Okay! Rejoice, Gang!

What a great phone conference I had with my accountant in NYC yesterday.

Any way that you look at it — and there are several ways to approach it, it turns out — I will be able to RETIRE early in 2026.

By retire, I mean from working a part-time job. I’m not planning on ever retiring from writing.

And even though I will have to live sort of frugally, I will still be able to take that “Tracking Jesus Tour” of the Holy Land with James Tabor’s group, when it is safe to go back over there. (This is my life’s dream, gang — to do that specific history/archeology tour about Jesus with James Tabor.)

And I will even be able to visit Prague, Berlin, and Alsenz at some point, too. Alsenz, in Germany, is where my ancestors were from–

The church in Alsenz where my ancestors were baptized, married, etc.

And of course, Prague is where Franz Kafka was from–

Where Kafka lived and wrote, from 1916-1917

And Berlin, just because I’ve always wanted to see Berlin.

Anyway.

I can’t tell you the profound relief I felt after that conversation with my accountant.

Even though I seriously doubt that my life will be “full of deadlines” ever again, like it was in the years before the lockdowns, it will still be such a blessing to be able to write again, every single day.

Even though it takes a lot of energy to deal with the many cats all day/every day — they are like having a tiny herd of cattle in the house at all times —

It’s nothing compared to the amount of emotional energy it takes to do the caregiving. It makes it nearly impossible for me to find enough energy to focus and write.

So!

Yay.

I will keep you posted.

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In other rejoicing news!!

Nick Cave’s Stranger Than Kindness art exhibit from a few years ago is now virtual — and FREE!!!

Visit this link to start the tour. (I’m not going to do it until later, when I can just relax!)

Today, I am meeting my friend, Steve, for lunch to catch up before the holidays. (Steve is the guy I’ve been friends with since we were both 11 years old.)

We’re going back to Three Tigers Brewing Co in Granville!

Once I get home from lunch, I’m going to take the virtual Nick Cave art tour!!

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In other Nick Cave news–

He sent out a very interesting Red Hand File this morning, wherein he answered a question about the song that helps him to feel genuinely joyful.

You can read about it here.

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Ross K. Nichols is one of the speakers in an upcoming online event:

Awaken the Christ Within Summit, a fully online event running:

December 3–9, 2025

If you register through the link below (FREE), you get immediate access to an interview with Ross:

“The Hidden Jesus–Moses Connection & The Moses Scroll: Was the Bible Edited?

A deep dive into the authentic Moses, the original Torah, the Josianic reform, and the surprising historical trail that led to my research on The Moses Scroll.”

Use THIS LINK

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How cool is this??

Just in, from Variety—

Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter ‘Waiting for Godot’ Revival Recoups $7.5 Million Investment (EXCLUSIVE)

“The Broadway revival of Samuel Beckett’s existential masterpiece “Waiting for Godot” has recouped its initial investment of $7.5 million in eight weeks. The show has been a hot ticket thanks to the pairing of “Bill & Ted” stars Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter. Jamie Lloyd, who oversaw recent revivals of “Sunset Boulevard” and “Evita,” directs the show. “Waiting for Godot” is the first production of the 2025-2026 season to make back its investment, a feat that’s growing rarer as producers struggle with the punishing economics of Broadway.”

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Last night, I watched the 2014 documentary on the late poet laureate, W. S. Merwin, “Even Though the Whole World is Burning“.

I enjoyed it, but it focused mostly on his work as an environmental activist, not as much on his poetry. But I’m still glad I finally saw it.

Official Trailer:

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And I think maybe that’s it for now! I gotta get ready for my lunch date with Steve!

Enjoy your Thursday, wherever you are in the world.

Oh, and you know what? I keep forgetting to thank you guys for continuing to purchase the Kindle edition of my beloved novel from 5 years ago — The Guitar Hero Goes Home. Thank you so much!! That novel means so much to me.

And here’s something that astounds me — even though I have kept this blog continuously (on varying blog sites) since 1997, this year I have already had more visitors to the blog than I’ve had in about 15 years. And the year is not over!!

Thank you so much for this — especially since it is more popular nowadays to have podcasts and not blogs. I really, really appreciate it.

Okay. Thanks for visiting!

I love you guys. See ya!

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I leave you with this!!

Yes! I’ve left you with this before!! But here it is again!

My traveling-back-home-from-town music from yesterday! It came up on my playlist and then I couldn’t stop hitting ‘repeat’.

Neil Diamond, “Sweet Caroline”. 1969. Enjoy, gang!! And rejoice.