Well, dear readers, how can Black Friday never seem to end? I have been inundated with so much spam since last Friday it is dizzying trying to keep deleting it before the next fifty come in. Black Friday is bad enough, but then we’ve got Green Saturday and Yellow Sunday and Red Monday and Brown Tuesday and Purple Wednesday, and today, I suppose, is Burnt Umber Thursday. And I am happier than happy to tell you I have not purchased ONE Color Week item from anyone. Well, yes it did – Vistaprint had a 60% off sale on Black Friday that seems to have continued for the rest of the week – I did take advantage of that to get my Christmas cards done and they, in fact, arrived yesterday. But that was it. Enough I say, and I say enough, not necessarily in that order.
Yesterday, I was up at nine-thirty after about seven hours of sleep, I guess. I had trouble falling asleep, but once I fell asleep I slept straight through to the alarm going off. Every time that damn alarm goes off it alarms me. In any case, the new interim helper came by and picked up invoices and brought me some CDs I needed. I then got back into bed, but didn’t fall back asleep. I finally got up around eleven-fifteen. Then I did some work on the computer and then at the piano. I had a funny e-mail volley with Bruce Vilanch, and then I went to the mail place and picked up a couple of packages – the ones that should have been there yesterday. I also got a Subway spicy Eyetalian sub to take home with me, which I took home with me, which is what I like to do when I take something home with me. I ate it all up whilst doing some more work on the computer. I booked my piano tuner for today because it’s really gone out in the last week from all my playing plus the Kritzerland rehearsals. And I was just trying to feel better, which I kind of do, but kind of don’t. We still need the no sick and part three miracle vibes and xylophones, so keep ‘em coming. After that, I sat on my couch like so much fish.
I got another DGA screener but I just didn’t have what it takes to put it in the player and watch it – I suppose I will at some point, but it’s a movie that will probably end up being on a lot of people’s worst of the year list – a film written by, directed by, produced by, and starring Angelina Jolie Pitt – her co-star is someone named Brad Pitt – they play a married celebrity couple and apparently she wants to be like Antonioni or any European art house director, and from what I’ve read it’s a vanity project of the worst kind. Maybe I’ll get the gumption to watch it today.
I watched three more episodes of The Man in the High Castle, but frankly I think I’m done with it. Although the subject matter is interesting, it’s just devolved into repetition, replaying the same beats over and over, which is what happens when you try to turn a relatively brief novel into an open-ended series. I will say that the show is not that well cast and, in fact, it features one of the single worst performances I have ever witnessed – a faux Marlon Brando/Clint Eastwood (from the Leone westerns), grimacing, scenery-chewing, mumbling actor, who has a toothpick in his mouth at all times (actor crutch, much), and is just filled with actor tics the likes of which I have not seen since John Ryan. I just sat there with my mouth agape, thinking oy and vey.
After that, I tried another Amazon series, because this time they gave us the entire first season – something called Bosch, based on the character from Michael Connelly’s novels. I’m not sure I’d say it was great, but I’m enjoying it so far – it’s much better cast and directed than The Man in the High Castle, and Connelly is involved with the series. It feels like it’s a continuing storyline for the first season, although with several cases. I have no idea if that will tie itself up in a neat little ribbon or not. They make good use of LA locations, including Musso and Frank. Of course, Connelly is not a real LA native, but he’s lived here since 1987 and he’s read Raymond Chandler, so there’s that. Anyway, this one I’ll watch all ten episodes of for sure.
Then I listened to music, took a shower, did some more work on the computer and that was that.
Today, I’ll write, eat, maybe jog if I’m feeling the feeling, hopefully pick up packages (and another screener is due to arrive – I haven’t received two that I know others have received – Son of Saul and Truth – so I may call Sony and ask them to resend if I don’t have them by Friday), and then we have our second Kritzerland rehearsal, which will take up too damn much of the evening, but alas there’s nothing to be done about it.
Tomorrow I have a lot of stuff to do, Saturday there’s a Christmas partay to attend, Sunday is our stumble-through, which may or may not be followed by an early birthday dinner, and then next week is busy, but the actual Kritzerland show isn’t until Wednesday, something I’m never doing again.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, write, eat, maybe jog, hopefully pick up packages, and have a Kritzerland rehearsal. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite TV shows on cable networks like AMC, USA, HBO, Showtime, and yes, Amazon? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, so ready to be over Color Week.