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Alive in Cleveland

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The drive to Cleveland yesterday was awesome, gang. It was a 2 1/2-hour drive, but only the final half-hour was on a freeway. The rest of it was on backroads through incredible farmlands, rolling hills, trees, trees, trees, and a few ponds and streams. Cows, horses, Amish country, beautiful old barns, and old country churches.

Cleveland, of course, has changed enormously since my wee bonny girlhood, but this is not the first time I’ve been here since my wee bonny girlhood.

Btw— that splendid weather we were supposed to have did not materialize. It’s dismal and grey here, and luckily I remembered to bring a jacket because it’s a lot cooler than was expected, too.

I’m thinking that the Nick Cave concert tonight will be very good, and I’m hoping this will be true, because honestly, gang, I just want to get back into my car and go back to the country. Not only is it expensive here, but nothing around the hotel has any food that is organic or fresh from the farms. The food tastes terrible. And the people seem sort of gloomy. There are plenty of homeless people begging for money, etc. Like the old days back in NYC, but without the incredible energy of the old New York.

Last night, I went to the Cleveland Art Institute because I had a ticket to see the new documentary film, “Mutiny in Heaven,” about Nick Cave and his first band, The Birthday Party (an evolution of the band The Boys Next Door). Wow, was it depressing. Even though I could still relate to a lot of what was uplifting from that era of music — through most of the life-span of The Birthday Party, I was already in NYC, heavily involved in all the various genre of the music scene back then. But, Jesus. Most of what was in that film was just depressing and some of it was vile and nauseating. Plus, I love Rowland S. Howard and for me, his sad and sort of tragic death was haunting that whole film.

The most interesting part of the evening, though, was that the Uber I needed to take to the movie theater and back, cost me a whopping $100. Yes, to a theater (& back) that is only 4 miles from my hotel. If I had tried to drive there, find a place to park, and find my way back to my hotel I would have gotten hopelessly lost. So Uber it was.

One nice thing, though, both of the Uber drivers I had were really friendly and chatty. One was from Afghanistan and the other one was from Turkey. Both of them loved Cleveland, so that was nice.

Truthfully, if it weren’t for the fact that my grandparents are buried here, I would probably never come back to Cleveland. But Kara and I are already planning another day trip here (to the other side of Cleveland) to go visit my grandparents’ graves.

All right, I guess that’s it for now. Today I am doing nothing, really, except waiting for Nick Cave’s show because I am almost out of money. (Meaning, money that I loaded onto my debit card before I left home.) I’m planning to chat with Sandra today, to find out how rehearsals have been going in Toronto. And I think Valerie is calling from Brooklyn today, too. So that’s it.

Okay.

I hope you’re having a great Monday, wherever you are in the world.

Thanks for visiting. I love you guys. See ya!

Getting Ready for that Trip to Cleveland!

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The route I am taking to Cleveland tomorrow will be a brand new one for me, gang. All backroads and State Highways. It should be beautiful. The weather is supposed to be splendid. We shall see!

Nick Cave will be performing in what is now called the KeyBank State Theater (how lovely, right? Sounds straight out of the USSR). A long time ago, though — meaning, in my wee bonny girlhood — it used to be called the Cleveland Playhouse and it had a wonderful theatrical history. But now the whole surrounding area is called “Playhouse Square” and is a collection of several theaters.

Anyway, I have not been to this theater since my wee bonny girlhood — yes, when the USSR was pretty much only in the USSR. I was last in the Cleveland Playhouse with my grandmother, who was my favorite person on Earth and who has been gone a long, long time now. I’m sure my memories will feel overwhelming while I’m there.

Cleveland Playhouse. Now called “State Theater of the Union Republic”

If you’re in Washington DC right this very minute — Nick Cave is doing a book signing at 11AM at a bookshop called Politics and Prose, at 5015 Connecticut Ave NW.

Tonight he’s performing in DC, also, but it is already sold out.

Okay I’ve got stuff to do because I need to work at the train station tonight (and btw — that new cocktail that is named after me is kind of a big hit. See Thursday’s post). Mostly I just wanted to make sure you knew that Phil is planning to go live tonight at 8PM Eastern time.

Okay, I gotta scurry!

Enjoy your Saturday wherever you are in the world!

Thanks for visiting. I love you guys. See ya!

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I will most likely be playing this tomorrow…. my usual driving-for-a-long-time-on-a-sunny-day music! Tom Petty & the Heartbreaker’s live version of “Runnin’ Down A Dream”. (I miss you so much, Tom.) Okay. Enjoy!!

A Very Happy Friday, Gang!

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There is nothing to report today, except that it is Nick Cave’s birthday, today.

Happy, happy, happy!! It was 4 years ago, right around his birthday, that I last saw him in NYC.

Then there was this weird scamdemic thing that made almost everything on Earth feel like a bad dream.

However. That’s over.

Happy Birthday, Nick Cave! See ya real soon!!

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Oh wait, this was interesting–

Dan Bongino- The Global War On Free Speech Explodes (Ep. 2093) – 09/21/2023 (58 mins):

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And there’s this–

Ross and Jono – Nephilim: Angels on Earth? (1 hr 25 mins):

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Other than that, my new writing desk arrived!

It was simple to put together. It weighs almost nothing. The top is real wood. It is so basic and plain and compact — just what I was looking for in order to get back to journal writing, or to sit and make story notes, outlines, etc. — just to get away from the laptop for a little while each day.

The only “problem” is, Francis really loves sitting in the chair. She prefers it to the other chair in the dining room that is exactly like it; the one she used to love over all other chairs in the house for about the last 3 years…. so now I feel a little guilty because in order to sit at my new happy writing desk, I have to ask her to please move… (she’s not called “Mean Frannie McFee” for nothing.) Anyway:

All right!

Enjoy your Friday, wherever you are in the world!!

Thanks for visiting. I love you guys. See ya!

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Happy Birthday, Nick Cave!

Just Touching Base

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I thought this was curious indeed…more proof that the White Hats are in control.

From Disclose.tv — (bye-bye, baby, bye-bye):

“Rupert Murdoch to retire from Fox and News Corporation boards
Breaking news from around the world.

Also from Shadow of Ezra:

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If you are like me and got really tired of watching your little furry friends die too soon from cancer & everything else, and instead have switched to vitamins and supplements…

From Lee Dawson:

“To learn more on the specific natural alternatives that would be most helpful for your pet, watch the Pet Health Webinar replay on how there are better options that are treating pets and their parents better.[…]”

PetClub 247 (27 mins):

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Here in Ohio…. more signs of NESARA underway?

“Ohio lawmakers seek to freeze property taxes for older, middle-income homeowners”

[full article here]

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James Tabor announces a GREAT new course!

“This course has Ten Lectures, filmed in HiDef video. It comes with a hefty course pack of study notes and other resources–PDF readings, bonus videos, and lots more. I will also be doing monthly Zoom meetings with the students in this course beginning October 29th. These meetings are not Webinars, where you watch me talk, but a Zoom gathering of all who can “attend,” where we can talk, dialogue, address questions and issues, and continue to learn together.”

ALL details HERE.

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Tonight — Nick Cave is in Durham, NC. (Getting closer to Cleveland by the minute, gang.)

And tomorrow is his birthday! He will be 147 66 years old!!

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And that’s really it for today, gang.

Oh, but wait!! Here’s this!

The train station just launched a new cocktail!! (guess who created it??) (it’s just a little bit different from a regular espresso martini)

Okay, and that’s it.

Enjoy your Thursday, wherever you are in the world.

Thanks for visiting! I love you guys. See ya!!

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My driving-to-town music from yesterday! Enjoy!!

Where would she be…

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…without Instagram???

This photo was posted last night!! Rehearsals have begun at last, gang! (This is the production crew, the musicians, the director, and Sandra in the center.)

And while we’re at it–

This appears to be Johnny Depp, but he’s not smoking so we can’t be 100% certain…. (I love this photo!):

And here’s Keith in 1973!!

And this tour begins TODAY in Ashville, NC!!

And we’re celebrating THIS today!! Tender Prey, by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, was released 35 years ago this very day!! (I cannot believe I am getting so old!!)

(And that — pictured above– is only a fraction of the record albums I still own, although over the years, I gave away a couple thousand because I got so sick of having to pack them up and move them all over NYC.)

(And, yes, that is only a portion of the VHS movies I still own!! So many amazing memories. I cannot part with them. And the VCR has lasted longer than the DVD players do. I’ve replaced the DVD player 4 times…)

(Yes! I have such Hollywood classics as “The Philadelphia Story,” and “The Little Foxes“. And international classics such as, “The Bicycle Thief” (heartbreaking; Italy 1948), and “The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner.” (wonderful; UK 1962). A little known gem from 1990, “Tune In Tomorrow” (so funny!) and a 1993 masterpiece “Arizona Dream“. I basically forced anyone who came into our apartment that year to sit down, have a drink and watch that film. Everyone was equally amazed by it!)

All right, gang. That’s really all today.

I agreed to work the day shift tomorrow at the train station because they are short on help this week, so today is my BIG DAY OFF!! I’m going to get down to some writing here.

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

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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My driving-around-the-village music from yesterday!! Still fantastic!! Enjoy!!