Tuesday – Anything Possible – Kreative Kue #304 by Keith Channing

March 23, 2021March 22, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 54 Comments

In Keith’s words.

“Using this photo as inspiration, write a short story, flash fiction, scene, poem; anything, really; even just a caption for the photograph. Either put it (or a link to it) in a comment or email it to me at keithchanning@gmail.com before 6pm next Sunday (if you aren’t sure what the time is where I live, this link will tell you). If you post it on your own blog or site, a link to this page would be appreciated, but please do also mention it in a comment here.

Go on. You know you want to. Let your creativity and imagination soar. I shall display the entries next Monday.”

The Photo.

“I think I see something.”

“Yeah, right. Might be a mirage.”

“I don’t think so.”

“How can you say you see something. We have been on this trail for days, and there is nothing but grass on either side of us.”

“I’m telling you the road takes a curve, and just beyond is an oasis.”

“You are now getting on my nerves. Not only do you think you see something, but you call it an oasis. You better snap out of it. You are delirious.”

“Look, I’m a whole hand taller than you, and when I say I see something, there is something.”

“Fine. I’ll let it go, but when we hit civilization, I’m going to take you to a doctor.”

“You are going to eat those words in a few minutes. Let’s hurry. We are almost to the curve.”

“Do you know how hard it is to run carrying a full load?”

“You may want to drop that when you see what is available.”

“Drop it? I’ve been hauling this thing ever since we started.”

“And I told you when you picked it up, you were a fool.”

“Hey, what is that?”

“I told you.”

“Are you kidding me? It is an oasis.”

“Ha. What did I say?”

“I’m dropping this leave now. That s a fully stocked trash bin. Do you know how much stuff there will be in there for us?”

“Told you, told you.”

“Okay, you were right. Looks it has a metal pole as if that will keep us ants out of it. My pincers are watering. Time for a feast. I’ll bet there is a leftover french fry in there.”

“I’m looking forward to the sugar packet. Always my favorite.”

“And the cola. Let’s stop talking and get up there.”

“After you, my doubting friend.”

***

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

March 20, 2021March 19, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 45 Comments

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

“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.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – “Day/Week/Month/Year”

March 13, 2021March 12, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 65 Comments

It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday again, and I just got a Prime delivery. I finally got Lucy and Twiggy to calm down, so it’s time to open the box. There’s a note from Linda Hill. here’s what it says.

“Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “day/week/month/year.” Use one, use them all, use them any way you’d like. Enjoy!”

If you would like to join this enjoyment, visit Linda’s blog and find out how. I have to warn you. It is very easy. Here is the link.

The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS March 13, 2021

“You look pretty happy today.”

“I am. I just got the Saturday prompt.”

“Of course, you did, and it’s easy right?”

“All I have to do is write about the day, or week, or month, or year, or all of them.”

“Better get started if you’re going to do them all.”

“What do you mean?”

“A year is a long time.”

“I can’t write about the whole year.”

“Sure you can. Boil it down to the basics.”

“Like how?”

“Mask up, wash hands, stay home.”

“That does pretty much does summarize the year.”

“Try the month.”

“Don’t know where to start.”

“Come on. It’s easy. Mask up, wash hands, stay home, try to find a vaccine shot.”

“You nailed it. How about the week?”

“Mask up, wash hands, go drinking with a bunch of infected losers, and look forward to your COVID relief check.”

“Not bad. The day?”

“Mask up, wash hands and give me a beer from your fridge after you wipe it down with a disinfectant wipe.”

“You are a genius.”

“What are you waiting for?”

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Kreative Kue #301 by Keith Channing.

March 2, 2021March 1, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 63 Comments

In Keith’s words.

“Using this photo (below) as inspiration, write a short story, flash fiction, scene, poem; anything, really; even just a caption for the photograph. Either put it (or a link to it) in a comment or email it to me at keithchanning@gmail.com before 6pm next Sunday (if you aren’t sure what the time is where I live, this link will tell you). If you post it on your own blog or site, a link to this page would be appreciated, but please do also mention it in a comment here.

Go on. You know you want to. Let your creativity and imagination soar. I shall display the entries next Monday.”

The photo.

Kreative Kue

“Breakenridge, Cessna 174.”

“Cessna 174, go ahead.”

“I have an emergency.”

“You have Breckenridge Control, Cessna 174. What is the nature of your emergency?”

“I’m losing altitude but cannot explain why. Currently going through ten-thousand heading for nine.”

“Your nearest airfield is Hanover. Would you like vectors to Hanover?”

“Affirmative Breckenridge. Cessna 174.”

“Turn to 220 degrees maintain nine thousand. Contact Hanover tower at 290.5.”

“290.5, nine thousand. The problem is I just went through nine, heading for eight. Cessna 174.”

“Maintain eight thousand, switch to 290.5. Breckenridge out.”

“Hanover, Cessna 174 with you at eight thousand heading for seven.”

“Affirmative Cessna 174. Breckenridge said, you have a problem?”

“Roger that, Hanover. I cannot maintain altitude.”

“Understood, Cessna 174. What is your DG?”

“220 degrees.”

“Maintain 220 degrees. You. are cleared to land on runway 22. You are about six miles from touchdown. Do you have the runway in sight?”

“I’m not sure, Hanover. There is a double rainbow right in front of me. I’m having trouble seeing beyond it.”

“We do not see the rainbow from here. Can you look beyond it, Cessna 174?”

“No, It’s . . . uh . . . like a curtain.”

“Maintain your current rate of descent, Cessna 174. You should be at the end of the runway shorty.”

“I . . .uh. . . can’t”

“You’re breaking up Cessna 174. Did you say you can’t? . . . Cessna 174? . . . Do you copy Cessna 174? . . . Hanover to Cessna 174 do you read?. . . Cessna 174.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – “Sty”

February 27, 2021February 26, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 48 Comments

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

“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.”

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Kreative Kue # 300

February 23, 2021February 22, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 68 Comments

This is the 300th post that Keith Channing has created as a prompt. I joined his prompts after the 36th. So this means I have been enjoying and participating in Keith’s prompts since August 4th, 2015. Boy, time flies when you are having fun. Congratulations Keith on a fine job.

In Keith’s words.

Go on. You know you want to. Let your creativity and imagination soar. I shall display the entries next Monday.”

The photo,

Kreative Kue #300

Westward Ho by John W. Howell

“Amos. Come here and look at this.”

“What is it.”

“There is someone out in the south pasture on a lawn tractor.”

“I told you to make sure that gate was locked.”

“Never mind that. What is she doing there.”

“From my view, she’s mowing the hay.”

“We don’t want that do we?”

“I’ve thought it’s about time. I was just looking over the baler yesterday.”

“But she is cutting the hay, and look how it is blowing out in little pieces.”

“I think you’re right. That’s not the kind of thing we want. Hey, you on the tractor. in the pasture.”

“Me.”

“Are you on a tractor?”

“I think so.”

“Are you the only one in the pasture?”

“Besides you?”

“Yes.”

“I guess so.”

“So what are you doing here.”

“Heading West.”

“Heading West? On a lawnmower?”

“It’s the only vehicle I have.”

“But you are making a mess of my pasture.”

“I thought you would appreciate getting it cut.”

“The pieces are so small I won’t be able to pick them up.”

“Oh, I never thought of that.”

“You from around here.”

“No. I’m from New York.”

“New York City?”

“Yes.”

“And you came all the way to Iowa from there?”

“Yes.”

“Well, I have to give it to you. I couldn’t imagine doing that myself.”

“You want me to finish the mowing?”

“Maybe you need a break. What’s your name?”

“Jenny. Jenny Deere.”

“You wouldn’t be related to-”

“John Deere? Yup, he’s my dad.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – “Nerve”

February 20, 2021February 19, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 69 Comments

It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday, and I got a message attached to a snowball from Linda Hill. Here is what she said.

“Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “nerve.” Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!”

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

The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS Feb. 20, 2021

“You’ve got a lot of nerve.”

“Who you talking to?”

“The curbside food delivery people. Hold on. Okay, then just eliminate the light fluid but keep the antifreeze. Can’t do that either? Well, cancel the order then. Bye.”

“What was that all about?”

“I decided to order this week’s groceries on-line. After I placed the order, I got a notice that a couple of things weren’t authorized for curbside pick up.”

“Lighter fluid and antifreeze?”

“Yes.”

“Why do you need those?”

“Well, the fluid is so I can light my candles with my lighter.”

“And the antifreeze?”

“So I can protect my car engine from freezing.”

“Seems odd that you would wait for cold weather to protect your engine.”

“I drained some of the antifreeze and put it in my toilets.”

“What kind of insane person does that?”

“I didn’t want them to freeze.”

“Who said they would.”

“No one, it just makes sense.”

“To who?”

“Whom.”

“I mean, the heat in your house would keep them from freezing.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Tell me about the heat.”

“You know I have natural gas.”

“I didn’t, but go ahead.”

“The lines froze.”

“So your heater doesn’t work.”

“Right.”

“What about your pipes?”

“Might be frozen too.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Ask to stay with you.”

“Sure, no problem, but I meant about the frozen pipes.”

“Buy bottled water. Take a shower at your house.”

“The pipes are going to break with the expanding ice.”

“Nah.”

“Why ‘nah?”‘

“Drained out the water and filled them with some of that noxious liquor you gave me over the years.”

“The 25-year-old bourbon?”

“Yup, ten bottles filled them up, right beautiful.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“I could have used beer, but I didn’t have the nerve.”

“Okay, I give.”

“It would have been a big sacrifice. Besides, beer does freeze. Want one while it is still liquid?”

“Yeah, maybe. I keep thinking of that 1000 dollars floating around in your pipes.”

“It will still be there in the spring.”

“Never thought of that.”

“I saved the bottles.”

“Good man. Here’s to ya. You ready to go?”

“Got room for five cases of Bud?”

“Not at one sitting.”

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Kreative Kue #299 by Keith Channing

February 16, 2021February 15, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 67 Comments

In Keith’s words.

Go on. You know you want to. Let your creativity and imagination soar. I shall display the entries next Monday.

The photo.

“Hold on, everyone.”

“I can’t see my feet.”

“Looks like they are running out of shrimp.”

“Did you honestly just sneeze?”

“Where’s the help around here.”

“All you can eat for a buck?”

“Harold, you said this was an exclusive place.”

“Has anyone seen my wing?”

“Chicken wing.”

“Nah, stupid. My wing.”

“Hey, you there. That’s my serving.”

“Get your foot outa of mine then.”

“Where’s the manager?”

“Right here under y’all.”

“I’m never coming back.”

“Don’t let the door smack ya where the good Lord cracked ya.”

“Waiter. Wheres my wine?”

“You are kidding, right?”

“Yeah, make it a birdbath.”

“Anybody want to swarm after the meal?”

“Excuse me, madam. Take your wings off me. I’m not your husband.”

“You sure look like him.”

“I’ve been told that a lot.”

“Who wants dessert?”

“Is it included?”

“Yes.”

“What is it?”

“Suet paired with sunflower seeds.”

“Oh, yes, please.”

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Kreative Kue 298 by Keith Channing

February 9, 2021February 8, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 60 Comments

In Keith’s words.

Go on. You know you want to. Let your creativity and imagination soar. I shall display the entries next Monday.”

The photo

Kreative Kue #298

“Trevor. Oh, Trevor.”

“Over here, boss.”

“Over where? I can hear you I can’t see you, though.”

“By the hedgerow. Near the post.”

“There you are. What on Earth?”

“What on Earth indeed.”

“What happened?”

“I was minding my own business on the scent trail of that pesky skunk and all of a sudden I found myself stuck.”

“Can’t you back out?”

“That’s just it. I tried backing out but the snow clumped up on my behind and I got stuck.”

“It looks pretty free now.”

“Yeah, cause I started rocking back and forth to make room.”

“What stopped you then?”

“The skunk.”

“The skunk? How could the skunk stop you?”

“He came over and said he could get me out.”

“Your sworn enemy offered to help you?”

“Well, he said he could get me out if I made him a promise.”

“Uh-oh. That doesn’t sound good.”

“Tell me about it. He wanted me to promise never to chase him again.”

“What did you say?”

“I told him I could never make a promise like that.”

“What’d he do.”

“Walked away. So, now, can you get me out?”

“Sure but I need you to make me a promise.”

“What promise?”

“To never chase that skunk again.”

“Here we go again. I could never make that promise.”

“Well, this snow should be gone in a week or two.”

“Okay, okay. I promise not to chase the skunk again.”

“Repeat after me. And if I do.”

“And if I do.”

“I’ll sleep in the barn until the smell goes away.”

“Gee. I kinda like the smell.”

“Say it or stay here till spring.”

“I’ll sleep in the barn until the smell goes away.”

“Okay, I have you.”

“Thanks, boss. By the way, I had my paws crossed.”

“And I’m the only one who can open doors to let you in the house.”

“Yeah, good point.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt – The Beginning, The End

January 30, 2021January 29, 2021 ~ John W. Howell ~ 63 Comments

The end of the week signals Stream of Consciousness Saturday, and I see Linda Hill has decided to leave a big package at the curb. I don’t blame her since it looks heavy. The sign on the side says Prompt so, I guess this is it. Man, this is heavy.

Your prompt for #JusJoJan and Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “the beginning, the end.” Write about the beginning of something and the end of something. Bonus points if your first sentence contains “the end” and your last sentence contains “the beginning.” <– Read that again. Have fun!

So there you are. If you would like to join in, visit Linda’s blog and read how. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2021/01/29/the-friday-reminder-for-socs-jusjojan-2021-daily-prompt-jan-30th/

“The end of your life looks to have arrived.”

“No smart-assed comments. I have a real problem.”

“Besides your mental state, you mean?”

“Har de har har har. To the moon Alice.”

“Huh.”

“Ralph Kramden on The Honeymooners.”

“You are lost in the past, I see.”

“Did you ever see the show?”

“Can’t say I did.”

“Lot of good life lessons.”

“What has you all wrapped around the axle today? Please don’t tell me it’s the Hill prompt.”