The black machine just sits, waiting for a command. The touchpad offers selections to please every coffee lover’s taste. The conundrum is which to select. There’s the Americano, flat white, cappuccino, Latte, espresso, single cup, and double cup. My finger follows its muscle memory and selects the double cup. The icon lights up to let me know the order has been received. The grinding, groaning, and sputtering precede the slow delivery of fluid that makes life worth living again.
One sip and the clock comes to mind. It is set for November 23, 1924, in New York City, and the duration is an hour. The plunger is pulled, and we find ourselves at a newsstand on Lexington Avenue. We grab a newspaper and read.
The article states that Edwin Hubble announced his discovery that Andromeda, previously believed to be a nebula, is another galaxy and that the Milky Way is only one of many such galaxies in the universe. Hubble disclosed his discovery to The New York Times, and they broke the story. Hubble went on to publish a paper on December 30 after peer review and was presented by him at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society on January 1. The idea that our Earth and galaxy were unique has been turned over as a result.
Just as an order was placed with the hot dog vendor, the alarm went off, and we were back on the couch, having a strange craving for sauerkraut. A text has come in, and it is from Linda Hill. It reads: Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “use ‘just’ in your first sentence.” Use the word “just” any way you’d like in your first sentence, then just write to your heart’s content. Enjoy!
To see what others have done with the prompt, visit Linda’s post. Here is the link: https://lindaghill.com/2024/11/22/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-nov-23-2024/
Just by John W. Howell © 2024
“Just what made you pick a double cup?”
“What do you mean?”
“All those choices. You could have had something other than your usual.
“I just wasn’t in the mood for the others.”
“Well, I guess that explains why you only put catchup on your burger.”
“Anything other than cheese muddies the water.”
“Says the guy in a rut.”
“So what would you choose?”
“Right now?”
“Yes.”
“It comes in a brown bottle and goes by the initials of VooDoo Ranger.”
“Of course it does. Uber?”
“Right over there.”
Photo – Dan Antion
“A 1978 Mercedes Turbodiesel Wagon. That puppy is a classic.”
“I thought you would like it.”
“That model was the first Mercedes wagon to be powered by a diesel engine. It was part of the W123 series, which was known for its reliability and durability. The 300TD was a luxury station wagon with a 3.0-liter, five-cylinder diesel engine that produced 123 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque”
“And who cares?”
“Well Dan Antion would and me of course.”
“You are putting the rest of us to sleep. Let’s get in.”
“Fine. I should make you buy.”
“Wait. Tell me more about the Mercedes.”
“Too late. Just get in.”
Fiction Favorites 
Thanks for this very informative post, John! I hope you all enjoy a wonderful weekend. Here we got snow, but only as much as icing on a cake. Best wishes, Michael
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Snow can be fun but after so many years without it I think I’ll let you enjoy it. Thanks, Michael.
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I fully consent with you, John! I wouldn’t blame anyone if we would get a more humanizised climate here. 😉 Best wishes, Michael
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😁
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One thing great about that station wagon, John, if you drink too much, you can just lie down in the back.
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Ha ha ha. An excellent point, GP. Thanks.
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Hubble’s discovery certainly deserves a celebratory Voodoo Ranger, John. “Who cares?” 45 years on the road and that car is still humming, OK, growling along.
Great job with the prompt – enjoy the weekend
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Thank you, Dan. I think you and I are the only ones who would care. Enjoy your weekend as well.
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[…] you go David. A glass of John Howell’s Bourbon, a snifter of seltzer, a glass of ice and three cherries. Dan, here’s your […]
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Thanks for the link, Dan
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Just seems like an easy word to use. Then I remember how often we’re told to cut it from our writings. Low key challenge there.
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Yes, very low key. Thanks, Charles.
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It’s good to absorb the information contained this post, John. I see now why so many things were named after Edwin Hubble. That Mercedes looks like a nice comfortable ride.
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That car is an oldie but goodie for sure. Yes, Hubble was quite the scientist. Thanks, Tim
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What a great way to just have a way to write something on a Saturday! 😊 Happy Weekend to you, John!
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Yes it is. It also let’s me practice first person POV without using the pronoun “I.”
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Interesting! Just shows we can expand even more than we think 😁
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Yes. Expansion is possible if you let it happen.
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That is a great classic car, well worth a ride in. However, I NEVER put ketchup on a good cheeseburger. You can’t taste anything else – it’s gotta be mustard. Same reason I won’t put it on fries. I prefer mustard. The fridge is loaded with lots of difference kinds. Also goes will with sauerkraut!
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Just shows everyone is different.
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Yup, my husband is a ketchup man. My uncle used to put ketchup on EVERYTHING my aunt cooked for him when they were first married. She revolted and said she would not cook for him unless he threw the ketchup out, He did,
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Good for her.
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Don’t often find a decaf on one of those machine so still use a filter… which is probably why I can’t time travel…However I have driven one of those cars… a little sloppy on the corners if I remember rightly and skittish in the rain but very classy… hugsx
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I need my caf so never give decaf a second thought. I remember the wagons were a bit sloppy in handling. Of course, the people who bought them weren’t exactly on the F1 circuit.
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lol no they weren’t and still are not.. xx
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😁
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Just what I needed to inspire me to grab another coffee and start writing.
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Off you go, cricket.
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So, we’re not alone. Y’know, I always feel that I’m being followed or watched when walking the dog at night. Well, I haven’t been disemboweled yet, unlike those poor cows out west.
I liked your ride this week.
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Yes, the poor cows. Thanks Steve. BTW don’t look behind you.
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Really ! And don’t spend your summer vacation at the Skinwalker Ranch ..,
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😁
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I’ve not followed you enough to understand your connection to VooDoo Ranger BUT there was a VooDoo Ranger truck blocking traffic downtown last week and I thought of you! 😆
Gosh, that car is a beauty. I don’t think I have ever seen one at the classic car shows we go to. Will have to keep an eye out for one now, though.
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My only connection with VooDoo Ranger is I have one beer a week and that’s the one. Full bodied and 9% Alcohol. Just what the doctor ordered.
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Ha! Thank you for this, John. Now I feel part of the In Crowd.🍺
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You were always in the in crowd, Lois.
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“Too late!” lol! Good space just today, John.
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Thank you, Deborah. I just love your comment.
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ROFL!!! Oh my spellcheck and me lack of attention really botched that one! I meant great history today! 😂😂😂
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😁 still love it.
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“Edwin Hubble announced his discovery that Andromeda, previously believed to be a nebula, is another galaxy” it was a great and important discovery but it is amazing how far we have come since 1924.
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It is. Thanks, Thomas.
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Nicely played with “just.” An image of your coffee maker just flashed into my mind. I’m seeing it as a Teagan-Steampunk kind of affair.
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It is a sleek efficient looking thing. Here’s a link https://www.crateandbarrel.com/jura-j8-piano-black-fully-automatic-espresso-machine/s660111
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Whoa. That is a very impressive machine!
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A very necessary machine.
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That, too!
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😊
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If only we had “just” the right choices instead of being confronted with the Paradox of choice when we are supposedly engaged with mundane tasks? (I couldn’t help carry forward the “just” prompt… Doesn’t take much to lead me to temptation? 😁)
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You did well. Just what we needed. (oops)
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I like a dark double, myself.
sauerkraut 😬
Hubble Hubble
Toil and trouble
Forests burn
Volcanoes bubble.
Round about the galaxy go
In the poisoned earth ball throw.
Toad, that under cold stone
Days and nights hast 1461
Swelter’d venom sleeping got,
Boil eco in the pot.
☄️🔭
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Gee Resa. This is some outlook on the future. I like the toad under cold stone.☄️🔭 ☄️🔭
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Yeah… As you know, It’s a parody of the 3 witches’ chant in MacBeth, Act IV – Sc.1.
It’s meant to be a comment on climate change.
.☄️🔭 ☄️🔭.☄️🔭 ☄️🔭
As soon as I read “Hubble” it popped into mind. I memorized it when I read MacBeth when I was 15. I just loved it.
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You got me there. I read MacBeth when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Didn’t catch the three witches chant. Well done, Risa 🧹X
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Thanks! Lol!!!!
We win!
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Yes we do.
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No wonder they named a telescopy after him!
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I know right?
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This was just so good Boss.
I can imagine your cuppa was just so good and then you just stood your ground against the naysayer until the Uber showed up. And will you just look at that puppy! You’re right, it’s a classic. And I bet it showed up just in time huh?
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It did come in time. Thanks, Pilgrim for the lovely comment.
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You da best
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😊
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Another great history lesson an astronomy one at that ….and as always the coffee machine delivers 💜💜💜
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Thank you, Willow. So glad you liked it.
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it was interesting sorry it took me so long to get round to reading it 💜💜
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That is okay. Glad you enjoyed it.
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Love the Edwin Hubble story, and what a cool Uber!
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It is. 😁
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