Stream of Consciousness Saturday – “Don’t Get Me Started.

January 10, 2026January 10, 2026 ~ John W. Howell ~ 58 Comments

Coffee first, then face the day. The low caffeine warning light is blinking behind my eyes. A touch of the two-coffee icon on the touchscreen starts the process that delivers eight ounces of life-saving goodness. One sip and the red warning begins to fade. A second sip, and the chimes of Westminster announce another idiot who cannot read the Do Not Ring the Doorbell sign. Don’t get me started on how annoying the chimes coupled with Twiggy and Tempeste threatening the integrity of the window glass with their warning to stay away. A couple of new stuffed toys tossed into the soundproof room, and a slam of the door puts an end to the ear-bleeding “bark them to St. Lewis” cacophony of the two.

A glance at the security monitor shows an image of a Porky Pig look-alike. A back-and-forth discussion determines the need for a signature on an envelope delivery. (Of course) With a sigh, the security shutdown process is begun.

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. 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 locks on the door are thrown. And the door opened.

The pig hands me a clipboard, and after signing, he hands me an envelope. He also holds out a cloven hoof in the classic sign that a tip is expected. “Stay away from smokehouses,” was my tip to him as I slammed the door.

The envelope is from Linda Hill, and inside is the following message. Your prompt for #JusJoJan the 10th and Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “don’t get me started.” Use the phrase in your post or just write about the first thing it conjures in your mind. 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/2026/01/09/the-friday-reminder-for-socs-jusjojan-2026-daily-prompt-for-jan-10th/

“Do you have something against the pig?”

“Don’t get me started. It’s not the pig, it’s the idea of barking dogs and having to open that front door for deliveries.”

“One of your astute readers made the suggestion that you disconnect the doorbell.”

“I guess that would put the Saturday feature out of business.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, as much as I hate the doorbell, there are those who like to read about shutting down the security system.”

“I like that myself.”

“See. So how can I get rid of the doorbell?”

“I see your point.”

“Anyway. A couple of VooDoo Rangers and the whole thing is forgotten.”

“Now you are talking.”

“Uber?”

“Over there.”

“That’s a 1951 F-1Ford pick-up.”

“Yeah, I wouldn’t know.”

“What’s the catch?”

“Boy. Cut to the chase.”

“There is a catch, right?”

“Small one.”

“Let’s have it.”

“We have to wash the truck after the pub visit.”

“That’s not too bad.”

“The owner is very particular.”

“I still think we can do it.”

“Okay then. Here’s your toothbrush.”

“Tooth brush?”‘

“Yeah for the wheels.”

“Oh my.”

“I have to use this special cloth.”

“Let’s just go. After a couple of Voo Doo’s, we won’t care.”

“Now you’re talking.

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

January 9, 2026January 8, 2026 ~ John W. Howell ~ 69 Comments

Today’s good news story comes from The Cool Down newsletter. Thank you to Noelle Granger for sending it to me.

Experts thrilled by recovery of beloved US creatures: ‘It was really successful’

By Drew Jones

Wild turkeys are thriving across Illinois in what one wildlife expert has dubbed “one of the greatest wildlife management success stories in modern times.”

Once entirely extirpated from the state in the early 20th century due to overhunting and habitat loss, wild turkeys have returned to nearly every corner of the Prairie State through sustained restoration efforts that began in the 1950s.

Wild turkeys, native to North America and historically abundant across the Midwest, were completely killed off in Illinois, according to the Chicago Tribune. But decades of careful work by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and partners changed that.

“People had the idea that these natural resources would last forever,” Luke Garver, wild turkey project manager for the IDNR, told the publication.

Conservationists employed rocket-propelled nets to help capture birds and move them to different areas. They even used a multi-state collaboration approach to move birds from neighboring states and even “trade” wild turkeys for river otters in states that were looking to restore that population.

Over time, populations expanded naturally as habitat conditions improved and birds reproduced across the state’s forests.

“It was really successful,” Garver said. “It’s pretty remarkable how well these birds do when they’re given good habitat.

This comeback highlights why animal conservation and biodiversity are so important. Every species plays a role in the complex web of life that supports healthy ecosystems.

Turkeys help disperse seeds, control insect populations, and serve as prey and predators in food webs. Their interactions with plants and insects also help sustain soil health and nutrient cycles that benefit countless other organisms.

Biodiversity isn’t just good for nature, it’s crucial for humans too. Healthy ecosystems provide services we all rely on: clean water, fertile soil for crops, carbon storage that moderates climate change, and even our food supply. When species like wild turkeys rebound, it signals that these systems are functioning well.

Similar efforts are happening elsewhere. In California, for example, conservationists are trying to restore bighorn sheep populations.

The turkey’s triumphant return in Illinois is a powerful reminder that intentional conservation can restore nature’s balance. Preserving biodiversity ultimately supports both wildlife and human communities alike.

The good news in this story is that with effort, even potential extinction can be overcome. Today’s JohnKu talks about the impossible. I hope you have a super weekend.

Loss seems forever,

Till humans decide to work. . .

Then nature kicks in.

Thursday – A Little Personal – Twiggy and Tempeste in Conversation

January 8, 2026January 7, 2026 ~ John W. Howell ~ 110 Comments

“Wow. That sun feels good on the face, Twiggy.”

“Tell me about it. We haven’t laid out for quite a while.”

“Why don’t we do this more often?”

“You tell me. I don’t know why.”

“Being inside on a day like this is a crime.”

“Well, all we have to do is get Mom or Dad to open the door, and we could do this all the time.”

“I wonder why we can’t open our own doors?”

“We have no thumbs, remember. Besides, the knob is way up in the air.”

“What about a doggie door. You know, I’ve seen them on Instagram.”

“Problem is, all kinds of critters could come in there, too.”

“Oh yeah. I could just see that smart-assed squirrel helping himself to one of our beds.”

“Not to mention that skunk who wanders by now and then.”

“Yeah. In fact, he came by last night. I can still detect his essence.”

“Can you imagine meeting him at breakfast and having a disagreement. No thanks.”

“Great point. I’ll bet Mom would love having a skunk eruption in the house.”

“I think we’d better lose the idea of a doggie door.”

“Oh, hi, Dad.”

“What are you two talking about?”

“Oh, we were just weighing the pros and cons of a doggie door.”

“What? My doorman role is not up to par?”

“It’s not that. We just wanted the freedom to come and go.”

“Believe me, if you had a doggie door, you would miss the pleasure of seeing your Mom and me waiting on you two.”

“You are right. Forget the idea.”

“Done.”

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Finger Point Prompt – “Short-Range”

January 6, 2026January 5, 2026 ~ John W. Howell ~ 45 Comments

Today I randomly opened Detour on the Eternal Road to page 77. With eyes closed, I pointed to the page. The word closest to my finger that we can read is the compound word “short-range.” This is our prompt.

“What are you talking about?”

“Were you listening?”

“I guess I had my mind elsewhere. So, what were you saying?”

“I was trying to get you to quit focusing on short-range activities in favor of a more long-range concentration.”

“Wow, I don’t even know what that means.”

“Let me give you an example.”

“Please.”

“That apple you are eating.”

“What about it?”

“Instead of eating it now when there are plenty of apples, maybe you should save it for when apples are scarce.”

“But I’m hungry now.”

“Won’t you be hungry later?”

“Um. I guess so.”

“So if there are no apples later, what are you going to do?”

“Eat pears?”

“You are missing the point.”

“I’m trying hard to understand.”

“I am trying to get you to plan for scarcity.”

“Scarcity? What the heck is that?”

“It’s when the things you need to survive are not easy to find – like apples.”

“Is this something new?”

“What?”

“Scarcity.”

“No, it is a matter of life.”

“Why haven’t I faced it before?”

“Cause you had someone who took care to see that you had everything you needed.”

“What’s changed?”

“You are getting older and will soon be on your own.”

“Who thought that up?”

“It is a fact of life. I’m trying to teach you to think of more than just one day.”

“But you are my Mom. You do my thinking for me.”

“Not forever, son. Come spring, you will be too big to stay.”

“After hibernation?”

“That’s right. So do you understand the lesson?”

“I do but don’t have to like it.”

“Someday you will have cubs of your own, and you’ll look back on today and laugh.”

“I’m not laughing now.”

“I know. You will, trust me. Now, finish your apple.”

Top Ten Things Not to Do as You Return to Work after a Long Holiday Hiatus

January 5, 2026January 4, 2026 ~ John W. Howell ~ 79 Comments

This post, written by Marie Ann Bailey and me, was published on January 13, 2014. Since the holiday period was quite long this year, and today is the first day back for many of you, I hope it is useful

Top Ten Things Not to Do as You Return to Work after a Long Holiday Hiatus

10. When returning to work after a long holiday hiatus, do not expect your coworkers who did not take any time off to appreciate hearing how wonderful your vacation was. If you do, at best, they will smile absently as you regale them with stories of all the reading you got done. At worst, they will regale you with tales of all the work that’s piled up on your desk, waiting for you, and the fact that you would be fired if it were not for them.

9. When returning to work after a long holiday hiatus, do not try to incur sympathy by complaining that you had to spend most of it with your in-laws. If you do, at best, your coworkers will simply try to one-up your story of how your mother-in-law found fault with how you decorated your Christmas tree as usual. At worst, your complaints will be passed to your spouse at the next opportunity.

8. When returning to work after a long holiday hiatus, do not pretend to have been gone so long that you forgot your boss’s name. If you do, at best, your boss will play along and pretend to have forgotten your name and salary grade. At worst, your boss, who was called into work on Christmas Eve for an emergency in your area, will want to forget who you are and have security escort you from the building as a joke.

7. When returning to work after a long holiday hiatus, do not expect to find your office or cubicle in the same condition as you last saw it. If you do, at best, it might be cleaner since the cleaning crew actually had a chance to clean it while you were gone, since most surfaces were uncovered. At worst, you will find things missing (like your favorite Lord of the Rings post-it notes) because your coworkers took advantage of your absence and treated your office like a come-help-yourself supply depot.

6. When returning to work after a long holiday hiatus, don’t expect to be able to spend most of your first day back getting “reacquainted” with your job. If you do, at best, your boss will grudgingly give you permission to spend the day reviewing rather than doing, but in the end, it will cost you. At worst, your boss will offer you the opportunity to get “acquainted” with the new unemployment policies if you don’t step up.

5. When returning to work after a long holiday hiatus, do not try to make it sound like your break was more fun than it was. If you do, at best, you’ll only be competing with your cubicle-mate who, like you, basically stayed home and read all day. At worst, you’ll find yourself making up stories about scuba diving off the Florida Keys just because your coworker hung out at a nude beach in Pensacola.

4. When returning to work after a long holiday hiatus, be sure to leave your house at least a half-hour earlier than usual. If you do, at best, you’ll get to work earlier and have some “quiet time” before the reality of being back hits you. At worst, you’ll need that extra half-hour because you’ve forgotten the best route and you get lost along the way. (You did drop crumbs, didn’t you?)

3. When returning to work after a long holiday hiatus, do not bring with you all the cookies and cakes left over from your holiday parties. If you do, at best, your coworkers will just give you the evil eye since they have resolved to stop eating sweets after the holidays. At worst, the three-week-old sweets that you left out for everyone else will mysteriously wind up on your office chair, in the shape of a horse’s head.

2. When returning to work after a long holiday hiatus, do not be surprised if the work you thought your coworker would do on your behalf didn’t get done. At best, you’ll find a neat stack of reports that need to be reviewed by close of business the day you return and the coworker who had offered to review the reports out on sick leave. At worst, you’ll find piles of documents strewn across your desk with no clue when they are due or who left them for you, and your boss standing outside impatiently tapping a foot waiting for your report.

1. When returning to work after a long holiday hiatus, do not expect everyone, including you, to be in a cheery, ready-to-get-to-work mood. At best, you all will just be experiencing temporary post-holiday depression that will lift after a few days. At worst, the reality that there are no more holidays until May will hit you like a sledgehammer, and you’ll have a four-month-long headache to show for it.

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

January 2, 2026January 1, 2026 ~ John W. Howell ~ 63 Comments

Today’s good news story comes from CBS. It was sent by Resa McConaghy. Thanks, Resa, for sharing

Elusive, endangered wild cat seen in Thailand for the first time in 30 years

December 26, 2025

An elusive wild cat long feared extinct in Thailand has been rediscovered three decades after the last recorded sighting, conservation authorities and an NGO said Friday.

Flat-headed cats are among the world’s most threatened wild felines, with the International Union for Conservation of Nature estimating that just 2,500 adults exist in the wild. The rare animals are about the size of a domestic cat and have distinctive, round, close-set eyes.

Flat-headed cats are found only in Southeast Asia and typically live in dense wetland ecosystems like peat swamps and freshwater mangroves. Such areas are under threat: Thailand’s peat swamp forests have been heavily fragmented, mainly due to land conversion and agricultural expansion, said veterinarian and researcher Kaset Sutasha of Kasetsart University. The last confirmed sighting of a flat-headed cat in Thailand was in 1995.

Last year, the wild cat conservation organization Panthera and Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation began an ecological survey using camera traps in the country’s Princess Sirindhorn Wildlife Sanctuary.

Flat-headed cats were detected 29 times during the survey, according to Panthera and Thai officials. It was not immediately clear how many individuals the detections represent, as the species lacks distinctive markings, so counting is tricky. Pattanarangsan said the survey’s findings suggest a relatively high concentration of the species.

The footage included a female flat-headed cat with her cub — a rare and encouraging sign for a species that typically produces only one offspring at a time. The species has also struggled to reproduce across isolated areas, contributing to its endangerment.

Kaset, who was not involved in the survey but has researched wild cats for years, said the “rediscovery is exciting” but is only a “starting point” for future conservation efforts.

“What comes after this is more important — how to enable them to live alongside us sustainably, without being threatened,” Kaset said.

In addition to Thailand, flat-headed cats can be found in Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo, according to the Felidae Conservation Fund. They have a diet dominated by fish, frogs, and shrimp, and are nocturnal, elusive animals.

“Much about the species remains a mystery because of their rarity and the difficulty of accessing their habitats,” Panthera conservation program manager Rattapan Pattanarangsan said.

The good news in this story is that once again Nature works to recover from human interference. Today’s JohnKu talks about recovery. I hope you have a lovely weekend.

Nature does the work,

To reclaim what could be lost. . .

By human neglect.

BREAK ANNOUNCEMENT – I will be off Saturday and Sunday so there will be no shenanigans with the coffee machine or views of the neighborhood. I’ll be back Monday.

Thursday – A Little Personal – Twiggy, Tempeste, The Producer, and I Wish You A Happy New Year

January 1, 2026December 30, 2025 ~ John W. Howell ~ 96 Comments

From our place to yours. Happy New Year and profound thanks for your support in 2025

” We do hope the fireworks stop soon, though.”

Tuesday – Anything possible – Finger Point Prompt – “Worked.”

December 30, 2025December 29, 2025 ~ John W. Howell ~ 65 Comments

Today I opened My GRL randomly to page 51. With eyes closed, I pointed to the page. The word closest to my finger is “worked.” This is our prompt.

“Well, that worked.”

“What do you mean. This is a mess.”

“It may not look pretty, but at least the leak is stopped.”

“I’ll give you that, but what an eyesore. The neighbors are going to have a field day at the New Year’s Eve party, talking about the mess you made.”

“So you are just worried about what the neighbors will say?”

“Darn right I’m worried.”

“You should be happy that we got the leak under control and not worry about the gossip.”

“I’m the one who has to deal with these folks. All you do is work most of the time and don’t have talk to them.”

“Still. For the most part, we keep our place neat. This was an emergency. Don’t you think they will understand that?”

“I still don’t understand why it has to look like such a fright?”

“The water pressure was just too great to take the time to make a lovely patch. I had to get the water stopped before it ruined everything.”

“Can you fix it now?”

“No the binder has to set up before I make any more adjustments.”

“How does this happen anyway? You built our place. Did you do a lousy job?”

“This is a small setback, and you are making a mountain out of a molehill.”

“You don’t have to listen to the whispers.”

“We had unprecedented rain, and the water pressure was just too much.”

“Why didn’t this happen to others?”

“Take a look.”

“What?”

“Do you see any dams left downstream?”

“OMG, where are they?”

“So much for wondering if ours was built properly. I don’t think you have to worry about what is said at the New Year’s Eve party. I think you and I will be the only ones there. The rest will be chasing their tails trying to find logs to rebuild.”

“You are my hero. Happy New Year, you eager Beaver you.”

*Blush*

Top Ten Things Not to Do on New Year’s Eve

December 29, 2025December 28, 2025 ~ John W. Howell ~ 63 Comments

This post was first published on December 30th, 2013, by Marie Ann Bailey and me. I think it may still be good advice.

Top Ten Things Not to Do on New Year’s Eve

10. On New Year’s Eve, do not think you need to consume everything in the city. If you do, at best, you may gain a few pounds. At worst, you will never ever feel better again.

9. On New Year’s Eve, do not think everyone is in love with you. If you do, at best, you may get a new roommate. At worst, you may wake up next to a stranger who is now your spouse.

8. On New Year’s Eve, do not think you have to scream “Happy New Year” more than once. If you do, at best, you will lose your voice. At worst, someone may in fact put a sock in it.

7. On New Year’s Eve, do not think you need to invent and issue resolutions for everyone else. If you do, at best, you will lose some friends. At worst, your host may resolve to ban you to the patio.

6. On New Year’s Eve, do not think you have to help others drink more. If you do, at best, you may be the last person standing. At worst, you may be named as a co-defendant on a DUI.

5. On New Year’s Eve, do not think you need to give everyone a kiss. If you do, at best, they will all think you are a nerd. At worst, you may pick up a nice case of bubonic plague.

4. On New Year’s Eve, you do not have to sing “Auld Lang Syne.” If you do, at best, your off-key rendition will be recorded for playback when you are sober. At worst, you’ll not know the words and remove all doubt as to your IQ.

3. On New Year’s Eve, you do not have to tell everyone exactly what you think of them. If you do, at best, a few will want to take you outside. At worst, several will.

2. On New Year’s Eve, there is no reason to remove some of your clothes to be more comfortable. If you do, at best, you may not know when to stop. At worst, there could be additional records of your lack of discretion that you will need to pay handsomely to squelch.

1. On New Year’s Eve, there is no reason to get behind the wheel of a car after you have won the shots per hour contest. If you do it, at best you will end up in jail. At worst, you might just hurt someone.

Views of the Neighborhood – Seed Packaging for the Seed Library and the Last of Fall

December 28, 2025December 27, 2025 ~ John W. Howell ~ 73 Comments

Today is an in-between kind of day. The Holidays are past, and the New Year is in front of us. It is a good time to take a look at the deciduous trees that have finally turned here in Texas. It is also a good time to check in with the volunteers who are busy restocking the seed library. We are catered by Comedor of Austin, and our entertainment is Elsie Duckworth

Sunchoke Tostada – Salsa macha, charred summer squash, shishito pepper salpicon

Grilled Greens – Curly mustard greens, 2×4 Farm black radish & turnip, masa croutons, persimmon vinaigrette

Chapulines – Heirloom hominy hummus, green mole, escabeche, masa lavash

Cobia Crudo – Apple, almond, cucumber, burnt allium

Quesadilla – Heirloom masa, onions, HiFi Mycology mushrooms, quesillo (Oaxacan cheese), smoked Fresno salsa

Fish Fundido – Oaxacan quesillo, Fresno chile, totopos (corn chips)

Fish Tacos – Blistered cabbage, toréado aioli, green salsa

Meatballs in Chipotle Sauce – 44 Farms beef, heirloom hominy grits, chipotle salsa

Bone Marrow Tacos – Quelites (wild greens), smoked butter, pecan gremolata

Enfrijolada – Rancho Gordo Vaquero bean salsa, sunchoke

Black-Grilled Chicken – Greener Pastures half chicken, heirloom masa, fire-roasted salsa, herbs

Berkshire Pork Chop Milanese – Double-cut bone-in pork chop, manchamanteles mole, 2×4 Farms sweet peppers

Lamb Barbacoa – Sweet potato, pickled tomatillo, chipotle & lamb fat salsa

44 Farms New York Strip – Chilhuacle negro chile butter, butterscotch squash, garlic-tomato confit

Potosí-Style French Fries – Charred onion aioli, chives, cilantro

Grilled Carrots – Requesón cheese, nixtamal crumble, chipotle glaze, mint, cilantro

Caesar Salad – Romaine, epazote, masa croutons, Manchego cheese

Picture of an old time school bus

Here’s the bus. Let’s go.

The location of the seed library. The administration offices of the Lakeway Municipal Utility District.

There are treats.

Some discussion with Stephanie Threinen, CPC Public Information Liaison. (Right)

Sorting donated seeds and labeling the packets.

The work is very necessary.

To help, some music to keep the spirits bright.

Most of the deciduous trees in Lakeway are oaks, so there is a lot of red. The color time is very short.

A lovely oak.

Another oak but golden.

Bradford pears with red leaves,

An oak just turning. In a week, these will be on the ground.

Another oak.

A final oak.

Now that we have witnessed the seed round-up and the changing color of the trees, it is time for food and music. I hope you have a great week and a Happy New Year celebration.

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