Tag: Friday

Friday John Ku – AKA TGIF

~ John W. Howell ~ 52 Comments

TGIF

 

It looks like we survived the New Year’s celebrations and are close to the end of the work week. Since this was a short week we probably have a little energy left that we can invest in a terrific weekend. I know this week was quite stress-free for me. I managed to get my next book off to the beta readers and the edits to My GRL back to the editor. I think it as a good week. Sometimes working in a vacuum it is hard to say whether the week was good or not.  This is why having a goal or two established for the week gives you a measure of your movement. Now that these two tasks are accomplished I can turn back to getting my next book finished. Knock wood the first draft should be done by the end of April. This week’s John Ku talks about goals. I hope you have a great weekend.

Goals by John W. Howell © 2017

Once they are written,

It is hard to ignore them. . .

Goals are persistent.

Friday – JohnKu – AKA TGIF

~ John W. Howell ~ 42 Comments

Friday

 

Another Friday and there are only two more left in the year. Hummm that makes them sound more precious than usual. The good news is there is at least one more before Christmas. That means at least seven more shopping days (well, actually there are eight) until you are out of luck on the brownie point department. I would call this “last-minute,” but know some people who wait until the 23rd or 24th. I’m way too obsessive for that kind of behavior. If I waited until the 23rd, there would be 22 (at least) sleepless nights worrying about whether the gift would be available, able to be located, or even still on the market. When I shop early, I know my options and can plan accordingly. I have back-ups to the back-ups since I take this gift giving stuff seriously.  I live in a very small town, so on-line has been a boon. Residing in a larger city, I used to be able to go to the mall and find exactly what I had in mind. Now there is no mall, and my wife is not someone who would like fish-hook earrings. I have my shopping done, and only one gift is “late.” I got on the phone yesterday to track it down and was informed it would be delivered today. So all is good. I will spend time wrapping (laughable) the gifts and then sit back and enjoy the holiday. Of course, I will have to fret about the question on whether the gifts are acceptable or not. At least I didn’t have to settle on a late buying binge, and I’m to blame if the gifts are not right.

Today’s JohnKu talks about gift giving.

The Gift by John W. Howell © 2016nly one chance

There’s only one chance,

To find that perfect present. . .

From the heart is best.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

~ John W. Howell ~ 65 Comments

TGIF

Another week has flown by. I wish I knew where the time goes. (well, I do know where it goes but it is hard to believe how quick it goes there.)

Continue to edit on Circumstances of Childhood. Found a couple of plot holes so it is a grab the backhoe maneuver and work to fill ’em up.

I also commissioned a new cover for My GRL. Why you ask? Long story but here is the short version. My contract with the publisher of My GRL is up for renewal in March. I do not want to renew so I will give the proper notice and then publish My GRL with that beautiful publishing house Keewaydin Lane Books.(Me). I don’t have the rights to the cover so I need to get a new one. Also, I’m getting a complete professional edit to clean up some things the publisher missed. I’m not going to make a big deal about it but what it will do is free up My GRL for some promotional work.

Also, there are only four more days of the campaign hell so I’m sure we will be able to look forward to the vote counting hell to follow. I wonder what the new term will be for “hanging chad.” Today’s JohnKu is about the election. Sadly we are all pawns in a ridiculous game.

Election by John W. Howell © 2016

First the campaign noise,

Next the voting fraud specter. . .

Who can help us cope?

Friday – JohnKu – AKA TGIF

~ John W. Howell ~ 46 Comments

Funny Friday

 

The work week is drawing to a close. I don’t know about you but this week seemed pretty calm all things considered. Maybe it was the lack of debate drama but things were at a reasonable pace.

I finally got into some serious editing of my next book titled Circumstances of Childhood. It is a story about Greg Petros who becomes a successful professional football player and then a wealthy equity fund manager. His life is picture-perfect with two kids and a loving wife until a routine audit of the fund discovers twenty million dollars is missing.

The forensic accounting investigation confirms that the missing funds were transferred out using Greg’s computer. After an extensive search on his own, Greg discovers who took the money and why. For circumstances relating to his childhood, he cannot tell the police what he knows but must take matters into his own hands. He now must eliminate the threat to his family and recover the stolen funds while keeping the truth from the authorities.

Today’s JohnKu talks to having the time to do things you enjoy like editing.

Enjoy by John W. Howell © 2016

Swirling around us,

Life takes on tornado traits . . .

Enjoy peaceful days.

Friday JohnKu -AKA- TGIF

~ John W. Howell ~ 26 Comments

 

Funny Friday

We finally got a little rain early this week. Not enough to offset the two months of dryness, but as they say, “Every bit helps.” The nice thing is we are expecting a little more next Monday so maybe in combination we will be okay.

The last two days have been back to their old high humidity and high heat index selves. I guess everyone talks about the weather and today’s JohnKu is no exception. I hope you like it.

The Weather by John W. Howell © 2016

Some days blazing sun,

Others unending rainstorms. . .

Never satisfied.

Friday JohnKu – AKA TGIF

~ John W. Howell ~ 28 Comments

Funny FridayAh, another end of the week. We have been waiting anxiously for the equestrian events to begin at the Olympics. We are not much for the other sports but do love to watch horses compete. We enjoyed fifteen years of watching daughter in competition, and I guess it never leaves the blood. Today’s JohnKu talks about passion. I hope you like it.

Passion by John W. Howell © 2016

Dedication starts,

Before realization. . .

Passion takes the reins.

Friday JohnKu – AKA TGIF

~ John W. Howell ~ 24 Comments

Friday

 

Another Friday to celebrate. YAY. This week has been a productive one. Got my paperback of Our Justice onto CreateSpace with little or no trouble. I’m waiting for the proof copy to arrive and then will go after the Kindle addition. I have the Kindle file ready to go, but don’t want to put it up until I’m sure te paper edition looks good. I hope you all have had a good week and like me looking forward to the weekend. Today’s JohnKu talks about looking forward to something nice.

Something Nice by John W. Howell © 2016

When the task is hard,

And it almost seems too much. . .

Think of a nice thing.

Friday JohnKU – AKA TGIF

~ John W. Howell ~ 44 Comments

TGIF

Another Friday is upon us. Now that I am back in the maw of organized commerce, the day has more significance. I do need some time off. I have been running all week, and as you read this, I will be flying back to Texas from LA. This assignment is such that I’m not sure I will make it home this weekend or not. The pace is pretty brisk and since my role is to develop the strategy for success I have to be involved in all aspects.

If I didn’t want to do it, I would not have said “yes” to the request to be engaged once more. (It is rewarding and a heck of a lot of fun)

This week’s JohnKu talks to doing what you love. I hope you like it.

Life’s Work by John W. Howell

Work produces much,

Important food on the list…

Love has to be part.

Friday JohnKu – AKA- TGIF

~ John W. Howell ~ 36 Comments

happyfriday

Friday has to one of the best days of the week. I know when I get up on Friday, I feel like it is special somehow. Just knowing Saturday is just eight hours and change away puts a smile on my face. It wasn’t always that way. I remember when I was held prisoner by organized commerce, Fridays were always unique in that major and sometimes traumatic events took place on a Friday.

There were always staff meetings on Friday and they were usually good times spent with colleagues trying as best as possible to explain misses in the goal, budget, or quota. It became a game of verbal dodgeball played with all the rules of a cage death match. The song “Only the Strong Survive” continually played in your head. By five o’clock all the combatants have been vanquished and the boss can now enjoy the weekend.

Fridays are the days when those who are being made available to the industry are informed of their new mobile status. What makes the occasion so festive is the presence of security and the collection of personal effects to be placed in a cardboard box for the walk of shame. These occasions always reminded me of the tale of Lady Godiva who although naked no one in the village looked except a guy named Tom. In a similar manner, no one looks at the person moving slowly to the exit.

Fridays are the days when new managers have meetings to explain to the population the rules of conduct going forward. These meetings take on the air of capitulation almost like foreign troops occupying a town. There are the usual subjects which raise their hands and ask questions only to noticed by the new overload. There are also those whose conduct serves to let the new overlord know they are fully co-operative and totally on board with the new changes. These are the ones who could be labeled collaborators when the next regime liberates the group. The offshoot of this kind of meeting is clandestine plans of resistance formulated in a secret bar by the loyal few who plan the overthrow.

I guess Friday should be simply the end of the work week. Today’s JohnKu talks about Friday.

Friday by John W. Howell © 2106

It’s only a day,

Although it seems so special. . .

We still love it, though.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

~ John W. Howell ~ 44 Comments

Friday the 13th

Another work week has slipped by us all.  Friday is upon us once again and with it the promise of deserved rest over the weekend. Of course, if you are like me there is a complete list of things to do just waiting. Those of you who have regular jobs probably think us loafing full-time writers have all kinds of time to get those little home chores done during the week.

I have seen the looks at Lowes. “You look retired. What the hell are you doing here on the weekend? Why don’t you give us workers a break and stay the hell home.” That was the look put down in words. I have an answer. There never is enough time during the week to get those tiny tasks done. After all, there are posts to write, edits to do, new fiction to invent, new google research topics, coffee to drink, and tweets to publish. I haven’t even mentioned the dogs to walk, the bike to ride and photo’s to be taken I DESERVE TO GO TO LOWES ON THE WEEKEND JUST AS MUCH AS THE NEXT PERSON.

Whew. I had to get that off my chest. The truth is I just can’t imagine going to Lowes during the week. I would miss the crowds, the lack of checkers, the unavailable help, and the general feeling of accomplishment just getting out of the place with half of what I went there to buy. So I’ll still truck to Lowes on the weekend to check in with my fellow do it your selfers (yes,  I know that is not a word) and revel in our mutual bond of misery. Why change? Oh, and the John Ku this week asks a question about change. Hope you like it.

Change by John W. Howell © 2016

Comfortable us,

Satisfied that all is good. . .

Is change to be feared?