“Hey, Lucy. Want to play with the soccer ball? It’s Friday.”
“I’m so glad you are back at it, Little One. Sure I’ll play.”
Friday is here and a very welcome sight. “I wish I could work all weekend,” said no one ever. (Well maybe there are a few.)
This was a pretty uneventful week. I continue to pour over my WIP. I did a run-through Grammarly and found 4,323 things that need attention. Most are commas, which are the bane of my existence. I fully understand why. When I was in High School, I worked in the journalism department as a reporter and section editor of the yearbook. My journalism teacher would send back my stories with blue pencil circles around all the commas. (Blue pencil was an indicator to eliminate.) I finally got to the point where I almost removed commas from my brain.
The teacher did explain that too many commas slowed the story, and maybe a more fluid sentence would be in order. So that is my excuse, and I’m sticking with it. I also put the 4,323 things into context. If I take all the words in the WIP (96,000) and divide them into corrections needed, that leaves an accuracy ratio of 95.6 percent. I can live with that. (At least I can rationalize with that.)
As you know from yesterday’s post, Twiggy has been under the weather. I am pleased to report she is back to her old self and a testament to big pharma.
Today’s JohnKu talks about worry. I hope you have a great weekend
Concern by John W. Howell ©2019
They can’t speak a word,
Even if something is wrong . . .
Fur babies need us.
Fiction Favorites 
I’m happy Twiggy is her old self again. I hear you on the commas! Enjoy your weekend, John.
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Thank you, Jill. Have a good one as well.
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So glad Twiggy is better. I’m laughing about the commas … I’m with you on that, lol. I love that ratio though! Well done, John. The end is in sight! Love today’s poem. Have a lovely weekend 🙂
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The end is in sight. Beta readers then magic editing. 😀
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The same thing happens when I run my work through Grammarly. I’m happy little Twiggy is well now and playing with her toys. Have a happy weekend, John. 🙂 — Suzanne
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Thank you, Suzanne. Have a super weekend as well.
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I actually had the opposite issue with commas in high school. Rarely used them until a teacher sat me down to explain how they work. Natural pauses was the phrase. Natural for most people though because there are those who talk, with, too, many, pauses.
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Hahahaha. Thanks, Charles.
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I’m so happy Twiggy is feeling better. I’ve always thought of pediatricians and veterinarians as especially gifted as they understand what we cannot decipher. Your comments about commas evoked a chuckle, John. Right on!
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Thank you, Gwen. I agree on the medical folks who can understand what is needed. Glad you got a chuckle.
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So glad that Twiggy is on the road to recovery…
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She has all her brat traits back. (They are welcome.) Thaks, Lori.
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Glad to hear you made it through the week. I did just fine!
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Hahahhahaha.
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I’m glad Twiggy’s feeling better, and I laughed at your commas. Too many of anything can be a chore to deal with. You have commas — I have boxes!
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Yes, those cursed boxes. I was so glad our community has a recycle cardboard pick up. 😀
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Whew glad Twiggy is getting better! We are care givers from day one. An awesome responsibility. (I’m afraid I love my commas!)
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I have to admire you, Pamela. Anyone who loves commas is a saint in my book.
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What a joy, dear John! Now she is stronger & is going to enter the Eel soccer team. Commas? I comprehend you as they are my own problem, especially in Russian. There are so many rules where to put them & where not…so I prefer foreign languages for writing. 🙂
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I envey you, Maria. To have a choice of languages is a blessing.
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Thanks, dear John! Each of us has its unique blessing. That’s wonderful! You can write wonderful books, for example, & comprehend the doggy language. Otherwise Twiggy & Lucy’s photo diary wouldn’t have been possible! 🙂
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Thank you, Maria.
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🙂 Mr. Eel looks like a goalkeeper, by the way… Very cute photo!
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Thank you, Maria.
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Cheers to Twiggy’s recovery! I’m with you about commas. Meanwhile, I used to tell people that the best part of Friday was that we were one day closer to Monday than we were yesterday. Just can’t understand why they thought I was sick.
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Yes. Makes one wonder. 😂
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So happy Twiggy’s feeling better – and just in time for the weekend.
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Yes. We are happy too. Thanks, Teri.
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Glad Twiggy is fine!!
And I’m sure it’s a lot of work…but hey, it’s almost finished 🎊🤸♂️🍰📖
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Twiggy is back to her brat self. Thanks, VR. Yes, almost finished.
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👍👍👍
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😊
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I love your rationale, John. 😀 I’m so happy that Twiggy’s feeling much better. I can relate so much with your haiku. Having a dog is like having a toddler that never grows up. Happy Friday!
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So true on the toddler, Vashti. Thank you
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I am, so glad, Twiggy, is feeling, better.
You’re right about those commas John. 😉
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Thanks, Marc. They are a pain for sure.
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I’m happy to hear that 1) Twiggy is back to normal, and 2) that I’m not the only one fighting a lifelong battle with commas.
Have a great weekend, John. Time to put the blue pencil down.
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Hahahaha. Thanks you, Dan. Maybe I will take some time off. 😁
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Congrats on your progress. I feel the same way about commas. I wish our fur babies could tell us when something is wrong, too.
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Thank you, Denise. 😊
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So glad she’s back in the game, and I hope her toys didn’t miss her too much.
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I think they might have enjoyed the time off. Thanks, Craig.
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What a relief that Twiggy is better! Your comma story shows something about how we learn. Very thought-provoking.
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Thak you, Luanne. I’ve had to learn abot commas for sure.
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LOL!!
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John, who doesn’t have cause for concern with commas and the correct time to use them. Personally, I love them. Keep up the good work and have a great weekend, warm and dry where you are, hopefully. Cold and snowy here today (4 inches on top of what we already have)
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Yes, your snow is why I’m in Texas. Don’t think I could handle it. Y’all are tough and brave.
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And maybe a little dumb for staying here. But we just love paying NY taxes…NOT!😉
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Hahahaha
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Pleased to hear Big Pharma are doing something right. Commas – I feel your pain. Have a good weekend.
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Thank you, Guy
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Yay for Twiggy! Though she was already showing signs of being back to her old, young self 😉
As for commas, I should think too much of anything, is too much; not enough, however, makes one have trouble catching one’s breath! Cheers to you finding the happy-medium!
And for you, the weekend, for me, the start of work (though I can’t really complain as I only work two days per week… my weekend is just 5-days long instead of 2 😉
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I like the idea of a five day weekend. 😀
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Lemme tell you, these two days are worth five and I NEED five days to recuperate!
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I can believe it. 😀 Especially given last week’s story.
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Yessiree. And by the way, Pat made it out ok. Last night was a later one as the organisers have our venue til 2 instead of 1 and again tonight. So… I am already tired and looking forward to my “weekend” 😉
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That is good for Pat. For you ? Not so much.
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One more weekend after tonight and then I am FREE!!! So I am trying not to complain too much 😉
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That will be nice for sure,
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95.6 is not bad. It is good to see Twiggy up and moving again! TGIF to you, John! Cheers!
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Thank you, Jo. We are very happy she is responding to the meds.
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HOW
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How lucky you are,John; with all the troubles in the world you have the luxury of condemning commas!
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I know, right?
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Yay! Glad Twiggy is back to herself. Those young ones can bounce back quickly! I love the JohnKu!
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Thank you, Jan
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I am so glad Twiggy is back to her old self and feeling chipper again! I share your ‘bane of existence’! My first year of college, my political science prof (for whom I later went to work as a research assistant) marked every single paper I wrote with the same comment: “You tend to overuse the comma”. I still do … when you have 14 commas in a single sentence, it’s almost certain you have overused it! 😉 Have a happy weekend, my friend!
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Thank you, Jill. Happy weekend to you
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Awww… a heartfelt JohnKu. I’m glad Twiggy is feeling better.
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Thank you, Jennie. She is up to full brat.
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😀
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I’m glad to hear that Twiggy is feeling better! As for you, it sounds as though you are suffering from Comma Paranoia. (It’s a real phenomenon.)
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I think you are right. I see dead commas. 😁
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Haha! 😀
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😁
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Reblogged this on Loleta Abi Author & Book Blogger and commented:
So very true!
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Thank you, Traci
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You’re welcome, John! Hugs and enjoy your week!
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You as well, Traci
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