32

Marcus Allen was onea my favorite football players.  He wore #32.

Me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me.  That's 'me', 32 times, and yes, warning you this is about me, Mehico, so, if I were you, I'd head to USA Today... local news.. or a nice, good book.

Today is my 32nd day here. I fly home in 3 days.  Damnit, darnit.  Just kidding, kinda sorta.  That too is iffy, 'cause I never could find my Passport.  "Aww don't worry, they never check.. have your Birth Certificate, Driver's License, you're good."  I might just shake their hand in thanks if they turn me around and point me back to Mehico.

Impressions.

Tons of impressions made by folks walking the beach...  Ain't real sure why, but, two tides a day here, so, them footprints, impressions - don't last long.

7th floor, overlooking the Sea of Cortez.  The Sea is moody, beautiful, cold right now, waves'a rushing in this way, mebbe that'a way the next day.  We've seen paddleboarders, swimmers, waders, hound dogs rushing in, out, massage tables, beachlayerouters, a scuba diver.. boats, all sizes, kinds.. all kinda hours, a favorite nighttime, earlytime activity "count the shrimp boat lights."seagulls, pelicans, lit bitty sparrows, herons, osprey, sea lions, whales, dolphins.

We've heard the waves crashing... medium sized.. and soft, hella serene.

Vendors sell their wares up and down the beach.  If yain't interested, most, all it takes is "No, gracias."  There are the influential salesmen among 'em, and, if provided enough laughs, deals, usually most Gringos fork into wallet.  Jewelry, hats, blankets, cigars, much. Most, "almost free."

Restaurants, bars, occasional vendors as well.  One guy, all he had to sell was his talent. With guitar, he sang Mehican ballads, right at your table, both very well and very loud.  Pesos, sure, forked outta pocket.  Little ones. Dayum cute little ones with small boxes of goods to vend. Kindhearted suckers like my buddy Tip, prolly paid seven times the asking price for a few small toys, gum and candy. "Was worth it seeing their smile" Tip would say.

Sadly, we see loose hound dogs often in the streets.  They do have a marvelous Rescue here, but the numbers are overwhelming.  We've seen folks walking hounds... walking a goat.. riding a horse...

Stop signs are everywhere.  Yesterday, there was one exactly 6 inches behind a light pole.  Many have graffiti on them.  Roads are good, crappy, some, all sand.  There's a lotta 'V' intersections where us old farts really gotta strain to look back and see if 'all clear'.  97% of the merchant signs are in Spanish.

Ain't uncommon to see a farmacia every 6th building, 64 four-wheelers here, 38 Razors on the next block. Entrepreneurship, me thinks, isn't overly costly here.  Empty spot in the block.  Some upright 6"x6"s, a palapa (dried palm leaves) roof.. presto, you've a bar, or, a taco stand, tamales, seafood, pina coladas.  Competition to restaurant dollars here is keen, so, as one owner told me "Your food better be good or you won't stay in business long with over 2,000 places to choose from."

Beautiful, Spanish architecture.  Right next door to a vacant, desert, sandy lot.  Buildings started, the dreams, for whatever reason, put on hold.  Commercial property mixed in with residential homes. Sure, a string of Cabo like highrises lines the main beach area.  Named differently, they've got Sams, WalMart, Kroger, Dollar General, QT, all here.  Super Ley, an inbetween size grocery store, has many items, aisles marked in English, thus, lazy gringo idiots like me shop here, prolly pay more, rather than get lost at Sams in the tile department. If nothing else, go just to see the octopus laid out on ice in the seafood department. Skeery, but real.

Rodeo Drive and Malecon are two touristy hotspots, one booth, store after another, all selling any, everything Mehican. Ain't been yet. Driven thru Malecon.  Hawkers try to getya to pull into a parking place. Ya say "no" (nicely) a lot here.

There are bargains here.  Lotta restaurants have $6-7 burger night.. $1.50 tacos.. $7 pizza night..  Happy Hours, 2 for 1 beers.. $20 Pedi's, $45 for an hour massage.. Breakfasts are wonderful here.. and the pastries.. The Bomb.  For whatever reason, it ain't like Lamar's Donuts back home, they don't start work, making goodies at 3am like they do there..  pastries are more of an afternoon delight... so you'll get 'em fresh then.

The people. Yes, the people are 'tied' the tourist, oft times, American dollar here.. but too..  so are they at any joint you walk into back home.  Hopefully not 'dissing' in general because back home the vast majority of experiences are wunnerful, but sometimes back home, ya do 'catch an attitude' with a worker.  Won't, doesn't happen here. The people are nice.  "Here to serve." Oft times bilingual. Come in once, leave, come back in eight days, they greet you with smile, and by name.  They make it pretty darn easy to relax, enjoy.

A lot I don't understand.  No Social Security.  Ex Pats have no health insurance.  Lotta rules about working here, owning a business, yada.  I don't understand the fear, hatrid by some, toward, of our Southern friends. I don't get it. I've never been scared.  There is (as much or) more crime in virtually any city in the US. Most Mexicans speak English, at least some English.  More Mexicans speak English than US folks speak Mexican.

Back to 32.  Easy to say, but I truly did feel guilt, remorse for those back home, especially in the six, eight day stretch where temps never got to 32.  Other's might say "You picked a fine time to leave me Lucille" and I'd agree.  Winter, least favorite.

A brief glimpse of US folks here:  nice, just like Mehican folks, relaxed, ditto, worries lifted, most, no hurry to get home, many, here year round.

Google tells me "When it comes to the number 32, it encompasses a harmonious blend of creativity, self-expression, and spiritual growth. It encourages us to trust in our innate talents and pursue a path of artistic inspiration. The number 32 is a symbol of balance and harmony."  I sure don't know about all that but what I can tell you is........

"I took my troubles down to Madam Ruth (Mehico).. you know that gyspy with the goldcapped tooth", well, no, I don't know her.  But what I do know it, I took them (and I know, we ALL got 'em, ie, troubles).. but then I sat on the balcony.  The Sea, me. Harmonious.  Spiritual.  Trust. Inspiration. Balance. Harmony. Hours.  Hours at a time. A short glimpse here, an hour and a half take there, mebbe even allowing the waves to putya to sleep.

Sure, it can be that sitting any/everywhere.  It don't hurt to have pink, orange, blue sunrises, sunsets.  Quiet, calm, interspersed with hell to the yeah show me them breakers. Crash baby. Again, and again. Soooooooooooo dadgum peaceful.  I see alla them 'want, wish, need' The Beach posts... Agree, but, I'm ok up here on the balcony away from the pesky, but nice feeling sand.

That gypsy's got a pad down on Thirty-Second and Puerta Penasco

Sellin' little bottles of Sea of Cortez watchin' time......

Go. Save. Get here. Four of you.. save roughly $32 (each) a week for 29 weeks and it gets you (all) a 2 bedroom condo, on the beach for two months here.

I hope I described it ok.  It may not be for some, but, it's sure fit me well.  If you ask anyone to describe it here, they'll say, "ya really can't."

Amor y paz, Victurd

Sorry................

Paul Harvey......

"It is easy to hate and it is difficult to love.  This is how the whole scheme of things works. All good things are difficult to achieve, and bad things are very easy to achieve. "  Confucius

Color me guilty.  I hated (admired?  envied?) The New York Yankees. Coulda had something to do with their 27 World titles... mebbe a TAD about their fans reminding the World of this. Starting in 1976, the Royals would meet the Yankees in the American League Championship Series four out of five years.  Finally, finally, FINALLY in 1980 it happened.  We beat the ('stinkin') Yankees.

That Confucius, "All good things are difficult to achieve" and "It is easy to hate."  We do that. I did that.  Google, or Reddit, "Somebody help me" (quoting Beetlejuice) reminds... among the most hated teams... The Yankees...  Alabama football... Duke basketball..  the LA Lakers..  the Boston Bruins..  The New England Patriots... 

And usn's in Small Market 'Merica..  particularly our little 'cowtown' KC, no likey (admire? envious of?) some individuals.. names ringing a bell..  Reggie Jackson..  Billy Martin... John Elway...  Peyton Manning... Tom Brady... Tom Brady.. did we mention Tom Brady?

Fast forward to today...  the board for the "Game of 501 darts" (too longa story to tell, hell, I'm 71, just learnt how to play it).. anyways... picture a dartboard, and hatrid (admiration? envy?) with, in place of the Bullseye, our little NFL cowtown, accompanying pics of Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Andy Reid.. and toss in Taylor Swift for good measure (no, not the musical measure variety).

Ya flip channels.. Mahomes is  EVERYWHERE in commercials..  and now he's dragging Reid in their with him.   SNL? Kelce?  You kidding me?  I don't give a rat's watoosie about Taylor Swift, pan your cameras down on the field where football is being played.

Eight consecutive AFC West titles.  Six straight times in the AFC Championship game..  What's this now, the 4th Super Bowl in six seasons for KC?

We get it...  It's easy to hate and difficult to love.  All good things are difficult to achieve.

Lamar he begun it, the Texans held a summit, they packed their bags and moved to old KC.  1963.  Yes, he had started the AFL.  There was success.  With both the NFL and the AFL drafting college players, he/The now Kansas City Chiefs, got some good ones.  In fact, won the Super Bowl in the 1969 season.

And of course, after that, there would be 27 more AFL/AFC Champsionships, 12 Super Bowl titles.. AHM, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. Slowdown Warpaint.  That ain't right.

1972, the longest dayum NFL football game ever (still, to this day), Christmas day, the Miami Dolphins outlasted the Chiefs.. 27-24 in double overtime.

Since......

Well... before some guy, #15, the Chiefs playoff record since the '69 Super Bowl, 10-18.  Hear me?  10-18, including losing ten of eleven between '93 and 2017.  Some kicker named Lin Elliot missed THREE field goals in a 10-7 playoff loss to the Colts. 

1983, we finally drafted a Quarterback in the first round.  Todd Blackledge. Hearda him?  Pretty good broadcaster..  As a QB with KC, in five seasons, completed less than 50% of his passes.. 29 TDs, 38 interceptions.  Good golly.

After Lenny the Cool and that '69 Super Bowl team, we tried Livingston, Fuller, Kenney, Seurer, DeBerg, Jaworski, Peulleur, Vlasic, Krieg, Montana (yes, a few good things happened), Bono, Elvis "I can't throw the ball and catch it too" Grbac, Gannon, Green (not too bad), Moon, Huard, Thigpen, Cassel, Palco, Orton, Quinn, Daniel, Smith (anudder, not too bad)... 20 LOSING SEASONS between '69 and 2017.

For a brief moment, let's look at the udder sidea the parking lot.  That be where the Kansas City Royal's play.  Toto relates, "It's in Missouri too", dontyaknow Dorothy, yes, there is a Kansas City Kansas, but both teams are in Kansas City Missouri.  Sing it Aretha, R-E-S-P-E-C-T, sock it to us please everyone.  After whatshiname Brett retired, tweren't good there either. 1985 Champs, it would be another THIRTY years before it happened again.  Three outta every four folks in KC wore Royal's shirts.  "Let's Go Royals" was heard in parks around Baseaball.  Finally, 2015 Champs again.  Kids, much like us kids from 1969/Chiefs Super Bowl, thought "It'll be like this EVERY year."

Ahm, nope. Royals finished 56-106 last year.  I wish I could recall who coined the famous phrase 
WHAT HAPPENED?"

Did KC folks give up?  Did you have to go to Luckenbach Texas with Waylon and Willie and the Boys to get yummy burnt ends?  Was there still Red Friday?  The Chiefettes? Where the Hunts looking to move elsewhere?  

No. No. No. No. No.

Resolve, as in hardworking, loyal, fanatic, everloving - KC fans.

In 2013, EIGHT teams hired NFL coaches.  Only one got Andy Reid.  62 players were selected in the draft that year before the name of the Cincinatti Bearcat Travis Kelce was called.  Some guy named Tyreek Hill was selected in the Fifth round of the 2016 draft. 

And.......... 

The Cleveland Browns

The Chicago Bears

The San Francisco 49'ers

The Jacksonville Jaquars

The Tennessee Titans

The New York Jets

The LA Chargers

The Carolina Panthers

The Cincinatti Bengals

All....  passed up the chance... then, the BUFFALO BILLS traded their top pick to the Kansas City Chiefs who then drafted some guy named Patrick Mahomes.

Some, then, mebbe wet-behind-the-ears, but very keen eye GM named Brad Veach, filled in the pieces, giving KC starter-like talent on the entire 53 man roster.  The rest they say.......

Some dude named Furry Lewis used the phrase "Been down so long it looks like up to me" way back in 1928.  We hearya Furry, load and clear.

All good things are difficult to achieve.

We in KC say, hate us if you like.

Sorry........ not sorry.

Love, Victurd

 

Bonita sonrisa............ and Armpits......

The hell?  I'm lost...........

Uh huh, I guess it's like the constipated mathmetician.....  What?  Yeah, but(t?) he eventually worked it out with a pencil.

Apologies in advance....... I could not think of any one topic, so... I'm gonna go allover the place (Ahm, no, not constipation.)  This, that.  Sorry, kinda.

I thought about "Ends" as a topic. (Again, nothing to do do with constipation.) Most piggies are 'boob guys'... Today's Wordle players who ain't played yet, don't shoot me, but some guys are "Leggy" men.  I've always had an affinity for derrieres.  It's ok, shoot me.  (The second topic I thought of, since I've spent a dadgum month with fraternity brothers from back when Nixon was in office... about, HOW FUN that/those times were... thus, whythehell NOT act immature today... it was a blast then, WHY NOT NOW TOO?)

Ends... about to reach the enda this trip. (Fly home Saturday, Feb. 3rd.)  Travis Kelce, man, what a game our tight end had.  Somea those catches...  I can hear Frank singing "And now, the end is near"...  or mebbe, Carol Burnett singing "I'm so glad we had this time together."

Armpits.  Remember?  I toldya when I played HS basketball I was afraid to shoot because, I DID have armpit hair, but, 'cause it was blondish-light-reddish, when I raised my arm to shoot, it appeared I didn't have any... so..  didn't shoot much, and when I did/missed, it was my built in excuse as to why it didn't go in.

Armpit.  The Sea of Cortez. That Baha arm that goes South of Cali. That's where I, we, are at.  In the ampit place of Mehico.  "Cept, it's far from an armpit.  No, mebbe it ain't Cabo, Cancun, Puerta Vallarta, but it's a not nationally known secret to travelers... mostly Phoenix, Tucson, New Mexico... but... lotta Canadians.. we'll see 'plates' from CO, CA, WA, TX... but mostly AZ and Sonora <-- that be the MX State we're in.  Whatever the State, it's a dadgum fun place. Never been to them other places, but me thinks, even if I would go, I'd prefer this place.  It's a wonderful mix of, yes, condo/pool/beach, and a very nice slice of Mehicana too, ie, it ain't gated off, all inclusive. Ya get out there with the (friendly, nice, wunnerful, hard working) locals.

Ya think of Armpit, ya think of stink.  Rhyme wasn't on porpoise, but there are dolphins here too.  Anyways, a few blogs back, talked of a three year old on Santa's lap.. "Been a good girl?"  Yes, and pew your breath stinks.  Buddy of mine I usedta work with, her 4 yr old asked her the other day "Mommy, can you smell my teeth?"  And.............. scrolling back up to "the fun of acting immature".. plz don't tell..  my golf partner I always share the cart with in our foursome, is much better than me, so I always tee off before he does.  Sometimes I save up a little gas on porpoise, uh huh, fart (silently) as I hit the ball.  Then, I have hee haws once he gets to tee box, looks at me with stern face.  It's great to act 20!

The language barrier.  Many (Mexicans) here speaky good Engleshe'. Some, don't.  The other day, I strolled my afflicted, compression sock wearing butt down the elevator, went to smoke a cig just as three lovely Senorita's (assume no Engleshe') were coming to work.  They giggled as they saw me. (Ever got a pedicure and onea the gals talky in language you no unnerstand, all the others giggle, thus, you assume they're talking about you?)  Uh huh.  The Senorita's did that.  They'd say something, giggle, can't blame them.  Watching me walk is sight for sore Senorita eyes.

Peso/dollar.  Just about when I gots it figured out, they gimme the ticket for the meal in dollars.  Simpleton, I have to think a bit.  This is boring, but, most places list both peso and dollar amount, many take either.. and some, "Cash only", but, most do do (there's that 'smell thing again', do do.. Yes Victor, AND the very immature thing too.. uh huh... sorry, but not really.)..anyways, most do do that too (allow debit, credit cards.)

With all the choices here..  Tacos, quesadillas, burritos, enchilada, tamale, sopes, chalupas, yada.. of course we went for Fried Chicken last night. (And pasta, yum the lasagna) the night before.  And... the day before that, hot dogs.  Please tell me I ain't crazy.  My Gringo buddy got mad because I put ketchup on my hot dog. "YOU DON'T PUT KETCHUP ON YOUR HOT DOG, NOBODY DOES!". I no likey cusswords, but I say "Screw you...I do."  Do you?

Grocery stores.  There is no "PRESS ONE FOR ENGLISH".   All the dayum writing is in EsPanol.  You can make a list, but you ain't gonna find, anywhere, in English, anything that's on that list.  My buddy Tip, a fraternity brother, well.. actually my pledge son from, oh, 1974 or so.. he bought what he thought was sausage... mebbe had a bitta hamburger in it too.. so he could make some breakfast thingy.  Margie, BLESS Margie, our fraternity brother's wife.. she grew up in El Paso, so, she speaky the language - we lean on her.  So, Tip wanted to make sure what he had bought was sausage... Thus, he texted Margie, "I'll send you a pic of my sausage and lemme know what you think."  Aye yai yai, back to being 20-something, I laughed my watoosie off.

At the fried chicky place... it was 'on the point' looking out over the Sea of Cortez.  A perty, very, place. There musta been 600 pelicans resting on the rocks nearby. I was curious as to "why there", so, asked vely pretty Senorita who'd fetched us a Dos Equis and Tecate Lite.  She no understandy, got someone else to come over, speaky d' English, but, "no idea."  I make note of pretty Senorita's smile.  If you've been here five minutes, you know I'm HUGE on smiles...............s'more.

So......... risking having a Mexican boyfriend come up and coldcock me.. (Pretty Senorita barkeep didn't have wedding band on, so, knew she didn't have a hubby.)  As we were leaving, on my phone I went to free translation, entered "Pretty Smile" and thus, that title up there (Bonita sonrisa) popped up.  Showed her as we were leaving.  Got an even BIGGER bonita sonrisa.  No one swatted me on the way out.  Pelicans never pooped on us either.

So, in closing (THANK GOODNESS VICTOR).. what's your favorite body part?  Do your teeth stink?  Ever fart on the golf course? DO YOU PUT KETCHUP ON YOUR HOT DOGS? (Please don't answer if your answer is "no")..   Please let me know the last immature thing you've done so I won't be the Lone Immature Ranger.

Have sonrisa's.............. and sunsets too I guess.

Amar, Victurd

The first hundred years are the hardest.......

Recently, which, when one is up in years, could mean last Tuesday, or, nine years ago. A gal I dated... her grandchild turned one year old. A cake smash was held, but, unlike any I'd seen.. The poor little lady, her head was pushed into the cake.

In retrospect, mebbe not a bad, representative "Welcome to life kid."

A year.  365 days.  Not this year Victor.  Right you are, 'tis a leap year, thus, 366.

About years, 7 kinda confuses me. There's the Fido thing... when he's one, he's really 7... 2, really 14, three, 21, and we'll stop there 'cause my math sucks.  There's the saying 'keep a thing 7 years and you'll always find a use for it'.... but too, it's said "You should know a man seven years before you stir his fire." And yet................

There's anudder saying about 'a seven year itch' which, onea them dictionary sites indicated "The supposed inclination of a person, typically a man, to begin longing for sexual relations with other people after seven years of marriage."   Well hell's bells... if she's known him 6 years, 364 days and she ain't stirred his fire yet, not guilty, he should be gettin' all kindsa itchy the next day too!

Advanced in years.  On in years.  Golden years.  One's sunset years. Twilightyears, wellupinyears, one'sautumnyears, pushingoninyears, upinyears, donkey's years...  I'm trying to remember why I even chose this year thing as a topic today.  I'd never heard the donkey's years thing... simpleton I guess.  Means a long time.  It's believed mebbe it was said "as long as donkey's Ears" but written "Donkey's years."  Dunno.

Speakin' o' ass and years, my sister's kiddo was 3 years old. (Victor, your told this one last year.. oh well)..  She had around 12 Barbies she adored.  Her pappy, well, let's just say he had a vocabulary sometimes.  Anyways, long about 8pm, the three year old had all 12 Barbies in her bed... and she neatly lined them up in a row along the full length of the crib. Mama, my sister..  went into the room at ten..  kiddo sound asleep... one by one she picked the Barbies up, placed them in the toy chest next to the crib.  Just as she moved the 12th one, the three year old popped up and said "I knew you'd ass it up."

Four score and seven years ago.  Of course, that's Abe... at Gettysburg. Yes, a score is 20 years, so, four of them 20's plus 7 = 87.  As in, when the country was founded.  87 pesos = $5.07.  $87 = 1492  pesos, or... was the year that Christopher feller sailed the ocean blue.

"Write it on your heart... every day is the best day of the year."  Ralph Waldo Emerson

Back to years.  In the year 1930, some feller named Babe Ruth was negotiating his contract.  It was the Depression.. .Millions unemployed, thousands literally starving.  Writers tried convincing The Babe "no way" he should ask for so much (he'd made $80K, but everyone was taking a cut)..  “$8o,ooo a year! In these times!” expostulated one of the writers. "Don’t be silly, Babe. Why that’s more than Hoover gets for being president of the United States.” (then, $75.) To which Mr. Babe replied “What the hell has Hoover got to do with this?” demanded the Babe. “Anyway, I had a better year than he did.”

"Sex after 90 is like trying to shoot pool with a rope. Even putting my cigar in its holder is a thrill."  George Burns

Never in a million years...  roll back the years..  year in year out..  light years away... big year...  election year (criminy)...   

“Every single year, we’re a different person. I don’t think we’re the same person all of our lives.” – Steven Spielberg 

If you could pick, who would you be for a year?

Color me boring... I'd prolly just stay me as it's simpler.  Hopefully you have more imagination, zest, hop-to-it-ness.

Have a great resta the year...  Go Chiefs......

Love, Victurd

I can't believe I ate the whole thing..........

I ain't sure if it's a blessing or a curse I was born a Libran (zodiac stuff)..  Of course the sign of Libran's is the scale... Strangely, Libra is the only zodiac sign represented by an object.  The other 11 signs are represented by an animal or mythological character.

Where was I?  Oh yeah, still in Mehico.  Back soon though.  I can't believe I ate the whole thing.  Balance (like the Scales).  Too much or not enough. If ya stop and think, ya don't see a lot of large, old folks. (ie, note to Victor.)  Then again, whatshisname, the one that hollers "Ho.. Ho.. Ho", is considered portly, delivers gifts, toys, coal to over 396 million households in a 24 hour period and he's what, 1,751 years of age?

"Too many damn pics of Taylor Swift during Chief's games.. I just wanna watch football!"  So, if I put that on the Libran scale, her reply is “I’m just there to support Travis,” she said. “I have no awareness of if I’m being shown too much and pissing off a few dads, Brads and Chads." 

I done seen (Done seen is tremendously butchered English language.. but, after being here a bit, we done seen the blogger seemingly don't care.).. I done seen many examples of 'folks who gots a lotta money', and in the other tray (whateverinthehell they call the Libra scale thing) 'those who be po'. My own mama, a child of the Great Depression, said they usedta say "Po', but didn't know it."

Back to rich folks.  Or, better termed, those with a significant amount of money.  Why?  Why do they have a significant amount of money?  (You're asking ME?  That'd be like me giving relationship advice.. or maybe, smoking cessation advice).. ok, I'll try.  They've worked hard. They're disciplined.  They're just dadgum smart.

I seen examples.  Played golf with a feller, perty darn well off.  A bagga golf tees in our Pro Shop, after taxes, is like $2.67.  Sooooooooooooo... we get up to the first tee... he wanders off..  "Whar ya goin?"  To find a tee.  Uh huh, he looked for tees others lost, and if he couldn't find onea those, he used a broken one he'd picked up.

Anudder time........... I was riding shotgun with a feller that was perty well off.  Road trip.  We actually had plenty of gas... but... drove past a joint the price of gas was too good to be true.  $2.06 a gallon.  Screeching halt.  9 gallons. Back in car, sing it Willie, "On the road again."  BUT.... before we actually pulled outta said gas station, the rate on the sign changed to $1.99 a gallon.  I pointed it out to 'perty well off' feller.  He cussed. And cussed s'more. IRATE. AGHAST. (Remember? Balance?).. He was gonna go back in.. complain.. demand.. "That's 63 cents I coulda, shoulda saved."  I laughed, too much prolly.. so we continued on.

Financial planner, he say "Do you fly First Class?"  Well no, of course not.  "Spend money then, or else your kids are gonna."

Fly?  Can't.  We're going Greyhound and leaving the driving to them.

Kansas City City Chief's receivers.  Too many drops.

Too many fish in the sea said The Marvelettes. 

Feller that indicated he was "Just a common man, drive a common van, my dog ain't got no pedigree" didn't have enough to cover the family's February mortgage payment - so, he gotta three hour a night gig cleaning office buildings (in addition to his 8 to 5) to make ends meet. (ie, scale balance.)

The cardboard sign folks at major intersections.  Do we approach them with the same trust, mebbe lack thereof, as our Senator?  Bank President?  Will the cardboard guy who has "NO FOOD, HUNGRY" take the quarters and go buy a half pint'a whiskey, or, Similac for his baby?  Or, "Trust me..  vote for me."

I wanna loft downtown. No time for around-the-house maintenance in my world, 3 blocks from the entertainment district, yum.

Gimme 5 acres, ma' zero-turn, a six pack and a small feeeshin' pond, I'm good.

A to B, Interstate for me.  Take me home, Country road to a place I belong..  Where do you belong?

Diversity. Division. Equal employment opportunity.  Well, it IS the owner's son, but he ain't a bad guy, worker.

She took too much off on top.  Does it look too red?  How can I stop this damn slice?  My pitching wedge is ALWAYS short.

As Yogi Berra says "Nobody goes there anymore, it's too crowded."

Olga Korbut, balance beam.  Otis, walkin' in'ta his cell in Mayberry.

Too much. Not enough.  Such is life.  I'm unique, just like you.

About the only thing these scales, being Libran, has helped me figure out, is that there ain't no figurin' out.

There are four of us.  Three Krispy Kreme donuts apiece.

The plate of lasagna was DELISH last night. I can't believe I ate the whole thing.  I'll balance it all out when I get home.  No bread, cut down on sugar.  (Hell to the no on kale, broccoli though.)

Back to the pool.  Hey, does this suit make me look fat?  Uh huh, and don't forget the sunscreen....mebbe an extra large size tube..  BITE ME!

Love, Victurd

Sitting in the sandbox looking across the way............ Wondering..........

Admiring the beauty of the roses...  but.... 

Asking...  Why must we have to navigate thorns to get to the beautiful rose?

Such is life.

The sandbox is where we're taught to share everything.  Yet, even bloggers with big (mouths) keyboards must keep some things to themselves. S* happens, check engine lights come on.   For, everyone.

A beloved... last night, the beloved and mate...(I don't think I'll get in trouble sharing this from the sandbox!)..  Drove to Caseys to get a refund for the pizza that was never delivered.  The rose (many, many nights of good yummy, this kind, that kind, full bellies) had a single thorn.

Was decided to try 'the new restaurant in town'.  Went.  Two waitresses.  Two customers.  Beloved, and mate.  The thorn, ouch, the waitresses argued over who had to wait on them.  The 'loser' then hollered from the table she was sitting at "What do you want to drink?"

This all ain't from the movie (or was it just a song) "The way we were."  It's the now, "The way we are."  Sadly anyways.  Not everywhere, but, twas, there - last night.

Then, when the order came, it was wrong..  Thinking, "I'll work with it - not sending it back to the kitchen for fear of gross punishment." An even deeper thorn mebbe.

One bite into hamburger - RAW.  Damn prickly thorns!  "Had them take it off (my meal) the ticket... sent it back.. fear of boogers (BIG thorns) or spit (wet thorn).. so.. ended up going thru the drive thru of good ole Mickey D's and actually had a few giggles over the whole deal."  That be the rose of  a vely nice relationship.

1,500 miles Southwest, four hungry gringos set out to find dinner.  Sorry, they're closed.  Oops, that one too.  The work of a dadgum US/Mexican Border being shutdown for way too dadgum long (thorn), so, economy went South, laying off many beautiful Mehican roses.

Next joint.  Filled to the gills.  Nope, don't wanna wait that long.  (Side note, I repeat myself.  Side note, I repeat myself.) If you're ever starving and you sign into a restaurant with the host/hostess up front, tell 'em "Last name Starving", that'll get their dayum attention.

For however many days I've been turning red here but not getting a suntan, we've driven by a new, fancy looking joint, but, there are never any cars there.  "I'm a big believer, no cars, huh uh, no go."  That was repeated and repeated.  Yet, us four gringos, last name Starving, were hungry.

Pulled in.  Happy feller standing out front to greet us.  "You take credit cards?"  "Yes! (enter big, rosy smile here.)"  Pulled in.  The only ones in the joint.  200 chairs within.  Learned the dude's name was Tayson (pronounced like Mike Tyson's last name).. He was a (very) happy fella.  The rose of the night.

He literally bent over backwards to serve us.  As we got our drinks, ordered, we too learned he's a budding pro boxer.  Makey "Tyson" all the more interesting.  "What's your record, when's your next bout?"  "I'm 9 and 5... March (something or other, I forget)"...   Any knockouts?  "Si, ocho."

I could NEVER be a food critic 'cause there are only so many ways you can review a cheeseburger and fries.  "Tyson" was a looker too.  For that, we were happy for our beloved Margie.  She's maybe twice his age, but HEY, when we're in the sandbox looking out, ordering food, us male piggos want to be staring across, giving our order to beautiful Senorita's, so, tit for tat rose.

Sure........ there are all sizes of thorns...  burgers, panini's perty good..  fries terribly cold..  we coulda watched five rounds of a boxing match whilst we waited for our food to finally hit the table..  Hey, Tyson made our evening fun.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The sandbox of life.

Victor?  Yeah?  You're not really gonna tell this one areya?

Mebbe.

Prolly.

Yes, I am.

Band camp. Long ago.  Sitting "in the sandbox", which, is fancy for sitting in the sand, ,four of us. (2 thorns, 2 roses).. .. St. Thomas, Virgin Islands..  Magens Bay, literally, the most beautiful beach (rose) I've ever seen, been to in my life.

What that Zac Brown feller say?  "Got my toes in the water, ass in the sand." Thirty minutes.  An hour. Three times, waitress lady trapsed up and down Magens Bay, "I'll have a Corona with lime please?".. The mesmerizing ocean..  pulsating waves..  at peace.  Our sandbox.  ROSE.  ROSE. ROSE.  Onea them times ya pinch yourself and say "Hey, let's remember this forever, right Zac?"

OK, came time to leave (dangit.)  We four, the two thorns and the two beautiful roses, stood to head to the car.

Except, fellow thorn and I had a little trouble getting up. No, NOT the Coronas.  There was mebbe ten pounds of sand that had collected down there 'by the thorn'.  Tain't fair!  How come them beautiful roses ain't gots no sand down their drawers?

Only thing fellow thorn and I could figure...  well..  (VICTOR, NO!)  Victor say 'yes'. Only thing we could figure, we got them 'you knows' in the way.  A hint might be to rearrange the letters in S A N D. (Enter blog reader forever blocking checkenginelight into future).  Oh well.

Victor, one story you shouldn't shared about, from, the sandbox.  Sorry, I will never grow up. Know I needta, can't.

Yeah but ain't life rosey?

Victor I suppose now you're gonna shoot your big mouth off and tell us about the softball team you played on called "The Nads", and, your group cheer was "Go Nads!"  No, wasn't gonna actually, but thank you for doing so.

Love, Victurd

Three-point stances... An hour-twenty... the pee of Cortez... Whack-a-whale........

You had'ta been there.  So, there. The blog is done, there ain't no describing our whale watching excursion, you had'ta been there.  Love, Victurd 

Of course, you forget, I've got a big keyboard (Mouth)......

Fitteen of us. Mighta been 16, I wasn't in charge - thankfully (and nice job Pup).

"Be there (The Pier) at 9:30am....  wear layers... 862 pesos (Fitty bucks)..."

Prior to going.......... I'd sent Pup a text.  It was in Spanish.  I asked that he memorize it, save it, should we need it in the end.  Translated, it said "You said we'd see whales... we all want our (enter bad cussword here) fitty dolla's back."

"Come on Vic, let's get a head start to the boat."  Nice people, all.  It was a friendly Mehican way to say "Vic, you're friggin' crippled, let's go now so the others won't pass us.. have to wait for us."  I was thankful.

42' (I think) catamaran......  Bench seats in front... in the middle... and on either side in the back.  Pretty much everyone in our group knew everyone... so, it was kinda like a "Hey,. Friday night we're going to....." party.

Cap'n Oscar. Tall, nice dude.  Fluent, English, Spanish.  Oscar has 'work at fun'.  My dream job.  17 years he's been doing this... his first mate (a she), 5+ years.. two other helpers.. ALL..  nice.. just like everywhichway you turn here, friendly, polite, ready to serve, and with smile.

"We'll go out about an hour and half if we need to... we do have a few rules to discuss.. The 3-point rule..  When you move about on the boat,  you must have both feet on the ground and one of your arms on something else to support yourself.  (Later I would learn, by a 'show of [not hands] eyeballs' everytime I walked to/fro.. I was voted "Most likely to fall."  Folks be damn nice. Wanna put your arm on my shoulder?  Can I help you here?)

S'more Cap'n Oscar... "The women will use the head (below, pointed to it)... plz, no TP down the stool..  Guys.. we ask that you pee off the backa the boat.... We're gonna start out playing Reggae music but as we get into the trip we'll take requests...  When we do see, find a whale, I guarantee you we'll follow them for an hour and twenty minutes." 

Witchi Tai Tai, kimarah Whoa Ron-nee Ka Whoa Ron-nee Ka Hey-ney, hey-ney, no-wah, Witchi Tai Tai, kimarah Whoa Ron-nee Ka Whoa Ron-nee Ka Hey-ney, hey-ney, no-wah, which, has not one damn thing to do with this blog, but I find it to be kind of an excited, fun thing, so, that, mebbe, was the mood. 

The trip out was nice.  Big ole pelicans, hard to believe how large their snouts, not too mention wingspan is, are, however you'd say. Shrimp boats, allover.  Big, little, all kinda boats.  We saw our condo.. and the whole string'a condos went from recognizable (hey, there's ours, 7th floor, second from the end).. to......... a small dot, the further we went. 

We'd heard "about an hour thirty out"..  and, we were happily into our trip.  Folks, initially glued to a specific seat, now, 3-ponting from here to there.  Oh yeah, free drinks. Better mention that.  Victor, this seems to be a theme of your trip?  Mebbe.  I guess I have mentioned it a time or Dos (Equis).

So........... sufficient lubrication, sunshine, CALM SEAS, good friends becoming even better friends.. nice, nice crew.. gorgeous day.. .yippee, all about..................... except..................... no whales.

Binocs out.  Several.  S'more miles out to sea.  Cap'm himself scouting.  First mate, she too.  HEY, who's steering?!  It was all good, straight for a bit.  We were now an hour FORTY into the trip.. I peeked at Pup, wanted to remind him about the money back speech in Spanish.

Bingo Beth (she be the bingo caller.. nice lady.. 'local'.. ) she pointed waaaaaay ahead..  Cap'n confirmed sight.. "THAR SHE BLOWS"..  full steam ahead..........   It took some time..  actually by now, a lotta time.. similar catamarans fulla gringos were also in chase, so we knew it was the real deal.  And yes, finally, a fin.  A big splash.  Every "oooooohhhh" met with a Pavlovian "aaaaahhhhhhhh".  Nifty. Hard to describe.

My videos taken are minutes, mebbe an hour total of still, calm waters.  Ya see one come up.. .you wing your camera a hunnerd degrees, GONE.  Then back to the left, same thing.  We'd never hit a whale (or a dog, cat, goat, yada) but it was kinda like playing a game of whack-a-whale.  Or, what was it the Governor on the Best Little  Whorehouse in Texas said?  "OOOHHHHH I LOVE TO DANCE (SWIM) A LITTLE SIDESTEP" and that they did....

But they were there.  Everywhere. AMAZING CREATURES. Over here, over there, ahead, behind, starboard, aft, whatever else ya call it.  Whales to the left of me, (fellow) jokers to the right, here I am, stuck in the middle of the Wonderful Pee of Cortez.I did that. Pee.  Three times off the backa the boat.  Sorry, whales, hadta.  Tip, my Sigamanu buddy "Vic, I had way too many beers and only peed once." (Gee blog reader, see what you can learn here?")

Calamity, John. Nicest dude ever.  Go figure, John, who doesn't drink (and THE ONLY one on the boat not drinking), the first to fall.  Cut leg.  Of course he said "I'm Ok, doesn't hurt." Cap'n bandaged it up, John rarin' to go. That's John.  Sandie, his equally as nice wife said "One time we were water skiing.. he fell.. cut himself (I forget exactly what she said but it sounded as if it was almost, but not quite up to a limb falling off).. anyways, by the time she got the boat to him he said "Will you take me around one more time?"  That's John!

  

Now I've had, the time of my life.  It was kinda like a huge rock concert.. except the feature 'band' (the whales) came out first..  on the way back, it was the sea lions turn to take the stage... then, they seemingly had been hiding from me on porpoise the entire trip, a 'pod' of dolphins!

Cap'n chimed in, "OK, we're heading back, you've seen every critter there is to see!"..   Back to You had'ta be there.  Buddy Tip and I had probably (assuredly) exceeded our Dos Equi limit... doubtful we coulda counted to ten in English (for SURE not in Spanish).. .anyways.. Tip says "Vic, I'd have to put this in the top 5 times of my life.

I agree Tip.  Fortunate. 

On the way back... there is a net on the front end of the catamaran.  Mebbe 16' by 16'.  Cap'n said it'd support any/all.  Huh uh. Not gonna try after sitting on and smashing that damn plastic end table. You guys have at... And did they.  These ladies.. I think they call themselve the Gypsy Chicks.. they like to lay on the floor. I ain't real sure why. They did this (below) on the boat.. and, unner a table at Margie's Birthday Party at Leo's Bar.  On the way back, they danced. AND DANCED.  And the music got louder and louder. They danced like the whales, sea lions and dophins weren'ta watchin', fun they had.

Our crew below... (And below that, there's a link to our cruise boats site on Facebook.. There are three or four videos there.. I tried getting them here, but, back to, IT illiterate.   

 

THANK YOU FOR READING!  If you are on Facebook the link is below.  It truly was a whale of a good time.

Love, Victurd

(1) Facebook

 

Gordo like me........

Victor, you talking "Like Alex Gordon?"   

Nice try, by a nice guy, but...  no.

Gordo, in Espanol, is FAT (masculine)... and, teeter totter this the misogynist says, Gorda is FAT (feminine.)

BLOGS = TMI.

TMI = Bend me shape me anyway you want me, I don't give a rats.  I've heard "Only you Victor." Yeah, well, I don't care, it's life.

Prior to getting to Mehico...  aside from working on my "Ring of Fire" tan (that's the only place on my body that gets sun...a 6" area between my shorts and the top of my compression socks....)  I tried to, and did, lose weight.

My secret?  It really don't matter.  I recently read, "90% of the people who diet gain it all back."  Sorry, kinda, so, sit back, have another Twinkie.

I can blame 'affliction' but, that'd be a lie. Initially, yes, four years ago I ballooned up to 267.  That ain't a typo.  Me thinks much was water weight. Quickly lost 20 or so, I've hovered around 235-240 since, sometimes, a little less.

I went for six months not eating anything fun.  Nuttin'.  No bread, no pop, as little sugar as possible. Worked, down to 205. "When I get to Mehico, I'm gonna eat any, everything."

Victor?  Yes?  You really telling this? (Scroll to 'rats', uh huh, I am.)

About three weeks before Greyhound to OK City, ride with buddy from there to Roswell, NM, then, the next day, to Tucson, then, from Nogales, AZ thru the 'said to be' cartel country of Mehico, to, beloved Puerto Penasco.. the hell was I?  Oh yeah.. about three weeks before all that, I cheated and gained about 10 pounds back. Ever keep score at a ballgame?  It's like dieting, ya give up about the 3rd inning, but, if you're keeping score, that now puts me at 215.

Kiss.  That, sorry kinda not really, is for all shaking their head in disbelief I relate this.  Anudder kiss, for good measure, as in, waistline measure.  Three drawers of shorts at home...  42... 40... and 38 (enter 'ha ha Victor' here.)

So.... I'm blaming Tip, my Sigamanu buddy.  He likes milk before he goes to bed, along with chocolate.  We have much variety. Snickers. Chocolate covered pretzels.  Peanut M&M's.  I'm 71, the thought of living these days out with no Peanut M&M is like, "did you just get here? No way!"

So, in my blame casting of Tip... I guess mebbe I oughta take some 'credit.'.  My bedroom is at the fronta the condo.  As is my john.  Then there is the kitchen... and to the backa the condo, the living room, the balcony, Tips bedroom.  I make, oh, 25-30 trips a day 'tween my bedroom, to the balcony or the living room.

My paths to/fro always includes the kitchen.  (I AM ON VACATION DAMNIT!) Snickers this time.  Chocolate covered pretzel on the way back. Bag'a peanut M&M's the next time, a handful of whateverinthehell they call Lays Potato Chips down here.  (If you EVER go to Mehico and you love Fritos as I do, BUY THEM IN THE US BEFORE YA COME CAUSE THEY AIN'T GOT 'EM DOWN HERE.  Thank goodness mebbe, I'm only one and a half the size since I got here, had I had Fritos, there's be two Victors prolly.

This one you can't tell.

I likes the hot tub here.  Six days ago, long stay in hot tub.  They gots these reclining lawn chairs, the laydown type, that are about 8 inches off the ground.  When you be old, a kinda sorta affliction, and, a changing center of gravity, it's dayum hard to sit, put shoes on, and get up from 8" off the ground. So...................................

They gots these cheapass stacking plastic end tables... polyethylene I think they call 'em, no idea the Spanish name.  So, after jumping outta hot tub (ok, wallering out).. I had to sit and put my shoes on somehow. Scroll to 8" not working.

The cheapass plastic thingys were stacked, 4 of 'em.  Much higher off the ground than the laydown thingys.  I put my hand on top, pushed, yep, that'll hold me.  Sat, put shoes on, was able to get up.

Two days later.

Fat guy (Gordo) in hot tub again.  This time, 4 or 5 buddies (I think 3 were of the female variety) poolside, in their nifty low to the ground lawnchair thingys.  My towel, shoes, were on the end chair.  Next to ONE, cheapy, polyethylene table.  I think you might know where this is going.

Yes. I sat on the cheapass plastic thingy and as I did, I crushed it (No, not like Gordo usedta crush fastballs) I mean I crushed it to smitherines.  I was next to my buddy Pup.  Ever have onea them moments where ya didn't know if you wanted to laugh or cry?  Uh huh, me too.

Pup helped me up.  Now, not only did I have my red Ring of Fire 'tan' going, my face was beet (should prolly be spelled 'beat') red.

Ya live, ya go on.  I have ZERO regrets for calories downed here.  I have ZERO regrets for telling this. Hell, mosta my friends blocked or unfollowed me years ago simply because I gotta big keyboard (mouth).  What was that word?  Oh yea, rats.  As in, i don't give one.

So, if I had any advice.  Don't roll thru Alto signs, come to complete stop.  Buy Fritos, lots, in the US before you get here. Brush up on your math for conversion.. remember 'El Bano' (bathroom).. Screw trying to diet in Mehico, there ain't no such thing. If you sit on a cheap, plastic end table, make sure there are at least three of 'em stacked.  And, or........

Start your own blog where you too can say, "TMI? I don't give a rats."

Perhaps a touch of irony........ we're going Whale watching today.  Hell, I could save 865 Pesos (that be fitty dolla) and just stay home, look in the mirror.

Love, Gordoturd

Old man and the Sea........

Huh uh, this ain't about a guy fishing for marlin.  It does involve the Sea, but not that.

This is about women. I think.

Writing, maybe, is like cooking.  Or maybe being a pitcher.  Ad lib?  It's scary.  Ya sit down to write, and it ain't like a recipe where ya got all the 'structions right there infronta ya... it's not like Salvador Perez is there to bail you out with signals on what to pitch.  Nope, you're left to defend (write) for yourself. (As if I were an expert and know of whatintheheck I speak.)

An attempt at funny ha ha popped up yesterday.  I hate pop ups, but, Facebook gives ya those pop ups from years gone by and sometimes they invoke smiles, sometimes ugg... and sometimes sadness as you see comments, likes from folks who ain't here any longer.  At least, it's a way to kinda sorta still touch them I guess.

It was a joke about me one day writing a book, not decided yet if it would be fiction or nonfiction, entitled "Aging gracefully but both legs are in one underwear hole." I will never write a book but I DO have a name I kinda like and, to me, it kinda speaks to life. "I'm positive, I think." Back to "this is about women."

This trip... that begun in Mehico on NYE, has been very therapuetic for me. I have spent countless hours simply sitting on the balcony staring out at the Sea.

Side note. I remember long ago, a guy named Jimmy G (who is a friend) suggested I was a misogynist. Being the simpleton I am, I had to look it up. (You should see me instant message Mr. Moffitt, sometimes it takes me 3 hours after he sends a message to lookup all the words he's written so I can understand enough to send a reply.)

So........... I'm reminded of misogynist because......Yogi Berra might call this one Deja Vu allover again. Long ago I attended a baseball game at Wrigley Field. Wrigley is akin to baseball as the Empire State building is to NYC, or, Grand Canyon to a National Park enthusiast. There were two women, just shoot me, seated behind a pole. The pole was RIGHT in the way of their view to home plate. There were plenty of seats to the left or right they coulda moved to, but, they chose to sit in those seats the entire game.

Forgive me Father, blonde came to mind. Well, the yoke is on me. Yesterday was day 22 of sitting on this balcony. It's roughly 24' in length. There's a table with 4 chairs, highback chairs. Of course I sit on the sidea the table opposite the Sea, but, for 22 days, two chairs blocked half the damn view of the Sea, and I didn't move them until yesterday. Blonde came to mind, forgive me ORD chicks.

The Sea also brought Karma yesterday. In return for me posting a couple of sunny, warm, shortwearing pics of the Sea for all back in "we ain't seen 32 degrees for two weeks in the Midwest" the Sea raged. Wind, waves. Big N's. There really aren't breakers here. There were yesterday, and today. Reminded me of The Gulf. Rain, wind, blowing sand. Made the pelicans circle like buzzards for some reason.

This morning, add lightning to the frey. And blanket. And coat. Karma. The Sea of Karma.

For whatever reason, THAT, reminded me of Pat Benatar and HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT. Crash, anudder wave, crash, anudder wave, CRASH. I love that song. A strong woman.

And then I thoughta all kindsa women's music. Them there crashing waves conjured up Joan Jett's I LOVE ROCK AND ROLL.

The Sea. Temperament.

Careful Victor, you're dipping your toe into the misogynist water again.

Mebbe. We all, even us male piggies, have loud, fast, soft, fun, moods.

When the storms are away... a very light bringing of the water to the sand... I sense Roberta Flack softness in singing the THE FIRST TIME EVER I SAW YOUR FACE. Whitney's, oh my, AND I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU... you're gorgeous Sea.. gimme s'more.. and more... Dolphins jumping, Janis Joplin's laugh...

OK, a little more wind, howabout R-E-S-P-E-C-T, hell to the yeah Aretha, THAT's what I'm talking about!

Them boats in the distance, a riding them bouncy waves...... tell 'em Patsy.. tell 'em! CRAZY... I'm crazy for lovin' them bouncy waves! And if you wanna chime in Carly, YOU'RE SO VAIN...

Back to calm, sunny.......... strum it Tracy... GIVE ME ONE REASON.....

The Sea is...............

Constant. Everchanging. Beautiful. In charge. Soothing, comforting. Ripply. Nipply, yeah, I said it, it can be cold. Blue. Clear. Cloudy. Blue skies above, cloudy skies above. Rainbows above. Hard to describe, figure out sometimes.

The woman is.............

Constant. Everchanging. Beautiful. In charge. Soothing, comforting. Ripply. Nipply, yeah, I said it, it can be cold. Blue. Clear. Cloudy. Blue skies above, cloudy skies above. Rainbows above. Hard to describe, figure out sometimes.

Ifn's that makes ya mad or, makes me a misogynist, I'm sorry. Not my intent. Intent is, admiring the beauty, fortitude, wherewithal, etc.

At least if you do feel like bopping me on the head, it'll take awhile for you to get here since I'm 1,422 miles away.

Hit me with your best shot. I love rock and roll. The first time if ever I saw your face. I will always love you. Respect. I'm crazy. And vain. Give me one reason to run, besides sitting behind a pole, or, two chairs blocking my view.

Love, Victurd

This magic moment................. TURNT!

We've all witnessed, been here, rode that, this... stayed there, gone here... uP the hill.. DOwn the hill... 'taught' our neck as we rode that rollercoaster of life so a dadgum steel girder wouldn't jump out and decapitate ya.

Apex.  Atop.  The Best.  YUM, capitalized.

A child's birth...

Hard work, hell to the yeah, flipping that tassel from the left to the right (or was it right to left, I think I'm dyslexic, I dunno.)

I see Randy Craig putting that last sparkplug in, firin' it up... barely touching the gas pedal as he goes up the KuKu hill.. 

I hear a brave Jeanne play and sing our Senior year... all 90 lbs of her.. ten years ahead of her time as we all focused in, administrators scratched their head as she sang..

TURNT!  

Life moments ya just never forget.

I hear Susan's dogs a barkin' as Jerry approached their door..  Some 3+ days after Christmas... the fam snowed in ont the mountaintop (48 inches).. the excitement as they saw him, his never worn before snowshoes a comin'...

Big'n.  My, our buddy Jim Hack... "Remember, he hit that game winning shot... been known as Big'n, for that shot ever since."

Ya might haveta be old like me to remember Dane Iorg coming to bat in 1985... pinch hitting.. bottom of the 9th... single to drive in the winning run... I was lucky, and there.  I never ever heard crowd noise, any sport, any game, like that.

TURNT!

Rocky up them stairs.... "I AM THE GREATEST!"... "I HAVE A DREAM!"........ Forrest finally stopping, "I'm pretty tired.. I think I'll go home now."

Sitting back... watching 23 relatives make a complete mess around the Christmas tree in 90 seconds.. ya couldn't wipe the smile offa your face if you had to.

Yum.

TURNT!

The excitement, the heck yes, the "Let's Go!" started long before their bus arrived in Orchard Park, NY and was greeted with snowballs and middle fingers.  There was the thought, "Well, we've been in the AFC Championship game 5 years runnin', but, that was because we always played the game at Arrowhead.  Could it be done on the road?"

Sam McDowell. Just shoot me.  I love reading Sam McDowell's articles.  Makes ya feel like you was there. I know that shoulda been 'you were' there, but, peoples say it like that, "feel like you was there."  Outside the practice facility, on football chat sites, ESPN chums sitting around predicting, there was doubt.  "He ain't done it on the road.. we'll give it to ya he's good at home, but he ain't done it on the road."

Practice a few days before the game.  "Pat was a certain way all week" per running back CEH.  Regarding doubt about going on the road.. "“He was the biggest advocate of anyone to go on the road and play. He was all for it. He wanted it..  In the first practice of the week, called a walk thru because it's literally supposed to be that, Mahomes came out blazing.   'Usually it's soft toss.. " wide receiver MVS... "He's throwing like we're in a game..  I'm like, it's a walk-thought Pat, we're in street clothes."

"He was TURNT," receiver Rashee Rice.  "Oh my gosh - that walk-through."

I'm weird, I know. I don't have a 'swear jar'... a big 401K.. stamp collection.. yada.  I try to collect words that move my heart.

Smile.  Yum.  Love. Oh-baby-oh-baby (I think I remember times when that could be said as one word.)

Adding to the list, TURNT.

Thank you revved up Chevys, classmates who can strum, snow stories, Big'N, Iorg, Rocky, Ali, MLK, Rashee for the word.. ty family....  and of course, Patrick.

TURNT...  Webster says "Excited or energized"

That we were, are, life is, can be. Tear off that tee shirt Jason Kelce.  MVS come outta nowhere again. Wave goodbye to em Chris Jones. Patrick, cover your head so ya don't get pelted.  Andy, yes, same old Andy, stand up there and praise the Bills.

TURNT.  I wonder what it is in Spanish?

Love, Victurd

TURNT.

Fixing a hole....

I'm fixing a hole where the rain gets in
And stops my mind from wandering
Where it will go.....

Down here in Mehico.... there are some roads... ya really gotta be careful.  It's said "Infrastructure, funding ain't as great" and true, there are, can be, lotta potholes.

Then again, my son and I will take spins back home...  See a sign designating the end of County maintenance, and same thing, only in English. Both Countries (Counties too) though, when ya miss seeing one, ya get jolted so hard ya think mebbe a chiro appointment is in order, you cuss in English, but say, Pardon my French.  Confusing ain't it?

Watering hole......... I've hearda that before...

There's a hole in my bucket, dear Liza....

Need something like a hole in the head... an example might be buying $5 maracas from an 11 yr old little girl here.

In the hole.  Me thinks maybe we've all had a taste of that.

Round peg, square hole.   Me in kitchen mebbe.  At a book club.  You? Somewhere you don't fit?

Serious holes.

Yes, loss.  Sorry to make the sad turn, but there are those going thru things like hospice now that will make huge, everlasting holes.

As we walk about life, they are there.  Makes one think.  Hopefully love.  

Our job, continuing life status quo, in comparison, is easy.

The weight they carry, immeasurable.

As we go to the market, to work, to play... and please know I don't intend this to be preaching..  we can hopefully simply be nice.  Many losses happened long ago, yet, they are 'there' every day. Many are set to happen and hurt has already set in.  Much, much to deal with.  Immediate plans, and, on into life.

Prayers, niceness, hugs and love to you carrying that loss.  Some holes cannot be filled in.  Or, forgotten.

You can get anything you want................

At Isabella's Restaurant.  As far as I know, there ain't no Isabella's Restaurant, I was simply looking for (and Googled) "beautiful names for Senorita's" and Isabella was the first to come up.

You can get much here at a restaurant.   Victor?  Where the hell areya again and why should we really care?  Eh, agreed, prolly shouldn't.... I guess, if you wanted, we can talk Biden/Trump... Stock Market 'tastes great', yeah but look at the price'a gas, hamburger 'less filling'.  Or, maybe we could talk Gaza.. Ukraine.. Russia.. or howabout Mr. "I'll Be Back" (at 2pm)'s watch selling for $294K.  Yeah?

Yeah, me neither.  Back to Alice, er... Isabella.  Right here in River City... no, that ain't it. We're in Puerta Penasco, Senora, Mehico. 

But first... (But first is going forward...  butt first would be turning around and going bassackwards.).. But first, ya gotta get to Isabella's. So ya gotta drive.  It is warned, STOP, REALLY STOP at the Stopsigns (them 'Alto' things below.)  They are, can be, dayum hard to see.  Have graffiti allover 'em. Even hidden.  (Uh huh, one was RIGHT BEHIND a telephone pole.  I cabrito you not. (Cabrito means 'kid. '....   Ríete, quédate un rato, deja que tu hairíete, quédate un rato, suéltate el pelo means laugh, stay awhile, let your hair down).

See, that second one is kinda hard to see, Si?  One more thing on Alto.  There are ALSO traffic lights at some intersections, ALONG WITH Alto signs.  (I know, me too, if it weren't enough for the language to be confusing, they go do that.) Sooooooooooooooooooo.... if the light is GREEN yain't gotta stop even though there's an Alto sign.

Soo............ once inside Isabella's...  no, wait.  Sometimes they got 'hawkers', yeah... people that wave you into the joints. In their defense, the recent Port Of Entry closing (and since, reopening) has really hurt business.. every car pulled into whatever restaurant helps.

So...  ya sit down, then ya gotta pee.  At least I do. Always.  So... Day 1 I learned "El Bano" (should have onea them squiggly things on top, pronounced 'L bahn-yo'.  So, go pee.  Many fun signs in many places. 

Some are funny haha.. Like the two below, from a pickleball joint.  

Some, make fun of us old Gringos who gotta pee REAL bad......

They say............ sometimes the sewer systems, infrastructure, don't get the same attention, funding, that we gots here in "Merica... so... they no likey you flushing paper down.. so, ya toss it in the trash can next to the Juan (that's John, don'tya know).    eww huh?

And........... earlier, we mentioned that Arnold guy...  somea their "Juans" ('member? that's John).. Somea their Juans have pedals, you gotta step on 'em to flush.. .you know, pump you up, or down, as the case may be. See the pedal pump to the right?

Also, not Alto, but also.. they too have funny ha ha signs like we 'Mericans do too.......

\

I'm kinda tired now.  I ain't IT literate.  This took me two weeks to do. I wanna go look at Sea now.  We'll talk about Isabellas and the choices later.  Most joints have a menu pointing out the 'Merican foods and, Mehican choices too.  Strange, I am.  I drive 1450 miles (Ok, you're correct, I RIDE 1450 miles) to Mehico and I order 'Merican.  HEY, no arguing here!  This is a vacation!  We not wanty stress...  Joe/Donald.. nuh uh... but too, they have elections here so they prolly argue too.  (With every fourth business being a farmacia advertising Viagra, they prolly got erections here too.. or, 'get' erections, I guess.  Uplifting huh?

Siesta, then balcony to see Sea, Si?

Love, Victurd