Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “Affirm”

February 2, 2019February 1, 2019 ~ John W. Howell ~ 55 Comments

It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday time again and this weeks prompt is, “affirm.” Linda Hill is not offering bonus points this week but does advise us to have fun. So with that in mind if you would like to join this merry band who like nothing more than having fun, visit Linda’s blog to read how to become involved. It is effortless. Here is the link.

The Friday Reminder and Prompt for #SoCS Feb. 2/19

“Hey there. Hello. Anyone home?”

“Oh, I’m sorry I was listening to a CD with my headphones on.”

“What you listening to, The Grateful Dead?”

“No, I’m listening to affirmations.”

“Affirmations? What the heck are affirmations?”

“It is a wonderful set of motivational speakers who talk regarding positive affirmations.”

“That tells me a lot. You can’t define a word using the word.”

“Yeah, I see that. Okay. These folks use soft words to help you feel good about what you are doing.”

“And you don’t feel good.”

“I feel terrific.”

“Why’s that?.”

“I think it is obvious.”

“Not to me.”

“Because I affirm I feel terrific.”

“How much did these CD’s cost you?”

“You just don’t understand.”

“I guess I have to wonder about self-affirmation.”

“I got it from all the other affirmations I received on the CDs.”

“Can you affirm me?”

“That might be hard.”

“Why?”

“Because you are a mess.”

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Kreative Kue # 204 by Keith Channing.

January 29, 2019January 28, 2019 ~ John W. Howell ~ 58 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.

“Shush.”

“What are you doing?”

“I’m trying to determine what is behind the door and I need to listen with no noise from you.”

“All I was doing was breathing.”

“You were snoring.”

“Was not.”

“Please hush now.”

“Okay, but I don’t hear anything.”

“From where you are I’m not surprised.”

“I’ll have you know that Russell Terriers have a very keen sense of hearing.”

“Blah, blah, blah. Now be quiet.”

“Oh.”

“What now?”

“I hear something.”

“Yeah sure, you do.”

“I do. I wish the folks were at home.”

“Why?”

“What’s the use of barking if there is no one to hear.”

“Says the terrier philosopher.”

“I mean it. Maybe we should put up an alarm anyway.”

“I wish you would be quiet.”

“Fine.”

“I think it is a wolf.”

“Yeah right?”

“I’m serious.”

“I’m staying in this bed then. You go get him.”

“You know I can’t open doors, right?”

“Then let’s just wait until he goes away.”

“Not very dog-like.”

“But no one will know if we bark.”

“The wolf will.”

“Good enough for me. Here goes.”

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Kreative Kue #203 by Keith Channing

January 22, 2019January 21, 2019 ~ John W. Howell ~ 61 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.

“Captain Tom this is Houston.”

“Go ahead Houston.”

“Is this Captain Tom?”

“Excuse me but are you new to the team?”

“Yes. Why do you ask?”

“Do you know how many of us are here?”

“Where?”

“In outer space.”

“Well, I’m quite sure we are not alone if that’s what you mean.”

“Okay let me start over. You called for Captain Tom. I answered. You then asked if I were Captain Tom.”

“Yes so?”

“Who the heck do you think I am?”

“No need to be prickly. I was just following protocol.”

“I’m sitting in this cramped capsule which as far as I know is the only cramped capsule orbiting the Earth right now. You called me and then have the cheek to ask if I am Captain Tom.”

“I’m beginning to see your point. You are on a mission, and the only one on that mission, and I called you.”

“What does that tell you?”

“Since we are on the same frequency I would guess that you are Captain Tom.”

“So why did you ask? I know I’m making a mountain out of a hillock but with nothing else to do and it being so damn cold, I am curious.”

“That is an interesting saying you have there.”

“Which one.”

“Mountain out of a hillock.”

“Yeah, so?”

“The saying we have is “mountain out of a molehill.”‘

“For heaven’s sake. What’s the difference?”

“Also you mention the cold.”

“Yes, I did. It is freezing up here.”

“What have you done with Captain Tom?”

“Here we go again.”

“It would not be cold unless the integrity of the capsule has been compromised.”

“If that were to happen you would see it on the telemetry.”

“Unless someone knows how to intercept the signal. Now before I hit the abort button tell me what you did with Captain Tom.”

“I ate him.”

“What?”

“He was just too tempting. Like a sardine in a can. In case you wonder, he was delicious. Go ahead and abort. I’ll just be waiting up here for the next one. TTFN.”

“TTFN? Your call sign?”

“No. Ta Ta For Now. Zoraggeue out.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “Television”

January 19, 2019January 18, 2019 ~ John W. Howell ~ 41 Comments

It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday and this weeks prompt is ‘television.” Linda Hil says we can write about our favorite programs of about the apparatus itself. If you would like to join in on this mind-bender visit Linda’s blog and read how. Here is the link.

The Friday Reminder for #SoCS & #JusJoJan 2019 Daily Prompt – Jan. 19th

“What is all this?”

“What does it look like?”

“Like someone put a bomb in the TV, and it went off.”

“I guess to the untrained eye it would look like a mess.”

“I know messes. Don’t tell me you are taking the TV apart?”

“I’m not taking it apart. I already took it apart.”

“Why in heaven’s name would you do that?”

“Didn’t you see that fuzzy picture last night?”

“Fuzzy picture?”

“Yeah during NCIS there was a blur through the wold show.”

“I have to say I didn’t notice it.”

“I don’t know how that’s possible. There were two Jethros. It even got worse towards the end.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t say anything.”

“I thought I said ‘Look at that picture.'”

“You said that when the good-looking wife of the murdered guy came on. I thought you were talking about her.”

“And you saw nothing unusual?”

“Nope. Now tell me how you are going to get all this back together again.”

“In the reverse order that I took it out.”

“Nice joke Mr. Wizzard. By the way, where did all those beer cans in recycling come from?

“What do you mean, ‘All those.”‘

“There are six cans in there.”

“I guess I drank them.”

“You guess?”

“Well, I sort of lost count.”

“You wonder why the picture was fuzzy huh?”

“Give me a hand here.”

“What can I do?”

“Lift the other side of the set and help me get it to the trash.”

“Learned anything?”

“Yeah. Number the beer cans.”

“What about the television.”

“We should read more.”

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Kreative Kue # 202

January 15, 2019January 14, 2019 ~ John W. Howell ~ 36 Comments

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

The photo.

“Where are we going?”

“It is a surprise. Just dress warmly.”

“Come on. Tell me where we are going.”

“If I tell you, then it won’t be a surprise.”

“Where is it written that I need to be surprised.”

“I think it would be fun is all.”

“Give me a hint.”

“Okay. We are going to the beach.”

“The beach? Are you crazy? It’s got to be twenty degrees out there.”

“I know that’s the fun of it. Who goes to the beach in the winter?”

“That statement makes me think you haven’t thought this through.”

“First of all, there will be no crowds.”

“I’ll give you that.”

“Secondly there is something big there that I want you to see.”

“Like what?”

“Okay. Since you are so insistent. It’s a sand castle.”

“You’re kidding right?”

“No. I’m serious.”

“This is the biggest sand castle in the world. It’s a wonder.”

“Can I wait until spring?”

“It won’t be there in the spring.”

“You sure there will be no crowds?”

“I guarantee it.”

“Can we go inside.”

“Yup. There’s coffee too.”

“Sold.”

“You’ll love it.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “Art”

January 12, 2019January 11, 2019 ~ John W. Howell ~ 52 Comments

It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday time again and this weeks prompt is “art.” Linda Hill directs that we should “Talk about something that’s hanging on your wall. Add a picture.” Well, that sounds fun. If you would like to join in on this type of escapade visit Linda’s blog and read how. Here is the link.

The Friday Reminder for #SoCS & #JusJoJan 2019 Daily Prompt – Jan. 12th

“Hey, Art.”

“What?”

“What are you doing?”

“I’m supposed to describe something hanging on my wall.”

“Other than the spaghetti from last night?”

“Very funny. No, I’m supposed to describe a piece of art. I can even include a photo.”

“Wow, you know how to have fun. So go ahead.”

“This piece of art was done by John Gable who lives in Maine. It is a watercolor and is titled, “Before the Parade.”

“Okay tell me more.”

“The painting shows two vintage automobiles waiting at the side of the road for the parade to begin. One of them is hardly visible. The cars will be in the parade, and you can see that the day is a warm one as the drivers are waiting in the shade.”

“Sounds like a slice of life.”

“Also a large truck is on the road and passing the two waiting.”

“So what does this painting tell you?”

“I would say that John Gable paints in a photo-realism style. He brings a level of detail into his work which is amazing. This looks like a moment in time captured forever.”

“When did you get this piece.”

“I was in Maine in the early eighties and bought it from John then.”

“I must say it is beautiful.”

“I agree.”

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Finger Point Prompt

January 8, 2019January 7, 2019 ~ John W. Howell ~ 43 Comments

Keith Channing is still away on holiday so I created another finger point prompt. This time I used Ian McEwan’s book Saturday. I opened it to page 165 and pointed at a sentence. The sentence reads, “Look,” he says. “It’s an orchid for your room.”

“So where are you from?”

“I live in Toledo, Ohio but am originally from North Dakota.”

“Wow. North Dakota can get cold, can’t it?”

“That is for sure. Sometimes it is twenty degrees below zero in the winter.”

“How did you find your way to Ohio?”

“I prefer to say I was pilfered from North Dakota.”

“That’s a strange word to use.”

“It is one of the words brought to my attention by my friend Marc. I use it because I was only a young boy when my parents moved to Ohio.”

“So here you are checking into a hotel in Florida.”

“I know. It is funny how life treats us, isn’t it?”

“Do you have any luggage?”

“I only have this urn and my valise.”

“An urn?”

“Yes. You see my parents asked me to take them to a warm spot after they passed. They are both with me here.”

“I’m so sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you. I don’t see it as a loss. I have the memories of them in my heart so I think they will be with me forever. I will be spreading them out in the warm water tomorrow.”

“Is there anything I can do?”

“You have already done it.”

“I don’t think I understand.”

“You have blessed me with your concern and that is the finest gift you could give.”

“I-I’m speechless.”

“Please believe me. Kindness and concern for others is a rare commodity today. You have a gift and I might even say you are blessed as well.

“I want you to have something. Look. It’s an orchid for your room.”

“How lovely. Thank you. Why the tears?”

“I’m not sure. Erm if you need anything just call the front desk.”

“I will. Thank you again.”

“Your room is down the hall.”

“We both know I’m not staying.”

“You’re a spirit aren’t you?”

“Yes. Yes, I am.”

“You have come for me, haven’t you?”

“I have. It’s time.”

“Should I be afraid?”

“Are you?”

“No.”

“There’s your answer. Take my hand. Walk with me.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “Ask Someone Else = Storage”

December 29, 2018December 28, 2018 ~ John W. Howell ~ 32 Comments

It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday and this weeks prompt is “Ask Someone Else.” Linda Hill says we should ask someone else for a prompt word. I did, and the word came back. It is “storage.” If you would like to run around and chase perfect strangers all the while begging for a prompt word, visit Linda’s blog and find out how you can uplift yourself to this level of social interaction. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2018/12/28/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-dec-29-18/

“Where have you been?”

“It is a pretty complicated story.”

“Okay, I have the time. What is this all about?”

“You know I participate in a prompt every Saturday right?”

“I’m all too aware.”

“Well, this week the leader directed that we ask someone else for the prompt word.”

“Yeah, so what’s the problem? Ask away.”

“You are pretty critical of this program, so I decided to ask a stranger.”

“I just think you go overboard sometimes. How did asking a stranger work out for you?”

“I asked several.”

“You couldn’t be satisfied with just one answer?”

“I didn’t get an answer.”

“Why not?”

“When I asked for a word the first guy thought I needed money and gave me a fiver.”

“That is a good thing.”

“The next person thought I was hungry and gave me their sandwich.”

“Still not too bad.”

“The third person thought I was being fresh and slapped my face.”

“Now it is starting to go downhill which I suspect is where this thing is headed.”

“The fourth person thought I was demanding their wallet and hit me in the face.”

“So we are slowly headed to the bottom of a giant mess. Go on.”

“The fifth person was a cop.”

“This is where it will end I’m sure.”

“I asked him for a prompt word, and he said ‘storage.”‘

“Okay, so you got your word. This still doesn’t let me know where you have been.”

“I found out what he meant by ‘storage.”‘

“Don’t tell me.”

“A euphemism for jail. Lucky for me the charges were dropped after I explained what I was doing to the judge.”

“You were lucky.”

“Not really luck.”

“How so?”

“The judge does the same prompt. he asked me for a word.”

“Let me guess the word you gave him.”

“You won’t get it ever.”

“Freedom.”

“How did you know?”

“Just lucky I guess.”

Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Prompt “Tin.”

December 22, 2018December 21, 2018 ~ John W. Howell ~ 44 Comments

Aggregating my thoughts today made me realize it is Stream of Consciousness Saturday and this weeks prompt is “tin.” Linda Hill instructs that we can use the word of a word containing “tin.” She also advises having fun and offers bonus points if we begin and end the post with the word “tin” or a word with “tin” in it. So now you know why there is an unusual beginning to this post. If you would like an aneurysm, please participate. You can do that by visiting Linda Hill’s blog and reading up on the latest mental health methods. Here is the link. https://lindaghill.com/2018/12/21/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-dec-22-18/

“This sign will be pinpointing some of my neighbor’s flaws.”

“I think you might be overreacting.”

“To someone who is afflicting me with such aggravation.”

“Tell me the situation, and maybe I can be helpful in deflecting your anger.”

“The guy lets his dog use my yard as a privy and is tainting my environment.”

“Did you have a conversation about the urinating?”

“Of course I did. He began advocating that it was really my fault.”

“Your fault? That must have been aggravating.”

“I’ll say. The brigantine suggested that I build a fence.”

“That does sound like he is conflating the issue.”

“I’d love to know what that means. It’s like I’m consorting with Merriam Webster.”

“It means mixing two elements. I think he is detracting from the real issue.”

“Yeah, no kidding. That’s why I’m dedicating this sign to him.”

“For what it is worth I think you will be escalating the tension.”

“I don’t see how. All this sign says is keep your dog off my property you disgusting idiot you.”

“What if someone put that up and was pointing to restricting your behavior?”

“If I were committing the same offense, I would expect it.”

“Well then, I guess I’m reluctantly consenting to your move.”

“Thank you so much for the attempt at correcting my behavior, but I must do this.”

“Need a hammer for detonating what I’m sure will be WWIII?”

“Very funny. I hope the guy at least finds this sign disrupting.”

“I think you will be ratcheting the tension ”

“I certainly hope so. By the way, do you have any turpentine?”

Tuesday – Anything Possible – Creative Kue # 201 by Keith Channing

December 18, 2018December 17, 2018 ~ John W. Howell ~ 32 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, with links to your own blog or web site, next Monday.”

The photo

Kreative Kue #201