Well, dear readers, the mucus and the phlegm are really playing this for all they’re worth. They just don’t want to let go and it’s really annoying and is keeping me nice and hoarse. I will bitch-slap the mucus and the phlegm from here to eternity and hell and back if they continue this much longer. The Mucus and the Phlegm – that’s the title of my next novel, a story of ancient Rome just before the Nativity. Where was I? Oh, yes, can we just cut directly to the chase and say that luncheon yesterday was not only a great deal of fun, but also completely yummilicious? Yes, we can say that and we just did. What pastrami, what latkes. The pastrami (which I have extra lean with cole slaw and Russian dressing) melts in one’s mouth and the latkes are indescribably delicious. I had two of them along with my sandwich. It was extremely crowded at Langer’s but we only had to wait about ten minutes to get our comfy booth. It was just Barry Pearl, Alet, and myself, and the conversation was most amusing and raucous and we all had a fine time.
The other food adventure happened two hours later, when I went to the mail place to pick up some packages. I decided to pop into the place that has replaced the cupcake place, in other words the cupcake place replacement place, which is a cheesecake place. I didn’t know what to expect, but I was fully prepared to purchase a slice of some sort of cheesecake. But it’s not slices at all – in fact, it looks like little cheesecake cupcakes – little bite-sized cheesecake things. I bought two – the first was a little bite-sized cheesecake thing with cherries on top, and the second was a coconut pie cheesecake tasting thing. The two together wouldn’t make half a slice of normal cheesecake. They were both wonderful tasting and a perfect dessert, so I think I shall now frequent this new jernt and purchase more of their interesting bite-sized cheesecake things. They had a peanut butter and jelly one that’s a definite must, plus all kinds of others. So, yesterday was The Roar of the Pastrami, The Smell of the Cheesecake.
Other than that, I got up after almost eleven hours of sleep, which I don’t wish to do anymore, so I’ll start setting the alarm. Eight hours from here on in will be more than fine. I did some work on the computer and answered e-mails until Barry arrived, after which we drove down to Langer’s.
After lunch, I did more work on the computer, then continued writing the contextual commentary until I finished it. I’m sure I’ll be adding some details to it (it’s a little shorter than usual just because there aren’t that many shows to talk about), and finessing, but at least it’s done. Then I sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I finished watching Otto Preminger’s Fallen Angel, a film I really love. Mr. Preminger did love having Dana Andrews as a leading man and he is perfect in all of the films he did for Preminger. Linda Darnell is sultry and alluring as a femme fatale and Alice Faye is pretty as the down-to-earth woman Andrews also gets involved with. The supporting cast is great – once again we have Charles Bickford and Anne Revere, but the best of the supporting performances is Percy Kilbride’s – he’s heartbreaking as the café owner. Another short but great David Raksin score. Then I watched Where The Sidewalk Ends, another Preminger noir, again starring Mr. Andrews, this time alongside the other Preminger favorite, Gene Tierney. In support, Karl Malden, Bert Freed, and Gary Merrill. It’s a very good film and I enjoyed it thoroughly. The score is the one thing that isn’t quite as good as it should be – surprising that Preminger didn’t have Raksin do it – instead it’s kind of a hodge-podge of mostly Street Scene by Alfred Newman, that was used in any number of Fox films back then. It’s not bad, it’s just not as of a piece with the film as Raksin’s scores were for the other Preminger noirs.
After that, I listened to our new master for our next release – amazing sound, and a spectacularly beautiful score by one of my favorite composers. We’ll announce soon. Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I really must get some beauty sleep.
Today, I have some errands and whatnot to do, I’ll eat, I’ll hopefully pick up some packages, I’ll finesse the commentary and I’ll start writing the liner notes for A Time for Singing, which is as much on the fast track as we can get it. I’m sure I’ll watch a motion picture, perhaps Atlas Shrugged, Part Two, although I may just run Atlas Shrugged, Part One again so it just continues on. But I also have Skyfall here and lots o’ other stuff.
Tomorrow I’m lunching with my pal Dick Lochte at Musso and Frank. I also have a short work session with the musical director of the Kritzerland show. Friday I have the steam cleaners coming early and then I think there may be another meal in there somewhere. Not sure what’s happening on the weekend.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do errands and whatnot, eat, hopefully pick up some packages, finesse, begin new liner notes, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Ask BK Day, the day in which you get to ask me or any dear reader any old question you like and we get to give any old answer we like. So, let’s have loads of lovely questions and loads of lovely answers and loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland thinking about The Roar of the Pastrami, The Smell of the Cheesecake.