Category Prompt

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Finger Point Prompt – Exterior

I randomly opened Detour on the Eternal Road to page 61. With eyes closed, I pointed to the page, and my finger fell closest to the word “exterior,” which became the prompt. (Excuse the blurred book content. I didn’t reset the camera, so my hand is the prominent feature.) Exterior by John W. Howell © […]

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt Awe/Aww

The coffee machine gives me a message that it needs to be cleaned. It is an automated process that only requires me to drop a cleansing tablet into the appropriate hopper when prompted. Knowing full well until the machine is cleaned, there will be no coffee. So the button is pressed, which starts the twenty-minute […]

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Finger Point Prompt – Skeptical

Today I opens Detour on the Eternal Road randomly to page 167. With eyes closed I pointed to the page and the word skeptical was closest to my finger. Skeptical by John W. Howell © 2025 “Not sure I believe you.” “Why so skeptical?” “Just look at that thing.” “What do you mean?” “it looks […]

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt –

  The coffee machine detects the reality of being away for a while. She asks about the nature of my coffee drinking for the past week. Hemming and hawing did not forestall the answer long. The confession of drinking coffee brewed elsewhere brings a silent rebuke from the machine. “I hope you have a doctor […]

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Finger Point Prompt – “Cash”

I randomly opened Detour on the Eternal Road to page 175. With eyes closed, A finger pointed to the page, causing my finger to fall close to the word”cash.” That will be the prompt. As a reminder I will be offline March 12th through the 19th. Tempeste and Twiggy return on March 20. Cash by […]

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – Watch

The coffee machine leaves a message to watch the time after pressing my order. The 10 oz coffee order is pressed and the cup is filled in ten seconds. A message comes back that the machine will try for a new record tomorrow. With a shoulder shrug and a sip, the clock is the next […]

Tuesday – Anything Possible -Finger Point Prompt – “Face”

I randomly opened Detour on the Eternal Road to page 205. With my eyes closed I pointed to the page. The word closest to my finger was “face.” That is the prompt today. Face by John W. Howell © 2024 “That was an about face.” “What do you mean?” “You said you would support me […]

Stream of consciousness Saturday – Prompt – Mouse

  An explanation is in order. Last week, there may have been some confusion around the fact that the coffee machine communicated with me. To be clear, the machine does not talk. She sends messages through a mounted menu screen. The screen also has a touch pad, so no external mouse is needed. It wouldn’t […]

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Finger Point Prompt – Complicated

Today, I randomly opened Detour on the Eternal Road to page 147. I closed my eyes and pointed to the page. The word readable nearest my finger was “complicated,” which became our prompt. Complicated by John W. Howell © 2025 “It’s complicated.” “I’m sure it is, but tell me.” “I’d rather not.” “Why?” “Because you […]

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – “In Person”

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 […]