Well, dear readers, Wagner’s Siegfried Idyll is playing, so I’m feeling rather idyllic at the moment. I am languorous and dreamy and torpid as the music wafts its way from speakers to earballs. After this selection, there will only be twelve more albums and then it will be the wait until the follow-up box containing the rest of his Columbia stereo albums. Not sure if his subsequent RCA albums will be part of that box or a separate set. I suppose it depends on how many Columbia albums are left from 1964 to 1968. I have no idea how many recordings he made for RCA, but it will be nice to have those on newly mastered CDs because what’s been released hasn’t sounded that good and the LP pressings were always a bad joke. And now, the idyllic is over and we’re into the hyper-dramatic and bombastic first movement of the Shostakovich fourth symphony. Now I want to be hyper-dramatic and bombastic and punch some canned goods or kick some hot dog buns into oblivion, but I shan’t, I’ll just enjoy this great-sounding recording. The symphony was written in 1935 or thereabouts but Stalin banned it and this gorgeous Ormandy stereo recording was its first recording. Otherwise, I didn’t watch any motion pictures, but did start one – Vice Squad from 1953 starring Edward G. Robinson. The first scene is shot on Vermont near 1st Street where we see the Belmont Theater, which was still there into the 1970s before that entire block was demolished and next door to the Belmont was Mehnat Motors. That entire area is unrecognizable today as is most of Vermont. I did watch some videos related to the documentary Quiet on Set, including a ninety-minute thing on Amanda Bynes, who didn’t take part in the documentary. I didn’t really know much about her. A very cute girl with a good sense of comedy – she reminded me in a way of Melody Hollis – but what a mess she turned into, and I do mean a complete mess. Such a shame that so many can’t seem to transition into their late teen and adult years. I watched an apology video from producer Dan Schneider that seemed very calculated to me. Of course, I couldn’t not watch some irritating videos, and a few were so irritating I even left a comment or two.
Earlier, I’d gotten nine hours of good sleep, I did a quick errand, then made two count them two chili, cheese, and onion hot dogs – really good, followed by a pudding cup with that last of the whipped cream, also good. Then I did stuff on the computer, after which I began viewing stuff on the computer until I transitioned to the couch and sat there like so much fish wearing the new glasses, which are really not doing much for that viewing distance. I did find out that Adryan Russ’s hubby, Dale, who stage managed several things for me, had this exact problem but in both eyes. He, too, got prism lenses and wore those, but ultimately they just weren’t doing the trick, so he had eye surgery, in and out in two hours – basically strengthening the eye muscles, which, like mine, had become weak and loose. So, perhaps that’s what I’ll ultimately do. In the early evening, I had some low-fat cottage cheese and a few pieces of cut pineapple, and finally a tortilla with cheese. So, probably around 1100 calories all in, which is fine.
Today, I’ll be up by eleven or thereabouts, then the Darling Daughter will come at one and we’ll catch up, I’ll give her the two books she’s missing and if she wants a softcover of Directed by, too, I’ll give her that. At around two-thirty we’ll go get a meal – we’ll see what she’s in the mood for. I’m fine with anywhere as long as they have salads for calorie-friendly items. We shouldn’t have a problem getting in at two-thirty. Once she leaves, then I’ll watch, listen, and relax.
Tomorrow, I go back to the glasses place and I think we’ll try an adjustment. Whilst there, I’ll probably get something from Gelson’s for food, otherwise I’ll try to do some writing, I’ll continue to pray for a modern major miracle and do whatever needs doing. The rest of the week is more of the same.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, be up by eleven or thereabouts, spend the afternoon with the Darling Daughter and have a meal, then 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, happy to have been both idyllic and bombastic during the writing of these here notes.