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

January 14, 2025January 13, 2025 ~ John W. Howell ~ 53 Comments

Today, I randomly opened a proof copy of soon to be published Detour on the Eternal Road to page 150. With my eyes closed, I pointed to the page. The word “stories” was closest to my finger and is the prompt.

“Come on, Dad, tell me one of your stories.”

“Aw, kid. I think you have heard them all.”

“That’s impossible. You’ve seen so much and have been all over the world. There has got to be one you haven’t told.”

“Well, let me think.”

“Oh, goodie.”

“Have I told you about the time I avoided capture by an enemy?”

“I don’t think so. Start it, and I’ll interrupt if you have.”

“Okay. Once upon a time—”

“Hold it. Heard that one.”

“I was just setting the scene.”

“Okay. Go ahead.”

“Who is the storyteller here anyway?”

“I’m sorry, go ahead.”

“I was minding my business and going into the pantry for a snack.”

“Lots of good stuff in there.”

“Excuse me.”

“What?”

“You want to tell the story.”

“No, but it does take you a while to get to the point.”

“Okay, then the point was there was this large chunk of cheese sitting on a wooden platform with some kind of spring-loaded metal apparatus held by a rod connected to where the cheese sat.”

“So it was a mouse trap.”

“How do you know?”

“Duh. There’s the internet, Dad.”

“So there I was, getting hungry and not knowing what to do.”

“So you grabbed something and threw it on the cheese, which sprung the trap, and you had a delightful meal.”

“So much for the story. I guess you heard it before.”

“Not really, it’s just what I would have done.”

“At least you know what to do if you are in the same circumstance.”

“And that’s why your stories are so valuable.”

“You think?”

“Now I’m hungry. Let’s go to the pantry.”

“Not now, son. The cat is roaming around.”

“I’ll bet that is another story.”

“Yeah, for another day.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – “it’s the little things.”

January 11, 2025January 10, 2025 ~ John W. Howell ~ 54 Comments

It is the New Year, and the coffee machine has been working overtime on special coffee requests. With a visit of Son and daughter, there were lattes, flat whites, and dark black coffees. It’s the little things that make a visit so lovely. The machine had a few days off, so it delivered my cup in record time. Taking a sip while cuddled next to Twiggy and Tempest was a short-lived moment of peace. The Westminster chimes uprooted the sleeping dogs, and like the rule states, they should have been left to lie.

Feeling the tiny droplets of blood from shattered eardrums, it is imperative to silence the hounds of Baskerville. A large Benny bone tossed into the bedroom, followed by a slamming door, settled the matter.

Of course, the security system needed to be disengaged before going to the door. The control panel made the process simpler. The boiling oil vats were put on standby, the Trebuchet on safety, the concertina wire rolled, the Claymore mines reset, the tower Gattling guns disengaged, the moat net dropped, and the IUDs and shoulder-held rockets put away. The locks on the door were thrown. The final camera check picked up the image of a guy with a shotgun who looked very much like Elmer Fudd. The AI message was delivered, followed by the snarl of a sabertoothed tiger. “Put down the shotgun.”

He dropped it and threw his hands in the air. The door opened, and he said, “No wabbit, just this message from Linda Hill.” Giving him a hands-down motion allowed the message to pass. “Take your gun and go.”

The Fudd lookalike disappeared around the house. The message was clear. Your prompt for #JusJoJan the 11th and Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “It’s the little things.” Take whatever the phrase “it’s the little things” brings to mind and use it in your post. Have fun!

If you would like to see what others do with the prompt, visit Linda’s blog. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2025/01/10/the-friday-reminder-for-socs-jusjojan-2025-daily-prompt-for-jan-11th/

“Why no history today?”

“Since this is my first Saturday post this year, and my friend Dan, who passed away in 2024, loved the security dismantling stuff, I decided to do it.”

“I hope he enjoyed it.”

“I’m sure he did.”

“It’s the little things that mean the most.”

“You have become a philosopher?”

“No. I just thought it was a great place to toss in the prompt.”

“Yeah, that makes more sense.”

“So, how was your time off?”

“It was great. Got a lot of visiting in and had some great food.”

“That is always good.”

“Yes, it is.”

“Speaking of good.”

“Here it comes.”

“Whaddya say to a few Voo Doo Rangers?”

“I missed last week, so they sound pretty good. Uber?”

“Right over there.”

“Okay, this is weird.”

“Why do you say that?”

“We don’t get that much snow where we are in Texas.”

“All the more reason for a unique ride.”

“So the three in the front is doable.”

“Yup. Checked it myself.”

“Did you get a deal?”

“Free ride except for one stop.”

“What’s the stop?”

“A detour to Oaklahoma.”

“Great. Where there is snow, right?”

“Right. It’ll be a great weekend.”

“Pub first.”

“Of course.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – My Year

December 28, 2024December 27, 2024 ~ John W. Howell ~ 78 Comments

The coffee machine has decided to take some time off for the holidays, which finishes my year perfectly. Since AI is new to me, there was no way to negotiate any other outcome. This morning’s coffee is being made in a French Press. We are in the four-minute waiting period, which seems like four hours. Finally, the press is ready. A slow, steady pressure is applied, and the grounds are squeezed to one-quarter their size. The Costa Rican coffee aroma hits the nose, and the first sip brings back the memory of the clock.

The clock is set for December 29, 1924. The location is Hollywood, California, and the time is two hours. A pull of the plunger and we find ourselves at Grumman’s Chinese Theater. We are here in time to see the premiere of the silent movie Peter Pan.

The adventure film Peter Pan, directed by Herbert Brenon and starring Betty Bronson in the title role, was released by Paramount Pictures (at the time, Famous Players–Lasky). The film was an adaptation of the J. M. Barrie play Peter Pan, or the Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up, which had premiered almost 20 years earlier (on December 27, 1904) and which Barrie novelized in 1911 in the book Peter and Wendy.

After the movie, our alarm goes off, and we find ourselves on the couch with a tub of popcorn. A text from Linda Hill comes in. It reads: Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “my year.” Use “my year” as the theme of your post. 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/2024/12/27/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-dec-28-2024/

“Well, that was a trip. Whatever happened to that silent movie?”

“After being considered lost, the film footage would be rediscovered at the Eastman School of Music in the 1950s and restored. In 2000, the Library of Congress selected the film for preservation in the National Film Registry.”

“I would like to see that movie.”

“I know you can buy it on DVD from Amazon.”

“Oh. I was more or less thinking of free viewing.”

“Ah. It is on YouTube. Here’s the link https://youtu.be/KregKeKX9as”

“Yeah, that is much better. Gotta keep room in the budget for the VooDoo Rangers.”

“You haven’t paid for a VooDoo Ranger in years.”

“I know, but this may be my year to do it.”

“You are running out of time. Did you call Uber?”

“Yup, he’s right over there.”

“You are joking, right?”

“Got a great deal.”

“I’ve said a hundred times we don’t need great deals on an Uber.”

“How’s free?”

“Really?”

“Yup, and all we have to do is hold some electrical wires for the guy.”

“Hold some electrical wires? You mean like up in the air.”

“Yeah, in the bucket while he splices them onto the power grid.”

“Power grid like a billion watts power grid.”

“Well, yeah. He said there’s nothing to it, and it is only a half hour of work.”

“Why I go along with this, I’ll never know.”

“Also, wear your rubber boots.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – Wish

December 21, 2024December 20, 2024 ~ John W. Howell ~ 68 Comments

Linda Hill’s prompt today is ‘wish.’ Here is what she says about it. Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “wish.” Use it any way you’d like. Enjoy! If you want to see other posts on this prompt, go to Linda’s blog. Here is the link https://lindaghill.com/2024/12/20/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-dec-21-2024/

I can only think of one way to use this prompt. Here it is.

“That was an oldie.”

“I wanted to play the Jimminy Cricket solo, but Disney won’t allow it.”

“What do you mean?”

“The video owner won’t allow playing it on other venues.”

“Well, at least you got the song.”

“Yeah. When You Wish Upon A Star was a boyhood favorite.”

“It’s from the movie Pinocchio.”

“That was released a long time ago.”

“1940.”

“Before you were born?”

“Not long before. I was born in 1941. The movie played when I was a kid. I suppose it was a re-release.”

“It is a beautiful song. Makes me think of a wish.”

“Don’t even tell me, or it may not come true. Did you order Uber?”

“Yup. He’s right over there.”

“I see he some trees.”

“I think they are going with us to the pub.”

“Now that is festive.”

“Notice it has a back seat.”

“I’m so pleased. It will even be a warm ride.”

“Well, we must watch out for you oldsters after all.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – ‘Food’

December 14, 2024December 13, 2024 ~ John W. Howell ~ 51 Comments

After putting the food for breakfast into Twiggy and Tempeste’s bowls, it is time for coffee. Thinking a change would be good, the coffee machine was ordered to brew a Latte instead of the standard straight 10-ounce cup. The button is pushed, and nothing. The machine stares back at me as if a big mistake is about to happen. The touchpad asks, “You sure?” Once more, the order is confirmed, and the sounds begin almost like the machine shrugs what could pass for shoulders. Steamed milk followed by a shot of espresso and then foam.

Grabbing the finished product and taking a sip turns the mind to the clock. Today, the clock is set for December 14, 1924. The location is Fairfield, Montana, and the duration is thirty minutes. The plunger is pulled, and we arrive in Fairfield in time to see a record being set.

The town of Fairfield, Montana, set a weather record for most significant drop of temperature in a 12-hour period, from 63 °F (17.2 °C) at noon to −21 °F (−29.4 °C) at midnight. It is now midnight, and my cheeks are starting to crack in the cold. Being caught in twenty-one degrees below zero temperature in PJs is not the most comfortable thing in the world. Just as my Lattee begins to freeze, the alarm goes off, and we are back on the warm, comfy couch.

Linda Hill sent a text. It reads, “Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “food.” 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/2024/12/13/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-dec-14-2024/

“Well, you had no trouble with the food prompt.”

“No, it seemed to flow with the morning routine.”

“How was that Latte anyway?”

“It was great in liquid and popsicle form.”

“Hard to believe that big of a temperature swing in twelve hours.”

“Yeah, I can tell you that the temperature below zero was cold. I heard some guy say it was a dry cold. It was cold, cold.”

“Don’t you think next time you should wear something more substantial than PJs?’

“Yeah, I didn’t think that one through.”

“Did anyone want to loan you a jacket or anything?”

“No. An old guy asked if I needed any food, but that was it.”

“Lucky you weren’t put in a mental hospital.”

“I suppose. Never gave that a thought either.”

“I have a thought.”

“Bubbles, amber liquid, thought of a food in some parts of the world?”

“I think you are on to me.”

“Call Uber.”

“He’s right over there.”

“I see we are going first class.”

“At least there is a backseat.”

“I’ll give you that. But not much more.”

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Prompt “crush”

December 10, 2024December 8, 2024 ~ John W. Howell ~ 64 Comments

On Sunday, I was reading Michele Lee’s post, which contained some photos from her trip to Peñesco, Mexico. I couldn’t help but be taken by the image below. So, here is one of Michele’s photos instead of a finger-point prompt. You should visit her blog. It is special. Thank you so much, Michele.

“Excuse me, sir. Do you know how fast you were going?”

“Yes, I was doing five miles an hour in a 30-mile an hour zone.”

“That is exactly right.”

“So, what’s the problem?”

“Do you know how dangerous driving 25 miles an hour below the speed limit is?”

“No, I don’t.”

“You could be hit from behind.”

“Oh, I don’t think so.”

“What makes you say that?”

“I am a student of psychology, that’s why.”

“What does being a student have to do with getting killed by someone who doesn’t realize you are going so slow?”

“It has everything to do with it.”

“Okay, explain.”

“If you tell people to do something, the human tendency is to resist and mostly do the opposite. It’s human psychology.”

“I’m still having trouble seeing how this fits the situation.”

“Look at the sign on the back of my cart.”

“Yeah, okay.”

“It says machaca, which is Spanish for crush.”

“Still don’t get it.”

“When someone coming up behind me reads the sign, his psychology will make him do anything but hit me.”

“So you are saying that instead of crushing you, the person will do anything but.”

“Exactly.”

“Answer me this, Professor.”

“Yes?”

“What if they don’t read Spanish?”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – Stream of Consciousness – Stop Me If You Have Heard This One

December 7, 2024December 6, 2024 ~ John W. Howell ~ 66 Comments

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.

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Finger Point Prompt – Hand

December 3, 2024December 2, 2024 ~ John W. Howell ~ 58 Comments

Today I randomly opened Eternal Road – The final stop to page 31. Without looking, I pointed to the page. The word hand was closest to my finger.

“I appreciate the hand.”

“No problem. We’ll knock out this job in no time.”

“It would have taken me forever.”

“I thought you had tacked a pretty big project.”

“Well, you know how it goes. We always think we can do more.”

“Yeah, I have been there.”

“We could use some more material.”

“What do you think we should use?”

“For that west side, I think something of substance.”

“Yeah, the wind comes through from that direction. It can get pretty cold. Especially up this high.”

“I hate to send you all the way down, but I don’t know any other way.”

“I happen to know of an abandoned place just over the hill. I could go there and get what we need.”

“That’s real close, too. How do you know it’s abandoned.”

“I used to live there. My wife ran off with another.”

“That’s strange. My husband did the same.”

“You don’t suppose?”

“They went together?”

“I thought eagles mated for life. What is up with that?”

“It is a mystery. I really wasn’t sure why I was building a nest anyway.”

“I’m glad I came along. I think there might be a reason to build it.”

“You mean?”

“You and I could build it and have a family.”

“What a great idea.”

“I’ll go get the sticks. Then I’ll catch a nice trout, and we can have lunch.”

“That sounds so good. Hurry back.”

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Finger Point Prompt – Call

November 26, 2024 ~ John W. Howell ~ 62 Comments

Today, I randomly opened Circumstances of Childhood to page 251 and pointed to the page without looking. The word closest to my finger is “call.”

“There is a call for you.”

“For me? I don’t know anyone who would call.”

“Well, it is obvious that it’s for you.”

“I am really confused. Who would be calling me.”

“Why don’t you answer the call and find out.”

“It could be someone selling something, that’s why.”

“Oh, come on. You can just say no, right?”

“You would think, but I’m a pushover regarding sales pitches.”

“How about I go with you, and if it is a pitch, I’ll tell them no.”

“You would do that for me?”

“Of course.”

“Since it is Thanksgiving time, I just want to say I’m thankful for you.”

“Aw, that is sweet.”

“Okay, let’s go answer the call.”

“On second thought, maybe we should just stay here.”

“Why a change of mind?”

“There is something strange about that call.”

“Like what?”

“The quack sounds artificial. Listen.”

“Yeah, I hear what you mean. Wait a minute. Do you think duck season has opened?”

“I’ll bet you are right. You better lay low.”

“How about you?”

“I don’t think goose season is open yet. If it is, though, I think the turkeys have more to worry about.”

“Let’s just stay here.”

“Good plan.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “Just”

November 23, 2024November 22, 2024 ~ John W. Howell ~ 68 Comments

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 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.”