jmdonowriter
@jmdonovan.bsky.social
Writer. Reader. Composer. Left-hander. Midwesterner. Progressive. Humanist.
Most recent novel: The Smalltown Way
Now available: Confessions of the Tenth-Smartest Person in the World (and Other Delusions)
Most recent novel: The Smalltown Way
Now available: Confessions of the Tenth-Smartest Person in the World (and Other Delusions)
#ChristmasSongs
In the meadow, we can build a snowman
We’ll pretend that he is Parson Brown
He’ll say “are you married?”
We’ll say “we don’t need a piece of paper to prove our commitment to each other.“
In the meadow, we can build a snowman
We’ll pretend that he is Parson Brown
He’ll say “are you married?”
We’ll say “we don’t need a piece of paper to prove our commitment to each other.“
December 5, 2025 at 2:28 PM
#ChristmasSongs
In the meadow, we can build a snowman
We’ll pretend that he is Parson Brown
He’ll say “are you married?”
We’ll say “we don’t need a piece of paper to prove our commitment to each other.“
In the meadow, we can build a snowman
We’ll pretend that he is Parson Brown
He’ll say “are you married?”
We’ll say “we don’t need a piece of paper to prove our commitment to each other.“
#ChristmasSongs
And there won’t be snow in Africa this Christmas.
Except at the top of Mount Kilimanjaro and other places of similar altitude.
And there won’t be snow in Africa this Christmas.
Except at the top of Mount Kilimanjaro and other places of similar altitude.
December 5, 2025 at 2:23 PM
#ChristmasSongs
And there won’t be snow in Africa this Christmas.
Except at the top of Mount Kilimanjaro and other places of similar altitude.
And there won’t be snow in Africa this Christmas.
Except at the top of Mount Kilimanjaro and other places of similar altitude.
#booksky
“In the end,” Gooding often said, “one person will own everything and not be punished for it.”
Foam basketball Hall of Famer and avowed cynic Don Gooding gets philosophical for a moment in the hilarious novel Fluffball--still only $14.95 and a great gift for the holidays.
a.co/d/gK0P3FD
“In the end,” Gooding often said, “one person will own everything and not be punished for it.”
Foam basketball Hall of Famer and avowed cynic Don Gooding gets philosophical for a moment in the hilarious novel Fluffball--still only $14.95 and a great gift for the holidays.
a.co/d/gK0P3FD
Amazon.com
a.co
November 23, 2025 at 2:38 PM
#booksky
“In the end,” Gooding often said, “one person will own everything and not be punished for it.”
Foam basketball Hall of Famer and avowed cynic Don Gooding gets philosophical for a moment in the hilarious novel Fluffball--still only $14.95 and a great gift for the holidays.
a.co/d/gK0P3FD
“In the end,” Gooding often said, “one person will own everything and not be punished for it.”
Foam basketball Hall of Famer and avowed cynic Don Gooding gets philosophical for a moment in the hilarious novel Fluffball--still only $14.95 and a great gift for the holidays.
a.co/d/gK0P3FD
#doordash
If I follow the DoorDash navigation app's instructions to the letter, I'd be crashing through more barricades than the Duke boys.
If I follow the DoorDash navigation app's instructions to the letter, I'd be crashing through more barricades than the Duke boys.
November 21, 2025 at 2:17 PM
#doordash
If I follow the DoorDash navigation app's instructions to the letter, I'd be crashing through more barricades than the Duke boys.
If I follow the DoorDash navigation app's instructions to the letter, I'd be crashing through more barricades than the Duke boys.
#nokings #trumpisanasshole
If Pavlov were alive today, he wouldn't need a dog. He could just observe all the MAGAs posting "Vote for the clean CR" every time a Democratic legislator mentions the shutdown.
If Pavlov were alive today, he wouldn't need a dog. He could just observe all the MAGAs posting "Vote for the clean CR" every time a Democratic legislator mentions the shutdown.
November 4, 2025 at 1:34 PM
#nokings #trumpisanasshole
If Pavlov were alive today, he wouldn't need a dog. He could just observe all the MAGAs posting "Vote for the clean CR" every time a Democratic legislator mentions the shutdown.
If Pavlov were alive today, he wouldn't need a dog. He could just observe all the MAGAs posting "Vote for the clean CR" every time a Democratic legislator mentions the shutdown.
#ihateAI
Asked Google or Bing or somebody how many way you could arrange four different chess pieces on a chessboard and they put the AI answer up first: 576 ways on a 4x4 chessboard.
My next question: "Have you ever seen a chessboard?"
Asked Google or Bing or somebody how many way you could arrange four different chess pieces on a chessboard and they put the AI answer up first: 576 ways on a 4x4 chessboard.
My next question: "Have you ever seen a chessboard?"
November 2, 2025 at 5:58 PM
#ihateAI
Asked Google or Bing or somebody how many way you could arrange four different chess pieces on a chessboard and they put the AI answer up first: 576 ways on a 4x4 chessboard.
My next question: "Have you ever seen a chessboard?"
Asked Google or Bing or somebody how many way you could arrange four different chess pieces on a chessboard and they put the AI answer up first: 576 ways on a 4x4 chessboard.
My next question: "Have you ever seen a chessboard?"
Make Sure Your Device is Within Range
Not that that means anything to Bluetooth
open.substack.com
November 2, 2025 at 5:09 PM
#nokings #trumpsucks
Consider if you will everyone in this administration, from the President to the VP to the Cabinet to the White House staff.
Since they've been in office, not one of them has done or said a single thing that would indicate they're normal, well-adjusted human beings. Not one.
Consider if you will everyone in this administration, from the President to the VP to the Cabinet to the White House staff.
Since they've been in office, not one of them has done or said a single thing that would indicate they're normal, well-adjusted human beings. Not one.
October 20, 2025 at 2:14 PM
#nokings #trumpsucks
Consider if you will everyone in this administration, from the President to the VP to the Cabinet to the White House staff.
Since they've been in office, not one of them has done or said a single thing that would indicate they're normal, well-adjusted human beings. Not one.
Consider if you will everyone in this administration, from the President to the VP to the Cabinet to the White House staff.
Since they've been in office, not one of them has done or said a single thing that would indicate they're normal, well-adjusted human beings. Not one.
#trumpfascistasshole
Shout-out to Clem and Zeke, who have never set foot outside their home in Mud Holler but who know what's going on in Chicago better than any resident or the governor of Illinois himself. Thanks for keeping us informed, boys!
Shout-out to Clem and Zeke, who have never set foot outside their home in Mud Holler but who know what's going on in Chicago better than any resident or the governor of Illinois himself. Thanks for keeping us informed, boys!
August 26, 2025 at 9:20 PM
#trumpfascistasshole
Shout-out to Clem and Zeke, who have never set foot outside their home in Mud Holler but who know what's going on in Chicago better than any resident or the governor of Illinois himself. Thanks for keeping us informed, boys!
Shout-out to Clem and Zeke, who have never set foot outside their home in Mud Holler but who know what's going on in Chicago better than any resident or the governor of Illinois himself. Thanks for keeping us informed, boys!
#booksky
Almost 67,000 words into a new novel with the working title of Ripples in the Catfish Pond.
I don't know what you're supposed to do with that information.
Almost 67,000 words into a new novel with the working title of Ripples in the Catfish Pond.
I don't know what you're supposed to do with that information.
August 14, 2025 at 2:14 PM
#booksky
Almost 67,000 words into a new novel with the working title of Ripples in the Catfish Pond.
I don't know what you're supposed to do with that information.
Almost 67,000 words into a new novel with the working title of Ripples in the Catfish Pond.
I don't know what you're supposed to do with that information.
There are people who will give you the shirt off their back.
But the odds of one of them being in close proximity when you need a shirt are not good.
But the odds of one of them being in close proximity when you need a shirt are not good.
August 6, 2025 at 11:01 PM
There are people who will give you the shirt off their back.
But the odds of one of them being in close proximity when you need a shirt are not good.
But the odds of one of them being in close proximity when you need a shirt are not good.
#booksky
If you happen to be in Iowa this Saturday, particularly in the Des Moines area and even more specifically in the neighborhood of Beaverdale Books, please stop by and say hi and consider buying a book or two! I'm fun to talk to, I promise--and the new book is pretty funny.
If you happen to be in Iowa this Saturday, particularly in the Des Moines area and even more specifically in the neighborhood of Beaverdale Books, please stop by and say hi and consider buying a book or two! I'm fun to talk to, I promise--and the new book is pretty funny.
July 30, 2025 at 2:09 PM
#booksky
If you happen to be in Iowa this Saturday, particularly in the Des Moines area and even more specifically in the neighborhood of Beaverdale Books, please stop by and say hi and consider buying a book or two! I'm fun to talk to, I promise--and the new book is pretty funny.
If you happen to be in Iowa this Saturday, particularly in the Des Moines area and even more specifically in the neighborhood of Beaverdale Books, please stop by and say hi and consider buying a book or two! I'm fun to talk to, I promise--and the new book is pretty funny.
One of the many nice that will happen when the sonofabitch finally dies is that his whole amoral brood becomes irrelevant. Don Jr--the poor man's Billy Carter--will be relegated to the septic tank of history.
July 21, 2025 at 12:49 PM
One of the many nice that will happen when the sonofabitch finally dies is that his whole amoral brood becomes irrelevant. Don Jr--the poor man's Billy Carter--will be relegated to the septic tank of history.
#booksky
Hey, it's a new Substack essay featuring a faux Bob Newhart take on Ozymandias--which are words that I'm pretty sure have never been used in that order.
open.substack.com/pub/johnmdon...
Hey, it's a new Substack essay featuring a faux Bob Newhart take on Ozymandias--which are words that I'm pretty sure have never been used in that order.
open.substack.com/pub/johnmdon...
Ozymandias and Bob Newhart
With brief mentions of Arlo Guthrie and Elvis Presley
open.substack.com
July 17, 2025 at 5:41 PM
#booksky
Hey, it's a new Substack essay featuring a faux Bob Newhart take on Ozymandias--which are words that I'm pretty sure have never been used in that order.
open.substack.com/pub/johnmdon...
Hey, it's a new Substack essay featuring a faux Bob Newhart take on Ozymandias--which are words that I'm pretty sure have never been used in that order.
open.substack.com/pub/johnmdon...
#booksky
Ozymandias: Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!
Mighty:
Ozymandias: Are you looking? You’re not looking. Just look on my works and despair. Or don’t despair, that’s fine too. But would it kill you to look on the works? Jeez, ye mighty think you’re all that.
Ozymandias: Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!
Mighty:
Ozymandias: Are you looking? You’re not looking. Just look on my works and despair. Or don’t despair, that’s fine too. But would it kill you to look on the works? Jeez, ye mighty think you’re all that.
July 11, 2025 at 1:20 AM
#booksky
Ozymandias: Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!
Mighty:
Ozymandias: Are you looking? You’re not looking. Just look on my works and despair. Or don’t despair, that’s fine too. But would it kill you to look on the works? Jeez, ye mighty think you’re all that.
Ozymandias: Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!
Mighty:
Ozymandias: Are you looking? You’re not looking. Just look on my works and despair. Or don’t despair, that’s fine too. But would it kill you to look on the works? Jeez, ye mighty think you’re all that.
#trumpsucks
Hey, where do the MAGAs hang out? I want to go there, set up a three-card monte stand, and make a fortune.
Hey, where do the MAGAs hang out? I want to go there, set up a three-card monte stand, and make a fortune.
July 3, 2025 at 8:59 PM
#trumpsucks
Hey, where do the MAGAs hang out? I want to go there, set up a three-card monte stand, and make a fortune.
Hey, where do the MAGAs hang out? I want to go there, set up a three-card monte stand, and make a fortune.
#booksky
Thinking about Steinbeck this morning. If someone came to me and said "How do I write a novel?", I'd give them a copy of The Wayward Bus.
Thinking about Steinbeck this morning. If someone came to me and said "How do I write a novel?", I'd give them a copy of The Wayward Bus.
June 27, 2025 at 12:31 PM
#booksky
Thinking about Steinbeck this morning. If someone came to me and said "How do I write a novel?", I'd give them a copy of The Wayward Bus.
Thinking about Steinbeck this morning. If someone came to me and said "How do I write a novel?", I'd give them a copy of The Wayward Bus.
#cats
This picture of Mynx was taken last Saturday morning, but I love the fact that it looks like it could have been taken a hundred years ago.
Except for the plastic liner barely visible in the vase, I guess.
This picture of Mynx was taken last Saturday morning, but I love the fact that it looks like it could have been taken a hundred years ago.
Except for the plastic liner barely visible in the vase, I guess.
June 26, 2025 at 1:25 PM
#cats
This picture of Mynx was taken last Saturday morning, but I love the fact that it looks like it could have been taken a hundred years ago.
Except for the plastic liner barely visible in the vase, I guess.
This picture of Mynx was taken last Saturday morning, but I love the fact that it looks like it could have been taken a hundred years ago.
Except for the plastic liner barely visible in the vase, I guess.
#lauriemetcalf
I've said it before and I'll say it again: In my opinion, Jackie Harris is the greatest sitcom character ever.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: In my opinion, Jackie Harris is the greatest sitcom character ever.
June 26, 2025 at 1:22 PM
#lauriemetcalf
I've said it before and I'll say it again: In my opinion, Jackie Harris is the greatest sitcom character ever.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: In my opinion, Jackie Harris is the greatest sitcom character ever.
I’m not well versed in military protocol. Do you have to follow orders given by an insane person?
June 22, 2025 at 3:48 PM
I’m not well versed in military protocol. Do you have to follow orders given by an insane person?
Q. What did the theater kid say when the judge sentenced him?
A. Thank you, ten to twenty.
A. Thank you, ten to twenty.
June 20, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Q. What did the theater kid say when the judge sentenced him?
A. Thank you, ten to twenty.
A. Thank you, ten to twenty.