All righty! Happy Saturday!!

Okay, gang.

I did indeed wake-up this morning, and I am still here.

Why I am — is anyone’s guess, at this point.

But since I am still here, I’m going to try to make the best of this day.

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Yesterday afternoon, I did decide to at least put in an online application for that part-time job that appealed to me. We’ll see if they call me for an interview.

Mostly, I just want to be around people. Noisy people, even. People who aren’t dying. So we’ll see.

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And sadly–

I did finally get a chance to talk on the phone with my old school friend yesterday — the one that I’ve known since Jr. High School (1972), who reconnected with me on Facebook the other day.

It was very sad. She is now confined to a nursing home, waiting to be transferred to Assisted Living — none of it is really her choice. But she is very ill and it won’t get better. And her family made the decision for her.

I am going to try to visit her before I leave for North Carolina, but definitely as soon as I get back if I can’t get to Columbus this week.

If you live in the US and you’re on Medicare, I am 100% confident to share with you who handles my Long Term Care insurance, in case you want to look into them where you live:

Bankers Life

The more I see what friends go through as they age, at least out here in Ohio, the more grateful I am that an agent from the company found me when I turned 65. They are honest and they really help you make decisions that are based on the reality of your age, your income, and where you live.

Where you live is key for Medicare and Long Term Care insurance, gang.

A couple of older people I know here in Ohio switched over to Bankers Life, when they told me how unhappy they were with their insurance companies, and they were really glad they switched.

For my girlfriend who is now confined to a nursing home/Assisted Living, and forced to be on Medicaid, it is too late. At least here in Ohio, once you’re on Medicaid, they take everything from you and your life is as good as over; your freedom, gone.

So just, you know, find someone you really trust to help you make your Medicare plans.

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All righty!

Let’s try to get on a cheerier note!

Here’s this!!

I loved Hunter S. Thompson so much, gang. He was one of my very favorite writers. (And being a hardcore conspiracy theorist, I don’t believe he “committed suicide”…)

Anyway.

My dear (and now dearly departed) friend, Kent — the one who was a geologist and used to work for NASA, and who once told me, “Those rocks didn’t come from any moon!” — was the friend who first turned me on to Hunter’s work by giving me his copy of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas when we were 15.

I was familiar with Hunter’s name because I was an avid reader of Rolling Stone magazine back then. But this was the first book of Hunter’s that I read (and afterward, I proceeded to buy & read everything he wrote.)

And here’s something I loved: The one and only book that was ever stolen out of my apartment on E. 12th Street in NYC, was Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas!!

When I discovered it was missing (I don’t know who stole it, but people came and went constantly back then), I thought: “Wow! They really needed that book!”

I thought it was so cool! And I went out and bought another copy. And YES!!! Eventually, it got stolen, too! (What a great book! Everyone had to have it.)

But the 3rd time was the charm. Here’s my current copy:

And here’s the inside cover!!

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And speaking of Johnny Depp!!

(He did a fantastic job playing Hunter in the film version. I still have my VHS copy of the movie. Maybe I’ll re-watch it on the VCR later!)

Here’s this!

From Johnny’s production company IN.2 Records — Johnny plays guitar on at least one track.

The album The Great Behind, by Glenn Richards & the Venus Lakes will be released Oct. 9th 2026. Pre-order it HERE!

Glenn Richards & The Venus Lakes – 1990Never (Lyric Video):

Great song. I am already anticipating having it on my driving-to-town playlist!

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Okay!

If you thought I was just kidding when I posted recently that “tiny Richard Hell heads” used to be very popular….

Here’s Richard Hell!! With — you guessed it! Another “tiny Richard Hell head”!!

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And here’s Ric Ocasek, on a smoke break and leaning against a trailer!!

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Oh!

This was GREAT!!

I watched it during breakfast this morning. She really gives a thorough explanation about why any gospels concerning Mary Magdalene did not make it into what became the New Testament.

“…dive deep into the enigmatic and often misunderstood Gospel of Mary Magdalene with renowned scholar Dr. Elaine Pagels. In an episode that promises to challenge traditional narratives, Dr. Pagels sheds light on the mysterious texts that reveal a different side of one of Christianity’s most fascinating figures.”

Myth Vision — Mary’s Lost Gospel ROCKS Christianity! | Dr. Elaine Pagels (14 mins):

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And from Bad Seed George Vjestica yesterday!

(My answer was: May 2, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio, USA!)

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And as much as he said he is going to relax now, I’m afraid Nick Cave is going to have to go back on tour! Pronto! The photos are really getting to be slim-pickings!!

From Facebook:

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And, yes, that’s it!!

The other day, when I was supposed to go shopping at Kohl’s with my girlfriend — she had to cancel at the last minute. Her daughter had to work late and so my girlfriend had to pick up her grandson from football practice.

But she texted this morning, and we might try to meet up at Kohl’s this afternoon. It really has been such an intense week for me, gang. I could probably use a mindless sort of outing of shopping today — a sunny day, a good friend, a store that has happy memories for me.