Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

January 19, 2018January 18, 2018 ~ John W. Howell ~ 66 Comments

Another work week down. This one was quite chilly. We had temps in the 80’s on Monday. By Wednesday we were in the 30’s, and the schools were closed due to sleet. I think I have said we are not built for this kind of weather. Today is supposed to rain with a high in the fifties. We can use the rain so no complaints here.

The week saw a continuance of editing The Contract with Gwen Plano. We are so fortunate to have some outstanding Beta readers. They have given us meaningful input, and we are sure the story will be better as a result.

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

The forecast is rain,

Then snow, sleet, below zero . . .

Can’t they choose just one?

Friday John Ku – AKA – TGIF

January 12, 2018January 11, 2018 ~ John W. Howell ~ 70 Comments

This was a typical week regarding no holidays, yet Friday seemed to come pretty quick. I guess it must be my age. I am happy to report that four Beta-readers of The Contract by Gwen Plano and me have already sent their input. (Not due until mid-February) These folks are very dedicated to the task. We have received some excellent feedback. The beautiful part is they report enjoying the story which I think is the whole point in writing.

I have started my sixth book. It is a story featuring Ned Tranes from the John Cannon series. Ned is the chief of police for the city of Port Aransas. He is ex FBI and has been involved in some special operations for the government. I only announce it here so that I won’t get to somehow waffle. I am doing my 1000 words a day on it and expect the first draft will be done by May 1st. That will be just in time to turn to the launch of The Contract. (If all works well and the creek don’t rise)

This leads me to today’s JohnKu which talks about finishing projects. (Which we all see as a challenge from time to time). Hope you have a great weekend.

Starting many things,

Is the easiest of tasks. . .

Finish. Ah, the rub.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

December 29, 2017December 28, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 39 Comments

Another Friday. This year has no more Fridays left. Sorry folks but you spent them all. The good news is next year there a reload of fifty-two Fridays is just waiting for the stroke of midnight. Then we will have a fresh batch of things of which to look forward.When you think about it, there are few other desirable things on the planet that replenish like Friday. Each week we use one up and like magic without doing anything, the next week has another. Try doing that with an ice cream cone.

It is a marvelous thing. Of course, you could say the same about any other day of the week but face it. No other day of the week has such appeal. Fridays are golden.

So here is looking forward to an entire year of them. Here is the John Ku for this week. It is about Friday.

You seem far away,

When Monday interrupts life. . .

Then you save us all.

Friday – JohnKu – TGIF

December 22, 2017December 21, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 64 Comments

We are getting close to Christmas, and it looks like I have everything under control. All my shopping is done, packages wrapped, and chores finished. (There are always chores) The fact that Christmas Eve is on a Sunday has me a little confused. As you may know, I do a Views of the neighborhood on Sunday and a Top Ten Things Not to Do on Mondays. In the spirit of the Holiday, I will not be doing a classic Views or Top Ten. It is my intent to take the two days to remember the spirit of the season.

I hope your holiday will be filled with the joy intended. This week’s JohnKu talks about the holiday wish.

So this is Christmas,

Time to reflect true meaning. . .

A meaningful peace.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

December 15, 2017December 14, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 61 Comments

I Always like Fridays. It is almost a signal to do something fun. People keep asking me why I like Fridays if in fact I am retired. The answer is pretty straightforward. Friday is still the golden standard to measure the week. I don’t know about you, but I tend to write more during the week than on Saturday and Sunday. The week seems like it has been set aside for work and the weekend for play. I suppose Friday represents the cut off between feeling accomplished and being given permission to be lazy. So why not celebrate its arrival retired or not?

This week was good in that our roof was completed. I don’t know what it is about a metal roof, but there is an enormous amount of pounding that goes with the installation. All is quiet now. We also have the contractor who is repairing our sun deck, railings, and garage actually working. YAY. He is doing all kinds of demolition. (which contractors love to do) Always have to hope he’ll come back and put everything back together. This brings up today’s JohnKu. It is about the ease of dismantling. I hope you have a super weekend.

The dismantling,

Of buildings and or people. . .

Easy. Rebuild tough.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

December 8, 2017April 23, 2022 ~ John W. Howell ~ 72 Comments

This week had its challenges for sure. Stepping away from the personal, the week saw a couple of good things as well. Gwen Plano and I finished the draft of The Contract. By a draft, I am referring to the manuscript that is ready for a Beta read. We will be giving it over to our editor after the beta readers provide their input. We received a super response to our call for Beta readers. My thanks to everyone who volunteered. There will be more to say about the book as we get closer to the publication which looks like may or June.

Here is South Texas we are under a winter storm warning. A WINTER STORM WARNING????? WTH. Yes, they are calling for snow here. It’s not going to stick but could be up to an inch in some places. Come on, folks. This is the South. I hope I can get a couple of pictures cause it will make an interesting Views of the Neighborhood. Today’s JohnKu talks about the weather. I hope you have a great weekend.

The sun feels real warm,

I will lay and rest my bones. . .

Whoops, where’s my snowsuit?

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

December 1, 2017November 30, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 51 Comments

Another Friday is upon us and also the last month of 2017. I guess the all-time cliché would be the question, “Where did the time go?” Seriously though. It seems like well, yesterday that it was the new year. Here we are, now on the cusp of 2018. I’m telling you this ski ride downhill has got to be slowed down.

Spent the week in final edits on The Contract which is a collaboration with Gwen Plano.

We will be entering the beta reader stage but more about that early next week.

Today’s JohnKu talks to the fact that time seems to fly. I hope you have a great weekend.

Time flies so they say,

When you’re having fun, they say. . .

Time flies fun or not.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

November 24, 2017November 23, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 44 Comments

Since most have the Friday after Thanksgiving off, we need to change the meaning of TGIF. My idea here is to slow down the passing of Friday and the rest of the weekend. So for this week only let’s just say TGIF means Thursday’s Gift Is Friday. So we have the whole day, and the next two before reality comes knocking at our door.

I hope you all had a good Thanksgiving and are not going to be mauled too much taking advantage of the Black Friday deals. Today’s JohnKu raises a question about Black Friday. Hope you have a good weekend.

Get up before dawn,

Freeze until the doors open. . .

Or order online.

Friday JohnKu – AKA – TGIF

November 17, 2017November 16, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 55 Comments

Spent another week editing and in erudite discussions with the insurance company. We all know about editing, so I will concentrate on the insurance company discussions. I was in Lowe’s picking up drywall screws on Wednesday when my phone rang. I was all excited because my caller id told me it was my adjuster. I had left a message on Monday to the effect of wondering the status of an additional claim I had submitted four weeks earlier. To my surprise, it was not my adjuster at all. It was my new adjuster. NEW ADJUSTER????? What happened to the other guy who never returned my calls, texts, or emails and who I have spoken to only twice in two and a half months of trying to get my home repaired? Oh, he has been transferred to another department. Sure he has. Okay, what about my additional claims? The answer, “What additional claims?”

Ye gods, do something to stop me from getting in my car with a very large baseball bat, driving to Austin, and causing a hurricane on the insurance company headquarters.

I explained the deal. The insurance company had appraised the damage at one price. The contractor bids are coming in at two to three times that price. Wow, was he surprised? I had to ask the question, “If you had 3000 jobs waiting for you would you really do one at a discount?”

He said understood. I sent the paperwork again and just between you and me, I’ll bet I’ll be doing a JohnKu one month from now with the same theme. Speaking of JohnKu, this week’s talks about available resources. Hope you have a great weekend.

Repairs on one house,

Can be negotiated. . .

Not on one thousand.

Friday John Ku – AKA – TGIF

November 3, 2017November 2, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 56 Comments

Friday is here and it sure feels good. I’m sure we all could use a little break from the work week. Of course, for those of you who tend to write on the weekends there isn’t a break in work but hopefully a break in routine.

I tend to keep going on the weekends as if there is no day off. I do manage to take a few liberties like a nice IPA on Saturday and some cooking time which I love. For the most part, though, I stick to my 1000 words a day writing schedule.

I still like to see Friday arrive. It has a psychological benefit that may mean reaching the finish line for the week. This week’s John Ku explores this concept a little further. I hope you all have a super weekend.

The beginning step,

Has importance at the front. . .

The finish is sweet.