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.
“Hold on Little One. I think it is here somewhere.” “What is it?” “Friday.”
Well, it is Friday and a nice milestone in the week’s travails. As I write this, I still don’t know who has won the election at the presidential level. Before I make any comment,let me be clear. Whoever wins should receive the support of our entire country.
I have been appalled by some of the vicious personal attacks written by fellow bloggers. There is one blogger out there who calls those who vote for other than her candidate A-holes. Unfortunately, the followers of that blog provided supporting words for that outrageous statement. Why is it outrageous? Anytime Americans are denigrated for voting for their choice, one more piece of freedom is threatened. Instead of A-hole, what if this person called those choosing the other candidate ‘traitors?’
We need to think about how we handle disagreement in this country. Do we continue to shout it down or listen and respond? Anyone out there who has written a slanderous statement about either candidate or their supporters should be ashamed of themselves. It is now time to knock it off and get back to being a decent society again.
Today’s John Ku talks about the freedom to choose. I hope you all have a great weekend.
Sally Cronin has published a beautiful review of Eternal Road written by Luanne Castle. She has also featured Judy Penz Sheluk, Diana J. Febry, and Linda G. Hill. A visit to Sally’s blog is always a treat and today is no exception. Thank you, Sally.
“Think we ought to get up?” “It’s Wednesday. Give me a reason.” “See you Friday.”
It is Wednesday Story Day time again, and last week, we learned where Carolyn is probably heading when she gets to France. We also learned that probably Cortez’s men won’t know where she is heading but could grab her during the three- and one-half hour drive between the Chunnel exit at Coquilles and Paris where she is headed. An idea came to Pricilla that if Somner could give up her French passport name, Carolyn could be grabbed while on the train to Paris. I see she is coming back into the room. Let’s get over there. Maybe she has a name.
“I have some bad news.”
“Somner, wouldn’t give you the name?”
“It’s worse than that. He died.”
“On no. There goes the last chance to locate my Carolyn.”
“There is a glimmer of hope.”
“What is that?”
“I just got off the phone with the FBI. After I explained the situation, one of their techies took it upon himself to locate the car Carolyn was riding in. He thinks he found it. With some high-resolution photos and facial rec software, he thinks they are in a blue Mercedes.”
“Is he sure?”
“Pretty sure. The important thing is we can have some folks at Coquilles detain the car and make sure. If it is her, then we will take her.”
“What if it isn’t?”
“They can check each car as it leaves. But the techie thinks he is most certain.”
“So, If it took a satellite and high res photos to locate her, what makes you think Cortez will be successful too?”
“He can do the same low-tech check at Coquilles as we will if the person in the blue Mercedes is not Carolyn.”
“So, it is a race to the finish.”
“In a matter of speaking, Mr. Popović.”
“I have a question.”
“Certainly, Mr. Dunfee.”
“Mr. Popović. Does the name Sandusky mean anything to you?”
“Um, yeah, my sister married a guy named Sandusky.”
“Is she still married to him?”
“Naw, he died of a heart attack ten years ago.”
“Never heard Cortez mention Sandusky?”
“I can’t remember.”
“How about the names Janis Rafferty or Ned Dixon?”
“Now, those names I’ve heard before.”
“Where?”
“Not sure. Might have been in one of the phone calls. I have heard of Alexis Rafferty, though. He worked for Cortez.”
“This is making me and countless others happy, Mr. Popović.”
“Of course, until my Carolyn is safe, I can’t give you any more information.”
“I understand. I don’t have any more questions. Thank you, Ms. Thomas.”
“I hope we will be able to shed some light on your case. In the meantime, we need to concentrate on Carolyn.”
“Using this photo (below) as inspiration, write a short story, flash fiction, scene, poem, anything, really, even just a caption for the photograph. Either put it (or a link to it) in a comment or email it to me at keithchanning@gmail.com before 6pm next Sunday (if you aren’t sure what the time is where I live, this link will tell you). If you post it on your own blog or site, a link to this page would be appreciated, but please also mention it in a comment here.
Go on. You know you want to. Let your creativity and imagination soar. I shall display the entries next Monday.”
This week marks the 508th anniversary of the opening of the Sistine Chapel to the public in 1512. Michelangelo, the greatest artist of the Italian Renaissance, was commissioned by Pope Julius II in 1508. After four years of hard work, the chapel was opened to the public. Certainly, we want to go there and see what that first day was like. Let’s not forget to take the list of things not to do so, heaven forbid, we do not make an error that causes a tear in the time continuum. Everyone, grab a list and jump in the Olds, and we’ll be off.
James’s Olds from Eternal Road.
Top Ten Things Not to Do at the Opening of the Sistine Chapel in 1512
10 If you go, do not let Pope Julius II hear you call the building the cistern chapel. If you do, at best, he will think your Italian is horrible. At worst, he will take a ruler to your knuckles for such a faux pas. (The chapel was named after Pope Sixtus IV, who restored it between 1473 and 1481. It looks like Julius thinks you need more punishment, Meinrad. He’s heading your way with two big burley cardinals. We are not talking birds here.)
9 If you go, do not tell Tiny, the WWF champ, that he is blocking your view of the ceiling. If you do, at best, Tiny will think you are talking to someone else. At worst, Tiny will be offended that you had the nerve to tell him he is in the way. (You see, Meir, when Tiny gets offended and has skipped several court-ordered sessions at Narcissists Are Us, there’s trouble. He won’t blame himself for being in the way. He blames you for saying anything. Look like he is ready to practice his new body slam move. Guess who is the slamee?)
7 If you go, do not ask Michelangelo for his autograph. If you do, at best, he’ll pretend not to hear you. At worst, he will be forced to ask the guard to escort you out. (Michelangelo, who also sculpted David and The Pieta, only signed one work: the Pieta. Looks like the guards are coming for you, Melanthius. Maybe next time you’ll not ask.)
6 If you go, do not suggest that the skin tones on God’s arm need some attention. If you do, at best, Michelangelo will think you are kidding. At worse, after concentrating on God’s arm for a month, Michelango has reached his limit. (Don’t look now, Melbourne, but I think Michelangelo is arranging for you to go up and paint whatever you want. Oh, my mistake. He just wants to paint you. Not in a good way either)
5 If you go, do not ask Michelangelo about the cupid statue he carved for sale to Cardinal Raffaele Riario early in his career. If you do, at best, he will ignore you. At worst, he will think you are trying to blackmail him. (As the story goes, Melbyrne, Michelangelo carved a cupid and then made it to look older and sold it to the Cardinal as an antique. The Cardinal caught wind of the scam and demanded his money back. Of course, he was impressed with Michelangelo’s work and invited him to a meeting in Rome. Michelangelo eventually won a commission to carve the Pieta.)
4 If you go, do not mention that Michelangelo’s David is deteriorating faster than other marble statues of his day. If you do, at best, he will think you are joking since Davis is only eight years old. At worst, he will wonder where you got your information and want to have you arrested as a witch. (You should have kept your mouth shut, Meldrick. Not too many people know Michelangelo carved David out of a block of 40-year-old marble rejected by other artists, and he found it discarded. Here come the guys with the handcuffs. I think I would leave quickly.)
3 If you go, do not ask Pope Julius II for a review of Michelangelo’s work. If you do, at best, he’ll give you a “no comment.” At worst, you have to sit for some time listening to all the grievances. (The problem was, Melville Julius II had definite ideas of what he wanted Michelangelo to paint. Michelangelo had other ideas and demanded that he get his way. Julius II capitulated but was not happy. He may ask you to do the ceiling over. My advice. Don’t.)
2 If you go, do not ask Michelangelo if it was hard to paint on his back. If you do, at best, he will laugh at you. At worst, he will get out the drawings of the scaffold he built and take you through hours of engineering fine points. (Originally, X and an architect was hired to build the scaffold. He came up with an unworkable design, and the matter came before Julius II. He told Michelangelo to build what he thought he needed. The scaffold that Michelangelo built allowed for painting standing up. Wake up, Melvyn. Michelangelo is finished explaining.)
1 If you go, do not ask Michelangelo if he would like to do it all over again. If you do, at best, he will walk away. At worst, he will detail all that was accomplished and tell you to get lost (When complete, Melelaus the ceiling had over 300 figures of biblical characters. The area was over 130 feet (40 m) long by 43 feet (13 m) wide. This meant Michelangelo painted over 5000 square feet of space. I don’t think he wants to do it again even if you loan him your phone with Spotify)
The hullabaloo over Halloween is over, and we all had plenty of rest since we could sleep an extra hour this morning. (yeah, right) Today lacking anything better to do, we are going out to check on the deer. The Producer says, “How boring.” I have to remind everyone that in the age of Rona, we can’t be too particular.
We are going to leave the bus parked and venture on foot. After all, a big yellow bus is not exactly conducive to deer watching. We do have a Good Humor bicycle vendor’s cart to haul our snacks and drinks. We are having hot Mexican chocolate with Kahlua shooters, shredded B-B-Q pork tacos, and toasted almond Good Humor bars. The Kingston Trio has agreed to walk along with us for entertainment.
Pinterest Image
So, put on your walking shoes, and let’s go.
The first thing we run into is this sign. I wonder what the parents tell the kids when they ask “What is rut season, Dad?”
The Producer captured this beautiful fellow. Man, she takes great photos.
A couple of does taking an early morning nap in our neighbors front yard.
A buck having a snack.
Another young buck taking it easy.
Three does taking five.
Here is a buck in silhouette watching four men approach.
He decides they are suburbanites and no danger at all. He’s pretty sure one even drives a Volvo.
The sisterhood out for a stroll.
Another young buck searching for a doe. Maybe we should tell him she’s not there.
This doe is hard to see, but before yesterday, this was an overgrown lot. It looks like the clearing crew is making it ready for a new house. No more naps here.
Of course, Twiggyis concentrating on the deer. You can barely see them in the neighbor’s front yard.
Let us finish with another of The Producer’s beautiful photos. I think she is a deer witch.
Well, that is our tour. Stay and have more food and drink and listen to the music. I hope you all have a great week.
It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday time again, and this week’s prompt is “trick.” Normally Linda HIll would come by to deliver a complicated prompt in person. This one is quite simple, and she sent it by Uber Eats. Thanks, Linda, for the brioche and the prompt. Her only caution is, “To use it any way we want and to have fun.” I think I can do that. If you would like to join in on the fun, visit Linda’s blog and read how; here is the link.
“Yes, indeed, ladies, it is Friday.” “Oh, good Boss. Can we have the car keys?”
Good to see Friday here again. It lets us know that time is, in fact, marching on. That is always a good thing. (Not that time marching on is a good thing but knowing it is marching is helpful)
Ahem. Now that I got out of that circle, I can talk about significant things. I don’t know about you, but I’m not looking forward to daylight savings time. Sheesh. With the “Fall back” situation, it will mean the pups will decide at 5:30 that it is time to get up. The only way to prevent that is to keep them awake for an hour later the night before. Yeah right. Ever try to keep a sleepy dog awake. So maybe if everyone stays quiet, they will lose track of time and snore in. I’m not counting on it.
Eternal Road has 17 ratings on Amazon for a 4.8 overall. I’m so pleased with the reviews and thank everyone who took the time. A reminder that the 99¢ price on the Kindle version goes up to $2.99 on November 1st. Here is the universal link once more.
