Me and my new friend had such a great day yesterday, and by 8AM this morning, he sent me:
Wow. I have always LOVED that fucking song!! And this is the first time anyone has ever dedicated it to me. HUGE beaming-heart- smiley face going on over here, gang.
Also– yes, after spending about 4 hours together yesterday, we spoke again on the phone last night for 2 and a half more hours.
And he sort of stunned me by saying he wanted to try the Peony Bistro! (I had told him about how I go there once a week with my favorite nearly-95-year-old Japanese client, and so my friend looked it up on the Internet and wants to go.)
Anyway. He and I are going there for lunch on Saturday, after my shift. I’m guessing the staff there will be shocked to see me show up with a completely different person… and I’ll still be in my uniform, so I feel like I need to announce to the staff: “I’m not on the clock, I’m on a date!”
Okay! And on a similar note — yes, I’m having lunch with my client at the Peony Bistro today!! I guess my new home-away-from-home.
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All righty!
On an additional similar note – the Agency has kind of loaded up my schedule for the next couple of weeks. Yes, I always need the money, but jeepers!
This is why he and I are trying to fit in a date after my shift. I have something like one day off for the next 2 weeks. (Believe me, I would much rather NOT go out on a date in my uniform…)
And I still haven’t gotten the files I need from Sandra for the play, so I’m guessing they will arrive the very moment I have absolutely no time to think straight, but we shall see!
And it has sort of floated into my awareness, gang, that my new friend is a lot like Wayne (my ex-husband in NYC). And I mean, A LOT. I didn’t realize it at first, but the similarities keep arising. (This is, of course, a good thing, because I adore Wayne; he is one of my best friends.)
In fact, I had shown my new friend a photo from my wedding to Wayne — I can’t remember what we were talking about that made me show him that photo — and my friend said, “Wow, he looks just like I did back then.” (Over 30 years ago.)
And now that I’ve seen more photos of my friend from back in those days, he is absolutely right. He and Wayne looked a lot alike.
Hmmm….
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Well, okay. I don’t really have time to post anything else today except this!
Yes! Nick Cave’s Solo Tour with Colin Greenwood on bass resumes tonight in Norway — for 3 sold out shows. Then moves on to Latvia, for an additional 2 sold out shows! Yay!
As always, in lieu of actually being there, I look forward to what the shows are going to look (& sound) like on Instagram!
Meanwhile, here’s this, from back in Lucca, Italy:
And now I seriously gotta scoot!!
Have a wonder-filled Wednesday, wherever you are in the world!!
You perhaps recall that last Thursday, when I had my first lunch date with the eHarmony guy, it rained.
Not just rain, but a torrential downpour from pretty much the moment I stepped out of my car!
Today will be our second lunch date and the weather is gorgeous!! Yay!
Before lunch, we’re going to go over to Geller Park, because he’s never been there before:
And the park is literally only 2 minutes from where we’re having lunch:
And we might even stop in at my favorite health food store, because I need to pick up some stuff and he’s interested in checking out their CBD products:
You literally have to pass the health food store to get to Geller Park, so we shall see! And I warned my new friend that since all the gals who work at the store are good friends of mine, they will ALL be checking him out….
He was actually okay with it.
(BTW, he has given me permission to write about him now, but only sparingly and I can’t post any photos he sends me without asking him first. Yay.)
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So!
Yesterday, I thought I was texting my (birth) mom an update on my new eHarmony friend.
Unbeknownst to me, though, my brother (younger half-brother, Ronnie, that is) was sitting next to our mom’s phone and he texted me back!
It took me a while to figure out that I was texting my brother and not my mom– and he, of course, was “very concerned” that I was getting involved with a guy from an online dating site…
So that was fun — meaning, a little disturbing: Why is my mom suddenly getting freaked out about this? –until I figured out it was my brother I was texting and not my mom. (Ronnie has always been very protective of me.)
My brother Ronnie with Wayne, in Jackson, Ohio, over 30 years ago:
So far, gang, this new friend of mine has not done a single solitary suspicious thing. And even though I hadn’t used eHarmony in about 10 years or so, I have had a perfect track record with that dating site — I have always met nice people through it. And I believe it is continuing,
We shall see!
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Oh, and this is what I’m wearing today:
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Okay!!
Today is the 40th anniversary of the release of Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash, by The Pogues!!
Wow, what a great album, gang. After I bought that record and got blown away by it, I bought everything Shane MacGowan and The Pogues did after that. (And I cried for about a solid week after Shane Macgowan died back in 2023.)
What a great year for music in my little hellhole apartment on E.12th Street (in NYC). Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds. The Pogues. Iggy Pop. Tom Waits. And then early in 1986 — Gun-Shy by the Screaming Blue Messiahs — along with a lot of other great stuff!!
The Pogues’ fantastic cover of “Dirty Old Town”, 1985. Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash:
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Okay!!
Here’s this!!!
This was such a great novel!! I devoured it in just under 2 days — and it only took me 2 days because on the first day, my eyes finally gave out and I had to go to sleep.
The Death of Bunny Munro by Nick Cave. Here’s my copy of it just now:
And YES! The kittens are scratching up all that stuff I have taped to the side of my bookshelf!! And YES! I’m totally not happy about that…
And I bring this up, because of this from Sky TV! Yay!!
And also, here’s this. Nick Cave and Warren Ellis, apparently while composing the above-mentioned score:
And tomorrow — Nick Cave’s Solo Tour of Europe, with Colin Greenwood on bass, continues in Bergen Norway, for 3 sold out shows.
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Oh, and here’s something interesting!
Last night (yes, while talking to my new friend for another 3 hours on the phone), we discovered that we were at the very same Rolling Stones concert in Cleveland, in 1978 (the “Some Girls” tour). HE brought this up — I didn’t!
AND we were both kinda close to the stage.
AND we were both really kinda disgusted with the crowd that day. Aggressive, hostile. A really bad vibe. I rarely even think of that concert, even though the Stones were great. But the crowd ruined it that day.
Me and my new friend at the Rolling Stones concert in Cleveland, 1978!
AND —
When I mentioned something last night about loving Keith and Ronnie, my new friend said (I swear he said this): “Keith Richards was my favorite. I loved that guy. I wanted to be like him.”
I refrained from what I could have said about loving Keith Richards. I figure if the friendship pans out, he will find out soon enough how I really feel about Keith Richards!!
Keith in Cleveland, 1978:
So. Kinda ironic, right? We were both in the same vicinity of the stage, in Cleveland on July 6th 1978. Me, loving Keith Richards, and my future friend wanting to BE Keith Richards!
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All righty!
I better scoot!! I gotta get to town to meet my new friend for lunch! And a walk in the park. And possibly a stop for health supplements!
Have a terrific Tuesday, wherever you are in the world!
Thanks for visiting!
I love you guys. See ya!
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I leave you with this!
One of the many great songs from the Stones’ Some Girls album, summer 1978. (I received the album as a graduation gift from a couple of girlfriends, since I graduated high school on June 10th 1978.)
A mere 2 years later, I was living in NYC and discovering how absolutely TRUE this song really was!!! It totally captured NYC back then.
“Shattered”, 1978. The Rolling Stones. Enjoy, gang!
“Shattered”
Uh huh shattered, uh huh shattered Love and hope and sex and dreams Are still surviving on the street Look at me, I’m in tatters I been shattered Shattered
Friends are so alarming And my lover’s never charming Life’s just a cocktail party on the street Big Apple, people dressed in plastic bags, directing traffic (Shadoobie, shattered) Some kind of fashion (Shadoobie, shattered)
Laughter, joy, and loneliness and sex and sex and sex and sex Look at me, I’m in tatters I been shattered Shattered
All this chitter-chatter, chitter-chatter, chitter-chatter about Shmatta, shmatta, shmatta, I can’t give it away on 7th Avenue This town’s been wearing tatters, uh huh (Shadoobie, shattered) Work and work for love and sex Ain’t you hungry for success, success, success, success Does it matter? (Shattered)
Does it matter?
Ahhh, look at me, I’m a shattered I’m a shattered Look at me, I’m a shattered, yeah
Pride and joy and greed and sex That’s what makes that town the best Pride and joy and dirty dreams and still surviving on the street (shattered) And look at me, I’m in tatters, yeah (shattered)
I’m in tatters, what does it matter (shattered) Does it matter, uh-huh (shattered) Does it matter? Uh-huh I’m shattered Mm-mm, I’m shattered
Don’t you know the crime rate’s going up, up, up, up, up? (Shadoobie, shattered) To live in this town you must be tough, tough, tough, tough, tough, tough, tough (Shadoobie, shattered) (Shadoobie, shattered, shattered)
We’ve got rats on the west side, bed bugs uptown (Shadoobie, shattered) What a mess, this town’s in tatters, I’ve been shattered (Shadoobie, shattered) My brain’s been battered, splattered all over Manhattan (Shadoobie, shattered)
Shadoobie, shattered, shattered What I say? Shadoobie, shattered Shadoobie, shattered Shadoobie, shattered
This town’s full of money grabbers (Shadoobie, shattered) Go ahead, bite the Big Apple, don’t mind the maggots, uh-huh (Shadoobie, shattered) (Shadoobie, shattered)
Shadoobie, my brain’s been battered (Shadoobie, shattered, shattered) My friends they come around, they flatter, flatter, flatter, flatter, flatter, flatter, flatter (Shadoobie, shattered) (Shadoobie, shattered) Pile it up, pile it up, pile it high on the platter (Shadoobie, shattered, shattered)
I just got back from the post office, where I mailed off my 50-page (!!) home improvement loan application to the USDA RD!!
Now all I gotta do is WAIT.
But, however it plays out, I just feel really great that I got that done. And for your viewing pleasure!! Here’s an idea of what my basement stairs currently look like. (Keep in mind the house is 126 years old and those stairs are ancient!!)
The 2 bottom steps have already broken through. This is why I always put off to the absolute very last possible minute, going down there each fall & winter to change out the furnace filter:
Stairs to my basement, AKA Spider Heaven.
Even if they don’t approve my loan for some reason, I’m still going to somehow get those stairs fixed.
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Okay!
Wow. Another great day here in the Hinterlands.
And I slept in again because — YES! — I was chatting on the phone last night with my new friend for about 2 and a half hours — even after I’d worked a double. So it was kind of late (for me) when I finally managed to say: “Okay. Sweet Dreams, goodnight.”
But what a great time we always have on the phone!!
And he sent me the BEST photo! But he made me absolutely swear I would not post it anywhere on social media. But, wow, I loved it!!
It’s his Senior picture from when he graduated high school (in Columbus, 1976, I think.). He looks like such an angel. Omg. It’s too cute.
When you see him nowadays, “angel” probably wouldn’t be the first word that would pop into your head. He’s been around a little since that photo was taken. But in his soul, he is so kind, and considerate, and sweet, and he loves to laugh.
But he’s also a walking testament to the 2nd Amendment (concealed carry), so you probably wouldn’t want to “go ahead and make his day”…
And tomorrow we have our second lunch date, and I can’t wait.
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Okay.
So I heard from Sandra. She and her husband took an impromptu vacation over the weekend. So the files I need for the play updates probably won’t get here until later today. Which means — yes! — I get to work on the novel today. Yay! Finally.
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Okay!
Here’s another photo I fucking loved! For different reasons. From Instagram yesterday.
And we still have to wait 2 more days until Nick Cave and Colin Greenwood take the stage in Norway! For 3 consecutive sold out shows.
Nick Cave, waiting for something on the couch (possibly an ashtray but I’m not completely certain), about 30 years ago…
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If you follow Phil, he is planning to be live tonight at 8PM eastern. Check here later to confirm. (I sure hope he does because so much amazing stuff is going on out there right now and I would love it if he could finally confirm it! We’ll see.)
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I think that’s actually it for now.
Enjoy your Monday, wherever you are in the world.
Thanks for visiting.
I love you guys. See ya!
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I leave you with this!
I’ve posted it here before, but here it is again, for your listening pleasure!
Dennis Edwards, w/Seidah Garrett, “Don’t Look Any Further”, 1984. Enjoy, gang!!!!
“Don’t Look Any Further” (feat. Siedah Garrett)
Someone to count on in a world ever changing Here I am, stop where you standing What you need is a lover, a man to take over Oh, girl, don’t look any further Strange when you think of the chances That we’ve both been in a state of mind Too cool to be careless, looking for the right thing Oh baby, don’t look any further
(Tonight) Tonight we’re gonna taste a little paradise (Rocking all night long) Rocking all night long (Daylight) Daylight, I’ll still be looking in your ebony eyes And we’ll go on and on and on (Go on and on and on)
Day o umba day o mambu ji ay o yeah Don’t look any further (Don’t you look no further) Day o umba day o nam bu ji ay o yeah Don’t look any further
Someone to count on (Someone to count on) In a world ever changing (Mmm-hmm…) Here I am, stop where you standing, baby What you need is a lover (You need a lover) To love you all over (Love you all over) Oh baby, don’t you look any further, further
Don’t look any further Don’t look any further
(Tonight) Tonight we’re gonna taste a little paradise (Rock you all night long) Won’t you rock me all night long (Daylight) Daylight, I’ll still be looking in your ebony eyes And we’ll go on and on and on and on
Day o umba day o mambu ji ay o Don’t look any further, don’t you look no further Day o umba day o na jam bay um bay o yeah Don’t look any further Day o umba day o mambu ji ay o Don’t look any further, don’t you look no further(further) Day o umba day o na jam bay um bay o Don’t look any further, further Day o umba day o mambu ji ay o Don’t look any further, don’t you look no further Day o umba day o na jam bay um bay o yaeh Don’t look any further
c- 1984 Dennis Lambert, Francine Vicki Golde, Duane S. Hitchings
This will be a quick post because I have to work a double today and I slept in a little here this morning.
Yesterday went differently than I had planned — I forgot that I needed to get all the final paperwork together for the home improvement loan application, so that I can mail it off Monday morning.
So that’s what I did for most of the day, instead of work on the novel, but at least it’s all done and I can mail it out tomorrow morning. And I did yoga yesterday and also took a walk — what a gorgeous afternoon it was!
And today is beautiful again, too. The drive to town is going to be wonderful!
I want to make a quick stop at the store to buy a token gift for the retired Minister. I’m seeing him and his wife later today, and tomorrow is his birthday. So I just want to find him something simple but faith-related.
Anyway!
Last night, my new friend and I chatted again for 3 hours. And we decided that on Tuesday, we’re going to have another lunch date!! So, that’s exciting. We will probably be going here:
I will keep you posted!!
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Okay. Here’s this!
Ross K. Nichols – Who Killed the Prophets? (1 hr):
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Meanwhile–
August 1st was Jim Carroll’s heavenly birthday. So here’s this–
Two of my all-time favorite heroes in one photo together! Keith Richards and Jim Carroll on stage in NYC, around 1980-81 — and, yes, Jim was really tall.
And FYI — Keith was instrumental in getting Jim a record deal with Atlantic Records, although Keith had been hoping to get him a deal on Rolling Stones Records! Anyway. Here they are– Happy Heavenly Birthday, Jim!
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And here’s this!
Keith and his legendary snake skin boots!
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And here’s this!!
While we wait 3 more days for Nick Cave and Colin Greenwood to take the stage in Norway–
Nick Cave in Berlin. I’m thinking this is close to 40 (!!) years ago now. I never get tired of looking at these photos from his room back then:
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And that is it! I gotta scoot!
Have a great Sunday, wherever you are in the world!
Thanks for visiting.
I love you guys. See ya!
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I leave you with this gem!
Classic Johnny Cash, “I Walk the Line”. 1956. Enjoy, gang!
“I Walk The Line”
I keep a close watch on this heart of mine I keep my eyes wide open all the time I keep the ends out for the tie that binds Because you’re mine, I walk the line
I find it very, very easy to be true I find myself alone when each day is through Yes, I’ll admit that I’m a fool for you Because you’re mine, I walk the line
As sure as night is dark and day is light I keep you on my mind both day and night And happiness I’ve known proves that it’s right Because you’re mine, I walk the line
You’ve got a way to keep me on your side You give me cause for love that I can’t hide For you I know I’d even try to turn the tide Because you’re mine, I walk the line
I keep a close watch on this heart of mine I keep my eyes wide open all the time I keep the ends out for the tie that binds Because you’re mine, I walk the line
Really kind of unbelievable, how beautiful the morning is around here. (Oh, and if you’re curious, and if you know the lyrics to the song “Oh What a Beautiful Morning” — the corn is indeed as high as an elephant’s eye here in Crazeysburg!) (Our town is pretty much surrounded by cornfields.)
Okay.
A beautiful day.
And I have the whole day off — and Sandra still hasn’t sent me the files I need to get back to work on the play. That’s frustrating, of course, but also — it means I don’t have anything else that I actually have to DO!!
Yay!
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On a sadder note–
The legendary accordionist, Flaco Jiménez, has passed away. He played with many, many Country and Tejano musicians over the decades and had his own solo career, too, but I will always remember him best as part of the equally legendary Texas Tornados!
Wow, what a great band they were!! Wayne and I saw them play live in a small club in NYC, over 30 years ago. What a great memory. And then we played their CDs in the car constantly, on our road trip across the country on our honeymoon.
Here’s one of my favorite songs of theirs that heavily features Flaco– “Is Anybody Goin’ to San Antone?” 1991. RIP, Flaco.
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On a similar note–
On this day in 1997, one of my all-time favorite writers and inspirations also passed away.
Realizing that this morning, caused me to sort of drop everything and dig out all his old paperbacks that have followed me through every apartment and every house for the last 40 years.
So here’s this! I bought this paperback (new) in NYC, back in 1983! I remember reading this on the subway, and in my hellhole apartment on E. 12th Street, like it was yesterday:
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Okay.
I loved this! From Charlie Ward’s newsletter this morning:
“A groundbreaking new study has revealed that the human brain emits a faint glow—known as ultra-weak photon emission (UPE)—that may be closely tied to our mental state, and possibly even to deeper bioenergetic phenomena like vibration and frequency.
Researchers from Algoma University and Tufts University placed participants in total darkness and used photon detectors and EEG to measure the brain’s natural light. The occipital region, responsible for vision, glowed most during eyes-closed states, with photon activity fluctuating in tandem with neural rhythms, particularly in low-frequency brain waves.
Though invisible to the eye, these light emissions suggest the brain is radiating energy that could reflect its internal processes. This energy pulse—waxing and waning at sub-hertz frequencies—has drawn attention for its possible links to vibrational medicine, frequency-based healing, and even auras, which some traditions describe as subtle light fields around living beings….”
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Another great video from James Tabor–
“…the thousands of followers of Jesus who fled across the Jordan from Jerusalem, just north of the Dead Sea, in the year 66 CE, to escape into the Decapolis area south of Pella. James the Just, eldest surviving brother of Jesus had been brutally murdered in 63 CE by Annas, son of Annas, of the Mafia High Priesthood that also had instigated the murder of Jesus. Simon his brother took over the leadership of the movement. This flight is mentioned in Mark 13:14-20 and Revelation 12:13-17, and reported by Eusebius, Church History Ecclesiastical History (Book 3. 5.3) and Epiphanius, Panarion (29.7.7–8 and 30.2.7). They settled in the general region of Beroea near Coele-Syria and in the Decapolis near Pella, and remained there into the 2nd and 3rd centuries, and scattered south as far as Arabia over the next few centuries. Remnants of the group, including Simon and other Desposuynai, or members of the extended Jesus family, returned to Jerusalem around 73 CE and rebuilt the “Synagogue of the Apostles” on Mt Zion, as Bargil Pixner has documented….”
The Ebionites: Heretics or Original Followers of Jesus? (18 mins):
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And–
As we continue to wait for the return of Nick Cave and Colin Greenwood’s Solo Tour in Norway in 4 days!!
Here’s this!
Nick Cave, waiting for something in bed, about 30 years ago…
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On the Home Improvement front–
All the quotes are in from the various contractors, and now all I need to do is print everything out and then mail it to my local USDA RD office , and then wait and see!!
These specific loans are incredible, gang, because they are only available to people over age 62, with low incomes, who live in certain rural areas. The interest rates on the 20-year loans are close to zero.
My currently 126-year-old home, about 6 years ago, when my beloved maple tree still existed:
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Okay.
Yes! On the eHarmony front!
It seems like we have our first “song”! (As in “they’re playing our song”!!)
We both realized the song completely captures what’s going on with us and it left us both a little dumbfounded.
“Hello Sunshine”. 2019, Bruce Springsteen. We have both been playing it like crazy since yesterday:
“Hello Sunshine”
Had enough of heartbreak and pain I had a little sweet spot for the rain For the rain and skies of grey Hello sunshine, won’t you stay?
You know I always liked my walking shoes But you can get a little too fond of the blues You walk too far, you walk away Hello sunshine, won’t you stay?
You know I always loved a lonely town Those empty streets, no one around You fall in love with lonely, you end up that way Hello sunshine, won’t you stay?
You know I always liked that empty road No place to be and miles to go But miles to go is miles away Hello sunshine, won’t you stay?
And miles to go is miles away Hello sunshine, won’t you stay? Hello sunshine, won’t you stay? Hello sunshine
c – 2019 Bruce Springsteen
And — YES! — I have permission to post this!!!
I mentioned the “Desperado” tattoo early on, and here it is (and, yes, you can’t really see him too well, but that’s him):
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And I’m thinking that’s probably it for now.
I’m going to work on the novel until I hear from Sandra.
Enjoy your Saturday, wherever you are in the world!
Thanks for visiting.
I love you guys. See ya!
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I leave you with another great one from Flaco Jiménez and the Texas Tornados!!
“Who Were You Thinkin’ Of?”, 1990. Really fun! Enjoy, gang!
“Who Were You Thinkin’ Of?”
Who were you thinkin’ of When we were makin’ love Last night? Was it a good-lookin’ stranger Or a close friend of mine?
You didn’t wanna quit When we was into it Last night Who were you thinkin’ of When we were lovin’ last night?
Who were you thinkin’ of When I was makin’ love To you? There was a smile on your face I ain’t seen in some time
You got more out of it Than I put into it Last night Who were you thinkin’ of When we were lovin’ last night?
Who were you thinkin’ of When we were makin’ love Last night? There was a smile on your face I ain’t seen in some time
You didn’t wanna quit When we was into it Last night Who were you thinkin’ of When we were lovin’ last night?
Who were you thinkin’ of When we were makin’ love Last night? Was it a good-lookin’ stranger Or a close friend of mine?
You didn’t wanna quit When we was into it Last night Who were you thinkin’ of When we were lovin’ last night? Who were you thinkin’ of When we were lovin’ last night?
Wow, gang. What a great night’s sleep I had here. No AC. Not even any fans. I even had to close some of the windows because it got chilly! Yay!
And this morning — the sun is shining and it will only be a high of 78 degrees. And it’s supposed to stay this way for the next few days.
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I have a weird schedule this weekend. A double shift today and a double shift on Sunday, but I have all of Saturday OFF. And I will spend that working on updates to our play, “The Guide to Being Fabulous”!!
And the sooner I can get the updates on the play finished and sent back over to Sandra, the sooner I get to have another date with my eHarmony guy! Yay!
I’m not sure when I’m going to stop calling him my eHarmony guy and give him a name. I guess we’ll find out. But for now, gang…
Wow, yesterday was perfect. Even though the minute I arrived at Tequilaville, the sky let loose with a torrential downpour. And for some mysterious reason, every single parking spot in front of the restaurant was already taken — even though it was only noon. It usually doesn’t get busy there until later.
So, yes, I had to park in the side parking lot. And yes, I was wearing a sundress and flipflops, but I also had a little denim jacket on and I had an umbrella, so my feet got really wet, but that was the worst of it.
And my friend was already there, waiting for me, staying dry under the roof overhang. And he had brought me a FLOWER!!! Picked from his property.
Loyal readers of this lofty blog no doubt recall how much I love flowers. So, that right there — greeting me with a flower when he doesn’t even know yet how much I love flowers — made me so happy.
We really had the best time. We were at the restaurant for 2 hours. And then, since it was raining and we couldn’t go to the park, we went to the local mall instead, and sat inside and talked for another hour and a half — and then walked around inside the mall a little bit, holding hands.
Is that too cool???
And everyone was sort of smiling at us — you know: Look at those cute old people. But, honestly — emotionally –it was truly like we were teenagers again. (And teenagers from the 1970s, no less!) It was just so perfect.
And then he had errands to run in town. And I had errands to run in town. So we said our farewells (and kissed (!!) goodbye in the parking lot).
And, YES! We spent last evening talking for 3 more hours on the phone!
“On July 21, Copyright Alliance CEO Keith Kupferschmid had an opinion piece published in DC Journal, titled A “Win-Win-Win” Path for AI, as part of our AI and Copyright campaign. In the piece, Kupferschmid dispels a number of false narratives that are being perpetuated by tech fear mongers, including the notion that AI will only win if IP and copyright protections no longer exist…”
“”The United States has a long and storied tradition of strong protections for intellectual property. These protections have led the United States to dominate the world in technological and cultural progress … AI developers insist that licensing is impossible given the enormous volume of copyright works they seek to use, but that claim doesn’t hold up to scrutiny. Most of the big AI companies already license a vast volume of creative works for their consumers, and digital markets for music, books, films, and television programming are robust and mature … Contrary to claims that these AI training deals are impossible to make at scale, a robust free market is already emerging in which hundreds (if not thousands) of licensed deals between AI companies and copyright owners have been reached…”
Here’s Freddie this morning! The kittens are now 4 months old.
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Okay.
There’s still another week before Nick Cave and Colin Greenwood resume the Solo Tour of Europe, so here’s THIS while we wait!!
Nick Cave, waiting for something, 30 years ago…
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Oh, and here’s this!!
George Harrison in London in 1970!
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All righty!!
The Summer Sale over at Smashwords is officially over now, and I want to say thank you, again, to all of you who downloaded my eBooks that are published over there.
Also, just a head’s up– the cost of printing paperback and hardcover books over at LULU.com has increased, so the prices of all of my print titles published at LULU.com have officially gone up today. Sorry about that, gang!
Prices of eBooks remain the same, though.
[Also, please remember that if you search for any of my books at either site, you have to click that you want to be shown explicit content, otherwise some of the books won’t come up.]
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And I’m thinking that’s it for now, gang.
Have a fantastic Friday, wherever you are in the world!
Thanks for visiting.
I love you guys. See ya!
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Okay! Here’s this!!
I’ve posted it before, but here it is again! (Yes, okay, it’s for my new friend. Rumor has it that he sort of likes this song…)
From the fabulous 1970s! Neil Young’s classic, “Heart of Gold”, 1972.
Enjoy, gang.
“Heart Of Gold”
I want to live I want to give I’ve been a miner for a heart of gold It’s these expressions I never give That keep me searching for a heart of gold
And I’m getting old Keep me searching for a heart of gold And I’m getting old
I’ve been to Hollywood I’ve been to Redwood I crossed the ocean for a heart of gold I’ve been in my mind It’s such a fine line That keeps me searching for a heart of gold
And I’m getting old Keeps me searching for a heart of gold And I’m getting old
Keep me searching for a heart of gold You keep me searching and I’m growing old Keep me searching for a heart of gold I’ve been a miner for a heart of gold
I’m leaving to meet the eHarmony guy for lunch in 2 hours. (And I have been awake & out of bed for 4 hours already.)
We are both a little anxious, of course, since we can’t help but get our hopes up after something like 16 and a half hours of phone conversations over the space of one week .
But we both agree that, at the very least, we are already friends.
It’s overcast here and maybe going to rain, like, ALL day. But at least the temperatures have dropped. It’s not going to get higher than 77 degrees Fahrenheit!!
And that right there means that BOTH of us will be able to drink THINK! Yay!!
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That’s really all that’s going on here, gang. It has been such a long time since I’ve been out on a bona fide date. Not a hook-up. And an actual date with someone I didn’t know beforehand — wow, that’s been something like almost 20 years.
It feels so cool. Plus the stuff that he and I have already talked about — there is just something about him that has felt like a sort of homecoming for my soul. Just because we have so much in common — the way we look at life.
(Plus, he’s a fan of reruns of “The Waltons”. If you are a long-time reader of this lofty blog then you know how fucking amazing that is to me. My favorite show of all time — that show literally helped me survive my intensely unhappy family life in the 1970s.)
“Good night, John Boy…”
So it’s just been a great feeling — our conversations. On so many levels. The past feels like it has the potential to completely heal.
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And that’s really all I’ve got for now.
Have a great Thursday, wherever you are in the world.
Thanks for visiting!
I love you guys. See ya!
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I leave you with this!!
Life right this minute, and also back in 1973. Jackson Browne, “Red Neck Friend”. From his album, For Everyman. Enjoy, gang.
“Red Neck Friend”
Pretty little one How has it all begun? They’re teaching you how to walk But you’re already on the run Little one- What you gonna do? Little one- Honey, it’s all up to you
Now your daddy’s in the den shootin’ up the evening news Mama’s with a friend, lately she’s been so confused Little one- Come on and take my hand I may not have the answer but I believe I got a plan
Honey you shake and I’ll rattle and we’ll roll on down the line And see if we can’t get in touch with a very close friend of mine But let me clue you in, it ain’t like him To argue or pretend- Honey let me introduce you to my redneck friend
Well they’ve got a little list of all those things of which they don’t approve They’ve got to keep their eyes on you or you might make your move Little one- I really wish you would Little one- I think the damage would do you good
Honey you shake and I’ll rattle and we’ll roll on down the line We’re going to forget all about the battle It’s gonna feel so fine ‘Cause he’s the missing link, the kitchen sink- Eleven on a scale of ten Honey let me introduce you to my redneck friend
Honey you shake and I’ll rattle and we’ll roll on down the line I’m going to try to swing you up into my saddle And then we’ll run but you’ll think we’re flyin’ Now honey don’t just stand there Lookin’ like this dream will never end Honey let me introduce you to my redneck friend
I tell you, gang, 2 days off in a row and I feel like I never want to work again….
To think that for something like 15 years, all I had to do each day was sit at my desk and write. I miss those days. Those heady deadlines.
However.
Back at it!
My favorite nearly-95-year-old Japanese client and I will be heading out for sushi and sashimi today. And I’m sure we will have great conversations. Laugh a lot. Revisit his amazing past a lot. And have a pretty great day. So, once again, I can’t really complain!
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Then I’ll head home, have my dinner while watching wonderfully silly reruns of” Frazier”, take my shower, head into the air-conditioned bedroom — and probably talk all evening on the phone with the eHarmony guy!
We chatted for 3 1/2 hours last night!
And it’s not like we ever have a moment of awkward silence or anything. We just talk on and on and on, and it’s been like that since the very first time we talked on the phone!
So here’s hoping, gang.
Tomorrow of course is the big day — we meet in person. We’ll have lunch at the glamorous Tequilaville. And if lunch goes well, we plan to take a walk in the park. Weather permitting.
I know I’m not allowed to write about him, but I’m guessing it’s okay to say that, even while he and I have had completely different types of lives, when we were both teenagers (we’re practically the same age), we lived in Columbus. So we have so many cultural memories in common from back then. And that feels so cool. I am so accustomed to being around people that I literally have nothing in common with from the past.
Okay. So I better stop right there before I start “writing about him”!!
Me, not writing about him!
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Wow, okay!
So yesterday — the Nick Cave and the AI thing was all over Instagram. And almost everyone was just as opinionated as I was, for the most part.
But what I forgot to say in my post yesterday — even though I linked to the Red Hand Files, I didn’t mention that Nick Cave’s post was about having a different perspective now — regarding AI images, at least — after seeing what his friend had done with the “Tupelo” AI video. (You can read it in full here.)
A few people on Instagram were actually really nasty about Nick changing his mind about (perspective on) AI. There are always those few who, no matter what topic Nick is writing about — they just go for his throat.
At that point, I always click the handy “unfollow” button!! (I am so totally NOT impartial when it comes to Nick Cave…)
Anyway!
This was really cool! The original lyrics to “Tupelo”, posted yesterday by RossAWaterman:
And here’s another photo from Arles, when Nick received his literary medal:
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And on a totally different topic!
I’m still awaiting one final quote regarding the home improvement loan, but I got the carpenter’s quote last night and, if for any reason, I can’t get the loan until next year, his quote was actually affordable so I might pay for it out of my own pocket — fixing the very ancient and very-giving-way-now basement stairs. In an effort to avoid THIS some day soon (wouldn’t be my best look, even if I were wearing a sundress!):
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Okay.
Just a reminder that tomorrow is the final day of the Smashwords Summer Sale.
You can download 4 of my older eBooks for free. The details & links are on my substack page HERE. (Adults ONLY.)
And another huge thank you to all of you who have already downloaded them!!
And don’t forget that since my books and eBooks are no longer in one handy place on the internet, you can always visit MarilynsRoomBooks. The prices might not be up-to-date all the time, but the links are.
And don’t forget!! If you need a deck of playing cards, my “1954 Powder Blue Pickup ” cards are really, really cool!!! Yay.
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All righty!
That’s it for now. I have time for one more cup of coffee before I gotta scoot.
Have a wonder-filled Wednesday, wherever you are in the world!
Thanks for visiting.
I love you guys. See ya!
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Am I allowed to post this?? Hmmm….
“Someone” sent this video to me yesterday and, wow, I just LOVED it!!
This time, it wasn’t because I went back to sleep after breakfast –tempting as the idea was.
However.
MANY kittens and a couple of cats saw to it that “going back to sleep” was merely a pipe dream… (if I can sort of delightfully mix metaphors there and include opium in the heady mix!) (pipe dream — smoking opium, etc.)
Mainly, though, I took a walk over to the post office to collect a registered letter that contained belated birthday wishes AND cash money!!! Yay!!! “Happy Birthday”, indeed!
But I am here now!
And I have no more contractors coming. I am waiting on 2 remaining price quotes to be emailed to me, then I can mail the whole application off to my local USDA RD office and hope that they haven’t already run out of money for the season. We shall see, gang!!
I’m not asking for much, but the few things I do want fixed around here would really upgrade the safety of this beautiful old house.
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All right. Well.
YES! On the eHarmony front —
We talked for THREE hours last night. And I’m guessing we could have talked on and on, if it weren’t for the fact that I now, more than ever, need my beauty sleep!!
Because we ARE, indeed, meeting for lunch on Thursday. And I’d like to look a little bit better than in this memorable photo!
(Me, in my hotel room bed in NYC, 3 weeks ago, at 5:03 AM) (And ditching the nightgown and wearing a sundress instead will likely be a big help!) (Oh! I might comb my hair, too!)
And in case you’re wondering where we’re meeting for lunch…
YES! Why wouldn’t we meet here? I always wanna go here!
The super glamorous Tequilaville!!
Even though I like the food at Tequilaville — only because it’s better than any other Mexican restaurant I’ve tried around here (which qualifies as “damning with faint praise”) — it turns out that my new friend lived in Texas for 3 years… so. You know. No comparison to Texas Mexican food. But, well, we’re a long way from Texas. We gotta make do with what we have out here in the Hinterlands.
(I know, I know. That’s kinda like “writing about him” which I’m not supposed to do…)
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Okay.
New topic!
A brief excerpt from a recent interview with James Tabor.
And this is the very topic (or quest, as it were) that caused me to decide to continue studying Jesus the man, rather than pursuing a congregation of my own after I graduated from Divinity School and became an ordained minister.
How Historical Methods Get us Closer to the Real Jesus (8 mins):
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I’m making some little strides here with The Curse of Our Profound Disorder, but I’m at a point where a few very important storylines come to a resolution (and the novel itself comes to a close), so it takes an unbelievable amount of concentration.
Thank God, yet again, for that AC, gang. At least I can think. Slow as the process currently is. (I hope I don’t get to the final paragraph and then discover that I need another 26 years to properly finish it….)
Apparently it is FORTY YEARS (!!) since the amazing masterpiece, “Tupelo”, was released by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds.
How I love that song, gang. I will never forget the first time I heard it, in my tiny little hellhole apartment on E. 12th Street.
In fact, I will never forget riding the PATH train from Hoboken NJ (where I had bought the album The First Born Is Dead in a small record shop) back into Manhattan, and reading the lyrics to “Tupelo” that were printed on the back of the album cover. The lyrics blew me away. I couldn’t wait to get home and play the record.
I loved the whole record (it was my first exposure to Nick Cave), but I particularly loved that song “Tupelo”. I was astounded by it. And, as I’ve posted here before, every single person who came into that apartment after that, was forced to listen to “Tupelo” on the record player in my tiny, godforsaken, hellhole bedroom!!
ME: “Have you heard this song yet??”
EVERYONE ELSE IN MY APARTMENT: “No.”
ME: “Listen to it!! It’s incredible!! It’s about Elvis!”
Well, in honor of the 40th anniversary of this song, a filmmaker friend of Nick Cave’s created a video using Artificial Intelligence, which, as you know, I am not a huge fan of. (That’s a nice way of saying “I despise AI and whoever invented it should be publicly executed in a 1984 doomsday sort of way…”)
Anyway. You can of course watch the video yourself and come to your own conclusions, as I include it here! But I did not like it at all. I found it incredibly creepy and just sort of a violation of so many images from Elvis’s career that, at this point, are practically sacred to me.
I think I’d rather be forced to watch the eye scene in Luis Buñuel’s “Un Chien Andalou” than watch that “Tupelo” video ever again.
But, alas, that is only my over-reactionary opinion and I’m guessing not many people share it.
So, here it is, for your viewing pleasure:
And here is what I much prefer — the audio, as I heard it 40 years ago:
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And on that lofty note!!
I suppose I better get started around here.
Have a terrific Tuesday wherever you are in the world!
Thanks for visiting.
I love you guys! See ya!
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I leave you with this gem!!
Merle Haggard and Marty Robbins do a great duet of the all-out C&W classic by George Jones, “She Thinks I Still Care”. (1970) Enjoy, gang!!
She thinks I still care
Just because I asked a friend about her Just because I spoke her name somewhere Just because I rang her number by mistake today She thinks I still care
Just because I haunt the same old places Where the memory of her lingers everywhere Just because I'm not the happy guy I used to be She thinks I still care
But if she's happy thinking I still need her Then let that silly notion bring her cheer But how could she ever be so foolish Oh were would she get such an idea
Just because I asked a friend about her Just because I spoke her name somewhere Just because I saw her then went all to pieces She thinks I still care She thinks I still care
Marilyn's Room 