Well, dear readers, to misquote that hale fellow well met, Mr. William Shakespeare, To Fauré or not to Fauré, that is the question. And the answer is a resounding yes, because to listen to the musique of Gabriel Fauré makes the mind nobler and a nobler mind is nobler than a non-noble mind. I have no idea what the HELL I’m talking about, other than I am listening to the musique of Gabriel Fauré and it is sublimely sublime and makes me happy. He certainly was at the forefront of a new style of French classical music, and I have been an ardent FANactic ever since hearing his stunning Pavane, first on the Bill Evans with Symphony Orchestra, a track I must have played hundreds of times, and then on the Bernard Herrmann Phase 4 album, The Impressionists. From there, I had to have everything, and I do believe I own every orchestral work by him, as well as my favorite Requiem, his Requiem in d minor. I also own albums of his solo piano works, played by another French composer and favorite of mine, Jean-Michel Damase. I may issue that on CD, actually. Every piece is, for me, gold – his melodies, his orchestrations – if you’ve somehow never heard his music, hie yourself to the Tube of You and do something. Start with the Pavane, then the Dolly Suite, then Pelléas and Mélisande, then Masques et Bergamasques, and then everything else, but especially his Requiem. Otherwise, yesterday was a perfectly normal sort of day. I got eight hours of sleep, got up, had a telephonic conversation, had some biscotti and pill one and Prednisone, answered lots of e-mails, and began the day’s proofing and moved along a bit quicker but then stalled by having to research a few things to make sure timelines were correct, and to correct lots of name misspellings. I did that until food arrived at five – a deliciously delicious pulled pork sandwich from Boneyard Bistro, with baked beans. I forgot that they don’t put coleslaw on the sandwich – that should have been the side, because the sandwich needs it – still, it was great and fairly small as sandwiches go. I took pill two with that food and also the once-a-week four teeny-tiny pills for the first time. They’re so tiny, in fact, that you can put them all in your mouth at once and take a swig of liquid and swallow with ease. Then it was back to proofing until I finally took a well-deserved break when I reached the two-thirds point of the book.
Last night, I watched a very good TV movie from 1972, entitled Visions of Death, starring Monte Markham, Telly Savalas, Barbara Anderson, and some very good co-stars including Mr. Lonny Chapman, the gent who founded our very own Group Rep. It’s about a man who has visions of death, and who goes to the police when he “sees” someone planting a bomb in a location that he cannot identify. The bomb goes off, killing and injuring people, and of course cop Telly Savalas makes him the number one suspect. But the next time he predicts, they’re able to locate the bomb and stop it and then Markham becomes an ally. It’s fairly suspenseful and features a very good score by the underrated Morton Stevens. It’s also well directed by Lee Katzin. It’s free on YouTube.
After that, I had more telephonic conversations, then had some of that good chicken salad for the snack, after which I took the third pill. I’m a pill poppin’ old Jew – that’s what I’ve become. It’s both sad and amusing. If my name were Mary, I’d be Mary Poppin’Pills.
Today, I’ll be up when I’m up, I’ll do whatever needs doing, and then I’ll proof and get as far as I can. Not certain what I’ll do about food, although I may trek over to the Cheesecake Factory because the gal whose book I’m proofing sweetly sent me a large gift card for food there, and I could use a nice afternoon out. I’d go after the lunch crowd and maybe have their excellent Caesar salad. We shall see. After that, I’ll just keep proofing away and then watch, listen, and relax.
The rest of the week is busy, but all books have now shipped, so I’m hoping all dear readers get them sooner than later.
Let’s all put on our pointy party hats and our colored tights and pantaloons, let’s break out the cheese slices and ham chunks, let’s all dance the Hora or the Ocarina, for today is the birthday of our very own dear reader Jrand. So, let’s give a big haineshisway.com birthday cheer to our very own dear reader Jrand. On the count of three: One, two, three – A BIG HAINESHISWAY.COM BIRTHDAY CHEER TO OUR VERY OWN DEAR READER JRAND!!!
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, be up when I’m up, do whatever needs doing, proof, eat, proof, and watch, listen, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What are the most suspenseful books and movies you’ve seen, you know, the ones that really make you squirm? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy that the answer to To Fauré or not to Fauré is a resounding yes.