Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “In the Corner”

January 2, 2021January 1, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 53 Comments

It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday time again. If you would like to join this group, visit Linda Hill’s blog and read how easy it is. Here is the link.

The Friday Reminder for #SoCS & #JusJoJan 2021 Daily Prompt – Jan. 2nd

My goodness, Linda Hill, fresh from New Year’s Eve, is here. She is carrying a big envelope, which I assume is the prompt for this week.

“You are right, john. Happy New Year, and here it is.”

“Thanks, Linda. Can I open it?”

“How else are you going to know the prompt?”

“Well, at Christmas, I lost out on a Bentley Convertable.”

“But the note said do not open. There is no note this year.”

“I still feel like I’m in the corner, though.”

“Go ahead, open it.”

“Okay. I’ll read it out loud.”

“Don’t make any mistakes.”

“Gee, whiz. You know how to put someone further in the Corner.”

“My job. Read it.”

“Ahem. Your prompt for #JusJoJan and Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: ‘in the corner.’ Write about whatever the image or thought of ‘in the corner’ brings to mind. Have fun!”

“Would you look at that.”

“I didn’t need an image I had you.”

“There you go. Well, my job is done here. Have a good week.”

“I think my job is done too. Thank you, Linda.”

“Oh, about that Bentley turbo.”

“Yes?”

“You need to work harder.”

“Good advice. Sheesh. Watch that screen door.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “Box”

December 26, 2020December 25, 2020 ~ John W. Howell ~ 28 Comments

It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday, and this week’s prompt is “box.” Linda Hill says we can use it any way we want. If you would like to join this outrageous group of using words any way we want, visit Linda’s blog, and you can read how easy it is. Here is the link.

/https://lindaghill.com/2020/12/25/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-dec-26-2020/

“What are you doing?”

“Merry Christmas to you too.”

“That was yesterday. So what’s up.”

“I’m trying to figure out what to do with this box.”

“It is a big one for sure. Did your present come in this box?”

“I thought it was my present, but when I unwrapped it, there was nothing inside.”

“Not even a piece of coal?”

“Very funny.”

“Who gave you the present?”

“I don’t know it was sitting on my drive Christmas morning.”

“Any note?”

“Nothing. Well, there was one thing.”

“What was that?”

“One of those tags with the “to” and “from” spaces. You know the one with a Santa on it.”

“So who sent the package?”

“There was nothing on the tag.”

“Maybe someone thought they had put a gift in there but didn’t.”

“This is Boxing Day, right?”

“Yeah, in the Commonwealth countries.”

“I think whoever gave me this box intended it as a gift on boxing day.”

“The holiday did start as a way to reward those loyal servants by giving them the day off and a box of goodies.”

“Not just a box.”

“No. In fact, it looks like whoever gave you this was tired of breaking down boxes for recycling. It was easier to move it to your drive.”

“Boy, that’s not nice.”

“You can say that again.”

“Boy, that’s n—”

“Never mind. Well, I guess you’re stuck with it.”

“Unless I regift.”

“Oh please, it’s the middle of the day. How you going to pull it off?”

“I’ll put this label on it.”

“You think a Bentley Turbo label will make the difference.”

“Sure will get the heart rate up.”

“You are a devil.”

“Fo sure.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – Magnet

December 19, 2020December 18, 2020 ~ John W. Howell ~ 37 Comments

It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday, and this week’s prompt was sent by e-mail. I miss Linda’s visits, but I can understand that she can’t get to the 10,000 folks who like her prompts every week. This week’s prompt is “magnet”, and of course, Linda says we can use it any way we want.”

If you would like to join this happy band of misfits, visit Linda’s blog and read how easy it is. Here’s the link. https://lindaghill.com/2020/12/18/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-dec-19-2020/

“Now, what’s the problem?”

“I have my screwdriver stuck to this magnet.”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake. Just pull it off. That magnet doesn’t look that big.”

“I know it doesn’t. Here you try.”

“Ugh. Man, that thing is stuck on there. How did this happen?”

“I was putting some screws into that metal frame for the Santa, and I dropped a couple on the grass.”

“Okay, I get the picture. You got the magnet to find the screws.”

“Yes. I figured it would be easier than trying to hunt them down on the ground.”

“Pretty smart, actually.”

“Excuse me, are you giving me a compliment?”

“Well, it is smart. Then what happened?”

“While I was collecting the screws, I accidentally hit the screwdriver with the magnet.”

“And voila, you have this clumsy magnet attached to your screwdriver.”

“Yes. It’s hard to use like this.”

“Get another.”

“Huh?”

“Get another screwdriver.”

“But this is my favorite.”

“But it is useless.”

“Would you abandon something just because it’s useless?”

“Why do we always get into these philosophical conundrums when we are simply talking about inanimate objects?”

“Come again?”

“Just go get another screwdriver.”

“Not going to happen.”

“Why?”

“I have to think of how the screwdriver would feel.”

“It’s not alive. It doesn’t have feelings.”

“How do you know?”

“Give me that.”

“Hey, don’t throw it. Aw.”

“See, the magnet let go when the screwdriver hit the driveway.”

“I wonder if it is hurt?”

“The screwdriver?”

“The magnet.”

“Just shoot me.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt Mini/Maxi

December 12, 2020December 11, 2020 ~ John W. Howell ~ 52 Comments

It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday time again, and here comes Linda Hill carrying a big and little box. I’ll bet she has a surprise for us as far as a prompt goes.

“Hi, Linda. What’s in the boxes?”

“It’s the Holiday, John. It needs to be a surprise. Put these under the tree and open them Christmas Day.”

“What about the prompt?”

“Man, you are type A, aren’t you. Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “mini/maxi.” Use “mini” (the smallest of something) or “maxi” (the largest) or both in your post. Have fun!”

“Thanks for the gifts.”

“Where’d you get the boxes?”

“Linda Hill gave them to me.”

“Open them up.”

‘She said to wait until Christmas day.”

“Look around.”

“What?”

“You see Linda here?”

“Well, no.”

“So how will she know if you open them or not?”

“It will ruin the surprise.”

“What surprise is that?”

“You know the surprise you get when you open a present.”

“These don’t look like presents. These are cardboard boxes. One has the printing MAXI on it. The other MINI.”

“I know, but she said—”

“Forget what she said. You have got to break the spell she has over you.”

“She has no spell.”

“Prove it.”

“Fine. I’ll open them. The Maxi first. OMG. There is a gift certificate with all my bonus points. It is for a Bentley Turbo Convertable.”

“Wow. Lucky. What’s in the box marked MINI?”

“It’s a note.”

“What does it say?”

“Since you opened the box before Christmas, you have voided the certificate.”

“Oh, come on. Just close it back up again, and no one will be the wiser.”

“The note goes on to say not to try that.”

“At least you got the prompt written. Besides, what would you do with a Bentley?”

“Drive you to the Emergency room.”

“I don’t need the emergency room.”

“Just hold on for two minutes.”

“Why two minutes?”

“That’s how long it will take me to get my ball bat.”

“Oh, well, time to go.”

“Good move.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “List”

December 5, 2020December 4, 2020 ~ John W. Howell ~ 49 Comments

Today is Stream of Consciousness Saturday. Linda hill used the e-mail system to transmit our prompt today. Here it is, “Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “list.” Make or talk about a list. Enjoy!”

If you would like to join in, visit Linda’s blog and see how easy it is. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2020/12/04/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-dec-5-2020/

“Well, it’s Saturday, so you must be working on your prompt.”

“Yes, I’m making a list now.”

“List? You are supposed to be working the prompt.”

“list is the prompt/.”

“Ugh, I should have known. What list are you working on?”

“Naughty and nice.”

“You being Santa this year.”

“No, but I got to thinking of some of the people in this world.”

“So now you are judging whether they are naughty or nice?”

“Judging is a harsh term.”

“So give me an example?”

“Judge Judy.”

“Huh. Pretty obscure, I’d say. Naughty or nice?”

“Both.”

“Aw, come on. This is a waste of time.”

“Go ahead, name someone.”

“Okay Me.”

“Low blow.”

“Why?”

“This is not an interdiction session.”

“That bad?”

“Well?”

“What do you mean well?”

“You have a tendency to be naughty.”

“Define naughty.”

“Always teasing me about my prompts.”

“Oh, please. You are wide-open for that. No one takes these prompts as seriously as you. In fact, I would say have the time you are not living up to the terms of the prompt.”

“Oh yeah? Like what?”

“Supposed to be a stream of consciousness, not a well-thought-out plan. So what else?”

“Okay. What else? Erm. You spend too much time at the pub.”

“Only because you are my friend.”

“What does that mean?”

“You don’t drink a lot, but you are a carrier.”

“How about now?”

“I could use a gallon.”

“I’ll go with you.”

“That would serve as a stimulus.”

“Speaking of that, I have McConnell, Pelosi, and Schumer on the naughty list.”

“Sounds right.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – “Opt”

November 28, 2020November 27, 2020 ~ John W. Howell ~ 59 Comments

It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday time again, and Linda Hill already left the prompt on the front porch. At first, I didn’t know what the envelop contained, so I soaked it in disinfectant. Here it is. “Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “opt.” Use it as a word or find a word with “opt” in it and base your post on that. Have fun!”

“No one will ever think of this one.”

“What one.”

“The prompt this week is ‘opt.”‘

“Like in opt-out.”

“Hey. That’s the one I thought no one would think of.”

“Shows how delusional you are. It’s the first thing I thought of.”

“Now I have to think up another.”

“That’s your option.”

“You did it again. That was my next.”

“I guess you will have to optimize your thinking.”

“You are torturing me, aren’t you.”

“You need to be an optimist. Your dark side is not very attractive.”

“Okay, I want you to stop talking and let me think.”

“Sure. I’ll adopt the mannerisms of a mime.”

“When?”

“Just as soon as we are finished with the shoptalk.”

“We are done.”

“M.”

“What? Where did you get that chalkboard. Oh, I see. You are going to communicate by writing. Yes, I will read what you write out loud. You are welcome. Oh, sorry. ‘Thank you.’ Yes, you are welcome. Now what? ‘You have to admit this optical way is still good.‘ That’s it. I quit.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – Last Thing I Put in the Fridge

November 21, 2020November 20, 2020 ~ John W. Howell ~ 65 Comments

It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday time again, and Here is Linda Hill with this week’s prompt. She is carrying a big bag, so I’m guessing she has some whopper of a prompt.

“Hi, Linda.Looks like a big prompt.”

“Xray eyes?”

“No, it’s just that it’s a big parcel.”

“Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “the last thing you put in your fridge.” Start your post with the last thing you put in your fridge. Let your mind wander from there. Enjoy!”

“Um, thanks, Linda.”

“See ya, John. Haircut warning.”

If you would like to participate in this joy, visit Linda’s blog and read how easy it is. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2020/11/20/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-nov-21-2020/

“Deep yogurt.”

“Huh?”

“I’m in deep yogurt.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I’m having trouble coming up with something to write about yogurt.”

“Why do you need to write about yogurt?”

“It’s the Stream of Consciousness prompt.”

“Yogurt? Goodness, the Hillster is really reaching.”

“No, no, no. She didn’t give yogurt as a prompt. We are supposed to write about the last thing we put in the fridge.”

“Yogurt was the last thing?”

“Yes, and what can you say about yogurt.”

“You could talk about flavor.”

“Vanilla.”

“Hmmm. Type.”

“Greek.”

“Yeah, well, I see your point. Maybe make up a story with yogurt in it.”

“And lose the reader entirely.”

“Well, with that prompt, you are going to lose them anyway.”

“Maybe a poem? I could incorporate yogurt into a poem.”

“Oh yeah. I can hear the Pulitzer committee calling right now.”

“Let me try.”

“Go for it.”

“‘I woke this morning.'”

“Going for a Haiku?”

“Yes. Hold on. Here’s the next line. ‘Confused as to what to write.”‘

“Um, okay.”

“Big finish now. ‘Picked yogurt, it’s deep.'”

“I think I would pass this week.”

“Why? It’s a good poem.”

“I don’t want you to embarrass yourself.”

“I’m going with it.”

“All righty then. I’m leaving.”

“Where you. going?”

“All this talk of yogurt has made me hungry.”

“For yogurt.”

“Heavens no. Thinking of a double bacon cheeseburger on a pretzel bun.”

“With fries?”

“Supersized.”

“Animal.”

“Want to come?”

“And leave my yogurt?”

“Suit yourself.”

“I’ll drive.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt –

November 14, 2020November 13, 2020 ~ John W. Howell ~ 54 Comments

It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday, and here comes Linda Hill carrying what looks like a lawyer’s briefcase.

“Hey, Linda.”

“John.”

“This week’s prompt?”

“Or my lunch.”

“Yeah, I guess that could be.”

“Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “ring.” Use it as a noun, a verb, an adverb, or an adjective…use it any way you’d like. Have fun!”

“Gee, thanks, Linda.”

Well, you heard it from the horses— um, directly from Linda hill. If you would like to have fun with the rest of us, visit Linda’s blog and read how easy it is. Here is the link.

The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS Nov. 14/2020

“Put a ring on it.”

“What?”

“Nothing, just trying out the prompt.”

“Should have known. Ring, right?”

“Yup. So that was the prompt used as a noun.”

“So now you need to think up an adjective, adverb, and verb.”

“How did you know?”

“Logic. If you decided your use as a noun, then the others followed.”

“You are so smart. You know that?”

“Nice of you to say, but I don’t think that bit of logic took any smarts.”

“I should ring up the Nobel Prize committee and tell them about you.”

“Right.”

“See what I did there? Verb.”

“Someone asleep could see that. How about an adjective?”

“My ears are ringing from the explosion.”

“That’s pretty good. How about an adverb?”

“The only one I can think of is ringingly.”

“Yeah, that is pretty good. I ringingly endorse your Stream of Consciousness post.”

“Does that endorsement come with money?”

“No. I’ll stand you to a beer, though.”

“You ring my bell.”

“Get your key ring. You are driving.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – “Trick.”

October 31, 2020October 30, 2020 ~ John W. Howell ~ 31 Comments

It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday time again, and this week’s prompt is “trick.” Normally Linda HIll would come by to deliver a complicated prompt in person. This one is quite simple, and she sent it by Uber Eats. Thanks, Linda, for the brioche and the prompt. Her only caution is, “To use it any way we want and to have fun.” I think I can do that. If you would like to join in on the fun, visit Linda’s blog and read how; here is the link.

The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS Oct. 31/2020

“Shake.”

“What are you doing to that poor dog?”

“He’s not a poor dog, and I’m trying to teach him a new trick.”

“What new trick?”

“To shake hands.”

“But he has a paw.”

“You know what I mean,:

“Maybe he’s too old to learn a truck.”

“You believe that old saw, huh?”

“Well, I’m just sayin’. Does he do other stuff?”

“Just sit.”

“Hmmm. Maybe he is a one-trick pony.”

“Yikes, another cliche.”

“Are you giving him a treat?”

“A treat? No.Just a command.”

“Well, see. There might be the problem. You need to reward him when he performs the trick.”

“Okay. I’ll try it. Here, Bosco, I have this nice porterhouse steak if you’ll shake.”

“You are insane. He’s not going to buy the fact that you offer a piece of kibble and call it a steak.”

“He’s shaking.”

“Speaks to the intelligence of the animal. Want to go to the pub?”

“Um. Do I get a treat?”

“Sure. I’ll let you buy.”

“Sounds like a trick.”

“You think? By the way, congrats on working trick in along with ‘treat.’ Happy Halloween.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – “Starts with M”

October 24, 2020October 23, 2020 ~ John W. Howell ~ 40 Comments

It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday time again. Here is Linda Hill with this week’s prompt. “Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “starts with ‘m’.” Use any word that begins with the letter “m” as the subject or theme for your post. Enjoy!”

Okay, so here we go.

🎶”Mairzy dotes and dozy dotes.”🎶

“Okay, I give.”

“You remember that old melody?”

“Can’t say I do.”

“It was popular in the 40s.”

“Well, no wonder. I was born in the 60s.”

“Your loss.”

“Loss? what do you mean?”

“It was a cute song.”

“Sing it.”

“Naw.”