I reckon I should probably be fired. I have not posted a blog since April 10, nearly a month ago. It was right after Kellie and I experienced the forest fire on our walk to take pictures of flowers. Since that time, all of our cars, house, shop, flowers and shrubs, and sense of normalcy has been shredded and destroyed by hail and a tornado. The forest fire incident and the hail/tornado destruction were six days apart.
Today, I am posting the best (selected by Kellie) of the photos that she took on our ill-fated April flower walk that was interrupted by a flaming wall of fire. Don't forget. You can click on them to make them bigger.
I have also not been writing much because it has been at the end of one of the worst semesters of my entire 21 year teaching career. I have six classes that are each writing intensive in some form or the other: one College Writing (remedial), two Comp I (NET and seated), one Comp II (seated), and two World Lit II (NET and seated). Evaluating students work has become an overwhelming chore because the vast majority of students do not have basic writing skills. I am not going to get on a soapbox, but I will speak plainly. Our public schools are not teaching our children how to read and write. I know people believe that there are social issues that are hampering and hindering our children's learning. You need to forget about those side issues of race, religion, and whatever. They are not the problems in our schools. The problem is simple. Our children are not being taught to read and write in public schools. Nothing could bring on the downfall of our society quicker than forgetting how to read and write.
This is the best of Kellie's pictures of Partee spring. If you ever get a chance to be in that area and you would like to see it, go across the little branch of Livingstone creek right off Highway 5 at the pull out area in the curve past the Syllamo bike trail head as you head to Calico Rock. I would not do it in a car, but any truck or SUV can cross the creek. Anyhow, park about 100 yards up the muddy but well-travelled trail in a spot where many vehicles have parked, then walk up the four-wheeler path about a quarter to half mile. Do not follow the Syllamo bike trail! Turn right when the bike trail crosses the spring. Go to a point where a normal vehicle could no longer negotiate the trail. This was in a creek that was dry when we were there. The four-wheeler trail continues into the woods along the east side of the creek to the right, but Partee spring is over a sandy bank to the left. It is a really beautiful and peaceful spot. I suspect not too many people know it is there.
Where am I in my writing? Hmm...I have a story about Aunt Charlotte around 40-60% complete. I will be posting it under the Dewey Lynne stories. Y'all need to start reading those. They are good, so I have been told. I have started re-re-re-editing The Doll, but I am not far. I need to re-edit Uncle Boog and the Dogfight that I posted in its entirety. (Hey, I know somebody who is actually reading it and says he really likes it!) My editing last time was apparently a bit sloppy.
Finally, after not hearing from Austin-Macauley publisher for nearly five months about the manuscript of Atheist and Empty Spaces, I talked to someone on the phone, and TA-DA, I got sent a third edit copy to review. I have already reviewed it, and I found only ten errors, which is half of the twenty from last time (December 9, 2021). However, I was a bit disappointed that five of the ten errors were errors that I had pointed out last time (December 10, 2021). Let us cross our collective fingers and hope that something comes out of this, and that we can have a book we can hold in our hands in a few months.
Anyhow, that is all that I have for today. Sorry that I have been away for a month. Life has been hectic. That is my sole excuse.
Please remember to thank Kellie for the beautiful pictures today. I need to get back on that project, taking pictures, pretty soon. I have irises blooming in the yard! Yay! Some survived the shredding by the hail!
Later, folks.
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