That time of the month!

No, not THAT time of the month — I’m 65.9 years old…

It is, instead, that time of the month wherein my illustrious Social Security check arrives (you know, that retirement check that I can’t retire on…)

Anyway!

Today, I pay bills!! Yay.

But speaking of my lofty age–

Yesterday evening, I got a text from my beloved friend Kara:

She wanted to make a date for taking me out for my birthday!! Yay! So nice!!

In the event you are one of the few and the proud who are not glued to my Wikipedia page — I was born on July 22, 1960. So my birthday is coming up in a few weeks.

I’d been a wee bit disappointed to see that I was scheduled to work on my birthday, but since I hadn’t asked for it off, why would they give it to me??

But it’s one of those unique Wednesdays wherein I’ll be working with the retired Minister and his lovely wife and cat — usually they are my Sunday clients. So I decided to tell myself that it will be a nice way to celebrate my birthday, since I like them a whole lot.

However!! Going out to dinner with Kara after my shift is over is actually something I will like a WHOLE lot!!! So I am really looking forward to that. I have not seen Kara in months.

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Today is Day One of the new Rolling Stones podcast, Speaking In Tongues, to promote they’re upcoming new album, Foreign Tongues.

I have it cued up on Amazon, but you can choose your platform HERE.

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If you’re a member of the Alliance of Independent Authors, this afternoon, they are having what should be a very informative livestream: Sell More Books — Book Promotion Workshop

It will be about the current trends in independent book promotion. You have to be a member to log on, but the livestream is free if you’re a member.

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And also sometime today– I should hear from Valerie about the follow-up on her recent hand surgery (she’s getting the stitches removed this morning) and find out when she can schedule the next surgery. So far, she said the first surgery has given her full use of her hand again without any pain!! Yay!

So, here’s hoping she can get the surgery for her other hand scheduled right away. She says she still wants to aim for getting our mini-podcast launched sometime later this summer.

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I don’t know, but with all the above, plus yoga and washing my hair– seems like my day off today is fully booked.

I did stop in at the bookstore in Granville yesterday, but the woman I needed to speak to had the day off. So I still don’t know anything about whether or not I’m gonna do a book launch in town this September or not…

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Okay.

To all my readers in Europe, enduring the horrible heatwave, hang in there!! Stay hydrated and don’t forget to protect your pets from the heat, too.

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Here in the Hinterlands, we are supposed to have our July 4th fireworks celebration tomorrow night. (They don’t want to compete with the huge Red, White & Boom celebration that’s held in Columbus on the actual 4th.)

Our temperatures are actually great right now, but it is supposed to rain tomorrow. So I have no clue if tomorrow we will be celebrating “the 4th” or not.

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Okay.

Here’s this.

Another photo of Sid that I liked:

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And here are a couple of photos of Keith taken by Ken Regan:

Keith and Patti (and ponies):

Keith and Patti and Theodora, in NYC, 1985:

And I don’t know who took this photo, but it is classic Keith:

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And I’m guessing the heatwave in Europe is affecting all these outdoor music festivals. But everyone seems to be surviving.

Here’s a photo of Nick Cave at the Athens show:

Most of the stuff from the Athens show was either videos or really small images. So that’s my only “here’s this” for the Athens show.

Here’s the set list, though:

And tomorrow, they play Italy. You can buy tickets here!

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I think that’s actually it for now.

Gonna get the bills paid and then try to focus on writing something here today.

Have a merciful Thursday, wherever you are in this weather-warfare world.

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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Let’s close with this.

If you saw my post from yesterday, I mentioned Miss Collins, our music teacher when I was in elementary school in Cleveland in 1970, when I was 10 years old, and how cool she was!( Even though they fired her… she was a wee bit too radical for the tastes of the PTA.)

Anyway.

In addition to “Lola,” by the Kinks, here is another song that she played for us in class that I absolutely loved! (Talk about a teacher who made a lasting impression.)

From 1970, “If You Could Read My Mind,” by Gordon Lightfoot. Enjoy, gang.

“If You Could Read My Mind”

If I could read your mind, love
What a tale your thoughts could tell
Just like a paperback novel
The kind the drugstores sell
When you reach the part where the heartaches come
The hero would be me
But heroes often fail
And you won’t read that book again
Because the ending’s just too hard to take

I’d walk away like a movie star
Who gets burned in a three-way script
Enter number two
A movie queen to play the scene
Of bringing all the good things out in me
But for now love, let’s be real
I never thought I could act this way
And I’ve got to say that I just don’t get it
I don’t know where we went wrong
But the feeling’s gone and I just can’t get it back

If you could read my mind, love
What a tale my thoughts could tell
Just like an old-time movie
‘Bout a ghost from a wishin’ well
In a castle dark or a fortress strong
With chains upon my feet
But stories always end
And if you read between the lines
You’ll know that I’m just tryin’ to understand
The feelings that you lack
I never thought I could feel this way
And I’ve got to say that I just don’t get it
I don’t know where we went wrong
But the feeling’s gone and I just can’t get it back

c – 1970 Gordon Lightfoot