Hopefully I will be able to post here tomorrow, gang. We shall see.
Have a terrific Tuesday!
Thanks for visiting.
I love you guys. See ya!
And we’re off
Tag Archives: marilyn jaye lewis
Taking it a moment at a time here
Or at least I’m trying to.
Having this jury duty thing hanging over my head for tomorrow has sent me right back into that terrible depression I was struggling with for most of this year before I finally retired from caregiving.
Obviously, I’m hoping that I won’t get assigned to a jury tomorrow and that it will be all over in one day. And even if I do get put on a jury, it’s not like how it was back in NYC, where there were high-profile murder cases that you could get stuck on for months.
Anyway. It’s more of a trigger — this feeling that my time (my life?) isn’t my own.
If I do get put on a jury, I will try to at least post updates to the blog in the evenings.
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Let’s move on to something happier!!
Marlon Richards turns 57 today!!
Keith had a total of 5 children — 2 sons and 3 daughters. But one of his sons with Anita Pallenberg, Tara Jo Jo Gunne, died back in 1976.
Out of all of his children, my guess is that Marlon, his first child, is the most well known, since Marlon famously went through it all with Keith.
Here’s one of my favorite photos of Keith with Marlon:
A more recent photo of them (and Marlon himself recently became a grandfather):
Happy Birthday Marlon Richards!!
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Okay.
Here’s this! The complete tour dates for the Hollywood Vampires (I think the Cardiff show just sold out):
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Yesterday (that lofty day wherein I was NOT depressed) was actually sort of magical.
Regarding yesterday’s choice for the Sealey Challenge— I very suddenly got the impetus to check one of the bookshelves down in my family room for 2 chapbooks I knew I still had of Michael Perkins’ poetry.
Sure enough, I checked and they were still there, however, I was you know, yet again stunned to discover both books are over 20 years old…
And one of them, The Persistence of Desire, still had a handwritten note from Michael stuck to the front of it. The note was written on June 23, 2004. And Michael mentions that he had just spoken to Richard Kasak (!!) and Michael congratulated me that Neptune & Surf had just gotten picked up for a mass market edition by Barney Rosset over at Blue Moon Books!
Crimony! Talk about blast from the absolute past. Richard Kasak had been my primary publisher throughout most of my early career, and had also been my business partner in Marilyn’s Room, Inc. Richard’s been gone now for at least 10 years. And Barney Rosset is of course gone now, too.
And then I thought — uh, oh— and I googled Michael and sure enough, he passed away back in 2022:
“Michael Perkins of Glenford died at Archcare at Ferncliff in Rhinebeck, New York of complications from Parkinson’s Disease on February 10, 2022, at age 79.”
Rhinebeck, of all my favorite places!!
It was just too — I don’t know the right word, it was just a sort of very fragile feeling.
I read the chapbook, I Could Walk All Day, yesterday and will read The Persistence of Desire today. Beautiful poems. (He also wrote amazing erotic fiction, published by Richard Kasak,)
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All right.
From Ross K. Nichols’ Sunday School yesterday–
“According to one Gospel writer, Jesus twice pointed his listeners to the same five words—and on one occasion told them, ‘Go and learn what this means.'”
Jesus Said To Learn These Five Words (49 mins):
(HINT: “lovingkindness” is one of the words!)
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Moving on to Romania!!
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds played the Summer Well Festival. Here’s the set list from last night’s show!
Here’s Warren Ellis from before the show! Shiny, indeed!!
And a few photos of Nick Cave! (The show looked like a really intense one.)
Starting on Thursday, August 13th, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds will play Norway, Sweden, and Finland. You can buy tickets here!!
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And now we have a really intense thunderstorm underway here in Crazeysburg.
Even though thunderstorms and high winds usually trigger my PTSD, it seems that, this time, the thunderstorm has actually sort of done the opposite and dispersed my feeling of intense depression. Interesting.
Well, at some point tomorrow I will check in and let you know if I’ll be posting to the blog or not.
Have a great Monday meanwhile, wherever you are in the world, gang.
Thanks for visiting.
I love you guys. See ya!
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Let us close with this today!!
Jesus. When was the last time you heard THIS song??!!
Well, I heard it while making the bed this morning and listening to the Oldies FM Radio Station on my retro boombox!!
This song was a huge hit back when I was working at the General Electric factory. I was 19, and back in Ohio, living in a rooming house, after having lived briefly out in Ukiah, California… and dreaming of moving to NYC!
The Knack, “My Sharona”, from the album Get the Knack,1979!! Enjoy, gang.
Slim pickings but that’s okay!
It’s a really lovely, quiet Sunday morning here in the Hinterlands.
I spent all of yesterday getting caught up on stuff at my desk, so I don’t have too much to post about today.
However!
I did want to at least say that I was finally able to catch up with Sandra out in Los Angeles yesterday. We had a great chat! She flies back to NYC today. Then I think she’s planning on collapsing for a few days up in Rhinebeck and then we will get back to focusing on the staged reading of our play, “The Guide to Being Fabulous”.
While she was in LA, though, Sandra was involved with this amazing project, which happened this past Friday night (8/7)– since I found this posted online, I think it’s okay to post it here on the blog:
Apparently, it was a complete success!
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Okay.
Yesterday was International Cat Day!
Here’s Queenie just now, completely worn out from all the breathtaking festivities!!
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Yesterday, when it was time to do yoga, I wanted something just sort of different to listen to (I usually listen to religious or spiritual stuff).
I found this radio interview with Tom Petty from 2003 and I just loved it. It was at that perfect era in his life — the drugs were well behind him, he was married to Dana, The Last DJ, an incredible album, had already been released and he and the Heartbreakers were, once again, on the road (1 hr 23 mins):
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And as far as yesterday’s installment of The Sealey Challenge—
I decided I wanted to read something totally new. I was sort of worn out from re-reading poetry books from my past that were digging up all sorts of other emotions that weren’t necessarily related to the actual poems.
Since I had bought Drunk on Angel Breath by R. Nikolas Macioci last year and still had not had a moment to just sit down and absorb it, I chose to read that one yesterday.
Wow, gang. What an entrancing book of poems!!
If you’re new to the blog (i.e., you just started reading it this moment), R. Nikolas Macioci is not only an accomplished poet, a Pulitzer Prize nominee, and the author of 18 other poetry books — he was also my first Jr. High School English teacher back in 1972, when I was 12.
After I chose to write a poem as my “book report” for a book we had recently been assigned to read in class, he took an active interest in my writing and he took it upon himself — after class, on his own time — to teach me how to write.
That went on for several years, long after Jr. High School was over.
It was the only formal “training” as a writer that I ever had, but it totally and thoroughly served me well. It gave me an entire career.
Obviously, I have read his poems before, but this specific book had me spellbound. I could not put it down. It is safe to say that I had a really beautiful evening yesterday.
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Well, as far as “here’s this’s” — I only have ONE today!
But it is suitable for a Sunday morning!
From Warren Ellis!! In Bucharest!
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds play Romania tonight. Then they have a few days off before playing Norway on August 13th. You can buy tickets here!
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And honestly, gang, that’s all I have for today.
The laundry is almost done and I’m planning to try to take it sort of easy today. We’ll see how that goes.
Meanwhile, I hope you have a splendid Sunday, wherever you are in the world.
Thanks for visiting.
I love you guys. See ya!
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I leave you with this!
A song I have just loved from the very first moment that I first heard it!!
But my fondest memory of the song, was playing it for my (back then-film production partner) Peitor Angell one night — giving him my iPhone with ear buds, as we walked together along Sunset Blvd. after dark. As I had been, he, too, was blown away by it.
Anyway.
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, “We Call Upon the Author”, from one of my favorite albums ever, Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!! 2008.
“We Call Upon The Author”
What we once thought we had we didn’t, and what we have now will never be that way again
So we call upon the author to explain
Our myxomatoid kids spraddle the streets, we’ve shunned them from the greasy-grind
The poor little things, they look so sad and old as they mount us from behind
I ask them to desist and to refrain
And then we call upon the author to explain
Rosary clutched in his hand, he died with tubes up his nose
And a cabal of angels with finger cymbals chanted his name in code
We shook our fists at the punishing rain
And we call upon the author to explain
He said everything is messed up around here, everything is banal and jejune
There is a planetary conspiracy against the likes of you and me in this idiot constituency of the moon
Well, he knew exactly who to blame
And we call upon the author to explain
Prolix! Prolix! Nothing a pair of scissors can’t fix!
Prolix! Prolix! Nothing a pair of scissors can’t fix!
Well, I go guruing down the street, young people gather round my feet
Ask me things, but I don’r know where to start
They ignite the power-trail ssstraight to my father’s heart
And once again I call upon the author to explain
We call upon the author to explain
Who is this great burdensome slavering dog-thing that mediocres my every thought?
I feel like a vacuum cleaner, a complete sucker, it’s fucked up and he is a fucker
But what an enormous and encyclopaedic brain
I call upon the author to explain
Oh rampant discrimination, mass poverty, third world debt, infectious diseease
Global inequality and deepening socio-economic divisions
Well, it does in your brain
And we call upon the author to explain
Now hang on, my friend Doug is tapping on the window (Hey Doug, how you been?)
Brings me back a book on holocaust poetry complete with pictures
Then tells me to get ready for the rain
And we call upon the author to explain
I say prolix! Prolix! Something a pair of scissors can fix
Bukowski was a jerk! Berryman was best!
He wrote like wet papier mache, went the Heming-way weirdly on wings and with maximum pain
We call upon the author to explain
Down in my bolthole I see they’ve published another volume of unreconstructed rubbish
“The waves, the waves were soldiers moving”. Well, thank you, thank you, thank you
And again I call upon the author to explain
Yeah, we call upon the author to explain
Prolix! Prolix! There’s nothing a pair of scissors can’t fix!
c – 2008 – Nick Cave, Warren Ellis
Oddly enough, life continues!!
Wow, is it just me, or is life just really strange these days?
Let me just say one more thing about fiverr (see yesterday’s frustrated post)– my tax paperwork got approved and before the day was over, I had already received 6 scam attempts through my new fiverr account.
Needless to say, that shit never used to happen in the old days.
Plus, I recently had a scam attempt through a writing group on the Substack app. I’ve never had that happen before on Substack, either.
And I personally think the semi-scams for writers are endless now on LinkedIn so I try to stay off of there. (LinkedIn started out as a whole different thing 20 years ago, when I first started using it — long before it was an overcrowded phone app.)
Anyway. I won’t go on and on about it, but phone apps targetting writers (that have basically replaced the corresponding websites) are my new pet peeve.
But I have to say, that both the Tabor Research Group and Ross K. Nichols’ private Yachad, now have phone apps and they are fantastic. But they’re private, members-only type apps.
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Okay!
So.
On to happier things!
I had a chance to read the short story Maxim Jakubowski contributed to our upcoming anthology honoring the life of M. Christian, and it was fantastic. It was such a joy to read it — erotic but also an undercurrent of sci-fi. And I know for certain M. Christian would have loved it.
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Before I forget, I thought I would just post a little update regarding me and Sandra and our upcoming staged reading in NY for our play, “The Guide to Being Fabulous”.
Sandra is in Los Angeles, working on a different project right now and we are sort of playing “text-tag.”
If I don’t get assigned to a jury on Tuesday (when I have to report for jury duty), then we will finally get a chance to really catch up.
But if I do get put on a jury, then who knows how long it will be…
Ditto for the podcast that Valerie and I are trying to finally launch. Valerie’s hands have recovered quite nicely from the surgeries and she texted me a photo of her current painting-in-progress yesterday and I just loved it!!
So now she’s just waiting on me and my unkown schedule at this point. But it’s all coming, eventually.
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Okay, on to the Sealey Challenge!
I did indeed re-read half of Lunch Poems (by Frank O’Hara, City Lights Books, 1964) last evening. I will finish it tonight.
And it was indeed very emotional for me. Quite a few of the poems were familiar to me long before I first read Lunch Poems in 1984, because those poems had been included in The Selected Poems of Frank O’Hara, which I’d pretty much had memorized since I first read that in1975.
And yes, I even took the book to school with me back then, even though it quite clearly has a drawing on the cover by Larry Rivers of Frank O’Hara totally naked…
I digress!
The emotional part about re-reading Lunch Poems last night was all those references to places in NYC (and also Paris) that were totally foreign to me when I was first reading his poems at age 15, alone in my room in Ohio in 1975.
Not only are they no longer foreign, but they became places, buildings, shops, museums, even train stops, that I came to know very well.
And now it’s all part of my distant past. When did that fucking happen?
Anyway. I found the short video below online last night and I wanted to share it. It is Frank O’Hara reading 2 poems in 1964 that I came to know by heart as a young girl. (The first poem is about the day Billie Holiday died.)
But mostly, I wanted you to notice at the end of the first poem, when they pull back and show you Frank’s apartment in downtown NYC — my apartment on E. 12th Street looked exactly like that, with the built-in bookshelves next to the old fireplace! And everything painted white. (My apartment had two fireplaces! And they have since gutted the apartment and got rid of all of that cool stuff.)
After Lunch Poems, I will either re-read Baudelaire’s Flowers of Evil (a 1952 edition that I’ve owned for over 40 years, that has the original French alongside the English translations).
Or I will read Drunk on Angel Breath by R. Nikolas Macioci. (He was the the teacher I was so blessed to have in Jr. High School who literally taught me how to write, on his own time, after school.)
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Okay!
There is only one “here’s this” today that is not connected to Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds!!
And that “here’s this” is THIS!!
From Johnny Depp’s new Sauvage campaign with Dior!
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Okay.
Here’s an older photo of Nick Cave that I just loved!
And here’s a photo from July, back in Vienne, France, that I also just love!
And the rest are all from Belgrade last night — and I have to say (again), the show looked INCREDIBLE! So many great photos and videos that it was sort of overwhelming this morning.
Here’s Warren Ellis last night:
And the rest are basically Nick Cave.
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds play Romania tomorrow night. You can buy tickets here!
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And that is it for today, gang!
I have so much to do at my desk today — in preparation for maybe not having anytime at all after Tuesday, if I get assigned to a jury.
I am still hoping that they will let me go but we shall see.
In the meantime, enjoy your Saturday, wherever you are in the world, gang!
Thanks for visiting.
I love you guys. See ya!
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Let’s close with this!
Some more of that making-the-bed music!!
From the Oldies FM Radio Station on the retro boombox next to my bed!
Saturday mornings are “Amazing 80s Day” and the DJ launched this morning’s show with this absolute gem!! Talk about memories from my Paradise Apartment on E.12th Street in the East Village in NYC!! I used to play this song so loud!
“Born in the USA”, Bruce Springsteen, 1984. Enjoy, gang.
Sorry I’m Late!
Wow, gang.
Just another one of those things that make me insane–
When I awoke this morning, I decided to register over on fiverr again — as a private writing/editing coach.
Many years ago, when it first got started, signing up was easy and everything was sort of immediate and personal.
I could put up an add that I was a writing coach and I listed my contact info — and then I got some students that I really enjoyed.
It was so simple.
Now it’s like you’re applying to be an astronaut. It has taken 3 hours so far– and now I’m waiting to get my tax paperwork approved. That could take a couple more days…
It doesn’t actually matter because it’s not like there’s any hurry or anything — especially since I might be on jury duty next week. I just suddenly thought it would be a cool idea to be back on fiverr. I enjoy helping other writers.
Anyway.
Things on the web that used to be easy and much more person-friendly are now few and far between. (And within a nanosecond, they want you on their phone app instead…)
(And don’t even get me started on the constantly swirling shark-infested waters that now pass for the endlessly, endlessly, endlessly updating “LinkedIn”… Jesus, you know? When do people find time to just write?)
All I can say, really, is that I’m glad I became a professional writer back when it was actually really fun. And full of people and community and in-person meetings.
I don’t know how new writers can even stand it these days. But I am an old-timer now. What can I say??
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Okay!
That aside!
Guess what I discovered about my brand new and super-fast Honda Accord yesterday, gang????
I will try to set this up so that you can feel the joy the way I felt it!
ME (on the highway heading home and going about 20 miles over the speed limit): “Jeez. This new car is so fast! I better slow down.”
MY HONDA ACCORD (woman’s voice suddenly filling my car): “Police reporting up ahead.”
Holy shit, gang! That’s, like, not legal, right??
But I went down to the the speed limit, pronto, and sure enough — up ahead on the left, a black & yellow Sherriff’s car was sitting there, waiting for speeders!!
Wow! I love my fucking new car!!!
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On the “read a poetry book a day” front —
I decided that today, I am going to read a slender, amazing book that I haven’t read in years. It was written by my favorite poet — Frank O’Hara — whose poetry I “discovered” when I was 15 and I absolutely fell in love with him.
By then, he’d been dead for almost 10 years.
But this particular book — which was already legendary — I didn’t find until 1984, when I was already living in NYC (not far from Frank’s old apartment, and I was working where he had worked: the Museum of Modern Art!):
I am really looking forward to reading it. To see how I am going to react to all his wonderful words, and all the fantastic NYC imagery, all these decades later.
I’m guessing it will be a little bittersweet.
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Okay.
Not much in the “here’s this” department, since I spent all those HOURS on fiverr this morning…
But here’s this!
And I’ve posted it here before, but I love this photo of Keith:
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Okay.
If you go to the UK side of the Nick Cave store — you can pre-order some of the Brighton Beach homecoming merch! But it is only on the UK side of the store.
And Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds play Belgrade, Serbia tonight! If it’s not too late, you can still buy tickets here!!
Then they’re off to Romania!!
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And honestly, that’s actually it for now. I gotta scoot! And a terrific thunderstorm is now filling the skies across the Hinterlands so I want to go down to the kitchen porch and check on a couple of those cats!!
Enjoy your Friday, wherever you are in the world, gang.
Thanks for visiting.
I love you guys. See ya!
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Let’s scoot outta here with this–
Live in Paris, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, “God Is In The House”. 2007. Enjoy, gang.
Already a really lovely day!
It was supposed to rain all day today, but now it’s looking like maybe only a little rain, later tonight. We shall see!
I do not have to drive to town today!
However, since the weather will likely be nice, I will probably drive to town today!
Why? Because it’s Thursday and they have that live acoustic music over at the Archive Lounge in the Historic Arcade in Newark. I might not be able to go again this summer, depending on what happens when I show up for jury duty on Tuesday — if I get assigned to a jury or not.
Plus, I want to stop in at the bookstore there and finalize everything for the book signing next month — the owner of the bookstore is leaving for vacation next week.
Oh!
And check this out!! I got word on Instagram last night that another independent bookstore — this one in Old Worthington, Ohio, (basically Columbus) — is going to carry my new book! (The Curse of Our Profound Disorder. Pre-order here!)
It looks like an awesome bookstore — The Whispering Page. It is getting ready to open this month:
“The Whispering Page is a bookstore, café, and bar tucked into the heart of Old Worthington — the kind of place you mean to pop into for ten minutes and end up staying for two hours. Browse new releases and staff-favorite reads, then settle in with a coffee, a glass of wine, or a local beer.”
And on a sort of personal, bittersweet note…
Old Worthington is where that old private mental hospital was located. It was summer, 51 years ago, that I was committed there for 6 months after a suicide attempt. The hospital has long since been torn down, but the hospital was right around the corner from where this new bookstore is located!
So, I figure, let’s tell that unbelievably terrified 15-year-old girl, locked up in a padded room one night, 51 summers ago: “Hang in there, honey. You are going to have an amazing life.”
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Some other wonderful things that have already happened this morning — not only did I get to once again see probably my all time favorite photo of Nick Cave smoking on Instagram the moment my eyes opened!!
But also, Maxim Jakubowski sent in his contribution for the M. Christian tribute anthology!! I can’t wait to read it! Thank you, Maxim!!
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And here’s this!!
Keith!! And that cigarette he smoked in 1966!!
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And here’s this!
Are they rehearsing in Shanghai??? I have no idea! But the Hollywood Vampires are getting ready for their imminent European Tour!! Buy tickets here!
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Warren Ellis is tired for some reason!!
And here’s Warren saying something about the Detroit Tigers before the 2nd show in Croatia last night but I honestly don’t really know why!!
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And here’s a big bunch of photos from the Bad Seeds’ 2nd show in Croatia last night — and wow, does that arena look incredible!!
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds play Belgrade, Serbia, on Friday. You can buy tickets here!
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And I believe that is it for today!
I’m gonna make a couple phone calls now. Then go out and take a magnificent walk! And then get down to work here at my desk for a few hours and then probably get into my brand new super fast Honda Accord and head to the Historic Arcade!
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!
My morning-listening music. A truly haunting song.
“Carnage”, from the album of the same name, by Nick Cave & Warren Ellis, 2021. Enjoy, gang.
Yeah, well, so guess what happened??
Does this give you a clue?? (1 min):
You perhaps recall that yesterday, I was heading into town to run my errands and thought that maybe I’d stop in at the Honda dealership and see if I could get a better rate on the final year of my current car lease —
OR —
Perhaps even trade in the current lease, on my beloved 2025 Honda Civic, for a new lease altogether…
Holy shit, gang.
I know I have said it here many times before — that the Honda dealership in town that I’ve used for the last 9 years is super nice.
But yesterday was off the charts.
Not only was the sales rep who greeted me super friendly, it turned out he and his little family had been my neighbors 9 years ago, when I briefly lived in town and rented a house from one of my friends. (I thought I was on my way back to NYC back then, but I wound up buying a house and staying out here.)
Anyway!
Within a nanosecond, they basically had me set up with a new 3-year lease on a brand new 2027 Honda Accord — it had 7 miles on it. Just came in from the factory, like, that moment.
Inside the car, it was a little overwhelming because it is like the car from the future. It does all kinds of shit that is, like, scary. And it even has a tiny red button at the top of the rearview mirror that calls 911 when you so much as tap it…
All kinds of stuff I don’t need but now it’s all mine for 3 years. And if you thought it was hard for me to drive less than 95 mph in the Honda Civic…
I don’t know — I guess re-watch this!
Shit. That new car goes fast.
And the most highly improbable part of it all? It will cost me less each month than the Honda Civic did. And it now includes all oil changes, tire rotations, new battery (if needed), and new windshield wipers when needed.
So I guess that’s a better monthly rate…
It felt like God and a whole big bunch of angels led me to that Honda dealership yesterday, gang. Wow.
I was kind of in shock all evening: I’ve got a brand new car. (This is actually the 5th brand new car I’ve gotten from Honda in the last 9 years…Kind of interesting when you consider how much I hate driving.)
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Okay.
Also yesterday, I thought I was starting a new habit of going to town on Tuesdays to do the grocery shopping–
But last evening, I finally got that call from the courthouse that my jury duty starts nextTuesday morning at 8:45AM.
Oh well.
I might not get put on a jury. We’ll see. But if I am, at least I’m getting it over with (and I’ll get paid). But if I am on a jury, it will be really hard to post to the blog. We shall see how it goes.
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Okay.
Well.
Since I got held up at the Honda dealership for quite a while yesterday, it took me a lot longer to get my actual errands done and come back from town. So I didn’t have enough time to read an entire poetry book yesterday, but I did read half of it–
And in case I didn’t make it totally clear yesterday that I actually know both Madeline Artenberg and Iris N. Schwartz (authors of the above book from 2006)– well, I do. And not only that, Iris has been a close friend for a really long time.
But it’s been 20 years since I’d read this specific book. What a fucking delight. All those years of living in NYC and going to poetry readings to listen to Iris, in particular, read her poems — it all came back to me last night. She could really control a room with her poems.
She is such a great writer. Succinct, emotional, honest, funny.
She’s had a few poetry & fiction books out since 2006, and has a new chapbook coming out in October. I will keep you posted!!
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And speaking of the Sealey Poetry Challenge for the month of August (read one book of poetry a day) —
This poem was sent to me from a reader last night! (1 min 23 secs) (Thank you, Martha!!):
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All righty.
Here’s this!
The Rolling Stones in 1964, looking extremely well behaved!!
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And if looks like Johnny Depp is heading to Shanghai at any moment, getting ready to open his Art Exhibit there!
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And it looks like that first show in Croatia last night was awesome! Lots of videos of Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds making a lot of people happy!
I did not have enough time to save many photos yet, but here’s the set list:
And here’s a photo of Nick Cave that I liked!
Tonight’s show in Croatia is SOLD OUT. I should have more time today to hang out on Instagram and scroll through photos…
Meanwhile–
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds play Belgrade, Serbia, next — on Friday, August 7th. You can buy tickets here!
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And, during my illustrious dinner hours, I am currently watching the Joe Strummer documentary from 2008, “The Future Is Unwritten.” It is very good, but really intense.
Here’s the trailer:
And that is it for today!!
Have a wonder-filled Wednesday, wherever you are in the world, gang!
Thanks for visiting.
I love you guys. See ya!
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Let’s close with this!
A real gem from Bill Wyman, and it is so fun to drive to!
“Drive My Car”, 2024. Enjoy, gang!!
New habits underway in the Hinterlands!
Okay, so it’s looking like Tuesdays are now my new day to go to town and get the groceries!
And, wow, it is another really gorgeous day today, gang. It will be such a lovely drive.
And I’ve decided to stop in at the Honda dealership in town, too, and see if there’s any way at all they would let me either re-negotiate the lease on my current Honda Civic, or let me trade it in a year early (on a 3-year lease).
My current lease was negotiated back when I still had really horrible credit, leftover from the bankruptcy caused by the scamdemic lockdowns. And so my monthly payment is really high — over twice what I usually paid on leases before the bankruptcy.
I was really grateful that they still arranged a lease for me on a brand new car when I had such lousy credit, but, well, I thought I’d just see if I have any options 2 years later. (Sometimes they want the cars back so that they can turn around and sell them used for a “truckload” of money…) We’ll see. I still love the car. I just don’t love the high payment.
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All right.
If you didn’t see the recent video on social media of the new Rolling Stones song, “Mr. Charm”, underscoring some really funny footage of Ronnie Wood being, well, annoying in the recording studio… Well, it was really cute!
And now! Ronnie Wood announces a new work of art! Limited to 195 prints, each is hand-signed, numbered, and named. Coming August 7th!! (Order it HERE)
“Mr. Charm”:
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Yesterday, the weekly newsletter from Black Lawrence Press reminded us to take the Sealey Challenge in August!!
“The Sealey Challenge, a community challenge to read one poetry book a day in the month of August, is in its 10th year! Be sure to check out their website for bingo cards, participation suggestions, and ways to modify the challenge if you don’t have the time to devour 31 whole books this month.”
And, yes! Since I have plenty of TIME now, I began the challenge yesterday by reading Thaddeus Rutkowski’s new poetry collection, Tracks In Snow (Finishing Line Press).
I really enjoyed it! (Although I love everything he’s ever written…)
I realized that I easily have at least 31 books of poetry in the house already — about 29 of which I haven’t read in a really long time. Plus, about 15 of them were written by poets that I actually know, so it will be fun to revisit everyone.
Next up is Awakened (2006, Rogues Scholars Press) by Iris N. Schwartz & Madeline Artenberg. Both just wonderful poets! But apparently, I haven’t read the book in 20 years!! I’m looking forward to reading it again tonight.
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Before I forget, I found out some really disturbing news yesterday about the new neighbors across the road from me — the ones who recently bought and are rehabbing the little 125-year-old house that has sat empty for 8 years…
They spend their winters in Florida!!!
I was flabbergasted!
ME (flabbergasted): “You mean, you’re not going to be here for Christmas??!!”
HE: “We’re not into Christmas. Never have been.”
I was so looking forward to seeing how they were going to decorate the little house… Oh well.
(Loyal readers of this lofty blog no doubt recall that I am in no way over-the-top about Christmas…)
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Okay.
Here’s this!
I hear that train a-coming, honey!!
Johnny Cash, in front of Folsom Prison, 1968!!
And here’s this (again), while we’re at it! One of my favorite songs of all time!! Johnny Cash, “Folsom Prison Blues” LIVE, 1968!!
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And here are a few more photos from the Bad Seeds’ show in Dresden on Sunday!!
George & Larry!
And here’s this! Nick Cave in “Fucking Dresden — so beautiful!” I concur!!
And another WONDERFUL shot of Nick–
Tonight & tomorrow, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds play Croatia! Tomorrow is SOLD OUT, but you can buy tickets here for tonight if you hurry — and if, you know, you , like, live down the block…!!
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All righty.
That is it!
I am off to town to run the various errands.
Have a terrific Tuesday, wherever you are in the world!
Thanks for visiting.
I love you guys. See ya!
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Let’s close with this!
Speaking of poetry in August…
Yes, I am still reading John Cooper Clarke’s really long autobiography (and still loving it!!) I Wanna Be Yours (Picador UK, 2020).
So, from the punk poet himself, John Cooper Clarke, a punk poetry recital on London TV in 1980: “Beasley Street”. Enjoy, gang!
Monday Swings Around Again!
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 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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Happy Sunday!
I might check in later with a post, I’m not sure. But I’m getting ready to head to town here, to attend Mass at the Children of Mary convent up in the woods!!
I’ll try to get photos…
Meanwhile, have a happy Sunday, wherever you are in the world!
Thanks for visiting! See ya! 🙋♀️
Marilyn's Room 