Wednesday Story Day – AKA – Hump Day

 

“I’m telling you, Lucy. I just Googled it and it’s Friday.”
“I’m sure it is, Little One. You sure it was Google and not Gaggle?”

It is Wednesday Story Day again, and last week we witnessed Wentworth shooting himself in the foot. After some interesting interrogation techniques, Larry and Andrew found out that Cortez has the answer to their questions around who was sent to kill them. Wentworth was unwilling to give any more information, `even if it cost him his life. Although Larry threatened not to call 9-1-1 we left the group last week with the sounds of emergency vehicles in the background. I see Wentworth is all loaded up in the ambulance, and our heroes are pondering their next move. We better go and listen in.

 

“What do you make of that confusing discussion with Wentworth?”

“You know, Andrew, I’m so tired of the convoluted situations that we run across here I’m tempted to pull the plug and hightail it back to Boston.”

“Without finding out who killed Rafferty?”

“You know we started this case with Sandusky’s death. Because I was stumped, I went to Micki Lee’s, and she conjured up Gloria.”

“I remember. That Micki is something.”

“Yes well. Gloria told me to chase the motive, and the murderer will be found.”

“Yeah, I remember.”

“So we find out Rafferty would not falsify documents for Cortez saying that heart zap machine didn’t work.”

“Yeah, Cortez didn’t want to pay for it.”

“Right. So the inventor, Sandusky, and Rafferty end up dead.”

“I see what you are saying. The motive here all points to Cortez.”

“And now Wentworth says Cortez knows who tried to kill us, but he refuses to say more.”

“Which makes me believe it was Cortez.”

“So obvious it hurts. We’ve been chasing the Janet Rafferty involvement for no reason. Who cares if she was involved? We can always get her and her boyfriend later. They live in Boston for shit’s sake.”

“Let’s go back to Boston.”

“I agree. We need to talk to Cortez first.”

“You crazy? That sounds like a short runway to oblivion.”

“I just won’t be able to rest until I get some information from him. He is downstairs in the restaurant. Can’t take but a minute.”

“Or a lifetime.”

“Oh, come on. You afraid?”

“Cautious, just cautious.”

“Besides, you could use a cup of coffee.”

“The last request of the condemned man.”

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Kreative Kue #253 by Keith Channing

In Keith’s words, “Using this photo (below) as inspiration, write a short story, flash fiction, scene, poem; anything, really; even just a caption for the photograph. Either put it (or a link to it) in a comment or email it to me at keithchanning@gmail.com before 6pm next Sunday (if you aren’t sure what, the time is where I live, this link will tell you). 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.

Go on. You know you want to. Let your creativity and imagination soar. I shall display the entries next Monday.”

The Photo.

Kreative Kue # 253

The Beach by John W. Howell © 2020

“Come on out, the water’s fine.”

“Nope.”

“Whattya mean nope.”

“Not coming out.”

“Why?”

“Because I look terrible.”

“How can you say that?”

“It’s true.”

“Okay. Tell me about the problem.”

“It’s embarrassing.”

“How long have we been together?”

“I can’t remember. Our whole lives, I guess.”

“I’m the only one out here.”

“Yeah, so?”

“We’ve been together forever. Why are you embarrassed in front of me.”

“I guess it’s this suit. I’ve never worn one like this before.”

“What bothers you about it?”

“I almost hate to say. You’ll laugh.”

“Come on. I promise not to laugh.”

“Well okay. This suit bearly covers my breast and makes me look like I have chicken legs.”

“But that’s not a bad thing.”

“Go on.”

“You have a beautiful breast and shouldn’t be ashamed to show it.”

“And?”

“You are a chicken. Why wouldn’t you have chicken legs?”

“Typical rooster comment. You just don’t understand.”

 

Top Ten Things Not to Do as the First Ford Mustang Rolls Off the Assembly Line in 1964

 

Top Ten Things not to do

March 9th  marks the 56th anniversary of the beginning of the production of the Ford Mustang. Since most of you were not around or were too little to remember. I thought it would be fun to go back to see the first roll down the line. As usual, we need to take a list to help us stay away from making any time continuum slip. By the way, I remember the event well. (tsk, tsk)

Top Ten Things Not to do as the Frist Mustang Rolls Down the Production Line in 1964.

10 If you are there, do not start singing the song “Mustang Sally.” If you do, at best, no one will listen. At worst, people will wonder where the song came from. (Since the song was recorded and released first by Mack Rice in 1965, you are getting suspicious looks from those security guards, Keagan. Maybe it is time to hum a Buddy Holly tune.)

9 If you are there, do not try to get around Tiny the WWF champ to touch a newly built car. If you do, at best, Tiny will turn you back. At worst Tiny, who has skipped his Zoloft medication for two weeks, will think you are going to harm a car. (Funny thing about having your legs behind your ears, Keene. It takes a while to get them untangled again. Here have an aspirin. It’ll help with the swelling.)

8 If you are there, do not ask if the Mustang comes with a stereo radio. If you do, at best whoever you ask doesn’t know what a stereo radio is. At worst, you will ask an engineer who has been working on the project. (Now you’ve done it, Kenner. That guy has been sworn to secrecy on the stereo project, and you wander in, and ask the question. Since the first stereo wasn’t introduced into the auto market until 1969, that guy is pointing you out to those two big security guys. I think he wants you silenced.)

7 If you were there, do not offer to drive one of the cars to the staging area. If you do, at best, you’ll get a polite, “no.” At worst, you’ll ask a union member who will want to see your union card. (Since you could not produce one, the member assumes you are management and has declared a walkout. You are personally responsible for the line stopping, Kennan. Lee Iacocca is looking for you.)

6 If you are there, do not wear your Corvette sweatshirt.  If you do, at best, you’ll keep it covered. At worst, someone will notice and call security. (You have been taken for a Chevy spy, Kristof. You know what they do to spies, don’t you? I think I would exit right about now if I were you.)

5 If you are there, do not say out loud that you believe the word Ford is an acronym for Fix Or Repair Daily. If you do, at best, the factory noise will drown you out. At worst several workers will hear you. (Looks like a few guys with big wrenches and muscles are headed your way, Konrad. That hardhat won’t help.)

4 If you are there, do not pick up one of the mustang insignia, thinking you could take a souvenir. If you do, at best, the foreman will tell you to get behind the yellow line. At worst, the foreman will take more extreme measures. (I don’t think he is joking about putting that in insignia back in the bucket, Keelan. That baton looks pretty hard.)

3 If you are there, do not try to touch a car to see if the paint is wet. If you do, at best, no one will observe you, and you’ll rethink it. At worst, the painter will see you coming and help you out with wet paint. (According to the paint instructions, Kristofer, you will be wearing that British Racing Green color for ten years. I think it looks pretty good.)

2 If you are there, do not get in the way of the camera crew filming the first car off the assembly line. If you do, at best the filming will stop until you get out of the way. At worst, the filming will continue with you in it. (There are two options, Kienan. 1. You join the Screens Actors Guild. 2. You reimburse the film crew for the reshoot. Let’s see that will be about $20,000 or $166,432.90 in 2020 value.)

1 If you are there, do not ask a question at the press conference. If you do, at best you won’t give your time travel away. At worst, you’ll ask something really dumb. (The question about the relationship with Carroll Shelby and the Mustang Cobra was about three years too early, Kali. That paper you’ve been handed is a summons to appear in court to answer copyright infringement charges.)

 

Views of the Neighborhood – Elementary School Art

Views of the Neighborhood

The Lake Travis Community Library featured a display of Elementary School children. Of course, I wanted to give you an idea of the talent of these children. I have to say the room in which the art was displayed was not conducive to photos. There were way too many lights and the art was framed behind plastic. So below is the best I could do. I did not bring an umbrella which would have helped. There are glare spots but hopefully, you will get an idea of the talent.

This is a fifth-grade student’s piece.

An amazing 3rd-grade piece

I have to confess I can’t read the grade levels on these. I think the top two might be 4th grade. The bottom left 3rd grade and the bottom right 5th. The producer went back to the library to get better shots of the grade levels and unfortunately, there was a meeting going on in the room where the art was displayed.

Top right and left 4th grade. The bottom left 2nd grade. The bottom right 4th grade

Top 4th grade. Bottom 3rd grade.

This one I remember. The top left is kindergarten. Top right 2nd grade and bottom 4th grade

All 5th graders.

I think you will agree that these are very talented kids. Thanks for going with me.

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “Figure”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday

 

It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday time again and this week’s prompt is explained by Linda Hill. “Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “figure.” Use the word “figure” any way you’d like. Have fun!”

If you would like to join in, go to Linda’s site and read how. It is effortless to let yourself go over the edge. Here is the link.

The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS March 7/2020

Figure by John W. Howell © 2020

“Go figure.”

“What?”

“It just figures that this week’s prompt would be something that I could get my teeth into.”

“So get your teeth into it, already.”

“You don’t understand.”

“I guess not. Tell me.”

“The word figure can be used in several ways.”

“So use it.”

“Not so easy. I have to figure out  a strategy.”

“Um-hum.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“You, the panster’s pantster needs a strategy? I don’t think so.”

“How do you figure?”

“I don’t think you need to plan. I figure you can just let yourself go and that will be it.”

“You figure?”

“Yup.”

“I was going to describe our neighbor.”

“Which one?”

“The one across the street.”

“Ah. The one with the shapely figure. I could have guessed.”

“Wait a minute. I could write about the guy next door. He cuts a fine figure of a man.”

“That is actually my place to observe.”

“Men can comment on other men?”

“Sure, but when you talk to figure, it seems a little odd.”

“Don’t you ever admire the figure of another woman?”

“Well, sure. That’s different.”

“How?”

“Go figure.”

“What.”

“You stumped me for once.”

“Heh, heh, heh.”

“Shut up and finish your figure prompt before I figure out a way to get back at you.”

“You could throw a barley pop in my face.”

“I figure we will end up there eventually.”

“Smart woman.”

“Not an ending that’s tough to figure out.”

 

 

 

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

 

 

Here we are another week in the history books. The week was marked with some unexpected results in the Democratic Super Tuesday primary. Also, the Federal Reserve cut the interest rate on Fed funds by half a point. This was the first such cut since 2008.

No matter the results of the primary and the low cost of borrowing the Coronavirus keeps on coming. As long as it remains a mystery of containment the financial markets are going to continue to be uncertain. An old sage once said to me, “Don’t worry about the value of a portfolio unless you are planning to sell.”

I take comfort in that advice since I have no plans to sell anything. Hopefully when I do have plans to sell things like Coronavirus will be long forgotten. In the meantime, keep calm and wash your hands.

Today’s JohnKu takes another look at fear with the idea of putting it into perspective. I hope you all have an enjoyable weekend.

Fear II by John W. Howell © 2020

The news is not good,

Markets falling, deaths rising . . .

Control your own space.

 

Avoid larger groups,

Continue to wash your hands . . .

Don’t look at your stocks.

 

You have no control,

Over markets and disease . . .

You can control panic.

 

Thursday – A Little Personal – Rainy Day

Lucy and Twiggy

“Okay, Dad. it’s raining. What are we supposed to do?”

“I think you have enough to entertain yourselves Little One.”

“You gotta be kidding. Like how?”

“Follow me, and I’ll show you.”

“Okay, so what am I looking at?”

“A pile of toys, two Bennie Bones, and a chew thingy.”

“Alright, so I’ll choose Flamingo. Happy now?”

“The boss has given you the look, Little One.”

“The look? What’s the look?”

“It’s what his face does when he thinks you should take care of yourself.”

“I would be outside running in the yard if I took care of myself.”

“Yeah, but it’s raining, and you know how you hate the rain.”

“Yeah, I do hate it.  Makes my paws all wet, and then I’m told to quit licking my paws.”

“Your life is a volume of tragedy, Little One.”

“Hey, I have an idea. How about a game of soccer or as the rest of the world says, football.”

“That could work. I suppose.”

“So here is Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona ready to take on Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester.”

“Where do you get this stuff?”

“Someone sent Dad a subscription to Sports Illustrated. Messi outmaneuvers the fatter De Bruyne and sends the ball downfield.”

“You crack me up, Twiggy. You really do. DeBruyne outruns the slower Messi returns the ball and SCORES.”

Wednesday Story Day – AKA – Hump Day

“Ooooh, Lucy.”
“Yes, Little One.”
“Do I hear Friday coming?”
“Sorry, that’s just Wednesday sounding like Friday.”

It is Wednesday Story Day again, and last week, we were left with the lingering sound and the acrid cordite smell of a gunshot. Let’s get back there because there is no other background needed. Someone got shot. It’s that simple.

“Ow ow, ow.”

“Shut up, Wentworth. We got you and your gun. Whoever taught you to shoot didn’t do an outstanding job.”

“I think he hit his foot, Larry.”

“Wentworth, what the hell were you trying to do?”

“This really hurts detective. Call 911.”

“Not till you tell us what’s going on around here.”

“Come on. My foot is killing me.”

“Andrew, call 911. Okay, Wentworth get down on the floor and let me look at your foot for a minute.”

“Damnit Detective, that hurts like a sombitch. What are you doing.”

“I just took off your shoe is all. You have any towels around here?”

“Yeah, there are some in the bathroom.”

“Hang on. I’ll be right back. “

“EMS is on the way, Larry.”

“Thanks, Andrew. Sit with our boy for a minute. I’m going to get some towels and see if we can stop the bleeding.”

“Hurry, will you. I think I’m getting weaker.”

“Hey, Wentworth.”

“Yes, uh, uh. I forget your name.”

“It’s Andrew. It looks like you are going to be okay. I think the bullet just grazed your foot. Took a nice chunk, but don’t think any bones were involved.”

“Yeah, that’s comforting coming from a cop.”

“I’m also a physician.”

“No, shit. Why didn’t you say so?”

“Here are the towels.”

“Thanks, Larry. I’ll just put some pressure on this wound, and that should take care of it.”

“Wentworth. You want to tell us anything after we saved your life.”

“The doc here says it’s a flesh wound.”

“What would happen if you stopped the pressure, Andrew?”

“In my opinion, Mr. Wentworth here could bleed to death.”

“But, EMS is on the way.”

“So, he said Wentworth. So, he said. Tell the man why you don’t practice medicine, Andrew.”

“It seems I’m a pathological liar.”

“Yeah, Wentworth. He tells people what he thinks they want to hear.”

“You two are crazy, like I said.”

“Give us the information we want, and you’ll get help.”

“You can’t do this. It’s harassment.”

“Yup. That it is. Stop the pressure, Andrew.”

“Wait, wait, wait. Okay, I sent those guys to kill you.”

“Why?”

“I can’t tell you that. It’ll cost me my life.”

“So, the outcome will be the same if you don’t tell us. If you do, we can protect you.”

“You sure?”

“You have my word?”

“Go talk to Cortez, but don’t tell him I said anything.”

“Cortez told you to kill us?”

“I didn’t say that. Just go talk to him.”

“Just tell us who told you to have us killed.”

“You don’t know how things work here. Cortez has the answer, but it’s got to come from him. Are those sirens I hear?”

“I guess.”

“So, you did call 911.”

“Yeah darn it.”

 

Tuesday – Anything possible – Kreative Kue #252 by Keith Channing

In Keith’s words.

“Using this photo (below) as inspiration, write a short story, flash fiction, scene, poem; anything, really; even just a caption for the photograph. Either put it (or a link to it) in a comment or email it to me at keithchanning@gmail.com before 6pm next Sunday (if you aren’t sure what the time is where I live, this link will tell you). 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.

Go on. You know you want to. Let your creativity and imagination soar. I shall display the entries next Monday.”

The Photo

Kreative Kue #252

The transfer by John W. Howell © 2020

“Now, you have to be very careful with this.”

“I know, I know. You already explained that.”

“Yes, I did,  but I want to make sure you know exactly how precious this is.”

“Please don’t lecture me on being careful. After all, you’re the one who dropped the last one.”

“Okay, that was an accident. I was jostled when we traded last time.”

“I’m just saying there is no reason to doubt that I won’t take care.”

“Okay, I get it. I didn’t realize you were so sensitive.”

“I’m not sensitive. You’re always giving me directions that don’t seem necessary is all.”

“Excuse me, but aren’t you the one who always gets nervous on new assignments?”

“You call it nervous I call it thorough because I want to do a good job, unlike some people I know.”

“You can’t be talking about me.”

“I am talking about you, Mr. Oops.”

“Where did that come from?”

“Oh, come on. Your little slip caused an entire system to implode.”

“Wait a minute. That system was tens of millions of years old. it was ready.”

“Says you. Okay, let’s forget it. I have the Orion arm solar system in my hand. You have a nice play day.”

“I will try now that I know you hate me.”

“Quit being a little child. You are a god for heaven’s sake. Act like it.”

“You are always so mean.”

“Cry baby.”

 

 

Top Ten Things Not to Do at the First Monopoly Game in 1933

 

Top Ten Things Not to Do

This week marks the 87th anniversary of the invention of the board game Monopoly. The Game was developed based on a 1904 patent by Lizzy Magie for a game called The Landlord’s Game. This game was played one evening in 1932 Charles Todd, and his wife hosted Esther Jones and her husband Charles Darrow for dinner. After dinner, the couples played The Landlord’s Game. After that night, Darrow went on to distribute the game himself as Monopoly. Parker Brothers bought the copyrights from Darrow, and the game was distributed throughout the US and eventually the world.

It would be fun to go to that first game. Of course, itis imperative that we take a list of things not to do so that we don’t inadvertently cause a problem in the time continuum.

Top Ten Things Not to Do at the First Monopoly Game in 1933.

10 In the first game, do not try to convince everyone that Free Parking should have a payoff. If you do, at best, someone will remind you of the real rules. At worst, you will convince them to put all the fines in the middle to be collected by whoever lands on free parking. (Why is that so bad, Kirk? Since you have landed on free parking six times, you tell me. I think your fellow players want to see you outside.)

9 In the first game, do not ask Tiny the WWF champ if he wants to trade his Boardwalk for your Baltic Avenue. If you do, at best, Tiny will think you are joking. At worst, Tiny has not attended his “scammed victims” support group for two sessions. (You see, Keanu, Tiny was scammed out of some stock and lost his life savings. He is in no mood to have that feeling repeated in a game. Yes, you are feeling the pressure of Tiny’s hands on your head. I would say, “Just kidding,” as soon as you can speak. Maybe you need to find a pencil and paper to write it out.)

8 In the first game, if you are the banker, do not forget to pay $200 when a person passes “Go.” If you do, at best, the person will remind you. At worst, the person thinks you are trying to cheat them out of their pay. (Now we have a situation, Keenan. Of course, you didn’t try to trick them on purpose, but it is tough to explain that $200 up your sleeve. Maybe a real $5 bill will help soothe feelings.)

7 In the first game, do not try to figure out whether it is cheaper to pay the income tax of $200 or 10% of your holdings. If you do, at best, you are playing with folks who have the patience of Job. At worst, you are performing with a pack of impatient twenty-somethings. (By the time you figure out your move, Kipp, all the rest of the players have moved on to playing ragtime records and drinking bathtub gin.)

6 In the first game, do not buy everything you land on with no rhyme or reason. If you do, at best, you’ll go broke. At worst, you have prevented anyone else from getting a monopoly, and the game will grind on for weeks. (No, you can’t have food and water, Koby. This was your fault, and you are lucky your game participants let you visit the facilities. Oh, wait, they are discussing that subject again.)

5 In the first game, do not insist on using your favorite token. If you do, at best, no one will care. At worst, that big guy across from you is not interested in giving up the car. (I think I would go ahead and use the iron, Kane. After all, the better part of valor is letting go. The worst part of valor is getting punched in the face.)

4 In the first game, do not laugh fiendishly when an opponent lands on Boardwalk, which you own along with a hotel. If you do, at best, they have the money to pay up. At worst, they don’t have the money and no desire to negotiate. (See there, Kiran. Your fiendish laugh, along with you wringing your hands, has caused your opponent to quit. You could have taken payment in properties by nooooo. Now the game is over.)

3 In the first game, do not think rolling doubles three times won’t land you in jail. If you do, at best, your fellow players will call you on the rules. At worst, your opponents will think you are trying to get away with something and will watch your every move from here on out. (Trying to sneak that Get Out of Jail Free card from the deck will end in disaster, Killian. You may even land in a real jail.)

2 In the first game, do not try to miscount the dice roll, especially if you are going to land on “Go to Jail.” if you do, at best, everyone will be talking and missed the fact. At worst, the guy with the most amount of money has called you out. (What are you going to do now, Karim? You’ve been caught, and by the looks of the guy, he has a less than zero sense of humor.

1 In the first game, do not throw the dice before your opponent has finished their move. If you do, at best, your apology will be accepted. At worst, Earth Quake Muldoon (Your opponent) has decided that you were doing that to rattle him. (I hope you can finish the game from that position, Kellan. I know it will be difficult trying to roll the dice with your feet. That’s gotta hurt right?)