Mad Moontide

Mad Moontide loves a full moon, especially in October. Happy to have a clear sky this evening.

I went down a fairy tale rabbit hole recently (old school Brothers Grimm), and here’s a spicy take: Rumpelstiltskin is not the villain of the story that bears his name. He was honest, hard-working, and even a bit generous. Am I wrong?

I ran into a friend today in the woods. Check out this wise guy!

41 years ago today, Kate Bush released the Hounds of Love album. This record changed my life. I’m going to listen to it in its entirety, and I recommend you to do the same. Still as fresh, original, and inspiring as it was in 1985.

It may still be hot out, but autumn will be here soon!

🌱 "I used to think the top environmental problems were biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and climate change. But I was wrong. The top environmental problems are selfishness, greed and apathy... and to deal with those we need a spiritual and cultural transformation." —Gus Speth

Pink Floyd’s album “The Division Bell” was released in the spring of 1994, but it was really the summer of that year that I got into it. Mid-August still feels like the proper time to listen to it from start to finish as an album. A fantastic musical experience.

My hummingbird friend decided to take shelter on the string lights on my balcony during this evening’s thunderstorm.

It took me weeks to read this book. After every section I had to take a couple of days to reflect and ponder about what I’d read and learned (and I’d learned a great deal!) before picking it up again and continuing. Not the usual way I read books, but it’s not a usual book. Mighty stuff!

"I could never lend myself to any transaction, however respectable, that would commercialize on the prestige and dignity of the office of the presidency. Show me a man that gets rich by being a politician, and I'll show you a crook." Harry Truman

I took a walk in the woods with a great blue heron!

Tilda Swinton risked arrest waving a rainbow flag in front of the Kremlin in violation of Russia’s new homosexual propaganda bill. And she wants everyone who can to reblog it in solidarity.

Wow, they’re now selling merch celebrating the demise of our republic.

Arsenal are the 2026 Premier League Champions! The Athens Armoury are chuffed!

“It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty, the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living.” - SIR DAVID ATTENBOROUGH 🩷❤️🧡💛💚🩵💙💜🤎🤍🩶🖤

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINALISTS ❤️

Teeny tiny turtle!

He hates comedy because it speaks truth to power & a malignant narcissist can't handle that. Period. End of story. With many thanks to: @jimmykimmellive.bsky.social @colbertlateshow.bsky.social @latenightseth.bsky.social @thedailyshow.com 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏

I take at least a dozen accidental screen shots a day on my iPhone, and I’ll bet I’m not alone. Who was the genius who decided to put the on/off button directly parallel to the volume buttons? Who designed this device this poorly?

Happy Earth Day!

Journalists and media personalities need to stop referring to Trump as unconventional and unprecedented. Sociopathic is the word that actually applies.

My musical earworms this week have all been songs that are someone’s name! It started with Mandy by Barry Manilow, then Daniel by Elton John, then Gloria by Laura Branigan. What’s the song about a name that gets stuck in your head?

Walking in the woods in Spring is a tonic for the spirit.

Happy No Kings Day to all who celebrate!

Max Dowman. The youngest ever goalscorer in the Premier League. And what a way to do it!

Redbuds blossoming! Spring is on its way!

Did you ever notice that Paul Simon has been singing for a half-century that there must be 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover, but he only ever articulates 5? (And I think I’m being generous in counting “You don’t need to be coy, Roy” as one of those 5).

I’m a fan of many things. But lately I’ve realized that there’s something I’m not a fan of: fandoms.

Big victory for the Gunners in north London today! And big fun for us Gooners in our local pub on the other side of the pond!

I’m envious of poets. Seriously, they share a story or experience by giving some images and pretty words, and they don’t have to follow any rules unless they choose to. Other literary genres require proper punctuation and plots and character development, but poets are like: a bird at midnight 🙄

youtu.be/GDaPdpwA4Iw

Happy Burns Night to all who celebrate! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿: My heart's in the Highlands, my heart is not here, My heart's in the Highlands, a-chasing the deer; Chasing the wild-deer, and following the roe, My heart's in the Highlands, wherever I go.

youtu.be/34q4ymt28dc

This is spot on! www.meditationsinanemergency.com/notes-on-unb...

Happy Hogmanay, folks!

Dozens (hundreds?) of grackles congregating in the woods, an amazing experience for the ears and eyes.

youtu.be/ByKFAxb-SUE This is my favorite Winter Solstice carol. It fills me with hope in these dark times.

Happy Krampusnacht to all who celebrate!

This made me chuckle….

Me watching Stranger Things: Telekinesis! Demogorgons! A parallel world! This is so awesome! Also me watching Stranger Things: No teenager called their sweatshirt a “hoodie” back in 1987. This is straining the show’s credibility!

youtu.be/m57gzA2JCcM Happy Turkey Day!