I’m hoping to get to town and do the grocery shopping in between the 2 storms that are allegedly happening today.

We shall see.

Yesterday’s storm was unbelievable, gang — as far as the high winds. But, luckily, it didn’t last too long. Today, we’re not supposed to have terrible winds, just 2 pockets of heavy rain. Then SUN for the rest of the afternoon and evening.

The high winds are exhausting only because I have to gather all the flower pots and the stands and bring them onto the kitchen porch, otherwise they’ll sail away.

Then, of course, I have to put them all back out again once the storm is over.

Anyway! The neighbors all smile and wave when they see me moving everything around. I guess it’ll be that way all summer long.

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Here’s this!!

I’m reasonably sure that my old paradise apartment on E.12th Street in the East Village will be on this walking tour!! Although I’m not 100% sure about that…

LGBTQ History in the East Village (walking tour)

On June 18th — 6-8PM ($44.52 – per ticket):

In-person walking tour celebrating the history and lasting impact of the LGBTQ community on NYC's East Village.

Join experts from the award-winning NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project for an LGBTQ walking tour of the East Village. Learn how the neighborhood, shaped by economic forces, became home to some of the most influential LGBTQ artists, writers, activists, and clubs beginning in the 1950s.

Historically part of the Lower East Side, the East Village became a counter-cultural and avant-garde haven that included many LGBTQ figures, from poet Allen Ginsberg to drag queen Ethyl Eichelberger. Its affordable housing drew the likes of young lesbian activist Ellen Broidy, co-planner of the first NYC Pride March (1970), and gay "musical host" David Mancuso, whose egalitarian underground house parties influenced the city's club scene, including the Saint.

This 90-minute walking tour will begin in front of architect Louis Sullivan's Bayard-Condict Building, 67 Bleecker Street. Rain or shine.

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And don’t forget, tonight starting at 7PM Eastern Time, you can watch the Lambda Literary Awards live on YouTube:

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Okay, here’s this!

Most of the Stones, out somewhere in the 1980s!

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And Nick Cave sent out an interesting Red Hand File yesterday, regarding his thoughts on shame, and also a recommendation for a podcast!

Regarding shame, he says, in part:

“I recognise that many of my regrets stem from a time in my life that was reckless, irresponsible and chaotic, perhaps even dangerous. However, despite these wrongdoings, in many ways I am glad I lived those years outside normal societal constraints. That period gave me a great deal, precisely through the raw experience itself. I don’t say this in defiance, but because I believe there is a certain richness to life that can emerge even from its transgressions.…”

About the podcast, he says:

“…Mark Scarbrough’s “Walking with Dante” podcast – the slowest, maddest, most beautiful, most obsessive podcast in existence! Amazing! …”

You can find the podcast HERE.

You can read the Red Hand File in full, HERE.

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And speaking of podcasts…

I was finally able to have a long chat with my best friend Valerie in Brooklyn yesterday.

Things are actually a little bit better than I’d thought. She is only having surgery on one hand on Monday. Then, after that’s healed, they’ll do surgery on the other hand.

But she fully expects to be able to hold a can of beer get back to her painting and drawing when all that is over, and so our mini-podcast should eventually launch sometime this summer, gang. I will keep you posted!!

[Me — top right. Valerie — middle, bottom. Hanging with the gang in Brooklyn in the late 1980s.]

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Okay!!

Let’s close with more photos from the Bad Seeds’ Dublin show on Wednesday!! The band and fans alike, appeared to have had a fantastic time!

And here’s one from either backstage, or somewhere in Dublin:

And don’t forget, the Netherlands show is tomorrow night! You can buy tickets HERE!

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And that appears to be it for today, gang.

On the home front, Tommycakes is still eating, although she has the tiniest appetite, but at least she shows up in the kitchen at breakfast and eats. And I’ve seen her drink a little bit of water. But mostly, she just finds out-of-the-way places in the house to curl up in and sleep.

Okay.

According to the weather map, now there are NO storms predicted for today, so I guess I can get headed to town now.

Enjoy your Friday, wherever you are in the world.

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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In keeping with the situation–

Let’s close with this!!

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, onstage at Glastonbury in 1998! “Red Right Hand”. Enjoy, gang!!