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January 13, 2016:

NEVER LET HELL HAVE THE UPPER HAND

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, for a moment I was going to title these here notes The Day from Hell, but that would be letting hell win and I see no reason to do that. What I say is, to hell with hell. Hell can kiss my ASS. The day began as badly as it could and I had to deal with that off and on throughout the day. I kept calm, did the right things, and it never escalated to where it might have, so that was a plus. But, as is always the case, if you don’t let hell have the upper hand, you can just keep on keeping on, which is what I did. Instead of letting the hell bug me the entire day and therefore impact any work I might be doing, I just went about my business.

So, I futzed and finessed quite a bit, smoothing out a few things, cutting, adding, all the usual futzing and finessing stuff. Then I wrote a few paragraphs, then went and had a Chinese chicken salad and a bagel. Seated in the booth next door was my new pals, the writer D.C. Fontana and her husband and special effects wizard, Dennis Skotak. I gave them a copy of my first memoir, and she’d already called me to tell me that my first agent, Alex Brewis, had been her agent for over thirty years. I suspect there will be other things in common, too. She said she’s enjoying it. They’re also coming to the Kritzerland show on Sunday, so that will be fun. Then I came right home, did a little more dealing with the hell, and then buckled down, Winsocki and began writing in earnest. I did about four pages, took a little break, had some telephonic calls, then wrote another five pages. I took a break and picked up one package, which contained a copy of my birth certificate, which I needed to begin collecting my SAG pension, which will begin in February. Then I came back home and wrote a couple more pages, after which I sat on my couch like so much fish.

Last night, I watched a short motion picture entitled Uncanny. It had a film festival release last year and is now on the Flix of Net. You might think it odd (I do) that there were so many AI/robot things last year – Ex Machina, Humans, and this film. But this film was actually shot in 2012. They “say” it didn’t come out until last year because they spent three years in postproduction, which I find a load of malarkey. I think Ex Machina came out and Humans was a hit and voila. It’s a no-budget film shot on digital, mostly taking place in one room with three characters. The movie exists for one reason and I knew what that reason was after five minutes. In other words, everything is predictable, you can see it all coming a mile away, and who cares anyway? The writing is strictly amateurish and the direction is right out of film school, even though the director has been working since 1999. Acting is not so hot either. It’s short, though.

After that, I went out and got a donut, just because some of the day had been so difficult, and then I wrote four more pages, finishing the chapter I was on. I went to a surprisingly unexpected place at the end of the chapter – just a gift dropped into my lap by some divine process I never understand. Then I took a hot shower, and then did some other work on the computer.

Today, I’ll be up by nine, I’ll futz and finesse and try to write at least a few paragraphs, then I’m being picked up and driven to the ALS meeting. After that, I’ll eat something, then come home and begin writing. Because I won’t be home for a bit, I’ll really just write from the time I get back until it’s time for bed. I’m now less than 100 pages from finishing.

Tomorrow, I write right up until the Kritzerland rehearsal. And then after that, I’ll continue writing. Friday is an all writing all the time day, save for a little meeting in the late afternoon. Saturday is our stumble-through – it’s late in the afternoon so I’ll be able to sleep in and get a lot of writing done. I may just print out the new pages for Muse Margaret on Saturday and get them to her then, because the sound check on Sunday is at two instead of our usual four – but I’m guessing I could print in the morning and then Xerox and get them to her by noon, come home and get ready for the sound check and show.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, futz and finesse, write, attend a meeting, eat, and write. 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, reminding everyone and myself to never let hell have the upper hand.

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