haines his way

12/08/2002:
"MY CUP RUNNETH OVER"

Well, dear readers, can you believe it? I can barely believe it myself and yet it is true. According the the date on my handy-dandy computer today is my very own birthday. Yes, you heard it here, dear readers, today is my very own birthday and as can only happen once in every decade, the two numbers in my age are exactly the same. Isn’t that exciting? Isn’t that just too too? Yes, Virginia, the two numbers in my age are exactly the same – two fives. Five-five. Yes-yes. In any case, while it might seem unseemly to throw myself a little haineshisway.com party, that is exactly what we’re going to do because what is a birthday without a party, that’s what I’d like to know. So, let’s put on our pointy party hats and our colored tights and pantaloons (no thongs, thank you very much), let’s break out the platters of cheese slices and ham chunks and the various and sundried birthday cakes because we are going to get down, dear readers. We are going to party hearty, we are going to shake our collective booties, we are going to dance the Hora until the cows come home and when those errant and truant cows have come home we are going to dance the mambo and the cha-cha-cha. Oh, what fun we shall have as we behave with unbridled glee (eelg, spelled backwards), and revel in our merriment and mirth and laughter and legs.
I’m already exhausted and the party has barely begun. In any case, as I enter the year of five-five I feel that in certain ways my cup runneth over - oh, a Schmidt and Jones reference. And in other ways I feel my cup isn’t runnething over nearly enough. So, I shall endeavor to have my fershluganah cup runnething over as much as possible because it has been a long and winding year and I’m ready for my cup to completely runneth over. One of the reasons my cup runneth over is this here website and you loyal and true Hainsies/Kimlets. Where else on all the Internet is there such a place as this? Nowhere, that’s where. So, we must continue to make this the most fun place of all, where one can dance the Boston Fancy without fear of reprisal, without fear of being called a nonce. That’s right, there will be no noncense nonsense here at haineshisway.com.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below, because frankly this section’s cup is runnething over and we have to save some of the drippings for the next section, otherwise the next section will be drip-dry and we can’t have that, now can we?

Oh, good, the cup is still runnething over. Last night, just before I went to bed, I watched the first hour of a motion picture entitled The Mouse that Roared, which I haven’t seen since it came out. It’s quite droll, and Peter Sellers, playing three roles, is wonderful, as is one of my guiltiest of guilty pleasures, Miss Jean Seberg. This isn’t available yet here in these United States – this is one of those fancy-shmancy PAL Region 2 DVDs, which I found in a store right here in Los Angeles, California (I also found the first film of Mr. John Schlesinger, A Kind of Loving, with Alan Bates, which I’ve never seen before).
Today, other than writing a bit, I shall do nothing but relax until I leave for dinner at the Geissman’s house. As I reported yesterday, I hadn’t been asked to do anything by anyone until Friday night (save for dinner with David Wechter on Monday). Not one person had called to check up on me and see what I was doing. Yesterday, I received one call asking me what I was doing for my birthday, but while I appreciated it, wasn’t that just a little too last minute to try to book someone for their birthday? In any case, we are celebrating right here, all day, and I wouldn’t rather be anywhere else, frankly, because our cup runneth over here at haineshisway.com with warmth and family and love, sweet love.
Wasn’t that a gooey last sentence? There was so much sugar in that last sentence that that sentence is definitely not allowed on the Eileen and Chet Atkins diet. Speaking of said diet, I shall go off it today for just dinner, and then I shall go right back on it tomorrow. After this much time, I do believe I’m allowed one day a week to play, diet-wise.
Well, dear readers, I must take the birthday, I must do the things I do, we must get this party going, we must fill our various and sundried cups so that they can runneth over, we must celebrate, celebrate, and you must post many many many (that is three manys which isn’t two too many manys) posts all the livelong day. I shall be back often to check in. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s free-for-all day so let the windmills of your mind run wild, run free, post anything you like on any subject you like without fear of reprisal from nonces. Above all, let us party as if there were no tomorrow, although we all know that tomorrow belongs to me. Post away, my pretties, and thank you all for sharing my very own birthday with me.

Replies: 40 Unseemly Comments

Oly oly in free!
First to post on this most marvelous of palindromic birthdays.
Posted by William F. Orr @ 12/08/2002 10:09 AM PST

Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday dear BK,
Happy birthday to you.
Bill, Ray & Phoebe
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 12/08/2002 10:10 AM PST

And to repeat my last post on yesterday's notes:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BK!
AND MANY HAPPY RETURNS!
Oh--a Patrick McGoohan reference.
Posted by William F. Orr @ 12/08/2002 10:11 AM PST

Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday dear Brucie,
Happy Birthday to you.
and many moooooooooooore!
Posted by Craig @ 12/08/2002 10:22 AM PST

Well, here we are, with bells on, all celebrating the birthday of the beloved BK!
(Which incidentally, makes him precisely one week younger than my very own beloved mother.)
I wish him a day of joy, and many more years of friendship, love, and every art form that he can master.
If I may make one tiny request though...You said yesterday that you got an e-mail from the marvelous Michael John LaChiusa, and you said that you would share it with us. Could you possibly do that?
Once again, the very happiest of birthdays from everyone here in Cleveland!
Posted by Hapgood @ 12/08/2002 10:29 AM PST

Yes, happy birthday. Ham and cheese....and the hora.
Barbara Eden released a lovely 45 rpm record that was perfect to dance the Hora to. It was called Bend It.... I am not sure what IT she was singing about, but it is a joyous 45 rpm record nonetheless.
The Boston Fancy can only be done to the lovely Giselle McKenzie's song....I am not sure of the steps but I AM sure it is fun.
Happy happy ... windmills of my mind.
Going to a board meeting this evening. Try not to lose my temper at the idiots in charge. No need the re-invent the wheel, but we do it every season!
Hopefully I will find out tonight that I am indeed directing South Pacific in June.
Very cold here, but no snow or ice. 8-D Happy Sunday to all and Happy Birthday to BK!!
Posted by Jrand55 @ 12/08/2002 10:48 AM PST

Happy Birthday Bruce!
Hope you have a great day.
Eat lots and lots of good food tonight. Diets are not made for birthdays.
Posted by Jennifer @ 12/08/2002 10:58 AM PST

Happy Birthday to US, dear BK!!
Posted by Pam @ 12/08/2002 11:03 AM PST

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRUCE!
And while we're in the party mood:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GUY!
(for don't you both share the same birthday?)
And, although it is already the day after your birthday in that far away enchanted land known as Japan, at this time it is befitting to wish you:
OTANJOBI NI OMEDETOU GOZIAMASU!
A lifetime of Good Health!
A lifetime of Happiness!
A lifetime of Prosperity
May the wildest of your birthday wishes come true!
Posted by Susan Gordon @ 12/08/2002 11:13 AM PST

What a lovely party we're having. Yesterday, we shattered another record here at haineshisway.com - not only our biggest Saturday ever, but our second biggest DAY ever. How is that, you lovely dear readers? Now, let's make this day even better, because this day is birthday day. I have been quite lazy this morning, but am finally going to get dressed now and do some writing (I simply cannot write when I am undressed, it is far too unseemly). Post away.
Posted by bk @ 12/08/2002 12:00 PM PST

Did I forget, Pam Spitzner? Is it your birthday too? If so, then it is a DOUBLE celebration and that calls for even more posts.
Posted by bk @ 12/08/2002 12:02 PM PST

Happy Birthday once more. What a
wonderful day cooloh callah.I am tipsy from the diet Champagne Coke. It tastes much better than the Vanilla variety. My party hat is in place and my glass slippers. I am ready to ROCK.
Happy Happy Happy!!!
Posted by Arnold M. Brockman @ 12/08/2002 12:08 PM PST

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO BRUCE,
AND TO BRUCE, A GOOD DAY!
And a good year, too!!
Posted by George @ 12/08/2002 12:11 PM PST

Indeed Happy Birthday to Pam. I shall place the Divine one's music in your honour.
I hope both you birthday people are having a wonderful day packed with friendship and love.
Posted by Tom from OZ @ 12/08/2002 12:12 PM PST

Happy happy day to both Bruce and Pam! My pantaloons (a lovely periwinkle color with splashes of chartreuse) and pointy party hat are getting a few odd looks while I sit here working at the library, but I simply feel sorry for these people who look at me askance, for they are obviously not with it, ginchy, and/or cool man cool. I'll have to wait for cheese slices and ham chunks until I get off work and go home, for there is, of course, no food or drink allowed in the library (which does have so many books, but not a hint of marble nor optomitrists).
Now back to my fershluganah studying.
Posted by Jed @ 12/08/2002 12:33 PM PST

Glad I didn't miss out on the festivities. C'mon everyone, put on your pointy party hats and colorful pantaloons, get out your toothpicks and let's raid the canape tray full of ham and cheese chunks, let's gather in a circle and dance the hora like no one's watching, for glory glory Bruce goes one on one with the National Speed Limit!
Continued success and health, BK - in the words of Mssr. Sondheim "You're Still Here"!
Posted by Phil @ 12/08/2002 12:38 PM PST

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO BK AND PAM!!! :-)
Gotta run...but I'll try to be back for the chat...or is that tomorrow night?
Posted by Jason @ 12/08/2002 12:54 PM PST

oh, boy, do i love birthday parties! and a triple header, to boot! H.B. to Bruce, Guy and the ever delightful Miss Pam!
Posted by td @ 12/08/2002 01:06 PM PST

Susan and anyone else who mentioned it:
On an ask BK Day in September (right after my birthday) I asked BK when his brithday was and when Guy Haines' birthday was. He answered that his was December 8 and Guy's was "sometine in October", so it is only BK (and Pam) celebrating today... not Guy.
Posted by William E. Lurie @ 12/08/2002 01:14 PM PST

First, let me wish a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our dear Mr. Kimmel.
Second, the new Broadway Radio Show is now loaded and ready for your enjoyment. Please note that this show will run for two weeks since I will be back in NYC for a week. However, when I return (on the 21st), we will have a brand new holiday show all set to go, which will be followed by our New Year's show as I count down my selections for the Top Ten Cast Recordings of 2002.
Posted by Donald Feltham @ 12/08/2002 01:27 PM PST

To William E. Lurie and other interested Hainsies:
I seem to recall mention in one HHW column that BK and GH do, in fact, share the same birthday, but that GH is a lot older. Hmmmmmm. We shall have to ask BK to settle this one.
BK?
Posted by Susan Gordon @ 12/08/2002 03:01 PM PST

Well, let's see here; I don't have a month, but I know of a certain Guy Haines, a personal friend of Patricia Highsmith, that ole Texan gal, who was born in 1950. Then there's this other Guy Haines I know who is a personal friend of Alfred Hitchcock, Arthur Laurents and Farley Granger, who was 'born' on July 3, 1951.
Now these "guys" would be younger than our very own BK; but could they be in any way related to BK's buddy, "Guy Haines?" It's all very mysterious, don't ya think?
Posted by td @ 12/08/2002 03:11 PM PST

Oh, it is well known that Guy Haines will say anything. He says different things to different people and one simply cannot get to the bottom of anything.
I'm having the best birthday here at haineshisway.com. It's quite festive, and I have been dancing all the livelong day, including the Hokey Pokey. Now, let's have more Hainsies/Kimlets post. This is not a day to be errant and truant.
I have spent part of my birthday spackling. Isn't that exciting? Isn't that just too too. One simply can't get enough of spackling.
Posted by bk @ 12/08/2002 03:29 PM PST

Let me add my birthday greetings, as well, BK. As you wander down Forget-Me-Not Lane, I hope you'll remember that... oh, wait... I forgot what I was going to say. Anyway, thanks for letting me visit the Best Little Hora House in Southern California.
Posted by Robert Armin @ 12/08/2002 03:32 PM PST

"What a swellegant elegant party this is!" -- a Cole Porter reference!
Heureux anniversaire , Bruce!
And Happy Birthday, too!
What a day! I went into San Francisco, hooked up with a friend in town to see Turandot at the S.F. Opera and we had a luscious Italian meal from 11:45 a.m. til about 1:35 p.m. I had the linguiini carbonara. There was also a delicious bottle of Valpolicella, sparkling water with lemon, fresh bread, salad and cafe! I walked my friend down to the opera house and then moseyed on to BART and had a leisurely ride back into Oakland.
I then went to my office and decorated it for the holiday. Now everyone who comes in tomorrow before I do will be dazzled and delighted.
Here I sit by my bedroom window, my cat Miss Vickie curled up on my bed and I see overcast skies growing darker as the westering sun makes its way toward the horizon. More than ever, it seems like winter and December.
The brighter side of things is that tomorrow is the first day of the last full week of work I will have until January 6. After next week, I'll work only three more days before taking my end-of-year going-home-for-the-hollies vacation!
Posted by Ron Pulliam @ 12/08/2002 03:34 PM PST

A very happy birthday to you, Bruce. I hope all your birthday wishes come true today. I'm glad to see lots of partying going on here. I spent this very exciting day at a church board meeting. They all wondered about the pointy party hat.
You said you didn't get any calls, BK. Did you at least get any neat birthday cards?
Happy birthday to Pam, also. How exciting to share a birthday with our very own BK.
Posted by Laura @ 12/08/2002 04:07 PM PST

Happy Birthday BK!
Sorry I've been a little errant & truant. I had a flu bug that I just couldn't shake..... Pass along the ham & cheese. I've brought some dips & chips!
Posted by Angela D. @ 12/08/2002 04:14 PM PST

Where's the cake? And what flavour is it??
Posted by Jason @ 12/08/2002 04:20 PM PST

Bruce - I think it's illegal to be caught spackling in your thong.. I hope you are wearing your sporty pantaloons...
Hope you are having a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious birthday (oh, a Sherman Brothers reference).....
Posted by Craig @ 12/08/2002 04:27 PM PST

Happy birthday! What did you have for dinner and what kind of cake did you eat?
Posted by Sandra @ 12/08/2002 06:06 PM PST

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRUCE!!!!!!!!!!
I just got home and have to rush out again, so I haven't had a chance to read any of what precedes this. But I wanted to make sure that no more time went by without me wishing you cake and all good things.
Posted by Kerry @ 12/08/2002 06:07 PM PST

BON FETE!!!!
I have been hard work on a very special Bruce Kimmel birthday present.
Part One was completed today and I have started Part Two which has a handful and a half of sub parts to it. You may ask how parts does it have in total? Why I will tell you! Five parts in total.
This will be a special site dedicated to the musical mastery of Bruce Kimmel's producing more than acentury of musical pleasures.
I hope to have it completed by the end of the year.
Posted by Michael Shayne @ 12/08/2002 06:44 PM PST

FYI -- the dips & chips are free of the flu bug!
Posted by Angela D. @ 12/08/2002 06:45 PM PST

Hey BK, what did you do to your walls that requires spackling?
Posted by Sandra @ 12/08/2002 07:56 PM PST

34 posts on BK's B-day?? That's all?? Anyway, Happy Birthday, Bruce. I celebrated by conducting "Annie" in your honor this afternoon. The Cabinet reprise of "Tommorrow" - that was yours!!!
Looking forward to seeing all of you in chat tommorrow, god willing. Happy Birthday!!
Posted by Matthew @ 12/08/2002 08:37 PM PST

Oh our dear Birthday Boy and all and sundried herein assembled, I must tell you what I just saw.
We had been watching Jessica Fletcher, after which I busied myself cleaning up the kitchen only hearing with half an ear the special on the Playboy Mansion on A&E.
And what to my wondering ears doth appear? "Among celebrities, only a few can make the final cut and get an invitation to the Playboy Mansion."
I say, hear, hear! Our Birthday Boy, our Bruce, our BK, who doeth write these here notes has made the final cut! Hear, hear! I say!
Posted by William F. Orr @ 12/08/2002 09:15 PM PST

I am back from my birthday dinner and we had a lovely time. We had an Atkins friendly dinner, ironically. Salad, steak, broccoli and some potatos (not Atkins friendly but I didn't eat that many). And, of course, cake, above all, cake. It was some kind of three layer chocolate affair with custard in the middle.
I ended up receiving a few birthday calls today, so that was nice, too.
Now, William F. Orr, tell me more about this Mansion business. Was I on the show? Did they mention Nudie (one of Hef's favorite movies)?
Posted by bk @ 12/08/2002 09:39 PM PST

Happy Birthday, Bruce!
Happy Birthday, Bruce!
Happy Birthday, Bruce!
-I'd write something else, but I'm about to hibernate for the day after a very long week - and one more long week of rehearsals and previews to go.
Oh, I know what else I can write...
Happy Birthday, Pam!
Happy Birthday, Pam!
Hope to see you all in the chat tomorrow night (well, at this point, later tonight).
Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 12/08/2002 11:47 PM PST

Oh my dear, dear, dear Bruce Kimmel San! I have been the truantest and errantest (and also the errantest and truantest) of all your Hainsite/Kimlalas! I have been off so busy, busy, busy (that is three busys--you see, I do understand your little jokes) with this and with that and with the other thing, that I have sadly neglected my dear, dear haineshisway.com.
But I felt I must, must, must (that is three musts--teehee!) stop by and wish you the most wonderful of fifty-fifth birthdays. Did you know that you are exactly twenty years older than Bobby Bubie Baby San and Dante Alleghieri San when they were "nel mezzo del cammin di nostra vita," so to speak?
And now I must hurry off to Osaka with the dearest, dearest person that I have ever... but I will tell you all about that upon my return.
Hasta luego, as you Americans say.
Your Sushi
Posted by Sushi Tomoto from Kyoto @ 12/09/2002 02:42 AM PST

Oh, I must say I was disappointed, BK, disappointed is what I was. Disappointed was I. Not only did the people at A&E fail to show you, fail to mention you, fail to say that Hef's favorite movie is The First Nudie Musical, even worse and more egregious, egregious I say, more egregious than that--they did not wish you a happy birthday.
Unfortunately the concentration was on the Now of the Mansion, rather than on its grand Kimmelian history. And there was a lot of that's the story of, that's the glory of Hef, and lots of large-breasted young women. But alas, no Kimmel.
I expect Hef will post an apology here soon.
Posted by William F. Orr @ 12/09/2002 06:16 AM PST

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