What I love about good writers, like Michael, is that even the mundane is engaging. The malaise of life is what we all experience, but few have the skill to report on it and be relatable.
There's definitely a bit of Dennis Hopper as the photographer in Apocalypse Now.
"He likes you because you're still alive. He's got plans for you. Nah, nah, I'm not going to help you, you're going to help him, man. You're going to help him. I mean, what are they going to say, man, when he's gone, huh? Because he dies, when it dies, man, when it dies, he dies. What are they going to say about him? What, are they going to say, he was a kind man, he was a wise man, he had plans, he had wisdom? Bullsh-t, man! Am I going to be the one, that's going to set them straight? Look at me: wrong! ...You!"
You are a very brave human. Your experiences and physical impairment has not stopped you one iota and I find that remarkable. Your story is at once heart rendering and heart lifting. I love your will to continue on. For me getting older sucks and everything hurts, but I just ignore it or get on the ground to stretch and try to fix it. Keep going Mike, you have a heart of gold and we need your voice.
Coincidentally my band here in Berlin is premiering our version of Tomorrow Never Knows (mashed up with Taxman) in about 5 hours. I'm very nervous whether the 4 of us - g,p,b,&Dr and NOTHING else! - can pull it off. But that's the adventure. I know you're into The Beatles, so for better or worse it'll be dedicated to you out there in faraway California. All the best!
Yes, I loved Hey Dullblog and was so happy to discover your Substack because I loved your thoughts on comedy as much as the ones on The Beatles. Looking forward to years more! All the best in everything!
Thank you, Gerald! I wrote so so much for HD -- it's really a decade-long meditation on history, the psychology of art and fame and addiction, and the nitty-gritty of creation. I always wondered if anybody was listening; glad you were.
BTW, I'm planning on keeping Dullblog up as long as I can; a lot of culture blogs seem to be dying/disappearing, and HD seems to have inspired a whole new crop of Beatle writers.
Great googly moog synth! That Turn ON show was a hoot. Thank you for digging that up. My parents would have never let me watch that. Laugh-in was test enough to their patience. I'm guessing that this was a pilot? Or an outtake from Putney Swope? Or did DEVO go back in time and produce this? Wildly weird with obvious ad guys writing the material.
Speaking of writing, stay fearless, Captain, and stay the course, even if we have to tie you to the wheel. You are steering magic into the world and always remember that.
I'm told we must imagine Sisyphus happy. I never really understood why. The guy who said so was selling me acid.
But for the fight, gobble up some Interrupters, I say. If you can stomach that many mozzarella sticks, anyway. It's "ska music" and I think the youth is into it. Something about counting scars as blessings.
I'm also obsessed with Roman history. Appian and Tacitus for the win.
Good luck! I seem to enjoy you. Hope you stick around.
It’s really remarkable how great you are. I can’t give you any other feedback except if you are fortunate you will come through the Dark Night of the Soul knowing yourself better and more at peace despite all the Things still being there.
Tough times. Tough sharing. You are one tough guy. Beautiful writer as well. The words reach out and shine, even though they are describing grayscale days. I can feel you writing through this. Hopefully you can feel our support.
Or "The chancre of the evening", as my friend's blue comedian character Harry Dump used to say.
There are times when I am most impressed with your brain, but most of the time, I am greatly impressed by your heart. You never stop caring, as so many writers and comedians do.
So we will never stop caring about you. And your uncanny ability to come back from vacation more frazzled than when you left.
Once again, poignant and well-written. Once again, echoes of Hunter Thompson, and- what- voiceover and dialogue from Apocalypse Now (guess it seeped into your writing). Hints of the Beat writers' (more coherent) prose too... Feel like some at times have it easier than others physically and corporeally, but everyone is subject to misfortune, disease, death. Like to remember the quote: 'Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle' (misattributed to Plato or Philo, but actually writ by a 19th century Scotsman named Ian MacLaren)... Your confessions inspire me to ameliorate and 'push through' my own reemergent and middling by comparison physical complaints once again, and to cleave to the quote, 'Any [person] can be a success, but it takes a mad [person] to be great.’
What I love about good writers, like Michael, is that even the mundane is engaging. The malaise of life is what we all experience, but few have the skill to report on it and be relatable.
There's definitely a bit of Dennis Hopper as the photographer in Apocalypse Now.
"He likes you because you're still alive. He's got plans for you. Nah, nah, I'm not going to help you, you're going to help him, man. You're going to help him. I mean, what are they going to say, man, when he's gone, huh? Because he dies, when it dies, man, when it dies, he dies. What are they going to say about him? What, are they going to say, he was a kind man, he was a wise man, he had plans, he had wisdom? Bullsh-t, man! Am I going to be the one, that's going to set them straight? Look at me: wrong! ...You!"
I get it, Mike. I’m sending you a silly, vaudevillian pratfall/hug with a spray of seltzer in your face. Cheers me up! Brad
Oh I need more Marx Brothers in my life, that's the ticket. Thanks Brad --
Duck Soup is the Jewish penicillin.
I watch it every January 1 at the Aero; last year I didn't want to brave the maskless crowd, so now I OWN it. :-)
You are a very brave human. Your experiences and physical impairment has not stopped you one iota and I find that remarkable. Your story is at once heart rendering and heart lifting. I love your will to continue on. For me getting older sucks and everything hurts, but I just ignore it or get on the ground to stretch and try to fix it. Keep going Mike, you have a heart of gold and we need your voice.
Carol, I really appreciate you saying this! ONWARD!!!
Coincidentally my band here in Berlin is premiering our version of Tomorrow Never Knows (mashed up with Taxman) in about 5 hours. I'm very nervous whether the 4 of us - g,p,b,&Dr and NOTHING else! - can pull it off. But that's the adventure. I know you're into The Beatles, so for better or worse it'll be dedicated to you out there in faraway California. All the best!
EXCELLENT--you guys will crush it!
Yes I love the Fabs very much; I used to run the biggest Beatles fan site on the net, heydullblog.com.
Yes, I loved Hey Dullblog and was so happy to discover your Substack because I loved your thoughts on comedy as much as the ones on The Beatles. Looking forward to years more! All the best in everything!
Thank you, Gerald! I wrote so so much for HD -- it's really a decade-long meditation on history, the psychology of art and fame and addiction, and the nitty-gritty of creation. I always wondered if anybody was listening; glad you were.
BTW, I'm planning on keeping Dullblog up as long as I can; a lot of culture blogs seem to be dying/disappearing, and HD seems to have inspired a whole new crop of Beatle writers.
Great googly moog synth! That Turn ON show was a hoot. Thank you for digging that up. My parents would have never let me watch that. Laugh-in was test enough to their patience. I'm guessing that this was a pilot? Or an outtake from Putney Swope? Or did DEVO go back in time and produce this? Wildly weird with obvious ad guys writing the material.
Speaking of writing, stay fearless, Captain, and stay the course, even if we have to tie you to the wheel. You are steering magic into the world and always remember that.
Thank you, Ed! I try to remind myself of that --
I'm told we must imagine Sisyphus happy. I never really understood why. The guy who said so was selling me acid.
But for the fight, gobble up some Interrupters, I say. If you can stomach that many mozzarella sticks, anyway. It's "ska music" and I think the youth is into it. Something about counting scars as blessings.
I'm also obsessed with Roman history. Appian and Tacitus for the win.
Good luck! I seem to enjoy you. Hope you stick around.
I will indeed stick around R.B. ! And thank you for the words of support.
1. Are you OK?
2. "Not enough money, Not enough time, Nothings working" = Look for new gig
3. Are you really in debt?
Sending our Love buddy, Larry and Mo
Larry, I'm fine. Need to make more money, always, but nothing I can't handle.
Love you both --
Midnight rambles....they overflow, spill on the floor, get memoralized in the grain of the wood, will rise again, we recognize and remember.
DW
Keep fighting the good fight, Michael. I’m in your corner.
It’s really remarkable how great you are. I can’t give you any other feedback except if you are fortunate you will come through the Dark Night of the Soul knowing yourself better and more at peace despite all the Things still being there.
Tough times. Tough sharing. You are one tough guy. Beautiful writer as well. The words reach out and shine, even though they are describing grayscale days. I can feel you writing through this. Hopefully you can feel our support.
Or "The chancre of the evening", as my friend's blue comedian character Harry Dump used to say.
There are times when I am most impressed with your brain, but most of the time, I am greatly impressed by your heart. You never stop caring, as so many writers and comedians do.
So we will never stop caring about you. And your uncanny ability to come back from vacation more frazzled than when you left.
Once again, poignant and well-written. Once again, echoes of Hunter Thompson, and- what- voiceover and dialogue from Apocalypse Now (guess it seeped into your writing). Hints of the Beat writers' (more coherent) prose too... Feel like some at times have it easier than others physically and corporeally, but everyone is subject to misfortune, disease, death. Like to remember the quote: 'Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle' (misattributed to Plato or Philo, but actually writ by a 19th century Scotsman named Ian MacLaren)... Your confessions inspire me to ameliorate and 'push through' my own reemergent and middling by comparison physical complaints once again, and to cleave to the quote, 'Any [person] can be a success, but it takes a mad [person] to be great.’
And as Tom Robbins wrote, "Success is an inadequate response to Life."
That's a good one