Well, dear readers, it is my solemn duty to inform you of this most important news: It is December. Say what? December? How can that be? Where HAS this year gone? In any case, it is December, and it is my fervent hope and prayer that December will be a month filled with health, wealth, happiness, creativity, and all things bright and beautiful. We need parts two and three of our miracle, so please send excellent vibes and xylophones for part two, which is close, and then part three. And add a few no getting sick vibes and xylophones while you’re at it. Of course, being December, we go into holiday mode because merry December is a time for Hanukkah and Christmas and mistletoe and Christmas trees and music and laughter and merriment and mirth and legs. And our annual Christmas Eve Do – maybe our twenty-fifth Do.
Yesterday was the final day of November and it was just fine. I woke up at nine-thirty, after about eight and a half hours of sleep, gave the helper what she needed, and then promptly went back to bed and slept until eleven-thirty. That was just what I needed and even though I was groggy and incoherent, I could tell I was feeling a bit better, but still a little stuffed up. I took my Sambucol and Airborne and Claritin D and Coldeez, then I did some work on the computer, then went and had lunch – a cup of chicken soup and a turkey sandwich with no fries or onion rings. Then I picked up one package and came home. Then I did some writing, and then sat on my couch like so much fish.
Yesterday, I watched a motion picture on a DGA DVD screener entitled The Big Short, a film about the economic meltdown of 2008. While I didn’t really care for the direction of the film, which just borrows from others who are better, especially Scorsese and The Wolf of Wall Street, the actors were good and the story is, of course, compelling, maddening, funny, outrageous, and frustrating. That the big banks and the people who run them were allowed to get away with what they did, pay no penalty, serve no jail time, and, in fact, used bailout money to pay themselves even more money, is just shameful and disgusting, and everything that’s wrong with this country. That no administration will actually do something about this is what’s really shocking. And, as the final title card tells you, it’s happening again, right now, this year, and no, the government is doing nothing to stop it. Shame on them, shame on the banks, and shame on us for not doing anything but sitting here like Shropshire sheep and taking it. I’ll tell you how things will change – the people of this country will finally band together and demand change – that will take radical action, but that’s the only way it happens. When people have had enough of the sickening way in which this country is run, then it’s time for the people to rise and tell the government, “This is how it’s going to be – we tell YOU, you don’t tell US.” Anyway, despite my caveat about the overheated direction, it’s worth seeing. I’m not sure audiences will take to it, though – we shall see.
Then we had part one of our first Kritzerland rehearsal. First up was the lovelier than lovely Kerry O’Malley. We ran her two solos – The Christmas Song and then a put-together of Happy Holiday and White Christmas. We futzed with the keys of the latter until we were all happy. Then Robert Yacko arrived and they did their duet – Be a Santa, our perennial holiday show opener. Kerry left, and Robert ran his two solos – A Place Called Home and Count Your Blessings. Every time I hear the latter I just marvel at what a beautiful song and sentiment it is – one of my favorite Irving Berlin songs.
Then Kimberly Hessler arrived and we ran her three songs – a put-together of It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas and Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow, a put-together of The Christmas Waltz and I’ll Be Home for Christmas, and finally Wouldn’t It Be Loverly – we’re doing that one because Kimberly just played Eliza Dolittle to rave reviews. James Lent, our MD, did fine work. They left and I once again sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched the first episode of an Amazon series entitled The Man in the High Castle, based on the book by Phillip K. Dick. It’s one of those alternate history what ifs – what if Germany and Japan had won the war. I got a whole box filled with many discs of Amazon shows. I’d read very good things about this one so that’s what I began with. So far it’s just okay – kind of a B-cast and writer and director, with the darkest photography I’ve ever seen on TV – maybe it’s just the discs, but there are times you just can’t really see what’s going on – sorry, that’s not a good idea if you want people to be involved in your story. Anyway, a lot of characters introduced, a lot of exposition, and we’ll see how it goes from here.
Then I just relaxed until it was time to write these here notes.
Today, I shall hopefully arise after another good night’s beauty sleep and will hopefully be feeling all better. Once up, I’ll go to Gelson’s and get some food to cook – perhaps some chicken and mushrooms to sauté or something like that. Then I’ll come home and I’ll do some writing on the computer and also some work at the piano, and then at four-thirty we have part two of our first Kritzerland rehearsal – only two people for that one. Then I’ll relax and watch stuff.
The rest of the week is meetings and meals, our second Kritzerland rehearsal, a party on Saturday, and our stumble-through on Sunday.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, eat, hopefully pick up packages (and there are two DGA screeners arriving via UPS today), write, have a rehearsal, and then relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite films based on true events of the last thirty years? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy that it is December, a month filled with the holiday spirit – and it is my fervent hope and prayer that December will be a month filled with health, wealth, happiness, creativity, and all things bright and beautiful.