Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

January 25, 2019January 25, 2019 ~ John W. Howell ~ 48 Comments

“Lucy. It’s Friday.”
“I’m ready Little One.”

Ah, another Friday which is another word for par-teee. Always nice to see the eve of the weekend. I hope your week was a good one. Gwen Plano and I received our manuscript back from the editor and were both impressed with the quality of work. She did a marvelous job taking our text and helping the story. Of course, Gwen and I tried to write a book all while having surgeries. I would not recommend that profile to anyone.

As we say, all is well that ends well and we are now hopeful of having a book that folks will enjoy reading. We decided to go with a mystery story rather than a thriller.

The title is The Predator a world domination fight to the finish.

Here is a preliminary blurb:

After the death of Brad and Sarah, it is apparent that a force is behind a plot to take over the leadership of the world. The murder of the two becomes only one small piece of a sinister plan to eliminate world leaders and take control.

Governments are infiltrated with the perpetrator’s allies and minions so no one can be trusted.

A small band of Brad and Sarah’s admirer’s vow to stop the evil expansion and eliminate the leader. The group comes under attack, and the question becomes will they survive and stop The Predator before the word is lost?

Today’s JohnKu talks about trying to do too much. I hope you have a great weekend.

When your body talks,

It is telling you to stop . . .

Take time to listen.

Friday JohnKu – AKA TGIF

January 18, 2019January 17, 2019 ~ John W. Howell ~ 40 Comments

“Hey, Dad. It’s Friday. How about a toss?”

Friday has come again. YAY. It looks like everyone is going to share in the cold front moving from the Northwest. Temps are going down and snow possibilities going up. This always reminds us that winter is still with us. Somehow we seem to forget that little fact. Sure, there is a lovely day here and there. Just enough to make us believe we will have an early spring. My advice is to not fall for it. Only assume it will be cold until April and your mind will rest easier. Like a free lunch, there is no such thing as an early Spring.

Today’s JohnKu talks about Winter. By the way, the term JohnKu was coined a few years ago by Kimberly at https://words4jp.com/ She is a poet, and when I started doing my version of a Haiku, she suggested delicately that maybe what I was doing was a JohnKu more than a classic Haiku. Ever since then I have been grateful for the suggestion. Kimberly is now back to blogging and certainly worth a visit.

A Robin arrives,

Our heart soars thinking its Spring . . .

Twelve degrees tonight.

Have a great weekend.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

January 11, 2019January 10, 2019 ~ John W. Howell ~ 53 Comments

Lucy and Twiggy — “So it’s Friday, right?”
“Yes, Little Potato. It is.”
“YAY”
“I second that.”

Another Friday which signals another weekend. (YAY) This last week saw the manuscript delivered to the editor. The title is The Predator a world domination fight to the finish. It is a sequel to The Contract, and in it, Gwen and I hope to answer some questions raised in the first book. It looks like we will be ready to publish in June, God willing and the creek don’t rise. We are currently working on a blurb and the cover. We’ll give you some more info when we have something to share.

That is all the exciting news from here. I have begun my next book which will be a solo effort. I want to give you the last three lines since that is where I always start. Here they are,

“I don’t think any of that matters anymore, my son. Now that you know the truth.”

“But how could you keep this kind of secret from me.”

“To see you grow and prosper was worth any deception. Now come on. We have much to discuss.”

Today’s JohnKu talks about the doors that close and those that open. I hope you have a great weekend.

They say doors that close,

Lead to others opening . . .

Don’t leave your big foot.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

January 4, 2019January 3, 2019 ~ John W. Howell ~ 70 Comments

Well, it is Friday, and like most holiday weeks it came up fast. Always seems strange to have a new year. I keep putting 2108 on things that require a date. I should be squared away sometime in July.

In moving around WP lately, I’m wondering if all of you who have ad-supported blogs realize what is being advertised. This photo is one I have wondered about.

To each his own I guess.

Since we are starting a new year, this week’s JohnKu talks to expectations.

The New Year by John W. Howell © ~~2018~~ 2019

A new beginning,

Time for new expectations . . .

Fresh chance for success.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

December 28, 2018December 27, 2018 ~ John W. Howell ~ 49 Comments

“Is it really Friday?”
“Looks like UPS to me.”

Friday already. Seems like this week was an eternity. It was a great Christmas touched with sadness. Makes one believe that sadness is in the world just to make sure we all know happiness when we have it. I think I’ll cling to that thought. I’ll visit it a little more in the JohnKu

On the writing front, Gwen and I have completed all the editing in our capability and now we need professional help. Our manuscript is ready to send to the editor.

This is the last Friday of 2018. I have to say this year could have been better. I don’t think I will be sad to see 2019 offer a new opportunity. I hope you all have a great weekend.

Why sadness exists?

For no other reason than . . .

To frame happiness.

Friday John Ku – AKA – TGIF

December 21, 2018December 20, 2018 ~ John W. Howell ~ 65 Comments

“This is what Friday’s are meant to be.”

Friday again. It is the last Friday before Christmas. I hope you have all your shopping done. I know I do. (Thank heavens)

This week has been busy. I finally got some help from Grammarly. Guess what they came up with? Uninstall the existing program and reinstall a new one. Can you say DUH? I mean if that was the solution why give me a trial and error week? I should have just done that myself. (Gotta stop again. After all, it is the Holidays and I have a working program.)

Bailey is beginning to be picky about her food. We just got in a supply of the food she loved and she now doesn’t like it. We have gone to chicken which she thinks is fine for now. If and when she is no longer interested in food, we know she is telling us the time is near. We will keep offering her choices in order not to make the mistake of thinking she is asking for some relief. As long as she is eating we know she is interested in being with us. Sadly the end result is known and it is hard to imagine we will have to let her go. Bailey came to us nine years ago on Christmas.

As her stewards, we need to keep her interests as primary. Today’s John Ku tries to avoid the obvious and talks about the best Christmas gifts.

The best Christmas gifts,

Are not measured by how much. . .

But rather by love.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

December 14, 2018December 13, 2018 ~ John W. Howell ~ 61 Comments

“You say it’s Friday. How do I know you are telling the truth?”

Another Friday is here. I had hoped to report that Gwen and my MS is in the hands of the editor. It is still with me. I wanted to run it one more time through Grammarly but I can’t sign on. I have been in a loop with their customer care for two days. They have no live reps so you have to go back and forth with a robot. So far the care sucks. I’m still here with no on-line Grammarly even though I pay a Premium for it. Ugh, spit. I have to wonder what causes services that you use constantly, all of a sudden refuse to let you in. I think I’ll stop here since I could go into a full on rant. Y’all don’t need that now.

Bailey has had a good week. She is still eating well and in good spirits. She is interested in her surroundings and does wag her nubby tail on occasion. We can only hope she continues.

Today’s John Ku talks about customer satisfaction. (I just can’t leave it alone) I hope you have a great weekend.

Your issue not fixed,

Some genius thinks a survey . . .

Will solve the problem.

Also:

The Contract Kindle version is $0.99 Today.

Here is the Trailer.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

December 7, 2018December 6, 2018 ~ John W. Howell ~ 74 Comments

“And who’s bright idea was this?”
“Looks like a Twiggy repellent device to me.”

The week has flown by. I’m not sure if it is because I don’t have my Christmas shopping started yet, or just a busy week. I always get a sense of panic when I don’t have my shopping done. This year is unusual in that I don’t even have an idea of the items to shop for as yet. Usually, I am ahead of the curve, but with all that’s been going on, I haven’t had the mental capacity to really concentrate.

Bailey takes a good deal of attention and time. She needs to go out every two hours which makes for a regulated day. On top of that, her medications and general care eat up some time as well. It isn’t the amount of time but the frequency of delivery.

We found out last week that the chemo treatments were causing some increased heart stress. So, for the second time, the cancer treatment was creating life-threatening problems. We have now stopped the chemotherapy. We know that in the end, this will shorten Bailey’s life. We also know that Bailey feels better without the treatment and so we are defaulting to quality vs. quantity. We tried everything, and now the objective is to make sure she is comfortable and loved for as long as she has.

Today’s JohnKu talks about hard decisions. I hope you all have a peaceful and fun weekend.

Some are easier,

Others are extremely tough. . .

All need to be made.

Friday JohnKu – AKA- TGIF

November 30, 2018November 29, 2018 ~ John W. Howell ~ 55 Comments

Lucy, Bailey and Twiggy — “Hey, Lucy. It’s Friday. Let’s get ready to rumble.”

Friday is here and time to get ready for the weekend. This week was pretty productive. The edits are pretty much finished on the next book. Gwen Plano and I have written the sequel to The Contract and now we are trying to get to a name. The manuscript is due to the editor in January and hopefully, we will have a name by then.

Bailey is doing quite well. She is eating (Knock on wood) and appears to be comfortable.

Today’s JohnKu is about adaptability. I hope you have a great weekend.

When you think all’s well,

The unexpected rises. . .

Alter and adapt.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

November 23, 2018November 22, 2018 ~ John W. Howell ~ 69 Comments

Lucy and Bailey — “Uh, Lucy. It’s Friday. Time to get up and party.”

Black Friday has physically arrived. It has been preceded by virtual black Fridays since the fourth of July (Obvious exaggeration). This is the only day of the year where you can save tons of money by spending tons of money. (only in America is this possible)

Today’s JohnKu explores this phenomenon. I hope you have a super weekend

Invest your money,

In gifts, toys, appliances . . .

Think of what you saved.