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…) —
*********** 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.
Even though I’ve been a fan of Joe Satriani’s for 40 years….
I never knew when his birthday was.
It turns out that not only was it yesterday (see yesterday’s post wherein we didn’t wish him a happy birthday), but more importantly, he also turned 70 yesterday!! Wow!
Happy belated 70th Joe Satriani!!
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And speaking of yesterday’s birthdays–
Phyllis Stein wished Johnny Thunders a really lovely Happy Heavenly Birthday!
And she also posted a great photo of the New York Dolls at the Waldorf Astoria in NYC in 1973! (Photo by Richard Drew)
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Here’s Bill Burroughs not smoking in a bar in Paris in 1962!!!
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Yesterday, I discovered that over at that really beautiful, newly restored Historic Arcade in Newark (where my friends have that beautiful Art Gallery)–
Historic Arcade — oh, and note that bookshop at the left there. That’s the bookshop that said I could drop off a review copy of my new novel.
It turns out, that on Thursday evenings, from 5:30 – 7:30, they have live acoustic music in the Arcade! Since I’ll be on “vacation” starting next week, I’m planning to go over and check it out!
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I just wanted to add that I continue to hear from writers & publishers regarding the upcoming M. Christian tribute anthology and the amount of love people had for that guy is really just a joyful thing, gang. I am so glad that I am involved in this project.
And I guess we can now focus on Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds!!
You know, even though it seems like every show they’ve done since this current tour started has been incredible, the shows seem to somehow be more & more amazing every night.
First, a couple more from the show in Nimes–
From George Vjestica:
And Nick Cave–
And Nick with a couple of Bad Seeds–
And the rest are from the show last night in Vienne, France.
First, the seste list! (Often spelled “set” but since they are now in France, we decided to spell it differently!!)
Some of the Bad Seeds!
And Nick Cave!!
And tomorrow, they play Carhaix, France. You can buy tickets HERE. And then that will be it until the SOLD OUT extravaganza in Brighton!
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And while we’re at it, here’s this!
While the movie, “The Bad Seed”, came out in theaters in 1956, before I was born, there was always a big buzz whenever it showed on TV in the 1960s.
I was a very young girl when I first saw it on television and it scared the bejeezus out of me. It was SO CREEPY!! (The little girl turned out to be a psychopathic serial killer…) Here’s a 4-minute clip:
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And I guess that is it for today!
I will not be posting here tomorrow because I have my final early client tomorrow. (And then only 2 more clients after that, and then Sunday is my final day before retiring.)
Today, I’m going to try to focus on just making myself happy — probably here at my desk. But I also want to take a walk before it gets too hot out, and do yoga. Anything to take my mind off how difficult it is to tell each of my clients goodbye. But, wow, do I feel loved, gang. And I know that I’m going to be missed. But I also know that I have to focus on my own life again before time gets completely away from me.
Have a good Thursday, wherever you are in the world.
Thanks for visiting.
I love you guys. See ya!
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Let’s close with this.
I woke up singing it to the cats this morning.
I loved these guys so much, in all their various styles.
The Bee Gees. “Too Much Heaven.” 1978. Enjoy, gang.
“Too Much Heaven”
Nobody gets too much heaven no more It’s much harder to come by I’m waiting in line Nobody gets too much love anymore It’s as high as a mountain And harder to climb
Oh you and me girl Got a lot of love in store And it flows through you And it flows through me And I love you so much more Than my life..
I can see beyond forever Ev’rything we are will never die Loving’s such a beautiful thing Oh you make my world a summer day Are you just a dream to fade away
Nobody gets too much heaven no more It’s much harder to come by I’m waiting in line Nobody gets too much love anymore It’s as high as a mountain And harder to climb
You and me girl got a highway to the sky We can turn away from the night and day And the tears we had to cry You’re my life..
I can see a new tomorrow Ev’rything we are will never die Loving’s such a beautiful thing When you are to me, the light above Made for all to see our precious love
Nobody gets too much heaven no more It’s much harder to come by I’m waiting in line Nobody gets too much love anymore It’s as high as a mountain And harder to climb
Love is such a beautiful thing You make my world a summer day Are you just a dream to fade away
Nobody gets too much heaven no more It’s much harder to come by I’m waiting in line Nobody gets too much love anymore It’s as wide as a river and harder to cross
Nobody gets too much heaven no more It’s much harder to come by I’m waiting in line Nobody gets too much love anymore It’s as high as a mountain And harder to climb
Nobody gets too much heaven no more It’s much harder to come by I’m waiting in line Nobody gets too much love anymore It’s as high as a mountain And harder to climb
What a gorgeous day it is out here in the Hinterlands. Mild and really sunny.
A perfect day for dads to get out there and get that grill going!!
Before I get off on a tangent and forget–
Happy 70th Birthday to Chong!!
Yes, my first husband is 70 today!!
I kinda can’t believe it — I now have a first husband who is 70, and a second husband who is 72…. I’ve decided not to process these numbers and just have a happy day!!
Me, having a happy day!! And not just because I love to clean, but weren’t those pink porcelain bathrooms the BEST??!!
Okay!!
Back to Father’s Day!
I’ve posted all these photos to the blog before, but here they are again!
My birth dad, Don May.
At Midway Island, in 1973, during the Vietnam War:
Me and Don in his double-wide trailer-home in Fallon, Nevada, in May of 1993. He settled in Fallon, NV, because there is a US Naval base there, and he continued working there even after he retired from the Navy:
Photo by Wayne
A photo of my adoptive dad, Alan, and my grandma in the mid-1980s, a couple years before she died:
Me and my dad, in Cleveland, celebrating our birthdays together (our birthdays were one day apart). My mom baked the cake:
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Okay, that’s the Father’s Day stuff!! If you want to know anything else about me & fathers & father figures, you’ll have to read my almost-in-progress memoir, Joy: The Shortest Season!! Because there is a TON of stuff to say in there about all that!!
And, to prepare for it, here’s this! Again!! From 1972:
Well, and okay, here’s this–
One of my most favorite father figures of all time– Keith Richards with his daughter, Dandelion Angela Richards:
And I guess, here’s this, too:
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Okay.
Here’s this!
From the Jack Kerouac Estate:
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And the Bad Seeds show in Prague looks like it was off the charts, gang!
People started posting photos and videos yesterday, like immediately.
First, here’s the set list:
And that encore of “The Weeping Song” looked incredible. Quite a few people posted videos of it — which I can’t post here — but the energy was just amazing. So much joy, both onstage and in the (huge) audience.
And here are a couple of photos:
And here’s this — but from the other day in Lingen — “The Weeping Song”:
Nick Cave sent out a Red Hand File yesterday morning that absolutely broke my heart. Partly because it was so well written. But mostly because I deal with aging all the time now because of my job as a home health aide to the elderly, and also because I, too, am also aging. But Nick answered this question from Daffo in Australia: “What’s the worst thing about having become a really old rockstar?” Jesus. Nick answered in part:
“The worst thing about being an old rockstar is that the old rockstar’s old fans don’t know how to work their fucking phones.”
But the rest of his answer just, I don’t know. It was so vivid. You can read it in full HERE but it broke my heart.
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Okay.
Well, I am TOTALLY digging my new schedule, gang.
Last night, at 8PM, I was still down in my kitchen, having my dinner!! And watching another old ridiculously funny re-run of “Black Books”. And the sun was still up, and I could see all my flowers out there on my porch. And the cats were still frisky and the neighbors were out and about in the summer street.
It feels so great to not have morning shifts anymore — except for Fridays. And, this Tuesday, I’m covering a morning shift for someone else. But, overall, my mornings are free again and, wow, it feels so great.
And I’m excited to see the retired Minister and his lovely wife and cat this afternoon because I haven’t seen them in 2 weeks.
And tomorrow at noon is my lunch with Wendy at 3 Tigers Brewing Co. in Granville!!
Not usually this many kids there!
They also have live music, but not on Mondays at noon…
All right.
A very happy Father’s Day to one and all, especially to those 2 of mine in Heaven.
I’m gonna listen to another lecture in Bart Ehrman’s course, “The Greatest Controversies in Early Christian History” while doing some yoga. Then water all the flowers. Have lunch. Etc.
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!!
For my birth dad, who, in 1973 and unbeknownst to me, moved to Monterey, California, while I was sitting alone in my room in Ohio, listening to this song on the Top 40 radio, dreaming about who my “real dad” might be and if one day I might find him…
The Beach Boys, “California Saga”, 1973. Enjoy, gang.
“California Saga: California”
On my way to sunny California On my way to spend another sunny day
Water, water Get yourself in the cool, clear water The sun shines brightly down on Penny’s place (The sun shines brightly down on the bay) The air’s so clean it’ll just take your mind away (Might take your mind away, take your mind away)
Have you ever been south of Monterey? Barrancas carve the coastline And the chaparral flows to the sea ‘Neath waves of golden sunshine And have you ever been north of Morro Bay? The south coast plows the sea And the people there are of the breed They don’t need electricity
Water, water (Get yourself in that, get yourself in that) Cool cascades of clear, clear water (Get yourself in that water) The sun dance final scene sets the hills ablaze (Get yourself in that water) Horizon edges quick up the mountain’s way (Up the mountain’s way, up the mountain’s way)
Have you ever been down Salinas way Where Steinbeck found the valley? And he wrote about it the way it was In his travelings with Charley And have you ever walked down through the sycamores Where the farmhouse used to be? There, the monarch’s autumn journey ends On a windswept cypress tree
Water (Get), water (Get yourself in that, get yourself in that) Get yourself in that cool, clear water (Get yourself in that water) The sun shines brightly down on Penny’s place (Get yourself in that water) The air’s so clean that it just takes your mind away (It takes your mind away, it takes your mind away)
Have you ever been to a festival The Big Sur congregation? Where Country Joe will do his show And he’ll sing about liberty And the people there in the open air Are one big family Yeah, the people there love to sing and share Their newfound liberty
Although mine will look nothing like the picture above, I can still dream…
Well. Wow. Did I have a great time with my client last evening! We were both so glad to see each other again.
And here’s something that rarely happens when I go for awhile without seeing a client — she was actually in better health than she was in the last time I saw her!! And she’s in her mid-80s.
She looked great and felt really good. And, wow, her home! One of the family’s private caregivers had been in to clean and dust before my client got back from Florida, so it would be ready for her after having been gone for 5 months. It was sort of jaw-dropping how perfect everything looked — not a speck of dust — especially since it is such an enormous and really, really old farm house (1800s), that’s filled with antiques.
Anyway. It just felt so good to be back in that incredible love-filled home and to chat with her again. 5 hours absolutely flew by.
I’ll be back with her again this evening — and then every Saturday evening for the rest of the summer.
One of her sons was at the house — he lives out of state but had flown back with her from Florida. And he gave me the rundown of all the places where my client likes to eat, including the country club where she has an account, and he said, “Feel free to take her out for dinner! She’ll pick up the tab.”
This is so different from how it was the previous 2 summers, which shows how much better her health is now. But anyway, it should be a good summer!
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Okay.
I guess the way to really get a podcast off the ground is to do it with the 83-year-old Rolling Stones!!
Anyway. The Rolling Stones’ podcast launches on Thursday, June 25th.
The Rolling Stones – Speaking In Tongues | The Official Podcast Trailer (1 minute):
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And from Nick Cave Official yesterday — priority booking for this talk begins June 23rd at 10AM:
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This is from Metrograph Weekend — in addition to vintage films, they also have a really cool quarterly journal.
“…But perhaps the film in the Sachs oeuvre which The Man I Love most recalls is Keep the Lights On (2012), his hushed and devastating study of a relationship marked by deep attraction and mutual need, but marred by dishonesty and addiction, which is currently streaming on Metrograph At Home. …” [interview is by Mark Asch]
Director Ira Sachs. Photo by Jac Martinez
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And from Ross K. Nichols last evening– the video touches on the James Ossuary scandal, the Shapira Scrolls, and the Jehoash Inscription. (Ross will be going into more detail about the Jehoash Inscription in his Sunday School class tomorrow.)
From the Times of Israel, 2022. Into the Land: The Forgery Scandal (17 mins):
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And here’s this!
From June 17th!!
Bob Dylan and Eric Burdon, at Bob’s concert this past Wednesday at the Santa Barbara Bowl:
And from a mere 41 years earlier…
The first time Bob Dylan and Tom Petty played onstage together (which led to a lifelong friendship, recordings, and many tours together).
Bob and Tom at Farm Aid, Sept. 22, 1985!!
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And from Facebook (yes, I really have no clue why I’m back on Facebook… but anyway):
Nick Cave and Mick Harvey, smoking on a bed!
And don’t forget, tonight the Bad Seeds play Prague!! (Which is truly the one city I would really love to see before I die, since it has that intense connection to Franz Kafka.)
As I continue to get accustomed to my new schedule — wherein I have so much more uninterrupted time to sit and write…
I came to a sudden decision early this morning that I will wait on continuing work on the Caiaphas play until after I attend James Tabor’s conference in late September, in North Carolina. That conference will cover all the most up-to-date archeological news on topics that underscore my play.
And, instead, I felt like I really wanted to begin work on my memoir about my life in the 70s. Finally. (Joy: The Shortest Season.) And, wow, gang, that feeling felt really good. To finally sit down with it and let it come out. 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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From the drive home last night– speaking of getting ready to write that memoir…
Neil Diamond, “Shilo” live, from Hot August Night, 1972. Enjoy, gang.
“Shilo”
Young child with dreams Dreaming each dream on your own When children play Seems like you end up alone Papa says he’d love to be with you If he had the time So you turn to the only friend you can find There in your mind
Shilo, when I was young I used to call your name When no one else would come Shilo, you always came and we’d play
Young girl with fire Something said she understood I wanted to fly She made me feel like I could
Held my hand out, I let her take me Blind as a child All I saw was the way That she made me smile She made me smile
Shilo, when I was young I used to call your name When no one else would come Shilo, you always came and you’d stay
Had a dream and it filled me with wonder She had other plans “Got to go” and I know that you’ll understand I understand
Shilo, when I was young I used to call your name When no one else would come Shilo, you always came
Last evening, the Agency assigned me a new client for Friday mornings/afternoons beginning next week. She seems like a really sweet lady, and she’s only about 20 minutes away. (Only a few blocks from the retired Minister and his lovely wife and cat.)
Plus the Agency has me signed up for Hospice training (paid training) next Wednesday — a one-time class.
So, you know, my schedule is filling up.
And on Monday, my beloved pal Wendy and I are going out for lunch (!!) at one of my favorite spots in Granville —
3 Tigers Brewing Co. It has a lot of Vietnamese food, but other stuff, as well. It’s inside an old fire station:
This Thursday morning, my insurance guy is coming over to just check up on all my policies. But in the late afternoon, I might head over to the Historic Arcade again in Newark, because my friends who own that new art gallery there are sponsoring a Heisey glass & crystal collectors thingie in that center walkway (below).
I don’t collect Heisey, but my grandparents had a huge collection when I was growing up. It might be nice to see if I recognize any pieces that they used to have, too. Just to get out and see people and do something. I just don’t want to slide back into that depression.
The Historic Arcade
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Yesterday, I tried to take it easy and keep my mind off of everything that’s been going on around here during my vacation.
It is so easy to get lost in this book, even though I didn’t actually know anything about him or his varied career in the 1970s punk literary scene (in England). But I saw the book on someone else’s page on Instagram and it looked really cool. So I ordered it. And I really like it a lot.
So that kept my mind off things.
And today, I head back to my Tuesday afternoon clients. So I’m feeling kind of “normal.”
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As far as “here’s this’s” for today, here’s this–
From Phyllis Stein, it was in a group of photos she posted of Johnny Thunders with his daughter:
But there was nothing that really caught my eye in the “Keith” department — which is odd, considering there are like 10 trillion photos of him floating around out there.
So here’s a favorite from the desktop stash — Keith wearing Marilyn and setting a good example!!
And there wasn’t anything more from the Bad Seeds show in the Netherlands that stuck out for me, either. There were a lot of good videos, but I can only post photos here.
So here’s one from the desktop stash, too — Nick outside of a gig with fans, but I can’t remember where or when. Not too long ago:
We will see what emerges from tonight’s show in Germany!! You can still get tickets, even though it probably starts in, like, 5 minutes… And the next show is Thursday, in Denmark. Buy tickets here!!
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And from James Tabor yesterday — a new interview.
Study the Dead Sea Scrolls! Dr. James D. Tabor (20 mins):
Okay, well, here’s this!
The Agency just texted and asked if I can go work with my new Friday client tomorrow morning! So I likely won’t be posting here tomorrow.
I’ll close now and get this day underway.
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!
I love this short — it makes me think of me and Valerie! (about 5 seconds. From the “Black Books” TV show):
But other than that — yes, it’s going to be another day of driving hither & yon. And I am determined to just be in a good mood.
Yesterday was insane, gang. It didn’t resemble any kind of a day off that I’ve ever had. I already had a few errands I’d wanted to run yesterday — locally. Which I did do. But yes, I added a 60-mile drive to go see my favorite 95-year-old Japanese man, fix him some breakfast and a cup of coffee. And then quickly train a substitute caregiver to take care of him yesterday.
And then back home I came — only did SIX loads of laundry yesterday. I’d been planning to do all the bed linens for when the cat sitters would be here, so I went ahead and did all that anyway, even though my trip is cancelled. And then, yes, I vacuumed the whole house!! Again!! (But, wow, does it look great now that all the carpets have been shampooed.)
And I took care of all the flowers outside, and all the cats, both inside and out (got the outside cats ready for flea season). Cooked up some dinners to have in the fridge through Thursday. Etc., etc.
I was absolutely wiped out by 4PM.
And, yes, I did get a text from the Agency at 5PM, asking if I could quickly go back to my favorite 95-year-old Japanese man’s house this morning, before my regular Tuesday shift in a different (nearby) town, to quickly train another new substitute caregiver…. (His regular caregiver that works on my days off is still sick, and I think the woman I’m training today is going to cover my shifts on my upcoming days off.)
And the worst part is that he is still having trouble with his new artificial leg and he fell on Sunday and gashed his head and the paramedics were called in.
It doesn’t stop….
Anyway.
So, yes, I’m driving back out to his house this morning, then over to my regular Tuesday clients, and then after that, the Agency has their annual caregiver appreciation gathering! So I have to go to that before finally coming back home.
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Meanwhile!
Happy Birthday Johnny Depp! I think he’s 63 years old today.
“He’s everywhere!!!”
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Okay.
Yesterday, Simon Parkes had a really great update. If you aren’t a member of Connecting Consciousness (it’s free — join here), you can’t watch the video. But it was very, very encouraging. I think good things are going to finally be happening later this summer, gang. We shall see!
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The Max’s Kansas City Project — a charitable foundation — is having it’s 60th Anniversary!
The NYC night club has not been in operation for decades, but the Project is:
“…dedicated to providing emergency funding and resources to financially distressed individuals in the creative and performing arts for housing, medical and legal aid. One time grants are awarded ranging from $500-$1000…”
“… committed to empowering teens through the arts with a focus on substance abuse and suicide prevention by mentoring and motivating them to make healthy choices…introducing teens to the creative arts as an outlet to meet the challenges of life in constructive ways, mentoring them and raising awareness on the dangers and consequences of substance abuse and addiction,”
I was very happy to learn yesterday that I can still at least watch the Lambda Literary Awards live on YouTube on Friday night, since I won’t be able to attend the celebration in NYC (which was the primary reason for my trip).
You can tune in here if you also want to watch:
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Legendary Country singer/songwriter/musician, Rodney Crowell, will be on TalkShopLive on Thursday June 11th at 6:30PM, Eastern Time.
He has a very interesting new album coming out on June 26th:
“I guess you could call it a lost album. I stumbled upon it in my vault at home. I’d forgotten about it completely. Largely recorded two decades ago, this record includes features by some of my great friends including Guy Clark, Lyle Lovett, Benmont Tench, as well as Emmylou Harris and Lera Lynn.”
I’ve been watching this documentary from 2011 on Amazon Prime the last couple of nights. “Autoluminescent” — about the late Rowland S. Howard.
“…featuring rare archival footage and exclusive interviews with the likes of Nick Cave, Mick Harvey, Phil Calvert, Lydia Lunch, Henry Rollins, Thurston Moore, Ollie Olsen and Bobby Gillespie.”
It’s really good:
And here’s this, while we’re at it! “Autoluminescent”, from Rowland S. Howard’s incredible album Teenage Snuff Film, 1999:
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And other than a bunch of other frustrating stuff that’s involved with trying to maintain a 125 year-old house out in the middle of nowhere all by myself…
I keep checking in on Tommycakes. She is still with us, but very much declining. Honestly, I didn’t think she would live through the night last night, but she did. And she’s still eating, so that’s an encouraging little sign.
Here’s a photo of her in the dining room from a couple of years ago. Weenie is on the chair under the table. The two were inseparable! He was her nephew… He passed away in May of last year.
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I’m thinking that is it for today. I have a lot to get organized here, mentally, before I get into that Honda Civic again and head back into town!!
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.
I don’t know if they’ll be opening their shows with this song again, but let’s get ready anyway!!
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, LIVE, “Get Ready For Love”! Enjoy, gang!!
I mean, aside from the fact that the above is a depiction of a skyline that doesn’t really exist anymore…
Anyway.
I am really trying hard to not get depressed over not being in NYC this weekend. Aside from the fact that I love NY, I also really need some time away. I was looking forward to just being in the hotel room. Just being away from everything, if only for a few days.
But on we go.
And depending on what Sandra has to say when she gets back from Atlanta, I’ll find out if I’ll still be going to NYC in November. We shall see.
Meanwhile, Tommycakes is hanging in there. (See posts from the last few days if you have no idea what I’m talking about thus far.)
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Okay.
Not positive, but it looks like Johnny Depp is back in the Bahamas! (Perhaps to celebrate his birthday, tomorrow??!!)
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And from George Vjestica (one of the Bad Seeds) over the weekend– the rehearsals are over!
And now it’s only TWO DAYS until showtime!!! You can still buy tickets HERE!!
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From Phyllis Stein —
Another great shot of Willy Deville in New Orleans, 1992:
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And today is the heavenly birthday of my most favorite person that ever lived.
I know I say this every year, when I post a photo of him either on his birthday or the anniversary of his death, but I’ll say it again– life on Earth has never been the same for me since he died.
We met in our Junior year in high school, in the theater department, and remained best friends up until he died from AIDS in October of 1999. Here, he is in my kitchen in the paradise apartment on E. 12th Street in the East Village — visiting for Thanksgiving. I think it was 1986 or 1987.
Happy heavenly birthday, Paul. I miss you so much.
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Okay. I’m gonna close with this today. Hopefully, my spirits will be better tomorrow, gang. The Agency just texted and begged me to go stop in at my favorite 95-year-old Japanese man’s house and at least make sure he gets something to eat, because the caregiver who was scheduled called off. Jesus.
But here’s this — beautiful Nick Cave in beautiful color:
Have a good Monday, wherever you are in the world.
It’s a beautiful Sunday morning here. After thunderstorms all night long…
But the new Central Air Conditioning is unbelievably fantastic. What a godsend, truly. I slept really well. We ignored the thunder and lightning and high winds all night long…
Plus, I had moved all the outdoor potted plants and flower pots onto the kitchen porch yesterday, to keep them safe from sailing away on the wind, and when I went out onto the kitchen porch at 4:45AM this morning , not only was everything perfect, but Tiki was out there, sleeping happily in a veritable jungle of blooming flower boxes.
I am of course trying to just look at the positive stuff this morning, although yesterday was a really difficult one — having to decide to postpone the trip to NYC, which I was really looking forward to.
But now I have a total of 6 days off to just relax — and God knows, the house is CLEAN!!
I found out yesterday that the “trip insurance” is practically a scam. So I am out the cost of the airfare to NYC, but it wasn’t that expensive. Still. It was sort of the final straw (I also found out yesterday, by way of a “little bird,” that Sandra might be going into semi-retirement but hasn’t told me yet… She’s currently in Atlanta, shooting another episode of the “Ms. Pat Show” for Paramount+. So we’ll see how she’s feeling when she gets back.)
When I got home from my shift yesterday, I called Wayne to sort of vent about everything — he and I were going to be having dinner together on Thursday in NYC. He told me the same thing had happened to him once, regarding “trip insurance”, but it had ended up costing him almost 3 times as much money as I’d lost.
Later, during the night, Wayne sent me this on WhatsApp. It made me feel better because I had sent a REALLY nasty email to Travel Guard yesterday, and I hate sending nasty anything’s to anybody, but after reading this, I’m guessing mine was just one of millions they probably receive:
And then, around 3AM, when I got up to use the bathroom, I saw on my phone that my niece had sent me a friend request on Facebook! Yay!
Technically, we follow each other on Instagram but she hasn’t posted there in a few years. She is my half-brother’s daughter — the half-brother who is half-Cherokee and absolutely nothing but trouble.
Here she is at age 6 months, in 1997! I had bought her that little dress she’s wearing:
So that was a very nice alert to find when I looked at my phone at 3AM.
And late yesterday afternoon, I finally got an email from my best friend Valerie in Brooklyn. Mentally, she’s doing better, but she does have to have surgery on both hands on June 15th.
So here’s hoping that when I finally get back to NYC, she and I will both be back to normal.
And as soon as we can get everything sorted back out, we’ll get that mini-podcast up and running, finally.
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At least both of my shifts yesterday were really nice ones. And the torrential rains didn’t start until early afternoon, so my drive back out to that guy’s farm yesterday morning was just lovely.
And his home was almost an hour’s drive from my favorite 95-year-old Japanese man’s house. And from a whole different direction than I usually take, so that was a lovely drive, too.
And, yes! Me and my favorite 95-year-old Japanese man had a great day!! Finally, we were alone! The house is back to normal!! And we went out for sashimi & sake and had a really lovely time (ALONE) together!
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As for Tommycakes, I’m just taking it moment by moment, and I hope she will last for the whole summer but when she goes, hopefully I will be here for her final journey.
For readers who are new to the blog — Tommycakes is one of my rescued feral cats. Meaning, she is not domesticated. Feral cats attack people, so they can’t be put into pet carriers– you have to trap them in order to transport them anywhere.
I have (humane) traps in the basement, but the traps are so traumatizing to them that at this stage, since she is so frail and thin, I doubt Tommycakes would survive getting trapped. And even then, no vets around here will handle feral cats. When Daddycakes (her brother) was dying, I found one vet 45 miles from here, who was willing to let me bring him in. He was so far gone and suffering at that point, that I just wanted him to be put to sleep. So the vet was willing to do that for me.
Otherwise, with the ferals, I have to just let God take them in their season. So far, Tommycakes is at least still eating.
Tommycakes with one of her kittens, 13 years ago
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Okay.
Speaking of trying to look at the bright side of things!
74 years ago today, my adoptive parents were married!
Their wedding day was a really happy one. And so was their honeymoon. I’ve decided to just think about that part of it today and let all the rest that came afterward just go…
Happy heavenly anniversary, Mom & Dad. RIP.
And on June 4th, Tom Petty’s 2nd wife, Dana. posted this:
They had gotten married earlier, in Las Vegas, but had their official Wedding Day on June 3rd. Little Richard (on the far right) was the Minister who married them.
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And here’s this!
My birth dad, Don May, and his older brother, Earl, were friends with the Country singer, Johnny Paycheck. They all grew up together in Greenfield, Ohio. My dad’s younger brother, Ralph, who was a professional Country singer as an adult in Nashville, was friends with Merle Haggard.
When Johnny Paycheck met my Uncle Ralph in Nashville and found out he was one of the May boys from Greenfield:
JOHNNY (to everyone in the room): “Those Mays were so poor, that when they had me over to lunch, they fed me mustard sandwiches!”
My dad later concurred that they’d been very poor…
And meanwhile, here’s my favorite Merle Haggard song — a song I first learned about in an interview Rolling Stone Magazine did with Keith Richards!
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And here’s this!
The Rolling Stones in London, 1971!!
And the Rollings Stones at some other time, backstage someplace!
And Nick Cave sent out a really lovely Red Hand File the other day! Wherein among other things, he had some great things to say about Freddie Mercury!! I loved Freddie Mercury!! And I got to see Queen in concert in Columbus in the mid-seventies. Wow, what a great show!!
But Nick also had this to say about the upcoming live shows this summer — for the band and audience alike — a quote from the song “Rings Of Saturn”:
“This is the moment, this is exactly what we were meant to be“
It’s coming up on Homecoming Weekend here in Crazeysburg — wherein they block off 2nd Street and put up carnival rides and games and have live music, and all the local kids have a blast.
It’s called “Homecoming” because anyone who has prior connections to the village are encouraged to come back for an evening and reminisce.
The hard part about it for me is that it marks the anniversary of the horrible tornado we had 2 years ago. I can’t separate the sight of all the carnival rides going up now, from the sight of all that destruction the tornado caused that year. It happened the night before Homecoming Weekend. The rides were not hit, but many, many homes & a couple of businesses were destroyed.
And all the destruction happened literally 2 minutes from my house but the only street that got hit at all was 3rd Street. But it got hit really hard. No one died but a lot of people were taken to the hospital.
The gas station on 3rd Street that night:
Anyway. It’s over. The gas station, at least, looks better than ever. And I’m trying to just feel those “happy” feelings when I see the carnival rides getting assembled now…
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All right, so on a much less stressful note, but alas, still a little stressful–
I am hoping to take my favorite 95-year-old Japanese man out for sashimi & sake today because it is a STUNNING day out there today! His daughter is still there, though, so she might have other plans. We shall find out.
She heads home on Friday. It has been a really long trip for her.
At the very least, I hope I can get him over to the Nature Preserve near his house. Just getting him around trees in the sunshine makes him so happy. So we will see how today goes.
Hoping for a little of this…
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Well, my relationship with the Caiaphas play deepens but I still have more questions than answers about how the story is going to unfold.
It requires a lot of sitting and staring. Or driving and staring, as the case may be.
Perhaps even flying and staring — if we cast our thoughts ahead to next week, when I leave for NYC!
Meanwhile–
Ronnie Wood has added another date to his upcoming tour. This one in Lisbon!! You can buy tickets HERE.
And here’s part of Keith’s heavenly birthday wishes to Charlie Watts from yesterday:
And speaking of Keith–
Obviously, I loved this!!
Keith and Anita in Venice in 1967. Maybe smoking, but I’m not completely sure…
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Okay!
Guess what happened 41 years ago on this very day??!!
One of those rare albums that absolutely stopped me in my tracks was released. The Firstborn is Dead. By Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds.
It was my first exposure to Nick Cave’s music and the scope of his songwriting astounded me. (I still have my copy from — lo! — those 41 years ago…)
And the happy Bad Seeds 13 years ago! (Their smiles are just contagious, right??)
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And that is kind of it for today.
I forgot to mention that the huge PRO carpet shampooer did indeed arrive and it has been assembled, and tomorrow — my day off — I am going to shampoo all the carpeting in the house.
And I’m also going to be putting out the last of the flower boxes — on the 2 windows of the barn. (Actually, they are fabric flower “boxes” that hang off the sills.)
So, summer will officially start around here tomorrow.
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!!
Yes, it’s from the Oldies FM Radio Station, but it was when I was getting ready to get into bed last night — not getting up in the morning.
I loved this song when it came out, gang. I was living in the paradise apartment on E. 12th Street in NYC — just a stone’s throw from Allen Ginsberg, Richard Hell, and — a couple blocks over — Iggy Pop!
And upstairs from me was the awesome playwright Pamela Enz. We spent many an evening at her kitchen table, sharing a bottle of red wine, smoking cigarettes, while also sharing whatever writing we each had done during the day.
Anyway! This song reminds me of all that!
Pet Shop Boys. 1984 “West End Girls.” Enjoy, gang.
Well, me and my favorite 95-year-old Japanese man did indeed go out for sashimi & sake yesterday — we had a splendid time, even though it rained the whole day and was kind of chilly.
But he was in great spirits and happy to get out of the house.
And look at this most magnificent fortune that was in my fortune cookie after lunch!!!
Finally! Just coming out and saying it!
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So.
I did over 100 miles of driving yesterday, because I had that new client out in the hills on a farm.
And it poured rain throughout most of that driving — including the 40 miles I had to drive to get back home last night.
But what a nice client. What a nice home, on a beautiful farm. He had a great cat. And what an easy shift. The day shift does everything. I was just basically on “standby” all evening. I didn’t need to do much, physically.
However…
That said.
That little extra money I would now be getting from having this new client every Friday night all summer long…
It turned out that yesterday was the final evening shift for that client. He is steadily improving and will now only need help during the days.
The Agency texted me while I was there last evening. Oh well. The extra money for the rest of the summer, evaporated.
However!! The good part was learning that I suddenly had every Friday night off for the rest of the summer…. yay!!
But he was a really nice man.
And you know you’re on a farm in Ohio when you hang out and watch old reruns of “Gunsmoke” from over 60 years ago, while your client has his gun in its holster, draped over the arm of his recliner all evening…
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All right!
I slept in a little this morning because I got in late last night. So let’s get moving!
On WhatsApp this morning!! From Vietnam, finally!
Wayne & I still call it Saigon, even though it’s not called that anymore. But here’s Wayne and his brother in Saigon yesterday!
Wayne does not know what they’re drinking, only that it was “2 for $5”:
Here, Wayne’s brother is learning from a native, how to fit-in in Saigon!
And Wayne took this photo of a photo because he felt my birth dad’s energy coming from it — my dad was on these types of boats a lot in the Vietnam War. This is at the War Remnants Museum:
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Okay.
Here’s this!
More stuff that Johnny Depp is doing!
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And on to another Johnny!
From Phyllis Stein! Johnny Thunders, in Amsterdam, in 1985!
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And here’s this!
Leonard Cohen at the Chelsea Hotel in NYC, in 1967!
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And here’s this!
From that same photo shoot that my favorite Rolling Stones poster came from in my wee bonny teenaged girlhood — only in this shot, Keith is up close and smoking!! Yay!!
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And a couple of great ones!!
First, an old favorite — Nick Cave at perhaps his finest!! And smoking!!
And second — a new favorite!!
Some of the Birthday Party & Lydia Lunch in Berlin in 1982!!
And that is it. I gotta scoot or I’m gonna be late!
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!!
Driving in the rain for 40 miles music from last night!
I know I posted it here recently, but here it is again!! Play it loud, over and over, in the pouring rain in the middle of a very green & rolling nowhere for 40 miles, sing along, and you can still smile the whole way home. I did!
“Better Things” by The Kinks. Enjoy (again), gang.
Marilyn's Room 