Ken “SNUD” Weaver

We got Wilson home on Friday. He kept grinning for days, even through the task of showering that “hospital smell” off of him. On Sunday I gave him a haircut (a big improvement over the last one I did, which looked like I put a cereal bowl on his head, and cut around it). I did a fine job of feathering the back, if I do say so myself.

SNUD and MUDCAT

Ken Weaver came to visit from France, again! We are always overjoyed to see him. I had just found Wilson’s old paperback copy of Ken’s book “TEXAS CRUDE”, and had him sign it for our archives. It turns out I’m always coming up with something for Ken to do during his visits, but this was way easier than last time, when he installed a new toilet seat!When he returns this coming week, I’ll have him sign The FUGS album I got for Wilson’s birthday last summer. It’s weird asking people for their autograph. I’ve never done that! But it’s easy to ask the congenial SNUD.

Ken asked if I know any tattoo artists in the area, where he can get a Checkered Demon tattoo done. I immediately thought of our friend David Labrava. He’s the character “HAPPY” from the series “Sons of Anarchy” as well as the writer/director/actor of the movie “STREET LEVEL”, which is now out on Netflix & Amazon, and streaming nearly everywhere. He’s a regular Renaissance Man! He’s got two Checkered Demon tattoos on his own body (his whole left shoulder, and his left calf muscle). He’s a mad S. Clay Wilson fan and collector, and in between all his other acting gigs, writing his memoir “BECOMING A SON”, he still does tattoos.

David LaBrava

So Ken & Maxine are out of town for a week, visiting family. When they return, David has agreed to do Ken’s Checkered Demon tattoo. I’m toying with the idea of getting one myself! Either that or maybe another couple of stars added to my little constellation. ( I’ve only got three stars on my wrist).Wilson always planned to draw a mermaid for my spine, where the giant zipper scar is from my spine surgery….but we never got around to having it done. It’s too involved for me to endure now, but I would love to get something smaller done. This photo of David was from when we were talking on the phone this week, showing off the books I sent him months ago.

So then, Wilson has been in a cheery frame of mind since getting better and getting home. He’s even been able to do a tiny bit of talking! I’m just happy to have him home, and thrilled that it was something he recovered from so quickly. Thank you all for your messages!

Wake Up, Wilson!

After thinking he was just groggy on Monday from an anxiety medication, by Tuesday he was much worse, snoring as I washed his face. We called 911 for an ambulance, and took him to Davies, where he has been several times before.( They did brain surgery on him there, so it was an easy decision, taking him someplace familiar.)

Naturally these things take time. It’s stressful, being scared for so many hours! Finally they admitted him at 7pm, on IV antibiotics for a UTI, and fluids. He was already more bright-eyed than THIS scary photo, where his eyes were crossed and rolling back.

We hope to bring him home tomorrow, much improved. A UTI can cause very frightening symptoms of delusion, confusion, and grogginess. He has never had one, which has been lucky. So I’m relieved the solution has been so quick! Thanks to all for your loving messages on Facebook & Twitter.

To view the gallery of Wilson’s drawings, please click on June 2013. To enlarge them, click on them. Some of them are rather large, and take a minute to load. I don’t know what I did there! Please be patient.

Vintage Checkered Demon t-shirt sizeL 1982

Fundraiser in Kerouac Alley

Theres a fundraising extravaganza in North Beach this Sunday, April 9th,in Kerouac Alley in North Beach. The Silent Auction will be inside Vesuvio’s, with live music across the street at Spec’s Bar.

This is is to benefit the only Planned Parenthood in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and the St. James Infirmary.

Alan Freberg has donated this vintage t-shirt for auction! It has rarely been worn in some 30 years, and is in fine shape. It’s got 3/4 length Checkered sleeves!(I found one like it in Medium on eBay, going for $299. It’s extremely rare! )Mr. Freberg would like the bidding to start matching the eBay price. He’d like to be flexible, so make an offer!. He will donate half to Planned Parenthood and half to Wilson’s Special Needs Trust.

If you would like to place an early bid, please email Joanna Lioce at lioce4@yahoo.com. Times are pretty rough these days for many of us, and we need all the help we can get from those who are able. It is much appreciated! Now go have some fun, if you’re in town. City Lights Bookstore is right there, and just kitty-corner, across the intersection, you can find the Beat Museum.

Vintage Demon

It’s been awhile since I posted an update about our favorite grumpy old man, I know. Some of my own health issues seem to have slowed me down, and procrastination has entered the building. Oh, the horror. My sincere apologies.

Beardless Wilson!

I had to shave Wilson’s chin. He was getting a skin condition under it which was becoming unmanageable. Now that it’s cleared up, when I inquire if he’d like to grow it back, he always says no.

The minute it was gone, I was reminded of the time in 2002 when I decided to leave him. Not because I’d stopped loving him, but because his drinking made staying impossible. He never drank every day, but when he did it was to the bottom of the bottle in a flurry of increasingly nasty insults. I had to go. I shipped my things to NY, and was nearly ready to go when Wilson suddenly shaved his whole face.

WTF? I asked.

“I figured if I looked like someone else, maybe you’d stay”. Indeed, he was unrecognizable. But not in a good way.

His pal Ace arrived the next day for a lunch date. When Wilson answered his knock, pulling the door open, Ace pushed in past him saying “Jesus you look ugly, Steve. No WONDER she’s leaving you!”

We laughed at him for his crackpot idea. It was a romantic gesture that couldn’t possibly have worked at the time, but was pretty adorable in hindsight. Now, after tending to his gorgeous face for the past eight years, it seems weird for it to be gone. But it just became too uncomfortable for him. I’m already used to this much less dramatic looking Wilson, and have grown fond of this sweeter look. I’ll take a better picture another day, when he’s going out for his walk. He still looks distinguished with his long silver hair and moustache, eh?

Thanks for checking in with us. Much love to you all, and many thanks for your  continued support of Wilson’s Trust. We would be suffering so much more without it!

I hope this year improves for everyone. It’s been a real interesting first 30 days, watching what’s going on in the White House. But I’ll not go there now…… I wouldn’t be able to stop.

PS During my absence, Wilson called me every single day at noon, begging me to come back home. It took ten months for me to do it. I have never left his side since.

Checkered Demon Pin

Wilson wearing his pin

This pin, created by Raynor Mauri, is once again available, at long last. He has made another batch of these limited edition pins, which became available THIS MORNING! You will need to act quickly, since last time they sold out in a very short time. An hour or so. He made more of them for this run, but they’re still a very precious item. Each one is painstakingly packaged and addressed to you by hand,  so it will take a week or two to go out in the mail. This isn’t a big factory operation, but one man, doing this generous gesture for S. Clay, for nothing. He donates the entire proceeds to Wilson’s Special Needs Trust, so please be patient. They will arrive.

Raynor is a very gifted artist, as well as a TATTOO ARTIST! Take a look at his photos on Instagram and Knock Off Press.

Can’t believe I am posting this the day AFTER, but here we are outside yesterday, posing in front of our traditional Ceremonial Dead Cat and Mouse, following a brisk walk around the block. It’s been rainy off and on the past week, making it a bit muggy in the Bay Area, and warm enough for costumed Trick or Treaters to cruise around without any cumbersome coats. Just an umbrella would do. We heard lots of comments about our window, but only one knock at the door. CHICKENS!

Happy Halloween!

Last Saturday, our friend Jim McCrary came from Lawrence Fucking Kansas with this fabulous t-shirt. I forgot to take photos of him, so I’m posting one from his last visit, a few years ago. (The handsome devil hasn’t aged a day!) love you, Jim. Here’s W. In his T-shirt!

Lawrence Fucking Kansas

Wilson came home from the Tunnell Nursing Facility last week! It has been so great having him home where I can look at him anytime I want . The nurses and therapists come a couple of times a week now, and will for about the next two months.. It has recently become a bit daunting to take care of him, since he is getting older and more frail. I’m hunting for a weekend caregiver, since doing it all by myself from Friday to Monday is more challenging now that I’m in so much pain. Once I’ve had spine & hip surgery, I’m hoping to be ambulatory once again. I’m just having trouble with finding the right doctors, and being cleared for surgery. What a nightmare….but enough about me…

He is walking almost too fast for himself! Today, Rena had to stop and push him up against a building on the corner, and soothe him. He had got out of breath, and was panting. She said people walking by were staring at her, as she rubbed his belly and tried to calm him down. Probably thought she was mugging him, molesting him, or committing some bizarre sex act on the elderly! He had been trying to go too fast. He has some muscle spasms, too, as he is weaned off the dementia meds that gave  him a repetitive muscle disorder. So he is slowly getting better where that’s concerned. It is great to see those symptoms fall away as he is increasingly more capable of relaxing. It was horrible to watch him spaz away for hours, like Joe Cocker, unable to just lie back, relax, and watch a movie. It’s much better now, and I hope it will disappear completely one day. He was suffering.

Here are some photos of him going out for a walk with Rena. Also, wearing his new shades. They’re not really new…I’m just sharing mine with him! These lenses aren’t dark. They relax your eyes, but they are very safe. His others were a danger, since they were so dark he could trip over something. He likes these a lot, being a collector of shades for many years, like me. So I am happy to give these to him. Looking grooovy…..

Cool new shades

Rena helping with the steps

Out on the sidewalk

I will be decorating the front windows again soon, for Halloween! Come back and take a look in a week or so, as its almost time for the dead cat & mouse to make their annual appearance.

Patient patient

Oh, Ophelia….

Hey Mambo

Cuddle buddy Mambo

It has been an eventful month. Wilson was doing well learning how to walk again, and even climbing a few stairs. Until about ten days ago, when he fainted upstairs in the gym. It was hot in the direct sun, under the skylight, and they suspect he was dehydrated. He was taken to the ER on Parnassus, where I met him from home. After six hours, though, my legs swelled and turned red, so I was admitted to the ER as well! They brought in a reclining chair so we could be together, which made things much better. After a fourteen hour siege, Wilson was finally admitted to the hospital at 2a.m., and I was discharged to go home. He stayed for three days for tests. I bought him a tiny cuddle buddy in the gift shop. It was a tiny giraffe with floppy arms & legs which I perched on his pillow holding a miniature York peppermint patty and a tiny love note. We named him Mambo, and Wilson holds him constantly. I pet and coo to them both in times of stress, and it brings Wilson some unexpected solace.

We are hoping to bring Wilson home on Friday, September 23rd! I have been sick with a cold for five days, and sound very much like an old man in a trailer park again today. But I hope to be well by then. It’s a bizarre cold I must have caught in the ER. I just hope Wilson doesn’t catch it! I slept all day for the whole weekend, and am not quite over it yet…..I do long for him to come home. Yet I’ve been too sick to interview a new caregiver for the weekends. I can’t do this by myself any more, so a second caregiver is needed now. I just don’t want to be Typhoid Mary in the process. I hope to find people willing to work two days a week very soon! I’ll call the list tomorrow, and see if anyone is interested.

ill try to attach these other photos now. I’ve tried to write this THREE TIMES now today, and have lost the whole thing each time. So maddening. Wish me luck.

Wilson and Lorraine Chamberlain were married in the company of Spain Rodriguez, Susan Stern and Skip Ziobran on Aug 10, 2010 at City Hall. It was a glorious day, Calloo! Callay! We chortled in our joy……

However, instead of celebrating, we need to move him to Tunnell Center on Pine Street. He cannot walk, and we need a moment to hire more help, and get the proper equipment. Wish us luck.