Well, dear readers, I am sitting here like so much fish, listening to a jazz singer I knew nothing about, Gregory Porter. This CD, which I got for two bucks, is a tribute to Nat King Cole, and I must say it’s very tasty, if you get my meaning. Mr. Porter has a lovely voice, but it’s the lush and beautiful arrangements/orchestrations of Vince Mendoza (the now Claus Ogerman) that make this CD shine and shine it does.
So, yesterday, I woke up at eight after only four hours of sleep. At ten, I went back to bed and slept until two-thirty or thereabouts. So, it wasn’t much of a day, and yet I did get a few things done. The reason I went to bed so late was due to finding a style I liked for the Discography section of the new book, and then conforming that section and the Shows and Films section to that style. I think it looks good and is easy to understand. Upon arising, I finished doing that and then sent the book to Grant, who I’m hoping will not sit on it for a week before finally getting to it. I’m hoping he gets it in the design program quickly because once it’s in there, I think we can move pretty quickly. I think I settled on the cover image, too. I spent most of the rest of the day (what little of it there was) scanning images for the book – some fun stuff for sure.
I went to Gelson’s intending to get one of their pre-made sandwiches but alas the Sherman Oaks Gelson’s kind of sucks and they didn’t have any that looked as good as the one I’d gotten at the Studio City Gelson’s the other day. So, instead, I bought some rolls, fresh turkey, cheese, lettuce, tomato, plus go some of their spicy Thai pasta and a little salad, spending three times the money I would have at the Studio City Gelson’s, came home, made two turkey sandwiches (very low-calorie) and at the pasta salad, which was good. I was pretty full after that. Then I took a break and sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched the first hour of Billy Wilder’s vicious little movie, Ace in the Hole, the Blu-ray that I never got around to viewing. Kirk Douglas is great in it, but boy is it a sour movie and it’s totally understandable why the film was such a huge flop. The “hero” of the film is a horrible character, and it’s just a downer every step of the way. But, brilliantly written and directed, with many classic Wilder directorial touches. It’s also very hard-hitting and pulls no punches. Most of the characters are pretty horrible people, and that includes the trapped guy’s wife, played brilliantly by Jan Sterling, who has the film’s greatest line of dialogue. When Douglas suggests she go to church and pray for her trapped husband, she says, “I don’t pray – kneeling bags my nylons.” Back in the 1990s, I went to a Passover dinner at my cousin Dodo’s house and Ms. Sterling and her date, Sam Wanamaker, were there. I told her she’d spoken my favorite line of dialogue and she immediately smiled and quoted the line. I’ll finish it this evening.
Then I listened to music and ate a few Cheetos, the salad, some low-calorie ice cream and I’m thoroughly disgusting right now. I also cannot shake this truly irritating cough, which has been lingering for over a week now, closer to two weeks. Begone, I say, and I say begone. And that was about it.
Today, I’ll be up by eleven, I’ll attend to a few things, I’ll eat, hopefully pick up some packages, and start preparing a new Kritzerland release or two, since we’re behind a bit. I’m hoping the previous two releases will all ship today and tomorrow. They were actually ready for pick-up last Wednesday, but the helper’s mom, who usually does that, has been at her hubby’s hospital bedside. But I said they had to get picked up yesterday and I’m told that happened, so I’m hoping they’ll do what they need to do so that we’re all caught up in that regard. Then I’ll relax and finish Ace in the Hole.
The rest of the week is meetings and meals, a work session on Thursday morning, a put-in that night, then we resume performances with our replacement actress for the weekend. I’ll definitely go on Friday night to support her, and then I shan’t see any of the other weekend performances – simply too much to do and I hope some of that includes book stuff. I still have about ten more things to scan, too.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, attend to a few things, prepare a Kritzerland release or two, scan more stuff, eat, hopefully pick up packages, hopefully get CDs shipped, and then relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite films of Billy Wilder and your favorite performances in said films? Let’ shave loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, leaving you with this: “I don’t pray – kneeling bags my nylons.”