Yes, today is my best friend Valerie in Brooklyn’s birthday!!
Yes, exactly one week before mine — and I have known her for 43 years now. That’s a whole lot of “happy happy” memories, gang.
They are of course having an awful heatwave in NYC, and she’s still recovering from her hand surgery, but I hope she has a terrific day!! And a fantastic year!!
Valerie, middle, the bottom row. The old gang at Val’s place in Brooklyn, about 40 years ago.
And guess what else??
It is Johnny Thunders heavenly birthday today!
And while we’re at, here’s this, from Phyllis Stein!
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Okay, this came in this morning, in case you weren’t aware of it!
If you purchase the new Rolling Stones’ record, Foreign Tongues, on iTunes, you get a Bonus Track! “Bad Luck Hideaway”!
This short documentary video is free to stream online–
“Code For the People: The Human Story of the Open Web“
“The open web is arguably the world’s most vital invisible utility – and it is under siege.
“We have traded a free internet for a collection of walled gardens. Today, a handful of digital landlords use algorithms to dictate our reality, while closed AI threatens to change the ways we connect. We are at a breaking point: we can either let gatekeepers continue to consolidate their power, or we can reclaim the open source spirit that built the web in the first place.
“From acclaimed director Bao Nguyen (BTS: The Return, Be Water, The Greatest Night in Pop), Code for the People is a documentary short exploring the past, present, and contested future of the open web….”
And here’s this grant update from LGBTQ+ Heritage Alliance–
2026 National Grant Program for LGBTQ+ Historic Places
The LGBTQ+ Heritage Alliance facilitates the first nationwide grant program dedicated to documenting, recognizing, and interpreting historic places connected to LGBTQ+ culture and heritage in the United States.
Building on a successful pilot round, the program continues to promote a fuller understanding of the contributions of LGBTQ+ people in American history with a focus on historic preservation projects.
I received the first official submission for the M. Christian tribute anthology last night — 2 pieces of flash fiction from the wonderful poet/author Thad Rutkowski (writing under a pen name). And I am just delighted with them!!
It really brought such a smile to my face, gang. And BTW — Thad has a new poetry collection out from Finishing Line Press: Tracks in Snow. You can purchase it here.
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The Franz Kafka Museum in Prague has new hours!!
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And here are a couple of Tours of UK/ Europe that are ending!!
Joe Satriani!
Steve Vai!
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Here’s Ric Ocasek in the studio in 1980! Who’s he with?? Let’s take a look!!
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Another great one of Willy DeVille from Phyllis Stein!!
Willy in Montreux in July 1982!
And let’s hear this gem again, just because I love it so fucking much!! “Just to Walk that Little Girl Home”! From Savoir Faire, 1979:
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This was posted on Sean Stone’s page yesterday and it actually helped me get through a REALLY difficult afternoon —
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And if that isn’t enough– a bunch more Bad Seeds stuff!
In no particular order!!
A long shot of the Madrid show from George Vjestica:
The Bad Seeds in Nimes!
Nick Cave in Nimes!!
Tonight they play Vienne, France. You can still buy tickets HERE!
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And yesterday was the anniversary of the death of Nick Cave’s son, Arthur. Nick sent out a very beautiful tribute in his Red Hand Files. He said, in part:
“…I am acknowledging that although this day marks the 11th anniversary of the worst day of our lives, it is also a beautiful day, with the sun shining, a child playing, a man enjoying a cigarette, a world quietly waking and moving forward…”
I will be with the retired Minister and his lovely wife and cat this afternoon, but we are seriously “counting down” around here, gang: FOUR more caregiving shifts are left.
I am getting my energy back and my excitement for LIFE.
Meanwhile, have a wonder-filled Wednesday, wherever you are in the world!
Thanks for visiting.
I love you guys. See ya!
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Let’s close with this!
Yes, just when the heat, humidity, and constant DRIVING is making you lose your fucking mind—
THIS fantastic song comes on your playlist and suddenly the whole world is beautiful again.
“Besame Mucho, ” by Andrea Bocelli. Enjoy, gang. Play it loud and have a blessed day.
The cats around here are seriously hyper today — could this have something to do with it??
From the Cainer Horoscope newsletter this morning:
The sky opens up in a big way this week. Between July 15th and 21st, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, and Jupiter all move into alignment together.
We're more open to new ideas, more drawn to people and experiences outside our usual circle, and more willing to follow our own instincts instead of someone else's script.
Ambitions come into sharper focus, old talents get a chance to resurface, and you'll find that a little boldness goes a long way.
The invitation this week is simple: stay curious, aim a little higher than usual, and give yourself room to think and live differently.
Interesting, though, right?? We’ll see how this plays out!
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Gorgeous weather again here today, although it’s gonna get HOT by this afternoon.
Which is good, because I only have a ton of fucking errands to run after I see my clients later…. but, you know, at least I’m still alive and it isn’t raining.
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Okay!
Well, since I got a lot of work done yesterday at my desk — and also took a walk, did yoga, etc. — I don’t have a whole lot to post about today.
Although the good news is that, so far, my best friend Valerie in Brooklyn’s hand surgery went very well yesterday! So all of these delays are almost all behind us, and soon we will launch the new artists & writers podcast !! Yay!!
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A short one from James Tabor this morning — taken from the intro to his online course, “Quest for the Historical Paul.”
Does Paul Misread His Two Favorite Bible Verses? (3 mins):
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This one was from a few days ago, but in case you missed it–
The Rolling Stones: Foreign Tongues | Zane Lowe Interview (1 hr):
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And oddly enough, the only “here’s this’s” I have for today are about the Bad Seeds.
So, here’s this!!
To kill time between the show the other night in Madrid, Spain, and the upcoming show tonight in Nimes, France, Jim Scavulos took in some ruins!
However, Warren Ellis used that time to dash quickly to Cleveland — a trip of approximately 4,350 miles, and which takes about 17 hours each way — just to say hello! Yay! (I was going to dash over to say a quick “hello” back, but Cleveland is a good 2 hours from here and I hadn’t had my coffee yet.)
Anyway.
He also delivered a warning that not all rock icons are willing to make publicly; “Don’t Smoke In Bed”!!
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An interesting photo of Nick Cave in Montreux, with a fan (?):
And onstage in Madrid!
As we already discussed, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds play Nimes, France, tonight. You can buy tickets here!!
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And aside from all that…
I did get word from another local bookstore yesterday that I could drop off a review copy of my new novel, The Curse of Our Profound Disorder, anytime this week! I will probably get there on Friday.
That particular store does a ton of promoting for local writers, so maybe it could lead to an instore signing of some sort. We shall see.
Other than that —
Have a terrific Tuesday, wherever you are in the world!
Thanks for visiting.
I love you guys. See ya!
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Okay. Let’s close with this today.
From Warren Ellis’s sage advice while in bed earlier…
Nina Simone’s heart-wrenching, “Don’t Smoke In Bed”. 1958. From her debut album, Little Girl Blue. Enjoy, gang.
“Don’t Smoke In Bed”
I left a note on his dresser And my old wedding ring With these few goodbye words How can I sing Goodbye old sleepy head I’m packing you in like I said
Take care of everything I’m leaving my wedding ring Don’t look for me I’ll get ahead Remember darling Don’t smoke in bed
Don’t look for me I’ll get ahead Remember darling Don’t smoke in bed
So, not only do I have the entire day to sit at my desk and focus on the M. Christian tribute anthology stuff, but it is truly a gorgeous day here, weather-wise.
So sunny. Not humid at all. And only about 72 degrees Fahrenheit.
And I just now took a lovely walk to the post office.
My first husband, Chong, had sent me a Certified letter. And while I was guessing it was something for my upcoming birthday, when I opened the letter — right there in the lobby of the post office — I was not expecting to SMILE so fucking much!!
Not only was it money (yay) — and a lot more money than I would have expected — but he had also put together a little greeting on a piece of paper and folded the money inside it (a homemade “birthday card”):
I just smiled and smiled and smiled.
I even took the long way home, because I didn’t want to stop being out in the beautiful weather and smiling.
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Okay.
I don’t have a lot to post about today.
However, this happened!
When the Rolling Stones had their first gig at the Marquee Club, it officially started the “group” — meaning, it was the first time they publicly went by the name “Rollin’ Stones”.
The anniversary of the gig was yesterday– a lot of sites posted tributes. Here’s a couple:
And here’s Keith at Joshua Tree in 1968. Photo by Michael Cooper:
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Here’s this from Phyllis Stein!
A really great one of David Jo and Johnny Thunders in 1974!!
And speaking of 1974 — what a year that was. Truly the nadir of my entire existence. So many horrific things happened to me that year, that I don’t know how I would have survived it without rock & roll records to listen to and pictures to look at in rock magazines, while hiding up in my room… Jesus.
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Ooh! Speaking of Jesus–
Ross K. Nichols recommended that those of us in his private Yachad Group get the following book, so I did, and it is really interesting — what the Old Testament would have been like in the time that Jesus would have been reading it:
And speaking of Ross K. Nichols, this was also very interesting–
From his Sunday School class yesterday.
“No human figure dominates the pages of the Hebrew Bible more than David — the sweet Psalmist and celebrated shepherd king of Israel. But one biblical writer dared to tell what another desperately tried to hide.
In this class, Ross Nichols compares Samuel, Chronicles, and the Psalms to explore how David’s story was preserved, reshaped, and, in one unforgettable case, quietly covered over.”
The Truth About David They Tried to Hide (45 mins):
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And here are a couple more things from the Bad Seeds’ show in Madrid the other night– (again, there have been tons of great videos, but not a whole lot of just plain photos):
The set list!! (Which actually looks sort of intensely tight — no encore. But look at that chunk moving toward the end, especially: “The Mercy Seat,” followed by “Papa Won’t Leave You Henry,” “Red Right Hand,” “The Weeping Song,” “Jubilee Street” — then just sort of rip your heart out and stomp all over it with “Hollywood”. Then “Into My Arms,” then goodnight! That must have just been fucking INTENSE!!)
Okay. Anyway.
And here’s this — The Bad Seeds onstage in Madrid:
Tomorrow through Thursday, they play 3 different venues in France. Buy tickets HERE.
And then they’re taking a long-ish break to come to Crazeysburg and celebrate my birthday next week — Oops, I meant, to I guess relax?? I don’t know.
But at the end of July, is the great big bunch of stuff to celebrate the homecoming show in Brighton, but the show itself is SOLD OUT!
Then, things resume on August 2nd and continue at a heady pace for the rest of the month.
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And that is it for today!!
I’m gonna finish up the laundry and then go out and water all my many flowers… And then get to work on the official Call for Submissions for the M. Christian antho and send it out.
I hope you have a magnificent Monday, wherever you are in the world!
Thanks for visiting.
I love you guys. See ya!
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Let’s close with this.
In keeping with the above-mentioned Sunday School class about King David–
I have always loved this version of Leonard Cohen’s masterpiece, “Hallelujah,” by k.d. lang.
From her album Hymns of the 49th Parallel, 2004. Enjoy, gang.
“Hallelujah”
I heard there was a secret chord That David played, and it pleased the Lord You don’t really care for music, do ya? Well it goes like this The fourth, the fifth The minor fall, the major lift The baffled king composing Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Well your faith was strong but you needed proof You saw her bathing on the roof Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew ya Well she tied you to her kitchen chair She broke your throne and cut your hair And from your lips she drew Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Baby I’ve been here before I’ve seen this room and I’ve walked the floor used to live alone before I knew ya But I’ve seen your flag on the marble arch Our love is not a victory march It’s a cold and it’s a broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Maybe there’s a God above But all I’ve ever learned from love Was how to shoot somebody who outdrew ya It’s not a cry that you hear at night It’s not someone who’s seen the light It’s a cold and broken Hallelujah
Except for all that stuff at the beach and everybody looking like they’re on vacation.
We don’t have any of that.
However.
It is sunny and sort of mild-ish. And the fantastic AC is still working splednidly — this is sometimes spelled “splendidly” but it means the very same thing — so I will take what I can get. Yay!
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Wow, so first let me say that I am really, really happy with the enthusiastic responses we’re getting from other writers about contributing to the M. Christian tribute anthology.
And these are writers I have not worked with in such a long time. I know M. Christian would be so happy about all of this. So I am going to do my absolute best to make this a true homage to him.
RIP M. Christian
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I need to share this with you.
Loyal readers of this lofty blog no doubt recall that my dearest friend on Earth. Paul Martin, passed away from AIDS back in 1999. We had been best friends since high school. We met in the Theater Dept., where he designed and built all the sets for our school plays.
As an adult, Paul designed and built sets for professional theaters and then got into doing the same in the movie industry.
One studio he worked for was called Carolco. He specifically moved to North Carolina to work for them.
Well, yesterday, Metrograph sent out their weekend newsletter and there was a wonderful essay about Carolco!!
“DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN MULTIPLEX movies—we’re talking glossy, obscenely budgeted, star-studded mainstream entertainments primed for blockbuster status—were not only fun, but quite possibly kind of renegade and daring at the same time? For at least a solid decade, a heavy-hitting salvo of the period’s most pop-culture defining smashes, like Ted Kotcheff’s First Blood (1982), James Cameron’s Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), and Paul Verhoeven’s Total Recall (1990) and Basic Instinct (1992), were all coming from one studio: Carolco Pictures. They were an indie Icarus who out-stratosphered the Tinseltown majors…”
Wow, such memories, gang. Not just because the movies were so much fun back then, but Paul always had the best stories about working on all the various movie sets. For me, movies just aren’t the same anymore.
” [Carolco] made hugely successful films with respectable casts, defied the system, and managed to have a good time during that period. They raised their profile in an era when the majors were perceived to be the voice of American films, and really broke the studio stranglehold on things.”
Me, long ago, at Paul’s beach house on Wrightsville Beach, NC. Photo by Paul..
And while we’re at it– Paul’s favorite movie! He absolutely LOVED working on this film. (It was filmed on the Carolco lot in North Carolina, but it was produced by New Line.)
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All right.
Well, here’s this!
More great ones from Phyllis Stein!!
Johnny Thunders!! By that well known Punk photographer, No Info!!
And, wow, gang, did I used to LOVE this magazine!! Rock Scene. It usually featured photos that you couldn’t really find in the other rock magazines back then. There was a local drugstore within walking distance from me when I was 13 that sold Rock Scene. It was the only place I could find it.
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And moving on to the Bad Seeds in Madrid…
Once again, there were TONS of videos posted from the show and it looked like another great one. But I couldn’t find many photos that really jumped out at me.
But here’s this!
Before the show, George Vjestica takes in the Art!!
Warren Ellis took in (wore) local sculptures, and warned that Madrid last night was going to be hot, but he does not say whether he meant the city itself would be hot, or the Bad Seeds’ show would be hot, or maybe stuff going on in his hotel bed later? Perhaps all 3?? We just simply do not have enough info to know for sure:
And here’s Nick Cave! (He seems a little hot, so maybe that was it…)
Okay!! Next, the Bad Seeds play 3 different venues in France between July 14th thru the 17th, you can BUY TICKETS HERE!!
“Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds will take over Resident, Brighton’s legendary independent record shop, as part of a series of activities in the city around their huge homecoming show in Preston Park on 31st July.
The shop will host a merchandise pop up with an array of existing and new items on offer, including a limited edition vinyl release (details to follow next week), discounts across album catalogue, giveaways, and a special post box where fans can send physical letters to Nick Cave’s The Red Hand Files.
The merchandise pop up will include a range specially designed for the Brighton show – only available at Resident and the Preston Park event, plus an exclusive tote bag made in collaboration with Resident, as well as classic Bad Seed and Cave Things items.”
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And I guess that is it for today.
Have a swingin’ Sunday, wherever you are in the world, gang.
Thanks for visiting!
I love you guys. See ya!
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Let’s close with this!!
Wayne texted this to me yesterday. It was very interesting, indeed.
I am really kinda stunned that not only did I not see this show, I did not even hear about it. Granted, I was (briefly) away at college at the time, but I majored in TV-watching and I of course LOVED the Stones…
Anyway! Go, Keith!! (And thanks, Wayne!) (BTW, this is AI)
Keith Richards heard Carson’s joke from backstage — grabbed a guitar — Carson apologized on live TV (15 mins). Enjoy!
But as you all know, one week from tomorrow, I am retiring from caregiving.
So the exhaustion won’t last much longer.
However, now most of the exhaustion is coming from telling each of my clients that I’m retiring and will be focusing strictly on the writing again. Everyone has been very understanding, but I’m also adding to their feelings of general “loss”, and I really hate to do that.
All of my clients have already lost so much. But you know. I have to get back to my life. And everyone has been so accepting of that, even though they are sad about it.
So. Okay.
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I am making steady progress on tracking down writers from the “old crowd” to let them know about the tribute anthology for M. Christian.
And my phone chat with Ralph Greco Jr. on Thursday went great. I will keep you posted as the project unfolds, but he and I intend to have some sort of “in person” reading or event when the anthology comes out– somewhere on the East Coast, so that as many contributors as possible can be involved. (Which is sort of weird to say, since Chris was based on the West Coast, but anyway…)
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Okay!
This very important thing happened yesterday, too:
So far, this is my favorite song, but as you know, I’m not super fond of “visualizers”. I prefer to just listen to the fucking song. But anyway–
“Mr. Charm” — The Rolling Stones, 2026:
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I have sort of a bunch of “here’s this’s” today, since I couldn’t properly post here yesterday!
So let’s get on with it.
Here’s this!!
A great shot by Bob Gruen of Patti Smith, backstage with her sister, in NYC 1976!!
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Another great one from Phyllis Stein!!
Billy Idol in London, 1978!! Photo by Gus Stewart:
And while we’re at it– Billy Idol & Generation X with “Your Generation” from 1978. Check this out, though, Marc Bolan introduces them!!
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I love this one of Ronnie Wood!! It’s just so Ronnie….
Backstage in Philadelphia, 1981. Photo by Ken Regan:
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And here’s this!
The Cars onstage in 1980!! (Well, 2 of them, anyway…)
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And, in addition to the Bad Seeds, Keanu Reeves with his band Dogstar also played in Lisbon the other night!!
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Which of course leads us to–
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds in Lisbon the other night!!
In no particular order…
George Vjestica hangs out with nice people in Lisbon!
Jim Scavulos gets to the gig!!
The set list!!
Nick Cave on the screen!
Also Nick Cave but on the actual stage!
And Nick Cave looking darkly fantastic!!
Honestly, just based on videos and photos posted by fans and band members alike, it looked like everyone had a great time at that show — onstage and off.
And while we’re at it, here’s this!
NICK CAVE AND THE BAD SEEDS | “Carnage” | NOS Alive 26 (Lisbon) | July 9th:
The Bad Seeds play Spain tonight, and then from July 14th – 17th, they play 3 different venues in France. You can BUY TICKETS HERE!
After that, it’s the great big homecoming show in Brighton, but that one is SOLD OUT.
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Okay, so I believe that is it.
I am continuing to absolutely LOVE my new glasses, gang. The prescription is perfect. The “old” glasses (which were actually still pretty new — less than a year old) made me totally nuts. The prescription was really wonky. So in addition to my constant exhaustion, not being able to see clearly, especially while I was driving and driving and driving, made me so fucking depressed.
Anyway. I can see again now and it feels great.
Meanwhile, I need to get myself ready for a really LONG shift with a client. So I gotta scoot.
Enjoy your Saturday, though, wherever you are in the world.
Thanks for visiting.
I love you guys. See ya!
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Let’s close with this!
An oldie from Johnny Cash that I have always adored.
“I’d Just Be Fool Enough (To Fall)”. 1960. Enjoy, gang. I always do.
I don’t know if I have time to go out and pick them up today. We’ll see. But certainly by tomorrow afternoon. And I can’t wait!!
I truly hate the glasses I currently have… I am really, really hoping that with those new glasses, I’ll be able to see again!
Okay. So.
The good news is that my “chat” with Sandra (for well over an hour yesterday) went splendidly.
We have both agreed to shelve the TV show for now. And maybe forever. Because we both want to focus on the play. (“The Guide to Being Fabulous”.) Yay!
We are still aiming for the Staged Reading to happen in the Fall, but — and as usual, I can’t go into the details yet on the blog — it will be at an entirely different venue. One I didn’t see coming and I am truly excited, gang.
Wow.
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Okay.
I have a phone chat scheduled at noon today with Ralph Greco, Jr. He was probably M. Christian’s closest friend/colleague. (Ralph is someone I have worked with off and on for 30 years.)
We’ll be going over the basic ideas for the tribute anthology and then I need to formally write up the Call for Submissions. But to be honest, just from the emails I’ve already sent out to people privately, I already have most of the contributors onboard. I maybe only need 3 or 4 more writers.
RIP M. Christian
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On another sad note–
Bonnie Tyler died earlier today. Thanks for everything, Bonnie.
And here’s this again– I will never get tired of this song:
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Switching gears–
Here’s this!
A couple of Rolling Stones!
Ronnie Wood, sort of with wings?
And Bill Wyman, smoking!!!
Oh, and here’s Marlon’s little leg, Keith, Anita, and Mick, in a crowded elevator a long time ago…
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And since I wasn’t here to post to the blog yesterday, I have a bunch of Nick Cave photos!
Another one from Poland:
A bunch of great ones from Stuttgart!
More Stuttgart (I don’t think I posted these yet, but I posted them to my Instagram page already):
Now, I did go to Lisbon (Portugal) yesterday — just quickly — hoping to get my picture taken with Nick Cave, but I couldn’t find him anywhere and had to come straight home. You know, because I’m, like, busy and stuff. However!!
Here are some luckier ducks in Lisbon yesterday!!
The Bad Seeds play Lisbon tonight — or perhaps, now — and you can buy tickets here! And they will be in Spain on Saturday!!
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And that is it for now.
Starting tomorrow, I have EIGHT caregiving shifts left, gang. And then that phase of my life will be over.
I am getting my momentum back, for sure. I am starting to feel my own life returning. But I still have some broken feelings around the edges of my heart. But on we must go. I still have “miles to go before I sleep”…
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening By Robert Frost
Whose woods these are I think I know. His house is in the village though; He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer To stop without a farmhouse near Between the woods and frozen lake The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake To ask if there is some mistake. The only other sound’s the sweep Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.
Enjoy your Thursday, wherever you are in the world, gang.
Thanks for visiting.
I love you guys. See ya!
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Let’s close with this.
Breakfast-listening music.
The more I listen to this song, the more I think Tom Petty wrote it not only about being a kid and loving rock & roll, but also about loving the Beatles — in particular, the man who became his dear friend later in life and who had recently died: George Harrison. (Verse 2)
Well, needless to say, I love this song. So haunting and beautiful.
Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. “Dreamville,” 2002. From The Last DJ. Enjoy, gang.
“Dreamville”
Goin’ down to Lillian’s music store To buy a black diamond string Gonna wind it up on my guitar Gonna make that silver sing
Like it was Dreamville A long time ago A million miles away All the trees were green In Dreamville
I keep wakin’ up all by myself With a bluejay in my brain Flappin’ his wings, makin’ me sing It was just about to rain
Like it was Dreamville Where I was born Light years from here And the air smelled good In Dreamville In Dreamville
Like it was Dreamville A long time ago Light years from here And the trees were green In Dreamville
Ridin’ with my mamma To Glen Springs Pool The water was cold My lips were blue There was rock-and-roll Across the dial When I think of her It makes me smile
Like it was Dreamville A long time ago A million miles away All the trees were green In Dreamville, in Dreamville
Yeah it was Dreamville A long time ago Light years from here And the air smelled good In Dreamville, in Dreamville
Including today, I have 10 more caregiving shifts left with the Agency.
TEN.
I turned in my 2 weeks notice yesterday.
My depression and exhaustion had gotten off the charts, especially last week, when the heat & humidity were off the charts and I still had to transport my clients (and their walkers and wheelchairs, etc.) hither and yon, in & out of the car, and I thought I was going to collapse…
And I finally confronted the fact that my life has been inundated with death & dying & deterioration, every single darn day for the last 2 years. With next to no energy leftover for myself and all my various writing projects.
I had no life left but I was not yet ready to die. What to do, what to do…
I could not take it anymore, the constant depression while trying to smile and help everybody.
Plus, my beloved Honda Civic is a leased car, and with a lease, you can only put a certain number of miles on it, otherwise it costs you additional money when the lease is over.
I was already over my mileage because I was doing NOTHING but driving and driving and driving…. (I still have over a year left on the current lease, though, so I can now put the brakes on that, as it were.)
So, I spoke to the Agency yesterday, gave my notice. And now I’m focused strictly on writing. (Freelance as well as my own works-in-progress.)
And on we go…
Me, near future
Plus, it leaves me very flexible for when the jury duty stuff comes up, so I can get that over with, too.
All righty.
Before I forget — I will not be posting here tomorrow because I have a very early shift in the morning.
But at some point, either this evening or tomorrow afternoon, I will finally be catching up with Sandra to see what “page” we’re on regarding our work on the play, and/or our work on the possible TV pilot.
And regarding the M. Christian tribute anthology — I made some great progress with that yesterday. Mostly continuing to locate people that I haven’t worked with in a long time (all of whom also worked with M. Christian).
Had some great email exchanges, and even some pretty amazing phone chats, with writers & publishers living overseas.
It will be a great feeling to just focus on writing/editing again — which is what I did for many years (until the stupid scamdemic).
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All righty!
Here’s this!
From Ross K. Nichols’ “Sunday School”–
“Scribes changed our Bible. In some cases, they even told us where and why. These are called the Emendations of the Scribes: deliberate alterations, admitted in the fine print of the Masoretic notes by the very scribes credited with preserving the text behind our Bible.”
They Admitted They Changed the Bible! (40 mins):
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And in a totally unrelated “here’s this”–
I forgot to post this the other day!!
The Rolling Stones – Speaking In Tongues | The Official Podcast (Episode 2) (22 mins):
The new album comes out in 3 days…. Pre-order here if you haven’t already!!
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And here’s this!!
Keanu Reeves’ band, Dogstar, is on tour in Europe right now.
Keanu in Berlin!
Photo by gringolina photography
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And here’s this!!! From yesterday–
The anniversary of the death of the great Louis Armstrong:
And while we’re at it– “Dream A Little Dream of Me”!! 1968:
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And here’s Tom Petty, on a PR trip in NYC in 1976! Not smoking and with no attitude whatsoever!!
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And from Castle Fine Art yesterday — more on Johnny Depp’s new print collection, Yesterday’s Flowers:
And yesterday, Nick Cave sent out one of those Red Hand Files wherein he answers a great big bunch of questions with very short answers! (Wherein I also discovered that the recent Red Hand File he sent out about the old people & aging that just broke my heart — was actually a made up story…) Anyway.
This one was my favorite:
Q: Why doesn’t Warren play a REAL guitar?
A: I asked him. He said, because when you pick up a real guitar in the Bad Seeds, you end up getting thrown out of the band.
You can read them all, in full — a lot of them are funny — HERE.
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And here are a bunch of Bad Seeds things from the past couple of nights.
Well, first, this one was from that Facebook page that always pops up first thing in the morning, but I honestly have no idea where the photos are from or when:
Now–
Nick Cave in Poland!
Nick in Montreux!
Nick and the Bad Seeds in Stuttgart, Germany!
And the set list!
The Bad Seeds play Portugal on Thursday. You can buy tickets here!
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And I think that is it for today, gang.
I gotta head to town here soon. (And get the countdown to “just writing” and “maybe jury duty” quietly started…)
Have a terrific Tuesday, wherever you are in the world.
Thanks for visiting.
I love you guys. See ya!
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Let’s leave with this!
From the reruns I am currently watching on Prime, after dinner and before studying French!
“The Middle”. It ran for 9 seasons. I loved this show! Enjoy, gang (3 mins):
I’m actually hoping that we can stay “back to normal” around here for the entire day. But you never know.
I will be spending most of today getting stuff organized for the M. Christian tribute anthology: Replying to emails! Sending out more emails! Waiting for emails to return!
And on Thursday, I’ll be catching up with Ralph Greco, Jr. to compare notes, and after that, I will officially send out the call for submissions.
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I’m also hoping to catch up with my best friend Valerie in Brooklyn sometime today.
We texted throughout the almost unbearably hot holiday weekend–
SHE (texting): ARE YOU STAYING HYDRATED?
ME (texting): YES. ORGANIC COCONUT WATER WITH POTASSIUM!
— but we haven’t actually spoken in a while. So here’s hoping we get to chat today.
All I know for sure is that she has recovered really well from her first hand surgery; the next surgery is next week; and she still very much wants to move forward with the launch of our mini artists & writers podcast, “Marilyn’s Room,” so somehow we will get all that figured out later this summer.
We have the logo, now all we need is the rest of the stuff…
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And in another “potentially good news” department–
Sandra is back in NY from Atlanta — after shooting a couple more episodes of “The Ms. Pat Show.”
She’s planning on catching up with me either tomorrow evening, or Wednesday afternoon.
I have no clue if we’ll be developing our TV show, or if we’re just going to focus on the play for now (“The Guide To Being Fabulous”), but I will soon find out.
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Okay.
Oddly, there are not many “here’s this’s” today. But here’s this!
It was actually posted for the 4th of July — Bob Dylan!! (I totally relate to the comment):
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And I really appreciated this–
Cigarettes abound!!
Keith smoking with a lit cigarette also in an ashtray — with one of his grandsons!
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And I believe this was from Montreux. It was the first thing I saw on Facebook yesterday morning!!
Nick Cave in the blue, blue water!!
And this is the only photo I have from the show in Montreux yesterday, although there were a TON of videos and the show looked absolutely fantastic — and Nick Cave, especially, looked so happy!
And here’s the set list:
Tonight the Bad Seeds play Stuttgart, Germany, however it is sold out. But you can buy tickets for the Portugal show on Thursday, HERE!
And while we’re at it–
Sun Kil Moon – “I Love Portugal”, 2016 (I love this extremely long song!!):
“I Love Portugal”
In my hotel where the band is staying I’m off desert but what I’d give to not get on that plane Woke to the sound of birds calling and I wanna water the flowers in the garden And the maid scooting her tray around the echoey hall I just want to stay in Portugal today, that’s all ‘Cause when I’m here there’s a sense of calm People living day to day and enjoying the moment Last night we found a cozy place and we listened to fado music and we ate steak And bacalhau and caldo verde Then we went and got gelato and we drank iced lattes
And the fans have always shown me love (shown me love) And so have my friends Vasco, Miguel, and Nadia, and Monica (Nadia and Monica) I can’t complain, I get to visit every year Last night my driver said my music brought him to tears
I love Portugal, I love Portugal, oh, oh I love Portugal I love Portugal, I love Portugal, oh, oh I love Portugal I love Portugal, I love Portugal, oh, oh I love Portugal I love Portugal, I love Portugal, oh, oh I love Portugal
Was listening to Mahavishnu Orchestra’s “Liala’s Dance” As I drifted off into rare afternoon nap Yesterday, one shot in Minnesota, one in Baton Rouge, and then retaliation in Dallas Someone shot and killed five cops And the cops came back and killed that sniper with a robot But all was peaceful here at the Seculo Hotel in the Bonfim neighborhood of Oporto Now I’m on my way to Zürich at Gate 35 TAP operator by Swiss Airlines I miss my quiet day in Oporto, sleeping and listening to the many birds sing And the shoe store that I wanted to shop in Was closed and, man, it pissed me off As we drove by twice on the way to soundcheck and on the way to the hotel that night
I’m gonna return some day, I know it (some day) I’m gonna buy me a home looking over the river in Oporto (river in Oporto) Gonna get me a plate of melon and prosciutto and grilled sardines, a cup of coffee, and a bowl of gazpacho (bowl of gazpacho) The USA can’t pull the guns from the trolls of the country I live in Can’t get a grip on gun control If we’re gonna live with a president who’s a huge fucking asshole Then believe me, baby, I’m gonna buy me a home in Portugal
I love Portugal, I love Portugal, oh, oh Where the people don’t walk I love Portugal They just stroll I love Portugal, I love Portugal, oh, oh Where the people go to bars, relax I love Portugal And listen to fado I love Portugal, I love Portugal, oh, oh Where I feel at peace from my I love Portugal Head to my toe I love Portugal, I love Portugal, oh, oh Particularly I love the city of Oporto I love Portugal
At the Rothaus, Room 301, in Zurich The Bern show is cancelled tomorrow night due to violence and a bunch of crazy shit It’s found its way into the venue I’m not going to sing about it I’m just gonna read the statement from the promoter to you
“Dear Mark, Dear all at Sun Kil Moon I have really, really, really bad news. We’re deeply afraid but see ourselves in circumstances that unfortunately urge us to have to cancel. The Sun Kil Moon show at Dachstock Reitschule, Bern, the open space in front of our house Reitschule, Bern is causing increasing troubles with violence and sexes. An organized drug dealer and the [?] we decided to shut the place down and its ongoing activities. For a while, at least ten days, or maybe longer and find a way of how to deal with our society’s problems erupted in front of our house, creating a rather explosive atmosphere at times in front of our house. We’re very sorry that due to this reaction the show with Sun Kil Moon will have to be cancelled. As we’re in general enforcing this temporary shutdown, apologies for any inconveniences to you, I know your band just got into town. Of course we’re gonna pay full agreed guaranteed fee as well as covering your hotel for 12/7/16. Also tickets will be reimbursed, it can be used to see your show tonight in Zürich. We strongly hope you reschedule your concert in Bern next time your band is touring in Europe. Reitschule remains closed until further notice. Again, my deepest apologies, but it’s totally out of my control. Let me know if you need any more info Sincerely, your promoter at Breathing Hope.”
I love Portugal, I love Portugal, oh, oh And the sparkling Douro River estuary I love Portugal I love Portugal, I love Portugal, oh, oh And when I die I want some of my ashes spread there I love Portugal And skip the Hail Mary I love Portugal, I love Portugal, oh, oh I’m gonna back next year and I’m gonna find that same shoe store I love Portugal I love Portugal, I love Portugal, oh, oh It’s gotta be somewhere between the venue and the Fnac bookstore I love Portugal I love Portugal, I love Portugal, oh, oh And it doesn’t have a goddamned thing to do with football I love Portugal
I love Portugal, I love Portugal, oh, oh I love Portugal I love Portugal
c – 2016 – Mark Kozelek
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And I think that’s it!
The laundry is finished. And I am NOT planning to vacuum today because for some inexplicable reason I found time to vacuum the entire fucking downstairs yesterday before I left for my shift!! (WTF is my deal, anyway??? I’m always fucking doing stuff!!)
Anyway…
Enjoy your Monday, wherever you are in the world!
Thanks for visiting.
I love you guys. See ya!
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Let’s close with this!
Driving-home-last-night-listening music!!
I know I’ve posted this song here a million times, but it’s always so great when it comes up on the playlist in the car! Such a great “driving” song.
France Gall, “Laisse tomber les filles”, 1964!! Enjoy, gang!!! I always do.
“Laisse Tomber Les Filles”
Laisse tomber les filles Laisse tomber les filles Un jour c’est toi qu’on laissera Laisse tomber les filles Laisse tomber les filles Un jour c’est toi qui pleureras
Oui, j’ai pleuré mais ce jour-là Non, je ne pleurerai pas Non, je ne pleurerai pas Je dirai c’est bien fait pour toi Je dirai ça t’apprendra Je dirai ça t’apprendra
Laisse tomber les filles Laisse tomber les filles Ça te jouera un mauvais tour Laisse tomber les filles Laisse tomber les filles Tu le paieras un de ces jours On ne joue pas impunément Avec un cœur innocent Avec un cœur innocent
Tu verras ce que je ressens Avant qu’il ne soit longtemps Avant qu’il ne soit longtemps La chance abandonne Celui qui ne sait Que laisser les cœurs blessés Tu n’auras personne pour te consoler Tu ne l’auras pas volé
Laisse tomber les filles Laisse tomber les filles Un jour c’est toi qu’on laissera Laisse tomber les filles Laisse tomber les filles Un jour c’est toi qui pleureras Non, pour te plaindre il n’y aura Personne d’autre que toi Personne d’autre que toi Alors tu te rappelleras Tout ce que je te dis là Tout ce que je te dis là Alors tu te rappelleras Tout ce que je te dis là Tout ce que je te dis là Alors tu te rappelleras Tout ce que je te dis là Tout ce que je te dis là
Starting this evening, we’ll have rain for the rest of the week, but right at this very moment— it is a really nice morning here.
Morning after the big 4th!
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In case you missed it (or didn’t feel like watching massive fireworks on your tiny phone because you no longer have regular TV):
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It turns out that yesterday we also celebrated this!!
And while we’re at it! (And, yes, this song eerily captures my whole fucking life. I had no clue it was going to do that, though, 50 years ago…):
“American Girl”
Well, she was an American girl Raised on promises She couldn’t help thinkin’ that there Was a little more to life somewhere else After all, it was a great big world With lots of places to run to And if she had to die tryin’ She had one little promise she was gonna keep
Oh yeah, all right Take it easy, baby Make it last all night (Make it last all night) She was an American girl
Well, it was kind of cold that night She stood alone on her balcony (Ooh) Yeah, she could hear the cars roll by Out on 441 like waves crashin’ on the beach And for one desperate moment there He crept back in her memory God, it’s so painful when something that is so close Is still so far out of reach
Oh yeah, all right Take it easy, baby Make it last all night (Make it last all night) She was an American girl (Ooh)
c – 1976 Tom Petty
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Before we travel to Poland for those Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds photos I didn’t have yesterday–
I hit this weird “Keith Richards paydirt” on Instagram this morning. I stumbled upon a site that has been inactive for 6 years. And they had GREAT photos of Keith!! (Meaning, I had never seen any of the photos before.) Yay!!
Keith draining the Kahlúa?! (Not smoking.)
Keith and Mick, pool, LA, guitar, reading, not smoking:
Keith, Bill, Brian, boarding a TWA or de-boarding, not sure, but not smoking!
Keith looking weirdly clean-cut but SMOIKING!! (Also called “smoking”):
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And I think that these are all from Poland. And I also think it rained during the show (?).
It was one of those shows where there were tons of videos, and then most of the photos that people posted were really small. But here we go!!
Of course, I loved this!
Nick Cave looking really tiny next to a huge window, while reading and drinking something (and not smoking):
Then later… (or maybe on a whole different day, I actually have no idea):
And then also this (much, much larger than the window now):
And this happened:
I love this tie!!
And that’s it for Poland!!
Tonight the Bad Seeds play Montreux. Followed by another show back in Germany tomorrow, but that one is sold out. You can still buy tickets here for Montreux , though!
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I think I forgot to post this the other day.
It’s an edited version of one of our recent zoom calls for Tabor Research Group.
John the Baptist and Jesus: Separating History from Myth (1 hr 18 mins):
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And I just wanted to mention how happy I am that these 2 novels that I recently re-published as Kindle eBooks continue to be my most popular titles now. This makes me so happy, gang. Thank you so much!!
Twilight of the Immortal (my novel about gays, lesbians and bisexuals in Hollywood during the Silent Film Era, told against the backdrop of the short life of the legendary movie star, Rudolph Valentino):
The Guitar Hero Goes Home (“Experimental adult literary fiction. An American rock & roll legend, in the final year of his life, finally comes clean about sex, drugs, and rock & roll.”):
And the Blue Moon edition of Neptune & Surf are my top out-of-print titles being checked out for free!!
So, thank you for all that, gang!
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Tomorrow is my day off and I will be getting back to work on the call for submissions for the M. Christian tribute anthology.
So far, it has been great hearing from people I haven’t worked with in years, and getting such a positive response about it. I will keep everyone updated later in the week, in the event you want to contribute something, too.
Meanwhile, that’s it for now.
Enjoy your Sunday, wherever you are in the world.
Thanks for visiting!
I love you guys. See ya!
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Let’s close with this.
My first encounter with this song was reading the lyrics to it, which were printed on the back of the album I had just bought (The First Born is Dead) while on the subway in NYC, and I could not wait to get home and play that record!! Enjoy, gang.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – “Train Long Suffering”, live at Metronome Prague, June 20th, 2026:
And that said, of course — it’s still nothing like how the Bicentennial was.
But back then, there were only 3 network TV stations, 2 or 3 UHF TV stations per State. A bunch of radio stations, but we listened to them all the time. National magazines, daily newspapers — we were all reading them.
Everybody, regardless of politics, was on the same page regarding the Bicentennial 4th of July. It was exciting and really FUN.
Now everything is too spread out and watered down and hard to keep track of. Not to mention, no one having their fireworks on the actual 4th…
But here’s this, regardless:
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Okay!
Wow, yesterday wound up being a really nice day. That new client I have on Fridays is just such a treasure. Plus, she has 2 huge white German Shepherd dogs that are just adorable and they want to be wherever you are at all times:
THEM (at all times); “Hi! It’s me!!”
And today, I’m spending 7 hours with the retired Chaplain — and some of her kids and grandkids will be coming over later to celebrate the 4th of July. So it should be another really good shift.
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And since I didn’t post yesterday, I have a TON of “here’s this’s” so let’s get started!!
Here’s this!!
On July 2nd, it was the heavenly birthday of another one of my favorite writers:
And yesterday was the anniversary of the death of Brian Jones.
I tell you, it really moves me that so many people still adore Brian Jones. He has tribute sites all over Instagram. He has been dead since July 3rd, 1969. (If you’re too young to know who he was, he was the founder of the Rolling Stones.)
Brian’s gravesite yesterday, in Cheltenham, Wales:
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And here’s this!
From Steve Vai — onstage with a full moon. Photo by his wife!
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And here’s this!
Tom Petty and Prince, onstage honoring the induction of the late George Harrison in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame–
And in case you were doing something else that night back in 2004– it really was incredible —
Prince, Tom Petty, Steve Winwood, & More “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” | Rock Hall 2004 Induction:
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And speaking of great nights–
Here’s this!!
Keith, tuning up backstage at Madison Square Garden in NYC, on July 26th, 1972. That night was Mick Jagger’s 29th (!!) birthday:
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This poem by the late poet Jack Gilbert, was posted on the Poetic Outlaws substack page the other day. I just loved it:
The Lost Hotels of Paris Jack Gilbert
The Lord gives everything and charges by taking it back. What a bargain. Like being young for a while. We are allowed to visit hearts of women, to go into their bodies so we feel no longer alone. We are permitted romantic love with its bounty and half-life of two years. It is right to mourn for the small hotels of Paris that used to be when we used to be. My mansard looking down on Notre Dame every morning is gone, and me listening to the bell at night. Venice is no more. The best Greek Islands have drowned in acceleration. But it’s the having not the keeping that is the treasure. Ginsberg came to my house one afternoon and said he was giving up poetry because it told lies, that language distorts. I agreed, but asked what we have that gets it right even that much. We look up at the stars and they are not there. We see the memory of when they were, once upon a time. And that too is more than enough.
*********** And here’s this!
Flannery O’Connor at home, sitting under a self-portrait:
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And here’s a re-enactment of something that blew my mind. Truly, gang.
Yesterday, for some reason my attention was drawn to these books on a shelf in my family room:
Bob Dylan’s Chronicles, Volume One, jumped out at me.
I loved that book! But he never wrote Volume Two!!
I know the book has been out a long time now, and I clearly remember reading it when I lived, briefly, in Easton, Pennsylvania. Was the book really published that long ago?
I pulled it off the shelf. I’d forgotten it had that cool vintage photo of Times Square on the cover!! (My old stomping ground in my early days as a folksinger in NYC, when I was married to Chong and we lived one block from Times Square.)
When I opened the book, to see when it was published, I found this written on the title page and I was absolutely astounded.
The book had been a gift to me back in 2004 from Patrick Thomas, a journalist who occasionally wrote for Rolling Stone.
I had totally forgotten this.
Wow, gang. What a thing to discover in one of my favorite books. I hadn’t opened that book in 22 years…
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Okay.
Here’s this!
From Nick Cave Official!! Get ready for Brighton, gang!
Gates will open at 13:00 at Preston Park on 31st July.
SET TIMES 13:00 Gates 13:30 – 14:15 Warmduscher 14:45 – 15:30 Cate Le Bon 16:00 – 16:45 English Teacher 17:30 – 18:30 The Flaming Lips 19:30 – 22:00 Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Please allow plenty of time to enter the site.
13:00 – 15:00 Best time to arrive
15:00 – 17:00 Expect the gates to be busy and short queue times
17:00 – 19:00 Expect gates to be very busy with longer queue times
Outside of the official lineup, there is lots going on at Preston Park from 1pm including; food and drink with over 15 bars and 50 stalls, DJs throughout the day, exclusive Brighton merchandise, an Arcade Treasure Hunt with a range of prizes, chillout zones, a Bad Seeds Fish & Chips van and more.
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And here’s more Bad Seeds stuff!
Blixa looking happy backstage, Nick Cave — not so much!!
Spring forward a thousand years!!
Warren Ellis, looking really peppy!! (The Bad Seeds play Montreux tomorrow!! Buy tickets HERE!!)
I don’t have any photos yet from the show in Poland, because I haven’t had time to scroll through them yet but here’s the set list from the show!!
After Montreux, the Bad Seeds play Germany but it is sold out! But tickets are available for the show in Portugal on July 9th!
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And I believe that is it for today.
Enjoy your holiday if you live state-side!!
Otherwise, enjoy your Saturday, wherever you are in the world.
Thanks for visiting!!
I love you guys. See ya!
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Let’s close with this today!
Ray Charles, “America the Beautiful” 1972. Enjoy, gang.
Marilyn's Room 