Well, dear readers, the Do is Done and it is now officially Christmas as I write these here notes. I know you’re anxious to hear The Tale of the Do, so here it is. For the first time the Do was slow to start. Usually we do have several people right at the beginning, but the only one arrived right at six was our very own Rob Stevens, his first time at a Do. We chatted as I finished up everything. I’d already lit all the candles and the log in the den fireplace. We got tired of waiting and at six-fifteen we loaded our plates and went in the den. It was smoky in there and it seems that the smoke from the log instead of all going up was coming into the room. I opened the door and it was a bit better, but as people arrived it didn’t really abate and then ultimately it got really bad, so much so that we put out the log, put a wet towel over it and got it outside. So instead of what usually happens, which is that we all convene in the den, after the first hour the party was mostly in the kitchen and dining room and then moved completely to the living room. It was odd, but fun.
Now, I’m probably not going to remember everyone as we had quite a lovely crowd, but here goes. Dear readers Amy and Mark, a nice fellow whose name I don’t remember but who’d been here five years ago – he had no place to be and asked if he could come and I’m always happy to have folks here. Henry Stanny and his ever-lovin’ Nancy and our very own Marshall Harvey, friend Joanna Erdos, the entire Haverty clan, including Doug and his ever-lovin’ Dorathy, and newlyweds Hartley and Bill. Adryan Russ and her ever-lovin’ Dale. Sami, Sarah, and mom Staitman. Kay Cole and her ever-lovin’ Michael Lamont. Shelly Markham. Ilona Simon-Muller and her hubby. Barry Pearl and his soon to be bride, Cindy. Leslie Young and adorable daughters Alexa and Mia. James Mulligan (he did the cover art for Red Gold). And finally, very late into the evening, Richard and Elizabeth Sherman. I hope that’s everyone, but if I forgot anyone, please forgive. Here’s a little photograph taken with Photo Booth on my computer – I think you’ll know everyone in the four-paneled photo.
At some point, Shelly sat down at the piano, and thus began the musical portion of the evening. He sang a couple of songs, Adryan sang her Christmas song, The Gift (originally sung by none other than Guy Haines), and then I was asked to play something, so I took a deep breath, asked if they’d like to hear something from the LA revue and they said yes, and so I debuted the epic seven-minute song about the Sunset Strip and I was very pleased by the reaction. I’m very proud of the song but you just never know if others are going to like stuff, but they really seemed to and that made me very happy. Sami sang He Was Grandpa, which was very moving, as always and she did a great job singing with a pianist who’d never played the song before (I didn’t want to play it, so Shelly did). Shelly did another couple of tunes and then Sami, Sarah and I (at Sami’s request) did What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve, a song Sami loves. That was fun.
As soon as the Shermans arrived I made him go directly to the piano. He wanted me to sing our song, Two Roads, so we did that and that was fun. He played his Christmas in New Orleans song, which was great. And then Sami wanted to sing Suddenly It Happens, which she loves, so Richard played it for her and she sang it – I can’t imagine how that must feel to a fifteen-year-old, to be accompanied by a legend. James Mulligan sang The Impossible Dream. It was all grand fun, and then Richard wanted to hear something from the LA revue – I didn’t want to sing the epic again, so instead I played the opening number of the show, and it, too, got a wonderful reaction, with a surprising number of laughs I wasn’t really expecting.
I made double the amount of tuna pasta salad and I have to say this is the first year where it was almost more popular than the spaghetti – they devoured ALL of it, something that’s never happened, even with the usual quantity. But the spaghetti was not neglected. I made five or six pounds of pasta (can’t remember which, but at least five), and all but a pound went, and so did lots of the sauce. Again, I made more sauce than I usually do, so there was never any danger in running out. Several people brought desserts, a lovely assortment. All in all, a splendidly splendid affair.
Prior to the Do, I’d gotten six hours of sleep, did some work on the computer, got one really good e-mail which is going to be VERY helpful, and one that was irritating – but the helpful one was the only one I cared about. I also got the new proof of the Create Space Welcome to My World – they suggested I order a hard copy of it, which I did and that will be here Tuesday, but having proofed and looked at everything I can approve it now – only I can’t find out where to do so because I think once I took the option to order a hard copy, it took away the approval, which will probably be back on Tuesday. But I’ll call them and see if there’s any way. I also put it on Kindle, even though their own formatting for Kindle caused a lot of wacky changes I don’t love – but it’s reasonably okay and I wouldn’t know how to tell them to fix it. So, it should be up on Kindle in a day or so, but if you’re really interested in it, I’d recommend the actual book – it looks really nice. I began cooking at noon and otherwise just relaxed and also picked up a couple of packages.
After the do, I got word that reviewer Don Grigware (he reviews for Broadway World in LA) has given out his Eddon Awards – we’ve won stuff before – Kritzerland shows and the And the World Goes Round album, and Sandy Bainum’s club act. This year he gave an Eddon for Best Ensemble to the cast of Inside Out, and boy did they deserve it. And I got an Eddon for Best Director of a musical (there were about ten of us before you get too excited) for Inside Out. So, that was fun.
Today, I’ll open my handful of presents when I get up, then I’ll finish cleaning the kitchen, although she of the Evil Eye will be here tomorrow so I don’t really have to do too much. Then I’ll watch something, then around five I’ll mosey on over to Cissy Wechter’s to attend her partay. It’s always a festive event and I haven’t seen David in way too long.
Tomorrow I’m doin’ nothin’ but relaxing, and Sunday will be more of the same. Next week will be even more of the same. I think I’m seeing Jason Graae and Faith Prince’s show on Monday night, I now have a Tuesday short meeting, and then on Wednesday I’m lunching with dear reader Jeanne over in her neck of the woods. Of course we’ll have our annual New Year’s Rockin’ Eve bash right here at haineshisway.com, and that’s always a blast and a half.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, open a few presents, relax, clean a bit, and then attend a partay. After however much food I eat there, I am done eating big for the rest of the year. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday (and Christmas) – what is currently in your CD player, and your DVD/Blu and Ray player? I’ll start – CD, The Hateful Eight soundtrack. DVD, Farewell, My Lovely, and then more Twilight Time titles. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, where I’ll be singing I Want to Wish You a Merry Christmas.