In the beginning, coffee in our house was made by dripping water through a filter filled with ground coffee from a can. The result was hot caffeinated brown water. Then, in a quest for better coffee, a French Press was (wait for it) pressed into service. It was more or less the same as water dripping, but was pushed through grounds that came from a bag filled with freshly ground beans. The result was a hot, brown-colored water that tasted more like coffee. Now, where are we? Today, it is a snark-filled monster machine that delivers any kind of coffee drink at the push of a button. You talk about first-world convenience. It has arrived. Today, the selection is a flat white. After delivery of the first sip, the Westminster chimes cause my gold fillings to vibrate and the hounds to levitate while demonstrating how they can bark an intruder to St. Louis.
Tossing a few chewy treats into the soundproof room and slamming the door brings back the silent pre-doorbell condition. Checking the security monitor, it is obvious that an Elmer Fudd look-alike can’t read the “Do Not Ring the Doorbell” sign. The usual exchange of greetings determines that the door must be opened. The security system needs to be disengaged. With a sigh, the process is started.
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 SEAL team needs to be called off, and a call to the leader makes that possible. A call to the tow truck driver stops the deployment of an M1A1 Abrams Tank. The control panel simplifies the shutdown process of the security system. The boiling oil vats are put on standby, the turret mortars disengaged, the Trebuchet on safety, the concertina wire rolled, the Claymore mines reset, the tower Gatling guns on safety, the moat net dropped, the alligators fed, and the IEDs and shoulder-held rockets put away. The Proton torpedoes switched off. The gamma ray beams covered. The high-powered maser guns switched to standby, and the nanorobots are chained in the basement. The locks on the door are thrown. And the door opened.
“Have you seen that wrascally wabbit?”
“No.”
“Sign here then.”
While signing, the shotgun in this guy’s hand causes some concern. “You hunting today?”
“No, I work for the delivery company. Just being careful, that’s all.”
Handing back the clipboard, the guy gives me an envelope and holds out his hand.
“Keep your powder dry,” is my tip, and the front door is slammed. Looking at the security monitor, the guy has gone.
The envelope is from Linda Hill (what a surprise). Inside is a message. It reads.
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “at the beginning.” Use it any way you’re inspired to. Enjoy!
To see what others have done with the prompt, visit Linda’s post. Here is the link, https://lindaghill.com/2025/10/10/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-oct-11-2025/
At the beginning by John W. Howell © 2025
“I enjoyed your at the beginning” opener.”
“I’m surprised.”
“Why?”
“Oh, I don’t know. You never seem to like what I write.”
“Right now I like it.”
“Well, that’s good to hear.”
“What segway are we going to use to get to the subject of the day?”
“You mean VooDoo Rangers, I suppose.”
“You’ve answered my question. Uber is over there.”
Photo by Dan Antion
“We can’t fit in that.”
“You can sit on my lap.”
“Cold day when I would do that.”
“Why not. I’m not going to bite.”
“Just not comfortable.”
“Good thing I got a backup. Look.”
Photo by Resa MCConaghy
“Okay. I give up. Let’s take the truck. At least there is room for three.”
“One thing with the truck.”
“Of course.”
“We need to mow a couple of lawns on the way.”
“Sure, why not?”
“You okay?”
“One pint low on the VooDoo is all.”
“Here’s a cooler. We can mow and enjoy a VooDoo.”
“A perfect day in the sun. Hold on till I get my dew rag and overalls.”
“You are the best.”
“You have missed the subtlety of my sarcasm.”
“Just ignored it, is all.”
“Be right back.”
Fiction Favorites 
So much to enjoy here. I loved the wrascally wabbit reference. Brought back many happy memories and the contrast between the two vehicles is great. Btw, I went to a writing event last Saturday and met the lovely Linda Hill there.
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How special. She is a gem.
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Dear John
We like the first car, the blue one. We would have chosen this one, but it only sits two, we suppose. The green truck looks too American for our taste.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
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The truck is actually Canadian, but I get your point 😀 I don’t drive a G-Wagon because it looks too German.
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It’s funny how much image plays a role when buying a car. I always drove Volvos, except a Saab convertible many years ago.
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Here, Volvos have a politically liberal image. Don’t see many in Texas.
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Here as well.
My former secretary is working in the car industry to test the images of the different cars. Mercedes has, for example, a very conservative image. To drive American cars is absolutely out, especially Jeeps. And Tesla since Trump. Jaguar is mostly driven by intellectuals and creative people, Audi and BMW by young, sporty folks. Japanese cars by the lower middle class. Porsches are mostly driven by women. This is what I can remember.
I suppose that I drive a Volvo perfectly fits. Well, I bought it before I knew the statistics.
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Thanks for the information. I think those characteristics fit here as well, except for Porsches. They are mostly men who drive them. A joke here is, what is the difference between a Porsche and a porcupine? Answer. The prick is on the outside of the porcupine.
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🤣😂
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I hope you don’t wake one day to a picket line of stiffed delivery characters who prevent Linda’s prompt from being delivered. Don’t work up too much of a sweat today, and enjoy the rest of the weekend.
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Thank you, Dan. I will give it a big try. I hope you have a restful one as well.
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Enjoy that tasty sounding cuppa and give the levitating hounds an ear rub from me.
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Thank you, Monika. They certainly appreciate the ear rubs. Just finished a latte. Delicious.
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I think you’d be better off trying to fit in the trunk of that first ride. The mowing lawns thing might be tricky.
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That came to me because I did that kind of work in college. Ran a walk behind Locke mower, which had three reels. It was boss.
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The man of so many adventures. You should have been the guy in that Dos Equis commercial featuring the Most Interesting Man In The World.
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Ha ha ha. Thanks, Marco. 😊
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😉
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Can’t really see the issue with the first car, but I guess it is small. I travel either alone or with a kid, so my perspective is skewed.
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No room for three in that one.
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Love that truck, a much better Uber. And of course the reference to the waskaly wabbit!
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That reference makes me smile. Thanks, Noelle.
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‘dew rag and overalls’…😂 You should see all the ‘celebrity’ lawn services up and down my street. Unreal. Even smaller lawns use them and, of course, you hardly ever see someone pushing a lawnmower. Heaven forbid! But I do love me an old truck like that one! Slide over. I might want to drive this!
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You can drive, but no VooDoo Rangers for you. My summer work in college was lawn mowing. Worked for a large nursery and was head of a team of five. We mowed some very important lawns back then.
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All I can say, John, is I need that coffee to get me going in the morning.
Thank you, my friend, for always being here, even when I’m not. 🙂
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I love this feature and am always happy to see the prompt on Friday. You and your family are in my thoughts at least once a week. My first post was June 28th, 2014, and I have been at it ever since. The eleven years have gone very fast. Thanks for the lovely comment, Linda. A big hug to you.
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Isn’t it mind-boggling how long we’ve been at this? I’m so grateful that you’ve stuck with it, and stuck with me too. Big hug to you too, my friend. 🙂
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😊
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My first major car purchase was a red Miata — beautiful, zoomy, and a two seater. Worked just fine before my life exploded into needing more cargo and passenger space.
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Yeah, Kids are the bane of the sporty class.
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They surely are. Worth it, yes, but that Miata was fabulous.
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😊
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I love the vintage green truck, and the sports car. Both would be good rides to me. I hope the beginning of your week-end has started well, and ends as a great one.
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Thank you, Deborah. I hope the same for you.
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Bound to be an adventure, if the engine turns over. 😄 Cheers!
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If the engine turns over is right. 😀
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Going the rough road I see, good luck with that.. lol. 😂
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Yes. Mow lawns and all.
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dual purpose I see.. ha
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Yup.
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Nothing wrong with a little exercise before having earned the VooDoo, I say!
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Yes. Several acres of exercise.
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The best kind!
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😊
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Ooohh, I love the old pickup — and the story behind it was hilarious. Have a great weekend, John.😊
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Thank you, Gwen. You as well. 😊
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You do give out ‘good laughs,’ John, and are my sort of writer. . .
In the Lennick household, my coffee is usually made – without histrionics. . . but with a touch of Bailey’s cream . . .Heaven! (only one per day though!?) Cheers. Joy Lennick
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Sounds like a good cup of coffee. Glad you liked the post, Joy. 😊
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Where would we be without our modern coffee machines? 🙂 Great use of the prompt and both Ubers are pretty cool. Thanks to Dan for the photo!
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Thank you, Jan. I certainly need my machine.
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I love that you gave Elmer Fudd an old-timey tip! Well, that landscaper’s old truck has some stylish white wall tires. That should count for something!
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It should. 😀
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John, a while back they moved some refrigerated beer shelving around in a grocery store I frequent, and on the corner now as I walk down the center aisle I always see some Voodoo Ranger on display…and guess who I think of? Hint: It isn’t Elmer Fudd. 😉
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Ha ha, Thank you, Bruce. The Voo Doo Ranger Imperial is the best.
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Having Elmer at the front door with a shotgun would cause me to be armed, John. Mowing a lawn in the cooler weather shouldn’t be too tough. I suppose the VooDoo Rangers would reward you.
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I think you are right, Tim. Thank you 😊
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Tou have an M1A1 Abrams Tank too. Is that new or did I miss that? The guy with the shotgun need to reconsider doing deliveries holding it. I would not open my door to him.
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Yes, the tank has been there for a while. It was recently repainted to match the house so maybe that’s why you missed it. 😀
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Yes I think that’s why I missed it
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😊
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Good choice.
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😊
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You’re lucky you shut your door before waskily gun guy had a chance to register your tip. Else, he might have shown you some powder.
Cool to have a vehicle pic featured in the same post wih one of Dan’s.
Still, that truck looks like some VooDoo got a hold of it.
Have fun mowing!
🐂 🐖
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🐂 🐖 🐂
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🐂 🐖 🐂 🐖
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🏆
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YahOxOx!!!
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😊X
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I think the truck was a good choice. Drink and mow, right?
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Drink and mow. Hopefully not too much of each. 😀
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Right! 😀
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