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January 6, 2022:

CROOKED NOTES

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, I am sitting here like so much fish, writing these here notes after having written for almost all of the day and evening. I have no clew as to exactly WHAT I’m writing, I’m just merrily typing away and my handy-dandy keyboard and hoping that at some point a coherent sentence or two might emerge. Otherwise, I’m listening to the Puccini opera La Rondine, which I’ve always enjoyed even though I know it’s not considered one of his best. But it’s Puccini, so what’s not to like. Gorgeous melodies and wonderful orchestrations. What’s really fascinating about La Rondine is that until 1981 there was exactly one real recording of it, on RCA with Anna Moffo. That’s the one I’m listening to now and it’s great and I can’t imagine there being anything better, although there are now two or three more. Given the huge number of recordings of his major operas, it’s surprising that this one has so few. Anyway, I find this recording sparkling and fun and I don’t care who knows it. In fact, who is getting on my nerves. Prior to that, I finished An Inspector Calls, the recent version. It’s funny watching it, because it does have a certain Downton Abbey style to it. They also fill it out unnecessarily, but I enjoyed it and the performances were very good. It’s free for Prime members on Amazon.

Yesterday was a mostly writing day. I’d done seventeen pages before going to bed at close to five in the morning. I got up at noon o’clock after about six-and-a-half hours of sleep. Once up, I had e-mails to answer, which I did, and as soon as I was coherent, I futzed and finessed – not quite as arduous as it’s been, thankfully – just some additions and subtractions (one of the additions being somewhat substantial) and smoothing things out. Then I wrote one new page. After that, I girded my loins and went to the nearby branch of my bank. There was a small line outside the front door, but only three people. Unfortunately, the people inside doing their banking were taking their sweet time and half these idiots could have done their stuff online, as they were just depositing checks. They could have done that in the ATM, too, and there was even someone to do checks only deposits who asked people if they’d like to do that. I had no choice because I was depositing cash. It took thirty minutes to finally get to the teller. Unlike the idiots, once I got to the teller I was in and out in less than ninety seconds. That said, I did get irritated with her when she asked for my license, which they do when you deposit cash. I said why – I’m a business account and customer for twenty years or more – she mumbled something about Homeland Security, and I can’t listen to blather like that.

Then I drove over to Panda Express and got orange chicken, almond chicken, and white rice, came home, and ate it all up. It was pretty good, and I didn’t eat much of the rice at all, so hopefully not too bad, calorie-wise. Then I buckled down Winsocki and wrote six pages. That’s about as far as I can go without a break, so I finished An Inspector Calls, then wrote another six pages over the course of the evening. I’ll try to do three more before bed, but I’d really like to be in bed no later than three, so I can get up by eleven. Then it was time to write these here notes, even though I’d been writing for two hours straight. Which is why these here notes are probably not straight, but crooked. But there’s nothing wrong with the occasional crooked notes occasionally.

Today, I’ll try to be up by eleven, I’ll do whatever needs doing, I’ll futz and finesse, I’ll write new pages, then I have a Zoom thing with David Wechter at three-thirty, then an early dinner thing with Robert Yacko. Then I’ll come home and continue writing, although I’d like to find something to watch – there’s plenty to choose from. And I’m sure I’ll also listen and relax, too.

Tomorrow is more writing, and so is Saturday. And on Saturday I’ll send the first batch of pages to Muse Margaret, however many that will be, but I already know it will be over 100 pages. I’ll send in PDF form, and she’ll read them on the computer. It’s weird doing it this way after twenty years of just bringing pages over to her house. And then more writing on Sunday.

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, futz and finesse, write new pages, have a Zoom thing, have an early dinner, write more new pages, and then watch, listen, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: Do you think the world would be a nicer and better place without social media? I know you probably know how I feel about it, but – your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to be done writing crooked notes and to perhaps do three more pages of straight-through writing.

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