Category: A Little Personal

Thursday – A Little Personal – Lucy Learns About Life

~ John W. Howell ~ 64 Comments

Lucy

“Hey, Boss.”

“Hi, Lucy. How are things?

Lucy

“I’m a little worried about Stella.”

“Tell me.”

Lucy and Stella

“Well, I was going to chase her yesterday, and she wouldn’t take off.”

“Ah. Yes, Stella has arthritis, and it is progressing.”

Lucy

“Arthur Ritis? Let me at the guy.”

“It is not a guy, Lucy it is a condition that comes with old age. Notice Stella is sleeping more?”

Bailey

“I notice Pops. She is downstairs asleep right now.”

“Yes, Bailey. After all, Stella is almost seventeen years old.”

Stella

“Better give that to them in human years, John. Otherwise, they won’t get it.”

“Good idea Stella. I thought you were asleep downstairs.”

“Said the Einstein in the dog collar.”

Lucy

“Well, Lucy. Stella is over one hundred and nine years old.”

“Wow. Boss, that is old. I never realized. Is she okay?”

“She is feeling fine. Just much slower. I think your game of chase the kitty is over.”

“I see that, Boss. I hope she will be fine.”

“Sadly, Lucy you can’t stop time. We all have to prepare to say goodbye to those we love.”

Stella

“Good job, John. I’m proud of you.”

“Thank you, Stella. I love you.”

Thursday – A Little Personal – Lucy’s Agenda

~ John W. Howell ~ 65 Comments

Lucy

“Hey, Bailey. You hear anything?”

“Like what?”

“Listen upstairs. Something’s clomping around.”

Bailey

“I don’t hear anything? Hey, Pops you hear anything upstairs?”

“I can’t hear anything from here. I’ll go check.”

“Thanks, pops.”

Stella

“Excuse me, Stella.”

“Hold on, John. I’m just finishing breakfast.”

Stella

“Okay. What can I do for you?”

“Lucy said there was something clomping around up here.”

“I have to say I did walk from the office to my water.”

Stella

“John, you are letting those two get away with murder.”

“How so?”

“Ever hear of Carl Sandburg?”

“Of course.”

“His poem “Fog” used the metaphor, “Little cat feet,” to describe how silently the fog moved in.”

“I get it. See you later, Stella.”

“Bye John.”

Lucy and Bailey

“Okay, you two. Um I mean, okay, Bailey. There was no clomping around.”

“Well, we were trying to catch a nap and Lucy heard something.”

“Meaning Stella.”

“Lucy’s agenda not mine. I only reported what Lucy said.”

“Did you ever hear of Carl Sandb— Oh, never mind. Take a nap.”

Lucy and Bailey

“As you can see Lucy follows your direction to the letter. Wait, what is that noise?”

 

Little Personal – Rain Today

~ John W. Howell ~ 65 Comments

Stella

“Hey, John”

“Yes, Stella.”

“I think you better check on the canines. I hear rumbles in the hold.”

“The hold?”

“Downstairs. You sure miss the humor sometimes.”

Lucy

“Lucy, Stella tells me there is grumbling in the hold.”

“The hold, Boss? What does that mean?”

“Stella humor. Now, what’s up?”

“We were going to go for a walk, and here we sit.”

Lucy

“Tell him, Bailey.”

Bailey

“Yeah, Pops. We were ready then Mom says wait.”

“Do you two see the rainbow?”

“Uh, I guess it must be raining huh, boss?

“That’s right. Your mom doesn’t want you to get wet.

“Hey mom, Thanks for keeping us out of the rain.”

“You’re welcome Lucy.”

“Hey, Lucy. Come on the sun is out.”

“Coming, Bailey.”

“Ah, now you’re talking.”

“You’ve said it, Bailey. This is super.”

“Wait. Is that Peggy?”

Heron

“I don’t think so. Looks like a new Heron in town.”

Lucy

“Just as well. I have a few crabs to catch. Why don’t we name the new bird Meg?”

“Good idea Lucy. Meg, it is.”

Stella

“I see you are back and the canines are still with us.”

“Of course, Stella. They are a part of the family.”

“Okay, John. I really didn’t expect you to give them the slip. When’s lunch? By the way don’t you have some writing to do?”

“I do Stella. I do.”

Thursday – A Little Personal – Slow Day

~ John W. Howell ~ 72 Comments

Stella

“Hey, John.”

“Yes, Stella.”

“Where you been?”

“I was out taking photos.”

Stella

“With that iPhone?”

“Yes with the iPhone.”

“Pretty low-tech I would say.”

“Want to see one?”

“Well, it is a while before lunch so what the heck. Sure.”

Flag on the beach

“What is that?”

“Someone put a flag on the beach with a stick as a flagpole.”

“Why would they do that?”

“I think they were making a statement about being stronger than Hurricane Harvey.”

Stella

“That is a statement for sure.”

“Want another?”

“Not going anywhere, John. Why not?”

After the rain

“Okay. I get the cloud, but I’m sure there is more behind this one.”

“You are very intuitive, Stella. This shot depicts a new day after a storm.”

“I can see that. You know we felines don’t do a lot with symbols.”

“I know. It’s okay. Where are Lucy and Bailey?”

Lucy, Bailey, Stella

“Two guesses, John. If you use the term ‘couch’ you’ll guess right on each”

 “I see. Well thanks for looking at my photos today”

“Anytime, John. If you’ll excuse me. Since we still have some time before lunch I think I take a lay down. You will call me when lunch is ready, right?”

“You can count on me, Stella.”

“Thanks, John. I know that for a fact.”

 

 

 

Thursday – A Little Personal – Stella Tells it Like it Is

~ John W. Howell ~ 60 Comments

Stella

“Hey, John. What are you doing?”

“I’m proofing my latest book.”

“Let me see.”

Consequences of Childhood.

“Here it is.”

“Circumstances of Childhood?”

“Yup that’s the name.”

Stella

“Let me be honest. Doesn’t sound like something I want to read.”

“I never would have thought differently, Stella. I wrote it for humans.”

“Probably low brow then. Show it to the Canines and get their opinion.”

“Very well. I’ll humor you but I think I know the answer.”

“Bailey take a look at this book.”

“Yes Pops. What should I be seeing.”

“Does the title make you want to read it?”

“You are kidding right, Pops?”

“Well, Stella wondered what you and Lucy thought.”

“I for one don’t read. See what Lucy says. By the way, I think Stella was putting you on.”

Lucy and Bailey

“Lucy. Get up?”

“Huh. What?”

“I want to get your opinion on the book”

“Aw Boss. I was just about to take a big ole steak from that pipsqueak wiener dog across the street.”

“I know I disturbed your nap. What do you think?”

“Makes a good sleeping aid. Night, Boss.”

Stella

“Well, what did they say?”
“Not their kind of book either.”

“You know I was just putting you on.”

“I know but it was fun and at least I got to show them my book.”

“Authors. Don’t you guys ever give up?”

“No audience too small, Stella. No audience too small.”

 

 

Thursday – A Little Personal – Morning with Stella

~ John W. Howell ~ 73 Comments

 

Stella

“Okay, John. I know you are getting your coffee but I wonder if we could chat.”

“Of course, Stella. What would you like to chat about?

“Well, it’s a little personal.”

“Go ahead. I can keep a secret.”

“It’s about those two canines.”

“What a shock Stella. What about them?”

Lucy and Bailey

“Haven’t you noticed how they lay around.”

“To be honest I think all three of you lay around.”

“But sometimes it can be disgusting.”

Bailey

“I can see what you mean. How about some nice half and half?”

“I would like that but you have to stand guard.”

“Stand guard. Why?”

Stella, Lucy. Bailey

“Why? Just look at these monsters.”

“Aw you poor thing. I’ll Call them. Lucy and Bailey.”

Stella, Lucy, Bailey

“Not now Boss. We are on the hunt for some half and half leavings.”

“You girls are making Stella nervous.”

“Give me a break, Boss. You ever check out those claws? That is one serious fighten’ machine. If anybody should be nervous it’s us.”

“Okay girls go get the leavings.”

 

 

 

 

Thursday – A Little Personal – A call for Volunteers

~ John W. Howell ~ 48 Comments

Lucy

“Hey, Boss.”

“Yes, Lucy?”

“Aren’t you releasing a book on October 1st?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Don’t you think it is time to ask for some help?”

“So stand aside and I’ll make a call for volunteers.”

Circumstances of Childhood
Circumstances of Childhood

I will be launching Circumstances of Childhood,  a fictional family life story, with a traditional blog tour. The material will be ready for publication and just needs a copy and paste. The scheduled launch is October 1st. and the material will get to you a week before.  If you would like to participate please send an e-mail to me at:

johnhowell (dot) wave (at) gmail.com

Here is the blurb.

When a former pro football star and broadcaster, now a Wall Street maven is accused of insider trading, will he be able to prove his innocence and expose those who are guilty?

Greg and his boyhood pal dreamed of big success in professional football and then later in business. Greg was the only one to live the dream. Now the founder of an investment fund Greg is faced with a routine audit finding by the SEC. The audit points to irregularities and all the tracks lead to Greg. The justice department hits him with an indictment of 23 counts of fraud, money laundering, and insider trading. His firm goes bust, and Greg is on his own.

His best friend knows he is innocent but has been ordered under penalty of eternal damnation not to help.

If you enjoy stories of riches to rags, redemption, brotherly love, and a little of the paranormal, Circumstance of Childhood will keep you riveted.

Thank you.

Stella

“Perfect, John.”

Bailey

“Nice Job, Pop.”

 

 

Thursday – A Little Personal – Fur Kids in Exile

~ John W. Howell ~ 86 Comments

Stella

“Okay, John. Let’s chat.”

“Alright, Stella. What do you want to talk about?”

“Being a refugee.”

“We are not refugees. We are evacuees.”

Stella

“A rose by any other name is still a rose.”

“Okay, I’ll admit this is not ideal. We are better off than a lot of the Harvey Hurricane victims”

Stella

“Just look at you earlier. Sound asleep on your IPad.”

“Yeah and look at the covered couch.”

Lucy

“Lucy looks content.”

“Feed her and she’d be content on an iceberg.”

Bailey

“And look at Bailey. She is on the couch too.”

“The same covered couch.”

Lucy

“You know Boss this isn’t home.”

“I know, Lucy but home has no electricity, water, or sewer.”

“Well if we are all there that wouldn’t matter.”

“Yes, but isn’t it better to be comfortable? We are all here.”

Bailey

“I guess pop.”

“Thank you, Bailey. I knew I could count on you to be logical.”

“When we heading home?”

“Might be a while yet kids.”

“I think we ought to remember the victims who lost everything and the first responders who saved countless lives at the risk of their own.”

“We agree, Boss. Thanks.”

 

Lucy and Bailey

 

Thursday – A Little Personal – Watchdogs

~ John W. Howell ~ 80 Comments

Lucy, Bailey, Stella

“Hey boss, we have a code red here.”

“Code red? Lucy. What’s a code red?

“Tell the boss what code red means, Bailey.”

“Intruders, pop. Code red means intruders.”

Lucy

“They’re here. We have barbarians at the gate.”

“C’mon, Lucy. There is an easy explanation.”

Lucy

“Easy for you boss. You don’t have to put your mouth on a dirty pant leg.”

“They are the painters. They are going to make us look beautiful.”

“What do you mean, us, Pop?”

“I should have said they will make our house beautiful.”

“You may have those canines fooled, John. I for one am keeping my options open.”

“You on the table, Stella?”

“Uh . . . it looks that way, John.”

“Does mom know you are up there?”

Stella

Well, I really don’t know. Never thought to ask.”

“I guess what I mean is has she ever asked you to jump up on the table?”

“You know. I can’t really recall. You going to tell her?

“Well, I think it is not important with everything else going on.”

“Good man, John. Give us a kiss.”

Thursday – A Little Personal – Vacation

~ John W. Howell ~ 70 Comments

Lucy“Hi, Boss.”

“Hi, Lucy. What is going on?”

“Last week Bailey, Stella, and I had time off.”

“I know. You guys do anything interesting?”

Lucy, Bailey, and Stella

“Well, we took a morning dip in the pool. Of course, a dove interrupted us. Pesky thing anyway.”

“Too fast for you huh?”

“Then we went for a walk and ran into our friend on the beach. He was on his golf cart.”

“He looks glad to see you.”

“We built a sandcastle too.”

“Sandcastle? That looks like a bone.”

“All in the eye of the beholder, Boss.”

“I decided to dig a hole to China. Bailey wouldn’t help.”

“I think Baily probably had a realistic view of where China  was located.”

“Huh?”

“Never mind. What was next?”

“We went to the candy store and put out heads in a cutout. You should see Bailey.”

“I don’t think she enjoyed it.”

“Looks that way.”

“I told Bailey we needed a snow cone. I’m trying to decide on the liver or bacon flavor.”

“What flavor did Bailey get?”

“What do you think? Kibble flavor. Out of hundreds, she gets Kibble.”

“I decided it might be fun to get tattooed. Guess who put the kibosh on the idea?”

“Um…Bailey?”

“Bingo.”

“Happy hour at the Salty Dog. What a blast.”

“Did they serve you?”

“We got carded, and we left out ID at home. We ordered water. We did see a Texas hold ’em game though.”

“At the marina, we were waiting for the Pirate boat to come by. You can just see it off to the right. Bailey kept looking at a gull.”

“She is like that for sure.”

” We took some time on the playground equipment. Those slides were fun.”

Lucy and Bailey

“We finally had to head home and take a little nap.”

“What was Stella doing all this time?”

“Not sure. Ask her.”

“Stella, what were you doing on the week off?”

Stella

“You are kidding, right?