Well, dear readers, I am sitting here like so much fish, starting these here notes a bit late, so that they will not be posted in time, but such are the vagaries of the vagaries. I don’t know about you, but I’ve had it with the vagaries of the vagaries. I don’t know why I’ve had it, of course, but that’s another story. But here I sit like so much fish listening to the music of one Daniel Jones, another Brit composer whose music is very interesting. I am trying not to eat any more Chicken in a Biskit crackers whilst writing these here notes, but they are quite addictively addictive in an addictive way, sans vagaries. I’ve yet to actually find a chicken in the biskit, but I still love these crackers like anybody’s business. However, the real question at this time is – why am I going on about Chicken in a Biskit crackers and vagaries? Yes, that is the question. To be or not to be – that is also the question.
Yesterday was a day I got through, barely. I avoided drama, which was good, got some potential good news that I hope happens quickly, as it would make everything so much easier and I might actually have a happy rest of the month. I got about seven hours of sleep, I think. Once up, I did all the usual morning things, then I went and had a bowl of chili (no beans – just onions and some shredded cheese), and a bagel with cream cheese. That was a funky meal, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. After that, I picked up a package and no mail, then came home. No screeners yesterday, but I think some are coming today. I came home, listened to music, relaxed, approved a CD cover, one of the two soundtracks which will comprise the final Kritzerland release of 2018. This was actually a busy release year for us – about twenty-one releases this year, which is about six more than the previous two or three years.
Then Doug Haverty, Hartley Powers, and I did the LA Talk Radio show – the entire show was devoted to A Carol Christmas – it will air today and I’ll put the link in today’s posts as soon as I have it. I actually spoke very little, as I’d done our radio show the night before and yakked incessantly in that one. I was a bit yakked out.
After that, I came home, made a small amount of wide egg noodles with butter and cheese for my evening snack, had a few Chicken in a Biskit crackers and that was the food for the day. Then I sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched the first thirty minutes of the new Blu and Ray of Orson Welles’ film of The Magnificent Ambersons, a new Criterion release. It’s a 4K transfer off a nitrate fine grain – I’m sure the camera negative is lost, a shame, as it could look better I’m sure, without being a few generations away. The first twenty minutes of the film are one optical after another and that’s what they look like. It’s still a big step up from the DVD, though, and once we’re out of the opticals, it looks pretty good, I must say. The film is one I enjoy, but it’s just ultimately frustrating, being a mish-mash of what Welles intended, and the studio-mandated cuts and reshot and added scenes, that are tonally and stylistically miles apart from Welles’ style and tone. Of course, if there’s blame for what’s left, it has to be put on Welles, who should never have left the US until his cut was finalized. Or, he should have returned immediately when he knew what was at stake. But that is the story of his life and career. I’ll finish it up today.
After that, I did some work on the computer, had a long telephonic call, and that was that.
Today, I will continue to try and lay low, whilst getting things done. I have many sets of liner notes to write – five in all, and I have to spend most of the day attending to that, and I can finish it up tomorrow. I’ll eat, hopefully pick up some packages, and I’m hoping in the evening to finally settle down to watch Mary Poppins Returns, which I’m looking forward to.
Tomorrow, I’ll finish liner notes, I’ll try to finish casting the January Kritzerland show, and then we resume performances of A Carol Christmas. I wasn’t sure if I was going to go tomorrow night, but we’re putting in a new speech and I need to see how it plays. Saturday is, of course, my very own birthday, so I’ll probably spend it with A Carol Christmas, as that will make me feel good. Sunday we have our matinee, which I must attend as there’s a talkback after, plus dear reader Jeanne is coming to see it and I haven’t seen her in way too damn long. Then next week will hopefully be better and easier than this one, and we’ll announce our two soundtrack titles.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, lay low, get things done, write liner notes, eat, hopefully pick up packages, and then relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite films of Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, where there will hopefully be no trace of the vagaries of the vagaries.