Well, dear readers, it was another day of mostly relaxing, although there was two hours of work in the afternoon, something that had to be done. I got eight-and-a-half hours of sleep, got up, answered e-mails, had a couple of telephonic calls, then rustled up some Wacky Noodles for my meal o’ the day – about six ounces of ‘em. I ate them all up and it was a very good batch. Then I got in the motor car and moseyed on over to the mail place where, happily, the missing package had either been found or re-delivered. I took that home and then the new helper arrived.
We spent two count them two hours going through the Indiegogo perks, finding all the items as we did so, and he now has everything except the signed quotes and the signed script/score that won’t get shipped until the end of the month. I’m very happy with the new helper – he’s completely organized and together and double checks everything – I believe he’s taking over for good on Saturday, although I’m sure the old helper will help him when we ship the Three Piano Concertos CDs next week. Then he left and I sat on my couch like so much fish and watched two DGA screeners.
The first DGA screener was entitled Downsizing, directed by Alexander Payne – I’m not really a fan of his work. It stars Matt Damon. I had no idea what it was about, and in certain ways I still have no idea what it was about. The first third is fun – turns out it’s a fantasy with big themes. And I enjoyed the first third – it’s visually interesting and Damon is very good. It’s got some funny stuff in it, too. The Christoph Waltz shows up and it becomes a whole different movie for a while. Then a Vietnamese woman shows up and it becomes a third movie – unfortunately, for me the parts don’t equal a whole and it gets very preachy and New Agey as it lurches toward the finish of its slightly over two-hour running time. You can’t really set up one kind of film only to change course twice because the mood swings are just too big, at least they were for me. The performances are fine and I wouldn’t be surprised if the actress who plays the Vietnamese character is nominated for an Oscar – that is if they can get enough people to actually see her performance.
Then I had some chocolate licorice (three pieces), a bagel, and a couple of other small snacks as I began watching the second DGA screener, which was entitled Baby Driver. I’d looked it up and it really sounded dreadful to me, but surprise of surprises I kind of enjoyed it – it’s very fast, visceral, and shot almost like a musical – some of it is very Jacques Demy. There’s some violence in the second half, but nothing extreme, and it’s just a wacky kind of Fantasyland crime film. The performances are all good – the kid playing the titular driver is new to me and he was okay, but the showy roles are played by Kevin Spacey (wonder if the revelations about him ultimately will be a problem for the film), Jamie Foxx, Jon Hamm, and a sweet performance by Lily James, who I’d just seen in Darkest Hour – she was Lady Rose in Downton Abbey and I really like her, although her American accent wavers from time to time. The film is literally wall-to-wall songs (t’s part of the plot) and the editing is showy and good. So, if you’re looking for something fun and kinetic you might enjoy this.
After that, I took a very long hot shower and pondered this new book thing. As I mentioned, I was none too happy to see that both my titles had been recently used, so I came up with two alternates that I think I’d be happy with, and both are perhaps better than the original choices. I’m still not sure what this story is leading to – it could, at this point, go where I think it’s going to go, or it could end up as something wholly other, which is why I’ll be having a conversation with Muse Margaret today at some point.
Today, I’ll be having a conversation with Muse Margaret at some point. We’re going to try and pull together our next release, at least enough so we can announce it on Friday or Monday – it would be a kind of fun birthday announcement, actually. There won’t be any audio samples on this one, for reasons that will be clear once I announce. I’ll eat (maybe tuna sandwiches, since I have everything needed), I’ll hopefully pick up packages, maybe unbox, but no jogging until the smoky air clears up. Then I’ll relax.
Tomorrow is, of course, a big birthday for me. I’ve been invited for an early birthday supper with Nick Redman and his ever-lovin’ Julie – we’re going to a fish jernt in Santa Monica that we always used to go to. I’ll probably head over the hill early to avoid traffic, then do a few things down that way, and take surface streets to the restaurant, which is just a block from where I used to live for a decade. So, that will be fun. It’s certainly going to be weird turning this age, but hopefully I’ll be my usual positive self about it. I’ll hang out until the traffic clears up – in fact, I may drive across town and come up via Nichols Canyon, just to stay away from the freeways. We shall see. The book signing on Saturday has been postponed due to the crazy fires up that way. So, not sure what that day will bring, although maybe another birthday lunch or dinner, which would be nice. Then Sunday is free and clear as far as I know.
Let’s all put on our pointy party hats and our colored tights and pantaloons, let’s all break out the cheese slices and the ham chunks, let’s all dance the Hora and the cha-cha-cha because today is the birthday of our very own beloved dear reader Jane, who I’ve known since we were very young. So, let’s give a big haineshisway.com birthday cheer to our very own beloved dear reader Jane, who I’ve known since we were very young. On the count of three: One, two, three – A BIG HAINESHISWAY.COM BIRTHDAY CHEER TO OUR VERY OWN BELOVED DEAR READER JANE, WHO I’VE KNOWN SINCE WE WERE VERY YOUNG!!!
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, have a conversation with Muse Margaret, pull together our next release for a birthday announcement, eat, hopefully pick up packages, maybe unbox, and then relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What have been your favorite TV programs this year? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have come up with two alternate titles that I’d be happy with.