Well, dear readers, March is flying by, like a gazelle hitching a ride from Rip Torn. Now, that may seem strange to you, but did you know, for example, that I, BK, once hitched a ride from Rip Torn. This is a true story – I don’t believe my hitchhiking experiences actually made it into any of the Kritzer books, but yes, I used to hitchhike. I only had one bad experience in all the hitches I got – most were friendly and helpful. It was a different time then, of course. Today you couldn’t hitch because it would be far too dangerous. It was probably dangerous then, but, as I said, it was a different and nicer time. Mr. Torn was a lovely man, and was very encouraging when I told him I wanted to be an actor. I think I also got a ride from some other actor, but I can’t remember who it might have been. The bad experience? Well, I knew you’d ask. It wasn’t bad, really, just weird and disgusting. I got in the front seat of the car. The driver seemed like a nice chap – pale, red hair, nothing really off. And I was happily just getting where I needed to get. But the guy kept looking down at his crotch – I saw his head doing that over and over. Naturally you wonder what the HELL he’s looking at, so my eyes traveled downward and this creepy man had pants that were completely cut open at the crotch, exposing his whatever. I politely told him to please let me off at the next corner, which he did. But that was the only thing that ever happened like that. Sometimes nice folks even went a little out of their way to get you to your destination safely. I hitched for about a year, I guess. Lots of teens did. It was actually kind of fun. And I suppose it was just as dangerous for the nice people who’d pick you up – how did they know they weren’t picking up a murderer or robber? What the HELL am I talking about? Why am I going on about hitchhiking? Oh yeah, the damn gazelle
Yesterday was a pretty nice day all around. It was irritating trying to park at the bank, but that was over quickly. It was irritating when the second pension check STILL didn’t arrive. I called the post office and ranted at some toady, who assured me that as soon as his boss or a supervisor returned they’d call me back. They did not. What else is new? Today they’ll be getting an even stronger call and I won’t get off the phone until I’m talking to someone who can actually do something. If they shine me on, I will simply go there and demand to speak to someone in person. Then I had a really nice chat with the SAG pension office – he strongly suggested direct deposit as a way to never worry about this again. And I said okay. So, he sent me to the pension site and I downloaded the form and printed out a bank statement, which they need as backup documentation. I’ll fax that to him this morning. Hopefully, if the second check IS lost they can just deposit it immediately into that account. My loathing of the USPS right now is at an all time high. They keep raising the postage rates, over and over and over again, and their already inept service just keeps getting worse and worse.
Then I went and had an omelet and a bagel, then came back home. I did some work on the LA show, had some telephonic conversations, worked at the piano, and then it was time for the second Kritzerland rehearsal. It was really fun – I have a few notes here and there, made one change to the order – originally Eric Petersen was doing If I Only Had a Brain, Heart, and Nerve all as one long piece. He asked if we could split it into three, and I said yes, because it will absolutely work better that way, and it breaks up a couple of ballads that were together. Everyone sounded great. We futzed with a couple of arrangements, as well. Sami was last and I worked with her the most – just getting some levels and colors into her song and making it simpler.
Once that was done, I did some more work on the LA show, did a jog, and then it was too late for a movie, so I just continued to work on the computer, and have telephonic calls.
Today, I’ll begin two sets of liner notes (want to announce two titles mid-March), I’ll try writing a little monologue for the LA show, I’ll eat, I’ll hopefully pick up some packages (the new book will be here by Tuesday, I think, at which point I’ll order the copies and we’ll get them all shipped out as soon as they arrive. I then have a meeting with my set designer at LACC – hopefully I’ll be back on the freeway before it gets insane. Then I’ll just work on the LA show and the liner notes, then relax.
Tomorrow, she of the Evil Eye comes, and then we have our stumble-through. After, some of us will go have a nice meal. Then I’ll work on the show and the liner notes. Sunday will, I hope, be a ME day. Monday is very busy, then Tuesday is our sound check and show.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, write various and sundried things, eat, jog, have a meeting, hopefully pick up packages, and relax. 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, two new upcoming Kritzerland releases. Blu-ray, the PBS thing on Carole King, and a Burt Bacharach concert and more Twilight Time movies. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, and don’t try hitchhiking these days, whatever you do.