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Lunar Datebook

Maine-based short fiction, essays, and interviews. Hosted by Jennifer Ellsworth.
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Now displaying: Page 7

Welcome to Lunar Datebook...

Aug 14, 2015

Episode 44- August 14, 2015

Today's New Moon welcomes a humble vegetable with great significance.  Host Jennifer Ellsworth discusses corn's metaphorical and historical value to Maine.  She also tells a true story about a bad boss in a blueberry field and reads a fictional tale about two men debating holy matrimony called "Back on the Chain Gang:"

"....'He's the only one that accepted my dinner invitation so I'm voting for him.'

Charles loved his mother, but this logic made his brain rot.

'Mom, it was a dream,' Charles said, lowering the driver's side visor to impede the glare blaring in over Belfast...."

Moon Astrology:  New Corn Moon in Leo:  Roar.

Slavery ain't for sissies, a $10 million industry, and the best motorcycle ride ever.

 

         

Jul 31, 2015

Episode 43- July 31, 2015

This evening's Blue Moon is borrowed time from the Universe.  Host Jennifer Ellsworth explains how and tells a true story about a lucky hay crew.  She also revisits Bets serving breakfast at Bottoms Up in a story called Sky Dive:

...“Food poisoning, my ass,” I say.

“I heard the toilet flush in the background,” Emily says, already scanning the Bottoms Up! phone list for a fill-in that might actually answer a call at 6:45 Sunday morning. ...

Moon Astrology:  Full Hay Moon in Aquarius:  Gather together.

Maine Farmer's Almanac, quinoa-chevre-shitaki, and broken balers. 

          

Jul 1, 2015

Episode 42- July 1, 2015

Venus and Jupiter unite tonight in a famous planetary conjuction.  Host Jennifer Ellsworth explains this hook-up and tells a road trip tale about kind Californians.  She also imagines a Honey-do list for the house-sitter in a piece called "Clearly Labeled":

"Thank you for house-sitting while we open up our camp.  You’ll find we left a set of keys for you, though we hardly ever use them.  They are for the basement door- we can’t locate keys for the other doors, so if you do lock yourself in- or out- make sure you have this key with you..."   

Moon Astrology:  Full Strawberry Moon in Capricorn: work before play.

Generous Lovers, the Star of Bethelem and Sweet Home San Diego.  

Jun 16, 2015

Episode 41- June 16, 2015

The sixth New Moon is the Strawberry Moon, and love is in the air.  Host Jennifer Ellsworth explores Summer's symbolic berry in an Algonquin legend about the original Man and Wife.  She also shares a true story about a wedding nearly derailed, and reads a fictional tale involving an important wedding gift, called "Tootsie".  

"Sometimes Tootsie had a hard time reconciling that her parents had once been married, given who they were now.  Her father, Thomas Putnam, Mayor of Everything.  He knows people vote the way their cats think, so he leaves Friskies in a bowl by the horse chestnut year round.  Her mother, Hilary Fox, Landsculptor.  She knows Freewill doesn’t exist, so she gardens...."  

Moon Astrology: New Strawberry Moon in Gemini: share.

Vitamin C sucked up like a sponge and strawberries shaped like our hearts.

 

Jun 2, 2015

Episode 40- June 2, 2015

The new age Moon Diet is an eating regimin that incorporates fasting, an age old practice.  Host Jennifer Ellsworth explores this fad, also called the Werewolf Diet.  She also tells a true tale about an overpopulated buffet line, and reads a short story about a woman redefining her appearance called "Nadine's New Look."  

"The date was next week, but Nadine was ready, or nearly, or could be.  She would wear her black jeans.  Snug, but not inappropriate, with the purple, satin embellishments on the back pockets.  They traced out a hint of butterfly wings without being actually insects..." 

Moon Astrology: Full Flower Moon in Sagittarius.  Restless and real.  

60% water, 3 square meals a day and the one thing five major religions agree on.

 

May 17, 2015

Episode 39- May 17, 2015

The appearance of flowers on the landscape is the sign of a trustworthy Spring.  Host Jennifer Ellsworth welcomes the fifth New Moon of the year by exploring its namesake's etymology, from pistil to peduncle.  She also shares a skinny-dipping story and reads a short fiction piece from the Back-of-the-House about two dishwashers and a self-induced dare.  

"The twins were sweating over the sinks, hands darting like coi in a pond, trying to dismember the dirty dish sculpture rising at the front of their station...." 

Moon Astrology:  New Flower Moon in Taurus.  Paw the earth.  

Bisexual flora, Fates at the loom and the bullseye that counts.  

May 3, 2015

Episode 38- May 3, 2015

Moonshine!  Host Jennifer Ellsworth explains how hooch came to be named after the moon's glow.  She also shares a song by The Rugged and reads a story about springtime love called "Bishop's Maibaum."

"Frau Schmidt had explained to Bishop’s class how young German lovers proclaimed their affections which had been checked under the glare of winter but, come Spring, could no longer be contained...."  

Moon Astrology:  Full Milk Moon in Scorpio

Moonrakers chasing cheese, Nascar's birth story and visce beatha- water of life.

Apr 18, 2015

Episode 37- April 18, 2015

Milk is the original comfort food.  In honor of the year's fourth New Moon, host Jennifer Ellsworth explores milk's importance the world over and reads a story called "White Whale in Free Beer" about a drummer that wants something different. 

"...Josh turned off the ignition on his Forester and exhaled.  He wasn't smoking, he was just imagining he was.  Listening to John Bonham always made him think about smoking..."

Moon Astrology: New Milk Moon in Aries.

The Milk Cure, Heidi was right and a negotiated peace.

Apr 4, 2015

Episode 36- April 4, 2015

The Moon travels the Ecliptic just like the sun, only 12 times as fast.  Host Jennifer Ellsworth explains this mimicry and how to estimate the moon's celestial path.  She also tells a mud season survival story, and reads "Bets' Baby"a tale about a waitress returning to work.  

"...I took my six-week maternity leave, though I was no longer a mother.  Maybe, technically, I was never a mother, since Joseph had died in utero..."

Moon Astrology: Full Egg Moon in Libra.  "Take a chance while you still have a choice."

An old-fashioned call for help and the sun and moon are in cahoots.

 

 

Mar 20, 2015

Episode 35- March 20, 2015

Eggs are a univsersal symbol of fertility, hope and life.  Host Jennifer Ellsworth explores this humble food as we celebrate Spring and the New Egg Moon.  She also reads "Moving Day," a story about a man with million dollar songs and not much to show for it.  

"...Now that the snow was retreating, the dead soldiers were starting to appear.  Probably three dollars in Busch Lite, Old Milwaukie and Schlitz cans, and another 45 cents in whiskey bottles.  They’d been bagged up once, but good intentions only go so far, and the bag never made it to the bed of Brother Dwayne’s pickup, or the back of Nephew Rocy’s Subaru, or out of the plow’s path...." 

Moon Astrology: New Egg Moon is Aries.  Let Spring Begin!

Mankind's first food, fertility magic and a 60,000 year old Ostrich egg.

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