Well, dear readers, I am sitting here like so much tired fish, listening to George Szell work his magic with the symphonies of Robert Schumann. I’m happy to say that I did, in fact, finish project one just before listening to the Schumann symphonies. There will be a lot of futzing and finessing, I’m sure, and probably some adding and subtracting. I can only tell you this, since we know there are occasionally prying eyes around these here parts – it involves music and is musical of sorts. That’s all your getting out of me, Rico. It feels like I’ve been working on it for months, but I think it’s really only been two or three weeks. I got the ideas for both projects one and two at exactly the same time and decided to do the one that involved music first, since that’s double the work, really. Project two is its polar opposite and I’ll probably start on that after we’re past the November Kritzerland show. I also read a post on Facebook from the manager of Jerry’s Deli that said the closing may not be for good, but just for now. I hope that’s true, truly. I also didn’t realize the Daily Grill shut down a month ago – I really wanted to have a meal there and never got around to it. And now Szell is doing Strauss – Richard not Johann – Don Quixote, just great and sound is truly stunning. As I said, of all these gargantuan box sets I have of various conductors, this is by far the best, in just about every way. Even the music I don’t really care for is served so well by Szell that it’s not making me want to vomit on the ground. The only sad thing is that Szell didn’t do American composers, really – there’s not a single Copland piece – in fact, I think only one CD has American composers, but boy is it a masterpiece – haven’t come to that one yet but already had it on CD but am hoping that this is a fresher mastering – the Barber piano concerto with John Browning coupled with a William Schuman piece. Not much English music here either – two Walton pieces and that may be it. Anyway, much joy being had by the likes of me.
Yesterday was a day in which I didn’t get done the thing I most wanted done – just wasn’t feeling it. I was up at eleven-thirty after eight hours of sleep, but I think the weather is having sport with my allergies and it’s most annoying. The helper’s mom came by and picked up a couple of things she needed from our sale. I had to approve more stuff and that required more listening, which took up a lot of the day. I made tuna sandwiches for lunch and those were good. I also had an apple. I think it was about eight hundred calories up to that point. I went to the mail place and picked up two packages from the past two days – more Tide for she of the Evil Eye, and more toothpaste for he of the brushed teeth. I came right back home, did a few more things on the computer, then finally sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched The Yakuza, starring Robert Mitchum, Brian Keith, Ken Takakawa, and Richard Jordan. I watched the Blu and Ray three years ago when it came out, but I never really remember much about it. It’s quite good, but never quite attains greatness. Mitchum does give one of his finest performances, and everyone else is great, too. It has moments of greatness, and it’s blessed with a fantastic score by Dave Grusin. Sidney Pollack directed and did a fine job of it. The transfer is pretty great.
After that, I had one of those Lean Cuisine pizza bread things for an additional 300 calories – so 1100 total, which is fine. I also had some grapes. Then I went to work on project one and finished it just in time to start writing these here notes.
Today, I’ll be up by eleven, I’ll do whatever needs doing, and then I will do what I wanted to do yesterday whether I feel up to it or not. After I’m done with that, if there’s time I might just go to Jerry’s Deli for a meal – it’s just that it’s been cold outside, and I don’t love eating outside when it’s cold. I could also take something home, I suppose. We’ll see. If not today then maybe I’ll brave tomorrow around three o’clock, when I’d hope there wouldn’t be a ton of people there. We shall see. I’ll hopefully pick up some packages, and then at some point I’ll watch, listen, and relax.
As to the weekend, I’m hoping to have at least a little ME time because I need some as we go into our busy Kritzerland show week and of course I have to start planning the December holiday show. I already have several folks lined up for it and so it’s just figuring out the songs. Also, next week I’ll be doing a lot of futzing and finessing and adding and subtracting.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, be up by eleven, do whatever needs doing, do what I wanted to do yesterday today, eat, hopefully pick up packages and mail, and then watch, listen, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite films of Robert Mitchum and director Sidney Pollack? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have finished project one.