It is another really gorgeous day here today and I’m hoping that I can take my favorite 95-year-old Japanese man out for sashimi & sake today, however–

His daughter was taking him to pick up his new wooden leg on Wednesday and I don’t know yet if it fit correctly or not.

If it didn’t, he will only have one leg for a while and it is WAY too difficult for him to get around. So we shall see when I get there! But I hope things went great. It would be so nice to take him out today.

His daughter heads back to Seattle this evening, so starting tomorrow, things will be back to “normal’ around there. With or without the added leg…

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Okay.

It seems like a lot has happened since I posted here on Wednesday.

Here’s a very cool thing:

Yesterday evening, there was a sudden, very brief, and HUGE price drop on roundtrip airfare to Charlotte, North Carolina, for the weekend of James Tabor’s Patreon Research Group conference!!

So I got my plane ticket!! Which means I’m really going. The price dropped from over $400, each way, down to $107, each way!!! And shortly after I got the tickets, it popped up to $167. Which is still a great price, but, you know. Wow!

And this price drop happened right when I was starting to think that maybe I wasn’t going to be able to make that trip, since the weekend in NYC is going to be expensive.

So I guess God stepped in and said: “You’re going!! Buy those tickets!! Now!!”

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I keep meaning to at least update you on the mini-podcast launch with my best friend Valerie in Brooklyn–

She developed an extremely painful problem with her hands. Some sort of nerve-related or arthritis-related neuropathy, but she didn’t know where it was coming from. She had an emergency appointment with the hand doctor yesterday, because they were worried she might be having a pre-stroke (!!). Man.

Very stressful. I don’t know yet what the doctor said. But things with the podcast launch are on hold until we know. Needless to say, she hasn’t been able to paint or draw , or do much of anything with her hands for over a week.

I will keep you posted.

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Wayne and his brother left Vietnam and actually began the long trek back to the States yesterday. I thought they were going back to Australia, first, but I was mistaken!

Here is a fond farewell — Wayne’s brother & a new friend in Saigon!! (And yes, I know it’s not called that anymore!!) (Wayne’s brother is a retired police officer, btw.)

And very early this morning on WhatsApp!!

From Wayne, in Dubai: “He’s EVERYWHERE!!”

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Okay!

I got an email yesterday, alerting me that my much-desired Tom Petty Zippo lighter has finally shipped!! Yay!! (Only took 5 weeks to ship it…)

This will soon be mine!!

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There is a sale going on at Nick Cave Official until the new tour starts on June 10th!!

10% off all merchandise, but you have to sign up for the mailing list & get a code.

You can do it ALL here!! (This is not Cave Things. This is Bad Seed things.)

And also–

You can still buy tickets HERE for the UK & European tour!!

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Okay, you gotta hurry for this one, because the tour is almost over!!

From Joe Satriani & Steve Vai:

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Here’s a couple of Iggy things!!

One from Phyllis Stein!! Iggy looking splendid!!

And Bowie and Iggy in Berlin in 1976!!

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I love this photo.

The Birthday Party — doing that thing they do!! You know, not smiling and looking for cigarettes and stuff!

Here’s Nick Cave with every single hair in place in Mexico City in 2013!

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And here’s this!

Ronnie and Keith and Bob Dylan backstage at Live Aid in 1985!!

And a couple of cool shots of Keith, doing what he does!!

Looking cool in red & black, and smoking!! (And playing guitar.)

Looking cool in a pair of shades!! (And playing guitar.)

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All right. That’s it for today.

I am so happy that all my flowers are out and summer can now begin!! (The flowers for the windows on the barn should be out this weekend.)

Oh!

My trips to the old Kohl’s and old Aldi’s on Wednesday were eye-opening, indeed. It wasn’t depressing, I’m actually glad I did it. But it was definitely like encountering my own ghost at both stores and I felt for certain that my life was a lot better back then. Pre-scamdemic, lockdowns, etc.

Certainly my career was going a lot better. I traveled constantly for writing-related stuff. My life was filled with colleagues, and friends, and family all over the place — a lot of whom have died now, or simply disappeared.

And a key thing back then — I always had a feeling of hope. As opposed to nowadays, wherein I always have a feeling of: I hope I don’t DIE before I can get the rest of my projects done!

I want to try to get some of that other kind of hope back. We’re gonna see how that goes.

And meanwhile, on SUNDAY NIGHT (!!) the write-a-play-in-a-month thing starts at the Dramatist’s Guild, so we’re gonna see how that goes, too. Such an insane idea, to try to fit this in with NYC right in the middle of it.

(And, yes, I miss all my crazy writer friends. The world was so different not so long ago…)

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All right.

Enjoy your Friday, wherever you are in the world!!

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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Okay!

Unbelievable music-to-make-the bed-by today!!

Apparently, on the Oldies FM Radio Station on the retro boombox next to my bed, they are playing only songs that were hits on this day in 1971!!

Holy fuck.

Hit after hit after hit, all of which I knew by heart.

I was 10 years old and still living in Cleveland back then! Jesus. I played the Top 40 AM radio all the time.

When they played the song below, I literally sprang out of bed. I used to LOVE this song and I had not thought of this song since, I guess, May 29, 1971!!! But I still knew all the words and the cats loved it!!

Ocean, “Put Your Hand in the Hand”, 1971. Connect with your inner 10-year-old white girl in Cleveland, and sing along and enjoy, gang!!

Yes!

Happy 85th Birthday to Bob Dylan!! Yay!!

Happy Birthday, Bob! May you stay forever young…

“Forever Young”

May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.

May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the light surrounding you
May you always be courageous
Stand upright and be strong
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.

May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful
And may your song always be sung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.

c -1973- Bob Dylan

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Wayne was active on WhatsApp by 4:30AM, my time, this morning.

He and his brother are in the Mekong Delta now, which Wayne knows has a lot of emotional connections for me, since that was where my birth dad got injured, on a flame thrower, and he was briefly sent back to the US to recover.

While in the hospital in the US, my dad’s understanding of how most Americans felt about the war in Vietnam completely changed. Because of that, he went AWOL for awhile when he got out of the hospital. But then turned himself in. (He was career Navy, so they didn’t put him in the brig. They just sent him back to Vietnam, where he managed to develop a serious drug and drinking problem after that. And, uh, well, let’s say, “an attitude” problem forever afterward….)

Anyway. Here’s a Buddhist temple, enroute to Mekong:

Here’s Wayne and his brother enroute to the Delta. I love this!

And on the actual Mekong Delta:

And Wayne meets a new friend!

Wayne and his brother are soon heading back to Australia to join their other brother and his wife, and finish their vacation there.

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Speaking of Australia!!

Warren Ellis posted this!!

Warren also recommended we all watch the TV show, “Mr. Inbetween”. But it appears I can’t stream it anywhere for free. Maybe you can:

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Here’s this!

Jack Kerouac and cat — and also, some good advice:

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Another lovely photo of George Harrison:

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Apparently, 58 years ago on this very day!!

The Rolling Stones released THIS single and the rest is history…

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And here’s this!

A couple of great photos of Keith with his daughter, Theodora:

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And here’s this!

A young Nick Cave, with great hair and perhaps his pajama top??? Not sure…

And Nick Cave, typing one day….

And a few hours later, still typing…

And don’t forget!!!

This could be YOU with Nick Cave this summer!!

All ya gotta do is BUY TICKETS HERE!!

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And that is it for now.

I have to say that I’m fighting depression around here, gang. I am so sick of this gloomy, rainy weather.

Memorial Day weekend (which came early this year) is usually when I buy all my flowers and get them out on all the porches for the summer, along with all the summer decorations.

I do have 2 really pretty petunia baskets, and I bought 3 colorful new outside doormats for each door. But it’s a far cry from how Memorial Day weekends usually look around here.

I’m planning to go Wednesday to get all the rest of the flowers and just wait until the weather warms up and it stops raining. At least I will have everything sitting on the kitchen porch, waiting.

Tomorrow, Rasha’s mom is stopping over so that I can show her around the house and introduce her to all the cats. She and her baby are staying here while I’m in NYC, to look after everything. So maybe that will perk up my mood — it will make NYC feel that much closer.

Oh, and I saw that the Agency added a very short early morning shift to my June schedule — back with the farmer guy that I was with Friday evening. So it will be nice to see him again. Hopefully, it won’t still be raining because usually it is a really beautiful drive out there.

Okay. Gonna try to do some yoga here and get my spirits up. I have to head out today to see the retired Minister and his lovely wife and cat, and I do not want to be depressed around any of my clients.

So, I’m off.

Enjoy your Sunday, wherever you are in the world. (And happy gloomy Memorial Day weekend, to any of you who live State-side.) (Oh, and a belated Happy Shavuot to any of my Jewish followers. And Happy Pentecost, too, if you celebrate it!)

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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Let’s close with this!

Last night’s lying-in-bed listening music!

First, I spent the evening studying my French, then studying a bunch of notes for the Caiaphas play. Then re-listened to Part 1 of an interview with Tom Petty, from just 2 years before he died:

Then I spent the remainder of the evening lying in bed, listening to The Essential Leonard Cohen.

So I leave you with this–

“A Thousand Kisses Deep”. 2001. From his album, Ten New Songs. Enjoy, gang.

“A Thousand Kisses Deep”

The ponies run, the girls are young,
The odds are there to beat.
You win a while, and then it’s done –
Your little winning streak.
And summoned now to deal
With your invincible defeat,
You live your life as if it’s real,
A Thousand Kisses Deep.

I’m turning tricks, I’m getting fixed,
I’m back on Boogie Street.
You lose your grip, and then you slip
Into the Masterpiece.
And maybe I had miles to drive,
And promises to keep:
You ditch it all to stay alive,
A Thousand Kisses Deep.

And sometimes when the night is slow,
The wretched and the meek,
We gather up our hearts and go,
A Thousand Kisses Deep.

Confined to sex, we pressed against
The limits of the sea:
I saw there were no oceans left
For scavengers like me.
I made it to the forward deck.
I blessed our remnant fleet –
And then consented to be wrecked,
A Thousand Kisses Deep.

I’m turning tricks, I’m getting fixed,
I’m back on Boogie Street.
I guess they won’t exchange the gifts
That you were meant to keep.
And quiet is the thought of you,
The file on you complete,
Except what we forgot to do,
A Thousand Kisses Deep.

And sometimes when the night is slow,
The wretched and the meek,
We gather up our hearts and go,
A Thousand Kisses Deep.

The ponies run, the girls are young,
The odds are there to beat . . .

c – 2001 – Leonard Cohen, Sharon Robinson

Although, around here, Friday just means that I’m getting ready to work the entire weekend.

And starting next week, I’m picking up a couple of double shifts on Fridays, but the evening shift will be out here in Muskingum County, on a farm way out in the woods. And since it’s Spring, it will still be light out when I have to drive the 30 miles back home.

So, I’m okay with it.

Meanwhile!

Surf’s up in Australia for the Lewis family!!

The first photo from Wayne arrived on WhatsApp last night! I think I saw it at around 3am and it just made me feel so happy!

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And in case you needed to see this…. (I know I did)…

Yet another photo from yesteryear of Jack Kerouac typing!!

And in case you’re curious —

Through my birth dad’s side of the family, I am cousins with Louisa May Alcott! (Through her mother’s side). Maybe I should go visit this cool place! You know, go on the road …

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And I don’t want to , you know, start trouble or anything, but there appears to be a veritable plethora of lighters in this world–

And I still have not received my really cool Tom Petty Zippo lighter!!

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Speaking of Tom Petty!!

From yesterday–

And last evening, I did begin reading that new book I got the other day, about Tom Petty, written by his long-time record promoter, Jon Scott:

It’s really good, but I did start to cry while reading it.

I had a rough day yesterday, so I was really emotionally worn out, but also I never really knew any of the details about why the first album by Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers took so long to break in America. (It was a hit in England first.)

Just reading about what total dickheads the record company was toward them with that first album — even knowing that the story had a happy ending, it still just made me cry.

That said, I am hoping today will be a better day.

It’s sunny and should be nice all day. And I’m taking my favorite 95-year-old Japanese man out to the Rural King to start getting his baskets of flowers for his back deck! (Although Annie was the one who always did that, but we are trying to just move forward and get stuff done and not get too sad.) However, about every half hour or so:

HE (quietly): “Annie is gone now?”

ME:” Yes, she’s gone.”

HE: “She didn’t tell me, you know.”

ME: “I know, she didn’t tell me, either.”

(That she had cancer.)

And later today, I’m picking up my new printer from Best Buy. So my writing/promoting world can get back on track…

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In the meantime–

Here’s a photo of the Stones looking almost happy in 1977!

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And in case you also needed THIS —

Here are two more photos of Nick Cave & Blixa Bargeld — this time, doing that thing where they keep their eyes open!! (Or behind a pair of shades, as the case may be…)

And while we’re at it — here’s this fantastic song from Iggy Pop, 1986 — “Shades,” co-written by David Bowie, from Iggy’s incredible album Blah-Blah-Blah. I love this song!!!

“Shades”

You gave me a present
The paper was blue and green
I unwrapped it with pleasure
These are the best shades I’ve ever seen
You can be my girlfriend
Forever and a day
I never thought I was worth much
Or that anyone would treat me this way

[Chorus]
I’m not
The kind of guy
Who dresses like a king
And a really fine pair of shades
Means everything
And the light that blinds my eyes
Shines from you
It makes me come in the night
It makes me swim with delight
I like this pain
I like this mirror
I like these shades

I could have had a problem
I might have never followed through
The other guys are in trouble
They wouldn’t listen to a girl like you
These shades say something
I’ll bet they cost a lot
I hope I don’t break ’em
I hope we don’t break up

[Chorus]

c – 1986 David Bowie, Iggy Pop

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And back to Nick Cave–

From Nick Cave Official:

A reminder that the soundtrack for the TV series, “The Death of Bunny Munro” is available for streaming HERE on the platform of your choice!

And there is an upcoming documentary about Kylie Minogue on Netflix — launching Wednesday May 20th — which will have music contributions and some comments from Nick Cave!

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And I think that is going to be it for today, gang!! I’m gonna head out soon and get the whole thing moving all over again.

Enjoy your Friday, 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 find it a little creepy and I still have not been able to watch it all the way through.

It is allegedly not AI — it features “doubles”, actual actors. But still. God knows, I prefer the original “old” Stones to fake ones…

Anyway. The new official video from the Rolling Stones for “In The Stars”. (You can pre-order the upcoming new album, Foreign Tongues, HERE.) Enjoy, gang.