Well, dear readers, I must write these here notes in a hurry for she of the Evil Eye will be here all too soon and I need as much beauty sleep as I can get. First of all, has anyone noticed that it is the final day of November? And that tomorrow will be the first day of December, which is the final month of 2013? Can I just say how that boggles the already boggled windmills of my mind? Where in tarnation did this year go? Well, it is my fervent hope and prayer that December will be a month filled with health, wealth, happiness, creativity, and all things bright and beautiful.
Yesterday, Black Friday, was a day in which millions upon millions of shoppers spent humungous amounts of money they’re not really supposed to have according to the economy pundits. But spend it they did, by the buckets-full. Thankfully, my record of never walking into any store on Black Friday remains unchanged. I didn’t sleep as long as I wanted to because I had an eleven-fifteen appointment with Teddy. So, I was up at nine-thirty and arrived right on time to Teddy. He did his customary great job and I am now coifed for the month of December, a month in which it is very important to be coifed, according to the coifed pundits. After, I came right back to the Valley and went directly to Jerry’s Deli, where I thought there would be no people at all, what with it being Black Friday and the day after the Studio City types had all stuffed their entitled faces with gobs of food. But no, Jerry’s Deli had a line of waiting people out the door. I couldn’t believe it, really, and a simple check of other restaurants in the neighborhood revealed empty chairs and empty tables at all – apparently only Jerry’s was where the Studio City people wanted to be. I found it quite nauseating and left. I came home, the helper came by and picked up some invoices, and then I did some banking. After that, I watched episode seven of Downton Abbey, and it was excellent, as good as the previous episodes of this current season.
Then I went back to Jerry’s, since it was now two-thirty, and believe it or not, it was still jammed. I did manage to get one of “my” booths, so I was fine. Five minutes later, there were about ten booths open, but ten minutes after that, it seemed to fill up again. It made no sense to me, but then again these things never do. I had some chicken tenders for my meal o’ the day, and then I went to the mail place and picked up some packages. After that, I came home and sat on my couch like so much fish.
I watched the final episode of series four of Downton Abbey and it was terrific. One knew they had to bring back one of the new and irritating characters from this season, and they did, even though I was hoping they wouldn’t. I guess that dramatically they really had to, and it wasn’t bad at all. Of course, this season really doesn’t get wrapped up until the annual Christmas movie, which airs on Christmas in the UK. I’m sure the Blu-ray will follow immediately and I’ll get it and see how they resolve everything that needs resolving, and what kind of cliffhanger they have in store.
After that, I watched a screener that had arrived in the afternoon, entitled Captain Phillips, based on true events that are true. I really had no desire to see this film based on what I’d read, but watch it I did, dutifully, and, surprise of surprises, I kind of really liked it. The director, Paul Greengrass, loves his kinetic filmmaking and he’s the one director I can stomach that type of thing from – his Bourne films were very well done, as was United 73. The story, which was all over the news in 2009, is about a US cargo ship being overtaken by Somali pirates. Tom Hanks plays the titular captain. It’s one of the fastest moving two hour and ten minute films ever – just a really good pace, it’s very suspenseful, has good characters, and good drama and a very good performance from Mr. Hanks, who is the closest thing we have today to an old-fashioned Jimmy Stewart-type movie star. I’ve read from “critics” who loved the film, how it humanizes the villains and makes you understand and/or care, but I didn’t understand or care and certainly wanted them to get their just desserts. Anyway, I quite liked it and would recommend it to those who like visceral and exciting real-life thrillers.
After the movie, I looked through some upcoming auction catalogs, one of them a Hollywood auction from the same company that auctioned the Debbie Reynolds stuff. One wonders where exactly they’re getting some of the things they’re auctioning – obviously, Lucasfilms is pretty much selling all their stuff, so there’s a bunch of Star Wars and Indiana Jones stuff, but there’s other stuff that just makes you wonder – Gone With the Wind, Wizard of Oz – just who is selling all this memorabilia?
Today, I shall be up early and I’ll do a jog, then some banking, and then we have our stumble-through. After that, I’m sure some of us will have a bite to eat. I’ll probably watch another couple of motion pictures in the evening – just got a region B Curse of the Demon Blu and Ray, which I’m most anxious to watch.
Tomorrow, we have our sound check and then show, and then some of us will sup afterwards. We’re sold out, which is lovely, and even lovelier is that due to the type of show we’ll do in January, I not only know it will be sold out almost instantly, we may even think about a matinee for that one. We shall see. You’ll know why when I announce the show. Monday, I may or may not have a lunch meeting, but I’ll finish up the two sets of liner notes that will be the final sets for this year, I’ll hopefully get some approvals for our next two projects so I can get them announced, and I’ll just try and relax because it will probably be the last time for relaxing until mid-month. The rest of the week is run-throughs and adjusting a few show things, then two previews, and then our opening night.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do a jog, bank, hopefully pick up some packages, have a stumble-through and sup. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite films that take place on the high seas, whether action, adventure, romance, thriller, comedy, musical or what have you? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, after which I shall have a hopefully lovely final day of November.