Well, dear readers, the final proofing is done – found about twenty little things to fix, plus one global thing they can’t do until they enter all the little fixes. The global thing is easy. Thankfully, we caught some bad errors, misspellings, missing quote marks – that kind of thing. I just finished getting it all typed up and sent, which is why I am starting these here notes late. Proofing was basically the entire day and evening yesterday. I had a rough night and only five hours of sleep, IF that. Once up, I answered e-mails and did a few things that needed doing. Then I began proofing from where I’d left off. Food arrived at noon-thirty and what food it was – a number one from Langer’s – pastrami on double baked rye with coleslaw and Russian dressing. Even though Langer’s is a good twenty-five-minute drive, the sandwich still had some warmth left in the pastrami. It was great, as always. I’d also ordered a little thing of chicken salad and I ate that in the early evening and it, too, was great.
I had to take a few breaks whilst proofing. On those occasions, I just sat on my couch like so much fish and watched some Dame Edna videos with various talk show hosts. It was amazing to see how inept some of the hosts were with her – you don’t interrupt Dame Edna, you don’t make it about YOU, and you don’t try to top her. I’m looking at you Conan O’Brien and you Craig Ferguson and especially the idiots on The View. The two best talk show hosts in terms of knowing how to deal with a comic genius like the Dame were Graham Norton and Michael Parkinson. Both were perfection with her. Also, on the Dame’s own talk show, she’d have guests, most of whom knew when to shut up and let the Dame do her thing – the worst was Chevy Chase, so full of himself and cocky and thinking he was so funny – he wasn’t. Then I’d proof some more, then I watched a bit of Elmer Gantry and promptly fell asleep for about forty minutes. Gantry is now on prime, and it sure looks like a new transfer to me – the transfer that was used for the old Blu-ray wasn’t anything like this. This has good color and is very sharp and with no lines or scratches. Maybe they issued a newer transfer at some point. Then again, I could just be wrong, and it is the old transfer. I got rid of the Blu-ray long ago because it was so awful. Or maybe I was just too tired and not seeing clearly. I’ll watch a bit more today. Then I just kept proofing and finished. I made sure every fix was clearly worded so that they couldn’t make a mistake. I sent that off. Also, Doug Haverty finished the dust jacket stuff, so that’s ready for the publisher. I had several telephonic conversations, too. And no sweet treats. Haven’t had any in a week now.
Today, I really have to sleep in as late as possible, so I can catch up on my lost hours of sleep. Once up, I’ll answer e-mails and do whatever needs doing, I’ll definitely get back to writing, and then I’m being picked up by the Pearls and driven to a secret location where we shall have a fine dining experience. After that, they’ll deposit me back here and I can watch, listen, and relax.
Tomorrow is some writing and doing whatever needs doing and I’m hoping to have the final designed book back and I’ll do a check to make sure all the fixes are fixed and that all the chapters start on the odd-numbered right-side pages. If all is well, I’ll approve that and then I should have everything we need to send to the publishers. Not sure what’s happening on the weekend.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, get a good night’s beauty sleep, do whatever needs doing, write, have a fine dining experience, and then watch, listen, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: Who were and are your favorite talk show hosts? I’ll start. First place will always go to Johnny Carson, a great listener and reactor. I also really liked Merv Griffin and Mike Douglas, I liked Jack Paar occasionally, loved Steve Allen, and enjoyed early and later Letterman. Not a fan of O’Brien or Ferguson or Leno or Kimmel or Fallon. Absolutely crazy about Graham Norton and Michael Parkinson. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have sent in what will hopefully be the final fixes.