Well, dear readers, I have breaking bombshell news – Christmas is almost here. Yes, you heard it here, dear readers, Christmas is almost here and I’m really trying to get with the holiday spirit, but this has been a difficult couple of weeks. But in a short while I am getting in the damn shower and washing the past two weeks down the damn drain and I will not be held prisoner by the negativity that seems to be floating around these days. And so, I will ring dem Christmas bells, I will have some damn Christmas cheer, and anyone who gets within a mile of me who is trying to enforce negative wind in my direction will be met with silence and the famous theme of Gone with the Wind, as in get the HELL away from me. I have no idea what the HELL I’m talking about but why should now be any different? I am listening to recordings conducted by the marvelous British conductor, Sir Malcolm Sargent. He doesn’t get enough love, old Malcolm, but he deserves a LOT of love, loads of lovely love. I just listened to his The Planets and it’s one of the great recordings of that piece, in fabulous early 1957 stereo. For me, it’s right up there with my favorite recording by William Steinberg. And after that, it was Britten’s Simple Symphony – the best performance of that piece that I’ve heard, followed by A Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, also great. And then Walton’s Façade, which is really delightful, followed by a searing performance of William Walton’s first symphony. While the Previn is considered the benchmark recording, this is every bit as good and in great sound. I did watch a motion picture entitled Don’t Worry Darling, a film by Olivia Wilde. I never saw her first film, Booksmart, but it got a lot of attention and apparently according to her and her publicists, there was a bidding war by eighteen studios for her next film. Never mind that there aren’t eighteen studios. Well, Don’t Worry Darling was certainly not even a mild hit nor did it even make its money back. Mabye they’ll be an anti-bidding war for her third film. I don’t really know her work as an actor either, although if her performance in Don’t Worry Darling in a supporting role is any indication, I don’t think I need to see anything else. According to the lore, there was drama on the set that wasn’t part of filming. The original male star, Shia LaBeouf, was, according to Wilde, fired by her for his “process” on the set, which was combative. He, of course, denies being fired – he thinks he quit. Her statement said, “(LaBeouf’s) process was not conducive to the ethos that I demand in my productions.” Yes, she used the word “ethos” and I think it’s a form of chutzpah to say “demand in my productions” when you’ve only made one film. In any case, the film is simply weird, it meanders, it takes a little here and a little there from much better films, it never achieves any real suspense (they call it a “thriller) or even drama because the explanations of things are so obtuse and not really gone into enough.
Mr. LaBeouf was replaced by this person called Harry Styles, whose name I keep seeing but who I’ve never heard of. Well, an actor he’s not – he looks like a low-rent Mark Wahlberg and thinks acting is screaming as loud as he can to make the points. In films like this, you really have to know the deal strongly and it can’t be amorphous, or you can’t invest in it. And that’s its biggest problem. Also, if a film doesn’t grab you in some way in the first ten minutes, then something is amiss – and the first scene in this film is simply irritating and pointless. They should have left it on the cutting room floor and started it with a different scene. As far as Wilde as director goes, there isn’t a single shot that isn’t derivative of other better directors. In the end, the film is one big who cares.
Yesterday was just endlessly irritating and I was ready to eat the head of a chicken. I got seven hours of sleep, got up, wrote some parody lyrics we’ll do in the upcoming Kritzerland show, then I decided to go to Ralph’s and do the rest of the Do shopping because I’m a member of the awards club and the prices are MUCH cheaper than Gelson’s, and they always have good deals on soft drinks. So, I got everything I needed plus burger buns for burgers and a lighter for candles. I had one but I can’t find it anywhere. They had a special four twelve-packs for seventeen bucks on Diet Coke and other diet drinks and you can mix and match. So, I got eight twelve-packs and saved over twenty bucks. I came home, put everything away, and then made two burgers on burger buns. They were okay, but not great. That was only about 650 calories, though, so that was good. I didn’t eat anything else substantial, but had a few chips, some sorbet, and Gushers, but nothing but the sorbet tasted good to me.
I had some telephonic calls, did some work on the computer, then went and picked up two packages and came right home. Then I watched the movie and the rest you know. Right now, Sargent is conducting Sir Arthur Bliss’ wonderful piano concerto.
Today, I’ll be up when I’m up, I’ll do whatever needs doing, if any packages arrive, I’ll go gather them up, I’ll pray for a needed major or even little miracle, and then in the early evening I’ll begin slicing and dicing and chopping and mincing, not necessarily in that order. After that, I’ll make the two big batches of tuna pasta salad. Then I’ll watch, listen, and relax.
Tomorrow, I do nothing but relax and make the ubiquitous spaghetti sauce. Guests arrive from six on. I’ll try to remember to take photographs of the festively festive festivities. Sunday is Christmas Day and the Darling Daughter will arrive at noon o’clock and she’ll eat some spaghetti and tuna pasta salad, and then we’ll probably do our usual driving about, which we love to do. Then next week is going to tell me many things about many things. I’m sure I’ll see episode five at some point soon, too.
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, hopefully pick up packages, pray for a major or even little miracle, eat, then prepare things for the sauce and then make two big batches of tuna pasta salad. After that, I’ll 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, don’t have a clew. Blu-ray, I’m thinking I need a dose of Mr. Blake Edwards and I think that dose will be High Time. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, really trying to get with the holiday spirit.