Archives

AH, THE WARS BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN, THE DIFFERENCES, THE NEVER ENDING DISCUSSIONS THAT SURROUND OUR LIVES TOGETHER! IN THE TIME AFTER THE WORDS AND MUSIC SHOWS, I HAVE BEEN WAITING TO SEE THE FILM (JUST NOW GOT A PEEK AT THE “ROUGH CUT”) AND WONDERING WHAT THE PATH WILL BE.

IT WAS A LONG HAUL OVER THE SPRING AND SUMMER BOOK TOUR, AND I WILL ADMIT I PUT MUCH OF THE EMOTIONAL DEBRIS ASIDE FOR ANOTHER TIME. BEST NOT TO DWELL ON SUCH THINGS WHILE ON THE ROAD, YA KNOW?

NOW THERE ARE HINTS AT NEW PATHS FOR ME, PEOPLE ENTERING THE STAGE WITH IDEAS AND SCHEMES, THINGS I DID NOT EXPECT. IN THE MEANTIME, MY GREATEST COMFORT LIES WITHIN THE NEW PAGES OF BOOK NUMBER FOUR, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS MYSTIC ADVENTURES IN BIG SURE, VOLUME IV! I CAN’T TELL YOU THE TITLE YET, TOO CLOSE TO THE VEST:) I WILL SAY THIS: THE ACTION STARTS ON THE FIRST PAGE, AND DYANNA IS CHALLENGED TO PROVE HERSELF. WHAT ELSE IS NEW?

I’M EXCITED, AND PAINTING TWO NEW PIECES OF ART. ONE IS FOR MY BROTHER, HIS BIRTHDAY GIFT, AND THE CANVAS MATCHES HIS BEAUTIFUL GLASS BOTTLE. THEY SHINE OUT IN THE LIGHT OF THE LOGGIA, WHERE I SAVE MY SOUL EVERY DAY.

XX:JW

HERE’S THE NEW WEBSONGS POEM AND STORY!

To go to the Websongs link, click here!

ADMITTEDLY, I HAVE BEEN RELUCTANT TO JUMP BACK INTO THE FRAY OF THE WORDS & MUSIC EVENTS, IT HAS BEEN SUCH A LOVELY QUIET TIME SINCE THEN. SOMETIMES YOU PUT YOURSELF INTO A SPACE WHERE YOU WILL TAKE ON THE WORLD IF NECESSARY, WHICH I DID FOR THAT PERIOD OF TIME. ACTUALLY, FOR THE ENTIRE SUMMER, THE BOOK TOUR, ALL THE WORK INVOLVED. THE WEBSONGS POEM IS DELIGHTFULLY ACCURATE ABOUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES, BEAUTIFUL, TOUGH AND EXCITING.

I HAVE NEVER DONE A LIVE PERFORMANCE ON THIS LEVEL, READING FOR A LONG TIME FROM MY BOOKS, WORKING WITH A WONDERFUL GROUP OF MUSICIANS… AND THEN THERE WAS THE PLANNING WITH TOM, MY MUSIC PARTNER AND CO-CONSPIRITOR.  NOW THAT I HAVE HAD HAD A CHANCE TO BREATHE,  THE NEW DAYS OF INDIAN SUMMER ARE A BALM TO MY SOUL, AND I HAVE BEGUN TO REALIZE WHO I REALLY AM AGAIN. I SUPPOSE PUSHING YOURSELF TO THE LIMIT IS GOOD FOR THE TRUE GRIT OF LIFE, YOU LOOK BACK AND KNOW YOU CAN DO IT! NOW I AM WRITING A NEW BOOK, MAKING A GLORIOUS PAINTED BOTTLE FOR MY BROTHER’S BIRTHDAY AND A MATCHING CANVAS FOR ??

THE COLORS ARE OUTRAGEOUS, AND THE PAINTING IS UNLIKE ANY I HAVE DONE BEFORE. PERHAPS ALL THIS OUT OF THE BOX WORK DID SOMETHING WILD: YA THINK?

XX:JW

To go to the Websongs link, click here!

I CAN’T BELIEVE I JUST LOST THE NAKED LADIES:0  WELL, HERE’S THE DEAL: I’M CLEANING TODAY FOR THIS BIG PARTY, AND THE VACUUM TOTALLY STOPS FOR GOOD! I AM USING THE DUST BUSTER:) MY BOOKS ARRIVED FROM THIS FANCY STORE, ALL TRASHED AND WITH SOME ADDITIONAL TOMES I HAVE NEVER SEEN! I GOT THREE MESSAGES FROM UNITED THIS MORNING THAT THE NEW YORK FLIGHT OF  TOM WAS DELAYED, SO NOW WHAT? I GUESS LOOSING THE THREE WEEK OLD WEBSONGS POST ISN’T THE END OF THE WORLD, HUH? ARE YOU COMING TO MY WORDS AND MUSIC SHOW? ROCK ON! HERE’S TOM AND ME, BEING COOL.

WHEN I WROTE ABOUT MY SECRET ADMIRATION FOR THE MERMAID HOUSE, IT FELT A BIT LIKE I HAD BETRAYED MYSELF. AFTER ALL, THESE THINGS ARE YEARNINGS OF THE SOUL,  MAYBE AN IMAGE THAT SLIDES OUT OF YOUR MIND IN A SUBTLE WAY. YOU FEEL LIKE YOU’VE BEEN THERE BEFORE?  YOU CAN PICTURE THE SOFT LIGHT AND INTERIOR WALLS.

AN ASIDE TO THIS STORY IS THE FACT THAT MY EARLY LIFE WAS FULL OF SPANISH STYLE HOUSES AND PALM TREES, THAT’S L.A.! MY DAD USED TO TAKE ME TO THE HILLSIDE HOME OF A GUY WHO WAS A FAMOUS OLD ACTOR WHO PLAYED DAGWOOD BUMSTEAD IN THE MOVIES. I HAD NO CLUE, BUT I DO RECALL THE WINDING DRIVEWAY AND SHADY SPOOKY ROOMS, A LA SUNSET BOULEVARD.

THE PEBBLE BEACH VERSION OF THESE HOMES IS A BIT MORE FORMAL AND OFTEN SURROUNDED BY FABULOUS SETTINGS LIKE A GOLF COURSE OR BEACH SCAPE. NATURALLY MY IMAGINATION RAN WILD ABOUT THE OCCUPANTS, AND WHEN I FINALLY SPOKE TO THE MAN HIMSELF, WELL: WOW! HE TOLD ME THE STORY, THE WORKS, WHILE KEEPING A FAST PACE ON THE WILD ROAD!

XX:JW 

To check out my new Websongs poem click here!

WHILE SUNDAY IS SUPPOSED TO BE A DAY OF REST AND FUN, THERE IS ANOTHER TWIST ON MY PART:IT’S CLEANUP DAY! THE HOUSE, THE BRAIN, THE DECISIONS, AND THE ONGOING WAR OF THE WINSLOWS! I KNOW, I KNOW, WE ALL HAVE THESE THINGS, BUT THIS PARTICULAR FAMILY HAS A PROBLEM WITH TECHNO!

ONE LIKES TO TEXT, ONE LIKES TO TALK, ONE LIKES E-MAIL, YOU GET THE PICTURE. AND NOBODY TALKS TO EACH OTHER, THEY GO BETWEEN ONE OR THE OTHER, SO IT’S ALL HEARSAY IN SOME WAY. WHAT A PAIN IN THE ASS.

SORRY, BUT THAT’S THE IDEA THAT CROSSES MY MIND WHEN THE TIME TO HASH OUT THE WEEKS GRIEF COMES AROUND. THIS PERIOD IS USUALLY SUNDAY MORNING, LAUNDRY TIME, GAZING OUT THE LOGGIA GLASS AT THE DEER AND THE GOLFERS, LISTENING TO MORE AND MORE STINGING STORIES.

I HAVE TRIED TO HELP, I HAVE TRIED TO STAY QUIET, I HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING… AND NOW I AM SHARING MY PECULIAR AVERSION TO FAMILY FIGHTS WITH YOU. IF YOU ARE IN THIS NASTY CLUB, LET’S ALL SEND UP A CHEER FOR THOSE GROUPS OF PEOPLE BORN TOGETHER WHO ACTUALLY HAVE SOME FUN WITH EACH OTHER:)

I RETREAT TO THE OTHER SIDE OF MY LIFE, WHERE THINGS ARE FONDLY SOFT AND MY BROTHER TELLS TALES OF THE GIGANTES BIG WIN LAST NIGHT: A NO HITTER! YUP, IT’S COME TO THIS: BASEBALL COMFORTS ME, ITS SO NORMAL!

XX:JW

THERE COMES A TIME IN A PROJECT WHERE YOU STOP DREAMING AND START DOING. I AM NOT ONE TO HOLD BACK WHEN IT COMES TO THE CREATIVE URGE TO WORK, AND TODAY I BEGAN A PROCESS THAT IS BOTH NEW AND FABULOUS TO ME. I PICKED UP THE FIRST BEAUTIFUL POSTER FOR THE UPCOMING WORDS AND MUSIC SHOW I WILL BE DOING WITH VIRTUOSO TOM AYRES AND THE MYSTIC BAND. HE HAS WRITTEN TWO SUITES OF MUSIC FOR THE BIG SUR TRILOGY, AND NOW WE PERFORM THE SCHEMES WE HAVE PLANNED FOR MONTHS.

HE IS OFF ON HIS OWN PATH, PLAYING SESSIONS AND GIGS WHILE I FIGURE OUT WHERE WE WILL BE AND HOW WE WILL ACCOMPLISH THIS FEAT. WE MEET SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE, THE PLACE WHERE ALL THE GOOD STUFF HAPPENS.

SO I WANDER AND SIT AND DANCE IN THE DREARY SUMMERTIME OF PEBBLE BEACH, FASCINATED WITH THIS PLETHORA OF MUSIC. WHERE DID IT COME FROM? NOW WE MUST MATCH IT UP TO THE WORDS, AND TAKE THE AUDIENCE ON A JOURNEY.

COME WITH ME…

XX:JW

TO SAY THAT SHARING YOUR LIFE IS EASY OR FUN WOULD BE SHEER FOLLY AT TIMES. WHEN YOU CHOOSE THE LIFE OF AN ARTIST OR WRITER, THERE IS A SUBCONSICOUS DECISION: TRUTH OR NOT? WE ALL KNOW THOSE PENS THAT ARE DESIGNED TO FOOL US, OR PLAY WITH OUR MINDS. A LINE OF COMEDY IS ALWAYS WELCOME, OR A TOUCHING TALE.

WHEN I BEGAN THE WEBSONGS POEMS FIFTEEN YEARS AGO, I HAD NO IDEA WHO WOULD READ THEM, I WAS JUST HAPPY TO BE IN THIS NEW DEAL, COMMUNICATING ON THE INTERNET! WOW, HOW COOL WAS THAT? MAGIC, FUN, SCARY, PERFECT!

SURE, A LOT HAS CHANGED, BUT IN THE LONG RUN, LEAVING A VOICE IN THE CLOUD WITH YOUR FINGERPRINT MAY HAVE CONSEQUENCES YOU CAN NOT IMAGINE. MAYBE IN A THOUSAND YEARS, SOMEONE WILL BE SORTING THROUGH THE ARCHIVES… NOW THAT IS A THEORY, ISN’T IT? WE WILL BE SO TERRIBLY ANTIQUATED BY THEN, BUT ACTUALLY, THAT’S PROBABLY TRUE RIGHT NOW. HOT OFF THE PRESS, NEXT DAY, NEW STUFF!

PLEASE ENJOY THE STORY OF MILBANK STREET, MY FATHER’S PASSION AND DREAM. YOU CAN CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW AND LIVE IN MY TINY LITTLE SHOES FOR A BIT… SO WATCH OUT, WE WILL MEET AGAIN!

To check out my new Websongs poem click here!

XX:JW

NORMALLY I AM NOT MOVED MUCH ONE WAY OR ANOTHER BY THE CELEBRITY CHAOS THAT SLAMS IN AND OUT, IT’S MY FAULT FOR BEING A POP/NEWS JUNKIE. HOWEVER, WHEN JAMES GANDOLFINI BIT THE DUST IN ITALY, I WAS REALLY SAD. HE COULDN’T BE GONE, COULD HE? I JUST WATCHED MY NORMAL SLICE OF THE SOPRANOS RERUNS LAST NIGHT! I WAS GETTING SO USED TO HIM.

OK, I ADMIT IT: I’M A BAD-BOY GIRL, ALWAYS HAVE BEEN ATTRACTED TO THOSE SHAMELESS LOVERS AND GRITTY GUYS WHO DON’T BOTHER TO NOTICE ME. I KNOW I’M NOT ALONE IN THIS, BUT IT TAKES SOMETHING LIKE THIS GIANT OF A MAN LEAVING THE PLANET TO GET ME TO TALK ABOUT IT.

THEY SAY HE WOULD HAVE HATED ALL THE ATTENTION, SPLASHED OVER THE WORLD’S MEDIA, BUT REALLY, MOST OF US JUST LOVED HIM TO DEATH! IT’S THE VULNERABILITY, THE PRETENDING TO BE BAD, THE GUY WHOSE MOTHER RUINED HIM. ON AND ON.

THE BEST PART IS THAT HE WAS ON HIS WAY TO SICILY, WHICH IS TRULY MY FAVORITE DESTINATION. I KNOW THE DIVINE BLUE WATERS WILL ACCEPT HIS SOUL, AND NURTURE HIM!

SO IN HONOR OF MR. G, I SET UP A SPECIAL “OFFICE LOUNGE” IN MY GARDENS, WHILE I GET READY FOR A BIG PARTY TO COME IN SEPTEMBER! I CAN JUST SEE HIM SITTING IN THIS GIANT CHAIR UP ON THE KNOLL, SMOKING A CIGAR AND LOOKING OUT AT THE DEER AND THE GOLFERS.

COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS TODAY, IF YOU ARE STILL BREATHING:)

XX;JW

P.S. HERE IS A SHOT OF ME AT THE OUTSIDE LANDS FEST, WHERE THE BADDEST OF BOYS RESIDE!

MOTHER NATURE PULLED OUT THE STOPS TODAY FOR ALL THE DADS TO CELEBRATE! THEY WERE ON BIKES WITH THEIR KIDS, ON THE BEACH DIGGING HOLES FOR SAND CASTLES, AND GENERALLY HANGING OUT. THE ABSENT ONES WERE UNDOUBTEDLY IN THE BACK YARD FLIPPING BURGERS OR WATCHING GOLF, BUT YOU CAN BE SURE EVERYONE WHO HAS ONE TOOK NOTE.

FOR MY PART, THE MEDIA TOUR I HAVE BEEN ON FOR SIX WEEKS FEATURED MANY HOURS OF CHAT WITH FOLKS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WHO WANTED TO KNOW WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE DICK WINSLOW’S DAUGHTER! I DIDN’T THINK IT WOULD BE HARD TO REMEMBER, SINCE HE WAS BIGGER THAN LIFE FROM THE MOMENT I ARRIVED ON THE SCENE. I CAN’T RECALL MY DAD EVER REALLY SITTING STILL UNLESS HE WAS SLEEPING, WHICH HE DID IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE. IT WAS THE ART OF A CHILD ACTOR, HONED FROM HOURS ON THE SET WHERE YOU HAVE A LOT OF WAITING.

I HAVE ADDED A PHOTO OF HIM AS A YOUNG MUSICIAN, WHICH WAS THE LIFE FOR WHICH HE WAS KNOWN, IN ADDITION TO THE MOVIES. HIS ONE MAN BAND BECAME LEGEND AT PLACES LIKE DISNEYLAND AND KNOTTS BERRY FARM, AS WELL AS MANY FILMS. HE JUST LOVED TO BE “ON”…

SO HERE’S TO YOU, DAD, WE ORDERED A SPECIAL DAY FOR YOU, AND YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN SITTING OUT BY THE POOL WITH YOUR REFLECTOR, LIKE PAULIE IN THE SOPRANOS, TANNING THE HANDSOME FACE THAT NEVER SEEMED TO GET OLD. I KNOW YOU ARE SMILING UP THERE, YOU’RE ON!!

HAVE A WONDERFUL FATHER’S DAY!

XX:JW