It's a state of mind . . .

Saturday, May 9, 2026. It's the Satyr's day . . . Moderate Southerlies, sunny skies and mid 80's are in the forecasts for Green Country and TulseyTown. There's a chance for thunderstorms tomorrow morning early, before sunrise chases them away.

In case you were wondering what kind of news day yesterday was, Heather Cox Richichardson fills us in, in Letters From An American.

Another in the “truly great” film categories, Alfred Hitchcock's psychological thriller Vertigo, starring James Stewart and Kim Novak, premiered in San Francisco. It remains widely regarded as one of the greatest movies ever.

Laureate stage and film actor Albert Finney was born today in 1936, Salford, Lancashire [now in Greater Manchester], England.

It's the birthday of the creator of Peter Pan, J.M. Barrie, born in 1860, Kirriemuir, Angus, Scotland.

Poet and essayist Charles Simic was born on this day in 1938 Belgrade, Yugoslavia.

And, The Piano Man, Billy Joel, is 79 today, born in 1949, Bronx, New York. The only state of mind he's ever been in.

Supernatural . . .

Friday, May 8, 2026. It's Freya's day . . . Forecasts for Green Country and TulseyTown indicate a chance for thunderstorms late afternoon, ending around sunset. Strong, gusty Southerlies with low 80's.

How can we know what a moment needs when we are not yet in it? Trust the moment knows, if you are present enough to listen.

The future of the democratic party. – Robert Reich, substack, 5.8.26

Poet Gary Snyder is 96 today. The poet, essayist, lecturer, and environmental activist was born in 1930 San Francisco.

Novelist Thomas Pynchon is 89, born in1937 Glen Cove, New York.

And, today is the 100th birthday of the naturalist broadcaster David Attenborough, born in 1926, Isleworth, London, England.

A Dent In A Bucket

Hammering a dent out of a bucket

a woodpecker

answers from the woods

– Gary Snyder, “A Dent in a Bucket,” from Danger on Peaks, Counterpoint Press, 2004.

Counting the ways . . .

Thursday, May 7, 2026. It's Thor's day . . . Moderate Southwesterlies return to Green Country today. Sunny skies and mid 70's are in the afternoon forecasts for TulseyTown.

Yesterday was not a banner day for members of the Trump administration. – Heather Cox Richardson, in Letters From An American.

The New Jim Crow. – Joyce Vance in Civil Discourse.

Two giants of classical music were born on this date, seven years apart: German composer Johannes Brahms was born on this day in 1833 Hamburg. And, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was born in 1840 Votkinsk, Russia. The two were rivals with little respect for one another.

Today is also the birthdate for Victorian poet and playwright Robert Browning, born in 1812 Camberwell, England, His relationship with fellow poet Elizabeth Barrett is one of the most famous in English literature.

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace.
I love thee to the level of every day’s
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right.
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

– Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Sonnet 43. This poem is in the public domain.