Haines His Way

Thank you for the Françoise Hardy pictures François. Of course as MBarnum would know, she featured one year at Eurovision and had a top ten hit here in OZ with "Only You Can Do It"

I would actually not mind trying Haggis!

Media Check:

CD: Bombay Dreams courtesy of DR Jason

VCR: Assorted Warner Bros. crime shows.

DVD: Strike Me Deadly (1963), and The Madarin Mystery (1936)...both surprisingly good.

And the Bollywood movie this week:

KANYADAAN.
Plot: A pointy nosed man meets a woman with enormous hair. They fall in love, dance a bit, sing a lot, and things happen.

At least you can never run out of Bollywood movies DR MBarnum.
I prefer your "best of" Cds to the score of Bombay Dreams.

I'm off to the opera, Dear Readers.  On tonight's bill:  Le Nozze di Figaro.  Keep those home fries burning!

As to this week's media check:

In the CD player: Avenue Q, Lawrence Rosenthal's score for The Return of a Man Called Horse (which asks the musical question "Why isn't this man one of the busiest composers in the around?"), and the re-recorded score to Sunset Boulevard by Franz Waxman.  

In the deeveedee player: Stargate, The President's Analyst and The Day of the Locust.

The VHS player is still broken.  I'm having trouble caring about it, though.

What I'm reading: I finished off The World's Desire by H. Rider Haggard and Andrew Lang, which was a thunderously good time, and I just started reading Year's Best SF 9, an annual collection of science fiction stories.  

By the way, S. Woody White, I've not seen the Stargate television series.  Is it better than the movie?  

Part II tomorrow night.  I don't want to hog all the space.

5/14/04

It's 2:23 AM Mountain time.  I can't sleep so I thought I would write about my day yesterday.  I’ve already ironed all of my clothes.

It started out very early at about 4:00 A. M.

I was very excited about going on the trip but it was very hard saying farewell to Mom.

The van came in a very timely manner but took his time filling out the paperwork.  I fear the school bus driver across the street was a little annoyed that we were in her way when we were sitting there.  I cried a little when the van pulled out.  It was so hard to see Mom standing there as we pulled away.

There was a guy already on the van but he never really spoke-I think he was very tired and just trying to rest the best he could.

The driver was very nice and chatty.  I think his name was Jay.  I guess he knew it is upsetting for some people to leave on a trip so he lightened the mood.

Anyway we went and picked up another lady in south Brandon who was going to NYC!  She was very nice and friendly. We had a nice chat between the three of us while the other guy slept in the back.  She is going to be in NYC for a day or two after I’m there.  Maybe we will run into each other there.

We talked about places to see and things to do.  As excited as I am about SLC and MB, I can’t wait for NYC.

We arrived at the airport in good time and said our good-byes.

I was checked in by curbside service and given my boarding pass and baggage claim tickets. I didn't get the chance to tip the baggage guy but I did the van driver.

Going through security was easier than I thought.  I did have to take my shoes off.  I was very glad that Martin (a guy I work with) had told to me to wear shoes that are easy to slip off & back on.

I called Mom from a pay phone to let her know I had made it to the airport.

It was a bit of a wait to get on the plane but once it started it went really fast.  I called Mom once I was seated on the plane & was pleased with how well the phone worked.  I even saw my luggage being loaded onto the plane, which made me feel good.  I knew it would at least make it on the first part of the journey.

There was a deep feeling of fear mixed with excitement once the plane started to move out.  I knew there was no turning back at that point.  I felt tears in my eyes but covered them with a yawn.

My stomach was doing a little dance when the plane started to move faster and faster down the runway then that little “hop” as the plane leaves the ground.  

I was sitting next to two elderly women who were going to California.  They both had books so neither spoke very much the entire trip.

I was glad I had picked a window seat.  I can’t imagine sitting anywhere else.  I would have to be able to look out.  The clouds were just lovely.  They looked like castles, floating in the air.  We hit some rough patches but I wasn't afraid.  In fact, they were kind of fun.  Like a roller coaster.

It felt so strange to look down from so high and to think of all the people we were passing over.

My God, just to think how long it took those poor people in the covered wagons to go where it only took us a few hours.  It's really mind blowing.  I wonder if I would have the guts to set out on the same journey a hundred years ago.  Imagine knowing it would take months to get to SLC instead of hours.  I sure wouldn’t be going a whim to see a singer.  That’s for sure!

We were served a cookie & a drink. I had water.  I was surprised that it didn't cost anything.  I expected to have to pay through the nose for it.

I looked out the window for the most part but did manage to read a little myself.  I even fell asleep for about fifteen minutes.  I think I was just exhausted.

We landed in Denver on time.  I was disappointed because they had announced it was in the 30's & they had snow.  I so wanted to see it.  I think the people next to me thought I was nuts because I was bouncing up and down in my seat because I so excited.  Unfortunately, by the time we landed, it had turned to rain.  I guess it just isn't meant to be.  Sigh.  

I asked the lady at the ticket counter what did you do with the snow and she said if I had only been an hour earlier, I would have seen it.  Missed out again!

I didn't have a long layover time.  I kinda wish I had time to look things over just a bit but by the time I found the gate, it was only about 15 minutes till take off.

I tried to call Mom a number of times.  She just can't seem to hear that phone.  I wish she would go to the hearing doctor.  

We left Denver on the connecting flight.  I wasn’t as nervous this time but still felt my heart and stomach do a little leap when I felt the wheels leave the ground.  There was a very nice man with lovely blue eyes sitting next to me.  When I mentioned the MB concert, he said his wife was a big fan  & had wanted to come with him but couldn't get the time off from work.  What a shame!  I would have loved to have met her and maybe we could have had dinner or something.  But it was neat to find someone who knew who Michael Ball is!  We had a pleasant chat on the ride to SLC.  

I thought I may have seen a tornado off in the distance as we were taking off but I’m not sure.  The man said it was steam from a power plant but it didn’t look like that to me.  It was going really far up into the sky and had a cone shape.  I could have been wrong but it did look strange.

We were served a bag of mini pretzels & again, I had water.

I can't describe my excitement when we flew over the continental divide.  I saw snow on the mountaintops!  I’ve never seen anything so lovely and couldn’t believe it was real!  

We landed in SLC.  I had major problems with my bags.  I over packed big time.  At least I'm learning what I need & what I don't.

I found the free van to the hotel.  The driver was very nice.   I told him all about Michael Ball and the concert.  He didn’t know anything.  Poor man.  I’m sure he knows more than he ever cared to know now.

The city is so clean & really beautiful.  The mountains are something to see!  I wish I could have drove up to them.  Maybe it was a mistake not to get a rental car.  I’m sorry I won’t be able to go see the Salt Lake but after speaking with some of the locals that may not be so bad.  I was told it stinks to high heaven.

My room at the Best Western is very nice.  I have 2 double beds.  The room has an iron, a blow drier, a safe & a little coffeemaker.  The bathroom is HUGE!  I think I may have made a mistake by not staying at the BW in NYC.  I don't know how the Milford Plaza will compare.

I called Mom to let her know I was here and safe.  The phone worked GREAT!

I found out that Michael Ball is going to do a signing on Saturday at the local Boarders.   It was posted on the net.  I was lucky to see it, just before I had to sign off the computer before I left for the trip.  I looked it up in the phone book and found they are just down the street.  I took a walk down & bought a CD of MB to get myself a spot in VP line for Saturday.

I found I was in a mall so I walked around a bit.  I found a cyber café.  I tried to send e-mails from there but couldn't make the computer work.  The kid who was in the place didn’t know how to fix it so I wasn't charged.  It's 10 dollars an hour.  I did manage to get a message to Jose on BWW.  Silly I know but he seemed so interested in my trip, I just wanted him to know I made it ok.
 
I had some dinner while at the mall.  Bourbon chicken & veggies.  By then I was so tired, I walked back to the hotel.  I spotted the carriage ride, spoke with the person.  I'm gong back today to have a ride.

I started having a dull pain in my right side with pain also shooting down my right leg.  I hope that doesn’t mean what I think it does.  Of all times!  Please, Lord, not NOW.  

I took a good, hot bubble bath, put my nightgown on and went to lay & watch TV in bed.  I was reading some brochures with my reading glasses on and after I went to sleep, I somehow managed to break my glasses in half.  I have to try to find a pair today.

Mom was right, I should have packed a spare pair of glasses and that’s one thing I will do on the trip to NYC.

I was asleep by six local time but I needed the rest.  I'm going back to bed in a moment.  All in all it was a very exciting day!

Think of poor Michael Crawford.  His real name is Dumbell (sp?).

Oh I'm not sure if anyone answered the poutine question.  It's not for everyone, but I love it.  It's fries with gravy and cheese curds. YUMMY!

Oh, that doesn't sound so bad.  Nothing gross.   I would try that.

I had to laugh at the part of my notes in SLC when I said the bit about the hotel room.  I swear I didn't add that.  I just must have somehow known.  

Next time I travel anywhere, I'm staying at the BW where ever that is.

Yes good vibes to your daughter, Panni!  

I seem to have run out of steam myself.  For a little while there I could have been a one person posting fiend.  Now I'm getting sleepy.  

The idiots around here are shooting off fireworks which has the dogs going nuts.  Sigh.

Robin, all I can tell you about Stargate is that I don't watch it regularly but I do like it.  

Bruce, Elmore was kind enough to explain some of what an song Arranger-Orchestrator does to me.  Would you mind if I asked you a couple of questions about what a producer does?

Woo hoo! My mom is jealous of your view, Jane.

Hi Andrea.