My favorite place is the kitchen. I do a lot of work there, and it is the home of my beloved coffee machine. It sits in its mysterious blackness on its haunches, just waiting for the order to strike. One touch of the power button is like waking up a sleeping dragon. The stretches, groans, and low growl let you know that the next move must be slow and easy. A move to the two-coffee button is scrutinized and anticipated. She knows me too well. The button is touched, and the resulting eruption of activity could startle the unaware. The frothy cup is complete within seconds, and the machine shares my sigh.
One sip of the delightful brew and the quiet air is ravaged by the Westminster chimes of the doorbell, followed by the eardrum challenge of the baying hounds. A quick toss of a line caught tuna packet into the nuclear-proof room with a door slam allows the brain to stop screaming for quiet. Just who would ring that bell when the sign says “Death to those who ring this bell” is anyone’s guess. Looking at the security screen, all that is visible are the ears of some kind of creature. With a sigh, the security system shutdown began.
The SWAT team needs to be put on standby. A quick text to the leader confirms that status. Also, the flight of A-10 Warthogs must be diverted. Another call to the commander puts that worry to rest. The control panel makes the shutdown of the security system process simpler. The boiling oil vats are put on standby, the Trebuchet on safety, the concertina wire rolled, the Claymore mines reset, the tower Gattling guns disengaged, the moat net dropped, the alligators fed, the IEDs and shoulder-held rockets put away. The locks on the door are thrown.
What stands before me looks very much like the Tasmanian Devil. He makes some noises that are not understandable and throws an envelope my way. He starts to whirl and disappears across the lawn and through the neighbor’s boxwoods. The envelope is from Linda Hill. The message inside reads:
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “favorite place.” Use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!
To see what others have done with the prompt, visit Linda Hill’s post. Here is the link; https://lindaghill.com/2025/05/09/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-may-10-2025/
Favorite Place by John W. Howell. © 2025
“I can tell you my favorite place.”
“So can everyone else who reads this stuff on Saturday.”
“Am I that transparent?”
“Like a sheet of Saran Wrap.”
“So yours is the kitchen.”
“Yup. I love to cook, and as I said, my coffee machine is there.”
“Where do you keep the Voo Doo Rangers?”
“In the fridge.”
“In the kitchen, right?”
“Right.”
“Then that’s my favorite place too.”
“But we are not going there.”
“Aw, how come?”
“‘Cause we do the pub on Saturdays.”
“Yeah, I know. I’ve even ordered an Uber. He’s over there.”
Photo by Dan Antion
“Okay, how did you know about the kitchen?”
“It was a coincidence.”
“Gibbs rule number thirty-nine.”
“What’s that?”
“There’s no such thing as a coincidence.”
“Okay, I confess. You spend a lot of time in the kitchen, so when it came to ordering an Uber, I thought it would be a nice surprise.”
“Well, it is. I like the idea of heading for the pub in a kitchen.”
“And when we get there, maybe they’ll let us sit in the kitchen.”
“Too far.”
“Okay, let’s go.”
“That’s my line.”
Fiction Favorites 
Dear John
I found a quote in a novel I am just reading, “Happiness” by Aminatta Forna (p. 62):
“There’s less synchronicity and more causality than we often think. Things happen. Sometimes in ways we couldn’t even start to imagine.”
Have a happy weekend
Klausbernd 🙂
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Excellent thought today, Klausbernd. Make life a surprise and sometimes a mystery. Thanks for sharing this quote. 😀. Happy weekend to the F4oC.
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That coffee maker looks like it belongs on the Starship Enterprise, John. I’m not sure I could be trusted with that. I hope Tas-ish didn’t do too much damage to the boxwoods.
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The boxwoods are no more. Let’s keep it on the down low, though.
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😂
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Starbucks would be quite envious of that machine. I’ll let them know you have one.
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I’ll have to get a stuck-up barista to go with it.
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And now, some are striking because they are required to meet a dress code standard. Seems that some feel that they can’t express themselves with a dress code requirement. Well, they can always try ‘Joe’s Coffee Corner’ with no benefits,long hours and folks sleeping in your front entrance.
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These people have no grip on reality. Gotta wonder about these first-world problems.
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I’ll bet a lot of people would say the kitchen was their favorite room. Good coffee, food and stories come from the kitchen, only now we can add Uber!
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A portable kitchen is like the best improvement in travel. Thanks, GP.
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Wow! Look at that coffee machine! If I had one, I’d live in the kitchen, too. I used to in our old house, but we have a small galley kitchen now so my new favorite place is my office. I can see the squirrels and birds outside through the windows. the flowers on the patio, and Garfield sleeps on his tree nearby.
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Sounds like a lovely view, Noelle.
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Showing up with your own fridge to fully stock. Go from pub to road trip.
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Good idea, Charles.
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Yes, the coffee machine sure makes the kitchen a favorite place. Linda using a Tasmanian Devil to deliver the prompt is surprising.
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She is full of surprises.
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😊
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Oh my, yes indeed. The kitchen didn’t used to be a wonderful place for me. It used to feel like a means to an end, the place where I had to work even more while kids demanded my attention to get food onto the table. It didn’t help that tiny munchkins often objected to that food.😂 These days my kitchen feels more like yours.
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Yeah, when a kitchen is a tool, it is not much fun. Thanks, Laura.
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You got me flummoxed about why your guards need to deploy Inter uterine devices unless it’s a search of an impregnable uterus, either that or it is one of the most hilarious typos ever. Very imaginative in either case.
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I can’t find the typo. I don’t see inter uterine devices anywhere. I have to know.
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IUD and shoulder rockets were lowered. I could only find IUD to mean interuterine device. What else does it mean?
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Ah Ha ha ha. 😆 You are right it is a typo. It should be IED. Individual Explosive Device. Well done, Pat. You get an award. 🥇
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That crossed my mind mind which is why I thought it was a very funny typo.
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I got a big laugh when you explained it. Thanks. 🤣
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Very clever Uber order!
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Yes. I would say an inside job.
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Your first paragraph is simply poetically divine, John! (giving Pilgrim a run for his money, are ya?) And I love your coffee machine – those “eyes”…
I fear signs were meant to be disregarded. An awful thing when it disturbs your delightful morning ritual!!
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I could never give Pilgrim a run for the money. I could go full tilt, and he would run circles around me. I have told him he is the greatest. I mean that, too. When I read his stuff, I want to heave my MAC into the nearest muddy swamp. Thank you so much for the compliment though, Dale. I loved it. 🤗
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While I cannot disagree with his ridiculous skill with his plume, you still gave us a lovely paragraph. I despair of coming up to his ankles.
Glad you did.
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Well said, Dale.
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No security system, a Mr Coffee that is beginning to show its age, and cats who run and hide at the sound of the doorbell. Notice any differences from your place? 😂😹
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I’ll bet you welcome visitors, too. Lois.
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beam me up with that fancy coffee machine, John.. that and the uber are quite impressive! 🙌
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Thanks, Cindy.
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A wonderful coffee machine. Lucky you to see a Tasmanian Devil
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Or a cartoon version. Thanks, Robbie.
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Yes 👍🏻
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😊
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As always another terrific Saturday coffee date. Thanks for the smiles about the security system.
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I’m glad we could do it. Thanks, Monika.
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Great post, John! You have a gift for painting pictures with words. When you and the coffee machine sigh in unison, I heard that all the way over here!!! Also cute picture of the machine with those eyes. Gives off Brave Little Toaster vibes.
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Thank you so much, Jill. The Producer did not approve of my eyes on the coffee machine.
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Your novella on the Coffee Bean is must read stuff, Boss. You’re always telling me how much you love my writing but mango meets smoothie when you get going like this. Bravo, good man!
As for the prompt, that was a first line getaway! After which you provided the perfect Voodoo ride with this kitchen van. Personally, I’d get a six pack and a pie to go and just go back to the Uber. Best of both worlds.
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I really like your compliment, but as I told Q earlier, there is none better than you, my man.
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Well, we toast to each other tonight Boss.
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Yes indeed.
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The kitchen is my favorite place too, for similar reasons, the coffee, the voodoo rangers, the other beer, the food and the fact that I brew beers there. Our dog Rollo loves the kitchen too. He is hoping that I would spill wort on floor so he can lap it up. It taste sweet. Unfortunately, wort contains hops and I just learned that hops is toxic to dogs, so that has to stop. I am paying more attention to people food potentially being dangerous to dogs after a sad experience. I look everything up.
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I don’t blame you for being cautious about people food. That was a horrifying story.
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At first, I thought you were swatted!
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Ha ha ha. Thanks, Jacqui.
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A portable kitchen could be tons of fun. You’re inching close to tailgating here.
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Yes indeed. It would be easy.
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Well done, John. Your description of the coffee machine is particularly fabulous. Hugs.
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Aw. Thank you so much, Teagan.
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Gibb’s rules indeed.
I had to look that up.
There may not be coincidences in murder, but
Fibbs rule # 39 – Some coincidences are murder.
Take the Tasmanian devil, for instance! He drinks 39 cups of coffee in the morning. Coincidence? I think not. And that is why you will never be able to take him… anywhere – especially to a VooDoo Ranger pub.
He’s a VoomDoom!
🌪X 🌪X 🌪X
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Voom Doom is terrific 🌪X 🌪X 🌪X
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🌪X 🌪X 🌪X 🌪X
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🏆
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Does you coffee machine have mean eyes on purpose? Gibbs…I miss him and his rules. Coffee and VooDoo Ranger in the kitchen sounds like a win-win.
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Yes, it is possessed
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😳
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😀
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The coffee machine & a writer is the best creative union. I have my Bialetti & after a cup of homemade capuccino inspiration flies.
Besides, she is very pretty! Thank you, dear John!🌹🍤🍤🍤🍻
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Bialetti is a fine coffee maker.
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True! So much nostalgy!♥️♥️♥️
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Mine was all marked from moving. My ex-wife kept it.
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😂😂😂
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😀
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