Finally back to a normal schedule, it was good to see the coffee machine in person. She wanted to know where I had been. Rather than go through a long story, the simple answer was,”Out.” Never to be left in the dark the machine asked,”Where?” My response stopped the discussion right then and there, “Reproductive problems.”
Of course the reproduction mentioned was a book tour but the machine decided not to pursue the subject. My coffee was delivered hot and fragrant. One sip and my mind went to the clock. The setting is for February 21, 1925. The location is New York city, and the duration is one hour. A pull of the plunger and we find ourselves in the offices of the New Yorker at 25 West 45th Street in Manhattan. The staff is celebrating the first issue.
The New Yorker was founded by Harold Ross (1892–1951) and his wife Jane Grant (1892–1972), a New York Times reporter, and debuted on February 21, 1925. Ross wanted to create a sophisticated humor magazine that would be different from perceivably “corny” humor publications such as Judge, where he had worked, or the old Life. Ross partnered with entrepreneur Raoul H. Fleischmann (who founded the General Baking Company) to establish the F-R Publishing Company. Ross edited the magazine until his death in 1951. During the early, occasionally precarious years of its existence, the magazine prided itself on its cosmopolitan sophistication. Ross declared in a 1925 prospectus for the magazine: “It has announced that it is not edited for the old lady in Dubuque.”
Just as the Champaign was openede the alarm too me back to the couch. A text from Linda Hill has come in. It reads: Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “in person.” Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!
To see what others have done with the prompt visit Linda’s blog. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2025/02/21/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-feb-22-2025/
In Person by John W. Howell © 2025
“So you visited the offices of the New Yorker in person.”
“Nice job on nailing the prompt early.”
“Since you were gone, I thought about how to do that early in the discussion.”
“So we could concentrate on other matters I suppose.”
“How clever you are. How was the tour?”
“Terrific. All the volunteers did a fabulous job. There is one more stop on Wednesday the 26th but we are pretty much back to normal.”
“I missed out trips to the pub.”
“Yeah, Ill bet. Speaking of that did you manage to find someone else to go with you.”
“No. I stayed at home.”
“Doesn’t sound like you.”
“Well without you there is no reason to go.”
“Dear me. Okay let’s get going. Uber?”
“Right over there.”
Photo by Dan Antion
“Now this looks appealing”
“Yeah, we get a couple of cheese steaks with the ride.”
“i don’t eat beef.”
“I know. You’ll have a cheese steak with no steak.”
“A toasted cheese then.”
“Yeah. You got it.”
“Okay let’s go.”
“You’ll enjoy it. I promise.”
Fiction Favorites 
Toasted cheese with a coffee sounds good! Happy Saturday, John! ☕️ 😊
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Thank you, Laura. Happy Saturday to you.
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You are popping on all cylinders this morning, John.
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Thank you, Pat. My scheduled post didn’t go so I’m a little late today. Glad you liked it.
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Welcome back! The book tour looks like it’s been a hit. I hope the book is selling well. Thinking about that cheesesteak has me ready for breakfast!
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There are a couple of things I miss since I gave up beef in the 90s. Philly Cheese steaks are one of them. Thanks, Deborah
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A toasted cheese and steak with no steak is very funny 😂
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Thank you, Robbie. I thought so too.
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Toasted cheese–gotta love it.
I have an old New Yorker joke on the bulletin board in my room that always makes me laugh. It is an executive on the phone with someone looking to schedule a meeting and he says, “No. Thursdays out. How about never? Is never good for you?” Cracks me up every time.
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Good one, Lois. That is funny. Thanks for sharing it. 😊
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Glad you’re settling back in. It was a good tour and it looks like the reviews are great.
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Yes. The reviews are terrific. Took some chances with this one. Thank you again for your help and advice.
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Yes, welcome back. The New Yorker has always been a draw for me – I love the cartoons and the writing, until lately, has been top notch. Congrats op the tour – I think it reached a lot of people!
I would like that Uber, but I also would have to settle for a grilled cheese sandwich. I’m on a diverticulosis diet.
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Most magazines have taken a dive for some reason. I am very disappointed in The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, Town and Country, and GQ.
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That’s an interesting slice of history, John. It sure had been a great tour, with some fantastic reviews of your book. Congratulations!
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Thank you, Tim. It has been a trip for sure. Thanks for the support at each stop.
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I’m all in… good one, John!💓
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Thank you, Cindy. 😊
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Ha! You’re back in grand style, John. It was a great tour. Wishing you huge success. Hugs!
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Thank you, Teagan. Hugs to you.
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Ha! Cheese Steak with no steak. 🙂 My kind of sandwich. Glad to see you back in your routine, John. The book tour was fabulous! Hope you sold a ton!
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Thank you, Jan. I was pleased with the tour. 😊
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I could go for a cheese steak with no steak. Easier to chew!
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Ha ha ha. Good one, Liz.
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Thanks, John!
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😀
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At least you won’t go hungry! Your book tour was incredible. Bravo to you and all of your supporters. 🌟
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Thank you, Michele. It was great. 😊
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Excellent! 📚 You’re welcome, John.
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Dear John
Great to read that your promotion tour went well. We hope you sold many of your books.
The Cheese Steak car looks good. For us, it would rather be cheese steaks without cheese 😉
We wish you a happy weekend
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
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Ha ha ha. That is a good twist, Klausbernd. 😊
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Good book tour, John. Well done!
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Thank you, Jo. 😀
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A book tour gone very well, a historic visit and good food on a fun Uber. You sure wrapped things up, John.
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Thank you, GP. 😊
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Toasted cheese and a beer – sounds good, John. Welcome back to your regular jam.
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Thank you, Dan. Good to be back, for sure.
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Wait. The coffee machine can talk? How did I miss that?
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The machine has a touchpad screen that sends me messages. In a sense, it can talk through the screen
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A toasted cheese sounds pretty good, John! 🙂
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It does, Lauren. Thanks. 😊
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Well played story, as per usual Boss. And it’s great to hear that your tour was a rousing success, which is no surprise at all. You’re a mensch and much loved by the blogosphere, and your works are many and outstanding. Just like you.
As for the party bus Uber, it’s timely considering the Eagles won it last week. It’s also timely in that after a few rounds of Voodoo . . well, the ride home will be delicious.
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Thanks for the lovely comment, Pilgrim. I agree with the bus. Who wouldn’t like a bite to eat on the way home? 😀
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Right?
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😊
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I love how the coffee machine now talks. Perhaps this could be a new addition to your Saturday post. I wondered if you would run into E.B. White. Although he wrote for them in ’25, he didn’t work there till ’27. Bummer that you missed him. A Philly cheese steak mobile? Sounds like the perfect Uber.
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It is a new interface, but it is really a touchpad screen. I should have made that more evident.
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Still, the machine talks and that could be very cool to add to your Saturday posts. Wait…she could suggest where to go in time, or she could be your door alert. The possibilities are endless. 😀
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I agree there are a number of opportunities going forward.
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🙂
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😊
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The New Yorker is a terrific magazine. I’m glad to see it’s still in publication and not just online.
Yahoo, back to the reg sched, questionable Ubers and that VooDoo guy!
OX OX OX
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Yes, all back. I hope you like them 😊X 😊X 😊X
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Welcome back from what sounds like a rousing success of a book tour. Well done. Sorry I’ve been AWOL for the past several days-I’ve been pretty sick and flat on my back with a nasty respiratory infection. Hopefully I’ll get better as the meds kick in.
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Goodness Monika. Yes, I hope it gets better quickly. Those things can be buggers. So sorry you have been ill.
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