Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

May 21, 2021May 20, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 67 Comments

Ah, Friday at last Little One.”
“Feels good, Lucy.”
“Yes it does.”

Friday again so soon? WTH. Okay, enough of the “Is life moving too fast? rant.” Of course, it is. We haven’t seen anything yet. Wait until everything opens up, and we all jump on the gerbil wheel.

The political wags are making a big deal out of certain states cutting short the unemployment pandemic bonus payments of 300 dollars a week. The real facts are 1. The number of unemployment claims is at the lowest level since the pandemic started. 2. Businesses are trying to attract workers, but with the prospect of earning that $300 by not working, there are staffing shortages everywhere. There is another lesson here. Some business sectors need to raise their wages to get the workers they need. I’m just saying.

We finally got three inches of rain here at the house. We needed it badly, and more is on the way. The folks in Louisana did not need the rain they got, so now there are emergency situations. It would be nice if there was an even allocation of the weather.

Had a great time on Fresh Ink Group’s Voice of Indie Podcast last night. Thanks to Beem Weeks and Stephen Geez for having me on. Here’s the link https://t.co/W0RkRhUm6Z?amp=1

If you haven’t seen the post on my review of Andrew Joyce’s Yellowhair, I hope you do. I have a lot of respect for his work.

Today’s JohnKu talks about the situation in the Middle East with the prospects of a cease-fire set for today. Let’s hope it is in place for a long time.

I hope you all have a great weekend.

I am killing you,

You are killing me as well . . .

Let’s stop this madness.

Wednesday Story Day – AKA – Hump Day

May 19, 2021May 18, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 53 Comments

“You going to wait up for Friday?”
“Think I’ll sleep till then.”
“Good plan.”

It is Wednesday Story Day again, and last week we found out that the car making the pick-up at the Chick-Fil-A was a Cadillac Escalade, and the license number was clearly visible. So, with that information, the team headed to Mike Moore’s office at the FBI headquarters in Reno. I see they are in Mike’s office now, which means we can catch up with them.

“I have the database on my laptop so we can search for the plate here.”

“Good. Seems like we have to do a lot of running around to get things done.”

“I would talk to the guy with the pen about that.”

“How long is the search going to take?”

“Here it is.”

“Amazing.”

“Looks like the plate belongs to a Prius. It is registered to a couple in Tahoe. Hold on. Let me check the stolen vehicle database as well. No record of the Prius being stolen. I think we will need to call the couple to double-check.”

“There is no record of the Cadillac?”

“Yeah, that will take longer. This system is set up by plate number. Here let me do a search on the name field.”

“Is this just Nevada?”

“Yup, for now. I can expand to the US. I wish we had that plate number.”

“How about the dealer? Couldn’t they be of some help?”

“Depends on how good their records are. What year would you say that Escalade is anyway?”

“Boy, that would be a guess, but I would say maybe a 2019 or 20.”

“Why do you say that?”

“I know they named a style change for the 2021 year. That doesn’t look like the change.”

“Hey, Larry.”

“What, Andrew?”

“You looking to buy an Escalade.”

“No. Why?”

“Just wondered why you knew about model changes, is all.”

“It’s a long story. Maybe some other time.”

“I don’t have a hit on the Escalade at all. The system is still going through the national database. This could take all day. We need to go see that dealer.”

“I think we ‘d better get going then.”

“I’ll take my laptop so I can stay on the search. Wait, here’s something. An Escalade reported stolen in LA two weeks ago. The color is wrong. This one is black.”

“Okay, let’s go.”

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

May 14, 2021May 14, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 69 Comments

“Hey everyone. Dad put the wrong headline on this post which is now corrected. Also, it is Friday and I couldn’t be happier.”
“Well done, Twiggy. He also posted this photo yesterday.”
“Cut the guy some slack, Lucy. he needed a quick one.”
“Happy Friday.”

Another fast-flying week. I have to wonder if it is just me,, or is the calendar out of control? Reminds me of those old movies where the pages fly off a calendar to show time passing. I personally would like time to take a break and not be in such a hurry to pass us by. Too much to do and too little time.

Inflation worries had the stock market in a tissy on Tuesday and Wednesday. Looks like investors think the latest cost of living numbers will trigger a Federal Reserve increase in interest rates. Given that the Colonial pipeline hack pretty much disrupted transportation for the Eastern half of the country might have driven prices up. Most analysts still maintain that a little correction is a good thing.

The housing market is going nuts. If you are thinking about selling a house,, now is the time. Of course, I always miss the seller’s market when selling and the buyer’s market when buying. My motto is to buy high,, sell low. Right now, I’m not needing to sell. I’ll wait for a housing collapse before listing my place.

Still working on my WIP. James and Sam still haven’t been able to find Ryan and Eddie (Two missing spirits) They looked for them at an aerodrome in World War I, at Gettysburg in the Civil War, and they just left Hiroshima. The Hiroshima trip was courtesy of Lucifer so you know it was not meant to be uplifting.

Today’s JohnKu talks about the economy. I hope you all have a super weekend.

Economic cycle,

Could also be called roulette . . .

The ball needs to drop.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

May 7, 2021May 6, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 56 Comments

Photo of Twiggy trotting by Lucy — “Where you going kiddo?”
“I thought I heard Friday on the patio.”
“You are right Friday is here.”

It is Friday again, and I think I must spend part of the week in a state of unconsciousness. That would be the only reason the week passes so quickly. Well, here we are on the eve of the weekend.

It has been a week of finally getting past the block on my WIP. I still can’t figure out what the problem was, but managed to move on. I have been able to score one thousand words a day which is my goal.

On Sunday, we will be visiting the Enchanted Forest again. There are some interesting things done with the trees so we will concentrate on those. I hope you can make it.

This week’s JohnKu talks about peace and quiet. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

When all is quiet,

Do not suspect something’s wrong . . .

Sound of peace working.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

April 30, 2021April 29, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 73 Comments

“Gonna miss that patio.”
“Come on Twiggy. We need the rain.”
“But why on Friday?”
“Just to torture you.”

Another week has flown by. It is Friday again, and time to prepare for the weekend. (YAY)

Before I forget, I have a post up on Story Empire today. I have listed the top ten books that have been banned or challenged in 2020. Also, there is a list of the banned or challenged books from the 100 most significant books written. Go HERE if you would like to visit.

The first 100 days of the Biden administration is now history. The scorecard on promises made vs. promises kept looks pretty good. I still wish the left and right would quit throwing insults at each other. It just doesn’t help anything.

The producer got her second shot, so after two weeks, it looks like we will have some immunity. We are still going to be careful on the three ways to protect oneself — wash hands, distance, wear a mask. We still don’t trust air travel, so we won’t be doing any of that.

I am very sorry for the outbreaks of COVID in India. Such a large population and so difficult to get every immunized quickly. The second outbreak comes after the first and is more severe. Lax preventive care such as masks and social distancing is being blamed on the current situation. I still feel COVID is going to be around a long time.

Today’s JohnKu talks about what is normal. I hope you. All have a great weekend.

Protecting one’s self,

Against an unknown outcome . . .

Is the best normal.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

April 23, 2021April 22, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 85 Comments

Twiggy looking up in the air — “Twiggy. What are you doing?”
“Catching a few rays before the snowstorm.”
“Very funny. It’s going to be in the 80s today.”
“You never know lately.”

Here it is, Friday already. I did not get half of what I wanted to accomplish this week accomplished. Well, maybe half is an exaggeration. I had to make a list of what I did accomplish to keep myself from thinking I wasted the week. No surprise, the list was gratifying. I think the problem is I have been stymied on the WIP, and so I haven’t produced the word count that I originally planned. These things do happen, so I’ll just shrug it off and try to do better next week. Besides, I have not gotten one call from the commercial editor at Simon and Shuster demanding the manuscript and threatening my million dollar advance. So why sweat it?

Yesterday was the official Earth Day. I will still be celebrating Earth Day on my post on Sunday. We have a Question Find It scavenger hunt going on, and we need to wrap it up. There are five more stops to go. Also, I have invited Kid Rock to join us. He’s going to do “All Summer Long while you eat the sumptuous brunch that will be served.

This week’s JohnKu talks about what to do when faced with not accomplishing what you set out to do. I hope you all have a great weekend.

When you start to feel,

Like you are falling behind . . .

Look at all you have done.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

April 9, 2021April 8, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 77 Comments

“Hey, Lucy. Look at these spots before my eyes”
“That’s dappled sunlight, Little One.”
“Who invented that?”
“The Big Dog over the Rainbow bridge.”

Hello, Friday you big beautiful thing you. It is so nice to see you again. Yes, indeed, it is Friday and close to the weekend.

This week has been pretty much a non-event. Yes, I worked on my WIP and am please about that. The new month started, and I can’t believe it is April already. Other than that not much to say

Today’s JohnKu talks about what to do when blogging news is scarce.

I hope you all have a great weekend.

When you have nothing,

New and ready to report . . .

Sign off gracefully.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

April 2, 2021April 1, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 88 Comments

Lucy and Twiggy — “We’ve looked high and low for Friday, Lucy and guess what?”
“What Little one?”
“It’s here. Look up.”

We made it to Friday. That is always a good thing. I hope you are looking forward to something interesting this weekend.

The Producer got her first shot this week, and today, I get my second. In Texas, 17% of the population has had both shots and 30% at least one. We are a long way from herd immunity. I will be resting easier after the series is finished in our house and way easier when 70 % of the population is fully immunized.

I don’t know about your town, but we still see random shortages at the grocery store. There is no rhyme or reason for them. For example, there were no limes except bagged. The producer and I will take up margarita drinking since we had to buy a bag when we needed one. Other items like selections of hamburger buns, kinds of breads, and reasonable sizes of half and half. Maybe it was the boat caught in the Suez Canal.

I have reverted back to my old discipline on my WIP. That being 1000 words a day before anything else. I don’t know why I thought I could handle doing my 1000 words in the afternoon after all the blogs had been visited, e-mails done, and my post of the day complete. I found I was too tired to put in a 1000 word sprint. Since I’m turning eighty in May,, I think mother nature tells me to put first things first. So I have begun reading comments on my blog with coffee. Writing on my WIP till I have 1000 words. Doing e-mails, visiting blogs, and my daily post. Hitting social media last. So I may be showing up at your place a little later. Anything that comes in after 6:00 may not get handled that day. So far it is working.

Today’s JohnKu talks about making adjustments when necessary. I hope you all have a great weekend.

When the schedule,

Is not producing results. . .

You know change is right.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

March 26, 2021March 25, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 150 Comments

“I think I’m going to take this lounge.”

“Go. ahead but notice there’s no pillow.”

“You’re right. What the heck?”

“Complaints don’t work around here.”

Friday has come. I can’t decide if the week’s been long or short. If you looked in yesterday you know Lucy went to the vet for a teeth cleaning. She is doing well, but needs medication twice a day. If you can picture Lucy sitting still for pills you have the wrong dog. She is great with chewable but needs a dose of peanut butter for everything else. We have two pills that are capsules and one chewable.

I woke up yesterday to the Classic editor being totally shut off. I thought WP was going to continue it for we premium subscribers. Well I was wrong. There was no warning and let me tell you my type of blog with tons of pictures is a real pain in Block editing. I used to be able to download masses photos and now must do it one at a time. On top of that, the captions don’t work well, and oh my goodness what a mess.

I have often threatened to go to the free version of WP if forced to use the Block editor. I’ll give it a bit and see what happens. I wish there was a soul that gave a crap about what we users think but I know such an individual doesn’t exist

Today’s JohnKu talks about being had. I hope you all are blessed with a terrific weekend

Gobsmacked by WordPress,

You would think my blog’s for free . . .

The way they treat me.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

March 19, 2021March 19, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 72 Comments

“Lucy you are it. Come chase me.”
“Hold on, Little One. I think I hear the roar of a cheese package.”
“I don’t hear it.”
“Maybe I’m having auditory hallucinations. Okay, start running.”

Here we are on Friday again. I guess we all are glad the weekend is here. I have to join Twiggy in her celebrations since every day is pretty much like the other. (being retired and all.)

Not much excitement around here. I have noticed on the news there is a little more action on the bar scene due to the state authorizing bars to open. The city of Austin is continuing the mandatory mask regulations, which I think is good. Unfortunately, the State is not so inclined, and the State Attorney General has issued a cease and desist order. I think the mayor of Austin will ignore it, so there will be some laughable legal maneuvers ahead. The governor and mayor do not see eye to eye on many matters.

We will probably see a percentage increase in Covid cases like other states who have opened up. The fact that 9% of Texans are fully vaccinated compared to 12% of the US population does not add comfort to a potential increase in cases. The next three weeks will tell the tale.

One more thing. Eternal Road – The final stop US Kindle edition will be on sale starting Sunday, March 21st at 3:00 AM Eastern time until Wednesday, March 24 at midnight. There are 26 lovely reviews for a 4.8 rating. If you have been waiting for the right price. This will be the time.

Today’s JohnKu looks forward to spring. I hope you have a lovely weekend.

The snow disappears,

Nourishing the ground below . . .

To herald the blooms.