Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

May 3, 2019May 2, 2019 ~ John W. Howell ~ 70 Comments

“Lucy come quick. There’s a big dog out front.”
“That is a deer Little One.”
“It’s Friday can she come in and play?”

Another Friday comes upon us like the wind. It has been a good week for me. I hope it was for you. I attended a library event on Saturday, and it was part of a vast SpringFest. I will do a Views of the Neighborhood on Sunday to give you an idea of the scope.

Worked a little on my WIP. I’m not very happy how it started out. There is a critical piece of the story that has a clunker in it which needs fixing. Once fixed it will justify the motivation of the bad guys.

I have also been toying around with Amazon Marketing Service. I swear I will understand what is going on there one of these days. Well, I am determined to take it one step at a time and learn (and pay) as I go. It bugs me a lot not to be able to maximize the potential that exists there.

Today’s JohnKu talks about trying your best to maximize your potential. I hope you have a lovely weekend.

You see it lying,

Almost within easy reach . . .

The hard work begins.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

April 26, 2019April 25, 2019 ~ John W. Howell ~ 69 Comments

“Is that Friday coming up the drive?”
“It sure is Little One. Not a moment too soon.”

Another quick week. I think that life speeds up as one gets older. Yeah, we have all heard that. I guess that statement is my cliché for the week.

We had some notable arrivals. Two twin headboards for the guest room came in and look great. I pictured the rug for the master bedroom yesterday. Speaking of the master bedroom, we were notified that our bed would not be available until July. It was ordered in early March, and this is the second delay. So sayonara to the bed. The producer made another choice which should be here mid-may.

The producer also made a design decision on my office which I totally love. The bookcases and cabinets will be black and positioned on the back wall. A freestanding desk will be in the center of the room. I think it’s going to look great. I know I will feel good having a dedicated space.

I was invited to an event at the Bee Cave (one town over) library this weekend. It is in conjunction with Spring Fest (A Bee Cave event) and features seven local authors. I have a two-hour slot and look forward to visiting with potential new readers. I’ll take some photos and if okay used them on a Views post.

Today’s JohnKu talks about pleasant surprises. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Some come as a shock,

Others are like a given . . .

But all are welcome.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

April 19, 2019April 18, 2019 ~ John W. Howell ~ 49 Comments

“Mom. it’s Friday and Lucy won’t play with me.”
“I’m sure she will. Won’t you Lucy?”
“Man. Close my eyes for one second…”

Another week has flown by. At least for me, it has. I guess if I were hanging upside down tied by the ankles, above an alligator pit, I would have a different view of time. As it is the week seemed short. We were happy to have the dining room chairs arrive. Unique fabric (resistant to the man of the house and napalm.) had to be ordered. Hence the delay. The fence measuring person came out and took all the measurements. We are on the schedule for mid-May, but since we already have the permit and survey, we were told there might be an opportunity for earlier. We are not holding our breath.

We’ve had some beautiful rain, so the drought-like conditions are gone. Since we have very little grass, the rain also produces paw prints unless the pooches get a foot wipe each time out. I am the designated foot-wiper.

I managed to get some words written on my WIP, so I am a happy camper.

Today’s JohnKu talks about what makes us happy. I hope you have a fabulous weekend.

It’s usually small,

A tiny step improvement. . .

But means everything.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

April 12, 2019April 11, 2019 ~ John W. Howell ~ 62 Comments

“Okay, Little One it’s Friday. Time to ruckus.”
“You make the first move, Lucy. Then I’ll pulverize ya.”

Another fast Friday for me. Seems these weeks are flying. It becomes hard to remember just what went on for the week. I do know we received two area rugs which were welcome additions to the house.

We were pleased to get a permit and final approval for the fence. The company will start building about the 15th of May. They were totally booked by the time the details were worked out.

We had about one and a half inches of rain last weekend which pointed out the need for gutters at key points of the house. The rain came off the roof in torrents, and it was hard to get out the door without being drenched. We need to find a gutter and downspout contractor.

Our landscaping plan includes a deck which will require a permit. So we are also in the hunt for a deck builder.

Like most things connected with a move there becomes a seemingly endless list of items.

Today’s JohnKu talks about how lists seem to grow on their own. I hope you all have a glorious weekend.

To Do Lists by John W. Howell

It starts with one thing,

Then just a small addition . . .

Soon too long to do.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

April 5, 2019April 4, 2019 ~ John W. Howell ~ 66 Comments

Twiggy and Lucy — “Where you going Little One?”
“I was coming to get you. It’s Friday and time to celebrate.”

Another Friday and the week has not slowed down at all. We did have a visit from the lot clearing service. We had a bunch of what we call in Texas, cedars ( The rest of the world calls them junipers) on our lot. They were in sorry shape, and we had them removed. We also need to trim the neighbors and bushes to make room for the fence that we are going to put in. The fence has been approved, and permits paid, so we are just waiting for the contractors to submit their bids. Of course, the contractors are all worth a billion dollars and could care less about new work, so we wait.

Once the fence is in, we will proceed with the landscaping plan. The yard is about three times the size of Port Aransas, so some planning will be necessary.

Our dining room table arrived (big surprise), and the chairs are two to three weeks away. We are looking forward to having a meal there.

Since I don’t have the skill to build a fence, I am at the mercy of those who do. Today’s JohnKu talks about wishing. I hope you have a great weekend.

Is it wrong to wish?

To be skilled in everything. . .

So as not to wait.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

March 29, 2019March 28, 2019 ~ John W. Howell ~ 83 Comments

“It is a beautiful Friday morning, Little One.”
“What should we do today, Lucy?”
“The sky’s the limit, Little Potato. The absolute limit.”

Another Friday and just have to say time flies. This seems to be the big lament. I’m happy to report the washer, dryer, and refrigerator arrived and are installed. I’m pleased to say we will not have to eat salted game and fish anymore. Okay, maybe I exaggerate a little. We do have a fridge in the garage that has met our needs quite well. It just seems that everything you need is out there and everything you don’t need is in here. I think you get the picture. Also stumbling over two cars to get to a quart of milk is a little inconvenient.

We seem to be getting closer to more of the things we need. Once you have clean clothes and ice, there isn’t much else. Well, we still need a dining room table. Ours arrived with two broken legs. That meant going back and getting a new one. We are still not sure when it will come. The dining room chairs are a way off as well. We are fortunate to have a kitchen island where we can sit and eat. The island stools were some of the first things to arrive so we lucked out.

All in all, things are coming along. This week’s JohnKu talks about patience which is one thing we have learned to embrace. I hope you have a rewarding weekend.

The harder we try,

The behinder we all get . . .

At least, so it seems.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

March 22, 2019March 21, 2019 ~ John W. Howell ~ 52 Comments

“Friday Little Potato. Put down the stick and live a little.”

Friday already? Someone needs to slow this spaceship down. We have had a busy week in the non-writing department. The fence guy checked in. The remove the brush from the lot guy checked in. The sofas were delivered. The refrigerator, washer, and dryer are scheduled for delivery next week. The utilities are going to mark their underground lines before the fence guy arrives. All in all a productive week.

A little later today, I will be hosting D. L. Finn who is introducing a new book. Today’s JohnKu talks about how we authors need to help one another. I hope your weekend is the best.

Who will help you first?

The ones you offered a hand . . .

Or those you ignored.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

March 15, 2019March 14, 2019 ~ John W. Howell ~ 50 Comments

Another Friday and a very busy week. After several days of concerted activity, all the boxes have been unpacked and homes found for the contents. Maybe the homes won’t be permanent but at least the stuff is stashed somewhere. I am very happy to have both cars in the garage. Now, don’t ask me where to find something?

Moving is up there with the big life changes that are stressful. We seem to be over the worst part. There’s still the refrigerator, Washer, dryer, living room, dining room, office, and three bedrooms to be delivered. The good news is we are no longer on an air mattress. The box springs and mattress are on the floor. The actual bed looks about six weeks off.

Still and all it feels like home. Today’s JohnKu talks about what makes a home. I hope you have a beautiful weekend

It is not the place,

Nor is it the good weather. . .

Home is where love lives.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

March 8, 2019March 7, 2019 ~ John W. Howell ~ 83 Comments

Such an interesting week. We closed on the house in Port Aransas and will be closing on the house in the Austin area today. In between, we loaded up a truck which we rented and moved. The estimates for a move did not make any sense. The prices were way too high. The primary factor was not the labor but the milage from Port Aransas to Austin. By renting a truck, we had unlimited mileage, and the cost was under $300. We did have to gas up the vehicle which was another $60.00. We hired two able-bodied men in Port Aransas to load the truck and were willing to pay $50.00 each for about an hour and a half. Unfortunately, they did not show up (island time and all that), and we were fortunate our neighbors helped load.

When we got to Austin, we had hired a group named Bell Hops, and they were there on time and had the truck unloaded in an hour. So, all in all, it worked out and at a price significantly less than the lowest quote. Today’s JohnKu talks about being ready to take care of yourself. I hope you all have a great weekend.

Self Reliance by John W. Howell.

When plans made fall through,

There is only one way out . . .

Your skills put in play.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

March 1, 2019February 28, 2019 ~ John W. Howell ~ 87 Comments

Another Friday has rolled around, and it has been hectic for the last two weeks. The producer and I have sold our house here at the beach and bought another in Austin Texas. Yes, I know. The question comes up, “Why on Earth would you do that?”

It is a good thing that there are excellent reasons for doing so.

Our youngest daughter lives in Austin, and we would like to see her more.
The health care facilities are more accessible for a septuagenarian. (Me. The Producer is still a kid.)
We love Austin. (It has an element of weird more like us )
We think the last 10 years at the beach are enough and want some city life for a while. (theater, opera, symphony, and exercise facilities)

On Sunday we will be leaving for our new home. I intend to post one last View of the neighborhood which will be where we have lived.

Today’s JohnKu talks about change. I hope you have a great weekend. Oh yes. I do have a personal hot spot but will not have internet at the new house until March 5th. Please bear with me if anything should go wrong and my posts don’t appear.

Some do not like change,

Others go out of their way. . .

To do it daily.