The Miller Report 09042025

 Hello and welcome to 

Miller’s Mysteries Blog, where today’s weather is so perfect even the goats stopped chewing long enough to notice. 
  Nyx
 The cats have taken their posts in the windows, squinting like detectives on stakeout duty, while a few cheeky cardinals drop by to chirp their commentary. The whole scene makes me want to grab a ticket for the next Calendar House show and then catch an AMC flick just to keep the times rolling. Hidden Valley mini-golf is whispering promises of neon golf balls and accidental trick shots, and Southington’s patios are begging for good food and even better company. Around here, every sunny day feels like it’s plotting its own adventure.


  • Across my Desk!!

“Some people start their day with meditation. Me? Coffee and a KitKat ☕️🍫— because inner peace is overrated when you can have caffeine and chocolate crunch.” -- Gus

 The ancient interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, possibly over 7 billion years old, is offering scientists a rare chance to study primordial material as it races past the sun in what may be a once-in-a-lifetime event.
 
A Powerball player in Clayton, North Carolina, missed Monday’s $1.2 billion jackpot by just one number but still walked away with $2 million thanks to the Power Play option. 💕🍷🥂💐 🎉

Tenth grade: where backpacks weigh more than students, pop quizzes strike like ninjas, and the cafeteria meat still defies science. Somehow, we survive — with coffee, laughs, and maybe a nap.


  • The Reader
  Michele sits at her kitchen table just after sunrise, a steaming cup of black coffee by her elbow. She opens her laptop and clicks onto Mindmyst Tales Blog, the blue glow of the screen pushing back the early morning shadows. A half-buttered bagel waits untouched as she fishes a pencil from her mug of pens. Michele jots a few words on the paper beside her, ideas sparked by the opening lines. She pauses to sip, smiling at how the blog always feels like it’s talking directly to her. The birds outside chatter, but she’s too lost in the story to notice. The bagel goes cold, but the coffee and the blog keep her warm.
  
  
 • Math of the Week

1. Backpack Books
Emily packs her new school backpack with 5 math books, each weighing 2.4 pounds, and 3 novels, each weighing 1.1 pounds. If the backpack itself weighs 2.8 pounds, how much does the loaded backpack weigh in total?

2. School Supplies Sale
Rick buys 4 notebooks at $2.75 each, 3 folders at $1.20 each, and a calculator for $18.95. He has a coupon that takes 15% off the entire purchase. How much does Rick pay after the discount?

3. Track Team Training
The track team jogs around the school field, which is shaped like a rectangle 120 yards long and 80 yards wide. If they run 6 laps around the field, how many miles do they run? (1 mile = 1760 yards)

4. Locker Combinations
A high school locker has a combination made up of 3 numbers, each ranging from 0 to 39. If numbers can repeat, how many possible unique combinations are there?

5. Pizza Party Fundraiser
The sophomore class sells pizza slices at $2.50 each to raise money for homecoming. They sell 120 slices and spend $145 on supplies. How much profit do they make?


 • Answers to last week's math

Barbecue skewers
Each skewer uses 3 chicken + 2 pineapple.
Chicken limit: 36 ÷ 3 = 12 skewers; Pineapple limit: 24 ÷ 2 = 12 skewers → max 12 complete skewers.
Leftovers: 36 − 3·12 = 0 chicken; 24 − 2·12 = 0 pineapple.

Drive-in cost
Total cost for 
n
n people: 
C(n)=12+8n
C(n)=12+8n.
With Bryan + 5 friends → 
n=6
n=6: 
C(6)=12+8⋅6=12+48=$60
C(6)=12+8⋅6=12+48=$60.
Cost per person: 
60÷6=$10
60÷6=$10.

Ballpark snacks
Let 
h
h=hot dogs, 
p
p=pretzels.

h+p=14
h+p=14, 
3h+2p=34
3h+2p=34 → 
h=6
h=6, 
p=8
p=8.
Answer: 6 hot dogs, 8 pretzels.

Camping tarp geometry
Area 
A=12⋅12⋅9=54 ft2
A=
2
1
⋅12⋅9=54 ft

2
.
Cost 
=54⋅$0.85=$45.90
=54⋅$0.85=$45.90.

Lemonade stand earnings
Sales 
S=2(25 cups/hr⋅3 hr+15 cups/hr⋅2 hr)
S=2(25 cups/hr⋅3 hr+15 cups/hr⋅2 hr)

=2(75+30)=2⋅105=$210
=2(75+30)=2⋅105=$210.
(If you want it as a function: 
S=2(25t1+15t2)
S=2(25t
1
+15t
2)
    ​
 with 
t1=3, t2=2
t
1
    ​
=3, t
2
    ​


 • Now, This Week's Exciting Story

The Harvest Shadow

The first week of September had draped the Southington Green in golden light, the kind that sharpened the edges of every leaf beginning to turn. Molly Kennedy tugged her sweater tighter against the cool evening breeze as she and Rick Crowe walked down the brick path, paper cups of pumpkin-spiced coffee warming their hands. A faint scent of woodsmoke from someone’s early fireplace drifted through the air, mixing with the sugary perfume of caramel apples sold from a food truck parked by the curb.

They stopped near the bandstand, where the town’s September festival had left behind strings of lights swaying overhead. Rick set his coffee down and grinned, teasing, “Careful, Molly—every squirrel in the county is watching you with those caramel apples in your bag.” She smirked, brushing her hair back, when a sudden figure stepped out from behind the bandstand.

The man wore a dark windbreaker and a baseball cap pulled low, but the sharpness of his voice cut through the easy air. “Kennedy. Crowe. You shouldn’t be poking around the construction site at Bradley Mountain.” His tone was both warning and threat, as if their casual September stroll had somehow crossed into dangerous ground.

Rick shifted instinctively, planting himself between Molly and the stranger. “Funny,” Rick said, keeping his voice light but steady, “we were just admiring pumpkins and fairy lights. Didn’t know that counted as criminal trespassing.” The man didn’t laugh. Instead, he took a single step closer, and Molly caught the sour tang of stale tobacco drifting from his jacket.

A hush fell across the Green, even though people were still around—kids darting past with sticky cotton candy fingers, laughter spilling from a nearby tavern. The lanterns overhead flickered slightly in the cool night air, making the encounter feel even more surreal. Molly’s pulse quickened; she knew this was no random festival-goer.

The confrontation sharpened when the man hissed, “Leave the mountain alone. Some secrets aren’t yours to dig up.” Then, as quickly as he appeared, he melted into the September night, swallowed by the festival crowd.

Rick let out a slow breath, shaking his head. “Well, that was subtle. Think he meant the buried treasure, the ghost stories, or just the view from the top?” Molly laughed nervously, the taste of cinnamon lingering on her tongue, but her eyes were locked on the darkness where the stranger had vanished.

And there, with the hum of crickets and the faint clap of distant music, she felt it—the night wasn’t done with them yet. Something waited on Bradley Mountain, and September’s golden glow couldn’t hide it forever.





===========SHADOW
As geological activity intensified in the small town of Cheshire, tremors rattled houses and unleashed clouds of ash that darkened the sky. Amidst the chaos, strange lights emerged, tracing the horizon, as those on the ground felt an unbearable pull urging them to dig deeper. What they discovered was beyond comprehension: alien symbols etched in charred earth and eerie shrieks emanating from the depths. When the dust settled, only the symbols remained, whispering secrets they would never fully grasp.
    
SHADOW by Joseph Miller
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B4Z36PS3
Don’t miss your chance.  Buy your copy today and dive into compelling accounts that will resonate with your journey of discovery!  Are they real, or aren't they?


============Space Tales 2
Terrifying, edge-of-your-seat tales — best enjoyed with crackers, cheese, and maybe a flashlight. 🧀🔦
Space Tales 2 by Joseph Miller
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FKHGKSL3
Buy a copy now. Begin your next great reading adventure.


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

Visit and enjoy my Author Page 🍂📜 ♣️❤️♠️♦️
https://warlockpublishing.com/joseph-miller-author/joseph-miller
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============ sponsor

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

Immerse yourself in the creativity at Kelly's booth during this year's craft fair, where each handcrafted item is a testament to passion and artistry! From eye-catching accessories to thoughtful gifts, you'll find a range of items that are not only beautiful but also unique in their design. Kelly believes in sharing her craft with the community, and each piece reflects her dedication to quality and sustainability. Feel free to ask questions and learn about her inspirations and the techniques she employs. 

It’s not just shopping; it’s a chance to connect and celebrate local artisans! With exclusive fair discounts available, there’s a great reason to stop by. Find your next cherished item and support handmade artistry today!

Southington Farmer's Market
We'll be there again on Sept 19th.  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! 
Your visit in early September brought such joy to our home! It was wonderful to share a cup of hot black coffee while enjoying the warmth of the fire pit. Conversations flowed easily as we watched the sunset together, creating memories to treasure. We can’t wait to welcome you back for some comforting hot soup in the cooler months!

 • Please do write a comment.  You could, if you dare, ask me a question.  If I like it, I'll publish it right here in Miller's Mysteries Blog!
[Send comments and questions to mindmyst@yahoo.com]


Until next Thursday,    
Happy September!!! 

Joe Miller 🍻🍻 🦈️⛳️⛵🇺🇸️🌻🍎

 • Quick question
 Why is it that we always lose one sock in the laundry? I can’t help but feel there’s a sock dimension out there hosting a party every time I do laundry! Maybe socks have a hidden world full of fuzzy soirées!
 
 
 • weather forcast
 September 7: Expect partly cloudy skies and the unsettling discovery of a black hole forming in your neighbor’s backyard compost pile. Bring a jacket—it’ll be breezy until the gravitational pull eats your mailbox. Pumpkin spice season remains unaffected.
 
 
 • Questions from readers:
 
Q: Joe, why do your characters argue so much?
A: Because it’s cheaper than therapy and way funnier than watching them agree. 
  
Q: Joe, do you write late at night?
A: Only until the neighbors call about the typewriter noises at 3 a.m.

Q: Joe, how do you come up with such great titles?
A: Easy — I write down nonsense until it sounds like a Netflix documentary.

 Joe