Well, dear readers, I am sitting here listening to the last CD in the most recent big Ormandy box, the third such box – between all three boxes we’re talking about over 300 CDs. The finale to this box is Dvorak’s New World Symphony, recorded in 1968, before Ormandy left Columbia for RCA. He recorded it in mono for Columbia in 1956, then this stereo version recorded not with the Philadelphia Orchestra but with the London Symphony Orchestra, and once again for RCA in 1979 back in Philadelphia. The symphony is one of the most popular ever written, with tons of recordings, including some all-time classics. I have many recordings, including classics with Reiner and Szell – when people do their best lists who’s the one conductor who doesn’t appear on any of them? Correct – Mr. Ormandy. But this London Symphony Orchestra recording is superb in playing and interpretation – typical unfussy reading from Ormandy and I found it very moving. I’m interested to hear the RCA, which will be in the final Ormandy box of his RCA recordings. That one also included The Moldau – I didn’t think he’d ever recorded that in stereo and since his mono version was my introduction to classical music, I must seek it out on the Tube of You. Speaking of the Tube of You, last night when I got home from dinner with the Pearls (lovely fun dinner at the Black Angus steakhouse), I needed to sit on my couch like so much fish, so I turned on YouTube and instantly fell asleep for about forty minutes. Once up, I didn’t feel like watching any irritating videos, so I watched some Don Rickles clips, some Johnny Carson clips, a really funny ten minutes from The Jackie Gleason Show with Jackie and Jack Benny, and a few other goodies. Prior to that, I did get eight hours of sleep, woke up to a modern major miracle, picked up a couple of packages from the mail place, did a few errands and whatnot, then came home, got the dinner invite, then had a bagel to tide me over until the early 5:30 dinner. I got a lovely e-mail from the producer of The Partridge Family, who’s coming to see Drat! The Cat! on Sunday – haven’t seen him since 1981. Otherwise, I caught up on a few things, and began casting the young people show – halfway there already, with some new folks to listen to via video/audio. And the July Kritzerland is already cast save for one guy. So, that’s all good and positive and we can use all the good and positive we can get.

Today, I’ll be up when I’m up, I’ll do whatever needs doing, I’ll have the tuna sandwiches I was originally going to have yesterday and I’ll go to Western bagel and get fresh onion bagels for that, I’ll start thinking about songs for both Kritzerland shows, and then at some point I can watch, listen, and relax.

Tomorrow, we resume performances and play our last three performances – I’ll probably see all three because then I have to go cold turkey and I know how much I’ll miss it and the cast. I know quite a few folks who are coming. I’m sure there’ll be some kind of cast party after the set strike, probably around seven, so of course I’ll go to that, wherever it may be – probably a restaurant that has a full bar.

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, have the tuna sandwiches. Start thinking about songs for both Kritzerland shows, and then watch, listen, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: Who are your favorite comedians of the classic era and which new ones do you like? I don’t like any of the new ones – I don’t find them funny in the least. Classic – Jack Benny, Groucho, Jackie Mason, Don Rickles (when he’s really clooking), Woody Allen, Mal Z. Lawrence, but NOT Alan King, Shecky Greene, or anyone like that. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, where perhaps I shall have eclectic dreams to match the eclectic day.