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.
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.”
“Ma’am, you must buy a ticket to watch the movie.”
“What about this boy here. Does he have a ticket?”
“He has a student pass.”
“Ah ha. So, he has no ticket.”
“Well, not per se.”
“So, you have decided to discriminate against seniors. Is that what I hear?”
“Not at all. Everyone has to have a ticket. You can’t just walk in here and expect to see the show for free.”
“I think my age qualifies me to do that very thing.”
“What if everyone felt that way? We would go broke.”
“I’m not everyone. Besides, judging by the audience’s size, you will go broke anyway.”
“The show doesn’t start for twenty minutes, so don’t judge the size of the audience until it does.”
“Back to my original point. Don’t seniors deserve a break?”
“Do I need to call the police?”
“If you do, I think the publicity will kill you. I can see reading about you throwing an old woman out of the theater just because she is too destitute to afford a ticket.”
“You are not destitute.”
“How do you know?”
“Cause your name is on the theater building.”
“How do you know my name?”
“You are the second richest woman in the state. Your picture is everywhere.”
Since the Superbowl is this weekend, I thought I would pull some advice from a January 26th, 2015 post. It all seems to be relevant.
Top Ten Things Not to Do at a Super Bowl Celebration
10 If you are attending a Super Bowl celebration, do not arrive wearing team clothing for a team that is not playing. If you do, at best, everyone will think you are a sore loser or are drunk. At worst, the crowd may come to the conclusion you’ve had a stroke or burst aneurysm and call for EMT support, and you will end up watching the game on a fifteen-inch screen next to the nurse’s station while waiting for an attending physician.
9 If you are attending a Super Bowl celebration, remember that many people like to watch the ads. If you forget and stand in front of the TV during commercial time, at best, you will be called many names in the process of getting you to move. At worst, the most enormous guy in the room wanting to demonstrate his downfield tackling expertise will use you as his dummy.
8 If you are attending a Super Bowl celebration, do not carry in your famous crab dip that must be kept at forty-two degrees or become a hazardous waste site. If you do, at best, the temp will stay near the required amount, and only one or two will be overcome. At worst, there will be no way to keep the dip cold enough, and you will have singlehandedly wiped out a full production day on Monday for several of the attendees, not to mention hurried trips to the ER for a prophylactic pump of the stomach
7 If you are attending a Super Bowl celebration, do not believe your host’s offer “to make yourself at home.” If you do, at best, you will be embarrassed when someone asks you to take your feet off the couch. At worst, you will be totally shocked to discover the room you decided to use for a bath is the overflow bathroom for the party, and you will spend a good amount of time under the water.
6 If you are attending a Super Bowl celebration, do not be tempted to look into any drawers or behind any closed doors. If you do, at best, only the homeowner will notice the disturbed contents. At worst, the host, being a techie nerd, has installed cameras in each room, which playback on the fifty-inch screen that is beside the game screen to the amusement of everyone at the party. (Except the one you came with)
5 If you are attending a Super Bowl celebration, do not think since the drinks are free, you should help yourself to the point of being over-served. If you do, at best, you might make a complete ass out of yourself, which others will find as typical of a low life. At worst, you will find yourself disoriented while actively looking for the bathroom, which you imagined you have found in the large bureau in the corner of a spare bedroom, shortly before passing out on the carpet.
4 If you are attending a Super Bowl celebration, do not think your duty includes eating a portion of everything that is laid out on the buffet table. If you do, at best, several people will believe you have lost your job or recently divorced. At worst, your pile of food will be an indication that you need an intervention, which will be organized to take place after the game, to the embarrassment of you and the person with whom you attended the event.
3 If you are attending a Super Bowl celebration, do not be the first to suggest some kind of gambling scheme for the game. If you do, at best, several guests will think you make a living that way. At worst, you will have several disputes around who really won and will be forced to double-pay several to keep the peace.
2 If you are attending a Super Bowl celebration, do not become overly obnoxious when your team is ahead. If you do, at best, the lead will be short-lived. At worst, someone will take an exception to your attitude since they feel bad about their team being behind. As much as they have tried to remain under control, as they learned in group therapy sessions, they are just beginning to lose their grip on reality while holding your shirt.
1 If you are attending a Super Bowl celebration, do not even think of driving your car if you have been drinking. If you do, there is no best or worst, just the potential for disaster for you or an innocent bystander.
Today represents one of those in-between kind of weeks. I have called it potpourri. We went to Bee Cave to witness Bee Cave Bob the Armadillo, seeing his shadow indicating early spring. It is too early for many Valentine’s decorations. So, we will now wander the neighborhood to see what else is going on. We are catered by Diner Bar in Austin. Our entertainment is Fleetwood Mac.
Menu
To start
SHRIMP TOAST– benne seeds, fino sherry, sourdough
DEVILED EGGS – smoked fish, Dijon, trout roe
SPICY BLUE CRAB SALAD – 0ld bay, cayenne, toasted saltines
DINER BAR LETTUCES – feta, pickled peppers, oregano
The coffee has been delayed. Checking my watch for the fourth time does not seem to help. Finally, within the bowels of the pesky machine, I hear the faint rumbles that assure me that soon the liquid soothing syrup will be streaming out of the spouts. Sure enough, here it comes.
After a deep sip, the mind thaws, and memory turns to the clock. The setting is simple, February 3, 1924. The place is Washington, DC. The duration is two hours. Checking my clothes before pulling the plunger ensures the dress is appropriate for February in Washington. No use freezing on my watch is the thought.
The plunger pull causes us to end up at 2340 S Street NW in Washington. There are uniformed police everywhere. Listening carefully to the officers, the cause of the commotion is Woodrow Wilson, the 28th President of the US from 1913 to 1921, has died. We are in front of his home, where he passed at 11:15 this morning.
President Wilson did have a stroke in 1919 that left him all but incapacitated. He and his second wife Edith and his doctor kept the public from knowing the absolute truth. It is said that Edith was, in fact, acting in Wilson’s absence. He retired from the Presidency in 1921.
The alarm sound precedes a trip to the couch. My phone tells me I have a text. It is from Linda Hill (who else?) It reads: Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “watch.” Use it as a noun or a verb; use it any way you’d like. Have fun!
“Yes, it was. There was no succession plan enacted.”
“if that were on my watch, I would have told someone.”
“The cabinet knew but went along with the President’s wishes.”
“Well, I’m glad nothing Earth-shattering took place.”
“The only thing that seemed to be affected was the ratification of the US membership in the League of Nations never happened.”
“Why was that?”
“Wilson, who favored joining, was too ill to negotiate his position, and those opposed in Congress had their way, so the US never joined. Maybe it didn’t matter after all since the League disbanded in 1946. So you may be right. Nothing Earth-shattering.”
“This political talk has made me thirsty.”
“You get thirsty when we aren’t even talking.”
“There’s Uber.”
“I don’t see it. Just that strange-looking truck.”
“That’s it. A vintage 1950s home delivery truck. Isn’t it sweet?”
“I guess you could call it sweet. I would love to know where you find these things.”
“Discount Uber is the place. I watch for the best specials.”
An 81-year-old who has been clearing snowy sidewalks in his neighborhood for over 20 years refuses to accept cash donations, insisting he loves the snow and helping his neighbors.
Jimmie Sinatra grew up in Lakewood, Ohio, and bought a house with his wife in the area in 1995. That same year, he invested in his first snowblower. Soon, he upgraded to a Craftsman snowblower that he can walk behind and has been maintaining the prized apparatus ever since.
“I just like snow,” Mr. Sinatra told The Epoch Times. “I love playing in the snow, walking, and taking my dog for a walk in the snow, and I decided to do a couple of neighbors’ sidewalks. Then, when my wife and I talked about getting a bigger snowblower, I decided to go all the way up the block.”
Currently, Mr. Sinatra clears snow from about 34 sidewalks, and if there happens to be a school at the end of each block, he helps there, too, as he hates seeing kids walking in the snow.
Mr. Sinatra clears the streets when the snow reaches 5 or 6 inches deep. Initially, only his immediate neighbors knew that he was helping clear snow for the neighborhood, and those living further down the street had no idea about it. However, over the years, a couple of people have noticed his handiwork and have asked if he could clear their driveways, too.
“I don’t ask for money, I don’t ask for anything, I just do it to help the neighbors,” Mr. Sinatra said. “It’s something for me to do. I enjoy it, that’s all. I enjoy helping people.”
Before retiring in July 1998, Mr. Sinatra worked in the material handling department of the Ford Motor Company in Burke, Ohio, for 33 years. His beloved wife encouraged his snowblowing hobby until she passed away four years ago from Lou Gehrig’s disease.
“That’s the way she was too, helping our neighbors out,” said Mr. Sinatra, who has become a religious man since his wife fell ill. “I changed my ways and just prayed every day and every night,” he said. “I think I used to take everything for granted, but I don’t anymore because it’s all in God’s hands. … I know my wife’s spirit is in the house with me, and that’s what I live for.”
Mr. Sinatra’s routine: 34 sidewalks from the corner of Woodward Avenue and Hillard Road up to Delaware Avenue in Lakewood, Ohio. (Screenshot/Google Maps)
81-year-old Jimmie Sinatra. (Courtesy of Nancy Feighan)
At the age of 81, Mr. Sinatra has his own health problems. In May 2023, he was diagnosed with stage four chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and emphysema in both lungs. He has trouble breathing so he wears a scarf to keep warm and carries an inhaler when he leaves the house to clear snow.
And, when he can no longer continue, he hopes that someone will take over and continue to clear the snow on the sidewalks and driveways of people who can’t do it.
“I have a lot of nice neighbors, and they take care of me and watch out for me, check up on me and make sure I’m okay because I’m by myself now,” said Mr. Sinatra, imploring: “If you see somebody that needs help, no matter what it is, give them a helping hand and don’t be afraid to do it. Just help your neighbors and your fellow man out.”
The good news in this story is one man took it upon himself to help his neighbors for the joy of doing so. Today’s JohnKu talks about joy. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.
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.
This was posted on January 26, 2016. Since we just finished the playoffs, this looks like good advice.
* * *
The inspiration for this list was this season’s NFL playoffs. There were enough punches thrown during the various games and enough trash talk to fill a stadium. Although I was not a party to any of the conversations, my imagination went to the point of asking the question, “What could one player say to another that would warrant an attempted punch to the nose. (I say attempted since most players are guarded by a facemask, and it would be tough to make a fist-to-nose contact.) Also, I know none of us play American football, but what if we did? I hope you enjoy the post since we are now in the last moments of this season.
The Top Ten Things Not to Say to an Opponent on the American Football Field
10 If you are on the football field, do not tell another player that you heard they were losing their Nike endorsement. If you do, at best, the player will think you are joking. At worst, the player will assume you have the endorsement and will try the fist-to-nose maneuver. (You know those endorsements don’t come easy.)
9 If you are on the football field, do not ask another player about last night. If you do, at best, you’ll get a stare. At worst, the player will assume you know something and will court a penalty to take you out. (Last night is something players never mention. Right?)
8 If you are on the football field, do not tell a player he looks cute on the jumbotron. If you do, at best, the player will avoid you for the rest of the game. At worst, the player will finally get that you wanted to tempt him to look continually at the jumbotron and will take you out with a chop block. (It was a good try and pretty funny when he went downfield for a pass and couldn’t take his eyes off himself.)
7 If you are on the football field, do not make fun of another player’s Ferrari color. If you do, at best, he will tease you about not having one. At worst, the player will start to become self-conscious about his choice of purple and take it out on you. (The dealer did call it Red Cassis, though)
6 If you are on the football field, do not mention the nasty tweet that the player made, which required a huge apology. If you do, at best, the player will give you a knuckle sandwich warning. At worst, just when you thought you were going to catch that game-winning touchdown, you wake up in the hospital instead. (Never saw it coming, did ya bunkie. Oh, and by the way, your team lost.)
5 If you are on the football field, do not ask a player if that is his mother in the stands. If you do, at best, he won’t have time to think about it and just smile. At worst, he will realize you are talking about his latest date and will make a tackle you’ll remember well into the next season. (You should always be respectful. Right?)
4 If you are on the football field, do not tackle a player and then say, “That was easy.” If you do, at best, the player will throw you off. At worst, you and the player will look like children on the playground punching each other on the ground in front of thirty million viewers. (Why won’t the press leave this one alone, you wonder?)
3 If you are on the football field, do not put your face mask into another player’s face mask and tell him he’s ugly. If you do, at best, you know a fist-to-nose attempt is on its way. At worst, you will wonder what happened right after your helmet went airborne and the lights went out. (No way to talk to a 350-pound tackle)
2 If you are on the football field, do not tell another player that you heard his Super Bowl ring is in a pawn shop. If you do, at best, you will be on the ground on the next play. At worst, you will be the center of attention on a time-out and cart ride back to the locker room. (Learned a lesson about finance, didn’t you)
1 If you are on the football field, do not tell another player that your agent is the same as his. If you do, at best, the game will be a series of who can outdo who. At worst, since you both behaved so poorly, your agent has now cut you both loose. (A bit of discretion could have avoided all this angst.)
We are going to the Lakeway Activity Center for sizzling salsa dancing today. This is part of the Lakeway Arts Brown Bag Concert Series. The idea is to bring your lunch and enjoy the entertainment. We are catered by Nixta Taqueria of Austin. Our entertainment is Gloria Estefan with Daniel Rosas & Jasmin Benfreha.
Salsa flight – 1oz serving of salsa cruda, salsa Morita, lacto-fermented hot sauce, creamy habanero. A delicious addition to chips, tacos, or tostadas! (contains fish sauce)
