Well, dear readers, I don’t think I’ve had so many long telephonic calls in one day and evening ever. I think I was on the telephonic device for something like four hours yesterday. That is a lot of telephonic talking in my book (Chapter Eight – That Is a Lot of Telephonic Talking). I had this conversation, I had that conversation, I had so much conversation that I wanted eat a shrub. Happily, I didn’t eat a shrub. In fact, just as I sat down to write these here notes, I had another thirty-minute conversation so now the notes are late and I have to be up at six and so I must now write these notes in a hurry.
Yesterday was a rather fun day, if you must know. If you must know, I got up at ten after a good night’s beauty sleep. I answered e-mails, and did some work on the computer and listened to a couple more auditions for the Hofstetter books. Then I did a four-mile jog. I’d intended to do a three-mile jog but the signals were with me and I went for four – it was really difficult and at one point I thought I was just going to die right there on the street, but I made it home and all was well. Then I got everyone everything they needed for this morning’s CD announcement.
Then I lunched with two Canadians at Hugo’s. I Lunched With Two Canadians at Hugo’s – that’s the title of my next novel. I hadn’t been to Hugo’s in a ‘coon’s age and I had my usual small Caesar and pasta papa, which was the best it’s ever been. I was really full after, but I did do my four-mile jog so I don’t really think I ate over 1200 calories with what I burned earlier. The conversation was fun and we were there for a while. Then I picked up no packages and came home, had an almost two-hour telephonic call and then finally sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched a motion picture on Blu and Ray entitled Ministry of Fear, a new release from Criterion. This is a film I absolutely love. I am a huge fan of its director, Fritz Lang, who is completely in his element here. Adapted from the novel by Graham Greene, Ministry of Fear plays like one nightmarish nightmare from opening to closing. The look and feel of the film is unnerving, just as its hero, played by Ray Milland, is unnerved and off-balance throughout the film. I will say nothing more because to do so would be to spoil the fun. And I’ll say only that the opening fifteen minutes of this film are amongst my favorite in all of cinema. Nobody did dark, rainy nights better than Lang, and there is a scene in a clothing shop that involves Dan Duryea and a rather large pair of scissors that is a lesson in directing, something no director working today would understand how to do. The transfer is excellent and this film and disc is highly recommended by the likes of me.
After that, it was another ninety-minute telephonic call. Then I proofed some notes, got the good news that the print for A Time for Singing is on its way to the pressing plant, and then I prepared the eBlast for tomorrow morning’s announcement. Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must get as much beauty sleep as possible before arising at six in the morning.
Today, I shall be up at six in the morning to announce the two new Kritzerland releases – How Green Was My Valley and A Time for Singing, A Time for Singing, of course, being the musical version of How Green Was My Valley. I cannot think of another release announcement ever where that has happened. I’m not sure if I’ll go back to bed or not. Hopefully, I’ll print out a LOT of orders, I’ll do a three or four mile jog by nine, and then I have an appointment with Teddy to get coifed. After that, I may or may not have a little snack – what I think I’ll do is get some fruit to eat because at six I’m meeting Barry Pearl for a meal before we see his ever-lovin’ Cindy in a play.
Tomorrow, a jog, of course, and then I think it’s a ME day, which I will look forward to. Sunday I think I’m doing lunch, and I’ll begin packing for the Tuesday trip – I booked my airport transportation both ways, so I’m all set. Monday, I’ll just relax and get my head ready for traveling and finish packing. The rest of the week I’ll be in Washington, DC working with the East Coast Singer. I return on Saturday early evening. Whilst I’m gone, the helper will be staying at the house and watching over things.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, announce two new titles, I must do a three or four mile jog, I must hopefully print out a LOT of orders, I must eat fruit, I must hopefully pick up some packages, I must sup, and I must see a show. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday – what is currently in your CD player and your DVD/Blu and Ray player? I’ll start – CD, too many to name. Blu and Ray, next up will be a Spaghetti western called Tepepa, and then the Billy Wilder film, A Foreign Affair. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland where I shall happily have no long telephonic conversations.