Thursday – A Little Personal – Lucy Learns About Life

October 19, 2017October 18, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 64 Comments

“Hey, Boss.”

“Hi, Lucy. How are things?

“I’m a little worried about Stella.”

“Tell me.”

“Well, I was going to chase her yesterday, and she wouldn’t take off.”

“Ah. Yes, Stella has arthritis, and it is progressing.”

“Arthur Ritis? Let me at the guy.”

“It is not a guy, Lucy it is a condition that comes with old age. Notice Stella is sleeping more?”

“I notice Pops. She is downstairs asleep right now.”

“Yes, Bailey. After all, Stella is almost seventeen years old.”

“Better give that to them in human years, John. Otherwise, they won’t get it.”

“Good idea Stella. I thought you were asleep downstairs.”

“Said the Einstein in the dog collar.”

“Well, Lucy. Stella is over one hundred and nine years old.”

“Wow. Boss, that is old. I never realized. Is she okay?”

“She is feeling fine. Just much slower. I think your game of chase the kitty is over.”

“I see that, Boss. I hope she will be fine.”

“Sadly, Lucy you can’t stop time. We all have to prepare to say goodbye to those we love.”

“Good job, John. I’m proud of you.”

“Thank you, Stella. I love you.”

Wednesday Story Day – AKA – Hump Day

October 18, 2017October 17, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 41 Comments

It is Wednesday Story Day again, and last week it looked like Jason McDonnell was definitely taking measures to get more information on the circumstances around the murder of Lucas’ parents and the whereabouts of Trish, his sister. Oh oh, I see Sheriff Gibson approaching Lucas’ bed. We better hot-foot it over there to see what he wants.

“Hey, kid . How you doin’?”
“S-sheriff Gibson. What are you doing here?”
“Aw, I just stopped in to see how you were. Any law against that?”
“I thought my lawyer made it clear you and I should not talk if he isn’t here.”
“Oh, I know, kid. Don’t get your panties in a bunch. I’m not going to ask you anything. I sincerely want to know how you feel.”
“I’m fine, sheriff.”
“That’s good, son. Any idea when you are going home?”
“That’s a question, sheriff.”
“I suppose it is. Okay, let me say I hope you’ll be going home soon.”
“Thanks, sheriff. Any reason for wanting me home?”
“So, the question thing is not a one-way street. You just asked me one.”
“Sorry. I am confused as to why you have any concern about me.”
“Since you don’t pose that as a question I suppose I can give you some information. I would like you to go home so I can serve you with a warrant for your arrest.”
“Arrest. What for?”
“Uh. A question.”
“You want to arrest me when I go home. Let me guess. You think I killed my parents.”
“That’s a statement which I will confirm.”
“No more talk, sheriff.”
“Now son. I’m not sure you know how the system works. Let me explain something to you. If you go ahead and tell me you killed your parents, I will try everything under my power to get you the lightest sentence possible. On top of that, we will let the fact that your sister is nowhere to be found to remain an unsolved case. How would you like that?”
“Since you asked a question let me respond with another question. What is your problem?”
“I can see you don’t get the subtle nature of my offer. Let me just say I think I have enough evidence to put you away for a long time. If we can’t make a deal, then you will be looking at thirty years or maybe even the death penalty. I would think it over if I were you.”
“Thanks, sheriff. I don’t know why you are doing this, but I am certainly going to follow my lawyer’s advice and say no more.”
“Your choice kid. Don’t ever say I didn’t make an attempt to help you. Once they strap you on that gurney and start the slow drip to hell, I hope you remember this conversation.”
“I would appreciate it if you would leave, sheriff.”
“With pleasure kid. With pleasure. See you in the lockup.”

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Kreative Kue #144 by Keith Channing

October 17, 2017October 16, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 44 Comments

In Keith’s words “Using this photo (Below) as inspiration, write a short story, flash fiction, scene, poem; anything, really; even just a caption for the photograph. Either put it (or a link to it) in a comment or email it to me at keith@channing.info before 6pm next Sunday (if you aren’t sure what the time is where I live, this link will tell you). If you post it on your own blog or site, a link to this page would be appreciated, but please do also mention it in a comment here – pingbacks don’t often work.

Go on. You know you want to. Let your creativity and imagination soar. I shall display the entries, with links to your own blog or web site, next Monday.”

The photo.

“I don’t think I would go in there.”

“Why not. It is just a stone closet.”

“A stone closet? I’m pretty sure it is a little more than that.”

“Oh, yeah? What do you think it is?”

“It looks like a spot where they used to torture people.”

“Oh, C’mon. This is not a torture chamber. It is too small.”

“Well, it gives me the creeps.”

“Nonsense. Here take my camera. I want a picture of me in this closet.”

“Okay, but I’m warning you for the last time. I have a funny feeling about this.”

“Here I’m going to stand while you take the picture.”

“Okay. Smile. Wait. Why do you have your mouth open like that?”

“Since you are such a nervous Nelly I thought I would look like I’m screaming.”

“Look here there is a little plaque on the wall.”

“What does it say?”

“Dr. Tooth.”

“Dr Tooth? What the?”

“It’s a dentist office.”

“That’s right ladies. I’m Dr. Tooth.”

“W-what? Who said that? Where are you?”

“Ha ha ha. I am everywhere. Now I need to see your teeth. Open wide. Let me see how many of these beauties need to come out.”

“Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa”

Top Ten Things Not to Do When You Are Bored

October 16, 2017October 15, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 49 Comments

The inspiration for this list was a daydreaming session where I wondered what it would be like to be bored and then what it would be like to make some bad choices as a result of being bored. I hope you like it.

10 If you are bored, do not attend a city council meeting. If you do at best, you’ll get a needed nap. At worst, you will attempt to liven things up with an outrageous proposal. ( You didn’t think the idea of a five-year-old taking over the mayor’s job would gain traction did you, Dylan? You make being the laughing-stock look like a legitimate profession.)

9 If you are bored, do not go to the grocery store. If you do, at best you will hope the paper goods section has been moved only to find it hasn’t. At worst, you will fill your cart and then jump into the ten items or less line being manned by Tiny the WWF champ. Tiny was just told by the manager he is too soft when it comes to demanding compliance with the ten or under rule. (You did hold your own for a while there, Drake.)

8 If you are bored, do not go to the park to watch a chess match. If you do, at best one of the players will move a piece. At worst, you will have the luck of observing two well-matched players for what turns into a ten-hour match. (Not sure what you were expecting, Douglass but this is not a contact sport.)

7 If you are bored, do not turn on reruns of the 90’s show “Cop Rock.” If you do, at best you’ll fall into a deep sleep. At worst, about mid-episode, you will suddenly realize watching paint dry is better than this. ( Thinking that you like music and cop shows, you thought this would be a winner right, Dean?)

6 If you are bored, do not take up a hobby that has been identified as most boring. If you do, at best you’ll snap out of it. At worst, your family will set up an intervention to stop your traffic cone collection activities. (Just because the living room is filled with traffic cones you didn’t see the hospitalization coming did you, Dexter?)

5 If you are bored, do not take up a hobby like bungee jumping. If you do, at best you’ll chicken out before the first jump. At worst, you’ll make a jump and then have to buy numerous copies of the video where you are screaming like a baby.(Oops. You missed the one that went viral on YouTube, Duke.)

4 If you are bored, do not go to Las Vegas for some excitement. If you do, at best your first thousand dollar loss will cure you. At worst, just for kicks, you put your life savings on the black spot at the roulette wheel. (Retirement is now put off until you are eighty-two, Drew?) Editor’s note – Unfortunate alliteration.

3 If you are bored, do not plan to visit North Dakota. If you do, at best you’ll go in the summer. At worst, you’ll be caught in the snow and can look forward to playing solitaire until May. (Hopefully, you’ll have a deck of fifty-two, Dalton.)

2 If you are bored, do not organize something. If you do, at best it will be a half-hearted effort. At worst, you will get so wrapped up in the organization that you’ll take on signs of a classic OCD attack. (Just put that paper anywhere, Darren. You’ll never look at it again anyway.)

1 If you are bored, do not look up a list of what to do if you are bored. If you do, at best the list may be extensive. At worst you might do one of the items like “download the Bitmoji app. Make your personalized emoji, and then send all your friends fun cartoon texts.”* (Wonder where your friends went, Dane?)

*From 96 Things to Do When You’re Bored by Katie Sweeney. An excellent list of things to do.

Views of the Neighborhood – Random Pics

October 15, 2017October 14, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 54 Comments

Today’s View of the Neighborhood is a collection of random photos taken while searching for something interesting to share. There are a couple of stories in these pictures, and I hope you enjoy them.

Views of the Neighborhood

Virginia’s by the Bay is one of the first restaurants to open after hurricane Harvey. Their sign says what a lot of people think.

The other side of their sign also says what a lot of Port Aransas people think.

Port Aransas lost all of the firetrucks and EMT equipment. Here is a photo of The Cleburne Texas truck doing duty in Port A.

Here is a truck from Abilene, Texas which is in the center of the state.

And the Fire Chief from Wichita Falls, Texas which is up near Oklahoma

This next series of photos are of boats that ended up as far away from water as possible. This one landed in a scrub pine outcropping.

Here is one in a shopping center.

Another boat is in the parking lot of a shopping center.

This one ended up at the end of a canal.

Signs are another interesting part of the Port Aransas scene. This one is simple and tells you the IGA is open.

A kind offer by the local Chiropractor. Most of the signs in Port A are handmade.

Here is an exception. The Pepsi company put some of these signs where Pepsi is sold.

Here is a sign I love. This sign pointed the way to the National Guard position where you could get Ice, water, and food. When you have none of these things, this sign was a welcome sight indeed. It is on its back because it is no longer needed.

While taking pictures I came upon my barber Mike’s new location. He has set up shop in a storage unit. I’m glad I found him.

I hope you liked the walk around today. Next week there are several activities which I will document.

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “Well.”

October 14, 2017October 13, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 32 Comments

It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday time again and this weeks prompt is, “Well.” (Deep subject) If you would like to participate in this fun visit Linda Hill’s blog and read how. Here is her link https://lindaghill.com/2017/10/13/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-oct-1417/

“Well, what did he say?”

“He said you and I need to get to the well.”

“Does that mean we are hired?”

“well, I don’t believe he would send us out to the well unless he intends to make us an offer.”

“That would be swell. You know a job on an oil well is just the kind of well-paying opportunity that will make us well again.”

“Well, don’t get your hopes up too high. He could just not be feeling well and wanted to get rid of us?”

“That would not be well-meaning. You talked about work right?”

“Of course I talked about work. I told him we were two able-bodied workers who were well qualified for work on a well.”

“Well said. Why don’t we get to the well and start working?”

“Do you have gloves?”

“No. You didn’t tell him we were well equipped, did you?”

“I didn’t mention anything about equipment, but I do know well work takes a good pair of gloves.”

“Maybe we need to stop at the outfitter before we get to the well.”

“We are not well off, and those gloves cost a bunch.”

“Yes, but they are well made, so they are worth it.”

“I guess you are right a couple of oil well workers need gloves.”

“So you in? We stop and then go to the well.”

“Yup. We need to get a lunch too. The day won’t go well if we don’t eat.”

“I’m glad you thought of that. You may well have saved our butts.”

“That’s what I’m here for. Well trained to save butts.”

“Very well. Let’s go.”

“I’m well positioned right behind you.”

Friday John Ku – AKA – TGIF

October 13, 2017October 12, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 38 Comments

Friday the 13th

Hard to believe it is Friday once again. (The Thirteenth at that ) This has been one of those weeks that fly for me. I tried to take stock of where I spent my time this week. What did not come up was any time spent on my WIP. Most of my WIP time was spent working on projects around the house. The biggest of these was installing eleven outside lanterns. The hurricane took all our lighting fixtures to the next county. The job entailed removing the old hardware and lamp anchoring bracket, (The thing that you attach the lamp to on the side of the house) installing a new anchoring bracket, and then the lamps. I was very fortunate that I had a voltage detector since I tested each wire before beginning the installation. Only once was the wire active, but had I touched it to metal there would have been a sinus-clearing surprise.

I managed to install all of them without getting electrocuted. Here is a before and after of just one of the lamps. By the way, the before shows you that the outside lamp is gone, but you can also see the damage to the paint, door frame, and siding.

New lamp

The new lamp sits on a newly painted and repaired wall. As you can see, the damage from the hurricane is no longer visible since it has been painted away. No one could stand in this spot by the lamp and imagine that once, not too long ago, there was a storm here. In essence, the physical damage no longer exists.

Today’s John Ku talks about how we can be affected by events.

When we are wounded,

There remain some reminders. . .

There’s some we can see.

Thursday – A Little Personal – Lucy’s Agenda

October 12, 2017October 11, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 65 Comments

Lucy

“Hey, Bailey. You hear anything?”

“Like what?”

“Listen upstairs. Something’s clomping around.”

Bailey

“I don’t hear anything? Hey, Pops you hear anything upstairs?”

“I can’t hear anything from here. I’ll go check.”

“Thanks, pops.”

Stella

“Excuse me, Stella.”

“Hold on, John. I’m just finishing breakfast.”

Stella

“Okay. What can I do for you?”

“Lucy said there was something clomping around up here.”

“I have to say I did walk from the office to my water.”

Stella

“John, you are letting those two get away with murder.”

“How so?”

“Ever hear of Carl Sandburg?”

“Of course.”

“His poem “Fog” used the metaphor, “Little cat feet,” to describe how silently the fog moved in.”

“I get it. See you later, Stella.”

“Bye John.”

Lucy and Bailey

“Okay, you two. Um I mean, okay, Bailey. There was no clomping around.”

“Well, we were trying to catch a nap and Lucy heard something.”

“Meaning Stella.”

“Lucy’s agenda not mine. I only reported what Lucy said.”

“Did you ever hear of Carl Sandb— Oh, never mind. Take a nap.”

Lucy and Bailey

“As you can see Lucy follows your direction to the letter. Wait, what is that noise?”

Wednesday Story Day – AKA – Hump Day

October 11, 2017October 10, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 46 Comments

Hump Day

It is Wednesday Story Day again, and last week we had an interesting exchange between Lucas and his lawyer Jason McDonnell. We got Lucas’ account of what happened to his sister and the lawyer’s opinion that Lucas should hire a private detective. Let’s go back because I see the lawyer has left Lucas’ room and headed straight for his office. We should try to be quiet since I see he is on the phone. We will only be able to hear one side of the conversation.

“So here’s the deal. My client has not been accused of anything yet, but there is a lot of speculation that he might have killed his sister and parents.”

“Um hum. That’s right. I don’t believe he did any of it.”

“I agree. There needs to be a way of finding out who killed them. If it was my client then I can deal with that. If it was someone else then I need to clear his name.”

“No, you don’t need to know why I am interested in the case. Let’s just say my client has a fairly rich benefactor who believes him innocent.”

“Well, you don’t have to go there. I’m counting on you to give me the same friends and family rate.”

“Yeah, I know you have a ton of clients but you and I go way back and you’ll do this one.”

“I thought you would see my point. Okay so here’s what I need you to do. I need a complete work-up on the Sheriff here. His name is Seth Gibson. For some reason, he is very interested in this case and it really is none of his business. What. Yeah, I’ll slow down. His name is Seth Gibson. Got that?”

“Okay. The other person I want you to check out is a pharmacist in Kenosha. I’ll have to get his name. I only heard he was involved but didn’t have time to find out who he was.”

“The final one is Alice Weston. She used to be married to Seth Gibson. She has been very interested in my client and I want to find out why a cougar would chase him other than the obvious reason.”

“I understand. I’ll send you an e-mail with all the addresses. There is no real rush but I will need some preliminary information to know how to proceed. While you are looking into the folks we mentioned, check out the circumstances of the murder of two people named Saveride. They lived in Kenosha. Also, see what you can dig up on my client’s sister. Her name is Trish Saveride.

“Yes, she lived in Kenosha. Alright then. I’ll talk to you later.”

Tuesday Anything Possible – Kreative Kue # 143 by Keith Channing

October 10, 2017October 9, 2017 ~ John W. Howell ~ 33 Comments

In Keith’s words. “Using this photo (Below) as inspiration, write a short story, flash fiction, scene, poem; anything, really; even just a caption for the photograph. Either put it (or a link to it) in a comment or email it to me at keith@channing.info before 6pm next Sunday (if you aren’t sure what the time is where I live, this link will tell you). If you post it on your own blog or site, a link to this page would be appreciated, but please do also mention it in a comment here – pingbacks don’t often work.

Go on. You know you want to. Let your creativity and imagination soar. I shall display the entries, with links to your own blog or web site, next Monday.”

The photo.

Kreative Kue #143

“So how was camp? Did you have a good time?”

“You know, mom I feel a little different.”

“Different? Oh, nonsense. It’s just you have been away for two weeks. Tell us what was the most fun?”

“Gee, mom. I don’t feel so good. Can’t we just let this go until later?”

“Oh, my baby. Why are you so upset. Your brothers are getting concerned. Are you running a fever?”

“No mom. You don[t have to feel my forehead. I’m fine physically. I have a strange feeling I have changed.”

“You still look the same to me. Come here my little one and let mommy hold you.”

“Look at me, mom. Look at my brothers. Don’t you see anything different?”

“Well, now that you mention it, I think you could use a haircut.”

“Mom you are not getting the point. There was this ceremony, and we were to concentrate on being anything in the world we wanted to be.”

“So what did you concentrate on being?”

“I wanted to be an elephant.”

“An elephant? My goodness, whatever for?”

“I’ve been getting restless lately. I’m tired of being pushed around by the other kids.”

“So what happened.?”

“Can’t you see what happened?”

“You look the same, son.”

“For heaven’s sake. Can’t you see my nose is longer?”

“I’m sorry my boy, but it looks the same to me. You are my little Llama boy, and nothing can change that. Mommy loves you very much. Now c ‘mon let’s go in and have some lunch.”

“Yeah, okay, mom. I hope we are having alfalfa. All we got at camp was Coastal.”