Well, dear readers this week has flown by, like a gazelle doing an all-gazelle production of Twelve Angry Men, retitled Twelve Angry Gazelles. Do gazelles get angry? Do gazelles have hissy fits or tantrums? Do gazelles see red and spew venom and hurl vile epithets? Do gazelles know what the HELL I’m talking about?
Yesterday, I began proofing the new book. First I had my teeth cleaned and they are now sparkling and I had no cavities. Then I went and had a chili, cheese, and onion omelet and an English muffin, followed by some tap tap tapioca pudding. Whilst eating, I proofed the first chapter, which was fascinating. When I begin a new book, especially one that’s so different from everything else I’ve done, I’m just feeling my way, and then I let the book take on its own life. So, in the early pages of the new book I hadn’t quite settled on certain things that, as I went along, I settled on. So, I made quite a few tiny changes in the chapter, deleted a few repetitive things and just made it more of a piece with what followed. I ran all of that by Muse Margaret and she agreed with it all save for one thing I was going to delete that she liked and thought should stay. I moved on to chapter two, and by then it was all pretty much there, so there weren’t nearly as many things to fix.
I also spoke to Grant Geissman about the cover, I spoke to the publisher and got that ball rolling, I had several telephonic conversations, a visit, listened to an upcoming Kritzerland release, and then finally sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched a motion picture on Blu and Ray entitled Death Wish. I saw it when it came out and it was a pretty shocking film for its day. And I’ve seen it a couple of times over the years and always like it. These days, it’s been ripped off so many times that it just doesn’t have the power it did – in fact, it almost seems quaint at times. And it doesn’t help that two of the horrid trio of thugs that do bad things to the wife and daughter of the Charles Bronson character are played by then-unknowns Jeff Goldblum and Keith Gordon. They seemed like real scum back when the film came out, but now it’s hard to watch that scene because you know both actors so well. There’s also a young Denzel Washington and Christopher Guest. Still, Bronson is great in the lead, and the film has a very fast pace and is well directed by Michael Winner. The musical score is very odd (Herbie Hancock). Also great is Vincent Gardenia. Poor Hope Lange is gone after ten minutes. The transfer looks as it should.
After that, I proofed three more chapters, finding less and less things in each, so that’s nice. I also entered the first chapter’s fixes into the manuscript. I will run any major things by Muse Margaret before committing to them. I also had several more telephonic conversations.
We also had some rain (not enough), and I never got to the mail place to see if there were any packages. I also made a tiny bit of pasta with butter and cheese for my evening snack.
Today, I shall continue proofing, then I’m lunching with an old friend, someone dear reader Jeanne probably remembers from Bluth Brothers, and then neighbor Tony Slide and I will go to the Pasadena Book Fair for a few hours, then probably have a bite to eat.
Tomorrow, I’ll go back to the fair just to visit with dealer friends, then I’m seeing our show in the evening, and also taking Sami Staitman out for a birthday dinner at Ruth Chris steakhouse. I won’t eat before that because I want to save my calories for that meal. Sunday, I have to spend four hours judging a singing contest and then I’ll finish proofing the book by the end of that evening, so I can get it to my usual proofers. I really want to get this one out as quickly as possible, but only after I’m sure it’s the best it can be and that we’ve caught all the typos. But Grant’s ready to go and I have my usual team at the publisher’s so that part should be smooth. Next week I’m auditioning someone who looks like he might just fit the bill as Li’l Abner, and I may do the one-day workshop to see the other LACC students that weren’t there previously. Then I’ll figure out who will be playing which part.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, proof, lunch, proof, go to the book fair, eat, and proof. 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, Kritzerland projects. Blu and Ray, coming up three Ealing comedies and Khartoum from Twilight Time. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, after which I shall continue to proof like the play of the same name.