Kritzerland site, decided which title would leave the splash page, and then it was time to write these here notes. Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I’ve got an early day tomorrow and need some beauty sleep, since I once again had trouble falling asleep and am still overtired.
Today, I shall be up early and then I’ll be at the storage facility at nine to get some music charts. From there, I’ll Xerox what needs Xeroxing, then eat, hopefully print out a LOT of orders, do errands and whatnot, hopefully pick up some packages, and hopefully print out even more orders.
Tomorrow I have an early appointment to get coifed by Teddy, and then I’m going to the Sondheim event, which I’m looking forward to. I’ll get to say hey to my close personal friend, Mr. Stephen Sondheim, as well as moderator Michael Kerker, and I’m sure I’ll know some other folks there. The weekend is somewhat full – prepping the two-release announcement for Monday morning, meals, and other stuff.
Let’s all put on our pointy party hats and our colored tights and pantaloons, let’s all break out the cheese slices and the ham chunks, let’s all dance the Hora or the Monkey, for today is the birthday of beloved dear reader Cillaliz. So, let’s give a big haineshisway.com birthday cheer to our beloved dear reader Cillaliz. On the count of three: One, two, three – A BIG HAINESHISWAY.COM BIRTHDAY CHEER TO OUR BELOVED DEAR READER CILLALIZ!!!
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, go to storage, Xerox, eat, hopefully pick up some packages, hopefully print out a LOT of orders, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite lines from Sondheim songs – specific lines within lyrics? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland – not going left, not going right.