NEVER SAY NEVER

Just got a link to a review that's just too flattering not to pass on.
 
Yeah. I know. I said never again. I swore off celebrity signing shows because I can't sit for six hours without going straight to backache hell. Soooo, I initially turned down an invitation to be a signer at The Hollywood Show extravaganza at the Marriott in Burbank Saturday April 2 and Sunday April 3. 

Then my friend Scotty (Donovan Scott) with whom I shared a scene in Police Academy said he was going to be there. Well, any chance to hob nob with Scotty - the funniest man alive - is a treat not to be missed. And, hey, thought I, I'll get to see another of my secret loves, George Gaynes! AND the rest of the Police Academy bunch.

Alas, it seems George can't make it. Drat. I just Googled him and learned that he's now 91! I'm only (ONLY) 75, and I'm not sure I'll survive it. But I'm going in. One more once.

Well, no sooner did I agree to join the Police Academy crowd, than I got a call from another old friend: talk radio host Matt Beckoff
who invited me to share his table. Well, what a delimma. Guess I'll just have to shuttle back and forth between tables. 
Note to self. Wear comfortable shoes.

The Big Don't

February 27th John sez: "You're going to be 75 March 1st, you know."
Me: I know.
John: So, shouldn't we do a big "Do?"
Me: Let's Don't.
John: Why not?
Me: I'm tired.
March 1st, my 75th birthday.
John: So, you wanna go out to dinner or something?
Me: I'd rather have you cook. It's always better.
John: I blush. So what do you want for dinner?
Me: Meatloaf.
John: We had meatloaf two days ago.
Me: Isn't there some left over?
John: Yeah.
Me: So? What's the problem?
John: There's no room on the table.
Me: Help me put the flowers out on the patio.


John: It's gonna rain more.

Me: So? They're flowers.

  

I'm still answering the emails.
Steve Lopez made me a poster.

How 'bout dat?!

In our copius spare time...

John says:

"So what do you think? Should Charlie Sheen and Michael Richards do a bus-and-truck of The Odd Couple?" 

"Lindsey Lohan and Paris Hilton could play the cuckoo Pigeon sisters," I enthuse.

(Pictures are from gathering of former employees of the LA County Medical
Association Communications Department
last year at Howard Bender's estate. Conversation from last night.)

Meet Miss Puss

She came.


She saw. 

She took possession of the couch and our hearts.




We're still not sure what her real name is. As T.S. Elliot said, "...a cat needs a name that's particular,
A name that's peculiar, and more dignified,
Else how can he keep up his (her) tail perpendicular,
Or spread out his (her) whiskers, or cherish his (her) pride?"
So we use Miss Puss until we learn her "ineffable effable
Effanineffable, Deep and inscrutable singular Name."
For now, it's just Miss Puss. A HAH, I hear you say. So Georgina FINALLY consented to put her pussy up on the web!

 My reporter friend, Kevin Modesti, whom I met when he was covering Marilyn Chamber's Bon Voyage party at
Pismo Beach last year, (if you didn't know, Marilyn died April 12th, 2009)

Yeah, so anyway - John and I got chatting with Kevin and we have since become lunch buddies. 

He brought his new pal, Randy Farhi 
along to the last such meeting. What a bright, charming lady. Her brother, Paul Farhi, is a reporter with The Washington Post and is a frequent guest on the political shows on MSNBC and such. Sorry, I can't resist dropping a name when it's such a significant one. 

Kevin and I exchange books. I read something I think he
might like, I pass it along to him. He does the same for me. Now we've got Randy in the loop. 

Poor dear. I just laid the first of Neal Stephenson's marathon Baroque Cycle (a not-so-brief history of commerce and communication) upon her. It's called Quicksilver and it's quite addictive. I'm sure I shall rot in hell for leading her down this path.

So, now I have two "new" eyes.

Here's me with just the first one done and the second still under wraps. 

New kitty is not impressed.

A shout out to Doctor Robert Feinfield, my surgeon - who just happens to produce music in his spare time for a good cause.




My dentist is a sculptor. I expect my GP to hand me a movie script any day now. Gawd, I love living in El Lay.

Memories

Even though the few moments I got to share with John on camera are not included in this tribute - I spent a long time savoring these images. I gather the score is John signing and playing one of his own compositions.



John was an accomplished Blues musician and produced a well reviewed CD called In The Kitchen. His CD may be still be purchased for $20 from his estate. Checks or money orders should be sent to:

John Leslie Blues Band c/o
Kathleen Nuzzo P.M.B. 103 38
Miller Ave. Mill Valley, CA 94941

What a guy!

FREE STUFF

So I went to the Office Depot to replace our Canon copier and they didn't have one. The cute sales guy talked me into getting a Hewlett Packard "all-in-one" even though I had no use for a scanner or fax. It's a lovely little machine, but not what I need. So, as I should have done in the first place, I went on line and got what I wanted delivered in a smart two days in spite of holiday traffic. 
Sooooo. If anyone in the Los Angeles area wants a practically new copier etc. email georginasworld@gmail.com and we'll figure out how to get it to you. I'd like to see it get a good home.

Speaking of good homes - Mr. Welsh has notified me that his mourning period for our dear departed cat, Bubba, is at an end and he is ready to audition a replacement. If anyone has a spare cat, preferably with all the shots and stuff in place, let us know. 
 
The rain continues. The garden if loving every minute of it.

GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS

First the good news.
My buddy and fellow Gypsy Emeritus, Miriam Birch has made it to the finals in the Great Cabaret Idol contest!

We'll be in the house cheering her on Sunday night. Looks like it may already be a sold-out house, but you can go to www.facebook.com/cabaretidol.
Once there, "like" the page, and get updates on show times, dates and guest judges for the week.
If you message James on www.facebook.com/cabaretidol, give (1) your name (2) how many tickets you would like and (3) that you are coming to support Miriam Birch.

Now the not so good news.

John Leslie Passed Away Monday, December 6, 2010

John was a major adult film actor appearing in close to  300 films and one of the first adult film actors who made a successful transition to director. John unexpectedly died at home of an apparent heart attack. Friends were not aware of health issues and remarked he had reported to work shortly before his death.

John was also known for his skill as a blues musician, cook and artist. John was a youthful 65.

I loved those guys - as did my best bud, Howie aka Richard Pacheko. Here's what he had to say.

John Leslie - Extra Crispy
Just returned from the crematorium where I stood next to John's wife, his best friend Joey, and his dog Holmes as we all held each other up, said good-bye and then watched as they loaded his shell into a very big oven.  It kinda looked like an industrial, working-class, MRI machine.  Never saw one of those ovens before.  Don't really care if I never see another one again.

On the way back across the Bay, I listen to the John Leslie Blues Band on a CD. It's very comforting to hear John's voice again.  I will have to get used to the idea that there will be no more new conversations.

John will be missed by family, friends and fans.