The only sound this morning is the dignified monotone of the coffee machine, indicating the cup is ready. Feeling mononucleosis-like exhaustion from the previous week’s mayhem, the cup offers the promise of relief. A few sips bring me to the point of recognizing the silence surrounding my inner sanctum.
As my interior monologue about the serenity of the place comes to a close, the intrusive sound of the Klaxon horn connected to the doorbell shatters the momentary peace. Twiggy and Lucy take up their Hounds of Baskerville impersonation while the security shutdown procedure is begun. A quick glance at the security camera screen shows the presence of a monolith on the front porch.
The claymore mines are disarmed. The tower machine guns are placed on standby. The boiling oil vat is secured. The moat net retracted. The concertina wire rolled back. The trebuchet secured. The gate lifted. The locks and deadbolts reset. The front door opened.
A tall box stands before me. An envelope with the words OPEN ME FIRST is taped to the front. Ripping it off and tearing it open reveals two messages. The first tells me to pull the handle marked OPEN on the box. The second is from Linda Hill and says Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “starts with mono.” Find a word that starts with “mono” and use it in your post. Enjoy!
If you want to enjoy go to Linda’s blog and read how simple it is. You will also find other idiots’ author’s versions of the prompt. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2023/04/14/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-april-15-2023/
Starts with Mono by John W. Howell © 2023
“Another cliffhanger, huh?”
“Well, I needed a rest from that circus.”
“You ever get that tent taken away?”
“Yeah, but the elephant poop was a challenge.”
“That is a little too much information.”
“I suppose. I won’t go into the clown car mess then.”
“Yeah, please don’t. So, what’s going on with the box? ”
“Looks like we all will find out next week.”
“Schweinehund.”
“What’s that?”
“A friend used that word this week.”
“Okay then. I hope it wasn’t aimed at you.”
“No, he was talking about others.”
“Good. Not a compliment.”
“Do you know what it means?”
“It is an insult and can have several meanings.”
“Like what?”
“Fatherless child.”
“Bastard?”
“That and arse too.”
“Well, we can change the subject real soon.”
“I noticed you called me that.”
“Term of endearment for another cliffhanger.”
“Okay, what would you call a VooDoo Ranger?”
“Lifesaver.”
“Close enough. Uber on its way?”
“Ordered.”
“Outstanding.”
Fiction Favorites 
Nice one, John. A veritable cornucopia of mono-words. Speaking of which, isn’t monosyllabic an oxymoron?
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I think you have discovered a truth, Keith. We need to add that one to the list.
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😁
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😁
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Never heard the term ‘mononucleosis-like exhaustion’ before. That really does feel like it should be more common. Really just drives the point home.
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I could have said Covid-like exhaustion but needed to use the word ‘mono.’ 😁
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I think the mono one works better. I’ve run into a lot of people who don’t realize exhaustion happens with Covid. Sadly, some of them have been doctors that I’ve talked to for help with my symptoms.
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Good point. 😊
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Do you think other authors got that ‘2001’ style prompt delivery? I think that would be pretty neat!! (The mononucleosis we can do without.)
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I have to believe other authors are not quite as nuts as me. 😁 Thanks, GP
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Now – that’s a possibility…..
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Yup.
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More fun going on at your place.
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Thanks, Craig.
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Well done, John. Good luck with the elephant poop. Maybe it’s good for your tomatoes.
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🤣
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I think the girls could have some fun with the elephant poop. Happy Saturday, John!
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Oh dear. 😳 Happy Saturday to you, Jill *sung to the tune of El Paso by Marty Robbins
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My mother and I were just listening to that song yesterday. 🙂
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Amazing.
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Thanks for not sharing elephant poop details.😅 Lifesaver was the perfect ending word. And yes, the big box is a cliffhanger.
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Yes, we don’t need details. 😁
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Haha!
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😁
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Bonus points for the first mono: “Feeling mononucleosis-like exhaustion.”
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Thank you, Liz.
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You’re welcome, John.
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😊
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Nice one, John! 🙂 Craziness is never monotonous, can even be entertaining.
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Yes indeed. Thanks, Tim.
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It sounds like a mono against dumbo instead of the usual mono e mono. Glad to see you turned it to a mono against bottle-o situation.
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Sounds pretty mono-e-mono to me…that friend of yours is trying to start something 🥊
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Thanks, Jim.
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Definitely not monotonous! And I love the image of Lucy and Twiggy as guard dogs – pumas and wildebeests have trained them.
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It seems they have. Of course a well placed dog treat and the whole watchdog thing would be off. They would embrace their new friend. Maybe even help put the TV in the car.
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Oh, dear. What would they do for a piece of steak?
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Um. Almost anything.
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I think that friend of yours is trying to start something 🥊mono e mono🥊, keep an eye on that guy…
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😁
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John, you better keep an eye on that friend of yours…sounds like he’s trying to start some kind of 🥊mono e mono🥊 trouble. Better give Twiggy and Lucy some extra high-protein meals just in case.
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😁
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John, you better keep an eye on that friend of yours…sounds like he’s trying to start some kind of 🥊mono e mono🥊 trouble. Better give Twiggy and Lucy some extra high-protein meals just in case.
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I got the other four comments too. If you use this acount (Whatever it is) the comment will show up and you won’t think it has gone into a black hole. Thanks for the warning. Yeah that guy has been trying to start trouble for years. 😁
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Sorry for the four-part response…still working on my insecurity 🙄
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Use the JFRSr account. Your comments will be held from the others since they come up as “someone”
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Great job with the prompt, John!
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Thank you, Deborah. 😁
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It didn’t take long to answer my question, how long will it be before someone uses ‘mononucleosis’. Somehow, I knew it would be you. Nice. By the way, the Baskerville hound was only one. I know, I’ll never get invited for a beer🤓
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You are correct about the Hound of Baskervilles but I had to take some poetic license. You are always invited for a beer.
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You’re entitled to that license. I’d love to do that and will put it on my bucket list👍
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Good idea.
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Monotonous you are not! But making us wait until next week is as cruel as the boiling oil. Can we dip some fries in that?
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It is cruel. Yes, you can dip your fries. It is peanut oil.
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Nothing monochromatic about this post, John.
Yes, the colour of clown cars, elephant poop and tents are gone, and monotony sets in.
At least I have the lever to look forward to!
I suppose monovoodoranger is not a word, nor an option.
🎪OX 🤡OX 🐘 OX 💩OX
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monovoodooranger is a word.
🎪OX 🤡OX 🐘 OX 💩OX (love this emoji stream)
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monovoodooranger: The act of drinking only 1?
OR?
The emojis were inspired by the circus in your back yard. 😂 After many, many years of emojis, I finally found a use for the blob of poo.
One never knows when it will come in handy!
🤗😘 🤗😘 🤗😘 🤗😘
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Yes Monovoodooranger is the act of drinking only one. I have yet to find a use for a smiling pile of poo. I think it was great in your stream.🤗😘 🤗😘 🤗😘 🤗😘
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Elephant poop? The image is monopolizing my thoughts. It’s definitely time to escape into a glass of wine. Have a great weekend, John. 🌞
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Yup. Time for wine for sure. Thanks, Gwen
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A colorful post, John. And I loved this line in the introduction: “Twiggy and Lucy take up their Hounds of Baskerville impersonation.” Lol. I can just imagine. Thanks for the laugh!
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Thanks for letting me know you liked it. 😁
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For some reason, I couldn’t get past elephant poop. 🙂 What a visual! Good one, John!
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Yeah, it is hard to get by that for sure,
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😂
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😊
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[…] Favorites https://johnwhowell.com/2023/04/15/stream-of-consciousness-saturday-prompt-starts-with-mono/ he only sound this morning is the dignified monotone of the coffee machine, indicating the cup is […]
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Ha! Ha! Another clever use of the prompt, John!
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Thank you, Jan.
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