This evening I inadvertently crossed another project off the To Do list. I was looking for an air purifier — we have two — and thought it might be in the coat closet.
Our coat closet is that sort with the horribly dated bifolding doors. (I wonder if I can put a bookcase door in there one day when I win the lottery …) It holds a lot of coats. Critically, it holds a lot of board games, too. And also a shoe caddy, an empty box and a picnic setup. Also space heater, a box fan, and three little containers of things like gloves and scarves. But there was no air purifier.
Oh sure, the new one was in the box in the laundry room, where I’d stored it. The other was … upstairs. So present and accounted for. And that closet got cleaned. And by cleaned I mean straightened up, and removed the empty box and box fan.
So the day was, in fact, productive. One closet to go. Maybe next week.
Also, I added 10 more pairs of cufflinks to the collection this evening.
I’m not sure how long it takes to make these in small batches. But it’s long enough to wonder how many more I should make. As I’ve mentioned here, I’m in a hot dog and bun situation as it pertains to the supplies — parts and material vs storage. Right now, I have a lot more storage than bits. So the solution, clearly, is to get more bits.
And, of course, french cuffs. It always comes down to that.
Mel Brooks wrote a book, and that’s not the name of it. It could have been the name of it. But they went another way for this light and breezy read.
The best title would have been Mel Brooks Needs An Editor. The beloved comedian and filmmaker, who is turning 99 later this month, tells us a few tales of his young life, how he got started with Sid Caesar and then diligently works through his better known move projects, organized by chapter. It wanders around, but you indulge it because there’s a lot of joy there, and it’s a beloved older man and there’s probably something good coming.
A lot of the magic of his work, I’ve decided here, is in the performance. The writing is a little more flat than he would delivery it. But that’s probably how I read.
I was telling a friend about this, who sent me this link, which is a joyful little watch. And I was glad for it. Because it’s basically chronological, this performance winds up near the end. But, just for now, look at the joy on the man’s face. It’s beautiful.
It’s a decent little beach read. (Just try to not think too hard about whether or not Brooks is largely the person to blame for our remix culture.) It moves fast, and you’ll work your way through it wondering if he’s going to mention that specific gag, bit or punchline that always sticks with you. If that’s what you’re after, this book is ready for you.
