Well, dear readers, I am listening to the early Elliot Carter late at night. I like to listen to the early late, don’t you? So many talented American and foreign composers began with such wonderful accessible music only to forego it and hop on the serial music bandwagon and twelve-tone stuff and they stayed there and never went back, Mr. Carter being a prime example. His first symphony is so attractive and his piece called The Minotaur is, too. And then off he went to the bandwagon and that was that. Some respond to that and some don’t – I don’t mind it sometimes, but Mr. Carter’s attempts leave me cold. And now, I’m listening to this completely wacky Ennio Morricone album called Arrangements, where he has his way with music by other composers – some film composers like Mancini and Bernstein, and then some old standards. It’s out there at times, but also some lovely stuff, too, including some vocals by his partner in crime, Edda Dell’Orso. I found it on the Tube of You and for any Morricone fans, it’s really fun and always interesting. Earlier, I watched a motion picture I actually enjoyed, entitled The Sum of All Fears, starring Ben Affleck as Jack Ryan, taking over that role from Alec Baldwin and Harrison Ford. He’s okay, but the supporting players are very strong, and while the story and film are strictly by the numbers, I enjoyed it for what it was – a crisp, well-made thriller. I then attempted to watch what passes for Indie filmmaking today – a movie entitled Shiva Baby. This thing got raves from critics, the director got nominated for a DGA Award for best new director (she lost), but this is strictly from amateurville. She made it first as a short film (what else is new), her thesis film in college. Then she spent a year trying to raise the small budget to turn into a feature, only it doesn’t work because it’s the same thing over and over again. It all takes place in pretty much one location, is not as funny as it thinks it is, in fact, I didn’t laugh once before I finally fast-forwarded to the end, the director shows almost no aptitude for directing – it’s in scope for no reason, has really ugly and way too tight close-ups, and the characters are mostly caricatures, even though I’m sure she based it all on things she’s gone through in her very young life. It’s pretty much a fresh out of college affair and that’s exactly what it feels like. But these kinds of films are usually festival darlings for reasons that escape me. This reminded me of a film that a young lady I used to work with a lot made – and that was just what you’d think it would be – just like this – it won awards like most of these things, but that’s it. They go nowhere. Shiva Baby purportedly cost $200,000, but I don’t see how, really – shot on digital in sixteen days. Anyway, can’t recommend it.
Then I began watching a movie I’ve avoided all these years, entitled Gone in 60 Seconds, starring Nicolas Cage. It’s one of those hyper Jerry Bruckheimer affairs, but I’m sort of enjoying it – Cage, even in his worst films, is usually fun to watch and that’s the case here. I’ll finish it up after I post these here notes.
Yesterday was fairly annoying – nothing major, just a bunch of minor irritations. I only got five hours of sleep, got up, and of course had to vamoose. I decided to go to the Coral Café for breakfast, because it’s ten bucks cheaper than Hugo’s or Art’s and frankly it’s better than both for breakfast. I had their petite breakfast, which isn’t so petite – you get three eggs, two sausage links, two pieces of bacon, hash browns, and toast. It was all really good and I must say their hash browns are the best I’ve ever had. I was there until ten-thirty. Then I headed back to the Oaks of Sherman, first stopping at the mail place, where I picked up nothing. Then I went to Gelson’s and looked around but didn’t really buy anything except a muffin top. I came home at eleven-thirty and she of the Evil Eye was thankfully gone.
I answered some e-mails, got a nice note from Richard Sherman saying how happy he was that we’re doing this birthday concert and how he can’t wait to see it, so that was very nice. Then Prime took its yearly fee – no warning, just taken right out of PayPal and that was completely irritating. Also irritating was the fact that both going to the Coral Café and coming home, I literally hit every red light you could hit – it was almost comical. Then I began viewing. After the first movie, I went back to Gelson’s and got some salad and a chicken kabob. I ate the salad and that was good – the kabob was boring but not much food of note on the skewer – just a couple chicken chunks, pineapple, peppers, and onions. Not anything I need to have ever again. Just now, I did get some PayPal cash back – a cool ten bucks.
Today, I’ll be up when I’m up, and I intend to have a ME day with no irritations whatsoever. I’ll just be a lazy loafer, I’ll figure out what to eat at some point – I could have pasta with butter and cheese – I have all that stuff here, but I’m not sure I want pasta. We shall see. And I have no doubt I’ll watch, listen, and relax.
Tomorrow is our first Kritzerland rehearsal, which begins at 12:30 and ends around three. Very much looking forward to it. Afterwards, I’ll go have something fun to eat. Tuesday, I do a coaching session and there may also be a meal, after. Wednesday, I have an early lunch, I think – waiting for confirmation – Thursday is our second rehearsal, Friday is our stumble-through, and Saturday is sound check and show. And boy could I use a major miracle right about now or there will be hell toupee.
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 a ME day, figure out food and eat it, and 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 listening to the early late.