It’s at that point now where it is really feeling like fall.
It’s stays dark out in the mornings until 7:30 AM, and by 7:30 PM, I’m lighting the little tea candles in my room and watching TV (or listening to music) by candlelight.
Fall is definitely my favorite time of year, gang — followed extremely closely by Christmas!!
Yay!
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Okay– the sun is coming up now and it is such a gorgeous morning out there!! Something about autumn leaves against a clear blue sky just makes my heart soar, gang.
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All righty.
Today marks 57 years since Jack Kerouac’s passing. RIP, Jack.
And on a related note — I am currently reading 3 books now. I recently added this one to the stack next to my bed and I am really loving it:
If you guys downloaded it last week — when you have a chance to read it, please review it if possible! It helps those algorithms. Thank you!!
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Here’s some great news!!
The B-52s have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame!!
From Fred Schneider yesterday–
And here’s this, while we’re at it!! “Love Shack,” by the B-52s, 1989!!
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From Phyllis Stein!
Iggy & the Stooges at Max’s in NYC, 1973!! (Photo by Danny Fields)
And on the subject of Danny Fields, the photographer (above) — I actually met him once, he was good friends with one of my girlfriends, a playwright.
He and I were riding around the East Village one afternoon, in the back of a rented limousine. We were talking about my songwriting career. I was frustrated because everyone was telling me to move to Nashville — that my songs were too Country for NYC. But I just didn’t want to go to Nashville. I loved NYC… Anyway. He was very nice.
And on another related note — I eventually got a song publishing deal in Nashville. But I got it through my uncle, who was a popular Country singer back then and he was very well-connected in Nashville.
He basically got me the deal –I still have the actual contract– but nothing ever happened with it. I was that determined to never go to Nashville…
Me, in my room back then, never going to Nashville!!
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Here’s Rowland S. Howard not smoking in Cologne in 1992!!
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And from Facebook!
Nick Cave, smoking but, IMHO, not laughing… ?? (Such a great photo.)
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Okay, that is it for today.
Well, darn it — now there’s a heavy fog all over the village.
That’s one thing about living in a valley in the foothills: “Sometimes there’s fog, so quickly!!” (To sort of paraphrase Tennessee Williams and “A Streetcar Named Desire”…)
Anyway.
Hopefully it will lift as quickly as it came, and I won’t have to drive to town in the fog. We shall soon see.
Meanwhile, 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!!
In honor of Jack Kerouac’s passing… His legendary TV appearance on the Steve Allen Show.
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:
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.”
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!!
“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
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!!
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…”
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
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.
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.
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!!
Today is going to be all about taking care of loose ends, gang, before I get really busy — and then also washing my hair!! (Tomorrow I’m supposed to be going to lunch with the gentleman across the street!)
Because, also, tomorrow — the official deadline for contributing stories to the M. Christian tribute anthology arrives. So, beginning tomorrow, I will have my editor’s cap on a lot. Here’s hoping it won’t mess up my hair!!
So with all that hard work in mind, let’s tackle some of these loose ends together!!
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In the “Guess What Day It Is” Department:
Here’s this!!
Happy heavenly birthday Marc Bolan!! Born September 30, 1947 (and gone by September 16, 1977):
And here’s this, appropriately enough! “20th Century Boy,” performed on England’s Top of the Pops, 1973:
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And in the “I had a feeling this was gonna be a good one”‘ Department:
Rave reviews are in for the one-man show, “How Shakespeare Saved My Life,” at the Public Theatre in NYC!
“ONE OF THE TOP ONE-MAN SHOWS I’VE SEEN THIS YEAR”— DAVID WALTERS, THE FRONT ROW CENTER
“A deeply moving testament to transformation, forgiveness, and the power of finding one’s voice” –Deirdre Donovan, Off Off Online
“Brilliant showcase of his dramatic range.”—Kenji Fujishima, TheaterMania
“Ming-Trent’s talent shines through as he portrays a wide range of characters.”—Thom Geier, Culture Sauce
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In the “I actually didn’t know that” Department:
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In the “I’m not really clear if he’s gonna be onstage or in the audience” Department:
From Bad Seed Jim Sclavunos:
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And this next one falls into 2 separate departments–
The “Updates on my dog’s relieving himself in the live studio” Department
And the “I’m not really clear if it was Warren who swallowed the button after playing his viola or the dog did” Department:
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From the “Cool things my heroes said when I was a wee bonnie lass” Department:
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From the “Cool things my heroes are currently doing” Department:
Ronnie Wood has 2 new portraits of Jimi Hendrix, along with some other Jimi Hendrix prints, on display right now at the Handel-Hendrix House in London!
“Lambda Literary nurtures and advocates for LGBTQ writers, elevating the impact of their words to create community, preserve our legacies, and affirm the value of our stories and our lives.”
And this next thing was so cool — it appeared in my Instagram feed yesterday. Not an account I had heard of before, but apparently she was having breakfast with my publisher!!
And in case you live anywhere near Newark, Ohio, please don’t forget to join me on Saturday afternoon! Books will be on sale at the event.
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And I guess that is it!
Oh — I am having a great time looking at the private app James Tabor setup for our conference memories — looking at everyone’s photos and reading everyone’s comments really makes me wish I was still in that wonderful hotel with everyone in Charlotte!!
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.
I am still reading Conversations with Tom Petty (2005) and Tom was talking about what a thrill it was to hear Johnny Cash’s version of Tom’s classic, “Southern Accents”.
So, of course I had to drop everything and listen to it! (I also played it many times on my trip to town yesterday.)
So here it is for you!
Johnny Cash, “Southern Accents,” from his album American II: Unchained, 1996. Enjoy, gang.
“Southern Accents”
There’s a southern accent, where I come from The young ‘uns call it country The Yankees call it dumb
I got my own way of talkin’ But everything is done, with a southern accent Where I come from
Now that drunk tank in Atlanta’s Just a motel room to me Think I might go work Orlando If them orange groves don’t freeze
I got my own way of workin’ But everything is run, with a southern accent Where I come from
For just a minute there I was dreaming For just a minute it was all so real For just a minute she was standing there, with me
There’s a dream I keep having Where my mama comes to me Then kneels down over by the window And says a prayer for me
I got my own way of prayin’ But every one’s begun With a southern accent Where I come from
I got my own way of livin’ But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from
Although I really did miss being in Charlotte last night, gang.
Still, it was so fun to get out of bed here at 6AM today and say a happy hello to all my many cats!
Even though they got along great with my mom, it was so clear to me that they were excited that things were back to normal this morning. They were all frisky as heck!
Oh, here’s something kind of exciting — I don’t know yet if it will really happen, but I hope it does!
One of my girlfriends who works at my favorite health & wellness store in town (I used to work there during the lockdowns), put in her 2 weeks notice while I was away, and I’m looking into taking over her hours!
It would be so cool to be back there, especially since I’m still friends with everyone who works there. Plus, the store is privately owned and only open a limited number of hours/days a week.
I had to leave there once the lockdowns were over, because I couldn’t afford to work retail back then. But now that I have Social Security and the money I inherited from my dad, I can afford it.
So we shall see!! It would certainly take care of this problem I’ve been having of feeling unbelievably isolated out here in the middle of nowhere since I retired…
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Okay!
This week, I have:
The deadline for receiving contributions to the memorial tribute anthology honoring M. Christian. (Meaning, I then have to start editing it.)
My lunch date with the gentleman across the road.
And on Saturday, is my book-signing at the bookstore in the Historic Arcade in Newark!
So it should be a fun week with a nice, even sort of pace.
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Other than that —
I have a TON of “here’s this’s'” that I accumulated while in Charlotte, NC!!
So let’s get started!!
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Most importantly, it seems that this past weekend was International “Bad Seeds Take Their Dogs Out” Weekend!!
On Saturday!
George Vjestica apparently has a tiny little dog named Gucci!!
And on Sunday!
Warren Ellis took his pups out to the woods!!
And here’s this, while we’re at it! Does it get better?? Lou Reed & the Velvet Underground! The sublime “Sunday Morning”, 1966!
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It’s time for Erica Verrillo’s fantastic (FREE) publishing calls-for-submissions and writing contest updates for October!!
Visit HERE! And then click on the various links for current updates.
(You will notice that my old E.12th Street apartment is NOT part of the tour, but if you take the tour, please feel free to DEMAND that they stop at 511 E.12th Street anyway!! And honor all the LGBTQ cool shit that happened in my apartment!! Drugs! Booze! Sex! MUSIC!! Cigarettes!! Writing, writing, writing!! Thanking you in advance!!)
“Discover LGBTQ history hidden in plain sight on this 90-minute expert-led walking tour of New York’s East Village. Celebrate LGBTQ History Month and explore places and people that made this neighborhood a center of LGBTQ art, activism, nightlife, and counterculture.
“Visit the former residences of poet Allen Ginsberg and lesbian activists Ellen Broidy, co-planner of the first NYC Pride March (1970), and Ernestine Eckstein, who was active in the LGBTQ rights movement in the pre-Stonewall years. See if you can hear the echos of dance music as we stand outside the site of The Loft, where David Mancuso hosted egalitarian underground house parties that influenced the city’s club scene. Share memories as we arrive at the former locations of nightclubs The Saint, with its legendary interior dome, and Pyramid Cocktail Lounge, where LGBTQ performers included Andy Warhol, John Waters, performance artist Ethyl Eichelberger, and more.”
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YES!! For some inexplicable reason, this is NOT on the tour!!
Punk bassist/guitarist Blaire N. Bitch, smoking in my bedroom at 4AM!!
Me with my band!
My best friend on Earth — the notoriously gay and now dearly departed from AIDS Paul Martin, in my bathtub!!
And here’s the front of 511 E.12th Street as it looks today. My apartment was the 3rd one up , on the left, with the little AC in the window (back then the fuses in the building were so old, you could not have such a thing as a working AC!! It would blow all the lights out in the building!) (I know this, because we tried it once!!)
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All righty!
Phyllis Stein gave us a scare over the weekend, saying she was basically done posting all her great Punk music photos to Instagram. (But last night, she posted again!!)
But here’s some great photos from when she was departing us–
David Jo and Richard Hell! At Max’s Kansas City, 1976!! (Photo by Bob Gruen)
David Jo with Cyrinda Fox (married for only one year, then they famously split up). At CBGBs, 1976, photo by Roberta Bayley.
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And here’s this!
Also from Phyllis Stein as she was pretending to depart us…
Johnny Thunders in NYC in 1973!!
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And a couple of Keith!!
Smoking backstage at Madison Square Garden in NYC in 1969!!!
Keith comments on Bob Dylan!! (I think he’s saying what we’re all thinking!!)
And how about this??
I might have posted it here before, but I just love it!!
(I would not have survived 1975 without these 2 guys!!)
Ronnie Wood and Keith Richards:
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A little bit more info about the upcoming Johnny Depp movie ,”Day Drinker”–
Looks like fun for the whole family!!
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AND!!
A bunch more great photos of Nick Cave!!
From Facebook! Oh No!!
Priceless!
Nick onstage twenty years ago in Paris!! Smoking!! Singing!! Facial hair!!
And a couple more from long ago…
I believe this was 1990, photo by Peter Walsh (?)
And this was possibly LA in 1990, photo by Jonathan Kirn (?)
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And whew!
That’s it!
Gotta finish the laundry here and then head to town because I am ABSOLUTELY out of cat food here!!!
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!!
From yesterday!
Elvis Costello Unboxes ‘My Aim Is True’ 49th Anniversary Edition!
I think the torture is getting ready to stop around here.
At least, for a little while.
These past couple weeks were just too intense.
But some of the good news is–
I heard from Rasha’s mom yesterday (Rasha is the cat that I’ve been cat sitting for 10 months already). She has finally found an affordable apartment for herself and her baby boy, so she will be able to take Rasha back in October.
I love Rasha, she’s a very sweet (and smart!) cat, but I already have way too many cats, so this will be a real relief.
Now we’ll have enough tennis raquets for everybody!
Also!
I received the official invitation to give a presentation at the Greater Lehigh Valley Writer’s Group conference in March!! (In eastern Pennsylvania — my old stomping ground!)
I’ll be giving 2 one-hour talks over that weekend. One about networking with professionals, and one about adapting your work to markets. And I’ll also be on a panel.
(From the schedule they sent, it appears they also want me to have cookies and chat with other writers!! Some people just want everything!!)
Anyway! I’m really looking forward to it. But something tells me that March will be here in about 14 seconds...
And in other good news–
Things seem to be proceeding scam-free with the other two narrator/producers I’m working with on the audiobooks. Those projects aren’t due until early 2027, so things should be calmer now with all that.
And — FINALLY!! Amazon’s algorithm kicked in and they posted that really great review I got from the NYC poet, Ron Bass, for The Curse of Our Profound Disorder.
And I only had to jump through fucking hoops last night to make that happen, gang, by posting the review everywhere online that I could think of where I was allowed to post it! Then, voila! By 2AM this morning, it’s suddenly on Amazon! (A review that was submitted on September 16th…)
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All righty.
Yesterday was the anniversary of Gram Parson’s passing. (If you don’t know the story of his death, it is basically legendary.) (And, also, if you didn’t know, Gram was Keith Richards’ closest friend back then.)
And here’s Emmylou Harris’s stunning song about Gram’s death. She had been his backup singer at the time. “Boulder to Birmingham” (1978):
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And the day before that–
On September 18th, it was the anniversary of Jimi Hendrix’s death. He died in 1970.
His death was legendary, too, but in a not very good way at all. (Don’t get my “conspiracy theorist” brain started…)
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Okay.
Johnny Depp was indeed in Shanghai yesterday, talking about his art to a group of eager phones!!
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And here’s this!
Strummer on Springsteen!
And here’s this, while we’re at it! From 1978, Springsteen’s “Darkness on the Edge of Town”!
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Here’s this!!
The latest selfie from Warren Ellis!! ……..
Hmmm.
There seems to be a sudden dearth of selfie’s by Warren Ellis!! Maybe he’s off rehearsing with The Dirty Three, who go on their European Tour beginning in October! (Check the schedule and buy tickets HERE)
Meanwhile, we can re-visit one of his classic selfie’s!!
Warren celebrating jet lag!! (I think this was after the tour of Australia.)
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Okay!
And today I’ve got a bunch of Nick Cave photos!!
I think I might have posted this one before, but I love it!
And here’s this!
Nick Cave in wings!!
Nick Cave in a green shirt!! With a pen!! And a pair of glasses!!
Nick Cave in SPEX magazine!! 1990!!
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And that is it!!
It’s Sunday today, so I gotta head to town here soon and do all the grocery shopping. (Food for me, food for cats! It never stops!)
Then I have a ton of laundry to get to today, too.
And if my brain begins to feel anywhere near normal later, I’ll try to focus on my own writing again.
Meanwhile…
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!!
In honor of the late great Jimi Hendrix.
From 1967, his legendary classic, “Foxey Lady”. From the equally legendary album, Are You Experienced. Enjoy, gang.
I did indeed wake-up this morning, and I am still here.
Why I am — is anyone’s guess, at this point.
But since I am still here, I’m going to try to make the best of this day.
Starting here, as usual…
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Yesterday afternoon, I did decide to at least put in an online application for that part-time job that appealed to me. We’ll see if they call me for an interview.
Mostly, I just want to be around people. Noisy people, even. People who aren’t dying. So we’ll see.
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And sadly–
I did finally get a chance to talk on the phone with my old school friend yesterday — the one that I’ve known since Jr. High School (1972), who reconnected with me on Facebook the other day.
It was very sad. She is now confined to a nursing home, waiting to be transferred to Assisted Living — none of it is really her choice. But she is very ill and it won’t get better. And her family made the decision for her.
I am going to try to visit her before I leave for North Carolina, but definitely as soon as I get back if I can’t get to Columbus this week.
If you live in the US and you’re on Medicare, I am 100% confident to share with you who handles my Long Term Care insurance, in case you want to look into them where you live:
The more I see what friends go through as they age, at least out here in Ohio, the more grateful I am that an agent from the company found me when I turned 65. They are honest and they really help you make decisions that are based on the reality of your age, your income, and where you live.
Where you live is key for Medicare and Long Term Care insurance, gang.
A couple of older people I know here in Ohio switched over to Bankers Life, when they told me how unhappy they were with their insurance companies, and they were really glad they switched.
For my girlfriend who is now confined to a nursing home/Assisted Living, and forced to be on Medicaid, it is too late. At least here in Ohio, once you’re on Medicaid, they take everything from you and your life is as good as over; your freedom, gone.
So just, you know, find someone you really trust to help you make your Medicare plans.
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All righty!
Let’s try to get on a cheerier note!
Here’s this!!
I loved Hunter S. Thompson so much, gang. He was one of my very favorite writers. (And being a hardcore conspiracy theorist, I don’t believe he “committed suicide”…)
Anyway.
My dear (and now dearly departed) friend, Kent — the one who was a geologist and used to work for NASA, and who once told me, “Those rocks didn’t come from any moon!” — was the friend who first turned me on to Hunter’s work by giving me his copy ofFear and Loathing in Las Vegaswhen we were 15.
I was familiar with Hunter’s name because I was an avid reader of Rolling Stone magazine back then. But this was the first book of Hunter’s that I read (and afterward, I proceeded to buy & read everything he wrote.)
And here’s something I loved: The one and only book that was ever stolen out of my apartment on E. 12th Street in NYC, was Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas!!
When I discovered it was missing (I don’t know who stole it, but people came and went constantly back then), I thought: “Wow! They really needed that book!”
I thought it was so cool! And I went out and bought another copy. And YES!!! Eventually, it got stolen, too! (What a great book! Everyone had to have it.)
But the 3rd time was the charm. Here’s my current copy:
And here’s the inside cover!!
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And speaking of Johnny Depp!!
(He did a fantastic job playing Hunter in the film version. I still have my VHS copy of the movie. Maybe I’ll re-watch it on the VCR later!)
Here’s this!
From Johnny’s production company IN.2 Records — Johnny plays guitar on at least one track.
The album The Great Behind, by Glenn Richards & the Venus Lakes will be released Oct. 9th 2026. Pre-order it HERE!
Glenn Richards & The Venus Lakes – 1990Never (Lyric Video):
Great song. I am already anticipating having it on my driving-to-town playlist!
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Okay!
If you thought I was just kidding when I posted recently that “tiny Richard Hell heads” used to be very popular….
Here’s Richard Hell!! With — you guessed it! Another “tiny Richard Hell head”!!
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And here’s Ric Ocasek, on a smoke break and leaning against a trailer!!
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Oh!
This was GREAT!!
I watched it during breakfast this morning. She really gives a thorough explanation about why any gospels concerning Mary Magdalene did not make it into what became the New Testament.
“…dive deep into the enigmatic and often misunderstood Gospel of Mary Magdalene with renowned scholar Dr. Elaine Pagels. In an episode that promises to challenge traditional narratives, Dr. Pagels sheds light on the mysterious texts that reveal a different side of one of Christianity’s most fascinating figures.”
Myth Vision — Mary’s Lost Gospel ROCKS Christianity! | Dr. Elaine Pagels (14 mins):
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And from Bad Seed George Vjestica yesterday!
(My answer was: May 2, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio, USA!)
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And as much as he said he is going to relax now, I’m afraid Nick Cave is going to have to go back on tour! Pronto! The photos are really getting to be slim-pickings!!
From Facebook:
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And, yes, that’s it!!
The other day, when I was supposed to go shopping at Kohl’s with my girlfriend — she had to cancel at the last minute. Her daughter had to work late and so my girlfriend had to pick up her grandson from football practice.
But she texted this morning, and we might try to meet up at Kohl’s this afternoon. It really has been such an intense week for me, gang. I could probably use a mindless sort of outing of shopping today — a sunny day, a good friend, a store that has happy memories for me.
So we shall see!
Meanwhile, enjoy your Saturday, wherever you are in the world.
Thanks for visiting.
I love you guys. See ya!
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Let’s close with this!!
It’s been a while! But in honor of a possible trip to Kohl’s with Cathy!!
The Sandpipers!! “Come Saturday Morning”!! 1969. Enjoy, gang.
However, I woke up with the idea that I might want to take on a part-time job and get back into the world again, starting next month. (There’s a specific part-time job that I’m interested in. )
I figured I should put some sort of a resume together. I haven’t done that in a zillion years.
I found an old resume in a Documents file on my laptop. It’s from when I lived in NYC! And that is what exhausted me, gang — reading it!!
I have to share some of it with you!!
And FYI — in the jobs I had in the 1990s, I was also a full-time writer at the same time.
This one was my first management position in NYC. It was when I was 20-23 yrs old!! WTF!
1980-1983 Manager, Le Café Restaurant, New York, NY
I was the Daytime Manager of Le Café, a health-food/fast food counter- service style restaurant in Times Square. I worked the 5:45 AM – 2:15 PM front-of-the-house management shift, overseeing an average of 800 breakfast transactions and over 2,000 lunch transactions daily. In my area of the restaurant, I had a staff of 9, and oversaw 7 cash drawers in a high-volume, extremely rapid transaction environment. In my capacity as Daytime Manager, I was instrumental in keeping my staff focused, calm, efficient and enthusiastic under all forms of duress associated with a Times Square environment, including in-house thefts and armed robberies, one of which resulted in the killing of the Night Manager on the premises. I scheduled all breaks and daily cleaning assignments, and balanced 7 cash drawers at the end of my shift.
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During that unbelievably exhausting job, above, I was also a budding singer-songwriter in the West Village. So many of the folks who worked in that Cafe were also musicians!
And here’s what I was doing on W. 57th Street, from age 23-25, when I worked for Ralph Ginzburg :
1983-1985 Department Manager, Avant-Garde Media, New York, NY
I managed Avant-Garde Media’s mail order book club department and was in charge of all communications with book club members, specifically handling and bringing to a satisfying conclusion all cases involving the N.Y State Attorney General’s consumer complaint division.
And my “higher education” back then consisted of a 2-year degree in 24-track recording/audio engineering… Mind-blowing that I even got that job.
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This was interesting!
This is what I did at MoMA part-time for 9 years! At this point, my singer-songwriter career was in full swing, and I drank like a fish and took drugs occasionally and generally stayed out all night…and then by 1988, I shifted into publishing, as well.
1985- 1994 Shop Steward, in-House Catering Services, the Museum of ModernArt (MoMA) New York, NY
In addition to being the museum’s Assistant Pastry Chef for 1 year, I worked in in-house catering for the museum and was the Union Shop Steward for 8 years. I handled all complaints between the 30 union members and Catering Management and had a reputation for diffusing volatile situations in the workplace. I oversaw all in-house Union meetings and helped set-up and manage picket lines during Union strikes, ensuring that all protests remained peaceful and well-organized.
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Jesus Christ, right??!! I remember drinking a lot at MoMA and fooling around with Valerie constantly. I’d forgotten about all that other stuff!
And then when I was full-time into the publishing business, this was my final “job”, while also being a full-time writer.
2000-2006 Founder & President of the EAA, New York, NY
As President of the EAA, an international writers’ association, I oversaw the handling of daily publicity for the careers of several hundred genre fiction writers and small presses in the US, Canada, the UK, and France. I oversaw all details of the EAA’s online publishing company, including tracking and payment of monthly royalties to all writers. I testified in United States Supreme Court in support of the First Amendment rights of several American EAA writers, as well as the EAA at large, in the case of U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft vs. American Civil Liberties Union, case 535 U.S. 564 in Philadelphia. I also oversaw high-profile book-launch parties and curated related art gallery exhibits in New York.
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Yes, Supreme Court and art galleries…
I guess it’s no wonder my mind is wandering toward some sort of part-time job where I can interact with busy people again.
Not only do I feel really isolated out here in the middle of nowhere, but I am very disheartened by the publishing world these days. Especially the onslaught of AI in every area of it. And impersonal social media apps in every area of it, as well.
Plus I am reasonably convinced that one of the narrators/producers I entered into a contract with to produce one of my audiobooks, has indeed already scammed me and was likely the perpetrator of the scam on my bank account on Monday, too. (I can’t prove that last part. It’s just what my bones tell me when I piece it all together.) Yes! He has vanished. And it was ALL done on banking apps!
I’m not going to give up being a writer, but I’m kinda disillusioned with what “publishing” has become, gang. So we’ll see.
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On the happier front!!!
Friends continue to help me out financially!! Including some cash from my ex-husband in Seattle. And Wayne in NYC, just now donated to my GoFundMe!!!
And Sandra called last evening to say she could either send me some cash, OR pay for my airfare and hotel room in NYC when I go there in late January!! Wow!!
As of just now, thanks to Wayne, I have officially gotten ALL my money back — in the space of 4 days — from friends and former husbands. It feels so incredible.
And I guess I can at least say this much: On January 20th, at The Laurie Beechman Theatre on W.42nd Street, in NYC, Sandra will be doing a special “birthday cabaret” one-woman show that will be a pre-runner of our play, “The Guide To Being Fabulous.” It will be Sandra’s 75th birthday!! I cannot wait!!
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Okay.
This broke my heart.
From Phyllis Stein.
September 16th was the anniversary of Marc Bolan’s passing. 49 years! I remember it so vividly, gang, the day he died.
And this was the first T. Rex 45 RPM single that I bought– “Bang A Gong (Get It On)” 1971! It is still fantastic!!
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And here’s from Facebook last night!
And I don’t know if this was taken at Susie Cave’s 60th birthday book party on Wednesday night or not — the fan is wearing a Susie t-shirt, so I think it might be:
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And, YES!! I got a ton of housecleaning done yesterday, so I don’t have more than this to post today.
However.
Enjoy your Friday, 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!
Keith Richards’ wonderful contribution to the upcoming “Grand Theft Auto VI” soundtrack!! The blues classic, “Bright Lights, Big City”!!! You can stream it now on your favorite platform! Movie is coming November 19th. Enjoy, gang!
