I love to listen to the blues. I used to be a regular at several of the small, smoky clubs that are hidden from Main Street on the north side of the city. Those dens where electric blues screamed from towers of speakers piled on small bandstands. Places infected with rhythm and soul. Places where even old white men would get up and dance. Continue reading
It is no longer a wonder to me. I write because I come from a family of writers. My recent genealogy research has unveiled several of these family dramatists.
Many of you don’t know it, but I’m old enough to be your grandpa. Don’t let the hip, irreverent voice that I write in fool you – I’m old.
I’ve met a lot of writers – most of them say something like: “Oh, I’ve always written.” I can’t say that – unless I can count my graffiti on the sides of bridges or the walls of bus stop shelters. Some were complete sentences. No, I decided to be a writer at the age of 50. I think it was right after the tattoo, or maybe the ear piercing. I’m not sure. Continue reading
The Original Tin Foil Hat
Interstellar Telepathic Signaling Device
Born from cannabis creativity and the vision of one dedicated being, the original 1992 Tin Foil Hat has returned. We had to go back to our drawing board in ’93 after a certain government agency shut us down. We modified. We improved. We’re ready to finish testing. It’s back! Continue reading
What makes people think they can give meaningful support to people with irregular needs? What is support exactly? What’s it mean?
I have leukemia and a support group has been recommended to me. Wow, I thought. I just asked a few questions. What in my behavior triggered the nurse’s recommendation? I could only answer that with the thought that the medical hocus-pocus that lies ahead for me is going to be a tough ordeal. Continue reading
I’ve been diagnosed with leukemia. It’s more difficult then you would think to keep something like this a secret for very long. You tell maybe one close friend or relative and soon after everybody knows. How does that happen, I wonder. I guess it’s that people gather for one reason or another and after exhausting all the usual polite conversation, there’s a quiet lull and then someone will say something like, “Hey. Have you heard about so-and-so?” They’ll reminisce and share stories about the person. In my case for example, about a predictable, silly, character who’s view of life and of humans can be both humorous and infuriating. And so, what follows are inquiries and well wishing through cards, phone calls and emails from distant family, friends, and acquaintances who have heard about your new diagnosed medical condition.
There’s a variety of categories I put these communications into, There’s the “Sorry to hear about this”, the “You’re a fighter”, the “I’ve been, or my mother, father, sister, brother, cousin, etc, has been through this very same thing.” My personal favorites are the humorous ones. The notes that ask for my stuff after I die, or the dirty jokes about doctors and nurses. Continue reading