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January 16, 2015:

THE GOOD CALL

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, first the news I like best: Muse Margaret got right to the second batch of ninety pages and called as soon as she finished them.  And her reaction was every bit as positive as the first batch, only this time she had not one note about anything.  Obviously that made me a very happy author.  The sequence that I mentioned a few days ago, where I was waffling back and forth about how to write it, and I slept on it and after reading it again knew that I’d written it the right way, was, in fact, one of her favorite moments in the new pages.  Again, she was very specific about everything, which is very helpful to hear.  Anyway, I was thrilled to have that kind of call.

The day began with me waking up at around ten after eight hours of sleep.  It’s always a good beginning to a day when you wake up.  I futzed and finessed the previous day’s pages and then printed them out.  While they were printing I wrote a couple of new pages.  Then I went to Staples and got them Xeroxed, then dropped off the pages to Muse Margaret’s house, after which I came directly home.

I then wrote about six or seven pages, then took a little break, had some telephonic calls, and attended to some other stuff.  Then I wrote another couple of pages – at that point I was at ten.  I took a shower and realized that I didn’t like the way I structured the current sequence I was working on, so after I got ready, I went back and completely redid it – all the same information, but presented in a completely different and better way.  I wrote a funny little exchange but it didn’t work with where I had it, so I saved it and after finishing I found a place where it did work and put it there.  So, by the time David Wechter showed up, I’d basically almost done all twelve pages.

Then David and I moseyed on over to The Dresden Room, a restaurant that’s been on Vermont Blvd. since 1964.  When we arrived at seven we were literally the only people in the dining room.  We both ordered the prime rib (he the regular cut and I the slightly bigger cut with the bone) – this jernt is famous for their prime rib.  We both had salads and a baked potato and I had a shrimp cocktail.  The first food to arrive was a basket of foul smelling garlic bread.  I took one bite and that was that.  Strike one.  The next thing that arrived was the shrimp cocktail and our salads.  I’m a shrimp cocktail connoisseur and while this one was okay it wasn’t anywhere near the great shrimp cocktails I’ve had.  The shrimp were pretty large but not the usual looking shrimp cocktail shrimp.  The sauce was also okay rather than great.  Salad was fine (I had ranch dressing but we’d already ascertained that none of their dressings were homemade).  Then the true test arrived – the prime rib.

I think we both felt the same thing – that it was good but not great.  Certainly it wasn’t a patch on the butt cheeks of Lawry’s or The Smoke House.  Mine was actually tough – difficult to cut, but had a decent flavor and I did eat it all up.  The best thing of the evening was the baked potato, which I loaded with so much butter it wasn’t even funny.  I always forget how much I love baked potatoes, and I really don’t eat them very often.  Anyway, it was good to finally try it, but it’s not a place I’ll ever need to return to.  David and I had a great time, though.

Then I came home and ended up writing three more pages for a total of fifteen, so I’m actually ahead for today’s writing.

Today, I shall futz and finesse, then try to write a couple of new pages.  Then I have a noon o’clock meeting with Sandy, Doug and Adryan here.  After that, I’ll go back to writing, then I’ll eat at some point, hopefully pick up some packages, then write some more.  I think at some point I may have another visitor or something, but it wouldn’t be for long.

Tomorrow is a big writing day – I probably won’t do anything else but that.  Sunday, we have a little fundraising thing for Inside Out – I believe that happens from four to six in the Bank of Bur.  So, prior to it I will write as much as possible, and after I’ll eat something then come home and write as much as possible.  Monday we have our first music rehearsal for Inside out, so that’s four hours during the day, probably from ten to two or thereabouts.  So, I’ll try to write a bit in the morning and I’ll certainly write as soon as I’m back and if I keep the pace I’m at, I believe I’ll finish the book by then.  That is my hope.  Then the rest of that week is all Inside Out rehearsals.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, futz and finesse, write, have a meeting, write, eat, hopefully pick up some packages, write and write.  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, The Grand Budapest Hotel.  Blu and Ray, not sure.  Your turn.  Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, pleased as punch to have had the good call.

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