Well, dear readers, I should have begun writing these here notes twenty minutes ago, and yet I did not begin writing these here notes twenty minutes ago due to the fact I was having a long telephonic call. Now that that is done, here I am, writing these here notes. So, before we go any further, may I just thank all who sent excellent vibes and xylophones for a modern major miracle, because such a miracle did happen yesterday, midday. So, that was a very good thing and a very good thing that was, if you get my meaning and I know you do because there are no smarter people on all the Internet as you dear readers. And may I just remind you of this: Don’t sit under the apple tree with anyone else but me. Just be sure you’re six feet away and have an official Ben Casey and/or Dr. Kildare mask on. Yes, sitting under the apple tree will not be a normal activity for a little while longer. What the HELL am I talking about?
Yesterday was a very good day. I got eight hours of sleep, I got up, I did things on the computer, got more music pulled, chose some songs, ascertained that there were no packages to pick up (one did arrive after I called), and then I ordered from a Mexican jernt in Encino that sounded decent. The fook arrived about thirty minutes later – also, the food arrived about thirty minutes later, too. The fook was as you’d expect – the food was a little cold but edible. Not a place I need to order from again, but it was good enough and calorie friendly.
After that, the modern major miracle happened and that made me dance a little jig. Grant came by and took some oversized music to scan and then got that to me. And I continued choosing songs, had a work session on the telephone with Richard Allen to clarify some chords and things, and then I sat on my couch like so much fish.
Yesterday, I finished watching Mon Oncle, un film de Jacques Tati. I saw it at the Lido Theater in 1958 and enjoyed it, and I still enjoy it. Mr. Tati is not for everyone. His films do go on a bit too long – this one clocks in at just under two hours – but the visual invention in this film is just wonderful and the gags are so subtle at times that you’re likely to miss some. The color is great, and this one even has a tiny thread of a plot. If you don’t know Tati, it will take some getting used to, but it’s worth it as his films are visual treats and stand up to repeated screenings. The transfer in the Tati box from Criterion is excellent.
Then I did some more work on the computer. Then, because I haven’t heard back from the second New York person I tried for for the Kritzerland show, I moved on and asked someone else and I’m sure I’ll hear back from that person today. I had to write the other person on Facebook but I’m now thinking that the person who runs the page isn’t actually the person. Then I took a drive, came home, and watched the first half of another motion picture entertainment.
The motion picture entertainment was called The Chalk Garden, on one of those substandard Universal MOD DVDs. I got this ages ago and never watched it, nor have I ever seen a frame of the film. Well, it’s a wonderful movie so far – based on the Broadway play by Enid Bagnold, adapted for the screen by one of my screenwriter heroes, John Michael Hayes, he of Rear Window, To Catch a Thief, The Man Who Knew Too Much, The Trouble With Harry, and Peyton Place). The dialogue and characters are great and I in fact will finish it as soon as I get these here notes posted. A superb cast, too – Hayley Mills, Deborah Kerr, Edith Evans (a well-deserved Oscar nomination), and John Mills – and wonderful direction by the underrated Ronald Neame. I’ll have more to say after I’ve finished it.
Then I had the long telephonic call, and then it was time to write these here notes and use words like fook.
Today, I’ll arise when I arise, and then it will be more Kritzerland show stuff, I’ll eat, I’ll hopefully pick up some packages, then do more work at the piano and on the computer, then finally I’ll watch, listen, and relax.
The weekend will be more of the same and I’ve gotten the word that Dino’s Pizza has reopened for takeout, so I may just call over there and order and go pick up a pizza this weekend or maybe on Monday, with a side of fook.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, arise when I arise, do more Kritzerland show stuff, eat, hopefully pick up packages, do more work at the piano and on the computer, and then watch, listen, 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, a Nelson Riddle two-fer. DVD, The Chalk Garden. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy and relieved to have had a modern major miracle.