When brewing coffee using a magic machine, you have to have confidence that everything will work. Much like a sophisticated car, the magic machine does not suffer incompetent fools lightly. No butterknife screw removals or fork probes are going to fix the problem, so if it goes south, there is only one thing to do. Cry. Oh yes, and a call to the magic machine helpline can be of benefit.
Today is not the day to worry, however. Like the previous 365, the saving grace fluid flows from the twin spouts like it looks forward to my lips. A few sips and the clock once again comes into view. The power of being able to set it to December 2, 1923, is a great feeling. The time is set for one hour, and the plunger is pulled.
It looks like the clock took us to a hospital in New York City. The name on the stuff in the hallway says Flower Fifth Avenue Hospital. Looking ahead, the sign over the door says “Maternity.” It is anybody’s guess as to why we are here. There is only one baby still in a bassinet, and above the baby is a large tag with the name Sophie Cecilia Kalos.
While scratching my head at what this could mean, the alarm goes off, and I drop back into my living room. It seems one hour in the time travel business is too short. Looking at my phone gives me the idea of looking up Sophie Cecilia Kalos. The stunning answer comes in an instant. We just visited Maria Callas when she was born.
I also have a text from Linda Hill. It reads. Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “confidence.” 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/2023/12/01/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-dec-2-2023/
Confidence by John W. Howell © 2023
“Well, that was fun.”
“You pulling my leg?”
“No, I am serious.”
“You usually have some critical words to say.”
“Where’s your confidence, my man?”
“Well, sometimes I do take some weird turns.”
“The idea of an alarm clock that allows time travel is weird, but I’ve bought in.”
“Nice of you to say.”
“Besides, this may be a don’t look a gift horse in the mouth situation.”
“Meaning?”
“You are my sole source of VooDoo Ranger.”
“Nice to know you are kind, so you don’t lose your supplier.”
“That’s not the whole reason.”
“Name another.”
“The bar nuts.”
“Fine. Order Uber.”
“Done, he’s right over there.”
That’s a 1966 AC Cobra. We can’t fit in there.”
“Sure we can.”
“How?”
“We can squeeze together.”
“This I have to see.”
“Let’s go.”
Fiction Favorites 
This clock is getting more useful and interesting although I don’t know who the baby is.
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Maria Callas was a classical diva who had a notorious affair with Aristotle Onassis.
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Ah, thank you for that.
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😁
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Funny
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I love time travel! To think you saw Maria Callas as a baby.
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I know. She looked like every other baby. Had a good set of lungs though. (I think she was hungry)
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Or practising!
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Could be. 😁
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Morning time travel — what fun! Before the second cup of coffee brings reality with each sip, we can dream. And who better to conjure than a woman who embodied confidence? Well done, John. 😊
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Thank you, Gwen. When I was a kid I had a crush on Maria. Tried to figure out what she saw in Aristotle. Then I found out he was worth millions and it made sense. I hope you have a super day. 😁
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That will be an interesting ride. Too bad there isn’t a luggage rack on the boot. Seems like you have the clock figured out, John. I hope you have a good time with it.
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I need to set the time for more than an hour. For whatever reason time travel eats up…..well…time.
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You could study Einstein’s theory of relativity — or just guess.
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I think my usual is to guess. SWAG has served me well over the years.
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Who is going to be sitting on the trunk?
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I’m sure that will be me when it is all said and done.
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hahaha, I had a feeling.
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Yup.
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Sweet ride! I enjoyed this, John. Happy Saturday!
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Thank you, Jill. Happy Saturday to you *sung to the tune of Raindrops by Dee Clark
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Great song!
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😁
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Having been absent for a month, John, I was surprised to be given a history lesson rather than hear about cartoon characters or security systems or strange happenings on your porch. On the other hand, I will give you points for time travel because who doesn’t love a story wrapped in science fiction? Enjoy the Voodoo and whatever the weekend brings.
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Thank you, Mary. Yes the clock was left by the CEO of Warner Brothers so you never know where it will lead. So nice to “see” you back.
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I am also buying into the idea of the time travel alarm clock, John. Of course, I had to go look up Sophie Cecilia Kalos. 🙂 What a fun surprise. Great post today, and an interesting Uber ride. 🙂
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Glad you liked it Jan. PS. I did mention Maria Callas in the post.
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Reading about time travel is more fun than actually doing it, in my mind. I’d always be second guessing myself. But, if I could, I’d go back to the first day that my dad took me fishing. I think I caught a turtle🥴
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Sounds like a perfect time to visit.
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Move over. I’m driving. Today is Aaron Rodgers birthday, too. I think he is so cute.
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I like Aaron Rogers. He has a great sense of humor.
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Butterknife screw removals are classic. Not sure what fork probes are.
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You know a little slot lock that needs pushing to disconnect a piece.
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Huh. Never thought of using a fork. It was always knives.
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Some of the holes are round.
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That would be a fun ride in that Cobra, John, even if it was crowded. 🙂 I wonder if the driver would have some Maria Callas he could play for you during the ride. Puccini’s Madama Butterfly?
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That would be fun as well. Thanks for the suggestion, Tim.
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That is a sweet ride. I’d almost forgo the pub for a trip in that baby.
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Can have both. Let’s take both.
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I’m thinking a pub in Las Vegas then.
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Good idea
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Wow! Maria Callas! That clock is certainly magical. Never rode in a Cobra but had my times in various Jags.
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I never rode in a Cobra either. My best ride in a Jag was when the driver flipped it upside down.
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Good grief = I guess you survived because here you are. My Dad got a new Jag with each model XK140, 150 and and E-type. THe water pumps were a disaster. My Mom used to get out of the car when it stopped, take a rubber mallet, and bang the water pump so the car would start up.
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I love that story. I lost a girl friend when I was driving an Alpha Romero back in 1962. The stupid Alpha would sometimes fail to go into reverse. One time I asked her to push the car while I steered. (it rolled very easily) She left me there and then. That wasn’t the only reason and in fact I detailed the reasons in The Last Drive. The car was a catalyst though.
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Now that story is very unfortunate, but perhaps for the best?
I got used to pushing my own car (a 1930 Model A Phaeton).
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I think it was for the best in the end. Took a while to get there though.
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Well that was a fun travel. I bet she out cried the other babies.
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I’ll bet she did as well.😁
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Love your imaginative words John and the Confidence with which your write them.. ❤ 🙂
Have a lovely weekend ❤
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Thank you so much, Sue. You just warmed my heart.
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🥰💕🥰
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😊
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The idea of meeting a famous person before they were famous is intriguing.
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Yes. And well before they would remember us.
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I’m really liking this time travel thing! That Cobra looks like it was made for the “Live fast, die young, and leave a beautiful corpse” crowd.
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I think you may have hit a nail on the head, Liz.
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🙂
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These trips back in time are wonderful, John. I learn something every time … and I really like the looks of that Uber 😉
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Yes I like it too. Thans, Marie I’m glad you are enjoying the trips.
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I think your time travel story is the tip of the iceberg. Yes! Great job on the prompt, John. Did you have the confidence to fit into the 1966 Uber?
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I got there, Jennie
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😀
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😊
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Nice car! I’m too chicken for time travel but admire anyone willing to go. I keep thinking, what about my coffee machine? lol
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That is a good thought for sure. Thanks, Jacquie.
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You keep this up and we will be learning all sorts of stuff. Maria Callas was an interesting lady, that is for sure! Wonder who we will learn about next week? That is gonna be a tight squeeze – well, if your buddy is not as slim as you are, that is…
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He is like a rail. I’m the elephant in the room. 😁
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You? Elephant? I highly doubt that…
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😊
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How thrilling that we went back to the birth of Maria Callas.
Usually a sports thing comes to mind here, but you have outdone your clock.
Where are we gong next week?
I guess only “time” will tell! 😆 Egads I’m funny!
🐂🐂🐂🐂
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Yes you are funny and yes, time will tell.
🐂🐂🐂🐂
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💋🐂🐂🐂🐂
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💋💋🐂🐂🐂🐂
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💋💋💋🐂🐂🐂🐂
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😊X😊X😊X😊X
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💋🐂
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💋🐂 💋🐂
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PS… What a beautiful car!
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I lived in Detroit where Shelby did a lot of his work. I have always loved the Cobra
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Car designs were so much more beautiful back when. They look like boxes now. What happened to aerodynamics?
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Not sure. I guess no one is supposed to go fast enough to worry about aerodynamics.
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Still, design esthetics are not the calling card of a box.
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No indeed. The Tesla truck is a prime example.
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I had to look that up. OMG. How ugly can something get?
Perhaps it’s my eyes beholding? A lego car would be cooler.
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I think it is still in the box. 😊
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It’s always best to be agreeable with your Voodoo supplier.
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Always.
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I love it when a plan comes together.
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Me too.
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