No, it’s not my latest album, featuring a collection of all my favorite folk songs. Although, admit it. It would make a great LP Title. No, just a word or two on the benefit of keeping a journal. Do you do it? Do you refuse to do it? Do you even care? 
 
Archeologists Indiana Jones and Nathan Drake swear by them. Truman Capote actually armed his and used it to destroy any real relationship he had left. For those of you keeping score, here’s just a partial list of those who benefited from the practice.
 
Mark Twain
Marie Curie
Ernest Hemmingway
Susan Sontag
Frida
C.S. Lewis

All journaled and benefited.
 
And those that didn’t:
 
The Sundance Kid
The Mayhem Commercial Guy
All Members of the Rat Pack
Brett Favre
 
And those that never should:
Ted Bundy
H.H. Holmes
and
Donald J. Trump
 
I used to write at least three pages a day. I made this my practice for almost ten years. Did I receive any benefit from it? Well, it did successfully cramp my hand and take me from writing on other things for at least an hour. Did it make me a better writer? Not sure. All I can say is that I did it. It was sort of like smoking cigarettes for me. One day I was doing it, and the next, I just stopped. I’m not really sure what I am even getting at here. But here is the bottom line. If you do it, enjoy it, and keep it up. If you are not getting anything out of it, don’t. 
 
That is all.

​Liking Your Agent or Manager
 
Well, I’ve had both. Sometimes they never call, so it never has to be a question of like or dislike. That has already been determined. 
 
As a rule, managers tend to be a bit more hands-on, so it does matter. I enjoyed my last manager very much. The scheduled times always netted great results and resulted in a project with tons of commercial potential.
 
Some agents prefer to work in the background and will not call unless they have something. They spend most of their goodwill signing you and have very little left over for developing a relationship. This does not mean they are not going to work for you. After all, the more money you make, the better their chances of buying an electric vehicle. As my friend and mentor, Jerry likes to say. Let them do their work. They will call you when they need you. Now, on rare occasions, you will find an agent that you really enjoy working with. 
 
I am lucky as am currently into one of those. I have two in point of fact. That story I will save for later. Remember, beggars can’t be chooser and you don’t really know which Guild signatory agent is going to express interest. Keep in mind, that I have one interested agent, one who really likes my latest romcom, who has still not gotten back to me. I am not sure where she falls. I will ask when I finally hear back.

 

​Now onto something even more important. Nicholas and Alexandria (1971), a film by Francis Schaffner and based on the book by Robert K. Massie. I love this film, and I don’t know why. Visually, it is stunning. The acting (both large and small) is top-notch. And yet it rambles along its three-hour running time like a slow-moving freight train that is 188 minutes late from arriving at the station. 
 
There are many memorable scenes, but one stands out that I will never forget. Nicholas abdicates, is under house arrest, and must walk through the gates of his palace, that are now filled with the peasants he has plundered and even killed. He puffs out his chest, acts as royal as possible, and passes hundreds of people who would prefer him dead. Once inside his apartment, he drops to his knees and sobs like the spoiled child he really is.
 
“Please! I didn't mean to! Please! I'm so ashamed! I didn't mean to do it! Please! Don't! Please! Don't! Please!”  
 
Ah, Batushka and Matushka. This really is movie magic.
 

(Sometimes, you just have to do it musically).
 
As far as I am concerned, one of the best films of my lifetime is Bill Forsythe’s, Local Hero. Unmatched in heart, soul humor, and original movie making. I watch it several times a year, and it never ceases to restore peace and calm to my chaotic self.
 
Likewise, the title song by Mark Knopfler, Going Home (theme from Local Hero), is the proverbial icing on the cake of my love fest. I listen to it often (several times as I write this) and will no doubt take a few more listens before the day is out.
 
Knopfler has done a total of eight film soundtracks, two of which have become classics. The other is, The Princess Bride. Both scores have a quality that borders on the magical. Bride is good, but Hero has always been my favorite. As far as I am concerned, a great song should be able to transport you, and Going Home does that for me. 
 
Do yourself a favor, if you have not seen the movie, do. Criterion has it listed amongst their titles, and the song, performed by Knopfler himself, is all over YouTube.
 
You’re welcome.