Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

~ John W. Howell

 

Twiggy and Lucy
“Lucy. What are all these people doing out front?”
“I told you yesterday. They are here to install the turf.”
“All that machinery. Going to put a damper on Friday ruckus.”
“Yup.”

 

Another hooray for Friday. It is nice that we are all on the eve of two days of rest. I’m over at Story Empire today complaining about not working on my manuscript. Come visit if you want to see a grown man cry. Here’s the link.

I always hate to discuss COVID but given the fact that new cases are up 55% across the country makes it hard to ignore. 97% of the new hospitalized infections are occurring in unvaccinated people. Sadly too, 99% of the people who die have not been vaccinated. It looks like a new serge of Covid is on the way due to the Delta variant. Breakthrough cases among fully vaccinated folks still remain at a low level.

We have survived this situation before, and I think it may be time for all of us to take precautions to keep ourselves and our families safe. However, I’m not going to look to the government for this precaution since the whole mask, social distance, and shut down process has become a political morass.

More bad news from the Olympics in Tokyo. The opening ceremony Director Kentaro Kobayashi was fired in response to anti-holocaust statements he made while performing a comedy act in 1998. He was the opening ceremony director since 2019. He is the last in a string of Toyko Olympics officials to be let go for indescretions. The US team has moved from the Olympic village due to COVID concerns. It looks like this Olympic venue is going to have more troubles. I feel badly for the athletes.

Today’s JohnKu talks about the Olympics. I hope you have a great weekend.

Olympics by John W. Howell © 2021

Four years to prepare,

A world wide celebration . . .

Of human spirit.

 

 

Unknown's avatar

Published by John W. Howell

I have been working in business for over forty years and now have the time to work in special areas of interest. My passion has always been to create compelling stories of fiction. I have authored six novels and am working on my Seventh. The first novel is still in manuscript form and being utilized as a door stop in the laundry room. The second is a contemporary fiction novel of 89,000 words and is complete and I am currently seeking a publisher. I also write poetry but have not had the guts to share any with anyone. The one time I read a piece to a person their only comment was, “it doesn’t rhyme.” I will continue to write and hopefully my blog, Fiction Favorites at www.johnwhowell.com will provide some entertainment and an interesting thought or two. I live in the Austin area with my wife Molly and an assortment of loving pets.

97 thoughts on “Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF”

  2. Can’t wait to see the new turf, John. Agree with you…the situation with the pandemic is disheartening. Cases soaring amongst the unvaccinated here in Florida, too. 😔

    Liked by 1 person

        1. These two just love their yard and do love the leash too. They just need to have the freedom to go out when they want. Hopefull this afternoon. I think Maddie is smart. There were times that when I was off leash trouble found me.

          Liked by 1 person

  8. I hate to see trouble of any kind at the Olympics, those kids work for years to get here and the countries actually get along for a week or two!
    Read your interview, and it was strange to see John W. Howell as a living, breathing human – cut that out! 🤓😵

    Liked by 1 person

  9. I’m dreading the upcoming school year with this surge. The mask thing was becoming a mess near the end of last year. I assume it’ll be a point of massive contention from the start.

    Like

      1. I’d say the same thing. I know some people who lie about being vaccinated too. At the very least, they go around without masks until their caught. Then it’s on and back off once the employee is out of sight.

        Liked by 1 person

  11. Covid is surging over here too, John. The Japanese are usually so good at organising stuff, but Covid put a spanner in the works this time around. I imagine like me you’ll still watch the odd event though. Hopefully ‘The Games’ don’t prove to be a distraction from your WIP, or mine for that matter.

    Liked by 1 person

  12. I know the athletes have worked four, no five, years for this Olympics but honestly… they should have been cancelled again, I fear. Things are way too much of a mess.
    Here, too, the new cases are mostly the unvaccinated. Still, there are those who refuse. What can you do?

    Looking forward to seeing your new turf!
    Have a spectactular Friday!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Someone said that the natural selection process will take care of the unvaccinated. I just wish people wouldn’t wait until it is too late. Thanks you for the Friday wish, Dale. The turf is almost finished. Looks great.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Yeah. I hear you, John. It’s so sad that people are still refusing (I have some in my own family – they are the ones who also spew all that garbage of things like the Holocaust didn’t exist… We just try to avoid conversing with them.)
        I bet it does!

        Liked by 1 person

        6. I understand. I have so many cousins and second cousins and that makes for lots of ideas – not all of them good, needless to say. Sadly part of life, losing them, I mean.

          Liked by 1 person

  13. The Olympics was once exhilarating to watch. Young healthy athletes striving to reach beyond expected limits — yep, truly exhilarating. Life has become so complicated since COVID and BLM and … politics. Another great post, John. Have a great weekend. 😊

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Gwen. Yes life has become less lighthearted for sure. Our country is in idealogical shreds and it is hard to try and forget that even with something like the Olympics.

      Like

  14. I can’t imagine trying to be a comedian these days. Everything seems to be off limits, and there are people combing your back-life just to destroy whatever you’re accomplishing today. Thoughts like that are enough to stifle creativity.

    Liked by 1 person

  15. It gets to where a person is scared to say boo in case it’s used against them twenty years from now. I agree with those who have committed violent crimes in the past paying for their transgressions, but just for something said…?
    Numbers are rising in Canada, as well, and our borders are opening- wave #3 is on the horizon.

    Liked by 1 person

  16. Our infection rate in Johannesburg has dropped and the word on the street is that our current wave of Covid has peaked. My mom and aunt had their second Phizer vaccination today. Terence and I are going on the 2 August for ours. A shame about the problems in Tokyo.

    Liked by 1 person

  17. I, too, feel bad for the Olympians. To have trained so hard and so long, then to have to fret over whether you’ll be able to compete (and then, without a cheering audience) feels wrong on so many counts. Enjoy your weekend, John!

    Liked by 1 person

  18. I agree that we can’t expect the government to fix everything. People should take responsibility for their actions. I have run out of patience for those who refuse to get vaccinated or to vaccinate their children! The rest of us have to do what we think is best to keep ourselves safe. TGIF to you!

    Liked by 1 person

  19. Since COVID seems to be back on the upswing, I’m carrying my mask with me everywhere, despite being vaccinated. Sadly it seems as the damage has been done for the Olympics as well as the with professional football. I don’t understand why people are consciously avoiding getting the vaccines. mRNA vaccines don’t work like those that obliterated polio 50+ years ago. Sigh. Have a good weekend, John. With (hopefully) not too many tears.

    Liked by 1 person

  21. A wonderful post, John! I too feel and worry for the athletes. I expected a lot more people to be vaccinated by now. I had stopped wearing my mask for a while, after getting the vaccine, but I’m going to start wearing it again. Enjoy the weekend! ❤

    Liked by 1 person

  29. Best to all the athletes!
    What a crock of shi! this virus is.
    What crock is it that contains all the anti-vaxers?
    My Baba made sauerkraut in giant crocks.
    Those days are forever gone.
    I never liked sauerkraut.
    I HATE the virus.

    Liked by 1 person

  30. Hey John, yes the spread of the variant is catching everyone’s attention. I’m wondering what will happen here on the east coast. We are fully open – no masks, etc. I’m glad my entire family has been vaccinated. Take care. I’m looking forward to your Views of the Neighborhood tomorrow, although I might not get to read it until Monday.

    Liked by 1 person

  31. The Olympics are just what we need in order to come together to cheer on athletes from all over the world, and take our mind off Covid. Please people, get the vaccine.

    Liked by 1 person

  32. I’ve been a bit off the grid, John, and I’m playing catch up. It’s weird to come back and realize the Olympics are in progress, and I don’t know anything about what has happened thus far. I saw the USA men’s team lost in basketball—shocking, and the women’s gymnastics team got off to a slow start. Covid seems to be the neverending story these days.

    Liked by 1 person

Comments are closed.