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.”

It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday time again. I just got a delivery from FedEx and see the return address is Linda Hill. The box is light but filled with bubble wrap. I have to keep this from Twiggy since she loves to pop it.`So here is the message.

Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “starts with cal.” Use a word starting with the letters “cal” as your prompt word. Have fun!

If you would like to join in for fun, visit Linda’s blog and read how easy it is. Here is the link.

The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS March 20, 2021

Starts with Cal by John W. Howell © 2021

“It’s Saturday.”

“I know.”

“What’s the prompt?”

“It starts with Cal.”

“Who’s Cal?”

“No one. The prompt is ‘It Starts with Cal.”‘

“So, Cal starts the prompt.”

“I think I’m going to need a paper bag in a minute.”

“You hyperventilating?”

“No to cove the fact that I’m drinking bourbon straight out of the bottle.”

“Why would you do that?”

“Okay I’ll try one more time. Listen carefully.”

“I’m all ears.”

“And no brains.”

“Aw, come on. Say it one more time.”

“Okay. The prompt today is words that start with C-A-L.”

“Aw crap. Why didn’t you just say so. Words like California, Calistoga, calcium, calculation, calendar, calm, and your favorite callous?”

“Yeah now you have it. What do you mean my favorite.”

“You just strike me as a calous person.”

“I think it is more dealing with the calamity that is you makes me look that way.”

“I’ll buy that. I think it’s time for a barley and hops caloric hit.”

“You buying one who is called flush?”

“Just refer to me as on call. How about a calzone too?”

“I had my mouth set for calamari.”

“Oh, that stuff gives me a rash. I’ll need some calamine lotion after.”

“Never mine. We can stick with the calzome but I will need some calamata olives.”

“Nice try but Kalamata Olives starts with a ‘C'”

“Let’s quit and go get a drink.”

“That’s the caliber I’ve been looking for.”

“Stop it.”

“Fine. You’re driving.”

It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday time again, and I looked up in time to see a balloon floating down into the yard. Not being cautious, I ran over since I could see an envelope attached to a string on the balloon. Sure enough, the return address was Linda Hill’s. I ripped open the envelope to find out the prompt this week. To my surprise, here’s the message. “Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “-sty.” Find a word that ends in “-sty” or use the word “sty.” Enjoy!”

If you would like to participate, visit Linda’s blog and see how easy it is to lose your grip[ on reality. Here’s the link.

The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS Feb. 27, 2021

Sty by John W. Howell © 2021

“I don’t even have to ask. You got the prompt for this week.”

“Why don’t you have to ask?”

“You have the ashen look of a person who is flummoxed.”

“I’m not flummoxed. I just can’t decide the direction.”

“What is the prompt?”

“Sty.”

“Like in the eye?”

“Well, that could be one but words that end in s-t-y or the word itself.”

“Describe your bedroom, and you’ve got it.”

“Meaning?”

“Pigsty.”

“Yeah, very funny, that is a different word.”

“Okay, you got me. What are you going to do?”

“Ask a friend for help.”

“You have one?”

“I think I need to do this myself. Honesty is not your strong suit.”

“Ah, don’t be testy. I was just kidding. Let me help.”

“Okay, I’ll give you amnesty. Any ideas?”

“How about talking about modesty?”

“Um. I would have to get into immodesty descriptions, and that might get me into trouble.”

“Okay, maybe discuss your rhinoplasty.”

“Nose job? I haven’t had a nose job. That would be an element of dishonesty.”

“Was an idea that came to be looking at your nose. Maybe a nice story of the desert. Your hero could be thirsty and out of his mind.”

“And then he becomes a bloodthirsty killer as a result.”

“Now you’re cooking. I’ll leave you in this feisty mode. You’ve got this.”

“Thanks for your help. I was too hasty judging your input.”

“Now that your prompt problems are over, how about a frosty one?”

“At the Zesty Pig Pub?”

“I think you are pushing it, but sounds tasty.”

“After you, your majesty.”

“Stop it.”