Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Uncle Frank

BRIG GEN FRANKLIN OTIS CARROLL

May 24, 2009, I wrote an article on this blog saluting the veterans in my family. At that time, I didn't have much info on Brig General Frank Carroll, my husband's great-uncle. In fact, I couldn't even find a picture. But hubby recently found this site that had his picture and a ton of info him. Uncle Frank was instrumental in the creation of the Army Air Corp, signing the contract to buy the B-47. Orville Wright taught Uncle Frank how to fly. [Kathy's note: Uncle Frank's grandson, also named Frank Carroll, found this blog and commented below. We had lost track of that side of the family, so the reconnection is exciting. He corrected me on the previous statement. Cousin Frank said, "Grandpa was the last man to fly with Orville Wright and they were close friends but Wright did not teach him how to fly." So, I stand corrected. But it's still cool!]

Out of curiousity, I Googled his name again, and found two more sites: here and here. You have to scroll down just a little for the second one.

I am proud of our family's contribution to our nation's freedom. And since I can't personally take up arms, I will pray for our nation. May the blood spilled not be in vain. And may God bless her until His return.

Monday, November 2, 2009

NaNoWriMo


Chances are, if you're reading this and you're a writer, you know what NaNoWriMo is. But if you're not a writer, let me enlighten you. (Those writers who don't have a clue can pretend to be readers. It's okay.)

National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo, is a contest of sorts, where the prize is a 50K word manuscript, unedited, an probably totally not ready for an editor's eye. The point is to write those 50,000 words (that looks even worse with all those zeros, doesn't it?) all in the month of November. Scads of people participate, and it's fun. Really.

The point is to turn off your inner editor and just write. Why do writers have a problem with that? Let me get a guest psychiatrist to blog an article for me. Stay tuned.

This year, I'm going to attempt to write an entire Heartsong Presents novel in one month. The timing couldn't be better. It's due in two months. Playtime is over boys and girls. Kathy must superglue her butt to the office chair and create a work of genius...or at least a work that makes some sense.

Can I do it? Not unless I stop blogging!

See you next month!