The Miller Report 08212025

 Greetings and welcome to Miller’s Mysteries, where the sun is shining just right and the air is so seasonable you can almost hear the calendar itself flipping pages. 
  
  The neighbor’s goats are pressed against the fence, looking in like they’re waiting for show tickets, while our cats perch in the windows looking out as if they run neighborhood security. 
  
  Around here, wildlife strolls by like they’ve RSVP’d to a block party, and it’s always a surprise who shows up first. With weather like this, I’m itching for Calendar House shows, AMC movies, and maybe a round at Hidden Valley mini-golf to remind myself that “par” is just a suggestion. 
  
  Stick around—just like patio dining at Southington’s best restaurants, the company here is always better than the menu. 


  • Across my Desk!!

I started jogging today. I didn’t want to, but the ice cream truck kept driving.

A man was injured while playing peek-a-boo.
He's currently in the ICU.

And to my children, I leave my collection of grocery bags that I store inside a grocery bag.

When my wife comes home and asks me what’s for dinner, I’ll say Check the mailbox!

Wanted: Someone to brush their teeth with me because 9/10 dentists say brushing alone won't help tooth decay.
No weirdos, please.

Give a Dem a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a Dem to fish and he'll create fishing licenses, tax your rod, identify the fish as endangered, and close your fishing spot.

I just found out the company that produces yardsticks won't be making them any longer.
              
              
  • The Reader
  Under a canopy of late summer leaves, Bob nestled onto the porch swing with a warm black jacket enveloping him. The air was crisp, and the aroma of spiced apple cider wafted from the thermos at his side. With a notepad resting on his lap, he was prepared for an afternoon of reading Mindmyst Tales Blog. 

A slice of banana bread, still warm from the oven, awaited him, inviting him to indulge. Leaning back against the swing, he felt a sense of tranquility wash over him as he opened the blog. Each story told wrapped him in comfort, reminding him of the coziness of this season. With every sip of cider and slice of bread, he found himself inspired by tales that mirrored life’s beautiful complexities.


 • Maff of the Week

1. Ice Cream Cones at the Boardwalk
Jack and Emily stop at a boardwalk ice cream stand. Jack buys 2 cones and Emily buys 3 cones, and together they spend $16. The next day, Jack buys 4 cones and Emily buys 1 cone, and they spend $14. How much does each cone cost?

2. Beach Towels Sale
Emily wants new beach towels for one last trip to the shore. She finds that 2 small towels and 1 large towel cost $26. Jack finds another receipt showing that 3 small towels and 2 large towels cost $49. What is the cost of a small towel and a large towel?

3. Back-to-School Supplies
On their way home, Jack and Emily stop at a store for notebooks and pens. Jack buys 4 notebooks and 2 pens for $18. Emily buys 2 notebooks and 6 pens for $22. How much does each notebook and pen cost?

4. Bonfire Wood Bundles
On their last summer night, Jack and Emily host a beach bonfire. They buy bundles of small sticks (S) and large logs (L). Two bundles of small sticks and 3 bundles of logs cost $27. Three bundles of small sticks and 2 bundles of logs cost $24. Find the cost of each type of bundle.

5. Sunset Paddle Boat Ride
Jack and Emily rent paddle boats at the lake. The rental price is made up of a fixed fee plus an hourly rate. They pay $22 for 2 hours and $31 for 4 hours. What is the fixed fee, and what is the hourly rate?


 • Last week's answers:
answers: 8-14-2025

1. Campfire S’mores Geometry

    There are 12 logs spaced evenly around a circle.
    A circle has 360°.
    Angle between logs = 360° ÷ 12 = 30°

2. Canoe Race Algebra

    Paige’s speed: 3 miles ÷ 0.5 hours = 6 mph
    Rick’s speed: 6 mph – 2 mph = 4 mph
    Time for Rick to cover 3 miles: 3 ÷ 4 = 0.75 hours = 45 minutes

3. Lemonade Stand Fractions

    Total cups: 24
    Monday: sell 2/3 × 24 = 16 cups → Remaining: 24 – 16 = 8 cups
    Tuesday: sell 1/2 × 8 = 4 cups → Remaining: 8 – 4 = 4 cups

4. Firefly Counting Probability

    Rick: 30 fireflies
    Paige: 40 fireflies
    Both: 20 fireflies counted twice → Total unique = 30 + 40 – 20 = 50 fireflies

5. Beach Volleyball Angle Problem

    The ball travels 12√2 meters at a 45° angle.
    Horizontal distance: 12√2 × cos(45°) = 12√2 × (√2/2) = 12 meters
    Vertical distance (along the line toward Paige): same = 12 meters
    Distance matches the distance between Rick and Paige → Yes, it lands exactly at Paige’s spot



 • Now, This Week's Exciting Story
 
Peaches, Guac, and Twilight Trouble

by Joe Miller

The sun was slipping low in the sky, brushing the lake in long streaks of orange and gold. A cicada buzzed lazily in the trees, and somewhere in the distance, a kid shouted before splashing into the water. The last week of summer vacation had its own glow—sweet and fleeting—and Jack and Emily were determined to soak up every second of it.

“Blanket goes here,” Jack announced, giving the red-checkered fabric a dramatic snap like he was a stage magician. It floated down and landed unevenly on the grass by the lakeshore.

“Crooked,” Emily said, setting the picnic basket down with a thump.

Jack frowned at his work. “It’s rustic.”

“Crooked,” she repeated, nudging one corner into place with her sandal before sitting down.

Jack shrugged, dropping the cooler beside her. “Fine, crooked rustic.”

Emily pulled out a mason jar of her prized grilled peach salsa, holding it aloft as though she were revealing Excalibur. “And behold, the dip of champions.”

Jack reached into the cooler and plucked out his own bowl like a knight drawing his sword—creamy, zesty guacamole. “Wrong. This is the king. That,” he pointed at the peaches, “is just fruit playing dress-up.”

Emily gasped theatrically. “Fruit playing dress-up? Jack, these peaches were kissed by fire, lovingly diced, sprinkled with just the right herbs. They are the crown jewel of summer cuisine.”

Jack scooped a chip into his guacamole and took a loud, deliberate crunch. “Mona Lisa of dips. Timeless. Perfect.”

Emily matched his move with equal precision—chip, salsa, crunch. “Fireworks in a bowl. A summer romance you can taste.”

They stared each other down like rival generals while the soft lapping of water carried the tension. Neither broke eye contact as they dipped again, crunching in unison, louder each time.

Finally, Jack grinned. “Tell you what, Em. We settle this the democratic way. Winner is whichever dip the duck prefers.”

“What duck?” Emily asked—just as a plump mallard waddled out of the reeds, honking like it had been waiting for its cue.

Emily laughed. “Well, hello there, Judge Quackers.”

Jack quickly smeared one chip with guacamole and held it out. Emily countered with one slathered in salsa. The duck looked from one to the other like a picky customer at a buffet line. Then, with zero hesitation, it snatched both at once, chip and all, swallowing them before quacking for more.

Jack blinked. “Cheater.”

Emily grinned. “Or genius.”

They both broke down laughing, tossing the duck a peace-offering chip piled high with both salsa and guacamole. The bird gobbled it, wagged its tail feathers, and strutted back to the water, judgment delivered.

Emily leaned back on the blanket, her hair glowing copper in the sunset. “Maybe it’s not peaches or guac,” she said softly.

Jack smirked, clinking his chip against hers like a champagne toast. “Maybe it’s peaches and guac.”

They ate side by side as the evening settled in, fireflies beginning to blink against the twilight. Somewhere nearby, the smell of another family’s charcoal grill drifted over, mingling with Emily’s salsa and Jack’s guacamole.

But just when the world felt perfectly calm, a gust of wind knocked over the jar of salsa, sending a golden-orange splatter across the blanket. Jack yelped and scrambled to rescue his guacamole bowl.

“Relax!” Emily giggled, grabbing napkins. “It’s just a little spill.”

Jack held his guac like a football. “A little spill? That could have been catastrophic!”

Emily wiped at the mess, shaking her head. “You’d think you were guarding crown jewels instead of avocado.”

“Same thing,” Jack replied solemnly.

Then, in a mischievous flash, Emily swiped a chip through his guac, dipped it straight into her peach salsa puddle, and held it up. “One last experiment.”

Jack eyed it warily. “That’s dangerous cross-contamination.”

“Or… the future of picnics,” she said, popping it into her mouth before he could stop her. She chewed thoughtfully, then broke into a grin. “Oh, Jack… this is it. The perfect bite.”

Jack hesitated, then sighed, dipping his own chip the same way. He crunched, paused, then admitted with a grin, “All right. You win. Fusion dip for the ages.”

Emily raised her chip in triumph. “Peachamole!”

Jack groaned. “Please don’t call it that.”

She winked. “Too late. I’m writing it down as our new recipe.”

The last of the sun dipped below the horizon, leaving them in the soft glow of fireflies and laughter, two rivals-turned-collaborators united by chips, guac, and peaches. And though neither would admit it out loud, they both knew: the duck had been right all along.

Jack spread out the picnic blanket just as the sun dipped low, painting the lake in orange and purple hues. Emily appeared triumphantly with a bowl of guacamole, but Jack countered with his prized grilled peach salsa, insisting it had "layers of romance and mystery" compared to her "predictable green mush." The two went back and forth, mock-serious, until a curious duck waddled up, snatched a chip, and promptly chose Emily’s guacamole—leaving Jack stunned and Emily laughing so hard she nearly tipped over the wine bottle.


===========SHADOW
As a rare solar eclipse cast darkness over Stamford, an eerie gale swept through the streets, ushering in a whirlwind of fear. Residents peered through their windows, spotting flying objects darting across the obscured sun, creating kaleidoscopic shadows that danced in the gloom. Strange figures reportedly emerged from the woods, appearing to draw energy from the shadows with their radiant eyes set on the bewildered onlookers. By sunrise, the town lay still, bathed in light, with only the chilling memory of what had transpired hidden in the hearts of the few who remained.
    
SHADOW by Joseph Miller
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B4Z36PS3
Get your copy now and immerse yourself in transformative accounts that empower you to take action!

============ Space Tales 2
Space.  Will curiosity lead to discovery, or will it unleash a nightmare?
Space Tales 2 by Joseph Miller
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FKHGKSL3
Take hold of this book now. It calls to you like the sea to a weary sailor. With the weight of each page comes the promise of revelation. Picture yourself, coffee in hand, the aroma swirling around you like warm memories, paired with a Danish crisp and sweet. Dive into these stories that have transformed lives, as bold and honest as the lives we lead. Do not let this moment slip away. It is here, waiting. Seize it.



============

Visit and enjoy my Author Page 🍂📜 ♣️❤️♠️♦️
https://warlockpublishing.com/joseph-miller-author/joseph-miller
📚📖📘📙📗📕📔📒📓📔📒📓📚 ✨🌙💥👣️👽️🛸🚀☁️ 🕵️‍♀️💕


             

============ sponsor

KelDel Creations
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090364412851

Get ready to discover the true essence of handmade creations at Kelly's booth during the craft fair! Filled with lovingly crafted items, her space is a celebration of creativity and sustainability, showcasing pieces that are both stunning and Eco-friendly. Each item is a labor of love, carefully made to ensure quality and individuality. Kelly is passionate about her craft and delights in sharing the inspiration that drives her work with visitors. Don't hesitate to engage with her—your ideas and stories are welcome! This fair is a chance to support local artisans while enjoying a day filled with creativity and inspiration. Stop by, see what catches your eye, and leave with a piece that speaks to your soul!

 Kelly's Hugs

Southington Farmer's Market
We'll be there again on Aug 29th.  We look forward to seeing you again!!  Don't forget to ask for one of Joe Miller's great books.  It will be autographed.


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Thank you for stopping by! 
It was a joy to have you stop by our home in late August! Enjoying hot black coffee together around the fire pit brought so much warmth to our gathering. We cherished the memories we created and can't wait to make more. Until the air cools and the leaves change, we'll be thinking of you!



Please do write a comment.  You could, if you dare, ask me a question.  
Miller's Mysteries Blog!
[send questions to mindmyst@yahoo.com]

Until next Thursday,    
Happy August!!! 

Joe Miller 🍻🍻 🦈️⛳️⛵🇺🇸️🌻


Weather Forecast: Today’s forecast calls for dense fog so thick that it’s likely to cause existential crises in both drivers and pedestrians alike. On a lighter note, astronomers have detected a “galactic karaoke competition,” where black holes refuse to let any star finish its solo. So tighten those seat belts and warm up those vocal cords; it’s bound to be a bumpy ride!



Questions from Readers:

Q: Joe, do you ever take a day off from writing?
A: Of course — I save those days for editing, which is basically writing but with more crying.


Q: Joe, what inspires you to write so much?
A: Mostly the fact that coffee hasn’t taken out a restraining order against me yet.