This will be brief because I have a morning client (I have morning shifts all week). But the good news is that it’s with my favorite 94-year-old Japanese man!

During my meditation this morning, it suddenly occurred to me that, client or no client, he is one of my most favorite people on Earth. And isn’t it interesting that I have such a spiritual rapport with him — a man in the early stages of dementia — and that we laugh so much and have so much in common and that we literally talk for 4 straight hours whenever we are together (3 days a week)?

If you were to overhear our conversations, you would not think that I was talking to someone with a memory problem. We just have the best times together — both in terms of just having fun but also sharing deeply spiritual conversations.

And if you’ve been reading this blog for awhile, you may recall that in the autumn, I had this other wonderful client — a woman with several Degrees in Theology from Yale, where she studied just after WWII.

She has no memory issues whatsoever. And she and I had the best conversations, too. About Christian theology, about the Bible, about human nature, about her extraordinary life.

Anyway, she spends winters in Florida and will be coming back here soon. I am so hoping they re-assign me to her. When I visit with people like that — even though I do have to do some serious “caregiver” tasks — it is not like “work” at all. It is incredible.

So, here’s hoping. But we’ll see.

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

Okay.

Things with Peitor’s family are improving immensely!!! And it was a really, really good thing that he showed up in Iowa when he did. The situation there has still sort of put him “on hold” as far as the TV pilot proposal package goes. But we are hanging in there.

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

In other news!!

Nick Cave sent out a Red Hand File yesterday morning that was really wonderful!! In essence, he told us what he eats for lunch everyday (and it’s quite similar to what I eat for breakfast everyday). But he also said some beautiful things about humanity. In part:

“And it reminds me that we all stand before the world with our faculties – our minds, bodies, mouths, and hands – each of us shaping the environment around us. What we think, do, and say is fundamental to the survival of this grand human project. Each of us is precious, and our actions are vital, everything we do and say matters. We can speak beauty into the world or poison it with our words; we can build things up or tear them down; we can dream of a world that is vast, alive, and interesting, or reason it to be small, hard, and empty.”

You can read it in full here.

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

And now I gotta scoot!!!!

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

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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

On a Sinatra kick around here.

When I was 7 years old, I had a transistor radio that I just loved. And that particular year, the song below was a huge Top 40 hit and I just loved listening to it on my transistor!!

As fate would have it, my Japanese client designed one of the most popular pocket-sized transistor radios in the world, back in the late 1960s, while living/working in Hong Kong.

When I played this song for him, and told him how much I loved listening to it on my transistor when I was 7 (and he was 37), he laughed with delight and said, “Yes, I remember this song!!”

It’s still a great song. Enjoy, gang!!

Yes — yesterday is OVER!

Wow. Intense. Especially that drive home — all those backroads in high winds and mostly unplowed snow! Yay! (And St. Christopher was hanging on in the passenger seat the whole way home.)

I am so glad it’s over.

And here we are, with today. Still snow everywhere, but it’s SUNNY. And I don’t have to be anywhere until Wednesday.

And I slept in this morning!! I did not get out of bed until 5:38AM!!

And I did not do yoga this morning, either.

And I have not yet begun to read the 13 emails of notes from Peitor yet. Even though he is sitting somewhere right now, patiently waiting (drumming his fingers maybe?) for me to call.

I just hung out in bed for a while this morning, drinking coffee laced with rhodiola rosea and lion’s mane. Chewing on a nicotine toothpick. Feeling like this god-awful world might still be worth hanging out in for a few more minutes…

[Me?]

Jesus, I am so tired of so many things. Just sort of waiting for JFK. Jr to put in his long-awaited appearance. That — and the release, finally, of the files on JFK and RFK — will bring a whole lot of this noisy madness to a grinding halt.

Oh, and —

Meanwhile…

Nick Cave sent out a very interesting Red Hand File this morning. (I personally believe that Kanye West is a psyop on the side of the White Hats now. The shit that guy has seen just in LA alone has got to be enough to make you want to shoot yourself — you know, to get the pictures to stop).

Anyway. What Nick had to say was very interesting. Especially this line: “…why it is unacceptable to coerce one’s girlfriend into standing naked on the red carpet at the Grammys.” Coming from a man whose naked wife has graced a certified gold-selling album cover; in homes worldwide since 2013…

Just, well. Just very interesting. I liked what he had to say. And I liked this part:

“To be human is to be flawed, yet it is also to possess the potential to achieve staggering things – beautiful, brilliant, inspiring, wild and audacious things; things to be cherished, despite our complex and compromised natures.”

You can read it in full here.

**********

I think that might be it for now, gang. I really do have to get busy with Peitor.

Enjoy your Monday, wherever you are in the world.

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

***********

I know you won’t believe this, but this is what I usually wake up singing these days. The cats love it! And so do I.

Enjoy, gang.

Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee

Joyful, joyful, we adore thee,
God of glory, Lord of love;
hearts unfold like flowers before thee,
opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness,
drive the gloom of doubt away;
giver of immortal gladness,
fill us with the light of day!

All thy works with joy surround thee,
earth and heaven reflect thy rays;
stars and angels sing around thee,
center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
flowery meadow, flashing sea,
chanting bird and flowing fountain
call us to rejoice in thee.

Mortals, join the mighty chorus,
Which the morning stars began;
God’s own love is reigning o’er us,
Joining people hand in hand.
Ever singing, march we onward,
Victors in the midst of strife;
Joyful music leads us sunward
In the triumph song of life.

Lyrics c – Henry Van Dyke, 1852-1933 (Music, Beethoven)

Even though it’s still cold in the early mornings, and even though it’s still January, it’s been getting up into the mid-40s Fahrenheit during the day, and it feels like Spring.

And what a great feeling to remember — Spring.

Also, I have been making great progress with getting my life back.

Three days now without needing herbal supplements for managing stress and anxiety. And I feel like my brain is clearer.

And I’m back to doing prayers and yoga first thing in the morning, instead of trying to fit it in “wherever”. (After I check in with all the Alt news channels, that is, and after about 15 mins of meditation. And then about 10 minutes of French lessons on the Mondly App.)

Minus the Alt news channels — this is the life I used to have, five years ago. It kept the day, and my mind, wide open for working on projects at the laptop. So this feels really great.

And I recently downloaded the free “Daily Prayer” App, from ReThinkMe. I especially love reading the Prayer Wall first thing in the morning and last thing at night — where people from around the world, post their prayers in real-time.

Talk about feeling connected to humanity in a nano-second. It is incredible, gang.

Oh, and so far: I’m really LOVING the Zippix toothpicks. It’s only been 3 days, though, so I’ll keep you posted.

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

Well, I’m really glad I had to be with a client during the entire RFK, Jr. insanity yesterday. I kept on top of it on my phone, when I could. And it seemed just like a horrific spectacle. One of the truthers I follow on telegram posted that watching it (in real time) was like dragging his balls through broken glass…

I’m guessing I would have concurred had I been watching it. Even though, you know, I am virtually testicle-free.

Today, we have Kash Patel up at bat!!! I’m guessing it will be another nightmare to watch, so I’m glad I have another client.

But, I tell you, gang, I cannot wait to see him get confirmed. Between RFK Jr. and Kash Patel, life in these United States is going to become incredible.

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

James Tabor – Understanding the Forbidden Fruit: Why There is NO FALL of Humankind in Genesis (18 mins):

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

Nick Cave sent out a Red Hand File yesterday that was a little heartbreaking, but really beautiful. Essentially, it dealt with how to handle death and grief. In part, he said:

“We are broken things, amongst other broken things. We are imperfect and characterised by our capacity to fuck things up, yet still we can move incrementally towards the greater good. This serves as grounds for both self-forgiveness and hope, and reflects our inherent human loveliness….”

You can read it in full here.

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

That’s really all I have for now, gang. I have to get to work on the TV project before I head out to my client’s.

Have a great Thursday, wherever you are in the world.

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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

This morning’s breakfast-listening music!!

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, 1995. From the Playback collection, disk 6, Nobody’s Children — the song “You Get Me High.” Enjoy, gang.

Wow. Whoever you are, I really appreciate you.

I was just looking over the sales stats on my various self-published novels and I see that the Kindle version of The Guitar Hero Goes Home (written 5 years ago), is ranked #1,731 in sales of Biographical Literary Fiction (!!!). (Holy Cow!!!)

And the Kindle version of Twilight of the Immortal (from FIFTEEN years ago!!!), is ranked #2,686 in sales of LGBTQ Historical Fiction. And #5,824 in LGBTQ Literary Fiction!!

This astounds me in the best possible way, gang.

Not just the sales rankings, but the “Literary Fiction” categories.

It just made my morning. Thanks, everybody.

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

On other topics–

I am really eager to see those much-promised Energy Bills come down. I just got my heating bill and it’s ridiculous.

I’m guessing that everyone is aware of what is going on with Trump and all the Executive Orders and the progress of all that, so here’s hoping we soon see an end to this robbery (meaning: when it gets super cold like this, the cost of natural gas heat soars.)

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

Nick Cave sent out a really sweet Red Hand File yesterday!! I just loved it. It was a letter written by a group of French school children — aged 12 and 13. Their English was, for the most part, good, but also sort of funny.

In part, they asked: “We found you sometimes weirdos, strange and dark in your differents songs, but we like it! So how do you see yourself in your songs? Are you happy sometimes?“

Nick replied, in part:

“As for being ‘weirdos, strange and dark’ – this is not only an accurate reflection of my songs but also describes me, or at least how I often feel. Yet, amidst the weirdness, the strangeness, and deep within the darkness, I am mostly happy. I am mostly happy because beautiful things keep happening to me, such as receiving your letter.“

You can read it in full here. It was just wonderful.

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

And that is really all I have for today, because the TV pilot has me overloaded with work. And I find I am getting depressed about having to return to the caregiving job tomorrow. 5 days was just not enough of a break. But I’m trying not to dwell on it. And trying to just keep moving forward…

This is helping! I began watching it last evening on Amazon Prime. I loved the Flip Wilson Show when I was a kid, but as an adult, I’m actually understanding the humor! And it makes me laugh out loud.

All right. Enjoy your Thursday, wherever you are in the world, gang.

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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

As promised, the Best of Cajun Country is no longer in the kitchen CD player. However, the CD that’s in there now includes songs that are nearly 100 years old. That, alone, kinda depresses me. When did that happen??

Rudy Vallee, The Voice That Had Them Fainting: Hits from 1928-1937.

Anyway. Yes, from Rudy Vallee. “These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You)” from 1936. Enjoy, gang!

I’m going to start off the post with Nick Cave’s new Red Hand File, which I just this moment read, and I am just so OVER it — that so many effing people have such a problem with the opening line of the AMAZING song, “O Wow O Wow (How Wonderful She Is)”. This is not the first time I’d encountered comments about that first line, or entire first verse.

It is such a HUMAN opening line. A human, playful song about an amazing , playful human being who is no longer among us. WTF is wrong with people? Have they never been in love and been in bed and made art???? Jesus.

Anyway! Nick replies, in part:

“But as its creator I feel the need to defend it – not just out of some paternal urge, but because I have always thought the line was rather good. Truthfully, when I wrote the first verse of ‘O Wow O Wow‘, I was so pleased, that I took the rest of the day off!

The opening verse is, of course, a recollection of my younger days with Anita – in this instance, she rises naked from our shared bed…”

You can read it in full here.

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

Okay. Well. More snow came yesterday. And now it’s super duper cold out there. But you know what???

Yesterday morning, absolutely out of the blue, my next door neighbors brought over TWO completely assembled cat houses, complete with plenty of straw inside each of them, and they put them on my kitchen porch!! The husband texted me: “We noticed that there are cats congregating on your porch. Hopefully this will help them stay warm.”

How nice is that??? I have one cat house out there already, but 3 cats.

I can’t tell you what that did to reducing my stress level instantansously.

And yes, this is the same man who dug a grave in my backyard for Lucie when she died this past summer. And it’s the same man whose home got COMPELTELY crushed when my enormous maple tree fell on their house during a mini tornado 3 summers ago.

What great neighbors.

This is such a amazing little village.

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

Well, the closer we get to the Inauguration, the less real news there is. It all seems to be about setting the stage for Trump to come back and change everything imaginable.

If you have the stomach for it, this was interesting. It’s from a couple of days ago but I finally had the chance to listen to it.

Tucker Carlson and Michael Shellenberger Break Down the California Fires (2 hrs 16 mins):

There’s also this, but it’s from 3 weeks ago:

Aaron Siri: Everything You Should Know About the Polio Vaccine, & Its Link to the Abortion Industry (1 hr 45 mins):

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

Here’s Phil’s replay from last night, if you missed it. About an hour into it, he goes over current events. Then there’s a Q & A.

Current Events – January 14th, 2025 (2 hrs):

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

This was interesting.

Nigel Watson (Finland/UK) – Spain 100% Property Tax Shocker (9 mins):

***********

And I’m going to leave it at that. I have to look over some script notes from Peitor before I head out for my morning shift.

Have a great Thursday, wherever you are in the world.

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

***********

I leave you with this!

This came up on my “frequent playlist” while I was driving home last night, in the dark, in the snow. And missing New York. (See yesterday’s post about why I had to cancel my trip there next week.)

How interesting, right? From 1975 — in fact, I’ve mentioned this here before, but this song was released while I was committed to the mental hospital. At the lowest point in my life. I used to listen to it on the AM radio in my room. And within a mere 5 years, I was living one block from Broadway, married to one of the most interesting men I had ever met, who’d come all the way from Singapore!!

And this year, our play, “The Guide to being Fabulous,” will be produced (Off)-Broadway!!

Okay. Enjoy, gang. We never know what great things are right around the corner.

But not as bad as they had predicted.

The snow, I mean.

However, in a really sweet gesture last night, my clients insisted I go home early, to avoid the upcoming snow. And I still got paid for the whole shift.

Anyway. I have to be quick here today because my phone conference with Peitor starts in about half an hour.

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

You’ve all probably seen by now that the (fake) Trudeau is planning to resign this week. Possibly today, or more likely on Wednesday. Yet another moment of Q being absolutely right.

If you didn’t follow Q, or are suspicious of what it was — it was Military Intelligence, put together primarily by these incredible men, beginning back in October of 2017:

• Donald Trump, Commander in Chief
• Donald Trump, Jr.
• Lt. General Mike Flynn
• Kash Patel
• Ezra Cohen Watnik
• Dan Scavino

As well as Phil Godlewski and Roy Watkins (Code Monkey Z), and others.

If you look at where these men are today, and what is getting ready to happen here in the States (and all over the world, frankly), you get a better idea about why those of us who followed Q, and the Anons (who helped de-code Q for the rest of us) are so excited these days.

If you want to dive a little deeper, Mike King’s Anti-NY Times has an interesting post today, however, if you don’t follow Q at all, it will just make your brain explode:

“2025 Rolls in With Epic Level of Fakery

We have reached the point of peak illusionism in this first week of the sure-to-be momentous year of 2025. Even for one very familiar with the twists and methodologies of this movie, the level of barely concealed fakery and seemingly inexplicable weirdness has gotten surreal — and frankly, a wee bit tiresome. But the stunts remain tolerable for us only because “something has got to give” — and pretty darn soon, as we head into the final days of President Trump’s “dash” term and the exciting perception of Trump 47 (the 3rd term), beginning January 20th.

From just this past week or so alone:

The woman “burned alive” on a New York City subway — FAKE

The Trump Family New Year’s Eve party at Mar a Lago — FAKE

The New Orleans “truck massacre” — FAKE

The exploding Tesla at Trump’s Hotel in Las Vegas — FAKE

The Korean airplane crash into a concrete barrier — FAKE

The Mike Johnson Speaker fight — FAKE

“Biden” awarding medals to Killary, Soros et al. — FAKE.

And if I missed anything, well, that was probably FAKE too![…]

[full article here]

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

CHARLIE WARD DAILY NEWS WITH PAUL BROOKER MONDAY 6TH JANUARY 2025 (12 mins):

***********

In health news–

This has been known for a while now in the health/supplements world, but in case you weren’t aware of this yet, it’s important —

From Freedom Force Battalion — includes video:

“Cholesterol Does Not Cause Atherosclerosis, Heart Attack Or Stroke.

Cholesterol Is Essential, Without It Our Body Cannot Make:
Testosterone
Aldosterone
Cortisol
DHT Dihydrotestosterone
DHEA Dehydroepiandrosterone
Estradiol
Estriol
Estrone
Progesterone
Vitamin D

Healthy Cholesterol Is Crucial For A Thriving Life.

Top 15 Cholesterol Benefits:
Protects against chemicals, toxins & heavy metals.
Prevents dementia & cognitive decline.
Protects against all cause mortality.
Production of all steroid hormones.
Bone density & Osteoporosis prevention.
Protective against stroke & heart disease.
Important for lungs & airways.
Building block of all cells & mitochondria.
Absorption of Vitamins A, D, E & K.
Critical for digestion & bile acids.
Immune system protection against infections.
Lowers risk of cancer & death.
Lowers risk of depression & suicide.
Lowers stress, cortisol & anxiety.
Optimal brain is 60% fat & 25% cholesterol.

A low carbohydrate diet prioritizing nutrient dense animal foods, eliminating harmful seed oils & excess sugar, provides the best healthy cholesterol profile.

This approach keeps Triglycerides low & HDL high, which is one of the best Cardio Biomarkers for Cardiac health. TG/HDL ratio optimally should be less than 2.0 & even better at 1.5 or less.

👇The Higher Your LDL, The Longer You Live👇
meddocsonline .org/
👇Low Cholesterol Causes Mortality👇
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih .gov/21160131/ “

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

Phil is finally supposed to be live tonight at 8PM Eastern time. We shall see. Check here to confirm.

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

Nick Cave sent out a wonderful Red Hand File today, all about hope!! And Christmas with his new grandson, Roman. He said, in part:

“In its active form, hope is a supreme gesture of love, a radical and audacious duty, whereas despair is a stagnant rejection of life itself. Hope becomes the energy of change…

“Our [Christmas] was a large, noisy family affair that revolved around my infant grandson, Roman. Magisterial in his highchair, I watched him being fed by his doting parents – this bright, new child – and your question seemed to melt into the vision of that little boy, his face covered in avocado, a radiant affirmation of that small word – hope. On that Christmas day, I saw the vitality of hope in action…”

You can read it in full here.

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

And that is it for now, gang!!! I gotta scoot and officially get back to work on the TV pilot project with Abstract Absurdity Productions.

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

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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

From last night’s drive home in the dark, just moments ahead of the snow.

I’ve posted this song here before, but I love this song!! The classic, “Louisiana Saturday Night” by Don Williams, 1977. Enjoy, gang!!

Even though I am still really tired, I am bowled over by the beauty of my clients this season.

I was not expecting any gifts or even any cards, but my clients are kind of blowing me away with their kindness. Yesterday, one of my clients gave me a gift and a Christmas card that sort of took my breath away — and when I thanked her for it, the beautiful things she said to me about the job I do for her and her husband brought tears to my eyes.

It’s a difficult mix between knowing I will be alone this Christmas because my dad is gone now and I basically have no family left who are still speaking to me, and my friends are far away, spending Christmas with their families.

So the fact that I will actually be spending Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with clients who genuinely care about me — it is hard to process that mix of gratitude, love, loss.

I have to say, though, I am really looking forward to spending Christmas Day with my 94-year-old Japanese client that I adore so much!!

We have such an incredible time when we are together. He and I have so many unlikely things in common that I could do a whole blog post about it.

When I saw him on Wednesday, in the course of our conversations, he said, “I only have a couple more minutes to live.”

And I said, “Do you think you could hold out for another week, because I’ll be coming here on Christmas and I’d hate to be here all by myself.”

He laughed. and he said, “Okay. I’ll hold on another week…”

I’m expecting Christmas Day with him to be just beautiful.

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

Anyway. I digress!

There is NO NEWS, gang!! It’s getting insane! The amount of stuff that they are pretending is happening that is not really happening….

I’ve been to Telegram, YouTube, Truth Social, Rumble, X….. and it is all the same.

This is not “news” but it’s interesting, if not sickening. You should probably read it.

From Mike King’s Anti-NY Times:

“Communist Cuba was Made in the USA

“…Most Americans over the age of 45, and certainly all readers of The Anti-New York Times, should already know that Fidel Castro was a Communist dictator who ruined Cuba — driving its mostly White upper and middle classes to flee to Florida while the communist state and its rabble hordes dispossessed productive Cubans who stayed. There was celebration in the Cuban enclaves of Union City, NJ and Miami, FL when the unrepentant old bastard finally died in 2016..

Of more interest to our eager students of real history is the long-since forgotten story of the mighty media organization that dusted off the badly defeated rebel, put him back on his feet, and helped to install him as dictator. That’s right, boys and girls. Without the maneuvering of Sulzberger’s Slimes (aka “the paper of record”) — specifically the pro-communist correspondent Herbert Matthews (cough cough) — and the Evil Eisenhower-Dulles State Department, Castro’s revolution of 1959 would never have succeeded..[…]”

[full article here]

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

And in other news–

Nick Cave sent out the best Red Hand File yesterday!! It’s all about how he is going to be spending Christmas — with his family, and going to church.

I have to tell you, gang, just knowing that he is going to have such a perfect Christmas is going to make my own Christmas that much happier. It really is. I’m going to get a lot of joy out of just thinking about it.

He said, in part:

“…And somewhere, amid the feasting and joyful human messiness – this beautiful, this happy, this sorrowful estate – I will acknowledge how extraordinarily fortunate my family and I are to have this good Christmas Day. I will remember, too, amongst all the making and the doing, the energising principle around which this day revolves that speaks so eloquently of rebirth and renewal, and the end to waiting – that of a mother bearing a child in a stable, revitalising the world for all eternity.”

You can read it in full here.

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

And our Daily Feature is quite fitting today!

What Would Keith Richards Do?

Our random selection comes from Chapter Five: Daily Affirmations. And the topic is — CHILDREN (!!).

Keith says:

“They give you that little bit — that important bit of living when you absolutely don’t know shit about nothing.”

Who could say it better ???

***********

And that is actually it for today. I essentially have the “whole day off”, but then, tonight, I will be with that sweet 99-year-old blind lady, who lives out in the middle of deep, dark, snowy nowhere with 3 huge happy dogs and two big rascally black cats.

It’s a full house and it’s full of love, gang.

Okay.

Enjoy your Friday, wherever you are in the world.

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

***********

I leave you with this.

The 94-year-old Japanese man had the great good fortune of seeing “South Pacific” on Broadway (in 1950), back when it was brand new and the legendary Mary Martin was starring in it.

What a fantastic show it is– the music, alone, is incredible. Imagine anyone being able to experience that show, live, on stage, when it was brand new. Let alone, being a young Japanese-American, who spent his childhood in Japan, during WWII, then returning to NYC at age 17, and then seeing a show like “South Pacific”.

He and I discuss that show all the time, actually. It’s a show I just love. And I adored Mary Martin when I was a little girl.

Last night, by candlelight, I lay in my bed, listening to a few of the songs from “South Pacific”, but once I landed on the song below, I couldn’t stop playing it!!! “This Nearly Was Mine”. I just kept thinking about the miracle that I have even met this amazing man so late in his life. It is such a blessing to me, to be able to hear about the stories of his life — they are extraordinary. Okay. Enjoy, gang!!

“This Nearly Was Mine”

One dream in my heart
One love to be livin’ for
One love to be livin’ for
This nearly was mine

One girl for my dream
One partner in paradise
This promise of paradise
This nearly was mine

Close to my heart she came
Only to fly away
Only to fly as day flies from moonlight
Now, now I’m alone
Still dreamin’ of paradise
Still sayin’ that paradise
Once nearly was mine

I’ll keep rememberin’ kisses
From lips I’ve never owned
And all the lovely adventures
That we have never known

One dream in my heart
One love to be livin’ for
One love to be livin’ for
This nearly was mine

c – 1949 Rodgers & Hammerstein