I spent that extra hour this morning, hanging out in bed, thinking about the dreams I’d had during the night. They were actually kind of incredible.

They were so visual and symbolic, that I can’t even really describe them. But my favorite one involved a 2-level home security system made from really delicate green plants and at the same time, it had to do with a new reality blossoming in my life — in the form of lilies of the valley. And one line from the Nick Cave song, “Lime Tree Arbour,” kept repeating in the dream:

“There is a hand that protects me/ and I do love her so”

And even after all that — I still got out of bed at 4AM !! (standard time). So I’m happy!

Plus!

My car insurance is up for renewal later this month, and I was thinking about “shopping around” for a better deal, but then just felt like I didn’t want to be bothered… and then my insurance company emailed me yesterday to say that my car insurance has been DECREASED starting this month!!

So I’m happy!

And JUST NOW —

I got an early Black Friday deal from Best Buy in my email, and I just now bought a new flat screen Fire TV (to replace my 25-year-old TV in the family room) for $58!!!! It’s ready for pick up today!!

So I’m happy!

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And here’s this!

What’s not to love about this??

From Jo Wood, on Instagram, from her book, STONED: Photographs and Treasures from Life with the Rolling Stones (2019)– Keith and Ronnie. I don’t know the date, but not only do they still have black hair, they still have hair! Yay!

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And here’s this —

A school yearbook photo of the girl who got sent to the Principal’s office because she was waiting out in the hall — after the final bell had rung for classes to start — for her best friend, Becky, to get there because they both ADORED Ronnie Wood, and the girl had bought Becky Ronnie’s brand new record, I’ve Got My Own Album to Do, as a surprise for Becky’s birthday!!

(I was not much of a girl who usually played by the rules, and when it came to rock & roll, there were absolutely no such things as RULES!!)

PRINCIPAL: “Get to class!! NOW!”

THE GIRL: “But I’m waiting for Becky! I want to give her this!!”

PRINCIPAL: “I said, get to class!!”

THE GIRL: “But it will only take a minute!!”

PRINCIPAL: “Go to my office, NOW, and wait for me! GO!!”

Anyway! The girl! (Me, Junior High School , age 14)

EPILOGUE: I did, indeed, go to the Principal’s office, and I sat there and waited for him, thinking that the whole thing was so STUPID. However, it was not going to go down well if he called my mother, because I had just gotten off of 30 days of House Arrest — I’d gotten arrested for shoplifting.

Luckily, though, when the Principal finally arrived at his office, he had one of those really incorrigible 14-year-old boys in tow — wherein anything I might have done or said, paled mightily by comparison — and the Principal took one exasperated look at me and said: “Just get to class!!”

ME (secretly thinking): “Yay!”

And out of his office I scurried.

PS: Becky absolutely FLIPPED over her birthday present!!

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And here’s this!

From Ronnie Wood’s album, I’ve Got My Own Album to Do, 1974, “I Can Feel the Fire” (Mick Jagger on backing vocals):

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Okay.

Well, I’m also happy because my best friends, Kara and Wendy, and I have sort of solidified a date to get together for dinner (in early December) and celebrate Christmas!! Yay!!

Not sure where, but I’m guessing it’ll be somewhere fun in Granville.

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Other nice news–

I spoke to my birth mom last evening. I hadn’t actually spoken to her on the phone for a couple months. But I haven’t actually seen her in over 2 years.

I invited her to come visit me for a couple days, but she has no transportation. My sister is getting knee surgery. So I’m waiting for my favorite Q-following friend to get back to me and let me know if she wants to take another little road trip with me — to go see my mom and have lunch! (She’s actually met my birth mom. She’s only the second one of my friends who has ever actually met my birth mom. And my birth mom and I have known each other for 40 years now.)

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On another happy note!!

Sandra and I spoke last evening, too, and we start back to work this Monday, at 11AM. Just to sort of quickly go over where we’re at on both projects. (Our play going to Off- Broadway, and that other really cool project that I can’t tell you about yet.)

Monday afternoon (tomorrow), I have to attend a caregiving training class at the Agency, specifically for caring for veterans who have PTSD.

But after that, Sandra and I will be working on Mondays and Thursdays. Yes! My 2 days off each week… (except if I make that quick road trip to see my birth mom…)

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Wayne sent me a really cute text yesterday morning (the morning after Halloween). He said:

“Bouncing around TV, caught a bit of ‘Who Killed Teddy Bear,’ a 1965 psycho thriller starring Sal Mineo. He’s a pervy guy, one scene has him walking around Times Square, checking out dirty book stores. Prominently featured: Naked Lunch and Last Exit to Brooklyn.

Your literary tastes are timeless.”

I thought that was so cool, but it was a little unsettling to be reminded that, back then, those books that inspired me so much as a writer, were once considered highly taboo.

(In fact, when Masquerade Books first published my book Neptune & Surf, in 1999, Barnes & Noble refused to carry it because of one of the novellas in it, “Gianni’s Girl”. They eventually changed their mind after the reviews the book got in London. For several years after that, they carried every single one of my titles. Now we’re back to bookstores not carrying erotica at all…)

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Well, yesterday was a rough day with my favorite 95-year-old Japanese man.

I won’t go into the details, but he is really deteriorating, cognitively. I never know what I’m going to find now when I get to his house. All I can do at this point, is to keep showing up and keep doing my best to keep his mind engaged.

At least he’s still eating, so that’s good.

Today, I have my evening shift with the retired Minister and his lovely wife and cat. That’s usually relatively simple. We shall see.

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Meanwhile, I’m gonna enjoy my extra hour here.

Have a great Sunday, wherever you are in the world.

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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I posted this just the other day, but I’ll post it again, since it was the soundtrack for that cool dream I had last night!

“Lime Tree Arbour”, 1997, from the incredible album, The Boatman’s Call, by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds. Enjoy, gang.