The yearly rap........

You know better. I can't rap.  I've got the rhythm of a pencil, and can't move unless I'm pushed, pulled, tugged, yada. (And oft times, not real sharp)

It was a typo, I meant wrap.

Not, hopefully, a personal wrap, but, stuff all, some, most, maybe even none of us went thru.  Things we might not know.. or, maybe forget.

The struggle is, can be, might be, fer sure can be - real.  Combat veterans sleep interrupted by the sounds and sights of war.  WE CANNOT IMAGINE YOUR STRUGGLE, and we are all so very, very thankful for your service, dedication - and, for, the Freedom in our Country you've provided on our behalf.

Happy happened in 2025.  Marriages, births, starts.  What better than programming where you are into your phone (or, mebbe with the help of ma/pa if you're a newborn), have a destination (or not) and then press that GPS START button for the first time.

The economics of the decade, coupled with the coupling of a couple - will hopefully help to pay fitty percent of the light bill, rent, mortgage, Piggly Wiggly bill, insurance, taxes, STOP VICTOR...  you get the drift.  That, and, I reckon it's especially nice to have conversation in the Sealy Posturepedic. (I need to tread carefully, because after yesterday's blog where I mentioned the happy lady donning her negligee (hubba hubba style) then greeting her honey when he entered the bedroom door as if he'd just returned from a six month military stay in Cambodia EVERY. SINGLE. (and married too) FEMALE. RAN. OFF. EXIT. STAGE. LEFT. RAISED. EYEBROWS. I. EVEN. FELT. SOME. VOODOO. PINS. IN. MY. SIDE.  SORRY. KINDA. I. GUESS.

Then, IF your start, year, did include a mate on the mattress, mebbe it had to be sleep number - we all gots our differences.  Hopefully, those coupled that ya gotta sleeper sofa just in case of LOUD snoring, 'I got Covid', 'I'm gonna read until 3am', "WHAT DID YOU SAY ABOUT MY MOTHER!", or even, "Hells bells, there's too many dogs, cats here, I can't breathe. heading to the sleeper."  And then, there are smooches, that's always nice. (I DID NOT EXPOUND!)

And them there baby starts.... sometimes, WEEEE DOGGGIIEEESS, pew, ain't it your turn to change the diaper?  Baby coos... smiles... HEY, he/she looked me in the eyes, I swear!  Heartbeat heartbeat heartbeat.  Harvey, the basketball you got him for Christmas was wonderful, but mebbe, let's let him start crawling first eh?

Victor... if you're gonna share the view from mom and dad's shoes regarding the little one... ain'tya gotta do so in lyrics?  I thought you'd never ask, thanks..

When I was just a little girl
I asked my mother, "What will I be?"
"Will I be pretty? Will I be rich?"
Here's what she said to me

“Que Sera, Sera”

Whatever will be, will be

The future's not ours to see
Que será, será
What will be, will be"

Victor, that ain't a recap... that's wondering what life will be!

You mean.... you mean like... the WEATHER?  The price of a pound'a ground beef at The Piggly? (And I don't mean the 20 pound hella long roll, I'm talking 16 ounces here boss).. Gas at Casey's..  The price of tea in (to/from) China?  The Chiefs?  DON'T GO THERE VICTOR.

Gotta, sometimes crap just happens.  Honey, we (gotta flat, are outta gas, the power steering is really hard to steer, the temp gauge is just this side of Death Valley).. "Yeah but, you made that call to sign up for AAA last month didn'tya?"  And again, this is where the sofa sleeper comes in handy.

UP's, girls night out...golf, just the fore of us.. wonderful, unplanned meetups with the neighbors on a beautiful Summer night in lawn chairs in the cul-de-sac. Birthday parties, mylar balloons, colds/flu/Covid passed on by "Now blow out the candles Louie! Cake and ice cream everyone eat up!  Victor, that's a DOWN. Oh yeah, sorry. Downs happen too. Like:

Colds, flu, when you're sliding into home and your pants are full of foam, diarrhea..  wasps, spiders... Honey? Can you get ridda the mouse in the trap? Eww.   Layoffs... I'm getting transferred to Boise?  Hey, how do you get this rope back in the lawnmower? Did you read Victurd's blog today?  Well don't. It was stupid, horrible even.

Our eyes hurt because of......... Candy Crush.. Size 10 type.  The sun.  Reels, hours and HOURS of reels. Facebook...  A 10pm drive, "Agnes, line me up (grab the wheel) if ya needta, I can't see these damn white lines"..  

In 2025 we ate bugs (uh huh, 1 to 2 pounds per Google), peed a bit before we got there (SPEAK FOR YOURSELF VICTOR).. on that one, I was.  The car wouldn't start.  Door dings.  Itchy itchy rashes.  We threw clothes away, took some to Goodwill, hit up Kohl's, and, bought some from the dead people's store.

We laughed.  A lot. Thankfully. Over mostly stupid stuff, but too, a lotta really hilarious stuff.  Movies, TV, steaming, Prime'ing, BFF's, around the table playing pitch, the back pew of the church shhhhhhhhh!  And then, the next time we see that person that really made us laugh, it's almost as good as leftovers from the fridge!

We feel good.  We have energy.  We walk.  We swim, ski, sled, DANCE regardless of who is watching (or is it irregardless? I always have to check with my cousin, the English teacher, that and affect/effect).. 

We followed routines...  We did something different. We seen new stuff. (Victor, it's 'we saw new stuff." Thanks teach!).. 

Wiki, Google, hell, mighta been AI tells us, "While there is no exact scientific study counting yearly pet-directed words, people talk to their pets a lot, potentially thousands to tens of thousands.. Not me.  "I'll be right back oochie coochie, I'm just going to the gas station."

Sometimes, that's a lot more that we do to the folks on Caller ID.  Some'a them we rarely answer, some, the spam ones, we block.. yet others, we "It is SO GOOD (Right Neil Diamond) to see your name pop up here! I've wondered howintheheck you are! I'm gonna make a note NOW, that in 2026 I'll call YOU first!

We have a lot in common.

And we don't.  I'm black. I'm Jewish. I'm single, divorced, married, widowed.  I hate books.  I've read over 200 so far this year.  I drive a (Chevy, Ford, Benz, moped, Raz'r, geezer scooter.. DO NOT MAKE FUN OF ME.)  Of course we all watch Channel 9.... or 4... or 5.. or Fox, or CNN..   I have cable, I stream, Analog for me, I ain't payin' nuttin'.  I love (hate) sports.  I can't wait to go to (I've never been within a mile of ) The Kauffman Center.  Wanna go to the zoo?  YES! NO!

Let's eat!  Meat and potatoes for me! I'm a vegetarian.  (Pleaose don't shoot me niece that's now in your 40's but I will never forget, and I ain't making fun, I LOVED IT, when you said "When I grow up I wanna be a vegetarian."  Victor, you're mean!  People were mean in 2025.  Really nice too.

I need to run, which, should not be confused with the runs, or, not laughed at due to the fact I simply can't run any longer....   It's just one of the many things we did in 2025. Ran. Walked. Skipped. Hopped.  Drove. Sat.  Rode. Flew. Choo choo'ed. Hugged.  Kissed. High fived, fist bumped, shook hands.  We fell in and perhaps out of like with some folks.  Some, we dug, loved even more.

Frank?  Whadda you say?  "When I was 17, it was a very good year."

It was a very good year.  It sucked.  Meh.  Judging by recent pics, videos, I tend to disagree, but, I always enjoyed Joe Namath's "I can't wait until tomorrow 'cause I get better looking every day."

I'm guessing next year we'll love, hate, get sick, feel awesome, overeat, be hungry, worry, lay on the beach notta care in the world... just like last year... er, this year.

Happy Gnu year........ Victor? You ever seen a pic of a Gnu?  They're HORNY!  Oh crap, there go the women.

Eh to those still here, Happy New Year.

Love, Victurd

I don't like you.... but I love you......

For those old, like me - that's from the song "You Really Got A Hold On Me" by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles from 1962.  Victor, you ARE old.  Uh huh.  Lucky, blessed, I call it.

Just spit it out Victor, what are you trying to say?

I'm not fully sure. I spend an inordinate amount of time in the early mornings (and, basically all day long, all night long, long time eh?) thinking about life, the human brain, and how the two match up...... or don't.

I was discussing Wendy's chili with a loved one.  She'd never had it, oh man, I LOVE me some Wendy's chili.  A couple weeks ago, I drove thru to get some chili. (and a baked tater, AND, a medium Vanilla Frosty)  Ya pull in, they have their little fake, recorded greeting before a live body comes on (I always look, pick my nose while I wait. JK, but, it does kinda sound fun.)  The real live person was perky, fun, nice.

Then........ I get to the window.  I was perked up by the perked up Wendy's microphone person - and I get to the window, hand the lady (Jan, her name tag said, NOT the microphone lady) my dough...(no hello, but only "$10.67")... so I offered "Wendy's chili is THE BEST!"...  almost under her breath... with 'excitement' like Ben Stein calling out Buehler... Buehler.. Ferris Buehler, she monitoned, "uh huh, that seems to be the general consensus"... but, what I REALLY heard was "please take your 33 cents and leave me the hell alone Mister, I get off in three hours. and that's all I long for."

Then, next window (Diane, her badge said) fired the biggest ole grin at me as she handed me my food, asked how I was doing.. .  I wasn't able to fuss or gripe because she gave me a spoon for the chili, anuther for the Frosty, and yet also a knife, a fork for the taters, butter, extra crackers AND napkin.  Then, flashing them pearly whites, she chirpily added, "Can I get you anything else?"...no, but ty. "Hey, have a great evening!"  U2

I think I was the most important customer to her, but then again, the lady behind me in the SUV prolly was too... and the dude in the F1-fitty behind her... the kid in the Nisson.. WE GET IT VICTOR, WE GET IT.

In 45 seconds - it was a look at life........ One view, PERKY... nuther, "Go away from, my window, leave at your own chosen speed, I'm not that one you want, babe, I'm not the one you need," I JUST WANT THREE O'CLOCK TO GET THE HELL HERE.  Thataway, I'll get home, the damn dog and cat will be chirpy - so I'll feed them to get them to leave me alone.. then, the kid gets off the bus... same thing... "Here's your mac and cheese Sonny Boy.... eat up, do your homework, take a bath, go to bed."  A gummy for me to snooze, then I have to get up and do this crap allover again.

It's just a guess... but, twere I to follow the upbeat microphone lady home.... it might be a tad different.  She'd veer into the Piggly.. walk in, holler "HEY CHARLIE!" he'd wave, smile.  She'd get junk to make peanut butter cookies with - and a few other things.  Then...  she'd quickly tidy up the house... make some fun math flashcards (complete with a 'dad joke' every fourth one) for the kids.... lay out her favorite negligee for later.... then.......

Hubby gets home... they, jointly, between smooches, take turns adding pasta sheets, meaty red sauce, creamy cheese mixture, mozzarella, and repeat repeat until it's lasagna, kisses sweeter than wine... pop, into the oven.  Kids, flashcards, giggles.  Lasagna, yum, followed by "Hey kids, help me make peanut butter cookies!" Whilst doing so, honey boy was out back preparing the fire pit.  As if the cookies weren't enough sugar - they all sang a few tunes around the fire, then made smores... called it a (fun) day....... then...

She RAN up the steps... hubba hubba'd the negligee on...  when honey boy opened the bedroom door she greeted him as if he'd just returned from a six month military stay in Cambodia...  OHHH BABY.

It was a tale of two cities, right Dickens?

We are what we eat........... No, that ain't it.

Well... we are I guess..  Moreso, we reap what we sow.

Life.  Two looks.  I don't like you........ and oh but I love you.

A little diddie about Jan and Diane... two Wendy's workers doing the best they can with what they've chosen to work with.

Life, you really got a hold on me.

Lyrics by Smokey Robinson.. training by Dave Thomas... ledger by Dickens. (Charles, not Little Jimmy)

Love, Victurd

364 Shopping days........... and... big booties...

Scratch that.  Scratch what?  My big booty?

Nah, the shopping days. I just peeked, 2026 IS a leap year, so, you are officially afforded an additional day, don't waste it, hop to it Ha.

Is this blog gonna be Queen's Fat Bottomed Girls?  No, but I really like that song, and virtually everything they did....  Like much in life - I'm late to the party (ah, don't get things right away)... I divested so much in the Beatles I was thirty something before I learned to cherish Jumpin' Jack Flash and the like... Same thing with Fleetwood Mac and not really hearing Pink Floyd... and I wasn't early to the John Prine fan club - so so wish I woulda been, I love his stuff.

Victor, you're rambling.  (Ramblin' Man, the Allman Brothers, 1973).....

Ahm, thanks, but, get to it wouldya?  BIG BOOTIES?  Are you talking about your own?  Or, like, that one cartoon where that one rather wide old lady stands up and her poor chihuahua is stuck in her butt crack?

Well........ big booties are about cushions.  Cushions in life are about comfort.  You mean like those things people hand carry to sporting events to sit on?  Or, like, the lifejacket cushions, or, the ones you put on the patio chairs so ya don't get rattan butt marks, plastic webbing hiney wrinkles, wicker cheeks?  Well, kinda.

I was kinda more looking to say - people in life that are our cushions.  You know 'em, you seen 'em, you probably just gathered with 'em..... heck, you might even, every night - offer up "night night", a smooch, followed by REM position.  (Calm down, that's not anything R rated, it's Rapid Eye Movements for like when ya sleep.

People, some, in some cases, many - are like cushions.  They help make the blows of life bearable  They can always be counted on.  They are special.

Close your eyes.  HEY, wait.  Before ya do....  take a moment to think of who are the cushions in your life......... ok, then... close your eyes and think about the how and why they are.  How lost we would be without 'em, how thankful we are due to them.

If life were a play, and, it kinda sorta is.... some cushions wouldn't be in every act... sporadic, but, highly important bit parts... that one cashier at  The Piggly.... your favorite helpful smile in the aisle at Hy Vee....they lady who always checks ya in at the golf course...  Adam's Muffler. HUH? WHO?  Yeah, Adams, my, and half the town of Liberty's mechanic,  Good people, charge a fair price, won't do anything that doesn't need doing, and, they fix the problem.  A wonderful cushion to have.

Friends........ cushions for life. Be it school, work, neighbor, fellow churchgoer, and maybe even someone you bellied up the bar next to, that is, those of you/us that might go to a bar,

PEOPLE THAT MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER?  Ya mean like Doctors Victor?  Sure, could be.  Could even be Dave, from the Community Center in the sauna... he's always happy, asks how things are, then, LISTENS... intently. Great guy, a cushion.

Siblings, parents, cousins, children, grands, nieces, nephews, SPECIAL.  A cushion for life.

I ain't for sure, but I would guess, when in the presence of one'a the cushions in your, my life - our BP is regulated to a Goldilocks level.  Just right.

EVEN A TERM POLICY?  Well, yes, I spose so. And a plumber, mailman, the Prime driver, that Uber guy, the lady at the counter at the Community Center...

Cushions help us through tears, fears, boo boo's, depression, maybe even when we are needing a lesson.  Cushions can steer us right.

Hound pooches and kitties?  Absolutely!  One group that's kinda specific to me, and a lotta good buddies - fraternity brothers. United, forever, we got each other's back.

I'm not real sure how to end this. Victor?  Huh?  Booties are ends. Yes, true, and big'ns have great padding, cushion.  Which reminds me, I've already had a light breakfast, but, I've got some bananas that are going bad soon, gonna have some cereal, slice me up so nana's so I can work on my own fat booty a little more.  DANGER DANGER WILL.... ER, I MEAN VIC SCHULTZE... you're gonna push the limit your spiffy mobility scooter can carry.  Bite me.

We don't always steadfastly agree with our cushions in each and every instance in life... most certainly ease our pain though.

And sure, fat bottomed girls make the rockin' world go round.  Get on your horse and ride.  (With saddle for good cushion). 

Love, Victurd

All about Eve.......

Of course, Christmas is centered around a birth...  On this Christmas Eve, I envisioned doing research and finding fun, crazy, wild stories I could steal about 'the day before my baby was born' from Google, Reddit, Quora, hell, I don't care, Good Housekeeping, Reader's Digest, SOMEWHERE, but I couldn't find any.

So I only have one.  Victor, you've already told it to us too. Bite me, bears repeating.

One of our friends, she played softball with my ex... She was THE BEST athlete, well, for sure in Liberty, probably Clay County, hell, I dunno, throw Missouri in too.  You get the picture, she was THE BOMB.

Preggo she was.  Fifth, mighta been sixth child on the way. I can't remember.  She was well into her 30's.  Impatient. Past her due day. A day.  Three days  A week. Impatient she was.

So......................... she went into the garage, got her kid's Pogo Stick out, bounced her way around  the backyard for roughly 30 minutes.  Magically, she delivered healthily the next day. Baby Eve story. The only one I got.

Butt.......... along the way Googling, i found some fun (Victor, you tell 'em, WE'LL decide if they're fun) stories about Labor.

Stolen:

"I was in back labor the majority of my labor, and I was in a lot of pain. Well, when it was time to push, I screamed, 'Push her back in! I feel like she's coming out of my butt! I'M HAVING A BUTT BABY!'"

"During my childbirth, I accidentally howled like a coyote."

"When I had my son, I tried to tell the doctor I had gas, but he said, 'Oh, it's just pressure from the baby.' Well, as soon as he slipped his hand in to check my cervix, I farted so loudly, it sounded like furniture scooting across the floor!"

"We were headed to the hospital, and we got stuck behind a school bus. I was screaming my head off in pain when I looked up and saw all the kids on the bus staring at me, terrified!"

"During labor, I told my husband I couldn't do it anymore and wanted to go home. He asked, 'What about the baby?' and I said we could just borrow one from the nursery.

 "I had a long labor, and my mom came to my side to give my husband a break. During a particularly bad contraction, she told me it was going to be OK and that it would be over soon. I yelled back, 'You have no idea what this feels like!'

"I was pushing when some old guy in shorts and a cardigan walked into my birthing suite. I yelled, 'Get the f*ck out, old man!'...only for my midwife to inform me that he was actually the obstetrician. My bad."

It ain't much but it's all I got.  Merry Christmas Eve.  Men, get to shopping.  Kids, go to bed early.  Santa is presently in South Korea, but... he's coming to town so be good for goodness sake.

Love, Victurd

WHAT are you doing?

Runnin' around like a chicken with it's head cutoff?  Trying to do four things at once with two hands and a couple feet?  Gotta nail in that shoe - and you step left... no, wait... right... ahm, this way.. NO, thataway!

Welcome to Miami........ no, wait, that ain't it.

Welcome to Christmas Eve Eve.

Are you up this early, leavin', on a jet plane... do your feet stink for when the TSA dude, dudette hollers "Shoes off"?  Uber's never late are they? Is it snowing? Where you're going is it?  Ya got enough clothes packed for both kinds of weather?

Victor...... we stay home for Christmas......    Oh.   House clean?  Dusted since Biden was in office?  The bathroom.... ya got any old age 'dribblers' in your household?  Better getta Swiffer for infronta the stool.  Pew. Nuff TP?  Bathroom drawers in order? (People look.)

WAIT!  You're driving across the State?  Ya checked them tires for steel belts stickin' out?  Do they still use steel belts?  That sticker in the upper lefthand corner.. WHAT?  You ain't had an oil change in 11,694 miles?

WAIT, WHAT?  Before the Football Season ever started you did a home equity thing and got four tickets to The Chiefs and The Broncos on Christmas evening, for you, Uncle Albert, Cousin Eddie and Little Jimmy for $417 each?  Close your ears, they're on Tickets For Less today at $36 apiece. Sorry. Eh, it's ok. At least we can spell the last name of our quarterback.  Oops.

Have the cats rearranged the lights, ornaments on your Christmas tree?  Ripped into the packages?  Did Fido done lap up all the water from the Christmas stand?  And where is Joey's pet boa?

Do you have a carton of cigs?........... FOR?   For when you get nervous, bite your nails and hope, pray, wonder if all those Amazon Prime gifts will be here for Christmas.  "I'll be home for Christmas, you can count on me."  Yes, but can you count on Bezos?  Does Bezos deliver to you creatures in Mehico?

FOOD?  BOUGHT?  COOKED?  Or, are you a male piggy and "that's her job"?  Don't worry if you forgot something.... yesterday there were still 7 grocery carts left just inside the door at Wally World... no parking spots (I parked next door at Cracker Barrel), but, 7 empty carts.  Milk? HAHAHAHAHA!

Soooooooooooooooooooo?  What, don't we discuss this year around the dinner table?  Politics?  Weight? Whether your favorite stadium is in Kansas or Missouri?

Do we have enough chairs for everyone  when we go open presents?  If not, are there folks there that are under the age of 64 that can still get up off the floor by their lonesome?

OK, I agree, probably a stupid blog.

What is real.... and real important is all the love that will be shared.  Most of us don't spend enough time with the ones we love the most.  So, we gotta make the most of it.

Imperfection happens.  Rice casseroles will be dropped (maybe on purpose). Disappointment has trouble hiding on the faces of those that may not have just opened what you thought was the perfect gift.  (It's ok, you may get it regifted in 2027)..  

A strand of lights will go out. We'll eat too much. Children, and Uncle Charlie, will crash early from exhaustion.  Fifi will chew through that damn sweater you put on her.

People watching and people loving is the theme.  It goes all too swiftly.

I remember YEARS ago paying one arm, one leg to purhcase a truly wonderful, weighing 12 pounds, video camera to ensure everything was recorded so we could go forward years and years to revisit the time.  Close your ears.  I have no idea where those VHS tapes are today,

I thought it was Melania that said "Be better" but, she actually said "Be Best." It was Michelle, in 2016 that said "Be better at evertything" - and that's my message to you. Do as I say, not as I do............ Pictures.  Videos.  Treasuring today, tomorrow.

Merry Christmas!

The Portal mate.... chalk, written in Stone...

A preachment dear blog readers (truly on the dear) I hear tell am about to stumble, try, hope - to communicate a basketball story. So, if you prefer soccer... or, mebbe Macrame... or, if your end game is more along the line of successful perennials (pinch, fertilize, water, compost, hell I dunno) then, SNAGGLEPUSS left here.  All good.

If you've become hardened to the way we are (Old McDonald has a team, e i e i o. With a Duke grad here and an Ole Miss xfer there, here an Aggie, there a Saluiki - e i e i o.) and you miss the way we were (Memories, light the corners of my mind.. colored pictures, local 4 Star joins the grind, "I''ll buy little Jimmy a Smith jersey.. he's a Missouri kid, he'll be here four years, count on it..... Well, Ohhhhh we got trouble... right here in River City, trouble with a capital "T" (transfer) that rhymes with "P" and that stands for Portal- you can put your readers on the nightstand and go watch Jimmy Kimmel, permission granted, right Guillermo?

Jayden Stone, packed his bags, left mom, dad, sibs, granny, all... flew from his native Perth, Australia in 2021 to Grand Canyon University to play some hoop.  After a couple of seasons, he found himself only playing 8 minutes a game, averaging 3 points, in other words, a DEEP HOLE. (Grand Canyon.. Foghorn might say, "That's a joke son.")  While he appreciated their frankness, it wasn't fun to hear... "you won't be in our plans next year, but, ya wanna be the team manager?"

Fly home?  Give up?  Dream over

Nope, not yet, have mercy.... as in Detroit Mercy.

He done pretty good there. First, Athletic Director's Honor Roll.... Started 13 games his first year, averaged 14 points....  Second year, WOWZER, averaged 21 points a game, second in the league... 22nd in the Nation... Picture perfect post card to send back home? Well, except except, Mercy only won one game (MERCY), they got ridda the coach, AD, 3 professors, the Band Leader and a custodian.......AND.... Jayden, having one more year of eligibility, wanted Arizona insteada Grand Canyon... or Michigan insteada Detroit Mercy.  The Best. I want to try to make it with the best.

West Virginia it is! YAY!  BIG 12 BASKETBALL!  "What's that?" they asked from back home... "It's a good thing, the biggest stage in the US."  He was a good player.  A good person.  And then......

And then it happened.

Before the season ever got started - he fell and landed ON his head on the court.  Devastating.  Injuries to his head and neck - and, the worst, the loss of movement on his left side.  10,000 miles away from home - he was laid up in the hospital.   Randy Meador, West Virginia's Athletic Trainer for 40 years, was a Godsend.  D1 Basketball took a backseat to, will I be able to lead a normal life?

Siezures. ICU. Weeks, months of physical therapy.  "You know, when you're focused on (small steps), he would buy into that." Meador said.  "You know, we might not be ready for tomorrow, we might not be ready for the next game, but you're getting better each week, and that's just what we need. Cause the brain is either gonna get better or worse, so let's keep building off that."

"And it was really my grandma and my mom that kept breathing life into me," Stone said.  "Always telling me to keep quoting scripture, realizing you can if you have faith for it, you know, to believe..... Just give God the glory, even if it doesn't happen the way you think it will."

PTL, Jayden Stone has recovered.  Not in time to play at West Virginia... The Head Coach up and left for Indiana.... No team offer to return..  begs asking "Should we get all bent out of shape at these kids for their movments?  I, for one, am happy of the fact that Jayden can just move!  Both sides!

He thought he was 'done' in the US.  Back to Perth. Then, Missouri Assistant Coach Kyle Smithpeters comes along.  "We have a place for you."  "I was, and am, amazed."

This blog is not finished.  Neither is the Jayden Stone story.  In six games for Mizzou, he was averaging 13 points, shooting 42% from 3 point range - darned if he didn't hurt his hand in practice and is now forced to recoup again, this time, 4 to 6 weeks.

PLEASE KNOW:  I am Missouri biased. I admit.  Still, I love life, basketball, good stories, people who work hard, and GOOD PEOPLE.  He is all of the above.  Below is a youtube preseason interview that tells the story of Earth here from Perth..WAY BETTER than I.  

To me, if gives a wonderful look inside athletics... a wonderful look at a wonderful human who simply wants to do good, be good, be a good person, teammate, family member, etc.

It'll take up 12 minutes of your life. I promise, it's worth it.

Love, Victurd

I lied.  Thirteen minutes. You're gonna have to copy and paste.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMYiL6CScGM

In summation.......

WAIT?  WHAT?

While I'm not the walrus, I sureasheck ain't the guru, Mr. Peabody, Einstein.  I'm not even of Ben Stein ilk.  In fact, as I was driving across Kansas yesterday (very scenic..and flat, btw Schwabby) I said to my grandson "YOU, are way smarter than I.  I was OK in math and English, but Science, I really sucked."  (It's ok, he's 13, it's among the favorite, most said words of 13 year olds)  "You're smart in every subject!"  And, he is. And yes, biased, and yes, don't care what you think, he really is sharp.

It seems.........  As The World Turns. or is it spins, again, I sucked in Science... we start out in January with all these 'This is the year I'm gonna" and we slowly transgress thru the year and don't.  But, along the way...... we buy more junk.  Hoard a tad more, so, before we keel we can spout "that'll learn em"....

We make it thru the seasons......... BRRRRRRRRRRR...  I'm SOAKED....... Dayum it's hot... honey?  Can you draw me an ice bath?..    OH! THE BEAUTY OF THE LEAVES!  Give it a rest Victor, they're leaves. and then gray, drab, and finally, BRRRRRRRRRR again.

11/12'a of the way, we kill a big bird.... think and arrange THANKS for a year... we ain't finished yet, why do we stop... again, mom/dad said "Finish everything you start, except sex."

We get to this point...   one eye on '26....  so we attempt to add it all up.. summarize where we been, what we've learned, what we're gonna do better next year... 

Then...... we lose 4 pounds in January....  gain 8 in February...  check our voicemail in late March .:"You have one, new message. Tuesday, January 23.."  Crap.  Pete and repeat, there I said it again.

We have a tendency, at this point of the year to add things all up.  Am I smarter at 73 than i was at 72?  Am I smarter than a 5th grader?  Victor, your grandson it in 7th grade and the answer is no, you're not.

Frank sings "It was a very good year"  47 relates 'greatest ever'.   Babies born, losses we mourn, some (bosses - some, members of the other party, jealous ones, arrogant ones) we scorn.  Pretty much, same ole same ole, nuther year.

Blessed.

Blessed we are with another chance, shot, sunrise, oh baby (well hey, to those of you with 'oh baby's', it's gotta help make it a goodyear aint it?"...  

Kids grow, clothes don't, midruff's bulge, leather punches add another hole at the enda the belt.

Snow, ice, are worse on the roads than acne is on a 14 year old..... Raindrops keep fallin' on ma' head... "Sir, this is the Code Enforcement Occifer for Liberty, you've GOT to mow that yard... REALLY?  It's so dayum soggy my lawnmower wheels won't spin.  We eventually cable guy git er done...   drought hits.... where have all the flowers gone?  Corner'a Kansas and Morse, either that lady's thumb is really green, or, she's got a well in her backyard, PRETTY flowers though (Hey, I wrote that last year too!)..

Honey, you checked the IRA lately?  It's AWE$OME!  Let's have a big ole dinner!  Ahm, KC Strip is Fitteen ninety nine a pound, hamburger $7.99, even pork chops are $5.99.... howabout chicken?  OK, grab some wings. Ahm.  Ever since wings became popular, they're $6.99 a pound too.. . OK, fried chicken it is. It's on sale at the Piggly.  I love you honey. (Hey, I wrote that last year too!)

That's Uncle Joe he's a movin' kinda slow at the Junction...... yeah? Well, you ain't exactly no spring chicken bird of paradise yourself Victurd.  Yeah, right you are. (Damnit, I wrote THAT last year too.)

There've been some breakups.. "oh well, positively, we'll get to see 'em this year at Christmas now". nope, wrong you are, already on the rebound... gonna be in Little Rock with the new mate for Christmas.

Glory days for most are like, "Hell, I can't even remember what sports I played in school.  Were we dating back then?  Ahm, we didn't even meet until we were 30, remember.  Oh yea, thanks.

The common denominator (that's the thing after the equal sign ain't it?) No Victor, it's the number below the line in a common fraction.  

OK, well, that number then.

FAMILY.

"You don't choose your family.  They are God's gift to you, as you are to them."  Desmond Tutu

"Family is not an important thing. It's everything."  Michael J. Fox

We're all different, have grown up differently, different situations.  Family is the glue.  Year after year, summation after summation.  THE common denominator in life.

We don't speak ill of family.  We may have 'push over, roll outs' (sounds better than knock down drag outs!).. we may get huffy upon occasion.  We also may hug, love, call, care, be there, yada.  It's the best. It's comfort.

If I may share (which, is fancy for, nanny nanny boo boo it's my blog and I'm going to!) a tiny (huge) example... it may not sound it at first, but, 'twas, is to me.

Little looms large. My cousin's kid texted me last night.  She knows how much I enjoy basketball.  Her son is a really good player at the local high school, sophomore. she knows I come (sometimes) to the games.. she just wanted to forwarn me - they were playing the crosstown rival last night.. "He's had the flu, but, he's gonna try to play".... told her I'm on the tail end of this dadgum flu, "I'm gonna stay home tonight, but ty for thinking of me."  And, that's where it ends for most.  Except her, she's family.  Even though the game started at 8pm, it was Friday.. the last day of the work week..she undoubtedly tired, and she, maybe had the flu too...  texted me back... Do you have plenty of Mucinex and Sudafed ?  If you don't want to get out, I'd be happy to bring some by after the game?"

Little = HUGE.  Family = love.  Year after year after year, summation after summation.  Even if I sucked in Science, was not too bad in Math, English..... I've been very lucky in Family.

I hope you are too..........

By Henry Gibson....... pitcher Bob.......... Guitar inventor Orville...  actor Mel.

Oh, and Hatfields, McCoys, Brady bunch's, Taylor's (Andy, Ope, Aunt Bea), Waltons, Cartwrights (Hoss Ben Joe Adam even Hop Sing), and some Partridges in a pear tree.

Not to mention.... Solty's, Moffits, Shifletts, Stringfellows, Days, Pie's, Weagleys, Tiptons, Hahns, van Dijks, Hacks, Spencers, Rays, Craigs, Estes', Foster, Floray, Martins, Carters, Tucks, Bland, Watson, Brock, LaFevers, Mallory, and if I missed it, you/we are family too, sorry I missed it!

Love, Victurd