Well, dear readers, as I’ve said before (and I’m sure I’ll say again, being a highly repetitious Jew), I get my best writing ideas in the shower or when I jog. As I’ve said before (and I’m sure I’ll say again, being a highly repetitious Jew), I usually begin thinking about a new book right about this time of year. So, I’ve been thinking and pondering as well as pondering and thinking, not necessarily in that order. I do have an idea for the next Adriana Hofstetter book, but I’ve gotten used to writing those every other year. I also am planning to do a sequel to Red Gold, but that is a very complicated bit of business as it requires a lot of research into Los Angeles circa 1882. I’ve been gathering photos and writings about the city back then and I’m really looking forward to doing that book (it will end up being a trilogy), but I think I just need a little more time to find more details. The night before last I was pondering writing a standalone suspense story and I kind of had a vague idea for what that might be. But yesterday, I did a three-mile jog and whilst doing the final mile, without even meaning to think about it, an idea came to me that so tickled my fancy that I did a sprint to get home and write it down and make some initial notes. First of all, have you ever had your fancy tickled? And, if so, what did your fancy have to say about it, and did you fancy tickle right back? Where was I? Oh, yes, an idea that tickled my fancy.
Now, interestingly, over the last three or four years I’ve kind of jokingly hinted at a version of this idea, but this time the idea was kind of fully formed and completely different than my other version. Of course, I did what I always do, I called Muse Margaret and told her the idea, and she was as tickled by it as I was. She always tells me to wait until the New Year, which I will, but she did say, “Just start.” Who knows, maybe I will, and then in January maybe I’ll tackle the sequel to Red Gold. I do love writing so I suppose I could do two in one year if I was in that mode. I do think the writing of the idea from yesterday will be pleasurable and not difficult. It will be a comic novel about a subject I love. So, I will begin my usual process of making lots and lots of notes.
Yesterday was, I must tell you, what is known in day circles as a Lazy Day. I didn’t get to sleep until a little after three (what else is new), and I woke up at ten-thirty, so not quite eight hours of sleep. I got up, answered e-mails and had a telephonic conversation. And then I just got back in bed and played on my iPad for close to two hours. It was actually very pleasantly pleasant. Then I got up, did some work on the computer and did my three-mile jog. Then I showered and got ready for my dinner.
I met an old school chum at Loteria Grill, one of them new-fangled jernts that serve new-fangled Mexican food – a little lighter, healthier. Now, I’m a traditionalist in terms of Mexican food, which is why I’m such a fan of Casa Vega. But I’d heard good things about Loteria, so, why not? Getting the food out of the way first: I had a beef, rice, and bean burrito for my meal o’ the day. We also ordered some guacamole and I must say it was quite yummilicious. And the burrito was very good, too, and none of it was too heavy. In fact, when one factors in the jog, and one must always factor in the jog, it was a very calorie-friendly meal and it is all I ate for the entire day. I need to do this for the next three months – I simply must lose this unseemly weight I have gained.
But it was fun to catch up with my pal, whose name is Ira, one of only two Iras I new as a kid. I got the lowdown on the fiftieth high school reunion for our class, the Caledonians. These things seem to have become about the company that puts the reunions together (yes, there’s a company that does these things), so it’s all about money for them and I gather the cost was rather high, plus they nail you with a souvenir book of some sort, photos, and assorted ephemera. He told me it was ill attended (there were something like 700 in our class), and from the sound of it I’m kind of glad I didn’t go. We talked of all manner of things for almost two solid hours, as opposed to two unsolid hours. It was grand fun, and he’ll be coming to the August 2 Kritzerland how, his first. He’s also not read any of my books, so we’re going to start him off with the Kritzer trilogy, since he lived through that time and place.
After that, I came home, decided I wasn’t in the mood for a motion picture in any format, and so I just did stuff on the computer. I was happy to see that the Sami Indiegogo campaign is 30% funded after fifteen days – we’re told that’s very good. Sami’s mom has been working with a “guru” who does these campaigns all the time. He is confident that we will fully fund – he’s been giving her instructions on what to do for the last week.
Since we’ve been talking about Kelbo’s so much, I thought you might enjoy taking a gander at their menu. My regular meal there was in the top left corner under Pit Barbecue sandwiches – I always had the beef sandwich with two ribs, and the salad (on the other part of the menu under sides) – their salad had THE best dressing ever – a variation on 1000-Island that was completely unique. Anyone who ever had it has never forgotten it and it’s talked about all the time by nostalgic Kelbo’s fanatics. The kids of the two owners are still alive, but they will apparently never divulge the recipe for that dressing.
Today, I have a noon-thirty meeting near LACC, where things will be discussed and food will be eaten. After that, I’ll hopefully pick up some packages, then do a jog, then read through the commentary to make sure I’m totally happy, and then I’ll relax.
Tomorrow I have a morning meeting at ten at a NoHo restaurant, Friday I’m dining at Islands and seeing a production of 9 to 5, and then I’m not sure what the weekend holds.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, have a meeting, eat, hopefully pick up packages, and jog. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Ask BK Day, the day in which you get to ask me or any dear reader any old question you like and we get to give any old answer we like. So, let’s have loads of lovely questions and loads of lovely answers and loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have had my fancy tickled with a new book idea.