Tracey in Maine

So much madness

in the streets of life and only

so little solace

(Photo by Juliet Housewright from her upcoming blog SCHMEE JOURNEYS)

Tonight is a memory I want to replace

with Haiku so lonely it shakes

me to my foundation

I am more than the sum

of parts heaved across tables

and cut into mixes that augment

only the foolish and the damned

I am constantly reminded that there is a time and place for everything.  For several years now, I have noticed and had access to the glass cylinder sitting on top of my science guy’s bookcase.  But for the first time, today I photographed it.  You see, he bumped the bookcase this morning, knocking the cylinder to the floor.  It was a close call but luckily it hit the carpeted part.

A Galileo thermometer.  Read more here.  A gift from family.  He tried to replace it on top of the shelf, but the morning sunlight hit it and that was that.  I gently took it from his hand.  At his quizzical look, I said, “I’ll be careful.  Promise.”

And so far, I have been.  😉

One day, the landlord will have to cut down this tree before a strong wind blows it down on top of the house, a car or a person.  Branches have already begun to break loose and litter the ground.  But for now it stands tall, if a bit rickety, creating great beauty in its silhouette.  I took this photo through the sheer cotton curtains covering the kitchen window.

People blog for different reasons, but many post with hopes of seeing feedback from readers. Here at WordPress.com we’ve studied why some posts and blogs get more comments than others, and want to share our advice with you.

1. You need visitors before you’ll get comments. You won’t get comments until people visit your blog. Start by reviewing our famous post on How to Get More Traffic to understand the basics of building an audience. Posting on a regular schedule is an important part of building traffic, which will lead to more comments. You can see our recent research on increasing page views too.
2. Have a clear and strong position in your posts. Clarity in writing helps readers form their own opinion to share. A post titled “I’m not sure if I like bananas” is less likely to compel a response than “How I learned to love bananas” or “Why I will…

Rich, the anti-eponymous author of the wildly popular blog brainsorts expressed to me after my stats complaining post the other day that he would gladly take credit for putting my blog on the map and being the supporter that would get me eventually published.

Of course, I challenged him to explain that in detail to my audience which he has so masterfully done with this short piece I am publishing today. I don’t think even my Mom gets me like Rich. This glowing piece of work here depicts me in a light that not even the back of my hand could understand.

OK, I need to share a little bit about my guest author (although I know most of the folks here know him better than I)

When Rich isn’t busy cruising the Gravatars of attractive ladies on my blog he can be found hawking several exceptional pieces…

Join me at TBEX 12 June 15-17, 2012 in Keystone Colorado. This conference is for anyone who blogs about travel and also travel industry peeps looking to raise awareness of their business and regions through bloggers.

The price of the 3 day ticket is $88 so travel and lodging is the only real expense to attend this great networking event.

TBA will be there in full effect to meet and greet with our amazing travel blogging community.

Please let me know if you plan to attend and let’s enjoy a few cocktails.

All the best!

Michael

This morning I took a walk with Mike Fiveson, author of Mike’s Look at Life. We met in the quirky town of Ft. Lupton, Colorado. The town nor the image opportunities disappointed.

Mike as many of you is the king ofdoor photos. I found this door to be an appropriate beginning to this little photo post dedicated to a wonderful new friend and talented blogger.

Of course the best shots I took all day with my iPhone (D7000 shots coming for Haiku Sunday) were portraits of Mike. I promised not to post any of these without his approval so perhaps they will make it in Sunday’s edition.

Cheers to you Mike!

PART 1 

PART 2 

Mike realizing he could do no more decided to live with his look as well as his garb and went for the door. Just as he pulled the handle his iPhone buzzed on the nightstand. Another fucking birthday reminder he thought as he went to the phone and saw the SMS – “maybe you shouldn’t”

There was no number attached to the message yet this note was clearly not the work of internet marketing. Mike instinctively looked about the room now as the sun was breaking the fog in all directions and created individual search lights through the bits of dust as they appeared to be in perpetual flight. Of course there was no one there but this was now two cryptic notes less than 20 minutes apart in arrival and neither with a claimed author.