Note: This is a journal entry — it was written on paper or on my computer, then transferred to my website, maybe years later.

And I have the IRS where I want them on the 15th of April 1993, as Arthur would say.  From the 18th of August in 1964 to April 15th 1993, 28 years old so far so good (and so on).

Things are going so well I can’t believe it.  I actually got a big refund on both my NY state and federal tax returns because of the loss we took when we sold the family-property moneypit.  I’m so relieved about that — I had no idea — I thought I was going to owe a lot of money.

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Note: This is a journal entry — it was written on paper or on my computer, then transferred to my website, maybe years later.

So anyway, at the end of February all this shit went down.  On the same day, Black Friday 2/26/93, the World Trade Center got bombed and Nora and John Gallagher’s baby died.  She had the baby on Wednesday and his name was Sean Michael.  He was a big baby, 9 lbs. 6 oz., but he was born with a terrible problem, had surgery and couldn’t pull out of it I guess.  Something was wrong with his insides.  Everybody was praying for that baby… it’s such a tragedy for John and Nora.

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Note: This is a journal entry — it was written on paper or on my computer, then transferred to my website, maybe years later.

God, I have so much to catch up on.  Guess I’ll go backwards.

Just got back from the Mast where I met D. and we sat talking with Cliff and Sam and Godfrey.  Godfrey told us his "Frida" story — the origins of his rather unbecoming nickname.

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Edith & Jeff @ Room Temperature
(a Country Western night hosted by Laura Cantrell)
Held at a loft space @ 17 Hope Street, Brooklyn, NY

Edith & Jeff
@ Gallagher’s Ship’s Mast Pub
N. 5th & Berry, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Note: This is a journal entry — it was written on paper or on my computer, then transferred to my website, maybe years later.

WHEW!  That was long nap!  I took a break from writing in this thing.  I guess I have a lot of old shit to rehash.  Well, that gig opening for Poor Lyrics went great.  Jessica did the songs-outta-the-hat thing, and we played everything right and everybody clapped.  It was really cool to have a long stretch of time to play with.  John + Nora liked us so much that we get to headline on March 5th.  I am scared shitless because Jeff has been really sick for two weeks with a flu and this gig is 2-1/2 weeks away and I’m kinda freakin’.

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Open mic artist Arthur Friedel in front of Gallagher’s Ship’s Mast Pub on N. 5th & Berry in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. I took the photo sometime around late ’92 or early ’93; I’m not sure of the exact date.

Edith and Jeff (Edith Frost and Jeff Ragsdale)
Opening for the Poor Lyrics (Peter Pale)
@ Gallagher’s Ship’s Mast Pub
N. 5th & Berry, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Note: This is a journal entry — it was written on paper or on my computer, then transferred to my website, maybe years later.

Tonight’s my first paying gig ever, so I’m relaxing by myself for awhile — I want to take a nap in a little bit.  Jeff and I went through all the songs earlier today and it all sounded fine.  Hope I didn’t wear out my voice.  It should be really fun tonight.  I wonder if anybody from work will show up, that would be fun to show off in front of them.  I would get a kick out of it if Melanie B. would come especially.  Because I think she would genuinely be into that sort of music.

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Pencil drawing circa 1992

Marker drawing circa 1992. Drawn after a visit to the George Michael (long) hair salon in New York.

Multicolor crayon drawing circa 1992

Construction paper collage circa 1992

Note: This is a journal entry — it was written on paper or on my computer, then transferred to my website, maybe years later.

I’ve been fucking with Bill’s boxes for the past few days.  I’m playing hell with UPS because they’re closed tomorrow and won’t make pickups until after the New Year when I’ll be working again.  So I’m trying to get this moving company to pick them up for me.

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Note: This is a journal entry — it was written on paper or on my computer, then transferred to my website, maybe years later.

Wow.  What a weird Saturday I had.  Weird week, matter ‘o’ fact.

Thursday night was Christmas Eve and there was open mic at the Ships Mast with Wild Bill.  I had picked some songs to do, none of which I’d ever done live before, don’t ask me what made me think I could pull that off.  Like, I picked "The Things I Might Have Been" by Kitty Wells, which has a lot of fuckin’ lyrics to it!

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