The only reason survival is possible is coffee. That golden elixir is the only self-medication that stops the spike-driving, rail-laying, metal-on-metal sound in my head from caffeine withdrawal. The aroma alerts my senses to be prepared for soothing peace.
The first sip quells the noise. The second sip, as we are all too familiar, is accompanied by the falling grand piano in the Grand Canyon sound as it hits the floor, a combination of Westminster chimes of the doorbell and the bark to St. Louis, picture window smashing sound of Twiggy and Tempeste treating the idiot who can’t read the do not ring the doorbell sign as a threat to life and limb. A quick toss of peanut butter-stuffed Kong toys into the soundproof room, and a slam of the door hails the arrival of the peace train.
A check of the monitor shows Marc Antony, the Bulldog, with a clipboard and letter. Knowing conversation is futile, the security shutdown process is begun.
The B-2 bomber squadron and the F-35 escort must be called off. One call does it. The tank corps and gunboats are told to stand by. The Apache helicopters are rerouted. The electric shock fence is turned off. The drawbridge over the quicksand is lowered. The robot attack dogs returned to their charging station. The laser-guided machine guns on the roof are set to caution. The nest filled with rattlesnakes put away. The bucket filled with 1000 marbles is locked down. The tear gas canisters shut off. The electrified welcome mat set to off. The fall-away sidewalk into the pit filled with spikes is locked. The hornet’s nest closed. The water cannons are set to safety. Bear traps are set to off. Peregrine Falcons perched on the roof above front door fed. The vat of boiling oil set to warm. Monty Python’s Harmless Little Rabbit’s cage is closed. The front door is opened.
The Bulldog gives me the letter and clipboard, which is signed and returned. A fiver is clipped to the board, so the Bulldog smiles and makes his exit. Once inside, the letter seems to be from Linda Hill and says: Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is ‘reason.” Use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!
To see what others have done with the prompt, visit Linda’s post. Here is the link.
https://lindaghill.com/2026/09/11/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-september-12-2026/
Reason © 2026
“Okay, what’s the reason you didn’t give the Bulldog one of your clever quotes?”
“I thought the fiver would be enough.”
“Don’t you think once he gets back to the delivery company, all the other characters will ask about the motivational tip?”
“How will they know he made a stop at my place?”
“Yeah, that’s a good point. I don’t suppose those characters compare notes.”
“I think they just do their job and go home. What reason would there be to mill around and discuss deliveries?”
“What reason indeed. I’m now sorry I mentioned it.”
“Nah, don’t be sorry. Enquiring minds want to know.”
“Speaking of that, you ready to go to the pub?”
“You get an Uber?”
“Don’t I always? Right over there.”
Photo by Dan Antion
“Wow, that is some color. Looks like a 64 Chevrolet C10 pickup.”
“Been worked on, too. There is room for three.”
“That’s a good thing. No sitting on the floor?”
“Nope?”
“So what is the catch?”
“This guy is also a DoorDash delivery person.”
“So?”
“We have to make one stop.”
“Uh huh.”
“He needs to deliver a shipment of canaries to a pet store.”
“You make me laugh.”
“Seriously.”
“And the canaries need to ride in the cab.”
“How did you know?”
“Instinct.”
“Here are some overalls.”
“What are these for?”
“The canaries need to sit on your lap, and I don’t want them to get anything on you.”
“Aren’t they in a shipping container?”
“Yes, but you never know.”
“I’ve been in worse conditions.”
“That’s the spirit. Let’s go.”
At least you’re not making a second delivery of cats to a rescue shelter. Good one, John. I hope you have a nice easy weekend.
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Can you imagine? 😳
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Watch what you say in the car. Those birds…’sing like a canary’….something along those lines comes to mind. 🤔
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Ha ha ha, Good one Lois. 😄
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You should have let Marc in to play with your two pups. They would have had a good time. And what a story that would prompt.
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For sure. Thanks, Tom.
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Tipping the Bulldog with a fiver is nice of you, John. Riding in the pickup with canaries is interesting. I imagine you had a good time at the pub and hope you have a great weekend.
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Thank you, Tim. I hope you have a super weekend, too.
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😊
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😊
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“Monty Python’s Harmless Little Rabbit’s cage is closed.”
Well, that made me LOL, John! In place of Linda, I’m going to give you 500 bonus points.
Nice canary yellow truck to deliver the canaries! As long as the canaries don’t get loose, all will be well. Enjoy your coffee and IPA!
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Thank you, Mary. Hope you have a terrific weekend,
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Ha! Love this. I also love the yellow truck. Perfect for transporting Canary’s.
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Yes. I thought so too, Holly. The yellow got to me. 😊
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Yellow truck, canary’s… genius.
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😊 Thank you.
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🙂🚖🔆
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😊
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I am confused about the socs prompt. What is it?
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It is in the headline “Reason”
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🥴
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Canaries in an Uber instead of a coal mine.
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Gives us the first warning of bad driving. 😄
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Oh that Marc Antony… yeah I would not banter verbal tips with him either. An excellent survival choice.
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The one thing I am missing is the 1000 marbles otherwise you could have been talking about our security measures lol… hope your suit was yellow to blend in. hugsx
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A Yellow suit would have been perfect. Thanks, Sally.
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I just watched The Birds last night. You must be reading my mind.
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Ha ha ha. 😁
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😉
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That is one sweet ride and of course there are canaries involved. 😁 Your Saturday posts give me a reason to visit. 🤪 Not that I need one just wanted to use the word.
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Good use of the word, Jan. 😁
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Deactivating the B-2 bombers, laser-guided machine guns, and Python’s Killer Rabbit just to sign for a letter from a bulldog had me laughing out loud, John! Marc Antony definitely earned that fiver! 🤖💣
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😁
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Ha!!! John, I love this line “and a slam of the door hails the arrival of the peace train.” And you have a fiendish mind for security system design, my friend. Unparalleled creative Dante-esque punishments. 🙂 You and Dan made a great choice of Uber ride with that old pickup truck. I love it even if it is glow in the dark yellow. The canaries made it even better. Big hugs.
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Thank you, Teagan. Always fun to hear you liked my silliness. Hugs. 🤗
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A bright tale for the prompt and matches the truck! I suggest earplugs along with the overalls. 😊
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Good idea, Deborah. Those birds can drive one nuts.
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Enquiring minds want to know is one of those phrases that always land. I hear it in a particular voice too. Funny what our memories do…
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Thanks, Laura.
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What a classic car! And at least the canaries are contained!
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Yes indeed.
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And a reasoning exercise with that? Two men ride in a classic yellow Chevy pickup. One man wears overalls. He’s holding a box of jet-lagged canaries. What color are the overalls?
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Yellow, of course. 😄
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“The only reason survival is possible is coffee.” – that is a profound opening statement.
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Ha ha ha. Thank you, Thomas. 😄
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And here I was getting all excited for the fellas to enjoy their sweet ride to the bar uneventfully.
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Well, canaries aren’t so bad. 😊
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True. Could have been snakes.
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Door Dash? Canaries to a pet shop? Why am I afraid that Sylvester is the pet shop owner? That’s the reason I’m nervous! And that truck will occupy my dreams for quite some time. I love it; it’s just like the one my Pawpaw had.
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It is a beautiful truck. Thanks for the comment, Jim.
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Growing up, our next door neighbor had one of those trucks. His was factory blue. Maybe it’s the same one after a little work.
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You never know.
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Writing is my reason and one of my reasons to write is to blog and read blogs like yours, which any reasonable person would find hilarious. But of course, there’s a reason the truck is yellow – no other truck would take canaries.
Lastly, coffee is not my reason to rise in the morning. Give me a tea latte. 🙂
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All sounds logical, Pamela. I’m not a tea man, but I do enjoy a hot cup now and then. Sweet tea? uh uh.
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No sugar allowed! 🙂
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No
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Honestly, I don’t know Marc Antony. Love the Uber truck, and yellow is perfect for the canaries.
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He’s a big bulldog. You would know him if you saw him.
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Ah! Thanks, John.
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I taut I taw a VooDoo tat
Titting on a human wap.
A’ the tweeties told me toe
Do not let dat puddie go!
🐂 🐂 🐂
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😄X Great, Resa.
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Tantoo! OX
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Velcrom OX
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OX
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😊X
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Maybe the delivery chaps compare notes on what they missed out during the shut down procedure? I mean…can you imagine realizing they just dodged a B-2 bomber squadron and the F-35 escort that were called off and the tank corps and gunboats are placed on stand by for starters? And not to mention the robot attack dogs being returned to their charging station in this day of AI running amuck! Whew sounds like the canaries were lucky they “missed seeing a puddy cat.” Great job, John!
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I’m so glad you liked my silliness, Monika. Have a great week.
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I LOVE these Saturday posts. You’re so clever and creative and you manage to paint such a vivid scene.
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😊
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I love that truck! I want one! 🙂
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Don’t we all.
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