Well, dear readers, this week is flying by, like a gazelle in a bubble bath eating truffles. I mean, you all do realize we’re in the last two-plus weeks of the YEAR, you do all realize that, right? That just boggles my already boggled mind. In other news, it’s almost the end of the year.
Yesterday was a day in which I did a few things after not getting quite enough sleep – about seven-and-a-half hours. But up I got, I answered e-mails, had a few telephonic calls, and then I did some banking, ate a Philly cheesesteak sandwich and a side Caesar salad, and then picked up one screener from the mail place, after which I came directly home.
Once home, I chose a couple of songs and am trying to figure out who our final young person will be – I’d like another boy but boys are really hard to find for our shows, not sure why. I did some more work on the computer, printed out orders (I was kind of disappointed in the number of orders, which I thought would be more – it was still healthy but it should be a LOT healthier – part of the problem being the inane algorithms of Facebook that insure lots of people aren’t even seeing my posts announcing it – for example, on the Sherman Brothers page exactly two people “liked” the post, when every single person on that group should have been ordering the CD, which clearly they weren’t. And of course if and when we sell out, then a thousand of ‘em will whine that they missed the post. So, if you’re on Facebook, “share” the post from my page or the Kritzerland page – that would help. Right now, we’ve only had one share. But as long as orders keep coming in steadily I’ll be happy – that’s what happened with Eubie – it didn’t do brilliantly its first day, but the orders were steady and, in fact, keep coming in regularly. Then I sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched another DGA screener, this one entitled The Shape of Water, starring Sally Hawkins and Michael Shannon, directed by Guillermo del Toro, a director whose films I have not enjoyed. And when I read “from the visionary director” I want to run for the hills, especially with a title like The Shape of Water. Well, surprise of surprises, I enjoyed this film – I don’t think it’s a masterpiece or anything, but it’s well paced, looks great, has a nice score by Alexandre Desplat, and wonderful performances by Sally Hawkins (I’m sure she’ll be an Oscar nominee), playing yet another person who can’t speak (this year’s “thing” in the movies – I think this is the third movie with a dumb person) – she’s just wonderful and so is co-star Richard Jenkins, an actor who’s done a ton of films and TV not a one of which I’ve seen – he’s great and deserves an Oscar nomination as well. Michael Shannon isn’t my favorite actor but he’s fine in this as the film’s villain. It basically feels like a dark version of Splash and The Creature from the Black Lagoon – a love story between an amphibian man and Ms. Hawkins’ character. It takes place in 1962, and also features Octavia Spencer in a co-starring role – they’re already trying to drum up her Oscar nomination, but for me the part isn’t worthy of that. Anyway, despite the cliché of the Evil Government People, it’s really well done and quite affecting, too. I recommend it.
After that, I went to Ralph’s to get a few things because as of this day I am back on a 1200 calorie a day diet until the Christmas Eve Do, which takes place on Christmas Eve. Then I relaxed and listened to music, whilst making a few book notes for the new book.
Today, someone is coming over early to pick up something, then I’ll try to do a jog. I’ll eat, hopefully print out a LOT more orders, hopefully pick up some packages, finish choosing songs and find our final kid performer, then relax.
The rest of the week is more of the same – with a couple of belated birthday meals in the mix, as well as shipping out the piano concertos CD, which will be in on Thursday morning.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, maybe jog, eat, hopefully pick up packages, print orders, choose songs, finish casting, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite “creature” films? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, mind boggled that there are just over two weeks left of 2017.