The windows are open, the house is cool, the skies are sunny for as far as the eye can see!
I am in a much better mood this morning about everything.
Oh! I forgot to post this, in case you or someone you know was having the same problem– about the wireless printer no longer working right with a new fiber optic Internet connection.
Since I don’t really like wireless printers, in general, and since I could not for the life of me understand the written instructions online about how to fix it myself, and since the HP printer tech support line involves NO HUMAN BEINGS WHATSOEVER and I was ready to tear my fucking hair out….
It finally occurred to me to check the back of the printer for a USB cable port and VOILA!!!! It had one. So I went and bought a USB printer cable and then carefully did this very complicated procedure:
I plugged one end of the cable into the printer and the other end into my laptop and in 0.2 nanoseconds, suddenly the printer was working just fine….
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Okay, gang!
It is official!
On Saturday, October 3rd, from 1-5PM, at Holland’s Book Nook in the really lovely Historic Arcade in downtown Newark, Ohio–
I will be singing — well, I won’t be doing a whole lot of singing, mostly I’ll be signing copies of my brand new novel, The Curse of Our Profound Disorder!
2 other local writers will also be there, but I don’t know who the writers are yet.
If for some inexplicable reason you will be in the area that day, please stop by!!
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Okay, I don’t have a lot to post about today since I spent a good chunk of yesterday in town, running errands. And then the remainder of the afternoon working on the new MEMOIR… and I finally found a way to approach it without totally depressing myself.
But here’s this!
From the wonderful Phyllis Stein!
Richard Hell in NYC in 1977!! (Photo by Stephanie Chernikowski)
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And here are 2 great ones from that Nick Cave/Facebook account that I love!
Absolutely SMOKING!! (Nick Cave, and then The Boys Next Door)
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And honestly, that is it for today, gang.
I’m hoping that I have a productive day of writing ahead of me here. We shall soon find out.
Meanwhile, if you live State-side, have a fabulous Labor Day. Otherwise, have a great Monday, wherever you are in the world.
Here’s something else I can’t believe — for the next 7 days, I have no appointments on my schedule.
I get to do whatever I want to do. (Including, I hope, have lunch with one of my girlfriends.)
I’m not sure I know how to handle that — all that free/me time.
The appointment with the Medicare Insurance Nurse yesterday was very interesting. We seemed to have a lot of opinions in common about things like vaxxes and pharmaceuticals vs. supplements, etc.
We chatted about a lot of things, there at my kitchen table. She was here for half an hour, even though her actual “work” was completed in about 10 minutes.
Anyway.
That’s done for another year!
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Even though Summer doesn’t officially end for 3 more weeks, everyone in the village seems to think that since school is back in session, the Summer is over and we should be putting all of our Fall decorations out…
WTF??!!
I feel like I’m the only one left who has “Summer” all over her front porch.
So, sadly, I’m going to at least take the Summer stuff off the front porch today. Move all the flowers to the kitchen porch, and try to conform to everybody else’s calendar…
But I refuse to put out my actual Fall decor until the last week of September. (Here’s hoping I don’t incur some sort of fine for that — you know, the Sherriff showing up on my kitchen porch, saying, “You’re neighbors have been complaining that this porch here still looks a little Summery…”)
I’m actually feeling kind of sad about all this — time racing away. But on we go.
So long, Summer…
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Okay.
As far as having a little window of free time to get some of my own writing done…
That feels really strange, too! My own writing?
We’ll see how that goes. It’s all about focusing and detaching from whatever is going on in the world around me. It’s been a while since I’ve allowed myself to really do that, without feeling sort of guilty about it.
That’s leftover from the caregiving.
But I’m working on moving those feelings out. Last evening, I suddenly decided to delete all the texts on my phone that I was still hanging onto from clients of mine who have since died.
I deleted any texts relating to caregiving at all. It felt like the right thing to do, because my heart needs to move on and I need to get fully back into my own life, while I’m still alive in it.
I hope to make some true progress with all of that this week.
Me, at the end of the week
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All righty!
Here’s this!
Keith, on a boat on the water! Getting plenty of “Keith” time!
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And here’s this!
From the last show of the Bad Seeds tour — Nick Cave in Paris!
And Nick Cave sent out a Red Hand File today, responding to an inquiry about his favorite painting. He actually got to see his favorite painting while in a museum in Germany recently. He said, in part:
“… I had heard that they had the Lochner (painting), but once inside I couldn’t find it amongst the museum’s unbelievably beautiful collection of sacred art. In my mind, the painting had become so monumental that I guess I expected it to be huge, to have its own wall, or something.
“As I was leaving, disappointed not to see it, I walked into a small, annexed room and in the far corner, in the half-light, was the Lochner, only twelve inches tall, and rendered with such tender restraint and humility that I found myself overwhelmed….”
For some reason, I am super tired this morning. I don’t really know why. I think it’s emotional because I actually got plenty of sleep.
Okay. Here’s something that bugs me:
I recently switched to fiber optic internet, after having about 30 years of cable. It doesn’t matter to me that it’s faster than cable, it was a lot cheaper. So I switched.
But now my brand new wireless HP printer 99% of the time cannot be found by my laptop or my printer phone app. And vice versa!
But don’t worry! The HP chatbot assures me it’s fixable!! And sent me to the page online that explains everything and what I need to do…
First, though, I need to take time out to get a college degree in “Understanding What the Fuck You Are Talking About”.
Then we should be good to go…
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Remember those faraway days when you had your non-wireless laptop and/or desktop computer and you set up your non-wireless printer and everything just worked?
Or better yet, how about this??
Pen and paper!
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In fact!
Let’s just pause for one minute and 40 seconds to take this in again, and remember how much more FUN life was back when “the wireless” meant the fucking RADIO… (CAUTION: Kleenex might be needed):
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Okay.
Let’s come back to 2026…
Yesterday, this happened!
Happy heavenly birthday PeeWee Herman!!
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All right!
Milkweed Editions and Orion Magazine invite you to a special virtual conversation with celebrated writer Helen Whybrow, author of the beloved memoir The Salt Stones: Seasons of a Shepherd’s Life, and bestselling author Pam Houston, whose new book Animals Taught Me Everything reflects on a lifetime of learning from the creatures who have shaped her life.
Moderated by Neal Thompson, publisher of Orion Magazine, this wide-ranging discussion will explore memoir, place, belonging, and the lessons animals teach us about ourselves, one another, and the living world.
Special thanks to Torrey House Press, publisher of Pam Houston’s Animals Taught Me Everything.
Here’s Freddie McFee in the family room yesterday!!! (Notice that it’s beginning to look a little bit like Fall around here?? How the fuck did that happen??)
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All righty!
Here’s Keith!!
When he was younger!!
Smoking!!
Less younger!!
Not smoking!!
And a great shot of Charlie Watts and Bill Wyman!
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And it looks like Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds were taking it easy and/or keeping a low profile in Paris, as they awaited the final show of their summer tour TONIGHT!!
There were a ton of recent concert videos on Instagram, but almost no photos and fewer candid photos.
But here’s this! Unusual as it may be!!
Nick Cave in Bonn, Germany!
And in the event that you are maybe on the Metro in Paris right now, heading to Rock en Seine and you don’t have a ticket yet…. you can BUY ONE HERE!
Other than that, gang, the tour ends tonight. And I’m betting that final show will be incroyable!!! We shall see!
Headin’ there now…
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Okay.
That’s it!
I am reaching the homestretch of the book editing. I am hoping to have it completed by tomorrow morning. Then the author and I will do a final overview of the entire book next week.
However, the James Tabor end-of-the-month Zoom meeting for Tabor Research Group starts at noon tomorrow. Our final Zoom meeting before our conference in North Carolina at the end of September!!
So there could be a chance I won’t actually finish editing until Sunday. But we’re going to do our best!!
Meanwhile, 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 close with this!!
For today, and today only, I did something I used to do throughout the entire month of September, back when I was in my 30s, 40s, 50s…
I listened to Frank Sinatra’s incredible album, September of My Years (1965), during breakfast today.
But now that I am actually IN the September of my years, the album is almost too bittersweet to handle anymore.
But I’m gonna at least try to keep listening to it maybe once every year from now until, well, you know, I transition to that glorious other side… it truly is such a beautiful album.
What a gift Sinatra gave to us back in 1965 — a wonderful album to underscore our sunset years…
Here’s the title track, “September of My Years”. Enjoy, gang.
“The September Of My Years”
One day you turn around and it’s summer Next day you turn around and it’s fall And the springs and the winters of a lifetime Whatever happened to them all?
As a man who has always had the wand’ring ways Now I’m reaching back for yesterdays ‘Til a long-forgotten love appears And I find that I’m sighing softly as I near September, the warm September of my years
As a man who has never paused at wishing wells Now I’m watching children’s carousels And their laughter’s music to my ears And I find that I’m smiling gently as I near September, the warm September of my years
Yes! My first cup o’ joe on my first morning of freedom! So great!
And the stress was so non-existent around here, finally, that it turned my silver hair back to the lovely shade of brown it once was!!
Honestly, gang, it feels so interesting. This freedom thing.
And it is such an incredible morning, here! When I awoke at 6AM (again, second morning in a row — I’m trying really hard to sleep in later and stay up later), it was only 55 degrees Fahrenheit outside! Wow.
When I stepped out onto the kitchen porch to feed Rasha and Kon Tiki, the sun was up and the flowers out there were loving the cooler temperature. They looked so vibrant and full of life.
Anyway. It is just sort of a perfect morning.
I don’t remember the last time I didn’t feel the pressure to “do” something. And what’s weird is that I actually have a ton of things I want to do. But it’s all writing-related. At my desk. Or reading-related, downstairs on the couch.
I do not have to get into the car and drive the 30 miles to town and back until Wednesday — when I meet Kara for dinner to celebrate my birthday!!! Yay!
I actually have stuff on my calendar now that goes clear to November (possibly even to March, depending on a phone chat I’m having tomorrow). So it’s not like I don’t have things to do, but the difference between constant caregiving and just thinking about my own life now and the things that make me happy…
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Okay.
And here’s something that always makes me happy — a midnight text from Wayne, that also had a link to a song on YouTube!
Here’s the song!
“Save It For Later,” covered by Pete Townsend and The Deep End:
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I thought this was very interesting.
From Ross K. Nichols’ Sunday School yesterday–
“We all know who killed Goliath, right? Well, I thought I did until I realized that the biblical writers who told the story were not on the same page.”
The Goliath Story Has a Giant Problem (43 mins):
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And in keeping with my new approach to my own life, here are these!
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And during his break before the upcoming SOLD OUT Brighton bash, Warren Ellis posted some photos that I really thought were great. I think they were from the Australian tour earlier this year (?). Here’s 2 of them:
Colin Greenwood:
Warren himself:
And since the Bad Seeds are indeed on a break until July 31st, we go to the private desktop stash for that photo I love of Nick Cave from yesteryear — smoking and waiting!! Near the water!!
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And, oddly, that’s really all my “here’s this’s” for today.
But in honor of the fact that I now not only have time to get to work on that memoir of my life in the 1970s, but I am also finally in an emotionally calmer place wherein I can actually deal with my memories of my life in the 1970s…
Here’s this from the desktop stash!! Best father-figure ever!! (IMHO)
Keith, smoking…
And with that, I’m gonna finish up the laundry and maybe take a walk before it gets too hot out there.
And then–
Have a lovely Monday, gang, wherever you are in the world!
Thanks for visiting.
I love you guys. See ya!
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Let’s close with this!
From all the way back in 1957, but I mean it more than ever today!! Feel free to join me on this new path in life–
“Come Go With Me” !! The Del-Vikings. Enjoy, gang.
And thunderstorms are expected all evening, which should move the rest of the smoke out of the air.
LUCKILY!! I have a long evening shift with one of my favorite clients, the retired Chaplain — my final shift with her before I retire TOMORROW — and this means I get to not only drive home in the dark tonight, but in thunderstorms as well!
So I guess I’m going out with a “bang”… (and tomorrow is my final final shift — and it will be with the retired Minister and his lovely wife and cat.)
And oddly enough…
I got an email notifying me that TODAY is the anniversary of my Ordination and that I should make sure all my credentials are still up to date.
Wow. So I looked at my credentials and sure enough, on July 18th, 2013, I was ordained as a minister and received my Authority from the State of Ohio to solemnize marriages.
So I’ve officially been a minister since 2013. But for some reason, I had thought it was 2015… So, like, how old am I getting around here???
We’re not sure
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Okay. Anyway.
Yesterday was a really good day, except that by late afternoon, I was coughing like crazy from having been out in that smokey air. (I guess that’s why they told people to stay indoors yesterday but, I guess, you know, I don’t consider myself “people”…?)
However, yesterday afternoon, I stopped by that bookshop over at the Historic Arcade (see post from Thursday). And even as I was driving over there, I was having second thoughts because I don’t want to offend a bunch of strangers with my intense novel, etc. But I went over there with a review copy of the book anyway….
And the owner was there, alone in the shop. And he was really nice. And he said that they were open to everything except hate speech stuff. And he was happy to read my novel. And he said (without my saying anything at all about it), “If we like it, we’ll set you up with a book signing when the book comes out in September.”
WOW!
Here’s hoping he likes it.
Then I stopped in at the art gallery to say a quick hello to my friend, Kevin, and I told him about what the book store owner had said, and Kevin said, “Oh yeah, they do book signings all the time over there.”
So that made me feel really hopeful, gang. So we shall see! It would take so much stress off of me.
Historic Arcade. The bookstore is pictured on the left
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All right.
A bunch of “here’s this’s” today, so let’s get started!!
Here’s this!
I realize this wasn’t exactly addressed personally to me, but I still loved getting it in my email yesterday!! (The Stone’s new album officially hit #1 in the UK.)
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And while we’re at it!
A bit of Keith and a little Ronnie!
Keith!! In Dallas, in 1975!
Photo by Nicolas Russell/Getty Images
From Phyllis Stein– Keith in a BIBA shirt!
And Keith, not smoking or drinking but very close to a glass that contains some sort of beverage–
And Ronnie — not smoking or drinking, but very close to a large sign that promotes Budweiser Beer!
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Oh!
I keep forgetting to tell you some really great news.
The little house across the road from me, that has sat empty the entire time I’ve lived here (over 8 years already), is no longer empty!!
A couple around my age bought it, rehabbed it, and moved in last week and they are so nice!! I’ve already been over to visit them a couple of times. (And that little house is the same age as mine — 125 years old. So cool to think about who might have lived in our houses back when they were first built, right?)
This little house is finally a home again!
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Okay!
Here’s Dwight!! Cowboy hat, long legs, etc. (Photo by Emily Joyce Photography)
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And here’s Jack Kerouac and a cat!
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And I loved this!
I loved David Cassidy!! (This is happening in London.)
Oh, okay — let’s go ahead and listen to this!! David singing with The Partridge Family, “I Think I Love You” from 1970!!! (Yes, I was 10 and still in Cleveland.) Don’t be shy, gang!! Sing along!!
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And here’s Keanu in Rome!!
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And because it’s summer, here’s this!
The Cars, in color!!
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And I thought this was interesting. Livestreaming July 31st, 9:30pm Eastern time. I am definitely going to check it out:
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And here’s this announcement from Nick Cave Official yesterday:
“Impressed Recordings release Too Dark To See, the first-ever anthology of Conway Savage’s music, today.
The 24-track collection brings together songs from across Conway’s career, including many rarities and is pressed on limited edition heavyweight double lilac vinyl, with the first pressing limited to 200 individually numbered copies.” You can ORDER IT HERE.
(BTW — in case you don’t know, the late Conway Savage was once a phenomenal Bad Seed.)
And this will be handy if you’ll be at the SOLD OUT Brighton show!
Gates open: 13:00 SET TIMES 13:30 – 14:15 Warmduscher 14:45 – 15:30 Cate Le Bon 16:00 – 16:45 English Teacher 17:30 – 18:30 The Flaming Lips 19:30 – 22:00 Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Please allow plenty of time to enter the site. 13:00–15:00 is the best time to arrive, with busier queues expected later in the afternoon. Alongside the music, Preston Park will feature over 50 food stalls, 15+ bars, DJs, exclusive Brighton merchandise, an Arcade Treasure Hunt, chill-out areas, the Bad Seeds Fish & Chips van and more.
And here’s Warren Ellis!! Brighton-bound!!
Here’s an intense photo of Nick Cave from the Stuttgart show–
Another great photo from the show in Vienne–
And a couple from the show last night in Carhaix, France!!
And now I guess Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are on a little break until the Brighton Show on July 31st.
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And I guess that is it for this happy Saturday!! Whew!
Enjoy yourselves, wherever you are in the world, gang!
Thanks for visiting.
I love you guys. See ya!
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Let’s close with this!
From the Oldies FM Radio Station on the retro boombox next to my bed this morning!!
(And where were YOU the first time you saw this video on MTV??? I was sitting on the side of my bed on E.12th Street in NYC, staring at the TV and wondering: is that Johnny Depp??)
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, “Into the Great Wide Open”, 1991. Enjoy, gang!!
Even though I’ve been a fan of Joe Satriani’s for 40 years….
I never knew when his birthday was.
It turns out that not only was it yesterday (see yesterday’s post wherein we didn’t wish him a happy birthday), but more importantly, he also turned 70 yesterday!! Wow!
Happy belated 70th Joe Satriani!!
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And speaking of yesterday’s birthdays–
Phyllis Stein wished Johnny Thunders a really lovely Happy Heavenly Birthday!
And she also posted a great photo of the New York Dolls at the Waldorf Astoria in NYC in 1973! (Photo by Richard Drew)
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Here’s Bill Burroughs not smoking in a bar in Paris in 1962!!!
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Yesterday, I discovered that over at that really beautiful, newly restored Historic Arcade in Newark (where my friends have that beautiful Art Gallery)–
Historic Arcade — oh, and note that bookshop at the left there. That’s the bookshop that said I could drop off a review copy of my new novel.
It turns out, that on Thursday evenings, from 5:30 – 7:30, they have live acoustic music in the Arcade! Since I’ll be on “vacation” starting next week, I’m planning to go over and check it out!
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I just wanted to add that I continue to hear from writers & publishers regarding the upcoming M. Christian tribute anthology and the amount of love people had for that guy is really just a joyful thing, gang. I am so glad that I am involved in this project.
And I guess we can now focus on Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds!!
You know, even though it seems like every show they’ve done since this current tour started has been incredible, the shows seem to somehow be more & more amazing every night.
First, a couple more from the show in Nimes–
From George Vjestica:
And Nick Cave–
And Nick with a couple of Bad Seeds–
And the rest are from the show last night in Vienne, France.
First, the seste list! (Often spelled “set” but since they are now in France, we decided to spell it differently!!)
Some of the Bad Seeds!
And Nick Cave!!
And tomorrow, they play Carhaix, France. You can buy tickets HERE. And then that will be it until the SOLD OUT extravaganza in Brighton!
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And while we’re at it, here’s this!
While the movie, “The Bad Seed”, came out in theaters in 1956, before I was born, there was always a big buzz whenever it showed on TV in the 1960s.
I was a very young girl when I first saw it on television and it scared the bejeezus out of me. It was SO CREEPY!! (The little girl turned out to be a psychopathic serial killer…) Here’s a 4-minute clip:
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And I guess that is it for today!
I will not be posting here tomorrow because I have my final early client tomorrow. (And then only 2 more clients after that, and then Sunday is my final day before retiring.)
Today, I’m going to try to focus on just making myself happy — probably here at my desk. But I also want to take a walk before it gets too hot out, and do yoga. Anything to take my mind off how difficult it is to tell each of my clients goodbye. But, wow, do I feel loved, gang. And I know that I’m going to be missed. But I also know that I have to focus on my own life again before time gets completely away from me.
Have a good Thursday, wherever you are in the world.
Thanks for visiting.
I love you guys. See ya!
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Let’s close with this.
I woke up singing it to the cats this morning.
I loved these guys so much, in all their various styles.
The Bee Gees. “Too Much Heaven.” 1978. Enjoy, gang.
“Too Much Heaven”
Nobody gets too much heaven no more It’s much harder to come by I’m waiting in line Nobody gets too much love anymore It’s as high as a mountain And harder to climb
Oh you and me girl Got a lot of love in store And it flows through you And it flows through me And I love you so much more Than my life..
I can see beyond forever Ev’rything we are will never die Loving’s such a beautiful thing Oh you make my world a summer day Are you just a dream to fade away
Nobody gets too much heaven no more It’s much harder to come by I’m waiting in line Nobody gets too much love anymore It’s as high as a mountain And harder to climb
You and me girl got a highway to the sky We can turn away from the night and day And the tears we had to cry You’re my life..
I can see a new tomorrow Ev’rything we are will never die Loving’s such a beautiful thing When you are to me, the light above Made for all to see our precious love
Nobody gets too much heaven no more It’s much harder to come by I’m waiting in line Nobody gets too much love anymore It’s as high as a mountain And harder to climb
Love is such a beautiful thing You make my world a summer day Are you just a dream to fade away
Nobody gets too much heaven no more It’s much harder to come by I’m waiting in line Nobody gets too much love anymore It’s as wide as a river and harder to cross
Nobody gets too much heaven no more It’s much harder to come by I’m waiting in line Nobody gets too much love anymore It’s as high as a mountain And harder to climb
Nobody gets too much heaven no more It’s much harder to come by I’m waiting in line Nobody gets too much love anymore It’s as high as a mountain And harder to climb
The cats around here are seriously hyper today — could this have something to do with it??
From the Cainer Horoscope newsletter this morning:
The sky opens up in a big way this week. Between July 15th and 21st, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, and Jupiter all move into alignment together.
We're more open to new ideas, more drawn to people and experiences outside our usual circle, and more willing to follow our own instincts instead of someone else's script.
Ambitions come into sharper focus, old talents get a chance to resurface, and you'll find that a little boldness goes a long way.
The invitation this week is simple: stay curious, aim a little higher than usual, and give yourself room to think and live differently.
Interesting, though, right?? We’ll see how this plays out!
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Gorgeous weather again here today, although it’s gonna get HOT by this afternoon.
Which is good, because I only have a ton of fucking errands to run after I see my clients later…. but, you know, at least I’m still alive and it isn’t raining.
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Okay!
Well, since I got a lot of work done yesterday at my desk — and also took a walk, did yoga, etc. — I don’t have a whole lot to post about today.
Although the good news is that, so far, my best friend Valerie in Brooklyn’s hand surgery went very well yesterday! So all of these delays are almost all behind us, and soon we will launch the new artists & writers podcast !! Yay!!
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A short one from James Tabor this morning — taken from the intro to his online course, “Quest for the Historical Paul.”
Does Paul Misread His Two Favorite Bible Verses? (3 mins):
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This one was from a few days ago, but in case you missed it–
The Rolling Stones: Foreign Tongues | Zane Lowe Interview (1 hr):
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And oddly enough, the only “here’s this’s” I have for today are about the Bad Seeds.
So, here’s this!!
To kill time between the show the other night in Madrid, Spain, and the upcoming show tonight in Nimes, France, Jim Scavulos took in some ruins!
However, Warren Ellis used that time to dash quickly to Cleveland — a trip of approximately 4,350 miles, and which takes about 17 hours each way — just to say hello! Yay! (I was going to dash over to say a quick “hello” back, but Cleveland is a good 2 hours from here and I hadn’t had my coffee yet.)
Anyway.
He also delivered a warning that not all rock icons are willing to make publicly; “Don’t Smoke In Bed”!!
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An interesting photo of Nick Cave in Montreux, with a fan (?):
And onstage in Madrid!
As we already discussed, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds play Nimes, France, tonight. You can buy tickets here!!
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And aside from all that…
I did get word from another local bookstore yesterday that I could drop off a review copy of my new novel, The Curse of Our Profound Disorder, anytime this week! I will probably get there on Friday.
That particular store does a ton of promoting for local writers, so maybe it could lead to an instore signing of some sort. We shall see.
Other than that —
Have a terrific Tuesday, wherever you are in the world!
Thanks for visiting.
I love you guys. See ya!
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Okay. Let’s close with this today.
From Warren Ellis’s sage advice while in bed earlier…
Nina Simone’s heart-wrenching, “Don’t Smoke In Bed”. 1958. From her debut album, Little Girl Blue. Enjoy, gang.
“Don’t Smoke In Bed”
I left a note on his dresser And my old wedding ring With these few goodbye words How can I sing Goodbye old sleepy head I’m packing you in like I said
Take care of everything I’m leaving my wedding ring Don’t look for me I’ll get ahead Remember darling Don’t smoke in bed
Don’t look for me I’ll get ahead Remember darling Don’t smoke in bed
I don’t know if I have time to go out and pick them up today. We’ll see. But certainly by tomorrow afternoon. And I can’t wait!!
I truly hate the glasses I currently have… I am really, really hoping that with those new glasses, I’ll be able to see again!
Okay. So.
The good news is that my “chat” with Sandra (for well over an hour yesterday) went splendidly.
We have both agreed to shelve the TV show for now. And maybe forever. Because we both want to focus on the play. (“The Guide to Being Fabulous”.) Yay!
We are still aiming for the Staged Reading to happen in the Fall, but — and as usual, I can’t go into the details yet on the blog — it will be at an entirely different venue. One I didn’t see coming and I am truly excited, gang.
Wow.
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Okay.
I have a phone chat scheduled at noon today with Ralph Greco, Jr. He was probably M. Christian’s closest friend/colleague. (Ralph is someone I have worked with off and on for 30 years.)
We’ll be going over the basic ideas for the tribute anthology and then I need to formally write up the Call for Submissions. But to be honest, just from the emails I’ve already sent out to people privately, I already have most of the contributors onboard. I maybe only need 3 or 4 more writers.
RIP M. Christian
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On another sad note–
Bonnie Tyler died earlier today. Thanks for everything, Bonnie.
And here’s this again– I will never get tired of this song:
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Switching gears–
Here’s this!
A couple of Rolling Stones!
Ronnie Wood, sort of with wings?
And Bill Wyman, smoking!!!
Oh, and here’s Marlon’s little leg, Keith, Anita, and Mick, in a crowded elevator a long time ago…
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And since I wasn’t here to post to the blog yesterday, I have a bunch of Nick Cave photos!
Another one from Poland:
A bunch of great ones from Stuttgart!
More Stuttgart (I don’t think I posted these yet, but I posted them to my Instagram page already):
Now, I did go to Lisbon (Portugal) yesterday — just quickly — hoping to get my picture taken with Nick Cave, but I couldn’t find him anywhere and had to come straight home. You know, because I’m, like, busy and stuff. However!!
Here are some luckier ducks in Lisbon yesterday!!
The Bad Seeds play Lisbon tonight — or perhaps, now — and you can buy tickets here! And they will be in Spain on Saturday!!
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And that is it for now.
Starting tomorrow, I have EIGHT caregiving shifts left, gang. And then that phase of my life will be over.
I am getting my momentum back, for sure. I am starting to feel my own life returning. But I still have some broken feelings around the edges of my heart. But on we must go. I still have “miles to go before I sleep”…
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening By Robert Frost
Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer To stop without a farmhouse near Between the woods and frozen lake The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake To ask if there is some mistake. The only other sound’s the sweep Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.
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.
Breakfast-listening music.
The more I listen to this song, the more I think Tom Petty wrote it not only about being a kid and loving rock & roll, but also about loving the Beatles — in particular, the man who became his dear friend later in life and who had recently died: George Harrison. (Verse 2)
Well, needless to say, I love this song. So haunting and beautiful.
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. “Dreamville,” 2002. From The Last DJ. Enjoy, gang.
“Dreamville”
Goin’ down to Lillian’s music store To buy a black diamond string Gonna wind it up on my guitar Gonna make that silver sing
Like it was Dreamville A long time ago A million miles away All the trees were green In Dreamville
I keep wakin’ up all by myself With a bluejay in my brain Flappin’ his wings, makin’ me sing It was just about to rain
Like it was Dreamville Where I was born Light years from here And the air smelled good In Dreamville In Dreamville
Like it was Dreamville A long time ago Light years from here And the trees were green In Dreamville
Ridin’ with my mamma To Glen Springs Pool The water was cold My lips were blue There was rock-and-roll Across the dial When I think of her It makes me smile
Like it was Dreamville A long time ago A million miles away All the trees were green In Dreamville, in Dreamville
Yeah it was Dreamville A long time ago Light years from here And the air smelled good In Dreamville, in Dreamville
Last evening, the Agency assigned me a new client for Friday mornings/afternoons beginning next week. She seems like a really sweet lady, and she’s only about 20 minutes away. (Only a few blocks from the retired Minister and his lovely wife and cat.)
Plus the Agency has me signed up for Hospice training (paid training) next Wednesday — a one-time class.
So, you know, my schedule is filling up.
And on Monday, my beloved pal Wendy and I are going out for lunch (!!) at one of my favorite spots in Granville —
3 Tigers Brewing Co. It has a lot of Vietnamese food, but other stuff, as well. It’s inside an old fire station:
This Thursday morning, my insurance guy is coming over to just check up on all my policies. But in the late afternoon, I might head over to the Historic Arcade again in Newark, because my friends who own that new art gallery there are sponsoring a Heisey glass & crystal collectors thingie in that center walkway (below).
I don’t collect Heisey, but my grandparents had a huge collection when I was growing up. It might be nice to see if I recognize any pieces that they used to have, too. Just to get out and see people and do something. I just don’t want to slide back into that depression.
The Historic Arcade
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Yesterday, I tried to take it easy and keep my mind off of everything that’s been going on around here during my vacation.
It is so easy to get lost in this book, even though I didn’t actually know anything about him or his varied career in the 1970s punk literary scene (in England). But I saw the book on someone else’s page on Instagram and it looked really cool. So I ordered it. And I really like it a lot.
So that kept my mind off things.
And today, I head back to my Tuesday afternoon clients. So I’m feeling kind of “normal.”
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As far as “here’s this’s” for today, here’s this–
From Phyllis Stein, it was in a group of photos she posted of Johnny Thunders with his daughter:
But there was nothing that really caught my eye in the “Keith” department — which is odd, considering there are like 10 trillion photos of him floating around out there.
So here’s a favorite from the desktop stash — Keith wearing Marilyn and setting a good example!!
And there wasn’t anything more from the Bad Seeds show in the Netherlands that stuck out for me, either. There were a lot of good videos, but I can only post photos here.
So here’s one from the desktop stash, too — Nick outside of a gig with fans, but I can’t remember where or when. Not too long ago:
We will see what emerges from tonight’s show in Germany!! You can still get tickets, even though it probably starts in, like, 5 minutes… And the next show is Thursday, in Denmark. Buy tickets here!!
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And from James Tabor yesterday — a new interview.
Study the Dead Sea Scrolls! Dr. James D. Tabor (20 mins):
Okay, well, here’s this!
The Agency just texted and asked if I can go work with my new Friday client tomorrow morning! So I likely won’t be posting here tomorrow.
I’ll close now and get this day underway.
Have a terrific Tuesday, wherever you are in the world.
Thanks for visiting.
I love you guys. See ya!
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Let’s close with this!
I love this short — it makes me think of me and Valerie! (about 5 seconds. From the “Black Books” TV show):
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!
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Let’s close with this!
Mick Jagger Talks New Rolling Stones’ Album, Favorite Songs, More (8 mins):
Marilyn's Room 