The espresso machine needs the dregs drawer emptied before making another cup. During the process, it occurred to me that this was Saturday, so I should be getting a prompt from Linda Hill’s blog. Waiting for my first cup had my mind spinning with the possibilities of what that prompt could be. Having a hot, steaming cup of joe in my hand while waiting would just be icing on the cake. Finally, it was ready, and my first instinct was to breathe in the vapors to capture that godlike aroma that only fresh brewed coffee can deliver.
The first sip had me looking out the back, anticipating a falling safe or an ACME rocket. Three more sips and nothing. It was time to go to the front. I checked the Ring camera, and there was no motion or anything else recorded. The image on my phone looked like it was taken underwater. Glancing at my watch gave me cause for concern. The prompt should have been here by now. Another sip, and I had to venture outside to double-check.
Opening the front door became a challenge in that the lock appeared to be frozen. First, a sip and then a hard pull to free the door. The door came open, and I was treated with a sheet of ice. A manila envelope and a cake were stuck to the ice, obviously placed against the door before the water froze. Speaking of water. Where did it all come from? Yes, the temperature was below freezing, but that did not explain all the ice.
Chipping the ice freed the envelope. I grabbed it, left the frozen cake, and slammed the door. Ripping the envelope open, I found a message. Here is what it said. “Your prompt for #JusJoJan and my very first birthday-Stream-of-Consciousness-Saturday is: “icing on the cake.” Write about the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the phrase “icing on the cake.” Enjoy!” There was also a little party hat that said Happy Birthday, Linda Hill.
If you want to enjoy and wish Linda a Happy Birthday, visit her blog. Here is the link.
https://lindaghill.com/2022/01/21/the-friday-reminder-for-socs-jusjojan-2022-daily-prompt-jan-22nd/
Icing on the Cake by John W. Howell © 2022
“So that was the first thing that came to mind? Frozen water on a cake?”
“I hate to say it but, yes.”
“Some have wondered about your thought process. So now I join them.”
“Why? What would you think of first.?”
“Birthday cake with frosting.”
“if the prompt was ‘frosting on the cake’ then I would agree.”
“It’s an idiom.”
“Who’s an idiot?”
“An idiom, you idiot.”
“Oh, what’s that?”
“A group of words with grouped usage that together mean something that the separate words do not convey.”
“You sound like a dictionary.”
“Thanks.”
“How about an example?”
“Well, take ‘Icing on the Cake.’ It means something added that makes things better. The cake is good and on its own would suffice but add some icing, and it’s perfect.”
“Icing makes my teeth hurt.”
“Okay, but you get the idea, right?”
“Yeah, I get it.”
“So why so literal with frozen water on cake?”
“I just thought it would be funny. Like describing lite beer as carbonated defrost.”
“Let’s stop there because I can build a segway with your last statement.”
“A transportation device?”
“No, an intro into a new subject as in ‘How bout you and I go and drink some beer?'”
“Great subject, and you got that off my carbonated defrost statement?”
“No.”
“What then?”
“You said the magic word.”
“Beer?”
“Correct as usual, King Friday.”
“Mr. Rogers right?”
“Yup.”
“Icing on the cake. Let’s go.”
Fiction Favorites 
So cute! Great imagery.
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Thank you for the lovely comment.
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So, where did all that water come that froze the cake and stuck it to the door???
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Ah yes. That is the mystery of the day. We have to check back on that.
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🙂
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Lol! Another masterpiece, John! Speaking of piece, I could go for a piece of cake with my coffee. Happy Saturday!😉
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Happy Saturday to you, Jill * sung to the tune of Two Outta Three Ain’t Bad by Meatloaf.
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Perfect, John.
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Thanks, Jill. 😊
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Good one, John. I’m glad you weren’t hit with a falling safe, or attracted to a cake with dynamite frosting. I don’t think you’re quite as resilient as our friend the coyote. An ice cold beer sounds like just what you need.
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Yes. VooDoo Ranger on the menu.
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Good one, John. 🙂 Really liked the icing, and it was a dang smooth segway 🙂 into the carbonated defrost.
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Ha ha ha. Thanks Tim
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I’m going to use that phrase today with my wife just to irritate her. No, not ‘idiom’, the ‘icing on the cake’. I bet after a couple of times, she’ll call me an idiom, or something like that. Once again, great post to start the day.
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Thank you, Steve. I’m glad you liked it.
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You’ve outdone yourself today, John. My favorite cake is cheesecake and I buy it frozen. Sometimes it has a strawberry glaze that glistens in its icy state. And…well…now I’m hungry. 😁
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I love cheesecake as well. I do like Boston Cream pie too. (Funny name for a cake.) Thanks for the reminder of the beauty of cheesecake. 😁
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I love New York Cheesecake especially — richer and not quite as sweet. Hmm, it’s almost a meal. 😁
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New York cheese cake is the best. 😁
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Love this one.
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Thank you, Charles.
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King Friday!! 😂 So random but, fun!! Good take on the challenge, John!
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Thank you, Deborah. Fun stuff.
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😀
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So, someone left your cake out in the rain and it turned a bit icy? Hmmm…I would have chipped that off the sidewalk and defrosted it inside for a delicious treat. To heck with the prompt, let us eat cake!
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I like the sound of that Mary. Let’s all eat cake.
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Another masterpiece, John!
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Thank you, Maggie.
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You’re welcome, John. Always a pleasure.
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You always make me smile, John! And you know I love cake, right?
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Cake is the perfect food. Loaded with smiles.
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That’s right!
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This is the third blog I’ve read this morning with icing on the cake as the focus. I should have realized the inspiration came from a prompt, but I didn’t. Now, I have to make a cake. What a cruel prompt. i enjoyed reading your post. It made me hungry.
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A nice chocolate layer cake would be fun. Thanks, Molly Shea. (With raspberry filling and a chocolate butter cream frosting. I’m just saying.)
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You are evil. That is so tempting.
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Yes I am. 😁
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The ice at the door could be better explained in my neck of the woods… However, and as usual, you find a most entertaining way of promoting this prompt. I’d say your submission is fine but your intro is always icing on the cake!
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Aw. Aren’t you the one though. Thank you.
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😀
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🤗
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Excellent, John! As always, you made me grin and that’s a good thing! Your post was the icing on the cake for my day!
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I’m glad you liked it Jan. Thanks for letting me know. 😊
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John… LOL. (Shakes head). That was too funny. Hugs on the wing.
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Thank you, Teagan. Hugs.
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Good one, John 🙂 It took me a minute to connect ice on the cake!
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I’m gald you did though. Thanks, Denise.
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Excellent, John. Certainly not run of the mill but very entertaining.
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I was trying to do run of the mill but I kept getting the sweats. My body’s way of telling me to stay outside the lines. Thanks, Robbie. I’m glad you liked it.
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Carbonated defrost. That’s a new one. Lol. I’ll take the icing on the cake and skip the water. 🙂 A fun take on the prompt.
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Good choice, Diana
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Reminded me of Richard Harris and McArthur Park. Or little hockey players atop a cake getting sent to the penalty box for icing.
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I like that image, Thanks, Craig
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Excellent, John! Great response to the prompt 🙂
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Thank you, Marie. 😁
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Nicely done, John. I think you also came up with a title for a new book—Idioms for Idiots.😂
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Ha ha ha Sounds like a winner. Thanks, Pete.
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LOL! “An idiom, you idiot” Classic John bringing the funny!!
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Thank you, Jill. 😁
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I really enjoyed where your brain went.
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Sometimes I follow it and other times I just let it out on its own. Thanks for the comment, Lauren.
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Lite beer IS carbonated defrost! I keep Coors Light on hand because it’s an easy beer when I don’t want to go heavy. And it’s fine. Not my go to by any means, but it’s fine.
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Corona is my go to on a lite basis. Not Corona lite but just good old Corona
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That works.
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😊
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Carbonated defrost. You are good, John!
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Thank you, Jennie. I do try. 😁
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🙂
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🤣🤣Did somebody say “beer”? 😳Oh and Icing is different from frosting. I love icing on a Texas sheet cake.Simple and sweet without the teeth shivers you get from thick frosting. 👍🏻
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I agree. Thanks, Cheryl.
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