Well, dear readers, I am sitting here like so much fish, listening to Mr. Duke Ellington play his and Billy Strayhorn’s great version of The Nutcracker music and Peer Gynt suites. Great stereo sound. I had no idea this existed, but it showed up on the Tube of You so I immediately grabbed it. Oddly, this has never officially been released on CD – there is a CD but it’s off vinyl from the UK. This YouTube version may be that release – bass is overloaded and many ticks and pops. But the music is cherce. I did manage to watch a motion picture last night entitled The Magnetic Monster, which I’d never seen. It’s a low low budget picture with a lot of stock footage, but I thought it was an interesting picture and really kind of enjoyed it for what it was. Curt Siodmak directed (he did Donovan’s Brain), Ivan Tors produced, and Richard Carlson and King Donovan star. In small roles, Kathleen Freeman (great) and Strother Martin. Most of the film was shot in Burbank, especially the Burbank Airport. The “Monster” is metaphorical – which is why the film actually works. When I was a kid, Richard Carlson was one of my favorite actors – his sci-fi films are excellent, but I really thought he was great as Herbert A. Philbrick. I loved I Led Three Lives – on the air for five years, 117 episodes of dirty Commies being ferreted out by Richard Carlson. I must watch a few episodes on YouTube. In my quest to have very strange signed first editions, I own one of I Led Three Lives signed by Mr. Herbert A. Philbrick and next to it in the bookshelf is A Study in Communism by J. Edgar Hoover, signed by Mr. Hoover to someone named Jimmy Durante. See what I mean? I, too, have led three lives – myself, a certain singer, and an Old Jew. In other news, Muse Margaret called, and we went over all the other questions I needed to run by her, so proofer one is now all entered. I did quite a few of his fixes but of the thirty-five tiny ones I had to run by Muse Margaret we only did four. He caught some amazing typos and had some good suggestions. So, we wait for proofer two – should have it at some point today. The interview about The Faculty got pushed – not sure if it’s today or tomorrow, we’re waiting to hear. I did get nine hours of good sleep. Once up, I answered a lot of e-mails, had some telephonic conversations, had a bacon cheeseburger and onion rings from Fat Sal’s – they were pretty good, and then I just relaxed until I began viewing. And here we are.
Today, I’ll be up when I’m up, I’ll do whatever needs doing, I’ll write a bit, I’ll make some pasta and eat that, and then hopefully I can start in on proofer two’s stuff. I’m sure a few of his things will mirror proofer one’s – that always happens, I’ll wait to hear about the interview, then I can watch, listen, and relax.
Tomorrow will be more of that, Saturday I’m having a meal and seeing a matinee cabaret, and both Saturday and Sunday will also be entering fixes and running stuff by Muse Margaret. Then we’re going to really need a modern major miracle soon thereafter.
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, write, eat, begin entering proofer two’s stuff, and then watch, listen, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: Who were your favorite actors when you were a kid? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, as I continue to lead three lives.