Tag Archives: The Curse of Our Profound Disorder

It Begins!!!

June 11, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis 2 Comments

My stay-at-home vacation, that is.

And– YES!!! By mid-afternoon, we’ll have thunderstorms and very high winds again!! Yay.

But only for about an hour. We’ll see how that goes…

Meanwhile, it’s a stunning morning here, for now.

And — YES!! I made the drive to Columbus and back yesterday, to take my favorite 95-year-old Japanese man to his physical therapy appointment. And I only shouted (mild) obscenities at other drivers 3 times!!

But overall, the drive was okay and we considered it “an adventure” and we were both very relieved when it was all over and we were back at his house.

And then this–

YAY!!

And then after that, my “vacation” officially began.

But I’ll tell you, gang, those final five days before my vacation started were jam-packed with the Agency and clients and their families needing me to do a TON of stuff. It was just insane. It was nothing that was out of line or anything, it’s just that everyone needed everything from me at the same time. It’s not usually like that.

But I am determined to just take it easy for these upcoming 5 days. Not get depressed or anxious about anything. Let a little joy and ease flow into my life….

(Like this)

And just be happy.

Yesterday morning, I was really near tears over not being able to be in NYC this weekend, and then Iris N. Schwartz called — the poet I reconnected with recently. She and I were supposed to have dinner together on Saturday night. We had a quick phone chat and I just felt so much better.

I will go back to NYC, most likely in the Fall, for the staged reading of “The Guide to Being Fabulous”. Meanwhile, I’m here to look after Tommycakes and ease her way to the other side in whatever way I can.

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

Okay!

Yesterday was the 48th anniversary of my graduation from high school! 48 years, gang.

I hated high school. It was the longest most tortuous 3 years of my life. It seemed like it would never end — those 3 years. Those 3 years alone felt like 48 years…

And now I could have gone through 3 years of high school 16 times!! And yet these last 48 years have absolutely flown by. It’s staggering, really. The speed with which life flies when you’re not stuck in the agony of high school.

I was really smart and graduated with honors, and was one of the Class Valedictorians on Graduation Day (we had one male and one female valedictorian), and I’d had leading parts in a couple of the school plays, but I mostly had a reputation for being out of my fucking mind, openly bisexual, sexually active, heavy drinking and drug-taking. I was also a professional fashion model by then. And I had some of my poems published in the school paper (without my consent, I might add — a teacher who oversaw the high school newspaper asked to see some of my poems because she’d heard I was a writer, so I let her read some and then she published them! Imagine my surprise, as I was walking down the hall one morning during my senior year and other students were coming up to me, saying how much they loved my poems!! WTF??)

Anyway.

High School.

So glad it’s over. And on we go…

Me! In spirit…. (Brian & Keith, photo by Bob Bonis, Florida, 1965)

***********

Okay!

While I was off in my emotional slump, this happened!!

***********

And here’s a couple from Phyllis Stein!

Fellow Ohioans who likely also hated high school–

The Cramps!

And a lovely photo of Johnny Thunders (not sure how he felt about high school, but I have my suspicions)–

And Richard Hell, maybe from that time he starred as Hamlet on Broadway?!!! Not sure. (He definitely hated high school — I’ve read his memoir — but he’s from Kentucky.)

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

And here’s this! Totally unrelated to high school in any way!

From Ross K. Nichols–

“Two scrolls. Both were reportedly discovered by Bedouin in caves near the Dead Sea. One was condemned as a forgery. The other is accepted as ancient and authentic.”

Shapira vs. Dead Sea Scrolls: An Authenticity Test (42 mins):

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

And here’s this–

The Birthday Party in Sounds Magazine 1982!

AND!!

Early yesterday , Warren Ellis posted this from Dublin! (Not sure exactly how the pub made him a man, but it did get my imagination going in a likely really unrelated direction…)

And THIS!!! Yay!

Set list from last night in Dublin (wow, some great older songs in there!):

And here are these!

And now you have 2 days to get your bags packed, get your passport together, and head to the Netherlands!

There are still tickets available. Buy them HERE!

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

And that appears to be it for now.

I’m going to get out in that sunshine for a few minutes, maybe take a walk before the weather changes.

And then I’m going to relax and think about Caiaphas.

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

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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

I leave you with this!

I actually really was listening to this last night, as I lay in bed, utterly exhausted by everything in my life, past & present & possibly future…

Such a strange song, gang. Such strange days, but back then, when I was only about 8, it seemed totally normal…

Anyway. The Beatles, “Yellow Submarine”. 1968. Enjoy, gang.

What’s Wrong With This Picture??

June 9, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis 6 Comments

Well, mostly, it’s raining here again!

But other than that — yes, it’s going to be another day of driving hither & yon. And I am determined to just be in a good mood.

Yesterday was insane, gang. It didn’t resemble any kind of a day off that I’ve ever had. I already had a few errands I’d wanted to run yesterday — locally. Which I did do. But yes, I added a 60-mile drive to go see my favorite 95-year-old Japanese man, fix him some breakfast and a cup of coffee. And then quickly train a substitute caregiver to take care of him yesterday.

And then back home I came — only did SIX loads of laundry yesterday. I’d been planning to do all the bed linens for when the cat sitters would be here, so I went ahead and did all that anyway, even though my trip is cancelled. And then, yes, I vacuumed the whole house!! Again!! (But, wow, does it look great now that all the carpets have been shampooed.)

And I took care of all the flowers outside, and all the cats, both inside and out (got the outside cats ready for flea season). Cooked up some dinners to have in the fridge through Thursday. Etc., etc.

I was absolutely wiped out by 4PM.

And, yes, I did get a text from the Agency at 5PM, asking if I could quickly go back to my favorite 95-year-old Japanese man’s house this morning, before my regular Tuesday shift in a different (nearby) town, to quickly train another new substitute caregiver…. (His regular caregiver that works on my days off is still sick, and I think the woman I’m training today is going to cover my shifts on my upcoming days off.)

And the worst part is that he is still having trouble with his new artificial leg and he fell on Sunday and gashed his head and the paramedics were called in.

It doesn’t stop….

Anyway.

So, yes, I’m driving back out to his house this morning, then over to my regular Tuesday clients, and then after that, the Agency has their annual caregiver appreciation gathering! So I have to go to that before finally coming back home.

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

Meanwhile!

Happy Birthday Johnny Depp! I think he’s 63 years old today.

***********

Okay.

Yesterday, Simon Parkes had a really great update. If you aren’t a member of Connecting Consciousness (it’s free — join here), you can’t watch the video. But it was very, very encouraging. I think good things are going to finally be happening later this summer, gang. We shall see!

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

The Max’s Kansas City Project — a charitable foundation — is having it’s 60th Anniversary!

The NYC night club has not been in operation for decades, but the Project is:

“…dedicated to providing emergency funding and resources to financially distressed individuals in the creative and performing arts for housing, medical and legal aid. One time grants are awarded ranging from $500-$1000…”

“… committed to empowering teens through the arts with a focus on substance abuse and suicide prevention by mentoring and motivating them to make healthy choices…introducing teens to the creative arts as an outlet to meet the challenges of life in constructive ways, mentoring them and raising awareness on the dangers and consequences of substance abuse and addiction,”

You can donate here!

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

I was very happy to learn yesterday that I can still at least watch the Lambda Literary Awards live on YouTube on Friday night, since I won’t be able to attend the celebration in NYC (which was the primary reason for my trip).

You can tune in here if you also want to watch:

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

Legendary Country singer/songwriter/musician, Rodney Crowell, will be on TalkShopLive on Thursday June 11th at 6:30PM, Eastern Time.

He has a very interesting new album coming out on June 26th:

“I guess you could call it a lost album. I stumbled upon it in my vault at home. I’d forgotten about it completely. Largely recorded two decades ago, this record includes features by some of my great friends including Guy Clark, Lyle Lovett, Benmont Tench, as well as Emmylou Harris and Lera Lynn.”

You can pre-order it HERE.

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

Something’s happening tomorrow but I can’t remember what…..

Oh! THIS!! FINALLY!!

You can still by tickets HERE, gang!!

And meanwhile…

I’ve been watching this documentary from 2011 on Amazon Prime the last couple of nights. “Autoluminescent” — about the late Rowland S. Howard.

“…featuring rare archival footage and exclusive interviews with the likes of Nick Cave, Mick Harvey, Phil Calvert, Lydia Lunch, Henry Rollins, Thurston Moore, Ollie Olsen and Bobby Gillespie.”

It’s really good:

And here’s this, while we’re at it! “Autoluminescent”, from Rowland S. Howard’s incredible album Teenage Snuff Film, 1999:

**********

And other than a bunch of other frustrating stuff that’s involved with trying to maintain a 125 year-old house out in the middle of nowhere all by myself…

I keep checking in on Tommycakes. She is still with us, but very much declining. Honestly, I didn’t think she would live through the night last night, but she did. And she’s still eating, so that’s an encouraging little sign.

Here’s a photo of her in the dining room from a couple of years ago. Weenie is on the chair under the table. The two were inseparable! He was her nephew… He passed away in May of last year.

***********

I’m thinking that is it for today. I have a lot to get organized here, mentally, before I get into that Honda Civic again and head back into town!!

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

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

***********

Let’s close with this.

I don’t know if they’ll be opening their shows with this song again, but let’s get ready anyway!!

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, LIVE, “Get Ready For Love”! Enjoy, gang!!

No, Not Here!!

June 8, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis 4 Comments

I mean, aside from the fact that the above is a depiction of a skyline that doesn’t really exist anymore…

Anyway.

I am really trying hard to not get depressed over not being in NYC this weekend. Aside from the fact that I love NY, I also really need some time away. I was looking forward to just being in the hotel room. Just being away from everything, if only for a few days.

But on we go.

And depending on what Sandra has to say when she gets back from Atlanta, I’ll find out if I’ll still be going to NYC in November. We shall see.

Meanwhile, Tommycakes is hanging in there. (See posts from the last few days if you have no idea what I’m talking about thus far.)

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

Okay.

Not positive, but it looks like Johnny Depp is back in the Bahamas! (Perhaps to celebrate his birthday, tomorrow??!!)

***********

And from George Vjestica (one of the Bad Seeds) over the weekend– the rehearsals are over!

And now it’s only TWO DAYS until showtime!!! You can still buy tickets HERE!!

***********

From Phyllis Stein —

Another great shot of Willy Deville in New Orleans, 1992:

**********

And today is the heavenly birthday of my most favorite person that ever lived.

I know I say this every year, when I post a photo of him either on his birthday or the anniversary of his death, but I’ll say it again– life on Earth has never been the same for me since he died.

We met in our Junior year in high school, in the theater department, and remained best friends up until he died from AIDS in October of 1999. Here, he is in my kitchen in the paradise apartment on E. 12th Street in the East Village — visiting for Thanksgiving. I think it was 1986 or 1987.

Happy heavenly birthday, Paul. I miss you so much.

***********

Okay. I’m gonna close with this today. Hopefully, my spirits will be better tomorrow, gang. The Agency just texted and begged me to go stop in at my favorite 95-year-old Japanese man’s house and at least make sure he gets something to eat, because the caregiver who was scheduled called off. Jesus.

But here’s this — beautiful Nick Cave in beautiful color:

Have a good Monday, wherever you are in the world.

Thanks for visiting gang.

I love you guys. See ya.

Just checking in!

June 5, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis 9 Comments

I’m not in the best frame of mind here today, so this will probably be a short post. Still, I wanted to at least post something, because tomorrow I’m working an early double-shift, so I won’t be posting at all tomorrow.

On the happy front–

This arrived yesterday!

And on the other happy front — I did indeed get all the carpets shampooed yesterday and, wow, is that PRO Bissell shampooer great. It did a fantastic job.

I was indeed exhausted afterward, but I took some of this:

And then I did yoga. So I feel totally fine this morning. Well, physically fine. Mentally, in addition to everything else on my emotional plate right now, Tommycakes is definitely showing some serious “signs of aging”.

At this point, I’m just praying she hangs in there at least until after I get home from NYC.

She recently turned 14. She came into my world as a kitten. (She & Huckleberry are sisters.) Here she is in the old house, at about age 2:

Today, I head over to my favorite 95-year-old Japanese man’s house and it will be the final day that his daughter will be there. She heads home late this afternoon.

He is absolutely worn out from everything that has gone on these last few weeks, and it will be really good to get back to normal-ish. (Nothing is truly nornmal now that Annie is gone.) I hope to be able to take him out for sashimi & sushi today, but we’ll see how it goes.

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

Okay.

From Ronnie Wood today! Landscapes are available!! Check them out and/or buy them HERE!

**********

Okay.

Cave Things has a T-shirt sale!!

“Treat yourself to 2 T-shirts for £70, usually £50 each!

Simply add any two t-shirts to your basket and the discount will automatically be applied at checkout.

Offer ends 30th June, so don’t miss out.”

Yes! You could be wearing THIS T-shirt all summer!! (Plus another one!!)

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

Okay.

My first 2 heroes in the same photo (when I was only about 8 and had no CLUE what was just up ahead)!

Keith and John Lennon, during the filming of the Rolling Stones’ Rock & Roll Circus, 1968, in London.

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

And don’t forget this!!

When Keith turned 80 a couple years back and they made him Pope!!

And I guess this was Keith, many years back, thinking about being the Pope…

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

And Nick Cave, just prior to shaving off the mustache because they were going to a make him a porn star… (killer suit, though!!) (What a great photo.)

And Nick Cave with a great belt buckle in Belgium in 1989!!

And FIVE more days, gang!! Buy your tickets HERE!!

**********

And that is it for now.

I will be back here on Sunday morning. Enjoy your weekend, gang, wherever you are in the world.

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

*********

From the Rolling Stones this morning:

The Rolling Stones – “Rough And Twisted” (Official Visualiser)

Pre-order the new album HERE!!

We can only hope that I’m gonna look this good!

June 4, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis Leave a comment

Yes!

Not only am I shampooing all the carpets today, and doing whatever spring cleaning is left (not much), it’s also going to be around 86 degrees Fahrenheit! And sunny! Yay!

But I don’t want to turn on the AC while all the carpets are wet. So I’m probably gonna collapse from the heat by late afternoon.

We shall see!

I’m just happy that the house is going to be really clean, at least for a while. Especially since there’s gonna be a little 2-year-old crawling around here next weekend while I’m in NYC!

I was raised in this era, so, yes, I’m neurotic about keeping my house clean…

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

And yesterday, my favorite 95-year-old Japanese man’s daughter had to take him to a Physical Therapy appointment for his new leg, and so —

Unexpected surprise!!

I was back here at home yesterday, 2 hours early. So I got the rest of the flowers put in the fabric planters and hung on the window sills on the barn.

Now that everything’s done in the “flower department” it makes me feel really happy when I look outside. I just love seeing flowers everywhere.

However.

On the topic of my favorite 95-year-old Japanese man and his new Physical Therapy appointments…

His daughter texted me last night, to see if I’m willing to take him to his next appointment, which is next Wednesday — one of my normal shift days with him.

Of course, I said, yes. But guess where the PT is??

Yes!! If you said:

YOU (guessing correctly): “All the way in fucking Columbus??!!”

Then you are, indeed, correct. So it not only lengthens my shift, it also allows me to deal with that horrible traffic to Columbus and back. And gives me a total of about 150 miles of driving to do that day. (And for however long he needs to get the PT.)

But, you know.

It’s going to make it easier on him if I’m the one taking him there. So of course I’m going to do it. (Plus, it turns out his physical therapist’s name is Marilyn and she’s half-Japanese, so how weird is this?? Sort of like I have to go…so fucking weird.)

So, my hours get cut here & there, and then added back on, here & there.

The two of us, perhaps all summer:

And, of course, here’s this — I used to play this song over & over & over on the record player down in our basement in Cleveland, when I was 9 years old… Now, I’ll be singing it to him, on our drives home from Columbus!! “Two Of Us”, The Beatles. 1970. (Hey, you gotta get your joy somewhere…)

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

Okay.

I will not be working on the play today, but hopefully, I will be processing it in my head all day, while I’m shampooing the carpets.

The problem I’m having with it is not about Caiaphas, but how best to treat Jesus’ character, since he is the other guy in the play.

As soon as I can make up my mind about that — you know, how to be funny but also make a few key points and not offend half of the Western world (or myself) — then the play will be pouring onto the page.

***********

All righty.

Here’s this!

Johnny Depp wished Ian Hunter a Happy Birthday yesterday!!

And here’s this, while we’re at it! A record I played over & over & over in the basement when I was 13!! Ian Hunter/Mott the Hoople do a great cover of Lou Reed’s “Sweet Jane”!! 1972. Produced by David Bowie:

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

And here’s this:

Keith and Mick leaving the airport in Nice, France, in 1971!!

**********

And here’s this–

Gram Parsons is second from the right:

***********

And I loved this.

It totally captured how I felt in those years when I was obsessed with reading everything Kafka wrote (including all those amazing letters).

And this book was incredible, gang — a letter to his father; it takes up an ENTIRE book! (They had “issues”.)

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

Okay!!

A few great photos of Nick Cave to help us calm the fuck down!!

And then this, just because I love it–

The Birthday Party on the stairs somewhere — oddly, very calm!!

And from Nick Cave Official this morning–

Buy Tickets HERE!!!

*********

And I think that is it!!

I’m gonna get started around here! And I’m planning on being really happy with the results…

Enjoy your Thursday, wherever you are in the world!

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

***********

Let’s close with this.

No snow in sight!! Yay!!

But I love this fucking song — and this video is one of my all-time favorite videos ever!!

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, “Fifteen Feet of Pure White Snow”, 2001. Enjoy, gang!!

Crazy days in Crazeysburg!

June 3, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis 1 Comment

It’s coming up on Homecoming Weekend here in Crazeysburg — wherein they block off 2nd Street and put up carnival rides and games and have live music, and all the local kids have a blast.

It’s called “Homecoming” because anyone who has prior connections to the village are encouraged to come back for an evening and reminisce.

The hard part about it for me is that it marks the anniversary of the horrible tornado we had 2 years ago. I can’t separate the sight of all the carnival rides going up now, from the sight of all that destruction the tornado caused that year. It happened the night before Homecoming Weekend. The rides were not hit, but many, many homes & a couple of businesses were destroyed.

And all the destruction happened literally 2 minutes from my house but the only street that got hit at all was 3rd Street. But it got hit really hard. No one died but a lot of people were taken to the hospital.

The gas station on 3rd Street that night:

Anyway. It’s over. The gas station, at least, looks better than ever. And I’m trying to just feel those “happy” feelings when I see the carnival rides getting assembled now…

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

All right, so on a much less stressful note, but alas, still a little stressful–

I am hoping to take my favorite 95-year-old Japanese man out for sashimi & sake today because it is a STUNNING day out there today! His daughter is still there, though, so she might have other plans. We shall find out.

She heads home on Friday. It has been a really long trip for her.

At the very least, I hope I can get him over to the Nature Preserve near his house. Just getting him around trees in the sunshine makes him so happy. So we will see how today goes.

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

Well, my relationship with the Caiaphas play deepens but I still have more questions than answers about how the story is going to unfold.

It requires a lot of sitting and staring. Or driving and staring, as the case may be.

Perhaps even flying and staring — if we cast our thoughts ahead to next week, when I leave for NYC!

Meanwhile–

Ronnie Wood has added another date to his upcoming tour. This one in Lisbon!! You can buy tickets HERE.

And here’s part of Keith’s heavenly birthday wishes to Charlie Watts from yesterday:

And speaking of Keith–

Obviously, I loved this!!

Keith and Anita in Venice in 1967. Maybe smoking, but I’m not completely sure…

**********

Okay!

Guess what happened 41 years ago on this very day??!!

One of those rare albums that absolutely stopped me in my tracks was released. The Firstborn is Dead. By Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds.

It was my first exposure to Nick Cave’s music and the scope of his songwriting astounded me. (I still have my copy from — lo! — those 41 years ago…)

And don’t forget!!!

7 more days and counting… (buy tickets here)

And here are these, just because I love them!!

Nick, proving he’s sober? Not sure.

And the happy Bad Seeds 13 years ago! (Their smiles are just contagious, right??)

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

And that is kind of it for today.

I forgot to mention that the huge PRO carpet shampooer did indeed arrive and it has been assembled, and tomorrow — my day off — I am going to shampoo all the carpeting in the house.

And I’m also going to be putting out the last of the flower boxes — on the 2 windows of the barn. (Actually, they are fabric flower “boxes” that hang off the sills.)

So, summer will officially start around here tomorrow.

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

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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

Let’s close with this!!

Yes, it’s from the Oldies FM Radio Station, but it was when I was getting ready to get into bed last night — not getting up in the morning.

I loved this song when it came out, gang. I was living in the paradise apartment on E. 12th Street in NYC — just a stone’s throw from Allen Ginsberg, Richard Hell, and — a couple blocks over — Iggy Pop!

And upstairs from me was the awesome playwright Pamela Enz. We spent many an evening at her kitchen table, sharing a bottle of red wine, smoking cigarettes, while also sharing whatever writing we each had done during the day.

Anyway! This song reminds me of all that!

Pet Shop Boys. 1984 “West End Girls.” Enjoy, gang.

Almost Like Not Working At All!

June 2, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis Leave a comment

Who knew, gang?

Even though. apparently, it’s been sitting right there on my schedule for a couple of weeks already —

But I finally noticed last night that my Tuesday shifts have been cut back by 1 hour for the rest of the summer!

So, um, yes — my Friday evening shift was totally cut and now an additional hour each week has been cut. But rather than freak out and think about my bank account, I’ve decided that — YAY!! — more time to myself all summer long. (Except that I have that early morning shift out on that farm this coming Saturday.)

Anyway.

It has cheered my mood considerably. I have time to do the blog today and also work on the play a little bit, before heading to town.

And it’s another beautiful day today. So, yay.

Me, driving happy, all summer long… (well, we’ll see how that goes)

Wayne and I had a great chat yesterday!

We talked for about an hour and a half, and not just about his recent trip to Australia and Vietnam. Since it was his birthday yesterday, we also talked about how he feels, being 72. (He was 38 when we met, 39 when we got married.) We talked mostly about how so much has changed in the world.

And we talked about NYC — we’re going to try to meet up while I’m there, but it always depends on his work schedule at the Union Club.

On Park Avenue — where Wayne has been maître’d and head bartender for over 30 years…

Anyway. It was a great chat.

The update on my best friend Valerie in Brooklyn, though — I finally got an update from her yesterday morning and it was not good.

It’s not life-threatening, but the doctor is strongly urging surgery on both of her hands and she is very depressed (and still having a lot of pain, so she still can’t do much of anything, let alone draw or paint).

It’s also looking like I’m not going to be able to see her in NYC this trip, which really sucks, since she’s literally my best friend in the world and I only get to see her about once a year, if I’m lucky.

***********

Okay.

On to happier things–

From Keith’s birthday wishes to Ronnie Wood yesterday:

*********

And Johnny Depp has some new limited edition art launching with Castle Fine Art — “Yesterday’s Flowers”:

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

And today is Charlie Watts’ heavenly birthday!!!

Happy heavenly birthday, Charlie!

And in my opinion, nothing says “Charlie Watts” like this song!! Such an iconic intro!! The Rolling Stones, “Honky Tonk Women,” 1966!!

**********

And here’s the Stones in NYC in 1980, photo by the legendary Annie Leibovitz! (Charlie front & center, Keith not going to let go…)

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

All right.

EIGHT more days, gang, until stuff like THIS starts happening again!!

Buy tickets HERE!!

*********

And that is actually it for today.

I’m gonna spend a little time on the Caiaphas play, and then head out.

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

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

**********

I leave you with this!

The Oldies FM Radio Station was only playing disco this morning, so I switched on the CD that’s currently in the retro boombox beside my bed–

So, here’s this!!

From 1956, the fucking classic “Hallelujah, I Love Her So” !!! Enjoy, gang. We sure did.

“Hallelujah, I Love Her So”

Let me tell you about a girl I know
She is my baby and she live next door
Every morning ‘fore the sun comes up
She bring my coffee in my favorite cup
That’s why I know, yes, I know
Hallelujah, I just love her so

When I’m in trouble and I have no friends
I know she’ll go with me until the end
Everybody asks me how I know
I smile at them and say she told me so
That’s why I know, oh, I know
Hallelujah, I just love her so

[Bridge]
Now if I call her on the telephone
And tell her that I’m all alone
By the time I count from one to four
I hear her [knocking] on my door

In the evening when the sun goes down
When there is nobody else around
She kisses me and she hold me tight
And tell me “Daddy, everything’s all right”
That’s why I know, yes, I know
Hallelujah, I just love her so

[Sax solo]

[Bridge]
Now if I call her on the telephone
And tell her that I’m all alone
By the time I count from one to four
I hear her on my door

[Outro]
Oh, hallelujah
Don’t you know I just love her so
She’s my little woman waiting across town
Baby, I’m a little fool for you girl

c – 1956 Ray Charles

Happy Two-for-One Day!!

June 1, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis Leave a comment

Yes!

Happy 79th Birthday to Ronnie Wood!!

One of the most exemplary role models of my wee bonny teenaged girlhood!!

And here’s this! (And I guarantee you I was not thinking about anyone gettin’ old when this album came out back in 1979!!) “We All Get Old,” Ronnie Wood. From his album Gimme Some Neck. Happy birthday, Ronnie!

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

And recently of “the Australian Outback and Vietnam” fame–

Wayne Lewis turns 72 today!!!

Happy Birthday, Wayne!! (We will be chatting on the phone later today, so that I can get the full story about his recent trip. He’s back in NYC now.)

Wayne in Vietnam — but not during the war…

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

Well, regarding the play. (See previous posts from the last 10 days.)

The opening zoom meeting with the Dramatist’s Guild happened last night, and now I have a completely different feeling about the whole endeavor.

I lasted about 30 minutes on the call because the moderator didn’t silence everyone’s mics, and even though she said to hold all questions until the end of the meeting, people just kept on asking mostly un-related questions anyway. (There were 200 writers on the call.)

So that was frustrating, because I’d already worked all day and really just wanted the necessary information to get started on the whole write-a-play-in-30-days thing, and then try to just relax.

But what I did manage to learn from the call kind of disappointed me, too.

For instance — there is no pressure whatsoever to get an entire play written in 30 days. You set your own daily goals, whatever they may be, and there is no “failing” — the point is to simply be “creative”. And to “reach out” if you “get stuck.”

I thought the overall stakes would be a little higher than that, because those are essentially my writing goals every single day and have been since about 1973…

But I am grateful that this whole thing brought the Caiaphas play back to my desk. I am still going to work on it, but with absolutely no stress, and I’m certainly no longer worried about taking off for NYC in the middle of all that.

So, I’m disappointed but it also freed up my stress-load enormously, while still putting a project front & center on my plate.

Me ~~dreaming~~. OOPS! I meant: Me hard at work!

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

Let me say something about social media now.

I find it to be 99.9% just a waste of time.

I’m still almost always on Instagram but all the other sites that I recently re-joined because of the new book coming out, are so different from how they were in the old days, that I just don’t connect with any of it.

It seems to be just a feeding frenzy of constant information. I have no room in my brain for it.

I’m really glad I re-connected with Iris N. Schwartz on Facebook, though. I cannot wait to see her again when I’m in NYC. (We’re getting together for dinner on Saturday night, then I fly back home early Sunday morning.)

So that was a great reconnection. But other than that, it’s just tedious — although for some reason, I still love Instagram. I am on there constantly.

Granted, I mostly follow cute dogs and alpacas and goats, and painters and photographers, musicians — most of whom, you know, aren’t with us anymore.

Oh!

But for the last few days, I’ve been texting on Instagram with a musician/radio guy in Boston! He plays good old rock & roll. His sense of humor is right up my alley, plus I think his music is great!!

From a couple of years ago, with his band The Thigh Scrapers, their song “8 Ball Shifter”. He’s the singer/songwriter. I really love this song (they also have a full album on Spotify):

Anyway.

I digress just a little, but my point is that I prefer Instagram and real life over all that other social media. But on we go.

***********

So!

Speaking of Instagram–

From the fantastic Phyllis Stein!

First –Lenny Kaye, David Johansen, and Richard Hell at CBGBs in 1975!! A little drinking & smoking, a little not drinking & smoking!

Followed by just David Jo and Richard Hell at Max’s, then CBGBs — 1976, 1977! (Ditto on the drinking & smoking thing!)

(All photos by Bob Gruen)

**********

And here’s this!

David Jo and Johnny Thunders, onstage. Photo also by Bob Gruen! (And I actually got to meet Bob Gruen once, outside some sort of event in the East Village. I was with the late great Holly Lane, who was the head of Joan Jett’s record company back then — she knew everybody. Bob Gruen was really nice.)

Anyway!!

*********

And I love this.

A little drinking. A little smoking.

But the expressions on their faces!! They couldn’t be more different.

Keith Richards obviously has something on his mind, whereas Marianne Faithfull trying to get something off her mind — in Morocco in 1967! (Photo by Michael Cooper.)

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

And way back in 1963, when the Rolling Stones were just starting out in London–

Brian Jones and Bill Wyman!! So fucking young!!

**********

AND!

Here’s this!

The Bad Seeds apparently ostracizing Blixa for smoking while the rest of them abstain–

And Nick Cave, yet again with GREAT hair, choosing to not abstain!!

And here’s this (again)! From 1986!! Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, “Hard On For Love,” from their EP, Your Funeral… My Trial:

And do not forget!!

In just 9 days, this begins!! Albeit, with almost a totally different lineup from 1986! However!!

Buy tickets HERE!

********

Okay. I’m gonna scoot.

It is a glorious day here again and it is MY DAY OFF!

The laundry is done. I’m gonna go outside and quickly check on all my many flowers!

And then work on the Caiaphas play free from any pressure whatsoever, and then wait for Wayne to call.

Enjoy your Monday wherever you are in the world!

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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

Let’s close with this.

Fucking great version, gang!

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, live on the show “Soundstage”.

Their version of Ray Charles’ classic, “I Got A Woman”. Enjoy, gang!

The pace quickens!!

May 30, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis Leave a comment

This will probably be a short post today, gang — and, I’m not sure, but I might not be posting at all tomorrow.

I’m still working on the outline for the Caiaphas play — it’s nowhere near done. And tomorrow evening, when I get home from the home of the retired Minister and his lovely wife and cat, I will have just enough time to grab some dinner and then log onto a zoom call with the Dramatist’s Guild that officially starts the month-long insanity of writing the actual and entire Caiaphas play.

You can hire me to make insane decisions for you, too, if you so choose! I’m really good at it!

But yesterday was really beautiful.

I did get to take my favorite 95-year-old Japanese man out for sashimi & sake — his new leg is working great!! And here are our fortunes:

His is the top one —

HE (regarding it distastefully): “This is for a girl.”

Mine, beneath his, oddly managed to sum up my entire life.

His daughter has extended her visit for another week, so we are still not back to “normal”.

But the weather is gorgeous again today so he and I are going to go to that park we love that is filled with trees and just sit on a bench and stare at everything and smile!!

That’s the plan, anyway.

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

Well, the most amazing thing happened last evening.

I suddenly got an alert from Expedia, congratulating me and letting me know that the airfare to Charlotte, NC, had jumped up to $368, each way! Wow. (See yesterday’s post, wherein the airfare had suddenly plunged down to $107, each way, for about 10 minutes. literally, and so I was able to get that plane ticket to Charlotte for James Tabor’s conference there in late September.)

So that made me really happy. Not that the airfare had gone up, but that I had bought the tickets already. This conference will probably be the most exciting weekend of my life. In all honesty.

And each night, after the day-long conference indoors, we will all be gathering outdoors to chat and discuss all the various archeological things about the historical Jesus, the Talpiot Tomb, the historical John the Baptist, Suba Cave, and the James Ossuary — all that 1st Century Christianity stuff. This is where we’ll be doing that:

I honestly am so in awe that I will be able to attend. (This is a private gathering for Tabor’s Patreon Research Group.) There will be about 50 of us attending.

**********

Okay.

Moving along because I’ve got an outline to write!!

Here’s this!

Keith with Eric Clapton backstage at Madison Square Garden in NYC, 1999!

I’m thinking “totally sober” — but what do you think?

***********

And I loved this!!

The Birthday Party, when they were like, what — seventeen??? Jesus. They are so young here! (Actually, perhaps they are still The Boys Next Door. )

And here’s this fucking gem, while we’re at it! “Mr. Clarinet”, 1979. From the Birthday Party’s album, Hee Haw:

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

Okay, that is really it for now.

I got 17 trillion flowers to water around here and an outline to write…

If I don’t see you here tomorrow, I will be back on Monday.

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

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

***********

Yes!

More fantastic making-the-bed music!! It’s like we’re on some sort of streak around here.

From that Oldies FM Radio Station on the retro boombox next to my bed this morning–

From 1982!!

By this time, I was well into my life in NYC. Working for the incredible Ralph Ginzburg in that high rise office on W. 57th Street, overlooking Central Park!!

The radio was always playing in those days, gang. Music was everywhere. I loved this song from the moment I first heard it.

Michael Jackson. “Billy Jean”. Enjoy, gang!!

I’m puttin’ this here, but I have no clue…

May 29, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis 2 Comments

It is another really gorgeous day here today and I’m hoping that I can take my favorite 95-year-old Japanese man out for sashimi & sake today, however–

His daughter was taking him to pick up his new wooden leg on Wednesday and I don’t know yet if it fit correctly or not.

If it didn’t, he will only have one leg for a while and it is WAY too difficult for him to get around. So we shall see when I get there! But I hope things went great. It would be so nice to take him out today.

His daughter heads back to Seattle this evening, so starting tomorrow, things will be back to “normal’ around there. With or without the added leg…

***********

Okay.

It seems like a lot has happened since I posted here on Wednesday.

Here’s a very cool thing:

Yesterday evening, there was a sudden, very brief, and HUGE price drop on roundtrip airfare to Charlotte, North Carolina, for the weekend of James Tabor’s Patreon Research Group conference!!

So I got my plane ticket!! Which means I’m really going. The price dropped from over $400, each way, down to $107, each way!!! And shortly after I got the tickets, it popped up to $167. Which is still a great price, but, you know. Wow!

And this price drop happened right when I was starting to think that maybe I wasn’t going to be able to make that trip, since the weekend in NYC is going to be expensive.

So I guess God stepped in and said: “You’re going!! Buy those tickets!! Now!!”

Apparently, to Charlotte, North Carolina to FINALLY meet James Tabor!!

**********

I keep meaning to at least update you on the mini-podcast launch with my best friend Valerie in Brooklyn–

She developed an extremely painful problem with her hands. Some sort of nerve-related or arthritis-related neuropathy, but she didn’t know where it was coming from. She had an emergency appointment with the hand doctor yesterday, because they were worried she might be having a pre-stroke (!!). Man.

Very stressful. I don’t know yet what the doctor said. But things with the podcast launch are on hold until we know. Needless to say, she hasn’t been able to paint or draw , or do much of anything with her hands for over a week.

I will keep you posted.

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

Wayne and his brother left Vietnam and actually began the long trek back to the States yesterday. I thought they were going back to Australia, first, but I was mistaken!

Here is a fond farewell — Wayne’s brother & a new friend in Saigon!! (And yes, I know it’s not called that anymore!!) (Wayne’s brother is a retired police officer, btw.)

And very early this morning on WhatsApp!!

From Wayne, in Dubai: “He’s EVERYWHERE!!”

***********

Okay!

I got an email yesterday, alerting me that my much-desired Tom Petty Zippo lighter has finally shipped!! Yay!! (Only took 5 weeks to ship it…)

This will soon be mine!!

*********

There is a sale going on at Nick Cave Official until the new tour starts on June 10th!!

10% off all merchandise, but you have to sign up for the mailing list & get a code.

You can do it ALL here!! (This is not Cave Things. This is Bad Seed things.)

And also–

You can still buy tickets HERE for the UK & European tour!!

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

Okay, you gotta hurry for this one, because the tour is almost over!!

From Joe Satriani & Steve Vai:

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

Here’s a couple of Iggy things!!

One from Phyllis Stein!! Iggy looking splendid!!

And Bowie and Iggy in Berlin in 1976!!

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

I love this photo.

The Birthday Party — doing that thing they do!! You know, not smiling and looking for cigarettes and stuff!

Here’s Nick Cave with every single hair in place in Mexico City in 2013!

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

And here’s this!

Ronnie and Keith and Bob Dylan backstage at Live Aid in 1985!!

And a couple of cool shots of Keith, doing what he does!!

Looking cool in red & black, and smoking!! (And playing guitar.)

Looking cool in a pair of shades!! (And playing guitar.)

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

All right. That’s it for today.

I am so happy that all my flowers are out and summer can now begin!! (The flowers for the windows on the barn should be out this weekend.)

Oh!

My trips to the old Kohl’s and old Aldi’s on Wednesday were eye-opening, indeed. It wasn’t depressing, I’m actually glad I did it. But it was definitely like encountering my own ghost at both stores and I felt for certain that my life was a lot better back then. Pre-scamdemic, lockdowns, etc.

Certainly my career was going a lot better. I traveled constantly for writing-related stuff. My life was filled with colleagues, and friends, and family all over the place — a lot of whom have died now, or simply disappeared.

And a key thing back then — I always had a feeling of hope. As opposed to nowadays, wherein I always have a feeling of: I hope I don’t DIE before I can get the rest of my projects done!

I want to try to get some of that other kind of hope back. We’re gonna see how that goes.

And meanwhile, on SUNDAY NIGHT (!!) the write-a-play-in-a-month thing starts at the Dramatist’s Guild, so we’re gonna see how that goes, too. Such an insane idea, to try to fit this in with NYC right in the middle of it.

(And, yes, I miss all my crazy writer friends. The world was so different not so long ago…)

*********

All right.

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

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

*********

Okay!

Unbelievable music-to-make-the bed-by today!!

Apparently, on the Oldies FM Radio Station on the retro boombox next to my bed, they are playing only songs that were hits on this day in 1971!!

Holy fuck.

Hit after hit after hit, all of which I knew by heart.

I was 10 years old and still living in Cleveland back then! Jesus. I played the Top 40 AM radio all the time.

When they played the song below, I literally sprang out of bed. I used to LOVE this song and I had not thought of this song since, I guess, May 29, 1971!!! But I still knew all the words and the cats loved it!!

Ocean, “Put Your Hand in the Hand”, 1971. Connect with your inner 10-year-old white girl in Cleveland, and sing along and enjoy, gang!!