Well, dear readers, let’s just get the stupid stuff out of the way right here and now and also right now and here. I finally ordered a delivery from Dino’s Pizza as delivery was free. I placed the order online at two in the morning, just so it would be there, and I wouldn’t have to worry about it. The medium pepperoni pizza and side salad arrived right on time. I couldn’t wait to eat it, so I popped open the box and was rather shocked that the pizza did not, in fact, have pepperoni on it, it had obscene little green things all over it. Say what? Say WHAT? I, of course, immediately went into berserk mode, which I affectionately call Bruceserk mode. I got right on the Postmates site, ready to raise holy hell. I pulled up the order and guess what? I ordered a medium pizza with pepperoncini. Why? Because in the last of what you can add pepperoncini is right above pepperoni. Obviously, the words look alike, and I didn’t even notice it. So, instead of having a brilliant Dino’s pepperoni pizza, I had to pull off as much of the obscene green stuff as I could, which unfortunately took off some cheese with it. I ate a few slices (very small slices in the medium pizza) – at least getting the flavor of it, but also getting tiny bits of the way too spicy pepperoncini, and it was just a four-star debacle. I left two slices. Thankfully, the salad was good. What a disappointment and more importantly, what a complete waste of a meal and money. Thus endeth the stupid stuff and it’s always best to get the stupid stuff out of the way. And now, having dispensed with the stupid stuff, I am sitting here like so much fish, wondering how this week has flown by, like a gazelle eating a Dino’s pizza with pepperoncini. Frankly, I think they should either outlaw pepperoncini or change the name, so that unsuspecting older Jews don’t confused. I am listening to The Fountains of Rome, having just finished with The Pines of Rome, both by Respighi. And now we’ve moved on to Roman Festivals. This guy loved writing music about Rome.
Yesterday was an okay day after we get past the stupid stuff. I was up at seven-fifteen after four hours of sleep because it seems as if the noisy neighbors are back from wherever they were. The last two weeks have been bliss, noisy neighbor-wise, but there they were, yakking away loudly. I got up, did some stuff on the computer, then got back in bed. They were still at it, but I eventually fell back asleep and got another two hours, so six hours total.
Once up again, I answered e-mails, did more work on the computer, then the food arrived, and we entered the stupid stuff phase of the day. Once I was done with what I could eat, I spent the next couple of hours finishing the Kritzerland commentary, so that’s done, save for whatever finessing I’ll do. Then I sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I continued with my De Palma movies that Paul Hirsch edited, this one being the 2016 Shout Factory special edition of Carrie. Carrie remains De Palma’s best film and it remains so because it has a strong story and an excellent screenplay and it’s also perfectly cast, has perfect pacing, and only a couple of missteps. I think the main reason for the film’s greatness is Sissy Spacek, who is simply magical as Carrie. She has not a false move in the film and she is so endearing and heartbreaking that you cannot help but commiserate with her. And Piper Laurie is every bit as good, delivering a performance for the ages. Both of them deserved their Oscar nominations. And William Katt is perfect as Tommy – it’s surprising that this performance didn’t result in a huge movie career, but alas, it did not. The other performances are all excellent, especially Amy Irving, Nancy Allen, and P.J. Soles. The score by Pino Donaggio (available on Kritzerland, of course) is great, as is the photography of Mario Tosi. The biggest of the small missteps is using split screen in the prom destruction. I think De Palma realized it eventually, that it was just a bad decision because at the precise moment you should be horrified at the carnage, you’re taken out of the emotional vortex by having to watch two things at once. Paul Hirsch didn’t like it and actually replaced the split screen stuff wherever he had a full shot. The problem was that De Palma, knowing what he needed to show on whatever half of the screen, didn’t always protect the rest of the frame, so that there were light stands and other junk there. So, it couldn’t be completely undone. But it’s minor and the film thankfully then has one of the best scenes in the film, the final scene between Carrie and her mother. The transfer is a step up from the previous Blu-ray and the color is pretty accurate.
After that, I hadn’t been out of the house at all, so I took a drive, ended up at Jerry’s Deli just before they closed, and got stuff for today’s meal – turkey, cole slaw, Russian dressing, pickles, some rye bread, and Swiss cheese. After that, I came home and the rest you know because you know the rest including the stupid stuff, which, in case you weren’t paying attention, we got out of the way.
Today, I’ll be up when I’m up, I’ll do whatever needs doing, which includes Kritzerland show stuff, as we’re starting to get everyone their tracks. I’ll eat sandwiches, I’ll hopefully pick up some packages, and then at some point, I’ll watch, listen, and relax.
Tomorrow is a busy Zoom day – first a solo rehearsal, followed by a group rehearsal, followed by another solo rehearsal. Otherwise, it’s just the usual stuff. She of the Evil Eye comes on Saturday so I’m not sure how I’ll pass the time while she does what she does, and then Sunday perhaps I’ll relax.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, be up when I’m up, do whatever needs doing, including Kritzerland show stuff, eat, hopefully pick up packages, and then watch, listen, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite films of Miss Sissy Spacek? And what are your favorite botched meal stories? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have gotten the stupid stuff out of the way.