Stop me if you have heard this one. The Coffee machine stands ready for the order. One could almost hear the click of heels as the coffee was promptly delivered. One sip and the clock came to mind.

The setting is 1941, and the location is Pearl Harbor, Oahu, Hawaii. The time is 7:55, and the duration is 110 minutes. The plunger is pulled, and we find ourselves on the deck of the battleship USS West Virgina. It is a beautiful Sunday morning, and in the distance, we can see what looks like a whole squadron of airplanes returning to Hickam Field on the island.

These are not American planes returning but 353 Aircraft – 40 torpedo planes, 103 level bombers, 131 dive-bombers, and 79 fighters of the Imperial Japanese Navy with the intent of sinking the American fleet at Pearl Harbor.

These Japanese aircraft were launched from the Japanese fleet north of Hawaii, which consisted of 67 Ships: 6 heavy aircraft carriers, 2 heavy cruisers, 35 submarines, 2 light cruisers, nine oilers, 2 battleships, and 11 destroyers.

In about one hour and fifteen minutes, Japanese planes destroyed or damaged 19 US warships and 300 aircraft and killed over 2,400 US servicemen.

As the West Virginia settles to the bottom of the shallow harbor, the alarm goes off, and we find ourselves back on the couch.

There is a text from Linda Hill. It reads: Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “Stop me if you’ve heard this one.” Write whatever comes to mind when you think of the prompt. Enjoy!

To see what others have done with the prompt, visit Linda’s post. Here is the link: https://lindaghill.com/2024/12/06/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-dec-7-2024/

Today marks the 83rd anniversary of the attack and a day that should be remembered. We are not going to the pub today but will be thinking of those who lost their lives.

The black machine just sits, waiting for a command. The touchpad offers selections to please every coffee lover’s taste. The conundrum is which to select. There’s the Americano, flat white, cappuccino, Latte, espresso, single cup, and double cup. My finger follows its muscle memory and selects the double cup. The icon lights up to let me know the order has been received. The grinding, groaning, and sputtering precede the slow delivery of fluid that makes life worth living again.

One sip and the clock comes to mind. It is set for November 23, 1924, in New York City, and the duration is an hour. The plunger is pulled, and we find ourselves at a newsstand on Lexington Avenue. We grab a newspaper and read.

The article states that Edwin Hubble announced his discovery that Andromeda, previously believed to be a nebula, is another galaxy and that the Milky Way is only one of many such galaxies in the universe. Hubble disclosed his discovery to The New York Times, and they broke the story. Hubble went on to publish a paper on December 30 after peer review and was presented by him at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society on January 1. The idea that our Earth and galaxy were unique has been turned over as a result.

Just as an order was placed with the hot dog vendor, the alarm went off, and we were back on the couch, having a strange craving for sauerkraut. A text has come in, and it is from Linda Hill. It reads: Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “use ‘just’ in your first sentence.” Use the word “just” any way you’d like in your first sentence, then just write to your heart’s content. Enjoy!

To see what others have done with the prompt, visit Linda’s post. Here is the link: https://lindaghill.com/2024/11/22/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-nov-23-2024/

Just by John W. Howell © 2024

“Just what made you pick a double cup?”

“What do you mean?”

“All those choices. You could have had something other than your usual.

“I just wasn’t in the mood for the others.”

“Well, I guess that explains why you only put catchup on your burger.”

“Anything other than cheese muddies the water.”

“Says the guy in a rut.”

“So what would you choose?”

“Right now?”

“Yes.”

“It comes in a brown bottle and goes by the initials of VooDoo Ranger.”

“Of course it does. Uber?”

“Right over there.”

“A 1978 Mercedes Turbodiesel Wagon. That puppy is a classic.”

“I thought you would like it.”

“That model was the first Mercedes wagon to be powered by a diesel engine. It was part of the W123 series, which was known for its reliability and durability. The 300TD was a luxury station wagon with a 3.0-liter, five-cylinder diesel engine that produced 123 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque”

“And who cares?”

“Well Dan Antion would and me of course.”

“You are putting the rest of us to sleep. Let’s get in.”

“Fine. I should make you buy.”

“Wait. Tell me more about the Mercedes.”

“Too late. Just get in.”

The coffee machine has the day off. Here’s what happened. Daughter went to Costa Rica and brought back some coffee. The coffee was already ground, so using the machine to brew a cup was not impossible, but it was close to it. A French Press was conscripted into action. Boiling water, tablespoons of coffee, and a four-minute wait was almost like camping out.

Finally, the cup is ready. The coffee is remarkably smooth compared to Columbian. It has a floral finish, which could be offsetting if one is unfamiliar with that element. The primary benefit of caffeine delivery is accomplished, so in the end, it is a success.

Just at the finish of the cup, the Westminister chime doorbell causes Twiggy and Tempeste to take up the protective high-octave warning system that can cause the ears to bleed. Wondering why people can’t pay attention to the “PLEASE DO NOT RING THE DOORBELL” sign is beyond me. The shutdown of the security system begins.

The turret machine guns are set to stand by, the boiling oil cauldron tipping mechanism is turned off, and the automated arrow launching pods are unarmed. In addition, the Trebuchet, ballista, and falling rock device are switched to manual. The claymore mines are set to manual, the mote net rolled back, and the concertina wire retracted. The Iron gate is raised, and the bolts are thrown on the front door.

Standing there is a guy with a mug that looks like Al Capone. He has a letter and says it needs to be signed for receipt. He also has a clipboard and tells me to sign on line four. I do that, and he hands me the letter. “Don’t leave town,” he says. Before my response, he turns and walks away.

I open the letter, which is from Linda Hill. Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “mug.” Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!

To see what others have done with the prompt, visit Linda’s post. Here is the link: https://lindaghill.com/2024/10/25/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-oct-26-2024/

Mug by John W. Howell © 2024

“There was no cartoon character.”

“Yeah, just a creepy guy telling me not to leave town,”

“What does it mean?”

“If I didn’t know better, I would say someone is trying to intimidate me.”

“Who would do that?”

“Beats me.”

“Should you call someone?”

“Like who?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe Yosemite Sam.”

“We don’t need that hassle, for sure. How about we go to the pub and forget it?”

“Imagine that. You bring up the pub. I have an Uber right over there.”

“Look at that. A 1940 Ford Tudor Delux.”

“Yeah, it’s a beaut. And good news. No bugs in the teeth either.”

“This can make one forget troubles immediately.”

“Good cause that is want needs to be done.”

“Let’s go.”

One knows when the machine is going to function correctly. There are no knocks or pings, and the aroma begins immediately. This knowledge comes from years of experience relying on machines for life-affirming elixir. Today is good in that the liquid pours from the twin spouts like it is happy to see me.

One sip and my mind turns to the clock. It is set for Saturday, October 18, 1924, and the location is the Polo Grounds in New York. The duration is an hour, and when the plunger is pulled, we find ourselves in the stands surrounded by screaming fans.

In one of the most anticipated games of the 1924 college football season, played before 60,000 at the Polo Grounds stadium in New York City, Notre Dame defeated Army, 13 to 7. Nationally syndicated sportswriter Grantland Rice wrote his famous “Four Horsemen” column published in the next day’s newspapers.

The article included the famous lines.”Outlined against a blue-gray October sky,” Rice wrote, “the Four Horsemen rode again. In dramatic lore, they are known as famine, pestilence, destruction, and death. These are only aliases. Their real names are Stuhldreher, Miller, Crowley, and Layden.”

Just as it was time to run on the field, the alarm goes off and we are back on the couch. A text from Linda Hill has this week’s prompt. It reads:

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “starts with ‘kn.’” Find a word that starts with the letters “kn” and 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/2024/10/18/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-oct-19-2024/

Kn by John W. Howell ©2024

“You went to Notre Dame, didn’t you?”

“I sure did. Got my MBA there.”

“I don’t think Notre Dame fans have changed.”

“No, just as enthusiastic as ever.”

“I’ll bet you all knocked back a few beers on game day.”

“That we did. Of course, being older, I was under control.”

“I’m sure you were. Your knack for keeping me in line should be applauded.”

“Speaking of that, did you contact Uber?”

“Right over there.”

“An old Dodge Ram?”

“An old Dodge Ram tanker, I might add.”

“The age-old question is, where are we going to sit?”

“There is plenty of room. I would wear your sunglasses, though.”

“why’s that?”

“There’s no windshield, so you need to protect your eyes.”

“Why do we get these junk heaps anyway?”

“Two extra VooDooRangers.”

“Huh?”

“We save enough for two extra VooDoo Rangers.”

“Okay, but who can drink two extra?”

“That is another problem. Here, let me help you get into the Dodge.”

A note on the coffee machine held in place by a clip made a heart-stopping announcement: THE MACHINE IS OUT OF ORDER. This is the message from hell. There is no signature and, therefore, no avenue of appeal. How can the machine be out of order? What manner of trickery is this? Who is responsible? All are good questions, followed by the sound of crickets.

There is only one thing left to do before my carbon unit goes into shutdown mode.

A trip to the coffee store is now a matter of life and death. There can be no delay since neurons in my brain are beginning to misfire. One fist won’t open so it is clear before any more symptoms develop, survival demands a shutdown of the security system and quick exit.

The turret machine guns are set to stand by, the boiling oil cauldron tipping mechanism is turned off, and the automated arrow launching pods are unarmed. In addition, the Trebuchet, ballista, and falling rock device are switched to manual. The claymore mines are set to manual, the mote net rolled back, and the concertina wire retracted. The Iron gate is raised, and the bolts are thrown on the front door.

There is a guy standing on the porch with a large carryout container of Dunkin Donuts coffee. “Is that world-famous author J.W. Howell?”

“Uh, I’m J. W. Howell”

“Good. Here’s your coffee.”

I take it in my only functioning hand and thank the man. He nods and then leaves. Not looking a gift horse in the mouth, a big sip of the magical liquid brings me back to life. Just as my memory returns, I feel the buzz of an incoming text. It is from Linda Hill and reads: Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “clip.” Use it as a noun or a verb, use it any way you’d like. Have fun!

To see what others have done with the prompt, visit Linda’s post. Here is the link: https://lindaghill.com/2024/10/11/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-oct-12-2024/

Clip by John W. Howell © 2024

“Did you ever find out what was wrong with the machine?”

“No. I did a self-repair and was good as new by the afternoon.”

“Who put the clip with the note?”

“I have no idea.”

“Who called for the delivery?”

“I know this will sound strange, but I think the machine did.”

“Oh, come on. Machines can’t do that.”

“This one almost seems alive. I haven’t told anyone this, but I lock the kitchen door when I go to bed.”

“You’re kidding.”

“No. I know it sounds nuts, but that thing gives me the willies.”

“Why not get a different one?”

“Cause it makes the best coffee.”

“Yeah, that reminds me of the old joke about the five-dollar-a-day workhand.”

“Haven’t heard it.”

“This farmer has a five dollar-a-day work and who burned all his crops and set fire to the barn and house. When asked if he fired the guy, he said. ‘No.'”

“No? why not?”

“His answer was, ‘Where am I going to get a five-dollar-a-day workhand to replace him.'”

“Good one, Henny Youngman. Order an Uber.”

“Right over there. You have a choice today.”

A new FJ40 Toyota Land Cruiser or..”

“Your old 1978 FJ40 Land Cruiser

“Wow, that is a tough choice. In fact, my old FJ brings a tear to the eye.”

“Don’t get carried away. Just choose.”

“I’m choosing the old one.”

“Good. Let’s go. Remember that the old one has a top-end clip of 60 miles an hour, so it will take a little time.”

“I’m ready.”

Waiting on the nectar that sustains all life. I’m not sure why it is taking so long, but to investigate, a fork is put into play to remove the inspection hatch plate. All seems normal until it appears the start button has not been pushed. This demonstrates the need for the glorious liquid before doing anything important.

Once started, the coffee is delivered post haste. The first sip suggests that a little time travel might be welcome this morning. The clock is set for October 4th, 1924. The location is Washington, D.C., and the duration is an hour. The plunger pulled finds us in President’s Park, south of State Place Northwest, between 17th Street Northwest and West Executive Avenue Northwest.

We are here at the dedication of the First Division Monument. The Monument commemorates those who died while serving in the 1st Infantry Division of the U.S. Army during World War I and subsequent wars. We arrive in time to hear Calvin Coolidge’s comments, which include dedication and speaking out against the Geneva Protocol, which would mandate all countries to seek arbitration of disputes in a world court.

The Monument inscribes 5,516 names of fallen heroes from WWI and over 7,000 additional names from subsequent wars. As Calvin wraps up his comments, our alarm goes off, and we land softly on the sofa. A text from Linda Hill comes in and reads:

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “fork.” 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/2024/10/04/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-oct-5-2024/

Fork by John W. Howell © 2024

“A lovely monument.”

“Yes, it is. Sad that it is necessary, though.”

“Yeah, I agree. That Geneva Protocol sounded like a good idea.”

“It did require countries to give up their ability to formulate their own response to aggression by another. It also allowed countries not signing up to do as they please. Long story short, no one was buying the concept.”

“I noticed you did October 4th when this is the 5th.”

“October 4th in 1924 was a Saturday, so I thought I would keep it the same day.”

“You really plan this stuff out well.”

“Sometimes, I reach a fork in the road. To the right is too much information. To the left, not enough. I have to choose the best course.”

“Yeah, I think the best course is the cocktail hour. Even beats the appetizer.”

“Okay, I get it. Did you call Uber?”

“Yup, they are here.”

“I love that. So secure. We could even have a VooDoo Ranger on the way to the pub. We should stop on the way and get some.”

“Maybe we could pick up a couple of bags of  money too.”

“Let’s not be talking felonies here.”

“I’m just sayin'”

“Just get in and mind your own business. Speaking of money, it looks like that’s what we have to sit on.”

“I’m game.”

“Just keep your hands to yourself.”

“Yes, boss.”