Dan Antion

A Few Questions – SoCS

Modelo draft
One of my real bar buddies was helpful as a beta reader and a source of information while I was writing this.

The weekend is here and it’s time to step away from winter-prep and relax a bit. We’re at the bar, and Linda G. Hill’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt has been gnawing at me since I first saw it yesterday. I know where I’m going, but I don’t know how to get there.

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

If we were having a beer, you’d have a long list of questions for me.

“Hi Cheryl. Have you seen Dan?”

“Not yet, but you’re a little early, David. Can I pour you a John Howell’s Special?”

“You know what, Cheryl. I’m going to have a beer today. Give me one of those beers Dan likes.”

“One Modelo, coming up. Oops, I guess I’ll make that two. Hi Dan.”

“Hi Cheryl. I am going to have two beers, but not at the same time.”

“The other one is for me. I have some questions for you. I think I might get thirsty.”

“Well, then, cheers and fire away?”

“First question, where were you guys today? I drove by your house on the way in and your cars were both gone.”

“They were both in the garage.”

“Oh, I see. Cleaning the garage. That must be what you’ve been doing instead of raking leaves.”

“Raking leaves? David, it rained from Sunday night until Thursday. When was I supposed to rake leaves?”

“Are these the questions you’ve been waiting to ask me? I mean, you might want to consider finding a hobby.”

“No, I found this survey, and I want to ask you the questions.”

“I don’t do surveys.”

“I know, people online run surveys to collect data on you, blah blah blah. But this isn’t online, and we already know the answers.”

“We?”

“Cheryl and I know the answers.”

“Then why do you need me?”

“OK, we don’t know all the answers, but I bet we know most.”

“Cheryl, are you in on this?”

“Nope, but you are pretty predictable, Dan. I’ll play.”

“OK, what’s the first question?”

“What’s your favorite half-hour old TV show?”

“How old?”

“Doesn’t say, but let’s go with something that hasn’t been on the air this century.”

“Twilight Zone.”

“I knew that.”

“So did I, Cheryl.”

“Next.”

“What’s your favorite hour-long old TV show?”

“I could say Twilight Zone. Season four had hour-long episodes. Some are really good.”

“You can’t use the same show twice.”

“Does the survey say that?”

“Surveyor discretion.”

“Star Trek.”

“Which series, Dan?”

“Next Generation, Cheryl.”

“I knew that. You guys want another round?”

“I think we’re ready, Cheryl. Dan, what’s your favorite episode of…”

“I won’t answer that.”

“What? Why not?”

“It sounds like one of those ‘secret answers’ that websites ask for. I don’t want to share it.”

“Are you afraid I’m going to try to impersonate you?”

“Here are your beers. David, move on.”

“Let’s see, who’s your favorite character?”

“Oh, David, everyone’s favorite character is Jean-Luc Picard. Ask a different question.”

“Who’s your favorite co-star?”

“Stop. Before he picks Lieutenant Commander Data, let’s refine that.”

“Refine it how, Cheryl?”

“Dan, who’s your favorite periodically recurring guest star? But before you answer, give me a minute to write down my guess. David, you write down yours.”

“Why?”

“If you’re right, the drinks are on me.”

“What if I’m wrong and you’re right?”

“Then you add the price of a round to my tip.”

“OK, you’re on.”

“You guys want me to hum the Final Jeopardy jingle?”

“We’re fine, Dan, and I’m about to have a free beer. Who’s your guy?”

“Elementary, dear David.”

“Huh?”

“Woo hoo! I win.”

“Wait, what?”

“I win, David. I you owe me a big tip. You guessed ‘Q’ didn’t you?”

“Yes. I don’t understand his answer.”

“The character is Moriarty.”

“The question said, ‘periodically recurring guest star.’ Moriarty was only in one episode.”

“He was in two, David. ‘Elementary Dear Data’ and ‘Ship in a Bottle.’ Am I right, Dan?”

“You are, Cheryl.”

“You win Cheryl, but I’m surprised. Who doesn’t like Q?” “Q is an ‘all powerful’ being. Moriarty figures things out. I like him better, too.”

Some trees hung onto their leaves
Almost bare
I think the storms (maybe the squirrels) knocked a lot of seed out of the feeder
Colorful storm damage
This happened overnight
The storms blew off most of the leaves
Morning after the storms
The utility access corridor is still mostly green, but turning.
The sun is very low when I walk. It lights up the trees
Sunrise at the park
Rising over the park
One flag – Every American
Wow!
I’ve been watching. The trestle is almost visible
Yes, I have a peanut for you
The entrance of the park


If you like magical realism with suspense, action and a bit of family sarcasm, you will enjoy these books:

Knuckleheads
The Evil You Choose
When Evil Chooses You

Series page on Amazon

My profile page (and books) on Lulu

All available on Kindle Unlimited!

72 comments

  2. Wow… that last tree looks like it’s on fire! Awesome… thank you! We’re supposed to get rain on Tues. and possibly snow in the higher elevations (we’re at 4000 ft. and snow is supposed to show up at 4500 ft.). We shall see…

    Liked by 1 person

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  6. The WOW picture was a laugh-out-loud for me. That’s hilarious. I like the premise of this post: how we should ask questions even of those we think we know well. The connection to your reader-buddy was nice. Stories and questions go together, yes? As for Q, he gave me the willies.

    Liked by 2 people

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    • We often start with questions, Maureen. They always lead to stories. The real-life bar buddy holding the book has so many stories, he’s fascinating to listen to. We have all been encouraging him to write them down. Q’s character was well-played, but it’s easy when you’re all-powerful. Moriarty had to work at it, and he was clever and passionate. That’s what I like about him. I’m glad you liked Wow – I saw that and just started laughing. I hope you have a great weekend.

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      • I had mixed feelings about Moriarty because I was a confirmed Holmes fan, and it’s hard to see a literary figure adapted like that. I was VERY mixed about the ending in which they were sent off in an infinite hologram. Still wondering about that.

        Liked by 1 person

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        • I understand. It’s hard to imagine a character stepping out of a book. I had/have mixed feelings about the ending as well. I was hoping to see him return as a character, but that wouldn’t be possible.

          Liked by 1 person

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  10. So David drives past your house and notices when you are/not home? Made me laugh. My cross the street neighbor texted me yesterday morning asking if my newish next-door neighbor had a friend because she was talking to some woman on the street. People notice the strangest things.
    The photos with the carpet of leaves are so pretty. We had a maple that I would call ‘shedding its golden carpet.’ My husband called it ‘more damn leaves to rake.’ Happy weekend, Dan.

    Liked by 1 person

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  11. Like Maureen, I laughed out loud at “Wow”. Great shot.

    I like the sun rising over the park and the trees at the park entrance.

    “One flag — every American “. Beautiful sentiment. Old Glory looking proud.

    Boy, you have a LOT of raking to do! 🤗

    Enjoy the weekend. Freeze warning here last night. It’s only 28 degrees now!
    Ginger

    Liked by 1 person

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    • We were sitting at 30 when I walked. I will be walking around the yard with a rake today.

      I like that I am walking as the sun is rising. That will end soon. I guess I’ll get a few more days after we drop back to Standard Time, but most of the leaves will be gone.

      I think Cheryl (Rugb843) might be right about Wow. It does look like a dog’s nose.

      I hope you have a nice cool weekend, Ginger.

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  12. Hi Dan – ‘Wow’ is fun to see … but the russet burning bright leaves are beautiful in the sun – we’re at over 20 deg C today … (about 70 degF) … I’m happy and with very little wind – even better. I hate to think of a bad winter … we’ve enough horrors going on without thick white stuff and heavy frost: most definitely not awaiting with thrills the coming few months. Cheers Hilary

    Liked by 1 person

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    • We started out at 30°f (-1°c) when I walked this morning. We should climb about 30 degrees today. Time for some dreaded yard work. Those leaves are beautiful in the trees, but they are falling fast. Thanks for stopping by.

      Liked by 1 person

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  13. Gorgeous trees! And good Star Trek answers. I would not want to pick a favorite episode or specify a series, though “The Devil in the Dark” about the Horta, is very special to me. Moriarty is an interesting choice. I do like that he is multi-dimensional, assertive, and turns out to be an okay guy.

    Liked by 1 person

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  14. Good one Dan. However you are a tad more tolerant. No way I am doing a survey while relaxing having a beer. There is a solemn oath that goes with adult beverage time and surveys are not part of it. The only acceptable question is ‘are you ready for another one ?’

    Liked by 1 person

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  22. I have a few thoughts:
    1) Pretty fall photos. We’ve had color all month long and some nice weather and I hope you get same so you can rake.
    2) I didn’t make it to the bar yesterday because I was helping a friend with her raking. Way too many leaves. I forgot how much work that can be.
    3) I never liked “Q” much, always so smarmy and arrogant. I prefer Lwaxana Troi, especially the DS9 episode when she befriends Odo in a very sweet way. Or when she was sans clothing to get out of her wedding.
    4) In 2017, a friend and I went to a Star Trek convention in Chicago and Daniel Davis (Moriarty) was there signing autographs, along with Brent Spiner. The friend and I have photos of each other with Davis and Spiner in the background because we didn’t want to pay the big bucks for an autograph. Good times. :-)
    Hope you are having a good weekend, Dan, but maybe next time ask harder questions. Lol…

    Liked by 1 person

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    • I know they weren’t hard questions, Mary, but I had to get to the catch phrase that was stuck in my head all day. Lwaxana Troi would be a good choice, also better than Q.

      Raking leaves is hard work. I spread it out over several weeks. The trees that feed our yard still have most of their leaves, but I have three bags out for the pick-up crew tomorrow.

      That DS9 episode was very nice.

      I hope you have a great week!

      Liked by 1 person

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  24. I smiled and patted myself on the back…I knew the answers to the questions too. YAY. It’s so sad when a rainstorm takes out all the pretty leaves. I hope the weather turns nice so you have time to rake the leaves dry instead of wet. The concrete bear is adorable (I hope that’s what you saw too). As always, I love the flag photo, and I find it very sad that there isn’t an emoji with the RW&B. I hope you have a great week, Dan!

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