Joplin Journal Volume 8-10, Issue 3

From the Editor's Desk:

I am debating on whether or not I should write and send a Joplin Journal this week. After all, I do have a long list of other things I need to do. But I do have things to tell you. However, this may be on the short side. Or not. :P

Weather Report:

Up and down. Warm and then cold. Sunny and then cloudy. It was in the 80s and sunny on Thursday, but yesterday it never got out of the 40s and the sky was gray all day. There's a chance of snow next week. I doubt we'll get anything, but who knows.

"Genius Burns":

I'd like to write. But I haven't. I come home late afternoon and have emails, Camp stuff, and other things to catch up on and writing has taken a back burner. For now. Perhaps I can get a few hundred words written this evening.

Project Prognosis:

I don't know. I've tried to work on this and that and the other thing when I have time, but most of it has been taking care of things, putting things away, cleaning up this or that, and not much else.

KDWC:

Things at the King's Daughters' Writing Camp are certainly going. Even if I'm not around much. We've added a few more campers so we are up to 78 + 5 "Aunties". I've had a good chat with one of the girls about tips for writing a mystery book. I've chatted with some others about different things, and I'm actually "sprinting" with 3 girls as I write this. No, make that 4 girls.

Deputy Clerk's Report:

We've gone from voting over 100 people a day to voting over 200 people! Yesterday we had 254 voters! There are almost non-stop lines all day long. I wasn't scheduled to work on Fridays but when I asked if they wanted me for a while yesterday they jumped at the offer. I went in at 10:30 and worked until 4:30. It was nice to have a little extra time at home to get some things done. But I was needed at the office! At one point when two of us were at lunch the wait to vote was about an hour! Since I had come in later, I didn't have to take a 30 min lunch, so I just ate and went back to work. The wait shortened to around half an hour. Most people have been so patient and kind. They are fine waiting, and tell us we are doing a great job. One lady was surprised to see we were all still smiling and cheerful. We've had other people tell us that our office is the only government office that has cheerful and friendly people. :)

Right now we have had over 2,400 people come and vote absentee in our office. And that doesn't count any mail-in ballots, or the ballots that got mailed to people and then dropped off in the office. Nor does it count the people who have voted in Carthage. I think we are having a record breaking turnout. And we still have next week and the Monday before the election!!! What is Election Day going to be like?

Two Tires:

On Tuesday after work, Helen–one of my coworkers–and I walked out to our vehicles together like we usually do. We were talking and suddenly Helen said, "Rebekah, is your tire flat?" I looked over and noticed that not only was the front driver side tire flat, the back one was as well. And they weren't just low, they were totally flat. Thankfully, Helen lives a few minutes from my house and instantly offered to take me home. There I called Dad. He was able to take his compressor over and air up the tires, come get me, put more air in them, and I was able to drive it home. I remember driving over something that morning that made a noise, but it was raining and I didn't know what it was. Still don't.

Yesterday Dad was able to get both tires fixed for me.

A Lady with a Mask Excuse:

Two days this week we had one of the deputies at the courts building helping us. He's kept order in the hall, gotten sample ballots for anyone waiting who wanted one, entertained people, and even had us laughing. He told us about one older lady who was coming in to vote. He had asked her if she had a mask (required sort-of in the halls). She said she did. "But if I have to put it on, I can't breathe and will have to start taking my clothes off." He didn't have her put a mask on. ;) Then the same lady didn't want an "I Voted" sticker because it looked like a target and someone might shoot her.

After she had voted, the deputy offered her his arm, escorted her to the elevator, and then radioed one of his partners downstairs to tell them she would need an escort from the building. :)

Read Another Page Publishing:

Nothing to report here.

Adventures with Wildlife:

On Sunday when we got home from church, I went upstairs to our bathroom and discovered, sitting on the toilet lid, a small toad. He was curled up and looked half asleep. We took him outside, but how in the world did he get inside, upstairs, and into the bathroom? No windows were open. And no kids have admitted to bringing a toad inside Grammy's house. ;)

Book Nook:

I really haven't read much at all! I've read some of the Reminisce magazines that have been sitting on my shelf for over a year. I'm almost done with them.

Farewell:

Well, I should end this and get to work on my long list of projects and things I need to do before it gets any later in the day. We have play practice and choir practice tomorrow after church. And tomorrow is Joel's 11th birthday. I have no idea what Dad, Mom, and Sarah are going to be doing today. Sometime Sarah will have to sew costumes for the play, Dad will have to build some props for the play, but I don't know when they'll do those. Mom's got a puzzle out. If I have time I'd like to put a few pieces in.

And I really am leaving now. Bye! Have a great week!