Tag Archives: Nick Cave

Another New Life Awaits!

October 5, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis Leave a comment

Okay, gang. I don’t really have much to post about today.

Yesterday was mostly about talking on the phone to everyone imaginable, and also getting the house ready for me to be going off to a job again (3 days a week).

You know, mostly this —

Oh, and you know, after I’d vacuumed my entire house — while my birth mom was here for 3 days:

SHE (when I got home from the airport): “I went ahead and vacuumed. Hope you don’t mind.”

I guess it’s hereditary — this nonstop vacuuming.

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

I’m really excited to get back into that store today and start learning again, gang.

I used to know every product in that store, what it was for, why it worked, why you might not need it, why you should stay away from it, or why it might save your life.

A lot of it, I still remember, but a whole lot of it I will have to re-learn. Plus, there’s new stuff out there that I need to find out about!

I’m also really excited to start wearing my regular clothes again!!

For the last 4 years, I’ve worn shirts with specific logos on them. I’d actually forgotten about some of the really pretty sweaters and fall clothes that I had because I hadn’t worn them in so long.

So that feels really great, too! Sort of like having a new wardrobe, but more like getting reacquainted with things I used to love.

I guess it’s called having a life…

*********

Okay.

Sandra called yesterday to update me on the various things I will most likely need to go to Rhinebeck and NYC for in December and January. I’ll post more exact details here when I can.

Sandra’s cabaret at the Laurie Beechman Theatre in Times Square, in NYC, will still be happening in January, but I’m not sure of the exact date yet. (But another hotel stay is in my not-too-far-off future, gang!!)

And for the next week or ten days, when I’m not working in the store, I will be completing the editing of the M. Christian tribute anthology and turning that in.

After that, my guess is, I will need to focus on tightening the script for Sandra’s one-woman cabaret show (which includes a couple segments from our play, “The Guide to Being Fabulous”).

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

Okay!

From Ross K. Nichols Sunday School yesterday–

“Jesus made the Kingdom of God the centerpiece of his message. He said it was the reason he was sent, told his followers to seek it first, and taught them to pray for its coming. But where did the idea come from, what did it require, and was the work ever completed?”

The Kingdom of God: Jesus’ Unfinished Mission (52 mins):

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

And here’s this!

A couple from Phyllis Stein!

Joe Strummer atop the Rock, in NYC, 1981! (I love his t-shirt!) (Photo by Bob Gruen)

And regarding the t-shirt — in summer 1981, The Clash played a week-long gig at Bond’s in Times Square, which was one block from where I lived back then. Absolute pandemonium!

AND–

Johnny Thunders smiling in London in 1985! (Photo by Jane Simon)

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

Upon first glance here, it almost looks like the family that smokes together, stays together!

However, Marlon isn’t really smoking…

Anyway!

A quite perky Keith, with family, in Germany in 1970!!!

***********

And here’s this!

From Facebook, no doubt!!

And I think that perhaps this one is a little AI enhanced (?), but I still love it!

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

And that is actually it for the “here’s this’s” today.

And I’m guessing that I won’t have too many tomorrow, either. Unless of course the store has a firm policy now that staff members remain on their phones, scrolling through Instagram at all times…

I wouldn’t want to go against a firm policy or anything…

Anyway!!

Enjoy your Monday, wherever you are in the world, gang.

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

**********

Let’s close with this!!

It’s been all over Instagram lately, to promote the release of the 49th Anniversary, My Aim Is True, 5 CD Boxed Set!!

Elvis Costello, Watching The Detectives (Live On Top Of The Pops, October 11, 1977) Enjoy, gang!

I can’t believe it’s been a week already!

October 4, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis 2 Comments

It seems like 5 minutes ago, I was in Charlotte, NC, at James Tabor’s conference, staying in that beautiful hotel!!

Honestly, where does the time fly to, gang?? It is mind-boggling.

Here’s something I wanted to mention about the book signing yesterday:

Two different times, young women (19 or 20, tops) came up to buy a copy of my book. They were excited to buy it. Because they already had heard about it — but not through social media. I found that extremely interesting, especially since no one is reviewing the book, except for Ron Bass, and it doesn’t seem to be selling very well. So I have no way of knowing how people are responding to it.

It seems to be word of mouth.

So, I just found that really, really interesting. Here’s hoping it continues.

The whole event was such a strange experience for me, since all the book signings I’ve done in the past were when my books were really well known. And people came to the event specifically to see me.

Yesterday, except for my friends who stopped by to be supportive, no one had a clue who I was. Plus, it was only me. I thought 2 other writers were going to be there signing, as well, but it was just me. With a table of books, in an empty (but really pretty) mall.

So I really was thrilled to sell almost all the books I had brought with me. I hadn’t expected that.

**********

Also, on the New Guy front–

We spoke briefly on the phone yesterday. He got to Florida just fine, but his AC is out and it’s 90 degrees Fahrenheit there right now, so he has to sort of drop everything and fix it…

But we had a nice chat and it sort of seems like we’re in a “relationship” — in his opinion. Which is actually totally fine with me.

Sadly, though, I found out why he prefers to get to Florida before Christmas. One of his sons died from cancer many years ago, and then his wife died a few years ago. And so he doesn’t want to be in Ohio anymore at Christmastime.

But he said yesterday on the phone that maybe next year, he won’t head down to Florida until after Christmas. So we shall see, gang.

(He wouldn’t want to miss this insanity, right?? So, we’ll see.)

Simple, downhome Christmas.. Nothing fussy.

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

Okay!!

I have an odd mix of “here’s this’s” today.

Someone on Facebook considered this to be the “greatest rock band in the world”… Hmmmm. I’m guessing that I couldn’t agree more! (Rolling Stones, 1969)

And here’s that Happy Family of Rock!!

Keith, Anita, Marlon…. long, long time ago, gang. Marlon is a grandad already.

**********

Here’s this!

***********

Stan Lynch, the original drummer for Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, released a song he wrote & sings (with his band The Speaker Wars), in honor of Tom Petty on the 9th anniversary of his passing the other day.

It is just beautiful!! The song and the video.

Stan Lynch and the Speaker Wars – High Flying Bird (Official Video):

“High Flying Bird”

What do you see from way up there
What’s it like in that soft clean air
Quiet calm and understood
Ode to a high flying bird
Flying bird
Flying bird
Flying bird

Must be sweet to have no plans
But how do you know when it’s time to land
Stunning view so I’ve heard
Ode to a high flying bird
Flying bird
Flying bird

I know you’re out there flying round
Hidden in the broken clouds
Will you be singing when it’s my turn
An ode to a high flying bird
Flying bird
High flying bird
High flying bird

c – 2026 Stan Lynch

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

And I think ALL of these are from Facebook–

I’ve posted this before, but just a reminder that rock & roll is serious business, gang.

Nick Cave & Iggy Pop!

Have no idea why this is titled “Lost”– but here it is! Nick Cave, lost!

And here’s this!! Couldn’t agree more!

And I know for sure I’ve posted this one before, but I love this photo!! Including but not limited to that shirt!!

*********

And that’s it for the “here’s this’s”!

Meanwhile…

Valerie in Brooklyn and I are both very excited that Season 2 of “Ludwig” is finally coming to Britbox here in the US!! It starts Oct. 13th!! Yay!!

We both totally adored Season 1…

And BTW — a little update on Valerie .

Even though her hands have both healed nicely from the surgeries, she is now having a terrible ordeal with her eyes. Cataracts and macular degeneration. She is hoping to get surgery by late October, but it might not be until November. And meanwhile, the idea of doing the Writers & Artists mini-podcast is starting to look like it will not happen.

But I guess we’ll see, gang. I could do it by myself, but it just doesn’t seem like it would be nearly as fun.

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

Okay!

I officially start back to work tomorrow!!

I am really excited, gang. It’s looking like my schedule will be Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. About 20 hours a week, total. Then the rest of the week will be for my writing projects.

I really think this is going to be a great balance for me.

Meanwhile–

I’m gonna go get the laundry finished here.

Enjoy your Sunday, wherever you are in the world, gang!!

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

***********

Let’s close with this !

From 2 days ago already —

The Rolling Stones – Mr Charm (Official Video):

Wow. What a great morning.

October 2, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis 2 Comments

Even though it is supposed to rain all day…

Before I talk in detail about my great morning, let’s do this!!!

Happy birthday Richard Hell!!!! Born this day in Lexington , Kentucky, in 1949!!

Smoking, gun-toting, shade-wearing, black & white, in NYC, 1976!! (Photo by Roberta Bayley)

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

And on a more somber note–

Tom Petty has been gone 9 years, as of today. I hope he is having the time of his (after) life!

Mature Tom!! Shade-wearing, writing, guitar-playing in black & white!!

Attitude Tom, 1 & 2!! Smoking!!

(The only song of Tom Petty’s that I ever played live in NYC folk clubs!! “Don’t Do Me Like That” !! 1979)

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

It’s time for the Story of the Week over at Brown Hound Press!

And it’s a really good one!! (And the editor claims the story is the author’s first publication! And it was submitted as a typewritten manuscript! Wow!)

“And the World Was Wide Open” by Willie James Bess

You can read it HERE. (Free)

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

From Johhny Depp this morning!

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

Here’s Gram Parsons in one of his many Nudie suits!

And here’s this! Gram, with Emmylou Harris and Linda Ronstadt, “In My Hour of Darkness” from Grievous Angel, 1974:

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

A couple of Stones smoking — but Brian has TWO!!!!

KEITH (looking away, quietly thinking): “Greedy bastard.”

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

A couple of great ones — Jack Kerouac, October!

And if you STILL haven’t read or listened to On The Road, get with it already!! He only wrote it 75 years ago!! God purposely made cigarettes and amphetamines so that we could HAVE great literature like this!! What are you waiting for??

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

All right!

It has become clear!!

He is WITH the band!! Not hanging out in the audience!!

From Bad Seed Jim Sclavunos yesterday (meaning that, if you were waiting on me, you missed the show in Porto!):

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

Facebook has let me down, gang. They had photos of Nick Cave, but not any good ones today.

I had to go to the desktop stash for this one:

Nick Cave!! (Wondering: What the fuck is the deal with Facebook??)

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

All righty!!

Here it is: “The wonderfully true tale of LUNCH and how it went!!”

Wow, gang.

I’m not even sure where to start. I can at least start by saying again: What a nice man. And it is safe to also say that it looks like we’re officially DATING.

Even though he leaves for Florida later today. So it’ll be “long distance, over the phone” dating for a while. (He’ll be back for a week in January, to check on his house — furnace, water pipes, etc.)

We share the same sense of humor and he is so easy to talk to. He says the sweetest, while totally unexpected things. For instance:

“You should enter a beauty contest, you know, in the category of women your age — you’d win that, easily!”

Okay, here are a few things, in no particular order.

In all the best ways, I feel like my dad is back. This guy is taller than me, bigger than me, older (mid-70s), he gives great hugs, he’s smart and he likes to laugh, and he can fix absolutely everything.

And he has plenty of money and property (3 homes in Florida and one across the road from me!).

But 2 of the homes in Florida are up for sale. He loves to buy older homes and rehab them and then sell them. He can’t stand being retired and needs to stay busy… The one remaining home that he is keeping (and living in) has 4 bedrooms and 2 baths and is really pretty– he said (more than once) “Come visit me in Florida! I’ll pay for it! I’m all by myself now.”

He’s a widower with grown children and a couple grandchildren.

And probably most importantly of all!! He owns an enormous RV. He keeps it parked on some property not far from my house, where other campers are parked, but his is in an isolated area because it is huge.

(BTW, he was showing me all this stuff on his phone while we were at lunch.)

I love RVs and campers. I love to go camping. But this RV is 2 stories tall. It’s nothing like the campers of the 1960s. The bedroom is upstairs. It looks a lot like this, but this is not his:

He said, “I really hope you’ll come out and see it. It’s just sitting there now.”

And then he showed me the view outside the upstairs bedroom window — green fields and tons of trees . He said, “You could run around naked out there and no one would see you.”

I thanked him for the head’s up on that…

Anyway. He is of course retired. He worked various kinds of construction his whole life. He’s very down to Earth and just very nice. And after lunch, he came inside for a few minutes to meet the cats and they seemed to really like him, too.

He did not ask me anything specific about my life yet, he was being very polite — he knows I’m divorced, that I’m a writer and that I lived in NYC and worked in publishing for about 30 years. He didn’t ask what kind of writing I do, so I didn’t tell him. I have decided I’m not telling him anything unless he specifically asks me. (Oh, and I mentioned I’m returning part-time to the health & wellness store in town and he has actually shopped there before, because his son is into natural healing and health food, etc.) (He grew up, got married and raised his family in that area of town where the store is now, a long time ago, when it was still just cornfields and farms.)

So we’ll just see how it all goes.

We texted quickly this morning around 6AM and he does indeed use smiley-face emojis!!

I thanked him again for lunch yesterday — I really did have a nice time with him. And he texted back that he feels “good vibes”! (So, yes, we are both kinda OLD!!)

But I’m excited to see where it goes. We’ll likely be talking on the phone for 3 months before I see him again. So I should have a pretty good idea by January.

Meanwhile!!

That’s it for today, gang! Gotta work on the M. Christian anthology now, and tomorrow– my book signing!!

***********

Enjoy your Friday, wherever you are in the world!

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

*********

Let’s close with this today!!!!

I don’t think it needs any explanation. Enjoy, gang.

“It had nothing to do with pills and booze!!”

October 1, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis 2 Comments

No. I was totally sober.

I simply did not know until after I’d posted to the blog yesterday, that I missed a couple of birthdays!!

Happy belated birthday, Marty Stuart!!

And happy heavenly birthday, W.S. Merwin!! He would have been 99 yesterday!

For his upcoming 100th birthday next year, the WS Merwin Conservancy in Hawaii has plenty of really cool things planned. My favorite is this:

“A new podcast is in the works, by way of a collaboration with Hawaiʻi Public Radio. It will highlight the voices of some of our writers-in-residence, carrying their vision, and the work made while here on Maui, across the ocean.”

To find out about all their upcoming plans, and to sign up for their newsletter, visit HERE.

Meanwhile, here’s one of my favorite poems by WS Merwin:

“A Single Autumn” (2008)

The year my parents died
one that summer one that fall
I moved into the house
where they had lived their last years
it had never been theirs
and was still theirs in that way
for a while

echoes in every room
without a sound
all the things that we
had never been able to say
I could not remember

doll collection
in a china cabinet
plates stacked on shelves
lace on drop-leaf tables
a dried branch of bittersweet
before a hall mirror
were all planning to wait

the glass doors of the house
remained closed
the days had turned cold
and out in the tall hickories
the blaze of autumn had begun
on its own

I could do anything

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

Okay!

If you’re a writer doing anything Singapore- or Asia-related, be sure to check out Jee Leong Koh’s Singapore Unbound and sign up for their newsletter:

“A transnational literary organization based in NYC, Singapore Unbound envisions and works for a creative and fulfilling life for everyone. We do so through the subversive, innovative, and empathetic powers of the arts, especially by amplifying underrepresented voices.”

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

And here’s a trip down Memory Lane–

My own foray into Singapore unbound in NYC! 1981!

Me and Chong, our first Christmas!! (Chong, my first husband who now lives in Seattle, was born & raised in Singapore.)

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

And here’s this!

Warren Ellis and his pup, Tupac, had an urgent update for us last evening, about vomiting in cars!

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

And here’s this update from Nick Cave Official:

“Nick Cave has collaborated with PETA on a limited-edition merchandise collection featuring his original illustration of a dog and a rat alongside the organisation’s “Every Animal Is Someone” slogan. The collection includes T-shirts, tote bags and tapestries, with all proceeds supporting PETA’s work.”

You can shop HERE!

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

And that’s really all I have for today. It was already 2PM when I got home from my job “re-application” yesterday (I had to fill out a bunch of tax forms, etc.) —

BTW, this is where I’ll be working again, part-time. My favorite Health & Wellness store! Comfrey Corner of Heath!

And once I got home yesterday, I had a bunch of little things to tend to.

Including but not limited to:

I had the cutest conversation with the man I’m going out to lunch with today.

We were over in his driveway, confirming our plans.

Then he said, sort of quietly, while glancing nervously over at my house, “There isn’t anyone who’s going to, you know, put a gun in my face because I’m taking you to lunch tomorrow, right?”

How cute was that??!!

I assured him that, no, there was no one on Earth who cared if I went out to lunch with him… Then he totally relaxed. He is so sweet.

Anyway.

We’re going here! Applebee’s, in Muskingum County! (Where basically everybody owns a gun!!)

And then tomorrow, he leaves for Florida for the winter.

What is it with all these people who go to Florida all winter and miss the thrill of Christmas in the snow & icy winds of Ohio???

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

Well, anyway. I’m looking forward to lunch today.

And then, when I get back, I will focus on the M. Christian anthology!!

Enjoy your Thursday, wherever you are in the world, gang!

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

***********

Let’s close with this!

If you have the time — it’s an hour and half long — I am really enjoying this. Although it’s taking me a while. I can only watch it a couple songs at a time before I have to go focus on something else.

However.

Absolutely classic Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers! 1978! I was only 18 back then. So hard to even believe that.

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: Live at Winterland 1978 (Full Concert Experience) (1 hr 32 mins) Enjoy, gang:

Keeping track of all the departments!

September 30, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis Leave a comment

Today is going to be all about taking care of loose ends, gang, before I get really busy — and then also washing my hair!! (Tomorrow I’m supposed to be going to lunch with the gentleman across the street!)

Because, also, tomorrow — the official deadline for contributing stories to the M. Christian tribute anthology arrives. So, beginning tomorrow, I will have my editor’s cap on a lot. Here’s hoping it won’t mess up my hair!!

So with all that hard work in mind, let’s tackle some of these loose ends together!!

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

In the “Guess What Day It Is” Department:

Here’s this!!

Happy heavenly birthday Marc Bolan!! Born September 30, 1947 (and gone by September 16, 1977):

And here’s this, appropriately enough! “20th Century Boy,” performed on England’s Top of the Pops, 1973:

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

And in the “I had a feeling this was gonna be a good one”‘ Department:

Rave reviews are in for the one-man show, “How Shakespeare Saved My Life,” at the Public Theatre in NYC!

You can still BUY TICKETS HERE

“ONE OF THE TOP ONE-MAN SHOWS I’VE SEEN THIS YEAR”— DAVID WALTERS, THE FRONT ROW CENTER

“A deeply moving testament to transformation, forgiveness, and the power of finding one’s voice” –Deirdre Donovan, Off Off Online

“Brilliant showcase of his dramatic range.”—Kenji Fujishima, TheaterMania

“Ming-Trent’s talent shines through as he portrays a wide range of characters.” —Thom Geier, Culture Sauce

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

In the “I actually didn’t know that” Department:

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

In the “I’m not really clear if he’s gonna be onstage or in the audience” Department:

From Bad Seed Jim Sclavunos:

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

And this next one falls into 2 separate departments–

The “Updates on my dog’s relieving himself in the live studio” Department

And the “I’m not really clear if it was Warren who swallowed the button after playing his viola or the dog did” Department:

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

From the “Cool things my heroes said when I was a wee bonnie lass” Department:

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

From the “Cool things my heroes are currently doing” Department:

Ronnie Wood has 2 new portraits of Jimi Hendrix, along with some other Jimi Hendrix prints, on display right now at the Handel-Hendrix House in London!

You can buy prints of the new portraits HERE.

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

From the “Cool things my heroes did together a long time ago and I wish I could have been there” Department:

***********

From “The only reason Facebook is cool” Department:

(And if you are not American — the song referenced below is an old-timey song sung at every baseball game throughout eternity.)

(And if you are American, don’t even THINK of singing even the opening line to this song, or it will get stuck in your head the whole fucking day!!)

This next one also fits into 2 separate departments–

In “The only reason Facebook is cool” Department

And the “I could look at this photo everyday for the rest of my life” Department:

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

And I think that covers all the departments for today!!

I am still kinda flying high from that Lammy nomination my publisher made for my new novel yesterday. (See post here if you missed it.)

“Lambda Literary nurtures and advocates for LGBTQ writers, elevating the impact of their words to create community, preserve our legacies, and affirm the value of our stories and our lives.”

And this next thing was so cool — it appeared in my Instagram feed yesterday. Not an account I had heard of before, but apparently she was having breakfast with my publisher!!

And in case you live anywhere near Newark, Ohio, please don’t forget to join me on Saturday afternoon! Books will be on sale at the event.

***********

And I guess that is it!

Oh — I am having a great time looking at the private app James Tabor setup for our conference memories — looking at everyone’s photos and reading everyone’s comments really makes me wish I was still in that wonderful hotel with everyone in Charlotte!!

Okay!

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

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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

Let’s close with this.

I am still reading Conversations with Tom Petty (2005) and Tom was talking about what a thrill it was to hear Johnny Cash’s version of Tom’s classic, “Southern Accents”.

So, of course I had to drop everything and listen to it! (I also played it many times on my trip to town yesterday.)

So here it is for you!

Johnny Cash, “Southern Accents,” from his album American II: Unchained, 1996. Enjoy, gang.

“Southern Accents”

There’s a southern accent, where I come from
The young ‘uns call it country
The Yankees call it dumb

I got my own way of talkin’
But everything is done, with a southern accent
Where I come from

Now that drunk tank in Atlanta’s
Just a motel room to me
Think I might go work Orlando
If them orange groves don’t freeze

I got my own way of workin’
But everything is run, with a southern accent
Where I come from

For just a minute there I was dreaming
For just a minute it was all so real
For just a minute she was standing there, with me

There’s a dream I keep having
Where my mama comes to me
Then kneels down over by the window
And says a prayer for me

I got my own way of prayin’
But every one’s begun
With a southern accent
Where I come from

I got my own way of livin’
But everything gets done
With a southern accent
Where I come from

c – 1985 Tom Petty

A happy hello from the Hinterlands!

September 29, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis 2 Comments

Although I really did miss being in Charlotte last night, gang.

Still, it was so fun to get out of bed here at 6AM today and say a happy hello to all my many cats!

Even though they got along great with my mom, it was so clear to me that they were excited that things were back to normal this morning. They were all frisky as heck!

Oh, here’s something kind of exciting — I don’t know yet if it will really happen, but I hope it does!

One of my girlfriends who works at my favorite health & wellness store in town (I used to work there during the lockdowns), put in her 2 weeks notice while I was away, and I’m looking into taking over her hours!

It would be so cool to be back there, especially since I’m still friends with everyone who works there. Plus, the store is privately owned and only open a limited number of hours/days a week.

I had to leave there once the lockdowns were over, because I couldn’t afford to work retail back then. But now that I have Social Security and the money I inherited from my dad, I can afford it.

So we shall see!! It would certainly take care of this problem I’ve been having of feeling unbelievably isolated out here in the middle of nowhere since I retired…

********

Okay!

This week, I have:

The deadline for receiving contributions to the memorial tribute anthology honoring M. Christian. (Meaning, I then have to start editing it.)
My lunch date with the gentleman across the road.
And on Saturday, is my book-signing at the bookstore in the Historic Arcade in Newark!

So it should be a fun week with a nice, even sort of pace.

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

Other than that —

I have a TON of “here’s this’s'” that I accumulated while in Charlotte, NC!!

So let’s get started!!

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

Most importantly, it seems that this past weekend was International “Bad Seeds Take Their Dogs Out” Weekend!!

On Saturday!

George Vjestica apparently has a tiny little dog named Gucci!!

And on Sunday!

Warren Ellis took his pups out to the woods!!

And here’s this, while we’re at it! Does it get better?? Lou Reed & the Velvet Underground! The sublime “Sunday Morning”, 1966!

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

It’s time for Erica Verrillo’s fantastic (FREE) publishing calls-for-submissions and writing contest updates for October!!

Visit HERE! And then click on the various links for current updates.

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

And the NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project is having an East Village Walking Tour for LGBTQ History Month!!

(You will notice that my old E.12th Street apartment is NOT part of the tour, but if you take the tour, please feel free to DEMAND that they stop at 511 E.12th Street anyway!! And honor all the LGBTQ cool shit that happened in my apartment!! Drugs! Booze! Sex! MUSIC!! Cigarettes!! Writing, writing, writing!! Thanking you in advance!!)

You can sign up for the tour HERE. It is $25.

“Discover LGBTQ history hidden in plain sight on this 90-minute expert-led walking tour of New York’s East Village. Celebrate LGBTQ History Month and explore places and people that made this neighborhood a center of LGBTQ art, activism, nightlife, and counterculture.

“Visit the former residences of poet Allen Ginsberg and lesbian activists Ellen Broidy, co-planner of the first NYC Pride March (1970), and Ernestine Eckstein, who was active in the LGBTQ rights movement in the pre-Stonewall years. See if you can hear the echos of dance music as we stand outside the site of The Loft, where David Mancuso hosted egalitarian underground house parties that influenced the city’s club scene. Share memories as we arrive at the former locations of nightclubs The Saint, with its legendary interior dome, and Pyramid Cocktail Lounge, where LGBTQ performers included Andy Warhol, John Waters, performance artist Ethyl Eichelberger, and more.”

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

YES!! For some inexplicable reason, this is NOT on the tour!!

Punk bassist/guitarist Blaire N. Bitch, smoking in my bedroom at 4AM!!

Me with my band!

My best friend on Earth — the notoriously gay and now dearly departed from AIDS Paul Martin, in my bathtub!!

And here’s the front of 511 E.12th Street as it looks today. My apartment was the 3rd one up , on the left, with the little AC in the window (back then the fuses in the building were so old, you could not have such a thing as a working AC!! It would blow all the lights out in the building!) (I know this, because we tried it once!!)

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

All righty!

Phyllis Stein gave us a scare over the weekend, saying she was basically done posting all her great Punk music photos to Instagram. (But last night, she posted again!!)

But here’s some great photos from when she was departing us–

David Jo and Richard Hell! At Max’s Kansas City, 1976!! (Photo by Bob Gruen)

David Jo with Cyrinda Fox (married for only one year, then they famously split up). At CBGBs, 1976, photo by Roberta Bayley.

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

And here’s this!

Also from Phyllis Stein as she was pretending to depart us…

Johnny Thunders in NYC in 1973!!

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

And a couple of Keith!!

Smoking backstage at Madison Square Garden in NYC in 1969!!!

Keith comments on Bob Dylan!! (I think he’s saying what we’re all thinking!!)

And how about this??

I might have posted it here before, but I just love it!!

(I would not have survived 1975 without these 2 guys!!)

Ronnie Wood and Keith Richards:

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

A little bit more info about the upcoming Johnny Depp movie ,”Day Drinker”–

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

AND!!

A bunch more great photos of Nick Cave!!

From Facebook! Oh No!!

Priceless!

Nick onstage twenty years ago in Paris!! Smoking!! Singing!! Facial hair!!

And a couple more from long ago…

I believe this was 1990, photo by Peter Walsh (?)

And this was possibly LA in 1990, photo by Jonathan Kirn (?)

***********

And whew!

That’s it!

Gotta finish the laundry here and then head to town because I am ABSOLUTELY out of cat food here!!!

Have a terrific Tuesday, wherever you are in the world, gang!

Thanks for visiting!

I love you guys. See ya!

***********

Let’s close with this!!

From yesterday!

Elvis Costello Unboxes ‘My Aim Is True’ 49th Anniversary Edition!

Today is the day!!

September 24, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis Leave a comment

Yes, sometime in the next few hours, my birth mom arrives to spend a magical weekend with my many cats!!

(I’m hoping that the above illustration is a reasonable facsimile of how splendidly it will go!) (Except that my mom is a little tiny bit older than she appears in the above illustration…)

I’m excited, gang.

And I’m really, really hoping her visit here goes well. She knows some of my cats quite well, but as loyal readers of this lofty blog no doubt recall, I had quite a bunch more cats thrust upon me since my mom was last here.

But they are really sweet, really loving (if often super frisky) cats. So we’ll see!

I’m also excited to just be packing a suitcase again, gang.

I’m taking a smaller, lightweight one, since I won’t be checking it and I’ll have to wheel it around with me for an hour in Detroit, and I’ll only be gone for the weekend.

It’s my favorite suitcase. I’ve had it for quite a few years now. I was going through the outside pockets of it this morning and found a postcard from the Empire Hotel in NYC — where I stayed in July 2025.

And I found 2 receipts: one, from a dinner I had with Sandra that same trip to NYC; and the other receipt was from a newsstand in LAX airport! From a trip I took to Los Angeles to work with Peitor Angell in December 2018!!

I loved finding those!! So I stuck them right back in the pocket, to find again some other time.

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

All righty.

I did have a splendid day yesterday. Mostly, my mood was just really good. Finally. It seems like I had some sort of turning point, energy-wise. Maybe it was the Equinox? I don’t know. But I feel a sense of relief, like I can finally move on from all the recent trauma.

I am indeed starting to get submissions for the M. Christian tribute anthology, so I’m thinking that I won’t really be doing any of my own writing until that project is complete. (The official deadline is next Thursday — a week from today — then my book signing is the following Saturday. After that, I’ll have to focus on editing everyone’s submissions.)

But whatever plays out, I’ll just flow with it.

Oh!

I loved this– Warren Ellis posted it this morning. It may seem a little down, but it had a really cool audio track that was extremely uplifting (plus I love F. Scott Fitzgerald). The 2 messages together captured how I’ve felt the last few weeks:

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

And speaking of Warren Ellis–

A new selfie! Catnapping with adorable pups!

Although, on a sad note — the lead singer of Rose Tattoo, Angry Anderson, passed away on Monday:

Angry Anderson, Australian rock legend and Rose Tattoo frontman, dies aged 79

“Rose Tattoo frontman Angry Anderson has died just weeks after being admitted to a hospital in Germany during the Australian rock band’s European tour.

“The 79-year-old singer spent 50 years in the music industry and also became a television presenter, charity worker and youth advocate.

“Rose Tattoo’s hits included ‘Bad Boy for Love’, ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Outlaw’ and ‘We Can’t Be Beaten’, while Anderson found solo success with the song ‘Suddenly’.”

And, from Warren’s selfie above — here’s this (1978):

RIP Angry Anderson

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

And here’s this!

The Cars are taking requests!! What’s yours?? (Mine is probably still “My Best Friend’s Girl”.)

Okay– since you requested it! From 1978!!

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

From Johnny Depp yesterday!

Another movie is on its way– “Day Drinker”! (More info is coming soon, but I know that Penelope Cruz is also in it.)

And just FYI — that is my least favorite Tarot Card (pictured above — The Devil), followed closely by The Tower…

But, oh! If you read Tarot Cards (I do), this woman in Australia has the very best site for reading them!!

Biddy Tarot

I have used her website for about 20 years. Click on LEARN, then in the drop down menu: TAROT CARD MEANINGS

Her work is phenomenal.

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

Okay!!

Most people probably know that London had a really hard time getting back to normal after WWII.

In fact, by 1966, still only the nouveau riche could afford outside plumbing!!

Keith, enjoying his nouveau riche lifestyle outside his legendary home, Redlands, with his pup in 1966!

And I loved this!

Keith doing what he does best!! ~~Playing the guitar!!~~ Smoking! Drinking! Wearing shades!! (1978)

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

And I really, really did love this.

Keith with the Exile on Main St album cover art, 1972 (oh, and smoking):

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

Okay, well, my Instagram feed yesterday was still jam-crammed full of birthday wishes for Nick Cave!!

So here are some more of those!!

Dinner? And smoking!

I loved this–

From Facebook!!

I had never seen this photo before. I love it!!

And one more!!

And that’s it probably — until September 22nd rolls around again (most likely in the wink of a fucking eye!!)!!

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

Okay, yes.

I am going to quickly vacuum the house one more time before my mom and sister get here later —

Oh wait, I love this photo!!

This was from before I knew my mom. (I was raised by an adoptive family in Cleveland, and didn’t find my birth mom until I was 25.)

My birth mom and my 2 half-sisters and half-brother, on vacation, around 1970-ish. (The little tiny girl in the green pants is the one who’s driving my mom here today.) (Their dad, Sonny, is taking the photo.)

All righty.

Gonna get the vacuuming done and then pack my suitcase!!

Have a fantastic Thursday, wherever you are in the world, gang!

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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

Let’s close with this!

A little music to pack suitcases by!!

I loved this album. It came out when I was already married to Chong and we lived in The Camelot Building, on the corner of W. 45th & 8th Ave. (I bought it in a record store that was just up the block from us, in Times Square. I bought all my records there back then, but I don’t remember the name of the store!)

Anyway.

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers’ huge hit from 1981, “The Waiting”!! From their fantastic album, Hard Promises. Enjoy, gang!!

“The Waiting”

Oh baby, don’t it feel like heaven right now?
Don’t it feel like something from a dream?
Yeah, I’ve never known nothing quite like this
Don’t it feel like tonight might never be again?
Baby, we know better than to try and pretend
Honey no one coulda ever told me ’bout this

I said yeah, yeah (Yeah, yeah)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

The waiting is the hardest part
Every day you see one more card
You take it on faith, you take it to the heart
The waiting is the hardest part

Well yeah, I might have chased a couple women around
All it ever got me was down
Then there were those that made me feel good
But never as good as I feel right now
Baby, you’re the only one that’s ever known how
To make me wanna live like I wanna live now

I said yeah, yeah (Yeah, yeah)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

The waiting is the hardest part
Every day you get one more yard
You take it on faith, you take it to the heart
The waiting is the hardest part

Oh, don’t let it kill you baby, don’t let it get to you
Don’t let it kill you baby, don’t let it get to you
I’ll be your bleedin’ heart, I’ll be your cryin’ fool
Don’t let this go too far, don’t let it get to you

Yeah, yeah (Yeah, yeah)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

The waiting is the hardest part
Every day you get one more yard
You take it on faith, you take it to the heart
The waiting is the hardest part
Yeah, the waiting is the hardest part

c – 1981 Tom Petty

A peaceful morning in the Hinterlands!

September 22, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis 1 Comment

Wow, last night was, well — interesting, gang.

I’m not sure how much I want to post about it here, but I will say that I texted for about an hour and a half with a cold case investigative reporter regarding my memories of working with and knowing RC Hörsch. (Apparently the number of women who disappeared and who are now known to have been connected to him in some way is up to 7, and 5 are known to be dead.)

It was actually a sort of calming conversation. In that I was able to express what I remembered (from over 25 years ago). And also, ultimately, I got the feeling that these women will at some point get justice.

Other than that, I had a really productive day yesterday. ALL the housecleaning, laundry, etc., is DONE!! Today I’m going to touch up the paint on the walls.

Other than that, it’s all ready for my birth mom to come here and take care of the cats.

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

Okay!!

Guess what day it is??!!

That’s right!!!

Happy 69th birthday, Nick Cave!!!

And some of my favorites from Instagram and Facebook today!

My favorite– which I saw on my phone at 3AM and then had a hard time going back to sleep!!

And here’s the photo I posted on Instagram–

And this was the music I chose to go along with the birthday wishes! “Forever Young,” by Bob Dylan!!

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

Other than that, I am once again, wiped out. But I don’t feel terrorized, like I felt through most of the last 4 weeks for various reasons:

Editing that writer’s memoir and finding out about all the horrific things that happened to him in Indiana;

2. Then the first contact re: RC Hörsch being a potential serial killer;

3. Then that horrible car accident happening right in front of me in the intersection;

4. Then getting scammed out of all the money in my checking account ;

5. Then finding out that my girlhood school friend is now confined to a nursing home and is very seriously ill.

I’m just basically wiped out.

However, I really, really do feel like things are calmer for me, personally, and sort of on the upswing, because I also saw sides of people, sometimes total strangers, that were very compassionate and supportive.

And I am really looking forward to the conference this weekend in North Carolina. We have already been told that some very important announcements are going to be made regarding more 1st Century CE archeological/ossuary discoveries in Jerusalem.

Plus, I just love being in hotels.

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

All right.

I saw this on Instagram yesterday and it thrilled me so much that I had to go find it on YouTube and watch it a few more times!!

I was never really into Guns & Roses one way or the other, but this is so cool. Axl Rose joins Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers on “Free Fallin'” at the MTV Music Awards in 1989. I have always LOVED this song, but the emotional energy of this duet was fantastic–

**********

And from Phyllis Stein!

Richard Hell, smoking in NYC in 1982!!

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

I think that’s actually it. I need to sort of just re-group here mentally, and do a little painting around the house.

Have a terrific Tuesday, wherever you are in the world, gang.

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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

Let’s close with another one of my all-time favorites as we once again say:

Happy Birthday, Nick Cave!

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, “Jesus of the Moon,” from Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!, 2008. Enjoy, gang.

“Jesus of the Moon”

I stepped out of the St. James Hotel
I’d left y/ behind curled up like a child
well, a change is gonna come
& as the door whispered shut
I walked on down the high-windowed hall
y/ lay sleeping on the unmade bed
the weatherman on the television
in the St. James Hotel said
that the rains are gonna come
& I stepped out on the streets/ all sparkling clean
w/ the early morning dew
maybe it was y/ or maybe it was me?
y/ came on like a punch in the heart
y/ lying there w/ the light on yr hair
like a jesus of the moon
a jesus of the planets & the stars
well I kept thinking about what the weatherman said
& if the voices of the living can be heard by the dead
well the day is gonna come
when we find out & in some kinda way
I take a little comfort from that (now & then)
cause people often talk about being scared of change
but for me I’m more afraid of things staying the same
cause the game is never won
by standing in any one place for too long
maybe it was y/ or maybe it was me
but there was a chord in y/ I could not find to strike
y/ lying there w/ all the light in your hair
like a jesus of the moon
a jesus of the planets & the stars
I see the many girls walking down the empty streets
& maybe once or twice one of them smiles at me
y/ can’t blame anyone
for saying hello/ I say hey/ I say hello/ I say hello
will it be me or will it be y/?
one must stay & one must depart
y/ lying there in a St. James hotel bed
like a Jesus of the moon
a Jesus of the planets & the stars
I say hello/ hello/ hello

c- 2008 Nick Cave

And we’re off!!

September 21, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis Leave a comment

We’re getting awfully close to Thursday around here, gang!

Thursday being the day my birth mom arrives to take care of my cats while I’m gone.

All the dusting and furniture polishing is already done, and the mirrors are sneeze-free! (Meaning, where the cats sneezed on them; not that the mirrors actually sneeze…)

So starting today, we’re doing all that heavy duty laundry that you only do when houseguests are coming — all the sheets, blankets, the bed skirt from the guest room. All the extra bath towels.

Then I’ll do the final vacuuming, too.

AND– I’m even gonna touch up the paint on the walls, where the kittens scratched at it when they were younger and totally delighted themselves while making me not quite so delighted.

It’s also time to cut back the rose bushes for autumn. I’ll do that probably tomorrow. Or whenever it stops raining.

You know, just try to not only make everything look like 15 cats don’t live here, but also take away ANYTHING that would tempt my mom to undertake the tasks herself!!

I just want her to be able to relax!

Yes, even though my mom is 79 years old now, she is still a brunette… (And oh yeah, trust me — she imbibes!!)

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

Okay.

Well, this happened last night.

I discovered that in 11 days, reruns of the old TV show “Castle” are leaving Amazon Prime.

I loved that show when it first came out. And I only recently re-discovered it on Prime. I always watch it during dinner now and it totally makes me calm down. I love everyone in the show, but I especially love the interactions between Richard Castle (a writer) and his mom and daughter, up in his duplex apartment in Manhattan.

I had purposely been making myself only watch one episode a night, because I wanted it to last…

Now, I can’t possibly watch all the episodes in the next 11 days, unless I watch it around the clock. (It ran for 8 years.)

Dang! I will probably just buy the whole show from somewhere online and keep watching it. Honestly, it settles down all my anxiety.

A clip from 15 years ago, Castle with his teenage daughter (1 minute):

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

And then this happened last night, too.

While I was doing yoga yesterday afternoon, my eye caught site of that children’s book Keith Richards and his daughter Theodora wrote. (Theodora illustrated it.)

Keith wrote it about his grandad, Gus, who taught him how to play, and to love, the guitar.

I’ve had the book since it came out in 2014. I did read it, but that was 12 years ago. So I took it down from the shelf and saw that it had a CD inside, attached to the inside back cover! I never even opened the little pouch! Never played the CD! It’s Keith, doing the audiobook reading of it!!

Wow. I thought it would be nice to listen to it in bed, in the dark!

So after everything was done yesterday, and I was in bed in the dark, and with the CD in the retro boombox next to my bed —

I turned it on and Keith’s amazing voice filled the room.

I was so delighted!!

But since it’s a children’s book — it lasted about 6 minutes. Shit.

Too bad there’s not an audiobook out there of Keith reading War and Peace or something equally indescribably long….

Anyway.

Here’s the audiobook version of the book, but it is not Keith reading it.

Gus & Me by Keith Richards (6 mins 29 seconds):

***********

Okay!

From Phyllis Stein!!

Richard Hell wearing his heart on his sleeve in London in 1977!!

*********

And back to Keith!

Looking intense! In black & white!

Also intense, and equally black & white, but also smiling in 1981!!

***********

And some more great photos from Facebook! (To be honest, it’s basically the only thing I do on Facebook now.)

Nick Cave! Singing, smoking, sweating!! (Apparently, I chose 3 words)

Nick Cave smoking!!

I loved this one!!

Nick Cave and Blixa Bargeld, smoking!! Near some alcoholic beverages!! Full color!!

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

And that is actually kind of it for now.

I have a ton of stuff to do around here today.

However!

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

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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

Okay, this stuff has got to STOP!

I am already having way too much trouble dealing with TIME passing!!

That said–

Apparently, yesterday was the 22nd anniversary of the release of the phenomenal Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds double-album, Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus !!

22 YEARS!!! WTF??!!

Well, anyway.

Let’s close with this gem!

“Breathless”, by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, from the above-mentioned double-album with the very long title!! 2004!! Enjoy, gang. (I sure have — for 22 years…)

“Breathless”

It’s up in the morning and on the downs
Little white clouds like gambolling lambs
And I am breathless over you
And the red-breasted robin beats his wings
His throat it trembles when he sings
For he is helpless before you
The happy hooded bluebells bow
And bend their heads all a-down
Heavied by the early morning dew
At the whispering stream, at the bubbling brook
The fishes leap up to take a look
For they are breathless over you
Still your hands
And still your heart
For still your face comes shining through
And all the morning glows anew

Still your mind
Still your soul
For still, the fire of love is true
And I am breathless without you
The wind circles among the trees
And it bangs about the new-made leaves
For it is breathless without you
The fox chases the rabbit round
The rabbit hides beneath the ground
For he is defenceless without you
The sky of daytime dies away
And all the earthly things they stop to play
For we are all breathless without you
I listen to my juddering bones
The blood in my veins and the wind in my lungs
And I am breathless without you
Still your hands
And still your heart
For still your face comes shining through
And all the morning glows anew
Still your soul
Still your mind
Still, the fire of love is true
And I am breathless without you

c – 2004 – Nick Cave

Good Lord, Gang!

September 20, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis Leave a comment

Finally!

I think the torture is getting ready to stop around here.

At least, for a little while.

These past couple weeks were just too intense.

But some of the good news is–

I heard from Rasha’s mom yesterday (Rasha is the cat that I’ve been cat sitting for 10 months already). She has finally found an affordable apartment for herself and her baby boy, so she will be able to take Rasha back in October.

I love Rasha, she’s a very sweet (and smart!) cat, but I already have way too many cats, so this will be a real relief.

Now we’ll have enough tennis raquets for everybody!

Also!

I received the official invitation to give a presentation at the Greater Lehigh Valley Writer’s Group conference in March!! (In eastern Pennsylvania — my old stomping ground!)

I’ll be giving 2 one-hour talks over that weekend. One about networking with professionals, and one about adapting your work to markets. And I’ll also be on a panel.

(From the schedule they sent, it appears they also want me to have cookies and chat with other writers!! Some people just want everything!!)

Anyway! I’m really looking forward to it. But something tells me that March will be here in about 14 seconds...

And in other good news–

Things seem to be proceeding scam-free with the other two narrator/producers I’m working with on the audiobooks. Those projects aren’t due until early 2027, so things should be calmer now with all that.

And — FINALLY!! Amazon’s algorithm kicked in and they posted that really great review I got from the NYC poet, Ron Bass, for The Curse of Our Profound Disorder.

And I only had to jump through fucking hoops last night to make that happen, gang, by posting the review everywhere online that I could think of where I was allowed to post it! Then, voila! By 2AM this morning, it’s suddenly on Amazon! (A review that was submitted on September 16th…)

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

All righty.

Yesterday was the anniversary of Gram Parson’s passing. (If you don’t know the story of his death, it is basically legendary.) (And, also, if you didn’t know, Gram was Keith Richards’ closest friend back then.)

And here’s Emmylou Harris’s stunning song about Gram’s death. She had been his backup singer at the time. “Boulder to Birmingham” (1978):

**********

And the day before that–

On September 18th, it was the anniversary of Jimi Hendrix’s death. He died in 1970.

His death was legendary, too, but in a not very good way at all. (Don’t get my “conspiracy theorist” brain started…)

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

Okay.

Johnny Depp was indeed in Shanghai yesterday, talking about his art to a group of eager phones!!

***********

And here’s this!

Strummer on Springsteen!

And here’s this, while we’re at it! From 1978, Springsteen’s “Darkness on the Edge of Town”!

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

Here’s this!!

The latest selfie from Warren Ellis!! ……..

Hmmm.

There seems to be a sudden dearth of selfie’s by Warren Ellis!! Maybe he’s off rehearsing with The Dirty Three, who go on their European Tour beginning in October! (Check the schedule and buy tickets HERE)

Meanwhile, we can re-visit one of his classic selfie’s!!

Warren celebrating jet lag!! (I think this was after the tour of Australia.)