Then got out of bed at 5:30AM to discover that one of the cats had thrown up on one of the upstairs bathroom rugs. Oh well.
And another cat (the truly beautiful Cuddles McGee) was in the process of peeing on a throw rug in the hallway.
So one load of laundry got immediately underway! And I only got a tiny little bit pissed off…
Then in the downstairs bathroom, off the laundry room, I discovered that the cats had managed to get into the cupboard under the bathroom sink and had shredded THREE brand new rolls of paper towels.
Shredded bits of paper were all over the floor and I had to drop everything and sweep it up.
At this point, it was about 5:43AM.
I only got a tiny little bit more pissed off — if you count hollering, “You FUCKERS!!!” as being a tiny little bit more pissed off…
However.
I was able to easily switch gears when I took the shredded paper towel rolls out to the trash bin beside the kitchen porch, and there sat my beautiful Kon Tiki of the Great Outdoors, on the porch in the dark, and she went trotting into the kitchen to join us for breakfast.
Yay.
And so then we got breakfast underway!!
I made a really big breakfast for myself this morning, because I’ve been missing being in that hotel in Charlotte, North Carolina, a few weeks ago — and, NO!, not because my cats weren’t there, but because the hotel had that great breakfast buffet every morning!
So, since I have today off, I decided to make a big breakfast and I’m really glad I did. It really, really shifted my mood back to being in a happy place!!
Okay!
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Today, I’m mostly going to begin working on the flash fiction piece for the William S. Burroughs anthology.
I have an overall feeling about what I want to write, but I’m not sure, yet, how I will put it down on paper. So we shall see how it goes!! I still have about 2 weeks to nail it and send it in.
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If you are a taxpaying US citizen and either have an IRA or need help starting an affordable one (retirement account), go to TrumpIRA.gov and sign up for info, if you haven’t already. (You might have already received a letter from the IRS about doing this.)
The government will be making up to $1000 contributions to our retirement accounts, annually, beginning in 2027, so be sure to sign up!!
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Okay.
Sadly, this happened on this day in 2013–
And, no, I’m not going to post this song here again, because I’ve already posted it here a million times….
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And here’s this–
Speaking of Bill Burroughs!! Here he is with philosopher and former Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain — Oops! excuse me — the artist, Francis Bacon!
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And here’s this!
Keith!! Holding a pair of shades! And a half-empty or half-full bottle of Jack Daniels!! (Photo perhaps taken by my little Jewish, Jack-Daniels-drinking school friend, Karen, back in 1972?? Not sure…)
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And here’s this!!
From the show in Milan last night!!!
Warren Ellis!! Plus one of the cutest pups ever!!
And here’s this while we’re at it!! “Cherry Bomb,” by the legendary Runaways, 1976!!
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And from Facebook!!
Here’s this!
Nick Cave, smoking!! Singing! Maybe even sweating a little??!!
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And that is it for today!!
And since it’s Tuesday, it means I get to watch a new episode of Season 2 of “Ludwig” on Britbox during dinner tonight!! Yay!
Meanwhile, have a terrific Tuesday, wherever you are in the world, gang.
My new schedule (Tuesdays, Weds., and Fridays) at the health & wellness store won’t start until next week. A co-worker needed me to work for her today, so I’m heading into town soon.
But I don’t mind at all. In fact, I’m curious how I’m gonna handle the new schedule — having 3 days off in a row — because I can barely handle having 2 days off in a row. I just go nutty when I’m all alone out here with no one to talk to…
Anyway!
I took this photo just now!!
The sun is coming up in the east, but you can still see the full moon through the trees in the west (across the road from my kitchen porch):
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Okay, remember how I recently posted that I was really liking the book, The Beat Hotel?
I’m about halfway through it now, and I’m basically forcing myself to keep reading it.
I realize the Beats were sort of, well, “dysfunctional” (?!), but it’s like the author doesn’t have a sane thing to attribute to any of them. Especially Jack Kerouac.
I also realize the author is presenting “the facts” as he sees them, but I’ve read so many books — especially letters, that these guys wrote to each other in the 1950s — and you get a whole different feel about what the men were going through, how they were experiencing each other and their lives, when it’s simply in their own words. Not filtered through someone else.
This book makes them all seem just fucking crazy. I don’t know if I’ll finish it, but I’m trying to.
And this book — the new memoir by Legs McNeil:
What can I say, these punks ARE all fucking crazy!! But mostly in a really joyful way. So I’m definitely sticking with that one for sure.
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But I think that reading The Beat Hotel before going to sleep last night was a mistake, because I just felt really angry. And sad. And frustrated with how these men’s lives were coming across.
However, by 3 in the morning, I awoke thinking about what Nick Cave had written in his Red Hand Files the other day, about Transcendental Meditation — I do meditate, daily, and have done it regularly since 2008 (and I guarantee you, it has kept me from committing suicide), but I’ve never done TM.
But suddenly, at 3 AM, John Lennon’s TM mantra was going over and over and over — and over — in my head. Until 4:30!! It was sort of incredible, gang.
I was drifting in and out of sleep, but the mantra kept going.
If you don’t know what John Lennon’s TM mantra was, it was famously part of the song, “Across the Universe”. His mantra was “jai guru deva om”.
“Across The Universe”
Words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup They slither while they pass, they slip away across the universe Pools of sorrow waves of joy are drifting through my opened mind Possessing and caressing me
Jai guru deva om Nothing’s gonna change my world Nothing’s gonna change my world Nothing’s gonna change my world Nothing’s gonna change my world
Images of broken light which dance before me like a million eyes They call me on and on across the universe Thoughts meander like a restless wind Inside a letter box they Tumble blindly as they make their way Across the universe
Jai guru deva om Nothing’s gonna change my world Nothing’s gonna change my world Nothing’s gonna change my world Nothing’s gonna change my world
Sounds of laughter shades of life are ringing Through my open ears inciting and inviting me Limitless undying love which shines around me like a million suns And calls me on and on across the universe
Jai guru deva om Nothing’s gonna change my world Nothing’s gonna change my world Nothing’s gonna change my world Nothing’s gonna change my world
Jai guru deva Jai guru deva Jai guru deva Jai guru deva Jai guru deva Jai guru deva…
c -1970 Lennon/McCartney
I found that really interesting. How it popped up in my head like that. And it did seem to help.
I think I will make a specific effort, when I get stressed out again (every 14 seconds, basically), to go into Lennon’s mantra and see what happens.
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Okay!
I don’t have many “here’s this’s” today, but–
Here’s this!!
Keith, in LA, on the Stones’ US tour of 1975!
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And how about this??!!
Johnny Cash in 1961 !!
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Warren Ellis plays the solo show tonight in Milan!!
He has at least one shoe already on!!
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And The Birthday Party, perhaps in Paris? But just because this is in French, doesn’t necessarily mean they were in France… I don’t know!
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And you know how some days I can barely find one photo of Nick Cave to post here?
Well, not today!! So take your pick!! Smoking. Not smoking. Great hair throughout!!
From facebook!
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And I guess that is going to be it for today, because I gotta scoot and get to town!!
I hope you enjoy your Monday, wherever you are in the world, gang!
Thanks for visiting.
I love you guys. See ya!
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And let’s close with this!
George Harrison, singing his famous mantra!!
“Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare“
“My Sweet Lord”
My sweet Lord Hm, my Lord Hm, my Lord
I really want to see you Really want to be with you Really want to see you Lord But it takes so long, my Lord
My sweet Lord Hm, my Lord Hm, my Lord
I really want to know you Really want to go with you Really want to show you Lord That it won’t take long, my Lord (Hallelujah)
My sweet Lord (Hallelujah) Hm, my Lord (Hallelujah) My sweet Lord (Hallelujah)
I really want to see you Really want to see you Really want to see you, Lord Really want to see you, Lord But it takes so long, my Lord (Hallelujah)
My sweet Lord (Hallelujah) Hm, my Lord (Hallelujah) My, my, my Lord (Hallelujah)
I really want to know you (Hallelujah) Really want to go with you (Hallelujah) Really want to show you Lord (ahh) That it won’t take long, my Lord (Hallelujah)
Hmm (Hallelujah) My sweet Lord (Hallelujah) My, my, Lord (Hallelujah)
Hm, my Lord (Hare Krishna) My, my, my Lord (Hare Krishna) Oh hm, my sweet Lord (Krishna, Krishna) Oh-uuh-uh (Hare Hare)
Now, I really want to see you (Hare Rama) Really want to be with you (Hare Rama) Really want to see you Lord (ahh) But it takes so long, my Lord (Hallelujah)
Hm, my Lord (Hallelujah) My, my, my Lord (Hare Krishna) My sweet Lord (Hare Krishna) My sweet Lord (Krishna Krishna) My Lord (Hare Hare) Hm, hm (Guru Brahma) Hm, hm (Guru Vishnu) Hm, hm (Guru Devo) Hm, hm (Maheśvaraḥ My sweet Lord (Guru Sākṣāt) My sweet Lord (Para Brahma) My, my, my Lord (Tasmai Srī) My, my, my, my Lord (Guru Namah) My sweet Lord (Hare Rama)
[fade:]
(Hare Krishna) My sweet Lord (Hare Krishna) My sweet Lord (Krishna Krishna) My Lord (Hare Hare)
I am glad I finished the editing of the M. Christian tribute anthology, but I am still feeling those little stragglers of depression and loss.
For instance, Bill Brent, who had been a very close colleague and friend of both M. Christian and myself (and countless others), came to live with me here in Ohio for awhile, after he’d broken up with a long-time significant other in Hawaii.
Bill was not easy to live with at that point in his life — his topics of conversation included his detailed thoughts about how to jump off the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco without getting rescued…
After he left Ohio, leaving all his possessions “temporarily” stored in my basement, he moved back to San Francisco…
And jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge.
Without getting rescued.
That was back in 2012.
Of course, for me, Bill’s spirit is all over M. Christian’s tribute anthology…along with the loss of so many others from my world.
But I am trying to shift my focus. And shift my focus. And shift my focus.
I’m hoping that once I send the manuscript over to my publisher and have her focus on it for awhile, it will sort of get my mind off of all the loss, and I can truly move forward toward focusing on new stuff.
We’re gonna find out, because I’m gonna hit “SEND” as soon as I’m done posting to the blog today.
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Well, here’s some stuff!
Keith’s birthday wishes to Bill Wyman yesterday:
And here’s some birthday wishes from the gallery in London where Bill’s photos are currently on display:
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And I thought this was quite interesting!!
It was taken only THREE DAYS AGO, and Keith is clearly smoking… (so much for quitting!) (But my guess is that he’s still gonna live longer than any of us!!)
And here’s Keith again!!
Smoking!! And playing a guitar!! In mostly black, a little white…
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Speaking of guitar heroes…
Here’s something that has me sort of spellbound, gang.
The producer/narrator who is working on the audiobook edition of my novel, The Guitar Hero Goes Home, sent me over an update, an audio file, yesterday and he is doing such a fantastic job.
If you are unfamiliar with that novel — it is told from the POV of a famous (fictional) guitar hero at the very end of his life. (In fact, in my opinion, he is already dead while he’s telling the story of his life, but I leave it up to the reader to decide.)
He has no name in the book, and the entire book is being told by him to the new love in his life — and she is never named. Never speaks. Nothing. It’s only him, throughout.
When this novel “came to me” in 2019, it was literally as if it were being dictated to me by a guy in my head. A voice. I typed out what he “told me”. His whole life story. (You can read a sample here on the blog.)
I loved this novel. And every publisher I sent it to declined it. I finally published it myself, and I still love this book, gang.
Well, yesterday, listening to the new audio file — wow. It was like I was finally really hearing the guy who had spoken to me in my head all those years ago. It felt incredible, listening to it. I even got chills a couple times. “This is the guy!”, you know?
I won’t be publishing the audiobook until early 2027, but I can’t wait.
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From James Tabor — he sent out this video to us this morning. It’s from a couple years ago, but it is really good.
Paul within His Hellenistic World: Understanding Cosmic Salvation (1hr 30 mins):
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And later this afternoon, Ross K. Nichols is having a private Zoom discussion with the Yachad. I can’t post details about it yet, but it should be really interesting!!
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And in other very interesting developments — I’ve been invited to contribute a flash fiction piece honoring William S. Burroughs, for an anthology edited by Alex S. Johnson. (Tight deadline.)
Ideas are already flowing into my brain, so here’s hoping it will hit the page quickly and in a good way. We shall soon see!!
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Meanwhile….
From Facebook.
I do not think this day sucks in ANY way, however, I loved this photo!!
So here it is!!
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And that is it for now.
I’m gonna get the manuscript off to my publisher, and then maybe take a little walk and clear my brain.
It is another stunning fall day out there today.
Enjoy your 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!!
That TV show from Japan that I really loved is back on Netlfix!! With episodes I haven’t seen yet!!
I watched it last night. I’m so glad it’s back. (Between that, and new episodes of “Ludwig” on Britbox, and reruns of “Mrs. Brown’s Boys”– again!!!! I’m doing all right, TV-wise.)
For some reason, I slept really great last night, gang, and woke at 5:15AM, absolutely not tired at all!! (See yesterday’s post, wherein I woke up unbelievably tired.)
Anyway. Yay!!
So here’s hoping I will FINALLY get that Foreword written for the M. Christian tribute anthology so that I can finally turn the manuscript in to the publisher.
(It’s actually not overdue. At all. It isn’t due for another week. But I just want it completed and turned in. I need to feel that feeling that it is done. It’s been an emotionally rocky journey for me — editing that anthology.)
But I intend to have at least the first draft of the Foreword done by this afternoon. Then tomorrow, I can do a final draft if needed, then one last edit on the whole manuscript. And then this will be me, sometime tomorrow!!
Me! Sometime tomorrow!! In case you couldn’t read what I just said…
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Okay!!
Guess what fucking day it is, gang??
That’s fucking CORRECT!!
Legendary Rolling Stones’ (former) bass player, Bill Wyman, turns 90 today!!
Happy 90th birthday, Bill Wyman!!
And here’s this! From his album, Drive My Car, 2024 — the song, “Drive My Car”!! I love this song and have played it absolutely countless times over the past couple years while driving my own car!! (And going, well, extremely fast…)
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And it is also THIS today–
Happy Heavenly Birthday, Rowland S. Howard. Born on this day in Melbourne, Australia, in 1959. He would have been 67 today.
And let’s listen to this fantastic song, for the 7 trillionth time!! Written by Rowland S. Howard when he was a wee bonny teenaged lad in Melbourne!! One of my very favorite songs. “Shivers.” Here’s Nick Cave, Rowland, & the Boys Next Door. 1979.
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My dear and long-time friend in NYC, writer/poet Iris N. Schwartz has a new book of flash fiction out from Poets Wear Prada Press!!
“Here are thirteen stories, often simultaneously painfully poignant and devilishly humorous, whether grounded in the familiar, or dreamlike and other-worldly, that tell of the human condition, our all-too-frequent bouts of loneliness and dislocation, and our attempts at survival and resilience… Taking up where she left off with Shame, Iris has lined up her third installment of mostly flash and micro fiction treats, sweet-and-sour morsels, for us to read and re-read, and relish.”
And here’s this — only because I’d never seen this photo before and thought it was beautiful!
Lou Reed!!
Just beautiful
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Okay!
Here’s the info if you want to watch the livestream of the B-52s getting their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame!!
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I loved this photo!
From Phyllis Stein!
Iggy and David Johansen , NYC, in 2004!! Photo by the legendary photographer Bob Gruen who also just celebrated a birthday!!
(And as an aside, I also got to meet Bob Gruen once, in NYC. I was coming out of a music conference with my dear friend, the late great music executive, Holly Lane, who was good friends with Bob Gruen. What a thrill to meet him! He was so nice.)
FYI , in case you didn’t know — “…By the mid 1970s, Bob Gruen was already regarded as one of the foremost photographers in music working with major artists such as John Lennon, Tina Turner, the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Elton John, and Kiss. He also covered emerging new wave and punk rock bands, including the New York Dolls, the Clash, Sex Pistols, Ramones, and Blondie….”
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Okay!!
Speaking of legendary rock music photographers!!
I loved this!! From photographer Allen Tannenbaum‘s Instagram page (soho blues). A look behind the scenes, as it were, of one of my all-time favorite photos of Tom Petty!!
And here is my above-mentioned favorite photo of Tom, by Allen (1977), after Tom’s cigarette was so kindly lit!!
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And this is also from Allen Tannenbaum’s page. And it sent a real chill through me when I saw it, gang.
He took this photo of John & Yoko, just a couple of weeks before John was murdered (on Dec. 8, 1980).
I remember this photo really well. But, yesterday, when I saw the date this photo was taken on — Nov. 21, 1980 — I realized that I had only lived in NYC for 6 days by then. It had felt like a fucking eternity. NYC was just so much endless culture shock for me back then. And then to have my hero murdered only a few weeks after moving there…
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Okay!
Big news!!!
Warren Ellis finally has his outfit all sorted out for the upcoming Dirty Three European Tour, as well as his solo performance at that Armani museum place-thingie in Milan on Monday!! (You can find tickets to the Dirty Three shows HERE, but a lot of the shows are nearly sold out, so you have to hurry.)
Personally, I think it’s wise to go with the jacket and the hat because it’s almost, like, winter, right? And it can sometimes be really fucking COLD in Europe in fucking winter… And they say that all your body heat escapes through the top of your head…
And here’s this while we’re at it!! Dirty Three’s, “Indian Love Song”, from 1995!! That song that you can basically sing while sitting around a camp fire and strumming your violin guitar! (10 mins):
*********** And from Facebook!!
Legends!!!
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds!!
Also legends!!
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds!!
And legends-in-the-making!!!
Nick Cave & the Boys Next Door!! 1978!!
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And speaking of Nick Cave–
He sent out a really wonderful Red Hand File yesterday, about his experiences with (and without) Transcendental Meditation. He says, in part:
“…the effect was evident almost instantly. Within a couple of attempts, much of my general pissed-offness, low-level depression, waves of dread, and run-of-the-mill rage at the world, retreated. I felt more alive, more creative, and way happier. So for the next seven or eight years I practised TM, happily meditating twice a day….”
SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI AND BROTHER LEO MEDITATING BY EL GRECO, 1600 – 1614
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And that is it for this happy Saturday in the Hinterlands.
The laundry is almost done. The sun is shining! The autumn leaves look positively splendid outside all my many windows! And the many, many cats are all taking splendid NAPS!!
Enjoy your Saturday, wherever you are in the world, gang.
Here’s hoping that the next time you hear from me, I can tell you that the Foreword for the M. Christian tribute anthology is completed!!
Thanks for visiting.
I love you guys. See ya!
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Let’s close with this!!
To continue with a theme here this morning…
From my breakfast-listening music today!!
I’ve posted this song here before, but here it is again!!
One of my absolute favorite Nick Cave songs!
“Brompton Oratory” from the incredible album The Boatman’s Call. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, 1997. Enjoy, gang.
“Brompton Oratory”
Up those stone steps I climb Hail this joyful day’s return Into its great shadowed vault I go Hail the Pentecostal morn
The reading is from Luke 24 Where Christ returns to his loved ones I look at the stone apostles Think that it’s alright for some
And I wish that I was made of stone So that I would not have to see A beauty impossible to define A beauty impossible to believe
A beauty impossible to endure The blood imparted in little sips The smell of you still on my hands As I bring the cup up to my lips
No God up in the sky No devil beneath the sea Could do the job that you did Of bringing me to my knees
Outside I sit on the stone steps With nothing much to do Forlorn and exhausted, baby By the absence of you
Today, I am hoping to finally decide the order to put the stories in for the M. Christian anthology. For some reason, I’m having trouble with that. But I am hoping to simply tackle it today.
Then write the Foreword.
Then turn in the anthology to my publisher.
That’s the plan anyway….
If for some reason it goes awry, I still have the weekend to finish it and turn it in.
Oh!
My work schedule has changed. I will now be working Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. And one Saturday morning per month. (Which means that for 3 weeks each month, I will have 3 days off in a row…)
I am still absolutely loving being back at that job, gang. Honestly, it’s like being part of a family again.
And there is so much passion there, and laughter — mixed with a genuine desire to help people (the customers) take control of their own health.
And at the end of the shift, we generally all walk out together and hug each other while saying goodbye and heading out for the night.
That little health & wellness store has been family-owned and on that spot for over 30 years.
Work… Or how it feels, anyway
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Okay!
I thought this was very interesting. I read it in “The Dailies” this morning:
“WGA East found a way to make scripts AI-proof. The [screenwriter’s] guild is partnering with Cloak, a startup whose tool makes files unreadable to AI but readable by humans, and giving members free access to keep their work out of training data. Cloak claims it holds up against ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude, plus the auto-summaries in Gmail.”
“You are warmly invited to Singapore Unbound’s 10th Anniversary Celebration, wherever you are in the world! Established in 2016, Singapore Unbound envisions and works for a creative and fulfilling life for everyone through the arts and activism. We organize events such as the monthly Second Saturdays Reading Series and the biennial Singapore Literature Festival in NYC. We also publish a literary journal called SUSPECT and books through our close associate Gaudy Boy.”
Singapore Unbound’s 10th Anniversary Celebration (online) Saturday, November 14, 8.00-9.30 pm ET / Sunday, November 15, 9.00-10.30 am SGT Featuring Vijay Seshadri, Gina Apostol, and Tania De Rozario RSVP: HERE
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All righty.
From Phyllis Stein!
Gene Vincent, smoking in 1956!! (Photo from Michael Ochs Archives)
And also from 1956 — Gene Vincent’s HUGE hit, “Be-Bop-A-Lula”!! (I loved this song as a wee bonny lass! It was, by then, already a classic.)
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And here’s a great photo of Keith Richards and the late, great, and very missed, Charlie Watts!
And here’s Mick and Keith goin’ places on a train!! (1964 or 65?) (Mick doesn’t own a cellphone yet so he’s just staring at a bottle…)
Keith thinks staring at bottles is, well, stupid.
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Here’s Ronnie Wood, painting!!
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And here’s a photo by the legendary rock photographer, Lynn Goldsmith!!
3 of my idols when I was in my late teens:
Bruce Springsteen, Jackson Browne, and Tom Petty!!
And why not listen to this, for a change?! Jackson Browne’s huge hit from 1978! “Running On Empty”!
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And here’s this!!
Yesterday, Bad Seed George Vjestica wished Jim Sclavunos a Happy Birthday!!
Happy belated birthday, Jim Sclavunos (aka “Super Hot Dog”)!! (I love this photo: Bad Seeds Jim, Colin, George, and Carly.)
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From Nick Cave Official this morning–
Apparently, it’s been 5 years since Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds released Vol. 2 of B-Sides & Rarities!!
(I can’t believe it’s been 5 years already…)
But this happened, 5 years ago, too! This was such a great conversation. This happened online during the era of lockdowns. I remember listening to it on my (now obsolete) iPad, in bed , in the dark…
It’s at that point now where it is really feeling like fall.
It’s stays dark out in the mornings until 7:30 AM, and by 7:30 PM, I’m lighting the little tea candles in my room and watching TV (or listening to music) by candlelight.
Fall is definitely my favorite time of year, gang — followed extremely closely by Christmas!!
Yay!
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Okay– the sun is coming up now and it is such a gorgeous morning out there!! Something about autumn leaves against a clear blue sky just makes my heart soar, gang.
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All righty.
Today marks 57 years since Jack Kerouac’s passing. RIP, Jack.
And on a related note — I am currently reading 3 books now. I recently added this one to the stack next to my bed and I am really loving it:
If you guys downloaded it last week — when you have a chance to read it, please review it if possible! It helps those algorithms. Thank you!!
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Here’s some great news!!
The B-52s have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame!!
From Fred Schneider yesterday–
And here’s this, while we’re at it!! “Love Shack,” by the B-52s, 1989!!
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From Phyllis Stein!
Iggy & the Stooges at Max’s in NYC, 1973!! (Photo by Danny Fields)
And on the subject of Danny Fields, the photographer (above) — I actually met him once, he was good friends with one of my girlfriends, a playwright.
He and I were riding around the East Village one afternoon, in the back of a rented limousine. We were talking about my songwriting career. I was frustrated because everyone was telling me to move to Nashville — that my songs were too Country for NYC. But I just didn’t want to go to Nashville. I loved NYC… Anyway. He was very nice.
And on another related note — I eventually got a song publishing deal in Nashville. But I got it through my uncle, who was a popular Country singer back then and he was very well-connected in Nashville.
He basically got me the deal –I still have the actual contract– but nothing ever happened with it. I was that determined to never go to Nashville…
Me, in my room back then, never going to Nashville!!
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Here’s Rowland S. Howard not smoking in Cologne in 1992!!
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And from Facebook!
Nick Cave, smoking but, IMHO, not laughing… ?? (Such a great photo.)
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Okay, that is it for today.
Well, darn it — now there’s a heavy fog all over the village.
That’s one thing about living in a valley in the foothills: “Sometimes there’s fog, so quickly!!” (To sort of paraphrase Tennessee Williams and “A Streetcar Named Desire”…)
Anyway.
Hopefully it will lift as quickly as it came, and I won’t have to drive to town in the fog. We shall soon see.
Meanwhile, have a wonder-filled Wednesday, 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!!
In honor of Jack Kerouac’s passing… His legendary TV appearance on the Steve Allen Show.
I don’t really know what it is about Tuesdays, now, gang, but since I started back to work at the store, Tuesdays feel like Saturdays to me. And I just seem to get a really slow start here.
Meaning: I go back to bed after breakfast; play with the cats; look around at my world and wonder how the heck I even got here… Etc.
But here I am, now, at my desk! Happy Tuesday!
Before we forget!!!!
Happy heavenly birthday, Tom Petty!!
Believe it or not, he would have been 76 today. I almost can’t fucking believe it. Anyway…
And let’s listen to this one today! One of my all-time favorite Tom Petty songs. “You & Me”, from The Last DJ, 2002.
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Well, I have to say that Rasha’s mom did come to get her and take her to her new home, and I actually miss little Rasha quite a bit.
Yes, even with 14 cats still living here…
But every time I remind myself that Rasha and her mom are finally re-united now — I feel very happy for both of them.
Rasha in the flowers last month
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From James Tabor–
Did the First Witnesses Believe that Jesus’ Body Left the Tomb? (33 mins):
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And here’s this!
A couple of great photos of the Rolling Stones from yesteryear!!
1966–
1980!
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And something else I did not know about Dwight Yoakam!!
(Although I do know that he went to high school in Columbus, Ohio!! But he lived way on the other side of the city from where I lived. Plus, he’s 4 years older than I am, so I was about 13 when he was graduating high school…)
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Here’s this!
Rowland S. Howard smoking and promoting “Swamp Thing”!
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I have had misgivings about posting this photo to my blog, because I didn’t want to invade her privacy or anything.
But, you know, she DID post it to Instagram… so I’m gonna go ahead and post it to my blog!
Blare N. Bitch!! At “Gay C/DC”!! The “All Gay Tribute to AC/DC” in LA the other night!!
She is still a guitar player — but more a heavy metal player than the punk rocker she was when we first started, you know, doin’ that stuff we did in the 1980s…
Anyway. She was the absolute love of my life then, and she still looks fantastic at 67!!
Blaire is on the right
And here’s this, while we’re at it!! The song I wrote for her in 1983! “Where Do Dark Girls Go?” (Back then, the girls she ran with in her punk band had some heroin issues… but she’s been clean now for about 38 years.)
WHERE DO DARK GIRLS GO?
Where do they go When the night comes down? They turn up the radio And they drive around; When the night comes down.
Where do they hide When the lonesome road Is taking its toll again And the kicks get old; Where do dark girls go?
Out on the wind Where the voices call From the pain of centuries Through the darkest soul? Is that where they go?
CHORUS She takes it in She breathes it out She breaks the thing She cares about She tries again, cries and in Anger she breaks it down; She buys the dream She holds it then The passion turns to fire again; She’s trying it, hiding it This is her only crime: She speaks her mind.
Where do they run When the dreams get lost And the game goes round & round And she can’t get off, And she can’t get off?
Where do they hide When the fear takes hold And she’s pushed the needle down As far as it will go? Where do dark girls go?
Nick Cave, looking splendid while lounging somewhere, not smoking and holding a pair of glasses!! In black & white!!
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And actually, I think that’s it for now.
I’ve got to run a couple of errands here in the village, then focus on the M. Christian tribute anthology which is just about complete…
I do have to say that I am battling a sort of undercurrent of depression, gang. The anthology has brought some wonderful people back in my life from the old days — but it makes me really miss the old days. I’m trying to just focus on “here & now” and allow the past to be part of what “now” is. If that makes sense? (All of it would probably be easier if I were still living in NYC, however.) But I am so grateful I have the old job back at the health & wellness store, and get to be with my friends when I’m working there. Because at least that makes me really, really happy.
Anyway — I do have this to look forward to today!!
Episode 2 of Season 2 of “Ludwig” started airing on Britbox today! I will watch it during my dinner!
Okay!
Have a terrific Tuesday, 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!
The new video by the Rolling Stones!! Just dropped this morning. Enjoy, gang!
I got the final contribution for the M. Christian tribute anthology last night and so I am now very close to completing the editing — still need to write the Foreword, but I wanted to read the final contribution before I did that.
Then I turn it in to my publisher.
And btw — this happened yesterday at the Easton Book Festival! (This is my wonderful, huge-hearted publisher; do you see my new novel on the table there?? Yay!!)
Anyway!
This anthology has been a very moving experience for me to put together, gang. It not only connected me to so many wonderful memories of the small press world-gone-by, but it showed me that all of us writers were affected by how drastically the publishing world changed when the economy crashed back in 2008.
Reading what these other contributors wrote about M. Christian and those times, made me feel less alone in all that upheaval of the past, you know?
Once the publishers went under, my agent had me redirect my focus to films, TV, and then theatre, because there was a lot going on in those areas. But for me, it was never as fun as working with the small presses had been.
Then of course the scamdemic wiped out the remainder of my career a few years later… but onward.
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Okay!
From Johnny Depp yesterday!
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Here’s an area of Greenwich Village that I used to hang around in A LOT. In the folk clubs. The infamous Cafe Wha? was not a folk club but it was just a few steps away from a club I played in all the time in the early 80s.
This is about 20 years before I was around there, though:
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Here’s George Harrison and his refrigerator!!
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Keith in black & white!!
I think I posted this once before but I saw it again and I just love the feel of it.
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Phyllis Stein posted this yesterday.
I only copied one of the photos she posted in this grouping, but my main interest is in what she says about Rockets Redglare, below. (FYI, Phillis was one of the producers of the great documentary, “Sad Vacation: The Last Days of Sid and Nancy,” 2016.)
Sid & Nancy, at Max’s in NYC, 1978 (photo by Ebet Roberts)
Here’s the doc if you haven’t seen it (free, on YouTube, age-restricted).
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And here’s this!
From Ross K. Nichols’ Sunday School yesterday (this was very interesting):
“The Book of Psalms is made up of several collections. One of them stands apart. It covers 55 psalms, more than a third of the Psalter, and every one is marked with the title of one man. He never speaks in these psalms. We don’t even know his name. And yet some of history’s most famous cries come from his collection. Some of the singers whose names appear in it were remembered as prophets and seers. And when the Gospel writers record Jesus speaking in his suffering, the words of the Psalms they give him come from this collection. “
The Choir Master and the Suffering Psalms (48 mins):
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And here’s this!
Warren Ellis sending mixed messages this morning!! (Is he in need of a trim, or are the pups??? I’m not sure!!)
But here’s this, in the meantime! (See above). Donovan, “Season of the Witch” 1966! (Such a great song — so evocative!)
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Okay!
This is all I have re: Nick Cave today! But it, too, is evocative!!
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And that is it for today!
I’m heading out here soon to go spend the day with a couple of my favorite people! At my favorite health & wellness store!
I still can’t believe that somehow, so suddenly, I have my old life back. And I just love it. And even though I’d been gone from the job for about 4 years, customers come in now and instantly remember me! Wow. And all of them say, “It’s so great to have you back!”
It’s just beautiful.
Okay. Have a great Monday, wherever you are in the world, gang.
Thanks for visiting.
I love you guys. See ya!
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I leave you with this!
From Act 2 of one of my favorite operas — that I had kinda forgotten about: “Les Conts d’Hoffmann,” by Offenbach.
I saw this opera about 15 years ago, in a movie theater, but it was being broadcast live from the Metropolitan Opera in NYC.
The opera is just really enjoyable, just delightful. You can watch the entire opera free on YouTube if you feel so inclined,
But this is from the opening of Act 2, “Barcarolle.”
It is absolutely stunning. I listened to it several times in bed last night, in the dark. Incredible — just soaring. Enjoy, gang.
Anna Netrebko & Elīna Garanča – Offenbach: Les Contes d’Hoffmann: Barcarolle (3 mins):
I had been having a lot of misgivings about the New Guy, and how we had absolutely nothing in common. And how he was really sort of entrenched down there in Florida — buying yet another house. (He now owns 4 homes down there.) (And I don’t really care for Florida, at all. High heat, humidity, hurricanes… and he lives there 6 months out of the year.)
And then I had a huge problem with the difference in our ages.
About 10 days ago, he had finally told me how old he really was and I’d almost fainted. A 21-year difference between us, gang!! And I’m not a spring chicken… I’m 66. (I leave you to do the math.)
(Yes! 66 + 21 = Older Than Keith Richards!)
Yes! I said that!
On the phone yesterday afternoon, I was moving into that area of saying “this isn’t working for me”. And I was planning to say it plainly when we spoke tonight.
However, this morning when we texted, we both agreed that it wasn’t going to work. Yay. No drama at all.
This is a HUGE relief to me, gang.
And now I can focus again on the things that need my attention.
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Okay!
Alex S. Johnson — one of the contributors to the M. Christian tribute anthology — invited me to contribute new erotic stories to 2 anthologies he’s editing/publishing. Yay!
I only have a few weeks, though, to pull something new together (x 2) before submissions close, so I really need to focus on completing the M. Christian anthology and then send it off to my publisher.
I have one more contribution coming in for the anthology later today, and that will be it. I just need to write the Foreword.
The long short story I was editing yesterday — I love the story so much, but the more I looked at it, the more I realized it is just not a good fit for the anthology for M. Christian. So, alas, that work is done.
But I am indeed getting it all together.
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All righty.
I don’t have many “here’s this’s” for today, but…
Here’s this!
This is what it looks like when you’re having a “fantastic time!” with Blixa Bargeld!!
From Teho Teardo–
Blixa is center
And here’s this, while we’re at it! (I love this song.) Teho Teardo & Blixa Bargeld, “Still Smiling” in 2013!!
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And here’s this!
Bad Seed George Vjestica alerts us that he is tempted!! (And why wouldn’t he be??)
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And from Facebook!!
Here’s this!!
Nick Cave!! (And, as always, I couldn’t agree more!!)
However, this one comes with a warning!! (Not sure what I’m gonna think about now!! Darn it!!)
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And that is actually all I have for this Happy Sunday in October.
Okay.
This evening, Rasha’s mom is coming to get her and bring her to her new home!
Rasha has lived here for about a year now, while her mom tried to find a new apartment she could afford, where she could also have her cat back.
So this is a big day for Rasha!
Rasha outside among the flowers, a couple weeks ago.
So I’ll soon be down to 14 cats… with Kon Tiki of the Great Outdoors still preferring to remain outdoors…
Okay. Now I’m gonna finish up the laundry and then put my editing cap back on!
Enjoy your 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!!
More vintage Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds!
And I’ve certainly posted this one here before, gang, but here it is again — since it highly features Nick with Blixa, having a fantastic time!
“The Weeping Song”!!! Yay!! Originally from 1990, but I was listening to it this morning on Disc 1 of Lovely Creatures: The Best of Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds (2017). Such a great video!! (And song!) Enjoy, gang.
“The Weeping Song”
Go son, go down to the water And see the women weeping there Then go up into the mountains The men, they are weeping too Father, why are all the women weeping? They are weeping for their men Then why are all the men there weeping? They are weeping back at them
This is a weeping song A song in which to weep While all the men and women sleep This is a weeping song But I won’t be weeping long
Father, why are all the children weeping? They are merely crying son O, are they merely crying, father? Yes, true weeping is yet to come
This is a weeping song A song in which to weep While all the little children sleep This is a weeping song But I won’t be weeping long
O father, tell me, are you weeping? Your face seems wet to touch O then I’m so sorry, father I never thought I hurt you so much
This is a weeping song A song in which to weep While we rock ourselves to sleep This is a weeping song But I won’t be weeping long No, I won’t be weeping long No, I won’t be weeping long No, I won’t be weeping long
Chilly, sunny. Most of the leaves on the trees have turned to those beautiful autumnal colors, while a bunch of them are already on the ground… All over the village.
It’s just totally October today!
I will be at my desk probably the entire weekend. I need to stay on track with the M. Christian tribute anthology deadline. And that one longer short story is front and center on my desk today for editing.
Also! I want to mention here — Dr. Carol Queen and Alex S. Johnson have both contributed to the anthology. So I thought I’d post this! (Alex interviews Carol!! From a few days ago.)
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Okay!
The FREE download promotion for my short story collection, “A Man in Her Arms & Other Stories” over on Amazon is over now, but I want to thank everyone who downloaded it!!
Even though it was free, so obviously I don’t make any money off it, but just having you guys download it put it in the sales rankings, so that helped hugely. So thank you so much!!
(And that cover above was designed by my best friend Valerie in Brooklyn!! I just love it…)
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Okay!
Coming up on October 21st in Iowa — in honor of Jack’s passing! (I think this is so cool. I wish I could be there.)
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And here’s this!
More from Johnny Depp’s current art exhibit in London!
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And it looks like yesterday was the anniversary of Hilly Kristal’s passing. He was the owner/founder of CBGBs in NYC. He was practically as famous as his club was.
I went to CBGBs many times in the early 80s (in addition to playing there), because I had friends in bands that played there frequently back then. And I do remember at least one night when Hilly was there and everyone was sort of whispering and pointing at him…
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And here’s these two guys!! In days gone by…
Gram Parsons and Keith Richards. Not smoking.
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And here’s Keith!! On the road to getting better with age!! Yay!
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Okay.
Here’s this!!
And I’m not sure what’s going on here but it looks like they see something! (Personally, what I see, is some truly great hair on Nick Cave…)
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And that is, I guess, it for today!
I hope you have a fantastic Saturday, 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 from this morning!
Yes, I have listened to this song 7 trillion times in my life, and yes, I have posted it here to the blog about as many times…
But here it is again! From Disc 2 of Lovely Creatures: The Best of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds (2017) which is currently in the little jukebox on my kitchen table!!
“The Ship Song” (originally 1990), Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds. Enjoy, gang!!
“The Ship Song”
Come sail your ships around me And burn your bridges down We make a little history, baby Every time you come around
Come loose your dogs upon me And let your hair hang down You are a little mystery to me Every time you come around
We talk about it all night long We define our moral ground But when I crawl into your arms Everything comes tumbling down
Come sail your ships around me And burn your bridges down We make a little history, baby Every time you come around
Your face has fallen sad now For you know the time is nigh When I must remove your wings And you, you must try to fly
Come sail your ships around me And burn your bridges down We make a little history, baby Every time you come around
Come loose your dogs upon me And let your hair hang down You are a little mystery to me Every time you come around
