Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – Chicken or Egg

June 29, 2024July 12, 2024 ~ John W. Howell ~ 56 Comments

Banging on the machine has no effect. It is clear the foamer is on the fritz. There is no reason to make a Cappuccino without milk foam. It makes one wonder which came first, the milk foam or the coffee. Clearly, a cup of coffee without milk foam is just a cup of coffee. Milk foam without coffee is just hot milk with a mustache possibility. What is a person to do? The best thing to do is reset and be grateful for a cup of coffee and then get a new machine.

With coffee in one hand and the clock in the other, it is time to head out for another adventure. The clock is set for June 29th, 1914. The location is Sarajevo, Bosnia. The duration is for an hour. When the plunger is pulled we land on the street in Sarajevo. It is 11:00 AM, and two shots have taken the life of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and Sophie the Duchess of Hohenberg, his wife.

The shooter is a student, Gavrilo Princip, a Serb separatist who is immediately arrested along with 22 accomplices. Pandamonium breaks out, and our alarm goes off. Back on the sofa, the text from Linda Hill comes in. It reads. Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “chicken or egg.” Use the “which came first” conundrum in your post, whether about the chicken and the egg or about a real-life situation that fits the question. Or just talk about chickens and eggs! Enjoy!

To see what others did with the prompt, visit Linda’s post. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2024/06/28/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-june-29-2024/

“That was some visit. I noticed you went back to 1914. Why?”

“For one, nothing was going on in 1924 but the Democratic convention. I could not pass up the event that triggered World War I.”

“Gotta wonder how that was the trigger.”

“Well, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia, and allies of each country declared war on each other. It was a mess.”

“What happened to the shooter?”

“He eventually was found guilty and sentenced to twenty years of hard labor in prison. He was too young for the death penalty, but his accomplices were all put to death. He died in prison in 1918.”

“Whoa, Karma at work.”

“Something like that.”

“Speaking of Karma.”

“I suppose this is a run-up to a pub visit.”

“Well with a name like VooDoo Ranger what else would Karma be?”

“Dis you call Uber.”

“Yup, he is waiting over there.”

“What a sweet ride. A 1966 VW Beetle. Wait, there is already a passenger.”

“Yeah, that’s old Virginia. I’m afraid she misunderstood me when I mentioned the VooDoo Rangers.”

“What do you mean?”

“She’s into VooDoo and wanted to meet the ranger and swap methods.”

“For heaven’s sake. Couldn’t you clear it up?”

“I tried, but you know how it is.”

“No, I don’t.

“Let’s just say when Virginia gets something in her mind, it is best to go along. Especially if she asks for a lock of your hair.”

“Your hair?”

“No, yours.”

“I see what you mean. Let’s go.”

Views of the Neighborhood – April Showers Bring May Flowers

May 5, 2024May 5, 2024 ~ John W. Howell ~ 76 Comments

For Cinco de Mayo, we are going to take a look at some of the blooming plants that have benefitted from the April rains. We are catered by Bambino of Austin. Our entertainment is

PIZZA PIES

GLUTIN FREE – 13-ish inches parm & lemon choice of marinara or cacio é pepe ranch

ROSSO – tomato, garlic, olive oil, oregano
ADD cantabrian anchovies –

MARGHERITA – tomato, mozz, parm, basil, olive oil

MI SCUSI – tomato, mozz, smoked scamorza, parm, olive oil, basil, sesame seed crust

COPPA CABANA – house coppa, orange marmalade, mozz, oregano, chile

LITTLE STINKER – lion’s mane, mushroom conserva, fontina, taleggio, mozz, kale, garlic, red pepper flakes

CACIO E PEPE – fresh mozz, fontina, pecorino, black pepper, lemon

UNCLE FRANKIE – tomato, fennel sausage, sweet peppers, broccoli rabe, chile bomba, red onion, parm

PRETTY… PRETTY GOUDA – gouda, challerhocker, mozz, gold potato, arugula,
red onion, marjoram

NO, YOU DA BOMB – tomato, chile bomba, garlic breadcrumbs, double parm

JOE MARS aka “THE TRACKSUIT” – tomato, Fra’Mani pepperoni & cupping pepperoni, mozz, ricotta, basil, hot honey

Picture of an old time school bus

Let’s get rolling.

Our first stop: Society garlic.

Blue Bonnet seed pods with caterpillar.

Purple Salvia

A beautiful pink Oleander.

Yucca bloom.

Yellow lantana

A nod to Dan Antion’s menagerie.

Pink salvia

Mexican hat (cone flower) wildflowers

Pink lantana.

Need help with this one.

New Guinea Impatiens

A budding Magnolia

Well, that’s it. Let’s relax and enjoy the food and an oldie. I hope you have a terrific week.

I am guesting with Barbara Vitelli known as Book Club Mom

April 18, 2024 ~ 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

Views of the Neighborhood – Lakeway City Hall Art Show – Penny Jamrack – Artist

March 24, 2024March 23, 2024 ~ John W. Howell ~ 91 Comments

We are going to Lakeway City Hall to view Penny Jamrack’s art today. Her art is on display, sponsored by The Lakeway Arts District. Penny is originally from England but now spends time at her places in Australia, Montana, and Texas. She retired from software development to concentrate on her creative interests, especially watercolor and acrylic painting. She finds inspiration in the natural beauty of plants, birds, and animals. She is also very interested in portrait work, including those of famous musicians and political figures.

I have tried to take the best photos of the art. Sometimes, it is necessary to shoot at an angle to avoid light glare. I have not tried to capture the frames, so in some cases, they are cropped out.

We are catered today by Buenos Aires Cafe of Austin. Our entertainment is Rod Stewart.

Picture of an old time school bus

The bus is ready. Let’s go.

Penny Jamrack artist.

Mother Stork and Chick – Framed watercolor

Blue Jay – Framed acrylic on canvas

Monarch Feeding – Framed acrylic on canvas

Roseate Spoonbill – Framed watercolor

Puffin with Attitude – Framed watercolor

Red Shouldered Hawk – Acrylic on canvas

Bald Eagle on Branch – Framed acrylic on canvas

Hummingbird on Daisy – Acrylic on canvas

Snowy Owl Ice Dancing – Framed acrylic on canvas

Testing the Ice – Framed acrylic on canvas

Angry Tiger – Framed watercolor

Janis Joplin – Acrylic on canvas

Saguaro Sunset – Framed watercolor

Sir Elton John – Acrylic on canvas

Ruth Bader Ginsburg – Framed acrylic on canvas

Santa Fe Door – Watercolor

Andaman Sea Anemones – Acrylic

Weeping Desert – Acrylic

Well, that is the tour. Time now to relax, have some food, and listen to Rod Stewart

Sally Cronin shares A Good News Story

March 8, 2024March 8, 2024 ~ John W. Howell ~ 2 Comments

Smorgasbord Posts from Your Archives 2024 #Potluck – #Goodnews #TGIF – Fri-Yay/GoodNews by John W. Howell

Sally has a feature where she highlights posts from blogger’s archives. Today she is featuring a Good News story from September 28th 2023 from Fiction Favorites.

Sally is. the biggest supporter of Indy authors on the planet and her site is worth a visit to check out how you can participate with her help. She is also a talented author and her books are worth visiting as well.

Thank you so much for this feature and review, Sally.

Top Ten Things Not to Do at the Oscar Ceremony

March 4, 2024March 3, 2024 ~ John W. Howell ~ 74 Comments

This post ran on February 23, 2015, but I think it will still be helpful should you ever get nominated for an Oscar.

* * *

Since next Sunday is the Oscar ceremony, I thought it would be nice to provide all of you Oscar nominees (You know, Best Screenplay from a novel) with a list of what not to do if you should attend the Oscar ceremonies. This list was inspired by witnessing several cringe-worthy moments during previous Oscar broadcasts. I hope you enjoy it (and heed the warnings when it is your time to accept)

Top Ten Things Not to Do at the Oscar Ceremony

10 If you attend the Oscar ceremony and win an Oscar, do not look at your seatmate and mouth the words out loud that belong to the initials NFW. If you do, at best, the bleep and commentators’ comments will stay on YouTube for half a century. At worst, the FCC will present you with a bill representing the fine for a worldwide violation of on-air decency, along with instructions on how to answer the charges levied by no less than thirty countries.

9 If you attend the Oscar ceremony and win an Oscar, do not rely on the tape applied to your daring dress by the designer to withstand the jumping up and down associated with the excitement of the win. If you do, at best, you might have to react quickly to stay covered. At worst, you might have a wardrobe malfunction that happens so fast the network cannot eliminate it from the broadcast that is being viewed by your entire family, including great grandpa Jerkins, who has been known to use the switch on the kids when they are bad.

8 If you attend the Oscar ceremony and win an Oscar, do not carry a cheat sheet with all the names of the people you must thank. If you do, at best, you will look like someone who has no idea who to thank. At worst, you will miss someone you should have included on the list, and they will hate you forever.

7 If you attend the Oscar ceremony and are to present a category, make sure you know how to pronounce everyone’s name. If you don’t, at best, you will make a small mistake no one recognizes. At worst, you will mispronounce a name or two, and the video will be the one chosen to be sent into space as the iconic non-verbal depiction of a buffoon on Earth.

6 If you attend the Oscar ceremony and are to walk the red carpet, do not fall down. If you do, at best, you will have to answer reporter’s questions continually all night about “your accident” as if you had wet your pants. At worst, the video will be made into a gif and will loop on the Today Show website for a year.

5 If you attend the Oscar ceremony, do not allow anyone to over-serve you. If you do, at best, you will make some small mistakes that only your mother will notice. At worst, during your big moment you will take the opportunity to explain to the audience and the rest of the world how schuper schuper happy you are ta be part of the wonder-ful Hollywoot shoe and how y’wissh ta thank allllllll the little little people who schacrificed to get you where you are now. (no typos here, all intended) Your performance will be nominated to be the new public service announcement for a twelve-step program.

4 If you attend the Oscar ceremony, do not think Will Smith will be at all entertained with any Chris Rock mentions. If you mention the unfortunate slap, at best, you might just get a cold stare. At worst, you could be the recipient of a knuckle sandwich coming out of nowhere and without any mayo.

3 If you attend the Oscar ceremony, do not think you should wear anything other than formal wear. If you wear something else, At best, most attendees will assume you work in the kitchen. At worst, the jokes said behind your back will end up on the Stephen Colbert show, and you will be asked to appear in the outfit you wore Oscar night. (Believe me, no one is laughing with you)

2 If you attend the Oscar ceremony, do not think wearing an experimental hairstyle will make you noticed in a positive way. If you do, at best, your hairstyle will be a topic on the following “What not to wear at the Oscars” edition of Here’s Hollywood. At worst, someone will want to touch the creation, and you will allow them to do so since you think they are a big producer, only to find out later they park the cars.

1 If you attend the Oscar ceremony, do not try to get yourself in front of every camera. If you do, at best, the producer will switch cameras the minute they see you on the monitor. At worst, although you thought each shot was magnificent, it appears you had a piece of spinach from the oysters Rockefeller stuck in your front teeth, making you look like a character out of the movie Deliverance.

A Top Ten List Featured by Sally G. Cronin

February 16, 2024 ~ John W. Howell ~ 18 Comments

Smorgasbord Posts from Your Archives 2024 #Potluck #Humour Top Ten Things Not to Do With a Smartphone by John W. Howell

Sally has a regular feature called Posts from Your Archives. Today, she featured one of my Top Ten Lists. As you know, Sally is the biggest supporter of Indie authors. A visit to her blog is always a treat and a learning experience. Just visit some of her tabs, and you’ll see why. Thank you, Sally

Views of the Neighborhood – Winter Tree Scenes

January 14, 2024January 13, 2024 ~ John W. Howell ~ 130 Comments

Today, we will look at the winter configuration of the trees in the neighborhood. (yeah, it’s a slow activity day here) We can see things that are usually not in view in the summer. We are catered by Ramin Del Barrio of Austin. Our entertainment is The Bangles.

(All Ramen Bowls come with onion, lime and cilantro)

CARNITAS TONKOTSU – Shoyu tare, pork bone broth, mixed carnitas, grilled pepper, and onions.** Best for first-time guests!

CoChinita Tonkotsu – Shoyu tare, cochinita pibil, pickled onions, avocado, tortilla strips. Best for first-time guests!

Menudo Tonkotsu – Guajillo tare, honeycomb tripe, hominy, arbol chilis, tortilla strips. Pa la cruda!

Mole Tsukemen – Mole negro, karaage, Tortilla strips. Dip the noodles. Don ́t dump the broth over the noodles pendejo.
Contains peanuts

Chilaquiles-men – Dry Ramen. Thick noodles tossed in a tomatillo/yuzu-kosho

Picture of an old time school bus

So let’s go.

Our first view is a close-up of the berries on a juniper.

Red berries on the pyracantha.

A squirrel’s nest in a deciduous tree.

Lots of mistletoe in the trees.

Some more red berries on Hawthorne bushes.

Red leaves on a Bradford pear.

Another mistletoe example.

A pair of trimmed junipers. (Sometimes called cedars here in Texas)

A live oak that keeps its leaves until spring.

Further away look at the juniper berries.

This is a patch of Bluebonnets growing wild. They will bloom in the spring.

A good example of ball moss in the tree.

China berry tree with yellow berries.

Another squirrel nest.

Nandina Bamboo with red berries.

Well, that is the tour. Sit back, have some food, and enjoy the music. I hope you have a great week.

Thursday – A Little Personal – Twiggy is a Little Slow

December 7, 2023December 6, 2023 ~ John W. Howell ~ 96 Comments

“Hey, Twiggy. What’s going on?”

“Just chillin’ here.”

“Here’s your ball. You want to play?”

“I’m not sure. It’s one of those lazy days.”

“Yeah, I think we all have them.”

“I’m wondering what I hear in the kitchen?”

“I think you might be hearing something. There’s nothing there.”

“If I put my nose in the air I think I smell something.”

“I’m sure your imagination is getting carried away.”

“You think so. Okay I’ll take your word for it.”

“What are you doing now?”

“I thought I hear that pesky squirrel in the yard.”

“No there’s no one in the yard.”

“Okay I’m getting down to check out the ball.”

“Well what do you think?”

“Essence of bacon which is good.”

“You want to play then?”

“You know, I think I will wait until after dinner.”

Views of the Neighborhood – Lakeway Walk of Lights

December 3, 2023December 2, 2023 ~ John W. Howell ~ 100 Comments

The annual Lakeway Walk of Lights officially opened on Friday. Using my time travel alarm, we are going back to join the festivities. We’re being catered by Craigo’s pizza, and there are smores and hot chocolate as well. Our entertainment is Michael Bublé.

Picture of an old time school bus

Let’s go.