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.
Today’s good news story comes from station KDKA, the CBS affiliate in Pittsburgh, PA.
‘Guardian angel’: Mt. Lebanon mail carrier saves disabled veteran who fell into road
BY SHELLEY BORTZ – / CBS PITTSBURG
MT. LEBANON, Pa. (KDKA) — A local disabled veteran is calling his postal carrier a hero. He says the mailman pulled him to safety from the middle of the street.
“He is my guardian angel,” said Jim Brophy.
Brophy was installing lights outside his home on Mayfair Drive in Mt. Lebanon Monday morning when he fell down several concrete steps in front of his home, landing in the middle of the street.
The disabled Vietnam veteran said he couldn’t move and couldn’t even call for help because his cell phone flew out of his hands when he fell.
His mail carrier Eric was on his regular route when he happened upon Brophy lying in the street.
Brophy said Eric immediately parked his mail truck broadside to stop traffic flow and ran to his side. After asking a series of questions to ensure it was safe to move Brophy, Eric helped the Vietnam veteran to the sidewalk and then went to his door to get his wife.
“He said he’d do it for anyone. ‘I would do it for anyone, sir.’ That’s what he said, and then he thanked me for my service,” Brophy said.
After pulling Brophy to safety, Eric continued on his daily route, not knowing the impact he had on the man who calls him his “guardian angel.” Brophy said he couldn’t let that happen, so he waited for him this morning.
“I saw him walk up the street. I ran across the street, I said, ‘Hey, I don’t even know your name.’ He gave me his name and his route number. And I said, ‘I just want to thank you, man, you’re like my guardian angel, and I appreciate it, and we’re friends for life,’ and we hugged.”
Brophy did sustain some scratches and bruises, but thankfully he says he didn’t need medical attention.
The good news here is one man moved quickly to help another without thinking.
Today’s JohnKu talks about what it takes to be a hero. I hope you have a super weekend and a thoughtful Memorial Day.
The drill is to open a book to a random page and then, without looking, point to a place on the page. The word or words nearest the pointing finger becomes the prompt.
Today I opened The Last Drive to page 163, and my finger landed close to “The Beautiful One.”
This post ran on February 13, 2017. Since folks are still texting, it may still be helpful. I hope you enjoy it.
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The inspiration for this list came to me when I inadvertently sent a text to the wrong person. Luckily there was nothing in the text that might be embarrassing but caused my fiction mind to go into overdrive. I hope you enjoy it.
Top Ten Things Not to Do When Texting
10 When texting, do not use acronyms that you don’t understand. If you do, at best, you might be misunderstood. At worst, you may shock the receiver with your lack of social grace. (You thought WTF meant “Why the Fuss,” didn’t you, Ferd? Too bad Nun Mary Teresa was the recipient of your misunderstanding.)
9 When texting, check to whom you are sending the message. If you don’t, at best, your message will provide some laughs. At worst, that disparaging comment about Tiny, the WWF champ’s mother, will go right to him by mistake. (You could have sworn you were messaging your best friend only to discover you replied to Tiny’s last text to you where he threatened to break your leg. Don’t look, but he’s heading toward you now, Buford.)
8 When texting, do not rely on auto-correct to cover your mistakes. If you do, at best, you will need to explain that last text. At worst, you just sent a group text to the garden club where you explained that the male Pinto plant needed to be placed inside a moist verdant vessel. (Well, that sure didn’t come out the way you intended, did it, Alice?)
7 When texting, do not rely on voice to text as a time saver. If you do, at best, your numerous repeats will make it a longer process. At worst, your voice recognition program only understands Cambridge English, and you are from New Jersey. (Good luck with that bit of technology, Bunky. BTW Homeland Security thinks you want to blow something up.)
6 When texting, do not include a duck-faced or tongue-out selfie with an obscene gesture thrown in. If you do, at best, you’ll demonstrate your lack of originality and IQ. At worst, your selfie will be passed from phone to phone until it ends up with your boss. (That call from HR can’t be good, huh, Bosco?)
5 When texting, do not send pictures of your food. If you do, at best, folks will think you need a hobby. At worst, you will demonstrate a cry for help that needs intervention. (How is that good feelings camp treating you, Tex?)
4 When Texting, do not use technology to wish someone a happy Valentine’s Day as your only effort. If you do, at best, you’ll never have a relationship with that person. At worst, the resultant storm will not be assuaged without some very expensive make-up gifts. (Seemed like an easy way out, huh, Pard?)
3 When texting, do not use emojis to express what should be said in person or in words. If you do, at best, you’ll be seen as an automaton. At worst, you will receive emojis back that have at the core a message telling you to place your phone in a very dark place. (You don’t know where those emojis came from, do you, Buster?)
2 When texting, do not do it while in a social situation. If you do, at best, you will look up and find yourself alone. At worst, the rest of the group will take your action as being disinterested in the event or them and ignore you for the rest of the evening. (Let’s hope you even notice, Clod.)
1 When texting, do not drive a car or operate machinery. If you do, at best, you’ll escape with no consequences. At worst, you’ll hurt someone with your negligence. (You’ll have to live with that the rest of your life, Dope.)
Today is another slow one in Lakeway, so we will visit some features folks have placed in their yards. I had hoped to get photos of the water bubbling in fountains, but most are not turned on for our visit. Fountains of a certain size have been restricted due to the lack of rain. We will make the best of it with food catered by Bangers of Austin. Our entertainment isBrad Paisley
Menu
Bratwurst – Our take on the most classic of German sausages. Mild, perfectly balanced & delicious. Topped w/ sauerkraut & grain mustard. Served w/fries.
Spicy Italian – A classic Italian sausage w/ plenty of fennel and a whole lotta red pepper. Topped w/ sautéed to order, peppers & garlic, & fresh basil. Served w/fries.
Drunk Chicken – Beer Serrano Peppers, Red Pepper Flakes, Cilantro & more beer. Topped w/ garlic aïoli & grilled onions. Served w/fries.
Jalapeño Cheddar Brat –Our world-famous bratwurst w/ some jalapeño & cheddar cheese mixed in. Topped w/ spicy peppers & grain mustard. Served w/fries.
Chicken & Apple – Brown sugar, nutmeg & cinnamon make this a classic. The applesauce & brandy we fold in at the end makes it a legend. Topped w/ garlic aïoli & grilled onions. Served w/fries.
Hot Andouille Sandwich & Fries – Sliced down the middle. Crisped on the griddle. Served on a toasted Martin’s potato bun, dressed NOLA style w/ mayo, lettuce, tomato & house-made pickles. Served w/fries.
Duck, Bacon, Fig – Dried figs, plumped in port wine w/ honey & bacon. Topped w/ fig chutney, grilled onions & garlic aïoli. Served w/fries.
Banger’s Classic Hotdog – An all-pork hotdog made by hand. Topped w/ grain mustard & house made relish.
Trouble-free coffee is the best kind. A full cup and a sip seem like heaven. It is Saturday, which means a day when the agenda is open. Sitting on the couch, savoring the sharp taste of freshly ground French Roast Arababaca beans, is the perfect setting to be interrupted by the phone.
An unknown caller ID flashes on the screen, indicating the kidnapper is trying to reach me. “Joe’s diner,” is my greeting. Heavy breathing is the reply. Then, after a moment, an electronic voice warns me to stop playing games if I want to see the statue in one piece again.
My explanation is straightforward. The heavy breather is told that not seeing the statue again would be a blessing. He promptly hangs up. With some relief, another sip of coffee brings the sound of baying hounds along with the cursed doorbell. The powerspray guy had knocked the do not ring the doorbell sign to St. Louis, and it has not been replaced.
Throwing Lucy and Twiggy a treat, the security shutdown procedure is enacted. After a few minutes, the front door is finally thrown open. There stands Jessica Rabbit, or rather there leans Jessica Rabbit. Pulling her off the doorbell and being hit by the silence of the lamb’s means conversation is possible. “What are you doing here? Is my first question.
Jessica breaks down in tears and begs me to get the statue back. Explaining that the kidnappers were told to pound sand would not help here. Deciding to stick to the story that everything is being done and that the statue would be back soon causes Jessica’s tears to stop. Handing her a handkerchief, she dabs at her eyes and thanks me. She then givs me an envelope, turns, and walks away, leaving only the intoxicating scent of jasmine in her wake.
The message in the envelope is from Linda Hill. It reads Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “stick.” Use it as a noun or a verb; use it any way you’d like. Have fun!
It was a rescue that police said had never been done before hanging off the edge of a Staten Island ferry boat.
They were there because an emotionally disturbed man had inexplicably climbed out of the window onto a railing on the outside of the ship, seemingly ready to jump.
Then, after trying to reason with the silent would-be jumper, Officer Gambino, who was roped to the boat from an anchor point above, moved like lightning to grab hold of the individual and press him up against the side of the boat.
“Some people were in dry suits, and some were in rope harnesses in case he went into the water or stayed on the ferry,” said NYPD Emergency Service Unit Sgt. Darion Brooks. “We were prepared for both.”
Brooks told ABC 7 news that this particular rescue strategy had never been attempted before but that the ESU trains for dozens of different situations, some of which have involved potential jumpers.
The moment of arrest was captured in stunning detail by a news helicopter, and the man was transported to a hospital where he could receive psychiatric attention.
Here is the video of the rescue.
The good news here is that there were trained police officers who were able to save a life. Today’s JohnKu talks about rescues. I hope you have a great weekend.
Mark Bierman surprised me this morning with a lovely review of Eternal Road – The last stop. Mark has written a very compelling thriller titled Vanished, which explores the dark world of human trafficking. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, which I’m sure you will too. I’m sure Mark would enjoy a visit to his blog. I have turned off comments here and you can leave them with Mark. Thank you, Mark, for taking the time to read and review Eternal Road.
Happy Wednesday! Spring has sprung up in the Great North! It seems like one day we went from towering sticks to fully green flora in a blink. Our newest additions, a couple of ‘cluckers,’ named Ruby and Marshmallow are loving their new digs. Always busy greedily pecking at the yard for whatever morsels they can find.
Spring is about new beginnings, and that’s the main theme of the story I’m reviewing today. So, I’ll leave Ruby and Marshmallow to their barnyard banquet and tell you all about it.
The Deets:
James Wainwright picks up a hitchhiker and discovers two things 1. The woman he picks up is his childhood sweetheart, only Seventeen years older. 2. He is no longer of this world.
James began a road trip alone in his 1956 Oldsmobile. He stops for a hitchhiker only to discover she is his childhood sweetheart, Sam, who disappeared seventeen years…
So the drill is randomly opening a book and pointing to a page without looking. The word or words closest to the pointing finger is the prompt. Today the book is The Last Drive, opened to page 253. The word closest to the finger is “someone.”
