Waiting for the coffee reminds me of the tale of the turtle and the hare. It is not always the fastest that wins the day. A good rationalization for a petulant machine. Finally, the cup arrives, and it is time to grab the clock. We set it for February 24, 1924. Destination: College Park, Maryland. Duration: two hours. When the plunger is pulled, we find ourselves at College Park Airport near the University of Maryland. We are going to witness a test of the gyrocopter. It’s a machine designed by Henry Berliner and his father, Emile. It is a forerunner of the helicopter and is piloted by US Army Lieutenant Harold R. Harris.
Present are US Navy officials and members of the press. Lieutenant Harris starts the engine and slowly lifts off the ground. The machine rises to an altitude of fifteen feet (4.6m), and Harris demonstrates its tight turning radius of 15 feet. The machine is capable of moving at 40 miles per hour (64km/hr). After one minute and twenty seconds, Harris gently lands the aircraft. The officials call the test a success. The press surrounds the craft and smothers Harris with questions. It was the first successful flight of such a machine.
The alarm rings, and flying the couch is the only event left. My text tone goes off. The text from Linda Hill reads: Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “rhymes with ale.” Find a word that rhymes with ale, regardless of the spelling, and use it in your post. Enjoy!
If you want to see what bloggers have done with the prompt, visit Linda’s blog. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2024/02/23/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-feb-24-2024/
Rhymes with Ale by John W. Howell ©2024
“Well done on sneaking that rhymes with ale word.”
“You think anyone will notice?”
“Well, you could bold it.”
“It is hard to go back. Those words are like in stone.”
“So, if they miss it, why not do one here?”
“Well, I suppose. Let’s see. Sale, sail, whale, nail, fail, pale.”
“I think that’s enough. There might be one or two more, but you’ve made your point.”
“Okay. At least we covered the prompt.”
“I’m going to suggest one more.”
“I can only guess.”
“VooDoo Ranger.”
“Doesn’t rhyme with ale.”
“Nope, it just is ale.”
“Call Uber.”
“Did. The guy’s over there.”
Photo courtesy of Resa McConaghy
“That rolling nursery?”
“There’s room.”
“For what? A couple of birds?”
“Oh, come on. The price is right.”
“What about my allergies?”
“A pail of VooDoo ale will fix you right up.”
Fiction Favorites 
My contribution? Putting stale kale on the trail from a snail’s tail will fail, but hail on the kale will seem almost like braille, and a nail in the tail will elicit a whale of a wail (and land you in jail).
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Excellent. 🤣
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Brilliant tale, John…
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Thank you, Jaye.
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Great post.
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Thank you, Molly Shea
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Well done, John. I liked this, even though WordPress fought with me over the Like button. Love that car.
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The car is very unusual. Thanks, Dan. More WP aggravation for sure.
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A pail of Voodoo . . I never considered a pail before. Silly me.
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Kind of old fashioned. Send the kid to the corner bar with a pail.
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I dig. I’ll take a pail.
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I wish we still had beer pails. A kind of romance around them.
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There really is. Of course, this means smokes. Because you ain’t drinking from a pail without smokes.
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Yeah, smokes. Well that takes care of that.
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Hey, let’s pail it without the smokes por favor. We can do it.
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Sounds like a winner.
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Cute one, John. You might need a few extra ales to sit in the tree on your ride though.
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I think you are right. Maybe a chain saw too.😁
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Don’t do that!! You’ll have the Nature people after you, [oh yeah, I’ve been one of those from way back when we were called tree-huggers.]
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Okay then. I’ll leave the chainsaw at home.
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Phew!
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😁
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Nicely played getting the prompt word in the first sentence! I dunno about that Uber “vehicle,” though. Hold out for a Bentley.
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A Bentley would be nicer for sure. Thanks, Liz.
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You’re welcome, John.
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That uber vehicle looks more dangerous than and acme safe firmly planted in the middle of the yard. however it will improve the quality of your drinking time… time ! now who was it started this time
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I have no idea who started. I’ll let you finish with two fingers.
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Darn if I didn’t have to go back a few times and find the rhyming word. Who writes it in the very first sentence?! 😂🤣
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Only the loony ones write it in the first sentence. 😁 Thanks, Lois
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I did have to go back a search for a bit. Very sneaky.
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Dang me anyway.
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Thank you, Charles. I did, too.
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Me too. (Just kidding)
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Well done on the prompt, John. I enjoy the history as much as the Uber. Yes, the VooDoo will fix you right up. 🙂
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Thank you, Jennie. A history minor in college gave me a lifetime of curiosity about history
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Ah, you chose an excellent minor in college. History really does give people a lifetime of curiosity (and learning). Best to you, John.
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It has served me well. Thanks. Jennie.
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Me, too. Best to you, John.
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😁
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Interesting, John, that the birth of helicopters goes back a hundred years. That is quite the car! It makes me wonder who would drive it. Have a good one!
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I t looks like it might be a permanent flower pot. Thanks, Tim.
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If you drink too much ale, you won’t get bail and get as pale as a whale.
Well, that’s what I could come up with on short notice. 🙂
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Darn good I would say. Thanks, Rabirius
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Dang, that car is something else. Maybe Mad Max would have one like it if he weren’t stuck in the desert.
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I think he would have trouble keeping it alive out there.
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Well done. You can never go wrong with a pail of the pale.
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I agree. Thanks, Monika.
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Dear John
cool car.
Have a happy weekend
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
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Thank you, F4oC. Have a happy weekend as well.
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Enjoyed the lesson in your opening. Very cool that that helicopter had a precursor. We’re on the flight path to Stinson and watch helicopters on manuevers. Their sound is captivating.
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I used to live in Connecticut where the Sikorsky plant was. They would test them and now and then they would fly over the house.
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Thanks for this idea. Anita
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Always welcome, Anita.
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Luvin’ the history lessons. This one is 100% new to me. Thank you, John!
Are you bringing any souvenirs back from your travels?
The car is fabulous, and you can have a picnic on the hood on your way to a picnic.
Okay, I have to run out to an art show now. (I get to interview the artist, and take pics of her work!). I’ll be back later, or tomorrow to visit Twiggy. Give her a 💋 for me in the meantime!
❦𝞌 ❦𝞌 ❦𝞌 ❦𝞌
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Glad you could stop by. No souvenirs are allowed. Might disturb the time continuum. 🐂 🐂 🐂 🐂
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Amazing car, John! I don’t know where you find these jewels, but this one is a treasure. Great post! 😊
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Thank you, Gwen. A reader sent me the photo.
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I went back and found it. Nicely played, John. That car is wild!
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I know. Thanks Deborah. I’m sorry to put you to work.
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It would have driven me nuts if I hadn’t found it so not work. 😀
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😁
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Excellent as always with the prompts dear John. The pic is awesome… hats off to Resa too. Have a lovely my friend. 😊
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Thank you so much, Holly. Have a lovely too.
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Thank you John. It’s been nice.
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Oh good. Mine too.
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Ha ha! You never disappoint!
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Thank you, Pam. Great to know.
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Um, why are you pulling me over, Officer?
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Do you have a license to haul trees?
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I like VooDoo Ranger India Pale Ale, VooDoo Ranger Hazy India Pale Ale, VooDoo Ranger Imperial India Pale Ale, VooDoo Ranger Juicifer, but I haven’t tried all of them. That’s a very cool car.
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I drink the VooDoo Ranger Imperial. I tried the regular but it wasn’t stout enough. Love mine hoppy. Thanks for letting me know we are drink related.
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Me too actually. I like mine more hoppy.
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😁
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That was a fun jaunt through history, John. I can only imagine the excitement. And great job with the turtle tale. 🙂
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Thank you, Jan. BTW I got a notice that I was following your new posts. 😊
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Beautiful telling, John! I also love the intro, and the crazy photo by Resa. Enjoy a nice Sunday! xx Michael
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Thank you, Michael. I hope you enjoy your Sunday as well.
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Thanks, John! xx Michael
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😁
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Well done, John, but I think I’d pay a little more before riding in the rolling nursery! 😁
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Yeah, think of the ants.
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Yikes! And spiders! 🕷️🥺
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Ew
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I know. 🙂
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😊
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Every Saturday, we get a little smarter! And no, I like it better when people don’t bold the words of a prompt. I find it very distracting (plus, I like to discover them on my own). That said, wonderfully done. And, erm… look a tad tight in that car. Hope the bar is close!
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It was tight plus a colony of ants took up the front seat.
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Oh dear! They could have hung out on the leaves of the plants and left you the seat!
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Really. No consideration.
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Zero! 🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜🐜
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🤣
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😉
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Hi John, this is a great post. In fact, they are all great and I learn a lot from them.
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So glad to hear, Robbie. Thank you.
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Bale, dale, gale, hale, jail, male… the list goes on, lol.
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Flail is a good one too.
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