Well, dear reader, I must write these here notes in a hurry because she of the Evil Eye will be here all too soon. There were many fascinating elements to yesterday, so why don’t I just tell you about them? I got up at seven. That was fascinating. The Alarm Man arrived about fifteen minutes later. He managed to get in the main box (the key wouldn’t turn, so he had to jimmy it open) and he shut the system down. Then we tried the phone to see if that fixed the awful tone problem and it didn’t. So, he put the system back on and unplugged the phone line from it, but that just caused me to have no dial tone. Then he put that back and we did further tests. He looked at the new printer, but it was instantly clear that there is no phone line near it so it’s impossible for it to be doing a fax tone – nor have I even configured the machine to be able to fax. Then he thought the modem might be the culprit until he realized it’s a cable modem and that there’s no phone line. Then he asked about my TV service, and the minute I said DirecTV he knew what the problem was. He went into the den and unplugged the phone line from the DVR. In days pre-digital, it had to be hooked up for the machine to get information each night about programming and such, but that all went away when I switched to digital cable. But they left the phone line in so that if I received a call while watching TV, the caller ID would show up on the TV screen, which I always hated. So, once he unplugged that, suddenly everything was fine and dandy and problem solved. They’re still going to install a completely new system because we’re switching alarm companies and because the box that’s in here is ancient and over twenty years old. We’ve come a long way, baby. That was all fascinating.
Then he left and an hour later the Steam Cleaning Man arrived to steam clean sofa and armchair. It took him about an hour to do both and they now look quite spiffy and fresh. That was fascinating. Then I did some banking, after which I had a Cobb salad and a bagel. Then I picked up a couple of packages, got two bite-sized cheesecake things, then came home. I did some work on the computer, and then I had a lovely telephonic conversation with Miss Shani Wallis, who is a delightfully delightful woman. She had some fun stories about A Time for Singing, and I made lots of notes. I also think I convinced her to come be a guest star in an upcoming Kritzerland show, so that would really be fun.
Then I finished writing the liner notes, polished them, and sent them off to the designer. I also got him all the tracks for our two Monday releases (although I may not announce on Monday – I may wait till mid-week or end of week), and I wrote the blurbs and got him those. That was all fascinating. Then I finally sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched a motion picture on Blu and Ray entitled On the Waterfront. There’s not much to say, really, other than I find the film a miracle and brilliant in every way. The direction, the script, the acting, the photography, the music – all brilliant straight down the line. It’s funny now to think of how everyone thought Marlon Brando was a mumbler and that it was hard to understand him. No. He’s a professional actor – you can hear every word clearly, he never whispers thinking that’s somehow “real” like today’s stupid actors do. No, the mumblers are this generation of actor and if I never have to sit through one of those types of performances again that would be fine with me. Eva Marie Saint is heartbreakingly beautiful in this film. Every scene is magical and powerful, and Leonard Bernstein’s score is unique and amazing – his only work for film. The Criterion Blu-ray presents the film in three different aspect ratios – I watched the default ratio, which is 1.66. I may try the 1.85, but will never watch the open matte 1.33 because I have never liked that framing. There are a lot of extras some of which I watched and enjoyed. The transfer is excellent.
After that, I listened to some music, and played on the computer. Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must get some semblance of beauty sleep.
Today, I shall be up by nine and out the door soon thereafter. I’ll do some errands and whatnot, hopefully pick up some packages, and then come home and relax until I leave for Fullerton to sup and see Nine to Five. I will, of course, have a complete report for you.
Tomorrow is the Oscars so you know that the place to be is right here at haineshisway.com for the wildest, wackiest and most fun Oscar bash on all the Internet. Be there or be round. Next week is rehearsals, meetings, meals, stumble-through, video and sound check, and show.
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 Texas Two-Step, because today is the birthday of our very own Old Man Druxy. So, let’s give a big haineshisway.com birthday cheer to our very own Old Man Druxy, who, like Old Man River, just keeps rolling along. On the count of three: One, two, three – A BIG HAINESHISWAY.COM BIRTHDAY CHEER TO OUR VERY OWN OLD MAN DRUXY, WHO, LIKE OLD MAN RIVER, JUST KEEPS ROLLING ALONG!!!
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do errands and whatnot, I must hopefully pick up some packages, I must relax, sup, and see a show. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite films of Marlon Brando and Eva Marie Saint? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, which I’m quite sure will be – fascinating.