Today has been stressful, for reasons I must be tight-lipped about for the time being. Everyday is stressful. There is a different definition and level of stress here. But something has been a little touch-and-go throughout the day, and I want it to work out. If it works out, you'll know it. Legs x Legs. Sometimes someone has to say what is correct that no one else will say, so you can start bringing people along.
But I can say that it's official now that I'll be teaching five classes in September at the excellent Coolidge Corner Theatre--which, along with the Brattle in Cambridge, is one of the best in the country. It's been around since 1933--hence the Art Deco touches on the outside, which remain--and the programming, as with the Brattle, is outstanding. I'll be teaching this first round of classes on the films of Buster Keaton. We had started talking about doing Orson Welles or the Beatles, but the Beatles were cost-prohibitive, with licensing for all of their films, and they're doing a seminar already on the early--read: British--films of Hitchcock, and they didn't want to have two directors from the 1940s back-to-back. So I pivoted to Keaton. Easy solution. I have to work out what films we'll be focusing on. What happens is is I teach for a half hour or so, then we screen what we're screening, then we have a Q&A. Each of the five classes last three hours. They happen on Tuesday mornings, so I'll do them, walk back home, and do my segment on Downtown with Rich Kimball. Lots of talking on Tuesdays in September!
I wasn't on Downtown this week, because no one was. The good Mr. Kimball was off on vacation. This snapped a streak of consecutive Tuesday appearances that must go back to September. I'm not sure we've skipped a Tuesday since then. The way these segments work is I come up with an idea, then float it to Rich, then we do it. Sometimes I think it'd be fun to just go on and have him discuss with me whatever he wishes to discuss. Wild Card! Most people, of course, who do radio, do their one thing. The Celtics beat guy talks Celtics, the historian talks history, the football play-by-play guy talks about the team he works for, the television critic talks about the shows she thinks you should watch in the fall. Truthfully, I could come up with a new idea for every hour of the day, so it's not a problem, and when I have my own show someday--on radio or TV or both--it will be a bountiful cornucopia. I actually have to leave a lot of ideas behind, though they can be returned to later, sometimes. I foresee the next few appearances being tied in to things I've written and published. There's just some good meat there.
Random aside: I really like how Dylan sings the word "gondola" in later career live performances of "When I Paint My Masterpiece." This is the Band's version from Cahoots in 1971.
Today I ran three miles, walked three, climbed the Monument five times. My legs ached somewhat yesterday while running, then again today, but less so. I'm not sure why, but they don't ache when I'm doing my stairs. I just feel good in the Monument. Though there was a lot of traffic today.
I am listening to sports radio and TV people today say that they don't believe in the Red Sox. And that they are the shakiest of the four Boston teams. They are 64-29. I get that the league sucks. I don't believe in their bullpen at all, and their rotation is patchy. David Price is among my least favorite ever Red Sox. Bottom five. Bottom three. Hell, maybe bottom two. But everyone plays the same teams, give or take, and 64-29 is 64-29. Their line-up is very good. J.D. Martinez is far better than I thought he was or ever would have expected. He is a mini-Manny Ramirez. That might be unfair to him, if we're talking this one season.
I'd like to see the Patriots trade Gronkowski. Tired of his unreliability. Tired of Brady's passive aggressiveness.
I eat a lot of celery and animal crackers I've noticed. Back in March, I gave up potato chips and also taco chips and salsa. Not a one of either since.
I'm wiped. It's only quarter past seven, and I'm just done. Album recommendation, though. Lucinda Williams and Charles Lloyd have a new LP out, and it's a total pleasure. I've never heard a bad Lucinda Williams anything. I've never heard a middling Lucinda Williams anything. She sings as well now, too, as she ever has, and she was always a great singer. How can you not love this?