Tag Archives: 1954 Powder Blue Pickup by Marilyn Jaye Lewis

Another late start here in the Hinterlands!

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Okay, yes, I did take my cup of coffee back to bed for a little while this morning —

But mostly I’m getting a late start here on the blog today because I had some emails to take care of first thing. A couple more writers are contributing to the M. Christian tribute anthology and I am really excited about that!! Yay!

I’m still going to focus on editing that one longer short story today, as planned. And really, that should take most of the day. And then these 2 new contributions — I should still be done editing the anthology by the weekend!

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Okay!

THIS arrived yesterday and I am so excited– the latest book we need to read for James Tabor’s Private Research Group:

A Man Attested by God: The Human Jesus of the Synoptic Gospels by JR Daniel Kirk

And the really good news is that it is only 632 pages long!!! Yay!!!

But, honestly, I am very eager to read it. I started it last night.

And, YES! I will be reading it alongside a book that arrived on Tuesday that I am also excited about —

Resident Punk: How I Smoked, Drank, and Stumbled My Way Through the ’70s Punk Scene (and Beyond) by Legs McNeil !!

Just keepin’ it real all the way around, here in the Hinterlands!!

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Okay.

On October 21st, from 10pm – 11pm, the Internet Archive is having a FREE virtual event:

Democracy’s Library: Tools for Participation

“Democracy invites participation; democracies require it. At the Internet Archive, we believe libraries can help make that participation possible by preserving knowledge and providing the tools to explore and build upon it.

This year’s annual celebration, “Democracy’s Library: Tools for Participation,” will showcase the many ways people can participate through the Internet Archive: from saving and contributing materials to exploring government records, researching history, and building new tools with our collections and APIs.”

SIGN UP HERE to attend — FREE!

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Also, on October 21st — and this one sort of stuns me, gang — Bill Wyman, the Rolling Stones’ original and legendary bass player who also owns a camera– turns 90!!

To honor that, in London–

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And on the topic of the Rolling Stones —

Keith! Smoking in a spotlight while sitting on a stool!! Yay!!

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And not at all related–

From Phyllis Stein!

Iggy in Miami!!

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And here’s The Clash!!

Apparently celebrating champagne!!

And here’s Patti Smith, apparently doing the same thing!!

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Personally, I don’t drink champagne too often (anymore!!), but when I do, this is my favorite!! (Just in case, you know, you were planning to visit the Hinterlands anytime soon and wanted to celebrate!!)

(Bring these, too and it’ll be just like yesteryear!! Yay!!)

And, well, okay — here’s THIS again, while we’re celebrating!!

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All righty!

Too much celebrating of a different kind was perhaps the culprit behind this event, but I’m not 100% certain–

Warren Ellis had a Hoovering incident!! (That’s “vacuuming” in American English, btw) (Please note, he is still wearing the Sid Vicious t-shirt here, and that’s part of his beard, I think!):

And here, Warren Ellis is looking quite stylish in “Warren’s House” in 2022!!

And that goes along with this (see above)! “Rock & Roll” by Lou Reed & The Velvet Underground!! (From Loaded, 1970)

And in case you were curious — YES! That song is actually the story of my life!!

“Rock And Roll”

Jenny said when she was just five years old
You know there’s nothing happening at all
Every time she puts on the radio
There was nothing goin’ down at all
Then one fine mornin’ she puts on a New York station
She couldn’t believe what she heard at all
She started dancin’ to that fine fine music
You know her life was saved by Rock ‘n’ Roll

Despite all the amputations
You could just dance to a rock ‘n’ roll station

Jenny said when she was just five years old
My parents are gonna be the death of us all
Two TV sets and two Cadillac cars–
Ain’t gonna help us at all

Then one fine mornin’ she puts on a New York station
She don’t believe what she heard at all
She started dancin’ to that fine fine music
You know her life was saved by Rock ‘n’ Roll

Despite all the computations
You could just dance to a rock ‘n’ roll station
And it was alright.

c – 1970 Lou Reed

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Let’s jump around a little–

Nick Cave, Rowland S. Howard, and someone else (maybe Mick Harvey?) in 1982!!

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And Nick Cave & Warren Ellis both announce—

“The Death of Bunny Munro” – Vinyl Pre-order (in pink!!)

“A special edition ‘Baby Pink’ vinyl of ‘The Death of Bunny Munro’ original series soundtrack by Nick Cave & Warren Ellis is available to pre-order now HERE.”

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And I guess that is it for today!!

In all honesty, yes, I will be vacuuming today!! But I will try not to sustain any “hoovering incidents” of my own.

Then I also have to do yoga, wash hair, etc.

But the rest of the day will be spent editing the longer short story, mentioned above, here at my desk.

And so I will get started.

Enjoy your Thursday, wherever you are in the world, gang!

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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Yes, the morning-listening-music around here is still Bruce Springsteen–

But I’ve moved on to his Greatest Hits!

HOWEVER!

This song is also from The River, 1980.

And I remember so perfectly, gang, shopping in a clothing store that was downstairs in the Empire State Building, while on my lunch hour, and hearing this song come on the radio there.

It had only been a handful of weeks since I’d been listening to that same song on my record player in my side-by-side rental house back in Ohio…

I rented the side nearest to the camera. My bedroom was in the 2 windows at the top

…and now I was living in NYC and working in the legendary Empire State Building!!

My life changed, literally, overnight back then. So many fucking incredible memories, gang. Most of them unbelievably stressful…. but I wouldn’t trade them for anything.

Okay!

“Hungry Heart” by Bruce Springsteen, from The River. 1980! Enjoy, gang.

“Hungry Heart”

Got a wife and kids in Baltimore, Jack
I went out for a ride and I never went back
Like a river that don’t know where it’s flowing
I took a wrong turn and I just kept going

Everybody’s got a hungry heart
Everybody’s got a hungry heart
Lay down your money and you play your part
Everybody’s got a hungry heart

I met her in a Kingstown bar
We fell in love I knew it had to end
We took what we had and we ripped it apart
Now here I am down in Kingstown again

Everybody’s got a hungry heart
Everybody’s got a hungry heart
Lay down your money and you play your part
Everybody’s got a hungry heart

Everybody needs a place to rest
Everybody wants to have a home
Don’t make no difference what nobody says
Ain’t nobody like to be alone

Everybody’s got a hungry heart
Everybody’s got a hungry heart
Lay down your money and you play your part
Everybody’s got a hungry heart

c -1980 Bruce Springsteen

A wonderful Wednesday underway in the Hinterlands!

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Wow, did I get a lot done yesterday, gang.

I only have one long story left to edit tomorrow for the M. Christian tribute anthology, and then I am basically done. I will still need to arrange the stories in the best order, write a Foreword, but it will definitely be turned in before the end of the month!

I still don’t know when I’ll have to do some work on the script for Sandra’s one-woman Birthday Cabaret, but I might actually be able to spend some of my upcoming days’ off focusing on my own writing again.

And most importantly, now that I have the part-time job again, my mind is in a much better place to tackle my own writing.

Me, with my mind in a much better place! Yay!

Okay, good news and bad news!

Season 2 of “Ludwig” did indeed start on Britbox yesterday — and it was so great to have that show back on my TV!!

Not so good news — I’d forgotten that with Standard Britbox, you only get to see one new episode a week. Aaarrggghhhh….

But it’s still great to have that show back. I just love it!!

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Here’s some great news, gang.

This made me so happy last night!

People are indeed downloading the free eBook edition of “A Man in Her Arms & Other Stories” over on Amazon and so it is FINALLY listed in the sales rankings. Not only that, but I thought the categories it popped up in were very interesting;

Thank you to everyone who is downloading it!

Also — I discovered that a number of people in Kindle Unlimited are also downloading my novel from 2011, Freak Parade. Yay!!!

I will actually be getting some royalties this month. So thank you!!

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I thought this was just wonderful, gang.

On Literary Hub yesterday — a wonderful article that I really related to, since I discovered Frank O’Hara’s poems when I was 14 and in Jr. High School:

Why Frank O’Hara is Perfect For Introducing Poetry to Tweens

Catherine Sawoski on Bringing the New York School to Middle School:

“…O’Hara is most famous for his collection Lunch Poems, written on his lunch break as a receptionist from the Museum of Modern Art—proving even future curators/art critics must begin at the front desk. He’s often been called a painter’s poet, and, rejected by the conventional literary scene, found himself faster friends with the Abstract Expressionists than the literary world. Lunch Poems—reviewed by Ted Berrigan, as, emphatically “a great book!” and one of the “most important documents in contemporary poetry”—includes some of his most famous works, including “The Day Lady Died,” “Ave Maria,” and “A Step Away From Them.” This last one was my usual classroom pick. Selecting an eager student to read it aloud, a school’s worth of seventh graders would follow along on their printouts…”

Read it in full HERE

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Okay!

The Rolling Stones announced a Pop-Up in NYC for 2 days only!

THE UMUSIC SHOP AT PENN PLAZA IN THE HEART OF NEW YORK CITY IS GETTING A ROLLING STONES TAKEOVER THIS WEEK!

JOIN US ON OCTOBER 16 & 17 FOR TWO DAYS OF A SPECIAL ROLLING STONES POP-UP, FEATURING BRAND NEW MERCHANDISE, MUSIC, LIMITED DAILY DROPS AND PLENTY FOR STONES FANS TO EXPLORE.

UMUSIC SHOP, 2 PENNSYLVANIA PLAZA, NEW YORK, NY 10121

OCTOBER 16–17, 2026

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Starting yesterday, WordPress launched “Wide Margins”, a monthly podcast, featuring interviews and a Q&A with authors. Hosted by Zander Rose.

Neal Stephenson Live: Spies, Science & the Race for the Atomic Bomb (1 hr):

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Johnny Depp posted this today. It’s in London — another exhibit of his art (he’s got a few going on all over the world right now):

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Okay, here’s this! From Facebook!!

And THIS happened last night!!

Warren Ellis actually replied to one of my comments!! (I am not even going to attempt to explain what the comment is referring to, you’d have to watch the reel, but basically, his dogs were stepping on his “fucking vinyl” record albums):

And also from Warren Ellis:

And this is from the other day — Warren with his pups!!

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More from Facebook!!

I concur!!

This is sort of an intense one — Nick Cave in a white shirt!!

Nick Cave eating something!! I’m not sure what, but it looks pretty good!!

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And those are my “here’s this’s” for today!

On the New Guy front– things are still progressing. We still talk on the phone at night, text first thing in the morning.

Last night, he said that when he comes here next month, he wants to drive me by the old farm where he raised his family. The farmhouse is 175 years old — and he rehabbed it when he bought it. (We can only see it from the outside because he doesn’t own it anymore, but I really want to see it.)

Then I asked him if we could go see his RV.

HE (on phone): “Which RV? I have about 5 or 6.”

Crimony!

Anyway, we pinned down exactly which one I was referring to and we may drive over and see that, too!

So, between texting, phone chats, and then driving around in person together — we might actually get to know each other soon!

And yes, he knows I’m a writer. And, no, he has no clue what I write about because he never asked… If he ever does ask… ah, well, we’ll just play that one by ear, gang.

He does know that I went to that Biblical Archeology conference in Charlotte, and he knows how interested I am in Biblical studies and the Historical Jesus…

So, METHINKS my writing career is going to come flying way out of left field for him. We’ll just have to see.

Probably not him…

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Okay.

That is it for today!!

I’ll be leaving for town here soon and I am once again really excited to be getting back to the job at my favorite Health & Wellness store and all my fun friends who work there.

Have a wonder-filled Wednesday, wherever you are in the world, gang!

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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Let’s close with this.

I am still on a Bruce Springsteen kick around here.

Here’s another one from his 1980 album, The River.

I absolutely LOVE this fucking song! And what really makes me smile these days, is that I knew this song by heart before I even moved to NYC. In retrospect, though, I now know everything he’s singing about!

Subways, ghettos, hot blacktops, “operators” in the park…

And I eventually spent 9 years on W.53rd Street in Manhattan, because that’s where the Museum of Modern Art is!

Anyway. It is IMPERATIVE that you learn the chorus immediately and sing along REALLY LOUD!! It’s too fun!!

“Sherry Darling”, by Bruce Springsteen, from The River, 1980. Enjoy, gang!!

“Sherry Darling”

Your Mamma’s yapping in the back seat
Tell her to push over and move them big feet
Every Monday morning I gotta drive her down to the unemployment agency
Well this morning I ain’t fighting tell her I give up
Tell her she wins if she’ll just shut up
But it’s the last time that she’s gonna be riding with me

CHORUS:

You can tell her there’s a hot sun beating on the black top
She keeps talking she’ll be walking that last block
She can take a subway back to the ghetto tonight
Well I got some beer and the highway’s free
And I got you, and baby you’ve got me
Hey, hey, hey what you say Sherry Darling

Now there’s girls melting on the beach
And they’re so fine but so far out of reach
‘Cause I’m stuck in traffic down here on 53rd street
Now Sherry my love for you is real
But I didn’t count on this package deal
And baby this car just ain’t big enough for her and me

CHORUS:

You can tell her there’s a hot sun beating on the black top
She keeps talking she’ll be walking that last block
She can take a subway back to the ghetto tonight
Well I got some beer and the highway’s free
And I got you, and baby you’ve got me
Hey, hey, hey what you say Sherry Darling

Well let there be sunlight, let there be rain
Let my broken heart love again
Sherry we can run with our arms open wide before the tide
To all the girls down at Sacred Heart
And all you operators back in the Park
Say hey, hey, hey what you say Sherry Darling
Say, hey, hey, what you say Sherry Darling
Say, hey, hey, hey, what you say Sherry Darling

c -1980 Bruce Springsteen

Late start on this rainy Sunday morning in the Hinterlands!

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Even though I slept great last night, for some reason I felt like going back to bed after breakfast today.

Took the cup of coffee upstairs, hung out in bed with about 4 or 5 (?) cats. Slept a little more. Finally got back out of bed but I feel sort of at loose ends right now.

I know I should probably force myself to take a day off and just relax, but I am getting really close to finishing the editing on the M. Christian tribute anthology.

If I can get 2 short pieces edited today, that leaves me with only one long story to do sometime this coming week — and, in essence, the book will be done.

Anyway. We shall see if I can force myself to relax today or not!!

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Okay!

Before I forget.

Starting tomorrow the Kindle edition of my short story collection “A Man in her Arms & Other Stories” will be free to download for the week.

I don’t think you have to belong to Kindle Unlimited to get it for free. (Not all the stories are explicit erotica, but it is still Absolutely for Adults Only, thank you!)

Table of Contents:

  • A Man in her Arms                                                                           
  • A Path to the Woods (A Ghost Story)    
  • Score  
  • Code 
  • Alter/Soldier  
  • To My Beloved I Am a Stranger 
  • Common Place 
  • Wanted 
  • Legacy of Boy 
  • Half- Moon Bride 

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And here’s a curious — although really nice! — thing.

Amazon claims there is “only one print copy of The Curse of our Profound Disorder left in stock (more on the way)”!

I guess this means people are actually buying the book. I think the eBook is selling even a little better. But absolutely no one besides Ron Bass in NYC has reviewed it… so who knows, gang.

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Also, yesterday, while searching through some really old files for a specific story by Michael Hemmingson, I discovered the manuscripts for my erotic romance novel, When Hearts Collide (this was distributed exclusively by Barnes & Noble stores, in 2003, and it sold, overall, 10,000 copies).

And another erotic short story collection, Ribbon of Darkness & Other Stories, that I printed privately on LULU — it has never been for sale. I gave it to a handful of people as a gift. This was back in 2009.

Even though the short story collection has stories that appear in various other anthologies of mine, I’m thinking of re-publishing both these books as specially-priced eBooks on Amazon.

I was thinking of doing this because, you know, I’ve got nothing else to do right now…

Me, thinking clearly! As always!

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Okay.

I’ve got a lot of “here’s this’s” for today, so let’s get crackin’!!

Here’s this!!

From Phyllis Stein!

Richard Hell!!

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And how about this??!!

Photo by Anton Corbijn.

Blixa Bargeld! A long time ago!

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From Jim Lauderdale–

He’ll be playing at the Gram Parsons Derry Down listening room, in Winter Haven, Florida, on November 7th, in honor of what would have been Gram Parsons’ 80th birthday (tickets are $30 — you can buy them HERE):

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And here’s a few of Keith –SMOKING!!

In the morning in France, around 1971?? (From Facebook!)

With Mick, in London, 1969!!

With Ronnie, somewhere!! In 1975!!

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And here’s this!

Something is upcoming for Bad Seed George Vjestica!! Watch this space!!

And here’s a great photo of Nick Cave & the Birthday Party — from their first tour of the US.

Here, they’re in NYC, 1981–and Rowland S. Howard is SMOKING!!

And speaking of smoking!!

Nick Cave, onstage, perhaps taking a break?? I’m not sure!! But he’s reading and smoking in France, in 1990!! (Photo by Jean-Louis V)

And smoking — and singing!! — onstage in Germany, 1990!

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And I believe that is it for now.

And any moment, I will decide if I’m going to work on the editing today, or relax. We shall soon find out.

Either way, enjoy your Sunday, wherever you are in the world, gang!

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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Let’s close with this!

Dwight Yoakam & KD Lang, live, in 1989, singing “Sin City” by Gram Parsons & Chris Hillman.

KD and Dwight first did this duet on Dwight’s album, Just Lookin’ For A Hit, in 1988.

Enjoy, gang.

Home today!

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Yes, it turns out that I don’t have to work today, so that’s good because I still have a lot of stuff left to do on the M. Christian anthology and I am hoping to have it turned in to the publisher by the end of the month.

So here’s hoping I have a productive weekend!

NO, wait! Of course, I meant THIS!!

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And, YES!!

I did manage to screw up the electric breaker switch thingie yesterday morning while trying to fix the lights in the kitchen and also dash off to the job on time!

But luckily, the tech guy was able to come back out while I was at work and he fixed it in a nano-second, so everything is back to normal. Yay!!

ME! Helping out!!

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Okay!!

This is happening today!!

Happy birthday, David Lee Roth!! He is 72 today!!

And here’s this!! And if you’re not old enough to remember it — this was in the peak years of MTV, when music videos cost a fortune to produce and were like little 4-minute movies. From 1985, David Lee Roth’s huge hit version of “California Girls”!!

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I don’t have a lot of “here’s this’s ” today because, you know, I had to work at a job yesterday and wasn’t able to just sit and scroll through Instagram all day!! (But I had a great time!!)

Anyway.

Here’s this!

Jack Kerouac– confused in Autumn!!

And here’s this bit of absolute loveliness while we’re at it! Chet Baker, “Tis Autumn” from 1959:

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And here’s this!!

From Phyllis Stein.

Lou Reed with Iggy Pop, smoking, at Max’s in NYC in 1972!! (Photo by Danny Fields)

And I’ve posted this once before, but here it is again! The song I wrote about Iggy Pop in 1984, after having read his incredible memoir I Need More. (What a great book that was.)

This is an absolute demo — it’s just me and my drummer using the 8-track in my bedroom on E.12th Street, so the sound quality is not great. The demo is followed below by my lyrics, and then by Jim Carroll’s comments on my lyrics, because I wrote the song and turned it in while taking Jim Carroll’s songwriting class in 1984 (one of the true highlights of my life!!).

“SHAPE YOU’RE IN“
(for Iggy Pop)

She was a tiny girl,
but she felt like a woman to you
In her high-heeled shoes and her
Tanqueray point of view.

You were a man on the edge
She was a girl in chains
When a child comes on
Don’t the night get strange?

CHORUS I:
You’ve broken all the rules but you still need more
‘Til you’re not sure what you’re looking for
But God’s gonna overlook this one sin
‘Cause, honey, He’s seen the shape you’re in.

It was a tiny dream,
It took all the money you had
It was a good little dream, but it shook you
And treated you bad.

When the damage is done
When you fear the change
When the deal’s gone down
Don’t the dark get strange?

CHORUS II:
You’ve taken all the pain but they still want more
‘Til you’re not sure what you do it for
But God’s gonna carry you through my friend
‘Cause, honey, He’s seen the shape you’re in.

Life on the edge
Can cheat you and paralyze
‘Til the voice in your head
Misleads you and tells you lies

If I could give you the moon
In a paper jar
Would you trade it all
For the big rock star?

CHORUS III:
You’ve broken all the rules but you still need more
‘Til you’re not sure what you’re looking for
But God’s gonna carry you through my friend
‘Cause, honey, He’s seen the shape you’re in.

© 1984 Marilyn Jaye Lewis
FIRST OF MAY SONGS, BMI

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And here’s this!

The only Nick Cave thing I have today, but it’s from Facebook!!

Nick Cave and his skateboard!!

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All right, that’s it.

I need to finish up the laundry now and get focused on editing the anthology.

Oh, I will add that I had such a great chat on the phone with my new guy last night. Even though our lives could not have been more different if we’d planned it that way, we have a lot of fundamental things in common.

For instance, does this sound familiar? He said that his parents forced him to go to college. He didn’t want to go. He said, “I lasted about 10 weeks and thought it was just stupid and so I quit.”

Of course the difference between him and me, is that after I quit college, I went off to NYC to become a singer-songwriter and a writer, and he worked on farms and trained horses and did road construction and rehabbed old houses.

HE (on phone last night): “I’m just a dumb hillbilly.”

ME (very encouraging): “You’re not dumb at all!”

(He’s a hillbilly maybe, but he absolutely is not stupid!!)

Plus we also discovered that our ancestral heritage is similar — heavy on the Irish and German.

Anyway!

Okay. I gotta scoot.

Enjoy your Saturday, wherever you are in the world, gang!

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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Let’s close with this!!

From 1986!

Iggy Pop’s fantastic song “Blah-Blah-Blah”!! From the album of the same name. (I adored this whole album.) Okay. Enjoy, gang!!

“Blah-Blah-Blah”

Pop before the war
lunch before the score
steady as she goes
following my nose
I’m a bull mongrel
that’s me

Shimon Peres
whatcha gonna do
I’m from detroit
blow the reveille
deatho knocko
that’s me little ol’me
glamorous me

Johnny can’t read
blah blah blah
I’ can’t see
blah blah blah
tuna on white
guns all night
blah blah blah

Cat taboo girl-
raped by an ape
cat taboo girl
jam the sucker in
you dig the mongrels
guardian of the state
says you gotta go
bombin’ low

Senator Rambo
merrily you go
monkey butcher knows
a cab to find abank
a bank to find a loan
’cause you can’t be alone
you dig the mongrels

Violent peace
blah blah blah
buy it right now
blah blah blah
we are the world
we are so huge
blah blah blah
johnny can’t read
blah blah blah
I’ can’t see
blah blah blah
tuna on white
guns all night
blah blah blah

blue jeans coolies
everything huge
petrified food
pizza killers
from napalm to nice guy
nifty fifty
hit ’em where they live

the most spoiled brats
on god’s green earth

pop before the war

c – 1986 Iggy Pop, David Bowie

Okay! I’m starting to get used to this!

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Heading to town in the mornings and having a job again!! Even if it’s only part-time.

Honestly, gang, when I wake up and realize that I have someplace to be, a place I really love being in, around people I really enjoy, it makes me feel so happy to get out of bed!!

I will find out today if I’ll be needed to work on Saturdays, too, but on Saturdays, the store is only open for 3 hours so it’s not really like working…

Anyway.

I’m in a really good place, mentally. Finally.

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All right. So.

The hot water heater is working great, for now. However, as soon as the sun is fully up, I need to head down into my 125-year-old creepy basement and look at the breaker panel, because another fuse has blown on one side of the kitchen wall. I’m guessing that when he was checking the breakers yesterday afternoon, he flipped one that needs to be flipped back. We shall see!

Me, knowing exactly what I’m doing!!

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Okay!!

It’s all about THIS today!!

Happy heavenly birthday John Lennon!! Born on this day in 1940. Rest in glory, baby!!

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And I think this next one should just basically be the new motto for this whole blog!!

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All righty.

A couple of updates on Warren Ellis that are not in any way dog-throwing-up related!!

Coming up on October 26th in Milan, Italy (I think this is in some sort of fashion museum?) —

And here’s this!

Kirsten Krauth’s new podcast, Just Surrender: Creative Conversations, interviews Warren Ellis!

You can listen HERE (45 mins)

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There’s an End of Summer Sale going on at the Nick Cave merch store!!

Shop here for Summer Sale items!!

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Okay. Here’s this!!

The Cars take Osaka in 1980!!

Oh, here’s something, before I forget!

The Cars were really popular when I was in my late teens. And the girlfriend I wrote about here recently who is now really sick and confined to a nursing home — we loved The Cars.

She and I recently re-connected through Facebook. And last night — another girlfriend re-connected with me through Facebook! The three of us were all really close for most of our lives.

Here’s the 3 of us at my 40th birthday, when I was still living in NYC but had made a quick trip back home to Ohio — we’re all 40 in this photo. 26 years ago (we had all been friends for 30 years already!):

Me, Andie, and Dina, 2000

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Okay!

Here’s one from Phyllis Stein!!

Johnny Thunders & the Heartbreakers, in London, 1977 (Photo by Ian Dickson)

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And here’s the playwright, Arthur Miller, smoking at the Chelsea Hotel in NYC in 1960!!

If you’re unclear about who he was, aside from being an incredible playwright, he was married to this gal! (From 1956 – 1961)

Marilyn Monroe

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And here’s this!!

From Facebook!!

Nick Cave!! Lying down on a sort of sofa/bed thing, surrounded by Christianity!!

And here’s Nick Cave, all alone on a chair!!

And Nick Cave doing, well, I’m not sure what but his hair looks great!!

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And that is it!

I better scurry down to the dark creepy basement and check that breaker box before heading to town!

Oh, the latest update on my guy is sort of intense, gang.

He is indeed coming back to Ohio for about a week in mid-November in order to spend time doing stuff with me and getting to know me better. He bought his plane ticket yesterday.

We text a couple times a day and chat on the phone every night. We are indeed getting to know each other but he finds phones and texting frustrating. He says that, in person, we can:

HE (on phone): “Make some headway and move forward.”

ME (sarcasm): “Is that the same as spendng time together and getting to know each other??”

Anyway! He’s funny.

I will, of course, keep you posted.

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Meanwhile, have a great Friday, wherever you are in the world, gang!

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

I’m off!

Getting ready to be super helpful!!

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Yes!

Soon I will be off and running to Day #2 at the health & wellness store!

I’m thinking that today should be really fun, since my favorite Q-following girlfriend in town works today, too! She wasn’t there on Monday, it was her day off. She texted me last night from her grandson’s football game — a bunch of happy smiley face emojis! “Looking forward to tomorrow!”

So I’m thinking it’s going to be a great day. I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to have somewhere to go now that really makes me smile and feel energized, gang. It has been such a long time.

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Okay, here’s an interesting update. I guess we’ll find out soon enough if it’s true–

My new guy texted last evening from Florida, saying that trying to get to know someone through texting is making him crazy so he’s thinking of flying back to Ohio for a few days in early November!

Wow. It sounds serious!

I’ll keep you posted, of course.

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All the houseplants that were outdoors have now been brought back inside. And so far, there have been only two incidents between the plants and the cats –and one of them was a pretty BIG one!!

An absolutely gigantic spider plant toppled down onto tiny little Calico and scared her to death!!

So maybe they’ll give it a rest for a while and leave the houseplants alone… we shall soon see.

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All righty!!

Here’s this!

Nothing says “Keith Richards on a European tour in 1990” like a good wholesome game of dominoes!! (It almost even looks like he’s keeping score!!)

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And here’s this!

From my wee bonnie teenage “I’m dropping out of college after about only 12 weeks” girlhood!!

The First Time Tom Petty Ever Played “Refugee” Live | Winterland 1978:

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And here’s this!!

Smoking & drinking with Iggy!! Yay!!

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And this!! From Facebook!

Nick Cave sitting on stage somewhere!! And smoking!! And looking at something or other that has to do with Blind Lemon Jefferson!!!

And I guess here’s this, while we’re at it!! Almost 100 years ago!! Shit.

BLIND LEMON JEFFERSON – One Dime Blues [1927]:

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And this was on Nick Cave Official yesterday–

From July — a few photos from just before the Bad Seeds did that surprise gig on the rooftop of the Resident record store in Brighton!

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And I guess that’s it for today!

I’m making steady progress on editing the M. Christian tribute anthology — and getting a sense of how I want it to feel, overall.

And I will soon be proceeding with the audiobook version of The Guitar Hero Goes Home, so I’m looking forward to that!

Other than that, I’m still sort of astounded by how much my life has turned around in only a handful of weeks.

Okay!

Have a wonder-filled Wednesday, wherever you are in the world, gang!

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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Let’s close with this!

A short with Nick Cave, a long time ago!! (1 minute):

A splendid morning so far!

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Not only is it a really beautiful Fall day here today, gang, but it has also gotten cold enough at night now, that today I am bringing all the green houseplants indoors until next Spring.

Which also means that the 6-month battle between me and the cats gets underway today!

The cats LOVE exploring the houseplants and, whenever possible, toppling the flowerpots onto the floor and spilling soil all over the carpeting!! Yay!!

So this is a time of year that I really look forward to!!

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It has also been a splendid morning because of this!!

Yes! It’s the New Guy In My Life’s birthday today!!

So — Happy birthday to the new guy in my life!

We spoke briefly at 5:03AM (“Happy birthday!”)

Then a little lengthier chat at 6:55AM (other stuff that I won’t go into — but, yay!)

Then a very, very brief chat at about 7:25AM… (him, quickly reiterating stuff that I won’t go into — yet!)

Mostly we laughed a lot. But he also said, “I’m so sick of Florida already! I want to be back there in Ohio!” (He’s been gone about 5 days, with the rest of the entire winter to go…) (If you’re new to the blog — when he’s not at his home in Florida, he lives in the house directly across the road from me. And we decided to start dating, like, the day before he left for Florida.)

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Okay.

Today is also this —

Gone 6 years today. RIP Eddie Van Halen.

And here’s this, from 1984, “Panama”!

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Okay!

Here’s this!!

Keith!! Doing the polka!!

OOPS! Of course, I meant, wearing polka DOTS!!

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And I loved this.

Allen in his apartment just a few steps away from my old apartment on E.12th Street! And I had 2 fireplaces in the old apartment that looked very much like his looked below. PLUS, I love that he has that photo of Mick & Keith stuck on his fireplace!!

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In the “Urgent Dog Update” Department!!

Oh no! It seems Tupac threw up again!! Apparently, this time, right on Warren Ellis’s brown suit and it appears that Warren might have had to change clothes!!

And here’s this! “Back in Black”!! AC/DC, 1980!!

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And here’s this!!

Your guess is as good as mine on this one, gang!!

What I can at least tell you is: Nick Cave, Mick Harvey, black & white!! From Facebook!!

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Well.

So, yesterday! I really, really loved being back at the old health & wellness store, gang.

I’m re-learning some basics– like how to work the cash register and credit card processor.

But, for the most part, it all came back to me. God, I just love that store. I literally love being in it. The energy of it — it’s a privately owned alternative health store, that’s been run by the same family for about 40 years now.

And at the end of the evening, the owner gave me a big hug and a smile and she said, “I am so happy you came back!!” Yay!

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All right.

I guess that’s it for now.

I gotta get busy bringing those plants indoors and then get back to work on editing the M. Christian tribute anthology.

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

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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Let’s close with this!

Can’t wait for “Ludwig” Season 2 to begin here in the US!! One more week, gang!!

First, a short– (2 mins 22 seconds):


David Mitchell LUDWIG 2 Exclusive Announcement interview 2026 (5 mins):

Another New Life Awaits!

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Okay, gang. I don’t really have much to post about today.

Yesterday was mostly about talking on the phone to everyone imaginable, and also getting the house ready for me to be going off to a job again (3 days a week).

You know, mostly this —

Oh, and you know, after I’d vacuumed my entire house — while my birth mom was here for 3 days:

SHE (when I got home from the airport): “I went ahead and vacuumed. Hope you don’t mind.”

I guess it’s hereditary — this nonstop vacuuming.

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I’m really excited to get back into that store today and start learning again, gang.

I used to know every product in that store, what it was for, why it worked, why you might not need it, why you should stay away from it, or why it might save your life.

A lot of it, I still remember, but a whole lot of it I will have to re-learn. Plus, there’s new stuff out there that I need to find out about!

I’m also really excited to start wearing my regular clothes again!!

For the last 4 years, I’ve worn shirts with specific logos on them. I’d actually forgotten about some of the really pretty sweaters and fall clothes that I had because I hadn’t worn them in so long.

So that feels really great, too! Sort of like having a new wardrobe, but more like getting reacquainted with things I used to love.

I guess it’s called having a life…

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Okay.

Sandra called yesterday to update me on the various things I will most likely need to go to Rhinebeck and NYC for in December and January. I’ll post more exact details here when I can.

God, I just LOVE Rhinebeck, NY!!

Sandra’s cabaret at the Laurie Beechman Theatre in Times Square, in NYC, will still be happening in January, but I’m not sure of the exact date yet. (But another hotel stay is in my not-too-far-off future, gang!!)

And for the next week or ten days, when I’m not working in the store, I will be completing the editing of the M. Christian tribute anthology and turning that in.

After that, my guess is, I will need to focus on tightening the script for Sandra’s one-woman cabaret show (which includes a couple segments from our play, “The Guide to Being Fabulous”).

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Okay!

From Ross K. Nichols Sunday School yesterday–

“Jesus made the Kingdom of God the centerpiece of his message. He said it was the reason he was sent, told his followers to seek it first, and taught them to pray for its coming. But where did the idea come from, what did it require, and was the work ever completed?”

The Kingdom of God: Jesus’ Unfinished Mission (52 mins):

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And here’s this!

A couple from Phyllis Stein!

Joe Strummer atop the Rock, in NYC, 1981! (I love his t-shirt!) (Photo by Bob Gruen)

And regarding the t-shirt — in summer 1981, The Clash played a week-long gig at Bond’s in Times Square, which was one block from where I lived back then. Absolute pandemonium!

AND–

Johnny Thunders smiling in London in 1985! (Photo by Jane Simon)

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Upon first glance here, it almost looks like the family that smokes together, stays together!

However, Marlon isn’t really smoking…

Anyway!

A quite perky Keith, with family, in Germany in 1970!!!

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And here’s this!

From Facebook, no doubt!!

And I think that perhaps this one is a little AI enhanced (?), but I still love it!

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And that is actually it for the “here’s this’s” today.

And I’m guessing that I won’t have too many tomorrow, either. Unless of course the store has a firm policy now that staff members remain on their phones, scrolling through Instagram at all times…

I wouldn’t want to go against a firm policy or anything…

Anyway!!

Enjoy your Monday, wherever you are in the world, gang.

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

**********

Let’s close with this!!

It’s been all over Instagram lately, to promote the release of the 49th Anniversary, My Aim Is True, 5 CD Boxed Set!!

Elvis Costello, Watching The Detectives (Live On Top Of The Pops, October 11, 1977) Enjoy, gang!

I can’t believe it’s been a week already!

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It seems like 5 minutes ago, I was in Charlotte, NC, at James Tabor’s conference, staying in that beautiful hotel!!

Honestly, where does the time fly to, gang?? It is mind-boggling.

Here’s something I wanted to mention about the book signing yesterday:

Two different times, young women (19 or 20, tops) came up to buy a copy of my book. They were excited to buy it. Because they already had heard about it — but not through social media. I found that extremely interesting, especially since no one is reviewing the book, except for Ron Bass, and it doesn’t seem to be selling very well. So I have no way of knowing how people are responding to it.

It seems to be word of mouth.

So, I just found that really, really interesting. Here’s hoping it continues.

The whole event was such a strange experience for me, since all the book signings I’ve done in the past were when my books were really well known. And people came to the event specifically to see me.

Yesterday, except for my friends who stopped by to be supportive, no one had a clue who I was. Plus, it was only me. I thought 2 other writers were going to be there signing, as well, but it was just me. With a table of books, in an empty (but really pretty) mall.

So I really was thrilled to sell almost all the books I had brought with me. I hadn’t expected that.

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Also, on the New Guy front–

We spoke briefly on the phone yesterday. He got to Florida just fine, but his AC is out and it’s 90 degrees Fahrenheit there right now, so he has to sort of drop everything and fix it…

But we had a nice chat and it sort of seems like we’re in a “relationship” — in his opinion. Which is actually totally fine with me.

Sadly, though, I found out why he prefers to get to Florida before Christmas. One of his sons died from cancer many years ago, and then his wife died a few years ago. And so he doesn’t want to be in Ohio anymore at Christmastime.

But he said yesterday on the phone that maybe next year, he won’t head down to Florida until after Christmas. So we shall see, gang.

(He wouldn’t want to miss this insanity, right?? So, we’ll see.)

Simple, downhome Christmas.. Nothing fussy.

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Okay!!

I have an odd mix of “here’s this’s” today.

Someone on Facebook considered this to be the “greatest rock band in the world”… Hmmmm. I’m guessing that I couldn’t agree more! (Rolling Stones, 1969)

And here’s that Happy Family of Rock!!

Keith, Anita, Marlon…. long, long time ago, gang. Marlon is a grandad already.

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Here’s this!

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Stan Lynch, the original drummer for Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, released a song he wrote & sings (with his band The Speaker Wars), in honor of Tom Petty on the 9th anniversary of his passing the other day.

It is just beautiful!! The song and the video.

Stan Lynch and the Speaker Wars – High Flying Bird (Official Video):

“High Flying Bird”

What do you see from way up there
What’s it like in that soft clean air
Quiet calm and understood
Ode to a high flying bird
Flying bird
Flying bird
Flying bird

Must be sweet to have no plans
But how do you know when it’s time to land
Stunning view so I’ve heard
Ode to a high flying bird
Flying bird
Flying bird

I know you’re out there flying round
Hidden in the broken clouds
Will you be singing when it’s my turn
An ode to a high flying bird
Flying bird
High flying bird
High flying bird

c – 2026 Stan Lynch

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And I think ALL of these are from Facebook–

I’ve posted this before, but just a reminder that rock & roll is serious business, gang.

Nick Cave & Iggy Pop!

Have no idea why this is titled “Lost”– but here it is! Nick Cave, lost!

And here’s this!! Couldn’t agree more!

And I know for sure I’ve posted this one before, but I love this photo!! Including but not limited to that shirt!!

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And that’s it for the “here’s this’s”!

Meanwhile…

Valerie in Brooklyn and I are both very excited that Season 2 of “Ludwig” is finally coming to Britbox here in the US!! It starts Oct. 13th!! Yay!!

We both totally adored Season 1…

And BTW — a little update on Valerie .

Even though her hands have both healed nicely from the surgeries, she is now having a terrible ordeal with her eyes. Cataracts and macular degeneration. She is hoping to get surgery by late October, but it might not be until November. And meanwhile, the idea of doing the Writers & Artists mini-podcast is starting to look like it will not happen.

But I guess we’ll see, gang. I could do it by myself, but it just doesn’t seem like it would be nearly as fun.

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Okay!

I officially start back to work tomorrow!!

I am really excited, gang. It’s looking like my schedule will be Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. About 20 hours a week, total. Then the rest of the week will be for my writing projects.

I really think this is going to be a great balance for me.

Meanwhile–

I’m gonna go get the laundry finished here.

Enjoy your Sunday, wherever you are in the world, gang!!

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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Let’s close with this !

From 2 days ago already —

The Rolling Stones – Mr Charm (Official Video):

Wow. What a great morning.

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Even though it is supposed to rain all day…

Before I talk in detail about my great morning, let’s do this!!!

Happy birthday Richard Hell!!!! Born this day in Lexington , Kentucky, in 1949!!

Smoking, gun-toting, shade-wearing, black & white, in NYC, 1976!! (Photo by Roberta Bayley)

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And on a more somber note–

Tom Petty has been gone 9 years, as of today. I hope he is having the time of his (after) life!

Mature Tom!! Shade-wearing, writing, guitar-playing in black & white!!

Attitude Tom, 1 & 2!! Smoking!!

(The only song of Tom Petty’s that I ever played live in NYC folk clubs!! “Don’t Do Me Like That” !! 1979)

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It’s time for the Story of the Week over at Brown Hound Press!

And it’s a really good one!! (And the editor claims the story is the author’s first publication! And it was submitted as a typewritten manuscript! Wow!)

“And the World Was Wide Open” by Willie James Bess

You can read it HERE. (Free)

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From Johhny Depp this morning!

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Here’s Gram Parsons in one of his many Nudie suits!

And here’s this! Gram, with Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt, “In My Hour of Darkness” from Grievous Angel, 1974:

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A couple of Stones smoking — but Brian has TWO!!!!

KEITH (looking away, quietly thinking): “Greedy bastard.”

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A couple of great ones — Jack Kerouac, October!

And if you STILL haven’t read or listened to On The Road, get with it already!! He only wrote it 75 years ago!! God purposely made cigarettes and amphetamines so that we could HAVE great literature like this!! What are you waiting for??

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All right!

It has become clear!!

He is WITH the band!! Not hanging out in the audience!!

From Bad Seed Jim Sclavunos yesterday (meaning that, if you were waiting on me, you missed the show in Porto!):

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Facebook has let me down, gang. They had photos of Nick Cave, but not any good ones today.

I had to go to the desktop stash for this one:

Nick Cave!! (Wondering: What the fuck is the deal with Facebook??)

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All righty!!

Here it is: “The wonderfully true tale of LUNCH and how it went!!”

Wow, gang.

I’m not even sure where to start. I can at least start by saying again: What a nice man. And it is safe to also say that it looks like we’re officially DATING.

Even though he leaves for Florida later today. So it’ll be “long distance, over the phone” dating for a while. (He’ll be back for a week in January, to check on his house — furnace, water pipes, etc.)

We share the same sense of humor and he is so easy to talk to. He says the sweetest, while totally unexpected things. For instance:

“You should enter a beauty contest, you know, in the category of women your age — you’d win that, easily!”

Okay, here are a few things, in no particular order.

In all the best ways, I feel like my dad is back. This guy is taller than me, bigger than me, older (mid-70s), he gives great hugs, he’s smart and he likes to laugh, and he can fix absolutely everything.

And he has plenty of money and property (3 homes in Florida and one across the road from me!).

But 2 of the homes in Florida are up for sale. He loves to buy older homes and rehab them and then sell them. He can’t stand being retired and needs to stay busy… The one remaining home that he is keeping (and living in) has 4 bedrooms and 2 baths and is really pretty– he said (more than once) “Come visit me in Florida! I’ll pay for it! I’m all by myself now.”

He’s a widower with grown children and a couple grandchildren.

And probably most importantly of all!! He owns an enormous RV. He keeps it parked on some property not far from my house, where other campers are parked, but his is in an isolated area because it is huge.

(BTW, he was showing me all this stuff on his phone while we were at lunch.)

I love RVs and campers. I love to go camping. But this RV is 2 stories tall. It’s nothing like the campers of the 1960s. The bedroom is upstairs. It looks a lot like this, but this is not his:

He said, “I really hope you’ll come out and see it. It’s just sitting there now.”

And then he showed me the view outside the upstairs bedroom window — green fields and tons of trees . He said, “You could run around naked out there and no one would see you.”

I thanked him for the head’s up on that…

Anyway. He is of course retired. He worked various kinds of construction his whole life. He’s very down to Earth and just very nice. And after lunch, he came inside for a few minutes to meet the cats and they seemed to really like him, too.

He did not ask me anything specific about my life yet, he was being very polite — he knows I’m divorced, that I’m a writer and that I lived in NYC and worked in publishing for about 30 years. He didn’t ask what kind of writing I do, so I didn’t tell him. I have decided I’m not telling him anything unless he specifically asks me. (Oh, and I mentioned I’m returning part-time to the health & wellness store in town and he has actually shopped there before, because his son is into natural healing and health food, etc.) (He grew up, got married and raised his family in that area of town where the store is now, a long time ago, when it was still just cornfields and farms.)

So we’ll just see how it all goes.

We texted quickly this morning around 6AM and he does indeed use smiley-face emojis!!

I thanked him again for lunch yesterday — I really did have a nice time with him. And he texted back that he feels “good vibes”! (So, yes, we are both kinda OLD!!)

But I’m excited to see where it goes. We’ll likely be talking on the phone for 3 months before I see him again. So I should have a pretty good idea by January.

Meanwhile!!

That’s it for today, gang! Gotta work on the M. Christian anthology now, and tomorrow– my book signing!!

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Enjoy your Friday, wherever you are in the world!

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

*********

Let’s close with this today!!!!

I don’t think it needs any explanation. Enjoy, gang.