Coffee can’t come soon enough. There should be a way to start an IV while still in bed. In that way, stepping on legos, stubbed toes, tripping over footstools, and all manner of mayhem might be avoided. Such is impractical, so one must go through the minefield to reach the golden elixir. The first sip is worth the trouble. Once the brain came to life, the clock was the first thought. Although there was no tock to accompany the tick, the tech behind it is intact. It is set on September 6, 1914, and the tack is Atlantic City, New Jersey. A safety tuck under the arm and a plunger pull find us immediately at the Miss America pageant.
The fourth annual Miss America Pageant was held in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and won by Miss Philadelphia, Ruth Malcomson (1906—1988). The 1922 and 1923 winners, Mary Katherine Campbell (who had entered from Ohio as Miss Columbus), placed First Runner-Up. The pageant marked the last time previous winners were eligible to enter the Miss America pageant.
Ruth Malcomson
Mary Katherine Campbell ( December 18, 1905 – June 7, 1990) was The only person to win the Miss America pageant twice and the second woman in history to win the title.
Mary Katherine Campbell
Just as we were about to meet and greet the winners, the alarm drops us onto the old trusty couch. A text has arrived from Linda Hill. It reads:
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “tack/tech/tick/tock/tuck.’” Use one or use ’em all for the bonus points. Enjoy!
To see what others have done with the prompt, visit Linda’s post. Here is the link: https://lindaghill.com/2024/09/06/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-sept-7-2024/
Tack/tech/tick/tock/tuck by John W. Howell © 2024
“All those women and you didn’t get to talk to any?”
“That’s right. A sad thing, too.”
“I think you should take me with you on these ventures.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because I would know what to do instead of standing around until the time ran out.”
“What would you do?”
“Get a few phone numbers. Maybe ask one out.”
“They are in the past. You know that, right? What good would a phone number do you?”
“Hmm. You make a good point. Okay, maybe just a quick hug.”
“I could see you getting hauled off to jail for assault.”
“All right, never mind. Let’s take a new tack.”
“Okay.”
“Does the tech in that tick-tock allow for return visits?”
“I suppose it does.”
“There you go then. We tuck that puppy in a bag and take it with us.”
“And?”
“When we need to extend time, we reset it and return.”
“Let me think on that.”
“I know the perfect thought juice.”
“VooDoo Ranger, right?”
“How did you guess?”
“How about Uber?”
“Right over there.”
Photo by Dan Antion
“A 1949 Ford truck.”
“Looks that way. Of course, the 49 and 50 looked just like it.”
“The important part is you seem fascinated with trucks.”
“Yeah, I guess a soft spot, and we can buy two more VooDoo Rangers with what we save on the fare.”
“What do you mean ‘we?'”
Fiction Favorites 
I don’t think a quick (consensual) hug could upset the time continuum – of course, it might take more than an hour to get to the winner. Maybe try courting one of the runner-ups.
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Sounds like it might work. Thanks, Dan
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Some pick-up lines can be considered abuse too, so go with Dan’s idea!
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I agree. Thanks, GP.
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Nicely played with the prompt words! You should get several bonus points. Today’s Uber strikes me as aesthetically pleasing. I’m not sure why.
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Those old vehicles had some graceful lines added in by the designers. The overall effect was pleasing to th eye. 😊
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Makes sense to me!
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😁
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Now I’m just wondering who would have e their phone numbers today. Could cause some mischief.
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That would be a fun story too. Thanks, Charles.
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Going to a Miss America pageant would definitely be pleasing, and the one from 1924 would cause thinking about how time has changed things. Some VooDoo Ranger may cause one to want to return and stay longer than the usual hour.
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I think VooDoo Ranger would make one do all kinds of things in addition to staying longer.
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Most likely. 😎
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Information we couldn’t live without. Lol . I didn’t know that and I was in pageants embarrassingly so. Ha! In the day you could have gotten away with a lot but now you might end up in the slammer unless you are in leadership. Ha. 😝
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I’m sure your pageant days were nt embarrassing. Thanks, Cindy.
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You’re very sweet.. xo💓
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😊
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I do believe you cleaned up on “all” the bonus points! Well done!
That was a good history lesson on the pageant. The crowns have changed a lot since the beginning of the pageant is what struck me.
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It almost looks like there was a new one designed for each pageant. Thank Deborah. I guess I can buy a couple more lug nuts for my Bentley Turbo
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😂
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Very clever, John, and a nice history of early Miss America pageants – you’re good at time travel!
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Thak you, Barbara. So glad you liked it.
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That was very entertaining, I’ve learned some history again, and there is Voodoo Ranger again
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Yup. Every Saturday.
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Gosh, I love old trucks! That one looks like a beauty. Kudos on fitting in all those prompt words before you even got to your story!
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Thank you, Marie. 😁
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Today’s prompt is a bit of a tongue twister when spoken quickly. A nice done challenge, John. With or without a return trip for a hug or extended chat. Cheers. 🍺
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I think the VooDoo Ranger solved his issue. 😊
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Amazing, dear John, how the looks of ladies and trucks changed over the years.
Wishing you a happy week
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
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I think trucks more than ladies. Thanks F4oC
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Fortunately
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😁
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I’m still on the coffee, the IV feed in bed. What a great invention.
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I would hope it could be on a timer too.
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HI John, the beauty pageant information is very interesting. I enjoyed the pictures of the two ladies too.
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So glad. I thought it would be interesting to take a look at the pageant.
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Very much so 😊
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Your history lessons are so cool! And so are your Ubers. Win-win. Surely you hit the bonus point jackpot with the prompt.
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I can almost afford a hubcap for the Bentley Turbo.
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Yes! 😀
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😊
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I like this pretty piece of history.
The truck… well, it’s a tuck with an “R”.
Hmm, does that count?
The “R’s” have it!
Track, trech ( a long cut in the ground), trick, trock (fandom slang from Dr. Who), truck.
5 fer 5!
Yahoo
OX OX
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I will give you an artists license for those five. OX OX
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Yay!
A license to….. Mwahhhhh…… be creative.
I’m drawing tonight!
OX 🐖 OX
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Sounds like a fun thing to do. OX ✏️ 🐖 OX
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Mary was quite fetching, it’s no mystery as to why she was a repeat winner of the contest.
If these guys were going to get a time machine to take them back in time in order to score some phone numbers, they would do well to bring some Voodoo with them. I mean, it can’t hurt.
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I think those flappers might enjoy a VooDoo or two. Would help to get the party going. 😊
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Methinks you’re spot on with this assessment.
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Ha ha ha
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😉
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