And as luck would have it, today is also my great-grandmother’s Heavenly Birthday.

She was born in Arkansas in 1888. Her father was from Ireland and her mother was a Blackfoot Indian from Montana. How they all ended up in Arkansas, I do not know.

She was my birth dad’s maternal grandmother.

Her name, by the time she got married, was Lillie Louiza Queen Cordia Calihan Smith! (This photo of her has sat near my bed for the past 30 years. It was given to me by my Aunt Jo, my birth dad’s older sister.)

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Okay!

Yesterday was a big day!! The wonderful workmen were here for quite a few hours.

And now this has officially come into our lives:

Yes! Central Air-Conditioning! (You’ll notice we now have grass again and the snow is gone!!)

And if you read my post yesterday, it was exactly how I said it would be: I got the cats closed up in the upstairs bedrooms, got my laptop set up on the kitchen table, started working on getting the eBooks reformatted, and the AC guys arrived almost immediately, and then (!!) Sandra called and wanted to chat!!

It was too funny. Right in the middle of all that chaos.

But, wow, what a great chat we had, gang.

And then last evening, I subscribed to the streamer BET+ and watched the 2-part closing episodes of season 5 of “The Ms. Pat Show” and, wow, was it good.

Not only did Sandra do a great job, but I loved the whole show. I thought the writing was just really, really engaging. And very funny. I am definitely going to go back and watch the show from the beginning.

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Well, in honor of Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds’ album, Murder Ballads, turning 30 years old:

“To celebrate, a new range of Murder Ballads merchandise is now available at the official artist store, including new designs by illustrator Matthew Lineham on T-shirt and screenprint.”

I especially like the jigsaw puzzle! With all that blue, it looks like it could make you totally insane!! (Especially if you have about 17 cats trying to help you…)

You can visit the entire collection HERE.

And while you browse, you can listen to this! Not only one of my all-time favorite Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds’ videos, but it’s also from the album Murder Ballads, the hypnotizing “Stagger Lee”:

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Okay, here’s this.

As you probably know, Jesse Jackson has passed away. Of the many photos on Instagram honoring him, I really loved this one:

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And here are a few photos of David Jo!

From Phyllis Stein — David Johansen at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, 1973:

And David with Richard Hell at Max’s in NYC, 1976!!

And this — on the subway!

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And that is it because I gotta scoot!

It is Tuesday, so I will be stopping in at the Rural King to get cat food on my way to my clients house. I guess we shall soon see if ‘Wild Thing’ is working today!

Honestly, gang, I don’t know how old he actually is, and I don’t really think I’m old enough to be his grandmother, but I am absolutely 100% positively certain I have got to be older than his mom…. So, you know.

But there is just something about him that reminds me of all the things I loved about boys in 1974!! And for some weird reason, when I’m anywhere near him, I act about 14.

Okay! Have a terrific Tuesday, wherever you are in the world!!

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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In honor of Mardi Gras, I leave you with this!

A lovely song by Paul Simon, from his extremely popular album, There Goes Rhymin’ Simon, 1973 — “Take Me To the Mardi Gras”. Relax and enjoy, gang.

“Take Me To The Mardi Gras”

C’mon take me to the Mardi Gras
Where the people sing and play
Where the dancing is elite
And there’s music in the street
Both night and day

Hurry take me to the Mardi Gras
In the city of my dreams
You can legalize your lows
You can wear your summer clothes
In the New Orleans

And I will lay my burden down
Rest my head upon that shore
And when I wear that starry crown
I won’t be wanting anymore

Take your burdens to the Mardi Gras
Let the music wash your soul
You can mingle in the street
You can jingle to the beat
Of Jelly Roll

c -1 973 Paul Simon