A fresh cup of coffee from Her Majesty The Coffee Queen and the day can begin. It is refreshing to have a close-up and personal relationship with such royalty. After a couple of sips, thoughts turn to the clock. Opening the cabinet door and reaching for the clock means we will be taking a trip. Time to close up the doors and get to it. The clock is set to January 13, 1923. The location is Washington, D.C., and the time is two hours.
No sooner than the plunger is pulled, and we are there. The first stop is Warren Harding’s cabinet meeting, which has been happening for some time. The subject under discussion is whether or not the Post Master of the Grand Canyon is allowed to keep his dog. It seems there is a law against doing so, but the Post Master has appealed to keep him there. The decision reached is to let the President decide. With that, the cabinet meeting is adjourned.
Moving to the House of Representatives, we arrive just in time to hear Representative Upshaw of Georgia, who is attempting to make Washington dry, present evidence to Acting Prohibition Commissioner Jones in which he charged that there was an “official House bootlegger” who had a monopoly in plying his trade in the House office building. Just as the bootlegger is to be named, the alarm goes off, and the living room couch is the landing zone. It looks like 100 years haven’t changed a thing in Washington. My text tone says Linda Hill has sent me one. Your prompt for #JusJoJan the 13th and Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “close up/close-up.” Use the verbal phrase “close up” and/or the noun/adjective “close-up” somewhere in your post, or write a post in the spirit of the phrase. Have fun!
If you want to see how others handle this prompt, visit Linda’s post. Here is the link: https://lindaghill.com/2024/01/12/the-friday-reminder-for-socs-jusjojan-2024-daily-prompt-jan-13th/
Close Up/Close-up by John W. Howell © 2023
“Well, you got the prompt in.”
“You didn’t like the story?”
“Is it true?”
“All of it. Talk about a waste of time.”
“Sounds like not much happening around Washington ninety-nine years ago.”
“Meanwhile, Hitler is parading around showing off his 5000 brownshirts in protest of the French occupying the Ruir in Germany.”
“Okay, but who knew? Why did you go to 1923? You usually do one hundred years.”
“I made a mistake. It was like filling out a check in the new year and putting last year on it.”
“Yeah, I’ve done that. I hope you didn’t make any more mistakes while you were there.”
“Nope. Kept my hands in my pocket.”
“Good for you. You should get a reward.”
“Paid for by me?”
“Of course.”
“You call Uber?”
“Yup, and he is here.”
“Where?”
Over there.”
“That’s the Halloween bus from Views of the Neighborhood.”
“I know. I loaned it to the Uber driver for a price break.”
“Well, at least it has cold VooDoo Ranger on board.”
“A close-up look will point out a killer sound system.”
“Time to close up the dialogue and get on board.”
“Pubster, here we come.”
Fiction Favorites 
To think, 100 years ago they were under the impression that the end of the Great War meant the beginning of a newfound peace and prosperity . . . .
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Amazing isn’t it? History is a great predictor.
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It sure is.
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😊
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We’re always saying that D.C. never gets anything done – yet we keep electing those idiots.
But you can’t beat a ride with a good sound system!
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Yeah the sound system is everything. Of course, the hot tub in the back is pretty nice too. 😁 So tired of the beltway boobs
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Cool ride, John. I bet the debate over the dog outlived the dog. Who’s a good boy in Washington? Um, I’m coming up empty.
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A good boy or girl in Washington doesn’t exist. I loved your comment about the dog. Go Steelers.
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🙂
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Can’t say I’m surprised there was a big meeting about a dog. Seems predictable for this country and our species.
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I thought it typical that the decision was kicked to the President.
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The ability to have a dog is over presidential importance.
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Seems that way.
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This is such a good idea, I wonder what was happening in South African on 13 Jan 1923. I’m learning a bit about American history from this. 😊💝
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Not sure but here is a link to the Government Gazette which gives you an idea of what Pretoria had in mind. https://gazettes.africa/akn/za/officialGazette/government-gazette/1923-01-26/1119/eng@1923-01-26
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I am so glad that nasty story about prohibition is uber, er over and we escaped just in time. Bring on the Voodoo Rangers…
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Yes, we did escape in time.
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Let the man have his dog. lol 😀
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Right.
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Good one John, and informative to me. A law prohibiting a Postmaster from having a dog? And trying to get Washington dry during the Prohibition Era? That reinforces my opinion of our lawmakers.
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Yep. They haven’t changed much.
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I would only get on that bus if the dog could come with and there was a bar on board that served brandy old fashioned’s.
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Guess what. There is a bar on board that serves everything.
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Hot dog! 😀
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Got those too.
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The government never changes, does it. As for the Uber, I think I’m passing this week. Might have rodents living inside.
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You should see the inside. It is beautiful.
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Need to give us a view!!!
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Good idea.
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There was probably a congressional inquiry right after the dog decision. Followed swiftly about taxing congressional hooch by the opposition party.
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You can just imagine. History didn’t treat these folks kindly
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I need resolution, did they let him keep his dog there?
I like that old double decker and the color…green is my favorite color. It’s faded and rusted very nicely en mon avis.
I don’t write too many checks these days, but did prewrite 2024 on a couple of them just so I don’t make that mistake! Full disclosure…I typed 2023 first. 🤷♀️😂
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😁 Yes, he could keep the dog. Warren Harding was a dog lover. I don’t write too many checks either but when I did I made the mistake plenty of times.
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Well done on the prompt, John. I guess things haven’t changed much in Washington, except now the news makes it all public. Have fun on that Uber!
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You are so right. The dumb things that go on are very much public.
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Yes!
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Did the post master keep his dog? Who was the bootlegger? ?
I love that bus close up and cosy inside I hope 💜💜
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Yes, he kept the dog and the bootlegger was names John Doe. (I guess he needed protection)
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I love it 💜😍
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😊
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Excellent thank you 💜💜
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😊
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The more things don’t change… I know that’s not how it goes but jeez louise. I think he should have been allowed to keep his dog. Prohibition against booze back then, against too many things to count today and NOT enough for others (read guns…)
Happy Saturday, dear Sir. We toast you ce soir!
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Yes. Happy Saturday. The Dolphins will be freezing in KC
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Then again, so will the Chiefs…
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True.
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🥶
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Yes indeed.
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A bit of a challenge for a non native speaker. I had to fist think about the difference of Close Up and Close-up… 🙂
The bus is cool as well.
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Thank you, Rabirius. English is very difficult when it comes to words looking alike but totally different meanings
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I have to agree, John. Nothing much has changed in Washington in 99 years. A fun trip today! And that’s one helluva Uber ride!
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Thank you, Jan. I agree.on Washington.Could you hang on to this fender please?
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I hope that isn’t the new transportation when you take us around your neighborhood.
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Only on Halloween.
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Ha ha ha! It is nice to see excruciatingly well paid politicians arguing over agendas that will change the world…
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That is for sure. Ha ha ha
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Well, the cabinet meeting got more accomplished than Congress these days.
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I remember the bus and love it. 😊 I’ve grown numb about officials accomplishing anything – but I’d take a ride in the bus any day.
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Don’t forget it has a bar and hot tub so the ride will be worth it. Thanks, Gwen.
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You’re nuts, but it could be fun. 🤣
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Yes it could.
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Good trip back. What’s that they say about ‘history repeats itself’?
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As far as Congress is concerned it does. Thanks, Jacqui.
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What an interesting glimpse of 1923 Washington. Only the amount of chaos has changed. I wish all the president had to worry about was a dog. A fascinating SOC offering, John.
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Thank you, Diana. I picked up those stories in the January 13, 1923 edition of the New York times. 😁
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I figured they were real stories (based on your research for your books). Fascinating, really.
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Yes they are.
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Yes, it seems that bus has seen better daze, except for the sound system…perhaps.
I know our gov’t works different than yours, but it’s just as paralyzed and idiotic.
The City of Toronto has banned …. are you ready… TOBOGGANING. Okay only on 45 hills. That’s 1 more than I thought we had.
I’m ready for my close up, Mr. DeHowell!
👩🦰𝖃 👩🏼🦱𝖃 👩🦳𝖃 👱🏻♀️𝖃
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The bus also has a hot tub and a bar. I can’t imagine banning tobogganing in Canada eh. Seems to be the national sport.
🎥X 🎥X 🎥X 🎥X
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After hockey and sleeping, yes, it’s a national sport. Things are out of whack in the world. Canada’s out of whack is unique… bit of a joke, eh!
❦ 🎥X 🎥X 🎥X 🎥X ❦
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Yes a bit of a joke. ❦ 🎥X 🎥X 🎥X 🎥X ❦ 🍁X
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… but is there a punchline? 🥊 ⎯ OX
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It’s been so long I forgot. OX
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Yes, I forgox too!
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Ha ha ha OX
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OX
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😊X
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I’ll ride on that bus, John, and things are chaotic in DC. 😦 Great job on the prompt! By the way, is there Chardonnay on the bus? 🙃
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Yes we have Chardonny on board.
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😁🥂
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A hot tub too.
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On my way!
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🤣
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😂🚌
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Coffee and a VooDoo donut have a certain appeal to me. 😋
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MMMM good.
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