Well, dear readers, I don’t know about you, but when I hear Swan Lake I immediately put on my tutu and prance around the house, doing tour jetes and pas de bourrees, the latter of which can be quite exhilarating when you spell it with two r’s rather than one, and then I throw in an arabesque followed by a cabriole and a chasse. Oh, and did I mention a pirouette? I do those rather well. What am I, Rudolph Nureyev all of a sudden? The real fact of the matter is that I am sitting at my computer like so much fish, filled to the brim with steak and baked potato, feeling the after effect of too many scallions. To Many Scallions – that’s the title of my next novel and was the original title to the Stephen Sondheim song Too Many Mornings. It was changed out of town when they removed Ben’s reference to having had too many scallions. Why if I attempted a tour jete or a pas de bourree or a cabriole I’d look like a seventy-two-year-old Jew. Oh, wait… In any case, here I am, listening to Sir John Barbirolli in lovely mono sound, having gotten through the material derived from 78s – we’re now into the tape years of 1950 forward. We’ve had Swan Lake, we’ve had a great version of the Edmund Rubbra fifth symphony, maybe the best I’ve heard, some wonderful Elgar and Delius and John Ireland, too. Music making at its finest. I discovered a lot of music through Barbirolli when I was younger than Springtime. I think I can no longer handle scallions – they upset my tummy. So, there will no longer by too many scallions. And then there was the butter, but that’s another story for another day.
Speaking of another day, yesterday was another day. I was up at noon with almost eight hours of sleep. I did stuff that needed doing, but mostly approved and sent tracks, chose songs – I think we’re down to the last of them, just waiting to make sure the singer likes the one I’ve chosen. Then it will just be a matter of waiting on the asked guests – three we’re waiting on. Once I know whether they’re in or out then I’ll know if I need to choose another couple of songs. But I think we’re now in pretty good shape – I’m just really hoping the guests come through. Send some excellent vibes and xylophones.
Then I had my Wolfgang Puck Caesar salad with a little chicken from Gelson’s and that was actually fantastic. After that, I did more work on the computer, then moseyed on over to the mail place and picked up some stuff, then came right back home. I had a bunch of e-mails to answer, texts to answer, and the day was suddenly done. So, I sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I finished watching The Ten Commandments. I learned so many things. Never worship a Golden Calf or a Bronze Ankle. You will get gray streaks in your hair if you go to Mount Sinai. Your staff can change size at the drop of a hat. If you talk loud with a stentorian voice you can part the Red Sea. It’s such an odd movie and at three hours and thirty-six minutes a really long odd movie, with moments that have, in the ensuing years, become kitsch. And yet, you can’t stop watching the damn thing. The transfer holds up very well. The score by Elmer Bernstein works overtime but is oddly mixed. It was recorded on the very dead Paramount scoring stage, but they left it dry rather than add some air and room ambience – first time I’ve ever actually heard any score done like that – and it does the band no favors, I must say.
After that, I made the little bit of steak and the baked potato with too many scallions, ate it all up, and then just listened to music and relaxed.
Today, I’ll be up when I’m up, I’ll do whatever needs doing, I’ll confirm all the songs are chosen and we’ll continue making tracks – it’s an easier show for Richard this time in that a couple of tracks already existed, and a couple of the guests are getting their own tracks done. I’ll eat something fun, hopefully pick up some packages, and hope we get some good news from our potential guests. Then I’ll watch, listen, and relax.
Tomorrow is more of the same, Saturday we have a Zoom rehearsal for the opening number, just to get everyone on the same page, and Sunday perhaps I can actually have a ME day.
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, make sure all songs are chosen, continue making tracks and getting them to singers, eat something fun, hopefully pick up some packages, hope for good news, then watch, listen, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite Biblical type movies like The Ten Commandments? And who are your favorite actors is those movies? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, as I dance in my tutu at the ballet.