Great news, gang!

Sandra and I had a long phone chat yesterday about the upcoming Off-Broadway staged reading for our play, “The Guide to Being Fabulous”. And her knee-replacement surgery is FINALLY healed now and so we are officially getting back to work!!

And this also means more trips to NYC in my upcoming future!! (As opposed to the “future” that is in the past….?)

Anyway! I am super excited.

And I am thoroughly convinced that I can somehow manage the upcoming insanity of my schedule. (You know how excited I get when I have trips to NYC on my schedule!!)

In all honesty, gang, I have simply decided that I can handle everything! So, onward!!

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Okay.

Not to toot my own horn, but…

When I got to my favorite 94-year-old Japanese man’s house yesterday, things were not only back to normal, but better than it usually is!

He came out of his bedroom looking really spiffy, in a sport shirt and khaki trousers– and yes, he had his hearing aids in, his glasses on, his hair combed, his wooden leg on!! And he was completely coherent and smiling and he started conversing with me, right off the bat.

It was so heartening, gang. I wish we could keep him off the Boost completely, but his private nurse really likes that stuff and she does the shopping. So I’ve decided that on the days when I’m there, even after he gets his dentures back (on Tuesday) and I’ll be cooking solid food for him again, I’m going to at least bring the other protein drinks with me. (Isn’t that terrible? Trying to secretly keep some 94-year-old guy healthy??) (Of course, it will have to come out of my own pocket, but I just don’t care.)

And he seemed to really like the new stuff. While drinking them, he looked at the bottles and said, “What is this stuff? I really like it.”

So it really made me feel great.

For breakfast, I mixed a tablespoon of this with about a cup of sugar-free Greek yogurt:

Then later, a bottle of this:

And, later, a bottle of this (1 gram of organic coconut sugar in this one – plus caffeine, so this one replaced his cup of instant coffee):

He was in such great spirits yesterday, gang. Really back to being himself. It made me feel so happy.

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All right.

I have the next two days off! Doing laundry right now and also have a little housecleaning to do, but will mostly work with Peitor on the materials for the Pilot package today.

It is sunny today — but it got chilly during the night. So the windows are closed and the furnace is back on, but at least it’s sunny.

And tomorrow, I am planning to go back to the shooting range, so we shall see!

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In the weather-miracle department (see yesterday’s post), Kara and I decided to ignore the official weather report and simply visualize the weather we preferred (for our trip to Columbus this coming Friday, to see Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds at the Palace Theater), and ALREADY the weather report has changed! Cloudy, with mild temperatures, but at least no rain.

We are aiming for SUN, though. Well, not during the concert, because that would be scary, since it’s being held inside, at night, and could cause a panic…

The sun would be welcomed during our drive to Columbus in the afternoon.

Meanwhile!

From Philly, last night!!

The first Chicago show is sold out, but tickets are still available for the second show, on Tuesday night April 29th. And you can also buy tickets for other upcoming shows this week.

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Update on the kitten front —

The little grey kitten has indeed lost that tiny, shriveled dead back paw that he was dragging around and he now officially has two stumps for back legs. But he is alert and happy and sweet, and he can manage to “walk” around just fine. So that is a relief, gang.

And what’s really nice — when I kneel down in front of their little playpen now, they look right at me and all start hurrying over to me. Mommy watches me like a hawk (excuse the mixed metaphor), but she lets me pick them up and kiss them and talk to them in that really high-pitched little-girl voice that I guess is de rigueur for talking to kittens…

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Okay!

Gotta get ready here to work with Peitor.

Enjoy your Sunday, wherever you are in the world!

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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Can’t help it, gang!

I am SUPER excited about the upcoming trips to NYC (that I don’t have to pay for!! Yay!!) (But I’d still go, even if I had to pay my own way. You know it.)

Enjoy!!

Jesus, gang. Yesterday was rough.

It turns out that my favorite 94-year-old Japanese man will not have his new dentures until TUEDSDAY.

Meaning : a total of 7 and 1/2 days without teeth.

And for whatever reason, the only liquid “food” that the nurse stocked in his kitchen were V8 juice (640 grams of sodium per glass) and Boost (15 grams of sugar per serving). And I found 4 empty Boost bottles in the kitchen.

I had assumed that there would be better options for him, so I hadn’t stopped at the store on my way over.

When he got out of bed yesterday, he was absolutely loopy and wobbly and practically incoherent. He came out of his room on crutches and in just his underwear — no hearing aids in, no glasses on, obviously no teeth, and he had not put on his wooden leg. He’s usually particular about his grooming, so I was shocked. I had to beg him to get dressed and put his leg on so that we could go get some groceries that would be better than what he had in the kitchen.

I was worried about him, but mostly I was really angry that anyone on Earth could think that it was okay to do this to him. Meaning, leave him on his own with so much SUGAR. And basically nothing else.

But I got him at least 5 days’ worth of green stuff and fruit stuff and protein stuff and yogurt; liquids and powders — organic and without any added sugars. (It can be done, gang, you just have to look at what you’re buying.)

After we got back home, within half an hour, his mind was at least functioning again. He hadn’t completely gotten his strength back yet, though. Still, I knew we were getting back on solid ground when he said, “You took me to that golf course, didn’t you? “

Me: “Yes. On Good Friday.”

He: “That was paradise.”

As for me, though, all that anger and despair wiped me out.

Anyway. I’m hoping that when I get there today, he will be in a little better shape.

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Here’s a happy update (although it’s also part of my nonstop caregiving around here).

Look who’s up and about this morning!

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And if you missed this — it was circulating on social media right after he died — you have to watch it!! It is priceless!!

How David Johansen Started the Punk Movement | Late Night with Conan O’Brien, 1994 (5 minutes):

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And in a decidedly different tone!!

A recent Q & A/ discussion with James Tabor that was sponsored by Bart Ehrman.

The Gospel Texts That All Major Christian Apologists for Jesus’ Resurrection Have Misinterpreted! (45 mins):

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And another reason why I am feeling a little down this morning —

The weather report for Friday, when Kara and I are driving to Columbus to see Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, is lousy!! Cold and rainy.

Of course, it’s still several days away, so here’s hoping for a weather-miracle. Plus, at least our hotel is right next to the Palace Theater.

Anyway. Here’s this from the other night! (Saint Nick proclaiming a weather-miracle!)

The next 2 shows — tonight in Philly, and then the first show in Chicago — are sold out. But you can buy tickets here for other nights this coming week, including Columbus!

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Other than that, Peitor and I now have a truckload of stuff we need to pull together– sort through, organize, edit — for the TV pilot package. So, on we go, gang.

I hope your Saturday is splendid, though, wherever you are in the world!

Thanks for visiting!

I love you guys. See ya!

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I’m not a huge fan of Willie Nelson’s, but I am an ENORMOUS lifelong fan of Rodney Crowell. What a wonderful songwriter he is, gang.

Yesterday, Willie’s new album, Oh What A Beautiful World, was released, and all of the songs are written by Rodney Crowell.

Here is the first single off the album, the title song, “Oh What A Beautiful World”. Enjoy, gang.

“Oh What A Beautiful World”

It’s the time and the place
Every line on your face
It’s the truth and the lie
It’s to live and to die
Oh, what a beautiful world

It’s the girl and a boy
And that first taste of joy
And it’s that old photograph
Of two hearts torn in half
Oh, what a beautiful world

We build our hopes up high
Perchance to someday fly
Across a clear blue sky
To someplace new

It’s the walk in the park
Or a shot in the dark
It’s the thief in the night
Or the first ray of light
Oh, what a beautiful world

We live our legends down
Wake up in lost and found
Become that highway sound
And roll on through

It’s the rise and the fall
Of the clocks all on the wall
And it’s for the first and the last of your days
Well, I ain’t past
Oh, what a beautiful world

Oh, what a beautiful world

c – 2025 – Rodney Crowell

Even though it’s raining this morning, it is one of those really light and gentle rains, with no wind whatsoever.

When I awoke at 4AM, my bed was so comfortable, and the windows were open and it sounded so peaceful outside.

And the birds started singing at 4:20AM…

And Peitor texted at 4:30AM on WhatsApp: “Can you talk for minute?”

Of course, my first instinct was to say, no, I want to just lay here in bliss, in my bed in the dark, and listen to the birds sing and the rain falling on the leaves outside my open windows.

But then I figured there was no way he’d be texting me at that hour (10:30AM, his time), if he didn’t need to talk to me for a minute…

So I called him. And he wanted to discuss the pitch deck for the pilot script, and the price of hiring someone to do it —

And when I was done falling out of bed over the price of hiring someone to do it, I got back in bed and tried to regain my bliss.

So my day got a really early start here . But, honestly, it’s all good.

And yesterday morning, I heard back from the Finnish actor’s agent in Helsinki and she told me to send the script! So I did!

Honestly, gang, it was so nice of her to not only get back to me within 24 hours, but to get back to me at all, since I cold-called her without using our agent. (Well, I cold-emailed her.)

Anyway, that really made my day.

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Okay!

Peitor and I still have materials we want to organize for the pilot package, but other than that, I am actually gearing up to get back to my own fiction writing. I’m trying to figure out a schedule, because I work really well with schedules.

And, really, nothing makes me happier than working on my own writing, and I currently have 3 memoirs, 3 novels, and 2 plays “in progress”.

Long-time readers of this lofty blog no doubt recall those heady days in years past, when I would be working on something and then you know, finish it.

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Okay, here’s this! I found the photo on Instagram last night.

This is Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. This is where my very best friend on Earth, Paul Martin, lived. He had a beach house, and he worked in the movie industry — he was a set designer, set decorator, lead man, out of the movie studio there, in Wilmington.

He died 26 years ago. And my life was never the same since then.

It’s hard to see, but if you look at the very top of the island, and count down 4 houses — that was his house. I miss him so much. He was so passionate, so funny, so caring, so honest, and he had a filthy dirty mind. I really, really miss him.

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Three photos from Montreal last night!

Two of Nick Cave and one of Colin Greenwood:

The next 2 shows here in the States are sold out. There are still seats available for the 2nd Chicago show, which is next Tuesday, April 29th. Buy tickets here!

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And that’s it for now! I gotta scoot and head out to see my favorite 94-year-old Japanese client! I am hoping he has something that resembles teeth today. (See yesterday’s post.) We shall soon see!!

Meanwhile, take a quiet moment to thank God that it’s Friday, wherever you are in the world!

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!!

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I’ve posted this here before, but here it is again!

I love this song, gang. “Jockey Full of Bourbon,” from Tom Waits’ incredible album, Rain Dogs. 1985. Still one of my favorite albums of all time. Enjoy, gang.

I fully intended to post here yesterday morning before I scurried off, but Peitor was in touch EARLY, needing me to fix some grammar on a new synopsis for the TV pilot.

I was thrilled to do this, because I thought the synopsis we had was perfect…

However. You know. Pick your battles.

So I got out of bed and worked on the new synopsis. Then ran out of time to do everything else.

Plus, I was very stressed about my favorite 94-year-old Japanese man.

On Tuesday, while we were having our much-longed-for veggie sandwiches out on the very sunny back deck, his dentures suddenly broke in two.

So I was worried that he was really hungry by yesterday morning, since he couldn’t chew anything. And I was also worried that he would find something in the fridge and try to eat it and then choke to death…

So I wanted to stop at the store before heading the 30 miles to his house. And I only had to stop at THREE stores before I could find what I wanted (various smoothies and Greek yogurt that weren’t loaded with chemicals.)

However. It all worked out great. When I arrived at his house, he was still alive and in a rather chipper mood, besides.

And his private nurse is taking him to the dentist today. So, on we go.

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So! I can’t go into details on the blog yet, but yesterday afternoon, yet another European production company asked to see our pilot script and this company is sort of a heavy hitter, gang. So exciting!

And I, personally (meaning without the agent), am trying to pitch a very specific Finnish actor that I really, really, want to play the role of the Finnish crime boss (my favorite character in the show, and I actually wrote the part with him in mind). Anyway. I’m trying to do that, so we shall see how that goes!!!

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Okay!

Today’s special feature!!

This little quiz was on Instagram this morning. I scored FOUR points!!!

See if you can pick which 4 things I have never done!! (answers are down below, but don’t cheat!!)

I have never done:

• 8. Sung karaoke
• 11. Gone zip lining
• 13. Taken a cruise
• 17. Been skydiving

(And a few of those things posted above, as you can guess, I’ve done more times than you can possibly imagine.)

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Okay!

I finally finished watching Tsai Ming-liang’s film, “Stray Dogs” (2013). It took me, like, 3 days, because I’ve just been so wiped out in the evenings, lately. (But last night, I slept SEVEN hours!!! So I am feeling really good again, finally.)

Overall, I didn’t relate to this film as much as the other three of his films that I’ve watched recently, but it was still definitely worth watching. (It’s probably because I had to keep starting and stopping and starting and stopping.) Anyway. it’s currently on Metrograph.

And if you live in NYC and can actually go to the Metrograph art-house theater, the actor Lee Kang-sheng (who stars in all of Tsai Ming-liang’s films) will be at the theater in person, presenting 4 films, including “The Hole”, which I loved!!

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All righty!

Here’s what I was planning to post yesterday. Another photo of Nick Cave in Detroit last Thursday:

And today, here is a photo from their sold out show last night in Toronto!

And tonight they play Montreal. You can still buy tickets!

And then the next couple of shows back in the States are sold out. And then, ONE WEEK from tomorrow, Kara and I will be seeing them here:

And then spending the night here:

And probably eating dinner here (at the hotel):

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Okay!

I gotta scoot.

Enjoy your Thursday, wherever you are in the world.

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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Driving to town music?? Maybe!!

“Joy,” from 1972, based on Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring”.

I’ve posted it here before (it’s my brain’s theme song for my memoir-in-progress about my life in the 1970s – Joy: The Shortest Season), BUT HERE IT IS AGAIN! Enjoy, gang.

For some mysterious reason, I am not scrambling around here this morning, trying to get out the door!

I still have an hour and a half (before I scramble around and try to get out the door…)!!

I have to say, gang, that I am so happy with how the revisions to our TV pilot script have worked out. I like it so much better than the first draft.

I really want to send a copy of this new draft to Wayne — “read my script! read my script!” — but I know he’s busy. (He found the first draft confusing.) And he gave up all obligations to drop everything and read everything of mine when he signed the divorce papers EIGHTEEN YEARS AGO!!

That’s a long time to not be obligated to read every single solitary thing I’ve written…

(Although, in all seriousness, gang, he is usually very happy to read whatever I send him.)

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It’s a perfect day here, weather-wise. It will be a nice day for driving to town. The backroads are really starting to look so beautiful now.

And after my midday clients, I have to go over and drop in on my favorite 94-year-old Japanese client! His private nurse can’t be there today, so I have to go over and make sure he eats something and then just visit with him for a while.

I think I’m going to stop at Subway and get us both veggie sandwiches!! That way, I can have lunch with him out on his back deck, rather than just stare at him while he eats…

Regardless. It will be a beautiful afternoon!

(This is the very Subway I will go to — I used to stop in here for veggie subs all the time, when my adorable patient, Molly, was still alive.):

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Last night, there were TONS of (mostly) videos uploaded from the Bad Seeds show in Washington, DC. But here’ s one photo that jumped out at me!

They play Toronto tomorrow night, but it is sold out. Thursday, they will play Montreal and you can buy tickets here. After that, the next couple of shows back in the States are also sold out.

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Okay!

Peitor just texted me from the beautiful South of France, needing me to re-send the latest synopsis, so I gotta scoot and do that, and then I will have to formally scoot, and get to town.

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

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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Driving to town music? Not sure, but probably!!

Loyal readers of this lofty blog no doubt recall that this is the song playing in the final scene of our TV pilot, when the Finnish crime boss from Helsinki arrives at the Abstract Absurdity Film Productions office in Greenwich, Connecticut!!! (Great big smiley smiles, gang!)

Okay. Enjoy!

Okay, I know you won’t believe me, gang, but….

The TV pilot script is DONE!!!

We finished it late yesterday afternoon, and then, early this morning — South of France-time — Peitor did the final trimming, to keep it under 60 pages.

AND —

We finished just in time. A couple of the contacts Peitor made at Series Mania in France, back in late March, emailed him yesterday, checking on the progress of the script!

And that, in and of itself, is exciting. Knowing that people in the industry really want to read it. It means that they are hoping it’s going to be a viable vehicle for their own careers.

And personally, I am really, really happy with this version of the script. It’s still quirky but also more emotional.

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Okay, on the kitten front — this may sound icky but, overall, I think it’s a good thing.

The little grey kitten whose back two legs are deformed — well, that one little tiny shriveled dead paw is in the process of falling off. So it will have two stumps for back legs, but at least it’s already very good at moving itself around.

It’s smaller than the other 3 kittens, so who knows how big it will eventually get. But we are onboard for the whole adventure. I just need to give it a name.

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Today this is not happening:

Aside from laundry, I wasn’t able to get any housecleaning done yesterday because I was at my desk all day, revising the script.

So today, I will clean house. If, by some unexpected miracle, I still have energy when I’m finished, then I might go to the shooting range. But I doubt it.

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Okay, as I was sort of expecting, Tsai Ming-liang has managed to make a really depressing plot into a mesmerizing film to watch!

I’m not done watching it yet. I’ll finish watching it this evening, but so far, it is very intriguing. “Stray Dogs.” (2013)

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Here’s a great photo from Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds’ show from Thursday night. Nick and Colin Greenwood, smiling!

They play Washington DC tonight. Buy tickets here! The next show, in Toronto on Wednesday night, is sold out.

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And aside from the actor who has been playing (the late) Pope Francis retiring today (after about 4 and 1/2 years in the starring role…), that is all there is for now!!

Have a great Monday, wherever you are in the world.

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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A very happy 78th birthday to Iggy Pop!!

A great love song. From his fantastic 1986 album, Blah-Blah-Blah, the song “Shades”. Enjoy!

“Shades”

You gave me a present
The paper was blue and green
I unwrapped it with pleasure
These are the best shades I’ve ever seen
You can be my girlfriend
Forever and a day
I never thought I was worth much
Or that anyone would treat me this way

[Chorus]
I’m not
The kind of guy
Who dresses like a king
And a really fine pair of shades
Means everything
And the light that blinds my eyes
Shines from you
It makes me come in the night
It makes me swim with delight
I like this pain
I like this mirror
I like these shades

I could have had a problem
I might have never followed through
The other guys are in trouble
They wouldn’t listen to a girl like you
These shades say something
I’ll bet they cost a lot
I hope I don’t break ’em
I hope we don’t break up

[Chorus]

c – 1986 – Iggy Pop, David Bowie