Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

March 13, 2020March 12, 2020 ~ John W. Howell ~ 84 Comments

“Ah, Friday in the sun. Pretty great huh, Twiggy?”
“What did the DOW do today?”

Another week almost finished. It has been one lollapalooza too. I wonder if the news could get any worse. ( I suppose if we hang around long enough it will get worse) I think with all that’s going on it is time to count blessings. I don’t think any good can come from continuing to dwell on all that is going south.

Let me see.

I’m sitting on the patio writing this post and I can smell the scent of the mountain laurel.

The crossvines have started to bloom.

The cardinals are all singing at once.

The pups are enjoying the weather.

The temperature is 74 degrees with a high of 79 today.

There will be a meatloaf sandwich for lunch with potato chips.

I still have the mental capacity to write.

I’m still working on my WIP. (Back from the editor.)

Got word the landscaper is going to replace all the sod. (If he’s still in business after the financial meltdown. Oops there I go not thinking positively again.)The sod didn’t do well. Had a case of cinch bugs when installed.

Going to watch a recorded episode of NCIS tonight.

Got some new bottle brush topiary style potted shrubs

The new pots (for the bushes) arrive today along with a new hose.

I feel better already. Todays’ JohnKu talks about where to focus when things seem out of control. I hope you have a great weekend.

When it seems doubtful,

That living can be normal . . .

Think of your blessings.

Thursday – A Little Personal – Danny the Dog Book Launch

March 12, 2020March 12, 2020 ~ John W. Howell ~ 97 Comments

Thursday a Little Personal

“Hey, Lucy. What are all those people looking at?”

“They are here because we have a special guest. Come down here cause we have a job to do.”

Thursday a little persona

“Does it involve speaking to these folks?”

“Yes, it does.”

“You know I’m timid, right?”

“Yeah, right. You’ll get over it. This is a great day, and you’ll want to share the good news.”

“So, Hi, folks. Lucy and Tiggy here with you. Say hello, Twiggy.”

“H-hello.”

“Today, we have the pleasure of saying a big welcome to Andrew Joyce and Danny the Dog. Mostly we want you to pay attention to Danny since…well….he’s a dog. Yes, Twiggy?”

“And he has written a book. I know Mr. Joyce has written several books, but he has fingers, and it is way too easy as opposed to paws.”

“Yes, a dog writing a book is a wonderful thing. So with no more delay, here is the information.”

First the Cover.

Amazon link. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084T4JNQW

Then Danny Himself.

Danny the Dog

Danny the Dog is a prolific writer. He’s written articles for bloggers around the world and has his own very popular blog where he dispenses his wisdom on a monthly basis. He’s humorous, clever, charming, delightful, and sometimes irascible. Or, as he would phrase it, “I’m a purveyor of wit, wisdom, and words.”

In My Name Is Danny, Danny writes about his real-life adventures living on a boat in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with his human, Andrew. He tells of their trials and tribulations … and the love they have for one another.

The Amazon link.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084T4JNQW

Wednesday Story Day – AKA – Hump Day

March 11, 2020March 10, 2020 ~ John W. Howell ~ 52 Comments

“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

March 10, 2020March 9, 2020 ~ John W. Howell ~ 53 Comments

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

“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

March 9, 2020March 8, 2020 ~ John W. Howell ~ 58 Comments

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

March 8, 2020March 7, 2020 ~ John W. Howell ~ 57 Comments

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”

March 7, 2020March 6, 2020 ~ John W. Howell ~ 41 Comments

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

“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

March 6, 2020March 5, 2020 ~ John W. Howell ~ 54 Comments

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.

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

March 5, 2020March 4, 2020 ~ John W. Howell ~ 78 Comments

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

March 4, 2020March 3, 2020 ~ John W. Howell ~ 52 Comments

“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.”