Added Additional Add-ons
I have a few updates today concerning some recent posts, but then my “daily” Dickinson posts over the next few days will be a bit sporadic. One daughter is here visiting from LA, and we’ll be busy with various activities and day trips; plus, we have planned trips coming up to Richmond and Baltimore. Therefore, I might get a post in here and there in the coming days, but nothing consistent until June 14. Regarding the updates:
1. AND THEN THIS HAPPENED, 5.21.2026: I met poet Calvin Forbes while at O’Hare. The post about that close encounter of a poetic kind is HERE. I’d mentioned that I’d ordered one of his books, and it arrived. The book is stamped “TOLEDO LUCAS COUNTY LIBRARY.” Hmm...I hope there are no outstanding late fees associated with this book!
I discussed one of Forbes' poems, "The Card Players," HERE.
2. ZUIGERPHOBIA IS REAL, 5.11.2026:
Near the Ides of May, I wrote of the dangers of vacuuming and other household chores. The post is HERE. Within the article, I mentioned a news item from The Baltimore Sun from April 1950 with details about a woman's death (by electrocution) while vacuuming. I found the article online; however, I could not access it without a paid subscription. A friend tried to help by searching the Library of Congress' "Chronicling America," a collection of historic American newspapers. Alas, the collection does not seem to include The Baltimore Sun. However, she did find this from The Evening Star.
Keep cleaning, dear readers, but hey -- be careful out there! 3. THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT (PART 4), 5.29.2026 In a four-post series on short poetry, which included information on the short poems and word art of Aram Saroyan, Richard Hell, and others, I included a few of my own attempts at clever word play. The post from May 29, HERE, includes a dozen of my creations. Below are a few more.
4. SINK YOUR TEETH INTO THIS, 6.1.2026
Yesterday's post, HERE, covered a variety of topics, including butterflies, mathematics, toothpaste, collocations (yes, collocations), and grammar. That bit on grammar made me wonder if Dickinson ever used the word "grammar" in any of her poems. The answer -- no. However, she did use the word "syntax" in one poem, so I'll provide the details on that in a future post. BTW: "Mathematics" shows up in three poems.
NOTE 1: You can follow my brother on Instragram: @butterflygardan (garDAN, not garDEN -- his name is DAN). NOTE 2: Many have asked which toothpaste I landed on: Crest Pro-Health, single pack, Advanced, Deep Clean Mint, 100% Whole Mouth Protection, 24 Hour Anti-Bac Protection ("dentist designed" to deal with cavities, gingivitis, enamel, sensitivity, plaque, tartar, and whitening -- PLUS -- it freshens breath). And why did I select this particular tube. It was frickin' affordable -- have you seen the price of toothpaste lately???? NOTE 3: I've had a brainstorm that could make me millions: Margarita- and Mojito-flavored toothpastes and gels. Other adult-themed flavors too! I'll update you on this as things progress!















