Joplin Journal Volume 10-10, Issue 1

From the Editor's Desk:

I know this is later than it usually is and you probably thought you weren't going to get one today, didn't you? The reason it's late is because some of my characters started talking in my head and refused to stop, so I decided to go see if I could do just a little writing so they'd be quiet. Well, one hour and 1,523 words later, they became quiet. I left three sleeping and one going to check the mouse trap to see if there was a mouse. Exciting I know. :) But here I am. Let's see if I can give you a look at my crazy life.

Weather Report:

Yesterday was only in the 60s and today is supposed to be the same! Autumn! Leaves are falling and crunching when you walk. Of course I'm not sure how much of that is from drought and how much from the season changing, but it is getting cooler. Dad has a fire outside in the firepot. Angela and I plan to roast s'mores this evening. I love fall!

"Genius Burns":

Writing has been in bursts these past few weeks. I might write 1-2k words on Monday and Tuesday and then nothing the rest of the week. This week was opposite. I didn't write Monday or Tuesday, but have written every day since and am at over 6k already for the week. I don't know if I'll write this evening or afternoon or not. I've been working on "Kate & Kylie" this week. But I do want to get back to my "Finding Home" story soon.

Project Prognosis:

Let's see how my projects are coming this week.

• Work on Blog Posts – I've gotten a few of my December posts done, and most of the November are at least started. I've just been busy with other things.
• Summer Light – I have my proof copy! (This story used to be Lawrence & Lenexa.) Sarah is planning on reading it tomorrow, and I hope to make the corrections and get it published by the end of the week.
• Work on my Name List – I did! I did! I actually read the last of my novels. Home Fires was the last one, and that added a lot of names! Well, I do still have the Woodbreak series, but one of my readers is reading all of them and writing all the names down for me.
• Update Website – I still haven't updated my audio page. I got too busy.
• Prep for A Homewood Christmas Release – There's a lot going into this release! We have been reading and rereading stories, getting graphics ready, and the latest thing is for each of us authors to read and record the one sentence blurb about our story for someone to use as voice over in a promo video she is putting together for us about the book. Doesn't that sound like fun?

The Volleyball Net:

There are more games this evening in Carterville this time, so I'm not going. I like it when they are nearby and I can go for just one game. Mom and Sarah (don't know about Dad) are going for all three games. I think it's Jame and Joel who are playing all three games. All the kids are still loving it. Of all of them, I think Drew is the one who isn't as interested in watching the others play.

The Killing:

We have spiders in our house. Brown recluse spiders. We've always had them. I've killed hundreds of them over the years. When the seasons change they start to come out a little more, but I don't think we have as many since we redid those two rooms downstairs. But the other week I took my spider killing to a new level!

I got up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom. While I was in there, I noticed something brown on my arm just under my elbow. Huh, what was it? I took a closer look and realized it was a dead spider! Grose! I had somehow killed a brown recluse spider with my arm in my sleep! I cleaned it off and wondered where I had done it. Returning to my room, I got out a flashlight, and began looking. It didn't take long before I found two spider legs and spider guts on my bed right near my pillow! "That's disgusting!" to quote Grant. I can only guess that the spider had dropped from the skylight and somehow, in turning over in my sleep, I had smashed it with the bony part of my arm. Thankfully he didn't bite me. Let's just say I don't recommend sleeping with spiders.

Babysitting:

We haven't had any kids this week. But next Friday evening and at least half of Saturday we'll have all the kids so J & M can celebrate their anniversary without kids. Well, some of them have games, but after games they are coming here to spend the night, and then hang out in the morning until games again. I imagine Kinsley at least, will stay here and take a nap. She isn't interested in volleyball games. She wants to "play with BehBeh."

The Music Stand:

The Ladies Ensemble had their first practice. It went well. We sing later this month. Tomorrow the orchestra has their first practice for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It will be fun.

KDWC:

We are gearing up for a new camp. I have my devotionals written (probably should reread them again though) and the verse graphics made. Registration starts on the 17th!

Sewing Room:

Sarah is still sewing, but she's also looking at patterns and fabric needed for this year's Christmas play. She's going to make something for the two girls, and something for me, because I don't have anything that will work for this time period. We'll see if anyone else needs something made.

Backstage:

The parts for the Christmas play have been handed out to the 10 cast members. We are all (hopefully) working on learning our lines. Practice will start with the children early in November, but the full cast won't start practices until after Thanksgiving. Oh, and my fellow "narrator" is planning on coming over in a few weeks so we can work on our lines together.

I also tried doing my hair in a style to match my time period. The first style wasn't going to work, the second style looked terrible, but the third one will work, I think. Should be fun!

Read Another Page:

I have the cover and synopsis for this year's Christmas Collection and the proof copy is waiting for Sarah to read it.

Teacher's Lounge:

Closed until further notice.

Book Nook:

I've read some books. For a while I was in a "delete it" mood and would start books on my kindle that I wasn't sure if I'd like or not and then if I didn't like them, I'd delete them. I got rid of quite a few books that way. But I did do some reading. Here's my list: Home Fires of the Great War (yes, I read my own book), Falling for the Farmer (sweet little romance), Someone to Trust (didn't care for this book and didn't remember reading it before though I did because I reviewed it), The Trail of Conflict (kind of fun), What Happened at Midnight (such fun!), The Children Who Stayed Alone (love it). I also just finished reading Spines & Leaves but haven't written my review yet. I really liked it. If you like books and bookstores and a little bit of romance, you might want to check it out.

Farewell:

Now I should do something else. Sarah is sewing, Mom is on the phone with her sister, and Dad was building a fire outside, but I don't know what he's doing now. I wonder if I forgot anything.

I hope you all have a lovely weekend, and I'll write another time.