Views of the Neighborhood – Galveston Book Festival

March 25, 2018March 24, 2018 ~ John W. Howell ~ 98 Comments

Yesterday I was in Galveston for their Book Festival. I had to drive 41/2 hours. Such is the life of an Island dweller. Everything is hours away.

It was two lane road the whole way. This garbage truck in front of me was my best friend for twenty miles. He kept me from exceeding the speed limit. In fact, he was so concerned he held me at least five miles per hour under the whole way.

The Festival is in the grade school.

Here is the setup. You can tell we are in the gym by the doors.

I thought I would take a shot without the doors

Would you buy a book from this guy?

A view of the other setups around me.

More booths

Here is a far away shot of my booth.

Happy book lovers.

Final shot. Now for another 41/2 hours back to the island.

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “Green”

March 17, 2018March 16, 2018 ~ John W. Howell ~ 48 Comments

It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday time again and this week’s prompt is “green.” Linda Hill says we can use the word any way we want. It is tough not to think of green in the context of St. Patrick’s Day, but I’m certainly going to try. Not that I have anything against St. Patrick’s Day. In fact, as a graduate of Notre Dame University, I embrace the day. (Happy St. Patrick’s Day) It’s just that using green in that context is so easy I have to resist. If you would like to have conflicts with yourself like this, why not join the group? Visit Linda Hill’s blog and find out how to become insecure really fast. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2018/03/16/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-march-17-18/

“Green, green, it’s green they say
On the far side of the hill
Green, green, I’m going away
To where the grass is greener still.”

“Okay is this the New Christy Minstrels—dope addition?”

“Aw, come on. My singing isn’t that bad.”

“You need to step outside yourself and listen once.”

“You’re just envious.”

“Oh, yes. I’m green with envy that I can call hogs as well as you.”

“Call hogs? Where did that idea come from?”

“Look behind you.”

“What the heck is that?”

“In my view, it grunts like a hog, it smells like a hog. Probably is a hog.”

“Where do you suppose this hog came from?”

“I would guess a farm.”

“Now you’re being a smart-ass. I mean how did it get here?”

“Want to do another stanza of Green, Green and find out?”

“No thank you. You’re saying my singing called this hog over here.”

“Yup.”

“Can’t be. The nearest farm is twenty miles away.”

“I think we should enter this hog in the Olympics. Seems it can sprint pretty fast. Has great distance too.”

“Why don’t you do something to help me instead of cracking the jokes.”

“Okay tell you what. Let’s put up some signs in the neighborhood advertising this found hog. Someone is sure to claim it.”

“In the meantime, where do you propose we keep it?”

“I have a thought but you’re not going to like it.”

“Try me.”

“Your room.”

“My room?”

“I think it would be very happy there.”

“Very funny.”

“Wasn’t meant to be humorous.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – “So Far.”

March 10, 2018March 9, 2018 ~ John W. Howell ~ 54 Comments

It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday time again and this weeks prompt is “so far.” Linda Hill advises that we can use it any way we wish. If you would like to tease your brain, come join us. Go to Linda’s blog and read how. Here is the link.

The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS March 10/18

“So what do you have so far?”

“Dear Mr. President.”

“Yes well. Ahem. Dear Mr. President.”

“You already said that.”

“I know, I know I’m just trying to warm up.”

“Why not a couple of laps around the building.”

“I mean to the subject. Not actually a physical warm-up.”

“Fine. You’re the boss.”

“Now, where was I?”

“Dear Mr. President.”

“Oh yeah. Ahem.”

“Don’t say ‘Dear Mr. President’ again.”

“For heaven’s sake. How am I ever going to get this letter dictated if you keep interrupting?”

“It is a challenge I’ll admit.”

“Okay, I’m going to ignore you and just go through it.”

“The last time you ignored me remember what happened?”

“When was that?”

“Yesterday.”

“I can’t recall. What happened?”

“I told you to turn left on Forest Avenue and what did you do?”

“But there was a no left turn sign.”

“Ah, so you do remember. Tell everyone what happened next.”

“Em, we went straight ahead.”

“To what end.”

“The road it ended.”

“Yup and how much did it cost to have the car towed?”

“Wait a minute I never told you that.”

“You used your debit card. All I had to do was look at the transaction.”

“Can we get back to the letter?”

“Tell the folks how much.”

“Two hundred bucks.”

“Now don’t you feel better?”

“I’ll tell you what would make me feel better, Siri. Stay away from my debit card.”

“Not gonna happen boss. Okay, so far you have, ‘Dear Mr. President.”‘

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “Fine.”

March 3, 2018March 2, 2018 ~ John W. Howell ~ 35 Comments

It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday time again and this week’s prompt is “fine.” There are bonus points if this post is finished with the word fine as well. If you would like to join in the fun, go to Linda Hill,s blog and read how easy it is to wander off the edge of the cliff. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2018/03/02/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-march-3-18/

“Fine day we are having.”

“Yes it is fine isn’t it?”

“So what does this fine day find you doing?”

“I need to do a little fine fixing up around the house.”

“What is fine fixing up?”

“It’s where my usual fine carpentry hack job won’t suffice.”

“What does a fine carpentry hack job look like?”

“Oh, you know. wood shavings and fine dust everywhere.”

“Ah. Fine. I get it. No real attention to cleaning up and such.”

“I think those are the fine points. It is also not enough care about the project.”

“The fine details?”

“You got it. Like making sure fine lines are taken out.”

“And the finish has a fine softness.”

“With a fine sheen like hand rubbed.”

“How do you get a fine sheen.”

“You have to use a fine brush and no drips.”

“That sounds fine, but there must be more to it.”

“You have to choose a fine grade of steel wool to polish the surface.”

“After your fine coat of Polyurethane?”

“Yes. A fine observation.”

“What should I look for when I want fine steel wool?”

“The package has a grade from coarse to fine.”

“What a fine way to get the right stuff. You going to go for the extra points?”

“As long as you are fine with what I have explained.”

“I’m fine.”

“Fine.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “Door”

February 24, 2018February 23, 2018 ~ John W. Howell ~ 43 Comments

It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday again and this weeks prompt is “door.” Now just having the word “door” as a prompt would be a little mundane, so Linda Hill kicked it up a notch. She requires “door” to be used in a specific context, which is, a door we have walked through that isn’t our own THIS WEEK. If you would like to join in on this fun go to Linda’s site and read how. Here is the link if you dare.

The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS Feb. 24/18

“Why so glum, chum.”

“I hate to say this, but sometimes your alliterations come at the wrong time.”

“Oh, my. You are in a mood. You been over to Linda Hill’s place again, right?”

“How did you know?”

“Same face every time.”

“It’s cause I like the prompts and want to do well.”

“So what’s the problem?”

“You know I write all the time.”

“Yeah, I do. In fact, I think you are obsessive.”

“Save the psychological analysis for some other time. I have a real problem.”

“Okay. I’m sorry. What’s the problem?”

“Here it is. We are supposed to write about a door that isn’t our own that we have gone through this week.”

“Sounds fun. I don’t see the issue.”

“I only went out once this week.”

“Ah, the old Howard Hughes recluse writer thingy.”

“And guess where I went?”

“A bar, restaurant, museum, or something interesting I hope.”

“That’s just it. I went to the frickin Rheumatologist.”

“What? the Rheumatologist? Oh, that is one exciting trip. How was the door there?”

“You are not helping.”

“What’s with you writers anyway? You have some kind of sun allergy?You’re all the same. To leave the house is like a major deal.”

“We get wrapped up in our work.”

“Yeah, and all your friends are in your head.”

“You are my friend. You aren’t in my head.”

“You’re kidding me right?”

“Yeah. Sorry about that. You are in my head too.”

“I think you need to find a hobby.”

“I have one.”

“Do tell.”

“Making up stories.”

“The prosecution rests your honor.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “His/Her(s)

February 17, 2018February 16, 2018 ~ John W. Howell ~ 45 Comments

Her eminence Ms, Linda Hill has kicked off the Stream of Consciousness Saturday time again and this week’s prompt is “His/Her(s). I’m going to quote Linda directly when she issued the order for the prompt. “Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “his/her(s).” Use one, use both, bonus points if you start your post with one and end with the other. Have fun!” So you see why the post started with a flourish.

If you would like to participate in the group psychological experiment, go to Linda’s blog and read how you can. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2018/02/16/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-feb-17-18/

“Her hair is blowing in the wind.”

“It’s supposed to do that. It is part of the feeling.”

“‘Part of the feeling?”‘ What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I have made this piece to represent someone underwater.”

“Okay. I still don’t get it.”

“The wind duplicates the current so when her hair blows

it is like the current of a river or the ocean.”

“Oh, so you have carved a woman out of rock and put that cheesy hair on her to simulate the current flowing.”

“Except for the term, “cheesy,” I think you have the concept.”

“Look at the hair. It looks like it was knit by my grandmother.”

“I’ll have you know I made that hair myself.”

“You are a sculptor, right?”

“Yes, I am.”

“I think you ought to turn hair making over to someone else. Why didn’t you just carve it out of stone?”

“I guess I could have. I just wanted to have a mixed media piece.”

“Instead you have a bald women sitting on a rock.”

“Harsh.”

“But true. I think you ought to rename this one.”

“So make my whole day. What is your suggestion?”

“See that angelic look on her face and the lovely body?”

“Yeah, of course. I made it.”

“How about “Beautiful Collaborator?”

“No one will get that.”

“Falling Hair?”

“Gross.”

“Cross Dresser?”

“Too political.”

“Some Day My Prince Will Come.”

“Chauvinistic, but you have given me an idea.”

“Oh good. What do you think you should call it?”

“How about simply, “Him.”

“Him?”

“Him.”

“I think you should keep the, “Simply” and call it, “Simply Him.”

I like that. “Simply Him.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “Tale/Tail

February 10, 2018February 9, 2018 ~ John W. Howell ~ 34 Comments

It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday time again. This week’s prompt is “Tale/Tail. Linda Hill says we can use one or both. If you would like to play with words visit Linda’s blog and see how. Here is the link.

The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS Feb. 10/18

“I see you been up to the Hill.”

“Huh. What are you talking about.”

“You have a prompt tucked under your arm, so you have been to the Hill.”

“Oh. You talkin’ about the Linda Hill hill?”

“Yes, of course. Man, it takes forever with you.”

“Whatever. Yes, I have this week’s prompt.’

“Care to share?”

“Tale/Tail.”

“You talkin’ sex now?”

“You call me slow. You’re not only the same, but your mind is in the gutter.”

“You’re the one talkin’ dirty. Not me.”

“The first is like a story. Tale. The second is like what is on an animal.”

“So it could be the tale of a tail.”

“Well, I suppose it could be.”

“What are you going to write?”

“I think I’ll do a story about a guy telling a story. It will be a tall tale of the woods.”

“So where does the tail come in.”

“What tail?”

” I thought you had to use both.”

“No, it is okay to use one or the other or both.”

“Can I do one?”

“Of course.”

“Mine’s going to be about a ranch. I’m almost positive I can work in the word tail. You got your horsetail, dog tail, foxtail, raccoon tail, cow tail—”

“Okay, I get it. Why not go away and write it.”

“You want to get rid of me?”

“In a word?”

“I don’t get it. I bust my tail helping you with your prompt tale, and this is the thanks I get.”

“Don’t consider it permanent.”

“And now the narrator says, “In anger, he turns tail and heads for the door.”‘

“Don’t go away mad.”

Stream of ConsciousnessSaturday – Prompt “In Other Words.”

February 3, 2018February 2, 2018 ~ John W. Howell ~ 55 Comments

It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday time and this week’s prompt is “In Other Words.” Yes, you read that right. Linda was very kind this week and dictated that we only have to use ‘in other words,” once in our post. Okay, gang, this preamble doesn’t count. If you would like to cause, your confidence to slip a little by joining in go to Linda Hill’s post and read how to do that most effectively. Here is the link.

https://lindaghill.com/2018/02/02/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-feb-3-18/

” In other words, you don’t want to go.”

“I didn’t say that. I said I had some things to do.”

“Why don’t you just come right out and say you don’t want to go.”

“If I didn’t want to go, I would just say that. Why are you being a jerk?”

“You know how much I like this kind of thing. I know you are not crazy about it, but I would think you could just be a good sport and go with me.”

“First of all, when did you know about this?”

“Well, I just got the tickets at work.”

“When?”

“Monday.”

“Here it is Saturday, and you think I will drop everything to go and you couldn’t give me more than twenty-four hours notice?”

“I guess I could have.”

“So why didn’t you?”

“Well…”

“Yes?”

“I asked Frank to go.”

“In other words, Frank was your preferred guest.”

“Well no.”

“What then.”

“He enjoys it. You don’t.”

“Why can’t he go?”

“He has other things to do.”

“In other words, to use your words, he didn’t want to go.”

“I guess not.”

“Well, that makes two of us.”

“I don’t get it.”

“What?”

“Why no one wants to watch the New England Patriots except me?”

“Because you don’t have a clue, you belong together.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “OC”

January 20, 2018January 19, 2018 ~ John W. Howell ~ 45 Comments

Occupying my post today is Stream of Consciousness Saturday. So true. This weeks prompt is “oc.” That is correct, and the rules as laid down by the dungeon master, Linda Hill is to find a word that starts with “oc,” and use it. There are bonus points redeemable for a new Tesla if one starts and ends the post with an “oc” word. So now you know why the goofy opening. If you have some kind of desire to grapple with reality, go to Linda’s blog to find out how to attach your own electrodes. Here is the link.

https://lindaghill.com/2018/01/19/the-friday-reminder-for-socs-jusjojan-daily-prompt-jan-20th-2018/

“Occasionally I like to indulge in some creative writing.”

“As a person who occupies space in your life, I didn’t know this.”

“Well, it’s true. I like to dabble in the occult.”

“Have you any experience with an occult occurrence?”

“No. I like to make up the story. I’m not an occultist.”

“So you like to scare yourself. Do you do it to occlude a brain leak?”

“Can I just enjoy a leisure occupation without causing a major inquisition?”

“Well, I could see you being an oceanographer and writing about the sea.”

“What makes you say that? Is your octogenarian mind having a crisis?”

“No. I just think it would be nice to read about oceanfronts and the animals of the sea.”

“I see nothing wrong with an occasional story about the sea.”

“Now you are talking. What kind of ocean story to do you in mind?”

“I can see a group of whales who decide to hold an ochlocracy gathering.”

“Why would they hold a political meeting? Not enough octopus available?”

“Very funny. No, they want to start a coven of Occult Orcas.”

“Cute. I suppose you’ll find a way to work in Occult Orcas octupling?”

“I think you should be heading off into the ocaso.”*

*Spanish for sunset.

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Different Kind of Prompt

January 13, 2018January 13, 2018 ~ John W. Howell ~ 37 Comments

It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday time again. This weeks prompt is a little different. Linda Hill asked us to sit down at our writing place and pick up the nearest book, newspaper, note, or anything with words and choose the sixth, seventh and eighth word on the page and that is the prompt. The nearest thing with writing to me is an instruction sheet on making better characters. The sixth word is like the seventh yourself, and the eighth birthdays. So these are my prompt words. If you would like to run yourself ragged and join this fun please visit Linda’s blog and read how. It is easy to go insane. Here is the link.

The Friday Reminder for #SoCS & #JusJoJan Daily Prompt, Jan. 13th, 2018

“Looks like we are in a real pickle.”

“How so?”

“This week is a matter of life and death, right?”

“What are you talking about?”

“The prompt. We get it right or we die is what I heard.”

“Who told you that?”

“No one had to tell me. With a prompt like the one in the title, it is clear.”

“So explain it to me.”

“First of all the advice to ‘like yourself’ is something that sounds like a Dr. Phil moment. If that is the case then shoot me.”

“You are missing the commas my, friend. Those are two words like and yourself. Makes an easy prompt.”

“Easy for you. So what do you do with birthdays? Not birthday mind you, but birthdays.”

“You could build a story around how you have a like for birthdays. Not just any birthdays but those for yourself.”

“Oh man. I’m going to put something like that together and you think I won’t be laughed off the stage.”

“Okay then, how about this? When you ask yourself what you like about birthdays what comes to mind?”

“Are you serious. This is the big leagues of the prompt world. Do you know how many big-time bloggers read this stuff?”

“You sure they read it or just hit ‘like?'”

“Let’s assume they read it. I’m not in the mood to be a laughing-stock on Saturday. If you think this prompt is so darn easy why don’t you do it yourself?”

“Okay. Here goes. If you like birthdays, treat yourself to a lollapalooza the next time around.”

“Damn.”

“Damn what?”

“You’re good.”