If I only had a brain....

Now I lay me down to sleep....

No, that ain't it.

I'm awake, once again, looking for whatever subject comes down that funnel into the brain.  Huh?

Yeah, like, "What do people's brains think about?"  Hell I dunno, I'll look it up.

"Most people spend most of their time thinking about themselves. Within this context they even spend a fair amount of time thinking about what others might be thinking about them without realizing for the most part others aren't thinking about them at all. They too are thinking about themselves."

Mirror mirror on the wall, that don't help me blog at'all.

Quora. Quora is like Wiki, folks who don't know nuttin', writing like they know everything. 

Quora say "our brains have 70,000 thoughts a day. (Like a honeybee going flower to flower.)" I spose where 'busy as a bee' was derived. Take THAT Santa, ya hefty feller.

Another Quora genius wrote "I enact hypothetical events in my head usually". I'm really glad Quora lady said that because my tummy has been queasy all morning, something wanted 'out', and thanks to her (and porcelain) I was able to chuck it.

Damnit, darnit I NEED HELP HERE!  WHAT do people think about?

"Worries and concerns."  Well crap, like?

"Like, job, relationship, health, money."

No, Jennifer Aniston, Sarah Jessica Parker... will the Chiefs keep both Jones and Sneed.... Why'd that dumbass swimmer who won the race jump over the rope to congratulate his 2nd place teammate (which, disqualified him, thus, teammate now the winner).. AND...what's for lunch?

Victor, really? Aniston and SJP?  Uh huh.

Ok, internet ain't no help so I'm gonna surmise.

Crawling aged baby. I wonder what that penny tastes like? Christmas lights are gorgeous, think I'll take a bite.

Age 5. That's MY truck, keep your hands off MY truck.

Age 13. So, your name is Jennifer?

Age 21 plus one day. OOMMGG. Wha happened? How'd I get home, and what's that stain on the carpet?

Age 28. Wanna have a baby? (Or at least....practice?)

Age 30. GET THAT DAMN PENNY OUTTA YOUR MOUTH.

Age 33. Ramen noodles AGAIN? Let's dip into our savings, maybe refinance the house, and head to Texas Roadhouse.

Age 42. Damnit darnit. Honey? Is that a gray hair?

Age 47. I hate my job, car, boss, commute, much. You ok with me staying home, becoming a writer or a painter? Wha.. we having pizza? Whaddaya doing with that rolling pin and STOP chasing me!

Age 52. Let's chase each other 'round the room tonight...and play the games we played on our wedding night.  NO. Rollover and stop snoring or you're going to the sofa.

Age 58. Honey? Why is our son's car in the driveway? They're arguing again.

Age 58 (continued.) Dad, you got fitty bucks I can borrow?

Age 64. Honey? ONE MORE YEAR! Oh yeah, forgot, we split a bit ago.

Age 64 and 9 months. THREE MORE MONTHS!

Age 64, 9 months, 1 day. Whaddaya mean DOWNSIZING?

Age 64, 9 months and however many days unemployment lasts. I think I'll get a job at a golf course.

Age 71.  Ahhhh, Jennifer.. SJP... oh, sorry, didn't seeya standing there. Will you be playing 9 or 18 today?

Copper poisoning as a child. What's your excuse and what do you think about?

Penny for your thoughts...

Love, Victurd

Fitty...

We've all heard this slang... nonetheless, I Googled to see what the internet said:

Dialectal, chiefly England: suitable and becoming: APPROPRIATE.

Nuh uh damnit, it's slang for 50 cents, or half (I debated to the computer screen). Screen continued:

Dialectic, chiefly England:

a) being in good order: TRIM

b) HANDSOME, STRIKING

Honest, I never heard that crap.

I've always enjoyed the slang fitty. There's that rapper feller, Fitty Cent.  

Fitty is a milestone birth age where basically everything in one's body starts making its slow descent toward the sod, which, is hammered down by the dayum AARP card that lands in your mailbox that 'festive' day. 

Ever eat a pine tree? No, that ain't it. Do ya remember whose mug is on the fitty cent coin, and when's the last time you seen one?

Can ya loan me fitty?

Fitty is female for "I'll be ready in fifteen minutes." Just shoot me, I don't foresee a relationship for me any time soon anyways. 

Speakin' a just shoot me, this buddy just might. He is ULTRA PRIVATE... ABHORS FACEBOOK, ATTENTION, YADA.

He forgets, I gotta big mouth/keyboard, too bad, so sad.

My buddy has worked as an auto worker for fitty years. I kid you not, fitty years.

Fitty or sixty of us have been begging Mr. Fitty to retire forever and ever. Never thought the day would come.

He works nights, gets off at 7-ish, which, coincides with blogger's insomnia, so, for a lotta years I've winged him crazy early, 3, 4am-ish, stupid jokes, and about fitty percent of the time he one ups me.

He's RETIRING. Nuh uh! UH HUH, is. Tradition has it, on your final day, one clocks in, then, walks around the plant to greet, say goodbye to longtime friends. (He will do that late tonight.)

So,.....  this morning, these are the last few hours of productivity of his fitty years.

So, smart-ass blogger composed a text:

"Dear 'Fitty', this is (enter name of CEO for heap big auto maker here), 

"Want to congratulate you on your fitty years and your retirement, but too, in these last few hours of productivity we'd like a return on our investment, buyout, that stuff...

"So... please take that broom and sweep the joint, then, clean and organize the desk area, including cleaning that monitor, it's filthy...

"Then, please check the oil on the forklift, then, stack all the empty pallets in one spot.

"Thanks again, First On Race Day, Jim (CEO)

Apparently, Fitty wasn't catnapping as he almost instantaneously texted back:

"I've already swept and I changed the oil on the electric forklift. Took the pallets out yesterday. Go Big Blue. Oh, and you can kiss my ass goodbye."

Once again, he one upped me. Fitty ain't half bad. Good luck in your retirement, please don't shoot me for posting this, you might get fitty to life.

Forward by Henry Ford

Commemorative coin by JFK

Love, Victurd

Too much.....

My problem, when grabbing a tray, plate, silverware, approaching the all-you-can-eat buffet... is... I do just that.

Eat, devour (too much) now, pay later.

What about love?  Is it possible to love a partner, or desired partner, too much?

What about loss? Can one hurt too much?  Grieve, too much?

This, today's blog, ain't about "whatever I say goes", heaven forbid.  I'm curious  on your take, views.

I read about a recent widower saying "I haven't had time, or taken time, to grieve."  There was apparent remorse in saying that, but goodness gracious its like virtually anything in life, nothing is steadfast (ie, "this is how its supposed to go"), and who am I, or anyone, to step in and say, opine.

It is said, we are not given more than we can handle, but I would gather maybe all of us at some time along the path, with cumulative events approached the "I can't take it any more", ie, too much. (We all can hopefully remember 988 should we reach that point and feel immediate need to talk to someone.)

Life is hard, simple, too much, not enough, and all about balance, or attempt therein.

Again, it ain't me babe, nor my place to advize, but I can share what others might offer.

One article's first suggestion, "ride the waves... yes, it sucks right now, and yes, it will get better, that's just how time works."

"Give yourself permission to feel what you're feeling in a difficult time...

"Avoid awfulizing.... ever notice how you feel worse after sharing those complaints, ie, 'bitching', to a friend? "  Article writer added "I have", and I'll add my "me too."

"Think self-efficaciously", damnit darnit, what with my C+ brain, had to look that one up. Maybe kind of a 'been there, done that' mentality?'

 

"Think of the things we HAVE handled, and while we can't control what's being thrown at us, we can control how we respond.

"Accept the moment (versus overthinking, overreacting)...

"Even though it's tempting to curl up under a blanket and hide away from the World... resist the urge. .. maybe apply some of these tips."

No idea why I wrote about this. That's a certain lie as there is little, more painful than seeing, hearing a friend, loved one (maybe even one's self) reach that point of "too much."

I read (and wrote) from that article....enjoyed the suggestions the more I read...and then.....

Her pic (complete with gorgeous smile) was at bottom. Good gosh Gerty I fall too easily, too fast, TOO MUCH.

Reckon that can happen in the parentheses of life.

Have a really nice day.

Don't forget 988.

Much love, yeah perhaps too much. Oh well

Love, Victurd

PS: In fairness.  Last blog I wrote I mentioned a good example, ie, 'winner', and a bad example, ie, 'loser', and I listed college basketball Rick Pitino for throwing his team under the bus to the press. In fairness to him, he apologized, ate crow, and happily his players responded by knocking off the #15 team in the nation. Good happens and it can't happen too much.

We got winners We got losers

 

Lyrics

Listen

Artists

Compos

Main Results

If ya know the song, yes, it's about a bar. It too, kinda speaks to diversity, personalities, socioeconomics, happy, sad, kinda like life...and sports.

Damnit darnit Victor, you talk sports you're gonna run women off. Misogynist much there whoever you are?

We got winners

Jerome Tang, K-State basketball coach. Team started 14-4...they've won one of 12 since. "I see a team that's getting better." WHAT? No cussing? Benching players? Windsprints for all the losses? "When your guys give you an effort that gives you a chance to win.. don't throw the baby out with the bath water...some team is gonna get hot, why not us?

We got losers

Rick Pitino's team, St. John's, started 12-4, they're now 14-12. "This is the most unenjoyable experience of my lifetime. We're unathletic, slow and weak."  Wow, kinda firesya up to run thru a brick wall for him eh? Mebbe after you get out from under the bus.

Chain-smokers and boozers

Long ago, some White Sox players took 'The Babe', yes, that one, out drinking one night before a day game. Goal, get him wasted, non-productive for the next day. Babe drank accordingly, then, next day, demolished the baseball (and the White Sox) then asked, "where we gonna go tonight?"

We got yuppies (Soccer? Golf? Sorry Pup)

We got bikers (LeBron has a Ducati, Shaq has a customized Superman Harley.)

We got thirsty hitchhikers (1904 Olympics, St. Louie, in conjunction with The World's Fair, first ever Olympic Marathon on US soil. Fred Lorz was a bricklayer by trade, had finished in the top 5 of two Boston Marathons.  He led after the first few laps around Francis field, but cramped up ten miles out on the road, hitched a ride back to the Field. Reappeared one mile from finish line (after riding 11 miles in car), crossed finish line, soaked up the cheers...a bit later a spectator said "Huh uh", turned him in, lifetime ban.

And the girls next door dress up like movie stars
Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, I love this bar (Taylor Swift?)

We got cowboys (Dallas)

We got truckers (Tamra Mensah-Stock won $37,500 for winning the Gold medal in Olympic Wrestling in 2021. She used the funds to buy her mom her dream food truck.)

Broken-hearted fools and suckers
And we got hustlers (Lee Trevino was sent to Okinawa as a machine gunner when he was 17. When he got out of the service, he returned to his job at a driving range. He supplemented his income 'hustling suckers', using an adhesive wrapped Dr. Pepper bottle to bet he'd hit the green or sink the putt. "I usually won." "Pressure is when you play for 5 dollars a hole when you have two in your pocket."

We got fighters
Early-birds and all-nighters
And the veterans talk about their battle scars
Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, I love this bar (Ever hear of Jackie Robinson, Ted Williams, Yogi Berra, Warren Spahn, Joe DeMaggio, to name a few?  They all stopped playing Major League Baseball in WWII to serve their country in the Military.)

I love this bar
It's my kind of place
Just walkin' through the front door
Puts a big smile on my face
It ain't too far
Come as you are
Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, I love this bar (Come as you are? MLB teams are not thrilled with their new Nike uni's as the pants are translucent. "Hey, the leadoff hitter is wearin' green boxers!" "Yeah and checkout that fat guy coaching 3rd! Whitey tighties!"

I've seen short skirts (LPGA)

We've got high-techs (The nerds in analytics)

Blue-collared boys and rednecks
And we got lovers
Lots of lookers
I've even seen dancing girls and hookers (A few years back, right here in river city, uh huh, KC.. an inebriated 20-something female splashed about in the series of outfield fountains (a NO NO) at Royal's Stadium. She managed to outwit the cops for awhile much to the cheers of fans. Ultimately cuffed and charged with trespassing and resisting arrest. Oh, and she offered cops a 'favor' on the way back to the station if they dropped the charges. So, solicitation was added to the chargers. Mercy. "Hey Charley, I seen that article on your daughter!" Ouch.

And we like to drink our beer from a mason jar
Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, I love this bar
(Yes I do) Would you believe the St Louis Cardinals (When you say Bud), the Colorado Rickies (Coors, brewed with Rocky Mountain spring water) and the Milwaukee Brewers (The Brew City) DO NOT allow beer in their clubhouses.

I like my (food) truck
I like my truck
And I like my girlfriend (Taylor)
I like my girlfriend
I like to take her out to dinner
I like a movie now and then

But I love this bar
It's my kind of place
Just toein' around the dance floor
Puts a big smile on my face
No cover charge
Come as you are

Baseball Ray. Sports, life, wins, losses, happy, sad, extroverts, wallflowers, ne'er a dull moment.

Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, I love this bar
Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, hmmm, I just love this bar.

And life.

And you.

Love, Victurd

Rock the boat, a don't rock the boat baby.........

Me, but just for a moment, PROMISE!

My father, with good intent I'm certain, once said I was a follower.  And he was correct.  He'd arrange to pay me to paint a room in the house, I'd get everything ready, just as the screwdriver pried the lid offa the paint......... RINGGGGGG RINNNGGGGG.. Oh hi (enter friend's name here), SURE, I'd love to go!,,, and I was gone, off, following the lead of my buddies, no mind for myself, or, so he suggested and or just wanted to make me aware of.

At what age do we learn to think for ourselves?  Or, do we ever?

It's probably the damn hippies' fault. Reject the establishment, Middle class values? HA! Hell no we won't go, sex, drugs, rock n roll, or something like that.

“Bad instructors teach you what to think, worse ones teach you how to think, but the good ones teach you how important it is to learn to think for yourself.”   Vincent H. O'Neil.   Can you say "Curriculum?" And if so, is that word stringent, or, is there flexibility within?

Edgar Winter's Free Ride.....  He played most of the instruments himself (sax, keyboard, guitar), then, used a technique called overdubbing, recorded separately, then layered 'em on toppa each other.... I done peeked at 'song meaning' and found "Although “Free Ride” is a fun song to listen to, it does have a deeper message. The lyrics encourage listeners to take control of their lives and live with purpose and intention. The line, “If you want to change the world / Closer look at yourself and make that / Change in you,” is a reminder that each individual has the power to make a positive impact on the world."

Victor?  Where you going with this?

I ain't real sure.  If you are a follower (HA) shake your head up and down if you too believe the older ya get, the more ya think for yourself.  Sure, sure... we must abide by the laws of the land.. "Stand in line here to vote"...  But, the HOA won't allow that..  Well, then I guess if we wanna live here, we'd better not do that.  Yes, you must first go to the Courthouse and pay your property taxes to enable you to renew the license on your car.  How can you have any pudding if yer don't eat yer meat?  NO SOUP FOR YOU.

My buddy Jimmy and I..... whenever our IT department would roll out a 'new version' of anything, it was enough to fluster two old dudes.  With a gripe gripe here (me) and a gripe gripe there (Jimmy), here a gripe (me), there a gripe (Jimmy), everywhere a gripe gripe. (Both of us.)  Jimmy's girlfriend was a retired computer programmer for a heap big company.  She said "You two are exactly the type I would show the new version to before rolling it out."  Very nicely, she said we were the "Why this? How come I gotta do that? Why couldn't you have just..." that, maybe she might notta thought about all that.. or, at least would/could help her explain the 'whys', or, maybe she could even improve upon it!

"“Every manmade disaster begins when one man thinks for another. However benevolent they begin, the ultimate outcome is tyranny.”"  John Kramer

A friend I met recently in Mehico had a post I really liked: "And she had this weird habit of being herself all the time; that's why not everyone liked her."

"It's Easier to Ask Forgiveness Than It Is To Get Permission", Rear Admiral Grace Hopper..  You tell 'em Grace!,I'll tap ma' foot!

Our local Community is putting on the next ballot, something about expanding our Community Center, new buildings, more expansion of the pools, including a Lazy River ride.  If you've ever been on one, my take anyways, heaven.  It's a mostly circular water thingy, you go round and round and round.. peaceful.. relaxing.. and ya ain't gotta do a thing.  That's the way, uh huh uh huh, I like it. But too, I reckon like my father suggested, we gotta get outta 'rut' occasionally, go, do, create.

The message of “Free Ride” (Remember?  Edgar?) continues to be relevant today. In a world where we are constantly bombarded with messages about what we should do and who we should be, “Free Ride” is a reminder to live life on our own terms. It encourages us to take risks and pursue our dreams, no matter how uncertain the future may seem.

“She just wanted to take one step that belonged to her, make one move that she had independently decided to make, but at every turn it felt as if her strings were being pulled by unseen hands.” Emma Torzs, Ink Blood Sister Scribe.

"“Mrs Windermere: Can you imagine what people would say?

Mrs Erlynne: if we're always guided by other people's thoughts what's the point of having our own?”
― Oscar Wilde & Howard Himelstein

Victor, you're just copying and pasting this whole damn thing! Can't you think for yourself?

Bite me.

And then ole Dolly, when she ain't singing about the regular of grind of 9 to 5, says "Find out who you are and do it on purpose."

Ms. Rosa Parks said ""We will fail when we fail to try!"

This one is kinda similar to something I'd read from friend Ben who had learned it from our friend Skip (may he rest in peace.) "If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.” ― Booker T. Washington

Dare to be different. March to Free Ride, Don't Think Twice, It's Alright,  

Paint outside the lines..  I reckon we're motivated by things of our own interest... satisfaction.. and the challenge of it all.

Victor?  Yes?  You preaching here?  Ahm, it's like that one guy said..  “Bad instructors teach you what to think, worse ones teach you how to think, but the good ones teach you how important it is to learn to think for yourself.”   Vincent H. O'Neil. 

ie, you be you............it's a good thing.

Rock the boat, a don't rock the boat baby.  A what the hell, take two dramamine, rock away, then call me in the morning.....

Happy day.. off to paint my bedroom.. but, will try to paint within the lines this time! Hope the phone don't ring..... I'm an easy mark.

Love, Victurd

You got me going in circles (oh round and round I go)

You got me going in circles (oh round and round I go)

I'm spun out over life, over life, over life, over life

"As long as the World is turning and spinning, we're gonna be dizzy and making mistakes." Mel Brooks

Plop plop, fizz fizz, oh what a relief it is.  There's the cold, flu, sickness kinda dizzy.  Ya feel like yuck. Ya stand up, dizzy.  Ya sit down, ugg, "someone cut my nose off perty please."  Like much in life, ya just gotta wait it out. A decongestant, an Advil, some Mucinex, three boxes of Kleenex so you can ultimately achieve the want, feel, to attack, devour Four Fried Chickens and a Coke.

Stand up too quick. Shiver me leg timbers.  Dance, nobody's watching, when ya don't wanna dance.  Two step, mebbe three. Two or three is good, two and half or three and a half, uh oh.

Mayo (not the spread, the Clinic) says "Dizziness is a term used to describe a range of sensations, such as feeling faint, woozy, weak or unsteady. Dizziness that creates the false sense that you or your surroundings are spinning or moving is called vertigo."

Dizziness has many possible causes...... inner ear disturbance, motion sickness, medication effects, poor circulation, infection, injury, children who misbehave again, and again....  relationships..  more bills than bank..   who/what/which news outlet/network/channel to believe..  playing Pong..   "Just one more"/beer.... Saturday's New York Times Crossword puzzle... Blonde hair.  MISOGYNIST! AM NOT! ARE TOO! Arguments, arguments make me dizzy.

My personal favorite elixir when dizziness sets in, "I'm gonna go lay down for a bit."  Nap/laziness is perhaps the best OTC medication to combat dizzy.

College athletics make me dizzy.  He committed to College State University his Junior year in HS, decommitted as a Senior.. picked North State U, redshirted his first year.. his coach was fired.. he transferred to Directional Junior College the next year.. got hurt.. awarded an extra year.. decided to go play for MidMajor State in hopes of more playing time.. Covid hit.. got an extra year for that,. but, at Southeastern Sumpin'or'other, played there four years...  He's 29 now, but hey, it's OK.  Thanks to getting his BA, MBA and Doctorate, and thanks to NIL bucks from Harvey's Bar and Grill, he's an MD and will deliver his 3rd baby come April.

Side note:  My alltime favorite NIL deal was for a guy named Decoldest Crawford (I ain't makin' that up, look it up) a wide receiver from Louisiana who committed and played for Nebraska.. then entered the transfer portal..  and it will be interesting to think'a his next NIL wherever he lands, because, at Nebraska, Decoldest's NIL deal was with SOS Heating and Cooling.

I'm dizzy.

What makes you dizzy?  

S'more for me:  airports..  dogs who chase their tail....  turning my head when I see, hear a crotch rocket goin' by at a hunnerd mph..  4-putting..  converting dollars to pesos and vice versa..  life, in general..  watching that lady we call '360' dance.. all she does is turn circle after circle and it NEVER effects her...  Whether or not to use effect or affect..  GPS recalculating.  My pillbox when it's Thursday and TWTFS are still full. Watching the Wheel on Wheel of Fortune.  Figuring out the answer on Wheel of Fortune.  How pretty Vanna still is.  MYSOGYNIST!  AM NOT!  ARE TOO! Eh, whatever.

Waking up in retirement, dizzy until what day it is is figured out.  Leap year.  Computing someone's age when they were born prior to 2000.  Election ads.  Elections.   Heights.  Boat rides.

Abbreviations like BFF, LOL, ED, MD, LMAO, TIA, LMK, BRB, TTYL, BOGO

Blog writers who go on and on and on and on.

I'm an ever rollin' wheel, without a destination real
I'm an ever spinning top, whirling around till i drop
Oh but what am i to do, my mind is in a whirlpool
Give me a little hope, one small thing to cling to

You got me going in circles(oh round and round i go)
You got me going in circles
(oh round and round i go, i'm spun out over life, much)

Forward by Dizzy Dean, Dizzy Duck

Lyrics by Dizzy Gillespie

Love, Victurd

Cold............ Fear......... Excitement

Goosebumps.

Yep.

Whenya Google (steal), sometimes ya get old stories. From 2016 (Biggest Goosebump Moments in sports this year (so far):

Goosebumps appeared on our arms when former New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter walked to the plate for his final at-bat at Yankee Stadium in September 2014. You may have even shed a tear or two when Jeter delivered a walk-off single to win the game and produce one of the most memorable farewells to a home audience we'll ever see from a sports icon.

We'll never hear Vin Scully call another Major League Baseball game. The legendary announcer retired following the regular season contest played by the Los Angeles Dodgers on October 2. Those of us lucky enough to hear Scully over the years couldn't help brushing goosebumps off our arms as we heard him wish us all a "pleasant good afternoon" one last time. 

Peyton Manning rode off into the sunset after winning a Super Bowl. LeBron James couldn't contain his emotions after winning a title with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Dee Gordon hit a home run that literally brought fans to tears. 

Victor, why don't you just post the whole damn article?  Nah, but thanks.

Remember when Jaws came out and beachfront properties sat empty for two years? Well done (then) and Si, goosebumps, but... to rewatch today, yawns happen.

I'm not big on crime goosebumps.  I read a list of REAL crimes that gave folks goosebumps.  No sense in reposting all that.  We've all seen 'em, heard 'em, maybe even saw bits, pieces of 'em.  Yes, goosebumps, and, accompanying incredulity. 

Also notta great fan of scary movies.  Gimme a good comedy, drama... in lieu of skeered goosebumps.

Remember the Ice Bucket Challenge?  Fer sure goosebumps.

Some women on a cold day. VICTOR!  Hey, I tried backspacing, wiping that out, my computer locked up, sorry... kinda.. not really.  (And those aren't goosebumps btw)

In history........  That first paycheck.  When man walked on the moon.  JFK (with tears).  

In real life...  Age 16, on the road (not again, but, by one's self, first time).  Childbirth, OMG. (If with an epidural, amazement goosebumps.  If not, goosebumps from fear (ie, ready to run) of "YOU DID THIS TO ME!" For me, exactly when that server at Cascone's sets that biggest, baddest, BEST EVER plate of lasagna infronta ya.  Roadtrip with friends, hometown now in rear view mirror. YES!  Goosebump me!  Seeing whales up close and personal. First granddaughter with an ice cream cone in hand, huge smile on her mug.  Watching your parents interact with your child. Don't shoot me, "Take this job and shove it" day.  Giving a Christmas gift, you watch them open, draws big smile.  Goosebumps.

First kiss.   First, well..  you know.   However, whenever, wherever, sitting, resting - in peace.

Receiving an accolade:  Student of the Month.  Honor Roll over the school loudspeaker. 1st place trophy, Little League.  Dean's List (I ain't never had them bumps). Employee of the year.  Being voted Mostly Likely To Fall Down First On Our Whale Watching Boat Ride.

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East Carolina sophomore Parker Byrd appeared in Friday’s season-opening win against Rider. He'd worked his way back from an injury in 2022.  Byrd, an in-state product from Laurinburg, walked to the plate in the eighth inning to a loud ovation from the home crowd.  Victor?  Sure, this is good and all, but, is it of goosebump ilk?

Byrd had come to the plate with a prosthetic leg after having part of his right leg amputated following a 2022 boating accident. The school said Byrd is believed to be the first NCAA Division I baseball player to play in a game with a prosthetic leg.

He took a first-pitch strike then drew four straight balls to reach base. The Pirates then had freshman Jason Janesko come on as a pinch runner. Pirates coach Cliff Godwin told WCTI-TV based in New Bern that it was “one of the proudest moments I have ever had as a coach.”

“Chill bumps, man,” Byrd said in his postgame interview with reporters. “It’s absolutely phenomenal.”

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

May you get cold, excited... but have no fear in your life.

Forward by RL Stine

Love, Victurd

McFarming....... EE I EE I O............

Old MacDonald had a farm

Ee i ee i o

I know nothing about farming, so, Im'a gonna write about it.  Huh?  You can't do that!  Well hell, Wiki does that.  Anyone that's gotta keyboard, access, can enter any dang thing they want on Wiki.

And on his farm he had some cows
Ee i ee i oh
With a moo-moo here
And a moo-moo there
Here a moo, there a moo

Everywhere a moo-moo

I've been going to the gym daily.  Before the back-patting starts, mind you, sometimes all I do is hop in the jacuzzi... then, walks to the sauna... then home.  Yep. That. Sometimes. (There are days I actually move, but it ain't much, and usually it's simply walking in the pool for 30 minutes.)   Victor?  What's this got to do with the price of tea in China?

Mebbe more thank you think.

Old MacDonald had a farm
Ee i ee i o
Old MacDonald had a farm
Ee i ee i o
And on his farm he had some chicks
Ee i ee i o
With a cluck-cluck here
And a cluck-cluck there
Here a cluck, there a cluck
Everywhere a cluck-cluck
Old MacDonald had a farm

Ee i ee i o

My last two visits to the sauna... I've met two different farmers.  Different in the fact it's two separate people.  Sure, farms/farmers are different, but I'm learning they have a lot in common, so maybe they ain't as different as one thinks.

Younger guy... mid-40's (cattle ranch).     Older guy, 63. (Dairy, with some beef cows)...

Assbackwards.  Sometimes I, and I think mebbe, we, do things assbackwards.  I met, talked to them, then I Googled, Wiki'ed a bit about farming (assbackwards).  Wiki done learned me of the types of farms...  "Arable farming means growing crops, this would include wheat. Growing fruit means having orchards, devoted to growing fruit."

A little diddy (no, not Jack/Diane).. about Wiki and sometimes me no likey. As Wiki proceded to educate me on farming, it mentioned 'subistance farming', smaller farms, where "only enough food is grown to feed the farmer, his family, and his animals."   Readers with keen eyeballs might say "That's (his family, his animals) very misogynistic to say" and I shake my head right there withya.  I done seen me a woman or forty atop a John Deere, dear Wiki, and dear Liza dear Liza was onea the ladies, so.. there's a hole in your theory dear Wiki dear Wiki.

Then, (Mr. OR Mrs. "I know everything, just ask me") Wiki  wrote "The yield is the amount of food grown on a given amount of land, and it is often low. This is because subsistence farmers are generally less educated, and they have less money to buy equipment."  OK, I'll buy the perhaps "less money", but Mr (or Ms) whoever-entered-the-Wiki-on-this, I think you are kinda an asshole to put in writing "generally less educated."  Dunno much about farming (seen a 3pt hitch once) but what I do know, that (saying basically "not as smart") gets my gourd.  Would that be 'arable' or orchard there Mr. (or Ms.) WikiWisacre?

Old MacDonald had a farm
Ee i ee i o
And on his farm he had some pigs
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With an oink-oink here
And an oink-oink there
Here an oink, there an oink
Everywhere an oink-oink
Old MacDonald had a farm
Ee i ee i o

Of course Wiki then listed 'livestock'.  Another article I read (stole from) spoke to the benefits of farming:

Instills a passion, love and respect for land.

Builds character.

Instills a good work ethic.

Teaches responsibility 

Facilitates a bond with family and a common project.

Teaches responsibility. YA DONE SAID THAT ONE. Victor, might I remind you that you, and really ALL old farts, repeat themselves, frequently.  YOU'RE RIGHT.  GO AHEAD, PARTY, ER, TRACTOR ON.....

Provides lots of room for youth to play.

Builds lifelong friendships with other farm youth.

You get to have the best pets.

Everything ain't quite up to date in Kansas City unless I add, it's damn hard work (you knew that), and much can (and does) go wrong.  A farmer on 'Quora' learnt me about the hours:  "My day starts at 4am and end at 11pm 7 days a week between april and october. From october to april it starts at 6am to 8pm 7 days a week. I am lucky if I am able to get a few hours here and there to eat and run errands. I work my farm 365 days a year with no vacations. The most time I get to relax each week is on sunday mornings when I attend church services before going back to work ."

What else can go wrong Victor, er, I mean Wiki?  Pollution, Erosion, Diseases, Pests, Weeds, Drought, Rainfall, Climate, Contamination.  Dayum, that's a lot and I'm certain there are fer sure more things that can go wrong..

On farms, children who complete chores for their allowances, or as part of a family business, have more respect for saving and spending.

The 40-something farmer I visited with in the sauna.  Nice man.  Respectful. Happy. Family, religion, important to him. Loyalty. Listening to others. Could easily see him as a giver.

The 63 year old farmer I visited with in the sauna. Nice man.  Respectful. Happy. Family, religion, important to him. Loyalty. Listening to others. Could easily see him as a giver.

Commonalities seem to "run in the acreage." 40-something on crutches, "Yeah, a steer stepped on me." Broke onea them big bones in his lower leg.  We talked 'weather' and I mentioned our recent week of below freezing (often below zero) weather.. "Yes, we (our farm, my folks, brothers, their spouses) lost two calves."  Oh I'm so so sorry. "No, well, it's not OK, you're correct, but, we have a pretty large farm. We feel lucky to only lose two as brutally cold as it was." I've met, visited with this dude several times, same impression each, every time.  Great guy. Nice. A GOOD LISTENER, remembered everything my TMI mouth had told him about me before.

The 63 year old farmer. "From Minnesota actually...Well, actually we started farming in Iowa, when we took over my grandparent's dairy farm... then, as my parents aged, my son and his wife took over my/our farm.. and we went to take care of my mom and dad's farm.  My sons loved sports (wrestling, baseball, football.) All of 'em played.  One moved here, bought a duplex, lives in half, rents the other half out.

My oldest, really all his life his goal, love, was farming. He and his wife have pretty much taken over my/our farm in Minnesota.  So, to see all our boys, my wife and I bought a duplex here too, live in half, rent the other half out, plenty of room for frequent family gatherings. Still have the farm back home, but our youngest son and his wife pretty much tend to the farm now."

Commonalities among those two and every other farmer I've had the pleasure of meeting.  (Nice, respectful, hard working, smart, cognitive ability, solving any number of woes, problems, FAMILY, generational.)  Me, my personal farming experience includes ONE DAY of  "No thank you, I don't ever wanna 'buck hay' again, ever, in my lifetime." Large round bales, tractor with a pole to grab big bales mebbe, but buck hay, hells to the no's.

Pun perhaps intended, farmers are a special breed.  I couldn't do it, but as I bee bop on my electric cart to haul in my groceries I am ever so thankful for farmers. I am gonna guess, as small towns sadly get smaller, less farmers leads to not-as-many, but LARGER farms. Generation after generation after generation.

"Farming may look easy when your plow is your pencil and you're a thousand miles from the cornfield."  Dwight D. Eisenhower.

I agree sir. That's the way, uh huh, uh huh, I Ike it.

Off for some scrambled eggs, wheat toast and I might have a small bowl of cornflakes. EE I EE I Over and out.

Love, Victurd

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EVEN A TERM POLICY.................... YELLville, Arkansas

Most, some, quite a bit of the below stolen, plagiarized, borrowed, copy/pasted.. it's so fun to be lazy!

United Airlines flight cancelled.  One, yes, only one, customer service agent faced with re-booking a long line of inconvenienced travelers. An angry feller swerved his way from the back of the line to the front, slammed his ticket on the counter, hollered/yelled "I HAVE to be on this flight, and it HAS TO BE First Class!" The agent replied, "I'm sorry, sir. I'll be happy to try to help you, but I've got to help these folks first; and then I'm sure we'll be able to work something out."

Unimpressed, the feller YELLED (yes, the theme today) "DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHO I AM?"

Not missing a beat, the agent picked up the public address microphone, announced "May I have your attention, please?", she began, her voice heard clearly throughout the terminal. "We have a passenger here at Gate 14 WHO DOES NOT KNOW WHO HE IS. If anyone can help him with his identity, please come to Gate 14".

Yelling.  Mostly paftooey, but, just my take. Yours?

Two blondes are walking on opposite sides of a river. the first blonde yells out, "Hey How do I get to the other side of the river?" The second blonde thinks about it for a moment, then yells back. "Don't be silly, you ARE on the other side!

MISOGYNIST!  AM NOT!  ARE TOO! (Lest you forget, my blog, my last word, AM NOT!)

McDonalds, in their ever reaching quest for expediency, have done all kinda things.  Kiosks, Apps to pre-order, automatic 'drop a size large cup, pour ice, add Coke' buttons, and of course, adding a second lane in the drive thru to accommodate more, more, more. Awhile back (which, we've come to define in old people talk is 'two weeks ago or maybe 12 years ago') I was the next car in line behind the guy presently ordering, outside lane.  A car from our lane had just ordered, drove up to grab their food.  Simultaneously, the lady ordering in lane one, and the guy aheada me, finished ordering, heard "Thank you, and please pull to the first window." S'more.

3,500 pounds of steel, both lanes a goin', the guy infronta me (actually with a split second headstart) nudged up, pressing his bumper nearly on the bumper of the dude infronta him (who'd also come from our oustide lane).. lady in inside lane mebbe, probably woke up on wrong sidea bed, as she hollered "YOU MORON! IT'S EVERY OTHER ONE!!!!"

Google hollers back with "For some people, yelling may be a coping mechanism for responding to stress, anger or other intense emotions or people who struggle to manage their emotions, yelling may be a way of trying to get their point across. For those who are under extreme pressure, yelling may be the result of built-up stress."

You seen, I seen, we all seen 'em that HOLLER ALL THE TIME.  AT KIDS.  AT LIFE.  ON THE PHONE. Of course their aim is to be heard, but, after awhile, opposite effect.  Yelling.  Mostly Patooey, but, just my take. Yours?

The last one... Yes, my last GF.  I usedta kinda sorta love when cable went out.  She'd speed dial 'em, frustrate her way thru seven "press such-n-such for such", then it always ended with her, what I'd call DAMNIT LISTEN TO ME NOW tone, screamin', hollerin', YELLIN'......."REPRESENTATIVE!"

I will admit... there are those times where otherwise, patient, really kind folks have a Popeye situation ("I've had all I can takes and I can't takes no more."), then YELL, very outside of their normal comfort zone... and, ya hear "Woah, a whole new side to (enter-person's-name-here)."

"HELLLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOO WRESTLING FANS!" (You maybe hadta be from KC to remember..) A weekly pro wrestling affair, that, when yer a kid, u dunno if scripted or not. Scratch that, we were so young we didn't know there was sucha thing as scripted.  I LOVED LOVED LOVED the three old ladies who sat in the front row and HOLLERED at the toppa their lungs to the ref when onea the rastlers cheated!

"Facebook lets me be lazy the way a man in a stereotypical 1950s office can be lazy. Facebook is the digital equivalent of my secretary, or perhaps my wife, yelling at me not to forget to wish someone a happy birthday or to inform me I have a social engagement this evening."  Sarah Jeong

I Googled "Facts about yelling"........ up popped a ton of Danger Will Robinson-like warnings: "Please don't yell" Psychology Today...   "Trauma response to being yelled at" Verywell Health..  "7+ psychological effects of being yelled at (repeatedly)..   and I hear all that. I guess I was lucky, my folks didn't really yell.. unless it was like me hitting snooze button for school... and I'd reached the 'you better get up' place, then mom would holler "VICTOR!"

S'more crap I stole that moms say (mebbe holler)...........

"LOOK AT ME IN THE STRETCH MARKS AND SAY THAT. ONE. MORE. TIME!"

"YOU BETTER ACCELERATE YOUR MASS IN THE DIRECTION OF YOUR ROOM IMMEDIATELY, OR, YOU WILL BE IMPACTED BY AN OUTSIDE FORCE!"

A kinda yelled warning note written on a sticky note on toppa a tin of mom's Danish Butter Cookies: "TOUCH AND DIE!"

"KEEP CALLING YOUR BROTHER STUPID AND I WILL STOP WAXING YOUR UNIBROW!"

Sometimes yelling really isn't necessary. "I told my son to behave, or I would kiss him in front of his friends."

I LOVED LOVED LOVED my Language Arts Teacher in school.  You couldn't jolt her outta kindness.  Level headed, smart, insteresting.  BUT..  she'd be reading... reading something like "My uncle Wilbur used to spend hours every day checking on the lightning rods that stood guard on the roof of his house. We get a lot of storms here in our state. (AND, if she noticed some kids not paying attention, up to and including sleeping, she'd RAISE the tone, volume, pretty much YELL the next line)  SOMETIMES WE SEE WIND UP TO SIXTY MILES PER HOUR (then return to her normal, sweet voice as by now we were all paying attention) and baseball sized hail. 

Please feel free to YELL at me if you want to as I've told this one before (I think).

Imagine if you will the cutest, biggest smile, floppy haired, brown eyed, T-Baller you ever saw, then double the cuteness, as that was Buzzy.  I was the coach, and Buzzy's dad, a very reserved, very religious, Vice President at our local college, was my assistant.  Buzzy was literally a ball of fire. Fun, enjoyment, energy, times two.  One night he was playing right centerfield - but, his energy, antics, had him running around, first, around the right-fielder, then, he'd bootscoot and circle the left centerfielder.. 

Dad was becoming uneasy. Very. "Buzzy!  Buzzy! (Trying his best NOT to draw attention from the bleachers, but, telling it to Buddy) Stop!"

Buzzy didn't stop.  He decided to visit his infielders next.  Yes, game was going on.  He ran in, tapped the first baseman on the shoulder.. laughed.. ran back to right centerfield. Next up was the 2nd baseman.  Buzzy snuck up, poked the kid in his ribs, left and right at the same time.. laughed.. .ran back to his position.

Dad's volume increased. "BUZZY!  BUZZY!  STOP IT!"

He didn't. Parents on bleachers, outta dad's sight, giggling wth their hands over their mouths.. Next up, shortstop.  Yep, stole his hat.  Tossed it down about halfway back to right centerfield.  Dad, embarassed to the beyond, by now YELLING, "BUZZY! BUZZY!  STOP IT! NOW!"

He didn't. Had his eye on the 3rd baseman.  Snuck in, over.. Stole his glove right off his hand.. running left, running right, aimlessly in the outfield..  Dad reached his boiling point.. "BUZZY! BUZZY!  STOP IT, NOW!.. then he added the dreaded "OR ELSE!"

Dead silence.  Well, for a sec anyways.  To which Buzzy stopped midun, replied, toppa his lungs, "OR ELSE WHAT DAD?" I don't remember what was said next, nor the outcome, but I remember my stomach aching for a long time from bending over laughing...   where dad couldn't see me.

As a whole, I'm not a great fan of yelling, but, like anything in life, I reckon its fun to try and find the fun, humor of it all.

I'm out.  I'll HOLLER later,

Love, Victurd