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I've been quiet lately ... not a lot of say, but plenty to do.
When my husband pressure washed the house this past weekend, this wasp nest came down. I was relieved to see that it was already vacant. I can't help but watch out for other creatures ... like when I clean the worms out of the gutters after it rains, lest the sun parch them into crunchy carcasses.
These photos have nothing to do with the context of this post, but I do like my husband's hard hats.
This is the most recently retired one. He brought it into the house so that I could use the pin on the front, which was a gift from me some years back, as a model for a variety skulls that he'd like me to sketch for his most recent tattoo. He's already spent eight hours getting this one inked ... with many hours to go.
© JODI ANDERSON. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
No heirloom tomato blight thus far. The garden is pretty quiet except for the ripening of 13 tomato plants and many vines of butternut squash, all heavy with fruit. The herbs are used regularly. Some of the midsummer flowers are bidding adieu.
© JODI ANDERSON. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
There is SO very much going on behind the scenes right now. I don't mean here at the blog(s), but everywhere else. I'd say that it's all good happenings.
I couldn't think of a proper way to explain it, so ... you see those tomatoes up there? I am literally pulling that many out of my garden each and every day, carrying them into the house, then eating, cooking, and/or sharing them with others.
I am metaphorically carrying and juggling all those tomatoes every day as well.
My metaphorical tomatoes include guest blogs, publications, preparing for poetry readings, the regular blogging gig at TWC (probably starting August 26), getting to the root of my health issues, other creative endeavors, family life and so much more tomatoes life stuff.
P.S. I know that this is really a small amount of tomatoes; Mine have only just begun to ripen in the last two days.© JODI ANDERSON. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Wednesday evening, the family went to see The Breeders at a very small venue. (The last time that we saw the band play was Lollapalooza, early 90s.) We had a front row table since we arrived early. Between every song, I screamed "summer is ready ... when you are", hoping that they would play "Saints", which is our official family county fair song. They played it, but not because I requested.
X worked her way through the floor crowd to the stage. Kim Deal reached out and shook her hand during the encore. She also received Kim or Kelley's setlist. I think that X plans to frame that. Oh, and "Saints" was already on it.
At some point in the near future, there will be a room for me at The Women's Colony and I will blog there a few times each week. The atmosphere and blogging style will essentially be identical to what I do here, but of course I'll provide different photos and words. When that all kicks off, I'll make a grand announcement. (Thanks, Mrs. G, for asking me to contribute.)
I was recently approached by The Capitola Review, which is a limited edition, bi-annual "collective on the artistic experience" published by River Current Press, to submit a poem and photo for their next issue. The autumn volume comes out in September and I'll be sure to let you know how to get a copy, should anyone be interested. I will also participate in poetry readings with others included in TCR.
I am still sitting on my Black River Falls photos. I can't decide if I want to do one long post (plus videos), several short posts, or visit the town a few more times and make it an official project.
There are a few other things on the horizon that I hope to share soon. Cheers.
© JODI ANDERSON. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Doing and not (spending too much time) thinking is especially important this week ...
I received the preliminary results of my MRI and there are 13 vacancies, 13 subcortical lesions, 13 spots where the neurons have been unsheathed and left unprotected.
It's my nature to research this to death while waiting for my next appointment with neurology, which is this Friday.
Instead, I am focusing on doing. I went on a short holiday. I am going to see The Breeders with my family tonight. I am catching up on photo and poetry projects. I'm cleaning, organizing, purging ... in my home, on my computer, within my spaces online. Sure, I think a lot while I am doing those tasks, but my busy hands are keeping a peaceful, tidy, quiet mind.
Mostly.
I thought that I'd come back from Black River Falls and do a nice little post about the adventure, or maybe five long posts, but I can't even begin to sum it up in words nor photos nor video. I see many daytrips back to there in my future, and in X's future, as she fell in love with the queer little town.
In the meantime, HERE is a video from the observation tower near dike 17 in Black River State Forest. More videos to come, more photos to come, and a few more words on the whole experience ... if I can find them.
We're on a weekend holiday -- the Black River, Black River State Forest, and staying in the town of Black River Falls (upon which "Wisconsin Death Trip" is based).
More in a few days.
© JODI ANDERSON. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Stacks and piles. Too many stacks and piles.
I do well to sort through the mail and toss all the junk as it comes into the house. I'm getting better at reading the daily newspaper daily, but not so well at removing the Sudokus daily before they become finished stacks of Sudokus on my nightstand.
Those magazines that you see below? That is the UNREAD pile. All of the past issues are neatly arranged . It looks like four months there. I bet all those spring recipes will come in really handy in mid-August, when I finally get around to reading them.
Yes, I know. I don't NEED to keep every issue of every magazine that comes in the mail. Perhaps that will be my next challenge. Or not.
Okay, enough thinking. Back to doing.
