Okay, I spent the day forwarding the newly revised (edited) book to my LIST...and once again I forgot - after a long day on the computer - to post! We did get a new website and blog set up for the book:http://www.UncommonSenseNow.com. Starting tomorrow I will be posting on the new blog. I will also go back to working on the Seever Arbor project. Meanwhile, to a degree, at least, I've started a new career! If I end up making a lot of money in my new "career," I will no doubt use it to further my first career as an architect...and ultimately as a master builder! I will also use it to establish a school for the "arts." In the end, I want to build and teach...and surround myself with my family and friends, in a beautiful place!
Let me reiterate my goals:
1. My Soul - Being the best that I can be, and live up to my divine potential.
2. The Jewel - A component building system which will be a transformation of the way buildings are constructed. For the record, I am not "in love" with the way that it is still being done after technology has transformed the rest of society.
3. The Tool - The computer and the model.
4. The School - A place to teach all of the above, with a focus on The Jewel and The Tool (Parametric Modeling and CAD/CAM).
5. The "Cool " - Place to do all of the above: beautiful in both its natural setting, its design, construction, and intellect/spirit.
I am in the process of achieving each of these goals!
It's all good!
Good night!
TMB - The Master Builder
PS. I'm not sure how I'm going to keep up this blog, along with the new blog about my book, but we will see. I am going to continue building "component" arbors for now! Life is good!
PPS. I have not made any money in recent weeks, while writing the book, but my wife has remained busy, so our collective income has grown, so it seems to be the case that I (we) have been blessed for pursuing that which is in my heart, that which I feel compelled to do. In other words, being true to who I really am: being myself! I will also add that the amount of energy and effort I have expended have been enormous, but I believe that the ultimate rewards, satisfaction, confidence, and increased power to do are right around the corner! This is, in fact, what I have always believed...and it is wonderful, truly, to be able to "prove" it! I am truly grateful!
Friday, October 15, 2010
Day 41 - Oops!
Okay it's now two days later, and I'm just now posting for Wednesday. I spent the day fixing the Table of Contents, page numbers, etc., and sending out the revised book, so frankly, I forgot to blog!
Oops!
Thomas "Paine" Ballantyne
Oops!
Thomas "Paine" Ballantyne
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Day 40 - Finished...again!
Well, at about 12:35 today i finished editing the book - some 3 weeks before the election! Jodee just finished the final touches on the cover tonight. It looks fantastic! I had her add "A Call to Arms" - without the quotation marks. She also put The #1 National Best Seller across the top of the book! It looks great!
I'll send a pdf to all of my family and friends!
It is 11:23, and I'm almost tired! Tomorrow morning I will find a publisher...and then go back to work on the project. I spent several hours working on the feeding table for my table saw. At least for now I have completed this project. Now I will find a publisher...and then find the money to get it published - in the next two weeks!
Good night!
Thomas "Paine" Ballantyne
I'll send a pdf to all of my family and friends!
It is 11:23, and I'm almost tired! Tomorrow morning I will find a publisher...and then go back to work on the project. I spent several hours working on the feeding table for my table saw. At least for now I have completed this project. Now I will find a publisher...and then find the money to get it published - in the next two weeks!
Good night!
Thomas "Paine" Ballantyne
Day 39 - More Editing!
Well, it's now Tuesday evening, but I am posting for Monday! I started editing yesterday morning, and with the exception of an hour or two building a table for my table saw, I sat on my bed and edited 100 pages in a 24 hour period. So, I didn't sleep last night. I stayed up all night editing or rewriting. It was a long day!
Good night for now!
Mr. Ballantyne
Good night for now!
Mr. Ballantyne
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Day 37 - Interesting....
Hi!
Some things are a bit of a surprise. I received an email from my son-in-law today, asking me not to mention his name or that of his two sons (my grandsons) in my book. One of them is featured on the cover, and it is a "home-run" of a photo that my son-in-law took. So, I "wrote their names out of the history book" as it were. What is interesting about that is that there is a likelihood that the photo could become somewhat famous - and now, no one will even know who is in the picture! Whatever his reason for not wanting their names there - and I'm sure it's for the boys "safety" - I'm not one who believes in hiding from life. Worry is the last thing that is on my mind. I just choose not to go there...but to each his own.
I called my daughter last night, and asked her if she had seen my email. She said she had, but that she'd deleted it because she wasn't sure it was from me - my email address is ThomasMBallantyne@Gmail.com. Somehow I don't think there are too many of us with that same name. Anyway, she said she was "afraid" it might have been from someone else, so she hadn't opened it. (They've been having "virus" issues with their computer.) So, being excited because the photo of her son on the cover of my new book is outstanding, I told her "I was going to make him famous!" Sadly, some people can always find the negative in every situation.
It reminds me of Burl Ives wife in the "Ugly Bug Ball" movie (whatever the name was). Said she: "I always look for the bad in every situation, and I ain't ever been disappointed!" Meanwhile, the cover of the book is beautiful, and it will still make me famous if no one else!
So, I have made final edits to the book, and plan to take a copy to Earl Taylor tomorrow. It has been a wonderful experience writing it, and I am grateful for the inspiration and help I had while doing so! Life is good!
Good night!
Thomas "Paine" Ballantyne!
PS. I cut out all of the pieces for the two saw benches I am making today. Will put them together on Monday! Now it is time for the Sabbath - a greatly needed day of rest!!
Some things are a bit of a surprise. I received an email from my son-in-law today, asking me not to mention his name or that of his two sons (my grandsons) in my book. One of them is featured on the cover, and it is a "home-run" of a photo that my son-in-law took. So, I "wrote their names out of the history book" as it were. What is interesting about that is that there is a likelihood that the photo could become somewhat famous - and now, no one will even know who is in the picture! Whatever his reason for not wanting their names there - and I'm sure it's for the boys "safety" - I'm not one who believes in hiding from life. Worry is the last thing that is on my mind. I just choose not to go there...but to each his own.
I called my daughter last night, and asked her if she had seen my email. She said she had, but that she'd deleted it because she wasn't sure it was from me - my email address is ThomasMBallantyne@Gmail.com. Somehow I don't think there are too many of us with that same name. Anyway, she said she was "afraid" it might have been from someone else, so she hadn't opened it. (They've been having "virus" issues with their computer.) So, being excited because the photo of her son on the cover of my new book is outstanding, I told her "I was going to make him famous!" Sadly, some people can always find the negative in every situation.
It reminds me of Burl Ives wife in the "Ugly Bug Ball" movie (whatever the name was). Said she: "I always look for the bad in every situation, and I ain't ever been disappointed!" Meanwhile, the cover of the book is beautiful, and it will still make me famous if no one else!
So, I have made final edits to the book, and plan to take a copy to Earl Taylor tomorrow. It has been a wonderful experience writing it, and I am grateful for the inspiration and help I had while doing so! Life is good!
Good night!
Thomas "Paine" Ballantyne!
PS. I cut out all of the pieces for the two saw benches I am making today. Will put them together on Monday! Now it is time for the Sabbath - a greatly needed day of rest!!
Friday, October 8, 2010
Day 36 - It's All Good!
Hi!
10:30 PM. This time I'm actually blogging on Day 35! This was a wonderful day! I was able to add an "About the Title" page, and edit the "About the Cover" page. I also changed the title of the final chapter (fifteen) from "Specifics" to "Solutions" to "What We Must Do Now," and finally to "The Call to Arms."
In addition, my daughter Jodee revised and upgraded the cover design. It looks fantastic. Finally, I was able to convert the whole file to a pdf, so it is now a "finished" (cleaned up) product and looks great! I proceeded to email the finalized file with the new cover in place to my email list, and to Glenn Beck.
All in all a great day. I cleaned up my "shop" (back porch) but was unable to cut anything on my table saw as I was unable to find my "key". Will pick one up at Lowe's or Home Depot in the morning after our workout. Must get started building my benches tomorrow!
Great day!
Good night!
Mr. Ballantyne
10:30 PM. This time I'm actually blogging on Day 35! This was a wonderful day! I was able to add an "About the Title" page, and edit the "About the Cover" page. I also changed the title of the final chapter (fifteen) from "Specifics" to "Solutions" to "What We Must Do Now," and finally to "The Call to Arms."
In addition, my daughter Jodee revised and upgraded the cover design. It looks fantastic. Finally, I was able to convert the whole file to a pdf, so it is now a "finished" (cleaned up) product and looks great! I proceeded to email the finalized file with the new cover in place to my email list, and to Glenn Beck.
All in all a great day. I cleaned up my "shop" (back porch) but was unable to cut anything on my table saw as I was unable to find my "key". Will pick one up at Lowe's or Home Depot in the morning after our workout. Must get started building my benches tomorrow!
Great day!
Good night!
Mr. Ballantyne
Day 35 - First Edition
Hi!
It is now Friday, but I am posting for Thursday! We got home from choir practice last night, and after eating (for the first time since about 3:00 or so) I watched O'Reily and when I remembered at 11:45 or so that I hadn't blogged, I realized that my computer was in the car. I had already dressed for bed, and didn't want to go out in the front yard to get it out of the car...so here I am!
I finished reformatting the book yesterday, so that all of the page divisions were perfect, created the Table of Contents, Cover Sheet, and inserted a picture of myself ("The Author - 2008"), and then had the whole thing printed. It looks great - even in 8 1/2 x 11 format. It was supposed to be in half-size, but for some reason it didn't print that way, and since we were late for choir, we went with it!
Tried to find Earl Taylor's house, the publisher of The Real George Washington, etc., but somehow couldn't. That's fine as I have another book from a very nice guy that I met on the way to the rally in DC, which I need to give to Earl as well. I am almost finished reading it. Well written, and very well researched. Amazing detail. (His name is Bing Spitler, and the book is Hero of the Republic.)
So, Good "night"!
Thomas Ballantyne
PS. "Tomorrow" I'll go back to building the Bart Seever arbor!
It is now Friday, but I am posting for Thursday! We got home from choir practice last night, and after eating (for the first time since about 3:00 or so) I watched O'Reily and when I remembered at 11:45 or so that I hadn't blogged, I realized that my computer was in the car. I had already dressed for bed, and didn't want to go out in the front yard to get it out of the car...so here I am!
I finished reformatting the book yesterday, so that all of the page divisions were perfect, created the Table of Contents, Cover Sheet, and inserted a picture of myself ("The Author - 2008"), and then had the whole thing printed. It looks great - even in 8 1/2 x 11 format. It was supposed to be in half-size, but for some reason it didn't print that way, and since we were late for choir, we went with it!
Tried to find Earl Taylor's house, the publisher of The Real George Washington, etc., but somehow couldn't. That's fine as I have another book from a very nice guy that I met on the way to the rally in DC, which I need to give to Earl as well. I am almost finished reading it. Well written, and very well researched. Amazing detail. (His name is Bing Spitler, and the book is Hero of the Republic.)
So, Good "night"!
Thomas Ballantyne
PS. "Tomorrow" I'll go back to building the Bart Seever arbor!
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