I usually post the painting of the 3 empty crosses on Good Friday, but, you know, crucifixion was such a horrific way to die, that I’ve decided to go with the “life” part of Jesus today, instead.

Okay.

Wow. I was really tired yesterday but I still had a really great day off.

I got so much done. (Can you say: “5 loads of laundry”?? Mostly putting all the winter stuff away and getting the house ready for Spring.)

And I even got to take that walk in the sun. The sun stayed out all day. I was able to finally take in the sights of the village again after all those terrible wind storms we had. A lot of damage was done — mostly to trees. But the village is over 200 years old. It’s withstood a lot already. And it is, indeed, still standing and flowers were blooming!

It felt great to not just see it, but to feel it: Survival and moving on to whatever lies up ahead.

And then, early in the evening, the lawn guy returned to cut the grass, so it must really be Spring, gang!

Today, I will vacuum (!!) and also watch that recorded Zoom meeting about how to use the new recording studio on Substack. My brain has officially returned this morning!

But last evening, during dinner, I began re-watching “Mystery Train” (see yesterday’s post). I instantly remembered why I liked the movie so much — it’s totally quirky.

And since it was made in 1989, it reflects things about life in the US back then that I really miss. (For instance, smoking wherever & whenever you wanted to! And motel rooms for $22 a night! And traveling by train!!)

And what was also sort of intense: As soon as the movie started, I instantly remembered that Wayne and I had rented the movie from the video store on Broadway. We didn’t see it in the theater. And I had the clearest flashback of lying on the bed in our bedroom (which had a view of Riverside Park and the Hudson River). Our bedroom was just off the living room in our beautiful apartment on West End Avenue. And it was daylight out. We were watching the movie on what was, back then, considered a really big TV set. And I remembered really loving the movie and how quirky it was.

So that was kind of poignant — how vivid the memories were. And how different and solitary my life is now.

But when I went upstairs — really early because I was so tired — and got in bed to read some more of the John the Baptist book for James Tabor’s Private Research Group, I could only focus on the book for about 30 minutes.

So I got on Metrograph (on my phone) to see what movies I had saved.

And wow. There was THIS:

“Downtown 81”, starring the painter, Jean-Michel Basquiat. It takes place in NYC, mostly the Lower East Side, in 1980 & 81 (!!!).

Talk about memories of a life gone by. Jeez.

If you don’t know NYC from that specific era, the movie might not be that interesting to you. But I loved everything about it. The streets, the neighborhoods, the clubs, the music, the downtown art scene back then.

And Basquiat was so young. He was only 20 in that film. (And he died of a heroin overdose when he was only 27).

And what else did I love??? YES! At the end of the film, when he finds some money in the street, he goes to a corner newsstand and asks for a pack of cigarettes:

HE: “Chesterfield Kings, please.”

Yay!! (But just further proof that those old days are really gone gone gone.)

I’m so glad I watched that film. I moved to NYC in 1980, so those were my very early days in New York. I was writing tons of songs, finding out about the clubs where I could play once I felt I was ready to go out there with my guitar and be in it. All of that world was downtown. And I remember those bands that are in the film. And those clubs (though they weren’t the folk clubs I played in.) And I remember all that energy and that whole world.

Here’s the closing song from the movie. It totally captures the feel of those days:

And after the film was over, I felt really really grateful to myself for being so driven when I was young; for leaving Ohio with $500 (every cent I had in the world — I had saved it up by working in a General Electric factory), some clothes, some cassette tapes and my guitar, and going to Manhattan to be part of it finally and to chase my dreams. Even though my family basically stopped speaking to me for quite a while after I left — they’d been hellbent on my going to college, marrying a (rich) man, settling down, behaving, having a family… They absolutely did not understand me or my songwriting.

But I felt so glad last night that I hadn’t missed a moment of NYC in the 1980s.

*************

Okay.

So!

My favorite 95-year-old Japanese man’s daughter texted me last night and said that she is giving those chocolates I bought her to her late brother’s children (my client’s little grandchildren) for Easter.

That made me so happy!! He hasn’t seen his grandkids in many years. They probably barely remember him because they were so little when they moved away, but the thought that “he” got them chocolate for Easter will mean a lot to them. (Without going into anything too personal — those grandkids moved to Seattle 5 years ago, after their dad — my client’s youngest son– committed suicide.)

Even a small connection like giving kids chocolate at Easter — that will mean a lot to my favorite 95-year-old Japanese man, and it means a lot to me.

***********

Okay.

I don’t have too many “here’s this’s” for today.

But, here’s this!

And it’s pretty great! Keith smoking and gambling on the plane during the Stones’ 1972 tour!!

And here’s THIS!!!

Yes! Keith and Anita, apparently at a SMACK bar!!! (Keith was already an addict by then. Not that that’s funny, but I’m just sayin’……)

*************

And here’s this!

More beautiful days gone by. Nick Cave and Rowland S. Howard:

And here’s this, a few years later!

And in “present day” Nick Cave-land…

Flea (of Red Hot Chilli Peppers fame) has a new solo album out, Honora, and Nick Cave sings vocals on it, on an old Glen Campbell classic, “Wichita Lineman”:

And don’t forget!!

Only 2 months before Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds’ tour of Europe & the UK begins!!

Buy tickets HERE!!

********

All righty!

That’s it for today. The Agency has already texted me, asking me if I wanted to pick up an extra shift for this afternoon, but — vacuuming awaits!!!

And hopefully some writing!!

If you honor Good Friday, I hope you have a meaningful one. Otherwise, just have a good Friday, wherever you are in the world!

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

********

Let’s close with this.

Another one by Paul Simon, but this time, without Art Garfunkel.

This song (and the movie it came from) came out right when I got to NYC. I remember being on a city bus one night, and this song was playing on the bus’s radio. And I quietly lamented that I didn’t have enough money to see the movie because movies in NYC were much more expensive than they’d been in Ohio. (Back home, you could still see a first-run film for one dollar. In NYC, it cost $5.00!!!)

Now the song really captures that moment in time for me. Although it’s a really joyous song.

Paul Simon, “Late in the Evening,” from One Trick Pony, 1980. Enjoy, gang.

“Late In The Evening” (from “One-Trick Pony” soundtrack)

The first thing I remember
I was lying in my bed
Couldn’t have been no more than one or two
And I remember there’s a radio
Comin’ from the room next door
And my mother laughed the way some ladies do
When it’s late in the evening
All the music seeping through

The next thing I remember
I am walking down the street
I’m feeling all right
I’m with my boys, I’m with my troops, yeah
And down along the avenue
Some guys were shootin’ pool
And I heard the sound of a cappella groups, yeah
Singing late in the evening
And all the girls out on the stoops, yeah

Then I learned to play some lead guitar
I was underage in this funky bar
And I stepped outside to smoke myself a “J”
And when I came back to the room
Everybody just seemed to move
And I turned my amp up loud and I began to play
And it was late in the evening
And I blew that room away

The first thing I remember
When you came into my life
I said I’m gonna get that girl no matter what I do
Well I guess I’d been in love before
And once or twice I been on the floor
But I never loved no one the way that I loved you
And it was late in the evening
And all the music seeping through

c- 1980 Paul Simon

Is it because it’s Holy Week???

Probably not, but it’s nice timing anyway.

First off — for some reason, the SUN is out!!!! And it’s my day off! (It was supposed to rain all day.)

Second — when I opened my laptop this morning, THIS fantastic photo awaited me on my Welcome screen: NYC!! (It has never been on my screen before. I usually get photos of jungles or forests in faraway countries whose names I can’t pronounce.)

And when I went to check sales ranks of all my various books that are still somewhere out there online…

It occurred to me that this was pretty fantastic. On Amazon. This specific edition of Neptune & Surf has been out of print for about 17 years. And even though it ranks #400,519 in Erotic Fiction Best Sellers, it’s still at least ranking and it was published 27 years ago!! (This was my first book. And when it was published in 1999, it opened at #7 in FICTION!!)

And most miraculous miracle of all!!

Yesterday, my favorite 95-year-old Japanese man’s daughter let me go 45 minutes early — with full pay — because her dad was sound asleep in his recliner.

So my 7th shift in the 7-shift run ended early!

And not only do I have today off, but she’s taking her dad to an appointment in Columbus on Friday, so now I have FRIDAY off, as well. Yes! 2 days off in a row!!

And even though when I got out of bed at 4:38AM this morning, the toilet paper roll in the upstairs bathroom was completely unspooled and shredded in a heap on the bathroom floor….

And even though I then discovered that the toilet paper roll in the downstairs bathroom was ALSO completely unspooled and shredded in a heap on the bathroom floor…

And even though when I went outside onto the kitchen porch in the dark and the rain to see if Kon Tiki had shown up for breakfast yet, she had not only shown up, but had THREE furry friends in tow!! (Yes, I fed TWENTY cats, in total, this morning…)

And even though when I went back upstairs 2 hours later and discovered the cats had yanked about 25 Kleenex’s out of the brand new box of Kleenex next to my bed… (yeah, okay, so I did holler a little about that),…

I’m still so fucking happy that the sun is out and I have 2 days off.

*************

Okay.

Here’s this!

Joe Strummer, with a cuppa and a cigarette!

You know, I had forgotten about this movie. I remember, though, that I really liked it a lot :

(I just bought it on Amazon Prime so I can watch it again!!)

************

Here’s this!

Just nice to see it, after about 120 years!

Franz Kafka and his dog, somewhere in Prague:

*************

And I love this!

Although it is actually the Rolling Stones getting ready to be on the David Frost TV show in London in June 1969…

It looks like they’re learning how long their prison sentences are going to be:

And here’s this!

Probably the sole reason why you don’t want to leave Keith unattended on your family room floor —

Look how close that lit cigarette is to that rug!

The Stones, backstage at the Forum in LA, Nov. 1969:

And Keith, in an empty arena somewhere, doing what he does best!! (Oh, and plus, he looks really nice wearing a guitar!)

*************

And here’s this!

The most unqualified, unparalleled, absolute BEST Hair Day EVER!!

Nick Cave, only yesterday!! Oops! I meant, of course, “yesteryear”. But, honestly, check out that hair!!

*************

And I think that might be it for now.

I’ve got laundry going already. I’m hoping to get in a walk today, too, now that it’s not raining. And do some yoga later. And, oh, they did indeed record the Zoom meeting from yesterday about how to use the new recording studio on Substack. So I’ll check that out today, too.

And maybe even do some writing… but I don’t want to get carried away.

Have a really great Maundy Thursday wherever you are in the world!

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

*************

Let’s close with this today!

In celebration of everything.

The Edwin Hawkins Singers, 1969: “Oh Happy Day”!! Enjoy, gang.

And it was actually such an easy 7-shift run. It really was. (This is assuming that the final shift today goes as smoothly as all the others did.)

And tomorrow is my day off. Yay.

I still have a short story to finish (still those same 4 paragraphs or so). But, wow, gang — do I have a TON of vacuuming to do.

Me! Doing what I do best!!

WAIT! NO! I meant– ME! Doing what I do best!!

(Whatever it is that I do best, I do it in black & white!)

***********

But, seriously. I’m tired.

However.

I have to say that my annual review at the Agency yesterday afternoon kind of blew my mind. I wasn’t worried about it, because I knew that I hadn’t broken any rules, or called in sick excessively, or gone to ANY shifts without wearing the required uniform. (Nor did I steal any Lawrence Ferlinghetti poetry books from the staff library.)

I always worry at least a little bit that I don’t work enough shifts.

But I just wasn’t expecting my review to be so, well, incredible.

I did not know that the review included input/feedback from front desk staff, client coordinators, schedulers, clients and clients’ families.

The Supervisor went over every detail of what everybody said, and then summed it up:

SHE: “Everybody loves you.”

In all honesty, I think the only reason I’ve lived this long is to finally hear somebody say, “Everybody loves you.” But, you know, actually hearing it, and knowing the people, faces, lives, that this encompasses… I left the building kind of stunned.

She also gave me a new shirt — which I really needed. Yay. (Polo-style, dark green, with the Agency logo on it — this new one fits great.) AND– she gave me a huge glass coffee mug!! (With the Agency logo on it.)

Loyal readers of this lofty blog know so well by now that I am a dish-aholic and that I already own about 763 coffee cups!! But, yay!! I now have about 764!!

But seriously. It takes so much out of me every day, to get in my car and drive 30 miles to go to a client’s home. I would always much rather be sitting at my desk, working on a book like in the old days. I live about 99% of my life in my head now, because my career has changed so much since 2020.

So, hearing something like that was just, wow.

*************

All right!

I loved this! Proof that it’s still legal in this country to talk to your therapist.

From The Western Journal:

“…At issue was a 2019 Colorado ban on counseling practices aimed at challenging a child’s expressed sexual orientation or gender identity.

“Violations of the law can lead to fines and put licenses in jeopardy for counselors…

“The lawsuit was brought by Kaley Chiles, a licensed counselor in Colorado, who argued the state was censoring her private conversations with minor clients…

“Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote the majority opinion… Gorsuch wrote that the law attempts to silence a particular viewpoint.”

**************

All right.

Here’s this:

Johnny Depp is taking that Rum Diary seriously!

He was in LA yesterday, launching his new brand of rum — in specially-designed bottles. (Visit Three Hearts Rum)

*************

And here’s this.

From 1979, Keith in the studio with a member of reggae band, Black Uhuru:

And here’s this, while we’re at it! “Shine Eye,” by Black Uhuru, featuring Keith Richards on guitar:

*********

From Simcha Jacobovici, in Israel this morning:

Passover: The evidence! (7 mins):

***************

And here’s this!

Nick Cave, a long time ago:

And I loved this!

You know — learn the difference! (Don’t get your holiday background music all fucked up.)

CHRISTMAS:

HALLOWEEN:

**************

And I think that’s it for today. I need to sort of find some energy somehow before I head out for shift 7.

I actually have a Zoom meeting scheduled for later today (“How to use the New Substack Recording Studio” — not that I’m planning to switch to video podcasts, I just think I might want to use it when my new novel launches in the Fall). But Methinks I will probably skip it today and hope that they record it so I can watch it at some point when I have a functioning brain.

Meanwhile, have a wonder-filled Wednesday, wherever you are in the world!

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

*************

Let’s leave with this today!

Just something so beautiful from yesteryear.

Simon & Garfunkel – “El Condor Pasa (If I Could)”. 1970. Enjoy, gang.

“El Condor Pasa (If I Could)”

I’d rather be a sparrow than a snail
Yes, I would
If I could
I surely would

I’d rather be a hammer than a nail
Yes, I would
If I only could
I surely would

Away, I’d rather sail away
Like a swan that’s here and gone
A man gets tied up to the ground
He gives the world its saddest sound
It’s saddest sound

I’d rather be a forest than a street
Yes, I would
If I could
I surely would

I’d rather feel the earth beneath my feet
Yes, I would
If I only could
I surely would

c- 1970 Jorge Milchberg, Daniel Alomias Robles

Here we are, gang!

Today is my double-shift in the middle of a 7-shift stretch! And I am actually feeling really good.

And yesterday I managed to do some quick shopping before my shift, then got home, took care of the cats, showered/washed my hair, did yoga, made dinner, studied my French, read a chapter in The Lost Mary: Rediscovering the Mother of Jesus (only one chapter left to read), AND THEN–

Yes, a chapter and a half in a new scholarly/academic book (2024) we’re reading in James Tabor’s Patreon Research Group:

“Studies of the historical Jesus typically reduce John the Baptist to a subordinate role in the story of Christian origins. This meticulous historical study focuses on John himself, revealing his extensive and enduring influence.”

My copy of the book just arrived yesterday, so I am already about 200 pages behind everyone else!! So I got a lot of reading to do!!

Good Lord, right? (I’m not saying that because it’s Palm Sunday…) I had enough on my List of Things To Do before the book got here…

We’re supposed to read about 200 pages before each monthly Zoom meeting, in order for us to all “be on the same page,” as it were. Yesterday was the first Zoom pertaining to this book, hence the reason why I am already 200 pages behind.

Anyway!

Wow! What a great book. I can’t really discuss outside of the group, why we are reading this book. But already, I am learning so much about things I never even considered before.

We were also told by James Tabor to buy this book (2004) and luckily, I was able to get it used, because Amazon is selling it for $83:

“…The Resurrection of Mary Magdalene approaches Christian Testament sources through analysis of legend, archaeology, and gnostic/apocryphal traditions. This is the story of the suppression and distortion of a powerful woman leader – Schaberg presents Mary Magdalene as successor to Jesus in a challenging alternative to the Petrine primacy.”

************

And then after I was done reading for the night, I watched another rerun of “Archer” (decidedly not Christian in any way), and then, by candlelight, listened to Chapter 17 (3 more chapters to go!) of the audiobook, The Quest of the Historical Jesus by Albert Schweitzer. (On LibriVox)

You would probably think that my entire life is consumed by quests to sort of conquer the New Testament in some way, but you’d be kind of wrong about that.

Mostly I think about:

ME: What the fuck am I doing on this fucking planet? How the fuck did I get here?

ME: Where did all these cats come from? I didn’t always have so many cats!

And sometimes–

ME: How come autism is called neurodivergence now? What the fuck is up with that? More fucking around with language just to fuck with people’s heads…

************

Anyway.

I don’t have too many “here’s this’s” for today, but here’s this!

Keith and Mick Taylor between flghts in 1972:

Keith buying some drugs some THINGS in a market in France in 1971:

**********

And here’s this!

Johnny Depp coming out of a trailer only last week!

***********

And here’s a different Johnny!

From Phyllis Stein, Johnny Thunders in his kitchen in NYC, 1977:

**********

And here’s this!

Nick Cave, photo taken by Warren Ellis using a special camera that makes people’s fingers look really, really long:

***********

And that’s actually it for today because I want to just sort of chill a little bit before I head to town.

Today, I will finally be with my favorite 95-year-old Japanese man and his daughter (she arrived last evening). Followed by a shift with the retired Minister and his lovely wife and cat (and I’m hoping his stay in the hospital last weekend wasn’t too terrible).

And then drive the 30 miles back home and do my usual:

ME: What the fuck am I doing on this fucking planet? How the fuck did I get here?

ME: Where did all these cats come from? I didn’t always have so many cats!

Meanwhile!

Enjoy your Palm Sunday if you celebrate it, otherwise just have a great Sunday, wherever you are in the world!!

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

***************

I leave you with this!

This whole album ended up being my driving-to-town music yesterday! (See yesterday’s post.)

And here’s yet another reason why listening to this record at top volume was much more important than going to school!!! (And still is!!)

“Mystery Dance,” 1977. Elvis Costello, from My Aim is True. Enjoy, gang!!!

“Mystery Dance”

Romeo was restless, he was ready to kill.
He jumped out the window cause he couldn’t sit still.
Juliet was waiting with a safety net.
He said “Don’t bury me cause I’m not dead yet”.

[Chorus:]
Why don’t you tell me ’bout the mystery dance.
I wanna know about the mystery dance.
Why don’t you show me,
’cause I’ve tried and I’ve tried,
and I’m still mystified.
I can’t do it anymore and I’m not satisfied.
I can’t do it anymore and I’m not satisfied.

Well I remember when the lights went out
and I was tryin’ to make it look like it was never in doubt.
She thought that I knew, and I thought that she knew,
so both of us were willing, but we didn’t know how to do it.

[Chorus]

Well I was down under the covers in the middle of the night,
tryin’ to discover my left foot from my right.
You can see those pictures in any magazine.
But what’s the use of looking when you don’t know what they mean.

[Chorus]

c -1977 Elvis Costello

Well, Happy Saturday.

It is very sunny right now — and this will allegedly be the final moment of sunshine that we’re gonna see for the next 10 days or so.

I guess we’ll find out.

I do have some flowers getting ready to bloom in the backyard. And my ancient dogwood tree is also getting ready to bloom out there.

And the kittens will be one year-olds on Easter Sunday!!

Remember this unbelievable surprise that surprised me on my kitchen porch in the wee hours of April 5th last year??? And how it sort of irreparably changed my life??

Anyway. My point is that it really is starting to be Spring around here.

So that feels good.

**************

There is not much to report today. (I mean, assuming you’re tuning out everything in the “global news”.)

Later today, my favorite 95-year-old Japanese man’s daughter arrives from Seattle, so her visit gets under way today. (Although, she won’t arrive until after I’ve gone home.)

But we’re ready! I didn’t need to buy any groceries for him yesterday. And the private nurse had done a bunch of housecleaning before she left town. So there wasn’t anything I needed to do yesterday except my usual stuff. Cook for him, make him his coffee, hang out with him and chat. (And, well, a tiny glass of the pre-mixed Vodka cocktail and the Pringles Mingles!! We were, after all, celebrating his daughter’s almost imminent arrival!)

Oh, and this happened yesterday.

And I have to add, here, that the Agency I work for is a really, really great Agency. For so many reasons.

When I got to my favorite 95-year-old Japanese man’s house yesterday, there was a card waiting for me, tucked inside his back screendoor.

It was a handwritten note from my supervisor, who had stopped in the other day to pick up my monthly paperwork. I had briefly gone over with her some things I had done to try to make the daughter’s upcoming visit a smooth one.

The note from my supervisor was thanking me for “going above & beyond” for the client and his daughter, and for being a special part of the Agency.

Wow, you know? And what does it take — like, 5 minutes to do something like that? But it meant the world to me.

So, even though I so wish I could retire and just focus on the writing again, it is a great company to work for. I always, always, always feel appreciated.

************

All right.

So it turns out that yesterday was National Joe Day!

I had never heard of it, but it turns out it’s an actual thing. It celebrates guys & gals named Joe! (Or Jo.)

So here’s this!

************

And I loved this! What a great photo!

From the recent “Wild God” Tour of Australia, in Sydney. Nick Cave on the jumbo screen, overlooking the backup singers onstage:

*************

And that is actually it!

I’m looking forward to sort of an easy, sunny Saturday today, gang.

Both proofs — the eBook and print proofs — for The Curse of Our Profound Disorder were sent to me yesterday afternoon by the publisher and they both look great. So that feels good. A novel that’s been in me since 1998 is finally going to be in print.

And so I’m just gonna try to not stress about anything today and let the world happen however it’s meant to happen.

Enjoy your Saturday, wherever you are in the world, gang!

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

***************

I leave you with this!

This was so strange — around 3AM, I was just coming out of a dream, and the voice in my head was singing these specific lyrics, and I knew every word but I couldn’t figure out what the song was, since I was still half-asleep:

“Baby’s gotta have the things she wants.
You know she’s gotta have the things she loves.
She’s got a ten-inch bamboo cigarette holder
and her black patent leather gloves.
And I’m doing everything just tryin’ to please her,
even crawling around on all fours.
Oh, I thought by now that it was gonna be easy,
but she still seems to want for more.”

Then the chorus came:

“Why do you have to say that there’s always someone
who can do it better than I can?
But don’t you think that I know that walking on the water
won’t make me a miracle man?”

And then my whole being smiled, gang. “Miracle Man”, by Elvis Costello!! 1977.

The very same song that made me stay home sick from school the moment I first heard it, because I needed to hear that song (that whole album — My Aim is True) over and over and over!! I could not be bothered with school!

So that is the song I’ve been singing around here all morning today!! I share it with you now.

Enjoy, gang! I still do!!

“Miracle Man”

You never asked me what I wanted. You only asked me why.
I never thought that so much trouble was restin’ on my reply,
I could say it was the nights when I was lonely
and you were the only one who’d come.
I could tell you that I like your sensitivity,
when you know it’s the way that you walk.

[Chorus]:
Why do you have to say that there’s always someone
who can do it better than I can?
But don’t you think that I know that walking on the water
won’t make me a miracle man?

Baby’s gotta have the things she wants.
You know she’s gotta have the things she loves.
She’s got a ten-inch bamboo cigarette holder
and her black patent leather gloves.
And I’m doing everything just tryin’ to please her,
even crawling around on all fours.
Oh, I thought by now that it was gonna be easy,
but she still seems to want for more.

[Chorus]

I hear they’re givin’ you a bad reputation
just because you’ve never been denied.
You try to say you’ve done it all before.
Baby, you know that you just get tired.
Yet everybody loves you so much, girl.
I just don’t know how you stand the strain.
Oh, I, I’m the one who’s here tonight,
and I don’t wanna do it all in vain.

[Chorus]

c – 1977 Elvis Costello