Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

March 19, 2021March 19, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 72 Comments

“Lucy you are it. Come chase me.”
“Hold on, Little One. I think I hear the roar of a cheese package.”
“I don’t hear it.”
“Maybe I’m having auditory hallucinations. Okay, start running.”

Here we are on Friday again. I guess we all are glad the weekend is here. I have to join Twiggy in her celebrations since every day is pretty much like the other. (being retired and all.)

Not much excitement around here. I have noticed on the news there is a little more action on the bar scene due to the state authorizing bars to open. The city of Austin is continuing the mandatory mask regulations, which I think is good. Unfortunately, the State is not so inclined, and the State Attorney General has issued a cease and desist order. I think the mayor of Austin will ignore it, so there will be some laughable legal maneuvers ahead. The governor and mayor do not see eye to eye on many matters.

We will probably see a percentage increase in Covid cases like other states who have opened up. The fact that 9% of Texans are fully vaccinated compared to 12% of the US population does not add comfort to a potential increase in cases. The next three weeks will tell the tale.

One more thing. Eternal Road – The final stop US Kindle edition will be on sale starting Sunday, March 21st at 3:00 AM Eastern time until Wednesday, March 24 at midnight. There are 26 lovely reviews for a 4.8 rating. If you have been waiting for the right price. This will be the time.

Today’s JohnKu looks forward to spring. I hope you have a lovely weekend.

The snow disappears,

Nourishing the ground below . . .

To herald the blooms.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

March 12, 2021March 12, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 73 Comments

“Lucy, want to play with my watermelon?”
“Catching 40 winks, Little one.”
“It’s Friday, and you are winking?”
“We have all day.”
“Promise?”
“Yup.”

Another Friday, and Texas is wide open. I wonder if two weeks from now, there will be a resultant spike in Rona. I guess we will see. I get my first shot today. I finally got an appointment on the Southside of Austin. A 45-minute drive. The local CVS is giving shots, but getting an appointment there is impossible. I will be getting the Pfizer two-shot dose. I keep hearing stories of line jumpers who actually lie about their eligibility. The only positive spin I can think of is that they will be protected and not infect others.

The COVID relief bill passed the house’s final vote. The President is ready to sign. Can any of us even imagine $1.9 Trillion with a T? Well, I did a little research, and if you stacked 1 trillion seven feet high, it would take up 2.2 acres or 96,768 square feet. Almost double for 1.9 Trillion. So say 14 feet high. (By the way, once you stack, it pray the wind doesn’t kick up.) Your cut will be $1,400 unless you make too much money. By too much, we are talking $75,000 for individuals and $150,000 for couples. 8% of households make at least $150,000.

I also want to discuss the fact that I am falling behind on my productivity goals for the next book and feel I have to take some action. You may be aware that my Top Ten Things Not to Do post published on Monday involves a lot of research. The length of time it takes is usually three or more hours to put it to bed. I always felt the time was well spent since the post generally delivered on humor and education. Also, a few history buffs enjoyed the post, and I saw them as muses. Well, they have stopped visiting regularly, so I take this as a hint to revise my schedule. I will be posting a Top Ten list but will pull some of the best from the past. Also, if there is a special day (Like national Pizza Day), I will create new copy since very little research is needed to be ridiculous.

I do hope you understand. Today’s JohnKu talks about keeping an even keel. I hope you have a great weekend.

When the seas get rough,

The sails need an adjustment . . .

To weather the storm.

Friday JohnKu – AKA- TGIF

March 5, 2021March 4, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 115 Comments

“There is no wild animal there, Twiggy. Let’s play.”
“It never hurts to be careful.”
“Careful is another word for obsessed.”

It is Friday again, and time to get ready for the weekend. This week our governor announced that all businesses Can open up with 100% occupancy. In addition, facemasks are no longer mandatory.

Not sure what to make of all that. I think such a move is going to have a detrimental effect on the spread of the virus. There haven’t been enough vaccinations yet to say there is herd immunity. I believe only 7.5% of all Texans have received full protection.

I’m in priority group 1B and am now looking for a vaccine spot. I had originally thought I could wait until more of the vaccine is available. With the governor’s move, I definitely feel vulnerable. I will continue to wear a mask to my doctor visits. (The only time I go out) The available vaccine is in short supply, and it is challenging to find a place to get a shot.

We will see how packed bars, restaurants, and people wandering around with no masks plays out. I’m betting that, in hindsight, it will be a problem.

Today’s JohnKu talks about whose responsibility it is to protect oneself from the virus. I hope you all have a safe and happy weekend.

When infection risk,

Is all around you today . . .

You must protect you.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

February 26, 2021February 25, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 113 Comments

“Where you going Little One?”
“Gonna find someone who will ruckus with me. It’s Friday.”
“I will.”
“You have to move to ruckus.”
“Good point.”

It is Friday, and what a difference in the neighborhood. Now that the power is back and the temperatures have gone from below freezing into the high 70s, I have to say I’m a happy camper.

The investigations into the cause of so many homes without power are underway. Six board members of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, or ERCOT, the industry nonprofit that operates the grid that supplies power to 90 percent of the state, have resigned. The governor has stated that those resignations do not represent the end of the issue. He has asked the Stare legislature to conduct a full investigation of the root cause of the problem and develop solutions to prevent it from occurring again. He has also called upon the Travis County District Attorney to investigate any basis for criminal charges. This situation needs to be rectified, and it will.

Those most unsympathetic bloggers have used the unfortunate situation to rant about how Texas people should now be sorry they didn’t vote out elected officials and vote in their candidates last November. This is the most insulting shoulda, woulda, coulda imaginable. It’s like telling a flood victim that they should have known better than to live in a flood plain. Such comments directed at the Texas voting population are a disgusting example of political blindness and a total lack of knowledge of the true facts.

One needs to remind these know-it-alls (the most vicious live outside of Texas) that the deregulation of Texas energy in 2002 was supported by Texas’s citizens. They should also know that before this unprecedented weather, Texas’s energy system had been functioning very well under the stress of the extremely high temperatures so common here for most of the year. Although deregulation has not reduced the cost of energy, it has ensured its availability.

Texas tends to take care of its own, and as big a deal non-Texans want to make of Texas’s flaws, we will overcome this current problem. Also, for all those who continue to harp on Ted Cruz’s lack of judgment, let me say he is our problem, and we thank you for sharing your opinions. His future looks bleak and we will have to ride out his term in the Senate.

Today’s JohnKu is a reminder to be careful about criticism. I hope you have a super weekend.

It is so easy,

To criticize someone else . . .

Look at yourself first.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

February 19, 2021February 25, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 103 Comments

“This stuff still here? It’s Friday for heaven’s sake.”
“Might be here until June.”
“You’re kidding.”
“Yup.”

Well, Friday is here with a promise of temps above freezing. It has been a long week of rolling blackouts and threatened water shortages. I have to say, though, we made it through. A lot of folks had severe damage to their homes from broken water pipes.

We are lucky to be living in a new home that was built with a lot of insulation. We also dripped our faucets for extra protection. It was the dripping that the water company found overwhelming. I guess when you get 11,000 homes dripping faucets all night, it adds up. So they sent a notice on Facebook of all places to knock it off or face water shut off. To us, this is all hearsay since we don’t follow the water department on Facebook. (Wwwhaaatt????) Anyway, tonight is going down to 19 degrees F (-7.2 C. I’m still going to drip. We’ll see if a water shutdown occurs. (I’m such an anarchist, right?)

Looks like all the political folks will be doing investigations to see why the power in the state failed. I think the answer might be that the weather was unprecedented, and no one thought winterizing of the production facilities was necessary. So, Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer can stay in cozy Washington. (By the way, since when does having the government involved in an investigation help anyone?)

Let’s give Senator Ted Cruz a big hand for heading to Mexico when his heat went out. You have to feel sorry for those who have no moxie. Even more so for those in public service who don’t hang around and see if they can help.

I see Joe Biden has declared Texas a disaster area yesterday and will be sending generators and bottled water. By the time they get here, it will be 70 degrees. Love the optics, though, Joe.

Today’s JohnKu talks about blame. I hope you all have a great weekend.

When things go badly,

There are some who want to help . . .

Others want to blame.

Friday John Ku – AKA – TGIF

February 12, 2021February 11, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 94 Comments

“Looks like another cold one, Lucy.”
“Yup, Little one. Another fly the couch day.”

Friday’s here and we are calling it Freez Day. We have temps no higher than the 30s until Wednesday with projections for nighttime temps in the teens or lower. On top of everything they are saying up to 4 inches of snow. As I write this, there is thunder and lightning with rain.

There have been countless accidents on the freeways. In Dallas there was a 100 car pile up. Here in Austin there is a 25 car mess which has the freeway blocked.

Needless to say we are not prepared for this kind of mayhem. The protracted temperatures below freezing will no doubt cause water pipes to burst so that will be another problem for folks.

There is not much we can do about the weather. I would say. “I guess we will stay home,” but that’s what we have been doing since last March.

Today’s John Ku talks about the weather. I hope you all have a super weekend.

Sometimes the weather,

Makes us feel something is wrong . . .

Then it seems so right.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

February 5, 2021February 4, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 90 Comments

Lucy and Twiggy — “It’s Friday Lucy.”
“I see it is by the clock on the wall.”
“Let’s ruckus.”

Well, here we are on Friday again. It has seemed like a short week for some reason. I can’t explain why. Maybe it’s busy.

Taxes took up a bit of time this week. I spent 2 1/2 hours on Turbo Tax customer support to fix a problem caused by Microsoft. When I booted up Turbo Tax, I couldn’t get the software updates. I let this situation go several times, but since I bought the disk a while ago, I knew I needed them. I really don’t know what the problem was, but a Microsoft bulletin suggested a couple of fixes that didn’t work. Finally, The tech and I uninstalled the program and then eliminated some programs that looked to be interfering. Long story short, all is well. I had previously saved my work, so nothing was lost except time.

This is Super Bowl weekend, and I always look forward to the commercials. Of course, having two quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady playing against each other should be entertaining. I guess I’m not alone. The sports pundits are calling this the greatest match-up ever. Who am I to argue. I don’t have a favorite, so I guess whoever plays the best game should win. (DUH John)

Still more executive orders out of Washington. We shall see.

This week’s JohnKu talks about having fun. I hope you all have a great weekend. This week’s view of the neighborhood is a Story walk. See you there.

Yes, time not writing,

Causes us to be stressed out. . .

Time for other fun.

Friday John Ku – AKA – TGIF

January 29, 2021January 28, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 75 Comments

“What are you doing out there, Lucy.”
“Since it’s Friday I’m walking the line to make sure it’s secure.”
“Now at least I know where I get my paranoia.”

We have a Friday! Yes, indeed, it is here.

This week has been a good one. Lots of news from Washington regarding executive orders from the president. Looks like most of the problems of society are ordered to be solved. It will be interesting to see the longer-range effects on some of them. I think most people feel good that something is being done about what are perceived to be inequities.

I have gotten into a rhythm regarding my latest WIP. I’m able to get down something each day, which is an important thing to do. I wrote the last three lines, which I always do, but I am not sure they will stick. Here they are, so you can keep me honest.

Sam feels the light slowly spread around her as the source comes closer from above. Her tears do not obey her will and run unchecked from her eyes. She hesitates but finally looks up into the blinding storm and whispers, “Thank you, my Lord.”

Yes, my WIP is another book with Sam and James. This time they have been called upon to find a soul and guide who are missing on the Eternal Road. The soul is Ryan Sanders, who stayed with his crippled plane in Afghanistan to prevent it from crashing into a settlement. The guide is Eddie Rickenbacker. Yes, that Eddie Rickenbacker. Sanders always admired the WWI pilot.

There you have it. Just enough to keep me on the hook. Oh, one last thing. The first stop on the Eternal Road is Super Bowl I. The book has a working title of On the Road Again, but that probably won’t stick.

Today’s JohnKu is about a story. I hope you all have a great weekend. On Sunday, we are doing a potpourri kind of tour. A little bit of a mixture of things.

You can plan and think,

But until something grabs you . . .

The story is not yours.

Friday – JohnKu – AKA TGIF

January 22, 2021January 21, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 99 Comments

“So it’s Friday Lucy. What should we do?”
“How about what we always do.”
“What’s that?”
“Run around like a couple of nut cases and then take a nap.”
“Works for me. You ready? I’ll give you to three.”

Well, here we are, starting day three of the new administration. As I float around the blogs, I see some of those who worked themselves into a frenzy regarding Trump are now writing hate-filled posts about a few in Washington who have a question about the new direction.

I have to wonder why the name-calling and vitriol on these blogs. I was personally looking forward to seeing that kind of behavior stop once Trump was gone. The continued hate-filled sentiments against anyone who is not in favor of the current administration’s expressed plan is exactly what President Biden asked us not to do. Come on, folks, Trump’s team was defeated. Give it a rest. Because folks don’t agree with you, it doesn’t make them any less American for expressing their views. That is unless you want to live in an environment where all opposing views are stifled. Do you? If so, be careful what you wish.

Today’s John Ku talks about free speech. I hope you all have a great weekend.

Is free speech defined,

Within how much you agree?

Or is it all speech?

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

January 15, 2021January 14, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 107 Comments

“What are you looking for, Little One?”
“I thought I saw Friday run through here.”
“It is Friday, so you may be right.”

It is Friday Twiggy, and I think we are all glad. Seems like this was a longer week than usual.

Thoughts on the week.

I am part of the 1B group (Over sixty-five with an underlying medical problem) eligible for the Covid vaccine. That would be good news, with the exception that there is no vaccine available. It looks like the rollout follows the usual 2020 practice, which is a manifestation of the murphy law that says what can go wrong will. I met with my doctor, and we both agreed to stay in quarantine. Besides, The Producer is not in an eligible age group, so it makes no sense for me to be protected and then go out and drag that evil back to the house.

As we all know, the house of representatives voted to impeach Trump. Most everyone is happy about this circumstance. I, ,wish they would have spent some time on necessary legislation for the country but do understand congressional leadership needing to carry out the purpose that they stated several years ago. Saving face is a big thing these days. This impeachment should be labeled for what it is – revenge. It does nothing to unite the country. As I read other blogs, it doesn’t look like anyone is in the mood to unite. It is going to be an interesting year. I, for one, hope the new president will be able to work on bringing us back together again. A tall order, but pray he can help get it done.

The inauguration is next week. I’ve stated before that I hope there is enough force in DC so that the punk element will think twice before starting another insurrection.

Today’s JohnKu talks about unity. I hope you all have a super weekend.

Unity starts where?

With the government only . . .

No. It starts with us.