At long last, the fiscal year is over. And it takes with it the two projects which ate my life for nine months. Never again will I take on more than one project at a time in my current industry. The stress and loss of work/life balance is simply not worth the effort.

The picture at the top of this post is of Poe, peeking out from a patch of weeds which I have since torn out. That space will eventually house a pergola, over-engineered in order to be a stable support for heavy bags, hammocks, and other heavy-use outdoor paraphernalia.

Reading

I acquired several books of poetry last month and I am making my way through them now and enjoying every moment of the process. Right now I am reading G.F. Korreck’s The Pope’s Astronomer, newly published by the Grand River Poetry Collective. It is quite good.

Writing

As of this writing, I have drafts of nine poems for the Hello, Future project. The deadline was bumped to November so I have time to turn one of these drafts into something worth sending forward into the future. I will also likely write a few more poems as the mood and muse strike me.

Weekly Writing Prompt

Subject: Cyborgs, Language
Setting: Boardroom
Genre: Utopian

Listening

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, “The Waiting,” from their 1981 album Hard Promises. Petty died nine years ago yesterday. Nine. Years.

Interesting Links

• “Patient Dies by Suicide After ‘Insurance Issue’ Delayed Medicine for Lung Disease Flare-Ups” (Lauren Sausser, Naked Capitalism)