In much the same way that I recently took a lovely drive to go to a mall and see a movie — and then turned around and came home…
I went to that new church this morning — and, wow, another really lovely drive along backroads. It is a really gorgeous fall morning here. But when I got to the (tiny) church, the parking lot was completely full, along with every single parking spot on the street for several blocks!
And it looked like it was going to be standing room only inside that tiny church.
So I turned around and came home.
I’m guessing it’s because it’s that “New Friends Celebration” service, and they are also honoring local first responders today, too. So I guess every one came from far & wide.
I was disappointed, but I tried to focus, once again, on how beautiful the drive was. And it was only 10 minutes, each way.
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Okay.
Here’s this!
Keith with a puppy! (From that long ago era when men wore scarves instead of ties around their necks. And it looks like that could be Charlie behind Keith, with the cigarette.)
And Keith with sunglasses — and a cigarette!
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And Cave Things sent out a reminder that the Black Friday sale is still going on! Until December 5th, 5PM GMT.
Up to 70% off!! On items including, but not limited to, GOD PENCILS!!
$7.00 + shipping, They’re not just for Sundays anymore!!
Nick Cave’s God Pencils
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Okay, well. I guess I’ll do some yoga now, since I now have plenty of time before my shift.
Have a great 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!! Again!
You know, I really was disappointed in turning around this morning and just going back home. And I was also disappointed because I could tell that it wasn’t going to be a church I was going to feel comfortable in.
This is the kind of church I feel comfortable in — my old church back in downtown Columbus, where I was baptized:
United Church of Christ, East Broad Street
I loved this church and the minister there was fantastic! But he has since retired and the church is an hour away from where I live now.
Anyway. I was disappointed this morning. But as soon as the GPS guy in my car stopped talking, THIS SONG came on my playlist!!
I can’t tell you what this song does to me, gang. It just calms my soul right now. So that helped.
“Lime Tree Arbor”, 1997. From Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds’ TheBoatman’s Call. Enjoy, gang.
God, I’m tired, gang. Even though it’s all for good stuff this time. But I’d really like to just STOP, you know?
Anyway. I am hoping to retire early next year. Not from writing, but from the other stuff. We shall see how that progresses.
Meanwhile…
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Here’s this!
Just lovely, in my opinion!
Keith, onstage somewhere at some point
Oh, and I forgot to mention that I finished watching the TV docu-series, My Life As A Rolling Stone(2022), the other night. And I think the episodes on Ronnie Wood and Charlie Watts were even better than the episode about Keith! If you can imagine that!
Anyway. I liked the series. I wish it had more episodes.
50% off!! Now only $128. With FREE shipping — Oops! With NOT free shipping!! Yay!!
Honestly, though, gang, if you purchased this for me, as well-meaning as your gesture would be and as appreciative as I would be to receive it, I would be hard-pressed to find ROOM for it! I have so many darn dishes!!
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Okay, on that Nick Cave note — more thoughts from yesterday, and Nick’s Red Hand File to the girl from Germany who had written a poem…
It reminded me of how incredibly blessed I was when, at age 12, I entered Jr. High School in Columbus, Ohio, and got the most amazing English teacher, ever. And he remained a good friend of mine for decades.
(This will all be in that memoir of my life in the 1970s, once I am able to think straight and actually write it.)
R. Nikolas Macioci. He is still a prolific poet, even though he is well into his 80s now. And back in 1972, when I first met him, he was already a published poet, and had just received his PhD. And without him, it is safe to say that I would not have survived those years in Jr. High School. (Fall 1972- Spring 1975)
It was not Jr. High School that was hard on me, it was everything that was happening to me in my life back then.
One of our class assignments in 1972 was to read a specific book (I can’t recall now which novel it was) and then write a short paper in response to the book.
By then, I was already a prolific writer. I wrote songs and poems constantly, in my room. So, without knowing yet that our teacher was a published poet, or interested in poetry in any way, I wrote a poem in response to the novel. And when he chose me as one of the students that had to get up and read to the class what we’d written about the novel, he was sort of astounded that I’d written a poem.
And he told me to stay after class.
I was, of course, nervous, because I thought I had done something wrong by writing a poem instead of an actual paper. But what happened, then, is that part that changed my life as a writer, forever.
He asked me if I’d written other poems. I told him yes, but that mostly I wrote songs. And he asked if he could read some of them.
Well, I was thrilled by this! The next day, I brought in the 3-ring binder with all my song lyrics and poems in it and gave it to him after class.
HE: “You wrote all these? Do you care if I take this home with me?”
Again, I was just thrilled.
And after he’d read all of them, he asked me to stay after class yet again — and he told me that I was very talented. And that I should stick with it. And he even gave me exercises to work on at home, to specifically make my poetry better.
At that point, my life started to go completely haywire, in all the worst ways, and he was someone I could always go to for moral support. And during the brief time that I moved to Cincinnati (after Greg’s death, the first rape, my nervous breakdown and a couple of overdoses) and lived with my dad and stepmom for a few months, he used to write me letters that literally saved my life.
In fact, when I was committed to the mental hospital, he came to visit me there. (He privately took me aside there and told me, “You don’t belong in this place. Keep writing. Keep fighting.”)
I cannot overstate how much he meant to me, and the influence he had on me as a writer. Even during all the years I lived in NYC, I would send him my writing and he would write back (or sometimes call) with his comments.
The last time we got together was when I came back from doing a reading in London for my novel, Twilight of the Immortal. I had sent him a copy and he read it. He loved that novel. In fact, this is from the very kind review of it that he wrote on Amazon:
“…Twilight of the Immortal is a masterful book, perhaps a masterpiece. Once the first page is turned, life changes for the reader. It’s a book that immerses, educates, entertains, and enlightens. It’s a book that induces laughter and tears. It’s a book that the reader will savor until the last pages and then begrudgingly winnow down paragraph by paragraph to prevent the end from actually arriving because it’s hard to accept that this book won’t last forever.“
You can find a lot of his poetry collections at Amazon HERE. (He was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.)
Here is what he looks like nowadays (although I haven’t actually seen him since I moved out here to the Hinterlands):
R. Nikolas Macioci
And here he is from the school yearbook in 1973!
And here is what he signed in my yearbook in the Spring of 75:
“To Marilyn, a spectacular human being. What more can I say? You are so blessed to have so much to offer other people. Stay in touch. Best and warmest thoughts to you. Mr. Macioci. 6-3-75”
And as I was perusing my 3 Jr. High School yearbooks for this blog post, I thought you might appreciate seeing this great photo of some of the teachers at my school back in 1973!! While they were difficult years in my life, the 1970s were such great years to be alive.
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So, all of that came back to me when I read what Nick Cave had written to the girl from Germany who had shared her poem with him, wanting his advice.
I’m guessing that his generosity toward her (in public, no less), will have a profound and wonderful influence on her future writing.
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I also wanted to go more into the details of my great trip to visit my birth mom and my younger brother in Greenfield on Thursday, but I don’t have time today. I have to head out to see my favorite 95-year-old Japanese man — whose daughter is visiting from Texas starting today!
So I gotta scoot, but I will write more about my trip tomorrow.
Enjoy your Saturday, wherever you are in the world!
Thanks for visiting!
I love you guys. See ya!
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I leave you with this!
Back in English class in 1972, “Mr. Macioci” (who, for most of my life I have called “Nik”) told us about a song he had heard on the radio and that he was very moved by it. He thought it was an incredible song. He wanted to know if any of us had heard it … (of course, I had…)
“Changes,” by David Bowie, the single was released earlier that year, from the album Hunky Dory. Enjoy, gang.
“Changes”
Oh yeah Mm
Still don’t know what I was waiting for And my time was running wild, a million dead-end streets and Every time I thought I’d got it made It seemed the taste was not so sweet So I turned myself to face me But I’ve never caught a glimpse Of how the others must see the faker I’m much too fast to take that test
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes (Turn and face the strange) Ch-ch-changes, don’t want to be a richer man Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes (Turn and face the strange) Ch-ch-changes, just gonna have to be a different man Time may change me But I can’t trace time
Oh yeah
I watch the ripples change their size But never leave the stream of warm impermanence and So the days float through my eyes But still the days seem the same And these children that you spit on As they try to change their worlds Are immune to your consultations They’re quite aware of what they’re going through
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes (Turn and face the strange) Ch-ch-changes, don’t tell them to grow up and out of it Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes (Turn and face the strange) Ch-ch-changes, where’s your shame? You’ve left us up to our necks in it Time may change me But you can’t trace time
Strange fascination, fascinating me Ah, changes are taking the pace I’m going through
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes (turn and face the strange) Ch-ch-changes, oh, look out you rock ‘n rollers Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes (turn and face the strange) Ch-ch-changes, pretty soon now you’re gonna get older Time may change me But I can’t trace time
I said that time may change me But I can’t trace time
Unless of course, you’re trickin’ and you’re a lot older now and you just gotta have it… but that’s your business!
Okay!
I’m looking forward to this evening, gang. Mostly because I’m just looking forward to hanging out in my family room, eating (organic) pizza and popcorn, and watching old Halloween movies (you know, the kind that weren’t horrifically disgusting, trauma-inducing and gore-filled….)
“Arsenic & Old Lace”, 1944 — So much fun!!
“It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!” 1966
Yes, I’m actually old enough to remember the very first TV-Network airing of that Charlie Brown classic!! (I was 6.) And, wow, was it fun!! I even remember my dad coming into the den for a moment, while this scene was playing, and he laughed and shook his head:
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Oh, and speaking of Halloween…
You have until TOMORROW (November 1st) to get that 40% OFF on all Halloween Picks over at Cave Things!
This means you have one more day (UK time, that is) to purchase me this, at 40% off, plus FREE — OOPS — Plus $7 trillion in overseas shipping — The “Up Jumped the Devil” Milk Jug:
And lest you forget — or have thus far refused to play it — here is that song again! One of my All-Time Top 5 favorite songs by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, “Up Jumped the Devil”:
(Includes one of my all-time favorite rhymes!! ‘Me’ rhymed with ‘hilarity’:
Who’s that yonder laughing at me Like I was the brunt of some hilarity Who’s that yonder laughing at me Up jumped the Devil 1, 2, 3
c – 1988 – Nick Cave)
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Okay!
Here’s this.
One of my never-ending inspirations as a writer on Earth, however, I’m not crazy about the tone of this photo, but here it is anyway!
A William Burroughs Halloween in Lawrence, Kansas:
Oh, and here’s this!!
One of my many original Olympia Press treasures!! An original printing, from 1959, Paris, France, when it was mistakenly titled ‘The’ Naked Lunch. Mint condition.
My collection of original Olympia Press titles were all gifts to me from Richard Kasak, the publisher of the legendary Masquerade Books, back in the late 90s.
I have long ago lost track of how much this specific book is worth, but I’m not selling it anyway, so it doesn’t matter:
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And Ronnie Wood has a special collection of prints — Paint It Black — available for a limited time. It includes a Personalized signing of the print, just for you!! (And it’s not outrageously expensive, all things considered!! Each print is $1650, while they last.) (And if you want to get me the ‘Keith’ one, that would be really cool!)
Thanks to whoever is buying the Kindle edition of my novel, The Guitar Hero Goes Home. Published in September, 2020. I thank you very much!!
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Well, yesterday.
Wow, gang.
I don’t even know how best to post about this without betraying anyone’s privacy, but my sweet client from yesterday’s shift, is really, seriously, going downhill.
I had not seen her in a mere seven days… but she had a stroke. On Wednesday. So the Agency had not even had time to alert me beforehand that everything had changed.
And still — wow, is that family the most loving family I have ever encountered.
I walked in to a situation that was drastically different from the last time I was there, but there was still that sense of love, of peace. It was just beautiful. And they have no intention of having her “institutionalized” in any way. A second daughter is staying there now, too, so that the family can be with her around the clock, even with caregivers and Hospice nurses there.
It was a very intense shift, and yet I left there with a profound sense of well-being and peace. The client and the family are just so loving.
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Well, I have mixed feelings about whether I should take my favorite 95-year-old Japanese client out for sashimi and sake today, or wait until tomorrow.
It’s really cold here today. Plus, with it being the holiday, a lot of people might be going out for lunch today and Peony Bistro is really small, and really popular even when it’s not a holiday.
I’m leaning more towards waiting until tomorrow, but I just don’t know. It’s cold but it’s also sunny, so the drive would be beautiful and he always loves that. And he loves the sake, of course!!
I guess I’ll just decide at the very last minute! (But he just gets SO cold, so easily. For instance, his furnace might be set at 78 degrees Fahrenheit, and he’ll be wearing 2 shirts and a sweater, and then ask me to “please turn off the AC” because he’s freezing…)
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Okay, I guess I’m gonna scoot.
Enjoy your tricks or treats, 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 cute Halloween clip compilation set to “The Monster Mash” by Bobby “Boris” Pickett, 1962. Enjoy, gang!
I was up late (for me, anyway) listening to Phil last night, so I didn’t get out of bed until 5AM. And it only takes about 2 hours to feed everyone and clean up after them, etc., etc. (meaning, of course, CATS)…
And then, of course, I have to go back to bed with my cup o’ joe and then meditate.
And when that’s all done, I lie there and think: It’s my day off! I don’t want to get out of bed!!
But, eventually, of course, I need more coffee, so I get out of bed…
And now I’m here.
Me, as a brunette again but with no coffee
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The furnace guy is coming sometime this afternoon, which means I want to vacuum downstairs before he gets here, so that it doesn’t look like 723 cats live here.
I’m guessing those death-defying basement stairs will keep his mind off my many cats, though (yes, I’m getting a home improvement grant to get new basement stairs, but my mortgage is with the USDA RD, and as we know so well by now, the GOVERNMENT in DC has SHUT DOWN….. so no $$ until they go back to work). (Which means, I’m not getting anywhere near those stairs until they’re fixed, but furnace guys tend to be braver than me.)
[Just a reminder of what I don’t want to look like, with or without brown hair.]
Anyway.
Other than vacuuming, I guess I will be working at the laptop from my kitchen table until the furnace guy gets here. And I hate working from my kitchen table, so I hope he comes early (methinks I might be cranky today!!).
All righty!!
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Here’s this!
Another from Phyllis Stein’s Instagram page!
Lou & Rachel:
And here’s this — from Lou & Rachel’s heyday!! (I can remember so well, gang, being 15, in my new bedroom in our new house, listening to this awesome song on my stereo and, as always, dreaming of someday living in NYC and being a singer/songwriter…)
“Coney Island, Baby”, 1975, a great song from the great album of the same name!!
“Coney Island Baby”
You know, man, when I was a young man in high school You believe in or not, that I wanted to play football for the coach All those older guys, they said he was mean and cruel But you know, I wanted to play football, for the coach They said I was to little too light weight to play line-back So I say I’m playing right-in Wanted to play football for the coach Cause, you know some day, man, you gotta stand up straight Unless you’re gonna fall Then you’re gonna die And the straightest dude I ever knew Was standing right for me, all the time So I had to play football for the coach And I wanted to play football for the coach When you’re all alone and lonely in your midnight hour And you find that your soul, it has been up for sale
And you getting to think about, all the things you done And you getting to hate just about everything
But remember the princess who lived on the hill Who loved you even though she knew you was wrong And right now she just might come shining through and the glory of love, glory of love Glory of love, just might come through
And all your two-bit friends have gone and ripped you off They’re talking behind your back saying, man you are never going to be a human being And you start thinking again About all those things that you’ve done And who it was and who it was And all the different things you made every different scene
Ah, but remember that the city is a funny place Something like a circus or a sewer And just remember, different people have peculiar tastes And the Glory of love, the glory of love The glory of love, might see you through Yeah, but now, now Glory of love, the glory of love The glory of love, might see you through Glory of love, ah, huh, huh, the glory of love Glory of love, glory of love Glory of love, now, glory of love, now Glory of love, now, now, now, glory of love Glory of love, give it to me now, glory of love see you through Oh, my Coney Island baby, now (I’m a Coney Island baby, now)
I’d like to send this one out for Lou and Rachel And the Lord appeared and he has one made of two Coney Island baby Man, I swear, I’d give the whole thing up for you
c- 1975 – Lou Reed
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And here’s Phil’s replay if you missed it last night. (The first 51 minutes is about the silver market — currently at $53.44 an ounce. The intel on Hegseth starts right after that.)
Sadly, this is a one-off special “later this year” on SKY TV, which means that we will not be able to see it here in the Hinterlands…
Me, most days, but especially when I can’t see a Nick Cave one-off documentary on SKY TV.
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BUT!!
Here’s the view outside my bedroom window this morning!! (I traded this view for living anywhere remotely near where I could access SKY TV.)
This is called a valley in the foothills of Appalachia, an average distance of 3,549 miles from SKY TV.
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And actually, I think that’s it for now.
I’m gonna tidy up around here, so that I can sit at my kitchen table and WAIT. But it’s still a day off, so that’s cool.
Enjoy your Thursday, wherever you are in the world.
Thanks for visiting.
I love you guys. See ya!
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Okay, gang, I’m gonna leave you with this, because it popped up on my playlist while driving home yesterday.
Not only do I actually love this song, but it is the opening theme song to my in-progress screen-adaptation of Neptune & Surf (titled “Neptune Avenue”). Which takes place in Brooklyn & NYC in the 1920s and the 1950s. (I’m guessing that some day I’ll get enough time to finish the adaptation. We shall see.)
Oh, and lest you forget!! My primary inspiration for Neptune & Surf was Hubert Selby, Jr.s’ now classic novel, Last Exit to Brooklyn. And when my book came out (to incredibly wonderful reviews), I wrote to Hubert (nicknamed Cubby) to give him a copy of my book. And he wrote back, and afterwards we became friends until he died. From Cubby:
And here’s the theme song from “Neptune Avenue”.
“On the Sidewalks of New York”, written in I894. But this is Nat King Cole’s version, 1963. Enjoy, gang.
“On The Sidewalks Of New York”
East side, West side All around the town The tots sang ‘Ring-a-Rosie London Bridge is falling down!’ Boys and girls together Me and Mamie O’Rorke Tripped the light fantastic On the sidewalks of New York
Down in front of Casey’s Old brown wooden stoop On a summer’s evening We formed a merry group; Boys and girls together We would sing and waltz While the “Ginnie” played the organ On the sidewalks of New York
East side, West side All around the town The tots sang ‘Ring-a-Rosie London Bridge is falling down!’ Boys and girls together Me and Mamie O’Rorke Tripped the light fantastic On the sidewalks of New York
East side, West side All around the town The tots sang ‘Ring-a-Rosie London Bridge is falling down!’ Boys and girls together Me and Mamie O’Rorke Tripped the light fantastic On the sidewalks of New York
I have yet another day off today and I was taking it easy.
I was back in bed, windows open, sun shining, a cup of coffee on the night table. I was re-listening to the lecture about Christian Humanists and Erasmus — just to get everything straight before I get deeper into the lectures about Martin Luther.
Saffie was snuggled next to me on the bed, when lo & behold! A flea jumped off her and onto me!
So that was that.
I got right out of bed and put some more flea meds on her, then vacuumed the entire house. Then checked everyone else for fleas — a couple had them, most didn’t. But I went out and bought a bunch more flea meds for them anyway. Then more cat food and cat litter, while I was at it. Went to the bank. Then a text from my lawncare guy came — then I went in search of a shovel that my lawncare guy thought he might have left in my backyard (he didn’t). But I re-acquainted myself with a practically brand new post-hole digger that I’d forgotten I had in the barn and I texted him: Would you like to have it?
HE: Yes!! Thank you!!
So I dusted it off and set it out on my porch.
And now — a fresh cup of coffee here by my laptop, and 3 and 1/2 hours later….
My day officially begins!! Sorry I’m late!
Still — it is an absolutely beautiful day here in the Hinterlands. Again!
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Regarding my novel-in-progress, The Curse of Our Profound Disorder…
I did, indeed, start reading/revising from page one yesterday. I made it to page 111 before calling it a day. I hope to finish reading/revising it today, but there are 123 pages left to read. So I don’t know. I also want to do yoga, take a walk, and finish the lecture on Erasmus, and the day is already half over.
However, I really just don’t know what to tell you about this novel, gang.
When I’m reading it, I’m kind of uncomfortably spellbound. Which is a good thing. Because even though I wrote it, I’m still wanting to know what the fuck could possibly come next, and I just keep reading and reading and reading.
And HOW this book came out of me is a huge fucking mystery to me, gang.
In a way, it’s “stream of consciousness.” In a way, it has elements of all my favorite writers from my wee bonny early adulthood: James Joyce, Kafka, Kerouac, Burroughs, Allen Ginsberg– but still viewed through the lens of my own peculiar mind’s eye.
It is so frank, so matter-of-fact, so brutal, so raw, but also esoteric and sometimes so beautiful. i.e. — Something heartbreaking is being described by the protagonist, and then some lyrics pop up from “On Top of Old Smokey.”
Really??!! When did I write this? I don’t know but that is just so fucking me.
And, also, at the same time — it sort of brings closure to and/or celebrates people that I knew in my twenties, specifically. Like, now they’re going to live forever, whether we might want that or not.
And then I also suddenly have my main Native American character, Jack Kicking Eagle, speaking in the language of the Lakota Sioux! (Oh, like, when did I know that language?? Jesus.) And then I seem to know in detail the awful history of what happened on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in the 1970s.
Methinks I must have absorbed all this back in the early 90s, when I studied all the various Plains Indians in earnest, trying to learn more about my great-great-grandmother’s culture, history, and people. (She was Black Foot.)
And as I’m reading — again, I find myself thinking: Holy shit. Thank god I started writing this back when I did because I would never have remembered this stuff!
And I had such vivid dreams last night. Filled with unexpected people. I’m sure the dreams stemmed from reading over the novel.
I’m looking forward to reading the rest of it, to see how it keeps flowing, but what a book. I can’t believe it came out of me. And yet, even while it’s fiction, it’s so 100% my life. Or my experience of life on Earth, to be more exact. (“I’m Jumping Jack Flash, it’s a gas, gas, gas…” Or not.)
I have today and tomorrow off, plus I was up kinda late (for me, anyway), chatting with my eHarmony guy after I got home from my shift last night!
So after the many, many cats and I had breakfast this morning, I went back to bed for a while and it felt FANTASTIC!
It wasn’t too hot (yet). The windows were open and the birds were singing. Most of the kittens and cats were downstairs somewhere, or otherwise being peaceful. So it was great.
And I’ve already had my chat with Sandra regarding the play — I won’t have any real work to do on it until August 1st – 15th. But some of the things Sandra wants to add to the script are terrific. I’m really excited. This play (which I love) just gets better and better and better, gang.
The carpenter is coming to give me a quote today, but that’s not until the day is basically over. (When the heat should be at its hottest and a thunderstorm should be underway!)
So now I have the AC on, the laundry is almost done, and the day is wide open in front of me!!
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Okay!
For those of you who were not able to get me a gift in time for my birthday last week [HINT: That was every single one of you…] —
The Summer Sale over at Cave Things is still going on until TOMORROW morning at 10AM, UK time!
So there is still time to get me this! On sale! And help feed my addiction to dishes! I only have SIX creamers in the house, so clearly I need one more!!
Up Jumped The Devil Milk Jug — $39 (plus shipping to the USA).
“An immediate sellout when it first appeared on Cave Things in 2021, the Up Jumped The Devil Milk Jug finally returns in a slightly updated form. A delicate glazed ceramic milk jug with blue watercolour painting, it echoes a refined Victorian teatime object, but carries a disturbing motif – the Devil himself.“
Hurry! Time is running out….
And lest we forget!! One of my all-time favorite songs by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, “Up Jumped the Devil”, 1988:
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Yesterday’s shift was yet another easy one with the retired Minister and his lovely wife! After we were able to persuade him to do his Physical Therapy exercises, we spent the rest of the evening watching old reruns of “The Love Boat,” Daniel Boone”, and “The Andy Griffith Show”!
And, yes! I got PAID to do that! So what’s not to love?
But seriously, it was a very pleasant shift. And as always, I am super glad to be back home.
I think that’s really it for now. I wish I weren’t under an ironclad mandate to not write about my new friend, but such is life. I can at least tell you that it continues to amaze me — the things we have in common. And how considerate he is. And unpredictable. And straightforward and funny.
I will say that he said, when he sits out on his porch, he can hear the train when it’s passing through Crazeysburg! That gives you an idea of how close he is — and also how LOUD that fucking train is! (You wanna see cats & kittens scatter? Wait ’til that train starts approaching!!)
The ACTUAL, OOPS! NOT the actual train that comes through my town!
And here’s this!! Because I love it and WHY not??!!
“Folsom Prison Blues”
I hear the train a comin’ It’s rolling round the bend And I ain’t seen the sunshine since I don’t know when I’m stuck in Folsom prison, and time keeps draggin’ on But that train keeps a rollin’ on down to San Antone
When I was just a baby my mama told me “Son, always be a good boy, don’t ever play with guns” But I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die When I hear that whistle blowing, I hang my head and cry
I bet there’s rich folks eating in a fancy dining car They’re probably drinkin’ coffee and smoking big cigars Well I know I had it coming, I know I can’t be free But those people keep a movin’ And that’s what tortures me
Well if they freed me from this prison If that railroad train was mine I bet I’d move it on a little farther down the line Far from Folsom prison, that’s where I want to stay And I’d let that lonesome whistle blow my blues away
Even though I slept GREAT last night and in my own bed, even…
And even though it is a really pretty day here and not too hot…
The HUDMIDITY is off the charts again. I can’t breathe!!
From the Floyd psyop…
Which reminds me!!
The Sheriff’s Deputies around here are really nice.
One stopped by here on Tuesday to let me know why my mailbox was sitting in a useless heap in the grass — an electric company truck driver had accidentally run over it.
And yesterday, the same electric company gave me a brand new one and it is really nice!! Much nicer than the one I had before. When I came home from my shift, there it was, installed and looking just really, really perfect. It was kind of incredible, actually. I love my new mailbox.
Hopefully, it is also a good sign that I will get that home improvement loan soon and the whole house will get updated.
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Anyway!
I’m back to being brain dead from the humidity again.
Also, my 2 clients that were supposed to come out of rehab this week are still in rehab, so I am off work again today.
I am not going to look at my bank account. I’m not going to think about all the money I just spent in NYC. I’m just moving ahead. (And I also want to mention here, for no real particular reason — I really miss the food in NYC. Every restaurant that I ate in had absolutely the best food!!)
Okay.
I still need to contact the plumber, the HVAC people, the water softener guys, and a carpenter — to get bids to submit with my loan application.
Other than that, though, all I have on my plate right this very minute is The Curse of Our Profound Disorder.
I am hopeful that my brain will begin functioning here soon.
Me, soon. I hope.
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Okay, here’s this!
Wayne’s hotel in Phnom Penh! He says it very nice!
And here’s this!
Yesterday, one of Keith Richards’ grandsons, Orson, turned 25!! (I have a hard time wrapping my mind around that number, but anyway.)
Posted to Instagram by his mom, Lucie de la Falaise, (Marlon’s wife). Orson is in the middle:
The photos from last night’s show in Mantova, Italy were not the greatest. Most of the people who posted photos were sitting really far away, but here’s this!
And tonight, they play a music festival in Lucca, Italy, but the show is sold out.
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Meanwhile…
My shift yesterday with my favorite 94-year-old Japanese man went just splendidly.
He still remembers that I went to NYC. And he remembers why I went. And we had a great chat about so many things yesterday. He had just really great clarity. It was wonderful. (He also has a great sense of humor and we laughed a lot.)
We’ll see what I can do about having my own really great clarity here today. If all else fails, at least I have an AC window unit arriving on Saturday.
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And I think that’s it for now, gang. I’m gonna get started here.
Enjoy your Thursday, 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 HUGE AM Radio hit the summer I turned 14. I loved this song. I had the 45 and played it over and over and over…
All kinds of cool things are on sale over there to help you beat the heat, or whatever it is you’re trying to beat….
Yet again, some of my favorites are on sale!! Including, but not limited to;
The Hotel Girls Notebook — $12.00 (plus tons of shipping to the USA) (Only adults can look at the image below, thank you very much for your cooperation)
The fantastic Happy Tea Set, the whole set, or separate pieces of it! The Happy Tea Pot, $68.00 (plus all sorts of overseas shipping fees!)
Up Jumped the Devil Milk Jug! $40.00 (no shipping Oops! Tons of shipping there, too!)
That milk jug commemorates one of my absolute favorite Nick Cave songs of all time!!!
“Up Jumped the Devil”, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, 1988, from the incredible album, Tender Prey.
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Here’s this!
Not only because I love this photo so much, but also because my great-great grandmother was a full-blood Blackfoot Indian, and judging by the date listed below, she very well might have known Chief Two Guns White Calf! I think that is so cool.
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And speaking of guns…
I am really, really thinking I will have to cancel my monthly membership at the shooting range, gang. I am only getting one day off a week these days, and it is going to continue for the rest of the summer.
I’m going to call over there today and see if maybe I can just temporarily suspend my membership until Fall. We’ll see. I hate to do it, but I have` absolutely no time. And I just keep paying and paying and paying…
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Okay, well. have I had some intense shifts the last couple of days. In a good way, but still intense.
I saw the retired Minister and his wife on Sunday evening and it was great. He is making such great progress. He was lucid the entire time I was with him, and he talked a lot about his ministry, as well as when he first decided to become a Christian when he was in his teens (he is 80 now).
It was an amazing evening, but as usual it sort of wiped me out emotionally.
Ditto, my shift with my favorite client who is back from Florida. For different reasons, although she is a retired Chaplain, so it was all in the same vein.
I still don’t understand WHY ON EARTH I decided to return to this type of work, but clearly, all of this is on my path right now for a reason.
Oh, and oddly enough!! In my novel-in-progress, The Curse of Our Profound Disorder, that I am working on after a 26-year hiatus… the father in the story is a retired Minister. And the upcoming remainder of the novel is primarily about HIM.
Hmmm…….
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On the home front —
I downloaded all the forms I need to fill out in order to apply for that USDA home-improvement loan/grant for low-income seniors living in rural areas.
We’ll see if I can get those filled out before I leave for NYC, but something tells me it would be pushing my luck. I have some stuff I need to do on the play today, and today is my only day off.
But at least I have the forms!!
Home improvement in the Hinterlands!
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And I think that’s it for now!
I have to finish doing the laundry then get focused on “The Guide to Being Fabulous”!
Have a terrific Tuesday, wherever you are in the world!
Thanks for visiting.
I love you guys. See ya!
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Yes, the Annie Murray kick continues around here!
How can you NOT love this one, gang??? One of her first hits — “Snowbird.”
Anne Murray, “Snowbird”, 1969. From her album, This Way is My Way. Enjoy, gang!!
“Snowbird”
Beneath this snowy mantle cold and clean The unborn grass lies waiting For its coat to turn to green The snowbird sings the song he always sings And speaks to me of flowers That will bloom again in spring
When I was young My heart was young then, too Anything that it would tell me That’s the thing that I would do But now I feel such emptiness within For the thing that I want most in life’s The thing that I can’t win
Spread your tiny wings and fly away And take the snow back with you Where it came from on that day The one I love forever is untrue And if I could you know that I would Fly away with you
The breeze along the river seems to say That he’ll only break my heart again Should I decide to stay So, little snowbird Take me with you when you go To that land of gentle breezes Where the peaceful waters flow
Spread your tiny wings and fly away And take the snow back with you Where it came from on that day The one I love forever is untrue And if I could you know that I would Fly away with you
Yeah, if I could you know that I would Fl-y-y-y-y away with you
I know — it looks like my apartment in Paris in the 1920s, but …
Wow. So this is a cool development, gang!
Already, my psychological stress level has diminished to the point where we had TONS of really intense thunderstorms here last night — which usually triggers my PTSD — and I breezed right through it!
I didn’t even flinch! I hung out happily on the bed with Blackie & the kittens and just kept watching my new absolute favorite show on Netflix:
“Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories”. From 2019.
I love this beautiful opening to each episode. I never skip the intro (2 mins):
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If you saw my post yesterday, about the new Guitar Player interview with Joe Satriani and Steve Vai …
I know I’m getting older now, too — Steve Vai is my age, and Joe Satriani is 4 years older.
However, I remember them so well from the 1980s when they both had HAIR!!! I miss that.
Joe with hair
Steve with hair
They have a new album coming out, in case you missed that part. And a new single, with Glenn Hughes on vocals. “I Wanna Play My Guitar”:
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And to be fair: Me in the 1980s, when I also had hair!
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Oh wow, gang!!
So I guess you probably saw that all the stuff about “Pope Leo IV” was just a mistake!! A cruel lie, even!!
Here’s the new Pope!!
Pope Keith I
And while I’m at it — here’s this!!
Brian, Keith and Mick, 1965 — I love this photo:
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And on the kitten front —
Here’s something I bought that is a lifesaver!!
I was worried about using the vacuum cleaner anywhere near Blackie & the kittens because they are closed up in my room and cannot escape the scary noise.
This works great!! I’m so glad I bought it. Cat litter, cat hair, pieces of my chenille bedspread that the kittens have discovered is really fun to shred!! GONE!
I can actually sweep the entire upstairs in under 4 minutes. And it also works on uncarpeted floors, too. (Here’s a link on Amazon if you want one.)
My favorite is in stock AND 40% off, so if you need my address, just GOOGLE it!!
(Don’t use the Spring Garden St. address in Easton, PA, though, because I have not lived there in 20 years!! And someone other than me will receive this treasured item!!) (And, yes! It’s on sale now for a mere $245 plus a zillion in shipping fees!! I eagerly await its arrival, so thank you!!)
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And another photo from the show in Vancouver:
Tonight, they play San Francisco. Saturday, they play the festival in Pasadena. And then the tour is OVER!! Buy those final tickets here.
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On a happy note–
Next week is a big week for me, gang. On Tuesday, I have been invited to have dinner at the Granville Inn by my dear friend Kara!
And then on Saturday, after my midday shift, I’m having lunch with my favorite Q-following friend, at our favorite haunt — Tequilaville!!
Here’s a less warehouse-y looking shot than the one I usually post:
And here’s what it looks like inside:
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And that is it for now, because I gotta scoot!!
Have a wonder-filled Wednesday, wherever you are in the world!!
Thanks for visiting.
I love you guys. See ya!
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Okay, I know. But we’re still on the Emmylou kick around here, and I can’t help it!!
Here’s the song she wrote in memory of Graham Parson’s after he died — and his body was burned at Joshua Tree:
“But, to fulfill Parsons’ wishes, Kaufman and a friend stole both a hearse and his body and drove it to Joshua Tree. At Cap Rock Parking Lot, they poured gasoline into the open coffin and lit it, creating an enormous fireball. They were arrested and eventually fined $750.00, for stealing the coffin. “
At that point in time, Emmylou Harris was a backup singer for Graham Parsons. Afterward, she became a huge success on her own.
I definitely used to sing this song in my sets on the Folk Music circuit in NYC.
The beautiful “Boulder to Birmingham” from 1975. Enjoy, gang!!
“Boulder To Birmingham”
I don’t want to hear a love song I got on this airplane just to fly And I know there’s life below But all that it can show me Is the prairie and the sky
And I don’t want to hear a sad story Full of heartbreak and desire The last time I felt like this It was in the wilderness and the canyon was on fire And I stood on the mountain in the night and I watched it burn I watched it burn, I watched it burn.
I would rock my soul in the bosom of Abraham I would hold my life in his saving grace. I would walk all the way from Boulder to Birmingham If I thought I could see, I could see your face.
Well you really got me this time And the hardest part is knowing I’ll survive. I have come to listen for the sound Of the trucks as they move down Out on ninety five And pretend that it’s the ocean coming down to wash me clean, to wash me clean Baby do you know what I mean
I would rock my soul in the bosom of Abraham I would hold my life in his saving grace. I would walk all the way from Boulder to Birmingham If I thought I could see, I could see your face.
It’s a little chilly here but, wow, is it sunny, gang!
And this afternoon, the little maternity playpen for the kittens arrives and I will no longer have to worry about those newborn kittens being out there in the freezing cold at night. Even though their little cat house outside is filled with straw, and I’m guessing that Little Blackie’s body heat keeps them very warm. Still, it will be a relief to have them indoors.
Well, Peitor and I got even MORE great work done on the revisions of the TV pilot yesterday. However, I have 6 (!!) pages of notes that he emailed me this morning. I need to try to go over those before I leave for my morning client. So this post will be brief!!
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First off, if you follow Phil then you are likely aware that we seemed to have passed a huge and wonderful milestone out there somewhere.
And in case you aren’t keeping track of it — nearly 70 countries so far have now negotiated better trade deals with the US due to Trump’s tariffs. So things are really looking good, gang. Hang in there!!
If you’re a subscriber to Nick Cave’sCave Things mailing list, this week you can get 40% off my most favorite item over there!!!
All things “Happy Tea Set”!!
Use THIS link. And if you’re not a subscriber, a link will pop up for you to subscribe today to get 40% off!
The tea set pictured below is only $12 million plus shipping!! (OOPS! My error. Apparently, it’s only $176 plus shipping, and then 40% off of that price.) (If you need my mailing address to have it sent to me, google it. It’s EVERYWHERE.) (But don’t use the Spring Garden Street address. I haven’t lived in Easton, Pennsylvania in many, many years.) (In fact, I have moved 4 times since then.)
And don’t forget!! THIS starts in Boston in just a handful of days!! Buy tickets HERE!!
Okay! I gotta scoot.
Have a terrific Tuesday, wherever you are in the world!!
Thanks for visiting.
I love you guys. See ya!
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Yes, from this morning. Still on a Neil Diamond kick around here.
The fantastic “Soolaimon/Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show” live on Hot August Night (1972). Enjoy, gang and Happy Listening!!
Marilyn's Room 