Well, dear readers, I am sitting here like so much fish, still listening to the wonderful music of John Veale and I don’t care who knows it. Prior to listening, I was watching but I had to stop watching because the watching was irritating me. I was an hour into a new film and found there was another entire hour to go. And so, I made the decision to stop watching and start listening. The motion picture in question, another DGA screener, was entitled The Lost Daughter, based on a novel – or, as the younger generation would so ridiculously put it, based off a novel. I know nothing of the writer of the novel or the novel itself other than its author uses a pseudonym, and no one knows who she is, only that she’s Eyetalian. The film is written and directed by actress Maggie Gyllenhaal. It stars Oliva Coleman, Jessie Buckley, and Dakota Johnson. It’s the kind of film critics fall all over themselves to praise – it’s arty to the nth degree. I knew from the first shot what I was in for, and I was correct. I’ll probably finish it, but it’s a real slog at two hours. I don’t know why every actor thinks they’re a director – some do well, some do not. Anyway, I’ll stick it out until the end and report back. I did get a screener of No Time to Die, the latest Bond film, but knew I couldn’t start that one as it’s close to three hours. The other screener that came is called Cyrano, which the producers are quick to let you know is a musical film, based on some stage show. Given that I can’t stomach the director, Joe Wright, I can’t imagine I’ll like it, but I’ll certainly give it a go.
Yesterday was certainly a Saturday, although it didn’t really feel like a Saturday for reasons that are not entirely clear to me. I got seven hours of sleep, had a Zoom session with David Wechter and we split up the next batch o’ stuff to write after discussing it all. Then I did some other work on the computer, chose a few songs for the January Kritzerland young people show, then I got ready to attend the matinee opening of the upstairs show at the Group Rep. First, I stopped at the mail place and picked up a few packages – screeners and a nice box of A Carol Christmas scripts that the company sent to both Doug and I. From there, I went to the theater.
The show was in the form of four radio plays and had quite a bit of singing of Christmas ditties like Jingle Bells and other such things. Afterwards, Doug and I went to the Coral Café for a meal. I had my beloved chicken fried steak, which was quite small this time around, and that was fine by me, mashed potatoes (I ate about half), veggies, and coleslaw. We shared some wings as an appetizer, but the food arrived so quickly that we ended up taking most of them home. The food was good, and I got a slice of pumpkin pie to bring home.
I then came home, started watching the movie and after an hour, stopped watching the movie. I ate the three wings I’d brought home, followed by the pumpkin pie, which was good. I caught up on e-mails and stuff, and then began the listening.
Today, I’ll be up when I’m up, I have no plans, as I’ve decided not to chance the drive to the DGA nor the long wait. So, I’ll just relax, perhaps do some writing on the project with David Wechter, and I’ve pretty much made up my mind what the new book will be, and I actually wrote two paragraphs just before beginning these here notes. I’ll write about ten pages so that when the New Year rolls around, I’ll be into the story and can just pick up and get going. That always works well, the writing of a few pages in advance. I’ll also do some more plot thoughts, too – just things to cover in the book. I’ll make some Wacky Noodles or pasta with red sauce for food, I’ll finish The Lost Daughter, I’ll watch the James Bond film, and then I’ll finish the evening with some listening.
Tomorrow is our first Kritzerland rehearsal, which begins at three and which I’m looking forward to. Wednesday is, of course, the birthday boy’s birthday and I’m being taken for a birthday dinner. Thursday, if I feel safe with the motor car, I’ll have a birthday lunch with dear reader Jeanne, but it will be early because we have a two o’clock Kritzerland rehearsal, so that just might be too tight. We shall see. Saturday is our stumble-through, and then Sunday is sound check and show.
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, have no plans, perhaps write, eat some pasta, and then watch, listen, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s free-for-all day, the day in which you dear readers get to make with the topics and we all get to post about them. So, let’s have loads of lovely topics and loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, enjoying working on the project with the Wechter fellow and happy to have hopefully settled on the new book.