Haines His Way

As for the Topic of the Day - at least the diet part....

Breakfast. Breakfast. Breakfast!

-I've made a very conscious effort to have breakfast each and and every day over the past couple of weeks, and, lo and behold, I've dropped eight pounds -without really trying.  Usually it's a bowl of oatmeal with some almonds or pecans, and a small splash of maple syrup.  It's all about regulating your metabolism and blood-sugar levels throughout the WHOLE day, not just when you want to.

Otherwise, my usual "filling food" is a homemade protein/fruit smoothie made with a few extra ice cubes in order to add more "bulk" to the shake - and to contribute to my water intake for the day.

As for rillettes...  Well, I guess it does take a bit of time for one trend to travel from the East coast to the West coast.  Although, I've seen rillettes on French bistro menus for years - it's most definitely not a new food.  I guess people have just caught on to the whole mason jar presentation.

*And Bouchon Bakery in the Time-Warner Center sells small jars of their Duck Rillettes, along with the requisite baguettes and batards.

Who's idea was an 8:30am breakfast date on a Thursday morning in the middle of the summer when I'm not really working?  Oy...

Last night's rehearsal was agony - and there is no pun there.  It's a lot to explain here, but it's taken us twice as long to learn this music than necessary.  (and we have a talented cast)  Our MD breaks down every note and word in the score.  Not to say that's a bad things, but it's the way that he does it that is frustrating to actors, so frustrating that they are finding it hard to learn the music and retain everything he throws at them.  

My frustration is spending WAY too much time at this point in the process of insisting the actors get the underscoring sections nailed now, with scripts in their hands while sitting in their chairs learning music.  That seems to me to be very un-realistic and a waste of everyone's time.  There is acting and blocking moments to be added in which take time in the underscore.    And we spent way too much time doing that last night IMHO.

I'm hoping for a better night this evening.  Whatever happens, it will be his fault and it won't be mine at all.  

I have never dieted but found that regular weight training helped get me into very good shape...unfortunately, I have not pursued this activity in the last 6 years or so and it shows.

You know, Kerwin Mathews once invited me to come to his house for tea next time I was in San Francisco. I wish I would have done so.

Good morning, all! I'm still feeling puny, which I do not like, and when the phone rang at 10:30 I decided to get out if bed, although I doubt I will wander far from it today.

So, I have little on my agenda today; I can deal with some libretto fixes and look over some scores I have to write about, but that will be about it.

DR Ben, would it be all right if we moved the Mitchell Trio to a week from Friday? I've got to be feeling better by then!

DR MBarnum, I think your diet suffers from a severe need for saltpeter.

I forgot the TOD:
  Bell Book and Candle, although I think Miss Novak sucks and the rest of the cast is wonderful
  Moll Flanders, which I haven't seen sicne it was released
  Picnic
  Vertigo

I forgot JEANNE EAGLES and EDDY DUCHIN STORY  (She is so gorgeous in that and the Central Park montage is a sheer heaven.

"Semipermeable Membrane" -- sounds an awful lot like the proverbial "hole in the head" conditions some folks seem to exhibit.

You know, Kerwin Mathews once invited me to come to his house for tea next time I was in San Francisco. I wish I would have done so.

I wish you had, too.

I once had what I call a Matthews "spotting" in San Francisco.  He was not so much "instantly recognizable" to me, but I saw this guy on the street, and saw some folks rubbernecking and talking excitedly.  As I passed them, I heard one say, "Yeah! He's the guy who made those fantasy films....Kerwin something or other".  Having seen him, I then knew immediately they meant Matthews.

I Googled him when I got home, and read that he preferred to stay out of the limelight and asked his fans to respect his privacy.

I'd have loved reading about a tea with him from you, Mike!

I have to say that "Picnic" is probably my favorite Novak performance, but very much enjoyed her in "Bell, Book and Candle" and "Vertigo", as well.

I recently watched "The Legend of Lylah Clare" on TCM.  It was the first time I'd ever seen it, and I wanted so much to love it.  But oh my goodness.  There was a lot of good in it, but it was a bit too talky and not very well written, in my opinion.   It "should have" worked, but I grew impatient with it.

On TV tonight:

MY LIFE ON THE D-LIST (season finale)

Wow that was a short season. The season starts here tomorrow.

Also on tv tonight:

Big Brother 10.

RE Last night's Project Runway.....I think I would have sent the PARTNER of the auf'ed designer home...said person has done awful work since the season started...and the work on last night's project was really bad.

I hated that Kenley (Sp?) laughed so loudly when Daniel said "I have impeccable taste".  The truth is, it's all in his head since it never seems to translate to his work.

I agree that he should have been the one to go.  

I was a bit disappointed that Jerrell wasn't the winner because I thought his outfit was "classier" than the winning one (which was great.  Keith did a fantastic job on it).  Obviously, it was Shields' take on both dresses that made the difference.  Kors and Garcia were poised, I think, to declare Jerrell's the best overall, but Shields was more partial to Keith's and that is what counts.

For what it's worth, I think she should have agreed to wear both outfits on the show.

What the hell are you talking about?

I believe Kerwin Mathew's ran an antique shop in San Francisco for many years and he always had a couple of cats. He would not do interviews (someone told me it was because he was hard of hearing in later years), but otherwise was very friendly to fans. His phone number was even listed in the directory.