Hey, all! Fevers of the Mind has so graciously shared a couple poems of mine today. “20 Minutes of Turbulence” & “The Ghost of Ian Curtis Soothed My Panic Attack at 6AM”. Do give them a read along with a great selection of other works by some amazing poets. Link HERE. Thanks to editor, David L. O’Nan, & thank YOU for reading my stuff.
In other news, I’m seriously thinking of putting some kind of donation button on the blog. You are under no obligation ever to pay to read my writing, but I just moved & am looking to save up to buy a new pair of binoculars to aid my birding adventures. So if you feel like giving a little to my fund, I will be eternally grateful.
The other day I went out to one of my favorite lookout points on the Boardman Lake Trail to look at the birds & there were some other birders there. Some of them had some crazy long lens cameras & were taking photos. A man noticed my binoculars & asked if he could borrow them. Someone had reported a black bellied plover that he wanted to see but he had left his binoculars at home. “Of course,” I said. “But…they aren’t very good, I’m sorry.” I know they were cheap when I bought them, but I needed something to start with. “That’s okay,” he said. But I waited to hear about how bad they were. Haha
It didn’t take long. “Oh wow…yeah…these are….yeah…” he said, trying to be as polite as possible. “I know, I’m saving up for a better pair.” I could only laugh. He told me some brands that were good & how much I’d have to pay for a decent pair. He said he had been birding for years & even taught classes on how to help people get started. I thanked him for his advice & then one of the other birders went to his car to go get his good binoculars. They spotted some killdeer & the plover & I was just trying my best to at least see a bird through my blurry lenses, pulling out my bird book like a total noob.
“Ma’am…would you like to borrow these for awhile?” I gratefully accepted the very nice pair of binoculars, way bigger than mine. A whole new world opened up as soon as I looked through the lenses. That black bellied plover was suddenly right in front of me, clear as day & very easily identifiable. “Wow,” I breathed. “These are…yeah…wow.” I couldn’t get over it. I knew I needed a pair as soon as I could possibly get them.
I thanked them after awhile & returned the immaculate new portal to the birding world. “Those are incredible!” “Yeah, definitely something you should save up for.” “Oh, I will.” “Good luck!” they said. I bid them a good day & walked to the bus stop to meet my husband as he got off of work. I told him all about what happened & asked him how he felt about me adding a donation button to the blog. He said it was a good idea & that he would hold onto what I wanted to put away for the “Binoculars Fund”. I’m hoping I can get them by Spring Migration next year.
So, I will work on that because I have no clue how to do it but my techy, website building husband will assist I’m sure. I also wanted to let you all know that if you want to connect through Facebook or Instagram, you can friend or follow me on those platforms. I recently returned to Instagram since I’m doing a lot more in life now & actually have things worth sharing. The links for where else you can find me in Internet Land are on my About page.
There’s “Thunder in the Vicinity” according to my weather app & I can hear it. Thunderbirds are telling me that autumn will come as soon as they dance a little bit to usher out these warmer temperatures. First week of October & it’s in the 80s. It’s okay though. I’ll let these locals enjoy some more warm weather before their “dreaded winter” comes. I think I’m the only person in this town who can’t wait for it. That’s always the way though. I’m a winter soul. I can’t help it.
Happy October to you all! I’ll be around. I haven’t been writing as much poetry as I have in the past & have opted not to do #OctPoWriMo this year, but I’m still writing & trying to get back into the every day writing practice even if I often can’t land on anything concrete to share. I’ve been busy being “not so hermit-like” what can I say? Enjoy your Spooky Season! I know I will.
Just love the way you use language in both these poems Jennifer! They are intense, and you pack in so much in terms of darkness and disturbance and trauma! These poems are really deep!
Liked your writing on birding. I hope you are able to buy a pair of good binoculars soon!
Happy October to you!
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Happy October! Thank you!
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My pleasure Jennifer!
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Nice π
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Thank you!
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I love these poems! Halloween is my favorite holiday, hope you have a good one yourself. Did I ever tell you about the time some robins built a nest in a hanging basket on my little front porch? It was amazing, there was one egg and as far I know it went alright, I didn’t see it fly off but I saw them feeding it a few times. I didn’t think it was a great spot because I have my cats and kept the window closed near that area so they didn’t scare away the parents. They would attack me when I would go in and out of my house too, it was kind of crazy.
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I do remember you telling me this! Halloween season is my favorite too. βΊοΈ
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