I was minding my own business today when a courier rode up and asked my name. Thinking maybe it was a process server, I told him, John Doe. He mumbled something about the Publisher’s Clearing House Sweepstakes, so I owned up to my name. Sure enough, it was an envelope from Linda Hill. I couldn’t wait to tear into it, and here’s what was written on the paper inside. Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “to your left.” When you sit down to write your post, look to your left. What is the thing closest to you? Write about the memories that thing induces. Enjoy!

When I sat down to write my post, Twiggy’s eel toy was the nearest thing to me laying on the floor. Here is a photo of it.

Eel by John W.Howell ©2021

“You are not serious.”

“Why? What’s wrong with talking about an eel?”

“That is a dog toy, for heaven’s sake. How much history could it have?”

“Plenty.”

“Yeah, right. Why didn’t you sit down next to a 25-year-old bottle of bourbon? Now that would be history.”

“Cause I drank it 25 years ago.”

“So, what is the history about the eel?”

“Twiggy likes to play tug o’ war with it. She’ll bring it to me and want to play.”

“Oh, snore.”

“Come on. It’s cute.”

“How long has she had this eel?”

“Since she was eight weeks old?”

“So over two years.”

“Yup. An antique in dog toys.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Dog toys don’t always last. This eel has been terrific.”

“Why was it out laying on the floor.”

“So that it will be ready to play.”

“You don’t mind having dog toys laying all around the place?”

“It is very thin. Doesn’t get in the way.”

“What about appearances?”

“What do you mean?”

“People will think you are a slob.”

“I wouldn’t want to dissuade them.”

“Why doesn’t that bother you?”

“Love me, love my dogs.”

“You sound like a nut case.”

“I have twenty bucks dedicated to nothing but beer.”

“Einstein.”

It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday time again, and as I was looking up at the rainclouds, I was hit by an envelope. It seemed to come from nowhere, and inside was what I was expecting. Yes. It was Linda Hill’s prompt. Here is what it said. “Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “may.” Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!” I have to find out how she does the airmail thingy. In the meantime, if you want to have fun visit Linda’s blog and read how easy it is. Here is the link.

https://lindaghill.com/2021/04/30/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-may-1-2021/

May by John W. Howell © 2021.

“Why are you standing out in the rain with your eyes wide open?”

“I’m trying to figure something out.”

“Like what?”

“How Linda Hill gets letters to drop out of the sky.”

“That is an obscure thing to ponder. What is going on?”

“This letter came floating down ad hit me square in the face.”

“Your prompt for this week.”

“Precisely.”

“How may I help you?”

“Did you read the prompt?”

“No.”

“May is the prompt.”

“Okay. So how may I help you.”

“Help me figure out how to have fun with the word ‘may.'”

“April showers bring May flowers?”

“Sheesh. That is going to get me nothing.”

“May the bird of paradise roost in your jammies and invite his family to a reunion.”

“Did you just make that up?”

“Yeah. Like it?”

“Loathe it.”

“May all your troubles be little ones.”

“That too.”

“May the wind be at your back and the road comes up to meet you.”

“Where are you getting this stuff?”

“Wait for it..”

“Don’t do the ‘May the force be with you.'”

“Shuckens you spoined it.”

“Shuckins?”

“May I buy you a beer.”

“The best one yet. May you live long and prosper.”

“Oh, Thanks. May your lips be wet and your pants dry.”

“I think that’s ‘feet’ dry. Poor Richard’s Almanac.”

“In your case, I think mine is more appropriate.”

“You’re going to get old too you know.”

“Hahaha. Let’s get the beer.”

“may I give you a lift.”

“Quit it.”

It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday time, and there was a small envelope lying on the front sidewalk. I opened it, and here is what it said “Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “mash.” Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!”

If you would like to have some fun, visit Linda Hill’s blog and read how easy it is. Here is the link https://lindaghill.com/2021/04/16/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-april-17-2021/

Mash by John W. Howell ©2021

“Why are you staring at the piece of paper. Oh wait, don’t answer that. It has to be Stream of Consciousness time again.”

“Yes, it is. This week is a one-word prompt that has me flummoxed.”

“Flummoxed, eh? Must be a big word.”

“You just get in from Toronto? No, it isn’t a big word. it’s a confusing word.”

“Like antidisestablishmentarianism?”

“No, like mash.”

“Mash?”

“Yeah, mash. What can you do with mash?’

“Oh, man. How about a song and dance?”

“Song and dance?”

“Yeah, Monster Mash and Mash potatoes.”

“No, everyone will do those.”

“Okay, then let’s go to sour mash.”

“Sour mash? What the heck is that?”

“The makins for whiskey. You get corn and let it ferment and—”

“That will be fine. We don’t need to go on about sour mash.”

“How about Mash 4077?”

“The TV show? Um, that’s another one everyone will do.”

“Okay, I’m close to giving up. How about an idea from you?”

“I could talk of the Mash bike.”

“Yeah, that would be a real crowd-pleaser.”

“At least it would be unique.”

“Like green hair.”

“It is getting close to lunch.”

“yeah, so what does that have to do with the prompt?”

“The pub is calling.”

“I’m always game for that. You need to complete your prompt exercise.”

“Okay, how about we have a black and Tan and . . . wait for it. . . bangers and mash.”

“You did it.”

“Yup, I did.”

“Let’s go. The first is on me.”

“Uber is waiting.”

A large box was left on the porch today. Since it wasn’t from Chewy, I was pretty sure Linda Hill had paid a visit with this week’s prompt. The box did have a sinister look about it.  Sure enough, after a precautionary soak in a tub of water, here is what was inside.

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “difference.” Whatever the word “difference” conjures first in your mind, write about it. Enjoy!

If you would like to enjoy little things like this and want to experience difference go to Linda’s blog and read how easy it is to participate.

Here is the link.

https://lindaghill.com/2021/04/09/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-april-10-2021/

Difference by John W. Howell © 2021

“Hey, there, my man. Why are you hanging that wet paper on the line?”

“This is the prompt from Linda Hill.”

“Why is it wet?”

“I wanted to make sure it wasn’t from a bomber, so I soaked the package in water.”

“Surely you know the difference between Linda’s messages and something strange like a package from a bomber?”

“I don’t like to be called Shirley. Yes, I know the difference between a Chewy box and Linda’s. This one looked a little strange.”

“How so? Give me an example of the difference.”

“The return address on this one was blacked out.”

“Yeah, okay. That does show a difference.”

“There was a printed warning on the side.”

“What did it day.”

“Explosives – Do not drop.”

“A total difference for sure. Anything else?”

“Another note.”

“Which said?”

“Loud ticking is normal.”

“Hahahaha. I think Linda was playing a trick on you.”

“See, that just shows the difference between you and me.”

“What difference?”

“You laugh at everything.”

“And you frown at everything.”

“Like I said, there is a difference between us. You see the glass as half full.”

“And you see the glass as half empty.”

“Speaking of.”

“Yeah, a nice full glass of beer.”

“You’re turn to buy.”

“I’ll make it a pitcher.”

“Even better.”

“Viva the difference.”

Who thought up this stuff anyway? That’s a question we don’t have to answer cause we know it is Linda Hill. She left this message for all of us. “Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “start with who/whom” Begin your post with either “who” or “whom” and go from there. Have fun!” If you would like to have, fun go to Linda’s blog and see how easy it is. Here is the link.

https://lindaghill.com/2021/04/02/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-april-3-2021/

Who/Whom by John W. Howell © 2021

“Who are you talking to?”

“You know you should really clean up your grammar. One should not end a sentence with a preposition.”

“Okay, let me rephrase that sentence. Who are you talking to, Idiot?”

“Yeah, somehow the rightness of that gets lost in the translation.”

“So who is it?”

“I was talking to myself, if you must know.”

“Nothing unusual going on here. Must be a prompt thing.”

“Yes, we are to start the post with who or whom and go from there.”

“You’ve started well. To who are you going to be directing your writing?”

“To whom.”

“That’s right.”

“No, It’s not right. You said ‘to who.”‘

“I know I did. You still haven’t told me.”

“To whom. To whom are you directing your writing?”

“I’m not writing anything. You are.”

“I’m correcting what you said. You said ‘to who’ and it should be ‘to whom'”

“Beats me.”

“What do you mean”beats me?'”

“I have no idea to who you are directing your writing.”

“At times like these, I wish there was a bounty on stupid.”

“Would you turn yourself in?”

“I might consider putting a note on my shirt.”

“What would it say?”

“To whom it may concern. Just shoot me.”

“Maybe a beer would make you feel better.”

“Who would argue with that?”

“You sure that’s not supposed to be whom?’

“Positive. Who is correct here.”

“You are always correct here. I’ll buy.”

“I think we will wrap this. who fest.”

“I still. like whom.”

“You would. Let’s go.”