Ah, sweet Friday again. I’m getting to the point where I feel I’m working for someone other than myself. I don’t seem to have enough time to get everything done and it’s like being on a conveyor line and not being able to stay ahead. Words, words, words, and more words. They just keep coming and I keep trying to put them together into something that looks like a story. I string them together and carefully add the binder to make sure they stay in line. I then finish them with a fine coat of polish designed to make them stand out. The quality control department rejects a few of the constructions and then I have to re-work them. The whistle finally blows and I can take a work break. One thing about the word production line. It never stops. While I’m taking a break more words keep coming down the line. If I don’t get back to them some may get damaged or wasted. So my break is fraught with concern for those words and I don’t feel I have had a rest at all. It is good to get back to the line and continue to produce the finished product. I stand with pride as ninety thousand or so of those words are contained in one collection and the customer order is fulfilled. Okay, so I don’t work on a word production line but it was fun to write about as if I did. Today’s JohnKu is about time off. I hope you like it.
Time off by John W. Howell © 2016
Work hard all week-long,
Finally time is for rest. . .
Still think about work.
Fiction Favorites 
Never been sure if the lack of an ‘off button’ on the word production is a good or bad thing. Guess it’s situational. Enjoy the weekend.
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I would say if you are a wordsmith an off button might be a bad thing. Happy Friday.
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Good point. Though having a toggle wouldn’t be too bad. Probably break it after a few weeks.
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It would fall off in your hand after a toggle to off.
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Made in China, huh?
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Ha ha ha.
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John… you really hit the nail on the head with this Johnku. Sundays are barely part of the weekend because I’m already stressing out about Mondays. I’ve always said that was a sure sign that it was definitely time to move on, and God knows I’m trying.
I very much enjoyed your musings about the word assembly line, and that is one of my all time favorite Lucy scenes. Thanks for sharing both and making me smile. Mega hugs!
Snow forcasted again,
Where is the desert?
I dream.
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Thank you Teagan. I’n glad I brought a smile. Again, I hope the snow is light. Look forward to the cherry blossoms. The desert will be here when you are ready.
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Thanks John. 🙂
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🙂
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“I don’t seem to have enough time to get everything done.” Oh John, I can relate. I’m looking forward to the weekend. Hopefully the conveyor belt won’t speed up for either of us. By the way, that’s my favorite I Love Lucy episode. 🙂
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Mine too. When it ran on TV I thought I was going to die laughing. Yes I saw the first run. *sigh*
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That is so true for many of us.
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We complain but can you imagine one day waking up and there are no words? Week
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You’re starting to sound like a speculative fiction author… What if there were no more words?
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I know right. Been reading your stuff.
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Ha.
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I’m not sure where work ends anymore. It certainly doesn’t respect the weekend. Still, it’s better than Lucy’s job, so I’ll hang in there. Today, just to make Friday fun, we’re getting 3-5″ of snow during the morning commute. Mother Nature really does have a strange sense of humor.
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Oh man! Does that sound like fun or what? Drive slowly. Thanks for the visit before the commute.
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If that is the case, I work in a junk yard. Lots of words, marginal value. 🙂 Love the metaphor though.
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Ha ha ha. Thanks. I love your words. Does that make me a junkie?
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JohnKu! So clever 🙂 I do feel like with technology today and 24/7 interconnectedness it is so challenging to stop the flow of work. It’s a different way of living, but then again allows for some flexibility other times of the week (if you can put a pause button on the words for a little bit!) Love the analogy.
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Thank you so much Deb. I had hoped it would bring a smile.
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I do, too, John! I guess that can be viewed as one disadvantage in working for oneself — the likelihood of working almost ’round the clock and not fully enjoying time off. Have a wonderful weekend!
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Gotta watch that. I was a consultant for five years and never took one day off. Well I did go to Hawaii and worked while watching the ocean. My billing rate was $400.00 per hour or $3000 a day so it was hard to sit without any billing hours.
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We do like your JohnKu about time off very much, John! 🙂 And so lovely to see Lucy again. 🙂
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Thank you Dina.
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At long last it’s Friday and you can enjoy a Margarita or two John. You’ve been doing a lot of writing from the sound of things. Have a good weekend.
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Thanks Guy,. You as well.
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Lol – gotta lurve words enough to set them free/let them go… We writers need to get a bit wild every now and then! 😉
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So true Jan. Thanks. Have a great weekend.
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Love the Lucy and Ethel chocolate clip. My long time favorite. 😀 😀 😀
Glad to hear you’ll be putting your feet up on the weekend, though work will still be on your mind.
I used to be like that. Nowadays, I don’t know one day from another. What do you mean it’s Friday?
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That’s why I label my posts. So I can stay on top of it.
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The chocolate factory scene is one of my favorites too and I saw it the first time around. (I sigh with you!) Your comparison to a word factory is clever. Take a little break and enjoy the weekend!
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Thanks. I think I will.
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That’s the story of my life, John. Ha, ha. Congratulations on your 90k words! Loved the video, it’s hilarious. Happy writing! 🙂
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Thank you for the visit. 🙂
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Always a pleasure. 😀
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John, perfect post! Yep, it’s time to put your feet up and eat some of those chocolate ship cookies. Ethel and Lucy won’t mind! Visualizing a word jam up on a conveyer belt made me laugh! A jumbled mess! Have a great weekend! 💛 Elizabeth
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😟typo…chocolate chip
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😀
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Thank you Elizabeth. Glad to make you laugh
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The perfect video accompaniment for these thoughts . .
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Thanks
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Who doesn’t love Lucy?
And your work as well, John.
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She killed it on this one. Thanks, Hook.
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Never seen that one before. Hilarious and true. Hope the words keep coming at a rate you can cope with. They’re hard to swallow. 🙂
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Thank you. So true about swallowing.
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