Tag Archives: fiction

Monday Swings Around Again!

August 3, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis Leave a comment

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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Let’s get ready to drive to town!

July 28, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis Leave a comment

Will I remember how to start the car??

Will I remember how to get there?

How to get home from there?

Most importantly — will I remember to turn on my Prime playlist before hitting the highway at 95mph, so that I will have music wherever I go??

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Wow, gang.

Yesterday was so cool.

In the middle of the afternoon, a guy came to my kitchen door. He was wearing one of those bright orange vests and he had a clipboard and an ID tag.

My first thought was, “This is gonna cost me money…” But I opened the door anyway.

Long story short, he wanted to sign me up for the new fiber optic Internet that has come to Crazeysburg. And it is significantly cheaper than what I’ve had for the last several years, so I did sign up.

But it was really hot and humid out, so I asked him to come into the kitchen while he explained everything and we did the paperwork, wherein, upon entering, he said:

HE: “Wow, your home is so beautiful. It’s hard to believe you have so many cats.”

And as loyal readers of this lofty blog know so well by now, a comment like that means so much to me!!!

Anyway.

Aside from saving me a bunch of money, the cool part was that he was from Utah. And he saw my Joseph Smith magnet on my refrigerator. And as soon as he recognized Joseph Smith, I knew he was a Mormon. And so we had a really long and wonderful chat about Mormons, and about the Kirtland Temple, up by Cleveland, which we both have been to, and how incredible it is.

“The Kirtland Temple was a sacred place of worship and learning for Latter-day Saints in Kirtland, Ohio, during the late 1830s.”

The guy from the Internet company was about 20 years old, but we had such a wonderful chat.

And later this afternoon, the company is coming by to set up the new Internet.

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BTW —

If you saw any news this morning about terrible storms and high wind damage in the State of Ohio last night — it did not reach our part of the State. We had rain last night (and a little more rain right now) but nothing terrible.

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Okay!

When I saw this post yesterday on Instagram my heart sort of flip-flopped and my brain soared!!

If you have ever read my (award-winning!!) erotic novel, Freak Parade, you no doubt recall the character of Tricky Dick Milhouse!!

And if you know me at all, you know that Freak Parade, while fiction, is still heavily based on my actual life in NYC — things that really happened and people I knew.

And you likely also know that I don’t go out of my way to disguise the real identities of the people I write about!! (Except in the singular case of my late great friend, Holly Lane, who said, after reading the completed manuscript of Freak Parade: “If you don’t change that Frankie character and make her a lot less like me, I’m gonna sue your fucking ass off!”)

Well, I won’t print his actual name here (even though if you Google the Fleshtones, you’ll figure out right away which one it is) but I will say that he’s in that band above! “Tricky Dick Milhouse” is looking at you right now! And I Googled him yesterday and he’s STILL ALIVE!! Yay!!

What an awesome little trip down Memory Lane that was for me yesterday, gang!! It brought such a smile to my face.

Oh, and Freak Parade will soon be an audio book on Amazon’s Audible!! I will keep you posted!!

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Okay, here’s this from James Tabor.

My First Catholic Audience: Presenting the Historical Mary to Catholic Sisters (1 hr 17 mins):

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And this was from Charlie Ward this morning. Very interesting.

Japan Financial Shock, Australia EBS Alert & Fed Closed Meeting Charlie Ward Daily News 28 July 2026 (7 mins):

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And here’s this!

Keith smoking with Marlon in London in 1973!!

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And yesterday, the very moment I pushed SEND and posted to the blog and then got on to Instagram, there was yet another announcement from Nick Cave Official about the huge upcoming homecoming bash in Brighton starting on Thursday!!

A treasure hunt!!

And if you are going to be in Brighton this weekend and you DON’T have a good time, there is obviously something really wrong with you!!!!

Okay!

Here’s this, from June 29th!

And here’s this from my desktop stash!

From one of the best nights of my life — back in NYC, in the Autumn of 2019!! Nick Cave In Conversation!!

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And I think that is it for today.

I gotta get into the Honda Civic Sport and head to town and get the groceries!!

And then, I guess, work at my kitchen table today, while the Internet guys set up the new modem, etc. It’s supposed to take 2 hours (!!).

I hope you are having 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!!

Only because I love this song so much — doesn’t everybody??

The original video from way back in yesteryear —

“Red Right Hand” by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds! From their incredible album, Let Love In, 1994! Enjoy, gang!!

"Red Right Hand"

Take a little walk to the edge of town
Go across the tracks
Where the viaduct looms,
Like a bird of doom
As it shifts and cracks
Where secrets lie in the border fires,  in the humming wires
Hey man, you know  you’re never coming back
Past this square, past the bridge,  past the mills, past the stacks
On a gathering storm comes  a tall handsome man
In a dusty black coat with  a red right hand

He’ll wrap you in his arms,  tell you that you’ve been a good boy
He’ll rekindle all those dreams  it took you a lifetime to destroy
He’ll reach deep into the hole,  heal your shrinking soul
Hey buddy, you know you’re  never ever coming back
He’s a ghost, he’s a god,  he’s a man, he’s a guru
They’re whispering his name  across this disappearing land
But hidden in his coat  is a red right hand

You ain’t got no money?
He’ll get you some
You ain’t got no car?
He’ll get you one
You ain’t got no self-respect,  you feel like an insect
Well don’t you worry buddy,  cause here he comes
Through the ghetto and the barrio  and the Bowery and the slum
A shadow is cast wherever he stands
Stacks of green paper in his  red right hand

You’ll see him in your nightmares,  you’ll see him in your dreams
He’ll appear out of nowhere but  he ain’t what he seems
You’ll see him in your head,  on the TV screen
And hey buddy, I’m warning  you to turn it off
He’s a ghost, he’s a god,  he’s a man, he’s a guru
You’re one microscopic cog  in his catastrophic plan
Designed and directed by his red right hand

c - 1994 - Nick Cave, Mick Harvey, Thomas Wydler

Sort of like vacation!

July 27, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis Leave a comment

Except that I’m getting a lot of work done…

And now the weather app is saying rain & thunderstorms tomorrow…

Hmmm… that makes 3 days in a row that it’s “tomorrow”.

I’m not complaining, though. It is another really pretty morning here in the Hinterlands!

And I had a great weekend, even though I stuck around the house and spent many hours on Zoom calls!

And I have a lot to get done here at my desk today, but I tell you, gang, I am learning so much about the small indie publishing houses that I thought had totally evaporated. (It turns out it’s just those pesky online algorithms that make them seem like they’ve evaporated!)

Anyway. I just love having all this TIME to get caught up on everything.

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Before I forget–

I’m excited about this, too.

One of my girlfriends in town told me recently about a convent she started going to for Mass and it sounds so cool. So we’re going to try to coordinate a time when I can go with her.

It’s up on a hill, totally hidden away in the woods! The nuns are self-sufficient and grow all their own food, and also have goats and cows for their dairy products. The convent is like a huge log cabin.

Here are a couple of photos from online.

Leading up to the convent:

Inside!

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Okay.

You might want to read this if you feel so inclined. (The upcoming WWIII “situation” is scripted. Hold onto your wee bonny hats, gang.)

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And here’s this!!

The Glimmer Twins not smoking!!

Yes, a few of the photos Keith posted yesterday for Mick’s 83rd birthday!

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And here’s this!

Mick smoking and John Lennon not smoking in LA in March, 1974!! (Photo by Ron Galella)

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And as we wait for Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds’ big homecoming bash in Brighton!! (Festivities begin on THURSDAY, finally!!) —

Here’s this! From my new favorite FB page!

Not smoking, Not happy about not smoking.

And here’s this!

Nick Cave not smoking while wielding a weapon in Amsterdam in 1988!!

And I loved this!!

He looks rested, doesn’t he??

And here’s this reminder!

And don’t forget this helpful stuff if you’ll be in Brighton!!

And all these movies, if you have nerves of steel!!

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And I’m thinking that is it for now!!

I’m gonna finish up the laundry here, take another lovely walk, and get down to work!!

And tomorrow, I’m actually gonna drive to town and get groceries. I haven’t driven to town (or anywhere) since Thursday. Wow. Will I even remember how to drive??

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

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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I leave you with this!!

This great song popped up on my playlist this morning, even though I wasn’t driving. I was just sitting there…

A lot of interesting memories came rushing back… I just love this song.

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds’ cover of “Something’s Gotten Hold of My Heart”, from their cover-album Kicking Against the Pricks, 1986! Enjoy, gang. I sure did.

It just gets better and better!

July 25, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis Leave a comment

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!)

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!!

“

STILL not tired of cake!!

July 23, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis Leave a comment

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!

July 21, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis Leave a comment

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.

Like this! Except with lousy air quality!

July 18, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis 4 Comments

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???

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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!

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

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.

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!!

A Happy Tuesday All Around!

July 14, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis Leave a comment

Well, first off!

The cats around here are seriously hyper today — could this have something to do with it??

From the Cainer Horoscope newsletter this morning:

The sky opens up in a big way this week. Between July 15th and 21st, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, and Jupiter all move into alignment together.

We're more open to new ideas, more drawn to people and experiences outside our usual circle, and more willing to follow our own instincts instead of someone else's script.

Ambitions come into sharper focus, old talents get a chance to resurface, and you'll find that a little boldness goes a long way.

The invitation this week is simple: stay curious, aim a little higher than usual, and give yourself room to think and live differently.

Interesting, though, right?? We’ll see how this plays out!

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Gorgeous weather again here today, although it’s gonna get HOT by this afternoon.

Which is good, because I only have a ton of fucking errands to run after I see my clients later…. but, you know, at least I’m still alive and it isn’t raining.

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Okay!

Well, since I got a lot of work done yesterday at my desk — and also took a walk, did yoga, etc. — I don’t have a whole lot to post about today.

Although the good news is that, so far, my best friend Valerie in Brooklyn’s hand surgery went very well yesterday! So all of these delays are almost all behind us, and soon we will launch the new artists & writers podcast !! Yay!!

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A short one from James Tabor this morning — taken from the intro to his online course, “Quest for the Historical Paul.”

Does Paul Misread His Two Favorite Bible Verses? (3 mins):

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This one was from a few days ago, but in case you missed it–

The Rolling Stones: Foreign Tongues | Zane Lowe Interview (1 hr):

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And oddly enough, the only “here’s this’s” I have for today are about the Bad Seeds.

So, here’s this!!

To kill time between the show the other night in Madrid, Spain, and the upcoming show tonight in Nimes, France, Jim Scavulos took in some ruins!

However, Warren Ellis used that time to dash quickly to Cleveland — a trip of approximately 4,350 miles, and which takes about 17 hours each way — just to say hello! Yay! (I was going to dash over to say a quick “hello” back, but Cleveland is a good 2 hours from here and I hadn’t had my coffee yet.)

Anyway.

He also delivered a warning that not all rock icons are willing to make publicly; “Don’t Smoke In Bed”!!

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An interesting photo of Nick Cave in Montreux, with a fan (?):

And onstage in Madrid!

As we already discussed, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds play Nimes, France, tonight. You can buy tickets here!!

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And aside from all that…

I did get word from another local bookstore yesterday that I could drop off a review copy of my new novel, The Curse of Our Profound Disorder, anytime this week! I will probably get there on Friday.

That particular store does a ton of promoting for local writers, so maybe it could lead to an instore signing of some sort. We shall see.

Other than that —

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

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

**************

Okay. Let’s close with this today.

From Warren Ellis’s sage advice while in bed earlier…

Nina Simone’s heart-wrenching, “Don’t Smoke In Bed”. 1958. From her debut album, Little Girl Blue. Enjoy, gang.

“Don’t Smoke In Bed”

I left a note on his dresser
And my old wedding ring
With these few goodbye words
How can I sing
Goodbye old sleepy head
I’m packing you in like I said

Take care of everything
I’m leaving my wedding ring
Don’t look for me
I’ll get ahead
Remember darling
Don’t smoke in bed

Don’t look for me
I’ll get ahead
Remember darling
Don’t smoke in bed

c – 1958 – Willard Robison

Okay, here it is!

July 13, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis Leave a comment

Here is the official Call for Submissions, if you are interested, or if you know a writer or publisher who might be interested.

*****************

July 13, 2026

Dear Writer or Publisher,

This is an invitation to contribute to a tribute anthology to honor, celebrate, and remember the life and works of our beloved friend and colleague, M. Christian.

Publisher: Angel Ackerman, Parisian Phoenix Publishing, Easton, PA.

Editors: Marilyn Jaye Lewis; Ralph Greco, Jr.

The Work: Your contribution can be a new work of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, art – or a reprint. The primary requirement is that it be a work that connects you in some way with M. Christian – did he inspire something you wrote or created? Did you write something together? Did he publish something you wrote? Did you publish something he wrote?

This is a celebration of the world surrounding M. Christian as we knew it. Along with your short bio, you are asked to submit a statement about how your contribution is connected to Chris.

Length: A maximum word count of 5K is suggested, but we are open to considering whatever you feel moved to send in.

Compensation: As of now, this is a labor of love on the parts of the Publisher and the Editors. Discounts will be offered on contributor copies.

Deadline: October 1, 2026

Please send all submissions to:

marilynjayelewis@protonmail.com

Disclaimers:

Since much of what we will be publishing in this tribute anthology will be adult-themed, we ask that you be of legal age in your territory to contribute.

We ask that you refrain from themes of pedophilia or bestiality.

If you are contributing a reprint, please ensure you have all legal rights to the work.

Please feel free to forward this invitation to any writers who you feel would likely be interested in contributing work to honor M. Christian.

Thank you for any interest you have in joining this project! I look forward to hearing from you.

Marilyn Jaye Lewis

Welcome, Heat Wave!!

June 30, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis Leave a comment

Yes, it is officially here. It started yesterday — temperatures in the mid-90s Fahrenheit.

I am just so happy with my Central AC, gang. And so are all the many cats! (Except that Rasha, the cat I’m cat-sitting, and Kon Tiki both seem to prefer to be outdoors in all the heat and sunshine.)

And, interestingly enough, very high heat and thunderstorms are expected for the entire 4th of July “250th celebration” weekend. Since they can change the weather on a dime now, I wonder what’s up with that? Methinks we’re probably gonna find out…

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Okay!

I absolutely loved the new optometry place I went to yesterday to get the new glasses. Sort of a complete compound– optometrists & new glasses in one building. Eye surgeons, etc., in the next buildings over.

It was absolutely incredible — the level of care, the skills, the eye-test-machines from the future that I had never seen before.

Nothing at all like the place I went to last summer — which is a sort of chain eye-glass store that is all over the country.

The staff was so nice, and I loved the eye doctor they assigned me. She went over all the instantaneous “charts & graphs” in detail, explaining everything that’s going on with my eyes.

And I love the new glasses I ordered — they are very similar to the pair I had before these current ones I got last summer, which I hate.

It was a great experience from start to finish, because, to get to the eye place, I took that really beautiful country road that goes deeper into Muskingum County — in the opposite direction of the roads I take every day, that go to the next county over.

Just a beautiful drive — farms, trees, hills. And in under 20 minutes, I was at the eyeglass place.

Yesterday morning also brought some other news, though– the Agency called the courthouse yesterday and I cannot be excused from jury duty.

After I texted my Q-following girlfriend about it, she assured me that, out in these parts, 3 months of jury duty is standard, because the population is smaller.

So, once I learned that, I decided that having to be available all summer is better than getting summoned to be available from October through December, which is my favorite time of year.

And I can get to the courthouse by taking that same back road– it will only take about 10 minutes longer than the way I usually take to that whole courthouse area of town, that’s all.

So I’ve decided to just put the best possible spin on the whole jury duty thing all summer: it’ll be a beautiful drive and it’s better than having to serve all through the Fall and into Christmas.

So on we go…

And the other nice thing to look forward to this summer, whether or not I get called to be on a jury —

I am definitely going to be overseeing the editing of the M. Christian tribute anthology for the new publisher. I’m really happy about this. I’ll be sending out a call for submissions in the very near future.

I will probably use the Internet, not a radio… we shall see.

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Okay!

Also!!

I want to thank whoever is suddenly buying the eBook from 2012, After Hours: The Best of Marilyn Jaye Lewis

The stats have suddenly jumped up in the Amazon rankings for erotic literature & fiction. Since the book is 14 years old, any jump in the ranks is nice to see! So, thank you!!

The eBook, edited by Maxim Jakubowski, was originally published by Constable Robison in the UK, but Hachette UK owns the rights to it now. It is a selection of 5 erotic short stories that were published over the course of my career from 1994 to 2010. Thanks everybody!!

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All right, before I forget, tomorrow morning I have a very early shift and won’t be posting to the blog. The same thing will happen the following Wednesday morning (July 8th.)

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And in other news!!

Here’s this! From the Oldies Radio Station on the retro boombox next to my bed yesterday morning!! Such a great song for summer…

“The Boys Of Summer”

Nobody on the road
Nobody on the beach
I feel it in the air
The summer’s out of reach
Empty lake, empty streets
The sun goes down alone
I’m driving by your house
Though I know you’re not home

But I can see you-
Your brown skin shinin’ in the sun
You got your hair combed back and your sunglasses on, baby
And I can tell you my love for you will still be strong
After the boys of summer have gone

I never will forget those nights
I wonder if it was a dream
Remember how you made me crazy?
Remember how I made you scream
Now I don’t understand what happened to our love
But babe, I’m gonna get you back
I’m gonna show you what I’m made of

I can see you-
Your brown skin shinin’ in the sun
I see you walking real slow and you’re smilin’ at everyone
I can tell you my love for you will still be strong
After the boys of summer have gone

Out on the road today, I saw a DEADHEAD sticker on a Cadillac
A little voice inside my head said, “Don’t look back. You can never look back”
I thought I knew what love was
What did I know?
Those days are gone forever
I should just let them go but-

I can see you-
Your brown skin shinin’ in the sun
You got that top pulled down and that radio on, baby
And I can tell you my love for you will still be strong
After the boys of summer have gone

I can see you-
Your brown skin shinin’ in the sun
You got that hair slicked back and those Wayfarers on, baby
I can tell you my love for you will still be strong
After the boys of summer have gone

c- 1984 Don Henley, Mike Campbell

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Here’s this, from Sunday– photo by Michael Putland:

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And all the other “here’s this’s” today are from the Bad Seeds!!

Here’s this! George Vjestica goes shopping!! From yesterday — but the Bad Seeds play Berlin tonight!

And Warren Ellis headed to Berlin with Cookie for schnitzel —

And here’s the set list from the Antwerp show, which was another show, based on all the videos I saw, that appeared to be completely fantastic:

I loved this photo!!! Posted by radiowilly. I think it was from Antwerp, but I’m not certain:

And this was on facebook — again, I think it was Antwerp, but it didn’t specifically say:

And this is definitely from Antwerp! Posted by Jim Sclavunos this morning:

And I absolutely LOVED this!!! Definitely from Antwerp:

As everyone above has already said, the Bad Seeds play Berlin tonight. And then they play Poland on Thursday. Buy tickets here!!

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And speaking of Nick Cave–

WOW, gang.

Nick Cave sent out an amazing Red Hand File yesterday!! I absolutely loved it!! He spoke about his early beliefs about his art and how they changed over time, including:

“…There may be nothing new under the sun, but it is our distinctiveness that matters, our specialness. I deal exclusively in old, well-worn ideas, but there is still no song like a Nick Cave song, or a Morrissey song, or a Prince song, or a Lana Del Ray song, a Wu-Tang song, a Cure song, a Pixies song, a Kate Bush song, a Kneecap song, or the work of infinite other artists who have found their characteristic voice. Perhaps that is the purpose of art, and indeed life – to enchant and reinvigorate the world using those timeless ideas interpreted through our own inimitable strangeness….”

You can read it in full HERE.

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And I think that’s it for today, gang.

I can at least say that I am hanging in there, finding reasons to keep on keeping on. It sometimes feels like it’s a 24/7 task these days — looking for ways to stay focused on flowing joy and staying creative. But so far, I am still here!

So, have a Terrific Tuesday, wherever you are in the world!!

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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And let’s close with this!!

More breakfast-listening music from the Rockin’ Down the Block CD collection (1987)!!

The Swingin’ Medallions, “Double Shot (Of My Baby’s Love)” !! 1966!! Enjoy, gang!! We sure did!!