p.s. Hey. Yesterday you looked at him, today you get to share one of his enthusiasms: ladies and gentlemen, I give you the mighty writer, renaissance artist, and distinguished local Statictick with his paean to the mighty musical iconoclast Mark Eitzel. Enjoy, respond, thank you, and thank you, Mr. S. I've reached the point in my jetlag's trajectory where I'm so deeply exhausted from lack of sleep and so frustrated at being unable to sleep that I seriously feel like I'm going to burst into tears at any moment. So be nice, ha ha. I'll try to power through this p.s. before the coffee stops working. Oh, this is important: I was informed yesterday that the people who made reservations for the London 'Jerk' shows through me need to pay for the tickets in advance. So, if you're one of those people, you should call the SLG asap at this number: 020 7703 6120. It's important because if you don't buy the ticket in advance, you'll lose it apparently. Again, the people in question are: July 1: Tom Kendall (2 tickets), Benni De Alessi (1 ticket), Emma Deraze (2 tickets), Marc Hulson (1 ticket), Thomas Geyrhatter (1 ticket), Simon Couch (1 ticket), George Taylor (2 tickets). July 2: Paul Curran (1 ticket), Pascal Oloughlin (2 tickets), James Mansfield (2 tickets), Oliver Hargrave (1 ticket). If that's not clear, or if you have any questions, do ask. What else? Oh, weirdly, I think my reading last night at Shakespeare & Co. was one of the best or at least most pleasurable ones I've done in years, I think. Tons of really cool people showed up to see the event, and it was very interesting to read in that incredibly legendary place, and everyone who works there or who showed up was so totally nice. Someone took pictures of the event, and if I get them in time, they'll be added to the second half of the 'UM' tour slideshow in a couple of days. Not that my happy reading is interesting news. I'm just grasping for happy straws, I think. Anyway, I'm wasting my short, precious caffeine-induced semi-lucidity, and it's Tuesday, so the Recollets' cleaning crew is bearing down on us, so ... ** Zachary German, Hey! I think you just missed him. Oh, and thanks a lot for writing that thing about the reading. That was real nice of you, and it was just really great to get to see you in general, man. ** G.V., Hi. Oh, good, yes, once you figure out how this pace it works, it's pretty easy. Thank you a lot for your kind words, and I'm here as you need me. Take care. ** Tomas, Yeah, maybe I'm fantasizing that I'm running for something. I did indeed like the photos, as you expected. Thanks a lot. And thanks for the book, which I haven't started yet but will soon. You probably should do a blog for all of our sakes, but, until you do, your comments only increase the Borges-esque-ness of this one, and, since that's a good thing, don't stop. ** Clovenskull, Is 'Lions Head of Nebula' your solo show or the one you're doing with Killer Luka? Either way, I want to know everything I can. Varg's out! Wasn't he supposedly going to immediately do a collab with ... uh, was it Nurse with Wound? ** Mark P, Wish you could have been there too. Yeah, the reading yesterday was good. Four double espressos in a row in fifteen minutes will do that. Weirdest thing. Hopefully, I'll get up and about and write to you by tomorrow if I can. ** Oscar B, Yeah, I had fun. Beforehand, I get really stressed, but then when things happen, I like them. Weirdest thing. Oh, your piece at the show sounds so great. Do put up photos if you can. It's a must see. And do call the SLG about buying the 'Jerk' ticket. Sorry about the hassle. The word just came down from on high. I think I'm pretty good at de-shying shy people, which is weird because I'm quite shy myself. We'll be chattering our heads off in 30 seconds flat. You'll see. ** Katsim, Yeah, I've settled into a uniform of late. I do that. They can last for years at a time. I think I'm just lazy unless it's some brilliant strategy that I keep secret from myself. That 'light walk' thing sounds and looks pretty cool. Nice they do that. It's like Paris. They're always doing things like that. In a couple of weeks, it's the annual Night of Music in Paris where musicians and bands, some famous, others completely obscure, set up all over Paris on practically every street corner and play for free all night. So you'll be walking down the street, turn a corner, and there'll be a bunch of kids playing Pixies covers, or there might even be the Pixies themselves. It's pretty cool. Oh, I heard about 'Samson & Delilah'. I heard it was good. Was it? Jetlag is such a total and horrible bitch, yes, yes, yes! ** _Black_Acrylic, Okay, I wrote down the email address, and I will as soon as I'm able. Thanks a lot. ** Kiddiepunk, Well, hey there, my imminently future neighbor. I'll give Satan a yell tonight. I'm definitely that desperate. Do you know when you're arriving here exactly yet? ** Pascal, I really like your form/structure idea as I understood it. I love the framing device, the three shaky projector 2001, the three events, the focusing of the rules on sound, color, and inner vs. outer life, and etc. Yeah, thinking about that made me percolate. When do you get to start writing it? Maybe you said already. Soon, right? Yeah, I'll love to hear anything you want to say about that. I'm very intrigued. ** Misanthrope, Gosh, thanks, man. The reading went really okay. Shockeroo. But now I'm shit for brains again. More shit for less brains even. That kid's joke is actually pretty funny. I'm going to try it on Yury right now. Hold on. He laughed. Dude, that's not easy to accomplish. I'm going to tell everyone I see today that joke. It's going to save my life today, George. ** Bernard Welt, Oh, right, all the little Tonys-related headlines had the words 'Billy Elliott' as the majority of the words in them. What a terrible sentence. Mine, not the headlines. If they broadcast the Obies live on TV, I'd watch that. Would you? ** Alan, Hey. A normal schedule will help me out on the getting to see you front, for sure, since I'm a wake up at 7 am and crash at 11 pm kind of guy when I'm not a trying desperately to go to sleep at 11 pm and waking up at 12:35 am kind of guy like I am right now. ** NB: Niobium Bartholomew Cartwright III: 'Gay shoes' was George's attribution. I was just the messenger. Gosh, am I going to have to let you vet any image of you before I post it, ha ha? The close-ups were supposed to look bad. That was my fun house mirror meets Richard Avedon moment. It was about your soul, not about your face. Everyone looked 'awful' in them except for Bernard who tricked my lens somehow. So now that you've taken this new job and everything ... what the hell is it? Come on, spill. If you spill, I'll promise to make the area two feet away from your face and/or any closer a no fly zone for my camera. ** Stan_cz, I like the mental image of you sitting in the local library writing a comment. Plus, I'm kind of shocked you could look at my blog in a library. I thought they'd have filtering devices in the air. I'll be cautious on Jarmusch. My pal/collaborator Stephen O'Malley did some of the music, or rather Sunn0))) did, so I'm interested for that reason too. Hope you found or have easily bought any cables you need. ** Put The Lotion In The Basket, Yeah, I'm afraid I sleep in the buff as it were. At least I do when I don't have guests. Well, I mean when I don't have the kind of guests with whom one shakes hands hello and goodbye. So simulating my to-bed ritual would cause me a bit of in-flight trouble, I think. I think I'm just doomed to suffer for my desire to keep flying half way across the world. Yeah, it does kind of suck that you won't be there for 'Jerk'. I mean for me and for us, not for you. You'll be fine, lounging in the Spanish sun or something equally pleasant, right? You can't delay your departure until, like, the 2nd? It's probably not your decision/choice on the departure date, I bet. Oh, well. You should come visit Paris in any case so at least I'd get to meet you and hang out. ** Roger P, Cross those fingers again, please, 'cos last night it didn't work. Just kill me now, etc. Ahem. It sounds like I'll need all my brain power for Roth, so I'll definitely wait a bit for that. Did the second Robbe-Grillet film hit your sweet spot any better than the first one did? Yeah, unless I get sent on a book tour through Thailand, which, although a seriously lovely prospect, isn't likely, you'll have to be up around these parts at some point so we can throw an impromptu if necessary blog gang party or something or other. ** Pisycaca, Hey. Yeah, just take your time on the Paris trip. It doesn't seem like I'll be going anywhere else anytime soon except for a day or two or five. ** Kier, Oh, a kite class film. I like the sound of that. The jetlag from NYC to here or to London isn't so bad. It's the 9 hour time change between here and LA that's murder. So you shouldn't be too horribly lagged. In my case, I just think Hitler was reincarnated as my body clock. Shit, I promised myself I wouldn't whine today. Zip. ** David Ehrenstein, I'm a god damned scrumptiousness magnet, aren't I? Weird. I wonder if the NPH finale might cure my jetlag. I'm going to give it a try later. ** JW Veldhoen, Is it possible to be malcontent with wine? I guess so? ** KYTE, Yeah, it seems like you're kind of on fire on the art and creativity front, for which I, as your fan and friend, am eternally grateful. You're like a one-person reason to check Facebook a lot, for one thing. And your writing is going just great, more importantly. Hope your get the record store job. Job-wise, I always imagine record store jobs are among the least bad ones. Thanks for the megaupload link. I'll go hit that as soon as I finish this. ** Dan, Thanks for answering the folks and for everything else. ** Mark, Pere Lachaise should totally have a reading series, yes. Maybe each writer could pick his or her favorite grave as the location/ stage. The mind boggles. Oh, awesome on the links. I'll use them pronto and probably share the goods here in a formal way too. That piece sounds pretty amazing in theory what with Dresher, Eckart, and Heckert all simultaneously on board, wow. Superstar central. Yeah, thanks a lot, Mark. I'm going to devour that sucker. ** SYpHA_69, Best and Rigby? That is a photo. Where'd you see that? It's very good you're following up on your stomach stuff and chasing the culprit down, obviously. Whatever the cause, it's probably less harmful than your stressing out that it's cancer unnecessarily. That's very promising and interesting about the Match.com guy. Yeah, that sounds good. Where does he live? ** Joe M, I was thinking ABBA had written a train song, but then I remembered it was just the video for 'The Day Before You Came' that had the train in it, not the song itself. ** Thomas Moronic, Oh, sure, the poem 'The Green Album' having the same title as that Weezer album is not a coincidence. I was channeling its subtext, to put it simplistically as per my jetlag's allowance. Man, I hope things take those forward steps again followed by hundreds more. ** Winter Rates, Well, my, you know, honor. I got back to my computer ... yesterday (?) after making food or smoking or something and saw a IM from you. Sorry I wasn't here at my 'desk' at the time. But I'm a very poor phone pal at the moment anyway. ** Ken Baumann, Hey, Ken. Yeah, the team behind 'Coraline' have optioned 'God Jr.', and, having just seen and loved that film, I'm mightily hopeful. But I'm sure you know how often options actually lead to films getting made. The percentage must be tiny. Still, it would be a dream come true, for sure. I should have a better sense of all that when the option is up for renewal or not in a few months. How's it with your script(s)? Any forward movement on any related front? ** Steevee, I think you closed your eyes in self-protection against my camera's dollying like any sensible person would. Mine would have been scrunched closed. Congrats on the positive feedback on your interview. Looking forward to it. ** Michael_Karo, Hey. Oh, I'm going to save the CD and the promo vid for the next locals round-up post rather than waste them on a simple blue, p.s.-imbedded word/link or two. And I'll listen/watch and even buy if you satisfying me, ha ha, when I feel better. Speaking of not feeling good, no, your package is still in suitcase along with everything else in my suitcase apart from my toothbrush and so on waiting for me to be energetic again. ** Alan, No, I haven't tried Ambien. I would bet you can't get it here in France. Sometimes I think the French only have five different drugs available in the entire country, and that includes both prescription and over the counter. I'll check, though. I'm at the desperation/considering the acceptance of Jesus into my heart and life stage. Well, maybe not that desperate, but still. ** Flit, I was ultra-proud to host your work. Now I want to meet you and add you to the gallery of viewable d.l.s. We'll have to make a plan. ** Laurabeth, Hey, Laura. I'm glad you didn't mind me borrowing your photos. They made the day, and, yes, a wonderful day it was. I'm trying my best to sleep and not get sick, you bet. What are you up to today? ** Chris Goode, Well, hello, sir. I knew you were out there, but, heck, it's awfully good to see you. I was incredibly pleased, as were Gisele and Jonathan, that you graciously agreed to do us in public again. Plus, to get to see you. Plus, to get to meet Jonny. If only I could get to see 'WMaS'. We need to continue our discussion of how to get work over here to Paris. Oh, thank you so much about 'Ugly Man'. That melted my heart. It did. And thanks for the links. I'll read the blog thing when I'm alive again, but the pic ... you cut your hair off, for goodness sake. It looks sharp. It does. Well, I sure wish I wasn't brain dead today so I could welcome you home warmly and with more intellectual vigor, but you know. Lots of love to you, you CEO of the uncanny you. ** Rigby, Dude, I'm dead too. How can I find you in this strange place? ** October, Hey! It's awesome to see you. Well, okay, despite the current shit with your dad, the future is sounding awfully good what with your mom's upcoming rescue and the self-understanding on the bi-curious thing and, most of all, re: Destiny and your being in love. Man, that is just all great, great stuff that makes me awfully happy to hear. Keep me updated, okay? It's always really great to see you. ** Creative Massacre, Hi, pal. Oh, ugh, about the wisdom tooth thing. Are you going to get it yanked? And oops about the crappy crew on the bbq gig. Any progress on the restaurant through all this downer stuff? I love 'Irreversible'. It's one of my favorite films. I think I saw 'Demented'. I'm trying to remember. But I haven't seen 'Demonic Toys'. That title alone will get me hunting the French DVD stalls. Thanks a lot for stopping in, my friend. ** Inthemostpeculiarway, I want to see 'Nurse Jackie'. I like what's-her-name. 'Weeds' is that show that has a pot leaf in its advertisements, right? I saw a bunch of them when I was Stateside. Oh God, I thought 'Southland Tales' was kind of a big piece of shit when I saw it. Like you said, you can't choose who or even what you like (or dislike) though. It's weird. I'm trying to relax, but my body won't let me. Me and my body are at loggerheads, as they say. I want to relax. I really do, like, badly. I don't want to be a crabby, overly emotional zombie anymore. Maybe by tomorrow. Thank you for the kind thoughts. In return, I wish you the happiest day you've had since we became friends. ** BramBakery, 'Eat itself up': those are magic words to me. Eastman is on my post-resurrection to-do list. Thanks a lot about 'Ugly Man'. Very kind of you. People told me there were delays with it getting out and about. I don't know why though. Hey, you should tell me more about you and what you do and what you're doing, if you want to. I'm curious, and your profile page is an intriguing near-blank. ** Steven Vineis, Hey. Getting an agent is the hardest part, I think. I've been lucky and always had the same one, and he's very loyal, thank goodness, but everyone says that's the most hellish part. I'm of little help on the getting an agent thing because I've never had any experience with that at all. But having an agent makes it so, so much easier. Anyway, I'm seriously fading out now, so I'll trundle along now, but a warm hello, a hug, and I'll try to be a more talkative pal tomorrow. ** Math t, Oh, cool, yeah, that would be great if you made something for me/here. For the next Volume, how about two weeks from now? That seems like about the right deadline. Will that work? If not, whenever would be fantastic. Poor you to have to work with Excel. I had to deal with those things during the inheritance hell family stuff, and what a confusing and difficult form. Or it was to me. You disrespectful? Phooey. I don't believe it. ** Heliotrope, Dead mom walking on water ... that is terrifying! I don't want to think about that because it will invade me and become a recurring motif of my dreams, and I'll start to remember them. Weird, man. Do I sound sleepy? I think I must sound really sleepy. ** Dynomoose, Oh, that sounds pretty interesting - the drug trial thing. When one starts paying attention to the developments on cancer treatment in the news and so on, and I have ever since you told me what happened with Joe, it seems really hopeful in terms of the new treatments and their promising results. I'm really glad Joe's going to get the whole shebang of treatments and that the doctors will be staying alert and fluid re: their available methods. That's all quite heartening, although, yeah, the wait definitely sucks. My driver's license expired years ago, and since I'm rarely in LA at the moment, I just drive illegally when I'm there. Never had a problem apart from the paranoia whenever a cop car is in the rear view. Try to enjoy Persephone Day today. Joe will surely be okay and will be happy you're doing that, you know? Much love from me. ** Statictick, Hey. Now I can thank you 'in person' for this fine Day today, so thank you from the bottom of my so-called heart, pal. Wow, you're reading around town a lot. I hope you like doing readings. You must. Knock 'em dead, man. ** Right, just as I'm really, really fading out, I reach the end of this thing by some miracle. Give everything you've got inside you to Mark Eitzel and his pimp Statictick please. I will do my utmost to get a night's sleep and stop being such a jetlag bore tomorrow. See you then.