The day wakes like any other. Its dark curtain slowly rises to reveal hazy images of deer and trees. The cement driveway reflects the glow of the yard lamp. The effect is converting an ordinary grey slab to the appearance of polished granite. It is a rainy day.
Always welcome but at the same time disappointing the rain has come. The immaculate car of yesterday will become the spattered mess of tomorrow. The clear, undistorted windows will be rain marked, denigrating the views to impressions.
A sigh and a cup of coffee will perhaps change the attitude to a more positive view of a rainy day. As the brewer was working its magic, a sound not unlike a trumpet ran through the walls of the house. Not waiting for the coffee, I hurried to the front door. Checking my Ring image on my phone caused a lurch in surprise. A man on a horse was on the driveway looking very much like Teddy Roosevelt. The horse was snorting and seemed in a bit of a hurry. The man kept shouting for me to open the door.
Mrs. Howell didn’t raise an idiot, so I called out through the doorbell. I demanded to know the nature of the business of someone on a horse waving a bugle. He wasted no time explaining he had a dispatch from Linda Hill that was of the utmost urgency.
My response was to yell, “Leave it on the porch.” He clenched his jaw and showed a magnificent set of teeth while telling me a signature was required. I gave in and opened the door. The poor guy was wet to the skin. He handed me a clipboard and told me where to sign. He then gave me a leather pouch. The horse reared while looking at it, and when I looked up, they were both gone.
Inside the pouch were two things. The first was a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, and the second was a message from Linda.
The message read. Your prompt for #JusJoJan and Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “a rainy day.” Write about the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the phrase “a rainy day.” Enjoy!
If you would like to enjoy, visit Linda’s blog and read how easy it is. Here’s the link.
https://lindaghill.com/2022/01/14/the-friday-reminder-for-socs-jusjojan-2022-daily-prompt-jan-15th/
A Rainy Day by John W. Howell © 2022
“Now that was a waste of time.”
“How so?”
“What did a peanut butter cup have to do with anything?”
“I like them.”
“Yeah, I like ribs, but I don’t throw them into a story with no other rhyme or reason.”
“Well, it’s my post, and I can do that if I want.”
“What about reader consideration? Don’t you think they will be confused?”
“No more so than usual.”
“What does that mean?”
“Most know I have an unusual view of things.”
“I guess the Teddy Roosevelt thing demonstrates that. What was that all about?”
“Rain sometimes makes me think of Teddy for some reason.”
“Okay. No need to follow that up since I think it is a swamp of no return.”
“When I was a kid, I used to read on rainy days, and I loved to read about Teddy Roosevelt.”
“Cheeze, most kids would pick a baseball star.”
“Like I said, I have unusual views.”
“What about bar stuff?”
“Yeah, love me some VooDoo Ranger IPA.”
“Well, if we can forget Teddy for a while, I’m buying.”
“Who?”
Fiction Favorites 
I like Teddy Roosevelt too. there is something about him, maybe because the Teddy Bear was named after him.
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He was a bigger than life character. Thanks, Darlene.
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Was it the real Teddy Roosevelt (the one from the Night at the Museum series) or was it just someone pretending to be him? And what’s with the peanut butter cups? You know how much I dislike peanut butter – as much as I do Marmite, andouillettes and beetroot!
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Peanut Butter Cups are a favorite of mine. Really like the dark chocolate ones from one of our chains here naked Trader Joes. (Marmite makes me shiver)
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As long as you know we think you have unusual views!! lol
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I have a pretty good idea about that, GP. 🤣
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The man in the arena is Derek’s favorite quote. I love peanut butter cups! Happy Saturday!
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Happy Saturday to you Jill *Sung to the tune of Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head by BJ Thomas.
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Loved this adventure, John. In the mid-1980s I lived in East Northport, NY, and one day I took my kids to Roosevelt’s Sagamore Hill home. You can take a virtual tour now, and it’s worth it. His character is everywhere apparent — especially with his wildlife trophies. Thank you for this post — you took me back through the years. 😊
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Aw. That is so nice when pleasant memories are triggered. Thanks for sharing them, Gwen. 🤗
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Great intro, John. I wasn’t confused by the Reese’s Cup at all, why wouldn’t there be one in the pouch? Nice job on the prompt.
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That’s what I thought about the cups. Thanks, Dan
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[…] to interrupt. I can answer that question for Dan in a minute. Here’s your John Howell’s bourbon David and your Corona, Dan. I’ll be right back with a couple cherries for that […]
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This was such a wild ride–from lovely lyricism to Pythonesque absurdity to friendly exasperation alleviated by beer! Whew!!
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I can see Teddy disappearing over some hill now. Too bad you got turned into an owl.
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‘Will they be confused? No more so than usual.’ Great exchange here. This shows you know your audience. 😁
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Thank you, Charles. 😁
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Teddy was always a favorite of mine, too. Kind of wish there was someone like him to take the reins today.
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I share that wish with you. Thanks, Craig.
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The peanut butter cup was a nice touch! You might be surprised at the number of fans Teddy Roosevelt has!
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I think quite a few, Noelle. Thank you for the vote of confidence. 😁
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Yes, so true, your readers can expect anything from your bag of reading tricks, John. And with pleasure. Hey, here’s a bit of rainy info, on average an inch of rain is the equivalent of 10 inches of snow. So, our forecast for Monday is 1-2 inches of rain, in the form of snow, a good start to our seasonal rate of 90-100”, of snow, that is.
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A very good way to look at the cold white rain, Steve. Stay warm. 🥶
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Great intro, John, although you might be concerned that such a stark messenger knows so much of your likes. Too bad about the rain spots on the car, too.
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That is concerning. I never gave that part a thought. If I were a bunny I would walk right into the carrot trap I’m sure. “Oh look. Someone left me a carrot.”
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Now that sounds like a good intro right there, John!
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Thank you, Maggie.
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You are welcome, John.
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What a fabulous intro, John! And you are right. Your readers can accept a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup thrown into the mix without blinking an eye. Well-done, as always!
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Thank you, Jan. Now I want one. 😁
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I think it’s a wonderful thing that you read about Teddy. He was a great man!
And woot! You’re not buying this week!
Happy Saturday, John!
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I know right? Always a good thing. Of course, drinking VooDoo Ranger has it’s limits. Hey tonight is VooDoo Ranger night.
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Always!
And woot! Saturday night treat!
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Yup. 🤣
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😉
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Miles and miles of smiles. Thanks, John. 🙂
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Thank you for letting me know, Tim.
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Your intro’s are pretty great, but I didn’t get the peanut butter cup. Oh well. Reading on rainy days is a great pass time. I never picked Teddy Roosevelt though. 😀
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There was nothing to get on the Peanut Butter cup. I just threw it in there cause I was thinking of one. (Stream of Consciousness) Thanks, Deborah.
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It was a yummy thought! 😀
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Yes it was. 😁
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I love this, and understood where you were going with it all – which I must say concerns me a bit!!
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Ha ha ha. I share your concern for sure. Thank you S.D. I tried hard but couldn’t find anything that had your first name on it. Also thank you for the visit.
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Always my pleasure – coming to visit you!!!
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Aw, How nice. 😁
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I like the Teddy rainy connection 🙂 I especially like the treat that came with it!
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I should have thought it through since I had none in the house. Now I want one.
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Your Stream is always a hoot, John. However, your preambles are hysterical.
I especially get a kick when you get a package from ACME.
Today’s preamble was an unexpected neer in a million years SURPRISE!
Did Twiggy get the peanut butter cup?
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No poor Twiggy can’t have chocolate. It is poison to dogs. She did get peanut butter though.
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I didn’t know that!
I did a few commercials in my yute, with dogs. I did their wardrobe. LOL… anyway, when they wanted to make it look the dog was talking, they gave it a big daub of peanut butter.
I don’t give it to my cats, but Johnny loves maple syrup and will steal a lick if he can.
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I steal a lick of maple syrup when ever I can too.
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Lol!!!!!
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Whoever came up with the peanut butter cup idea deserves to keep company with Teddy Roosevelt. Fun post, John 🙂
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Thank you, Jacquie.
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Great job as always, John! Ah, you’ve found my weakness—Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. We don’t keep them in the house because I have little self-control. 😊
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I never have any either. Thanks, Pete.
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Wonderful post today. Now I’m craving peanut butter cups for some reason, washed down with Voodoo Ranger IPA. lol
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There you go. 😁
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Teddy would understand.
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I have the same strange and unusual tastes and inclinations to share odd things with my readers. I must admit that this is what makes your posts so interesting, John. Bravo on another great post.
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Thank you, Robbie. 😁
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All I can think about is Teddy Roosevelt on his horse in the movie “Night at the Museum” with his big shiny teeth. This was really funny, John. And Resse’s Peanut Butter Cups are my absolute favorites.
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Good to know I hit a couple of your high points, Jennie.
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Yup!
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Great intro. Miles and miles of smiles. Thanks, John. 🙂
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Thank you. 😊
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😂😂👍🏻👍🏻
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Thank you, Cheryl. 🤣
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