Well, dear readers, it is quite late and I am quite tired and so I shall quite write these here notes in a quite hurry. Quite. Of course I could just drop the “e” from quite and quit, but then we’d have no notes and the universe would be in havoc and people would run amok and animals would devour all the pecans and it would be chaos in the extreme so therefore I’d best write some damn notes.
The day began on a high note (A) when I arose and saw that the galley had been finished and sent to me for approval. That is the fastest turnaround ever and I suspect some of it had to do with them having fed me really silly and incorrect information that cost me a day or two. I checked the copyright page, as that’s the only page they have control over and it was fine and then I just sped through the rest and then gave my approval. Then I was told I’d probably seen the covers for approval by Monday or Tuesday – once those are approved then a week or so later I should receive my test copies, and then I can order, so it does look like I’ll have books by the end of May at the very latest. We’ll start taking pre-orders in about two weeks, I think and, of course, anyone who orders from Kritzerland will, as always, receive a little something with their order. Past little somethings have included magnets, T-shirts, and even handwritten notes I’d made for one of the books. So it was a very lovely morning. I then did a three-mile jog, then moseyed on over to the Bank of Bur for a fun lunch. Since I knew I’d be eating dinner, I only had some scrambled eggs and three slices of bacon, which is really only about 240 calories and the jog took care of those.
Then I picked up a package, after which I came home and had a nice visit with our very own Mr. Nick Redman. And I got a sneak peek at Leave Her to Heaven and considering the original camera negative is gone, the transfer is pretty incredible, with luscious color, wonderful detail (save for the opticals), and clean, clear sound. Can’t wait to watch the whole thing.
Then I did some work on the computer – I wrote the blurb for our new release, the packaging went off to the printer and the master went to the pressing plant. Then it was time to mosey on over to Mr. Barry Pearl’s house and from there we went down to wherever the Norris Theatre Center is. The drive wasn’t as horrid as I feared it would be on a Friday at rush hour – we got down there in an hour. Last time I went there it took ninety minutes. We supped first at Marmalade Café, which is right next to the theatre. Marmalade is a complete enigma to me. There are several of them and the quality between each is so variable that I will simply not trust going there again. The Marmalade in Thousand Oaks is great. The Marmalade in Sherman Oaks is terrible. The Marmalade last night was worse that Sherman Oaks. I wanted to be good, so I had a small Caesar and a grilled chicken breast. The Caesar was mediocre, and the grilled chicken breast was kind of pathetic – I ate it all because I was starving but it was a little disgusting. The string beans were fine, though. So, not too damaging a meal. Then we walked to the theatre, got our tickets and went in.
Since Barry had recently done a show there, he knew lots of people and I met them all. I knew a handful of people myself, so that’s always fun. Then it was show time.
Last night, I saw a new musical entitled Real Men Sing Showtunes… and play with puppets. The co-author, co-star and director is Nick Santa Maria, who did such a good job for me in the Ben-Hur Outside the Box episode as the fellow who sang “The Leper Colony.” He’s a very funny fellow and his show is fun. It was an audience of friends and family for the most part, so there was lots of loud laughter and hooting and hollering. The show has some very amusing moments – its structure bears a resemblance to I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, and in a way it’s like a male version of that show. It’s a cast of three singing and sketching about the foibles of Real Men. I think the title is misleading, as they don’t sing established show tunes – the music is all original. The cast did great and it all moved along at a steady clip. And I found it heartening that the Norris Theatre did an original and new musical. Bravo to them for their courage.
After, they had a little do in the lobby so we hung out and chatted. A lady came up to me and asked if I was me and I said yes and she said I wouldn’t remember her but she saw me do a show at LACC where I sang a song called I Love Fish. That’s some memory, as I sang that song in Jimmy Shine in September of 1970 (it’s all in my book). She was in the tech crew and I vaguely remembered her name. So I guess I must at least look a little like I did back then for her to have recognized me. Funny. We hung out with Nick, who was feeling great about the evening. Then we left, drove to Barry’s, and I drove home. Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must get a good night’s beauty sleep.
Today, I shall do a jog, I shall prep our new release announcement, I shall write liner notes, I shall hopefully pick up some packages, I shall relax, and then I shall sup, after which I shall attend another opening night.
Tomorrow is a ME day – other than writing liner notes I shall do nothing at all save for that which pleases me. Next week is a little insane – Kritzerland rehearsals, meetings, meals, seeing shows, a stumble-through, sound check and then show.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do a jog, write, hopefully pick up some packages, sup, and attend an opening night. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite chain restaurants? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland.