Haines His Way
Archives => Archive 2 => Topic started by: bk on November 28, 2004, 12:00:09 AM
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Well, you've read the notes, you've understood the profound profundity of the notes, and now it is time for you to post until the cows come profoundly home.
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bk says "I must flit about like a gazelle eating a fruit chew"
It's a bit past midnight, and I'm sleepless in Campbell, CA. However, with the above comment from the notes, I shall lie awake wondering how the HELL a gazelle eating a fruit chew would make it flit
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Hello Tom and Matthew.
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...and Ann.
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I've been on the phone with some Indian gentlemen at AOL for the past hour (it was actually the ghost of Peter Sellers). They were totally unhelpful and seemed not to react at all when I was truly livid. At one point one of the Peters told me that I was not seeing what I was seeing on my screen. I asked him if he thought I was blind - but this made no impact on him whatsoever,
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I guess no one is really there...
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In that case, good night.
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Hello late night people...
I just finished Eternal Sunshine. I liked it. I'm now eating a bagel. I like it too.
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Correct: no-one is really here. The AOL men have it right. You are not seeing anyone here or there. Keep taking the medication DR Panni
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Anything would look good after "The Stepford Wives"!!
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Good morning, all! I wanted to sleep late this morning, and my body insisted that 7:45 am was time to haul my butt out of bed. So, I'm waiting for coffee and trying to program my day.
I will wander back later with some free-for-all thoughts.
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Question for BK:
How can you use living real people (calling them by name) in a fictional situation (An event that never really happened) without getting your butt sued off?
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Der Brucer's son in law, who hunts, presented us with a large baggie filled with goose breasts. Not duck breasts, but breasts of goose. Ten goose breasts, hopefully cleaned of all buckshot but the s.i.l. wasn't making any promises.
I now have to figure out how to cook goose breasts. They appear to be a very lean meat, and what I've read is that they have a marvelous gamebird flavor when cooked correctly. Cooked correctly means cooked rare, or at the very most medium rare. Beyond that they become tough and inedible, unless they're slow-cooked to the consistency of mush, in which case why bother.
The most likely way I'll cook them is to sear them, then roast them in the oven until done (rare).
I have no idea how to sauce them, of course. Nor do I have any idea what I should serve with them.
Here's a question for the DRs in general: when you've been served game, of any kind, what did you think of it? And how was it prepared?
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Good morning all!
TCB, I'm so glad your opening night went so well! I just wish I could have been there to see it.
Before I start on what I wanted to say I looked in my cyber cookbooks and came up with the following:
Hope this helps:
Goose in Cream Sauce
Breast meat from 1 goose, cut in bite
size cubes
3/4 c. flour (approximately)
4 tbsp. butter or margarine, divided
12 oz. fresh mushrooms, sliced
1 sm. onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 c. beef stock, canned or made
from bouillon
1 c. sour cream
1/8 c. white Zinfandel wine
Toss meat cubes in enough flour to coat. Heat 2 tablespoons butter in saucepan on medium heat. Add meat cubes and brown on all sides. Add the mushrooms, onion, and garlic. Cook until the mushrooms are soft and the meat is cooked through, but not well done, about 10 minutes. Remove the meat and mushroom mix, lower the heat, and add 2 tablespoons butter. Pour in approximately 1/2 cup beef stock and stir to mix with the pan drippings. Add 2 tablespoons of flour to thicken the sauce and whisk well. After sauce has thickened, add the rest of the beef stock, blend well, and add sour cream and wine. Mix thoroughly, then return meat mixture to pan and heat through. Serve over noodles or rice.
It sounds good-don't you think?
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Answering my own question, I've had a ragu of hart. No, not the Hart that Rodgers played with, but hart as in deer. It was quite tasty.
Der B has eaten bear, at a restaurant in Philly called Jack's Firehouse. He enjoyed it. (I was more conservative that night, dining on farm-raised buffalo.) I recall that his bear was glazed with apple cider, which in the taste I had was very interesting.
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Here is another one:
Stewed Wild Goose
1/2 c. onion
1/2 c. celery
1 c. water
2 bouillon cubes
1/4 c. soy sauce
1/2 tsp. thyme
6 med. potatoes, quartered
1 goose
Skin out goose and remove breast portions. I only use breast. Cut meat into bite size pieces. Place goose and first 6 ingredients into slow cooker and cook 2 hours. Add potatoes and cook another 1 1/2 hours. Thicken with cornstarch.
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One last one:
Goose Breast
1 goose breast
4 stalks celery (chopped)
2 med. onions (chopped)
6 cloves garlic (chopped)
Cover bottom of pan with grease. Slice goose breast into 1 inch strips and brown. Remove goose from pan and add celery, onion and garlic and cook until all are soft. Put goose strips back into pan on top of celery, onion and garlic. Add just enough water to cover. Let simmer until tender enough to cut with a fork (about 3-4 hours).
I've never had any wild game so I can't help you with that.
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Thank-you, Danise! That sauce does sound good. I'd be more inclined to use a drier white wine over the white Zin, but that's my taste in wine coming through. (Or I'd use a red wine, which would balance with the beef stock. Have to think about this one...)
I notice that the meat is to be "cooked through, but not well done." That matches what I was reading earlier, so I think I'll give this recipe a try. Again, thanks! :-*
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Aww heck, I've found at least 3 or 4 more goose breast receipes. If you want them, let me know. I think I have your e-mail address but to be sure, if you do want them, PM me with it and I'll send them to you or I can PM them to you. Does that make sense?
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Thank-you, Danise! That sauce does sound good. I'd be more inclined to use a drier white wine over the white Zin, but that's my taste in wine coming through. (Or I'd use a red wine, which would balance with the beef stock. Have to think about this one...)
I notice that the meat is to be "cooked through, but not well done." That matches what I was reading earlier, so I think I'll give this recipe a try. Again, thanks! :-*
DRSWW, in Lebanon, Ohio, not far from my home, is a fantastic restaurant, The Golden Lamb. They're famous for serving game in season. You might look them up on the web and see if there are any ideas there. My only memory of game is having pheasant as a child, which I really liked. Beyond that, good luck, but I think DRDanise has been amazing this morning!
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Your more than welcome! I doubt I would ever have cause to use those receipes myself but I'm glad the "book" had them for you!
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Well, I just checked The Golden Lamb site, and found nothing on their wild game menu. I'm lousy on the web, so maybe someone else will have better luck.
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Can someone give me the link for the Writer's Block website.
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Answering my own question, I've had a ragu of hart. No, not the Hart that Rodgers played with, but hart as in deer. It was quite tasty.
Nobody's hart belongs to me.
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Nevermind, I found it by clicking on the Kritzer books icon. I knew it was something like writersblockwebsite, but when I tried to do a search on it, I had no luck. :(
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Oy, if someone showed up and gave me a dead animal they just killed I'd probably faint.
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I know how you feel, Jennifer. I don't know what I would do either. Meat comes from the grocery store in neat little packages.
Just so you know, those recipes came off of East Chef’s One Million of the Worlds Best Receipes. I bought it at Walmart near where the Microwaves are sold.
I remember thinking, “One million recipes should just about cover everything!” I guess I was right.
Jrand, did you read the book, COLOSSUS THE FORBIN PROJECT? I seem to remember there being a sequel book as well or I might be a little mixed up because sometimes the books are so different from the movies.
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http://www.writersblocksite.com/ (http://www.writersblocksite.com/)
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Elmore, I have a question for you. Do you ever use computer programs for your work? I bought Finale PrintMusic and have been trying to get it to work. I remember I bought it because it said you could scan music into the program and then work with it, like change the key, etc. but it's a lot harder to use than I thought it would be.
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I've had that Betty Hutton SATINS 'N SPURS for several months. I'm very glad to have it since the LP was one of the biggest costing collector's items for a long time. The score, I thought, was an almost total washout, but Betty's always in there giving it her all, and the Capitol singles bonus items are great!
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I want to go ahead and put up my WIZARD OF OZ Christmas tree, but it's probably too early, isn't it? Not even December yet.
When do other DRs put up your trees, if, in fact, you put up one at all? I didn't for many years, but this little table top tree is a snap to put up.
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I suppose I'll get around to seeing GHOST today while my laundry is in the dryer. I got some of those discounted DVDs from Deep Discount yesterday, but didn't have time to open the box being involved in other projects around the house.
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Thanksgiving weekend is the time we always started decorating the house and putting up the tree.
You've seen the kind of trees I had when I was growing up but now that there is just Mom and myself, we just put up a little fake tree.
I don't know if we are going to bother with a tree or not this year. We never turned the lights on after I put it up last year.
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Elmore, I have a question for you. Do you ever use computer programs for your work? I bought Finale PrintMusic and have been trying to get it to work. I remember I bought it because it said you could scan music into the program and then work with it, like change the key, etc. but it's a lot harder to use than I thought it would be.
DRDanise, I'm a computer illiterate with Finale. I have friends who are virtuosos with it, but I can't think music and a computer screen. I need a shhet of staved paper and a sharp pencil. I must say I admire your ambitions with it.
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I want to go ahead and put up my WIZARD OF OZ Christmas tree, but it's probably too early, isn't it? Not even December yet.
When do other DRs put up your trees, if, in fact, you put up one at all? I didn't for many years, but this little table top tree is a snap to put up.
My memory is that my Mother started decorating for Christmas as soon as Thanksgiving was a day old. In Philmont, New York, many people have their Christmas decorations up by Thanksgiving!
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Mornin' chilluns. I'm packing to fly back to NYC today - hope to see y'all at BK's signing on Dec. 6th. Do we have plans to eat together??
What's happening in LA this week? Well, there was Thanksgiving. And too much tsurris to go into. anyhow, there will be more on Dec. 8, when I'm back again...
What's the weather in NY today, Elmore? See yas soon...
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This week in NY - Penny puts together a mailing, and hires a press rep for JEWISH THIGHS ON BROADWAY! And heads to bk's book partay. y'all know about musicians and free food...
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Well, I guess it would be a bit easier if I knew how to read music! LOL. I found another program on E-bay that said it teaches music the way the Navy teaches their band members to. I was thinking about getting it
I'm looking over the sheet music I bought of Some Sunday Morning. I don't know how you or DR Jose or DR Noel manage to read everything and play it. It all looks Greek to me!
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Mornin' chilluns. I'm packing to fly back to NYC today - hope to see y'all at BK's signing on Dec. 6th. Do we have plans to eat together??
What's happening in LA this week? Well, there was Thanksgiving. And too much tsurris to go into. anyhow, there will be more on Dec. 8, when I'm back again...
What's the weather in NY today, Elmore? See yas soon...
DRPennyO, the weather is rainy, dark and damp! Really awful. Have a safe flight in. I've mislaid your phone number, which is why you haven't heard from me. I miss you at Arties!
I'm taking care of Joe allen's after the reading. Can I get a tally on how many DRs are planning on coming to Joe Allen's?
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Oh - while I'm here... I'm still looking for a sublet for Jan-Apr. I'm telling everyone - please look out for a nice sublet for a nice Jewish girl doing a nice Jewish play. Thank you all, sweeties.
Woods and Der Brucer: I wish I was eating at YOUR house when you pull those goose breasts outa the oven. I have eaten a lot of game: caribou, moose, elk, buffalo, deer, Dahl sheep, ducks, pheasant - the lighter wine and butter and herbs sauces were delish on the lighter meats, heavier sauces on the heavier beasties, like moose.
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Well, I guess it would be a bit easier if I knew how to read music! LOL. I found another program on E-bay that said it teaches music the way the Navy teaches their band members to. I was thinking about getting it
DRDanise, since the Navy Band uses enlisted professional players, I wouldn't trust any book claiming teach you Navy Band methods.
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I'll come to Joe Allen's!
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Woods and Der Brucer: I wish I was eating at YOUR house when you pull those goose breasts outa the oven. I have eaten a lot of game: caribou, moose, elk, buffalo, deer, Dahl sheep, ducks, pheasant - the lighter wine and butter and herbs sauces were delish on the lighter meats, heavier sauces on the heavier beasties, like moose.
Ohmigod, she's turned into Annie Oykley!
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Okay - packing for serious now. More later.
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DR Elmore: count der B and myself for Joe A's.
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DR Elmore: count der B and myself for Joe A's.
Fab! This is going to be a PARTAY!
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Decorating for Christmas? When I was growing up, the outside lights would go up within a week after Thanksgiving. It started as Dad's job, then got transferred to me. I was much more anal about not having two of the same color bulb in sequence, with one exception being the year I put a sequence of red bulbs over our front door. Mom didn't care for that, and made me change it.
Inside, there was the creche and other holiday decorations that would go up around the first week of December. The tree itself wouldn't go up until about a week before the big day, because Mom didn't want it drying out too early.
Der B and I didn't bother with decorating back in Long Beach. Last year, our first here in Rehoboth Beach, we finally decided to get a tree on the chance that the grandlads would come down to visit and wonder where our tree might be. They didn't visit. That, and we learned the hard way that having decorations too close to the floor wasn't very wise in a dog-inhabited house.
This year, if we get a tree at all, it will go up in the den, not the living room, because the dogs love having the living room window free for their street-gazing. Outside lights are another matter. We've got the lights, and the hooks...and a ladder that is too danged short to easily reach the roofline. My fear of falling is going to be a real problem with getting those lights hung.
But there's always the chance I'll be able to sequence those lights above the front door....
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I think I shall make it to Joe Allen's. If I go to the play-reading, I'm certainly not going to hang out there afterwards, and if the play's two hours long, I'll leave.
The version of Finale I work on is six years old. I also have Finale 2000, but don't like it because you can't cut and paste fractions of a measure.
I'm not aware of a program in which you can scan music and change its key, but I've often wondered why there isn't such a thing. Perhaps there is. I've long looked forward to that brave new world future.
Unlike Jose, I don't really play what's written very much. I just sort of make "educated guesses" and, often, nobody can tell the difference.
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JRand GOOD SCRIPT VIBES!
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MMMMMM... goose...
(And just for the record, just because I am pro-gun control does not make me anti-hunting! I'm all for people understanding where their food comes from)
My sisters' neighbour is a big hunter and he invariably brings her some of the returns of his expeditions each year. She makes goose with an orange sauce similar to this one:
Wild Goose Breasts with Orange Glaze
Submitted by: Christopher Robin Henry
"This is a great recipe for that wild bird you're not sure what to do with. Sweet and tangy at the same time." Original recipe yield: 4 servings.
INGREDIENTS:
4 goose breasts
salt to taste
1 dash dry vermouth (optional)
1 tablespoon grated orange zest
1 orange, juiced
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 teaspoon caraway seeds
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Rinse the breasts in cold water, and place in baking dish. Splash with vermouth, then season with salt; set aside.
In a medium bowl, combine orange zest, orange juice, lemon juice, brown sugar, garlic and soy sauce. Season with mustard and caraway. Pour glaze over breasts in baking dish.
Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until no longer pink and juices run clear. Baste at least twice during baking.
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All this talk of breasts may lead us to get more "hits" than usual. Now, THAT'S how you become the most popular site on the internet!
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There's a Hewlett-Packard printer commercial airing at the present time: there's a young man hanging picture frames about his neck and turning them intro photos of himself. The background rock song is driving me mad to figure out what it is. Is it a 70s song? Does anyone know its name? Thanks.
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Oy, if someone showed up and gave me a dead animal they just killed I'd probably faint.
Danise and Jennifer, precisely the reason I don't eat it.
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Normally the day after Thanksgiving I blast Christmas music and decorate our house for Christmas. If I haven’t finished addressing my holiday cards I do so then.
I have the cards and labels ready. I also have a holiday letter typed, but not printed out, to include in the cards to friends I’m not in touch with often. This year they are just sitting there waiting for me. Our Echo is not well at all and this is not a happy house hold.
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I've seen that commercial, DR elmore, but, naturally, I have no clue what song is being used. It's not from a Broadway show!
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Good Morning!
As for BK's "late night" comment about my current status as a Late Night WUSSBURGER... I'm sure my late night denizen days will return once I'm back in "show mode". These things come and go in phases. Just waiting for the pendulum to start swinging the other way. Or at least for rehearsals and performances to start up again. Which, according to my calendar, will be commencing this coming Thursday.
And just remember, your "late night" is not as "late night" as my "late night". And since she knows that I know that you know that she knows that I know that you know...
:-X
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I know it makes me a horrible person because I love animals so much and yet I eat them.
I guess getting meat in prepackaged containers makes it easy to forget what that steak or chicken breast (doing my part to help with making the site get more hits, hee, hee) was part of.
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And just remember, your "late night" is not as "late night" as my "late night". And since she knows that I know that you know that she knows that I know that you know...
:X
DR Jose,
When I figure out what you said exactly, I’ll comment. ;D
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There's a Hewlett-Packard printer commercial airing at the present time: there's a young man hanging picture frames about his neck and turning them intro photos of himself. The background rock song is driving me mad to figure out what it is. Is it a 70s song? Does anyone know its name? Thanks.
DR elmore - I believe the song is "Picture Book" by The Kinks.
OH!! Yes, it is! Just click below:
http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/newsroom/hpads/you/photography/index.html (http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/newsroom/hpads/you/photography/index.html)
-And, I have to say, I think the whole series of commercials are very well done. And the whole picture/live person/picture device amazes me. I can't imagine how much frame-by-frame editing they had to do to get all of that to look the way it does.
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DR Jose,
When I figure out what you said exactly, I’ll comment. ;D
DR Danise - I'm not sure either... I think I was entering sitcom mode - possibly "Gilligan's Island" or "Three's Company".
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Good Morning!
YIPPEE!! The sun is out today! And since I actually was up before Noon today, I may get to enjoy a few more hours of it than I normally would. ;)
I've already had breakfast - same as my dinner last night, roast beef hash and eggs. And then I had some tea - and just to show the influence this site has one my daily life, I had some White Tea. Very soothing. And a nice beverage on a bright and brisk morning.
DR Noel - I can bring up a few packets of the stuff to NYC next weekend if you'd like. -I don't want your antioxidant levels to run low. ;)
So... I'm gonna head out for a walk in a bit, then come back here and do some more cleaning, then get ready for my massage! YIPPEE!
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Question for BK:
How can you use living real people (calling them by name) in a fictional situation (An event that never really happened) without getting your butt sued off?
It's done all the time - from Ragtime, to Stuart Kaminsky's series of Hollywood murder mysteries. No prob at all.
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This is so weird, 9:20 on a Sunday morning the doorbell rings and it is the guy to finish the drywall work. You think he would have called first. :o
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DRJose, thanks for your help with the song info. Are you coming to Joe allen's after the reading?
I just watched the 1957 Producer's Showcase of CINDERELLA with Margot Fonteyn and the Sadler's Wells (now Royal) Ballet. I don't know why I feel Prokofiev let this ballet down after his fantastic ROMEO AND JULIET ballet, but I find the score neither magical nor romantic. It was fun seeing two of Britain's greatest choreographers, Frederick Ashton and Kenneth MacMillan, in drag as the ugly stepsisters, and Margot Fonteyn is a perfect Cinderella.
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I tell you, where else on all the Internet can you have enlightened discourse (or datcourse) on goose breasts and what to do with them? I myself have never seen a goose breast let alone tried to cook one. I've had my goose cooked a couple of times, however.
One of the joys of working with elmore is looking at his beautiful charts, all hand-written and purty.
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RE: Finale and Music scanning software
I have both Finale and Encore. Even though Finale is the far superior product in regards to bells and whistles, I use Encore for more of my "daily" stuff. It's just a lot easier and faster to use. Sometimes, I'll do the "base" work in Encore, then save it as a MIDI-file, then import the MIDI file into Finale, and then finesse from there. I do have a trial version of Sibelius, but I have yet to open it up.
As for Music Scanning software, there are a couple of good ones out there. My friend, Steve, uses one of them, and he gets pretty good results. Since printed music is not all printed the same way (size, layout, etc.), there is a lot of finessing and finaigling you have to do, but once you get those settings set, the output looks pretty good. It's not perfect - you still have to edit things - and sometimes it's a little "too accurate", but it's a great timesaver if you have to transpose whole scores and parts. Steve uses it to make the rehearsal tapes for the Richmond Men's Chorus. He scans the scores in, then converts the files to MIDI, then plugs that into Cakewalk, then... You get the picture.
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It's 9:30am and we've had no hot water since yesterday, it's not pretty. The office doesn't open until 10:00. Seems to me if you have a building full of people that are expecting hot water, you'd do everything you could to get the hot water up and running ASAP, even if it means working at all hours.
For music writting, I LOVE Encore, now put out by GVOX, it's simple and easy to use. I also use Allegro, which is the middle version of the Finale family, but it doesn't work well with MAC OS X and there is no upgrade available. Also, Allegro has a scan option where you can scan music in and edit the notes. I've never used it. But there definately are scan programs that will scan a piece of music and convert it to a midi format, (notes, no words).
EL Eric just saw a water heater roll by, I think there's hope!
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Unlike Jose, I don't really play what's written very much. I just sort of make "educated guesses" and, often, nobody can tell the difference.
Well, there are times when I don't really play what's written very much too. :-\
Actually, it all depends on the style and period. Basically, pre-1970's, I fill in the holes, so to speak. Post-1970's, I play what's on the page.
However, I do envy your "ear" skills. Mine are very inconsistent. One of these days, I will do what Ellis Marsalis suggested to me when I was in college. I just need to set aside four weeks - at least - and only play by ear and/or with lead sheets. I need to break the "habit" of my classical upbringing basically. I need to stop "thinking" so much when I play, and just play.
I also remember someone mentioning something along the lines of: God gave you two hands to play. And he gave you two ears. Use both of them.
Then again, I'm a pretty good audition pianist. I love sight-reading.
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DRJose, thanks for your help with the song info. Are you coming to Joe allen's after the reading?
Count me in! -Although, after checking with the contractor at Arena, there is a chance we could be called in on the Monday for rehearsal if needed and/or requested by the conductor. I'll know definitely by Friday a.m. which is the union-required notice period. But...
Count me in!
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Who plays what's written? :)
When I started to play shows, my classical technique pretty much went away. I've always been able to play by ear much better than reading what's on the page. Once I know something, it's easier to improvise. I love to site read, also. But we must begin teaching people not to bring Jason Robert Brown music to an audition. If you've never taken the time to play his music, good luck site reading it. Damn them all!
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As for game... I haven't have much either. However, there's a crew guy at Ford's Theatre who prepares an amazing venison in barbecue sauce. Soooo good. Very flavorful and tender. And his secret recipe sauce works perfectly with the venison.
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elmore, be sure to ask the question tomorrow, since there are certain hainsies/kimlets who aren't around for the weekend festivities, and they might miss it in the posts.
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OK... I need to get out of here for a while and go for a walk. And I think I'm gonna hit the park today - it's been a while.
-Now ain't this a lovely number of posts so far today? And it's just 10:00AM PST!
Laters...
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Why are you going to hit the park? Why must you always do violence to the park - what did the park ever do to you I'd like to know?
It's still very windy and crisp here, but the result of all the wind is that the sky is a gloriously glorious blue.
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My CD player is on the fritz, so I'm listening to cassettes as I do domestic chores. At the moment, it's Top Banana. I had forgotten about the song Nobody Loves Me Like My Dog, in which a barking pooch tries to drown out Phil Silvers. Unfortunately for Phil, another barking dog - Archie the spaniel - got into the act as soon as he heard the first one.
There are some treasures in Top Banana, and I think it would be a funny show to see. I don't know how it would play without Phil Silvers - or Rose Marie, for that matter. It seems to have been written just for them.
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I tell you, where else on all the Internet can you have enlightened discourse (or datcourse) on goose breasts and what to do with them? I myself have never seen a goose breast let alone tried to cook one. I've had my goose cooked a couple of times, however.
Not just cooked, Dear Friend BK. You were put through the ringer. Oy!
I will indeed ask the question again tomorrow morning. I do want to alert Joe Allen's tomorrow afternoon that there will be a crowd and a bona fide partay.
Do you know if any of your invited guests who don't hang out on the site will be come to the partay?
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Top Banana is very dear to my heart, and the musical I've been writing, Such Good Friends, covers a similar milieu. Top Banana and Li'l Abner are Johnny Mercer at his funniest, which is quite wonderful. There's a very odd movie of Top Banana that appears to have been filmed on its Broadway stage. Indeed, Phil Silvers and Rose Marie are the stars. Unluckily (for us all), most of the songs have been cut out.
Piano playing: I start by throwing all ten fingers at the keys, and then removing every note that sounds wrong to me. I guess you could call that an "ear." Indeed, Matthew's spelled out yet another good reason to despite Jason Robert Brown. He's written fewer than fifty songs, but about as many notes as Schubert.
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I think DRJOSE answered DRELMORE's question about the song in the commercial, and I think he is correct.
Hmmmm.....shorter rehearsal today - for me. I left when there was no more dancing to be done.
Watching some television and maybe a DVD. Very windy here last night as well!
All of this talk of computer music programs. The only one I have is a CyberSound Music Studio. You hook up the keyboard and you can make music files by playing it note by note - instrument by instrument.
Sounds like MRBK got some good CD's. I have one Betty Hutton CD - one of the Great Ladies of Song Capitol series. Lots of fun to hear....with some radio promos in between some of the songs.... And ANNIE GET YOUR GUN is going to be on TCM on December 8th - if you don't already have the DVD!
I like ANNIE GYG but my favorite Betty Hutton movie is PERILS OF PAULINE....whew....she gets to sing "Rumble"!
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Good morning. It's beautiful today in the City of Studio. I took a long walk in the new hood, as well as taking Abie to the park in the old hood so he could play with his weekend doggie friends (especially his "special" friend, Edie). I dropped in briefly on my old landlord and lady, while Abie waited in the car.
Once more the morning seems to have gotten away from me. I already had a good cry (okay, childish) because I couldn't find a meeting tape I really needed and am beginning to suspect that I DID find it and the reason the meeting isn't on it is because it didn't tape. Oy! I'll just have to renconstruct from memory. The meeting was only a few days ago, so it should be okay. But the whole thing was just very frustrating, thus the tears.
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I want to go ahead and put up my WIZARD OF OZ Christmas tree, but it's probably too early, isn't it? Not even December yet.
When do other DRs put up your trees, if, in fact, you put up one at all? I didn't for many years, but this little table top tree is a snap to put up.
I figure that as long as it's after Thanksgiving, you can do whatever you want. I have a little table-top Christmas tree that about two and a half feet tall. It's decorated with mini icicle ornaments and a garland of instruments. No, really! It has trumpets and violins, etc. It's pretty cool. In my last two apartments, I'd put it on top of my microwave oven. The last apartment I had, I kept it there the entire time that I lived there. I never put it away! So, I say do whatever the heck you want!
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How odd to have "Picture Book" mentioned here. spooky odd. I only played it a few days ago.. I eventually replaced my old 45 with the album (CD). As far I know the single bombed everywhere in the world except here in Melbourne. "Picture yourself when your'e getting old" was not a great opening line for teenagers! The flipside was "Starstruck" - another great track. But then I've never been known as a dedicated follower of fashion.
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I don't anticipate inviting too many people who aren't hainsies/kimlets to Joe Allen on that night. I can meet those types on Sunday or Tuesday night. Heard from Brent Barrett, who will, most likely, be at the signing.
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There's a Hewlett-Packard printer commercial airing at the present time: there's a young man hanging picture frames about his neck and turning them intro photos of himself. The background rock song is driving me mad to figure out what it is. Is it a 70s song? Does anyone know its name? Thanks.
Close but no prize! The song is from 1969.
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Good Afternoon!
What a great day for a walk! The air is crisp, the sky is blue, and the sun is shining. -Sheesh, it almost sounds like I'm in the City of Studio from the various meteorological descriptions on this here site. I did indeed hit the park, and the park did not hit back. Some of the trees still had some leaves on them, and there were a couple of brilliant yellow leaves on the trees and on the ground. The ones on the ground almost appeared to be oversized buttercups. Very beautiful. It was also very encouraging to see that the City has started planted some new trees to replace the ones that were felled during Hurricane Isabel last year.
After walking the Vita-Course in the park, I headed over to Carytown and did some window shopping. Lots of people out, and some of the stores have started their holiday hours this weekend - meaning they're now open on Sundays. The holiday spirit is definitely in the air.
And now I'm watching the end of some show about a pierogi festival on FoodTV, and I just finished a small bowl of oatmeal - some new-fangled, organic stuff I bought last night - very tasty. The oatmeal should hold me until tonight, and then I'll fix something else for dinner after my massage.
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I'm off to get a bite to eat.
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Piano playing: I start by throwing all ten fingers at the keys, and then removing every note that sounds wrong to me. I guess you could call that an "ear." Indeed, Matthew's spelled out yet another good reason to despite Jason Robert Brown. He's written fewer than fifty songs, but about as many notes as Schubert.
I actually like the challenge of playing harder music at auditions. Jason Robert Brown - or JRB as the "kidz" like to call him - does write a lot of notes, but since a lot of his music is jazz/funk-based, once you break it down harmonically, most of it is very "simple", and it's just a matter of riffing and keeping the rhythm going, driving. My problem with someone bringing in JRB for an audition is that they want it played fast(er). Sometimes that's a physical impossibility.
Bernstein's music will sometimes throw me for a loop. As will Loesser. The chromaticism is so "acurrate", that one misplaced note or even one omitted note can change the intended harmonies.
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And just remember, your "late night" is not as "late night" as my "late night". And since she knows that I know that you know that she knows that I know that you know...
:-X
I guess I've been working on these term papers for too long, because I understood that perfectly.
I know I haven't been pulling my own weight, BK, but that's because of the aforementioned term papers that are slowly driving me insane. The only things keeping me going are Cherry Coke and a dwindling chocolate stash in my room. I'll be back when my term papers are done and I can forget all about John Keats, William Shakespeare, and all those other high-falutin' Greeks (Oh, a Music Man reference) until next semester when they'll all be shoved down my throat again.
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RE: Christmas decorations...
Growing up, my parents would usually start decorating right after Thanksgiving. Most of it would depend on what else was going on in their lives at the time. Sometimes they would go out and get the tree on the morning of the day after Thanksgiving. Other times, it would be the following weekend. But no later than two weeks before Christmas Day.
My mom also used to do theme trees. She would spend a few months before the holidays making and/or collecting ornaments. One year it was all cross-stitch ornaments. Another it was bamboo angels. Another, various stars. In those years, the tree was usually up on Thanksgiving Friday so my mom's creations would get maximum tree-time. ;)
Steve and I used to decorate - well, Steve used to decorate since I was usually working during the holiday season. Again, for us, it was a matter of just how much craziness we were dealing with - concerts, rehearsals, work parties, etc. It really is amazing how stressful the holidays can become - if you let them.
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Question for DR Jose. What would be the top 10 "Audition" songs these days? (Following up "I Can Cook Too" comments the other day.).
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Christmas Decorations should never started until after the birthdays of certain people on this site.
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And one for Mahler!
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Question for DR Jose. What would be the top 10 "Audition" songs these days? (Following up "I Can Cook Too" comments the other day.).
Hmm... Well, off the top of my head, and based on recent experience:
Women's Songs:
"Gimme, Gimme" - Thoroughly Modern Millie
"The Girl in 14G" - Tesorie/Scanlan
"Taylor, the Latte Boy" - Goldrich and Heissler
"You Don't Know This Man" - Parade
"You Can Always Count On Me" - City of Angels - Ladies, please note: Hold out that last note!
"How Could I Ever Know" - The Secret Garden
"Somebody, Somewhere" - The Most Happy Fella
"Home" - Beauty & The Beast
"Much More" - The Fantasticks
"Someone Else's Story" - Chess
"I Will Be Loved Tonight" - I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change
"Times Like This" - Lucky Stiff
Well... That was 12... sorry...
Men's Songs:
"Soliloquy" - Carousel
"Anthem" - Chess
"If I Can't Love Her" - Beauty & The Beast
"Me" - Beauty & The Beast
"On the Street Where You Live" - My Fair Lady
"I, Don Quixote" - Man of La Mancha
"Make Them Hear You" - Ragtime
"The Old Red Hills of Home" - Parade
"This Is Not Over Yet" - Parade
"Now While I'm Around" - Sweeney Todd
"Sit Down, You're Rocking the Boat" - Guys & Dolls
"Miracle of Miracles" - Fiddler on the Roof
-I figured I would list 12 here too just to be fair.
Now for the disclaimer:
Again, this list was just off the top of my head. None of these songs are bad songs. And I have no qualms about hearing nor playing any of them at auditions. However, there just seem to be these periods of time when certain songs gain and re-gain popularity. Sometimes, I'll go for months without having a certain song put in front of me, and then, BANG!, I'll end up playing it 15-20 times in one day. There's no real science to it. It just happens. And as I've said before, if the song is sung well, it's a joy to listen to and to accompany.
I also left out some "classics" from the above lists. Songs like "Can't Help Lovin' That Man", "Vanilla Ice Cream", "Art Is Calling For Me", "The Man I Love", "Old Devil Moon", "Ain't Misbehavin'", "Luck Be A Lady Tonight", "Johanna", "Glitter and Be Gay" (yes, that "Glitter and Be Gay"), "Losing My Mind", "Comedy Tonight", "All I Need Is the Girl", "Summertime", etc... Again, there seem to phases to the "over-done-ness" of these songs. And, again, as long as they're sung well...
A lot of it also has do with what is published and readily available for actors and actresses to go out and learn - and have music for. Yes, there are various sources and people from whom to procure some of the unpublished stuff, but for the "average" actor and actress (please, no letters), the time and effort involved in getting some of that material just isn't worth the extra time and effort. But it is amazing just how fast music can circulate once someone or someones lands a copy of something. *There is one piece of music that I transcribed for someone a few years ago. It was something off a cabaret album, and the music was not - and is still not published for it. I've seen my own arrangement put down in front of me a couple times since then, and each time I ask, "Oh, where did you get this from?!?!?" -Of course, the best part of this situation is when they ask, "Do you know this song?" - "Do I know this song..." ;)
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Oooh... The ARTS Network is broadcasting "Trouble In Tahiti" from Trouble In Tahiti... One of my favorites! -Although, I haven't seen this particular film of the piece.. Hmm.. I may have to check Amazon...
"What a movie!
What a terrible awful movie!"
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I agree about the CINDERELLA ballet music. I'm not sure I had ever heard it before until some figure skater used it for a long program, and I did not find it in the least lyrical.
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Funny moment from the recently aired Gingerbread House Competition program on FoodTV. One young man did not make "gingerbread" at all, since he was out of ginger. So, instead, he used chili powder! He said the smell gave him a headache. ;)
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I watched GHOST today and typically cried my eyes out at its blatant sentiment and romance. Oh, those Righteous Brothers just tear my heart out with "Unchained Melody."
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Oooh... The ARTS Network is broadcasting "Trouble In Tahiti" from "Trouble In Tahiti"... One of my favorites! -Although, I haven't seen this particular film of the piece.. Hmm.. I may have to check Amazon...
Is this the BBC broadcast with Karl Daymond as Sam? It's one of my favorite pieces as well, and this broadcast is okay, not as good as I'd wanted, but not bad. It's a hard piece to pull off on video and I've always thought it worked better onstage.
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:D
Just about an hour and a half till wet noodle time for me - a.k.a. massage!
I think I'll head into the kitchen now and get something prepared for my post-massage meal.
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Is this the BBC broadcast with Karl Daymond as Sam? It's one of my favorite pieces as well, and this broadcast is okay, not as good as I'd wanted, but not bad. It's a hard piece to pull off on video and I've always thought it worked better onstage.
They only showed her aria, so I'm not sure who played Sam. But Stephanie Novacek was in it, and according the info blurb that popped up, it's from 2001.
I think it works best on stage too. -And if I was a baritone, I'd love to SING Sam sometime in the future.
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I agree about the CINDERELLA ballet music. I'm not sure I had ever heard it before until some figure skater used it for a long program, and I did not find it in the least lyrical.
DRMattH, about once a year, I pull out my complete score, put on a complete recording - I think mine's conducted by Ashkenazy - and after 40 minutes or so decide (in my best Lina Lamont voice) I caaaan't stan' it. I love the Classical Symphony, The Love of Three Oranges, Lte Kije, Alexander Nevsky, a lot of Romeo and Juliet, and next to nothing of Cinderella! That minor waltz that closes Act One is quite wonderful, however, and I think the midnight clock music is interesting.
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They only showed her aria, so I'm not sure who played Sam. But Stephanie Novacek was in it, and according the info blurb that popped up, it's from 2001.
I think it works best on stage too. -And if I was a baritone, I'd love to SING Sam sometime in the future.
Yes, it's the same vidoe. I never remember her name, and Karl Daymond was also in a video of DIDO AND AENEAS with Maria Ewing a couple of years ago. I wish that were on DVD instead of the Mark Morris drag act. Ugh!
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DR Jane, is Echo doing any better? I thought you said yesterday that he/she was doing better? :(
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Sandra I would rather miss your visits and know you are getting your school work done and good grades which of course is your priority.
Matthew do you have water?
Jennifer thank you for asking, Echo’s front paw is better and she can walk again if Keith jump starts her, but she isn’t eating much. The odd thing is she begins to eat and then spits it out. The fact is her condition is accelerating and there isn’t much we can do.
On the upside Echo somehow manages to go on her walk. Today there were horses and a dog running in the fields. We (Keith joined us) all enjoyed watching them. A Great Blue Heron flew up in front of us. It was a very nice walk.
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Sandra cannot pull her weight on account of she has no spare weight to pull, which is what happens when you are on a steady diet of floop.
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I watched GHOST today and typically cried my eyes out at its blatant sentiment and romance. Oh, those Righteous Brothers just tear my heart out with "Unchained Melody."
When GHOST came out, my brother was teaching several students for whom English was a second language. One of them fell in love with that song but didn't quite pick up the lyrics, going around the school singing: "Oh! My love, my darling, I hunger for your tush."
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When GHOST came out, my brother was teaching several students for whom English was a second language. One of them fell in love with that song but didn't quite pick up the lyrics, going around the school singing: "Oh! My love, my darling, I hunger for your tush."
...And speaking of audition songs... "Unchained Melody" as sung by the Righteous Brothers, hardly resembles the standard sheet music that is published. If someone brings it in for an audition, I just end up treating the sheet music as lead sheet, and follow the singer.
...And to bring this into yesterday's topic... I don't think I've ever played "In the Still of the Night" for anyone at an audition the way it is published. There have been so many stylized versions recorded, I don't think there are that many people out there who have really gone back to the original music and know what's on the page.
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Time for me to head out...
Laters...
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About today's discussion of Christmas decorating, I just walked to the corner market. As I passed the Catholic church across from my building, I heard the choir singing "O Come Emanuel." and at the corner, the wooden stands for the Christmas tree vendors have been set up. I suspect the trees will arrive this week.
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...And speaking of audition songs... "Unchained Melody" as sung by the Righteous Brothers, hardly resembles the standard sheet music that is published. If someone brings it in for an audition, I just end up treating the sheet music as lead sheet, and follow the singer.
The ONLY version of this song that I like at all is by Elaine Paige from her "Cinema" CD, which is her follow up to her "Stages" recording. I got it used about 18 years ago. It was only released in the UK. I never liked this song until her version...not even The Manhattan Transfer's version helped.
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Oooh... The ARTS Network is broadcasting "Trouble In Tahiti" from Trouble In Tahiti... One of my favorites! -Although, I haven't seen this particular film of the piece.. Hmm.. I may have to check Amazon...
"What a movie!
What a terrible awful movie!"
I love this little opera! I have three recordings of this (including the use of it during Bernstein's "A Quiet Place"). I saw a DVD once on-line somewhere and it sounded like it was both the NTSC (US standard) AND the PAL (UK standard) versions. It was $30 and I didn't have that much at the time, but it looked intriguing.
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And speaking of "A Quiet Place," I just went to Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000012XB/qid=1101685623/sr=1-4/ref=sr_1_4/002-0265464-6836838?v=glance&s=classical) and there are two used copies of the CD available. One is for $199 and the other is $249!! Is it really that valuable?? I have this CD! Do I own a treasure?? Or is someone just really stupid in their pricing?
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Actually, I think it's a stupid seller...it's the same one for both copies. On eBay (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=307&item=4056095596), there's a listing (just added today!) for a different release of the same opera for only $9.95! I can't imagine that whichever release it was could mean the difference between asking for $9.95 versus being able to demand $199-$249!
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I'm my own Frenz! ;D
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Let's make this a full fledged frenzy: Danise, I got your Thanksgiving card! THANKS for GIVING me a card! (get it...THANKS and GIVING? ;D) Yours has been stamped and addressed and will be mailed first thing tomorrow morning! I hope you like it.
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THE SUNDAY SERMON
[/u]
If you can start the day without caffeine,
If you can get going without pep pills,
If you can always be cheerful,
ignoring aches and pains,
If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,
If you can eat the same food every day
and be grateful for it,
If you can understand when your loved
ones are too busy to give you any time,
If you can overlook it when those you love
take it out on you when, through no fault
of yours, something goes wrong,
If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,
If you can ignore a friend's limited education and never correct him,
If you can resist treating a rich friend
better than a poor friend,
If you can face the world without lies and deceit,
If you can conquer tension without medical help,
If you can relax without liquor,
If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,
Then You've Gotta Be The Family Dog!
(http://pic8.picturetrail.com/VOL242/891350/5613952/74909226.jpg)
der not-very-reverend Brucer
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DERBRUCER the pic of the dog is darling.
DiT-funny story.
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Oy, if someone showed up and gave me a dead animal they just killed I'd probably faint.
Naturally - you are a self-reliant native of the the Northwoods! A true gentleman would present you with the live animal and allow you the pleasure of butchering it yourself :D
der "I-love-being-evil" Brucer
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Here's a question for the DRs in general: when you've been served game, of any kind, what did you think of it? And how was it prepared?
BAMBI, THUMPER, KERMIT, BIG BEN - prepared by someone else.
der "kill it and grill it" Brucer
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Re: the movie Ghost.
Thank god for Whoopie Goldberg,
Patrick Swayze runs the gamut of emotions from a to b.
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Nobody's hart belongs to me.
Reminds me of a tale (what else is new):
When vacationing in Berlin, I sought out a restaurant noted for its wild game dishes. The Fraulein Hostess was pleasant, but not bi-lingual. I inquired about a particular dish and after some lame attempts at translation I got "hart" - aha! The Noble Stag!
Wrong - the Glorious Pump! (But from a deer, nonetheless.)
der "anybody-got-a-Berlitz-coupon" Brucer
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I want to go ahead and put up my WIZARD OF OZ Christmas tree, but it's probably too early, isn't it? Not even December yet.
I think today's rule is :
If the Eater Eggs have all be found, the Christmas tree can go up. (The malls have no problem segueing from "Easter Parade" to "White Christmas".)
der Brucer
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Unlike Jose, I don't really play what's written very much. I just sort of make "educated guesses" and, often, nobody can tell the difference.
Something that will endear you to arrangers the world 'round.
I can hear Noel now:
"And there are simply too many notes, that's all. Just cut a few and it will be perfect. "
der Brucer
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I put Christmas music on to get in the mood for addressing my holiday cards. Now I’m in danger of falling asleep. Guess Nat King Cole was not the best choice. I will try Louis Armstrong and see if he can wake me up.
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I also remember someone mentioning something along the lines of: God gave you two hands to play. And he gave you two ears. Use both of them.
What about the other god-given appendages?
der "use-it-all" Brucer
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QUICKLY – please I need an immediate answer. How long do I microwave a turkey dog? I guess it is the same time for a regular hot dog.
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QUICKLY – please I need an immediate answer. How long do I microwave a turkey dog? I guess it is the same time for a regular hot dog.
That seems a logical answer because I have no idea myself!
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Thanks elmore. I don't know how long a regular dog cooks either. This is for Echo-our latest attempt to get her to eat. I guessed at 4 minutes when it began to puff up.
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Sorry! Some of you may have noticed that I just tried (very unsuccessfully) to post a photo. It was gigantic! Fortunately, I figured out pretty quickly how to delete my post. Any advice?
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So, after bringing up goose breasts (and spurring a lot of conversation), tonight I ended up making...
Venison Chili!
I simply wasn't ready for the breast challenge. On the other hand, we had about a pound of ground venison thawed, which made for a damn fine chili when combined with some onion, bell pepper, and appropriate spices. Der Brucer even went back for seconds!
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Evening all.
Well, it finely seems like the holidays to me. I just finished watching White Christmas. Pardon me if I'm still sniffing. It's a three hankie film for me.
Jane, I'm sorry I wasn't here to answer your question about the hot dog. I think it's only a minute or two at the most for a hot dog no matter what kind it is unless it's frozen to start with.
Ginny, all the pictures I post here on HHW are 480 pixelss by 360 pixels. That gives you a nice size so you can see everything but it won't send the board into cinemascope.
I still don't know how pictures get put into the body of a message--I only know how to attach them to the message.
George, I'm glad you liked the card, I'm only sorry they arrived so late for you West Coasters. I mailed them on Monday thinking that would be more then enough time to get there.
I did all of my other cards yesterday so they will be going out tomorrow. I promise they will make it before the holiday. I'm just sorry I didn't hand write them all out. My writting hand was blown up to twice it's normal size and was stiff as a board. It's getting better since I've been putting it in the parafin wax and taking the pain meds.
You would think that using a keyboard would be bad for my hand but the doctor said that was the opposite--using the keyboard is good for it. More exersize. Go figure.
I may have messed my Outlook program up. I was trying to get it give me some kind of signal when I receive new mail. I'm forever having to go into the program to check. I thought I figured it out but I'm not sure if it's working or not.
I also messed with the default font and font size. It always starts out so little I have to highlight everything I type and resize it. I thought that was dumb so I tried to fix that as well but it doesn't seem to be working either.
DERBRUCER, you are bad, bad, bad. ;D :D
I also wanted to tell DR Pogue something. DragonHeart was on this afternoon on the Sci Fi channel. I was out in my garden and took the dogs for walk so I missed it (sorry). Now my Mom has seen the movie before (for one we have it on DVD) but when I came in she told me, "You missed this wonderful story about a dragon and knight. I don't know why they don't make more movies like that."
She is at the point that she really doesn't remember them. I bought her a bunch of John Wayne DVD's for Christmas. The sad part is she'll think she never saw them before and she and I have sat though them so many times I can quote the script.
She swore that Chisum was a "new" movie that she had never seen. Bless her, I guess in one way it's nice that everything old is new again.
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BAMBI, THUMPER, KERMIT, BIG BEN - prepared by someone else.
der "kill it and grill it" Brucer
I think you mean Gentle Ben.
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Reminds me of a tale (what else is new):
When vacationing in Berlin, I sought out a restaurant noted for its wild game dishes. The Fraulein Hostess was pleasant, but not bi-lingual. I inquired about a particular dish and after some lame attempts at translation I got "hart" - aha! The Noble Stag!
Wrong - the Glorious Pump! (But from a deer, nonetheless.)
der "anybody-got-a-Berlitz-coupon" Brucer
As I recall, "the Fraulein Hostess" was quite male. That event took place during our first vacation together.
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BTW, has anyone looked at the map or the member list lately? I’ve migrated from somewhere off the West coast of Africa to the East coast of Africa but I’m still in the water. Dan (the Man) is there with me so at least I’m not alone. I feel like a dolphin or a whale with a tracking device on my back.
And have you seen the number of people who have signed on the board but have never posted? What’s up with that? If your going to take the time to sign on board, you should at least post once and say hello.
In light of my place on the map, I could say the water is fine. Nah. I wouldn't say something like that. Would I? ::)
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Ginny in my earlier failures to downsize photos for posting I discovered most everyone here uses a different program, and they were all different from mine so their efforts to help were in vain. What program are you using? We have photo workshop-I think.
Danise thank you for the info. You might want to email your story to Charles Pogue in case he doesn’t read it here. I don’t remember when he is returning.
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Danise I was looking at the list of names earlier-my goodness who are these people and yes, please come and say hello.
I tried to put myself on the map several times. I don't know where I show up but I don't think I'm where I should be.
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Danise I looked for you in the good old USA. I will have to check out Africa. Maybe that is where I am even though I put in USA
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Good Evening!
What a difference a massage makes! Really! And Francis, my masseur, even threw in an extra half hour for free! Two hours total! Boy, I knew my upper back was a bit out of whack, but I had no idea just how out of whack the rest of my back was. He worked most of the knots out, but there's still a pesky one under my left shoulder blade that could use another session or two. But I was so glad the timing worked out for tonight. I can literally feel the blood flowing better through my neck, shoulders, arms, hands and fingers.
On the way back - it's walking distance - I picked up some egg drop soup at The Eatery, and now I'm just watching "A Christmas Carol" on NBC. So far, so good. -Although, the bumpers have to go!
OK! Commercial break is over...
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Sorry about that Jane, I just stepped away to E-bay. An item I wanted was on final count down. Of course, I won it. Like I said, I have the whole E-bay thing down pat.
I don't know why I'm off of Africa instead of Florida where I belong but then I always wanted to see the world. :)
I also wanted to say that I do use the Adobe Photoshop to resize my pictures. It has this handly feature called "For the Web". I just tell it what size I want the photo to be. It then puts into another folder called, "For the Web" so when I attach it I use the Browse feature, go to that folder and there is my picture. Resized and ready to post. Ain't that clever?
Someone here mentioned the size so that's what I started to use.
Hey, I just had an e-mail alert that I won the item--my changes must have worked!
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Well folks, I hate to say it but the Holiday weekend is over for me. Sob.
I didn't win the 60 mil that was up for grabs in the lotto this weekend so I guess I have to go back to work.
Jose, I'm glad your feeling better. I've always wanted a massage it sounds it would hurt so good if you know what I mean. ;)
Everyone have a wonderful rest of the evening and a GREAT week. And for those of you who are wondering----there's only
It is now Sunday 11/28/2004 at 9:56:50 PM
Event: Christmas
Scheduled For 12/25/2004 12:00:00 AM
26 days 2 hours 3 minutes 10 seconds or
3 weekends or
27 days or
626 hours (417 waking hours) or
37,563 minutes or
2,253,789 seconds
Shopping days until Christmas. No pressure! :) :D ;D
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I can't look at today's title and not think of the Maltby & Shire song.
Which reminds me that Maltby & Shire songs make for great auditions.
Yes, there's Today Is the First Day of the Rest of Your Life
but, for a woman who wants to show extreme range, comedy and acting, there's
A Little Bit Off
Similar virtues, but more showy vocally, is
Miss Byrd
I once arranged a solo version of the splendid female ensemble,
The Ladies Singing Their Song
and I've seen clever people carve out bits of
It's Never That Easy/I've Been Hear Before
Men can take a crack at
Coffee Black
for an up-tempo, or encompass two speeds with
What Am I Doing?
For patter, there's always the wonderful counterpoint
One Step
There are several funny sections of
The Fatherhood Blues
And, to make hearts melt, one can act the waltz,
Fathers of Fathers
Ten songs that would serve you better than the Greatest Hits DR Jose mentioned. And, in all likelihood,
I'll Get Up Tomorrow Morning
and think of more!
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Danise I was away attempting to put my name on the map without success. Congrats on the e-bay win.
I put my downsized web-ready photos into a web file.
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What time is Christmas Carol on here on the West Coast?
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Just checking in for a while. Busy day!
Thank you so much Jose. Appreciate the list. I find such information fascinating. The "men" songs are more traditional it seems!
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Never mind, figured it out and set the TIVO unit.
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Well, Danise and Jane have advised me and my son, who's still home from college, helped me resize my images, so here goes again! Per Jane's request here's a photo of the (replenished) Thanksgiving centerpiece. If this works, I'll also post a photo of the project I did today.
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I've already spied Linzi Hateley, Ruthie Henshall, Brian Bedford, Claire Moore...
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DR GINNY email me the picture and I will see if I can't post it for you.
Jaynrand@comcast.net
I am also watching A CHRISTMAS CAROL....a few arguments with it, but it is one of my favorite stories, so it's nice to see a fresh approach. The dances are nice, the music is pleasant, and nobody is terrible. Geraldine Chaplin is wonderful!
DR MATTH - put your tree up NOW! Enjoy it as long as you can! DRGEORGE I had some of that musical garland I put up at work....when I had a job...LOL.
DRJANE thanks for the script vibes!
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LOL nevermind DRGINNY......in the time it took me to type....it was done!
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Thanks also DR Noel. I really must familiarise myself more with the works of Maltby and Shire.
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Danise - I forgot to say yesterday that you don't need to cook chestnuts before roasting them. Just cut a slit in each an put in a hot oven (415-ish) for around 15 minutes. Test one to see if it's done -- you don't want them to dry out and be as hard as rocks, not do you want them under-baked. Make sure to cut the slit, though, or they'll explode in the oven. I'm about to roast some chestnuts right now.
I'm listening to ELLA FITZGERALD SING THE GEORGE AND IRA GERSHWIN SONG BOOK - purchased today on bk's advice. Marvelous. I also purchased YO-YO MA PLAYS ENNIO MORRICONE, this too forced on me like whipped cream by a certain dieting Jew.
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I'm going to watch it to see Budapest.
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Well, I chose to ignore CHRISTMAS CAROL for an hour of SEX AND THE CITY on HBO, and DESERATE HOUSEWIVES on ABC. I figure it will end up for sale on DVD or they'll show it constantly till I have to watch it.
And so to bed.
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Just checking in for a while. Busy day!
Thank you so much Jose. Appreciate the list. I find such information fascinating. The "men" songs are more traditional it seems!
Interesting observation. I think part of "it" is that men tend to be a bit more "lazy" when it comes to finding new material. Another part of "it" is that most of the songs from the major shows written in the past few years for men just aren't as "showy" as the women's songs that have been written recently. Most of the "exciting" stuff for men has come from more pop and rock oriented shows, and they're written primarily for tenors or at least very-high baritones.
*I still remember sitting in the hall with a friend of mine during the first set of auditions for Miss Saigon in New York. After everyone had been lined up and given numbers, someone came out of the audition room and announced, "If you do not have a high-G, you may leave now." WHAT?!??! And this was at an agent's submission call! There was/is no true, real bass part in Miss Saigon. The "basses" were required to sing a high-G. -The tenor parts had high-C's and D's!
Yes, JRB has written quite a few songs for men, but, again, they're more in a pop vein and not really suitable for traditional auditions.
Basically, as I've seen on a t-shirt, "Belter's Rule!"
*I'd go into more detail, but I'd most likely go on and on and on (ah, a Baby reference)... and we musn't have that now, mustn't we.
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I was just at tvguide.com and wanted to see what else was on tonight besides "A Christmas Carol" and "Desperate Housewives." Why not? Anyway, I got this message:
Microsoft VBScript compilation error '800a03e9'
Out of memory
/listings/grid.asp, line 0
TVguide.com is out of memory?? What is this world coming to? ::)
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Once again - thank you Jose. Interesting comments.
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Very interesting DRJOSE.
Well my favorite musical version is still the Albert Finney one, BUT this TV version is very good. The story is so familiar that it can easily become a parody of itself, but it doesn't happen here.
Westcoasters there will be no spoilers here. Good songs - lyrics relying heavily on the original book - nice costumes and sets, and a touching ending. Does NOT disgrace itself at all. The story is one of my favorites, and I love to see it on film or LIVE....the regeneraton of Scrooge is always so fun to see. Kelsey Grammer is fine.
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I can't look at today's title and not think of the Maltby & Shire song.
Which reminds me that Maltby & Shire songs make for great auditions.
Yes, there's Today Is the First Day of the Rest of Your Life
but, for a woman who wants to show extreme range, comedy and acting, there's
A Little Bit Off
Similar virtues, but more showy vocally, is
Miss Byrd
I once arranged a solo version of the splendid female ensemble,
The Ladies Singing Their Song
and I've seen clever people carve out bits of
It's Never That Easy/I've Been Hear Before
Men can take a crack at
Coffee Black
for an up-tempo, or encompass two speeds with
What Am I Doing?
For patter, there's always the wonderful counterpoint
One Step
There are several funny sections of
The Fatherhood Blues
And, to make hearts melt, one can act the waltz,
Fathers of Fathers
Ten songs that would serve you better than the Greatest Hits DR Jose mentioned. And, in all likelihood,
I'll Get Up Tomorrow Morning
and think of more!
Great list. And I love playing Maltby & Shire at auditions! I keep "What Am I Doing?" and "Miss Byrd" in my "practice book".
I've even played "I Want It All" as a solo, and I like the twist when two men sing, "It's Never That Easy/I've Been Here Before".
Now if they could just publish some of the Starting Here, Starting Now songs in more piano-accompaniment appropriate arrangements. I've written out a full piano part of "I Don't Remember Christmas" for someone to use at auditions - when I'm not playing - for someone who doesn't know the song to be able to play it "correctly". I will say that "I Think I May Want To Remember" is one song that always makes me nervous - it's basically an etude! ;)
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Well dRGEORGE they've been out of their minds the last few issues, so it's only fitting that they are now out of memory.
Hmmmmmmmmmm.......what TERRIBLE A Christmas Carol television episodes do the DR's remember? Almost every horrible sitcom has had one.
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RE: A Christmas Carol: The Musical
I liked it a lot. And I thought they did a nice job of expanding the show from the Madison Square Garden stage to the small screen. -Although, I think it's safe to say that MSG is a lot larger than most sound stages. ;)
However, the original MSG Scrooge, Walter Charles will always be my favorite in this version. The star and stunt casting in the subsequent years just seemed like, well, stunts, to me.
And, yes.. I cried. Twice. Well, maybe three times.
;)
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DRJrand - thanks anyway for the offer to post my photos for me! Rob (my son) has been a great help tonight and I think I managed to take care of the second pic all by myself, so here goes...
A women's group I belong to is having a bake sale at the big holiday balloon glow Tuesday evening, which I will miss because I have to work 'til 9. However, I made a batch of my special caramel corn and packaged it in these cute bags. Hope they sell well!
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BTW, has anyone looked at the map or the member list lately? I’ve migrated from somewhere off the West coast of Africa to the East coast of Africa but I’m still in the water. Dan (the Man) is there with me so at least I’m not alone. I feel like a dolphin or a whale with a tracking device on my back.
DR Danise, I just tried to correct my position on the map and I lost my pin completely! You are now on your own somewhere in the Indian Ocean, but at least you know where you are.
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Re: the movie Ghost.
Thank god for Whoopie Goldberg,
Patrick Swayze runs the gamut of emotions from a to b.
True, he's not a dynamic actor. However, I do find this far and away his best performance.
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DR MATTH - put your tree up NOW! Enjoy it as long as you can!
I put it up this afternoon while I listened to THE ANDY WILLIAMS CHRISTMAS ALBUM. When it finished, I put on HOLIDAY IN PLAID.
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I recorded A CHRISTMAS CAROL and will watch it at some point over the next few weeks.
I feel certain before Christmas, NBC will rerun this on Saturday night where they generally rerun almost every special they show.
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Had our tech rehearsal tonight, and it was my first time in the father's robes. I kept catching my rosary on furniture. I have some repair work to do on it before tomorrow night's run.
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Nice pictures Ginny! I think the Santa popcorn bags are a very cute idea!
Got me my DVD of LITTLE DRUMMER BOY as Best Buy had a 2 for $20 sale on most of their Christmas titles...so I picked that one up for me and NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS as a Christmas present for one of my nieces. In fact I finished ALL of my Christmas shopping today! The only thing left to get is a gift certificate to P.F. Chang's for my nephew John and his wife, which I can do via the telephone.
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QUICKLY ? please I need an immediate answer. How long do I microwave a turkey dog? I guess it is the same time for a regular hot dog.
The only thing I know about microwaving hot dogs is that they will explode after ten minutes and ten seconds in the microwave. I didn't do it and it wasn't my idea, but I was there when it happened.
I'm just about done with Keats and I have now moved on to Shelley. Both of those guys needed Prozac majorly.
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Even though he's mostly in his Beauty and the Beast mode, I enjoy Mr. Menken's music for the show. However, as soon as I saw the director I lost interest completely.
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I'm not exactly crazy about tonight's A Christmas Carol. I thought that most of the cast was superb, the direction very nice, and the production values excellent. But the material--oy! Did there have to be a song every three minutes? The songs (not many of which grabbed me) came at such a pace that I barely had time to get to know and care for Scrooge, Tiny Tim et al.
I enjoyed Jane Krakowski but why did they decide to costume her in such a sexy fashion? (Perhaps so she could perform the pole dance she did on Scrooge's bed posts?) And Jesse L Martin was the least jolly Ghost of Christmas Present I've ever seen, In fact, at the end of his time as the Ghost, he was downright scarey looking with that eye makeup. And I think that Geraldine Chaplin was wasted as the Ghost of Christmas Future.
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As I was watching Kelsey Grammer tonight, it struck me that he might make a very good Henry Higgins. Then I thought that it might be fun to see David Hyde Pierce as Pickering and John Mahoney as Doolittle. The question is, could Jane Leeves carry off Eliza? Would Marni Nixon dub the role again?
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I will disagree, of course, about the direction - I am so bored of "directors" who have no idea where to put a camera in a musical number (in fact, they put them everywhere, hoping they can "make" the number in the cutting room - but that is not how you direct a musical number for the camera). Not that the camera choices are much better in what few scenes there are.
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I'm waiting for the Jacuzzi to heat up - taking a long time 'cause it's COLD out.
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LOL Dan! I was just thinking the exact same thing! There is something distinctly Higgins-esque about his Scrooge performance. Perhaps it's his tendency to talk-sing almost everything.. anyway, I think you're very right.
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I'm just not certain what character my darling Kraklet is supposed to be - it's like they said, let's costume her sexily, let's have her look pretty, etc. but forgot to have a point to the character. What is she? I don't remember how it was played at MSG, but I don't think it was this way - I remember a character.
What comes clear is that as the years go by, the much-maligned (at the time of release) Scrooge with Albert Finney is beginning to look like the little classic I knew it was back in 1970. Of course, that film had a real director in Ronald Neame.
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This year mom decided that she wanted us to celebrate Festivus instead of Christmas. Here's a pic of our Festivus Pole.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/WandaDuck/festives.jpg)
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I also agree about the song-a-minute technique...it's just too much!
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What happened to all the denizens - we were having such a wonderul posting frenzy and now, all of a sudden, no posts in an hour.
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The Jacuzzi was lovely, and I must say the sky was awash with stars, a sight you don't normally see in LA.
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...the sky was awash with stars, a sight you don't normally see in LA.
I'm cold. A feeling you don't usually feel in LA.
I watched A Christmas Carol on and off. The cable went near the end, then came back. I think I'll stick to Alastair Sim
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My office is finally cleaned up. Went looking for a bigger office desk, but couldn't find one I liked. So... Moved some things around so I now have a kind of side table by the desk. This seems to help with the space problem.
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I'm just not certain what character my darling Kraklet is supposed to be - it's like they said, let's costume her sexily, let's have her look pretty, etc. but forgot to have a point to the character. What is she? I don't remember how it was played at MSG, but I don't think it was this way - I remember a character.
What comes clear is that as the years go by, the much-maligned (at the time of release) Scrooge with Albert Finney is beginning to look like the little classic I knew it was back in 1970. Of course, that film had a real director in Ronald Neame.
I've ALWAYS loved the Albert Finney/Leslie Briccuse version of Scrooge! It's a family tradition to watch the movie at least once every Christmas season. I've had the laserdisc for several years, so we've been able to watch the widescreen version WITH the scenes of Scrooge in hell that have not been shown on TV in a long time.
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George, you can dump that laserdisc, because it's been out on DVD for over a year, from Paramount, in a lovely transfer, widescreen and enhanced for widescreen TVs.