Pheaturing Phile Alum Doris Brendel

 

Hey, kids, welcome to the Phile for a Monday. It's Labor Day today, as well as my sister Lucy's birthday. It's also September as you know and that means this month a zombie outbreak will happen as a result of the COVID-19 vaccine testing. So beware. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do, and this woman is living proof of that. Apparently a Zambian woman decided to bite her husband’s genitals because she was infuriated that he refused to kill a rat in their home. As she should have. According to the Zambian Observer 52-year-old, Abraham Musonda suffered the heavily gruesome injury when 40-year-old wife Mukupa, returned to their humble abode in the town of Kitwe after a night out drinking with friends. That’s when she discovered the gross and terrifying rat. The two, who are separated, have separate rooms but live in the same home. Bothwell Namuswa, a deputy police commissioner in Copperbelt Province, stated that Mukupa claimed the pesky rodent was pestering her in her room so she decided to ask her hubby to get the rat out of her bedroom. So, he declined, they began to argue, and one drunken event led to another and she decided to just go for it. She bit her husband’s penis when he wasn’t looking and caused a major tear. Yikes. Mr. Musonda was quickly rushed to a Kitwe Teaching Hospital where he was treated for the shocking and quite odd injury. I’m sure the hospital staff had quite a laugh when they saw the man, but were happy to help because well, it’s his manhood we are talking about here. As far as the woman, it’s not known if she was charged or not, but I’m sure that the guy can definitely press some charges. But I do have a question, how did this woman get to his penis in the first place? Like, was he not wearing any pants and was just chillin’ at home walking around naked? How fast was she that he didn’t have time to run? Honestly, I think she probably had it out for him already, that she just decided to bite his penis off because she was sick of him. That being said, let’s not do this. Let’s not bite penis,' okay? 

I think we widely underestimated what kids are capable of learning, and honestly, I could think of many life skills that could be taught instead of the other lessons we spend years upon YEARS learning in elementary school. For example, when have you ever used the Pythagorean theorem in a real life situation, and if you’re one of those who actually has, how OFTEN have you used it? The point I’m making is that I would rather teach a kid how to drive over the Pythagorean theorem for the third or fourth year in a row. And this 11-year-old boy proves my reasons why. PJ Brewer-Laye was cruising around his Indianapolis neighborhood in his go-kart, with his grandmother, Angela Brewer-Laye watching over him. Suddenly, Angela was feeling dizzy, needing to lean against a road sign as her vision starting to blurry. But her 11-year-old Indiana grandson decided to come to the rescue. So what did he do? He applied his seemingly amazing go-kart skills to an actual car, his grandmother’s Mercedes-Benz to be precise. While Angela was trying to understand what was happening to her, she saw her Mercedes slowly and calmly pulling up to her, in a manner only in a way an experienced driver would do so. But to her delightful surprise, it was PJ, pulling up to the stop sign to save grandma. PJ had driven his go-kart home to go grab his grandmother’s car, so that he could pick her up since they were about a half a mile away from their house. He helped her in the car and proceeded to drive them back to the house, where his grandmother describes that he “precisely” pulled into their driveway, meaning, “He didn’t go up the curb, in the grass, nothing. He pulled in the driveway, in the garage, and helped me out the car,” she said, adding that he was “calm and collected” during the entire medical emergency. Although PJ just turned 12-years-old, Angela said, “This child is only 11-years-old and drives like a pro. He always rides either his four-wheeler, go-kart or his dirt bike while I’m trying to get a little exercise in.” She explained that this isn’t the first time he’s driven a car. Her husband, PJ’s grandfather, would ask PJ to rearrange the cars in their driveway, under his supervision of course. However, last week was PJ’s first time on the road since he drove his grandmother to the hospital too. And although PJ’s grandmother thinks of him as an “extra special little boy” who “doesn’t ask for anything in return,” no one’s denying the fact that out of all the cars to pick from, he picked the Mercedes. I mean, I can’t blame the kid. If there was a Lamborghini there, I probably would’ve picked that one too, over any sort of SUV. Although if I was in Angela’s place, I’d be a little alarmed to see a 12-year-old boy drive a Lamborghini.

A 3-year-old girl was saved somewhat miraculously after a freak accident at the beach nearly caused the unthinkable to become reality. The girl was enjoying a day at the beach with her parents in the beach town of Antirrio in southern Greece, floating happily on a unicorn raft, when a gust of wind pushed her away from her parents and out toward the open ocean. The girl’s father frantically attempted to swim after her, as did other beachgoers, but could not reach the little girl. The parents and others then grabbed a dingy and attempted to row after the girl but could not overcome the current. Greek authorities were alerted and notified a nearby ferry captained by Grigoris Karnesis, who was charged with trying to save the girl. Though a veteran captain of Greek ferryboats, Karnesis had never seen anything quite like this. Ferry passenger Petros Kritsonis filmed the dramatic rescue. Kritsonis shared his thoughts on the incident in a Facebook post (translated from Greek). "When abandon can end in tragedy… Congratulations to the captain and the crew of the Salaminomachos ship for the actions that brought the positive ending. The video post is not intended to blame, but to demonstrate the risk of marine toys that we all use." According to those on the scene, the terrified and no doubt confused little girl’s screams could be heard from the boat. Karnesis said that he was shocked to see the small girl so far out to sea on the raft, which he claimed was moving fast thanks to the wind. The captain was able to steer his vessel in such a way that he was able to stop the girl’s progress and direct her toward the boat. Upon her rescue, Karnesis said the girl was in shock and couldn’t speak. Once reunited with her parents the girl’s mother was equally speechless. The next day Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called Captain Karnesis to thank him and his crew for their heroic work.

An Air Force veteran stated he quit his job in Havelock, North Carolina when he was told he couldn’t wear an American flag face covering. Havelock is a military town and is the home of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. It is the world’s largest Marine Corps air station, located about 440 miles from Camp Lejeune. Sixty-nine-year-old Gary Dean was shocked when he saw an anti-American policy at the Food Lion where he worked. He stated, “Apparently corporate came down and said somebody was offended by the image of the American flag on the face covering.” Dean has reportedly been wearing the patriotic washable face covering for months with no issue due to the coronavirus pandemic. He said that when he was told to take it off, he couldn’t abide by the new rule. He explained, “As a veteran, my dad being a World War II hero, my best friend killed in Vietnam, out of respect for them I can’t just say no, I’ll take my flag and put it in my pocket. I had to quit, out of principle.” A news outlet reached out to Food Lion about the policy, in which they said that while it respected the American flag, their policy “prohibits associates from wearing clothing with writing, insignia, or symbols.” Luckily, Dean did note that he is not angry with the grocery store managers, but doesn’t think the corporate policy is being ignored in a way that disrespects the U.S.A. flag. He continued, “I love this country. I love that my dad went off and fought for my country, nearly got killed for this country but came back and raised a family. I love everything about that flag. So, yeah, that is my priority.” He added that his face covering is a print of the U.S. flag and not the actual American flag, which he could indeed see as being considered disrespectful. Here is Food Lion’s full statement about the new policy. “At Food Lion, we have great respect for the American flag. Like many other organizations, we also have policies that guide the attire and conduct of associates in the workplace. As part of our effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to protect the well-being of our associates and customers, we’ve required associates to either wear reusable face masks provided by Food Lion or choose to wear a different face covering while working. However, all face coverings must adhere to standards set by the company and communicated to each of our more than 77,000 associates. The policy prohibits associates from wearing clothing with writing, insignia or symbols. The dress code is meant to ensure a consistent and professional representation of our associates inside of our stores.” Several cities across the United States and the CDC have made it mandatory for people to wear masks while in public spaces as there has been a rise in COVID-19 cases. Several grocery stores and other retailers, such as H-E-B, Walmart, and Target have made it mandatory for people to use face masks or face coverings before entering their store.

With the possible exception of somebody throwing a pool party for their Pentecostal church and its snake-handling pastor, it’s unlikely that a rattlesnake popping out and biting someone in the face is going to be on the list of activities... right between the barbecue and wiffle ball... at anyone’s Labor Day soiree. Because no one wants to eat a cheeseburger with a side of antivenom.  So if you, like most people, would prefer to avoid extending a frantic, last-minute invitation to paramedics during your pool party, check your pool noodles before your guests (or kids) grab them and hop in the pool. As it turns out, snakes, and in particular rattlesnakes, think they’re a pretty great hangout spot. They’re a big fan of secluded, dark areas. If you do encounter a rattlesnake, the worst thing you can do is give in to your totally reasonable urge to scream and run away. Chances are that will only further scare the rattlesnake, and make it more likely to strike. In general, rattlesnakes don’t want anything to do with people, though only because we’re too big to eat. A fact that is only mildly comforting, at best. They’d eat us if they could. But they can’t. So they won’t. But they would. Snakes are from hell. Either way, a rattlesnake will only strike if it feels threatened, so stay calm and give it plenty of space. It will likely slither away after it has calmed down. Definitely do not engage with it. You are not Steve Irwin. A guy, who, by the way, was really good at handling dangerous animals and still died doing it. How good of a job do you think you’re going to do in sandals and three beers deep? Not very, is the answer. Call a professional snake relocator or another snake expert. Check your pool noodles and other pool toys, pool owners! Those hiding places are prime for reptiles, including venomous snakes.

Instead of doing this blog thing I should be listening to this album...

Ummm... maybe not. Do you like Haribo sugar-free gummy bears? Here's another "explosive" review from Amazon of them...

Hahaha. So, been on a dating site lately? You never know what you're gonna find on there...

Any takers? Hmmm. So, as you know Chadwick Boseman who played the Black Panther passed away on August 28th. Well, the Black Panther Pop Vinyls made by Funko are going for a really high price which is really stupid. Look at this...

Do NOT buy from Toywiz. In many places, masks are mandatory, so you as well make it your own. There's a mask for every fashion and fandom, and there can also be a mask for every face. People order custom-made masks with photos of their face on them to try and achieve a realistic look. Try being the most important word. 

Here's another creative sign telling people to wear face masks...

Only in New York. If I had a TARDIS I would try to go and meet the Queen again, but knowing my luck her and her husband, Prince Philip would be dancing at a private party in Canada in 1951. 

Before they went on the floor, Elizabeth and Philip, who had never seen a square dance, were tutored privately for a half hour in their rooms. Forty couples whirled and sashayed at the hoedown. Ha! I just realized the picture is two pictures. Hahaha. I was going to get a new tattoo but someone had the same idea I had...

Did you see the dress the First Lady wore at the RNC?

So, it's pumpkin spice season and some companies are taking it just a little bit too far...

Yuck! Have you seen the latest kind of Hot Pockets that came out? This might not be so bad...

Speaking of food, wanna see a pic of dog food? 

Hahahahahahahahaha. That really cracks me up. Okay, you know I live in Florida, right? Here's a story from this crazy state...

A Florida woman was arrested for allegedly beating a man after he first made the wrong kind of bread for breakfast and then went to watch some porno in the other room in an attempt to de-escalate the argument that ensued from his breakfast choices. Ocala, Florida resident 36-year-old Danielle Kish Whitt was arrested and booked into the Marion County Jail where she was later released on a $250 bond for simple domestic battery charges stemming from the odd incident. The disagreement leading to the assault began when Whitt became upset with the victim for making toast instead of rolls for breakfast. A heated argument ensued and in order to relieve tensions, the victim removed himself from the situation. He went into his bedroom to let everything cool off and, for whatever reason, started watching some porn. Whitt followed him into the bedroom after a bit and, upon seeing what the victim was watching, assaulted him. The victim attempted to shove Whitt away but his attempts at physical restraint only invited further attacks from Whitt. Finally the victim got in his truck, left and called the police. A Marion County sheriff’s deputy met the victim at his truck a few blocks away from the residence. The officer observed a bruise on the victim’s arm. The officer was also told by the victim that Whitt had hit him several times in the past and that he just wanted Whitt out of the home. When confronted by the officer Whitt claimed that she was upset with the victim for calling her names and admitted to attacking him first. She said that the victim grabbed the back of her neck after she hit him and so she proceeded to kick him in the groin.

If you spot the Mindphuck let me know. You should. Haha. One of the hardest parts of teaching is finding constructive ways to discipline rambunctious kids. Typically, if you're dealing with a class full of 10-year-olds, there's going to be some hyperactive kids you have to occasionally wrangle. While finding teaching methods that keep them engaged is crucial, there are situations where a kid simply won't listen. In these cases, bringing their parents or guardians into the loop is often the next course of action. However, since absent parents or a lack of discipline is often the root of erratic behavior... teachers are often still left in the weeds when it comes to managing boisterous students. In a recent email to the Phile, a teacher asked if he was wrong for asking a student's dad to come into class to get him to behave. 

"Am I wrong for allowing a dad to humiliate his son in my class?" The teacher is a fifth-grade teacher, and wrote that while he's used to a behavioral range, one student Calvin is consistently disruptive. "I teach fifth-grade which is usually a hit or miss in terms of behavior. I have one student, Calvin, who is quite disruptive. He's the class clown except it's not cute. The other day, he climbed on top of the tables in the library and started dancing when he thought I was not looking. I've tried different ways to work around it, including but I feel like I can no longer be Mr. Nice Guy." When he reached his wit's end, the teacher reached out to Calvin's dad about his behavior. "I assumed that his parents spoil him so I was hesitant to talk to them because that seemed like a lost cause. The kid had his own driver. Boy, was I wrong. I did speak to his dad who was furious. He brought him to me and apologized. He said he if he ever got a bad report like he did with the library, then he would sit with him in class like he was a baby. That threat seemed to get Calvin's attention, but seemed... empty. I mean, the dude doesn't even have time to drop his kid off at school." Calvin's dad took it seriously and threatened to "babysit" him in class if he didn't behave.  "At first, this worked in chilling Calvin out, but it wasn't long before all his antics continued. Things were fine for a while, then he started up with purposely giving stupid answers when I called on him. I pulled him to the side and asked him if he wanted his dad to babysit him in school and he said no because his dad wouldn't do it because it would embarrass him." Eventually, things came to a head, and Calvin's dad came to class and thoroughly embarrassed his son. "So I emailed his dad and he asked if he could sit with him in class. Calvin didn't know it was going to happen and kept telling his dad to go. His dad stayed with him all day and Calvin hated it. He micromanaged, bossed and snapped at him all day. I think the worst part was having his friends laugh at him. Calvin did cry a few times. His dad was like the boss from Hell." Ever since his dad sat in, Calvin's behavior has improved, but the teacher wonders if the humiliation factor was too far. "Ever since then, his behavior has improved. And I know people will ask why I wasn't more 'hands-on' with discipline... this is a 25-35K a year private school. A lot of the parents are famous entertainers and there is a long wait-list to get in. Things are very different than a public school. For people saying I don't understand Calvin or he needs a male role model or whatever. I get boys like him because I was a 10-year-old boy myself. It is not difficult at all for me to relate to the boys in my class because I remember what my interests/problems were at that age. I take an interest in them and they take an interest in me (especially my tattoos when I wear a polo). There are things that I know about these kids that their parents don't. However, I am not their psychologist and Calvin doesn't need a psychologist. He's 10 and hitting puberty and his brain is going haywire. And you damn right, I was thrilled that dad stepped in. I came out looking like the good guy and did less work." I think you and Calvin's dad were completely in the wrong, and that it was altogether cruel. I don’t think that humiliation is an effective teaching tool. It is concerning that this is the first strategy the father suggested. I can’t help but wonder what discipline is like in the home. There are many other ways that you could have worked with the parents to help this child understand why his behavior was inappropriate. Two full grown adults making a 10-year-old cry should not have been one of them. You both missed a big opportunity to actually address the root of the behavior. Humiliation is never a good strategy... you’re making the kid feel terrible without actually explaining why what he did was wrong. I also don’t like your resentful tone when talking about a freaking 10-year-old... complaining he’s spoiled, not funny and giving stupid answers... I get you’re frustrated but be careful not to cross the line between punishing bad behavior and punishing because you don’t like the kid. I don’t want to play armchair psychologist here, but has anyone considered Calvin’s probably just doing this for attention from his parents? He’s a “class clown” who is “disruptive” but I can’t see anything about him acting maliciously, rather it seems more as if he just wants everyone to be paying attention to him. Usually, his parents are too busy to do much as drop him at school, it wouldn’t be a wild leap to assume they’re just as busy outside of school hours, especially if they’re famous entertainers like you mentioned. Kids are smart... he knows that when he acts up his dad suddenly pays extra attention to him and even "threatens" to spend an entire day with him in school. He may have just been running with the idea that any attention is good attention, up until he was publicly shamed and cried multiple times in front of his friends. You are also wrong for making assumptions about how Calvin's parents would handle it. If a kid is not listening in your class you should go to the parents regardless of how you “assume” they will handle it. The question at hand, however, is what should be done now. If you have a problem email me at thepeverettphile@gmail.com.

Ravioli

Pasta pockets

The 135th book to be pheatured in the Phile's Book Club is...

Yes, my book. My friend Jeff Trelewicz will be on the Phile next Monday (a week from today) to interview me. Okay, let's take a live look at Port Jefferson, New York, shall we?

Looks like a nice day there and the ferry is just coming in. Cool.

Today's guest is a British singer and musician and Phile Alum whose latest album "Mass Hysteria" is available on iTunes, Amazon and Spotify. Please welcome to the Phile the lovely... Doris Brendel.

Me: Hey, Doris, welcome back to the Phile. How have you been? 

Doris: It has been a while! Things are good overall! Can’t complain… too much. 

Me: So, 2020 has been a crazy year, right? How has quarantine life been for you? Have you been working on new music? 

Doris: Crazy is an understatement. Who saw this coming? Apart from a whole bunch of movies. When I’m not touring I’m quite solitary anyway, so no biggie staying away from people. The most stressful thing is when I have to go to the shops and can’t avoid others. I don’t blame the youngsters whatsoever for going out and socialising, but as we know, COVID’s danger increases with age and I have no desire to risk a lung infection which might impact my singing. So yes... I’ve been doing a lot of writing as well as tackling all of the marketing, artwork and production for the new album "Mass Hysteria." Lockdown meant we could finish it early. I’m also half-way through writing and recording a new acoustic album and have started writing some new band songs too. 

Me: You live in England, right? What part?  

Doris: I do! I’m in Buckinghamshire which is part of the green belt around London. It’s 30 miles west from the centre along the Thames. SO glad I’m in the country and not stuck in town. 

Me: I LOVE your new album "Mass Hysteria," I want a vinyl copy of it. Does the title have anything to do with what's been going on this year with COVID? 

Doris: Thank you so much! Really pleased you like it. We’re pretty happy with it. And no... the songs had all been written before COVID, including the title song. We’ve had 3 years of Brexit, which gets people pretty riled up, as well as what’s going on in the U.S. In fact much of the world seems to be going through a cycle of hysteria, fear and division, driven by greed and immigration. There’s never a shortage of inspiration. 

Me: Were you working on the album before COVID or was it written in the downtime? I wrote my first novel during quarantine.  

Doris: Congratulations on your novel! As I mentioned... the songs had been written, and we’d already finalised the arrangements in between tours. But we hadn’t finished the recording yet with vocals and keyboards still to go. We managed to do most of it remotely after lockdown, as well as the mixing and mastering. We’re so lucky to be in a digital age where we can do so much from our computers. 

Me: Once again you worked with Lee Dunham on the new album. You've been working with him for a while now. Would you say you two have good musical chemistry? 

Doris: Oh definitely. That’s why we’re still working together. In life you try people out... musicians, producers, video directors, artists. Once you find someone who is good to work with and on your wavelength you stick with them. Lee has a great imagination and sense of humour, as well as being extremely hard working and energetic. We don’t have any ego battles or step on each others feet. When you create music there has to be a level of trust in each others’ abilities. We’re not done yet. 

Me: So, which one of you does most of the songwriting? 

Doris: I do most of the song-writing, but Lee does a bit as well. He wrote "People are Gonna Rise Up" on "Mass Hysteria." Songwriting is what I do primarily. I have tons of ideas, not all of them good, and bombard Lee with stuff for him to work through. 

Me: Do you remember when and where you first met Lee? 

Doris: Absolutely! It was one of those "if the stars hadn’t aligned exactly" moments, without which we would never have met. It was in 1999 and I had a busy covers band which earned me much needed money at the time and was looking for a new singer/guitarist. I placed an ad in the Musicians Union magazine... the only time I’ve ever done it, and I could only afford because the woman on the line was a fan of my dad’s and gave me a huge discount. Lee saw it... probably the only time he’s ever looked at the ads... and due to a string of circumstances decided to give it a go. He came to a gig in London and little did we know we’d still be working together 20 years later. 

Me: "Mass Hysteria" is such a great album with different genres... what genre would you put it under? 

Doris: Erm. ‘alternative rock’ covers all bases. Or perhaps ‘progressive pop’ or ‘steam-prog’ (rather like that one). If it doesn’t exist make something up! Lee and I have always been hugely eclectic. This album is probably the most cohesive one we’ve ever done. 

Me: I love the song "It's Never Too Late," which is very bluesy sounding, guitar wise. And for some reason I can imagine Bon Jovi doing a cover of this. Does that sound weird? Anyway, what was the story behind this song? 

Doris: Never been much of a Bon Jovi fan, but bring it on! I’ll count the royalties. I’m often asked to write blues songs, but I don’t like to be too obvious when it comes to songwriting and don’t like to stick to a basic 12-bar framework. So I wanted to write a "Floyd-ish" blues verse with a really melodic chorus and this is what came out the other end. I also liked the theme of loneliness and hope. It’s never too late. 

Me: You have a great band on this album, Doris. Are they members you had worked with in the past? 

Doris: The band are fantastic. Lee of course has been there from the start. Sam White, the drummer, has worked with us for several years now, and Ewan McIntosh (bass) and Jacob Stoney (keys) both joined before the last few tours and have been with us since. We’ve become a pretty tight unit so it made sense to use the current live band for the album. 

Me: How old were you when you started writing and singing, Doris? 

Doris: About 8? Maybe 9. Can’t remember exactly. I spent a lot of time alone as a child, so writing songs was great therapy. 

Me: Who were your musical influences growing up? 

Doris: I was bought up with classical music... concert pianist dad and my mother sang opera. I played the violin. It was a Beatles album that turned me to the dark side. And when I came to England at age 12, I immediately formed a band. I was an extremely rebellious teenager... I was even a punk for a while... and rock music suited my temperament. Influences... too many to mention. 

Me: So, since COVID you haven't done any live shows I imagine. Do you miss playing live? 

Doris: Of course. We did a few European shows with Wishbone Ash in Jan/ Feb this year and had just started a U.K. tour with Fish in March when mass gatherings were banned and we had to come home early. To be honest, it was nerve wracking by this point. We were all washing our hands every two seconds and suspiciously eyeing the crowd. Gigging just isn’t possible right now. But I REALLY hope there will be a vaccine or treatment soon so that we can tour next year. 

Me: What do you prefer to do? Write music, record it or play it live? 

Doris: I enjoy all three. Writing is great when I have a good idea and manage to put shape to it. I also love being on stage and being the centre of attention. Recording can be fun or frustrating... it all depends on whether I’m in good voice on the day. 

Me: When you song write do you take down notes on your phone, or do you use a notebook?  

Doris: My phone stays OFF when I’m writing. I’m a pen and paper person while I develop a new song. It doesn’t go onto the computer until it’s pretty much in the bag. 

Me: I have to ask you about the cover for "Latest Fantasy." That's a great photo... how many takes did it take to get that right? Were you really jumping? Hahaha. I have to show it here...

Doris: Confession time... it’s not even me! It’s a stock photo my artist at the time found and it suited the track. Such a cheat. 

Me: Hahaha.  I love your videos... are you going to be making any for the new album? 

Doris: Yes! It’s tricky to shoot anything extensive whilst trying to distance and without a big budget. But we managed to do some green screen shooting for the title track with Algie Gray, who has shot a few videos for us, including the "Devil" video. I did one day and Lee did the next in an upstairs flat on a seriously hot couple of days. It’s being worked on as we speak. 

Me: So, are you ready to go back on the road, Doris?  

Doris: Yes and no. I love touring and it’s so sad that months of touring have been cancelled this year. But I wouldn’t feel comfortable touring while covid is still out there. Gigs are perfect breeding grounds for the virus and I know some people who did a gig in March and came down with it from that night. One died, another in ICU. They were both younger than me. Others took months getting over it. The sad fact is that touring right now is impossible. You cannot earn enough from distancing gigs to make it work. If just one band member falls ill, the whole band has to go into quarantine. And there’s always the possibility that a town or country suddenly has a lockdown and you get stuck somewhere and can’t play. And there is no insurance that will cover for these things. So until there’s a vaccine or a really good treatment it just won’t happen. There will hopefully be a few festivals in the summer, but they are few and far between. We have a tour booked in for February with Fish, so we’ll have to see what happens this winter. Fish is also releasing his new album this month (which I sang on) and it would be such a shame if both of us couldn’t tour our new albums next year. Here’s hoping. 

Me: Doris, thanks so much for being on the Phile. Please come back again. Stay well. Come to Orlando when this shit is over and I'll take you to Disney. All the best! 

Doris: Thank you so much for asking me! Would love to go to Disney again! I last went when I was 5 in the 70s. I bet a few things have changed since then… apart from the music. Take care and virtual hugs. 

That about does it for this entry of the Phile. Thanks to Doris for a great interview. The Phile will be back on Wednesday with Lee Meriwether who played Catwoman in the 60s Batman film. So exciting. Spread the word, not the turd or virus. Don't let snakes and alligators bite you. Bye, love you, bye. Kiss your brain. Have a safe Labor Day. 

I don't want you, cook my bread, I don't want you, make my bed, I don't want your money too, I just want to make love to you. - Willie Dixon