Author: 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.

Top Ten Things Not to Do If You Are Called for Jury Duty

~ John W. Howell ~ 82 Comments

 

This post ran on March 12, 2018.  I think jury duty is still a thing so it may have some use.

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Top Ten Things Not to Do If You Are Called for Jury Duty

The inspiration for this list was reading about Dan Antion’s experience being called for jury duty. I asked Dan if he wouldn’t mind sharing what it was like. He graciously sent the rules of jury duty for my review. I have to tell you, Dan is the kind of person who would never do any of these.

10 If you are called for jury duty, do not ignore the summons. If you do, at best, the sheriff will greet you before you go to work. At worst, your co-workers will be entertained by the process known as the “perp walk.” (Who takes official papers seriously, Dubhgan? It looks like the courts do.)

9 If you are called for jury duty, do not forget to wear your “jurist badge.” If you do, at best, someone may confuse you with a lawyer. At worst, Tiny, the WWF champ and northwest member of the sheriff’s department, will have you on the floor with your hands zip-tied behind you. (You do look good in that jumpsuit, Dughall. I know it would have been kind of Tiny to ask who you were, but he had a job to do.)

8 If you are c lled for jury duty, do not forget to check in with the clerk when you go on breaks or leave for the day. If you do, at best, you’ll be marked absent and will have to serve again. At worst, an overzealous us judge will think you are ignoring your duty and issue a summons for your arrest for contempt of court. (Now that past due parking ticket takes on a new meaning, right, Duran? BTW what is a SWAT team doing at the front door with that battering ram?)

7 If you are called for jury duty, do not park anywhere but in the designated juror parking lot. If you do, at best, you might get a ticket or be towed. At worst, you’ll return to your car and find it up on cement blocks. (Why are courthouses in the worst neighborhoods, Dusty? Oh, look, your engine is gone, too. )

6 If you are called for jury duty, do not think being excused early means you don’t have to return to work. If you do, at best, your boss will get a report of the hours. At worst, while you are celebrating the half day off in your favorite place, your boss and the boss’s boss all come in for lunch. (Kinda hard to explain why you are not at the courthouse, Devyn. Especially since it is after 1:00 and ten miles away from here.)

5 If you are called for jury duty, do not turn on the news in the juror’s lounge. If you do, at best, the burley bailiff will turn it off. At worst, you will be singled out as the person responsible for the motion by the defense for a new trial. (Of course, the trial has been going on for four weeks, and now all your fellow jurors have you to thank for the huge waste of time, Dixon.)

4 If you are called for jury duty, do not forget to turn off your cell phone. If you do, at best, you’ll get no calls. At worst, just as the defense has concluded an emotional final argument, your phone goes off, blaring your cus om ringtone by the Who. (That long, grave silence the defense was counting on just evaporated in laughter, Daegan. I’m not sure how they will feel about that move. I do know the judge just pounded the gavel head into sawdust.)

3 If you are called for jury duty, do not forget to bring your lunch. If you do, at best, there will be a vending machine. At worst, there will be a vending machine but no way to make change. (You can still use that fiver, Dallen, but I agree—five bucks seems like a lot for a Snickers bar.)

2 If you are called for jury duty, do not ignore the rules for walking around the courthouse. If you do, at best, you may wander into the wrong court. At worst, you may go through a door that closes and locks behind you. (This is great, Damak. You have entered the private chambers of the judge and are being asked your name and what you are doing there. I think the next step is forced removal by that burley bailiff.  Yup, here he comes.)

1 If you are called for jury duty, do not think you can leave without completing the attendance report. If you do, at best, you’ll have to serve again. At worse, you won’t have proof you spent the last three weeks as a juror to give to your employer. (You thought the bureaucracy was terrible during jury duty. How about the red tape at the unemployment office, Danhy?)

 

Views of the Neighborhood – Lakeway Enchanted Forest Walk

~ John W. Howell ~ 99 Comments

Each year the Lakeway Parks and Recreation Department installs an Enchanted Forest Walk. It features tiny fairy and gnome homes that line the way as you stroll under a canopy of magical trees and twinkling lights. We are going to visit it today, but since it is daytime, there won’t be any twinkling lights. We are catered by Suzis China Grill of Austin. Our entertainment is Don Ho.

Menu

Moo Goo Delight – shrimp, chicken and fresh mushrooms in brown sauce
Seafood Delight – shrimp, scallops & krab with vegetables in brown sauce
Three Delight – beef, chicken & shrimp sautéed with vegetables in special sauce
Sautéed Trio – beef, chicken & shrimp sautéed with mushrooms & scallions in spicy burgundy sauce
Home Style Bean Curd – stir-fried with fried tofu, vegetables, chili & garlic
Broccoli with Garlic Sauce – sautéed with garlic, ginger & chili
String Bean Szechwan  – sautéed with garlic, ginger & rice wine
Picture of an old time school bus
Let’s go
We are welcomed by a happy bear.
A long view of the trail showing flowers and mushrooms
One of the Fairy communities from afar.
A close-up of the fairy homes
Cinderella’s coach.
Two gnomes in the tree.
Fairy boots and Texas stars with wagons.
Cattle and a wagon train.
Tooth fairy hangout.
Gnome blowing bubbles.
Butterflies and ladybugs.
Flower fairies.
A group of gnomes giving us a wave goodbye.
We do have one nighttime photo courtesy of the city.
That is the walk in the Enchanted Forest. The time now for food and entertainment. I hope you have a wonderful week.

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – Grate/Great

~ John W. Howell ~ 79 Comments

Reaching for the freshly brewed coffee, the cup catches on the small grate that supports it. The cup turns sideways, and all the beautiful, brain-soothing liquid pours onto the floor.

“Great” is the only expletive that comes to mind. Now, the process must begin again. Sopping up the coffee as the machine goes about business, my brain turns to the clock. The cup is finished, and the spilled coffee is cleaned up. One sip and the clock is set. April 19th, 1924. The time is 9:00 o’clock in the evening, and the duration is two hours. The plunger is pulled, and my destination is the studios of WLS AM radio in Chicago, Illinois.

We arrive in time to witness the first broadcast of the National Barn Dance, a show thought up by Edgar L. Bill, the station’s director. As we listen, the tunes are definitely country-oriented. I pull Bill aside and ask, “Why country here in the city.” Bill explains that the station is able to broadcast over the entire Midwest and, at night, pretty much over the whole country. “We had so much highbrow music the first week that we thought it would be a good idea to get on some of the old-time music. After we had been going for about an hour, we received about 25 telegrams of enthusiastic approval. It was this response that pushed the Barn Dance!”

The alarm goes off, and as usual, a soft landing is on my couch. My text tone tells me I have a text from Linda Hill. It reads: Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: ends with “grate/great.” Use one or bonus points if you use them both. Enjoy!

To see what other bloggers do with the prompt, visit Linda’s post. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2024/04/19/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-april-20-2024/

Grate/Great by John W.Howell © 2024

“That was fun.”

“I never knew the National Barn Dance had been going since 1924.”

“Yup. It kept broadcasting until 1968.”

“Wow, that’s great. A lot of stars appear?”

“Everyone appeared on the show. It was very popular.”

“I’ll bet a few copycats, huh?”

“The biggest was the Grand Ole Opry.”

“No kidding.”

“Started off as the  WSM Barn Dance in Nashville and later changed the name.”

“In its heyday, the National Barn Dance was broadcast across the US.”

“I can’t figure out how to fit the word grate into the conversation.”

“Yeah, it has been a hard day. Let’s hit the pub.”

“I ordered an Uber. It’s over there.”

 

“Oh, super. A 1924 truck.”

“I had to order that special.”

“It should be fun. I see one of us needs to ride in the back.”

“Yeah, but it’s not so bad; there is a grate to sit on.”

“A grate?”

“It’s a bench but has holes in it. More like a grate.”

“What about my bottom?”

“Might get sore.”

“You take the grate.”

 

Friday JohnKu – AKA -TGIF – Fri-YayGood News

~ John W. Howell ~ 90 Comments
The Houston skyline darkened – Tendenci CC 3.0.

Today’s  good news story comes from the Good News Network

Millions of Birds Now Migrating Safely Through Darkened Texas Cities After Successful Lights Out Campaign

By Andy Corby – April 18

Texas is in the middle of the most critical migratory pathway for birds moving up and down the Americas—nearly 2 billion birds, or 1 out of 3 in the US, will pass over Texas during their spring and autumn migrations.

To safeguard the over 400 species of birds that migrate through Texas, the Houston chapter of the Audubon Society and their partners in the state have been running the Lights Out! Texas campaign for two years, and they’re seeing remarkable results.

With the prestige that owning and operating a skyscraper confers it may be surprising to note that dozens of building managers have been convinced since 2022 to turn off non-essential outdoor lights.

“We issued the proclamation, and they… found out, ‘Oh, wow, I can do these simple things, and it actually helps the birds when they’re migrating,’” Houston city hall spokesperson Sarah Osborne told KHOU 11.

“We’re seeing communities all across the state join in on this effort,” adds Anna Vallery, a Conservation Specialist with the Houston Audubon.

Researchers working in Chicago and studying the effects of Lights Out campaigns and other phenomena impacting migratory birds found that reducing the reflections from exterior lighting on tall buildings worked to prevent 60% of all bird collision deaths.

Since most birds migrate at night by the light of the stars and moon, the shining lights of a city in the distance can attract them. But once lost in the photo-soup of a shining skyline like Houston or Fort Worth, they can become extremely disoriented, smash headlong into buildings whose glass is reflecting light from the city, and die.

Fort Worth is participating in Lights Out! Texas and the skyline looks decidedly different in this short CBS bulletin.

The Texas Audubon has all the information a resident might need to do their part or organize municipal efforts to help our winged brothers and sisters safely pass by.

Spring migrations last only about 70 days, from the start of March to the middle of June, with a slightly longer period during autumn migration of middle-August to the end of November.

The good news in this article is that cities and individuals are cooperating to ensure a safe migration for our bird species. Today’s JohnKu discusses the importance of bird life. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Birds by John W. Howell ©2024

Birds are critical.

They are an important link  . . .

In the chain of life

 

 

I am guesting with Barbara Vitelli known as Book Club Mom

~ John W. Howell ~ 29 Comments

If you do not know Barbara then this is a good time to become acquainted. She is a librarian, avid reader and big supporter of Indie authors. She also has a YouTube channel and has a wide variety of subject featured. Please give her a visit and explore her site. Be sure to wipe your feet and tell her I sent you.

Thank you so much for the feature, Barbara.

Who’s That Indie Author? John Howell

Thursday – A Little Personal – Twiggy and Tempest on Walk

~ John W. Howell ~ 114 Comments

“This is so exciting, Twiggy. A walk.”

“Yes, I’m always happy to take a walk.”

“Look at that grass over there.”

“One rule of walking is not to go off by yourself.”

“Thanks for the tip. What happens if we do wander?”

“You could get the yank of your life.”

“What is a yank?”

“Um, that’s where Mom corrects your direction. It is not a good thing.”

“So, how about if I protect you by holding your leash?”

“I really don’t need protection since I have learned how to walk on a leash.”

“It may be fun to see what Mom does when I walk you.”

“I’m sure she won’t be entertained. Let’s switch sides.”

“We can just switch when we want?”

“As long as we keep going forward, Mom’s okay with it.”

“You are the best, Twiggy. I appreciate all your help.”

“Don’t worry, Little One. I have your back. Let’s switch again.”

“Okay, I’m moving forward.”

“I like your stride. You look very disciplined.”

“I have to take two steps to your one.”

“I know. It’s the hardship of still being a puppy.”

“Look at this. There is a leaf on the road.”

“Okay, time to turn around. I don’t want to be near you when Mom sees you try for a leaf.”

“I love leaves.”

“That’s what gets you in a playpen. No eating leaves.”

Tuesday – Anything possible – Kreativ Kue #428 by Keith Channing

~ John W. Howell ~ 74 Comments

In Keith’s words.

“Using this image (below) as inspiration, write a short story, flash fiction, scene, poem; anything, really. Either put your offering (or a link to it) in a comment or email it to me at keithchanning@gmail.com before the end of the week. If you post it on your own blog or site, a link to this page would be appreciated, but please do also mention it in a comment here. Thank you for taking part.”

Keith’s post. https://keithchanning.wordpress.com/2024/04/15/kreative-kue-428/

The photo.

The Addition by John W. Howell © 2024

“I say, Desmond, I hadn’t expected this.”

“Well, It’s your job to inspect permit jobs then.”

“It is. On the phone, you said you were ready to inspect an addition.”

“Yes, that is true. I want everything to be on the up and up. No unpermented or unapproved additions for me.”

“I can respect that. I wish more were as conscientious.”

“So, what questions do you have for me.”

“Just one.”

“Shoot.”

“What is this?”

“It’s my new shed.”

“You say that like it has been built.”

“Oh, now come on. Surely, you can see that construction is finished.”

“My name is Wilson, and I see a slab of wood siding and some cement blocks.”

“Exactly.”

“What do you mean exactly? How can you call this a shed?”

“Did you look at the plan submitted with the permit request?”

“No. I haven’t had a chance.”

“What you see is exactly what was submitted.”

“Hold on, let me look.”

“Take your time.”

“By golly, you are right. Wood slab and five concrete blocks.”

“That is what is in place.”

“I don’t know who approved this at city hall, but this is unacceptable.”

“Look at the signature.”

“Hmm. Looks like the mayor.”

“Yup. So go tell him his approval is unacceptable.”

“I’ll say it’s a bit different, and no need to bother the mayor. Here is your approval.”

“Nice doing business.”

“I hope you are not planning any more additions.”

“Nope. I am planning to build a hotel, though.”

“I hear nothing.”

 

 

 

 

Top Ten Things Not to Include on Your Bucket List

~ John W. Howell ~ 79 Comments

 

Bucket lists will be with us forever. Here’s a list I published on March 5th, 2018. I think it still may be helpful for those planning a bucket list. I should have labeled this list the Top Nine since the last one is a recommendation of one to do.

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Top Ten Things Not to Include on Your Bucket List

The inspiration for this post came from the website https://www.bucketlist.net/

While looking around, I came upon one list of the top ten crazy things to put on your bucket list. This list started me thinking of what not to put on your bucket list for fear of having the list prematurely remain unaccomplished. I did borrow a couple from the list.

10 If you are making a bucket list, do not include swimming with great white sharks. If you do, at best, they will have eaten before you show up. At worst, they have all given up their vegan diet, and you are the first animal protein they’ve seen for weeks. (Looks like those extra long flippers might come in handy, Dayson.)

9 If you are making a bucket list, do not include asking Tiny how he got his name the next time you see him. If you do, at best, he will have his Airpods in his ears and will miss the question. At worst, you will remind him of the teasing he took in the fourth grade when he stood six feet tall. (This might be a good time to try out those nunchucks, Deavon. Be careful, though, and don’t let Tiny take them away from you.)

8 If you are making a bucket list, do not decide to ski the Alps. If you do, at best, you’ll sober up before the trip. At worst, you’ll get to the mountain and ignore the fact that you really weren’t an excellent skier in the first place. (That thrill of being airborne doesn’t last very long does it, Delbert? Don’t worry; the ski patrol will be waiting for you at the bottom of the mountain. It is a very short trip to the hospital.)

7 If you are making a bucket list, do not add breaking the world freedive deep dive record. If you do, at best,  your first try will give you a hint to stop. At worst, you will realize that the 122-meter (400+ feet) record is safe with your ten-foot dive. (Yes, Delsen, you need to hold your breath for over four minutes to break the record. So far, your best shot was twenty seconds)

6 If you are making a bucket list, don’t include quitting your job to try something new. If you do, at best, your boss will hire you back. At worst, something new is something that ten million had tried before and failed. (I give it to you that a mail-order catalog seemed like a good idea, Donte. It’s just that it has all been done before. Why not try to corner the aluminum can market?)

5 If you are making a bucket list, don’t consider a solo skydive. If you do, at best, you will take all the training. At worst, you’ll go up in a plane and then have to actually step out the door. (The first thing to remember is when to deploy the chute, Dorian. The second is how to use the other chute. Let’s not worry about the third right now you have enough to deal with.)

4 If you are making a bucket list, don’t think taking your life savings to Las Vegas would be fun. If you do, at best, the casino will have caught on fire. At worst, all those blackjack lessons and theories went out the window when you took a card on fifteen, and it was a ten. (The hotel will be happy to comp your room tonight, Dorrin. It seems you are the most prominent loser today.)

3 If you are making a bucket list, do not include running with the bulls in Pamplona. If you do, at best, you will be able to outrun the guy behind you. At worst, your strategy of running up a tree will backfire as six bulls all hit the tree. (You forgot that those horns are pretty tough, Draupnir. Put away that red hanky. Nothing can save you now.)

2. If you are making a bucket list, do not make a note about cooking fish at home. If you do, at best, someone who loves you will talk you out of it. At worst, you will finish the cooking and realize you have ruined a twenty-dollar fish and a fifty-thousand-dollar kitchen. (I think you have learned your lesson, Drewes. Now call the bank and get that home improvement loan fast.)

1. If you are making a bucket list, include becoming a best-selling author. If you do, at best, it may happen. At worst, you will live forever trying to complete your bucket list. (Just keep working on it, Drystan. Ninety-two is the new sixty-two. There is plenty of time.)

Views of the Neighborhood – Wilderness 5K Run/Walk

~ John W. Howell ~ 64 Comments

Today, we are going to the Lakeway Greenbelt to watch the start of the 5K Wilderness Run/Walk sponsored by Friends of the Park. This run happens every year to raise awareness of the volunteering opportunity with Friends of the Park. This non-profit organization helps maintain Lakeway Parks and ensures their preservation for the future.

We are catered by Cypress Grill in Austin. Our entertainment is Chicago

Brunch menu

Creole Eggs Benedict
English muffin, poached eggs, Cajun tasso ham, Creole hollandaise, served with one side (also available with classic hollandaise sauce)
Eggs Napoleon
English muffin, poached eggs topped with crawfish etouffee and cheddar-jack cheese, served with choice of one side.
Loaded Biscuit
Buttermilk biscuit open-faced, topped with Cajun tasso ham, andouille sausage gravy, and two eggs your way
Shrimp & Grits
Gulf shrimp, andouille sausage, and red peppers in a traditional low country gravy atop our creamy garlic cheese grits with crumbled bacon
Spanky Special
Sandwich with fried egg, American cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato, red onion, and mayo on toasted whole wheat
Cajun Hash
Andouille sausage, tasso ham, and boudin sausage sautéed with home fries, tomato, onion, and jalapeno, topped off with two eggs any way you like them.
French Toast
French bread, grilled golden brown and topped with powdered sugar, is served with one side.
The Bayou Breakfast
Two eggs any way you like them, plus any three sides
Buttermilk Pancakes
Three homemade pancakes with a choice of one side
Build Your Own Omelet
A three-egg omelet with three of the following ingredients: andouille sausage, Tasso ham, mushrooms, spinach, tomatoes, jalapenos, onions, Gulf shrimp, lump crab, crawfish etouffée, Creole hollandaise topping, parmesan, cheddar jack, or provolone. Served with a choice of one side.
Picture of an old time school bus
Let’s go.
There is a sign for the event.
Entering the Greenbelt, we run into these thoughtful chess players.
There’s the registration tent.
T-shirts, of course.
Oranges and bananas for the athletes.
Coffee and donuts for the rest of us.
Bronze elk family in the park.
A heron looking over Hurst Creek.
The starting point.
A slight warming up before the race.
Ready to go.
Friends of the Park chairperson gives the go signal.
And we are off. Well, not we as in you and I. We have food to eat.
The runners pass the heron on the way to 5K.
Now that the runners and walkers have departed, let’s have some food and enjoy the music.

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – Ound.

~ John W. Howell ~ 63 Comments

A picture of a string with drops of water- the logo for SoCS

 

 

The sound of coffee dribbling out of the machine’s exit tubes is music to the ears and the brain. Pound for pound, you can’t beat the restorative ability of even a sip of that beautiful elixir. After the first sip, looking around for the clock, the thought strikes: Why not go to Europe and see what is happening? The clock is set for Greece on April 13th, 1924. The duration is an hour. Pulling the plunger, and we are there.

We arrive in time for the announcement of the results of the election held on March 25th. The voters were to decide whether or not to retain the monarchy or endorse the Second Hellenic Republic proclaimed by parliament. Parliament stipulated that the public had to approve its decision.

Over a million votes were cast, and 758,000 opted for a republic with Pavlos Kountouriotis as president. Only 325,000 supported King George II’s return to the throne.

With the cheering crowds as a send-off, the alarm goes off, and a soft landing is managed on the couch. A text from Linda Hill comes in. It reads: Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: ends with “ound.” Find a word (or words) that ends with “ound” and use it any way you’d like. Have fun!

If you want to see how other bloggers handle the prompt, visit Linda’s post. Here is the link: https://lindaghill.com/2024/04/12/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-april-13-2024/

Ound by John W. Howell © 2024

“By the sounds of things, the people of Greece were tired of their king.”

“Yeah, I think you could say that.”

“I guess they were happy with that decision.”

“It’s Hard to say. The Hellenic Republic lasted until 1935 when a single-party form of government was established.”

“Oh, so things kept changing.”

“King George came back in 1935, but then the monarchy rule was dissolved in 1973 for the second time.”

“Who had to cough up the money to fund these changes?”

“I guess taxes. Why do you ask?”

“It seems like it would be tough on the people to have all these changes.”

“I think they were okay although it would be a pain.”

“Speaking of pain. How about a pub visit?”

“You order Uber?”

“Right over there.”

Photo by Dan Antion

“Now that looks like fun.”

“Yeah, just think of look on the faces when we pull up.”

“Is that legal?”

“Oh yeah. Surplus purchase.”

“Well okay then Let’s go.”