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Seriously, the staff has a plan and that plan is to teach. The wee bairns begin learning their numbers and letters at a young age, the sort of thing Your Humble Scribe didn't start to grok until the first grade!
So the kids are out of school, Tuttle and The Nuke are enjoying some well-earned vacation time, The Missus Herself continues to make herself useful everywhere and with everything.
Me? I just try to keep up. Though truth be told, I'm not trying too hard at the moment. I do have post-vacation plans, most of which involve getting Almost a Lifetime published. I mean it's written and edited, innit? So what am I waiting for?
Well, I want to read through it myself one more time. Perhaps create an appendix to put all those unit rosters in rather than inline with the main story, also some appendices containing the various foreign phrases used throughout the book, also some stuff on organization and equipment. Most of it is readily available, just needs incorporating.
Anyhoo, that's the plan.
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Waterloo, Eylau, Friedland, Jena, Auerstädt, Borodino, and Wagram are all now available for me to refight on the computer screen. Can I better Napoléon's record? Probably not, but it won't be for lack of trying. (And with the advantage of not being shot at, I can probably do alright.)
I have much to do and plenty of time to do it in. I'll get started on that ...
Eventually!
P.S. The General's Maple Mayhem is excellent. Sort of a sweet (the maple syrup) and somewhat spicey (the habaneros) treat. Most excellent indeed.
The General's Maple Mayhem, from your description, sounds as if it would make a wonderful glaze for ham or pork loin.
ReplyDeleteTake lots of "Me Time." Other than the necessary daily, or periodic household mechanics, take time for yourself, on your schedule. That doesn't mean ignoring others. If it floats your boat to build or cook for others, by all means, indulge. If it's sequestering yourself with books or games, have at. After decades of service for others you need to service yourself. Hold yourself over the edge of the volcano and get to know yourself. You have read the works of Shan Yu?
Had some with bacon, quite good!
DeleteGames, grandkids, time & a new year...enjoy!!!
ReplyDeleteRoger, wilco. 😁
DeleteTime to relax and have some fun, you're on a new part of the Road now.....remember The Road goes ever on and on and Down from the door where it began.... to quote someone. OBTW, Steam is having their Winter sale, watch out Sarge! Games! Games, my Precious!!
ReplyDeleteA couple places I frequent are having a winter sale ...
DeleteTake my money!
Appendices are a great idea, Sarge! You have so much good information that would make foot- or even end notes bulky and being able to flip to an appendix would add to the enjoyment. Looking forward to ordering copies in quantity.
ReplyDeleteBoat Guy
The book is a top priority for 2025.
DeleteNot so sure that massive appendices are worth the effort (and extra pages=cost) for a work of fiction. Maybe at a very brief, general level. You can always make larger appendices and post them on line, with the published book having a note along the lines of "More information on x,y,z is posted at https://oldafsarge.blogspot.com/Almost_A_Lifetime_notes."
DeleteI think a far better use of time and space would be including as many of the wonderful images from the on line series as possible. Copyright or publication rights may preclude using many, but they add immeasurably to the tale being told, so it may be worth the effort to find substitutes for some problematic pics. You really have a gift for finding great images, mostly unpublished ones, and this is a chance to share them for others to enjoy/learn from.
JB
The pictures are problematic. The American ones are mostly public domain, the German belong to the Bundesarchiv, the British are mostly from the Imperial War Museum. Copyright issues make for huge legal issues, not having photos is far simpler.
DeleteSounds like the best sort of plans, Sarge!
ReplyDelete(Also, in general, a great fan of appendices. Because not everything fits well into a footnote.)
I have, occasionally, been overwhelmed by footnotes, especially those which continue on to a second page!
DeleteMy SIL loves my book, but tends to get easily confused when she runs into more than three characters per chapter. I've gotta give her credit though, she came up with a brilliant idea (for people such as she/her IDK - you tell me).
ReplyDeleteShe suggested a "players' roster" with connections (dramatis personae) on the facing page of each chapter; I tried it and handed the first three chapters back to her: "Oh! this is so much easier. Now I know who's who and if I forget (she's my age - 80+++) who Sheila is, I can just go back to the start of the chapter to find out."
When all''s said and done, she's really my toughest, honest critic.
An appendix listing the characters, I like it.
DeleteWhat sort of creature is that, in lights on the roof. It looks like either a giraffe, or a T Rex, but I doubt that it is either.
ReplyDeleteYou have quite the imagination, Scott. It's a bad angle of a reindeer and a sleigh.
DeleteKinda looks like a T-Rex with antlers, doesn't it?