Well, dear readers, I must write these here notes in a hurry for she of the Evil Eye will be here all too soon. So, let me just start by saying Gyu Kaku. Yes, you heard it here dear readers, I just said Gyu Kaku. While that sounds like a coprophiliac’s idea of fun, it’s really a Korean barbecue jernt in Sherman Oaks (actually a chain with several other locations). I was meeting the Staitman clan for dinner and that was their suggestion. I’d never been to a Korean barbecue restaurant so I girded my loins and said yes. The first thing I discovered at Gyu Kaku was that we’d be cooking our own food. The Staitman mom said not to worry that she and daughter Sami would attend to that. I let them order for the table, and my only contribution to the order was a fried chicken appetizer that was mighty good (like popcorn chicken with a dipping sauce). They ordered teriyaki chicken, Cajun chicken, and some steak slices – two orders of the latter. Also, two orders of the rice, one order of garlic noodles, two house salads and some zucchini. In other words, a LOT of foodstuffs. The salad was good, although I wasn’t that crazy about the dressing. But the garlic noodles were great as was the rice, which was flavorful as all get out and I think we all know how flavorful all get out is. I had two helpings of the noodles and two helpings of the rice. Then I had a small amount of beef and the two chicken dishes, which was all yummilicious. Even though ounces-wise I don’t think the dinner amounted to all that much, I was quite full. An extra thing of rice had been ordered, so we boxed that up and I took it home, where I promptly ate it all up. No dessert, no bread.
Prior to Gyu Kaku, I had a very busy and long day. In fact, I had no time whatsoever to choose songs – I did assign one of our male singers his three songs, so that’s done at least. I got up late because I hadn’t fallen asleep until two. Once up, I had to straighten out a little Paypal payment someone had sent me, then I had to do some work on the computer, have a long telephonic call with a film composer, then do errands and whatnot and I picked up several packages. Then I had a nice meeting with a director, after which I did more work on the computer and had more long telephonic calls. We lost one of our singers due to a scheduling conflict so we’re trying to replace her and we’re still trying to lock in our final male performer as well as our guest star. We’ve sent e-mails to three candidates and are awaiting answers. Then it was time for Gyu Kaku. A Time for Gyu Kaku – that’s the title of my next novel. Then I finally came home and sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched a motion picture on DVD entitled The Disappearance. I’d never seen the film before but had heard a lot about it, from both its director and a fan of the film. The director, who was the person I met with earlier in the day, gave me his cut of the film, which differed from the release cut in certain ways, including its being twelve minutes longer. Since I’ve never seen the release cut I had nothing to compare it to, although I’m pretty certain given what the director told me of what was changed and removed. I don’t think it’s probably quite as significant as he does (it’s his baby, after all), but I really liked the film very much in his version and I’ll be very interested to see the release cut, too. The film was made in 1977 and has a terrific cast – Donald Sutherland, John Hurt, Virginia McKenna, David Hemmings, and a brief appearance by Christopher Plummer. The plot is interesting and told in a fragmented way in the director’s version. But the feel of the film is kind of mesmerizing and it has a fantastic score by Robert Farnon, using the Ravel Piano Concerto in G as its basis.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must get as much beauty sleep as possible.
Today, I shall jog (weather permitting – it’s been rainy lately), then I’ll do stuff, hopefully pick up some packages, then I have a one o’clock lunch meeting with a seventeen-year-old singer and her mother and our very own Adryan Russ – the singer is in the next Kritzerland show (she’s Betty Garrett’s granddaughter and has a terrific voice) – this lunch is just for me to see her personality so I can make the right song choices for her. Then I’m seeing Panama Hattie in the evening and will, of course, have a full report for you.
Tomorrow, I’m lunching with dear reader Jeanne, and I have to prepare our release announcements, although they won’t be on Monday – they’ll either be later in the week or the following Monday. I’ll also continue choosing songs, then gather the sheet music then get it all to our cast of players. Next week is all meetings and meals and seeing shows and it shall all be very busy.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do a jog if possible, hopefully pick up some packages, have a luncheon, and see Panama Hattie. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite Donald Sutherland films as well as Christopher Plummer films? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, where I shall put myself to sleep by singing my latest song, Gyu Kaku – Guy Haines will be singing it on his new album, which is only appropriate since Gyu is Guy anagrammed.