Nick profile picture

Nick

I am here for Friends

About Me

Crime Doesn't Pay:

"Top o' the world, Ma!"

I posted some of my Old Time Radio Shows on the net. Click below if you'd like to listen!"

Like millions of others, I’m a writer. I’m a quiet, thoughtful kinda guy and I guess pretty old fashioned in some ways. "A boring old romantic, that's me" as the Mellencamp song goes...

I’m interested in a lot of things; I’ve worked as a live-sound engineer and a recording engineer and had a lotta fun with that. Back when I was a kid I wanted to be a cartoonist (hence my pal in the picture here. That’s Woody , who kept me occupied during many boring math classes). I used to play guitar and bass, but after a few years, I kinda burned out on all of that. Someday I'll get back to that and drawing as well.

In 2000, I helped my buddy set up a recording studio in CP and I’m still there from time to time whenever an extra set of good ears are required.

As of right now, I’m back at the same job I left behind years ago. (Going back to the job you left behind is a real bummer. But it sure as hell beats being completely broke!) But unless the fates are against me, I will get something better ASAP!
But I do finally have some long term plans and goals!

As Sinatra sang, "If there ain't nothing shaking come this here July, I'm gonna roll myself up in a big ball and die!"

Above all, I am a writer. It’s just what I do. I don’t expect to ever become rich or famous because of it. (But it would be nice!)


"Whatever happened to Gary Cooper? The strong, silent type. That was an American. He wasn't 'in touch' with his feelings. He just did what he had to do."

--Tony Soprano


..

Bring Back Prohibition!


(I need a better job.)



"Hey pal, yer drinkin' like I'm supposed to!

--Dean Marin


Dean Martin looks heavenward and emplores, "Don't just look down! Help me!"
Words To Live By From Frank Sinatra!
"I'm a 14 karat manic depressive. Capable of extreme highs and excruciating lows."

"Be true to yourself. And stay away from dark thoughts."

"Ya' gotta love livin', baby, cause dying's a pain in the ass!"


My Interests

Writing, music, movies, books, intelligent conversation, a glass of anisette, The Golden Age of Hollywood, Old Time Radio, American history & pop culture ca. 1920’s through the 1940’s, Prohibition, World War Two, history of organized crime…. On and on it goes….


A lot of it is already mentioned here, I guess. If you are really, really interested, it's all here in black and white and between the lines....

I'd like to meet:

The dirty sumbitch who stole my fountain pen!

Woody is &copy: 1990-2007 by Yours Truly, folks!

Music:

A lot, really. I've dabbled in sound engineering, so it helps to be familiar with everything.

"I dig rock n' roll music" to quote Peter, Paul and Mary. The Big Bands of the good old days, a little of this a little of that.... I am even familiar with some classical music!

But if you want personal preferences, then, in no particular order: Ryan Adams (That's Ryan, not that sappy schmuck Brian!) Matchbox Twenty, The Rolling Stones, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, The Black Crowes, Johnny Cash, Big Band music from the 1940's (I am very big on the old stuff. But that is because I was born seventy years too late!) John Fogerty, Soul Asylum, The Beatles (George was always my favorite), Dire Straits, Counting Crows, Fleetwood Mac.... Music that says something!

I am into all kinds of stuff (except rap or hip-hop or whatever they call it this week). I know that I am leaving out a lot, but I am sure there is only a limited amount of space here.

And yes, even though I don’t even know most of you out there in cyberspace, I will admit that Tori Amos is one of my guilty pleasures. (She’s a beautiful red-head, excruciatingly talented and depressing as hell. What more could a guy want?)

Movies:

In no particular order: Casablanca, The Godfather, Angels With Dirty Faces, Saving Private Ryan, The Public Enemy, Casino, The Roaring Twenties, Goodfellas, To Have and Have Not, The Memphis Belle, Scent of a Woman, Humphrey Bogart Movies, The Marx Brothers, Johnny Dangerously, The Lost Boys, etc….

Television:

No, thanks.

Books:

James Herriot’s books, Jack Higgins, a bit of Elmore Leonard, some Stephen King (back when he believed in plain old story telling…. And before he sobered up!) The Stand is one of the greatest books ever written, if you ask me. I read Dashiell Hammet, and of course James M. Cain wrote some great short stories, as did F. Scott Fitzgerald and Hemingway....

I read a great deal of non-fiction about gangsters and World War Two and the good old days of Hollywood, back when it took a little more than having a nice rack to become a big name.

Read any good books lately? Most Recently Read:
    Scarface by Armitage Trail Biggest Brother: The Life of Major Richard Winters by Larry Alexander The Hot Kid by Elmore Leonard Gangster by Lorenzo Carcaterra Once Upon A Time In America by Harry Grey Hannibal Rising by Thomas Harris Silence of The Lambs by Thomas Harris Racketeers by Yours Truly
Currently Reading:
    I Am Legend by Richard Matheson

Recommendations:The Way You Wear Your Hat by Bill Zehme

It's a book that should be given to all young men upon graduation from high school. It's all about how to survive.... The Gospel According To Frank Sinatra!


New! Two Works-In-Progress!


And another of my favorite groups:

Heroes:

I'm going to be James Cagney when I grow up!

Schools:

Whaddaya Mean I'm Funny?