PS, I love you........

 Dear Sports......

As I write this letter..  

Send my love to you..

Remember that I'll always

Be in love with you...

(This in between part... actually, I'm putting my pen down and thinking out loud. OK dangit, you're correct, I'm using the keyboard, but it ain't sposedta be parta the letter... there, how's that?)

Treasure these few words till we're together
Keep all my love forever
P.S. I love you
You, you, you

Sports, I remember my first baseball 'glove', circa nineteen fitty six maybe fitty seven.  It was a plastic bowl that mom lent me 'cause it fit my hand... and there was a tennis ball ole Brownie and I played fetch with in the yard.... and, out by the detached garage, there was a 3 foot tall concrete wall...  me, the tennis ball, the 'glove' would spend hours on end, I mean literally hours oh end.. throwing it off the wall, catching it, pretending I was at Busch Stadium or the like...and I'd throw it to first base (the wall) again, and again, and again.... it was, rather instant love.  Brownie?  He was leashed up to the clothesline, he couldn't throw too well.

I'll be coming home again to you, love
And till the day I do, love
P.S. I love you
You, you, you

I remember the day I got my first glove, not long after the bowl was really broken in.  And then, OMG, which, I think back then we actually said "COOL" when mom, dad, aunt, uncle, cousin - actally went to a game in St. Louis. I'd never ever seen such a large yard with no dandelions. Pristine. TALL, forest green walls surround, I remember Curt Flood timing his jump on a fly ball... skying over the green wall... as if to say "Nope, you ain't leavin' the yard ball!"  NICE CATCH!

As I write this letter
Send my love to you
Remember that I'll always
Be in love with you

We, us, our neighbors, that time of life - wasn't 'UPPITY'.  Our folks were ok with paths of green grass gone where we stood to bat, pitch. They even gave us chalk to write on the curbs the distance it was for a home run when we hit the wiffle ball over.  The water meter was second base, no one ever broke a bone on it... if we did get scraped up, there was Mercurochrome that would fix any darn thing.

Treasure these few words till we're together
Keep all my love forever
P.S. I love you
You, you, you

We upgraded our game a few years later, Indian ball at the City Park.  It was the day and age we could, after checking with mom, throw our glove on the bike handle, peddle, meet buddies our age, play, play, play s'more... search for a pop bottle or three under the bleachers... on the way home... turn it in to the Safeway for a couple nickels... get us a cold, cold bottle of Pepsi. (Coke for me.)  If it was a day the yellow bus wasn'ta comin', we'd peat and repeat, again and again.

As I write this letter (Oh)
Send my love to you (You know I want you to)
Remember that I'll always (Yeah)
Be in love with you

HOLY MOLY, 8th grade football!  Hey, don't bug me, I gotta watch and see how Jimmy puts all these dang pads on so I can too.  We are in the BIG TIME!..... and basketball in the Winter... Track in the Spring..... NO YELLOW BUSES!  BASEBALL!  We was "Will it go round in cirlces" cool before Billy Preston even sang it!

I'll be coming home again to you, love
And till the day I do, love
P.S. I love you
You, you, you
You, you, you
I love you

Lyrics are done, I gotta speed this up a tad.  So, over the years, we stuck to sports... in spite'a things like Homecoming Queen, Courtwarming Queen, College, jobs, marriage, KIDS! OH BOY WE GETTA DO THIS AGAIN! THRU THEM!  Rec leagues... slopitch softball, WAY too many years......  The point is sports, I love ya.  I ain't without worry. (Worries)...

WAY too many have tried to 'gussy it up' even more.  I remember how livid my Uncle was the first Bud ad he saw written on the outfield wall.  What? A bunny that comes up from the ground to give the ump more baseballs?  Free agency?  Lockouts, walkouts  Nolan Ryan got a MILLION?  NUH UH.  Uh huh.

VICTOR!  It's still good! Don't you remember when the Chief's game was blacked out, a bunch of us drove to Maryville, got a motel room so we could see the game! That was the bomb.....  And.... how we couldn't go, do ANYTHING on Monday Night ''cause we HAD to be home for Howard's MNF highlights from all the games over the weekend?  The best baby, the best.  Yeah but.....

Now, there is SO much signage on outfield walls, ya gotta squint to see the part where and-all the batter sees is green.  What's a PED?  College kids are gonna get paid? NIL?  That didn't even LOOK like Ed O'Bannon! The Portal?  Hang nail, transferring to State.  Coach leaving? Me too then.  I know I'm just a freshman and I gotta wait my turn, but, maybe not if I take enter the Portal and see if someone will offer me guaranteed playing time. I like it here, but, so-and-so is gonna give me $____ more to go there. Eh, hopefully my gf will follow me.

Whadda ya think of the QT patch on the Royal's Uni's?  Nevermind that, what's a GEHA Field?  You gonna watch the Mannings or ABC?  There are TWO halftime shows?  Tastes great, Less filling! Division always was my least favorite in math.

Thank goodness we've got Social Media so we can see the results immediately, chat with our buddies.  Our Coach sucks, they gotta git ridda him.  You're an a**hat, it's our QB. The AD sinks way too much money in Basketball, we'll never keep up. Can we not be happy just because we won?

I'm not gonna watch the Super Bowl this year... social issues... the halftime show... hate this owner, that QB, sport. Yada.  

We cut the cable, and now we stream.  Susie works a second job so we can afford but at least we can still see all the games.  WHAT?  FanDuel, ATT SportsNet, NBCSN, they ain't here no more?  I gotta pay $14.99 to some dang Peacock channel just to see the game Thursday?  Susie, can you ride your bike to work?  jk.

I very much miss the purity of Sport we once knew.  As a grandparent, it's so, so, refreshing to go see a kid's game now,.... harken back to once was.  WHAT?  They took 8th place and all of 'em gotta trophy?

I miss Say Hey...  Stan the Man... the fun of Yogi and Ueck...  even Weaver with his closeness to umps...

Coming soon to a field near you...... the ABS Challenge System......  AI instant replay.  Remember when the NCAA had two legs?  Hey Ernie, you going to the Seahawks victory parade?  Are you kidding me.. and maybe get shot?

Some things look better with mud on 'em..... not all 'gussied up'. 

Love, Victurd

Well.........

That's a deep subject....... (per my golf partner TLG whenever 'well' is said on the golf course.)

Deep.  Depth.

This will be a short one. You are welcome, tsk, tsk!

I dunno if you're like me......... (and if you are, holy crap I feel sorry for you!).. Nah, I think we're all alike in this.

The depth of friendship in some... be it a loved one, friend - any pillar in one's life.

Many things surround, include, define that... two that come to mind are, sharing braggadocio, and, at the other enda the spectrum, sorrow.  (And of course, anything, everything in between!)

Color me a chocolate mess on the braggadocio because I've long said, arrogance runs me off quicker than a Rottweiler at the gate...  but by golly, if you can't share something you're truly proud of (like, what a grandkid said or did.... or, a feat you'e been trying to attain for a long time, finally did it - and shared with that person that means so much to you.......  that's where I was going.

Sorrow........ pride is hard to swallow, but, sometimes it will go down.  We all, I think, have disappointment, sadness, frailties, hurtful moments in life........  when we share that admission with someone about some aspect in our life...... it's HUGE to me to be able to do that.  Much we keep couped up inside and there's no argue if that's one's choice..... and some do, forever and ever.  I think it's truly healthy to share personal sorrow....  AGREE, it can be overdone, overshared - but, I think usually not.  If that happens, it becomes a personal 'trait', and that ain't a good thing.  The ain't it awful game sucks - but again, how's the song go..  We all need, someone, to lean on.

One last thought.  It ain't a one way street.  That confidante', wonderful person we speak to, share....  the roads run East-West, North-South... ie, we are equally as good a listener (and welcoming too)... two way traffic.

Occasionally, sharing a doozy  (or, listening to one being shared) is cleansing, healthy, natural.

Well........... 

Life is a deep subject, thanks for listening.

Love, Victurd

The News........

This ain't... but, some nice person called it that yesterday, so hells bells, I'll play along.

Breaking Kansas City News........

"Whatta you gonna do today?"   "Oh... i dunno... I thought about going down to the Ameristar Casino... stirring things up a bit.... getting kicked out... then, run outside, hop in the sewer drainage pipe thing and see if I can crawl and make it under the parking lot and over to 210 Highway. (a half mile or so)"  She did just that (tried anyways) but.... once she was about 300 yards into the sewer pipe, it started getting smaller and smaller and smaller.  Ruh ruh.  Fortunately, she had her phone, even more fortunately, it worked from down there......  Blessings to the EMT's that crawled in and fetched her out.

She is up for "The Weirdest Kansas City Stunt" for 2026....  The Award will be presented early 2027 at a brief dinner at Hamburger Marys. The presenter will be the 2022 Award winner Johnathon.. the guy that rode the ATV down I-435... the wrong way....  Naked.  In attempt to fill the joint up, they've invited the 2021 National Award winner, Stephen to attend. (he's the one that climbed the Trump Tower using suction cups 'cause he "wanted to talk to Donald.")

Avid hunters, backed by the Pennsylvania NRA, are collecting signatures in Jefferson County, PA in hopes of getting a measure on the April ballot that would add an open hunting season for 'Marmota monax's' (Ground Hogs) for the month of January, 2027.. Signs at a rally nearby stated "We're sick of Phil... how much sun (or shadow) could a Woodchuck see if a Woodchuck was fulla pellets'?  Punxsutawney is the County seat of Jefferson County. PETA and Climate activists are expected to protest should there be an election.

GoodRX, with the announcement of the Greatest RX plan we've ever seen, has filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy.  On a connected note, an anonymous White House Staffer was fired after it was found he sent press releases to both CNN and FOX announcing "An erection will happen for the CEO of TrumpRX in May." The running joke going around Capitol Hill was "Why would it take three months for that?"

On second thought, I ain't sure I got the wherewithal to cover the daily News, make a report every single day.  In fact, I think I'll go have a glass of Scotch so it'll help me take a long nap.  "On the rocks?"..  Nah, straight up is fine.

Love, Victurd

Here......... lemme help........

OK, today boys and girls we're going to talk about......... What to do with our time in retirement! Exciting stuff eh?

Looking around, Romper Room style....... I see Pup, and Terry...  (These are really the two I'm pretty certain that read here daily... I'm a bit behind in paying them because it's Winter and I ain't working at the Golf Course when it's Winter... so... consider, "Checks in the mail", sometime.

Oh and I know Liz, Vicki, Bear, Randy, Pie, some others.........  Of course David, California David.

By now, most of us have been retired a bit.  Still, we got some friends that ain't yet... so maybe they'll need a little advice, or, perhaps we all can lean on the intensive advice/research I gathered in the time between my first pee and second pee this morning.  See? Intensive time spent.

Now, California David, he's a different bird, but said lovingly.  He plans to continue flying (working) until whenever... and, after all'a this research, should we find a nap suggested, well, it ain't him. "I'll sleep when I keel" i thihk I remember him stating.  He's got three huge hound dogs that would scare the heck outta burglers, BUT, he's Lionel Ritchie awake ALL NIGHT LONG, so, the dogs must be for entertainment insteada protection.

Back to what they say you should do. Oh, I guess me too.  You know me, I plagiarize, but trust me, rather than list article writers here, I've recorded them....they'll be in an envelope on my desk labeled "When I keel", along with Ash Instructions (The Dumpster), the combination to the bicycle lock on my geezer scooter and the Title on my (nifty) 2002 Buick Century.

One author says "Happy retirees have an average of 3.6 core pursuits (fulfilling activities) and unhappy retirees have 1.9." So, start with a morning routine writing down goals. "It sets the tone and builds momentum for the rest of your day and takes advantage of increased willpower to accomplish your goals and establish habits."  So, I guess you write 'em down and post 'em somewhere.  Didn't say nothin' about the wife or hubby following behind to ensure you fulflil them core pursuits, but, I imagine that to be the case.

Anudder site suggested "Start with a light morning stroll.. while doing so, you can work out a bit.... and, practice breathing techniques for better mental health."

Same author said nights can lead to fatigue and exhaustion from dailly errands and obligtations, so, "make your evenings purposeful... you should simply write down a few things you're going to do every evening... for example... a daily reading session from 6p to 7p every day.  Follow it.

(I'm happy for all these suggestions... I was wunderin' what I was gonna do with all this time.)

"You'll want your typical day to factor in activities that work your body and your brain.... 150 minutes of aerobic activity per week and two muscle strenghtening activities per week."

Nudder guy "When having no schedule threatens an aimless existence with nothing to do and no places to go, daily routines can renew a senior’s joy and purpose.”

Yet, another says Get Help: "you may also consider speaking to life care planners in healthcare teams who can provide guidance on maintaining your well-being during this transition. They can offer insights on managing your health, staying active, and finding fulfilling activities that align with your interests and goals."

Going back over this... some key words from my study... daily routine critical to success... start planning and thinking how to spend time..  after awhile, you may miss the sense of identity, meaning, and purpose that came with your job, the structure it gave your days... expand your circle of friends, consider learning a new language.'

Print this retirement planner. 

What did ole Carol Burnett usedta sing during the credits?  "I'm so glad we had this time, together."

Now... you know, if you smoke, you shouldn't but, you'll already have a lighter so that's good.  If you don't smoke, I suggest you purchase a lighter... might get onea them long ones for the barbeque grill.........  Then..........

Take this page that you printed, and your lighter, outside. Go somewhere where you're standing on concrete.

Then burn this sucker and do whateverinthehell you want in retirement.

We don't need no retirement education.  We don't need no thought control.  No dark sarcasm in the classroom.  Hey, Authors, leave us OG's alone.

Tonight, I'm thinking about a vegetarian night...... No meat.  Just pudding.  Then, I'll sweep up the ashes from the concrete.  Then, go to bed when I wanna, laddy.

Love, Victurd

DON'T.......................... Stop...............

Sooooooooooooooooooooooo, Fido (or Brownie, Gabe, Regal Beagle, Smokey Butterball, Nascar, any one of the number of hound dogs you'e owned)..... is laying next to you.... you start that scratch....  and at some point, you reach that spot (on Spot) where he/she starts "playin' the banjo", legs frantically 'running', it's involuntary, but by golly DON'T STOP!.

I thought about (aye yai yai, here we go) name-calling in today's society.  It's become, commonplace... 'representative'... typical......  frustrating... fingernail on blackboardish.. As common as the F-bombs at intersections of nearby cars with their winders down. I hate it... it divides even further... we ALL, I think... have friends on the other side/team/whadever. When we name-call, we succumb to "they" (all of ''em we're referring to, including our friends even without thinking) are IDIOTS, MORONS, BOOTLICKERS, LIBTARDS, RWNJ's, SNOWFLAKES, FASCISTS, COMMUNISTS,............ DON'T!!!! STOP!!!!

I really think..... if we could ALL just get over the name-calling hurdle this (I'm proud to be an American) would be a MUCH, MUCH, better place.  You goofballs.

Puberty is addressed by parents...... normally... as DON'T! STOP!  I've toldya, our house, the rule was "Finish everything you start, EXCEPT sex."  Don't! Stop!  We all... OK, most... have been there, when the parents ain't...  be it the den in the basement.. the back corner of the JC's Dance Hall ...the fitty-seven Chevy parked on the low road, the hormones are'a ragin', movin' faster'n a foosball puck or Fido's runnin' legs........ and, DON'T! STOP! becomes DON'T STOP!  (No idea about until the end of time.)

Gambling, Don't! Stop!

Smoking, drinking, pain pills, mara-g-wanna, vapes, DON'T! STOP!

In our treks of life down the yeller brick road, we oft times along the way meet folks who wanna fix us... some call 'em know-it-alls.. or.. .control freaks... they opine everything  either DON'T STOP........ or DON'T! STOP!  We, folks, tend to react either to not react (some would call that "cower", VICTOR, don't! Stop! That's name-calling. Oh, sorry)....... or, we risk losing any kinda relationship with the fixers, know-it-alls, control freaks and we ultmately holler DON''T! STOP!  WHEW, I feel better... or... darn, I didn't say nuttin', I feel sh*tty.

I catch myself (no easy task at 200+ pounds.. how many plus Victor? BITE ME).. I catch myself NOT GOING somewhere when invited, simply because it's easier, I'm older, ain't got the energy I usedta have..  We can't do that. DON'T STOP!  Or, DON'T! STOP doing that. Git urass up and go. If ya don't go, you die.  (Reckon we oughta take that advice even if it's from a fixer, know-it-all, control freak, Libtard, or bootlicker...   oops, sorry!

As I sat, planning, thinking about my own upcoming Summer... thru my brain the thoughts I dont think I'll golf unless I'm able to use a handicap flag (where i can drive right up to my golfball). .Don't Stop Victor.

I wanna take my grandkids somewhere cool.  A beach, first time ever, via a plane, first time ever.  One look at money I've set aside for this, DON'T STOP saving Victor.

Music.  Live music.  We have a really cool outdoor venue here in Kansas City. Starlight Theater.  Many, many wonderful times, concerts of the past.  I went online recently.  WHO. ARE. THESE. GUYS?  Victor?  You're hella old.  Stop name-calling me!  The bands you grew up with, what you call The Greatest Generation of Music... They don't do dat no more. Not many anyways.  The message here, git ridda your damn hard head (Don't! Stop!) and give youth, new music, a listen.  Ya just might enjoy.

I wonder if they still have JC dances?  You're hopeless Victor.  NAME-CALLER!  DON'T!  STOP!

Well, I'm gonna smoke a cig...  turn off Tamron Hall (I usedta love her, man, seems she yells quite a bit)...  have a bowl of cereal......... Victor, Don't! Stop!  Fatty!  NAME-CALLER! OK, OK, no sugar tonight in my coffee... no JC dance (no sugar to stand by me)...

Waking up is a blessing.  Don't stop the will or the want to.  One foot after the other.  If ya forget how, have a scratch on Fido's back, he'll learnya. 

Me? I may go Spotify '90's music', learn me sumpin' new. Gotta craving to play Foosball, may do that too.

Don't stop living.

We enjoy you here.

You goofball.

Love, Victurd

I is the 9th letter of the alphabet.....

Let me tellya 'bout the birds and the bees and the flowers and the trees 

And the moon up above, and a thing called love........

No, damnit, that ain't it.  I'm sorry... I get confused early morns.... It seems like Groundhog Day was just yesterday......  No.........hang on.  Or is it today?  Again.....

VICTOR?  Sit up in your chair..... take a swig off coffee...  shake your head left and right like a dog who just got outta the pond...... and TRY TO MAKE SOME SENSE.  I fear the Golden Acres Econoline Van will be coming to take you away, haha, they're coming to take you away, ho ho, hee hee, ha ha to the funny farm where life is beautiful all the time, EXCEPT, they also take your car (Nope, scratch the Landing for two beers)...Your money.. (My money, honey?)..  Your cigs... (NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!)

OK, I'm shakin' like Rin Tin Tin just got outta the tub again.

GOOD. Now, xplain Lucy...... "I is the 9th letter of the alphabet."

Oh, that.  That's for a teacher lady I went to college with that occasionally swings by here... and, a first cousin who retired as an English teacher for many a year (she's my go to)... but... BOTH OF 'EM say "You CANNOT start a sentence with "I is."  I just did.

I is the 9th letter of the alphabet.

Yeah, so?  And  your point is?

I is fat.  (AND, this, this is where, when I write THIS blog, it's my hope hope hope they 'come along'... and look at their own lifes lives, body, habits, that stuff.  They, being YOU, not the teachers.. well, they can too for that matter... 

I seen... sorry teachers... I saw.. I saw a picture of me from two years ago.  I love me some Mehican food.  SO.  I was going to Mehico.  For four, maybe five months prior, I said hell-to-the-no on carbs an sugar, so, that when i got there, i could eat whatever whenever.  I dipped under 200 lbs, and I ain't been that since... well, since onea them wives. But, once in Mehico, sure, another taco please and thank you.

You ever do anything like that?  Are you lucky and ya ain't gotta?  Are you like me (now) and, ya care but ya don't really care?

I won't go as far as saying I looked good, nope.  But (teacher, can you start a sentence with but?) I looked healthy. Now, I is fat.  And not healthy.

OK, let's talk exercise.  You?  Do yoi get up every morning, seven days a week and, after a cuppa coffee, march out the door and continue marching for 4 miles daily?  If so, I hate your guts. Not really, but kinda I guess.  Maybe it's more envy.

I've got a baby affliction and I simply can't do 4 miles any longer.  Victor, hogwash, even when you could, you didn't.  HEY! Who let you in!!

DO YOU EXERCISE REGULARLY?  Don't lie to me. I've known ONLY one person in my life who has exercised continuously since high school.    My BFF does.... or did, what with kids, grands, divorce, yada, we don't speak, see each other as often.... but, i know he usedta run up the steps at the old high school 5 times a day, daunting task, lemme tellya. (In addition to lifting weights, probably eating healthy, yada).

Do you like good music?  No, wait.  WHICH, do you think is more important?  DIET or EXERCISE?  Do they go together like a horse an carriage?  This I tell you brother, you can't have one without the other. No, WAIT.. hell, that was Al Bundy....... he's nuts (but I loved the show... especially when Marcie would flap her wings and say "WHY DOES HE ALWAYS CALL ME A CHICKEN?"

Chicken.  Ya eat a lotta that?  Are you a beef and tater only kinda person, and if so, you must have a good Edward D. Jones rep.  If you profess to fish, and, I know diet and exercise books rave about fish, i just can't do it.  And, perty please as I'm really old now, don't say "WHYINTHEHECK NOT VICTOR?  YOU SHOULD?  COULD?  HAVE YOU EVER TRIED IT?  Enter, upchuck here.  Sorry, not sorry.

90% of people who lose weight, gain it all back.  I is fat (again.) I is fat (again.) I is fat (again.) I is fat (again.) I is fat (again.) I is fat (again.) I is fat (again.) I is fat (again.) I is fat (again.) I is keeping it off. HOW?  HOW'D HE/SHE DO DAT?

 So come on, is it sweat, or eat, or both. 

Do you care?  Do you, have you, dedicated however many years to doing one or the other or both?

I wonder what a health professional would say?  Victor?  Uh huh?  You have a friggin' degree in Physical Education.  Hang on Sloopy, Sloopy hang on.  Hang on Sloopy, Sloopy hang on.

Sloopy let his hair down in college.  I loved college soooooooooooo much, I did both my sophomore and junior years, twice.  I remember having EAGLE eyesight back in the day, good enough to see three desks over, otherwise, I never woulda made it outta Anatomy and Kinesiology class alive.  Now, my batting average in intramural softball (HIGHLY IMPORTANT TO ME) was over 300...  ahm, GPA, not so much, barely above 2.

My math skills were The Bomb.... "OK guys... the keg was $47.98, we each owe $7.99666 and we should prolly give Smitty a couple bucks for gas..............."

But. I ain't no health expert.

You?

Fess up.  More stringent upon your own kids diet than you are when the grands come over?  Uh huh, what I thought.  But, they could end up fat like me?

(SIDE NOTE....... Victor, this is kinda dragging on, hurry couldya?  I gotta take on the day.  OK. Band camp, when I taught Elementary PE... I had 40 minutes of my day where I sat in my office and twiddled thumbs.  Principal said "Thinka something to do with that time." Soooooooooo TBC

I started a class for fat kids. VICTOR!  I, we didn't call it that. And, by the looks of everyone that was in the class (it wasn't a 'have to' do if you were selected)... but... baby fat. Each. All. At first, kids made fun, as expected.  Then, they witnessed how much fun we had, in addition to  food charts, exercise suggestions, implimentations.... they were beggin to get in the class.  I think, nowadays, if you tried something like that - I'd be repremanded at the next school board meeting.  Worked back then.  And, we did have fun.  Called the class "Project Zero."  The goal NOT to lose.. that weighs heavy, no pun intended... but.. .to stay the same weight, and, develop good habits both in eating and exercising.

Where was I?  Victor, it looked like you had one eye on that last piece of pecan pie in the fridge. Oh yeah, that.

Punx said yesterday "6 more weeks."  I anticipate way longer than that on...  "Say, hand me the Fritos wouldya.. and... EXERCISE?  Hell no I won't go."

I is fat.

It is what it is.

Do you like good music?  Fritos?  Oysters Patooey.  Push ups?  Planks?  Crinkled or seasoned fries, or tots?  Wegovy?

I appreciate you reading....... truly.

Love, Victurd

A Man Needs A Maid.......

MISOGYNIST!    AM NOT.   ARE TOO!  

No I ain't.  Last night I did what many, every, all, one and their brother say, don't do that.  What?  Don't do what? 

Live, or... better yet, remember - the past.  (Oh, and, this morning, I looked up howinthehell the saying "Everyone and their brother" originated, and even AI wadn't smart enough to have an answer... other than "full house, packed.. unexpected"....)   Who cares Victor, how did you live in the past?

1970-something.  I had a really small, really cheap, what I call 'record player'.  How cheap Victor?  It'd be like if Dollar General sold record players, that cheap.  I DIDN'T CARE. I loved it.

I never really bought too many albums - but, one I wore out.... and I mean, time after time after time wore out, Harvest by Neil Young.

We all have our favorite types, kinda music ain't we?  Yesterday I bitched about not being a fan of New Country....  Rap, Katy bar the door, no thank you.  And, before you think that, I am onea the biggest fans of Motown, EVER.

I tend to like (VICTOR, we really don't give a crap)... Ahm, my blog, you're stuck.  I tend to like mellow.  Acoustic.  Fleetwood Mac, James Taylor, CSN&Y... It's like... if a group of folks knocked on your door one December night...  they were staring up at you... holding candles to see the sheet music in fronta them..... I would not be very excited to look up and see the AC/DC Thunderstruck guy standing in the middle of the Christmas Carolers.   Soft please. James Taylor, Carole King, Billy Joel, The Eagles, Neil Young, YES.

We get it Victor, we've Harvested your thought so to speak.  Now what?

I dunno............ Did you ever own an album........ play it so dadgum much.... once a song ended, you were already singing the next song?  So, having wonderful memories of that... last night I sat and listened to the whole darn album.  It'd been a minute.

I think I'll pack it in and buy a pick-up..  Out on the weekend......

Dream up dream up let me fill your cup........... Harvest.

Victor, are you gonna write too about the whole damn album?  Mebbe.

A man needs a maid.  MISOGYNIST!  Am not... Sometime there ain't no rhyme or reason on song lyrics.... well, there's usually rhyme, but sometimes no reason.  Neil Young was in a hotel in London - there were two buttons on the wall.  Close inspection showed one was labeled ''Man" and the other, "Maid."  Intro to a life of overthinking eh?

Heart of gold.  I want to live. I want to give  I've been a miner for a heart of gold.  Many say "Oh, that was about Carry Snodgrass... He was in love with her.  They'd bought Broken Arrow Ranch together in 1970ish..a 140 acre place in the hills above Redwood City.

Are you ready for the Country?  I can just see he, and Carrie, unpacking their F-one fitty pickemup truck.

Old Man......Many thought this was about Neil Young's father, but, 4 minutes of deep investigation - huh uh.  Apparently, when you buy a big ole ranch like that back in the day... the caretaker to the ranch comes along with it.  The song is about his caretaker - and the love he had for the dude.  They were riding in the jeep, caretaker asked Neil how he could afford the place at such a young age..  "lucky'' was all he could come up with.  Caretaker and his wife had a little place across the lake.  Victor, who cares?  HEY, you ain't tied down here! (TBC)

Would you care to know who else sang on that song?  

Mebbe, but, I know you're gonna tell us anyways.  Uh huh, am.  Three sat on a couch. Young....... Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor.  Ronstadt would say "Taylor was so tall, I had to get on my knees to be able to sing into the microphone.  SEE?  If you hadn't tuned in today, you'da never known that.  Ahm, OK. Thanks, I think.

You're getting bored, maybe me too..  Just one more..  The Needle and the damage done.  Self explanatory, but, Young adds... early, I witnessed so many amazing artists who folks will never know how amazing, expire.  Then, sadly, some that people did know.

I'll stop.  A note about "Living in the past."  I know I do so, probably too much.  Like anything with aging, the less I care what others think abou that.  Good gosh if we didn't have the smiles from then (and all the other hours, minutes, months, weeks, years prior - it'd be no fun to carry on.  We're blessed to carry on, in large part because of the past.

Quick note to the crybabies (said lovingly) in Florida with their fireplaces roaring...... Sorry to report, Punx just forecasted six more weeks of Winter.  (I wouldn't want dangerous snow, sleet to happen, but I wouldn't mind seeing a 30 degree day in Mehico, too cold to sit on the balcony! SORRY, not really.)

I wonder if Bill Murray lives in Florida,

Go Harvest the day......... life's all about reaping what you done already sowed.

Love, Victurd