Tag Archives: life

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!!

I can dream, can’t I??

June 28, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis Leave a comment

It’s funny to think that, even though I live way out in the middle of fucking nowhere, my “big dream” is to go even deeper into the middle of fucking nowhere and spend the night sleeping under the stars!!

My neighbors just bought a new tent and, for now, they have it set up in their backyard.

I can see it from my kitchen window.

I have a tent, a sleeping bag, a couple of camping chairs, a ton of camping dishes & cookware — all of it stored in my storage closet. Because, apparently, going camping again is just some weird sort of pipe dream I have. But I hope that the 2 little girls who live next door get a lot of use out of that new tent and have the time of their lives this summer… (heck, even if they only stay in the tent while it’s in the backyard!!)

Okay!!

Yesterday brought some really great news.

I can’t go into the details yet on the blog because we have only begun discussing it, but the publisher I am currently working with asked me yesterday if I’d like to undertake the M. Christian tribute anthology — meaning, be the Editor of it.

It was an absolutely unqualified, “YES!” (M. Christian was a long-time and very dear colleague of mine and he passed away in January.)

I will keep you posted with the details.

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Okay!!

Yesterday also brought some really FUCKED UP news.

A couple of weeks back, I got notified by the Muskingum County Courthouse that I was up for jury duty, and to keep myself available from July 1st through September 30th to potentially serve on a jury.

Okay, so, in what world does that kind of commitment make sense??

The Agency sent a letter saying that I needed to be excused from that because I have clients booked all summer long who count on me.

But yesterday, the courthouse sent me a letter back, saying that my request to be excused was denied.

I was unbelievably furious (plus, I have already done jury duty several times in NYC and also in Columbus, Ohio — why am I always being called upon? It absolutely makes me want to stop registering to VOTE (they pull jurors from the voting registry)…but then I can hear my ancestors, who fought in the Revolutionary War and helped to create the glorious US Constitution, shouting: “Are you out of your fucking mind??? You can’t give up your right to VOTE!!”)

Anyway. I am really pissed off. I left word with the Agency that they need to call the courthouse Monday morning and try to fix that.

Not only can I in no way afford jury duty, I was just getting my mind/life back together by finally having a schedule I can work with all summer long.

Someone’s Revolutionary War ancestor, saying: “You can’t give up your right to VOTE!”

And the letter arrived just as I was getting ready to head out to my shift.

And I can’t take a bunch of rage and depression and frustration and hopelessness, into a client’s home. So that was a real challenge– clearing my vibrational air and finding a better emotional place for myself in a sort of nano second.

But I did. And I had a great shift with the retired Chaplain. As usual, she and I talked about some very, very interesting things. She is almost 89 and has had a harrowing life. I always learn so much from her.

Also–

Oddly enough, in yesterday’s mail, right alongside the letter from the Courthouse, was a card from one of my supervisors at the Agency. (Depending on which town a client is in will determine who my supervisor is for that client.)

Anyway. As of now, all 5 of my clients are with the same supervisor, and that supervisor sent me a “Thank You” card, saying how much she appreciated the quality of care I give my clients and how she never has to worry when she sees that my name is assigned to one of the clients on her list.

That made me feel really appreciated, but also really determined to not have to waste my gifts serving on a jury. Again.

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Before I forget, tomorrow morning, I have an appointment to get a new pair of glasses. I absolutely hate the glasses I currently have and I want a new pair. But this could mean that I won’t get a chance to post to the blog tomorrow.

Marilyn does glasses and coffee! I don’t usually dress like that in the kitchen, but the rest of it is, like, totally me.

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Okay!

Here’s this!!

The B52s, perpetually celebrating National Sunglasses Day!!

And while we’re at it!! This was on the Oldies Radio Station on my retro boombox next to my bed the other evening!! Yay!! Yes, I knew every word and sang along quite loudly!! “Love Shack”, by the B52s, 1989:

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And here’s this.

From Phyllis Stein — David Jo, and Keith, smoking (and Delbert McClinton) at Tramps, NYC, 1985!!

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Here’s this!

A lovely photo of Dwight!! He’s currently on tour in the U.S. of A.!

And here’s this — his fantastic duet with Buck Owens, back in 1988. “Streets of Bakersfield.” The first time I heard this song was on the radio in my birth dad’s kitchen, out in Nevada. And my dad then regaled me with the story about how he smoked a joint with Dwight, outside a gig in Los Angeles. (My dad had been a roadie for my Uncle Ralph, who was a Country music singer back then. At that time, my Uncle Ralph had songs on the Country charts and Dwight was just starting out — he’d been the opening act for my Uncle that night.)

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I loved these!!!

Early photos of Ronnie Wood and Rod Stewart! Be still my heart–

And here they are with The Faces:

And here’s this — 1971, The Faces, “Had Me A Real Good Time” !! Classic!! (“I was glad to come, I’ll be sad to go, so while I’m here I’ll have me a real good time!”)

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And here’s this!

From George Vjestica. The Bad Seeds play Antwerp tonight!

And here’s a great photo of Nick Cave! Since he was onstage in Italy, I guess he wanted to point out his Gucci shoes?? Not sure!!

The Bad Seeds play Berlin on Tuesday!! And you can buy tickets here!

And here’s this–

Nick Cave &The Bad Seeds / “Papa Won’t Leave You , Henry” Live Lingen June 16, 2026:

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And that is it for today. And as I said, I might not be posting tomorrow. We’ll see how it goes.

Meanwhile, I’m gonna do a little yoga, then do a little thinking (I’m finally coming to a good-feeling place regarding the almost-in-progress new memoir), then head out to see the retired Minister and his lovely wife and cat.

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

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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

The Vogues!! “Five O’clock World,” 1965!! Enjoy, gang!!

“Five O’Clock World”

Up every morning just to keep a job
I gotta fight my way through the hustling mob
Sounds of the city poundin’ in my brain
While another day goes down the drain
Yeah, yeah, yeah

But it’s a five o’clock world when the whistle blows
No one owns a piece of my time
And there’s a five o’clock me inside my clothes
Thinkin’ that the world looks fine, yeah
Oh my lady, yeah

Tradin’ my time for the pay I get
Livin’ on money that I ain’t made yet
I’ve been goin’ tryin’ to make my way
But I live for the end of the day
Yeah, yeah, yeah

‘Cause it’s a five o’clock world when the whistle blows
No one owns a piece of my time
And there’s a long-haired girl who waits, I know
To ease my troubled mind, yeah
Oh my lady, yeah

In the shelter of her arms everything’s OK
When she talks, then the world goes slippin’ away
And I know the reason I can still go on
When every other reason is gone
Yeah, yeah, yeah

In my five o’clock world, she waits for me
Nothing else matters at all
‘Cause every time my baby smiles at me
I know that’s it’s all worthwhile, yeah
Oh my lady, yeah
Oh my lady, yeah
Oh my lady, yeah

c – 1965 Allen Reynolds

I guess it’s officially summer!

June 24, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis 2 Comments

Okay!

The Agency has given me my new schedule at least until the end of July and I will have no shortage of money or hours.

And most of my shifts will be in the afternoons/evenings. And I’m even picking up some Wednesday afternoons with the retired Minister and his lovely wife and cat!!

So as much as it broke my heart to have to part with my favorite 95-year-old Japanese man (entirely because of extreme changes brought on by his family), it has all worked out for the very much better.

Honestly, it is like having a whole new life. (Waking up when I want to and going to sleep when I want to…which also means more time to write.)

Today, I sort of have the day off, except that I’m going in to the Agency for the Hospice training this afternoon. And then stopping in at the bookstore in Granville that has agreed to carry my new novel when it comes out in September — The Curse of Our Profound Disorder — pre-order here!!

I’m going to the bookstore with more than a little trepidation, because I want to see if that staff member has read the review copy yet that I dropped off for her. If she has read it already, depending on her reaction to the book, that will make up my mind about whether or not I will do a book launch party for it in Granville when the book comes out.

If she responds in a similar way to how my dear pal Wendy responded (Wendy had a lot of trouble with some of the subject matter, and really only finished reading it because she’s my friend; and Valerie still hasn’t finished reading it and probably never will, because she was worried it was going to give her nightmares). Anyway, if she responds along those lines, I will forego a book launch entirely and just let the book come out.

If I were still living in NYC, I wouldn’t hesitate to promote it, but life and people can be so different around here.

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Okay!

Before I forget–

Wow, did Simon Parkes have a VERY interesting update this morning! All INTEL.

You can only view it if you are a member of Connecting Consciousness, but it is free to join and you can join HERE.

However, what Simon had to say was very, very encouraging! Especially about the 4th of July.

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Since I worked a long double yesterday and didn’t post here, my “here’s this’s” are mostly from Monday.

I thought this was really interesting. The difference in the music business nowadays and what it was like in the not-so-old days. It’s safe to say that the Internet, with its trickle-down effect, basically ruined everything…

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And a couple of days ago, it was Ray Davies birthday!(He turned 82!)

From his brother, Dave:

And how about this, while we’re at it??

I was almost 10 years old the first time I heard this song — it was in music class at my elementary school in Cleveland. We had such a cool music teacher that year, Miss Collins!! (And, yes, she eventually got fired… but not just because of the records she played for us, but because she was white and living in sin with a black guy.)

The song really just fascinated me. I never forgot it!!

Anyway. Thank you, Miss Collins!! I never forget you, either!! You turned me on to such great music. From 1970 — the incredible “Lola” by Ray & Dave Davies and The Kinks!!

“Lola”

I met her in a club down in old Soho
Where you drink champagne and it tastes just like cherry-cola
C O L A cola
She walked up to me and she asked me to dance
I asked her her name and in a dark brown voice she said Lola
L O L A Lola la-la-la-la Lola

Well I’m not the world’s most physical guy
But when she squeezed me tight she nearly broke my spine
Oh my Lola la-la-la-la Lola
Well I’m not dumb but I can’t understand
Why she walked like a woman and talked like a man
Oh my Lola la-la-la-la Lola la-la-la-la Lola

Well we drank champagne and danced all night
Under electric candlelight
She picked me up and sat me on her knee
And said little boy won’t you come home with me
Well I’m not the world’s most passionate guy
But when I looked in her eyes well I almost fell for my Lola
La-la-la-la Lola la-la-la-la Lola
Lola la-la-la-la Lola la-la-la-la Lola
I pushed her away
I walked to the door
I fell to the floor
I got down on my knees
Then I looked at her and she at me

Well that’s the way that I want it to stay
And I always want it to be that way for my Lola
La-la-la-la Lola
Girls will be boys and boys will be girls
It’s a mixed up muddled up shook up world except for Lola
La-la-la-la Lola

Well I left home just a week before
And I’d never ever kissed a woman before
But Lola smiled and took me by the hand
And said dear boy I’m gonna make you a man

Well I’m not the world’s most masculine man
But I know what I am and I’m glad I’m a man
And so is Lola
La-la-la-la Lola la-la-la-la Lola
Lola la-la-la-la Lola la-la-la-la Lola

c – 1970 Raymond Douglas Davies

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And here’s this from Father’s Day!!

From Tom Petty’s eldest daughter, Adria:

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And here’s this.

Just a photo I liked from the Sid Vicious account:

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And Joe Satriani did a photo dump from the recent tour with Steve Vai, and he included a photo from Cleveland!!

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And here’s yet another intense photo from the Bad Seeds show the other night in Austria:

Tonight, they play Athens, Greece. You can buy tickets here!

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And someone I occasionally text with on Instagram who also loves music sent me this link yesterday and I really loved it:

From 1969, “Superman,” by The Clique:

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And I think that’s it for now.

I will still wait awhile before posting about my friend Jeffrey who died. I am in a better place about it today, though. Meaning, I’m focused more on how great our friendship had been and not on the fact that he’s dead now.

I’m hoping to have a great day, even considering the upcoming bookstore visit. And tomorrow, I have the day off!

Meanwhile, have a wonder-filled Wednesday, wherever you are in the world!

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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Let’s close with this!!

From that wonderful yesteryear before the Internet!!

Backstage Rolling Stones 1976 Mick Jagger Keith Richards Ronnie Wood Charlie Watts Bill Wyman (6 mins):

A Happy Father’s Day To One & All!

June 21, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis 2 Comments

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:

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”:

Tonight’s show in Austria is sold out.

Next up, though, is Athens, Greece, and you can BUY TICKETS HERE!!

On an entirely different note, though–

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!!

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

c – 1973 Alan Jardine

Welcome to the weekend!!

June 20, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis Leave a comment

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.

It is an interview with Ira Sachs, the director of that movie I posted about yesterday, Keep the Lights On:

“…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.)

Buy tickets here. Tomorrow’s show in Austria is sold out.

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And that is it for today.

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!

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

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

Come today
Shilo
Shilo

c- 1967 Neil Diamond

Wow! Gonna be busy for the next 6 days!

June 19, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis Leave a comment

But one of those days includes lunch with Wendy over in Granville. Yay!! And one of those days is that Hospice training at the Agency. (Good — but I wouldn’t go so far as to say, “yay”.)

The rest of it — mostly new shifts. Wow. And none of them more than a 20-minute drive from here.

And only one of those days is in the morning (a new double on Tuesday).

I’m still trying to wrap my mind around how much everything changed in my life overnight. And I really, really, really needed it to change, gang. My depression was off the charts.

And me and depression — not a good combination. It honestly feels like I woke up this past Tuesday, and God said: “Here, have a new life.”

And part of the changes around here – I’m trying to make myself sleep in until 5 AM. No more of this getting up at 3 o’clock anymore and scrolling around on my phone. And now that I’ll be working some evenings again, I’m making myself stay up later at night again, just generally.

Just those 2 simple changes — feeling like I have more time, just for myself — stress level went way down.

Okay!

Yesterday I had a nice phone chat with Wayne, because when the insurance guy came for the bi-annual meeting, the guy felt that I really, really didn’t need the life insurance policy.

Have you ever heard of an insurance guy not wanting to sell you life insurance?!

It was actually for a good reason (I have to say that I really love my insurance guys). He felt that since I was paying only for a cremation, and since I have more than enough in my savings to pay for a cremation out-of-pocket, the money I spend every month on life insurance would be better spent beefing up my Long Term Care options.

Wow. What a great idea. Since I work in the Long Term Care field, I see what people go through first hand, and I would not want to be without Long Term Care options.

Since Wayne is the one who will handle all my end-of-life stuff, I just wanted to make sure he was comfortable with me giving up the life insurance — he was. (And he even said that if for some reason I had no money at all left when I died, he’d just pay for it himself. Wow. So nice.) (I know. You have to sort of wonder why we’ve been divorced now for 19 years…)

Anyway!!

After the cheerful topic of cremations and money, we had a really nice chat!

And since it was my day off — I did yoga. Did some prep cooking for the next few days. Started reading the new book for James Tabor’s Research Group– it is very interesting. It makes a very good case that the Gospel of John is actually a synoptic gospel:

(I’m still reading John Cooper Clarke’s autobiography, I Wanna Be Yours, and still loving it!)

And I also started re-listening to a lecture series I took from The Great Courses about 12 years ago — taught by Bart Ehrman: The Greatest Controversies of Early Christian History.

You can browse through the course here. (It costs $25 and you can listen to it on a phone app.) It is really fascinating. Some of this stuff, I’d actually forgotten. (But all of it was part of why I gave up pursuing my ministry after I graduated from Ohio Christian University, wanting to study the Historical Jesus, instead.)

And then, last night, I started watching a really great movie on Metrograph — part of their Pride Month collection — Keep the Lights On, directed by Ira Sachs, 2012. Wow, is it good.

Great acting. Deep story — whether or not you’re gay, if you’ve ever been in love with an addict, you will relate to the authentic emotions in this film. And of course it takes place in NYC, in 1998-2008, so I related even more. But it is not over the top in any way. Just very well done:

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Okay, while checking in with all my various new and out-of-print books available online, I discovered this today: you can buy a used copy of my short-story collection from 2004, Lust: Bisexual Erotica, for a mere $110.13 plus shipping.

I had to look twice at that price.

So I wanted to remind you that you can read Lust online for free at the Internet Archive! It is like an online library.

Just follow the above link. I would recommend clicking the icon for “full screen” and also the icon to read it on a single page, rather than a double page, and voila! The book is right there. Free. (Adults only, though, please.)

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Okay.

Some “here’s this’s” for this sunny Friday!

I thought this was so cute!

From Steve Vai yesterday:

And I also had a really cool little private text exchange with Billy Sheehan on Instagram yesterday, too. About Yngwie Malmsteen. But I won’t repost it here.

However, let’s listen to this! I first became aware of both Billy Sheehan (bass) and Steve Vai (guitar), when they began playing with David Lee Roth after he left Van Halen. I saw this particular tour in NYC, at Madison Square Garden. But this is from Detroit — but in the days before cell phones, when you weren’t allowed to bring cameras into the arena!! (Can you imagine???)

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And here’s this. Just because I like the photo. And Dwight’s music in the 80s was just incredible:

And here’s this, again!! Talk about hillbilly twang!! Yay!!

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Okay!!

Nick Cave was honored with another (!!) Lifetime Achievement Award in the Arts, somewhere between the shows in Germany and Denmark!!

And while the show in Denmark looks like it was really great, there was sort of a lack of photos. (Almost makes you think you’re still not allowed to bring cameras to arenas in Denmark!!) Well, there were a few videos. But still. Not a whole lot. At least, not yet.

Here’s the official set list, although I saw another handwritten list that included a REALLY long encore.

Even though I find Facebook really boring now, I do follow Nick Cave fan pages there! This was posted early this morning:

And this was on Instagram:

Tomorrow, the Bad Seeds play Prague(!!) and you can buy tickets here.

The show in Austria, on Sunday, is sold out.

**********

And I guess that is it for today!!

Gonna go water my flowers. Then do yoga. take a shower, wash my hair… have lunch… and then leave for my evening shift with the retired Chaplain who is finally home from Florida!!

Enjoy your Friday, wherever you are in the world.

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

*********

Let’s close with this!

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, live in Denmark, 6 years ago!!

The absolute gem, “Into My Arms”. Enjoy, gang.

Getting back to normal already

June 16, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis Leave a comment

Well, getting close to normal, anyway.

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.

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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.

I’ve been reading this, and I really love it:

I Wanna Be Yours, an autobiography by John Cooper Clarke. From 2020.

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):

Last Day of My Spectacular Vacation!

June 15, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis 2 Comments

Wow. No comment.

I’m actually in a good place this morning, though. Finally.

Valerie had her first surgery this morning — it’s already over, and she texted me that it went great. So, probably by midafternoon, she should be able to hold a can of beer again…

Yesterday turned out to be a really good day for me. (Oh, except for ANOTHER thunderstorm with really high winds that came late in the day, and lasted about 45 minutes…)

But yesterday, at noon, James Tabor had a private zoom call for his Tabor Research Group. It lasted over 2 hours. It was the first time in a while that I was able to be on the actual call and not have to listen to the recorded version later.

Then I did yoga while listening to the final lecture James Tabor gave in his class, “Christianity Before Paul” back in late May.

And then at 4PM, Ross K. Nichols also had a private zoom call for his Yachad group. I almost never get to be on his zoom calls live anymore. That one went over 2 hours, as well.

But all of it was so interesting. Archeological stuff, historical stuff, Biblical stuff — the zoom calls were things I can’t post about here, because the calls were private. But they really helped take me out of myself yesterday and really get my thoughts going in other directions that I really enjoy.

Then I had a Mediterranean-style flatbread pizza for dinner while watching a couple of reruns of “Black Books” on Britbox and laughing a lot.

So eventually I went to bed in a good place.

If you’ve never watched “Black Books”, it ‘s a British comedy, from about 20 years ago (4 mins):

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And the Post Office left me a notice in my mailbox that Chong, my first husband who now lives in Seattle, sent me a Registered Letter!! That means $$. Yay! (I emailed him and he confirmed that. He just wanted me to have it. He had no idea what was going on in my life right now.) So, in a few minutes, I’m heading to the post office, and then to the bank.

So, even though I have only 9 hours of work ahead of me this week, the flow between God and me and the Universe feels very, very positive.

Oh, and even though Jonathan Cainer passed away many years ago, I still like to visit his Astrology site. His nephew took it over when Jonathan died. And oddly enough, yesterday, when I was still having difficult feelings about having made such sudden changes to my shifts with the Agency, my horoscope yesterday said this:

“Since people naturally turn to you for support, you sometimes need to be reminded that support doesn’t have to mean self-sacrifice. Venus, in your neighbouring sign Leo, encourages you to focus on your emotional world and make space for your own needs and desires. Not every problem is yours to solve. And not every request requires a ‘yes’. By encouraging others to access their own strengths, you’ll reclaim yours. It’s important, because as we move towards the Solstice, you deserve to feel lighter, and free to enjoy the opportunities ahead. “

Wow. That sort of felt re-affirming, too. That these changes needed to be made because I have been losing myself and my mind for a while now. (And today’s horoscope was even better.)

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Okay.

Here’s Keith and Tom Waits during the recording of the incredible album Rain Dogs, in NYC, 1985!!

FYI– I would be very careful about taking any advice that Keith wears on a T-shirt…

And while we’re at it, here’s this again — “Clap Hands,” from Rain Dogs:

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And here are a few more photos from the Bad Seeds show in the Netherlands on Saturday night!

Warren Ellis’ solo with boot!!

Another really lovely photo of Nick Cave!

And I loved the drama of both of these, meaning the Big Screen images.

Nick overseeing George Vjestica:

And then this — I thought it was such a great photo:

The next show is in Germany tomorrow. You can buy tickets here!!

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You know, something else that’s helping me a lot around here–

Ever since I finally upgraded to the iPhone 16e, I have been having a lot of trouble with my eyes.

I turned down the brightness on the phone screen. I only turn on the Bluetooth when I’m playing music in the car. I try to wear the bluelight-blocking glasses whenever I’m looking at the phone.

Still, so much intense eye strain. Just awful.

I took the cell salts for 16 days and they worked great. But as soon as I stopped taking the salts, the eye problem came back every time I was looking at the iPhone.

Well, I finally found out how to tone the bluelight itself way down. (As opposed to just the brightness.) So now it is basically redlight.

Wow, what a HUGE difference. Immediately, my eyes felt the relief.

{In Settings, go to Accessibility, then select Display & Text Size, then scroll down and choose Color Filters, then select Color Tint, then Intensity.]

So between feeling a sort of spiritual relief now with the changes I’ve made with my schedule at the Agency, and now this relief in my eyes EVERYTIME I look at the phone (which is a lot), it all comes together to help me be in a better, calmer place.

We’ll see how any new shifts eventually pan out this summer. For now, I’m working tomorrow afternoon, and then not again until Sunday afternoon. But that could change if someone calls in sick. We’ll see.

Meanwhile, I’m gonna head out now and retrieve my Registered Letter! And then enjoy the final day of my vacation before I have a bunch more days off…

Have a great Monday, wherever you are in the world!

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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

Let’s close with this!

Mick Jagger Talks New Rolling Stones’ Album, Favorite Songs, More (8 mins):

Talk About Changes!

June 13, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis Leave a comment

Well, gang. If you saw my post from the middle of the night, Tommycakes passed away.

She began to show the signs of dying right when I was leaving for town to get the groceries. So I hurried to town and back, and then spent the remainder of the day just trying to be near her, to comfort her, to be present.

Around one in the morning, she finally let go.

Then this morning, after I had my breakfast, I went outside and buried her right next to Weenie– up close to the back of the house. I can see both of their graves from the kitchen window.

A painting that Valerie did of Tommycakes back in 2016:

I find it really interesting that I had the premonition that she was going to die this weekend, so I canceled my trip to NYC, and she did indeed pass away.

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The other thing in my life that has hugely changed — and I can’t go into all the details of it because I want to protect his family’s privacy–

I asked to be removed from my favorite 95-year-old Japanese man’s account.

I am no longer going to be working with him. Sadly, my decision had absolutely nothing to do with him, but with factors that have changed in his home life since Annie died. And I am worn out, exhausted, and it created a depression that was taking over my life.

Along with the decision, though, came a sense of release. That I am back within my own life. So maybe now the constant exhausting depression is gone?

One thing I know for sure: I now have a total of NINE hours — 2 shifts — every week for the rest of the summer.

While that feels FANTASTIC (!!), it’s obviously going to have to change because I can’t afford to only work 9 hours a week….

I’m just going to focus on one day at a time right now. It feels kind of incredible. To suddenly be free.

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So my “vacation” went from going to NYC to not going to NYC, to watching one of my cats die, to leaving a (work) relationship with a man I adored that will now make my free time sort of endless…

And then last night, the main reason I was even going to NYC — the Lambda Literary Awards…

Wow, I watched the livestream on YouTube and I want to at least give them kudos for trying, but it was a technical disaster. I finally gave up trying to watch it.

Even though I’m out the $188 I had spent on a ticket to attend the Awards in person, I’m wondering if I would have been really upset to attend the Awards and then have it be such a technical disaster at that price (plus airfare & hotel)?

Plus there was a thunderstorm in NYC, right when I would have been heading to the show. And a heat advisory– upper 90s Fahrenheit.

It almost seems as if saints & angels were looking out for me throughout that whole thing, and I was just meant to stay right here at home.

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This is from Charlie Ward’s newsletter yesterday. I thought it was kind of important so I’m passing it along, in the event you have children or grandchildren.

A growing number of adolescents and young adults are turning to AI chatbots for mental health advice, according to a new nationally representative survey published in JAMA Pediatrics. Researchers estimate that nearly 1 in 5 people aged 12 to 21—around 8 million individuals in the United States—have used tools such as ChatGPT, Meta AI, or Character.AI for support when feeling stressed, sad, or angry.

The study, conducted in November 2025 with just over 1,000 participants, found that more than 40% of those users rely on chatbots at least once a month. Alarmingly, over 60% said they have not told anyone about using AI for emotional support.

The findings highlight growing concern among experts, as many AI systems are not designed or regulated to provide mental health care. Previous research has shown that chatbots may offer inaccurate or unsafe responses, particularly in crisis situations such as suicide risk. Experts warn that these systems can appear highly responsive and emotionally engaging, which may increase their influence on vulnerable users.

Mental health challenges among youth remain widespread, with many facing barriers such as cost and limited access to professional care. Researchers emphasize that while AI tools may feel accessible, they are not a substitute for trained mental health professionals and can pose serious risks without proper safeguards.

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On a whole different note, but still AI–

I found this on Google this morning and really loved the summary (AI), so I wanted to share it, too. (You can pre-order my novel here.):

The Curse of Our Profound Disorder by Marilyn Jaye Lewis is a coming-of-age novel about Jemima Callahan, a young woman who navigates trauma, abuse in foster care, and sexuality while searching for her father, Reverend Parker Peabody, after her mother's mental health declines. The story explores themes of identity, belief, and survival on society's margins, influenced by her mother's philosophy that passion and divinity are intertwined. The book won a New Century Writer Award and was a finalist for the William Faulkner Writing Competition. 
Key aspects of the novel:
•	Protagonist: 
Jemima Callahan, who endures a difficult childhood with a teenage mother and abuse in foster care. 
•	Plot: 
Jemima's journey involves survival through selling herself, followed by a job as a housekeeper for a lawyer, all while seeking her father. 
•	Themes: 
Trauma, sexuality, identity, belief, and the intersection of passion and divinity. 
•	Awards: 
Winner of the New Century Writer Award and a finalist in the William Faulkner Writing Competition.

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And here’s this!

From Johnny Depp and Castle Fine Art, updates on Johnny’s new artwork:

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And from George Vjestica!

A photo from the show in Dublin this past Wednesday, and a reminder that the next show is tonight in the Netherlands! Buy tickets here! (But hurry, because they’re in, like, a whole different time zone…)

And a couple more lovely shots of Nick Cave in Dublin!

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And I think that is it.

I guess I will close this and sit and think about life for awhile. It is absolutely stunning outside today. And I’m still on vacation…

Enjoy your Saturday, wherever you are in the world.

Thanks for visting.

I love you guys. See ya!

*********

I’ll close with this.

One of the songs I sang to Tommycakes last evening.

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, 1985, “Southern Accents”. Enjoy, gang.

“Southern Accents”

There’s a southern accent, where I come from
The young ‘uns call it country
The Yankees call it dumb

I got my own way of talkin’
But everything is done, with a southern accent
Where I come from

Now that drunk tank in Atlanta’s
Just a motel room to me
Think I might go work Orlando
If them orange groves don’t freeze

I got my own way of workin’
But everything is run, with a southern accent
Where I come from

For just a minute there I was dreaming
For just a minute it was all so real
For just a minute she was standing there, with me

There’s a dream I keep having
Where my mama comes to me
Then kneels down over by the window
And says a prayer for me

I got my own way of prayin’
But every one’s begun
With a southern accent
Where I come from

I got my own way of livin’
But everything gets done
With a southern accent
Where I come from

c – 1985 – Tom Petty

What’s Wrong With This Picture??

June 9, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis 6 Comments

Well, mostly, it’s raining here again!

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.

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

Meanwhile!

Happy Birthday Johnny Depp! I think he’s 63 years old today.

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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,”

You can donate here!

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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.”

You can pre-order it HERE.

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Something’s happening tomorrow but I can’t remember what…..

Oh! THIS!! FINALLY!!

You can still by tickets HERE, gang!!

And meanwhile…

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.