Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF – Fri-Yay/Good News

~ John W. Howell ~ 66 Comments

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

Postal Worker Drives 52 Miles After Work to Return Lost Wallet Found in -11F° Weather

By Andy Corbley –

Everyone in life has likely gone through it at least once: losing a wallet can be stressful to say the least.

So can delivering snail mail in -11°F, but that didn’t stop a Pennsylvania postal worker from doing a good deed when presented with the opportunity.

25-year-old Bruce Armah, a new member of the mail team, found a wallet half-buried in the snow in Coraopolis, near Pittsburgh. He tucked it away in his car and continued on his route, but not because he meant to steal anything.

Finishing his shift, he looked for an ID of sorts that might include an address, and thankfully, there was. Speaking with CBS News Pittsburgh’s Barry Pintar, Armah explained why he struck out at the end of a long day in his own car to return the wallet to its rightful owner.

“It was my father’s good deeds,” Armah said, explaining that his father taught him that he should do the same in the stranger’s position. “He lost his wallet, and someone returned it to him, so I was just returning the favor.”

His father’s wisdom at heart, Armah arrived in Clinton, only to find that the wallet’s owner had moved all the way to McDonald, which, for readers not familiar with the area, is many miles away. He nonetheless made the hike—driving 52 miles in total after work to and from the owner’s house—to return that favor his father had experienced all those years ago.

“There was $100 cash in there, credit cards, ID, healthcare cards,” said the husband of the wallet’s owner, Matt Bryan. “He wanted nothing in return; he just said it was the right thing to do.”

Bryan wouldn’t let sleeping dogs lie, and quickly told his own mailman about the incident, who in turn told another postal service worker, who told another, until it caught the ear of their boss, who commended Armah for taking so much time and effort at the end of a long, taxing, cold day.

His father would be proud.

The good news in this story is that there are people out there who care to do the right thing. Today’s JohnKu celebrates those who do care. I hope you have a super weekend.

Help by John W. Howell © 2026

When it’s time to help,

Some just jump in and do it . . .

How about you? You in?

Here is a video of the story.

Thursday – A Little Personal – Rainy Day for Twiggy and Tempeste

~ John W. Howell ~ 84 Comments

“Tempeste, are you going to sleep the day away?”

“It’s raining.”

“We can still play inside.”

“But it’s so cloudy.”

“For heaven’s sake. You would think it’s Monday the way you are acting.”

“Might as well be Monday. Can’t you hear the rain?”

“All I hear is some delicious bacon being made.”

“Yeah, right. You know we don’t get bacon.”

“Well, there is always a first time.”

“Those two guard that people food like it was priceless.”

“You are right, of course. I guess we have to be content with the scent.”

“Which brings me back to asking why we need to get up?”

“I guess you are right again. Go back to your nap.”

“I want a record of that.”

“What?”

“The part where you said I was right. Twice.”

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Finger Point Prompt – “Document”

~ John W. Howell ~ 44 Comments

 

Today, I randomly opened Detour on the Eternal Road to page 141. With eyes closed, I pointed to the page. The word closest to my finger was “document.” This is our prompt.

Document by John W. Howell © 2026

“So what did they say?”

“I need a document from the doctor.”

“Document? What kind of document?”

“They won’t let me stay there until I get a complete bill of health.”

“You look healthy.”

“I know. The parents are pretty upset.”

“About what?”

“Well, they wanted me to go to camp, as you know.”

“You still can after the doctor’s visit.”

“That’s just it. The doctor can’t see me until next week.”

“So?”

“The camp starts this week.”

“Still, you can go to the next session.”

“That’s true, but the parents had planned to go on a trip while I was away.”

“Can’t they postpone a week?”

“I heard them say something about no refunds on the tickets.”

“Yeah, that does hit hard. You wanna come stay at my house?”

“You’d better ask your parents before the offer.”

“Nah. Here’s how we play it. We’ll go to my house, and I’ll look all excited to have you there.”

“What does that do?”

“My parents will feel sorry for you and let you stay until they can contact your parents. Once they do, hopefully, your parents will let mine know the fix they are in. My parents will offer to keep you. Problem solved.”

“Sounds great. Just one hitch.”

“What’s that?”

“How will they be able to contact my parents?”

“Your collar.”

“Huh?”

“Your phone number is on your collar. Now, let’s go.”

“You are a pal.”

Top Ten Things Not To Do When Attending the Opening Day of Baseball

~ John W. Howell ~ 64 Comments
Photo by Haniel Espinal on Unsplash

This post was published on April 14, 2014, by Marie Ann Bailey and me. Opening day is coming, so we’d better get prepared.

Top Ten Things Not To Do When Attending the Opening Day of Baseball

10. When attending the opening day of baseball, do not dress like you would at the playoffs. If you do, at best, a Good Samaritan will loan you a coat. At worst, you might need to be treated for hypothermia, frostbite, or both.

9. When attending the opening day of baseball, do not sit in an uncovered seat, even if you consider yourself a bleacher bum. If you do, at best, you might just get rained on. At worst, you will get caught under a ton of snow or hailstones and will require rescue by the ski patrol.

8. When attending the opening day of baseball, do not start a fire to keep warm. If you do, at best, you’ll be pressed by a bunch of strangers all trying to get warm, too. At worst, the league might just present you with an invoice for $100M to replace the stadium, which burned to the ground before the end of the game.

7. When attending the opening day of baseball, do not think Brandy will help keep away the cold. If you do, at best, you may only forget where you came in. At worst, you might see yourself on the nightly news being dragged off the field by several policemen while you yell, “Hey, ump, you blind?”

6. When attending the opening day of baseball, do not think you can hide from your boss since you told a fib about where you would be. If you do, at best, your boss will be in the next row, and you’ll have to spend the entire game hunkered down and quiet so you don’t get his attention. At worst, it will be your luck to be featured as the fan of the day on the nightly news, which your boss never misses.

5. When attending the opening day of baseball, do not attend the game with anyone of the opposite sex without telling your significant other. If you do, at best, you will run into a neighbor who will wonder who is with you, which will remind you to text your significant other, so there will be no unpleasant surprises when you get home. At worst, the giant gametron will catch you both sharing a laugh and will surround you with one of those annoying hearts demanding that you kiss, which, if you do because you both indulged in the brandy of #7, will be featured on the nightly news your partner never misses.

4. When attending the opening day of baseball, as a company team building function, do not force everyone to join you in eating a bag of peanuts just because it is mentioned in the song. If you do, at best, you might have problems with co-workers at work the next day. At worst, you might be named in a class action suit by those who are grossly allergic to peanuts.

3. When attending the opening day of baseball, do not bring a mitt thinking you will catch a ball. If you do, at best, people will think you’ve lost your mind. At worst, you may be the subject of an intervention by family members concerned with your ability to grasp reality unless you actually catch a ball.

2. When attending the opening day of baseball, do not root against the home team. If you do, even if you like the visitors, at best, you will have some grumpy people around you. At worst, you could find yourself wishing you had a warm towel to go with the ice-cold beer on your head.

1. When attending the opening day of baseball, do not think the players can’t hear your insults from the stands. If you do, at best, you might get a classic gesture from one of the players that implies you should be mated. At worst, you might encounter a phalanx of very big players in the parking lot, all interested in giving you a personal remembrance of the game in the form of eyes that resemble the Raccoon mascot.

Views of the Neighborhood – Houston We Have Spring

~ John W. Howell ~ 83 Comments

Today, we are celebrating the arrival of signs of Spring here in the neighborhood. We are catered by Restaurant François of Austin. Our entertainment is Elvis.

Menu

Boneless Wagyu Short Ribs Bourguignon – Bacon lardons/pearl onions, mushroom/pomme mousseline

Duck 2 Ways – Roasted breast/confit leg,  alsatian cabbage, tart cherry sauce

Roast Rack of Lamb – Tian of spinach and mushrooms, cassis sauce

Center Cut 10oz. Filet Mignon

Swordfish Steak au Poivre – Spinach/lobster sauce

King Salmon – Beluga lentils/dill white wine sauce

Gulf Red Snapper – Celeriac pomme puree / jumbo lump crab meat – capers / beurre blanc

Dover Sole “Grenobloise” – Capers / lemon / brioche croutons / beurre noisette

Picture of an old time school bus

Let’s go.

The first bluebonnets.

The Carolina Jasmine is waking up.

The Mountain Laurels around the neighborhood are beautiful.

Nothing says Spring like a pot of annuals.

Our Cross Vine is in full bloom.

The patio area is looking like Spring

The roses are going to town.

Patunias look lovely.

What could be a better sign of Spring than a honey bee hovering over a crossvine bloom?

Time now to relax with food and entertainment. I hope you have a super week.

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – “Distance”

~ John W. Howell ~ 57 Comments

 

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

The distance to the coffee machine feels like a climb of Mount Everest. The low caffeine warning klaxons in my brain, accompanied by a flashing red sign that screams, “Warning, Will Robinson.” The machine finally gives up the coffee, and the first sip turns off all the warnings. As we know, the second sip will start a whole new problem with Westminster Chimes and the Hounds of Baskerville. The decision is made to put off the second sip in favor of watching the security monitor for an intruder. After a few minutes, it seems safe to take the second sip. The cacaphony of chimes and barking hits immediately. A big bone thrown into the soundproof room and a slam of the door put an end to the high-pitched, eardrum-destroying  St Louis barking.

A look at the monitor shows the idiot who pushed the doorbell. It is the robot from Lost in Space. There is no question that the door needs to be opened. With a sigh and a chug of the rest of my coffee, the shutdown process begins.

The SWAT team needs to be put on standby. A quick text to the leader confirms that status. Also, the flight of A-10 Warthogs must be diverted. Another call to the commander puts that worry to rest. The SEAL team needs to be called off, and a call to the leader makes that possible. The MH-60 Jayhawk Helicopter hovering over the house is diverted. A call to the tow truck driver stops the deployment of an M1A1 Abrams Tank. The control panel simplifies the shutdown process of the security system. The boiling oil vats are put on standby, the turret mortars disengaged, the Trebuchet on safety, the concertina wire rolled, the Claymore mines reset, the tower Gatling guns on safety, the moat net dropped, the alligators fed, and the IEDs and shoulder-held rockets put away.  The Proton torpedoes switched off. The gamma ray beams covered. The high-powered maser guns switched to standby, and the nanorobots were chained in the basement. The Klingons are called back, and the Targ is caged. Robbie’s Bot is sent to the basement.  The Tasmanian Devil is directed to the food in his cage, and the door drops. The locks on the door are thrown. And the door opened.

“Attention, John Howell, there is an envelope here for you. Please sign where indicated.” The robot hands me a clipboard and an envelope. After signing and passing the board back, the robot says, “Thank you, John Howell. An appropriate tip for the service is five dollars.” “I have no cash,” is my response. “VENMO or PayPal are accepted, and I just read your account from your phone. Thank you for the tip.” With that, the robot turns and makes its way to the street. The door is shut, and the system is rearmed.  Inside the envelope is a message from Linda Hill, which reads:

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “distance.” Use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!

To see what others have done with the prompt, visit Linda’s post. Here is the link: https://lindaghill.com/2026/03/06/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-march-7-2026/

Distance by John W. Howell

“That robot certainly had the answer to your cash tip avoidance posture.”

“I was too close and should have kept my distance.”

“Huh?”

If I were further away it couldn’t have read my phone.”

“You sure about that?”

“No, but sounds good.”

“Is that five bucks going to break you?”

“No, but it is the principle. That robot had a job to do. Besides, what is it going to do with money?”

“Buy some three-in-one oil?”

“Very funny. Maybe I’ll ask Linda to send the prompt by FedEx next time.”

“I’m sure the pups will enjoy that.”

“I suppose I’ll just have to keep shelling out money to these delivery services.’

“Speaking of shelling out money, I save a bundle on Uber. It’s over there.”

Photo by Dan Antion

 

“Okay, I can see a problem already.”

“What’s that?”

“We have to fight a fire on the way.”

“No, that would be ridiculous.”

“What then,”

“Nothing. They will take us right to the pub.”

“There has to be a catch.”

“Well, if there is an alarm, they will have to leave quickly, and so we will have to be ready to go at any moment.”

“Or we could call another Uber.”

“Brilliant. This is why you are running this blog.”

“OMG let’s go.”

 

 

 

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF – Fri-Yay/Good News

~ John W. Howell ~ 59 Comments
Source: Image: @lvmpd via Instagram

 

Today’s good news story comes from Vegas News.com. Thanks to The Producer for finding it.

Abandoned Airport Dog ‘JetBlue’ Adopted by Las Vegas Police Officer

by Vegas News Staff
Posted on

A small dog left behind at a busy Las Vegas airport earlier this month has found a new home with the police officer who helped rescue him. This closes a case that sparked widespread attention online and across local news outlets.

Abandoned Airport Dog ‘JetBlue’ Finds Forever Home

The dog, a 2-year-old goldendoodle/mini poodle mix named JetBlue, was adopted by a responding officer from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. This comes weeks after the pup was discovered alone at a ticket counter at Harry Reid International Airport.

Airport staff reported the abandoned animal to police, prompting an officer to respond to the terminal. Authorities said the dog appeared healthy but had been left without food, water, or supervision. Animal control later transferred JetBlue to a rescue organization for evaluation and temporary care.

According to local reports from KSNV, Officer Skeeter Black, the officer who handled the initial call, stayed in contact with rescuers throughout the process. After JetBlue was medically cleared and placed on adoption hold, Officer Black formally applied to adopt him. The parties involved finalized the adoption days later.

Officials described the outcome as a positive resolution to a case that initially raised concerns about animal welfare and passenger safety inside one of the nation’s busiest airports. Photos shared by police showed the dog settling comfortably into his new home.

How JetBlue Was Found Abandoned at the Airport

JetBlue’s story began when airport employees noticed a small dog tied near a ticketing area without an owner present. Surveillance footage reportedly showed a woman leaving the terminal without the animal.

Police said the dog had been left with a collar and leash, but no immediate access to water or care. Officers secured the area before removing the animal from the public space. Authorities then coordinated with animal services to ensure proper handling and medical checks.

Rescue workers later identified the dog as a designer breed mix, often sought after for its hypoallergenic coat and friendly temperament. Veterinarians confirmed JetBlue was not microchipped at the time he was found, which complicated efforts to identify the owner quickly.

The case drew attention on social media, where users shared images and updates in hopes of locating the person responsible. Local animal advocates also used the exposure to highlight the dangers of abandoning pets in public places, especially high-traffic transportation hubs.

Owner Arrested in Airport Abandonment Case

Abandoned Airport Dog ‘JetBlue’ Adopted by Vegas Officer
Image: @lvmpd via Instagram

Law enforcement later identified and arrested the suspected owner in connection with the incident. Police said the individual faces charges related to animal abandonment and cruelty under Nevada law.

Investigators used surveillance footage, travel records, and witness statements to track the suspect. Officials allege the person attempted to board a flight without the dog and left the animal behind when airline policies prevented travel with the pet.

Animal welfare organizations noted that abandonment cases often increase around travel periods, when pet owners encounter unexpected airline restrictions or fees. Authorities urged travelers to plan ahead and confirm pet transport rules before arriving at airports.

The good news in this story is that the dog found a loving forever home. Today’s JohnKu talks about big-hearted people. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Hero by John W. Howell © 2026

A heartless owner,

Will be forgotten with love . . .

A hero is born.

Thursday – A Little Personal – Twiggy and Tempeste Feel the Heat

~ John W. Howell ~ 122 Comments

“Hey, Tempeste. Does it seem warm in here?”

“Now that you mention it, yes, it does feel warm.”

“I wonder what’s going on?”

“Maybe Dad forgot to turn on the A/C.”

“Hey, Dad. Did you forget the A/C?”

“No, Twiggy. In fact, it isn’t working.”

“How can that be? It’s brand new.”

“I wish I could tell you. I have a call into the company.”

Tempeste, it looks like we are in for some discomfort.”

“Yeah, I heard. How hot is it?”

Hot enough to convince me not to move around too fast.”

“It’s over 80 degrees in here, Tempeste.”

“Thanks, Dad. I think.”

“Over 80F (26.6 C)  degrees? That is not even civilized.”

“I agree. What are we going to do about it?”

“There’s not much we can do, except try to stay cool.”

“How on Earth do we do that in an oven?”

“I am fresh out of ideas.”

“I wonder if Mom can rustle up some ice cubes.”

“I think that would help, but Mom’s at the store.”

“Staying cool, I suppose.”

“I hope so.”

“She should take us with her.”

 

Today, Dawn Pisturino Has Written a Super Review of Eternal Road

~ John W. Howell ~ 2 Comments

Dawn has written a wonderful Review for Eternal Road – The Final Stop

Here is a link to her post https://dawnpisturino.wordpress.com/2026/03/04/book-review-eternal-road-the-final-stop-by-john-w-howell/

Here is a little about Dawn.

Dawn Pisturino

Author, The Mystery of the Pink Poodle (2025) – #1 Amazon New Release in Children’s eBooks on Girls’ & Women’s Issues

Author, Ancient Voices: Poems About Ancient Egypt (2025) – #1 Amazon New Release in African Poetry, History of Egypt, History of Africa, History of North Africa. #1 Amazon Best Seller in History of Egypt and History of North Africa

Author, Sun Haiku: 365 Days of Sunshine (2024) – #1 Amazon New Release in Japanese Poetry & Haiku

Author, Haiku for the Midnight Hour (2024) – #1 Amazon New Release in Japanese Poetry & Haiku, Haiku & Japanese Poetry, and 90-Minute Teen & Young Adult Short Reads. #1 Amazon Best Seller in Japanese Poetry & Haiku

Author, Lunar Gazing Haiku (2024) – #1 Amazon New Release in Asian and Contemporary Poetry, Japanese Poetry & Haiku, 45-Minute Teen & Young Adult Short Reads, Poetry for Teens & Young Adults, and Haiku & Japanese Poetry

Author, Ariel’s Song: Published Poems, 1987 – 2023 (2024) – Ranked #60 on the Amazon Best Seller List for Haiku & Japanese Poetry

#1 Amazon Bestseller Author 2024, 2025

#1 Amazon Bestseller Co-Author 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025

2026 Best of the Net Nominee

Author of the Month for March 2024 at Spillwords Press

Co-Author, Social Possibilities: Poetic Voices of Hope (2025)

Co-Author, Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku (2025)

Co-Author, Poetry Treasures 5: Small Pleasures (2025)

Co-Author, I Am From. . . Anthology (2025)

Co-Author, After Rain Skies: The Global Anthology (2025)

Co-Author, Cadence: Life’s Poetic Rhythms (2024)

Co-Author, Petals of Haiku: An Anthology (2024)

Co-Author, Hidden in Childhood: A Poetry Anthology (2023)

Co-Author, 2023 Arizona Literary Magazine (2022)

Co-Author, Wounds I Healed: The Poetry of Strong Women (2022)

Official Author Website: www.dawnpisturino.org

Head over and tell her I sent you. Thank you, Dawn for the review.

 

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Finger Point Prompt – “Hands”

~ John W. Howell ~ 49 Comments

 

Today I randomly opened Detour on the Eternal Road to page 121. With eyes closed, I pointed to the page. My finger fell closest to the word “hands,” which is our prompt today.

Hands by John W. Howell © 2026

“Hands. Touching hands. Reaching out. Touching you, touching me.”

“Sweet Caroline. Bah,bah, bah.”

“You know the song.”

“I sure do.”

“How do you know it?”

“They play it all the time where I work. Well, where I used to work.”

“That doesn’t sound good.”

“No, it’s okay. I left voluntarily.”

“Why did you leave?”

“The work environment was getting more and more hectic.”

“How so?”

“Well, we used to put on two shows a day.”

“Wait a minute. Shows?”

“Yeah, I work in the entertainment business.”

“So, go on.”

“We also had Mondays off.”

“What happened?”

“Our place was bought by a huge company, and they needed more revenue.”

“What did they do?”

“The first thing was a move to three shows a day.”

“Oof. That is tiring.”

“Then Mondays off went away.”

“Wow. So what did you do in the show?”

“The usual. High dives, waves. Played the horn, juggled balls.”

“You were a clown then?”

“I felt like one.”

“Not to get too personal, but how did you get away?”

“It was easy. I waited until everyone was gone and then went from the big pool, down a water slide, into the little pool, then to the beach, and here I am.”

“You are not afraid to be on your own?”

“Not having to sit up, clap my flippers, and honk for fish? I am delighted to be on my own. Besides, I met you, and life is good.”

“Just watch out for the sharks, and you’ll be okay. Let’s hit the kelp. There is a nice school of redfish that hangs out there.”