Well, dear readers, when in Rome do as the Romans do. When in California, specifically Southern California, do as the Southern Californians do – wake up to an earthquake. I always seem to wake up just prior to them happening and yesterday was no exception. The house started to rock and roll and then there was a huge jolt. I got out of bed and went to the computer – it was already being reported as a 4.5, which was then downgraded to a 4.2. Well, it surely did not feel like a 4.2 or a 4.5. About thirty minutes later, we had a lovely aftershock. Given all that has been going on, did we really need this on top of it all? We did not. Now, I will say there was one amusing thing about it: Within twenty seconds of it happening, people were all over Facebook posting about it. This is what the world has become, that the most important thing to do within twenty seconds of an earthquake is to post on Facebook. In any case, it was completely annoying, this earthquake, and one thing too many. Enough already, or, as Babs and Donna would say, enough is enough. And now the evening is coming to an end and I am sitting here like so much fish, listening to Zino Francescatti do a bang-up version of the Sibelius violin concerto with Leonard Bernstein conducting, in superb Columbia stereophonic sound. It was actually a nice respite from the heavy Bruckner symphonies which I’d just finished. Oh, and has anyone noticed that this is the last day of July? How did that happen? It seems like we just began July and here it is, the last day of July. Which means that tomorrow is August, and it is my fervent hope and prayer that August will be a month filled with health, wealth, happiness, creativity, and all things bright and beautiful.
Yesterday began with a bang, that stupid earthquake that no one needed. I hadn’t slept more than fifteen minutes when it happened at four-thirty. Then I was up for a while, then got back in bed at six, fell back asleep finally at around six-thirty and slept until one, so about seven hours of sleep.
Once up, I did stuff that needed doing, mostly Kritzerland show stuff, which took up about an hour. Then I made some bow tie pasta with sautéed onions, butter, and cheese, about six ounces of pasta – that was very good and just the right amount. After that, it was more Kritzerland show stuff, including adjusting a couple of commentary things, a few telephonic calls, and the day was pretty much done when I finished doing that, so I sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched a few more episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, disc two of five – no great episodes and all directed by my two least favorites, James Neilson and Paul Henried, save for two by Justus Addis, who was terrible, and some new guy in town – Robert Altman. Some interesting casts, though – one episode had a very good performance by a young Harry Guardino, another a wry performance by Peter Lorre, and my favorite, a terrible episode starring a fifteen-year-old newcomer named Carol Lynley. Hoping for some better episodes in disc three.
After that, I took a drive, went to Gelson’s and got some toasted coconut almond ship ice cream and came home and finished listening to the Bruckner symphonies conducted by Eugen Jochum, a wonderful set. I had two tortillas with cheese for my evening snack, and a little bit of the ice cream for my evening sweet. Then it was more music and that brings us up to date as of this current moment in time. By the time I finish this very sentence we will no longer be up to date.
Today, I’ll arise when I arise and not before, and once arisen I shall do whatever needs doing – I suspect it’s going to be a VERY busy Kritzerland day. I’ll hopefully pick up some packages and two important envelopes that I really need, I’ll eat something fun – maybe a burger or one of those chicken sandwiches I love – and then at some point I’ll watch, listen, and relax.
Tomorrow, she of the Evil Eye will be here bright and early and I’ll go do stuff until she’s done. I might even take a long walk, but we’ll see how I’m feeling. I have stuff to do that will take the entire afternoon, then I’ll relax, and Sunday will be exactly the same only slightly different because there will be a Sunday kind of vibe. Then next week is all Kritzerland show stuff – casting September and getting ready to do our show on the ninth. We’re only doing one live test this time, but I have fun stuff planned – no song for this one, but some fun stories. So, a very busy week filled with busy things of all shapes and sizes.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, arise when I arise and not before, do whatever needs doing, do Kritzerland show stuff for both the upcoming August show and the September show, hopefully pick up packages and more importantly two important envelopes, eat, 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, lots of classical music. DVD, more season three Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, where I shall hope that in Southern California we won’t have to do what the Southern Californians do.