Friday TGIF and JohnKU

December 19, 2014June 26, 2024 ~ John W. Howell ~ 16 Comments

Friday is the best day of the week. I’ll bet a lot of you are attending some kind of office or holiday party tonight. You may even be going to the boss’s house for a get together. If you are invited remember to wipe your feet at the door and don’t spill anything. I wonder who ever thought these things were fun. I remember one event where the boss had us all in for the holiday and I was standing admiring this large vase (pronounced VAHZE) on a pedestal. It was some kind of rare Asian art kind of thing and had its own light. I usually am impressed by things that have their own light. Well, long story short some oaf hit me from behind which caused me to carom into the base. This caused the vase (VAHZE) to begin to teeter back and forth in what could be the beginning of a death spiral Given the vase (VAHZE) cost more than I was worth alive, my life and employment passed before my eyes. When the vase (VAHZE) finally did its bow I caught it before it hit the floor. With shaking hands, I placed it carefully back on the pedestal. As I was adjusting it the boss came by and whispered, “Nice catch. You saved both our asses.” I loved that guy.

Today’s JohnKu (a term coined by Words4jp) is about holiday parties. Hope you enjoy.

Few days of worry,

Attending all the parties . . .

Paid back by the flu.

TGIF JohnKu

December 12, 2014June 26, 2024 ~ John W. Howell ~ 19 Comments

Friday is here again. The deadline for some of us oldsters to straighten out the medical coverage is December 31 and it keeps getting closer. (The regular Medicare deadline is December 7^th (ironic)). I am in a special group of people whose company has decided to off me from retirement medical and to allow me the luxury of finding my own plans. Well, at least I was given a little time to try to figure it out. Today’s JohnKu (a term coined by Words4jp) reflects some concern about looming deadlines on such important stuff like medical care. Its title is Time Bomb. Hope you like it.

The clock is wired,

To some big sticks called health care. . .

Tick, tock not much time.

Friday JohnKu – TGIF

December 5, 2014June 26, 2024 ~ John W. Howell ~ 25 Comments

This week has been really busy and next looks to be the same. I was really honored to be a part of the Sally Ember Ed.D interview show on Changes. If you missed it you can go to this link on You Tub and catch up: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZRG5j5fHuo

We are deeply into the Christmas shopping season again. I don’t know about you, but this year I am really out of ideas. Not sure what I’m going to do since I usually have a good idea of what to get by this time each year. I think I’m going to have to consult with some extra-terrestrial something to come up with an idea. I used to have jewelry ideas, but my wife has placed me on a budget which has the effect of making a jewelry selection somewhat more challenging. It seems the higher end stuff gets a better reception than a shark tooth on a string (you think?).

So this week’s JohnKu (a term coined by Words4jp) has captured the angst and terror of finding the right gift. It is titled I’m Going to Die. Hope you like it.

Uneasy stalks the day,

Terror chills fill the darkness . . .

No gift idea.

Friday JohnKu – TGIF

November 28, 2014June 26, 2024 ~ John W. Howell ~ 17 Comments

This is Black Friday and I’m spending it hunched over my keyboard as I do so many other days (like 365 of them). I sort of miss the trampling, fighting, hair pulling and dented fenders of yore. You see, on the island where I live we have an event called Shop Around Port Aransas. It takes about an hour to visit all the stores and in reality the bargains are not really designed for the normal gift giving season.

For example at the IGA, bacon is $2.69 a pack. I know I wouldn’t mind getting some gift wrapped bacon, but to give as a gift not so much. Another example would be waist-high waders now 50% off. The populations of men who live here already have waders so what is the point? I guess the tourists might find this a novelty item. I can see someone from San Antonio opening his gift and getting a pair of twenty pound vulcanized rubber waders. The joy in the eyes is indescribable. The gun shop is running a special on duck calls which makes me want to rush right down there and stock up (not). How many duck calls does one person need? So, all in all around here, Black Friday is pretty mild. Today’s John Ku ( a term coined by Words4jp) is a symbolic nod to the rest of the world’s happiness today. The title is (of course) Black Friday.

Day breaks as always,

Anticipation is strong . . .

In scoring, a steal.

TGIF – Friday JohnKu

November 21, 2014June 26, 2024 ~ John W. Howell ~ 21 Comments

Friday is here at last. Today’s margarita is going to be replaced by a steaming cup of mulled cider, I just can’t place an ice-cold drink in your hand when you have a glove on it. I suppose y’all have the same weather issues so we should be glad we can get into the warm to enjoy something hot as we begin to look forward to the holidays. Today’s JohnKu (a term coined by Words4jp) celebrates our ability to control our comfort but asks that we think of those less fortunate including the fur people. The title is Cold and hope you enjoy it.

The first of winter,

Creeps in on chilly footfalls . . .

To torture the poor.

TGIF Friday Haiku

November 14, 2014June 26, 2024 ~ John W. Howell ~ 26 Comments

Friday time again. Looks like we might actually make it to the end of the week. This week has been one of amazing rain. I think it started last Friday and has been off and on for the whole week. We also had a cold front move in so we have been under the gun chill wise. I think the temperature got to eighty degrees only once this week. For us weak island dwellers, this is a real cold snap. It is pretty funny seeing the brave tourist types from up nawth walking down the beach with shorts and short sleeve shirts while we natives look like we are living on an ice flow. This week’s JohnKu (a Term coined by Words4jp) looks at the weather.

Sunny days always,

Until the Earth tries tilting. . .

Then, paradise lost.

Friday JohnKu

November 7, 2014June 26, 2024 ~ John W. Howell ~ 11 Comments

Friday at last. This week I had the occasion to walk on the beach and see some of the greatest sun flashes in the surf. I tried to take a video, but it didn’t turn out well since I kept getting the sun in the picture which caused the image to blaze out of focus. I grabbed my trusty iPhone and at least got a picture. The flashes looked like an ocean full of paparazzi all taking photo of the shore. I know this picture doesn’t do the scene justice but hopefully you can get an idea. Today’s JohnKu (A term coined by Words4jp) is about the scene. The title is Flash. I hope you like it and have a great weekend. Here’s your margarita. Don’t get caught at work. Okay?

Sun striking water,

Making a display of fire . . .

Hard to believe real.

Friday JohnKu – TGIF

October 24, 2014October 17, 2014 ~ John W. Howell ~ 17 Comments

Yes, it is Friday at last. Seems just a short time ago it was Monday. I know….delusional. Each week gets me closer to the finish of my third book. (Well, really my forth. The first is still holding the laundry room door open) It is this stage of writing that begins to work on the nerves. The ending is clear and all that has to be done is to work up to it in a reasonably organized way. What happens? Some character decides to extend some piece of the story and now there is chaos in the writer’s room. Damn Just when I thought the whole thing was a done deal a new twist pops up. I guess it is better this way than having no way to get to the end. Today’s JohnKu (a term coined by Words4JP) is about surprises. Hope you like it.

Just when it seems done,

A character acts badly. . .

Back to the keyboard.

TGIF Friday is Here aaaaattttttttt Last!

October 17, 2014June 26, 2024 ~ John W. Howell ~ 31 Comments

Friday is here again and is the signal to start the relaxing engine. Whoa, we have to wait until after five o’clock, but then we can turn up the throttle to full speed. This week I have been thinking of doing something a little different from the usual JohnKu (a term coined by Words 4jp) I thought this week I would give you some views of the current conditions here on the Gulf. We have had some nice rains and by and large the tourist population has just about disappeared. The temperatures are still in the nineties and as the local radio station says, “now that summer is over we can look forward to three more months of summer.”

The first picture is of a nice storm that blew in from Mexico and was a left over from a tropical storm there. This was taken about 9:30 in the morning.

This next one is of the rainbow that followed the storm. You may see it is a double, but the camera is not the best so it is hard

This is a shot is of our Boxer Lucy standing very patiently while I take a photo of the totally deserted beach which is a complete contrast to how it looked on labor day.

Here is a photo of the Gulf and how it looks today. This was taken from the same spot as the storm photo and about the same time. The camera is aimed a little more North

The final shot is of the Birds of Paradise that are in front of the house. They have been really prolific this season. We have had one plant that has not bloomed in seven years and it has a flower as well.

Hope you enjoyed the change of pace and wish you a very nice weekend.

Friday JohnKu and TGIF

October 10, 2014October 3, 2014 ~ John W. Howell ~ 15 Comments

Friday is here. Okay everyone. Today’s margarita special is made with freshly squeezed key lime juice, Tapatio Tequila Blanco, Cointreau, and agave nectar. It is shaken and served over chipped ice. You can elect to have it blended till frozen and also salt or no salt on the glass. With the margarita I am offering a selection of salsa including green chilies, peach and spicy tomatillo. So step up and place your order. It is Friday after all. Oh yes, today’s JohnKu (a term coined by Words4jp) is titled Rest and I hope you like it.

When the last day comes,

Will there be anyone who says?

I wish to work more.