Well, dear readers, this week has flown by, like a gazelle riding a polo pony on Black Friday. Before I get to Black Friday, let’s talk about Orange Thursday first. First of all, I had a most lovely Thanksgiving Dinner with our very own Mr. Barry Pearl and his ever-lovin’ Cindy Dellinger. She cooked up a rather splendidly splendid meal and the conversation was sparkling, as always. It was a small group of us, and we all had a beautiful time. I partook of turkey (didn’t overdo it), stuffing (not as much as I would usually have), green beans (had lots – low-cal and all), sweet potatoes (didn’t overdo it), no mashed potatoes, some cranberries and two tiny dinner rolls. Everything was very tasty and even though I did not stuff myself, it sure felt like I did. For dessert, we had home made cheesecake (had a sliver) and a gingerbread cake (had a sliver). The whole shindig lasted about four hours and then I was on my way home.
Prior to that lovely and cozy dinner, I’d gotten up at nine-thirty, which was earlier than I wished to. I just loafed around the house for a while, then did a two-mile jog – just easing back into that routine. Then I watched two episodes of Downton Abbey. I’m really enjoying series four and the problems I’ve had with the previous couple of seasons, problems stemming from certain storylines carrying on so long that they just became irritating (Bates in jail, for one), are nowhere in sight so far – I was worried a couple of times, but they just got in and out of those storylines quickly, which is as it should be. The subplots this time around are really good, one of them being quite dramatic and a great showcase for the two actors involved, which is all I’m saying about that.
I also did a little work on the computer, had a nice telephonic conversation with Sandy Bainum, formerly known as the East Coast Singer, and then it was time to go to the Thanksgiving Dinner. Once back, I sat on my couch like so much fish again and watched another episode of Downton Abbey – so I’ve seen six of the eight episodes thus far. The casting on this show is superb, and in the sixth episode there was especially witty work from Maggie Smith and Penelope Wilton. And it’s fun to watch the Abbey trying to roll with the times and all the new times bring, being the 20s and all.
After that, I just played on the computer until it was time to write these here notes.
Today, of course, is Black Friday, the day people lose their sanity. In fact, it began last night and stores were already crowded. I was going to stop at JOS Bank because they’re having an incredible sale on sweaters, but alas, other than Macy’s being open, the main doors to the actual mall where JOS Bank is were locked up tight – weird. In any case, I’ll be going nowhere near any store. I do have an eleven-fifteen appointment with my beloved Teddy, who will coif me good. Once done with that, I’ll come back to the Valley and eat, hopefully pick up some packages, and write liner notes number four, which I must finish. Other than that, no plans at all. I’ll definitely watch the final two episodes of Downton Abbey. There will still be the annual Christmas special and I assume as soon as it airs the UK Blu-ray will be available and I’ll get it right away. I’ll also finish The Best Years of Our Lives and then move onto another movie or two.
Tomorrow, I have to be up early for she of the Evil Eye, and then we have our stumble-through, after which a few of us will probably grab a bite to eat. Sunday is sound check and show. Monday I may have a lunch thingee, and I’ll write liner notes five and hopefully get approvals on two projects. If all goes according to Hoyle, I would like to release a total of five CDs in the next four weeks – we shall see how that all plays out. Tuesday, we’re back into rehearsal to implement two small staging changes, and then we’ll run the new two-act version of the show and see how it feels. Wednesday we’ll run the one-act version again, with a couple of songs moved around and see how that feels. Then we’re back into our final two previews – one will be the two-act and one will be the one-act and then I’ll decide which version we’ll open with. Then we have our opening night on the seventh.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, get coifed by Teddy, eat, maybe jog, hopefully pick up some packages, write liner notes, and watch stuff. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday – first tell us all about your Thanksgiving dinner, and then what is currently in your CD player and your DVD/Blu and Ray player. I’ll start – CD, too many, too many. Blu and Ray, Downton Abbey and a bunch of movies from which to choose. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, after which I shall arise to greet Black Friday. Why is it called Black Friday exactly? What’s Black about a Friday in which you get incredible deals? Seems like that might be a Green Friday or a Purple Friday. It just seems such an arbitrary dark color for a light Friday.