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Lunar Datebook

Maine-based short fiction, essays, and interviews. Hosted by Jennifer Ellsworth.
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Now displaying: 2016

Welcome to Lunar Datebook...

Dec 29, 2016

Episode 78—December 29, 2016

Today marks the start of the lunar calendar year. Host Jennifer Ellsworth explores how this Wolf Moon can help us connect with our family after a busy holiday season. She also offers some Lunar Datebook updates and corrections so as to start the year with a clean slate, and concludes the short story "Special Delivery, Christmas Eve." 

"...The house on the address label of the grey envelope tucked under the Deliveryman’s arm was a seasick two-story just off Front Street. It leaned toward its neighbor on wobbly knees, but so far had not accepted the hand of progress that surrounded it..."

Moon Astrology: New Wolf Moon in Capricorn: Get the job done.

People packs, broken heart death, and a bowl of cherries. 

Dec 13, 2016

Episode 77—December 13, 2016

In the season of gift swaps, sometimes showing up is our best present. Host Jennifer Ellsworth shares a first person account from a Dakota Access Pipeline protester, and shares her dreamy experience of missing a plane. She also reads part two of this year's Christmas story, "Special Delivery, Christmas Eve."

"...The Concord Trailways bus was on time, arriving at the Shell Station at 9:15 from South Station. Jessica’s ride was not. She’d received a text: “Ten minutes!!” Double exclamation point, followed by a sad face emogi. Jessica’s mom...."

Moon Astrology: Full Moon of Long Nights in Gemini: Change your mind.

"All actions here are prayer", assured recognition, and a good smoke. 

Nov 29, 2016

Episode 76—November 29, 2016

The darkest portion of the year corresponds with family-intensive holiday celebrations. Host Jennifer Ellsworth recaps her Thanksgiving. She also shares a story from Stella Tirone about a family hike to the Jordan Pond House on Mount Desert Island that went awry, and reads part one of this year's Christmas Story. It's called "Special Delivery, Christmas Eve."

“...'Merry Christmas. Ho Ho Ho. Merry Christmas.'

Criminey it was cold. Too-cold-to-die-here cold. Thank-God-for-nostril-hair cold. Gary called Merry Christmas and HoHoHo out to shoppers because talking reminded his body it was alive..."

Moon Astrology: New Moon of Long Nights in Sagittarius: Resilience in us all.

Winter mode menu, not a bear, and ringing bells on beaches. 

Nov 14, 2016

Episode 75—November 14, 2016

It's yet another Supermoon. Host Jennifer Ellsworth explains why today's full moon really is great, and reflects on that superlative in a eulogy for her husband's gram. She also reads a short story about a less-than-great man and his moment of grace with a gun. It's called Cellar Hole.

"...Hunting in the middle of the day was like jacking off to a kitten calendar—nearly useless—but Arlen needed to get out of the house. Diane had left the turkey in the mudroom, thinking it would be warm enough to thaw there, but it hadn’t. When she retrieved it for stuffing, it remained an igloo brick and set her off cussing..."

Moon Astrology: Full Beaver Moon in Taurus: Work together.

Proxigee full moon, hauling water, and canned peas.

Oct 30, 2016

Episode 74—October 30, 2016

All Hallow's Eve is here, marking the time of year when it is kosher to connect with ghosts and spirits. Host Jennifer Ellsworth explores divination's relationship with intuition through tasseography, tea leaf reading. She also reads a letter to the editor imploring peace between politic's two sides, and reads a scary story inspired by Siv Widerberg's poem "Nightmare." The Boy returns to the Ogre. It's called "The Boy and the Scratch Man."

"...Once upon a time there was a boy who lived with his mother in a house on the edge of the woods. Perhaps you saw their house, when it was still there...." 

Moon Astrology: New Beaver Moon in Scorpio: look beneath the surface.

Can you read clouds? Our falling sky, and retrieving wishes. 

Oct 15, 2016

Episode 73—October 15, 2016

We are all hunters at heart, tracking desires and dreams. Today host Jennifer Ellsworth explores the trophies of that hunt through the history of taxidermy and its ability to transport us through time and space. She also compares hardcore hunters to yogis, and reads a short story where a woman harvests a piece of her home. It's called "Measuring Wall."

"...Madge hadn’t expected the house to sell so quickly. The realtor said it would take at least a year, and when she had blanched at that, he’d comforted her by saying, 'more likely three,' explaining that the market bubbled on the coast, but inland, in these rural towns, homes still sold the old fashioned way—with time and a new price every six months...." 

Moon Astrology: Full Hunters Moon in Aries: we are wildfire.

The origin of "stuffed animal," Action with a capital A, and hailing a chainsaw operator.  

Sep 29, 2016

Episode 72—September 30, 2016

Nearly everyday Earth has a close approach with an asteroid. Today host Jennifer Ellsworth explores how NASA scientists find these Near Earth Objects and what we plan to do with them. She also tells a true story about an ant-hunting dog, and reads a prose poem about shape note singing. It's called "#Blessed-Common Ground Country Fair Folk Arts Tent 2016."

"...I was there because I was supposed to be there, the next act on stage, following whatever this was, telling a story in the old way as the woman said, which to me just meant I’d rehearsed it out loud in my car on the way to the grocery store, my two boys a peanut gallery in the backseat, and while driving here, to the Fair, instead of listening to NPR..."

Moon Astrology: New Hunters Moon in Libra: Take only what you need.

Interplanetary gas stations, my dungy dog, and a hand shaking heart.

Sep 16, 2016

Episode 71—September 16, 2016

As the sun slips into the southern hemisphere, we welcome autumn and longer nights than days. Host Jennifer Ellsworth considers what to pack for this journey toward year's end. She also tells about midnight walks to Lake St. George, and concludes the short story "Jackson Pond Party Boat," where, after lunch, Melissa poses an interesting question to the quartet. 

"...Billy had made tuna fish sandwiches, but they were on shore. Ivan dragged the boat until Billy’s quadrant sunk into the mud. Tommy and Melissa widened their stances in their chairs, and Billy rose like a tightrope walker, determined not to flood the boat with his departure...."

Moon Astrology: Full Harvest Moon in Pisces: Dream on.

What do you take to bed?, tossing our wishes in, and star sailing.

 

Sep 1, 2016

Episode 70—September 1, 2016

A woman warrior is not usually the first image that comes to mind when you hear "virgin," but perhaps it should. Host Jennifer Ellsworth dissects the etymology of the word to reveal its ancient and surprising roots. She also interviews Belfast Maskers cofounder Diane Coller Wilson as she prepares to reclaim the stage in the Midcoast Actors Studio production of George Bernard Shaw's Arms and the Man, and reads part two of "Jackson Pond Party Boat," where Melissa and the two brothers write one another's obituaries.

...Melissa had brought a thirty pack of PBR, packed in ice. The first one she cracked open and set beside Ivan, who nodded and said, “Hmm.” She then handed beers to the brothers, and took one for herself. “Cheers, men,” she said. “Thanks for coming.”

Moon Astrology—New Harvest Moon in Virgo—the Universe provides.

"A kind of man," a forty-minute Medea, and a single-white-female.

Aug 18, 2016

Episode 69—August 18, 2016

Is there evidence of aliens? Today host Jennifer Ellsworth investigates stories of out-of-staters, and way-out-of-staters. She hashes out the details of Maine's most famous close encounter, the Allagash Alien Abduction of 1976, visits the Roswell UFO Museum, and reads part one of a short story about newcomers to Jackson. It's called "Jackson Pond Party Boat.

...The phone rang at 7 o’clock.

“Is this Money Bags #1 or #2?”

“This is Billy.”

“#1 then. The party boat is ready. Please come to the dock at 10. Bring dinner.”...

Moon Astrology: Full Grain Moon in Aquarius: We aren't so different.

Art students fishing, Alien Bagels, and Melissa's middle finger.

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