The coffee machine has decided to take some time off for the holidays, which finishes my year perfectly. Since AI is new to me, there was no way to negotiate any other outcome. This morning’s coffee is being made in a French Press. We are in the four-minute waiting period, which seems like four hours. Finally, the press is ready. A slow, steady pressure is applied, and the grounds are squeezed to one-quarter their size. The Costa Rican coffee aroma hits the nose, and the first sip brings back the memory of the clock.
The clock is set for December 29, 1924. The location is Hollywood, California, and the time is two hours. A pull of the plunger and we find ourselves at Grumman’s Chinese Theater. We are here in time to see the premiere of the silent movie Peter Pan.
The adventure film Peter Pan, directed by Herbert Brenon and starring Betty Bronson in the title role, was released by Paramount Pictures (at the time, Famous Players–Lasky). The film was an adaptation of the J. M. Barrie play Peter Pan, or the Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up, which had premiered almost 20 years earlier (on December 27, 1904) and which Barrie novelized in 1911 in the book Peter and Wendy.
After the movie, our alarm goes off, and we find ourselves on the couch with a tub of popcorn. A text from Linda Hill comes in. It reads: Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “my year.” Use “my year” as the theme of your post. Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!
To see what others have done with the prompt, visit Linda’s post. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2024/12/27/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-dec-28-2024/
My Year by John W. Howell © 2024
“Well, that was a trip. Whatever happened to that silent movie?”
“After being considered lost, the film footage would be rediscovered at the Eastman School of Music in the 1950s and restored. In 2000, the Library of Congress selected the film for preservation in the National Film Registry.”
“I would like to see that movie.”
“I know you can buy it on DVD from Amazon.”
“Oh. I was more or less thinking of free viewing.”
“Ah. It is on YouTube. Here’s the link https://youtu.be/KregKeKX9as”
“Yeah, that is much better. Gotta keep room in the budget for the VooDoo Rangers.”
“You haven’t paid for a VooDoo Ranger in years.”
“I know, but this may be my year to do it.”
“You are running out of time. Did you call Uber?”
“Yup, he’s right over there.”
Photo by Dan Antion
“You are joking, right?”
“Got a great deal.”
“I’ve said a hundred times we don’t need great deals on an Uber.”
“How’s free?”
“Really?”
“Yup, and all we have to do is hold some electrical wires for the guy.”
“Hold some electrical wires? You mean like up in the air.”
“Yeah, in the bucket while he splices them onto the power grid.”
“Power grid like a billion watts power grid.”
“Well, yeah. He said there’s nothing to it, and it is only a half hour of work.”
“Why I go along with this, I’ll never know.”
“Also, wear your rubber boots.”
Fiction Favorites 
Yup, don’t forget those boots!! On second thought, even free, I would pass on the ride!
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I’m with you GP. Electricity scares the bejeezes out of me.
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I don’t mess with things I can’t see!
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Good rule.
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I’m sure you guys will be safe. I just read in the “On this Day” list in our paper that Peter Pan the play opened in 1904 ( I think on the 26th). I wonder if the timing was planned. Something to consider over those VooDoo Rangers.
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It does seem like a pretty obscure coincidence doesn’t it?
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Now I would love to go back to that time and see the original film. I also enjoy my coffee made with my French Press. Wishing everyone at your house a Happy New Year!
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Thank you, Darlene. Happy New Year to you and yours. Give Dot and Lia a treat too.
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No worries there. They were given ham by the owner of the coffee shop this morning and then left over turkey for lunch. I may have to buy them bigger coats soon.
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Wonderful way to live. Thanks, Darlene
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Watching the original Peter Pan movie would be great. Working with high voltage should pay more than a free ride.
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Just holding wires gives me the creeps. Thanks, Tim.
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I saw a guy get killed in the Denver area while he was in a bucket hooking up a transformer. The high voltage arced from the supply wire to his head, and through him. The bucket he was in was grounded somehow.
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Ouch. I can almost feel that.
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A deal is a deal.
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It is. Thanks, Charles.
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LOL…I think I would prefer to walk a block to the local bakery than to do electrical work for a beer. Or for an old fashioned. Maybe pay for the Uber next time, John. Happy New Year!
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Thank you, Mary. Happy New Year to you. (you are so right about the Uber.)
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What a timely masterpiece! I forget about YouTube being a treasure trove of viewing pleasure. As for the ride home, I’d recommend you also have a pair of rubber gloves. You can’t be insulated enough. Happy Saturday.
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I think I’ll get a rubber suit. Thanks, Monika.
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haha! What could possibly go wrong?! You might want to refrain from yelling, “Pedal to the metal!” 😬
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I’m with you, Lois. What could possibly go wrong. Is that a BBQ I’m smelling?
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Put some popcorn kernels in your pockets. Maybe they will become a snack as you splice in the lines. Probably better than those hundred year old leftovers from the theater.
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A great idea. I hope they don’t get burned.
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The George Eastman house (mansion) about a 10 minute drive for me into the city limits of Rochester, NY, is now a wonderful museum open to the public for tours and programs related to film, naturally. It also is a repository for the preservation of old films. Apparently, old film, like old anything, can deteriorate over time. The grounds also houses a theatre where old movies are shown on a weekly basis. It’s quite the place. The city, as well as other communities around the world were beneficiaries of Eastman’s generosity, especially in medical fields. He established dental clinics in various countries and supported the University of Rochester in its early years. Sadly, he committed suicide by handgun, writing a note that ‘his work was done’. Hope I didn’t bore you, John🤓
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Always great to hear history, Steve. Thanks for adding to the story.
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Careful about moonlighting as an electrician, I hear Tiny the WWF wrestler is an enforcer for the union.
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Good advice. Thanks, Greg.
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It’s a good thing you have a coffee back up or this post may never have happened. Exhaustion would have gotten the better of you especially after the Christmas chaos.
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Coffee is a must so I think you are right. Thanks, Robbie
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I never knew there was a silent movie of Peter Pan. Gotta look it up. The last Uber ride of the year is a good one – practical. Can I ride on the back? Happy New Year!
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Yes, you can hold the blowtorch.
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Ready, willing and able!
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Gotta match?
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Four minutes does seem like an awfully long time for coffee ☕️ 😱 haha 😆 that gave me a laugh, John. Happy Saturday!
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I’m so spoiled. My machine gives me coffee in 20 seconds.
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Thanks for the link to Peter Pan – will watch it later.
As for the Uber, please pass and call for another. Better to pay than pay with your life.
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My friend aseems to have a different opinion. I agree with you.
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Let him ride… You’ll meet him at the pub!
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Good Idea
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😊
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Sure hope our hapless hero won’t be electrocuted, never to tell a story again.
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That would be a shame wouldn’t it?
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Definitely!
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“hold some electrical wires for the guy” That sounds like a costly ride! 😱 Good thing you got an extra four hours this morning. 😄
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Very costly. Thanks, Michele.
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You’re welcome, John! Stay safe and enjoy the coffee.
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😁
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I’ll check out the silent movie. I didn’t know there was one. I’ve always wanted a cherry picker for some photo opportunities but, I’d pass on doing anything electrical.
I do like the color of the truck. 😂
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I agree on the color. You should get one. The photos would be to die for.
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Oh what a gift, as you shared that Peter Pan link John.. I have saved to watch over the weekend… I am delighted it was rediscovered and restored again. I smiled as I clicked on to watch the wobble of the titles in the first minute.. 🙂 Looking forward to watching..
Have a wonderful rest of your weekend John.. xx
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Thank you, Sue and I hope you enjoy the movie
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Oh I know I will… I am going to share it with my daughter too, as she loves these kind of old movies 🙂 So thank you xx
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😊
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Rubber boots, for sure!⚡⚡⚡I’d rather stay home and skip drinks for the night. Very clever, John. Have a great evening, sans electrical currents. 😄
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I plan to stay away from all electrical lines. Thanks for the laugh, Gwen.
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Such a lovely post. I had french press coffee as a special treat on my bday brunch. I can smell your post. lol. Makes me want to invest in my own. Also, Peter Pan is one of my all time favorites.
Thanks for sharing your gift week after week. Hope the rubber boots weren’t necessary 🙂
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Thank you , Jill. These are such kind words.
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It is interesting to find out what happened 100 years ago today. It was an entertaining post. The actress playing the mother looks like the way my grand mother looked like when she was young.
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It is good to look at history. Thanks, Thomas.
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I like how your story skips from one interesting reference to another — and great advice on wearing rubber boots. And maybe some rubber gloves and a rubber hat 🙃
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Let’s just go with a rubber suit. Thanks, Dave
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Pressed coffee is my fave. That’s what I drink here, so I know you were not suffering. 4 minutes? I wait 3.
Anyway, don’t forget your rubber Uber boots, or there will be no more “my years”.
Speaking of years, HAPPY NEW YEAR, John!
I will get back to you next year about the book. I’ve been shading the drawings… but have been thinking carefully about painting them in.
I think I’ve decided on a cloudy… pastel theme. I’ll be trying one tonight.
Hmmm…. maybe I’ll just do hair and eyes, and shade all the others. Then take pics tomorrow. Then paint. (just in case, because they already look cool).
Okay and Yahoo into the new!
🎨𝔁 O🕊 O🎉 🎨𝔁
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Happy New Year to you as well Resa. Cloudy pastel sounds wonderful. I can’t wait to see hat you have done. O🦅 O🎻 O🥦
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🎨𝔁 𝑂💃🏽
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😊x
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Imma take the old French Press over any new fangled method every day of the week and twice on Sunday. As for Peter Pan, I’ve never actually seen it.
What a shocking turn of events with that Uber ride . . .
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Shocking indeed. Had to admit the press and Costa Rica coffee wasn’t bad. Just not my usual.
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It’s always nice to take a side road now and then.
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So true.
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Love these time travel bits, John! Fun!
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Thank you, Traci. So glad you enjoy them.
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Haha!! Holding the electrical wires might prove not to be worth a free Uber.
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Especially standing in that puddle of water. Happy New Year, Jennie.
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Oh yes…good point! Happy New Year, John.
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😁
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[…] Favorites: Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – My Year | Fiction Favorites The coffee machine has decided to take some time off for the holidays, which finishes my year […]
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Thank you for the link, Traci
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