On The Road — Page 3

One More Week To Go

December 5, 2021 at 9:11 am by Claudia

Another insanely busy week has passed and after taking yesterday to recover, I am able to put words together and write a post.

I really have no way to describe the erratic hours and long days that happen during filming. It’s different every day, especially when we’re on location where light is a huge factor. On Thursday we moved to the soundstage, which is a more controlled environment. But by the time we moved there, we were in a cycle of starting later in the day (there has to be a 12 hour turnaround between the end of filming and the start on the next day) so by Friday, I got home at 1:45 a.m. The soundstage is way out in an industrial part of Brooklyn – not the safest area – so the Manhattan and Brooklyn contingents are able to catch vans that takes us there. The only problem is when I am dropped off after 11;30, I have to call an Uber to get the rest of the way home as the subway line doesn’t stop at my station overnight.

The logistics of getting to a location or to the soundstage are always a challenge. Let’s just say I know the subway system much better than I did – and I already knew it pretty well.

I don’t have to be on set tomorrow, so I get an extra day off. Though I will have to go into Manhattan to get a Covid test in order to be cleared for Tuesday, as tomorrow is a testing day on set. We’re tested 3 days a week, with a PCR test and an antigen test on Monday, and an antigen test on Wednesday and Friday. So far, I’ve had 20 Covid tests.

Today I’ll drop off my laundry for the last time. Annie (my former student/landlady) and I plan to take a walk together, as we’ve hardly seen each other. She is one of my favorite people. Tomorrow, I don’t have to be on set so I have another day to recover, then it’s four more intense days and…we wrap. Don picks me up on Saturday and I’m back home.

I don’t think I’ll be able to process all of this for a long time. It’s been so intense, so all-encompassing, that I’ve really had no other life than this. And there’s a lot I can’t share with you simply because we are bound to an agreement of secrecy. I had one unexpected adventure which I’ll share with you one day. It was pretty amazing.

I’m just about to finish The Madness of Crowds by Louise Penny. That’s how busy I’ve been. Six weeks and one book finished.

I don’t think I’d do this again, simply because it’s exhausting and I’m 69 years old. And what made this special was working with Jim again. And Ben, of course. It was personal, not just a job. I’m so very grateful for the experience and I definitely don’t want to wish the last week away, I want to savor it. But I’m also longing to go back home and be with my husband in our cottage.

And get our Christmas tree.

After 13 years of blogging, it’s been strange to sit here on a Sunday and not immediately think about posting. I have to remind myself to post! I’ll get back into the swing of it. I miss you all and I miss the daily rhythm of posting.

One more week to go.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

Sunday

November 28, 2021 at 8:42 am by Claudia

Every time I think I should go here or there, I end up staying home. I am so, so tired and I have to listen to my body and rest. I often fall asleep sitting up on the sofa. Last night I went to bed early and slept 8 hours. I imagine it will be much the same when I go back home – several days to recover.

Anyway, I stayed home yesterday. I worked on the puzzle that I started when I first moved here and that I’ve barely had time to touch since. And I finished it!

It’s called “At the Strand” as in The Strand bookstore, a beloved shop in NYC, just south of Union Square. It’s the one bookstore I haven’t made it to this trip. Jigsaw puzzles are very zen-like for me and having the luxury of time to work on it this weekend is just what the doctor ordered. Today, I may pop over to a toy store I visited a couple of weeks ago – they have New Yorker puzzles in stock.

So far this weekend, I’ve watched movies that make me happy. I’ve watched Charade twice, How to Steal a Million (with Audrey Hepburn and Peter O’Toole), and Casablanca. Today might be You’ve Got Mail and tonight on TCM? One of my all-time favorites – Pillow Talk, with Doris Day and Rock Hudson.

Seen on a walk past a restaurant on the corner:

What the heck happened here? Sad.

You know that I brought a stack of books with me, and have purchased even more since I’ve been here. I have yet to finish one. All my visions of reading time have gone up in smoke. When I do have time, I’m just too tired to concentrate. This experience has been exhilarating, inspiring, fun and grueling. Right now, all I can remember is the ‘grueling’ part of it, but soon those memories will fade away and I will remember only the good things – and there are many, many good things.

I have to drop my laundry off today and run an errand or two here in the neighborhood. Mostly, I’m going to take it easy as I have to be on the set by 6:30 am tomorrow and it’s way up on the Upper West Side.

And so it begins again!

Stay safe.

Happy Sunday.

Resting Up

November 26, 2021 at 9:16 am by Claudia

I’m so out of the rhythm of posting every day! I was sitting at the table this morning, working on my jigsaw puzzle when I suddenly realized I had to write a post. Two more weeks, then maybe a recovery day or two, and then I’ll get back on a regular schedule.

I worked two days this week but they were the toughest days so far. On Tuesday, I had to meet up with the van in Manhattan at 5:30 am, which meant I got up at 3:30 am in order to take the subway to the meet-up point. Then we drove to a beach on Long Island. It was beautiful in the morning, as you can see:

But don’t let that fool you. It was unbelievably cold and windy all day. And we were outside. No room in the interior of the cottage that was being used, so everything had to be set up outside. I had on three layers: long underwear, two pairs of socks, a thermal shirt, a sweatshirt and a down jacket, along with a hat and scarf. And I was still freezing, as was everyone else.We were out there for more than 12 hours.

Words cannot express how cold it was. All in all, it was a 14+ hour day. Came home, collapsed (after a long, hot shower) and then back at it the next morning. We filmed in Manhattan. Lots of scenes, lots of apparently complicated set-ups. We went overtime until midnight (started at 10 am), so I didn’t get home until after 1 am. The two-day combo knocked me out. I didn’t do anything yesterday but sleep in and laze around the apartment, getting back to the jigsaw puzzle which I had ignored for 3 weeks – no time. Last night, I went to bed early and slept in again. Thank goodness for this 4-day break. Everyone needed it.

It’s raining lightly at the moment. I don’t know if it’s supposed to rain all day. I hope not, as I have a couple of errands to run.

I’ve always heard this: filming is hard work and not at all glamorous. Boy is that the truth! But it is endlessly fascinating and I’m learning a great deal just by observing the process. My hat is off to everyone involved. I can’t conceive of doing this on a full-time basis. (Maybe it’s my age!)

Don and I were relieved not to have to make a big meal for Thanksgiving. He’s home. I’m here. Since our families are spread out across the country, we haven’t really had a traditional celebration in years. And we’re vegetarians.

The girls:

They’re still in these clothes, but I plan to give them something else to wear later today.

Thank you for all the birthday wishes. I had a lovely, low-key day. Don concocted a great meal, there were cupcakes with candles in them, and presents.

In truth, I am so damn tired. This experience has had such highs and lows. But I’m very grateful for this opportunity and that is what I’ll take with me. Gratitude.

More tomorrow. You’ll get three posts before I disappear for 5 days.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

One More Week To Go

Sunday

Resting Up

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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