Tag Archives: writing

Weird Day at the Range

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Well, the good news is that I got 3 unbelievably great bullseyes.

The bad news is that they gave me a different type of Glock 9mm today — a Luger — a style I hadn’t used before, and it was way over my head. I think you have to have gigantic gorilla paws — or something equally powerful — to get that gun to do anything. My hands simply were not strong enough to even load the gun.

Literally, I could barely load the gun. I managed to get 4 bullets loaded on three different tries. And the 4th bullet — I couldn’t get it to fire, or even get it out of the gun in order to start over.

It was so frustrating.

And the range was really crowded this morning. All the lanes were full. That alone triggers my autism — all those people. Meaning that I go way deep into my protective psychological shell. And I almost immediately lose the ability to communicate.

Plus, the instructor was really busy since so many people were there, so I couldn’t keep calling him over to help me load the darn gun — one bullet at a time, no less!

And it was doubly frustrating because those 3 bullets I did fire were the best bullseyes I’d had yet.

Long story short — I left the range after 4 bullets. But the good news is — I signed up for a session of private instruction. For next week. So maybe I can finally learn how to load whichever darn gun they give me, and how to tell the difference between guns that I can or can’t handle. And probably a whole bunch of other stuff that hasn’t even occurred to me yet!

We shall soon see!!

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In other good news!!

WOW, gang, is my house CLEAN!!

I was at it for about 6 solid hours yesterday. But every room is finally clean. And, most importantly, my guest room and the entire upstairs, is finally back to normal.

Such a great feeling. You know — bring on Easter, because the Spring cleaning is done!!!!

And that Bissell carpet shampooer — I know I keep saying it, but, wow, gang, is it a great machine. I am so glad I finally decided to buy it. It is mind boggling, how easy it is to use (it requires absolutely no bullets), and it does such a great job.

Anyway, so part of my life is working out okay!

Meanwhile, I still have the rest of the day off, and Peitor is still at Series Mania in France, so there is nothing pressing to do with the script right now, and I can just relax.

I’m trying to remember the last time I relaxed…. Hmmm. Nothing’s coming.

So I’m going to take advantage of the downtime today. Because as soon as Peitor is back home in Nice, we will have a ton of revisions to do.

And life goes on.

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Okay! Enjoy what’s left of your Monday, wherever you are in the world.

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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Keith Richards Discusses Heroin, Drug Deals & Guns. (53 seconds)

Yes! So exciting!

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The sun is almost sort of out, and a clean house is already getting underway here, gang.

I’ve done 2 loads of laundry so far, a little vacuuming, dusting — and now I’m taking a break to post here.

These are some of the cool things that happened during the week, when I was working nonstop:

For some inexplicable reason, Best Western motels insisted I take a pre-approved travel rewards credit card with a sort of “high limit” (for me, that is — fresh from my 2-year anniversary of declaring bankruptcy). So I said, “Okay!! I’d be happy to!!”

I already had one special credit card set aside for trips to NYC, but it doesn’t have travel rewards. I took this new offer as a sign that I might be traveling again soon! Just like the old days, gang. Traveling! It made me feel really happy.

Also: the husband of my client who died recently — the client I just adored — sent out an invitation to all of us who were caregivers for his wife — a dinner at the yacht club on Buckeye Lake, to honor her. I’m so excited. I can’t wait. It’s this Friday night. It’s about 30 miles from me. The food there is fantastic.

Yacht Club on Buckeye Lake

Every time I pass by the freeway exit to their house, I still miss them both so much. I can’t wait to see the husband again and just be with people who knew his precious and wonderful wife. Every time I think of that upcoming dinner, I can see her smiling in my mind’s eye.

Also: The insurance guy came by, to finalize my Medicare stuff and my long-term care insurance — and he got me a great deal for long-term care. This means a lot to me, since I know how much it costs to have someone like me come to your house every day. And/or how expensive it is to stay in a long-term care facility.

Even though my health is kind of phenomenally good, it just gives me a sense of security. Having that added insurance. And it’s only going to cost me $62 a month. Unbelievable!!!

And this: The other day was Patti Hansen’s 69th birthday (Keith Richards’ wife). Keith posted this on Instagram:

And then the following day was Theodora Richards’ 40th birthday! And Keith posted this to Instagram!

I can’t believe she is 40 years old! It’s like she was born just the other day… however. She just had a little boy last year — a boy named Gus. After Keith’s grandfather, Gus Depree. And his other daughter with Patti Hansen, Alexandra, just had a baby boy a few weeks ago — named Elvis!!!

I think it’s so cool that Keith has grandsons named Gus and Elvis — two guys that had such an influence on Keith as a boy.

And while we’re at it, this was on Instagram the other day:

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So I will have time tomorrow, finally, to go back to the shooting range to practice with the handgun.

I think it’s kind of amusing that the shooting range is a lot closer to my tiny village than the grocery store is. It says a lot about the people out here. They own guns! And also fly the American flag. And Trump flags… And the village is so unbelievably crime free…

Oh, and the other day, I took one of my clients into the local donut shop in town — Jolly Pirate:

This exact one

And on the front door was a handwritten sign: WARNING. Premises surveilled by the 2nd Amendment.

And there was a hand-drawn picture of a handgun!

And then on the next door, another sign said: Guns welcome here! Must be kept holstered and concealed!

I don’t know about you, gang, but I’m guessin’ that place never gets robbed… When not only the owner, but probably every guy and gal in the place is concealed-carrying!!

Too cool.

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And if you haven’t seen this 9-minute video posted by Mike King (Anti-NYTimes) it will upset you but you should still watch it.

Killing the Kennedys -The True Cause of “The Kennedy Curse”

And here’s this–

James Tabor – Exploring a More Historically Credible Version of Jesus’ Last Supper (29 mins):

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Okay. I think that’s it for now.

I’m gonna get back to the Spring cleaning!!

I hope you’re having a super Sunday, wherever you are in the world!

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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More driving to town music!!

A great song by Sam Cooke (written under the pen name “Barbara Campbell” — Sam’s wife). “(What A) Wonderful World.” 1960. Totally addictive!! Enjoy, gang!!!

A quick Saturday hello!

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Lots of little things have happened this week — and, oddly, almost ALL of them were good!

Tomorrow I will have time to do a longer post about all of it. But I’ve got to dash out here soon, to go spend the day with my favorite 94-year-old Japanese client! And then — two whole days off!!

Yay!

And — yes! — on my days off, I will be spring-cleaning the remaining rooms of this house with my beloved Bissell powerbrush-pet carpet shampooer!!! Double yay!!

AND — going here:

shooting range

So.

Peitor will finally be at Series Mania in Lille, France, beginning this evening. He had a horrible time in Montreal, a horrible time in Iowa, a truly horrible time in Los Angeles, then a quick but horrible time in London… so here’s hoping, now that he’s back in his beloved France, he will stop having horrible times.

Here is a very, very brief synopsis of our TV streaming proposal, in case you’re interested (this is printed on the back of a sample photo collage, below):

“Fresh Paint is a one-hour screwball-dramedy streaming series about Dewitt Lawson’s search for the meaning of his own life, while the world as he knows it is caving in on him. Having had the great misfortune of reaching age 46 with everything having always worked out perfectly for him, Dewitt Lawson is suddenly faced with the fact that he possesses no skills whatsoever to navigate the snowballing problems of the art house film company he recently inherited from his father.

It also appears that from his love life to his spiritual life, everything that once worked for Dewitt now falls flat – has he lost his magic? Feeling stranded and abandoned, Dewitt must repeatedly learn how to remain one step ahead of catastrophe – and the Finnish Mob – while saddled with a bevy of culturally diverse, cross-generational characters, ages 22 to 85. By enrolling each of them, and their unique and often colorful survival skills, Dewitt just might get the company – and his life – to turn completely around.”

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Nick Cave sent out a really, really beautiful Red Hand File yesterday, specifically about his song “Skeleton Tree,” written just after his son Arthur’s death. He says, in part:

“…When I wrote ‘Skeleton Tree’, I could not perceive any hope in the song at all. It was a vacuum, all nihilism and void. Listening to it now, years later, I can hear its insistent beauty loud and clear. The echo is not empty, Russell, not in the slightest – we call out, and given time, the echo comes back bearing the entirety of the world.”

You can read it in full here.

And don’t forget!!

In just about 3 weeks, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds’ North American Wild God Tour begins!! Buy tickets here!

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That’s it for now, gang. But I will return tomorrow!!

Enjoy your Saturday, wherever you are in the world!

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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I leave you with this!

This popped up on my “frequent plays” while driving on the backroads into town yesterday. It was a really beautiful, sunny spring day! And it was sort of wonderful to revisit my wee bonny youth while driving in the Hinterlands at age 64 and a 1/2 (this song was a smash hit when I was 10) — and marveling at the thought that the Rolling Stones can no longer sing this song in public!! (Marxist woke-ism, gang).

Okay. Enjoy!! (oh, and play it LOUD!)

Here’s Hoping!!

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As you can guess, I cannot wait until this afternoon, when they make the JFK files public!!

I am seriously hoping it doesn’t end up being anything like the Epstein files fiasco. I haven’t seen any popcorn memes lately, so here’s hoping, gang.

And is it too much to hope for that they will finally reveal JFK Jr to the world now, too???

We’ll soon see.

Okay, I gotta scoot!!!

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

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

Yes! It’s True!!

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I’m wearing flip-flops today!

Even though it’ll be raining off & on all day. And it won’t be nearly as warm as yesterday was — it got up into the low 80s Fahrehhiet (when in doubt about how best to spell “Fahrenheit” just add a bunch of H’s). Today, it will only be a high of 62 degrees.

BUT– it is my ONE day off until next Sunday and I am just determined for it to be Spring already!!

So the flip-flops are on!!

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I’m up to my eyeballs in housecleaning chores around here, but only a few of them will get done today.

I have a quick phone meeting with Peitor today about the TV pilot stuff. (I think we have decided to just tighten the logline and the one-page synopsis and just leave the Pilot script as it is, for now. But I’m never 100% certain about what we’ve decided on any given day.)

However, more importantly, I have a meeting with the guy who’s handling my long-term care insurance and my upcoming Medicare stuff. He will be here, in person, in my illustrious 124-year-old no-frills home late Wednesday afternoon, so I’m focusing on at least having the first floor of the house looking like 722 cats don’t, in fact, live here 24/7….

And the following week, I will have more time to finally tackle the upstairs — with the new and entirely beloved Bissell carpet shampooer!!! Yay!

Honestly, gang, I can’t wait. The upstairs has still not fully recovered from when I had that homeless young married couple staying here. So I am eager to finally get it back to normal. And then all of you can come visit!! Finally.

Oui!! Ce’st moi!!

I especially like that the cocktails appear to be ready!

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Other than that — thankfully, my 94-year-old Japanese client did not remember any of the awful stress we went through on Friday, so things were back to normal yesterday and we had a great day together.

But, even when things are good, it still exhausts me, emotionally. So I need today to just sort of recover from the past week, before I get back at it on Monday.

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Well, last night was interesting.

I happened upon reruns of the TV show “The Waltons,
from 50 years ago.

Gang, this was my absolute favorite TV show when I was a young girl.

I loved it because it was all about “family.” And I so MUCH wanted a loving family back then (instead of the abusive, totally messed-up family I was in).

And a HUGE family — I really wanted that. I always believed that I would have a lot of children. It was the one thing I wanted in life — a big family –aside from being a singer and moving to NYC. (Another thing I wanted from the time I was about 9 years old — and that dream won out over the big family thing.)

Anyway.

Each episode had the date it aired listed beside it. And since I have a really remarkable memory, I could remember what was going on in my life on each of those air dates.

It was unnerving, how precise my memories were. For instance, during the earliest episodes, my parents were still married and we lived in a big beautiful house, and I watched each episode, spellbound, on the TV in the family room that had the big brick fireplace. And upstairs in my room, I played records constantly. And I played my guitar and wrote songs. I was already in love with John Lennon, the Rolling Stones. I already had a crush on my best friend’s father (they lived a few streets over), which remained with me for over a decade — I really, really wanted him to be my real father. I had begun obsessing about who my “real” parents were, especially my birth father. My room upstairs in that specific house was the springboard of my entire existence.

And all the feelings were there last night, as if it were just now happening– not something from over 50 years ago.

I tried to watch at least one episode (I finally had to pause it for another night, I felt too emotional), but as the opening credits rolled (with that wonderful theme song that I still know by heart, which literally brought a tear to my eye), I could remember perfectly, being that wreck of a 12-year-old girl, watching the show in our family room. And I said to myself last night:

I didn’t know yet that I would really go to New York. I didn’t know yet that I would sing in those famous folk clubs where Bob Dylan had sung. I didn’t know yet that I would become a successful writer. That I would go to London and Paris —

Places I really, really wanted to go to back then.

It felt so weird. Like I was suddenly observing my whole life. In the past tense.

Me, at 12, before I knew that most of things I dreamed about were going to come true:

Well, anyway. It was intense and now I really gotta get a move on here.

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

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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I’ve posted this theme song here before, but here it is again!! If you remember this show fondly, it will probably break your heart!!! Okay. Enjoy, gang.

Off We Go!!! Again!!

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And by “we” I, of course, mean “me.”

But by 3:30 this afternoon, I will be off until Monday morning. So that’ll be great. I will finally feel like I can slow down. For a day, at least.

Yesterday was a seriously mixed bag, gang. I can’t discuss specific details of my clients’ health issues, but my 94-year-old Japanese client had an unexpectedly rough afternoon yesterday. Something related to his illness.

The good thing, though, is that because he has short-term memory issues, I’m hoping that by today (or by even last night) he will have forgotten all about it and won’t feel depressed by it.

I do want to say this, though, gang. (This is not connected to my client above, but it is something I notice a lot with my clients). If anyone you love is aging, PLEASE consider keeping them mobile — as much as they can physically handle.

Short- distance walks — even super short distances — help. Even simple chair exercises, or holding on to the kitchen sink and doing simple leg lifts (you can google all this stuff) makes a HUGE difference. Not just in muscle and bone strength, but in mental clarity and overall mood.

Starting as soon as possible helps keep it an easy to follow habit. Or “easier” if the physical situation gets intense.

I can’t stress enough that it makes a HUGE difference. (Below is just a random example.)

Also — consider avoiding the use of OTC drugs like Tylenol and Advil if pain management is constant. They can contribute to joint deterioration. Choose products with Curcumin and Turmeric for pain control. They are more beneficial for healthy joints. (Sometimes they can be expensive but, long-term, they’re a lot better for you overall.)

For instance, this company’s products are really good, but they can be very expensive:

One thing that frustrates me with my caregiving jobs, is that I’m not allowed to make any sort of “medical” suggestions. Or any kind of dietary changes, etc.

If a client comes right out and asks me my opinion on something, I can give it — but I have to make sure it’s presented as “my opinion only.”

And the amount of processed foods and refined SUGAR that some of my clients consume just boggles my mind. And I have to just keep my mouth shut.

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Anyway, I gotta scoot.

Not only am I pressed for time but it is also RAINING. Not my favorite kind of Saturday morning. But hopefully, it will clear up later.

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

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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Great new (posthumous) video released from Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers!! (Song recorded in 1982 — their cover of “Wild Thing”.) Enjoy!!! I sure did!!!

I’m Outta here!

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I have to say, these morning shifts make me a little nuts. but only because there are so many little things I do in the morning — including posting to the blog. And I hate it when I feel pressed for time.

Anyway.

Another gorgeous day here today, so I’m sure my angst-y mood will subside, once I’m driving those backroads to town, under a beautiful blue sky.

And the client I have today — even though it’s a long shift, he’s very, very easy to take care of.

And speaking of clients! Yes! I did take my favorite 94-year-old Japanese client back to the Peony Bistro yesterday for Japanese food (and we popped in at the Nature Preserve again after lunch), and yet again, our fortune cookies were sort of uncanny. Even though his was a little “in hindsight,” it summed up his former professional life perfectly. (He had 2 degrees — one in Christian Ministry, and one from NYU Engineering School and that one took him all over the world and made him a very wealthy man). And mine was , actually, sort of spot on, considering the things that are always on my mind right now.

His is at the top:

And what was also interesting is that I could hear the women in the booth behind us, talking about their fortune cookies, and one woman said: “It’s like this fortune was meant for me! This happened last time I was here.”

Too funny.

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Okay.

Nick Cave sent out a Red Hand File that was very intriguing — ostensibly, it was about Flea, from the Red Hot Chili Peppers. He said, in part:

“I remember being genuinely moved by his words and thinking what a classy guy Flea was, and feeling on some subterranean level that I was unable to fully grasp at that point in my life, that Flea was a human being of an entirely different calibre, indeed, of a higher order.”

You can read it in full here.

What struck me most about this particular Red Hand File, is that I used to work for Gus Van Sant, Sr. in his home office, about 10 years ago. Filing and just helping out. I worked for him for a few years, until he retired and moved away.

At that point, he was the Business Manager of his son’s film production company and I learned a lot about the business end of the movie business.

Gus, Sr. was a really beautiful soul (he died a couple years ago). I just loved working for him. And one day, while I was filing, there was a handwritten letter in the stack of papers, and it was from Flea. And it was just a beautiful letter to Gus, Sr., thanking him for something that he had done for Flea.

I said, “Is this the Flea from Red Hot Chili Peppers?”

And Gus , Sr. said, “Yes. Surprisingly, he’s really quite a great guy.”

I was impressed by that, because Gus ,Sr. had a habit of always speaking honestly to me about everything and everyone.

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Okay.

In the spirit of being incredibly pressed for time —

Peitor and I have finally started hearing back from people in LA who are reading our TV Pilot script to give us advice. It has taken forever to get people’s responses, but now we are getting them and it is clear that we need to revise the script — take out quite a few scenes and save them for other episodes. Not a huge deal.

HOWEVER — Peitor goes to Series Mania in Lille, France, in 9 days(!!) and for 8 of those days (!!) I have to work!!!

Arrrrrggghhh!

So I just feel really frustrated right now.

But I still gotta scoot.

So have a great Thursday, wherever you are n the world!!

Thanks for visting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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Remember this great song??? My 94-year-old Japanese client and I were playing it yesterday!!

Wayne Newton, 1963. His HUGE hit — “Danke Schoen”. Enjoy, gang.