Welcome to February! Somewhere in my schooling I once read that February used to be known as “cabbage planting month.” I’ve never planted cabbage, so I don’t know if that’s true. Nor have I been able to verify (using Google) that any civilization or culture has ever, actually called February “cabbage planting month.” So I’m not sure if this a failure of my education, or a sign of latent creativity. =)

Happy New Year! I hope your 2016 is off to a great start.

We have a new update of The Journal 7 available. Check out “The Journal News” for what’s new and different.

We also have a new set of writing prompts, and this month tips explores the new category layout options in The Journal 7.

I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving!
And since I’m combining the November and December newsletters, I would also like to wish everyone Happy Holidays! =)
Over this past weekend I learned, firsthand, why most people don’t make their own stuffing anymore. After baking the bread, turning the bread into croutons, and, finally, chopping veggies and turning the whole mess into stuffing (or “dressing,” as my mother calls it), I have to ask myself, “Will I ever do that again?” I probably will. But not tomorrow. In the spirit of the season, though, I would like to say I’m thankful it came out tasting great. =)

Yay! Autumn is here! Perhaps somewhat predictably, autumn is my favorite time of year.

Autumn makes me happy. Autumn makes me thoughtful. Autumn makes me remember my childhood. Something about the bright sunshine with the underlying touch of cool air energizes me. Sure, I’m always happy to see spring too, but that’s different. Autumn is my time of year. =)

August is Back to School month here in the United States! For The Journal, though, there are *always* discounts for students and teachers (and lots of other people):
Discounts Available for The Journal

An update of The Journal 7 is available. There have actually been two updates of The Journal 7 since the July newsletter, but only the most recent one matters. See “The Journal News” below for all the details.

This month’s tip tells you how to use the new distraction-free full screen editor, and we have a new set of writing prompts.

Happy Birthday to The Journal! 19 years ago this month The Journal version 1 was released. They grow up so fast, don’t they??? =)

An update of The Journal 7 is available. See “The Journal News” below for all the details.

My wife, Susan, has contributed some new writing exercises, and George McCusker tells us how he marks the special days of his life.

An update of The Journal 7 is available. See “The Journal News” below for all the details.

This month’s tip explains how to set (and override) the default entry background and font color, and we have a few new writing prompts.

Here in the USA, this is the Thanksgiving Season, a time for Family, Food, and (American) Football. And, of course, giving thanks. In that vein, I’d like to thank my wife, Susan, for not only letting me talk over the movie, but joining me, enthusiastically. =)

There is a new update of The Journal 6 available. See “The Journal News” below for all the details. (The update came out in October, actually, but after the newsletter went out.)

This month’s tip is the (rather long) list of hot-keys in The Journal, alphabetically, and we have a couple new writing prompts.

It’s almost Halloween! The newly-minted three-year-old has his astronaut costume ready to moonwalk through the neighborhood and demand candy from strangers. Which is exactly the sort of thing I enjoy memorializing in The Journal. =)

Most of what I write in The Journal is more professional than personal. I design and develop in The Journal, and keep lots of notes about what I’m working on (some of which I even refer back to). But I also try to add the personal touch every so often. So future generations who browse my journal won’t think I was a *totally* self-centered workaholic. 😉

This month’s tip talks about how to mark “red letter days” in The Journal, and we have a couple new writing prompts.