Jennifer Messner
@occasionallyzen.bsky.social
Books, coffee, photos, nonprofit grant writer, Southside Chicago
Pinned
Happy Thanksgiving to all! Grateful for friends here old and new, Sunday sentences and book chats, Chicago trees and plovers and owls, history and architecture, housing and transit, and much needed humor and compassion. Enjoy your day ❤️🙏
November 27, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Happy Thanksgiving to all! Grateful for friends here old and new, Sunday sentences and book chats, Chicago trees and plovers and owls, history and architecture, housing and transit, and much needed humor and compassion. Enjoy your day ❤️🙏
Reposted by Jennifer Messner
A few photos of two snowy owls near Montrose Beach Monday evening in Chicago.
November 25, 2025 at 12:11 AM
A few photos of two snowy owls near Montrose Beach Monday evening in Chicago.
Personal goals for the holiday
Feathers ruffled, few to none
Pie, lots
Wine, same
Don't worry
Be Happy
Feathers ruffled, few to none
Pie, lots
Wine, same
Don't worry
Be Happy
November 24, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Personal goals for the holiday
Feathers ruffled, few to none
Pie, lots
Wine, same
Don't worry
Be Happy
Feathers ruffled, few to none
Pie, lots
Wine, same
Don't worry
Be Happy
November 24, 2025 at 10:44 PM
November 23, 2025 at 4:51 PM
We're a city of steel, not gold; crust not crimson; Jewels not jewels.
Barry Pearce. the Homegrown Pontiff, Chicago Magazine
#sundaysentence
Barry Pearce. the Homegrown Pontiff, Chicago Magazine
#sundaysentence
November 23, 2025 at 1:58 PM
We're a city of steel, not gold; crust not crimson; Jewels not jewels.
Barry Pearce. the Homegrown Pontiff, Chicago Magazine
#sundaysentence
Barry Pearce. the Homegrown Pontiff, Chicago Magazine
#sundaysentence
Reposted by Jennifer Messner
November 23, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Reposted by Jennifer Messner
Hello literary friends, a former student intern has graduated with her bachelor's in creative writing and is seeking entry level editorial or related work in publishing, ideally greater Chicago, any leads or connections are welcome
November 19, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Hello literary friends, a former student intern has graduated with her bachelor's in creative writing and is seeking entry level editorial or related work in publishing, ideally greater Chicago, any leads or connections are welcome
Lollipop for recipients
There should be a social media where when you post something it has to go through a vacuum tube-like system like they have in bank drive-thrus.
November 19, 2025 at 11:27 PM
Lollipop for recipients
Reposted by Jennifer Messner
A pair of snowy owls on the coast of Chicago
November 18, 2025 at 7:18 PM
A pair of snowy owls on the coast of Chicago
Reposted by Jennifer Messner
“I am fascinated to presume, as a reader, that many types of people, strange to my life, might be revealed, through the intimate space of fiction, to have griefs not unlike my own. And so I read.”
— Zadie Smith in the essay “Fascinated to Presume: In Defence of Fiction.”
— Zadie Smith in the essay “Fascinated to Presume: In Defence of Fiction.”
November 17, 2025 at 5:33 PM
“I am fascinated to presume, as a reader, that many types of people, strange to my life, might be revealed, through the intimate space of fiction, to have griefs not unlike my own. And so I read.”
— Zadie Smith in the essay “Fascinated to Presume: In Defence of Fiction.”
— Zadie Smith in the essay “Fascinated to Presume: In Defence of Fiction.”
November 16, 2025 at 3:17 PM
The city never really slept; it endured white nights and fitful slumbers. Its breakfast was cigarettes, black coffee and aspirin, and it would feel like death warmed up for hours.
One more #SundaySentence from Mick Herron, Slow Horses #booksky
One more #SundaySentence from Mick Herron, Slow Horses #booksky
Maybe this was what age did...Confirmed you in your image of yourself even while it unpicked the reality, leaving you the tattered remnant of the person you'd once been.
Mick Herron, Slow Horses #sundaysentence #booksky
Mick Herron, Slow Horses #sundaysentence #booksky
November 16, 2025 at 12:34 PM
The city never really slept; it endured white nights and fitful slumbers. Its breakfast was cigarettes, black coffee and aspirin, and it would feel like death warmed up for hours.
One more #SundaySentence from Mick Herron, Slow Horses #booksky
One more #SundaySentence from Mick Herron, Slow Horses #booksky
November 15, 2025 at 7:05 PM
We made this the other night and it was so easy and delicious we are making it again
*may I add I am neither vegetarian nor vegan.
**Yer regular old lentil will be just fine
#cooking
jessicainthekitchen.com/red-lentil-c...
*may I add I am neither vegetarian nor vegan.
**Yer regular old lentil will be just fine
#cooking
jessicainthekitchen.com/red-lentil-c...
Easy Vegan Red Lentil Curry – A Flavor-Packed One-Pot Meal!
This red lentil curry is classic vegan comfort food! It’s a flavorful one-pot recipe that comes together in under an hour. Perfect for meal prep too!
jessicainthekitchen.com
November 13, 2025 at 12:25 AM
We made this the other night and it was so easy and delicious we are making it again
*may I add I am neither vegetarian nor vegan.
**Yer regular old lentil will be just fine
#cooking
jessicainthekitchen.com/red-lentil-c...
*may I add I am neither vegetarian nor vegan.
**Yer regular old lentil will be just fine
#cooking
jessicainthekitchen.com/red-lentil-c...
Goodnight, city
November 11, 2025 at 4:02 AM
Goodnight, city
November 10, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Maybe this was what age did...Confirmed you in your image of yourself even while it unpicked the reality, leaving you the tattered remnant of the person you'd once been.
Mick Herron, Slow Horses #sundaysentence #booksky
Mick Herron, Slow Horses #sundaysentence #booksky
November 9, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Maybe this was what age did...Confirmed you in your image of yourself even while it unpicked the reality, leaving you the tattered remnant of the person you'd once been.
Mick Herron, Slow Horses #sundaysentence #booksky
Mick Herron, Slow Horses #sundaysentence #booksky
The assistant at work
November 7, 2025 at 8:09 PM
The assistant at work
"the eye like the eye of faith believes"
AO Scott's poem explorations are such a joy
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
AO Scott's poem explorations are such a joy
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
This Poem About Monet’s “Water Lilies” Reflects on the Powers and Limits of Art (Gift Article)
“Monet’s ‘Waterlilies,’” by Robert Hayden, reflects on what art can (and can’t) do in tumultuous times. Our critic A.O. Scott shows you why he loves it.
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:03 PM
"the eye like the eye of faith believes"
AO Scott's poem explorations are such a joy
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
AO Scott's poem explorations are such a joy
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Reposted by Jennifer Messner
UPDATE: U.S. District Court Judge Sara Ellis said she will issue a sweeping injunction limiting the use of force by federal immigration agents in the Chicago area after she found a litany of violations were committed in recent weeks.
Federal Judge Says Border Patrol Chief Greg Bovino Lied About Being Hit With a Rock Before Deploying Tear Gas in Chicago
U.S. District Court Judge Sara Ellis said Border Patrol chief Greg Bovino admitted to lying about whether a rock hit him before he used tear gas on Chicagoans in Little Village last month.
news.wttw.com
November 6, 2025 at 5:39 PM
UPDATE: U.S. District Court Judge Sara Ellis said she will issue a sweeping injunction limiting the use of force by federal immigration agents in the Chicago area after she found a litany of violations were committed in recent weeks.