Well, dear readers, the DC adventure continues. As adventures go, this one is pleasant and fun so far. The weather yesterday was crisp but with very clear skies. The East Coast Singer came to the hotel to meet Lanny and me, and then Lanny drove with the housekeeper while Sandy and I did a brisk walk – she says it’s about a mile-and-a-half, I say it’s about ten miles. Certainly it felt like it, but along the way we saw some wonderful old houses. Her house is a wonderful old house, built about ninety years ago. It’s a three-story affair with lots of charm – I’m a three-story affair, but with less charm. Go know. We settled in and began discussing the upcoming album, some of which will be songs from the act we did last year, and then some stuff just for the album. We began with the show stuff, but for the album we’re switching some stuff up in the arrangements. We played through those songs and Lanny and I made adjustments and fixes and came up with some really good stuff. Then we began working through some new things and by the end of it we had all but two songs chosen. I’m holding off on those for now until I get a sense of what’s needed for the final two, although I know one of them will be an up and one will be a ballad.
Then we took a short break and ate – I had various and sundried berries and a couple of teaspoons of low-fat cottage cheese and some carrot sticks – in other words, no calories. They had some veggie sushi things, fruit and Greek yogurt. Then we played through some material for the new show we’ll be doing – just a few things since that will be most of today’s work. We finished about three and came back to the hotel. I did some work on the laptop, had a long telephonic conversation with our very own Mr. Nick Redman, who’s back from a week-long trip, and then Lanny came down and we went to the Capital Grille for our meal. This time I had the steak Oscar – an 8 oz filet with crab meat and a tiny bit of hollandaise, with some cut-up asparagus. It was really good, and best of all – 590 calories. It’s amazing how wrong I’ve been all these years about meat – for example, their roast chicken is over a thousand calories, while most of their steaks, including a 24 oz thing are under a thousand, some well under. I’ve always thought that beef was the most fattening thing you could eat, but I have been laboring under that misperception, so it’s good to know I can eat a steak and lose weight. I love that. I also had a cup of clam chowder – 320 calories. And one roll. So, certainly under 1300 calories. Then we took a little walk, after which we came back to the hotel. I answered some e-mails and then met Lanny in the exercise room. All the treadmills are gone, new ones coming on Friday, but they had one exercise bike, so I did that – thirty minutes, 7.3 miles, and burning of 250 calories, so that means my caloric intake for the day is more like 1000, especially with the morning’s brisk walk. Then it was back to the room, I did some updates to the laptop, and saw a few clips from the Cassadega High production of The Brain from Planet X – so sweet. They did change a handful of lyrics that were too racy – I understand that completely, but rather than letting that be up to high schools or even middle schools, I’m going to now provide them with alternate lyrics for those few spots. That way, style and tone will remain consistent and maybe if that’s available even more high schools will do the show. The kids seemed to be having a great time. Hoping they put up some more clips or just send me the whole show on video.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I really must get a good night’s beauty sleep.
Today, I’ll meet Lanny downstairs at nine to keep him company whilst he eats some oatmeal. This hotel provides a cooked to order breakfast for all guests downstairs. Then we’ll head over to Sandy’s (hoping we can do that walk again, unless my legs are too sore from the bike thing). We’ll spend our work session playing through potential material for her next show, maybe even work on arrangements and I think we’ll be through by three again. If I’m feeling up to it, I’ll do the bike again. Then I’ll be driven to MetroStage – apparently I’m dining in a French restaurant nearby then we’re seeing Sandy’s show – ChasSmith and KevinH will be attending and dining as well. I will, of course, have a full report.
Tomorrow we have our work session and then Sandy’s trying to get Lanny and me seats for Hello, Dolly at Ford’s Theater. I’m hoping that happens. Saturday, I may try and do the treadmill (they’ll be in by then) in the morning, then I’ll lunch with Lanny then be on my way to the airport, and then winging my way back to LA.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, have a work session, exercise, dine, and see a show. Today’s topic of discussion: In the late 1950s and then the 1960s who were your favorite folk singers and which of their songs were your favorites? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland where the DC adventure continues.