Tag Archives: books

New habits underway in the Hinterlands!

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Okay, so it’s looking like Tuesdays are now my new day to go to town and get the groceries!

And, wow, it is another really gorgeous day today, gang. It will be such a lovely drive.

And I’ve decided to stop in at the Honda dealership in town, too, and see if there’s any way at all they would let me either re-negotiate the lease on my current Honda Civic, or let me trade it in a year early (on a 3-year lease).

My current lease was negotiated back when I still had really horrible credit, leftover from the bankruptcy caused by the scamdemic lockdowns. And so my monthly payment is really high — over twice what I usually paid on leases before the bankruptcy.

I was really grateful that they still arranged a lease for me on a brand new car when I had such lousy credit, but, well, I thought I’d just see if I have any options 2 years later. (Sometimes they want the cars back so that they can turn around and sell them used for a “truckload” of money…) We’ll see. I still love the car. I just don’t love the high payment.

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All right.

If you didn’t see the recent video on social media of the new Rolling Stones song, “Mr. Charm”, underscoring some really funny footage of Ronnie Wood being, well, annoying in the recording studio… Well, it was really cute!

And now! Ronnie Wood announces a new work of art! Limited to 195 prints, each is hand-signed, numbered, and named. Coming August 7th!! (Order it HERE)

“Mr. Charm”:

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Yesterday, the weekly newsletter from Black Lawrence Press reminded us to take the Sealey Challenge in August!!

“The Sealey Challenge, a community challenge to read one poetry book a day in the month of August, is in its 10th year! Be sure to check out their website for bingo cards, participation suggestions, and ways to modify the challenge if you don’t have the time to devour 31 whole books this month.”

And, yes! Since I have plenty of TIME now, I began the challenge yesterday by reading Thaddeus Rutkowski’s new poetry collection, Tracks In Snow (Finishing Line Press).

I really enjoyed it! (Although I love everything he’s ever written…)

I realized that I easily have at least 31 books of poetry in the house already — about 29 of which I haven’t read in a really long time. Plus, about 15 of them were written by poets that I actually know, so it will be fun to revisit everyone.

Next up is Awakened (2006, Rogues Scholars Press) by Iris N. Schwartz & Madeline Artenberg. Both just wonderful poets! But apparently, I haven’t read the book in 20 years!! I’m looking forward to reading it again tonight.

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Before I forget, I found out some really disturbing news yesterday about the new neighbors across the road from me — the ones who recently bought and are rehabbing the little 125-year-old house that has sat empty for 8 years…

They spend their winters in Florida!!!

I was flabbergasted!

ME (flabbergasted): “You mean, you’re not going to be here for Christmas??!!”

HE: “We’re not into Christmas. Never have been.”

I was so looking forward to seeing how they were going to decorate the little house… Oh well.

(Loyal readers of this lofty blog no doubt recall that I am in no way over-the-top about Christmas…)

Not me

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Okay.

Here’s this!

I hear that train a-coming, honey!!

Johnny Cash, in front of Folsom Prison, 1968!!

And here’s this (again), while we’re at it! One of my favorite songs of all time!! Johnny Cash, “Folsom Prison Blues” LIVE, 1968!!

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And here are a few more photos from the Bad Seeds’ show in Dresden on Sunday!!

George & Larry!

And here’s this! Nick Cave in “Fucking Dresden — so beautiful!” I concur!!

And another WONDERFUL shot of Nick–

Tonight & tomorrow, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds play Croatia! Tomorrow is SOLD OUT, but you can buy tickets here for tonight if you hurry — and if, you know, you , like, live down the block…!!

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All righty.

That is it!

I am off to town to run the various errands.

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

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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Let’s close with this!

Speaking of poetry in August…

Yes, I am still reading John Cooper Clarke’s really long autobiography (and still loving it!!) I Wanna Be Yours (Picador UK, 2020).

So, from the punk poet himself, John Cooper Clarke, a punk poetry recital on London TV in 1980: “Beasley Street”. Enjoy, gang!

Monday Swings Around Again!

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As you can see, I did not make it back here to the blog yesterday. But never fear, here I am now!

I did go to the Sunday Mass at the Children of Mary convent yesterday. Wow, are the grounds amazing. You would never, ever, EVER, in a million years, guess that a convent was hidden up in those woods — unless somebody told you about it.

Obviously, it is way out in the country. And then you follow a twisting, turning gravel road — up and up, surrounded by trees — and then suddenly there are a bunch of old cabins and barns. Some cows and sheep. Some sacred statues hidden among all the trees. And you are there.

About 20 Sisters live there, and they basically built the chapel themselves (25 years ago), which is like a really large and incredibly peaceful, beautiful log cabin-ish kind of thing.

Really, just beautiful.

It turns out, though, that the convent is not that far from my house but I live directly on the other side of it from where my girlfriend lives (in town). So, coming from her direction, it felt like we were way out in the middle of fucking nowhere yesterday — and that’s pretty much where my house is! In the middle of fucking nowhere!

But I digress!

Anyway, I’m glad I had the opportunity to experience it. Plus, it was supposed to rain yesterday, but it didn’t. It was a beautiful day.

Here’s another photo I found online:

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Today, I have quite a few things to do here at my desk, so I need to get started on that soon.

Plus, since I didn’t post yesterday, I have a ton of “here’s this’s” today!!

So let’s get started!!

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First, this was very, very interesting!

From Ross K. Nichols’ Sunday School, yesterday afternoon:

“The Bible tells us that one family was entrusted with the care of Israel’s most sacred objects, including the ark of the covenant and the scroll of Moses kept beside it. The biblical writers use different terminology for this family. Were they priests or not?

“In this study, we will survey competing priestly claims, disputed genealogies, and traces of an ancient struggle preserved by biblical writers.

“Then something remarkable happens: the ark disappears, the scroll vanishes from view, and the family entrusted with their care is no longer mentioned.

“What happened to the Bible’s most holy things, and could the words of one member of the chosen family help us carry on without them?”

The Disappearance of the Bible’s Most Holy Things (1 hr):

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From the Mid-America Arts Alliance:

Artist and Arts Organization Opportunities and Deadlines:

“(MAAA) is accepting pitches from creators interested in showcasing local artists, cultural events, and creative communities across Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and the Native nations that share these geographies. Selected contributors will receive $250 to capture 10 short vertical smartphone videos (15+ seconds each) and provide a brief written description. Arts in Mid-America will edit the footage, add narration, and share the finished videos on its social media channels, with contributors receiving credit. The opportunity is open for events taking place between August and December 2026. Check out this example video for an idea of how your footage will be used.”

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Yesterday was the anniversary of the death of Bill Burroughs!

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Here are the Rolling Stones looking happy in London in 1969!

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And Saturday was the Heavenly Birthday of one of my all-time favorite people, Jim Carroll!

From Phyllis Stein! Jim with Keith in NYC, 1980. Yes, Jim Carroll was TALL!!

Oh, and here’s this. Being retired now (!!) gives me time to do all sorts of interesting things — like look through books I’ve owned for a million years!

I took this book of poems by Jim Carroll down from my bookshelf last week —

The book came out in Spring of 1986, after I’d taken that amazing songwriting class with Jim Carroll at the West Side’ Y’ in NYC for several months in 1984.

I flipped open the book and discovered this on the title page:

And then I remembered how, when I presented the book to him at the bookstore in NYC to have him sign it, in that intensely thick, inimitable, high-pitched NY accent, Jim said: “Marilyn! How ya been?”

It just thrilled me that he remembered me.

Had I not retired 2 weeks ago, I would not have taken that book down from my bookshelf last week, and I would never have remembered that beautiful little moment of my long-lived life…

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Okay.

Here’s this!

From Phyllis Stein!! Information about how to watch this movie online!!

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Okay.

I had tons more photos from the Bad Seeds’ show in Brighton, but it turns out, that couple who were in Brighton — and who I now follow on Instagram — actually attended the show in Dresden, Germany, yesterday and so I will sort of move along to Dresden!

From that same couple:

Oh — well, here’s this. George Vjestica posted this of the crowd in Brighton, nearly 50,000 people:

Warren Ellis, waiting on a plane to Dresden!!

Warren Ellis on an elevator in Dresden!!

The set list!

And this was really great.

This morning, Nick Cave sent out a Red Hand File about his homecoming in Brighton. He said, in part:

“…I want to thank everyone who came to the concert – so many faces I recognised from years gone by. It was a homecoming in many different ways, and although part of me is relieved the Preston Park show is behind me – sometimes my job is so completely and emotionally overwhelming – I’m happy we could, for a delirious moment in time, create a place where the absent and the present could dance together. Again, thank you….”

You can read it in full HERE.

NICK AND KYLIE, PRESTON PARK, PHOTOGRAPH BY CHLOE IRVING

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds play Croatia next — on August 4th & 5th — but the show on August 5th is SOLD OUT. You can buy tickets to Tuesday’s show HERE.

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And that is it for now!!

The laundry is actually already done.

And now I’m gonna head out for another one of those amazing walks because the weather is beautiful yet again.

And then I’m gonna get to work around here.

Enjoy your Monday, wherever you are in the world.

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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A wonderful Saturday is upon us!

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Cloudy, grey, humid — but still! What a great day!

Before I forget — I will not be posting tomorrow, at least not in the morning, because I am indeed going to attend Sunday Mass at that convent hidden up in the hills! And I need to be at my girlfriend’s house over in town by 8:30AM.

Children of Mary

I don’t know if I’ll be able to get any photos because I really don’t like having my phone with me in church, but we’ll see. The grounds are allegedly just beautiful, so I might want to try to get photos of that.

I did indeed tune into the the online Collapse Press poetry reading last night! It was really engaging. But it sure made me miss the poetry readings I used to attend all the time in NYC, before any of that kind of stuff was online.

Back when everything was more personal…

And then I remembered —

ME (remembering): “Oh wait. I was one of the pioneers in getting poetry and spoken word readings online!”

Marilyn’s Room, Inc. sometimes partnered with Broadcast.com and Psuedo.com back in the late 1990s in NYC, and I brought all kinds of writers and poets to be on the live broadcasts for the very first time! Back when all of that impersonal Internet stuff was brand new!

How quickly we forget…

Oh right. That was me…

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From Metrograph Weekend, an interview with Tsai Ming-liang!

His 1998 movie, The Hole, is now on 35mm and currently showing at Metrograph in NYC.

I love that movie!!! It’s sort of indescribable and it is so entertaining. (I love all his movies.)

One of my favorite scenes from the film:

The Hole by Tsai Ming-liang | Trailer HD:

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Okay.

Here’s this!!

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers! Smoking in Amsterdam in 1977! I love that HAIR!!!

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And I absolutely loved this!

I thought I knew all of Ethan Russell’s photos of Keith from 1972! But this was a new one!

Keith smoking backstage in LA, on the 1972 Exile On Main St. Tour:

And here’s another one of Keith with Buddy Guy on his 90th birthday.

(Oh, and when I was at lunch with my “buddy” Steve yesterday, he told me that one of our mutual friends from high school will be in NYC with her husband in October to see the Buddy Guy 90th Birthday Bash at Radio City Music Hall!! Buy tickets here!)

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From Phyllis Stein.

A lovely photo of the late, great playwright Sam Shepard!

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And now let’s return to Brighton!!

First — today and tomorrow is the Nick Cave Cinema Takeover at Duke of York’s Picturehouse in Brighton! (It’s probably going on right now. Well, I’ll be, um, curious to see how people respond to some of these films, gang…)

And that random couple I started following around (via Instagram) on Thursday had some great photos from yesterday!!

And the HUGE surprise of the night was when Kylie Minogue joined Nick and the Bad Seeds onstage. There were literally TONS of videos and photos of that, but here are just a couple:

And here’s this, while we’re at it!! From way back in 1995!

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds ft. Kylie Minogue – “Where The Wild Roses Grow“:

And a couple more photos from the concert last night:

It really looked like everyone had such a great time in Brighton the past couple of days. I had so much fun scrolling through all the videos and photos.

The tour resumes in Dresden, Germany on Sunday. You can buy tickets here!

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And I think that is it for now!! I gotta lot of work to tackle here at my desk today, so I’m gonna get started!

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 Brighton, last night!!

We’re getting it figured out around here!

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Wow, I’m tired this morning.

I slept great, so I’m not sure what’s up. I absolutely need a nap. But I did have a great evening last night.

Mostly, lots of texting — in between studying French, reading Jesus’ Bible: A Concise History of the Hebrew Scriptures, still reading John Cooper Clarke’s autobiography, I Wanna Be Yours (it’s a really long book, but I’m almost done and I’m still loving it) —

I also got texts from several people, basically all at once. Including from Wayne — who really got me chuckling, I must say. His text auto-corrected itself and so, unbeknownst to him, he updated me on his Cadillac surgery from yesterday. It took me a moment to realize he’d had “cataract” surgery. But that sent us off on a little tangent that was so funny. (I then remembered perfectly why I had married Wayne…)

I also got a few texts from my buddy Steve, the guy I’ve been friends with since we were 11. He asked me out for lunch for Friday! So he and I are meeting at Bummies on Main tomorrow! It should be really fun!

I love this specific photo because it looks like it’s totally abandoned out West somewhere…

I also got a few texts from the girlfriend who told me recently about the hidden Convent out in the woods! We might be going to Mass there together this coming Sunday morning!! Not confirmed yet, but I hope so!!

Children of Mary Convent

After I was done reading and studying and texting all at the same time — I lay in bed listening to this on LibriVox. It is read by David Barnes, who is one of my favorite readers on LibriVox. (This is the YouTube link, but it is the very same audiobook that’s on LibriVox.)

Written in 1373, Revelations of Divine Love by Julian of Norwich (7 hrs):

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I thought this announcement today from the Laurie Beechman Theatre in NYC was really cool. (This is the theatre under the West Bank Cafe on W. 42nd Street.)

“The Laurie Beechman Theatre and York Theatre Company are thrilled to introduce the first three “Stars To Be” as part of their new Star to Be Project, which gives support and performance opportunities to the next generation of theater and cabaret artists. 

Created in response to the rising costs of producing live performance in New York City, the program removes financial barriers for emerging performers, writers, and creators while ensuring the theatre can continue its legacy as a vital incubator for new work. The goal is to bring these talents to a wider audience through solo performances, guest spot opportunities, and Beechman sponsored industry showcases.”

The first show in the series will be on August 27th. You can get info and tickets HERE.

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Johnny Depp’s Art Exhibit, “Figures of the Fringe”, is headed to Shanghai in August! (I believe this is the same “A Bunch of Stuff” exhibit that I saw in NYC with Wayne and just loved.)

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On a very sad note–

Glen Hansard, an Irish singer-songwriter/musician, died in a motorcycle crash in Dublin yesterday. (Here is his obituary in the NY Times.)

He was not a musician I was familiar with, but there were outpourings of grief all over Instagram yesterday. Including this:

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Okay, here’s this lovely photo of Johnny Thunders from Phyllis Stein.

In NYC in 1973 (photo by Toshi Matsuo):

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And the huge Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds’ homecoming bash in Brighton has officially gotten underway. There have been a couple of videos on Instagram but no photos yet! (A really, really long line to get into the Resident record shop there.)

But in the meantime, here’s this!! From the fantastic FB page!

By tomorrow, there should probably be a lot more photos, and then tomorrow night is the actual SOLD OUT concert.

I’m guessing it’s gonna be off the charts!!

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And I believe that is it for now!

I’m gonna go out and take a walk and see if it helps me get my energy back.

This evening I’ll be at the Historic Arcade, in the Archive Bottle Shop & Lounge with Debbie!! A little live acoustic music, beer, wine, and charcuterie boards!! Plus, most importantly, (quiet) conversation!!! Yay!

Okay.

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

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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I leave you with this! (It’s got a lot of Keith stuff!!)

The Rolling Stones – Speaking In Tongues | The Official Podcast (Episode 6) Enjoy, gang!

It just gets better and better!

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This idea that I now have TIME, gang. Yay!!

Today at noon is the monthly Zoom meeting for the Tabor Research Group. I almost never get to join in on that when it’s LIVE. I almost always have to listen to the recorded playback. But not anymore!!

I am so looking forward to joining that meeting live today, gang. (And I might actually leave my room! I’m thinking I might just hang out in the family room and totally chill-ax in the AC during the 3-hour call! We shall soon see!)

Me! Maybe!

And tomorrow at 3pm, is a live Zoom call with Ross K. Nichols’ Yachad Group! Again, I almost never get to listen to that one live, either. So I’m excited about joining that meeting tomorrow, as well.

And yesterday, I had another really productive day, gang.

I submitted everything I needed to submit for my proposal to speak at the writers conference in Pennsylvania in the Spring . I feel really positive about it but I will keep you posted.

Also, the bookstore in the Historic Arcade sent me an email yesterday about joining their “book cafe” to introduce my new book to local readers. So that felt very promising that I might actually get to do that book signing there, as well. It will still be a couple weeks before I will know for sure, but at least I now know I can get my book in the store.

That makes 2 local independent bookstores in 2 nearby towns! Yay!

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Okay!

To celebrate all these great new things in my life–

Keith and Anita, smoking while getting out of a taxi!! In 1973!!

Patti smoking a pen, while sitting on a couch with Theodora when she had that early Coke habit!! (BTW — pens are so much healthier for you, gang. Remember that, the next time you wanna light up a cigarette!!) (And depending on the pen, it can be a lot cheaper.)

And Keith not smoking, while leading the glorious Rolling Stones Mobile Recording Unit onto the Villa Nellcote property, on June 7th 1971!! (That was what led to the thing that absolutely changed my life forever, gang!)

And here’s that thing that changed my life forever — made in the Mobile Recording Unit!!

Exile on Main Street, in that glorious Year of Our Lord –1972!!

The BACK cover, for a change!! I just loved staring at this while listening to the records in my room.

Who can forget these opening chords?? Not me!! They changed my life forever!!

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And here’s this–

Joe Strummer hard at work on Friday!!

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Okay.

They did start posting some photos from Johnny Depp’s visit to Comic Con to promote Ebenezer. Here are a couple of them — but the actual videos are just really, really cute!

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And as we await Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds’ upcoming homecoming bash in Brighton — (you cannot buy tickets here because it is SOLD OUT!!) —

We go to the desktop stash for a trip back in time!! August 1991, to be exact!!

Nick Cave in a great shirt!! (And please ignore the “send a gift” thingie!! No one is in need of any gifts at this time.)

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And I believe that is it for now.

This morning is the final morning where we will have really beautiful weather. The heat’s going up this afternoon, followed by several days of rain and thunderstorms. So I’m gonna head out for another walk before the Zoom meeting gets started.

And I want to say thanks again for continuing to visit my (mostly inactive until the podcast begins) Substack page, for continuing to buy my books and eBooks, for checking out my out-of-print books on the Internet Archive, and for pre-ordering The Curse of Our Profound Disorder.

These things really help me to stay positive and to keep on going at this lofty age of 66. So thank you, thank you, thank you.

I hope you have a happy 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!!

Here on the Oldies FM Radio Station on the retro boombox next to my bed, Saturdays are “Amazing 80s” Day!!

So, fresh from 1984, here was this morning’s first offering!!

“Shooting at the walls of heartache bang bang!!” — Yes!!

“The Warrior” by Scandal ft. Patty Smyth! Turn it up loud because you have NO CHOICE!! Enjoy, gang!!

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Back to work around here!

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But before we get back to work —

I have to tell you, gang, that I did indeed drive to town yesterday to listen to the live acoustic music at that little place in the Historic Arcade.

OMG, I am so glad I went. What a beautiful little lounge. Technically, it’s a bottle shop — they sell wine and craft beer to take away. But they also serve it there, too. Along with charcuterie boards. And it is tiny — it only seats 20. But it is so peaceful in there, and just so pretty. Here are a couple of photos I found online:

The owners in front of the shop, inside the Historic Arcade:

So you can see by the above photo, that it is tiny. But I just loved it. And the vibe is just so friendly. (Here is their website: The Archive in Newark.)

And I thought this was interesting — including me, there were 19 people there when the live acoustic music started at 5:30pm, so the place was basically full. And of those 19 people, only 3 were young enough to still have their brown hair — everyone else there, including me, had silver hair!! A totally older crowd. And yet you can also see by the photo above that the owners are really young!

I found that just really interesting — talk about finding a target audience.

Anyway. I will definitely be going back. And the music yesterday was good, too. 2 men. One played an acoustic Fender guitar with a built-in pickup. And the other played this incredible acoustic dobro with a built-in pickup, that he played on his lap, with a slide. It sounded so good.

My favorite, was their (obviously acoustic) version of Springsteen’s “Racing In the Streets” from 1978.

I hadn’t thought about that song in ages (I was still in high school, living at home, when the album, Darkness on the Edge of Town, came out). But here’s the original:

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And while I was at the Historic Arcade, I stopped in at the bookstore there and checked in with the owner regarding my novel. He said to check back in about 2 weeks, because he hasn’t had a chance to read it yet (there are 2 other books ahead of mine).

But at least now I know a specific time to go back and check in.

But overall, I just love that Historic Arcade, gang. And I would never have known about it if my friends hadn’t opened that art gallery there —

Also a small art gallery, but also just beautiful:

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Okay.

I started watching the documentary about (the now deceased) Val Kilmer on Amazon last night. So far, really good:

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And speaking of films —

Johnny Depp made a surprise (?) appearance at Comic Con in San Diego yesterday to promote the upcoming movie, Ebenezer.

There were literally TONS of really cute videos posted to Instagram yesterday, but so far, no photos.

But meanwhile, here’s this–

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Ronnie Wood’s solo tour of Europe has begun. You can buy setlist lithographs from the first 2 shows HERE. $110 each.

Lithographs of the setlists become available for sale the day after each show.

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From Nick Cave Official!

All of this will be available at the SOLD OUT upcoming homecoming bash at Brighton!

Created exclusively for the Brighton Preston Park show next Friday (31st July), this limited collection celebrates the band's homecoming show with a range of event-only merchandise featuring the official show artwork.
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The collection features white and black t-shirts, a long sleeve white t-shirt, a natural tote bag, two exclusive posters - one showcasing a Brighton seaside design - plus a selection of collectible souvenirs such as Brighton rock, keyring charm and a set of four badges.
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​The exclusive limited edition 10" ‘Jubilee Street’ picture disc will also be available as part of the collection.
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Available exclusively at the Preston Park show, with selected merchandise also available during the Resident takeover while stocks last.

And from George Vjestica yesterday:

And while we’re waiting, here’s this!!

Nick Cave smoking, while sitting near a cassette tape recorder!! A long time ago!!

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And that is it for today, I think.

I tell you, gang, I am getting so much done at my desk every single day now. But I still have a TON of stuff left to do!! So I’m gonna get started by going outside and taking another walk!

After today, the weather is supposed to change again — back to hot and rainy. But these last few days have been just breathtaking around here. Truly. So beautiful.

Okay. Have a splendid Friday, wherever you are in the world!!

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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Let’s close with this!!

From my wee bonny 14-year-old girlhood!

Wow, did I love this song back then. Still do. I have always been very much in love with the idea of “home”, and back in 1974, I really really needed that idea. I had a roof over my head, but “home” was nowhere in sight…

Anyway. “Back Home Again” by John Denver, 1974. Enjoy, gang.

STILL not tired of cake!!

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Wow, gang, I really had the best birthday, ever.

Even considering that for the last 20 minutes of my dinner out with Kara at my favorite pizzeria yesterday, we argued about politics (!!). We did that last year on my birthday, too…

I try really really really really REALLY hard not to talk about politics with anybody at all anymore, but wow. She pulled me into it in a nanosecond and I could not get out because she refused to stop arguing about it.

But other than those 20 minutes– I had a wonderful birthday!

And today is my Dad’s heavenly birthday — he would have been 96.

Here he is in NYC, having breakfast with me and Wayne in our apartment on West End Avenue. Early 1990s. We were celebrating both our birthdays that weekend — my stepmom, Marie, who is also gone now, took the photo:

That brief moment in time when Wayne stopped shaving…

And, continuing with birthdays!!

I was reminded by a reader that I forgot to celebrate Bobby Sherman’s heavenly birthday yesterday!! (I guess I was just too smitten with my own birthday…!!)

However, long-time readers of this lofty blog perhaps recall that I loved Bobby Sherman when I was a little girl, and it thrilled me that he and I shared a birthday!!

So–

Happy Belated Heavenly Birthday, Bobby!

And while we’re at it, here’s this!! “Cried Like A Baby” — one of Bobby Sherman’s Greatest Hits! (Try not to dance the pony all around the room when the chorus hits, but you might not be successful with that!! I sure wasn’t!!)

And, wow — what else did I miss yesterday??!!

Yes, it was the Feast of Mary Magdalene!! (I actually can’t believe I forgot that one, gang.)

Now back to my OWN birthday!!

Wayne sent me this video early yesterday morning. I just loved it!

The Ramones The Simpsons Birthday Song (40 seconds):

And Steve, the guy I’ve been friends with since we were 11, not only texted me to say “Mazel Tov” on my retirement (I think he’s the only Jewish friend I have left from my wee bonny girlhood), but he also sent this!

Was (Not Was) — “I Feel Better Than James Brown” (4 mins):

But I must say that this next one really delighted me, gang!

I got a text from Dennis right after dinner!! Wishing me a Happy Birthday, and he sent me this video!!

Rod Stewart — “Forever Young” (from way back in 1988. Wonderful):

But I also got some phone calls, some emails, and even quite a few actual BIRTHDAY CARDS this year!! I still have them all propped up on the kitchen table.

So, really, it was just such a nice day.

And starting today — back to my desk!! Wow, do I have a lot of stuff to do. But all of it is connected to various writing projects so I couldn’t be happier.

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Okay!

Here’s this!!

I loved how they phrased this! Words that are so un-Kafka like: “stylish bust”.

From the Franz Kafka Museum in Prague:

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And from Phyllis Stein!!

Keith, Mick, and Mick apparently not smoking in LA in 1969!! (Photo by Ethan Russell):

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And since everyone “Bad Seeds-related” seems to be taking a break right now–

From the desktop stash!! Going back in time!

Nick Cave (with Tracy Pew and some drunk people) not smoking in Germany!! Instead — he’s catching up on some sleep before the upcoming SOLD OUT homecoming bash in Brighton that is many decades away!!!!

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And I guess that is it for now.

It is another cool, sunny, gorgeous day here so I’m gonna head out for a walk now and then get down to work.

There is that live acoustic music show going on at the Historic Arcade starting at 5:30 this evening. I’m going to try to attend that but we’ll see how it goes around here.

Meanwhile, enjoy your Thursday, 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!

They actually just released Episode 5 on Prime this morning, but it’s not on YouTube yet, so here’s this!

The Rolling Stones – Speaking In Tongues | The Official Podcast (Episode 4) (26 mins):

Off to great start!

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Yesterday was wonderful, gang.

I got so much done right here at my desk!

And I took that walk — wow, what a gorgeous morning it was around here. It was one of those perfect summer mornings that sort of seemed unbelievable — the birds were singing, the sky was so blue & the smoke haze was gone. Everywhere flowers were blooming and the trees were so green and the corn is getting really tall out in the fields now.

And I did get a lot of stuff done at my desk but I also had a great chat with Wayne on the phone. And I got some promising updates regarding reprint rights I am hoping to secure for the M. Christian tribute anthology from the estates of both Simon Sheppard and Bill Brent.

AND– I got an email from Amazon’s Kindle that a royalty check is on its way to my bank account, so thanks again everybody!! I really, really appreciate that you keep on buying my books and eBooks.

I also discovered yesterday that my reprinted books at Kindle (which are no longer banned or blocked!!) appear to be eligible for Audible audio books now, too! So I am going to be taking care of the paperwork for all 7 of the reprinted titles, so that those can get underway.

So, yay. A great day yesterday.

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All right.

I have a phone chat scheduled for 10AM today so I need to get moving —

So, here’s this!!

This artist lives here in Ohio, although I don’t know her. But I always love her pet illustrations (she and her family have lots of dogs and cats). These 2 from yesterday really jumped out at me — big surprise!

“She believed she could so she did … She rescued every animal that came her way.”
“Enjoy the little things in life for someday you will realize they were the Big Things”

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And here’s this!

Yesterday in Boston! Peter Wolf dropped in on Jim Lauderdale before the gig!

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And here, well, I’m thinkin’ Charlie’s not so sure about that balloon on Keith’s guitar…

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And here’s this — from all the way back in 1976!

Richard Hell and Voidoids in a photo taken by Blondie’s Christ Stein!

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A couple more great ones from Phyllis Stein!

Johnny Thunders in NYC in 1981 (photo by Kathy Findlay):

And the Sex Pistols in London in 1977! (Photo by Adrian Boot)

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It looks like Johnny Depp has a new Sauvage ad campaign coming soon from Dior (perhaps just in time for the Hollywood Vampires’ tour of the UK and Europe, starting in August??) (BTW– you can BUY TICKETS HERE!):

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Over at Nick Cave’s Cave Things, they’re having a 2-for-1 t-shirt sale!! You can check it out HERE!

And although it won’t reach me by my birthday, which is tomorrow, I am still in need of this one — lyrics to “The Mercy Seat” (thanking you in advance):

And speaking of Nick Cave!!

From that FB page yesterday!!

And, while on break before the upcoming SOLD OUT homecoming bash in Brighton, George Vjestica was getting caught up on his photo-posting yesterday!

Including–

And George with Larry (although George seems sort of shocked that Larry would say that…) —

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And that is it for now!

I’m gonna scoot downstairs and snag another cup of coffee, and get all my notes and thoughts ready for my upcoming phone call.

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 the Rolling Stones’ new one, Foreign Tongues — “Side Effects” lyric video! Super catchy, in my opinion. Enjoy, gang.

Not only great, but it turned my hair brown!!

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Yes! My first cup o’ joe on my first morning of freedom! So great!

And the stress was so non-existent around here, finally, that it turned my silver hair back to the lovely shade of brown it once was!!

Honestly, gang, it feels so interesting. This freedom thing.

And it is such an incredible morning, here! When I awoke at 6AM (again, second morning in a row — I’m trying really hard to sleep in later and stay up later), it was only 55 degrees Fahrenheit outside! Wow.

When I stepped out onto the kitchen porch to feed Rasha and Kon Tiki, the sun was up and the flowers out there were loving the cooler temperature. They looked so vibrant and full of life.

Anyway. It is just sort of a perfect morning.

I don’t remember the last time I didn’t feel the pressure to “do” something. And what’s weird is that I actually have a ton of things I want to do. But it’s all writing-related. At my desk. Or reading-related, downstairs on the couch.

I do not have to get into the car and drive the 30 miles to town and back until Wednesday — when I meet Kara for dinner to celebrate my birthday!!! Yay!

I actually have stuff on my calendar now that goes clear to November (possibly even to March, depending on a phone chat I’m having tomorrow). So it’s not like I don’t have things to do, but the difference between constant caregiving and just thinking about my own life now and the things that make me happy…

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Okay.

And here’s something that always makes me happy — a midnight text from Wayne, that also had a link to a song on YouTube!

Here’s the song!

“Save It For Later,” covered by Pete Townsend and The Deep End:

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I thought this was very interesting.

From Ross K. Nichols’ Sunday School yesterday–

“We all know who killed Goliath, right? Well, I thought I did until I realized that the biblical writers who told the story were not on the same page.”

The Goliath Story Has a Giant Problem (43 mins):

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And in keeping with my new approach to my own life, here are these!

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And during his break before the upcoming SOLD OUT Brighton bash, Warren Ellis posted some photos that I really thought were great. I think they were from the Australian tour earlier this year (?). Here’s 2 of them:

Colin Greenwood:

Warren himself:

And since the Bad Seeds are indeed on a break until July 31st, we go to the private desktop stash for that photo I love of Nick Cave from yesteryear — smoking and waiting!! Near the water!!

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And, oddly, that’s really all my “here’s this’s” for today.

But in honor of the fact that I now not only have time to get to work on that memoir of my life in the 1970s, but I am also finally in an emotionally calmer place wherein I can actually deal with my memories of my life in the 1970s…

Here’s this from the desktop stash!! Best father-figure ever!! (IMHO)

Keith, smoking…

And with that, I’m gonna finish up the laundry and maybe take a walk before it gets too hot out there.

And then–

Have a lovely Monday, gang, wherever you are in the world!

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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Let’s close with this!

From all the way back in 1957, but I mean it more than ever today!! Feel free to join me on this new path in life–

“Come Go With Me” !! The Del-Vikings. Enjoy, gang.

Like this! Except with lousy air quality!

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Well, the air is a little better today. So far.

And thunderstorms are expected all evening, which should move the rest of the smoke out of the air.

LUCKILY!! I have a long evening shift with one of my favorite clients, the retired Chaplain — my final shift with her before I retire TOMORROW — and this means I get to not only drive home in the dark tonight, but in thunderstorms as well!

So I guess I’m going out with a “bang”… (and tomorrow is my final final shift — and it will be with the retired Minister and his lovely wife and cat.)

And oddly enough…

I got an email notifying me that TODAY is the anniversary of my Ordination and that I should make sure all my credentials are still up to date.

Wow. So I looked at my credentials and sure enough, on July 18th, 2013, I was ordained as a minister and received my Authority from the State of Ohio to solemnize marriages.

So I’ve officially been a minister since 2013. But for some reason, I had thought it was 2015… So, like, how old am I getting around here???

We’re not sure

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Okay. Anyway.

Yesterday was a really good day, except that by late afternoon, I was coughing like crazy from having been out in that smokey air. (I guess that’s why they told people to stay indoors yesterday but, I guess, you know, I don’t consider myself “people”…?)

However, yesterday afternoon, I stopped by that bookshop over at the Historic Arcade (see post from Thursday). And even as I was driving over there, I was having second thoughts because I don’t want to offend a bunch of strangers with my intense novel, etc. But I went over there with a review copy of the book anyway….

And the owner was there, alone in the shop. And he was really nice. And he said that they were open to everything except hate speech stuff. And he was happy to read my novel. And he said (without my saying anything at all about it), “If we like it, we’ll set you up with a book signing when the book comes out in September.”

WOW!

Here’s hoping he likes it.

Then I stopped in at the art gallery to say a quick hello to my friend, Kevin, and I told him about what the book store owner had said, and Kevin said, “Oh yeah, they do book signings all the time over there.”

So that made me feel really hopeful, gang. So we shall see! It would take so much stress off of me.

Historic Arcade. The bookstore is pictured on the left

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All right.

A bunch of “here’s this’s” today, so let’s get started!!

Here’s this!

I realize this wasn’t exactly addressed personally to me, but I still loved getting it in my email yesterday!! (The Stone’s new album officially hit #1 in the UK.)

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And while we’re at it!

A bit of Keith and a little Ronnie!

Keith!! In Dallas, in 1975!

Photo by Nicolas Russell/Getty Images

From Phyllis Stein– Keith in a BIBA shirt!

And Keith, not smoking or drinking but very close to a glass that contains some sort of beverage–

And Ronnie — not smoking or drinking, but very close to a large sign that promotes Budweiser Beer!

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Oh!

I keep forgetting to tell you some really great news.

The little house across the road from me, that has sat empty the entire time I’ve lived here (over 8 years already), is no longer empty!!

A couple around my age bought it, rehabbed it, and moved in last week and they are so nice!! I’ve already been over to visit them a couple of times. (And that little house is the same age as mine — 125 years old. So cool to think about who might have lived in our houses back when they were first built, right?)

This little house is finally a home again!

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Okay!

Here’s Dwight!! Cowboy hat, long legs, etc. (Photo by Emily Joyce Photography)

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And here’s Jack Kerouac and a cat!

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And I loved this!

I loved David Cassidy!! (This is happening in London.)

Oh, okay — let’s go ahead and listen to this!! David singing with The Partridge Family, “I Think I Love You” from 1970!!! (Yes, I was 10 and still in Cleveland.) Don’t be shy, gang!! Sing along!!

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And here’s Keanu in Rome!!

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And because it’s summer, here’s this!

The Cars, in color!!

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And I thought this was interesting. Livestreaming July 31st, 9:30pm Eastern time. I am definitely going to check it out:

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And here’s this announcement from Nick Cave Official yesterday:

“Impressed Recordings release Too Dark To See, the first-ever anthology of Conway Savage’s music, today. ​

The 24-track collection brings together songs from across Conway’s career, including many rarities and is pressed on limited edition heavyweight double lilac vinyl, with the first pressing limited to 200 individually numbered copies.” You can ORDER IT HERE.

(BTW — in case you don’t know, the late Conway Savage was once a phenomenal Bad Seed.)

And this will be handy if you’ll be at the SOLD OUT Brighton show!

Gates open: 13:00
SET TIMES
13:30 – 14:15 Warmduscher
14:45 – 15:30 Cate Le Bon
16:00 – 16:45 English Teacher
17:30 – 18:30 The Flaming Lips
19:30 – 22:00 Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
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Please allow plenty of time to enter the site. 13:00–15:00 is the best time to arrive, with busier queues expected later in the afternoon.
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Alongside the music, Preston Park will feature over 50 food stalls, 15+ bars, DJs, exclusive Brighton merchandise, an Arcade Treasure Hunt, chill-out areas, the Bad Seeds Fish & Chips van and more.

And here’s Warren Ellis!! Brighton-bound!!

Here’s an intense photo of Nick Cave from the Stuttgart show–

Another great photo from the show in Vienne–

And a couple from the show last night in Carhaix, France!!

And now I guess Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are on a little break until the Brighton Show on July 31st.

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And I guess that is it for this happy Saturday!! Whew!

Enjoy yourselves, 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 the Oldies FM Radio Station on the retro boombox next to my bed this morning!!

(And where were YOU the first time you saw this video on MTV??? I was sitting on the side of my bed on E.12th Street in NYC, staring at the TV and wondering: is that Johnny Depp??)

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, “Into the Great Wide Open”, 1991. Enjoy, gang!!