Well, dear readers, it is late and I must write these here notes in a hurry as I have to be up early to deal with fixing the title page of the book (the publishers added something to it and not only that, misspelled what they added), and then I have a ten o’clock meeting with the new helper.
Yesterday was a kooky day in every way. The doorbell rang and woke me up just before the alarm was to go off, but it was a nice way to greet the day, as some lovely plant was delivered, a thank you gift from Julie Kirgo, which was so very sweet of her. Then I answered e-mails, printed out orders, and finally went and picked up packages, including my free hardcovers. That is when I finally noticed what they’d added to the title page, which was not there in what we sent them and why they would add anything to a PDF that is locked save for them inserting the ISBN numbers and their language on the copyright page is anyone’s guess. I immediately wrote e-mails and hopefully they hadn’t printed my real order yet, so we can get the galley corrected and they can get the new file to the printers within hours – that is the hope anyway. Because we send a finished PDF, I really only glance at the galley in a once-over kind of way and I didn’t even look at the title page because they’re not supposed to be able to change anything.
After that bit of business, I had a nice conversation with the current helper and we got everything straightened out so that the transition should be smooth and hopefully effortless. Then I attended to other things, all songs are now chosen and all singers have their music, although we’re still looking for one teen singer for a duet. Then I finally sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched a Blu and Ray of Frank Capra’s Pocketful of Miracles, a film I rather liked back when it came out. Watching it again after all these years, I do recall not liking the Bette Davis bits back then – what I remember loving was Hope Lange and Peter Falk, the latter of whom walks away with the film. Watching it again, it’s just too long at 136 minutes, too labored, but boy you can’t beat the cast – look it up – it’s filled with amazing actors and actresses. It’s very funny at times, and the photography is lovely. I’d gotten this Blu-ray when it came out and watched the titles, which are brown and ugly, so I made the assumption that it was just brown and ugly and shut it off. But after the titles it’s actually not bad – just a bit on the brown side but with pretty vibrant and mostly accurate colors, and it’s reasonably sharp and detailed. And boy would it be easy to hack twenty minutes out of it.
After that, I did some work on the computer regarding an upcoming release – liner notes, inlay card, all of it, listened to some music, and started a free trial at newspapers.com, which is now going to obsess me like crazy, since they have a full run of the Los Angeles Times. I’ve already found lots of fun stuff and confirmed even more that I’m rarely wrong about where I saw stuff when. Funnily, I was looking at one movie section and it showed I’ll Cry Tomorrow playing at the Lido, but I know I saw it at the Stadium just a few blocks away. Going back a couple of weeks proved me correct – it played the Stadium and then for some wacky reason it moved to the Lido. So, I have to be careful not to be up all night. And I’ve got seven days for free, but it’s only eight bucks a month, so I may keep it for a few months, just for fun.
Today, I’ll be up early to deal with the book stuff, then I have the meeting with the new helper, then I’ll hopefully pick up some packages, and then I’m meeting Peyton and her mom for a birthday lunch and she’ll get the new book. Then I’ll come home and relax.
Tomorrow and Sunday I’m not sure what’s happening – there may be a lunch that I’m forgetting, so if there is, hopefully someone will remind me. Next week there’s a lot to do and I shall damn well do it. And just for safety’s sake, do send some really strong patented most excellent vibes and xylophones for no problems about anything. We just need things to run smoothly for the rest of the year.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, deal with the title page silliness, have a meeting, hopefully pick up packages, have a birthday lunch, 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, too many. Blu-ray, I have no idea. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy that the kooky day is done and hoping only for smooth as silk days.