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Post by Admin on Aug 12, 2019 3:33:57 GMT
We'll know more on Thursday. I have to really clean house this week. The landscapers are supposed to come on Wednesday and real estate agent will take pictures on Friday afternoon. Hank has not taken the news of his pet scan very well. He sat down in a chair and he's doing absolutely nothing. I'll give him until Thursday and then see where we're at. I'm not willing to let him just give up. But I also know its his choice. Its just all so depressing. i sort of wanted a happy ever after ending and we could still have that. Kathy lived four years with stage four cancer. There are new treatments and if he qualifies for a clinical trial he could go into remission. There is always hope. I just want a bit more time.
I hired a contractor because I can't be in two places at once. The Kansas project needs to move forward and I can't give it my full attention. He seems to be doing a good job and I feel like he was placed in front of me at just the right time. That is a God thing and I'm grateful. The house could go into production this week if I can just get the paperwork to Wardcraft. I've tried sending it three different times on two different computer systems and they won't go through. I'll copy and mail hard copies and keep trying to send by email. One way, or another, they will get sent. its just so frustrating to have things so hard to get done when they should be so simple.
I was thinking the other day about writing some short stories. I have characters knocking and telling me the most interesting things but I don't have time to work on the full-length books. I can whip out a couple of thousand words in a couple of hours. I'd like to have a subscription site. I tried that with Patreon but Patreon owns the site. I want a place where I can rent a space that is mine. Someplace where people could pop in for a one time look at what I'm offering. Something inexpensive like a dollar to have access to everything on there. But I don't know of any place like that. I don't know if I can build a website that charges a fee or not. I can't remember what Holly is using. I'll have to see if I can find it but I sort of want my own space. I'll have to put it on the back burner and keep my eyes open. If meant to be, something will come to my attention. and if not, then I have lots of other stuff to keep me busy.
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Post by bill on Aug 14, 2019 0:36:06 GMT
I can't believe how busy you are. Of course, once cancer enters the picture, everything takes on a different perspective. I believe that things happen for a reason and that our God provides strength, especially when we need it the most. I'll keep praying for you guys as you go through all of the major changes facing your family.
I found out my dad is on his way to visit for a week or two, so I certainly won't get much done. It'll be an emotional week as Sydney leaves for Indianapolis on Sunday and Blake starts school tomorrow.
Where has the time gone?
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Post by Admin on Aug 14, 2019 4:18:34 GMT
I don't know. I'm hoping the house in Kansas will go into production this week. I'm getting everything to him that he asked for. I just want a time line so I can plan around it. I bet your Dad wants to see Syndney, too.
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Post by Admin on Aug 17, 2019 23:01:28 GMT
I did a marathon cleaning over the week so the realtor could take pictures yesterday. I'm not done. Still have a ton of things to do but I will do something every day. The house will go on the market Monday. I didn't realize we have to leave the house when people want to go through it. I don't have a problem loading up Josh and dogs but getting Hank out of the house will be a little harder. We'll see how it goes. Nothing on the writing or art front. Simply too tired.
We did talk to the oncologist and I think we got good news. Hank came home and hasn't left the recliner. The biopsy of the tumor showed he has a PDL1 marker at 100%. This qualifies him to enter the immune therapy program. He will be given Keytruda which boosts his own immune system to target the tumors. It is possible, if he responds well to the medication, for the tumors to go into remission and even vanish. Because the tumor is pressing on the windpipe they are going to hit it with radiation to shrink it along with the immune therapy. If he could just breathe better I think his outlook would improve.
He's not eating very good so tomorrow I'll be making some foods to tempt him with. We'll see how it goes.
Hope your enjoying your time with your Dad and handling Sydney going off on her big adventure. I hope this is a field she will truly enjoy.
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Post by bill on Aug 19, 2019 1:26:01 GMT
Sydney had one flight diverted and another canceled, but she finally made it to Indianapolis today. She starts her training tomorrow. Her first flight was diverted from Chicago to Moline, where she had a short wait before continuing on to Chicago. I don't suppose she was too far from you.
It's been a good and busy week. I've gotten very little writing done, which I expected. I spent Thursday afternoon with Sydney, eating out and shopping. That was easily my highlight. My time with Dad has been good. He leaves for Susan's tomorrow. I'll see him on his way back through, whenever that turns out to be.
I have three novels I want to enter in the Zebulun contest, which opens on Sept 1. I hope to get them entered as soon as possible so I can forget about the Zebulun. They are also have a short story contest and I have a story I'm going to enter that. If nothing else I should get some valuable feedback. At best, maybe I place with one of my entries.
That will be my focus the next two weeks, and maybe writing a few flash fiction. We'll see how my time plays out. Soon my life should get back into the school rhythm and hopefully I'll have time to make serious progress on my novels again.
So glad to hear some good news about Hank. I'll continue to pray for him and you and Josh. Can't be easy! So excited to hear about the house progress! Keep on keeping on!
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Post by Admin on Aug 25, 2019 3:27:48 GMT
Whenever I go into an extended dry spell on writing and art, my brain begins to throw ideas at me. I like the one it threw at me today. I was talking to Rhonda and told her we planned on starting up the Roth Writers again. I'd like to have a once a month meeting of the Roth Writers. And then it occurred to me that we have an entire cast of actors in all age groups. I've been trying to figure out a podcast idea and I'd been playing with the idea of doing an old time radio show feel complete with sound effects (hopefully cheesy ones that will be inventive and fun) We can write scripts to fit a twenty minute pod cast. Along with an intro and a cast of characters, I think we could produce a thirty minute podcast.
The Roth Writers could create the scripts and then we could figure out who could do the parts. Everybody could get in on it. It doesn't take much room to create a soundproof room. It can be as small as a closet if thats all we've got but I'll have an entire basement. I'm pretty sure we can figure out a place to put a sound room. I think we can figure out how to do sound effects. Not sure how to do music because of copyright but there should be someplace that has public domain music, or we can come up with our own.
We can publish to Apple or Audible. There are many different places we can put podcasts. If it brings in any money we can figure out a fair split. Maybe 50% to the writers and the other 50% split between the actors. It might not bring much but if we could pull it off and create fun, interesting vignettes, it might take off. Who knows.
This is the kind of thing my brain does to me when it gets stifled. I find it great fun but its probably the reason I have a lot of great starts and not so many finishes.
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Post by bill on Aug 25, 2019 22:37:29 GMT
I think that sounds like it could be a really fun idea! And with so many people involved you won't have to shoulder the burden of seeing it finished. You'll have plenty of help. As for music, surely somewhere in the family someone has an interest in creating music? If not, I'm sure there are other options. The main point is it being a family event done together. And hopefully we can get someone like Lindsay involved to help with the marketing aspect. Some of us haven't a clue on that end! Zebulun submissions open Sept 1 so I've been getting 3 stories ready for that. Next weekend I hope to finish some flash fiction, then get my paranormal back from beta readers and polish it. Dad will be here tomorrow through Thursday, but my weekend next is wide open - first time in several weeks. Sydney called today and my phone says we talked for 82 minutes. Made my heart happy. She's doing well after her first week of training. It sounds positive that she will end up in Kansas City, if not immediately, soon there after.
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Post by Admin on Aug 26, 2019 10:45:36 GMT
I ordered a keyboard for my iPad. And I bought bluetooth headphones. Trying to get the iPad to a place where I can use it in place of my laptop. The iPad is more reliable and I'm beginning to think the laptop needs replaced but I don't want to make any changes until we get moved. I want to see what the new service is like in Cottonwood Falls.
Because I don't have enough space to get work done, as in novels or paintings, I'm trying to figure out a way to get my creative fix. I need input or I get very agitated and cranky. I'm thinking if I get the iPad set up and I take the laptop into the living room and use headphones, I can get caught up on all the art classes I'm signed up for. I'll be in where I can see if JOsh or Hank need something.
I do think Hank was better yesterday. I didn't hear him cough very much and he's beginning to eat pretty good. He's drinking a lot of gatorade and water and not drinking alcohol. He's going today for a cat scan so they can determine radiation therapy for him. Once he starts radiation he'll have it every day for three straight weeks. That should stop the bleeding, which should eliminate the cough, and shrink the tumor which should take pressure off the windpipe and improve his breathing. I'm hopeful.
I really, really want to hear the house is in production this week so pray hard. I heard from the contractor that the dirt work will start in about 3 weeks.
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Post by bill on Aug 27, 2019 1:21:37 GMT
I'm glad you're finding ways to appease your creative side, even if not ideally. Hang in there - I think your time is coming!
Three straight weeks of radiation! Yikes! That's going to be a haul for all of you, I imagine.
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Post by Admin on Aug 27, 2019 3:25:19 GMT
While sitting in the waiting room, I figured out how to use the notes feature on my iphone. Although, I could take the iPad too. I find it easier to use the iPad than the phone. Anyway, I began to jot notes about the podcast. I came up with the idea of each podcast talking about a specific writing style. Off the top of my head I thought of tall tales, fairy tales, the different mystery genres like, hard boiled PI, the cozy, thrillers, who-dun-it's, the list goes on. during one of the Roth Writer sessions we can do a more detailed list. But each discussion would end with a 15 minute vignette, done in a semi-realistic way, as in something happening in the fictional lives of the actors.
we'd all have pseudonyms, no real names used and those would have to be done in the style of early radio. I'd like to explore different ways to do sound effects and music with special emphasis on not infringing on copyright. Maybe Jacob could help us locate a source of public domain music. or we could use my clavinova, or even the garage band app, to create music. I have enough of a music background to do simple arrangements. It wouldn't have to be very difficult for amateur podcast.
I think the podcasts would be a really interesting way to meld the talents of Roth Writers. Not sure how we'd market but I don't think its that hard to publish them. Jacob and Lindsey and Drew could probably give us ideas there.
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Post by Admin on Aug 27, 2019 3:26:52 GMT
I'm also not sure how we'd handle using the kids. I'm thinking we'd have to have releases from their parents even though we would not use their real names.
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Post by bill on Sept 4, 2019 1:48:22 GMT
You have a great start! Yes, I think releases on all kids would be necessary. I don't know where this could go, but it would be fun trying to figure it out. And you're right - we have so much talent in the family, who knows what might happen.
I think I lost track of days. I actually had Monday off, so got a 3-day weekend. Mike and Barb camped a few miles from Halstead so I spent a few hours with them on Sunday evening. I probably have never spent that much time with them at once, so it was good.
I got a short story and three novels entered into the Zebulun contest. I don't know if any of them are good enough to place, but this is one way for me to gauge where I'm at. Plus, I ordered some extra feedback on the books. Hopefully that will be helpful.
My beta reader for A World Amongst is done and I'm waiting on him to give me his notes. Then I'll make some adjustments and start shopping it.
Also in September I am trying to complete a final revision of When the Time is Right. If I manage, I hope to begin shopping it by October.
I need to get these out there and start learning the process. Plus I have two stories that are anxiously, though not always quietly, waiting for me to return and finish them. I got bogged down a little this summer, but I feel like I'm picking up steam and hope to continue the momentum through the fall.
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Post by Admin on Sept 4, 2019 12:25:18 GMT
Hank started radiation treatments yesterday so, hopefully, he'll get some relief in breathing. We got the final house draft in the mail so its officially in production stage. They should start doing the dirt work in a couple of weeks. I just want the house in place. As soon as I get a delivery date on the house, I will call the realtor, drop the asking price on our property and start to seriously look for a buyer. I still want to be moved by Thanksgiving. Hope God agrees with me.
I didn't get any writing done except for the poem I posted. Poetry seems to come to me when I'm struggling the hardest emotionally. I did find a way to get some artwork done. It's digital art but I'll take it. Almost done with it. So I'll have to come up with another drawing to work on. It gives me something to do while I'm sitting in waiting rooms. The finished drawing, I'll put into fineartamerica and see how it does. I'm still getting a visitors on my work over there. The dust catcher series and the GentleMan series gets the most views. The new one will be in the GentleMan album. It's Ted dancing with his granddaughter. The original photo had an ugly background so I put them in a fairy garden. I'm having a lot of fun playing with it even though I don't like working on foliage but the digital tools makes it very interesting. I don't know how the digital art will reproduce but once I move it to fineartamerica I'll order a canvas print to give to Sharon and see how it looks in person. It could give me a whole different stream of income if I can get enough work over there to start moving. I make about the same on them that I do on a digital book.
Good luck on the Zebulon. I'll have to see what life is like next spring. Maybe I can swing the conference in. It will depend on how much gets done on the house. Not sure how often I'll be able to get away anymore. Hank, right now, cannot be left alone although I haven't seen him in danger of falling as long as he uses the walker. I'll hand this one over to God and play it by ear.
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Post by bill on Sept 4, 2019 12:53:42 GMT
I've seen your progress on the digital painting of Ted. It looks interesting, though I have to admit I know nothing about art. But if it keeps your mind occupied while waiting, that alone is worth a fortune.
That's exciting about the house! Thanksgiving might be tight, but I don't know why it isn't a possibility. Either way, progress is happening and the next few months will prove to be eventful, no matter what. Sounds like it will be a challenging few weeks for Hank. I'll pray he experience the relief he desires and that the treatments are more productive than hoped for!
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Post by bill on Sept 9, 2019 2:11:16 GMT
I'm still waiting on my beta readers for A World Amongst. I'm working on When the Time is Right and am about 1/3 of the way through the revision. Since August was so busy my weekend got swallowed by chores and catching up on things I had neglected for a few weeks. I'm almost caught up, I hope, and can get more of my focus on writing.
Sydney comes home next Friday night. She was assigned Kansas City for her home base and will do her first flight starting on Wednesday the 18th. Can't wait to see her! We're having a party for her Saturday night to celebrate completing the training and to wish her good luck.
This week I want to continue with When the Time is Right and work on a couple of flash fictions. I hope to have one ready for Holly's podcast Halloween special.
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