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January 10, 2014:

THE ADVENTURES OF PLUMBERMAN

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, I had to call the plumber.  Yes, you heard it here, dear readers, I, BK, had to call the plumber.  I walked into bathroom two, which I haven’t been in since we did the stumble-through a week ago, only to find the toilet backed up and no amount of plunging with the plunger helped.  Also, the shower in bathroom one hasn’t been draining properly, so it was time to call the handy-dandy plumber.  I don’t have one, so I Googled plumber and the City of Studio – one popped out right away due to nothing but five star reviews on Yelp, so that’s who I called.  I got a nice lady on the phone and when I told her my address she said she lives a block and a half away and walks by the house every day.  So, her husband showed up and got the toilet working and found that the shower in bathroom two was all backed up, too – he fixed all that but the cleaning lady has some work to do before I will even step foot in there.  He also has to swap out the shower head in bathroom two, as little to no water comes out of it.  Then he snaked the drain in bathroom one and that’s fine, although something is now wrong with the shower handle for the hot water, so he’s got to fix that.  It literally doesn’t stop now, although you can still get the water completely shut off, but if you keep turning it just goes on again – weird.  And he has to fix some pipe thing in the front, which is really the cause of all the problems.  Also needing to be fixed, the sink drain in bathroom one.  Thankfully, I don’t have to pay for any of it. The Adventures of Plumberman all happened in the very late afternoon.  Prior to that, I’d had a day.

I woke up at eight-thirty, which was too damn early, but thankfully I fell right back asleep and slept until eleven, which I really needed and I woke up feeling much better than yesterday.  I had a couple of telephonic calls and that all took time, so I really didn’t even have five minutes to do any futzing and finessing – I did write a couple of lines, but that was it.  I then went and had a patty melt and nothing else.  Whilst I was eating, I checked my e-mails and there was one particularly irritating one and it was more irritating because I couldn’t reply right then and there.  Then as I was waiting for my check, I got a call saying I was supposed to be doing a radio show interview for the benefit.  That was true and of course being senile I’d forgotten, despite the big note sitting next to my computer, said note being completely covered by the telephone.  Luckily, the radio place was literally three minutes away, so I hopped in my car and got there just before they began.  That went very well.  Even though there was a package to pick up, I went straight home, so I could respond to the e-mail, which I did in what I hope was an even-keeled way.  Then on the heels of that I got another one and that sent me over the edge a little, so I wrote a strong response to that one.  These occasional little missives are from someone who just doesn’t understand e-mails and tone, and I have asked this person not to send me any e-mails but to just pick up the phone and call me.  But, no matter how many times I say it (and I’ve said it MANY times) it keeps happening.  Today I just kind of blew up and I don’t care.

Then I finally futzed and finessed.  I wrote this very fun little section, realized it wasn’t in the right place to end the chapter I was on, so I moved it earlier where it worked splendidly, then I finished the chapter.  It added about a page and a half to that chapter.  I then began chapter five, got one line written, and it was time to rehearse the kids for You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile for the benefit.  We had to replace one of our original kids and we added a new one, and they’re both cute as buttons with great energy and charisma.  Kay Cole was there, put in the additional girl and adjusted things accordingly, and about an hour and fifteen minutes later, the girls had it all down pat, and boy is it fun.  I must say, that is just one of my favorite show songs ever, especially the tune by Charles Strouse.  Speaking of Charles Strouse, I forgot to mention that I had the most wonderful ninety-minute conversation with Harvey Schmidt.  I hadn’t talked to him in a year, so it was great to catch up with him and we, as always, just had the best time.

Once rehearsal was done, I had some fried rice that someone brought, and then I sat on my couch like so much fish, and checked out some new import Blu and Rays.  First, the sequel to My Name is Nobody, which looks pretty good.  Then I checked The Cardinal, which could look a lot better, but could also look a lot worse.  And then I checked out the German import of Pretty Poison, which looks terrific.  I’m hoping that that’s something Twilight Time can put out.  But I just couldn’t concentrate, so back to the computer I went and I wrote about three more pages.  Then I had a few long telephonic calls, mostly about the revue, then I took a hot shower in my properly draining shower, and then I wrote a few more pages.  I think I did between seven and eight today.  The new pages were a little trick, but I think they came out fine.  We’ll see how I feel when I read them in the morning.

Today, thankfully there are no rehearsals for anything.  So, my day will literally be all writing – I’ll futz and finesse and write new pages (at least five), I’ll write the tiny bit of benefit patter I need to and get that to the people who need to learn it, and I’ll begin the set of liner notes I need to finish.  I’ll eat something, I’ll pick up some packages, and continue writing as well as prepping our new release announcement.  If I get everything done, then I will definitely watch a motion picture in the evening.

Tomorrow is a little busier than I’d like.  First off, she of the Evil Eye will be here, so I’ll jog and then leave, but must be back by 11:45 for several rehearsals.  Then I think I have a two-hour window where I can write, and then the kids are back to rehearse again at four.  That should be done by five, then I can write for another ninety minutes and then I have to mosey on over to the theater to see the revue.

Sunday is our band rehearsal, so I’ll be at the Pasadena Playhouse from noon to two-thirty, then I think I’m lunching with Terri White and her partner, Donna.  After that, it’s home to write, and then I’ll have to get to bed early as I must be up at six in the morning to announce our first release of 2014.  Then I go to the Playhouse around eleven – I’ll try to get some writing in before I go, but that’s one day I will probably not get more than a couple of pages done, but I’m ahead of the game, page-wise, so that one day is fine.  I’ll be gone for the entire day and probably won’t be back until midnight.  The rest of the week is going to be just writing and resting and getting ready for the very busy last half of the month.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, write, eat, hopefully pick up some packages, write, write, and relax.  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 – too damn many things.  Your turn.  Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, after a long day that included The Adventures of Plumberman.

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