I had the mother of all epiphanies while on my walk this morning. (And, btw, spring has arrived, gang -- just as I predicted it would!! It's a balmy 45 degrees out there. The snow is gone. The buds are all over the trees. The birds are everywhere, singing like mad.)

Of course my epiphany involves my never-ending fixation on my craft, my journey on that writer's path. The never-ending one. The reason I'm here, etc., etc. I had an awakening about how I wanted to enhance my Valentino novel. And the good news is that it's only going to take me about a lifetime to execute it! Yay. It'll be my own little Leaves of Grass that I won't stop refining until I'm dead. But what a great way to spend what's left of my time on Earth -- fixating on the Silent Movie Era! Right, gang? (When I'm finished at last, that virtual reality thing won't seem so far-fetched. ha ha) (See some sort of insane post below somewhere about me on a Paramount  back lot in 1922.)

(Actually, I still have the enormous task of the memoir ahead of me, still to execute. It will be a multi-media extravaganza that everyone seems excited about. And Freak Parade is almost ready for publication. But other than those massive projects, the only thing I have left to do in what's left of my life, is this unbelievably time-consuming idea I now have for Twilight of the Immortal. I couldn't be happier! I'm never happier than when I am biting off more than I can possibly chew!)

Meanwhile, very shortly here, I will be incorporating the video reviews, readings, etc.,  to this blog on a weekly basis. The videos will be under 3 minutes and will not supplant the blog in any way -- just be an addition to it. I am excited about it, gang. It's going to be so much fun. The only drawback so far is that I can't figure out how to embed the video directly into this blog. I can embed them on my web site without any trouble at all. But onward. I'm sure I'll figure it out eventually. (Or email me and give me a head's up. Thanks.)

Okay!! Guess what day this is? This is the day that I go see Alice in Wonderland for the second time in just under a week! Yay. Jay wants to see it this time. So off we go. We're going to the earliest show because, a) Jay & I both have a lot of work-stuff we need to do today; and b) it's cheaper to go early and why pay through the nose for the 3D IMAX thingie if you don't have to? (Wouldn't that be horrible, though; to pay for anything "through the nose"? Pepsi through the nose is bad enough, right?)

Before I sign off.... More scanning occurred during the night! I will leave you with two more ancient photos from my illustrious past. The first was once again taken by my now-departed, but most wonderful companion on Earth, Paul Martin when he was visiting for Thanksgiving in 1985. I'm on my bed in what used to be my favorite tee shirt (a shirt given to me by Laurie, a life-long best friend that I've known since we were 6; in the days of this tee shirt, she was a very successful kids' wear designer). This is in my apartment on E. 12th Street.


And this photo was taken in 1993. It was taken at Larry Rivers' incredibly dark, uninviting loft. It  was a party for Larry's 70th birthday and a bunch of artists from all over, of various media, gathered together to give him gifts of art & to entertain him, to drink his booze, blah blah blah. And to me it seemed that he could not have cared less about any of it. All of us were at least half his age or a lot less. (Including his current wife at that time -- the reason anyone there knew Larry Rivers at all.) And you could tell that the companions that he cared most about being with, or sharing a milestone birthday with, weren't even alive anymore. (A case in point, Frank O'Hara -- one of my absolute all-time heroes and one of Larry's bestfriends -- had been dead since 1966.) It was apparent to me at any rate, from the look on Larry's face, that he really wanted to say: "Go the fuck home & get out of my loft." I had promised I would come to the gathering and perform a few songs, so I did. But I couldn't breathe in that fucking place and I couldn't get out of there fast enough. I wanted air; I wanted to be on the street -- anywhere but anywhere near those people.  Generally, I don't like parties and that particular gathering had the worst vibe I can remember. (But the people seemed to like my songs, which totally surprised me. Anyway.)



Okay, off I go now. Have a wonderful Thursday wherever this blog finds you. I hope that the long day's journey into night that you are currently undergoing, turns out -- surprisingly -- to be one hell of a great ride!! See you on the other side! Thanks for visiting, gang.