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October 4, 2013:

THE DANCE OF THE SEVEN VEILS

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, this month is flying by, like a gazelle doing the dance of the seven veils.  Does anyone still do the dance of the seven veils?  I once did the dance of the four veils but frankly I thought it would be much better with the three extra veils, but I ran out of the damn veils.  Does anyone still wear a veil?  And why is veil spelled like that?  Shouldn’t it be vayle or vail?  I am confused by the word veil and I’m confused by the veil itself and I’m doubly confused by the dance of the seven veils.  How arbitrary a number – why not the dance of the twelve veils.  Just who in tarnation decided on seven veils?  The Veil Man?  Oy veil.  And who was the first person to actually dance the dance of the seven veils?  Donna McKechnie?  Salome?  Ishtar?  Ishkabibble?  I wonder if they do the dance of the seven veils in Wales?  You know, if anyone has a clew as to what the HELL I’m talking about, do let me know, because certainly I haven’t a clew.

Yesterday was a long day but a nice one.  I only got about three hours of sleep – so much stuff in the windmills of my mind – songs, song choices, patter, structure, the new novel, the new season of Outside the Box – just a jumble of stuff.  I was up at six to announce our new title, Alien Nation, and then at seven I went back to bed.  I managed to sleep until eight-thirty when I had a telephonic call from the lady who runs the theater company I’m in discussion with.  I finally got out of bed around nine.  I printed out orders, I answered e-mails and then I had a very long and productive telephonic conversation that I hope will result in positivity.  Then it was time to mosey on over to a restaurant in the Bank of Bur, where I joined some friends, including the Outside the Box editor, Marshall Harvey.  Marshall has been dealing with some pretty terrible stuff but things are starting to look up and we send he and his wife, Annie, our strongest most excellent vibes and xylophones.  Our plan is to shoot the first two season three episodes this month, but instead of airing them one every two weeks, we’re going to air once a month.  That way, I can shoot two in November and two in December, but they’ll air over a six-month period.  For luncheon I had something I never have – a bowl of chili with onions and boy was it yummilicious.  And not too much, so I looked up the calories and a bowl of chili sans beans (which this was) ranges anywhere from 240 to 800 calories – I don’t have a clew as to the disparity, but I just made the leap that I ate 800 calories, which was the worst it could be.

After luncheon, I picked up a couple of packages, including the new cast album of Matilda – I’ve know nothing about the show, so I’ll give it a listen and see if it’s to my liking.  Then I came home, had a nice telephonic conversation with the East Coast Singer, printed out more orders, and then did a three-mile jog, planked and did forty sit-ups.  Then I sat on my couch like so much fish and ate some low-calorie Wheat Thins with some low-calorie cheese wedges and got up to my 1200 calories, presuming the bowl of chili was all of 800.

Last night, I watched a motion picture on Blu and Ray entitled House of Wax, which was the first motion picture ever made about the phenomenon of ear wax.  I first saw House of Wax on a small black-and-white television.  That is how I knew the film for years.  I always liked it – good atmosphere, good chills, and short.  Then in the late 1960s they had a 3-D festival and that was the first time I saw it as it was meant to be seen – in color and three dimensions.  I really loved it.  Then I’ve owned it on home video in almost every format, but it’s never looked great and, of course, it was always in two dimensions.  But now Warners has just issued it in three dimensions and two dimensions on Blu-ray and the result is a very pleasing transfer.  If I ever get a TV that can do 3-D I’ll definitely watch it again – my Oppo Blu and Ray player can play 3-D if I have the TV.  I love Vincent Price in this film, but even more, I love the ladies – Carolyn Jones and the adorable Phyllis Kirk, who I was crazy about when I was a kid from The Thin Man TV series she starred in with Peeler Lawford – sorry, Peter Lawford.  Peeler Lawford was a stripper who worked at The Body Shop on Sunset Blvd.  I’m not makin’ it up.  Plus we get Charles Buchinsky who, a short time later, would change his name to Charles Bronson.  There’s a lot of fun loud music by David Buttolph, and the direction of Andre (Bundy) de Toth is great.  He was an interesting choice to direct a film in three dimensions, since he only had one eye that worked and wore a patch over the other one.  The 3-D effects, even in 2-D, are really amusing.  So, this one is highly recommended by the likes of me.  Were it that all Warnercolor films looked as good as this does.

After that, I listened to some music, did a little writing, took a little shower and that was about it.

Today, I shall be up by nine-thirty to have a telephonic conversation with Sandy Bainum and Lanny Meyers, then I have to immediately go to the Wood of West to meet an actor who is a candidate for this show we may or may not do.  We’re meeting at Stan’s Donuts so I will, of course, have to have my chocolate donut with peanut butter innards.  I may even do the dance of the seven veils whilst eating it.  After that, I’ll hopefully pick up some packages then do a jog, then we have our second Kritzerland rehearsal.  After it’s done, I’ll go have something to eat, maybe even another bowl of chili if I can find a place that makes good chilly near the home environment.

Tomorrow, she of the Evil Eye comes so I have to do an early jog but when I come back I’m doing nothing but resting and relaxing and watching motion pictures.  I shan’t take calls or do any work.  Sunday, we have our stumble-through at three, then it will be more relaxing.  Monday is sound check and show, and then depending on how things scope out this weekend, next week could end up being incredibly busy.  It will be anyway, but I mean even busier.  Of course, I have to start prepping the November Kritzerland show, but the fact is I’ve already gotten the singers everything they need, save for two songs that I’m waiting to get the sheet music for.  So, I’m ahead a little.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, have a telephonic conversation, go to the Wood of West to meet an actor and have a Stan’s donut, I must hopefully pick up packages, I must jog, I must have a rehearsal and I must eat.  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 maybe Antonioni’s La Notte or From Here to Eternity.  Your turn.  Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, where I shall do the dance of the seven veils in Technicolor with musical accompaniment by Mantovani.

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