Celestial Smiles
photo by Jane at http://herestolife.wordpress.com
We walked out the Ventura Pier, one of the longest on the west coast, all the way out into the sea to the end, to have an unobscured view of the evening sky and to take in the breathtaking view of the crescent moon, Venus, and Jupiter.
The boy showed us his new skipping step, and marveled at being able to walk on water. At 5, most everything is a miracle and he was joyous to be walking with us on the pier, stopping periodically to check on a chunk of seaweed and throw it over the side, to see what the fishermen were doing, to watch the light on the waves, to grab our hands. It occurred to me to bring a camera and blog to record the scene but I didn’t. I might try tomorrow.
Before we headed home, we stopped at Eric Ericson’s Fish House perched on the pier. They had Fat Tire draft for $2; I had a martini for $5. We watched the celestial dance for a while, at times faded by clouds, then headed home where we could watch the progression for awhile through the southern window.
I never did see this smile; Jane at http://herestolife.wordpress.com did and she posted about it.
I also found this:
What did you see and experience? Please share your stories in the comments or leave a link to your blog so I can read about your night sky this week! Here’s my previous post with astrological and astronomical details about this week’s celestial happenings.
Poetry Benefit & Book Drive for Fire Victims
A Poetry Reading to Benefit
Westmont College Tea Fire Victims
To raise money and inspiration for faculty
and families who lost their homes in the Tea Fire
Saturday, December 6, 8:00-9:00 p.m.Fé Bland Forum
(SBCC Auditorium, West Campus) Read more…
3:15 Experiment Poem: August 5, 2001–rethink
being on the road
you get disoriented
sometimes you awake
you don’t know where you’re from
you don’t know who you are
or who you’re supposed to be
maybe that’s ok
to rethink these things
decide whether someone is supposed
to be beside you or not
Yep, another “old” 3:15 experiment poem for this week’s Poetry Train. I was going through 2001 a few weeks ago and uncovered this week’s poem and last week’s and decided to roust them out of retirement and post them. It also seems unusually timely given the recent debate and controversy on this blog and on gingaTao’s with regards to gingaTao’s Seal of Approval, badges, monetization, and who is worthy of being an arbiter of taste.
You can find more links to other poets and lots of prompts at Read Write Poem.
And remember to look at the sky at sunset tonight and tomorrow night to see the crescent moon, Venus and Jupiter shining brightly! Or as I call it, a trio of treats to be grateful for!
Cider Press Review Deadline: 12/1/08 & others
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Cider Press Review is now accepting manuscripts for the 2008 Annual Book Award. The CPR Book Award offers $1000 and publication for a full-length book of poetry. |
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| Because the deadline date of November 30 falls on a Sunday, we will accept manuscripts through December 1, 2008 (postmark). | |
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Final Judge for the 2008 award is Dorothy Barresi, American Book Award winner and author of All of the Above, The Post-Rapture Diner, and Rouge Pulp. |
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How to enter: Read more… |
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David Gordon’s landmark Trying Times purposefully “anti-signature” piece, linking a range of movement, visual devices and dialogue to weave a course between droll off-handedness and precisely calibrated design, comes to LA’s REDCAT Theater next week, playing Weds-Sat at 8:30pm and Sunday at 3pm–and Art Predator will be there! Read more…
Molasses Spice Cranberry Pecan Pumpkin Muffins & Bread with almond flour
This morning, I panicked when I couldn’t find my pumpkin bread recipe and swore at my first chance I would post it here where I would never lose it again–and other people might benefit! Here’s the standard recipe with some of the myriad variations I enjoy. Read more…
Thanksgiving trio of treats: Venus, Jupiter, new Moon plus Pluto in Capricorn & Uranus goes direct!
Tue Nov 25, 8:31 PM ET
In a rare alignment, the crescent moon, and the planets Venus, center, and Jupiter shine above a farmhouse in the eastern pre-dawn sky, in this Nov. 10, 2004 file photo, in Brunswick, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Venus, Jupiter and a crescent moon will line up for a game of leap frog for family viewing this Thanksgiving weekend in an unusual celestial event–one more thing to be thankful for!
After many of us complete our turkey feast, and before the tryptophan sedates, gather the family and stroll outdoors to see with the naked eye bright shining Jupiter and Venus at sunset to the west. With clear skies, the planets will be bright enough to be viewed even in cities.
According to editor of Sky and Telescope Alan MacRobert, Jupiter and Venus will move closer until they will appear 2 degrees apart, which is about a finger width held out at arm’s length, by Monday and Tuesday. On Monday night, the two bright planets will be joined by a crescent moon.
All three will be visible to the naked eye around twilight in the southwestern sky Monday; for those of us who live on the west coast, the beach will be the place to be for unimpeded, memorable views.
“It’ll be a head-turner,” MacRobert said. “This certainly is an unusual coincidence for the crescent moon to be right there in the days when they are going to be closest together.”
According to AP, the moon is the brightest and smallest of the three and closest at 252,000 miles away. Venus, the second brightest, is 94 million miles away while giant Jupiter is 540 million miles away.
The three celestial objects come together from time to time, but often they are too close to the sun or unite at a time when they aren’t so visible. The next time the three will be as close and visible as this week will be Nov. 18, 2052, according to Jack Horkheimer, director of the Miami Space Transit Planetarium.
Jupiter will trek out of view but Venus and the crescent moon only will delight our eyes again on New Year’s Eve, MacRobert said.
The original story is here.
You can find a well written post on it here which has this image:
With regards to an astrological outlook of upcoming celestial activities, astrology.com notes: Read more…
Thanksgiving Secrets: vodka, rum & sparkling shiraz!
No, my Thanksgiving Day secrets are NOT getting blotto by drinking vodka, rum and sparkling shiraz!
Instead, try VODKA in your PIE CRUST, RUM in your PECAN PIE, and sparkling SHIRAZ with your bird–whether it be turkey, duck, goose or even (flying!) pig! It even works well with my favorite vegetarian entree, stuffed portabello mushrooms. These secrets will give you EVEN more to be thankful for this Thanksgiving!
First up, staples of our Thanksgiving dessert tradition, pumpkin and pecan pies. Read more…
poem: i really should fix that broken windowpane, she said
it is still fall but the first winter storm
rattles windows fists of cold wind smash past
glass an arm reaches through a hand brushes
gainst breast cold dew breath on neck raises flesh
wind chimes warn now first drops of rain splish splash
splish
splash
splish
splash
splish splash splash
3:15 Experiment Poem: Aug. 8, 2001–too bright for stars
was I dreaming?
what are the dreams before sleep about?
last night I was a lesbian
I think I was going to get a tattoo
———
the year gets so late
my knows bleeds
it rushes by so fast
my ears roar
where do my days go
how many have a speed
wandering lost in the living room
trying to find my way in the kitchen
stumbling over the lamp n the bedroom
——–
there are crickets outside
and the little girls ask about frogs
they want to find pollywogs
this I’m not sure of
they require still water
maybe some mud
the water outback
rushes today in its channel
doesn’t stop for pollywogs
a raccoon eats the catfood
knocks over the trash
chases the little black dog
the sky is too bright for the stars
yet here a frog nestles in the dahlia
a gray rock in the soft white tenderness
A Monday poem…catch the poetry train here! Or visit Read Write Poem for some rebellious rule-breaking poems.
And in case you’re new here, poets who participate in the 3:15 Experiment wake up every night during the month of August to write. After the end of the experiment, we transcribe out scribblings verbatim and post them on the 3:15 website.
art predator 
