Ahh, it's that time of year again. The time when an unspoken madness creeps into the minds of the population. When that slightly crazed look takes hold in the eyes. And when thousands of kids start running around department stores and malls grabbing things, shaking things, and screaming at the top of their voices. It's the "only three shopping days left until Xmas" day.

It's not that I hate Xmas. Or even that I hate buying things for people. It's that I always tell myself that I won't leave it until the last minute - that I'll give myself plenty of time to go out and choose the perfect gift for everyone. And every year without fail, I find myself at 4 p.m. on the day before I leave town, frantically grabbing a pack of socks and a book about 'The History Of Rock And Roll', and muttering, "Fuck it, that'll do. It's the thought that counts!!" If only I could get out and calmly spend a few days in November buying cool stuff in an unhurried manner. But I have done it again this year, so I am doomed to a day of desperate retail madness. Oh well, Happy F#@%ing Xmas.

I noticed a picture of my friend Dave Navarro with a gorgeous white Yamaha acoustic that he's launching at NAMM next year. It really does look like a beautiful guitar. Remind me to ask him for one! And those wonderful people at Gibson (I love you Shanon) just built a replica of my Camp Freddy Black Les Paul Custom, which will be displayed in a case at The Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas early next year. It's sitting in my home, all pristine and shiny in its case, waiting to be taken to its new home. It'll look fantastic when it's displayed.

And, by the way, I just had to post this pic of myself and Lou Reed, playing "Venus in Furs" in New York earlier this year. That really was a highlight for me. The guy is just a genius. An absolute honor to share the stage with him.

I was reading the article on the front page of MG about some guitars up for auction. I knew about the $959,000 sale of Blackie (as I am lucky enough to know who bought it) but Keith's '59 Sunburst? Damn - should have called the bank manager, it could have been mine!

In all seriousness, can you imagine spending the cost of a beautiful mansion in the Hollywood Hills on a guitar and then trying to convince your wife that, "No, really darling, it's an investment." I have enough trouble steering my wife away from the racks of guitars that line my studio, saying things like, "Well, I got that one cheap," and, "Ahh, yes, well, you see, that black one sounds completely different to the white one."

I suppose I should get on with my day. I wonder if anyone is actually reading this - and if they are, I wonder if they are following my random chain of thought. It doesn't really matter - doing this column is a cathartic meditation for me in the morning. I find that with this MG column, along with the Doheny blog I do for my band, I am able to put down my thoughts, my emotions, my inner most secrets, and clear my mind for the day by publishing them on the web for the world to see...er...hold on a minute...is that really such a great idea.?

Peace.

Billy