Haines His Way

Archives => Archive 1 => Topic started by: bk on March 16, 2004, 12:06:17 AM

Title: THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: bk on March 16, 2004, 12:06:17 AM
Well, you've read the notes, you know what day it is so you may now post until the cows come home.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: bk on March 16, 2004, 12:11:41 AM
If you've JUST read the notes (after midnight) I've added a very important birthday wish so read them again.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: DERBRUCER on March 16, 2004, 12:16:52 AM
Some Collective Heads to Scratch

(http://www.cerebusrocks.com/myth/logo7_var1.jpg)
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: George on March 16, 2004, 12:18:09 AM
If you've JUST read the notes (after midnight) I've added a very important birthday wish so read them again.

BK, I can't believe you had to add that AFTER you had posted your notes!

Anyway, I really don't think that I've ever had a "weird" or "wacky" date.  I've pretty much had rather sedate dates...or figs.  No, not figs...raisins.  Ah, liaisons (a Sondheim reference!)
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: DERBRUCER on March 16, 2004, 12:27:19 AM
I don't know about "whacky or strange", but my favorite dates are stuffed with peanut butter and rolled in granulated sugar!

der Brucer (deciding not to tell the tale about handcuffs and The Meat Rack)
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Ann on March 16, 2004, 12:30:50 AM
Phew!  Just got done catching up with all the lovely and sparkling posts from the weekend.  I apologize for E&T-ness over the last few days.  I went home to my parents' house for the long weekend, to see some old friends and such...had a wonderful time on Friday night, but felt just a bit under the weather...went to bed hoping it was just a liitte sniffle...woke up with a full fledged head cold, and that's where I've been all weekend.  Sleeping mostly, or chatting with my mother.  She, at age 56, is moving to Eugene, Oregon in September to go back to school and get her PhD.  I am very proud of her for making this step, but it's a big change for her, one that requires a lot of discussion and such.  
So now I should get some sleep, so hopefully I'll be well enough to get up and drive to work tomorrow morning.  
Goodnight all  
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: bk on March 16, 2004, 01:19:34 AM
I got to the notes verrrrry late and was totally discombobulated or, at the very least, discomgeorgeulated and left out several things.  I went back immediately and updated them.

Now, I want to hear about some wacky and strange dates.  I've had a few, I can tell you THAT.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Jane on March 16, 2004, 01:28:18 AM
I should be asleep I couldn't put the book down.  I went through the batteries on two flashlights while reading under the covers, but I finished Kritzer Time.  Now I'm off to bed but suspect I won't be able to sleep with thoughts of Benjamin running through my head.
 :) :) :)
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Jane on March 16, 2004, 01:43:06 AM
It’s the wee hours of the morning and I’m the only one here and it’s all your fault Bruce for writing such a wonderful book.  

Happy birthday Jennifer, aka JB.  Have a great day.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: S. Woody White on March 16, 2004, 02:14:16 AM
[size=20][move=UP,scroll,6,transparent,100%]HAPPY BIRTHDAY JENNIFER!!!!![/move][/size]
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Michael on March 16, 2004, 02:33:45 AM
Happy birthday Jenny!! Have a great day.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Michael on March 16, 2004, 02:35:24 AM
As for today's topic.......What's dating? I am not familar with that concept
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: S. Woody White on March 16, 2004, 02:50:14 AM
As for today's topic.......What's dating? I am not familar with that concept
It's where scientists take a sample of carbon-based material, and find out how much of a radioactive isotope is still contained in that sample.  Based on the half-life of the isotope, scientists can make a very good estimate as to the age of the carbon-based material.

Which is why you always want to take your carbons with you when you use a credit card, because unscrupulous scientists have been known to use the data from those carbons, which can age you pretty quick!
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: elmore3003 on March 16, 2004, 03:43:52 AM
Happy Birthday, Jennifer!  And many happy, healthy more!

Good morning, all!  I overslept and got up at 6:00, not 5:00.  I'm too old.  Today is crunch day to finish up, and I'm dragging.

About weird, wacky dates.  I've decided I really don't date, I stalk.  
So, back to work.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Ben on March 16, 2004, 05:08:30 AM
Well, this cowpoke spoke too soon yesterday. Our home computer is out of commission. After hours on the phone with tech support including reformatting the hard drive, reloading Windows XP and beginning the task of reloading the programs and tweaking the computer back to at least a ghost of the former self, when it restarted itself after loading a program (you know that message, something to the effect of "to complete the installation, Windows must restart") well, the whole problem started up AGAIN. We called back tech support. After running a test and reading back the results the tech support person determined that our hard drive is fried. Apparently that's what "read element failures" mean. We are getting a new hard drive which should arrive by the end of the week. My computer is JUST one year old!!! I got it in February of 2003. While Miss Tech Support was very nice and tried to be helpful, her explanation that "these problems don't always show up right away" doesn't cut it for me. Suffice it to say that I will be getting my daily dose of HHW from work only for the next week or so.

BTW, on a completely unrelated topic

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JENNIFER

Also, we received our copy of Kritzer Time yesterday. When the post office works, it's great. I LOVE the cover art. The CD is also great fun. We played it as dinner music last night as we ate our roasted chicken with new potatoes and a side salad. I will begin reading the book tonight.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Kerry on March 16, 2004, 05:34:40 AM
Happy Birthday, Jennifer!  They're opening a Krispy kreme store less than a mile from my home in your honor.   Now I want a fresh doughnut at 1:000 am, I do not have to drive 30 miles away, it's right there!   DAMNIT!!!!!!!
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Robin on March 16, 2004, 05:37:57 AM
First off, HAPPY NATAL ANNIVERSARY, JENNIFER!!!

Second off, about the nattering nabobs of negativity, deeveedee style.  I was in a Best Buy about a year or so ago, when I overheard one of them dismissing the version of Gone with the Wind in his hands, saying with all the pretense he could muster, "There's no way I'm getting this until they release it in widescreen".   I wanted to bitch-slap him...I really, really did.

Third off...he's one of my "unusual date" stories.  I had mentioned to a group of friends that I was going off to see Star Trek V: The Final Frontier the next day, the day it opened.  (I always see Star Trek movies the day they open.  Unless they're Next Generation movies.  Oy!)  

Anyway, one of the newer people in the coterie, a very nice and attractive young lady, lets it be known that she'd like to accompany me to this extravaganza.  And here's how headless I am...I have no idea that what she's asking me for is a date.  And she, obviously, has no clue that I'm really, really gay.  I mean, seriously gay.  

Anyway, we arrange to meet each other at the theater, and I arrive wearing extremely casual clothes: cut-off jeans, sandals, and a tank top.  (Hey, back then, I didn't feel self-concious about showing some skin.)  And she's dolled up in a very nice dress, high heels...you know, the works.  We kinda looked at each other, and realize that there'd been wires crossed here.  We get it all ironed out, before the movie begins, and have a laugh.  

And then, after the movie, we decide to pretend we're on a date for the benefit of the onlookers and passersby.   We appear the odd couple, to say the least; the prim, proper ladylike Michelle and the guy who looks like a major league stoner.  We gazed longingly into each other's eyes, as we walked hand-in-hand down the boulevard.  We had our pictures taken by confused tourists, who were scratching their collective heads.  Needless to say, a splendid time was had by the both of us, and we're still very close to this day, nearly fifteen years later.  
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: DearReaderLaura on March 16, 2004, 06:05:40 AM
I do believe the wackiest date I'll ever have will be today. I am taking one of the sweet elderly ladies from church to the zoo today.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: William E. Lurie on March 16, 2004, 06:28:54 AM
BK - Do you know if today is Tuesday?  I've lost track.

KRITZER TIME has not yet made it's way all the way to the East Coast yet.  Hopefully it will be in today's mail when I get home.

Last night was another BROADWAY BY THE YEAR (1935).  These started out with three or four singers each, but last night we had twelve.  On the positive side we got to hear a wide variety of performers.  On the negative side, each one only gets a couple of songs.  Also there were no full cast group numbers.  However with a cast that included Emily Skinner, Barbara Walsh, Darius DeHass, Chuck Cooper, Noah Racey, Nancy Lemenanger. Gertha Boston and a couple of lesser known but just as talented singers, plus songs by Rodgers & Hart (JUMBO), the Gershwins (PORGY AND BESS), Cole Porter (JUBILEE), Romberg & Hammerstein (MAY WINE) and more, there was plenty to entertain.  Only Douglas Sills (who I usually like) disappointed.  He must have let the fact that he is now doing a Steve Martin role in LSOH go to his head, as his comic numbers seemed very Martinish.  I also didn't care for his rendition of "Begin the Beguine" which was sung well but was acted like a mental patient.  But that aside, it was another great evening and more songs than ever were done live with no amplification at all.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: William F. Orr on March 16, 2004, 07:02:51 AM
A happy Friday to everybody!  I turned on the teevee this morning, and they were predicting Tuesday most of the morning with Wednesday by midafternoon and a chance of scattered Monday and Saturday.

and

[move=left,scroll,6,transparent,100%] ;D ;D ;DHAPPY BIRTHDAY NUMBER ONE DAUGHTER JENNIFER!! ;D ;D ;D[/move]
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: MBarnum on March 16, 2004, 07:15:20 AM
Hmm...I have had no wacky dates I guess. I must be missing out!

Happy Birthday to the daughter of our host BK!
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: William F. Orr on March 16, 2004, 07:17:02 AM
Kritzer Land arrived yesterday, and although I haven't cracked the book (except to read BK's lovely inscription), I played the CD twice through whilst preparing for work.  My, my, my that Guy Haines has a lovely voice.  It's a good thing you're able to drag him off the tennis court occasionally.

I forgot all about the Unseemly Chat last night, as I was watching and taping Star Trek: Nemesis.  While I love all the ST movies, just because they are, this one definitely had too much emphasis on CGI boom-booms.  They are starting to fall into the trap of the Bond movies:  "we have to top the last one in wild effects".

I also have some issues with a few of the story elements, but it is nice that they bookmarked the story with a rather poignant use of the music of Mr. Irving Berlin.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Dan-in-Toronto on March 16, 2004, 07:20:32 AM
Wackiest date probably took place during my freshman year of college in Buffalo. We're talking another era (mid-1960s). Ardie, a young woman in my art class, confided that she had lesbian leanings. Assuming that I had connections, she asked where she could meet someone. I had a friend, Charlie, who was a native of the city and had relatives in Buffalo's underworld. Charlie made a few inquiries, then told me the place to go to was a restaurant called Dante's.

There was really no "scene" at the time, and if there were we wouldn't have had a clue. Ardie and I assumed that Dante's was a reputable restaurant. We phoned to ask for bus directions, and asked if there were dress standards. The stunned silence at the other end of the line should have given us some idea, but it didn't.

Dante's, at the other end of town, turned out to be a dive popular with female factory workers coming off their shifts. Ardie and I sat there, me in a jacket and tie and she in some tasteful outfit, as the place filled up with a butch crowd. We ate our salads and sipped our coffees and pretended to be totally at home. There were a few stares, but I think we were pretty well ignored. After a couple of hours we left Dante's. Then we rode the buses all night, because Ardie had missed her curfew and a friend was covering for her.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Dan-in-Toronto on March 16, 2004, 07:49:03 AM
Happy Birthday to Jennifer, esteemed daughter of BK.

And good computer vibes heading to DR Ben.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Matt H. on March 16, 2004, 07:49:50 AM
Happy Birthday, Jennifer!

Not sure it would classify as a wacky date, but last year, I got asked out by a 26 year old guy. I was quite surprised as he could be my grandson, but he insisted that because we both liked musical theater and movies that we had lots in common. He also swore up and down that he only dated older men, not because he wanted a sugar daddy (he was a teacher as I had been so we also had that in common) but because he didn't see things the same way as guys his own age. I have found in dates past that I usually don't have much in common with guys under 40, but he was so insistent and imploring that I caved. We agreed to meet at a certain restaurant fairly near my home. (My plans were to come back to the house for dessert and coffee.)

Well, to make a long night short, I knew we were doomed to failure when at the restaurant he told me his favorite musical was THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, that he had seen it 7 times, and that he couldn't stand the musicals of Stephen Sondheim. I tried to draw out of him which musicals of Sondheim he despised and why, but he couldn't give any names, just that he didn't like any of them. I asked if maybe he would like to see one back at my house after dinner or listen to one and let me explain what made them so brilliant, but, nope, he would have none of it. Okay, I reasoned, what other musicals do you like. And he said RENT.

Good night, I said, as I paid for dinner and asked to be excused for the rest of the evening.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: bk on March 16, 2004, 08:00:48 AM
Finally, some wacky dates.  I'm sure everyone has had some if you simply put your thinking caps on.

Jane wins the sparkling prize!  I'm actually amazed she could get through it that fast, since it's quite a big longer than the other two books, but I'm glad she did since she was around for much of the book's action.  Perhaps she'll add her opinion of it (no spoilers, of course) here and in the Kritzer Time section on the discussion board.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: bk on March 16, 2004, 08:05:05 AM
I had a set-up blind date once.  I arrived to pick up the person and could tell she did not think I was worth going out with the minute she laid eyes on me.  One of those spoiled Jewish princesses.  Still, off we went to dinner, somewhere in Beverly Hills.  I think it was Larry Parker's Diner because I knew it would be loud.  I could see she just didn't want to be there and she, in fact, was looking everywhere just not to make eye contact.  So, I decided to have fun.  I started asking her the most personal questions I could think of and I wouldn't stop.  I was charming about it, but I knew it was making her squirm and I was quite happy about it, since she was behaving obnoxiously.  Afterwards, I took her home and shook hands with her and said, "So, shall I call and we'll go out again?"  She just shook her head and went inside.  

Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Jennifer on March 16, 2004, 08:20:09 AM
Happy Birthday to BK's daughter JB! (will she even read this?)
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: DERBRUCER on March 16, 2004, 08:20:53 AM
I've decided I really don't date, I stalk.  


Hmm...seeds "sprout" and elmore "stalks", anybody here "branch"?

der Brucer (Stalk: to grow a long, hard, woody thing)
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Matt H. on March 16, 2004, 08:24:31 AM
Reminder to AMERICAN IDOL viewers tonight:

The show is 2 hours long, so if you set VCRs, be sure to set it for a two hour show.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: William F. Orr on March 16, 2004, 08:26:21 AM
I'm not sure if one must serve whacky noodles on whacky dates, or partake of whacky dust, but here is one that involves none of the above.

Back when I lived in an apartment by the train station in the Stead of Hemp, on the Island of Long, a former student of mine who was in NYU Law School moved into my spare bedroom temporarily when he burned down his parents' house--accidentally, of course.

This young man, now a successful attorney, had a gorgeous girlfriend--my often mentioned dear friend Debby--but had a tendency to, as they say, jump on anything that moved, which was not pleasing to her in the least.  They are now, by the way, both married quite happily to other people, and their children attend the same school.

So Debby leapt at the chance to take the train into the city with me to see the original production of Nine in previews.  It was quite exciting, especially when the show was over, because, instead of dashing on their respective ways, the audience for the most part stayed mingling about on the sidewalk buzz-buzz-buzzing about the show.  The sign of an incipient hit for sure.

Debby and I chatted with Karen Akers, whom we had met on previous occasions, and she introduced us to a tall, fey gentleman whose name I didn't catch.  Yeah.  You can probably guess--but I was clueless.

We then repaired to a local cabaret to see a performance by a singer who had included one or two of my songs in her act, after which we were invited by the singer to join her entourage at that restaurant near Lincoln Center with the roller-skating waiters.

All and sun-dried repaired to the West Side apartment of the singer and her husband for yet more festivities.  By this time it was quite late, so Debby and I were invited by the accompanist/arranger to sleep on a large air mattress on his living room floor down the hall.

Walking back to Penn Station late the next morning, we could not help but pass the TKTS booth.  Well, one cannot simply pass the TKTS booth on a lovely Saturday morning, now can one?  And this is where I made my fatal mistake.

I wanted to see Jane LaPotair in Piaf.  Debby said, "There's a gay play in the Village I read about."  I should have listened to Debby.  Piaf was a bit of a disappointment, even with pee on the stage.

The gay play, it later turned out, was the original off-Broadway Torch Song Trilogy.  Worse yet, I learned later, it starred my friend Joel Crothers, along with Harvey and the then unknown Matthew Broderick.  Had we gone, we probably would have ended up dining with Joel and certainly have met Harvey and Matthew.  Ah well!

When we arrived back in Hempstead in early evening, Debby's philandering boyfriend was beside himself:  "Where the hell have you been?"  Quite to her delight.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: William F. Orr on March 16, 2004, 08:30:31 AM
page 2 dance:

[move=left,scroll,6,transparent,100%] :-* :-*[/move]

[move=left,scroll,6,transparent,100%]                           :D :D[/move]

[move=left,scroll,6,transparent,100%]                                                    ;D ;D[/move]

[move=left,scroll,6,transparent,100%]                                                                                               ;) ;)[/move]
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Jennifer on March 16, 2004, 08:33:10 AM
Re American Idol being 2 hours

I guess that means 2 songs each?

I love American Idol, but I'm not happy with the finalists they've chosen.  Hopefully the finalists will at least pick it up a notch.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: JMK on March 16, 2004, 08:44:31 AM
My Kritzerisms arrived yesterday.  Thanks!!

We are dealing with Mr. Gabe's stubborn bones refusing to properly align.  He got his fiberglass cast yesterday and the doctor (who I believe is a former NFL SuperBowl star--no joke) "manipulated" his arm into its correct position, which was agony for me to watch.  We are praying it's going to be OK, otherwise next Tuesday they may need to operate.  Oy, I say.

I think I can probably take the Grand Prize in Wacky (and I mean that literally) Dates Contest.  Years ago I responded to a Personal Ad in the local weekly paper, and met (over the phone) a somewhat bizarre woman who invited me to the grand opening of the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall (is there a worse name for a concert hall--the Schnitz??!!) to see Ella Fitzgerald.  Of course, I said yes and we arranged to meet shortly before the show.  We hooked up in the lobby, which is when this delightful (NOT) woman informed me she had just been released from Dammasch, Oregon's state mental institution (is this a theme of my life, or what?).  Unfortunately, I think she had been released prematurely, because somewhere between "A tisket" and "A tasket", she began weeping loudly and inconsolably as other audience members glared at me (as if I could do something about it!) and started furiously whispering to her to be quiet.  I really felt helpless and suggested she go out to get some fresh air, which she agreed to.  I quickly said I didn't think this was going to "work out," and left.  Years later, this same looney showed up at a temp service I was managing to apply for work.  Luckily, I don't think she remembered me (I had my staff conduct the interview while I hid in the back room :) ).

Now the hilarious upshot of all of this is:  years later, after having sworn off responding to personal ads, I met my lovely wife through one!!  (By that time, the personals had voicemail, so I was able to listen to Betsy's voice before deciding to contact her.  As you Portland people may know, Betsy was a well-known radio news anchor here, so her voice is golden, and the rest, as they say, is history!).
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: JoseSPiano on March 16, 2004, 08:59:56 AM
Good Morning!  Good Noon!

Feeling much better today, not so cloudy-headed - and after some phone calls yesterday afternoon and this morning, not so overwhelmed.  -The unexpected overlapping deadlines are no longer unexpected nor overlapping - whew!

As for wacky dates... Hmm, I don't really think I've had a truly whacky one.  Sure, I've had some "disappointing" ones, but nothing traumatic.  I guess the closest thing to wacky would have been my first date with Steve... We met the Friday night of Labor Day weekend... And the date didn't end until Monday evening.  ;D
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Jrand73 on March 16, 2004, 09:00:55 AM
JMK you win!
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Jrand73 on March 16, 2004, 09:01:26 AM
That's not a date, DRJose - that's a relationship where I come from.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Jrand73 on March 16, 2004, 09:01:41 AM
Happy Birthday, DDJennifer!
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: JoseSPiano on March 16, 2004, 09:03:03 AM
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JENNIFER!!!
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: JoseSPiano on March 16, 2004, 09:04:58 AM
That's not a date, DRJose - that's a relationship where I come from.

Well... It did turn into a wonderful three and half year relationship... And a continuing dear friendship.  :)
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Jrand73 on March 16, 2004, 09:06:33 AM
derBrucer you haven't read anything yet!  ;D

Here is the link to my biography of Miss Allison Hayes.  This is part two but it includes a link to part one.


http://www.horror-wood.com/allison.htm

Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: JoseSPiano on March 16, 2004, 09:06:52 AM
So... I just noticed in my previous post....

wacky

or

whacky

Which spelling do you prefer?
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: bk on March 16, 2004, 09:12:42 AM
wacky
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Emily on March 16, 2004, 09:33:03 AM
Good afternoon everyone!

I have no wacky (nor whacky) date stories... so will have to skip today's Question of the Day.

I went to the post office this morning with a friend while we were on break to mail the senator I job-shadowed and her staff McGill mugs.  The post-office clerk took my package, weighed it, measured it and punched it into his handy-dandy postage calculating computer and told me that it would cost me $24.45 plus TAX to send it to Ottawa (which is less than two hours away from Montreal).  I was shocked at this ridiculous price - especially because I only had a $20 bill in my wallet plus change.  

Anyway, I knew the mugs had to be sent, and I had already packaged them and was at the darn office so I turned to my friend, borrowed $10 from her and was just about to pay when the guy's manager came over and basically told him he had to be wrong.

SHE weighed the package again, measured it and imputed it back into the handy-dandy computer for determining postage and this time came up with $6.12.

That is quite the difference in price and if it hadn't been for her I probably would have gone along with the stupidity of the original clerk.  

She is my postal guardian angel :)

Anyway - the package is sent and I have enough money to (barely) survive until the 31st when I get paid.  
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: JoseSPiano on March 16, 2004, 09:40:59 AM
Good Afternoon!

Well, it is done.  Mission accomplished.  I have ordered Kritzertime.  Finally.

 :D

And I think I found a new breakfast/brunch combination: marcona almonds (these are soooo good!), maple sugar candy with ginger (from the Green Market at Union Square) and Starburst jelly beans (tropical flavor mix).
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Jennifer on March 16, 2004, 09:45:38 AM
Hmmm, with all these birthday wishes, I feel like it's MY birthday :)

Btw, DR JMK, I hope your son feels better. What an ordeal.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: George on March 16, 2004, 09:49:22 AM
Happy Birthday DR Jennifer (aka BK's Dear Daughter!)
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Jennifer on March 16, 2004, 09:54:23 AM
DR Emily: Postal prices here are ridiculous. But you need to get one of the free postal booklets.  If you have a little postal scale (which I do), you can figure out the price before you go.  Actually when I was shipping some heavy boxes last November I noticed that on the canada post website there is a place where you can type in the dimensions and it will give you the various prices (by air, surface ...).

The most interesting thing is that if you change the dimension by 1 cm, the price could often be $20+ more.
When I went to a very nice postal outlet at Bureau en Gros, I explained this to the woman and she made sure to put the dimension that would give me the best price (how's that for service?).
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Panni on March 16, 2004, 09:57:02 AM
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DARLING DAUGHTER JENNIFER!

I've read a few of the posts and will read the others later. Must get notes prepared for a Big Meeting (BM). Sometimes that's apt. We'll see if it is this time.
I could use some Good Vibes for said meeting - I need to be clever and on my toes and filled with wonderful ideas - Ideas about which they would like to make a movie.

I'll post about wacky date later.

bk - I never thought the day would come! -- A movie exists that I've seen and you hadn't. I saw GOING IN STYLE at the movies when it first came out and agree that it was charming. Must see it again.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Ron Pulliam on March 16, 2004, 10:23:06 AM
BK and anyone else who bought the Jerry Goldsmith at 20th Century-Fox boxed set:

Varese Sarabande has delayed its shipping date until March 22.

.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Ron Pulliam on March 16, 2004, 10:31:01 AM
Reminder to AMERICAN IDOL viewers tonight:

The show is 2 hours long, so if you set VCRs, be sure to set it for a two hour show.

I guess that means we'll get to hear all 12 sing a song, with plenty of Ryan Seacrest chatter in between.

It took them an hour to give us four finalists in the Wild Card show, I can only hope they can manage to get 12 songs in during two hours.

There's probably a big production number to kick things off, too.

Yawn.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: TCB on March 16, 2004, 10:38:18 AM
DR WFO – I realize that I am a bit slow sometimes (often), but I am a little confused by your earlier post about your date with Debby.  If these questions are too personal, please tell me.

1)   Was the tall fey gentleman with Karen Akers, Tommy Tune?

2)   The cabaret singer was including songs in her act that you wrote?

3)   Joel Crothers (your friend) is THE late Joel Crothers from Dark Shadows?

Sorry, if I sound a little out of the loop.  I guess I have always just thought of you and Joe as these two very delightful and loving men who have unfairly been put through the legal ringer.    
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Jrand73 on March 16, 2004, 10:40:53 AM
wacky
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Panni on March 16, 2004, 10:45:01 AM
I keep thinking about wacky dates, so I should post about it and get back to work...

I’ve only been on two blind dates in my life. And both would qualify in the wacky (read funny disaster) area.
The first. I was a young actress living in the requisite young actress apartment in Toronto. My mother had a neighbor/friend, the wife of a cantor, who felt it was her duty in life to marry me off to a nice Jewish boy. (I wasn’t dating many Jews.) She kept offering to set me up and I kept politely saying no. But I finally caved in. She described him as a tall, dark and handsome businessman. Okay – I guess I could live with that. So I get ready for my big night. I buzz him up and there is a knock at my door. I open the door and – I’m not exaggerating – I couldn’t see his head. The man was close to seven feet tall! Have I mentioned that I’m about 5’4” in heels? It was all downhill from there. Turns out his “business” was selling fruit at the Kensington Market. Dan-in-To will know what that means. He was a successful fruit vendor, yes – but I don’t think he’d ever been to a play or a movie. A sweet, nice man for some OTHER young lady. I told him that I really wasn’t all that hungry and had an early audition… so maybe we could have coffee instead of dinner. A faster coffee was never had. (He probably tells the story of his blind date with the weird actress.)

The other date – I can’t remember who set it up. But it involved going to Stratford for the day with another couple. NEVER go out of town on a blind date. This man was okay in the looks department and he wasn’t a fruit seller – maybe a lawyer – I don’t remember. But he was the most obnoxious human being on the face of the earth. This man made Donald Trump look like Mother Teresa. We went for a quick lunch before the matinee at Stratford and he sent back his food three– count’em THREE - times. In a greasy spoon. I contemplated hitchhiking back to Toronto, but decided to stick it out. The fact that I'm not serving time somewhere in northern Canada for killing a blind date is a testament to my patience and goodness as a human being. And my fear of jail.

After those dates I decided to become a nun. Will a convent take a Jewish girl?
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: TCB on March 16, 2004, 10:54:15 AM
(http://www.click-smilies.de/sammlung0903/sehrgrosse/large-smiley-050.gif)

[move=left,scroll,6,transparent,100%]HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DD JENNIFER[/move][/color]
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: William E. Lurie on March 16, 2004, 11:03:41 AM
It's snowing in NYC!!!

Although you won't count me among them, anyone setting their VCR or TIVO for "American Idol" should add an extra 15 minutes to the two hours.  You can no longer count on shows today to start or end on schedule.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Charles Pogue on March 16, 2004, 11:07:20 AM
 BK, I remember seeing GOING IN STYLE when it first came out and remember nothing about it other than that Lee Strasberg once again confirmed my opinion that he was one of the DULLEST actors I had ever seen.

I tend to agree with Stella Adler's comments when he died.  Something to the effect:  "Today a man died who influenced American acting more than anyone in the last hundred years.  And it will take us another hundred years to divest ourselves of that influence."

She and he did not get along, because apparently when they were both in the Group Theatre, she actually met with Stanslaviski and told him what they were doing in the Group with his theories and Stanslaviski basically told her that had gotten it all wrong.  When she went back to explain this to them, Strasberg did not want to hear that he had perverted "the method".  That's when she hung out her own shingle and became an eminent acting teacher unto herself.

But I look at Strasberg on screen and go, "What is it?  Fish?"
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Jennifer on March 16, 2004, 11:12:59 AM
DR TCB those colorful smilies are beautiful!

They made me smile, which feels especially good right now.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Ron Pulliam on March 16, 2004, 11:16:31 AM
BK: Out of curiosity, just how many copies of "Das Barbeçu" do you have?
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: elmore3003 on March 16, 2004, 11:20:27 AM
Good Morning!  Good Noon!
 We met the Friday night of Labor Day weekend... And the date didn't end until Monday evening.  ;D

That's a wedding, by Britney Spears' timeline!
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: elmore3003 on March 16, 2004, 11:21:29 AM
So... I just noticed in my previous post....

wacky

or

whacky

Which spelling do you prefer?


The correct one!  LOL.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: William F. Orr on March 16, 2004, 11:31:14 AM
DR WFO – I realize that I am a bit slow sometimes (often), but I am a little confused by your earlier post about your date with Debby.  If these questions are too personal, please tell me.

1)   Was the tall fey gentleman with Karen Akers, Tommy Tune?

2)   The cabaret singer was including songs in her act that you wrote?

3)   Joel Crothers (your friend) is THE late Joel Crothers from Dark Shadows?
1)  Yes, as must have been obvious to anyone but me, who learned it a couple of decades later when Debby said, "Remember when we met Tommy Tune?"  Duh.

2)  Yes.  Lyrics, that is.

3)  Yes, whom I met when I wrote some lyrics for his cabaret act at The Bushes of Central Park West (Yes, that was the name of the club!) and later at Les Mouches.

The songs were written in collaboration with Michael Kingsley, who was musical arranger for both of them.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: JoseSPiano on March 16, 2004, 11:36:43 AM
Well, then...  Is it:

wack

or

whack

???

Hmm...

Oh, and I'm kind of hesitant to bring this up, but... A few of my students in my musical theatre class came in the other day with copies of the "Haines His Way" CD - which they all thoroughly enjoy/ed.  I asked them where they got it, and they said that they had purchased a bunch of CDs from the other site, and the "Haines His Way" CD was on clearance/special...  Hmm....
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: William F. Orr on March 16, 2004, 11:38:48 AM
The American Heritage Dictionary gives wacky as the first and whacky as the second variant, but adds that it is derived from whack.  A mighty thwack indeed!

Now that leaves me scratching my collective head so that my skull will crack.  And my head is indeed collective.  It collects so many things that I didn't want in there in the first place, and now there seems little room for important things that I can never find.  I really must straighten up the mess that's inside.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: bk on March 16, 2004, 11:39:27 AM
RLP - why do you ask?  I'd have to imagine I have ten or twenty of them, as I was given a box or two of every title I've produced.

I said that yesterday to someone - Strasberg wasn't enough to hurt the movie, and he disappears rather quickly from it, but one can only imagine if that part had been played by Jack Benny.  Strasberg has no timing whatsoever and Benny would have been amazing.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: bk on March 16, 2004, 11:41:53 AM
Can someone please find out what the clearance/special price is.  This is extremely interesting since during the lawsuit they consistently said they had no copies of the CD and they accused me of taking all of them.  Would that were true, because when I removed my copies of things all there was was less than two boxes of them.  Seems they were mistaken, I guess.  REALLY mistaken.  Gee, I wonder if they might have been mistaken about anything else.

If the price is right, I might have one of you go there and order me a bunch.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Jrand73 on March 16, 2004, 11:46:57 AM
Off to rehearsal
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: William F. Orr on March 16, 2004, 11:48:56 AM
They list Das Barbecu for $12.99 and surprise, surprise!  Guy Haines His Way "for the low price of $5.99!".  It actually says "New Release".  Would that they would "release" it.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Dan (the Man) on March 16, 2004, 11:53:18 AM
Whew!  Another day when I sat down to read and post about a half a million times and I was interrupted at each turn.  Aw, well...

Happy Birthday to Jennifer (though I don't really know you, but your name reminds me of Donavan's "Jennifer Juniper" and that song always puts me in good spirits.)

DR JMK, I hope Gabe's feeling okay after that experience.  And since green is supposed to be a great color to aid in healing, have the little guy soak up all the GREENhe can tomorrow.

And some lightning bolt vibes for DR Panni so she'll be a creative sorceress at her BM.

I've had more than my share of wacky dates, but I can't talk about most of them on a family message board.  One that I can mention also involved a Jewish princess, but she was actually a very sweet girl who contributed only a little in the way of wackiness to our date.  We met in a summer college course I had taken in presenting children's theatre and we both hit it off immediately.  A group of my friends from the class decided to go see Woody Allen's Interiors at the TLA in Philly on a Friday night, and I took the opportunity to ask Melanie along as our official first date.  I picked her up and we drove to my friend's house where everyone was meeting up.  We all piled into two cars (not my own) and headed for the city.  Once we at the theatre and getting into our seats, I began to notice that something was up with my friends.  They were whispering conspiratorially and giggling and acting more goofy than usual.  I thought that they were just stoned, but I learned that they had all dropped quarter tabs of orange sunshine before Melanie and I arrived at the house.  As I sat with a mad-on trying to watch the movie, Melanie kept leaning over and whispering comments like "I don't think your friends like me" and "This movie isn't supposed to be funny, is it?"  I couldn't wait for the movie to be over so we could get the hell out of there.  But as luck would have it, my friends wanted to stay for the next feature:  the Friday night midnight showing of The Rocky Horror Show.  Now while I dimly knew about the movie, I had no idea what went on at those midnight showings.  And as people began walking up and down the aisles and singing in make-up and costumes and as pieces of toast and rolls of toilet paper were flung about, I sank myself deeper and deeper into my seat, praying for a fissure to open up in the floor beneath me and swallow me whole.  By the time it was over, I was self-absorbed and surly and in no mood to be a member of the human race, let alone continuing my date or hanging with my dopey friends.  I hijacked the driver's seat of one of the cars and, instead of heading for our hang-out diner as was planned, sped to our point of origin, when I dragged Melanie into my car and took her home.  We sat in the car outside her house for about a half hour as I tried to reassure her that my friends did like her and that I didn't think she was dumb and that I did enjoy spending time with her.  But I guess I was too frazzled to be convincing because she was "out" all the next day when I tried calling.  The following Monday in class she began distancing herself from me and ironically hanging with two of my female friends who were also out with us that night.  After the summer course was over, I never saw her again.  I don't doubt that she would remember me as one of her wackiest dates.  

It was snowing this morning in Philly, too--the wet kind that sticks to everything and makes the city look beautiful.  I'm just glad that I wasn't driving in it...
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: JoseSPiano on March 16, 2004, 12:06:02 PM
They list Das Barbecu for $12.99 and surprise, surprise!  Guy Haines His Way "for the low price of $5.99!".  It actually says "New Release".  Would that they would "release" it.

And if I recall, the Das Barbecu is the re-release with the new - not so nice-looking - cover art.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Ron Pulliam on March 16, 2004, 12:15:41 PM
BK: My ONLY reason for asking was curiosity.

It was my "sparkling prize" many moons ago for winning a trivia contest.  And I also read someone else post they got a copy for the same thing.

So...I was reading some of yesterday's posts about the "reading contest" and a "sparkling prize" being offered to the winner and "Das Barbeçu" just popped into my head.

No more to it than that.

:)
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: William F. Orr on March 16, 2004, 12:17:01 PM
This is the cover pictured on the Site that Dares Not Speak Its Name:
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: William F. Orr on March 16, 2004, 12:20:14 PM
But, DR MBarnum, it is written not with a ç, but with a ü.  You may schzangkh me for the correction.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Ron Pulliam on March 16, 2004, 12:44:22 PM
Instead of DR MBarnum schzangkhing you for the correction, I will do it instead since it was my post in which the "c" was made a "ç"

Schzangkhs!
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Ron Pulliam on March 16, 2004, 12:47:16 PM
Doo-Wacka-Doo-Wacka-Doo-Wacka-Doo!

If Willie Wonka had been the father of the character Packy on "Fury," and Packy had been acting up and upsetting the grownups, would we have seen Willie Wonka whack a wacky Packy?
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: bk on March 16, 2004, 12:56:39 PM
For the sparkling prizes, I usually send out CDs that I don't think people own.  I felt fairly safe with Das Barbecue, knowing its sales history.

Guy Haines for six bucks!  That's a bargain.  But, again, since I was accused of making off with all the copies, just WHERE OH WHERE did they get copies to sell?  They certainly didn't press them because it wouldn't be cost-effective to do so and then blow them out.  So, I guess that accusation must have been FALSE.  I guess someone owes me an apology.  I guess I'll be waiting until the 12th of Never.  Ah, well, the title of a marvelous Godard film comes to mind: Contempt.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Matt H. on March 16, 2004, 01:07:47 PM
I guess that means we'll get to hear all 12 sing a song, with plenty of Ryan Seacrest chatter in between.

It took them an hour to give us four finalists in the Wild Card show, I can only hope they can manage to get 12 songs in during two hours.

There's probably a big production number to kick things off, too.

Yawn.


That's right 12 songs (one apiece) in two hours but I'll bet there will be at least one production number and maybe two.

No yawn for me, however. I can't WAIT to see the 12 compete against one another. Finally, the real contest has begun, and I couldn't be more eager. It's supposed to be a soul theme night, so that should be interesting with some of the finalists who are anything but soul singers. This is where their versatility is put to the test. I just hope Leah Labelle or Camile Valasquez show their true (untalented) colors tonight.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: bk on March 16, 2004, 01:27:52 PM
People MUST be reading Kritzer Time.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Charles Pogue on March 16, 2004, 01:47:15 PM
To Robin, from yesterday, The cut from HOUND OF BASKERVILLES on the Michael J. Lewis album is pretty much the main theme from the movie...and, yes, is very nice.  Quite evocative of the whole Victorian gothic thing as well as a gypsyish motif that plays to some plot touches in the movie.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Donald on March 16, 2004, 01:49:40 PM
I hope everyone has checked out the new Broadway Radio Show with Justin Hayford -- a very talented Chicago cabaret performer

Also, please don't use the email link on this website.....it has been set to forward to my work email, but our new software at work is blocking those emails...instead, please use this email address for me:

feltham61@yahoo.com

I am trying to get the HHW site administrators to change the forwarding, but have had no luck so far  
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Ron Pulliam on March 16, 2004, 02:12:00 PM
The question is:

Would Willie Wonka whack a wacky Packy?

Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Ann on March 16, 2004, 02:16:04 PM
Well here I am back at work.  I'm still a little run down from the cold, but I can handle the boys.  
As for the TOTD...I'm not really sure  I have ever been on a date, technically speaking.  I've had two "boyfriends" in my life...both started out as friendships and wandered into relationships without going out on "dates."  Mainly because they were both broke and carless...which makes dating a bit difficult.  So no wacky date stories from me.  
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Jay on March 16, 2004, 02:16:29 PM
Well, well, well.  (That is three wells.)  I see the newest member to register at HHW--the almost most popular website in all of internetdom--is none other than my Dear Brother Stuart.

It was my DB who introduced me to this site about two years ago, right after which he fell into a serious case of errantness and truantness.

He's only done a bit of lurking today, but I'll keep on him to post.  He is a clever fellow, and I do believe all you Dear Readers out there in the dark will enjoy his musings.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: bk on March 16, 2004, 02:23:41 PM
Musings.  We love musings.  We cannot have enough musings.

I just found out I'll be doing the UCLA Festival of Books in late April - I've missed doing them the last two years because the books came out in May.  My publisher is having a big booth there, and there are only six of their authors who are participating, of which I am one.  I'll be there both days and I hope those of you who can't make the Glendale signing will come visit at UCLA - it's an amazing festival with 200,000 visitors.  
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: DERBRUCER on March 16, 2004, 02:31:18 PM
Will a convent take a Jewish girl?


"How do you solve a problem like Rebecca?" - It works!

der Brucer (hint: no mezuzah's on the convent door!)

Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: JoseSPiano on March 16, 2004, 02:44:43 PM
But, DR MBarnum, it is written not with a ç, but with a ü.  You may schzangkh me for the correction.

Did I miss çomething?
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: DERBRUCER on March 16, 2004, 02:47:52 PM
 I really must straighten up the mess that's inside.

Great line! You should steal write more often. ::)
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: DERBRUCER on March 16, 2004, 02:50:08 PM
--is none other than my Dear Brother Stuart.


And from which Order is Brother Stuart?
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: DERBRUCER on March 16, 2004, 02:52:00 PM
The question is:

Would Willie Wonka whack a wacky Packy?


Yes, and put a feather in his cap, and call it wacaroni!
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Jay on March 16, 2004, 02:57:02 PM
And from which Order is Brother Stuart?

Reginae Theatricum
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: bk on March 16, 2004, 03:20:18 PM
Oh, let's have page four, shall we?
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: William E. Lurie on March 16, 2004, 03:21:38 PM
Just got home and NO KRITZER TIME in the mail yet.  Of course the mail in this neighborhood is very slow.  At least I will have another day to finish ACT ONE, the only autobiography I've read that takes over half thed book on the writing on one play.

Still snowing!
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Jane on March 16, 2004, 03:25:56 PM
 Perhaps she'll add her opinion of it (no spoilers, of course) here and in the Kritzer Time section on the discussion board.

I need to get some sleep first. ;D
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: MBarnum on March 16, 2004, 03:34:02 PM
So far no recommendations on Ozu films that I should be sure to catch at the film festival in Portland this month (and in April). I thought for sure there would be a couple of DRs who were familiar with Ozu and would steer me to the films of his that I should not miss! If I could I would see them all!
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: bk on March 16, 2004, 03:36:05 PM
WEL: It's totally odd since everyone else on the East Coast got theirs yesterday.  Perhaps you should speak to your mail person.  Perhaps your mail person is reading the book.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: bk on March 16, 2004, 03:41:40 PM
Since you already called the thing a "beautiful book" in an earlier post, that's more than enough really.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Ron Pulliam on March 16, 2004, 03:52:06 PM
MBARNUM: I don't know nothing 'bout no Ozu films to steer you toward, but I CAN steer you toward some Ouzo!

Ouzo on ice....dat's a nice!
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Tomovoz on March 16, 2004, 03:54:35 PM
WEL: It's totally odd since everyone else on the East Coast got theirs yesterday.  Perhaps you should speak to your mail person.  Perhaps your mail person is reading the book.
Do you mean male person - Ray?
The awaited novel hasn't made it to this coast either WEL. sometimes it can be only 5 days.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: DERBRUCER on March 16, 2004, 04:00:07 PM

If the price is right, I might have one of you go there and order me a bunch.

"Somebody" just ordered 10.
Since the embargo was broken, "Somebody" also ordered another bunch of stuff for another $200!

Added Goodies:

Beyond Therapy
Christine Andreas: Love is Good
Do I Hear a Waltz
The Gay 90s Musical
Heart and Soul on Broadway (for Norm Lewis)
I'm Getting my Act Together (OBC)
Juno (OBC)
Megan Mullally and Supreme Music Program
Sail Away (OLC)
Subways Are For Sleeping (OBC)
Best Little Whorehouse - New Cast Album
Liz and Jason Together (at $12 for two albums - buy for Xmas presents)

Bonus CDs for being "Hey, Big Spender"

Radio Gals
Cowgirls
Debbie Gravitte - MGM Album

der Broker Brucer
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Jane on March 16, 2004, 04:03:41 PM
JMK good vibes to Gabe’s arm healing correctly without surgery.

Panni how did the meeting go?  I couldn’t connect (due to a problem on our end) with HWW earlier today to wish you good vibes.

Welcome Dear Brother Stuart.   Please tell us more about yourself, other than the fact you have a wonderful brother.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Jay on March 16, 2004, 04:05:56 PM
 :-[
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: William F. Orr on March 16, 2004, 04:12:09 PM
Willie Wonka whacked a wacky Packy.
If Willie Wonka whacked a wacky Packy,
Where's the wacky Packy Willie Wonka whacked?
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: William F. Orr on March 16, 2004, 04:13:31 PM
And yesterday, we wacked a wachy wekk.

Wah, Wekk!  'Cause I could pass that football...
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: bk on March 16, 2004, 04:15:17 PM
Embargo broken?  Maybe for the hard to get Haines but amazon is still a fine place to order from, especially if you check out their used sellers.  Also, all these albums frequently show up on eBay really cheap.  I've seen them go for under five bucks.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Jane on March 16, 2004, 04:18:55 PM
I had a strange date which I really wasn’t a date.  While I was in high school, good friends of my parents called asking me to go out with the son of friends who were in town visiting.  I kept reminding them I had a boyfriend and couldn’t possibly go.  They would not take no for an answer and my mother wasn’t around to run interference for me.  The rest of the date sounds very similar to Bruce’s, obnoxious guy who didn’t like anything we did and obviously didn’t want to be doing it with me.  The fun part about this date was telling my boyfriend (he had done something the day before I wasn’t too happy about) what a great time I had.  Hey, if you have to suffer you might as well get some benefit from it.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Ron Pulliam on March 16, 2004, 04:27:48 PM
For all the HHW dog lovers, especially those who've experienced unseemly visits to Uncle Dr. Vet's:

Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Jane on March 16, 2004, 04:36:52 PM
Thanks RLP you just reminded me to call the vet.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Tomovoz on March 16, 2004, 04:38:18 PM
Great post RLP. Magnus loves the VET and attempts to jump up on the bench ASAP. I can think of a few possibilities as to why but this is a family site. It may be in anticipation of the "treat" when the VET has finished.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Ron Pulliam on March 16, 2004, 04:54:09 PM
And for your cat lovers, don't you like the reaction of the cat and her person?
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Charles Pogue on March 16, 2004, 05:04:59 PM
BK, great news about the book festival.  I've never really had a reason to go because I collect old books, not new stuff.  But now I'll have a reason.  Also, as this is an LA event, I would think the setting of your book would be of great interest to the literary denizens of this city.  You should have your publisher bring a back stock of the first two as well.  You can sell lots of the whole trilogy.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Jenny on March 16, 2004, 05:08:06 PM
Though I would love to contribute to today's discussion of wacky dates, I fear that I'm not altogether qualified to do so, having never been on a date.  ::)


Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: bk on March 16, 2004, 05:32:24 PM
Jenny, you will have so many dates you will have to beat them off with a stick.  
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Laura II on March 16, 2004, 05:34:50 PM
I am going against my own rule and posting before I have caught up with all of the posts I have missed.

First, I must offer my condolences to WFO and Joe. I'm very sorry to hear about the loss of Joe's mother. It sounds like she was a wonderful woman.

Next, good vibes to all of those who need them, including little Gabe!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Happy belated birthday to anyone who had a birthday while I was away! Happy birthday to BK's darling daughter Jennifer!

I am currently watching American Idol with my family. As soon as I catch up with posts, I'm sure I'll find something to write.

DR Jenny: I just wanted to say that you are so cool! You seem very mature for your age, and I enjoy your posts. I'm glad you and Maya had fun last weekend! I'm also glad you had fun with Uncle Woody and derBrucer!! :)
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Jenny on March 16, 2004, 05:45:54 PM
Jenny, you will have so many dates you will have to beat them off with a stick.  

I doubt they'll appreciate that...

DR Jenny: I just wanted to say that you are so cool! You seem very mature for your age, and I enjoy your posts. I'm glad you and Maya had fun last weekend! I'm also glad you had fun with Uncle Woody and derBrucer!! :)

Why, thank you!  :D
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Danise on March 16, 2004, 05:50:21 PM
Evening all.

I’m so sorry I missed chat last night.   My Mom wasn’t feeling very well last night and it just slipped my mind.  

 [move=left,scroll,6,transparent,100%]HAPPY BIRTHDAY,  JENNIFER![/move]

Well, my big news of the day is:   I’m going to NYC!!!!!!!   I’ll be in Utah the 13th through the 16th to see Michael Ball.  Then I’m taking Monday off to recover.  I’ll go to work Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  I’m taking Friday off to re-pack.  Saturday, I’m going to see Le Miz with my Mom then Sunday morning, I’m flying up to NYC and will be there through that Friday. Whew!  Hope I can stay awake!  LOL!  

As for wacky dates, I haven’t been on one for at least 10 years  and I was so ashamed about what was said to me on that date I don’t know if I ever will go on one again.

I showed my copy of the book to everyone I could think of at work.  I got a lot of, “Where did you say you talk to this guy?  The internet? That’s dangerous!”  LOL!  Horrors!  I tired to explain about the site but most of them are still Internet Challenged.  They hear the bad things about the net and take them to heart.  Sigh.

B & B need to go to the vet as well.  Both are scared to death even though the vet treats them both nice.  I'm most pleased about how she loves on Bear.  She told me for as big as he is, he is the most gentle dog she has ever seen and I did a good job raising him.  She isn't the least bit afraid of him.   :)

Brandi, on the other hand, we have to put a muzzle on.  Poor thing.  I was told she was abused as a pup and Lord only knows what was done to her.  She is sooo scared and I believe would fear bite if given the chance.  The vet also understands that.  

Is everyone ready for St. Patricks day?  Are you going to wear green or chance getting pinched?  I'm wearing GREEN!
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: bk on March 16, 2004, 06:00:24 PM
Who will be second in finishing Kritzer Time?  There could just be a second sparkling prize.

Jane, of course, has won first sparkling prize, but she'll have to e-mail me and tell me her thoughts first.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Dan (the Man) on March 16, 2004, 06:05:27 PM
Who will be second in finishing Kritzer Time?  There could just be a second sparkling prize.

I bet I'll be the last--I got the other two books to read.  And I read like I eat ice cream--slowly savoring each spoonful.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Danise on March 16, 2004, 06:08:11 PM
I'm the same way.  I used to read really fast but now I limit myself to only my lunch time and I read to enjoy the book.

Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: bk on March 16, 2004, 06:14:53 PM
Of course you must savor.  Savor the flavor.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Jenny on March 16, 2004, 06:40:42 PM
I smell wussburger in the air...
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: William F. Orr on March 16, 2004, 06:45:46 PM
Oh yes, indeed amazon has some terrific third-party sellers.  That's how I got my mint condition Dragonheart novel by DR FS Charles Edward Pogue, and just today I received my copy of the BK-produced CD Night of the Hunter.  I'm so excited I just can't hide it.

On the other hand, the large order that I placed at the same time still hasn't arrived.  I qualify that.  According to tracking, it was delivered to Hofstra a week ago.  Getting it from the mail room to my department is much slower...

Here are some more good vibes for DRson Gabe:

[move=right,scroll,6,transparent,100%]~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~[/move]
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Jane on March 16, 2004, 07:01:19 PM
And for your cat lovers, don't you like the reaction of the cat and her person?

Yes.  ;D
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: William F. Orr on March 16, 2004, 07:02:59 PM
Page 5 Dance:

[move=left,scroll,6,transparent,100%]                                        ::)        
                                  ::)          ::)
                                                   
                                    ::)     ::)[/move]    
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: S. Woody White on March 16, 2004, 07:05:23 PM
Evening all.

I’m so sorry I missed chat last night.   My Mom wasn’t feeling very well last night and it just slipped my mind.  
That's not slipped, that's higher priorities.
Quote
...Well, my big news of the day is:   I’m going to NYC!!!!!!!
You DO know we all dine at Joe Allen at least once when we're in NYC, right?  And you know about taking advantage of TKTS for discounts on shows you might not have thought of seeing?
Quote
Is everyone ready for St. Patricks day?  Are you going to wear green or chance getting pinched?  I'm wearing GREEN!
What about wearing orange?  Does anybody wear orange?  I've got this really cool Hawaiian shirt that has both green and orange, keep myself covered on both fronts (but look strange in what is still winter weather).

Which reminds me, we've still got to get the cabbage for tomorrow's dinner.  I mean, yeah, we've got a couple of places we could go, instead, but...hmmm, which would be better?  And why cabbage instead of buttered Brussels sprouts?

Either way, cabbage (or sprouts) for the green, carrots for the orange, potatoes for the white.  Looks like a flag to me!   ;D
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: S. Woody White on March 16, 2004, 07:07:09 PM
I bet I'll be the last--I got the other two books to read.  And I read like I eat ice cream--slowly savoring each spoonful.
I'll be re-reading the first two before delving into the third.  Force of habit, I guess, a refresher course.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Jay on March 16, 2004, 07:11:33 PM
There are few comestibles I will not ingest.  Brussel sprouts are at the top of that list.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Jane on March 16, 2004, 07:15:35 PM
I read, I savored, and I didn’t stop reading until I had finished the book.  I took a trip down memory lane and enjoyed every minute of it.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: S. Woody White on March 16, 2004, 07:22:28 PM
Der Brucer is far more the expert when it comes to finding shows at TKTS, dating back to his Navy days and a subsequent stretch teching for submarines.  He'd come into NYC and spend the weekend bouncing from show to show.  Of course, after a while he'd have seen just about everything, which drove him to getting tix for shows he hadn't heard of, or had any desire to hear of.  

The result, of course, was that he'd get to see all sorts of things like For Colored Girls... and the like, and being completely bowled over by them.

These days, if we're in town, I usually park him someplace where I know I can find him, and stand in line myself.  The Sat mat of I Am My Own Wife was an exception, as there was no line and we wanted to clear with Jenny so that we three could see what she wanted (cell phones can be a good thing, after all).  But the "rule" still applied, as we wouldn't have put IAMOW at the top of our list, and we'd have lost out because of that list.

Hopefully, on our next trip up (for a rescheduled Assassins), we'll have the time for a double header again.  The people in line can be fun to talk with, as they are a) usually well informed about the theater, and b) usually from out of town, so that they can converse about regional theaters as well.

Now, if only New York could do away with sales tax, the way Delaware has!   ::)
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Jane on March 16, 2004, 07:25:34 PM
Jenny you are so cute.  

Danise you are just filled with happy news, except I do hope your mother is feeling better today.

Good night.  I sure I hope I fall asleep a bit earlier tonight.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Dan-in-Toronto on March 16, 2004, 07:57:09 PM
DR Panni,

For your Toronto visitor's enjoyment:

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/weather/cities/can/pages/caon0696.htm

Right now it's -15 C, snowing, blowing, and more of the same over the next four days.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Dan-in-Toronto on March 16, 2004, 07:58:46 PM
Wecome, DR Jay's brother DR Stuart,

Looking forward to your posts. And we want to know if you have the family punim.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Dan-in-Toronto on March 16, 2004, 08:02:12 PM
DR WFO &/or DR Noel,

Requests? How about a punim lyric.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Emily on March 16, 2004, 08:13:38 PM
send the snow this way dan and I will officially march on over there and beat you senseless... ;)
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: MBarnum on March 16, 2004, 08:29:33 PM
What's all this talk of snow...it is almost spring! The flowers are blooming and the sun is shining! I am so ready for winter to be over!

I will read my Kritzer Time as soon as I finish reading Mr. Cal Bolder's book and then Kritzerland. I have, however, listened to both CDs and am enjoying them very much.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: JoseSPiano on March 16, 2004, 08:33:11 PM
Good Evening!

"American Idol"... NO Spoilers, just a few thoughts...

Interesting evening.  And it will be interesting to see what happens with the public vote.

And remember, the downtown TKTS booth - which is now located at ??? - sells both full-priced and half-priced tickets to shows.  And it sell the matinee tickets the day before - sometimes the seats are ok, sometimes they are not ok... but it's TKTS.  And they open at 10:00AM!  And the line is no where as long and crazy as Times Square.  Of course, the ticket selection can be very "interesting" at times down there, but if you happen to be touring that part of the island, it's always worth stopping by and seeing what they have.

And as far as the Times Square TKTS booth, my favorite time to go is at 7:45 - no line, and you'd be surprised at what good seats you can snag - sometimes for shows that aren't even up on the board - just ask the guy at the window if anything has come in.

*And with some of the discount ticket vouchers around lately, for about $10-15 more you can pick up a ticket at the box office... and if you go the day before or day of, it may even be a house seat.  -I ended up with eighth row on the aisle for Wonderful Town, and first row of the mezzanine for Gypsy last week.  :-)  *And best of all, you can use your credit card!
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: bk on March 16, 2004, 08:39:16 PM
No more Wussburgers EVER.

Jane, wouldn't it be fun to chat about the book on the phone?  I think so.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Ron Pulliam on March 16, 2004, 08:55:43 PM
We're only through five singers in tonight's west coast airing of "American Idol," but I have to tell you the highlight, thus far, has been Jon Peter Lewis.

La Toya London went first and I was underwhelmed.  The judges peed themselves in praising her.

Simon, however, followed Randy and Paula's so-so comments about Jon Peter by telling him that he is potentially the dark horse to win the competition and that he has a terrific voice.  Randy made some disparaging remark about his last performance of an Elvis song (won him America's vote, it did) and was only marginally favorable about tonight.  Both he and Paula said  they want him to cut back on the dancing.  I thought his dancing tonight was fantastic.  He has my ONLY vote, thus far.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Ron Pulliam on March 16, 2004, 09:01:28 PM
Sincer number 6 -- Fantasia Barrino -- has finished.

Brought the house DOWN!  She has my second vote.

I'm going to give La Toya another listen before I start voting, but I'm not hopeful my mind will change about her song (both song choice and performance of it).
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: William F. Orr on March 16, 2004, 09:07:17 PM
I don't know from punim.  Wass ist das für ein Vort?
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Ron Pulliam on March 16, 2004, 09:17:22 PM
Singers 7 and 8 have finished:

George Huff -- WOW!  This is the first time I've liked his voice and he was terrific!

Jennifer Holden -- Great voice, great performance, so-so song.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Matt H. on March 16, 2004, 09:24:03 PM
My two AMERICAN IDOL votes from tonight went to George Huff and Jasmine. They both chose songs that were perfect for their voices, and they did wonderfully with them. I would have put Jon Peter third and Diana fourth.

I have to agree with Simon that there was too much over-the-top singing for the songs they were doing. Latoya and Fantasia were both guilty of it, though they both have wonderful voices. But there is a time for that kind of overkill, and these soul tunes didn't fit the bill.

But we've got a competition, folks! 10 of the 12 did good to great jobs with their numbers. I could have shot Matt Rogers for choosing another song that he could talk/sing. He's got charisma and natural style on stage, but he seems afraid to show off his voice. We know it's powerful. He's holding back, and that's stupid. Once you get branded as one of the "bottom three," it's hard not to get eliminated early.

If both Camile and Leah aren't two of the bottom three tomorrow night, I'm going to be astonished. They were ghastly: should never have made it this far.

Some good singers were hampered by poor song choices: Jennifer Hudson and John Stephens both chose badly. Diana and Jennifer also included songs with a few low notes that were simply out of their ranges.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Ron Pulliam on March 16, 2004, 09:29:20 PM
John(ny Red) Stephens just finished singing -- NO-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O!  Didn't cut it with me...and Paula and Simon agreed on him being good?????
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: bk on March 16, 2004, 10:07:49 PM
No posts in thirty-five minutes.  Either we're having an attack of the Wussburgers or everyone is off reading Kritzer Time.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Laura II on March 16, 2004, 10:12:57 PM
I wasn't trying to be a wussburger. I just don't have anything to say. :-/
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: bk on March 16, 2004, 10:16:39 PM
You've been gone for ages - tell us what you've been doing.  We love your posts.

S. Woody and der Brucer - Just an FYI - I just did a little search on eBay under my name and there are many many of my albums up for auction, most of them to be had for a dollar up to five dollars, including many of the ones you bought today.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Panni on March 16, 2004, 10:27:43 PM
JMK - Good vibes to Gabe. Hope all goes well!

Jane - Thanks for asking about the meeting. I have no idea how it went. The executive to whom we were pitching was impossible to read. She said she was eager to read the book the pitch is based on - A BOY I ONCE KNEW -  so I suppose that's good. But who knows. Speaking of the book...
For those of you in NY who would like to give $100. to a worthy cause and want to see some stars reading from the diaries A BOY I ONCE KNEW is based around, there  will be a "celebrity reading and cocktail reception" for the NEW YORK AIDS FILM FESTIVAL on March 22, 7-9 PM. Silverstein Lounge @ NYU, 100 Washington Sq. EAst (corner of Waverly and WSQ East) At this event portions of the diaries will be read by various people. Harvey Feierstein said he would read - but then he said he thought the event was in April - so who knows? (I'm glad I'm in good company when it comes to being absentminded at times.) Various other celebs are reading from the diaries. For info call 212-592-1950
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: JoseSPiano on March 16, 2004, 10:33:34 PM
Good Evening!

Well, this Wussburger is on the verge of being overdone for the evening, so...

-Oh, Clay Aiken is supposed to perform on tomorrow night's AI decision show...

Goodnight.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Laura II on March 16, 2004, 10:42:16 PM
Well, BK asked me to tell you what I have been up to, so I shall do so.

Over the last few weeks, I have been occupied with showcase preparation at my place of employment. You see, about five weeks ago, Boss Man could no longer tolerate the creative differences he had with the voice teacher, so he fired her, and I was asked to replace her. Basically, he had marketed the program as one in which children would sing solos and duets within group numbers to instill confidence and prepare them for future experiences. One week, the voice lady was sick, and I subbed with Boss Man in the studio as I am only 18. (He had to be there for legal reasons.) He assigned the kids solos, and they were asked to rehearse them. Well, the next week, the voice teacher reverted to her old techniques, which included spending 45 minutes out of the hour class to do one warmup and to chat about packaged performers. Then, when the one kid told her that the boss assigned solos in the one song they were learning, she said something along the lines of, "Well, he doesn't know your voices, so I'm throwing them out." At this point, I could no longer take it. She had spent nine weeks on one song, out of the 14 weeks of the session. I have this thing where I am afraid of confrontation, so when she blatantly disregarded the boss's requests (and btw, he did a nice job selecting solos for each person), I was really upset. It got to the point that I either wanted to lash out at her or cry because sll she was really doing was wasting these kids' time and mine, too. I talked to the boss about it, and I said that if she was staying on (which he considered letting her do), I would not be able to assist with voice classes anymore. I just couldn't bring myself to let my name be tied to the program when I *knew* the kids weren't making the most of their time, and the parents weren't getting the right amount of quality for the money they spent.

More will follow.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Ron Pulliam on March 16, 2004, 10:46:19 PM
I'm stunned.

Simply stunned.

Stunned is what I am.

Stunned all over.

Why?

Because six of the "American Idol" finalists were superb, terrific and totally blew away previous installments of "American Idol."  

Who'd have believed it given the abysmal audition process they went through to get to this point????

As good as Clay Aiken can be, he would have been equalled -- easily -- in tonight's competition.  Not necessarily by the men, no....but Jon Peter Lewis has a range that is untapped and it will be phenomenal to watch him explore and expand his horizons.  George, too, has great potential if he can temper his movements and tame the notes he sings (i.e., no gospel riffs).

I expect more from La Toya, whose choice of song, and performance of same, was "middlin'" at best.  Jennifer was totally solid.  Amy was so-so...she didn't put it all out there and it suffered.  Leah....poor, out-of-her-league Leah -- got the best advice Simon ever gave:  PACK YOUR BAGS!  

I think Leah and Camile and John and Matt are out of their league.  Totally and irrevocably.  They're mostly nice kids, but they're not competitive any more.

My biggest surprises of the night:  First, Jasmine's incredible performance -- the size of her voice and her control and her nuances.  Second, Diana DeGarmo -- when she's gushing you just want to smack her, but when she sings she's electrifying.

But Jon Peter's performance, among the men, was THE performance for me.  He is electric on stage.  He has a presence that will stand him in great stead throughout this competition.  I hope one of the coaches works with him and gives him some challenges that will help him cut loose and do some belting.  He almost did it tonight.  
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Laura II on March 16, 2004, 11:01:26 PM
Well, a few days later, I was informed that the boss fired the voice lady. Actually, he told her she would not be returning for the spring session and gave her the option of leaving then. She said to go ahead and look for someone else and hung up on him. (Side note: This was not her only source of income. These jobs are barely part time ones anyway.) Anyway, he asked me to fill in until he hired another teacher, and I suggested a woman that I know/admire for her musical theatre background. She had actually applied for the job back in the fall after he had already hired the other lady. Unfortunately, she was unable to take the job, and he didn't want to rush the process of finding the teacher with the best fit, so I now have the job until June (well, and for summer camp, too). I didn't exactly want to take the job, and I let him know this. I'm still young, and I myself must grow as a singer and performer...Speaking of which, I need to start voice lessons. I've only had one in my whole life. Other than that, I've only worked with teachers in a choral atmosphere. I've noticed that I've been working on my belt, but I really need a teacher to guide me through that (and mixing, more importantly). See, I'm one of those people who gets paranoid about vocal nodes and too little breath support. I also don't want to lose my high notes and their quality. I am afraid I might lose my lyric soprano quality (the voice with which I was born) if I don't really start singing in it soon. If anyone could give me any tips or ANYTHING, I'd truly appreciate it!...But yes, I still need to grow, and I'd rather be performing than directing. Of course, when I requested that he find another teacher for the spring, he didn't listen to me. Sometimes I find myself getting extremely annoyed with him, but I realize that I really like the kids too much to leave.

I will explain that last sentence and continue the story soon, maybe not tonight, though.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: bk on March 16, 2004, 11:05:02 PM
Now, you see, you had plenty to say, and it's nice to read about what you've been up to.  I, for one, will look forward to the next post.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Laura II on March 16, 2004, 11:06:31 PM
I love Jon Peter Lewis. I voted for him tonight. Oh, and for George, too. That's all I have to say about that.

I'll continue my saga story tomorrow. I am quite tired and really must head to bed. Goodnight all!
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Laura II on March 16, 2004, 11:07:42 PM
Oh, and thank you, BK! I will definitely be back to post tomorrow and will hopefully get back into the swing of things!
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: S. Woody White on March 16, 2004, 11:17:34 PM
I've just finished reading a third play in as many nights.  Take Me Out, Urinetown (including all the preface material), and tonight I read Proof.  Sorry, BK, I know you want us all to read Kritzer Time asap but I'm on some kind of roll here.

DR Jose: When you get a chance, give us your own review of Wonderful Town.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Panni on March 16, 2004, 11:29:35 PM
From today's VARIETY: "...And in August [Robert] Halmi has a start planned for NBC's HERCULES. It will be a "big spectacle and I'm looking for a young Schwarzenegger," Halmi admits."
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Panni on March 16, 2004, 11:31:57 PM
Halmi is also filming a musical of A Christmas Carol (Alan Menken/Lynn Ahrens) in... Budapest!
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Tomovoz on March 16, 2004, 11:39:35 PM
What terrific news about "A Christmas Carol". I know we can ask does the workd need another filmed version but the score is wonderful and the chances of most of us ever seeing this version staged are somewhat slim. I hope it is wonderful. Thanks Panni.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: bk on March 16, 2004, 11:41:33 PM
Well, get off the damn roll and read Kritzer Time, dear S. Woody.  I rushed these out and I'm quite anxious for the book to be read.  The plays will be there.  It's a small price to pay, really, don't you think?  Or not.  Just read plays and forget about the book.  Forget about the boy.  It's al peculiar to me, I must say.  I would have thought it would have been something you'd want to have started as soon as possible, but then, I'm often wrong about such things.  Jane had the right idea - the book came, she took her flashlight into bed and read the thing.

I can barely keep my eyes open and yet I must until the midnight hour.


I can barely keep my eyes open
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Panni on March 16, 2004, 11:45:02 PM
I'm curiously not at all sleepy even though I've been up since 6 and have had a long and busy day.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: S. Woody White on March 16, 2004, 11:46:41 PM
Hey, part of my stalling is that I know how I read things, and I'm going to have to start at the beginning of the trilogy all over again to enjoy the third book.  I'm like that.

 :P
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Panni on March 16, 2004, 11:48:35 PM
I can barely keep my eyes open:o
And I write in the very next post that I am curiously not sleepy.   ::)
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Panni on March 16, 2004, 11:49:35 PM
Hey, I tried to put a sleepy smiley face :o beside Bruce's quote and it can't be done. Drats.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: bk on March 16, 2004, 11:50:05 PM
Well, stall no more, dear boy.  Who needs plays when you've got a trilogy to go through.  Luckily, the first two books are very quick reads - so is the new one, it's just longer, that's all.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Panni on March 16, 2004, 11:55:57 PM
BTW - The only reason I was pointing out the contrasting quotes was that I hadn't seen bk's before posting mine. We must've been posting at the same time. Strange. Bizarre. Weird. :P :o :-\
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Panni on March 16, 2004, 11:57:14 PM
You're welcome, Tomovoz.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Panni on March 16, 2004, 11:58:55 PM
I'm waiting it out until midnight...
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: Tomovoz on March 16, 2004, 11:59:58 PM
Good night all. My book should be almost as far as New Zealand by now.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: bk on March 17, 2004, 12:00:05 AM
Strange, bizarre and weird.  Not really.  The one thing we've learned from knowing dear reader Panni is that she is contrary.  If I say, "Wussburgers, where in tarnation IS everyone?" she'll be asleep by nine-thirty.  If I say I can barely keep my eyes open, she'll be wide-eyed and bushy-tailed.  The Contrary Hungarian, the story of Panni.
Title: Re:THE SCRATCHING OF COLLECTIVE HEADS
Post by: bk on March 17, 2004, 12:01:35 AM
And, S. Woody, you know I'm just funnin' - although, after slaving over a hot book for a year, an author is, of course, anxious for people to read said book in a timely manner.  It's the nature of the beast, I'm afraid.