Tag Archives: Tell My Bones: The Helen LaFrance Story

Back Online!!

Leave a comment

He was quick, efficient, and you’ll never guess what the problem was!!!

YES!! That’s correct!!

One of the cats had chewed through a cable…

But the tech guy installed an enclosed box on the wall, so now the cats can’t get at any of the cables…

Unbelievable.

***********

Okay. Well, since I’ve been collecting “here’s this’s'” for several days now, this post will be a big sort of random collection.

First!

Let me say THANK YOU!! Again!!

The eBook edition of Twilight of the Immortal is now ranked at #176 in Gay Fiction, and #418 in Historical Fiction, on Amazon!! Thank you so much!!

It is FREE to download until Thursday, Nov. 12th!

And just for your reading pleasure, yet again — here’s a mere portion of another review my novel got on Amazon when it first came out in 2011:

“Believe me, this is much more than a historical novel about Rudolph Valentino. Rosemary McKisco is both a well-developed and fascinating character AND a fantastic device to give us access to everyday life in the WWI and Roaring 20s era and a “fly on the wall” kind of passport to the inner workings of Broadway and Hollywood in those years. The book has been researched thoroughly and paints these pictures in infinite detail. One of my favorite scenes involves Rosemary visiting the home of a wealthy bachelor in 1916. Rosemary tells us with awe of the things she saw there, including the up-to-date kitchen with appliances painted with white enamel, so different from the old black stove in her own home. I love this kind of detail! So now I know when kitchen appliances were making the transition from the old cast iron items of the Victorian era to the whiter, brighter stoves and ice boxes we saw on The Waltons. Maybe you don’t care for this kind of historical detail, but I love it. There are countless examples of this kind of accurate detail in Twilight of the Immortal. Another favorite documentation of mine is the description of the railroad cars the characters take cross-country. If you are interested in fashion, you’ll be in heaven as Rosemary describes the many dresses her first fiancée buys for her.”

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

And here’s this!

A first look at the cover art for the upcoming William Burroughs tribute anthology!! Burroughs: The Funeral Director’s Cut. Edited by Alex S. Johnson,

And I have to say, gang, since my Internet was down, I managed to WhatsApp Wayne a copy of my flash fiction piece for the Burroughs anthology.

His comment after reading it: “JESUS!! Wow. You may have a future, kid.”

That really made me feel great!!

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

Okay.

Sadly, this happened on Saturday:

RIP, Richard Lloyd.

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

And yesterday was the 50th Anniversary of the release of the first album by Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers–

And in honor of that, a TON of merch has been released from Tom Petty Official. Among them is the CD below, which will be arriving here at my humble abode sometime today!! “No Sleep til L.A.” Contains never-released tracks from 50 years ago!!

***********

And I believe this anniversary happened yesterday!

And let’s listen to this again!! This song blew my fucking mind when I first heard it on the AM radio in my bedroom — I was 12 years old. “Walk on the Wild Side,” Lou Reed. 1972.

***********

And speaking of glam rock–

From Phyllis Stein!

I actually had never known that the New York Dolls had a different drummer when they started out — Billy Murcia. He passed away on November 6, 1972. (I didn’t start listening to the New York Dolls until late 1973 — when I was first able to find one of their records in a local department store!! I was thrilled!!)

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

And here’s this!

Another Jack Kerouac quote!

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

And this is rapidly coming up!!

In honor of Gram Parsons’ recent 80th birthday, he’s being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame!! (November 11th).

***********

And speaking of Gram Parsons’ best friend–

Here’s a couple of Keith!!

Smoking!! In France!! Around 1973!!

And here, he’s offering us a cigarette! On a Lear jet!! In 1979!!

***********

And, well, a few from Facebook…

First — my expression every day now, since Nick Cave announced his next “In Conversation” US Tour and I realized that I won’t be able to attend:

Meanwhile–

It really still is a great day to be alive…

Nick Cave, smoking!!

And Nick Cave!! Smoking!!

And Nick Cave sent out another Red Hand File this morning. Very interesting, indeed. Especially since I had just been to that fantastic art exhibit yesterday, wherein there was no AI or computer-generated art whatsoever, and it really just took my breath away.

The RHF discusses a couple different aspects about art and artists, including songwriting — and AI. He says, in part:

“…But song generator platforms are, in my view, indicators of this nascent technology’s demonic potential to hollow out human endeavour and sever our connection to the divine. They mock creation itself by rendering humanity unnecessary, taking the fruits of human striving and reducing them to mere products. It is, perhaps, our final, most soul-destroying humiliation….”

You can read it in full HERE.

DAVID WITH THE HEAD OF GOLIATH BY CARAVAGGIO, CIRCA 1607

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

And that is it for today, and yesterday, and Saturday evening…!!

I hope you’re having a magnificent Monday, wherever you are in the world!!

Thanks for visiting!!

I love you guys. See ya!

*********

Let’s close with this!!

It popped up on someone’s Instagram post yesterday. I haven’t heard this song in forever — “I love it when you call me Big Poppa” — and I always just LOVED this song!!

The Notorious B.I.G. – “Big Poppa“, 1994, from the album Ready to Die. Enjoy, gang!!

“Big Poppa”

Uh, uh, check it out (yeah), uh
Junior M.A.F.I.A., uh (he-he)
Uh (I like this) yeah, yeah
Nine-fo’ (keep bangin’)

To all the ladies in the place with style and grace
Allow me to lace these lyrical douches in your bushes (uh)
Who rock grooves and make moves with all the mamis?
The back of the club, sippin’ Moët is where you’ll find me (what?)
The back of the club, mackin’ hoes, my crew’s behind me (uh)
Mad question askin’, blunt passin’
Music blastin’, but I just can’t quit
Because one of these honeys Biggie got to creep with (that’s right)

Sleep with, keep the ep a secret, why not? (Uh)
Why blow up my spot ’cause we both got hot?
Now check it, I got more mack than Craig, and in the bed
Believe me, sweetie, I got enough to feed the needy (come on)
No need to be greedy, I got mad friends with Benzes
C-notes by the layers, true fuckin’ players (uh)
Jump in the Rover and come over, tell your friends jump in the GS3
I got the chronic by the tree, cuz (let’s go)

I love it when you call me Big Poppa
Throw your hands in the air if you’s a true player
I love it when you call me Big Poppa
To the honeys gettin’ money, playin’ niggas like dummies
I love it when you call me Big Poppa
You got a gun up in your waist, please don’t shoot up the place (why?)
‘Cause I see some ladies tonight that should be havin’ my baby (uh), baby (uh)

Straight up, honey, really I’m askin’
Most of these niggas think they be mackin’, but they be actin’
Who they attractin’ with that line (what?), “What’s your name? What’s your sign?”
Soon as he buy that wine, I just creep up from behind (that’s right)
And ask you what your interests are, who you be with?
Things that make you smile, what numbers to dial
You gon’ be here for a while? I’m gon’ go call my crew, you go call your crew
We can rendezvous at the bar around two (come on)

Plans to leave, throw the keys to Little Cease (uh-huh)
Pull the truck up front, and roll up the next blunt
So we can steam on the way to the telly, go fill my belly (G)
A T-bone steak, cheese eggs and Welch’s grape
Conversate for a few, ’cause in a few we gon’ do
What we came to do, ain’t that right, boo? (True)
Forget the telly-, we just go to the crib
And watch a movie in the jacuzzi, smoke Ls while you do me

I love it when you call me Big Poppa
Throw your hands in the air if you’s a true player (come on, yeah)
I love it when you call me Big Poppa
To the honeys gettin’ money, playin’ niggas like dummies (uh)
I love it when you call me Big Poppa
You got a gun up in your waist, please don’t shoot up the place (why?)
‘Cause I see some ladies tonight that should be havin’ my baby, baby (uh)

In mansion and Benzes
Givin’ ends to my friends, and it feels stupendous
Tremendous cream, fuck a dollar and a dream (heh)
Still tote gats, strapped with infrared beams (that’s right) (what?)
Choppin’ Os (uh-huh), smokin’ la in Optimos
Money, hoes and clothes: all a nigga knows (all a nigga knows)
A foolish pleasure? Whatever
I had to find the buried treasure (for what?), so grams I had to measure
However, livin’ better now, Coogi sweater now
Drop top BMs, I’m the man, girlfriend

Yeah, honey, check it
Tell your friends to get with my friends
And we can be friends
Shit, we can do this every weekend (that’s right), alright?
Is that a’ight wit’ you?
Yeah, keep bangin’

I love it when you call me Big Poppa
Throw your hands in the air if you’s a true player
I love it when you call me Big Poppa
To the honeys gettin’ money, playin’ niggas like dummies (uh)
I love it when you call me Big Poppa
You got a gun up in your waist, please don’t shoot up the place (why?)
‘Cause I see some ladies tonight that should be havin’ my baby, baby (uh)

Check it out
Nine-fo’ shit for that ass, uh
Puff Daddy, Biggie Smalls, Junior M.A.F.I.A.
Represent, baby, baby, uh

c -1994 Christopher Wallace / Christopher Jasper (and the Isely Brothers — Rudolph Isley / Ernie Isley / Marvin Isley / O’kelly Isley / Ronald Isley)

Ready or not, it’s Saturday!

Leave a comment

My Internet was down for many hours, but now it’s back and that right there makes everything splendid.

If you saw my quick post from yesterday — wow, gang. What great timing that was!

I discovered that I had $150 in rewards from my Medicare Supplemental Insurance. (And it was great timing because I had just paid the car payment, the car insurance, and the mortgage — so this was like “found money”.)

I had no clue how to use it, but soon discovered that one of the Dollar Stores about 7 minutes away, would honor those rewards. So I stopped in there before work, loaded up on about 3 weeks’ worth of cat food and cat litter, and it was totally FREE!!! (Yes, enough for 14 cats!!)

Yay!

(And I still have $100 left over!! Enough to go back and buy some new Christmas coffee mugs!! We shall see! God knows I need plenty more, I only have about 15 Christmas coffee mugs already!!)

And luckily for the cats, that particular Dollar Store sells all the types of cat food my cats love. (Yay!) (The Dollar Store here in the village only carries 2 brands….)

And then after work, I stopped in at Aldi’s and got about a month’s worth of non-perishables for me, along with my usual groceries — that was not free. But at least I’m prepared in case anything gets seriously wonky down there in DC… I guess we will find out.

DC right now, if there were, like, trees and grass everywhere…

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

Before I forget!!!!

The eBook edition of my 2011 novel, Twilight of the Immortal, will be FREE to download, starting tomorrow and running through Thursday, Nov. 12th!!

This book has generally gotten 5-star reviews (a couple of readers did not like the fact that I portray Rudolph Valentino as bisexual, but I’m telling you, gang, I researched that novel for 10 years before writing it, and I include a complete bibliography. I did not make that stuff up.)

Anyway– here’s one of the reviews from way back when my novel first came out:

“Unlike her previous books, this is NOT erotica! This is a serious novel that should be enjoyed by the general public. The story is captivating. The characters are very strong and the book is hard to put down.”

***********

Okay, gang.

I gotta plug another great all-natural product!!

This is another product from Keys — a really great company for all-natural health & beauty products. I use a lot of their products, but I only started using this Wednesday night and I am stunned by how great it is!

I was having some non-stop itching around my ankles, from back when the cats had gotten fleas. The cats were no longer scratching at all, the fleas were gone, but I couldn’t get the flea bites to stop itching.

This stuff took care of it instantly, and by last night, the bites and the scars were already gone. It healed everything that quickly.

You cannot buy this on Amazon. You can buy it at health & wellness stores, or directly from Keys.

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

Okay.

By mid-afternoon yesterday, Nick Cave finally made his announcement and I was totally heartbroken, gang.

He’s doing another “In Conversation” Tour, here in the US, in Spring 2027, but he’s not coming anywhere near Ohio.

I cannot believe that I will miss the tour, gang. It was so incredible the last time he did one like this. (That time I saw him, twice, in NYC. But without some sort of weird windfall, I can’t afford to travel like that anymore — planes, hotels, meals, tickets to the show, etc.)

Visit HERE to see which cities he’ll be in that are nowhere near Ohio, and to register for pre-sale tickets.

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

But here’s this!

I used to have this photo taped to my wall in my bedroom on E.12th Street in NYC. I loved it! (And still do.)

Keith! 1988, NYC. (Photo by Albert Watson)

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

I thought this was just beautiful.

From former Bad Seed/Boys Next Door/The Birthday Party, Mick Harvey, yesterday.

Mick Harvey, Nick Cave, Tracy Pew, Rowland S. Howard, 1983

And here’s this, while we’re at it. “Wildworld” by The Birthday Party.

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

And as time marches inexorably onward–

Here’s Bad Seed Warren Ellis with his other band, The Dirty Three, in Berlin the other night!

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

And a new book is coming from Esther (and Jerry) Hicks! It’s been a long time since they had a new book out.

The Art of Allowing: You Get What You Think About Whether You Want it Or Not (Book Trailer– 8 mins):

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

And this was interesting. Good history lesson, if this is new to you.

I listened to it while doing yoga the other day.

From Bart Ehrman’s “Misquoting Jesus” podcast — Early Christians Were Jews. Then 70 CE Changed Everything (46 mins):

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

And that is it for today.

Today starts my new 3-days off-in-a-row schedule at work. (I will have Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays off, three times a month.)

I’m hoping to get the flash fiction piece edited and turned in to Alex S. Johnson today, hopefully for inclusion in the Bill Burroughs tribute anthology.

And then I will begin a new short piece for another anthology that Alex S. Johnson sent out a Call for Submissions for this morning: RIOT PINK: An Alphabet Rights Anthology. (That one will be a more personal, nonfiction piece.)

Meanwhile–

Enjoy your Saturday, wherever you are in the world, gang. Stay safe.

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

**********

Let’s close with this.

For some reason, this broke my heart a little bit.

I had gone back to bed with my cup o’ joe this morning, waiting for the Internet to be restored. And then I switched on the Oldies FM radio station on the retro boombox next to my bed–

And this song from yesteryear came on! Wow, did it take me back to my wee bonny girlhood. (If God came to me on my deathbed and asked if I’d like to live my life all over again, I would definitely, without hesitating, say, “No, not even for a minute, but the music was really good.”)

Elton John, “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.” 1973. Enjoy, gang.

Hmmm… It’s November 6th

Leave a comment

No announcement from Nick Cave yet — and we all keep checking!!

Could this maybe explain the delay??? (From Facebook!)

But it gives me something happy to anticipate today, and not just “am I going to be able to afford to buy enough food for me and the cats to last 2 weeks?” etc., etc.

We shall see, gang. I’ll be heading to the Rural King and to Aldi’s after work today, to see what I can manage to do about stocking up. (See last night’s post.)

Meanwhile!

Yes! I did finish the flash fiction piece yesterday afternoon. But I know I will want to take another look at it over the weekend before turning it in.

It is a really strange story, but I guess that stands to reason since it’s inspired by William S. Burroughs: “…Much of Burroughs’s work is experimental and features unreliable narrators….”

So we shall see! But it was a very interesting process, writing it, I mean.

***********

Okay!

I cannot believe I forgot about this yesterday!

Now it is belated, but happy heavenly birthday, Gram Parsons! Yesterday marked his 80th birthday.

There were tributes to him all over Instagram yesterday, but I really liked this one! (It’s connected to Gram Parsons’ legendary death, wherein his friends stole his casket from the airport, took it to the Joshua Tree desert and set it on fire to free his spirit.)

Keith posted a video yesterday, wherein he was singing Gram’s song, “Hickory Wind” in concert somewhere, as a tribute to Gram’s 80th. It was really great, but I can’t post Instagram videos on the blog.

But meanwhile, here’s this! Gram with The Byrds, singing “Hickory Wind”, 1968:

***********

And speaking of Keith!!

Here’s this!!

And in case you don’t recognize the guys behind the shades!!

Here’s Keith with Mick (and an old pal, Jack D.!!):

**********

And Ronnie Wood announced yesterday that you can now order his Stones Folio art editions in time for Christmas!!

Each folio comes with a matching free Portrait T-shirt! — $985, each folio. Or you can order just the Portrait T-shirt by itself — $95 each.

They are really great. You can view them and pre-order them HERE.

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

And here’s this!

I’m guessing this is around April 21st — but I don’t know which year!

But David Bowie and Iggy Pop appear to be celebrating Iggy’s birthday (April 21st)!!

Meanwhile!! Here’s this classic!! “Lust For Life” by Iggy Pop — song written by Iggy and David Bowie (1977):

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

Well, that’s all I have for today.

I thought I was going to spend a portion of the blog posting about Nick Cave’s announcement, but it still hasn’t come out.

So, we’ll dip into the desktop stash while we’re waiting, and re-post this instead!!

Meanwhile, please stay safe out there, wherever you are in the world.

And here in the US, please stock up on food and water for you, your families, and your pets!! DC is intense right now — and they’re talking about “The Insurrection Act” going down because of massive voting irregularities, but we will see, gang.

Still, it’s better to be on the side of safe rather than sorry!!

Okay!

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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

Let’s close with this gem!!

Maybe this is where Nick Cave is right now?? Down in the lime tree arbor and time got away from him??

We do not know!!

But here’s “Lime Tree Arbor” by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, 1997. So beautiful. Enjoy, gang.

Okay! Power Has Been Restored!

Leave a comment

At least I got a nice walk out of it. It’s a really pretty day — cool and really sunny.

And by the time I got back home, the power was back on.

So here I am!

***********

I guess I’ll just get right to it, since I have a bunch of stuff I need to do this afternoon — try to complete the flash fiction piece for the Burroughs anthology (all 400 more words of it). Go to the bank and put in enough cash to cover the mortgage (due in about 5 minutes). Stop in at the post office and ship a complimentary copy of The Mammoth Book of Erotic Photography (2001) to investigative journalist Zak Winters! (The book includes photos by RC Horsch — the last time I worked with him, in fact, before he started to become a really scary individual. I co-edited that book for a British publisher, with Maxim Jakubowski.)

Then I gotta do yoga, wash hair, etc. — all the exciting things I do on my day off!!

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

Okay!

The Rolling Stones now have Winter merch available!!

Visit HERE to peruse and then order!!

**********

Alex S. Johnson interviewed author Francesca Lia Block! (1 hr 20 mins):

**********

I don’t know how he manages to electrocute himself while taking a selfie, but however he does it, he’s really good at it!!

Warren Ellis, hours before the show in Berlin yesterday!!

And here’s this, while we’re at it!! Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers, “Born To Lose” — sort of “live” in 1977 :

**********

Here’s this!

From Phyllis Stein.

And I have to say here, gang, that I love Joan Jett.

And not because of her image, her attitude, her music, but because my dearly departed, late-great friend Holly Lane, used to manage Joan Jett’s record label, Blackheart Records, and back then, Holly had some on again, off again issues with heroin. She was struggling.

Joan stood by Holly 100%, kept her employed, helped her stick with rehab and get her life clean and back on track.

Thank you, Joan Jett. It meant so much to Holly and I never forgot that.

And here’s this!! Classic Joan Jett & the Blackhearts!! “Bad Reputation”!! (1980) Such a fantastic song!!

“Bad Reputation”

I don’t give a damn ’bout my reputation
You’re living in the past, it’s a new generation
A girl can do what she wants to do and that’s what I’m gonna do

An’ I don’t give a damn ’bout my bad reputation
Oh no, not me

An’ I don’t give a damn ’bout my reputation
Never said I wanted to improve my station
An’ I’m only doin’ good when I’m havin’ fun
An’ I don’t have to please no one

An’ I don’t give a damn ’bout my bad reputation
Oh no, not me, oh no, not me

I don’t give a damn ’bout my reputation
I’ve never been afraid of any deviation
An’ I don’t really care if you think I’m strange
I ain’t gonna change

An’ I’m never gonna care ’bout my bad reputation
Oh no, not me, oh no, not me
Pedal, boys!

An’ I don’t give a damn ’bout my reputation
The world’s in trouble, there’s no communication
An’ everyone can say what they wanna to say
It never gets better, anyway

So why should I care about a bad reputation anyway?
Oh no, not me, oh no, not me

I don’t give a damn ’bout my bad reputation
You’re living in the past, it’s a new generation
An’ I only feel good when I got no pain
An’ that’s how I’m gonna stay

An’ I don’t give a damn ’bout my bad reputation
Oh no, not me, oh no, not me
Not me, not me

c – 1980 – Joan Jett / Martin Kupersmith / Ritchie Cordell / Kenneth Benjamin Laguna

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

Okay!

For the second time in his illustrious life–

Bob Dylan had an audience with a Pope!!

This one happened yesterday, at the Vatican!!

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

And more from Phyllis Stein!!

A bunch of Richard Hell!

Here’s Richard, far left, with his “seminal” (sometimes meaning “groundbreaking” sometimes meaning “semen-filled”!) Punk band, Television, at CBGBs in 1975!!

And here’s Richard Hell maybe smoking in NYC in 1977. Not sure! (Photo by Julia Gorton)

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

And we’ll round off this day with a couple of great ones from Facebook!!

Nick Cave –a little too closely cropped but looking fantastic!!

And here’s a nice picture!!

***********

And tomorrow, Friday November 6th, we will undoubtedly discover what Nick Cave’s exciting announcement will be!!

***********

All right.

That is it for now.

I’m gonna get started around here!

(And I’m hoping to chat with my best friend Valerie in Brooklyn today. She gets her cataract surgery tomorrow…)

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

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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

And how about closing with this today?!

From the Oldies FM radio station on the retro boombox next to my bed!

Making-the-bed music from this morning!! Yay!!

Tears For Fears’ colossal hit from 1984!! “Shout,” from their hit album, Songs From the Big Chair!! Enjoy, gang!! We sure did!!

Rainy fall day today!!

3 Comments

Go figure!

It is only November 4th — and finally really feeling like fall. (Cold, cloudy & rainy.)

And just FYI, I still have all of my summer flowers blooming on my kitchen porch. Usually, they are dead and gone by early October. But it probably won’t be much longer now.

(And, NO!!! I’m not going to post this legendary song again!! It would be too obvious!! Thank you for your attention to this matter.)

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

This made my wee bonny heart soar this morning, gang.

Apparently, my novel Twilight of the Immortal (2011) was the subject of a recent podcast on Spotify and now book sales for it are cranking again on Amazon !!

Thank you so very much to everyone. I really appreciate it!!

And just a head’s up — there is a really talented young woman in England currently narrating/producing the audiobook version of it. I will be publishing it sometime in early 2027. She is doing a terrific job.

And just for your reading pleasure, here’s a section of the first review the book ever got on Amazon, back in 2011:

“As soon as I read this quote, attributed to Valentino: ‘Observe, Rosemary, how in Hollywood there is no difference between a knife and a smile,’ I knew for sure that I had found a gem! Twilight of the Immortal is both beautifully written and an engaging romp, an insider’s view (fictional though it may be) of life behind the scenes in the 1920’s movie industry, with Rudolph Valentino, Natacha Rambova, and Alla Nazimova, all figuring prominently in the story line. I enjoyed it immensely, from beginning to end.”

Yay!! (I worked on this novel for ten years, gang.)

**********

Okay.

Since I didn’t post yesterday, I have sort of a bunch of “here’s this’s” to catch up on, so let’s go!!

Here’s this!!

A blatant attempt to make me feel really old!! Yay!!

Nick Cave Official announced yesterday that the Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds EP Your Funeral… My Trial was released 40 years ago!!

Thank you very much!! (Yes, I can remember lying on my bed in my E.12th Street apartment in NYC and listening to this record as if it were only 40 years ago…)

You can listen to it HERE!

And you can also shop for special merch HERE!

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

And here’s this!!

And if you’ve never read Keith’s autobiography, Life — it was fantastic. (2011 – 576 pages!)

Here’s Keith, signing & smoking when the glorious book first came out!

And also just smiling!

And here’s Keith again! Not exactly saying, “Fuck you, I’ll smoke if I want to!” But it’s almost as if he’s saying “Fuck you, I’ll smoke if I want to!!”

***********

And on the topic of the Rolling Stones…

Here’s a wonderful photo of Charlie Watts from long ago, with his wife, Shirley, and their daughter, Seraphina!!

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

And here’s this!

A couple of photos of Warren Ellis. (The first one is from Copenhagen.)

And here’s Vicious Warren Elvis!!!

Okay, here’s this again….Lou Reed’s “Vicious” from his legendary album, Transformer (1972)!!

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

Okay.

This is AI, but I really liked it.

Nick Cave and a beautiful dog:

This is not AI, and I really liked it!

Nick Cave and a beautiful cigarette:

And from Facebook!

Nick Cave:

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

And I guess that is it for today!!

I gotta get moving here and head to town.

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’ve posted it here before, but I really love this song and it came up in my driving-back-from-town playlist last night! It made me so happy. I sang along, really loud!!

Hong Kong’s fabulous Grace Chang singing her huge hit, “Wo Ai Qia Qia” (I love cha-cha) from 1957!! Sing along if you’re able!! And enjoy, gang!!

电影 曼波女郎 插曲
作词：易文
作曲：姚敏

我们欢欢喜喜一起上学校，
我们高高兴兴一起做体操。
鼓声砰砰蓬蓬响，就摇摇摆摆跳，
有谁不会我就来教。

怪模样，不要笑，不要笑，
伊啊恰恰，恰恰恰。
大家跳，别害臊，别害臊，
伊啊恰恰，恰恰恰。

你学伦巴，不时髦，
你学森巴，没情调。
只要你试一遭，就知道恰恰妙，
跳恰恰，多轻巧。

你有清清楚楚伶俐的头脑，
你有结结实实灵活的身腰，
请把拍子听得准，把步子记得牢，
你别害怕谁都能跳，

快狐步，太单调，太单调，
伊啊恰恰，恰恰恰。
圆舞步，太古老，太古老，
伊啊恰恰，恰恰恰。

你学伦巴，不时髦，
你学森巴，没情调。
还不如曼波好，还不如恰恰妙，
跳恰恰多轻巧。

恰恰恰，恰恰恰，恰恰恰，
伊啊恰恰，恰恰恰。
恰恰恰，恰恰恰，恰恰恰，
伊啊恰恰，恰恰恰。

不怕你身体摇，只怕你不肯跳，
跳恰恰多轻巧。

It’s Monday!!

Leave a comment

And my new schedule begins today, wherein I now have Mondays off.

And to launch it — Kara and Wendy and I are meeting for an early lunch in town today to celebrate Wendy’s upcoming birthday!!

Yay!!

Upcoming cake!!

As usual, I am really looking forward to hanging out with both of them. We have all been friends for about 10 years now, but the 3 of us haven’t been able to get together and do lunch since Christmastime.

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

And speaking of birthdays (sort of)–

Joe Satriani’s EP, Dreaming #11, turns 38 today!!

I vividly remember seeing the album for sale in Tower Records in downtown NYC. It was clear across the store from where I was standing, but it was up on a rack and the cover art was so blue that it stood out by a mile.

I was a huge Joe Satriani fan, so I was really excited! Ran right over and clutched it and bought it and zipped back to my apartment on E.12th Street and I can’t fucking believe that was 38 years ago…!!!

Anyway.

Here’s “The Crush of Love”, 1988, from Dreaming #11:

***********

One cool thing (IMHO) about turning the clocks back, is waking up at my “usual time” only to discover I have another hour to just hang out in bed in the dark.

I did some incredibly effective meditating, which I really needed. And while I was doing it, I was thinking how cool it would be if Nick Cave’s announcement on Friday will be for us to do a live group meditation with him on YouTube!!

Wouldn’t that be awesome?? So many people would tune in for that and meditate together — all over the world. And he could come up with some specific mantra for it — I think it would be amazing. Even just for 15 minutes.

I have done group meditations online before, but I have only meditated with another person — you know, in the same room together — one time in my life and it was so astoundingly connecting that it freaked me out.

This was when I was briefly staying with Jack Red Eagle, out in his cabin in the woods of East Texas. He was that Lakota Sioux Medicine Man who was hoping I would take over his practice so that he could retire. He was in his 60s by then.

It turned out I was incredibly gifted with using my mind in that way — healing people and connecting with people — but I was too young (23) and it was still brand new to me and it totally freaked me out. The whole thing, not just the meditating part (where I actually felt his mind and my mind connect, energetically, at the same time that he was feeling it, too, it really was amazing).

Oh, and if you are among the 3 people in the world who have actually read my new novel, The Curse of Our Profound Disorder, you will recognize a lot of this because it shows up in the novel in a fictionalized way — with the character of (the much younger) Jack Kicking Eagle, in his cabin in East Texas…

But it all stems from my real-life (non-sexual) experiences with Jack Red Eagle.

Jack Red Eagle, as he looked back then, in 1983, when I first met him. RIP, Jack:

**********

The interview yesterday regarding RC Horsch went very well. The reporter (Zak Winters) is very easy to talk to and he kept it moving and I felt very comfortable, even though it was obviously a difficult topic to discuss.

I will let you know when Part 2 of the investigation is posted to YouTube.

*********

Okay!

Johnny Depp’s been busy!

You’ve probably already seen a ton of videos about his performance with Aerosmith the other night, but it wasn’t until yesterday that I actually found photos of it, rather than videos, so here’s this!

From October 29th!

And then last night, in NYC, he was at a special screening of “Ebenezer”! (Which I think opens in theaters on November 13th?)

*********

And here’s this!

From Phyllis Stein!!

David Jo with David Bowie (and Earl Slick) drinking and almost smoking at Max’s in NYC in 1977!! At least Bowie is holding a pack of Gitanes… (Photo is by Joe Stevens)

***********

And here’s Joe Strummer and Mick Jones, reunited in the studio in 1986!!

And here’s this, while we’re at it! Big Audio Dynamite’s “C’mon Every Beatbox,” from no.10 Upping Street, 1986!

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

And here’s this!

From Facebook!!

Nick Cave, proving yet again that it’s a great day to be alive!!

*********

And that is it for today.

I’m hoping that after I return from lunch this afternoon, I can get some more work done on the flash fiction piece for the Bill Burroughs anthology. The deadline is rapidly approaching, and even though the piece is a little over half-done, it is coming out so slowly; word by word by word, instead of in whole sentences.

I don’t know that Bill Burroughs is actually dictating it to me, but it feels like he is. To the point where I actually say out loud to him, “What exactly are you trying to say?” And then one or two more words come.

It’s so weird…

However.

I am hoping my piece will be accepted for the collection because it will be another new publisher for me and it’s been really great getting to know the publisher/editor/writer, Alex S. Johnson. So I’m hoping it will lead to more work. He works with such a wide variety of writers & musicians, from all over the world. Some of whom I know but most of them, I don’t.

It would be great to have some new horizons on the horizon, right, gang??!!

Okay!

I think that is it for now.

Have a great Monday, wherever you are in the world, gang.

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

***********

Let’s close with this today.

The video is only a few days old (made with the help of AI), but the song is from 1988, and I used to totally love this song!! But I hadn’t thought of it in ages….

It turned up in my YouTube feed this morning.

Leonard Cohen, “Everybody Knows,” from his great album I’m Your Man, 1988. Enjoy, gang.

It Has Arrived!

2 Comments

November, that is.

And my favorite day of the year — wherein I got that extra hour back and I have already used it well! (Making another big breakfast for myself, after feeding and cleaning up after 14 cats… then, yes! I went back to bed for an hour, with my cup o’ joe on the bedside table!)

And now here I am.

I’m not exactly dreading the interview today (at noon — with the investigative reporter, about RC Horsch), but I will be happy when it’s over.

I will also be EXTREMELY happy when this fucking election is over (Tuesday) and all the fucking ADS can just fucking STOP… I am so fucking sick of it.

Anyway! That said, please fucking VOTE.

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

Last night was okay. There were a WHOLE lot of kids out there, trick-or-treating. So I’m guessing kids came in from other nearby towns. They were literally just everywhere.

The candy ran out while there was still about 30 more minutes to go, so I took everything down by 7PM, and brought it inside, then turned out the lights and went upstairs.

I am not a fan of Halloween and I am glad it’s over, but the kids had fun.

Meanhwile…

Wayne WhatsApp’d me yesterday about his plans for last night. He’s too funny.

“…I don’t want kids ringing my doorbell, so I’ll leave out my traditional basket of loose cigarettes, strike-anywhere matches and razor blades so the lil’ darlings can help themselves. SAFETY razor blades. After all, I’m not a monster.”

(You know, for a marriage that didn’t last, I still cannot find another living soul that I would rather spend my life with.)

Okay.

I re-watched this magnificent film while the festivities were going on last night, and what another great trip down Memory Lane it was:

I was in my early teens the first time I saw this film (with French Club at school). I remember well how it made me feel — liberated. On so many levels.

It’s so cool to re-watch it, and to know so much more about the French New Wave then I knew way back then, and to have been to Paris a couple of times — and also to have been to Paris for a book signing, to have Neptune & Surf come out twice in French. To know now that I have done things I had no clue I was going to do regarding Paris (and life) when I first saw that film!!

(What I’m going to do for the next however many years I have left, besides take care of rescued cats, is the part that has me really stumped, gang.)

*********

Okay.

Here’s this . I love this acoustic version. It popped up in my YouTube stream this morning, for some reaason.

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

Okay!

We missed this!!

It happened last night, but the post didn’t get into my Instagram feed until this morning.

Bad Seed Jim Sclavunos played Dublin last night with his other band, Transvision Vamp!!

**********

And I loved this.

From Phyllis Stein.

David Jo and the New York Dolls, in NYC, 1973. Photo by Bob Gruen.

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

And also from Phyllis Stein!!

Andy Warhol at Gristede’s in NYC, 1965 — perhaps prepping for Hurricane Sandy! (Photo by Bob Edelman)

***********

And here’s this!!

Warren Ellis surrounded by FLOWERS!!

**********

And here’s this.

From Facebook!!

Which reminds me — I watched the rest of that video I posted yesterday — the Nick Cave documentary about his early years in Melbourne.

I really liked it. I liked the sensibility of it and found it actually very informative. I’d heard a lot of that stuff before about the early Boys Next Door years, but this time it all actually made sense.

Here’s the link again, in case you missed it. (36 mins.)

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

Okay, that’s all I have for today.

I’m going to finish up the laundry and sort of get my head together before the interview.

Yesterday was intense at work — only 3 hours but they were sort of crazy. The moment we got to the store, the electricity was on the verge of going out.

So the owners came in and the electricity repair guy came. It got fixed but it got the day off to a weird start.

However, a cool thing happened.

A man came up to the cash register while I was standing there and I immediately recognized him from the old days. A really nice man.

He was so happy. He said, “Are you back??” And then he said, “I just found a recipe you wrote for me a long time ago and I was going to come in here and ask what had happened to you — and now here you are!”

i thought that was pretty cool. Sort of Kismet-y.

I’m guessing I wrote him a recipe for how to make your own Hydroxychloroquine at home. We did a lot of that kind of stuff during the lockdowns.

Anyway. It is really good to be back at that store. And nary a lockdown in sight…

**********

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

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

**********

Let’s close with this.

I got really sick & tired of all the commercials on the oldies FM radio station on my retro boombox this morning…

So I turned it off and turned on my driving-to-town playlist on my iPhone instead, and YAY!!

A little bit of heaven filled my room.

Enjoy, gang. I sure did.

“A Rainy Night in Soho”, 1986, Shane MacGowan and The Pogues.

What Lies Ahead!!

Leave a comment

Here in Crazeysburg, we actually have trick-or-treaters coming out on Halloween!!

In the other nearby towns, trick-or-treat already happened on Thursday night. I guess because it frees everyone up to go to parties on Halloween — or church, if, you know, you’re Satanic or something…

Anyway!!

This is only the 2nd year that our village has had door-to-door trick-or-treaters. The kids used to dress up and then all just meet down by the little Town Hall area and get candy there, and play games, etc.

I really, really love seeing the kids all dressed up, going door-to-door!! They have such a good time. I have no clue if I bought enough candy, but we’ll find out!!

My front door doesn’t actually work, so I decorate the area directly in front of the front door and set a big bowl of candy there, and some lit lanterns, so they can help themselves. And I just sit in the family room and sort of happily watch them while sort of watching TV, too.

This is what I noticed last year: the kids are incredibly polite. They only take one piece of candy, each, and then move on to the next house. Even though it’s a big bowl of FREE candy!! Yay!! But all of them were just really polite.

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

Okay!

For some reason, I don’t have much today.

But I do have this!

Someone on Facebook was kind enough to give us 3 for the price of ONE!! Yay!!

Keith!! Smoking!!

**********

Oh! And I found out yesterday, that me and my co-workers will be going to THIS in early December!

At the Licking County Players Theater!! “Miracle on 34th Street”!! I think it’s a musical, but I’m not sure. Either way, it’s a Christmas miracle and I can’t wait!!

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

Okay.

I found out about this documentary on Facebook yesterday. I haven’t had time to watch the whole thing yet, but here it is!

From Melbourne’s The Culture Archivist:

The wild Melbourne world that created Nick Cave (36 mins):

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

And speaking of Nick Cave…

Nick Cave Official and The Red Hand Files posted this on Instagram yesterday!!

Something important is going to be announced on Friday, November 6th!!

I think common sense tells us, Nick Cave is going to announce that he’s started smoking again!!! Yay!!!

But, maybe — it’ll be something like a book coming out, with a collection of the greatest Red Hand Files??

Or maybe — Nick is taking the Red Hand Files on tour???!!! And people can ask him questions again, like they did during that fantastic In Conversation tour he did all over the world about 7 years ago??

Obviously, I don’t know but we will find out on Friday!!

*************
And here’s a couple from Warren Ellis, on tour right now with the Dirty Three!!

And I loved the expressions on everyone’s faces here!!! In Oslo, last night–

And here’s this, because I immediately thought of it!! Paul Simon’s classic “Mother & Child Reunion”, from 1971!!

***********

Okay.

And here’s this!!

From Facebook!!

Beautiful!!

**********

And that’s all I’ve got for now!

I’ll be heading out to the store here soon. We are only open for 3 hours on Saturdays, so I’ll probably be right back home before I know it. Plus, I’ll be spending those 3 hours today working with my favorite Q-following girlfriend! So I’m guessing those 3 hours will fly…

We shall see.

However, this means that I don’t get to join in on the live Zoom with James Tabor and the Tabor Research Group today. It’s the first live Zoom since our conference last month in North Carolina. Plus, James will be joining us from Israel, where he is currently staying with Simcha Jacobovici –another one of my favorite people!! — at Simcha’s house.

I will have to watch the replay, but I wish I could be there, live.

But tomorrow!! It’s my favorite day of the year — we turn those clocks back one hour, yay!! And I get one hour of my fleeting life back!!

Meanwhile.

Enjoy your Saturday (and Halloween, if you celebrate it) wherever you are in the world, gang.

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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

Let’s close with this!!

A few days ago, Alex S. Johnson interviewed British metal singer Aaron Stainthorpe!

Aaron Stainthorpe (Ex-MY DYING BRIDE; HIGH PARASITE; TOWARDS THE SINISTER). THE KANDY FONTAINE SHOW (1 hr 28 mins). Enjoy, gang!!

Maybe A Quiet One Today?

Leave a comment

Well, yesterday was not exactly what I was expecting.

First off — after going through the entire Spring and Summer around here without ANY cats — indoors or outside — getting fleas…

Yesterday, it became apparent that, on the final days of October, for chrissakes — all the INDOOR cats had become infested.

So … $200 later.

But I caught it in time. It hadn’t taken over the house, or anything. But I did have to drop everything and drive an hour to town and back, and visit 3 different stores to get enough flea meds for all the cats. Since it’s the end of flea season, the stores weren’t exactly stocked anymore. But I eventually found what I needed and now it is done.

Too bad a house full of rescued cats isn’t actually like this…

***********

Before that, though —

I did make some good progress on the flash fiction piece for the Bill Burroughs anthology. And I at least have an idea of how it will end. Still don’t know how the story will get to the ending but I have about 450 words left to achieve it.

But I was happily working away on it, when suddenly–

I got a text from the investigative journalist again — more questions regarding the photographer RC Horsch, a colleague of mine from over 25 years ago that I had ceased all communications with back in 2001 because I found him very disturbing.

(I noticed that RC Horsch’s Wikipedia page has been very recently updated: “…an American erotic photographer, pornographic filmmaker, convicted criminal and suspected serial killer….”)

Anyway. The journalist asked me if I would be willing to be interviewed on camera. Back in September, I had only agreed to be interviewed through texting, although I agreed that he could use my name.

Well, Part 1 of his investigation is on YouTube now, so I stopped what I was doing and watched it (29 minutes). I felt that, while it is disturbing, obviously, it was not distastefully presented or sensationalized.

So I agreed to do the interview on camera for Part 2. It will happen Sunday afternoon.

Here is Part 1 if you want to watch it. It does not show anything explicit or gorey.

The Fall of the House of Horsch Film | RC Horsch & His Son The Early Years (29 mins):

***********

I was quietly relieved, though, to find that I was no longer feeling that horrible paranoia that I’d been feeling toward the end of the summer. I was able to handle watching the video just fine.

My life, overall, has definitely moved into a more emotionally secure place — mostly because I’m back in the world among people and working. Not just living alone in my head.

**********

Okay!

Yesterday, Brown Hound Press posted a new short story– very well written, in my opinion.

“Sound Privacy” by Nicholas Bacci Siegel

You can read it HERE, free.

**********

Oh, and my best friend Valerie in Brooklyn never did call yesterday…

So yesterday was just nothing like what I was expecting.

And since I was sort of “occupied” all day and into the evening, I don’t have hardly any “here’s this’s'”.

But here’s this–

I don’t really know the details, but Warren Ellis posted this from Oslo this morning:

And it was posted along with this song — Johnny Thunders, “You Can’t Put Your Arms Around A Memory” (1978):

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

And here’s this!!

The B52s got their star unveiled on the Hollywood Walk of Fame yesterday!!

From Fred Schneider:

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

And from Facebook!!

And speaking of Nick Cave–

He sent out a new Red Hand File about 3 seconds ago…

A reader wrote in and asked Nick how he had spent his time off from the Red Hand Files. And Nick revealed, in part:

“…I spent the time happily sculpting, firing, and glazing – no distractions, no internet, no phones, no music, no podcasts. Just clay. I fashioned little worlds by hand, devilish things, swept along on that preternatural current where form waits to be found. I felt the world’s anxieties drain away – how quickly they retreated – until I came upon something essential, the spirit freed from the dross, the imagination stripped clean to something pure and wide, and lovely….”

This is a sample from his brand new ceramics collection — the second in his series about The Devil — The Devil in the Afterlife:

THE DEVIL IN HELL (FOR THE FIRST TIME) from THE DEVIL IN THE AFTERLIFE by NICK CAVE, 2026

You can read the new Red Hand File in full, HERE.

PHOTO BY LYNETTE GARLAND

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

And that is it for now.

I gotta get ready to head to work.

Enjoy your Friday-before-Halloween (if you celebrate it), wherever you are in the world!

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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

Let’s close with this.

From my drive to and from town yesterday for the cats’ flea meds…

I played this on repeat, loud. And thought a good deal about RC Horsch, and my early career and where it’s led me, and I let the song transport me away from all of it for awhile.

Barry Manilow, “I Write the Songs”. 1975. Enjoy, gang.

Getting Social Around Here!

Leave a comment

Okay!!

So, not only do we have a group lunch coming up in early November — with my co-workers at the health & wellness store (including the woman who runs the store).

But on Monday, I’m having lunch with my dear pals Wendy and Kara, to celebrate Wendy’s birthday!!

The 3 of us have not had time to get together for lunch since Christmas. I’m really looking forward to it.

We’re going here !!

So, the main reason I returned to the working world was to be around people again. And it is already a complete success.

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

I’m getting a late start here on the blog today because it was “Pay the Bills” day today!!

So the bills are paid — and I have to say, I am managing the expense of the recent trip to Charlotte , NC, and that fantastic hotel, just fine.

Yay!!

Oh, and Sandra texted at 7:15AM and asked if I was up and having coffee yet (I of course was!!), so we had our chat on the phone first thing this morning.

I am still aiming to be in NYC for her Birthday Cabaret the 3rd week of January…

And at some point today, I’m supposed to catch up with my best friend Valerie in Brooklyn!! Yay!!

For some reason, I’m a lot older when I chat with Valerie…

***********

And then somewhere here today, I’ll be working some more on the flash fiction piece for the Bill Burroughs tribute anthology…

**********

Okay!

It’s that time again!!

Erica Verrillo’s fantastic monthly free newsletter for writers is out:

73 Calls for Submissions in November 2026 – Paying markets!

“This November there are more than six dozen calls for submissions. All of these are paying markets, and none charge submission fees. As always, every genre, style, and form is wanted, from short stories to poetry to essays.”

Visit HERE. And sign up for her FREE newsletter, while you’re at it!!

**********

Meanwhile….

Due to the time difference between here and Europe, and my overall schedule–

I’m falling behind in The Dirty Three’s European Tour!!

Posted by Warren Ellis after their tour-opening show in Vicenza, Italy!!

And here’s Warren Elvis, oops, ELLIS, during their show in Geneva last night!!

***********

Speaking of Elvis….

Here’s Johnny Cash!!

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

And speaking of Johnny Cash….

Dwight Yoakam is still on tour!! You can buy tickets HERE!

And in the event you need some Guitars, Cadillacs, and Hillbilly Music RIGHT NOW—

And I have to say, yet again, that experiencing Dwight Yoakam singing this very song live at The Ritz in NYC in the 1980s — it was absolutely unbelievable, gang. Truly one of the highlights of my already indescribably insane life.

**********

Okay!

Here’s this!!

I might have posted it here before, but you can’t beat a photo of Keith smoking while he’s on fire, can you, gang??!


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

And here’s this great song, just for the hell of it!!

Bruce Springsteen’s “I’m On Fire” from his huge hit album, Born in the USA (1984):

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

From Phyllis Stein.

The New York Dolls in London, 1973.

Photographer Ian Dickson passed away recently–

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

And here’s this!!

From Facebook!!

Nick Cave looking very, very Nick Cave-y!! In color!! Yay!!

*********

And I guess that is it, gang.

I gotta get focused here and get some writing done before the day flies away from me and I’m yakking merrily on the phone with Valerie.

Enjoy your Thursday, wherever you are in the world!

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

*********

Let’s close with this today!!

This came up in my YouTube stream!

I used to LOVE this song, as a wee bonny teenaged lass. I played this record a lot (on her Greatest Hits album) when I was very very very briefly away at college in 1978… Luckily my 3 other roommates liked Joan Baez, too.

(And if you were ever a stranger that I’ve been in love with, well, then this one’s for you and you know who you are!!)

Joan Baez, 1972. “Love Song To A Stranger”. Enjoy, gang.

“Love Song To A Stranger”

How long since I’ve spent a whole night in a twin bed with a stranger
His warm arms all around me?
How long since I’ve gazed into dark eyes that melted my soul down
To a place where it longs to be?
All of your history has little to do with your face
You’re mainly a mystery with violins filling in space

You stood in the nude by the mirror and picked out a rose
From the bouquet in our hotel
And lay down beside me again and I watched the rose
On the pillow as it fell
I sank and I slept in a twilight with only one care
To know that when day broke and I woke that you’d still be there
You’d still be there

The hours for once they passed slowly, unendingly by
Like a sweet breeze on a field
Your gentleness came down upon me and I guess I thanked you
When you caused me to yield
We spoke not a sentence and took not a footstep beyond
Our two days together which seemingly soon would be gone
Soon would be gone

Don’t tell me of love everlasting and other sad dreams
I don’t want to hear
Just tell me of passionate strangers who rescue each other
From a lifetime of cares
‘Cause if love means forever, expecting nothing returned
Then I hope I’ll be given another whole lifetime to learn

‘Cause you gave to me, oh, so many things, it makes me wonder
How they could belong to me
And I gave you only my dark eyes which melted your soul down
To a place where it longs to be

c – 1972 Joan Baez