Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

April 29, 2016April 28, 2016 ~ John W. Howell ~ 38 Comments

sayfridaycancelled

Another Friday to celebrate. Woo Woo. My celebration is for a week well spent doing catch-up on my “work around the house” chore list. I have often commented that living by the Gulf is like being on a boat. There are a number of things that have to be constantly maintained. Little stuff like door locks, door bells, lamps, fixtures, vinyl fence, and even siding.

Since I have finished book three of the John J. Cannon trilogy and am just waiting to send to the editor, I have a little free time each day. Having time will be a temporary situation since my next book is calling for an edit. Yes, the first draft is done, but I’m sure it is a big mess and will need more work.

So, I got out the power sprayer and went to work spraying everything that would tolerate water. That included the whole exterior of the house and all the vinyl railings and fence. I must say the house looks better not covered in salt and sand.

I also put lubricant in all the locks and managed to change out some vent covers which had deteriorated as a result of the sun. In addition, I reconditioned the doorbell (which is an annual affair)

All in all a productive time. I expect my wife will be shocked upon her return from Austin where she has been helping youngest daughter move. Today’s JohnKu talks about doing some things you don’t want to do.

Your daily conscience,

On the refrigerator…

For what seems like months.

Friday John Ku – AKA – TGIF

April 8, 2016April 7, 2016 ~ John W. Howell ~ 34 Comments

Thank God its Friday Friday is upon us with the fleetness of a gazelle. At least, it seems that way. For ~~us old folks~~ me sitting at home writing ~~our~~ my hearts out, the days move way too fast. I know, I know not much sympathy from you younger folks who need to get up and head out the door to some other place of employment. I have to imagine that unless your job entails standing on your head, the days have to move pretty quickly as well.

I was on the phone with my uncle who is 92 and he mentioned how quickly he felt his life passed. He says he has no regrets and that he lived a full life but is still amazed at how fast it went.

I suppose this is another lesson in taking the time to enjoy what you are doing since before you know it that time may be gone. Today’s John Ku talks about appreciation. I hope you enjoy it.

Smelling the roses,

Is said to enhance one’s life. . .

Make it once a day.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

March 11, 2016March 10, 2016 ~ John W. Howell ~ 37 Comments

Excited-about-Friday

Friday again. YAY. This has been a week of taxes. Ugh, spit. It seems every year they become more complex and take more time to complete. Oh, I know what you are saying. “You do your own taxes?” Yes, I do. I have been doing them for thirty years and before that, I had a tax guy for four years. Before that, I did my taxes for 21 years. The tax guy (Big Eight firm) was a requirement by the company I worked for so there would be no conflict between personal and business. The Big Eight guy would drive me up the wall since I never seemed to have the right documentation in the right place at the right time. I spent so much time chasing requests for things that once my tour was over with the company I vowed to go back and do my own. After all, I am a business school graduate with a concentration in finance. What could be so hard? Also, I have my friends at Turbo Tax to help me out. So there you are. The tax law changes have done little but add more paperwork which I just love. (don’t believe it). My John Ku today discusses the frustration of missing things at tax time. I hope you like it.

All systems ready,

Burning the midnight candle. . .

Can’t find the W2.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – Hump Day

February 26, 2016September 15, 2020 ~ John W. Howell ~ 29 Comments

Another week has gone by. I don’t know about you, but these puppies are really going fast. It seems like yesterday that I was putting together last week’s JohnKu. I think it is because I’m busy as hell.

I have received some feedback from my Beta readers and I must say they have been pretty uniform in pointing out some need for additional attention to elements of my next John Cannon story. The title is Our Justice and will be the last in the trilogy. I will need to get busy and start before all the feedback is all in since I have promised my editor something by April. (Lucky I didn’t give a date)

I will be promoting His Revenge Kindle version for $0.99 starting on March 3rd through March 6th.

Today’s JohnKu talks about being busy. I hope you enjoy it.

Busy by John W. Howell

As the days fly by,

The choices made impact time. . .

Till there is no more.

Friday – JohnKu – AKA – TGIF #JusJoJan

January 15, 2016January 15, 2016 ~ John W. Howell ~ 37 Comments

Well, Friday arrived with the news that three Power Ball tickets have been sold. Unfortunately, none of them were in my area. Not that I care about others winning but it is sure knowledge that I finished out of the money. Of course, I could have just looked at the numbers to understand I will not be loaded with money. It just seems easier to have the information that the winning tickets were sold somewhere else. Also, by not looking at the numbers the idea that there could sill be a million bucks for five matching numbers. I could use a million. It’s not a billion but certainly more than I will earn writing. Which brings us to this week’s JohnKu that talks about being disappointed. I think all of us want to avoid disappointment for as long as we can. I guess I better put on my big boy pants and look at the numbers and face the fact that a million isn’t going to be mine either. Also, maybe next time I should not buy a quick pick. Who’s to say the Powerball machine knows how to avoid quick picks. I’m just saying.

There’s a fevered pitch,

Before every big event. . .

Suckered every time.

Friday JohnKu – AKA TGIF #JusJoJan

January 8, 2016January 11, 2016 ~ John W. Howell ~ 37 Comments

Another week has come and gone, and there are now only 51 weeks left in 2016. Why I decided to look at 2016 this way is not clear. It might be an attempt to slow things down by looking uphill instead of downhill. I think that might be an honorable way of trying to put the skids on the speed with which time passes.

This week has been a challenge. The Chinese stock market has given the world the jitters, and so most of us sit and watch equity vanish. The idea of getting into a panic is one that doesn’t appeal to me. I guess I will have to ride it out and bet on the fact that when the market declines at some point in time, it does rebound. Well, in any case, it is too late. All the smart money already took off. Today’s JohnKu talks about remaining calm during stressful times.

The sea boils with change.

The sun hides and holds its warmth. . .

All this will pass soon.

This post is part of the Just Jot it January. If you want to join in here is the link http://lindaghill.com/2015/12/31/just-jot-it-january-2016-rules/http://lindaghill.com/2015/12/31/just-jot-it-january-2016-rules/

Friday JohnKu – AKA TGIF #JusJoJan

January 1, 2016December 31, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 23 Comments

A brand new year with the promise of a new beginning. It is funny how one day can be so different from another. Yesterday was so last year and today is what is happening now. I hope everyone had a lovely New Year’s Eve. Mine is usually pretty mild. We normally have a nice dinner and then pretty much sit and do what we always do. A little talk, some iPad time and one hour of a favorite show that has been pre-recorded. We are usually in our reading room (a euphemism for the bedroom) well before midnight. On New Year’s Eve, we don’t make an exception. Of course, we do have to put up with the tourists who think it is legal to shoot off fireworks on the beach (it’s not). So we have an interlude of explosions and idiots yelling from midnight until about one o’clock. Maybe I’m being persnickety but I think the choice of being up for the new year should be mine.

Today’s JohnKu talks about the difference in one day to another. I hope you enjoy it and Happy New Year one more time.

Nighttime comes this year,

The resolutions are made…

Dawn reconsider.

This post is part of Just Jot It January. If you want the lowdown visit Linda Hill at http://www.lindahill.com

Friday JohnKu – AKA TGIF

December 11, 2015December 9, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 24 Comments

Here we are to the last workday. This week was so beautiful here. The sun was out all week and it was like a refreshing break from about two weeks of gloomy weather. It seems all things go better in the sunshine. Here is a photo of some hibiscus that are blooming their hearts out right now. During this holiday season, they seem especially festive. A nice reward for all the rain.

2015-12-09 13.54.44

Challenges in front,

Seeming to have no purpose. . .

Until the sweet end.

Friday JohnKu – AKA TGIF

October 23, 2015October 23, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 26 Comments

Friday here at last. We finally have been getting some rain. The Gulf looks like a boiling pot of navy beans, and the water is right up to the dunes but at lease our reservoirs are getting an excellent refill. This week saw a bunch of book activity. I have a tour starting with 4Wills Publishing on November 6th and did manage to get the posts written. I am currently in the process of updating all the various places where you can list your book for free. When I introduced My GRL back in 2014, I was a younger man. Right now my eyes hurt from squinting at the update various forms. I am happy that all is going according to plan, and I will be sending an e-mail out soon to those nice folks who offered to help spread the word. I plan to announce the launch of His Revenge on November 1st so the month of November will be pretty occupied with launch activities. Today’s JohnKu talks about being prepared which is a good idea when it rains or when launching a book. I hope you like it.

Just in time is fine,

Better is to plan ahead. . .

To avoid a miss.

Friday – JohnKu – AKA TGIF

September 25, 2015September 21, 2015 ~ John W. Howell ~ 28 Comments

Friday is here again, and only one day left until the weekend. I am so glad football season is finally in full swing. Our house has several teams we follow. In the pros we are Pittsburgh Steelers fans. My wife was born and raised there and I was born in Detroit. If you want to call me a traitor to the Lions I accept. If you think I’ve turned my back on the Cowboys, you’re right. Say I am disloyal to the Texans. Damn straight. I like my wife and the Steelers.

In college ball my wife went to West Virginia University and I to Michigan State. We like both. I also went to Notre Dame so we like them too. (we have a very hard time when Notre Dame plays WVU and MSU). Our daughters went to Baylor University and Indiana University so we are fans of both unless they play WVU and MSU and then we have major problems)

In any case we are very glad the mayhem has begun. Today’s JohnKu talks about football.

Waiting all summer,

The spectacle called football. . .

Over in a flash.