Chaos, Quotes, Farewell To A Friend And A New Story Published by BJ Neblett

This used to be my playground...

I've been doing a lot of thinking here recently... one of the perks of having time on your hands. Only sometimes the things that I get to think about are not always pleasant or happy... one of the perks of life. A quote I stumbled upon sometime ago popped into my mind as I was dealing with some personal issues. Why such a quote would make its presence so powerfully and literally at such a time is another question to ponder at another time. The only thing I've managed to come up with in the last 3 or 4 weeks is another quote from American poet John Greenleaf Whittier:
                       "Of all sad words of tongue and pen
                        The saddest are these: It might have been."
Powerful words indeed. Give them a ponder yourself sometime along with the ones that seem to have taken up residence inside of my brain:
                        "And I'd chose you; in a hundred lifetimes; in a hundred worlds;
                         in any version of reality, I'd find you and I'd chose you."
                                            The Chaos Of Stars
In the meantime, enjoy my latest offering in eFiction magazine, available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and the publisher, fictionmagazines.com Just click the image to the right.
I've got more thinking to do...
Peace,
BJ

6-24-13

6-24-15

New Stories, New Magazine!

Hello again! While beautiful weather, softball and other outdoor activities are claiming a lot of my time these days, I nevertheless have been finding plenty of time as well as inspiration for my writing. Several new short stories are either in mind or in the works. A couple of new romance stories for Romance Magazine as well pieces for eFiction Magazine are coming up in the next few of months. But the big news for June is a new story being published in a new magazine. Paradox Ethereal Magazine is a free online publication exploring art, culture, romance and all things beautiful. It is an interesting, intriguing, well conceived and beautifully presented publication, available monthly for free download in either html or pdf formats. I have a short story in June's issue, which is slated to hit the internet about Monday, June 1st. I have included a direct link below. I hope you enjoy this offering as well as the entire magazine. Please be sure to leave comments here, as well as for the editors letting them know what you think. I am looking forward to a long association with Paradox Ethereal Magazine as well as continuing to publish stories in Romance and eFiction Magazine. As always, I will continue to keep you posted on new releases right here.
Thanks for your continued support and comments. Look for a new short story as well as new poetry published right here. See you on the softball fields and at the Mariners/Tampa Bay games this weekend!
Peace,
BJ
Paradox Ethereal Magazine Just click here!

Winter Scene by BJ Neblett

Hard to believe 2014 is about over, winter is here. I will be celebrating my Christmas Eve birthday with friends and fellow softballers at an annual get together to benefit orphans at Conor Byrne Pub in Ballard. Everyone is invited for a fun pot luck starting at 5 PM. And here's wishing everyone a blessed and happy holiday season.
Keep watch for more stories on my author's blog, and a very special month long continuing blog on love and romance, right here the month of February. In the mean time, here's a new poem to celebrate the new season.
Peace and love.
BJ

Winter Scene

by BJ Neblett

© 2014

Crystalline flakes dance in the wind outside

Frozen avenues mock the lamenting sun

Fleet footed snowmen assemble to play

Bundled warriors in the snow and sun

Apple cheeked invaders that laugh and play

Through my window the war rages outside

For children snow is to dream and to play

Matterhorn’s for conquering in the sun

Laughter is the sugar of life outside

To play in the sun and snow outside is

To be a child and laugh again

Autumn Scene by BJ Neblett

It's been a while. I want to thank all for the concern and well wishes while my face repairs itself. Still some swelling and pain but all is going well! I am looking forward to getting back on the mound next season! In the mean time a bit of housecleaning and updating. You can now access all of my stories in Romance and eFiction magazines as well as my books by clicking the picture to the right. They are also available at Barnes & Noble. For those without Kindles or Nooks, they are available through the publisher at fictionmagazines.com.
Also, just in time for Halloween, I have posted one of my most popular and scary horror stories, Satan's Blood to my author blog for a free read. Just click the link to the right and enjoy. I suggest with the lights on!
Finally, here is a recent poem to get you into the season. Enjoy, and be sure to link, like, comment and share the love.
BJ

Autumn Scene

BJ Neblett

© 2008, 2013

October enters wearing a jacket

Knit tasseled cap and rosy freckled cheeks

With harvests of plenty farmers delight

World Series, State Fairs and pumpkin delights

Hunter’s moon simpers down with gibbous cheeks

Aquilo’s sharp breath toys at your jacket

Candied trick or treats, children’s apple cheeks

Grid iron reunions, Thanksgiving delights

Homecoming Queen in letterman’s jacket

Frosty cheeks glow

Windswept leaves delight in a final dance

Before the sullen earth is shrouded

Beneath an ivoty jacket

Nicolas Cage Or John Travolta/New Poetry by BJ Neblett

Nicolas Cage Or John Travolta/New Poetry
BJ Neblett

The new issue of Five Poetry (Vol 2 No 2) is now available through Amazon, B&N and the publisher Fiction Magazines. Just click the image to the right. The magazine features five works by five poets on a single topic. I have five somewhat personal recent poems in this issue relating to love, tracing a faltering love affair. For those of you without a Kindle type device, the issue will be available in other formats (.pdf, etc) through the publisher next month.
Tuesday is the day I enter the dreaded hospital for some facial reconstruction surgery. Now that most of the swelling has gone down, I actually don't look too bad. (Some will argue the fact. Many I'm sure wish there had been more damage done.) But the doc says the procedure is necessary to prevent future complications. He also needs to see first hand if there is any other damage not revealed by the MRI. I SHOULD be out sometime Wednesday, maybe Thursday. Most of you know I am not comfortable in or around hospitals and I am doing this one all alone... such is the life of a bachelor. I guess the only question left is will I come out looking like John Travolta or Nicolas Cage. (Vague movie reference.) I'll be happy just to come out. You can bury me under the pitcher's mound. (Grave marker inscription: HE LOVED NOT WISELY BUT TOO WELL.) I just hope they have softball in heaven. (Vague reference to my short story It's Only A Game, posted November 11-18, 2012)
Thanks. I'll be in touch as soon as possible.
BJ

Facial Stitches, Poetry and Downtime

Regular readers of my blog will be aware of the results of my last softball game of the season. Those of you who aren't just switch over to my author's blog and check out my last entry: Deja Vu All Over Again, September 16, 2014. Kids, don't try this at home!
As a result, from September 30 thru October 1 or 2, the good folks at First Hill Campus of Swedish Hospital here in Seattle will be busy rebuilding my face. (They promised I wouldn't look too much like Frankenstein's monster... I even suggested to them to do a nip here, a tuck there and take care of the old eye bags) This will be especially fun for me since I am not exactly fond of hospitals. Anyone who knows me will tell you I have to have a VERY good reason to even go into one for a visit.
I've laid in a stock of soup, cottage cheese and pudding. I've already been living on Ramen Soup for the past two weeks! As soon as I am able, I will post new blogs, not sure how long that will be since I am on my own here. Maybe I'll even throw in a couple of 'after' pics. Until then, take care, thanks for reading and be sure to share the love.
Oh, the good news: five of my poems will be featured in the new issue of Five Poetry, available through Amazon, B&N, etc. Not sure of the issue date, should be this month or early next. As soon as I am able I'll make a post and link.
BJ

Charlie Brown On Love

"Love is being happy just knowing she's happy... but that isn't so easy."

Growing up I suffered from un-diagnosed dyslexia. A Peanuts coloring book helped me learn to read. Later I discovered good ole Charlie Brown had a lot more to teach me about life and about love. So for Valentine's Day here are some of the lessons I learned, and a few I probably should have learned from Charlie about love.

"Nothing takes the taste out of peanut butter quite like unrequited love."

"Love is not giving up on someone when they don't love you back."
"Love is a baseball."
"Love is standing in a doorway just to see her if she comes walking by."
"Love is visiting a sick friend."
"Love is being able to spot her clear across the playground among four hundred other kids."
"Love is wishing you had enough nerve to go over and talk with that little red haired girl."
"Love is getting someone a glass of water in the middle of the night."

Thanks Charlie.
For more on love from the Peanuts gang.

For Love by BJ Neblett

For Love

by BJ Neblett

© 2013

He killed himself

Slowly

Little by little

He couldn’t help himself

He couldn’t stop

He was who he was

It couldn’t be any other way

He took his own life

One day at a time

Till there was nothing left

It was suicide

Cause of death: A self-inflicted broken heart