Well, dear readers, the days continue and the nights do, too. My goodness, that was deep, wasn’t it? That was deep and profound, wasn’t it? That was deep and profound and overwhelming, wasn’t it? Not merely whelming, mind you, but OVERwhelming. That just made me stop and think and now that I have thought I realize the following: I don’t know what the HELL I’m talking about. Of course the days continue and the nights do, too. What else are the damn days and night going to do, not continue? They’re days and nights – they continue – that’s what they do. But there is a certain profundity in the doing. A Certain Profundity in the Doing – that’s the title of my next novel.
So, what can you say about yesterday that hasn’t already been said? Plenty, because I’ve said nothing about yesterday and if others have I have not been privy to their thoughts, oh, no, I have not been privy to their thoughts. I did manage to get about ten hours of glorious sleep, so that was very helpful, glorious sleep-wise. Once up, I answered e-mails, did a bit of work at the piano, proofed four more monologues and made whatever minute changes that needed to be made, and did some organizing. Then Time Warner hiccupped and as always it wasn’t them, so I just decided to let it be and fix itself and off I went to eat.
I went to Hugo’s, since that’s a nice, healthy jernt, and I had my usual small Caesar salad (it gets smaller with every visit and soon it will be three pieces of lettuce and a crouton) and my beloved pasta papa. It was all yummilicious and made me feel better. After that, I came directly home to find the Internet still out, so I called Time Warner and after two tries finally got someone in these here United States of America. She had me do the usual unplugging routine and we got the Internet back quickly. But I told her that these hiccups were just so irritating and she said it’s happening because they’ve got a new and speedier thing going on and I need a new modem that can handle those new and speedier things, because my now old modem can’t. So, they will come today and swap out the old for the new and hopefully that will fix the problems. What I don’t want is for them to give me some lame, cheap modem that’s worse – that is what I don’t want. I’ve read a bit about it and it does sound good and it also sounds like these hiccups over the last month have been happening on purpose to get you to do the new modem – why they couldn’t just SAY that is anyone’s guess. After that, I just sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched the second story in the Kwaidan film. What I find about this film is that the stories themselves aren’t all that interesting (they’re all ghost stories) but the style is – it’s beautifully designed and shot and that’s what makes it really compelling viewing. I then decided I needed a pick-me-upper so I put on The Sky’s the Limit, one of those MOD things from the Warner Archive. I wouldn’t say it’s the best transfer I’ve ever seen, no, I wouldn’t say that. But interestingly, this is one of the few Fred Astaire movies I’ve never seen. I watched the first half and I have to say it’s kind of delightful. I’d read of co-star Joan Leslie’s passing last week and while I’ve seen her in a few films I really wanted to see her do a lead and dance and sing, too. Well, she’s terrific – what a presence – she’s funny, beautiful, innocent, a very good dancer (she sings well, too, on her duet with Mr. Astaire – she’s dubbed on her earlier solo). The songs are by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer – I had no idea that this is where My Shining Hour came from, nor any idea that this is where One for the Road came from. I loved the duet they did, just a wonderful number. The film’s a bit odd with Astaire actually doing some acting, but Robert Ryan as one of his buddies seems like he’s in a whole different film. Robert Benchley is Robert Benchley and the direction is by someone who never really had a hit picture (this was probably the closest he came) – the film has no real style and lacks the touch of a George Stevens or Mark Sandrich. I’m looking forward to the second half, though, and am just really enjoying the whole damn thing.
After that, I took a shower, listened to music, and then relaxed.
Today, I shall plow on proofing the monologues whilst playing the video clips – I may even put a clip up on You Tube so everyone can see what the show was like – you know, just one monologue and song. I’ve already decided to go to Gelson’s early and get two small chicken breasts to saute with some mushrooms and onions and anything else I can think of – then I’ll do a variation on the Wacky Noodles sauce, make about four ounces of pasta and eat it all up. I’ll hopefully pick up packages, we’ll continue casting (we have two confirmed people so far), and then Time Warner comes between five and six and we’ll get that done. The thought of much faster speeds and no hiccups is very pleasing to me. I also updated my router’s firmware so then everything will be the latest and greatest.
Tomorrow and Sunday will be finishing proofing, then I’m getting a hard drive that will have all six performances that we shot of Welcome to My World and I’ll go through each and decide what monologue and song is coming from what performance. Then on Monday, I get together with my editor pal Marshall Harvey, and we’ll assemble a full version of the show – that will take a few days, and then I’ll be able to get that to the licensing people so they can see what we’re about.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, proof, cook, eat, get a new modem, hopefully pick up packages and relax. And hey, I could use a miracle right about now, so send your most excellent vibes and xylophones, won’t you? 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, nada. Blu and Ray, Kwaidan. DVD, The Sky’s the Limit. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, while the days and nights continue with their certain profundity in the doing.