Batting Practice

I. Some Changes

I have made a few changes on social media and on the site. I have decided to put my Instagram on hiatus until further notice. I plan on using Twitter to do more history posts and, of course, the Tauy Creek Facebook Page as well. On the site, both The Point of Beginning and Time Man have come to an end and will be replaced with Tank N Tummy, which is moving over from my now-defunct Patreon, and West Union Road, a 5-issue miniseries. Hopefully you'll enjoy them and you can always let me know what you think in the comments, the contact form, or on social media.

II. The Miller Family and Prairie City

Since about 2000, I have been doing research on a family that lived in the ghost town of Prairie City. Through my own fault and ignorance, my research into them had been sporadic until very recently. I've been so lucky lately to find just the right information and approach the right people to get additional information to help me piece together information. My hope is to write not only an article on the family and their contributions to local and state history but also a book that uses their story alternating with a story taking place in modern day Kansas. Despite the family being just a simple family, their contributions to the area, and to a couple of other states, we very important. The issue I have is that I am racing the clock against students at Washburn University.

Washburn is offering a class next fall that goes into the Millers and Prairie City and their connection to Kansas history and life on the prairie. While I am excited that this class is being conducted (I honestly wish I could be a part of it), I feel like I need to do as much I can over the summer to finish my research and get the article written and book outlined. What needs to be done is a trip to the Baker University archives to get information from their records and repeated trips to the Kansas State Archives to search through almost 100 years of newspapers looking for information. But I also have other things that I am researching but the priority right now, are the Millers. The research and work needed to get this done leads us to our third bit of housekeeping.

III. Support Tauy Creek

If you would like to support what I write or my research or just like what I do, feel free drop some money in my PayPal or buy me a coffee on Ko-Fi.

You know, Brutus has given his son the 'born loser' gene--yes, being a loser is apparently genetic, maybe someday we'll see an ad on TV about a pill or injection that can keep it at bay--so it should be kind of uplifting that everybody else is just as terrible as Wilberforce.

Unless, of course, that being a born loser isn't just something in your DNA but also something that radiates. Like radium.

Hattie Shave Club

Since about 2002, I have been wanting to write a book about the family that included their history but also the history of that part of Douglas County which, to me, is vastly overshadowed by the history to the north in Lawrence and Lecompton but is nonetheless important. I've been in touch with other people who have been able to piece together more of the Miller family history and I feel that I am now in a position to start on the book and close the rest of the gaps that I have. Keep your eyes open for updates here and on Patreon.

A special thanks to all who read and support my writing and research. If you would like to contribute, consider becoming a patron on Patreon or buying me a cup of coffee on Ko-Fi.

Patreon ----> https://www.patreon.com/tauycreek

Ko-Fi -------> http://ko-fi.com/tauycreek

I find it hard to believe that Hurricane Hattie hasn't seen Brutus with beard stubble before. I mean, she's over at their house 7, 8 times a week and usually talking with Brutus. At least Brutus can tell Hattie as he is throwing her out of his house that because he's a guy "cursed with a five o'clock shadow" that explains why he has no hair on top of his head.

You Better Be Dead Or I'll Kill You

Before we get to today's Born Loser comic, here is a small snippet of "Superkitten" over at our new blog, 87. Enjoy.

Alix, as her new identity of Superkitten, stood atop a warehouse with Geo-Whiz, an older boy with a red and black skintight uniform and a billowing black and white cape. Superkitten kept looking over at Geo-Whiz and then, finally, giggled.

“What’s up?” Geo-Whiz asked, not taking his eyes off the building across the street.

“Why are you wearing a cape?” Superkitten asked.

“I think capes look cool. All the cool superheroes wear capes. Superman, Batman, Captain Marvel. Magneto wears a cape,” Geo-Whiz explained.

“Okay. On a scale of one to ten, how much of a dork are you?” she laughed.

“Very funny,” Geo-Whiz smiled. He then extended his gloved hand toward her. “I’m Brandon Taggert.”

She accepted his hand and smiled. “Alix Kincaid. What’s your story?”

“I graduated college at 13 and you’d be surprised at how many companies are not willing to hire a 13-year-old—labor laws and all. So at 14, I began a series of low wage jobs and then when I was 18, companies still wouldn’t hire me. I found out around that time I had geokinesis but I hardly used it and kept it to myself. I was working a dead end customer service job when Dmitri approached me and offered this to me,” Geo-Whiz said. “You?”

“I killed someone,” Superkitten smiled.

For more, click here.

Brutus, who else in your house would answer your phone in a Jane Lynch voice? I'm also bothered by the horribly worded last word balloon. I'm triply bothered by Gladys sudden anger at her husband who she was originally worried about.

Shameless Promotion

TOMORROW: 87 BEGINS!!

The first story for 87 will be "Superkitten" and will post sometime during the morning. I'm to post between two to three stories a month and a picture of a gravestone every Saturday which the pictures being expanded to every day in the near future. Please check it out and tell your friends. Also starting tomorrow:

The What I Remember About Dinosaurs Kickstarter from Brian Russell starts tomorrow. Check it out here. All the things that you may remember about dinosaurs from "Jurassic Park", Calvin and Hobbes and numerous other things will be here along with what has changed since then. It should be interesting.

Veeblefester should move to Kansas where his company won't have to pay any taxes and he, himself, barely has to pay any taxes.

Writers Block

I tried writing a story a few years ago called Writers Block. The story was about a writer who returned to his hometown to write only to be distracted by his family's crazy problems and failing business. I didn't get too far in the story because it didn't really hold my interest. I still have the first chapter in a notebook ready to be worked on in the future if I wish.

And that is the main problem with my writing. I cannot write just on a computer. I have to write in a notebook first then type it all into a document. It gives me an extra layer of editing but it makes writing things other than what I am currently working on nearly impossible. Sure I could just start writing in other notebooks but I don't feel right doing that.

I am starting a new blog on June 1st that focuses on writing and cemeteries. I've been working on the inaugural writing post for the last couple of weeks but for some reason I just cannot force myself to sit down, shut up, turn off and write. I have a couple of stories I could put in its place but I don't want to do that. I want to be able to get stuff written using Microsoft Word or something so I can work on several stories at one time.

Maybe someday. Maybe someday...