Inhale... exhale.....

Thankfully, that's the way I woke up.........and, that's the way, uh huh uh huh, I like it.

Still here.

Still crazy, after all of these years. 

Whaddya wanna talk about?  Don't waste your breath, you're there, I'm here, you can't reach the keyboard and I prolly wouldn't letya anyways (which, is fancy for "Eww, you wouldn't wanna, there's crumbs from the last 82 lunch/dinners I've eaten here"...  I'll clean my keyboard again this Summer... or... was it Fall I do that?  No, Fall is when I clean my car, must be Summer.

Funny, to me anyways, how one's brain travels.  

In Facebook news (aye yai yai... I know, sorry)... 

Was having a Chip chip cheerio convo about Minneapolis/ICE.  VICTOR, PLEASE DON'T!  Inhale, exhale, it'll be ok.  You know, it was wanna those convo's where not one damn thing will be accomplished, ain't gonna ain't gonna change no one's mind.... but... it was held.

My buddy said some stuff....  I said some stuff... it was perty cordial... then someone mentioned 'the orange guy, Nazi' yada, Ruh Roh... and someone (a gal I happened to have gone to school with) pigeonholed "Looney Liberals." He said, she said, he said, he said... then she (the gal I knew in school) said "Vic Schultze, you can't explain?"

Forgive me Father, I was a smartass.  "I'll try as I might.  It's tough when one is a looney Liberal ya know, as per your define, we all are. (Shoulda stopped there Victor, I know). Thanks (I redfacedly replied) I hope it somehow elevates you in saying that."

Victor Victor Victor.  I know.  And, I'm off my BP meds... Each, every time this happens (I can't keep my dayum fingers off the keyboard) I regret it.

What I REALLY wanted to say...... (VICTOR!  Don't do it!  Don't you realize you post this on FB and she ultimately will see it?)  Uh huh.  Inhale, exhale.  I was gonna say to her, the gal I went to school with "YOU'VE GOT BAD TASTE!".. and WHY Victor, WHY would you say that?  Because in 8th grade (she was in 7th), at the Plaza Theater, good ole Liberty, MO.. she kissed a looney Liberal.  I seen it.  In fact, ahem, I was sitting right next to her.

Holy S*... I know, what I thought.

THEN, that reminded me.  Band camp, a couple years ago. That big bar in Liberty. You know, the one with the really long tables... to where sometimes, there'll be two large parties at one table... and folks seemingly get along.  Uh huh.  OK.  I walk in, see my buddies, sit in the middle of this table...happened to be next to a gal, oh, mebbe ten years younger... she, in the other group at the table... (TBC, too longa paragraph)

I sit down.  She, looks at me astonished.  Disgusted.  Gives me the "you got cooties look", gets up, moves one chair over, and says something to the effect I would NEVER want anyone to think I was with him.  First thought, I know I ain't George Clooney, but I'd showered shaved, brushed my chops... then....... inwardly I asked myself "What's wrong with me?"...  then, anger showed up. I wanted to holler (kinda like I wanted to say up above there).. i wanted to holler "Look here B*"   But you didnt Victor?  Thought better of it?  Actually no, I didn't say nuttin' cause I feared that dude, 6'5", ever bit of 2-fitty pounds, sleeveless shirt, muscles on toppa muscles, sittin' across from her was her boyfriend...... and, that he'd turn me into Spam.  So I didn't say nuttin' else.  Wise.

Victor, WHAT is the significance to all this?  Maybe that.  I ain't sure i ever ever want a significant one again. I spent way too long on dating sites, at this age, it's like being at the Piggly Wiggly to pick out bananas, and they all got dark spots allover 'em (me included)..

Then, ya gotta find, hear, "what happened", kids, grandkids, where they grew up, where they lived...go to thumb twirling 'her family' meet ups....Ask, do you like good music, yeah yeah, that sweet sole music?  No actually I like new Country.  "Ahm, pass me another heapin' helpin' of that salmon wouldya" said Victor, NEVER.

Then, ya gotta figure out, well hell.... does the dude always pickup the tab?  It ain't 1975 ya know.  Early bird? Night owl?  Innie?  Outtie?  Now that might be fun learnin', VICTOR!

Anyways... I should be careful about what I type, PARTICULARLY in politic discussion.  I do enjoy going for two beers.  I've got to be careful where I sit. I don't wanna offend anyone, and I don't wanna spend ten bucks to listen to bass fishing stories of the dude next to me..  or, to be so old, the lady in the next chair turns her back to me the entire time (happens).. 

Victor......... maybe you could try the Library?  Or.... a bookclub... or a gardening group.  "Slide that tray of oysters over here wouldya?"  Nope, yuck, uh uh, sorry.

I'm old.  I'm frail. Ive got black spots. Affliction too has made it virtually impossible for Jack and Jill went up the hill. I prolly could do the fall down, break my crown, but, it'd never work.  Gitme my geezer scooter and stay the heck outta the way.

I've got my nieces... my grands.... my Fritos, corn on the cob, Ray Charles, Fleetwood Mac, Sports on TV... gambling.. VICTOR!  But I've been winning, I have I have.  Uh huh, sure Victor.

I've got my blog.

I know, I know, I'll get the hell outta here.  Nickelodeon is coming on.  SpongeBob and Patrick Victor?

No.......... Looney Tunes......

Love, Victurd

Golf in Chicago yesterday....... $21........ in weather below 32 degrees........

No, that doesn't compute... 

Come and listen to a story about a man named Jed, 

A 20 handicapper who prolly shoulda stayed in bed...

And then one shot he was aimin' at the green,

And up from behind, laughter could be heard and seen.....

OK, we weren't in Chicago.  It was below freezing.  We did golf.  We did pay $21 each....For January whatevertheheck date it was yesterday - time well spent.

Six of us, rented 'one bay' at a golf simulator in Pleasant Valley, Missouri of all places.

Quite the place...  whoda thunk in a commercially zoned warehouse district there'd be 'a golf course inside a lil bitty builing.'

Three LARGE 'Bays'.. each with a computer...  each with a BIG OLE Movie Screen-like thing....  Clowns to the left of me, sensors to the right, here I am, stuck in the middle and I suck at golf.

So it cost $42 an hour, total.  We rented for three hours, ($126 total, $21 per man.. fun.. well done.)

We hicks walked in....... stuck our necks out, had never seen such contraptions, gave it our best Ozark "Well Ahh'lll Be"..... All of us, 70-something, not one IT programmer among us.

That's fancy for, we couldn't figure out how to get started, in spite of trying our best with the instructions infronta us.

WHAT a business plan.  NO EMPLOYEES. Uh huh, honor system, codes to get in the door, timer on the machines so ya gotta stop when the time's up. It was pretty cool.

Back to 'no IT guys' among us....... we ended up having to bug the owner via the phone to get us started.. "Which here button do I press now?... and then?  Oh yeah.. Well Ahh'lll Be Durned, that worked!

T-Bird started us off first. He was 'the red guy'.  We were able to get him up to the White Tees (Blue are furthest back)... the rest of us, we couldn't figure out how to.  Mack is lefthanded, and we didn't know how to tell the computer that, so, it only recorded about 80% of his shots.

Me?  I was the 'pink guy'.  I think the basta's did that on purpose because I truly am the worst, and, I'm good with that.  Go.  Enjoy.  Here, ya don't lose golf balls.  Well, Mack did, somehow.  He topped one, it hopped over the big picture screen and somehow stuck back behind there.

In a lotta ways, it was like real golf. No idea why we picked a Chicago course..there were fancy ones the pro's play to choose from, as well as some local KC courses.

Ya take your own clubs.  Ya take your own beer.  Well, we did anyways.  We're 70-something, we're not gonna cause trouble, but, if there's golf, there's beer.  It's a rule, I think.

We had a couple of big hitters... hella loud noise upon impact, AND when it hit the screen.... it posted the swing speeed.. and, ya watched a 'red streak' of the ball just like them PGA guys on the Tee Vee as it rolled toward the green... and the distance meter thingy went 180, 185, 190, 195, 200, 202, 203, 205... finally 217.  For old farts, that aint too bad.  (Not me, I never came close to that.)

Their (my buddies) swing speed was twice that of mine too.  I liken it to how we, me, I, drive on the highways.  I always drive right lane, keep one car length per 10mph, never exceeding the speed limit, I get stared at (sometimes even honked at)..but thus far, I always get there... may be a few minutes after the others.. but I make it. (Fancy for, their speeds in excess of 100mph, me, fitties, sometimes 60's.)

There were swings and misses... shots at acute (or not so cute) angles...  one guy went in the woods...the computer screen was black... completely black... he just aimed for where he thought the green would be...... swung..... presto, perfect, the ball came out.

There were oooohs and ahhhh's... "Nice hit!(s)"...  "I Moody'ed it" (that was our beloved Moody, whenever he hit a bad, out of bounds shot, "I Moody'ed it", just like he does/says on the real course.)

It was pretty realistic, up to and including "Hey, the computer said i had a double bogey, I only had a bogey."  Oh boy, here we go (again.)

Whoever was furthest from the hole, it was your turn, just like real golf.  Sometimes, even after you hit, it would still be your turn (just like real golf.).. Laughter at that was permitted when that happened, even encouraged.

The three best golfers finally started betting a dollar a hole toward the end.  Me, hell to the no, scroll to "I suck, but I'm ok with that."

There was 'mean rough'.... ie, weeds hella tall that if you didn't get off the tee very far, you were in the weeds... or, if off course right or left, uh huh, tall weeds.  I lived there, but, thankfully, I always found my ball, i eventually always got out as the grass was forgiving to hit out of.  Water and sand traps too, but again, it was giving (the sand anyways... no one hit it in the water.)

That's pretty much it.  Six old dogs, a new trick, kinda.

Tune in next week when we may try one'a them newfangled "Breakout rooms"..  I'm takin' my phone and charger... hope they got USB ports.. I could just see us, a group of 6 simpletons getting stuck in there until St. Patty's day.  That'd be ok, (no jobs, understanding spouses) but I fear we'd run outta beer.

Have a happy day Gilmore........

Love, Pinky

It's Howdy Doody Time........

No, that ain't it......

Punxsutawney Time? ...   Dang near...  Are we there yet.. are we there yet?  Calm down Junior....  Not quite....

We, those if us that ain't got the sense God gave a Goose (Midwesterners) have hid for three days behind our front door... candles, AA/AAA batteries abound..  extra blankets...  we done stocked up at the Piggly...  we gots eggs, bread, milk, BEER, ground beef (Lock the front door Opal, it's that Wagyu kind, I spent three hours on the forklift just to pay for that crap)..  TBC.......

Cereal, Mac and Cheese, Peanut Butter, Hot Dogs, KETCHUP, chips, Marshmellows, Graham Crackers and Hershey Bars for S'more than a months worth.... Polk Salad Annie, the gators got your granny, chomp, chomp, chomp, NO! NOT that Annie... the little Redheaded snotnose one....  here....  the Sun'll come out one........  WHERE IS SHE?.....  It's COLD!!  Tell 'em Popeye, OK OLIVE, I WILL... "I've had all I can takes.. and I can't takes no more!"

Here comes the sun
Doo doo doo doo
Here comes the sun and I say
It's alright

Little darling, it's been a long, cold, lonely winter
Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here

The year was 1969.  George Harrison had kinda been hibernating for quite a few years behind all the lyrics of John and Paul.  They had been kinda forced to check into Apple daily.. Busy working on Abbey Road.. it was getting to be a grind, the Apple thing... almost as if they were in school.. you know, Pavlov's dogs.. "OK, line up, we're gonna walk across this road and take a pic... John, you first, then Ringo, Paul, finally George.

George needed a break.......

Here comes the sun
Doo doo doo doo
Here comes the sun and I say
It's alright

Little darling, the smiles returning to the faces
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been here

OK, I admit to making up the Road pic, but, the George needing a break part is true. JUST LIKE us, here, stuck in the middle with you.... NO DAMNIT that ain't it... stuck in the frozen tundra...  it'd been a long Winter...  George needed to simply get away........

Here comes the sun
Doo doo doo doo
Here comes the sun and I say
It's alright

Sun, sun, sun
Here it comes x 5

Little darling, I feel that ice is slowly melting
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been clear

So........ George snatched up his Gibson J-200 (given to him by a friend... forget his name.. he was hard to understand... had two first names to his name... like, Dylan Bob or something or other, doesn't matter) anyways, George drove 20 miles South to buddy Eric Clapton's house.  It was there, galavanting around the garden with Eric, George wrote "Here Comes The Sun".... (TBC)

"I wasn't Lennon.. I wasn't McCartney.. but by golly, if they can write 'em, I can too.  So I did."  It was the last song George presented to the group.  They worked on it quite a bit once he brought the lyrics...   beat... that stuff...  finally, on the group's "12 and a half's take" (They were supersticious about the number 13), it was finished that July 7th day, 1969.

Here comes the sun
Doo doo doo doo
Here comes the sun and I say
It's alright

Here comes the sun
Doo doo doo doo
Here comes the sun',
It's alright

It's alright

Interesting to me.. (Might not be to you, but... it's my damn blog, you're stuck) George and Eric had the hots for the same lady, model, photographer Pattie Boyd.  She'd married George in 1966, but later left him for friend Eric, marrying him next in 1979.

They remained good friends...  'Husbands-in-law' they referred to themselves..  Boyd inspired much music... George's "Something"... and Clapton's "Layla" and "Wonderful Tonight,"

And that's all I have to say about that. (OK, that's a lie... THAT LINE, of course, is from Forrest Gump.....) VICTOR? The HELL does that have to do with Sun, Punxy, the snotnosed red headed kid, George, Paul, John, Eric, Patty... that stuff?

Nothing, but, remember, it's my party and I'll cry if  I want to............ no, ,wait, that ain't it.  It's my blog and I'll change course if I want too... you would change too if it happened to you!

I thought it was fun.... that Hanks kept saying that line throughout the film because the director would forget to say 'CUT'!

So........................  CUT!  The frozen tundra, we're sick of it, but, we can't all get up and go see Clapton's roses... We're stuck here getting fatter and fatter because there ain't nuttin' else to do! (That's not wholly true.. I've been unfriending Facebook friends who live in tropical climes, whenever they send a beach pic or similar and a   "Hi, hope you're well, oh, btw it's 76 degrees here", that stuff.)

But, anyways..........

CUT!

Punx?  What say you?

Annie?

George?  Eric?  Patti?  Layla?

Thats all I have to say about that.

Love, Victurd

Waffle.......

As the temperature gauge here has been hovering at ZERO, waffle actually sounds like a pretty good game plan.  They can go from your freezer, to your microwave for quick zap, then, to the toaster, to your plate in the matter of a four minute meal.

Frozen.  Hot.  Buttery, w/syrup - SWEET!  Chicken and Waffle is my grandson's go to at IHop.

Another definition of Waffle perhaps ain't so great.

North American English, fail to make up one's mind.

British English, speak or write, especially at great length, without saying anything imporant or useful. You mean like your blog Victurd?  Funny haha.

I've admitted before having depressing moments.  I ain't been to the doctor 'in a minute' (a couple years), they tell me that's "cutting of one's nose to spite one's face."  And, I would admit to guilty as charged.  Back then, I was taking an antidepressant before I gave up the Dr's visits.

Victor, come clean.  The hell you trying to say?

I'm trying to say I'm not sure, perhaps, some would call it waffling.  This ain't braggadocios, but, pretty much all my life I've heard, "pretty laid back.. don't get too riled up about much, nice." Or, as one of my FB friends wrote, "A good egg."  Sometimes I truly wonder if true.

Please know, this ain't a complaint as I've truly had a blessed life, truly.

I do think, for the most part, I'm happy, even when I ain't out in public so there's zero chance it's an act.  I do think I'm guardedly optimistic in life.

Then, there are moments where it's like swimming an uphill battle and I ain't never swum uphill before.

AI, Google, Encyclopedia Britannica tells me, about depression:

Biological and Genetic Factors.... I'm not certain that's true before me, maybe some, after.  Medical conditions, uh huh, a baby affliction I have can and does change much.  Sometimes, scratch that, a lotta times, it's easier to stay home than get out. (My pat answer, I just have to now chase slower women!)

Psychological Factors.....  I'll admit to moments of low self esteem...  All my life I've hated 2nd place, and, I've been there quite often.  I do overthink too,  ya think?  Ha, if you're like me, you've sparred in the ring with yourself for way more time thank Rocky and Ali spent combined sparring.

Environemental and life stressors.  For sure, death of a loved one.  StReSs. Me? NeVeR!

Victor, please stop, you're showing your arse.  Ain't that how the Brits spell it?!  I'm trying to get to a general point, and I ain't quite there yet, so I must go on.

Lifestyle and Substance Use.  Oh hell, he's going here?  Uh huh.  I enjoy my beer.  YES, there have been times I've had more than enough.  Today, speaking of this stage of my life, rare is it I'll have more than two beers in a day, and it's usually in attempt to make me tired, so I can sleep..  Cigs?  Another story.  I am 73, yain't talking me outta that one. I know I should, Doc has told me "that's what's gonna getya."  Germans, this one anyways, are hardheaded.  I don't do the drug thing, not even a gummy to sleep.

So yeah, I check many boxes......... OLD AGE.    LOSS OF A LOVED ONE.  SELF DOUBT.  AFFLICTION, yada yada.

YES, I'm going to the Doc soon, and NO, this isn't an attempt for sympathy at all..no comments about "hope you're better.. go to doctor... " yada.. .  the next paragraph is really my purpose for writing all this stuff.......

HERE IS WHERE I'LL RATIONALIZE......... and if you wanna tell me, comment as to BS, be my guest.  I think, the present National Climate, affects us all, and not in a good way, and it's my belief that plays a HUGE role in society, the depression within. I'm not the oldest, certainly not the wisest, but again, I feel this plays a HUGE role today in us all.  I've never seen or felt our land like this before.

My question is...............  am I The Lone Ranger in the societal role today, Tonto?

Thanks Kemosahbee,

Love, Victurd

(Tonto and the Lone Ranger had setup camp.  During the night, their tent is stolen.  Tonto wakes the Ranger and asks what the stars tell him. The Ranger gives a long, intellectual and scientific explanation about astronomy, time and weather.  Tonto replies, "Kemo Sabi, it tell me you dumber than bucket full of cow muck, someone stolen tent.")

From here to et'URN'ity

Just some suggestions on aging.

When you awaken in the morning, give a word of thanks.  If you don't hear thanks..... well, nevermind.

Waddle, to the edge of the bed.  Lay on your back.  Throw/lift your legs up in the air as far as you can.  Pull 'em down with all your might... the downard thrust of your legs will help offset the resistance of your increasingly big belly and you should be able to sit up.  If you should find yourself flat on your face on the ground, remember tomorrow not to thrust your legs down quite so hard.

DO NOT look for your readers.  Hell, it's gonna take five minutes just sitting on the edge of your bed before you'll be able to focus and see anywhere outside the bedroom.

Have a long pep talk.  Think "I usedta do the 600 yard dash, the fitty yard dash, the shuttle run AND walk to/fro school back in the day.  I've got this!  Look up to the ceiling.  Don't be intimidated.  Remember, you usedto climb the rope to the ceiling, ring the bell, and make it thru the rest of the day.

Take a moment, before you get up to reminisce about all the pets you've had in your life...  their names, faces, color, size, attitude, all... then call out their names one by one. Wait awhile, just to be sure before you get up, that they ain't there in the path to trip on, and, to reaffirm they're buried somewhere out back under the clothesline.

Exhale, fart or blow so you can thrust your body upward to stand, prepare for dizziness.  Remember, you've survived dizziness many, many times. (Your 7th grade girlfriend... the model airplane you built but spilled the glue allover you, wife #1, wife #2.). VICTOR!  OK, sorry, and just kidding but you get my drift.

Stand, walk.  As you do, look for mirrors.  Seeing one's self will help you recall that Whale Watching cruise you went on.... and, main thing, the Captain's advice, 'always, have three points of contact as you move about.'

Remember, it ain't a race to the john, but then again, you may be wearing the last clean pair of scivvies, so don't play golf, check Facebook, or watch the news/weather along the way.  Think '3 points of contact', but too, use the 4th (if you know what I mean) to keep from having to clean, mop the floor later.

Make coffee.  As you do, peek at the pic of Stan Musial, #6 that you taped to the coffee jar to remind you, '6 teaspoons of coffee.'  Add water, turn the switch on, 3 point back to your computer chair.  Once sitting, throw away the top reminder on the notepad to 'switch the coffee on'. 

Count to forty.  This will give you confidence in your cognitive functioning.  Return to notepad.  "Lordy Lordy it's 40, the best part of waking up is Folger's in your cup.  The coffee is ready."  Throw note away, 3pt to coffee, pour, 3pt back, should you spill, burn cream is in third drawer of that ten drawer thing you bought at the Thrift Store just to the left of the computer.

Turn the news on.  Turn the computer on.  Login to Facebook.  It is suggested you use the same password for everything (Facebook, email, bank, utilities, yada). Use something catchy, like your favorite ballplayer, his number... names of three pets buried under the clothesline, maybe the names of a couple of your grandkids - using one capital letter, 5 or 6 lowercase, and one 'special character.'  Should you forget and cant login to Facebook. 3 pt it back to bed for nap #1, awaken, lay on back, thrust legs, sit... then, remember, password is written on the underneath side of the notepad.

Should the day come your bank account is compromised and you must change your password(s), enlist the help of one of your smarter, younger relatives to help - as that simply juggling too much at our advanced age.

Coffee = constitution, and it's Constitutional Law to never use your computer/drink coffee further than ten steps to the john.  TP should be stored somewhere enroute and if you must, use your 4th point to grab a new roll.  (Yes, that might entail having to mop around there after.)

3 pt back to puter.  Make list to take to Piggly Wiggly.  After making a list, check it twice, no, not for naughty or nice, but, can you read the damn thing?  Once that's confirmed, take a picture of it with your phone for it's sure as hell you'll leave the list on your note pad.  Our mommas didn't raise no dummies.

Dress, not business casual, but, weather appropriate.  At our age, colors, stripes, prints, don't matter.  Comfy is key (and zippers up, that helps).  Grab keys, buillfold (smokes, lighter) go to car. 

No need to GPS to Piggly, you've lived here since 1959, but, it's always nice to have phone in case caller ID comes up with someone you getta think "Oh hell no" or, to check Facebook periodically.  Put on right turn signal, pull over to curb.  Nope, ain't here.  Backtrack to house, grab phone, repeat earlier steps. Dummy.

Pull into Piggly.That ding, oh, turn off turn signal now. Find motorized scooter with at least 50% battery charge. Go.  Challenge fellow geezers to a race (it's preferred they even weigh more than you, increases your odds.)  Remember Always Save brand Always sucks, Best Choice still saves money over namebrand we-adverstise-like-crazy thus, prices high.

If you're up for hijinks, (shouldn't ALL old farts be up for hijinks?) wear your Bud Ice Tee Shirt but place masking tape over the "Bud' part.  Hang out for a bit in front of the Express Lane...  Should you see someone with MORE than ten items, immediately honk horn on geezermobile, approach, and ask them for some type of documentation (passport, Green Card, work permit, visa, yada.).  Piggly Wiggly card will not do!  If their kid starts bawlin', or, the manager looks at you funny, back off... smile and drive away.

Once you get home, get the groceries put away, it's ok if you find that you forgot your to wear your teeth to Piggly.  That's prolly why that kid was bawling. Besides, Ice agents always wear masks. OK, I gotta go.  Grocery shopping is one large task for one day, and always entails a second nap.

Tune in tomorrow when we'll go over the proper way to dispose of an entire green bean casserole... a way it's guaranteed you'll be the scorekeeper in your next golf foursome.. and, or, fun, hilarious things to say to telemarketers.  Life, occasionally is boring, levity leads to longer lives.

Now what was your name again, and why are you here, and why on Earth would you think I'd have any idea why your checkenginelight is on?

Count your tree rings, and your Blessings,

Love, Victurd.

Storm, 64068

If you didn't grow up in Liberty, MO... turn left here as it ain't gonna make a hill'a bean wortha sense....  thanks, seeya after all this crap melts......

Danger danger, warning warning say, congruently, Fred Broski and Dan Henry......

Stuff to do before long sequester.......

Drive to Antioch to getta WHB 40 Star Survey... we simply cannot go two weeks in a row without knowing who, what, where when of this English invasion is no matter Johnny Dolan's take.......   take your slot car, you got time for twenty or thirty laps... Can we roller skate too?  No, not enough time, besides, the rink is now a library, it ain't here no more.  This whole place will prolly be gone by the time we're old.  YOU'RE CRAZY!  This, is where THE BEST SANTA IS, and will always be!  You still believe in Santa?  Yes... and everyone should... forever.

Wanna go to see the funny toys and games at Spencers?  Nah, but let's swing by Grants to get onea their yummy hot dogs, then once we get back to Liberty we'll checkout Mattingly's basement....

Hey, let's go home the back way and look at all the new Mustangs in the Ford Claycomo parking lot... we can dream a bit.....    Dream heck, I gotta pee!  Not-to-worry, we'll go to PN Hirsch next!

Wanna bowl a game at McBowl?  Sure, we got time..  GOOD, I'm getting a 300 burger... You JUST had a hot dog?  Who ain't got room for one'a Lovie Houston's 300 burgers!  THE BEST!  Did you see our buddies at Schoeller's helping folks with groceries to their car?  Yeah, I wonder if they'll stay open thru this thing......

I'm about out of cinammon oil, we gotta swing by Breipohls so I can get s'more.  Got plenty'a toothpicks? No tellin' how long we'll be couped up.. Yep.  I would kinda like to go to Beggs to get a vanilla phosphate, you can't get them suckers anywhere else ya know?  Sure, then we'll swing by Kelso's, mom wanted us to bring a couple pizzas home to freeze for the storm.

First, let's go in Boggess and play the "I need a 4 inch long 1/2 inch hex bolt" game with the ladies in there... Nah, that's old... and besides, they alway walk straight to the right drawer.  Are our pizza's ready?  Can we get a pitcher of beer?  Funny haha, come back when yain't got them FFA or letter jackets on......

We need some gas... everyone chip in a quarter, we'll go thru Co-op.  Hey, Hi Snoozy!  Two dollars regular please Sir!  Make sure that's enough gas to get us thru the weekend... remember, tomorrow after it snows we talked about going and parking at the Robo Car Wash so we could laugh at people when they try to get up the KooKoo hill...  Ahm, I don't think I'm gonna be allowed to take the car out tomorrow.... yeah, makes sense........darnit.

We're prolly gonna have to walk to Jewell to go sledding....... I CAN'T WAIT.. nightly, I've been putting candle wax on the blades of my Flexible Flyer, shoot, it's gonna be awesome and I bet I might make it from Jewell Hall to as far as Lightburne Street on the first run!  Bragger.  I know, right!

Munchies.  Need munchies to get us through...... Where too?  Schoellers?  A&P?  Mllgrams?  Kroger? Safeway?  Let's do Safeway since we're right by it now (Co-op)...  Hey, I gotta book I wanna take back to Franklin Hughes first, that ok?  Sure, but I ain't goin' in, I still owe 33 cents from two years ago, they might arrest me, get my name in the Tribune Police Blotter!

OK, we got plenty of Pixie Sticks... Bit-O-Honey (YUCK, I hate that crap) .. candy cigs... Now & Laters... Atomic Fireballs...  Boston Baked Beans. Anything else we need?  Yeah, grab some'a those Dad's Root Beer Barrels...  Sure, then after that, ya wanna swing by Mugs Up and get a real nickel root beer?  Ahm, you had a Grant's hot dog and coke, a 300 burger and a Pepsi, we had a Sprite at Kelso's cause they wouldn't sell us no beer, and now you want a Root Beer?  You're gonna be peein' until February!  Speakinowhich, we never have made it to PN Hirsch yet....  Calm down, we'll make it.

Then whatta ya wanna do?  Wanna go make prank phone calls to the girls?  TP someone's house?  It ain't dark enough yet........... SLUG BUG!  OUCH, damnit!  Hey, it was Boyce Smith, duck!  Why?  We're outta school?

Who's got the biggest color TV?  I think I do..... Can we go to your house to watch Bonanza then Soul Train, Johnny Carson, then, maybe play some records?  Well.. quoting who I asked at home, it was said "Not just no, but hell no... we ain't got enough food to feed you and your buddies for however long this thing lasts."  Yeah, I get it.

Hey before we go home, I'm supposed to stop and get a snow shovel.  Freverts?  Kramers? Back to Boggess?  Sutherlands? Does TG&Y have em?  I dunno, but let's go check.. maybe they'd be on Blue Light Special...  Sure, let's.  Can we swing by Golden Glaze first?  NO.  You got your Root Beer (and hot dog, Coke, 300 burger, Pepsi, Vanilla Phosphate, pop at Kelsos.).. I think you'll make it.  It's gonna be a MASSIVE STORM?  Aye yai yai.

See you guys tomorrow up at the Jewell Hill.  HA, we ain't even gonna make it outta Wilshire!  OK, then maybe they'll have the roads clear by Saturday night we can meet up at Robo.

I fear we're all gonna be stuck playing Monopoly, Tiddlywinks, Operation, that stuff with our little brothers and sisters.  Yeah, you're prolly right.

Hey, I never did pee!  You're home buddy.... see if you can hold it a couple more hours then you can go write your name in the snow.  They called him Mellow Yellow, quite rightly....

BATTERIES!  WE FORGOT BATTERIES!

Seeya Monday, or actually, hopefully Tuesday at School.

The answer my friend, is a blowin' in the wind... the answer is blowin' in the wind....

As Mayor of Forrestville, Mayor McOak had called a Bored Meeting for 6pm on Tuesday night.  They didn't dare call 'em Board Meetings, cause they knew if they did, none of the Spruce, Pine and Fir trees would show up for fear of being turned into a 2 by 4 or a round fence pole, or sumpin of the like.

Wendy Willow was the Recording Secretary, mainly because her limbs were the closest to the ground/table, to take, keep notes.  Wendy was a longtime Widow, but it'd been a lotta tree rings ago, she was basically past the Weeping Willow stage and there's even a rumor afoot she's been seen at the ShadeTree Lounge with Marcus Maple a time or six.

The Deciduous and the Firs shuffled in.....For the most part they get along, but too, there's the fair share of banter... what with Preacher Pine needling Barney Birch about how his yard is a mess ffom all his shedding...  Barney, deep down, wanted to call him a prick, but he knew he couldn't, so he'd simply reply "You're just jealous cause I get to sunbathe in the nude all Winter."

Sherry Cherry, in spite of her being so very sweet, had earned the reputation as the town gossip.  Somehow she just knew, and TOLD everyone, of every cross pollination that happened after hours of the ShadeTree Lounge.  Anyways, she piped in with "What's on the Agenda this week Mayor McOak??"

The Mayor, he was'a runnin' late... proud man... he'd always count, and brag, about how many acorns he'd saved up. Townfolk were use to it by now... but anyways, he de-firred, pun perhaps intended, to the notes of Wendy Willow from the last meeting.

"Wendy?"... "Yes Mr. Mayor... we're going to branch off into two topics.... One, The Leash Law for dogs in Forrestville... Sycamore Sam would like to make a presentation on that.... "  The Mayor stopped her... "Well, I saw how everyone's eyes turned to the Bradford Pears, so, I think we oughta stop, attack these one topic at a time.  Sycamore?  What say you?"

Sycamore rubbed his chin, and even though the Mayor had many more rings around him than Sam, he still opened with "And careful how ya toss that word 'Saw' around.. it kinda feared the Spruces Fines and Firs gathered here.... but OK..... here goes:

"We've had complaints about the Bradford Pears.  As most of you know, they live in the trailer park in buckets... and, since they're so mobile, they'll let their dogs out, then stay inside... and then, when the dogs come back in, then they go out for awhile.  Wouldn't be so bad, ceptin' while their dogs are out free to roam, they come over to CottonWood Lane where a bunch of us live, and they relieve themselves on a lot of our family members...." (TBC)

"Now.... you know and I know... whenya get peed on and there ain't no rain for two weeks, it's not pleasant.  I gotta petition here signed by fellow residents....  Arnie Apple, Barney Birch, Elmer Elm and myself for a Leash Law to be established, and none'a these damn dogs the Pears own can galavant as they like."

"Now HOLD ON a minute," Barbie Bradford chimed in... "That's pretty judgmental, accusatory... and we ain't the only ones in town with dogs.. and I fear everyone would gang up on us... especially all you folks out there who've been granted Concealed Carry Chainsaw licenses by this group."

"SO," Sam Sycamore's wife Sally offered... "if your hounds come to pee on us, howabout we buy some limburger cheese and come stuff it in the vents of your mobile home?"  Bout that time Mayor McOak pounded his plastic gavel... "ORDER.. ORDER.." (TBC)

"I hearby propose," the Mayor orated, "we endorse a Leash Law effective tomorrow, where all hounds be either on a leash, or enclosed within the confines of a fenced yard."  The breeze from his words shook the trees, limbs looked left, right, as if to say "I dunno, whaddayou think??" - and, before you know it, Mayor said "All in Favor?"  of course, Arnie, Barney, Elmer, Sally, Sam and others hollered "Aye"....  the Mayor looked left, right, then announced "Opposed?"  Not a creature stirred, not even a Bradford seedling.. SLAM, the plastic hammer again, "The law takes effect at 8am tomorrow morning."  "So recorded your Honor" Wendy Willow added.

"Next?" Mayor McOak peeked over his specs at Wendy... "Secondly, Elmer Elms has asked to speak with regard to whether or not we should outlaw Ash Trees in Forrestville."  Leafy eyebrows raised, folks looked left to where Elmer was sittin', then right... right to where Ashley and Ashton Ash were seated.  Easy to see, they were already kinda a beet red mad at the suggestion."

"Elmer?" The Mayor queried... "What say you?"  Elmer had a lot of rings too, but, he was thin like old age thin by now... he cleared the limbs from his view out, then spoke... 'Mr. Mayor... this ain't really nuttin' personal, cause we know them ash's can't help it.... but with all the known cases of Ash Borer disease... the cost involved for the taxes we healthy trees pay to remove dead ash trees....I, we, kinda look at 'em like Lepers... and maybe they'd be better off living on top of Old Smokey Mountain, or down in Shady Valley... we don't need or want 'em here."

Ashley Ashton furiously stood, her hubby, Ashton, tugged on her shoulder and had her sit back down as he stood... he too had taken on kinda of a lava hot red color.... "YOU, Elmer... YOU of all people, YOU, of Dutch descent.... short memory eh? Mr. Mayor, there is nationwide effort to make our 'type' strong and proud again.  Arborists have successfully utilized trunk injections.. as well as releasing parasitic wasps that target the ash borers... and it's working!  How dare he!"

The Mayor, and many of the others in the grove gathered, were tired, uncomfy with the growing dissidence of the evening.  He looked at the watch on his limb.  Thought to himself "Geez Louise, it's only and hour and a half before closing time at the ShadeTree Lounge... "I gotta gitme a nightcap after this long night."

SLAM... he pounded his plastic gavel again.... announced... "I move we table the topic of Ash trees until the next time we meet, and move to adjourn this meeting... those in favor?" Treemendously, they all agreed, hollered "AYE"... and adjourned it was. "We'll meet here, same Robin Channel, same bat time, the 21st of February.

On the way out.... Ashley and Ashton Ash caught up with Mayor McOak... "Thank you your honor... just one thing, you think we could just call it a Town Hall meeting and not a Bored Meeting?"

Shorly after dawn the next morning.......

Bulldozers, excavators, mulchers, backhoes and skid steers showed up...... wiped out the entire town of Forrestville before straight up noon.

At this time and date, it's speculative and it is unknown what is to be in the place of Forrestville.   It is rumored to be either an Arthur Tree'cher's Fish and Chips....... an ICE detention facility.... or, the new home to the Kansas City Royals.

Jane you ignorant slut, trees don't talk.

Have a treemendous day,

Love, Victurd.

I couldn't tell the back of my palm from the back of yours........

It's been discussed here, I ain't too observant.  "Honey?  When'd we get that painting that's above the couch in the living room?"......... "Two years ago."

People in, people out.  I'm among the very best at meeting someone, introducing ourselves, and... remember the start of the old TV show Mission Impossible?    They'd give a message about their task, the specifics, yaaa, an then, "This message will self destruct in two minutes!?"  That.  That is about how long I remember someone's name when first introduced.

Google, AI, that crap, tell me we interact with 80,000 to 90,000 people in our lifetime.  Dunbar, whoeverinthehell that is, says you can only maintain about 150 stable relationships at any given time. So........ each and every, also has 150 people they have a relationship with... (To be continued, paragraph 2 long)

S0000000000.... One fitty times one fitty = a network of 22,500 people.  That might excite a realtor, or a cable salesperson... to me though, (HOLY CRAP) I thinka germs, bacteria, scabies, hookworm, I've heard delusion and anxiety rubs off.... lice, herpes, just thinka the crap!

Side note.  I did and DO love my outlaw sister.  We usedta be inlaws, but now we's outlaws since the divorce.  (The 150 made me think of her, more on that in a sec).. One night (I ain't sure if she was ever in Band, I wasn't, so it wasn't band camp), liquor was probably involved.  We each had just lost a sibling.  She lost her brother, I lost my sister.  I don't recall how we 'drew blood' but we did, then we touched each other and became 'blood brother, blood sister.'  When we are out and about nowadays.. and we meet people, I tell them who she is (My ex SIL Kim), how tight we were, and then I tell them we still are, and, that, "She's still in my top 150 of friends!"

Where was I?  Oh yeah, friends.  I saw something I wanted to quote but it's like much in my life, now I can't find it.  Damn nutcracker has been missing for six years and I ain't sure why I ain't bought another.  Anyways, it was a lady whose father had told her "If you know 5 people, really really really well in your lifetime, you're lucky."  She didn't understand it, but, as aging happened, she did.

And it's true. It's reawwy reawwy twue - OH HOW WE SO APPRECIATE  GOOD, CLOSE FRIENDS. Sooooooooooooooooooooooooo many we meet (80,000 to 90,000) sooooooooo many we know fairly well (the one fitty... their one fitty... the 22,500)........

But, it's the ones that REALLY know us, and we them (to me anyways) that make life a bucket of laughs... and tears... and fun.... and hugs... and warmth... and, VICTOR, STOP, you're being effeminate.... HEY, I don't give a rats.  Older I get, more I don't care. I LOVE MY FRIENDS, especially the really really close ones, of which, if you're like me, ain't many.

It was here I was gonna add the words to the old Lesley Gore song "You don't know me", except, when I went to snatch the lyrics I noticed it was "You don't own me" which, is a whole nuther blog in and of itself.  (And, per the Lesley lyrics mishap, scroll to "When'd we get this painting?")  I don't pay attention, BUT, I really really do when it's a very close friend.

If you only knew how much close friends helped me in 2025.  And yes, it's a great perk to give that love, loyalty back to our friends.

People let me tellya bout my best friend............ nah, we all know who our good friends are.

Tell me who are the people in your (best friend) neighborhood, in your neighborhood......... and no, yain't gotta.  You know. I know.  We know. And that's all that really matters.

Sonofagun, I just looked. I got two horizontal lines and one vertical line on my palm.

Palm?  I needs me another trip to Mehico.

(He's nuts folks, I truly think he's lost his coconuts.)

Yeah and I hope I find 'em... after I buy me another nutcracker.

Love, Victurd

You can't be serious.......

I can, but admittedly not very often.

Watching the early football game as it snowed... and then the second one - cold there as well... my eyeballs tired easily and I went to bed very early.  I know, I know, "Who cares?". .Well, I do, because then I awaken hella early.

As in, it was too early to peruse the E edition of today's paper... so, a trip around the horn (Daily Sudoku, Faebook, three cups of coffee) then, it allowed me to access today in the local paper.  Read the local Sports... .that's always first... usually then the obits... too early, carry on... OK then, to National Sports - catch up on the NFL late game....NOPE, too early for that.. so......

I read the parts that I've grown to hate reading...  Local, Regional, National and World News.  It was there I read a letter to the Editor - Oh man, them things can range from 'this person is off their rocker' to 'you know, that makes me stop and think, I'm glad I read that.'

A letter this morning made me stop and think, I'm glad I read that.'  You are absolutely free to turn left, hit that little X in the upper right hand corner - promise I won't get mad.

The letter was from a gentleman that's presently a nurse, attempting to get his doctorate at Duke University, traditionally known for it's academic excellence.  Paraphrasing, he has a lifetime of being a 'square peg in round hole'... smalltown raised, writing from Durham, NC... a male nurse in a profession mostly dominated by women.....

As such, he finds himself navigating spaces where he doesn't quite belong or fit the mold - yet, his in-betweenness has become a strength, not fully belonging anywhere - he belongs everywhere - and as such, he's gained a healthy dose of curiosity (Siskoombah, today's keyword.)

His claim, and I kinda found myself shaking my head "yeah, I kinda agree" is, we, as a society, lack genuine curiosity - which, the writer suggests may contribute to our growing division in this increasingly polarized world.

"Instant gratification" and "algorithmically curated echo chambers" (brb, looking that crap up).. point being, genuine curiosity is slipping away from us. We scroll, we skim and react in social media without pausing to ask "Why?" or "What's it like to be that person?"

"Curiosity, more than just a thirst for knowledge, serves as a bridge to understanding.  When we inquire about someone else's experiences - growing up in a different neighborhood, speaking a different language or living with a disability, we begin to perceive the world through their eyes. This act of wonder is the foundation for empathy."

Instead, we hop over it.  Certainty over inquiry, speed over depth,, choose sides rather than ask questions.  He suggests asking "Why" is a fear of offense or conflict, thus being trapped in our own perspectives and unable to envision lives beyond our own, Empathy doesn't emerge from agreement, it grows from exploration. To ask questions, not to challenge.  We listen, not to reply, but to learn.  Curiosity invites us to sit with complexity, to resist the urge to simplify, stereotype or dismiss. 

"We observe the transformative power of classrooms where children eagerly ask "Why" and in stories that open our hearts to unfamiliar truths."

His plan, start with our kids... remind ourselves that questions are not indicators of ignorance, but rather signs of engagement.  Questions are not conflict."  The writer admits "Curiosity may not be the sole solution to every problem, but it serves as a promising starting point."

Sorry this ain't been the normal Peter, Paul and Mary... Tom, Dick and Harry... Woke up, fell outta bed blog like normal.  His article kinda hit me.  Enjoyed it.

He closed with "We live in a time when anxiety, depression, and a myriad of other mental health ailments are prevalent in society. As a nurse, I aspire to facilitate healing in all its forms. A healthy dose of curiosity could significantly contribute to healing many of these societal afflictions and divisions we currently experience."

Thanks dude (Matthew Donegan)...

I like happy.

I like medium (even though, at present, I lean toward large...hehe)..

I like happy mediums.  I thought them hippies from the 60's, not necessarily in their rebellion, but, in their asking "Why?" had us on the right curiosity path,  A happy medium might be:

Somewhere between "My Way Or The Highway".... and "Hey teacher leave the kids alone".......

I'm curious... do you like pudding?  Er, I mean curiosity?

I do.

Love, Victurd

Wishy washy......

Ain't that life?

As always, I've had a dadgum hard time in ciphering what I felt like writing about.  I thought about stupid observations along life's way, then thought "nah".... but then i remembered friend David saying something to the effect of "we don't know whatintheheck you're saying, but we enjoy reading it."

So what the hey.......  I've noticed 66.6% (2 or 3) men, wash their hands after peeing.  So, you ask (I know you wouldn't, didn't, but patronize me).. women?  100%.  100% of the times I entered the women's restroom to balance the survey, see from their shoes, I was kicked out.

See?  What Moffitt said.

Traffic annoyance.  Don't anyone follow rules any more?  (Victor?  There are rules.. to the road?)  Uh huh, what I thought.  Yesterday I was at a light... Facing North.  There was a car across from me, facing South.  She (oops, sorry) turning Left onto a Three lane road going East, me, turning Right onto Three lane road going East, same way as her.  She must've had a green light, she turned.  I, not needing a green light, after coming to a complete stop turned right into the inside lane (dats where the law says I must turn) at the same time She turned left...  It was my belief, the law indicates she turn into her inside lane.  SHE. HONKED. HER ASS. OFF. AT. ME. Exxxxxxxxxccccccuuuuuuussssseeeee me, I wasn't aware you needed all three lanes.

See?  I'm nuts.  Maybe that one guy that 'liked', agreed with Moffitt, the one that I ain't seen before in 12 years of writing this crap, will once again, comment, or something in agreement of me being nuts..

I don't rightly care no mo' what others think.  It's a glorious feeling.  I keep a pee cup in my car too. I'm 73, I pee way more times than I'd like. Sometimes I ain't got time to turn (get honked at) pull into the QT, wait, as being the 4th in line to the urinals.... so... I park. I pee in my cup. I open door, I poor it out.  Uh huh, do.   It's a red Landing cup I keep tucked way up under the passenger seat, don't never drink outta it.

And then, I got all serious in thinking about grief.  The loss of a loved one.  Should I feel guilty, am I nuts in that sense too.... that these feelings surface:

Shock.  Numb.  Denial.  Disbelief.  Disorganization.  Anxiety.  Guilt.  Regret.  Sadness.  Depression.  Physical symptons.  Spiritual questions.  And even sometimes, relief.

YES, normal to feel, to all of the above.

Is it normal to feel guilt the next, very first time you catch yourself smiling, laughing, having fun?   YES.

Is it, can it be hard to look at pictures of your loved one?  YES.  Or so many sites I saw indicated it was normal.

So.  I'm deducting the following:

Ya damn right you should wash your hands after peeing.  I saw online a bar that somehow had it eletronically rigged, where if a dude went to pee and didn't wash his hands after, lights would flash, bells and whistles happened "DIDN'T WASH HANDS" would light up, said patron was greeted with a unanimous EWW upon restroom exit.

But................ ifn's you're 73, have a probable enlarged prostate, can't no longer run the pee pee dance 50 yards (and start leaking, after going about 30 yards) by all mean, pee in a cup. Wash your hands first chance you get.

Ya damn right you turn into the inside lane, and you're an idiot, stupid driver should you not. And if you honk, add ............. B, to that.

Grief?  A little tougher nut to crack, but we'll all get there.

Love, Victurd

I read the News today oh boy........

With 'Bits and Pieces' thanks to lyrics of The DC Five:

A volunteer for a Children's Home.... a Builder's Class..  A Service Network that moves families out of poverty toward improved quality of life and self-sufficiency.. Choirs... Mayoral Committee...  City Citizen of the Year.. County Volunteer of the year...

Another who volunteered for a League of Women focusing on women's and children's well-being, education and health..... a group focusing on Colonial history preservation, education an patriotism.. and, to mention a talent in the beauty of nature outside, bringing it in to display for others inside the home....

One who wrote a manual for a new long distance, which ultimately led to replacing the use of operators... juggled Church Administrator, Organist, Chairman of Missions, and Outreach Committee... a Discipleship ministry for boys focused on building godly men through activities, mentorship and spiritual growth, Young Life Chairman, Church Fundraiser, etc etc etc.

Another....... member of Missouri and American Poly Sci Association.. Wrote four books.. (40's Sports Heroes, Atomic Energy Law, Constitutional Law, History of a Coal Company..  Gathered, outfitted, coached eager kids in the mini-track club he personally organized.. Ran a gym, when the business ended, donated all the Nautilus equipment to a local University..

I got fatigued simply reading all those accomplishments...   Those four have recently moved on from our Earth, and it's a certainty, they're continuing their good elsewhere..

And............. oh yeah........... they had jobs.........

And............ oh yeah........... families........

And............. oh yeah....... Every. Single. Day. I read the Ugly that dominates our News today. TV. Radio. Social Media.  Seeing something on Social Network as simple as..... seeing a car for sale...  a group convo on how a college sport team is doing... a restaurant review on a local site........ within the first five entries, people are at the throats of others.  Name-calling, mudslinging, hatred spewed from a keyboard.

I'm in pieces, bits and pieces... all I do is sit and cry......

Thank you thank you thank you to The Greatest Generation examples above of folks who spread good... care... concern for others......  rather than standby, armed with a barrel of manure and a shovel readied to shove it on someone.

Seems we could all learn from their examples......  perhaps pull ourselves up by our bootstraps........ concentrate on good......... giving.......... niceness......... to give another Dave Clark Five record a chance.........

And I'm feelin', glad all over yes I'm glad all over.

Why's it so hard?

I'm gonna...........

Hibernate.

Uh huh, am.

Katie Horner.  Victor?  Who's she?  She's a local weather lady Channel 9.  This morning, one hand on my coffee, one eye, here...... one eye, one ear, on her....... she announced...... "Sunday, wind chills below zero."  Now I enjoy Katie.... after years and years of study, comparing each forecaster's predictions vs actuals, she's way more accurate than Busby, Bender, Grigsby, Miller and Foster. (by a lot).... NOTHING to do with her being fitty, looking like she's 25, fit, trim, gorgeous complexion and I NEVER mentioned body parts.... and I NEVER complain like many when she turns sideways and ya can't even see Lawrence, KS on the map.  NOT a Jayhawk fan, don't bother me a bit.

So, there's the cold... and.....

EVERYTHING is more expensive... Needs (cigs, Natty Light) and Wants (food, rent, utilities, taxes, that crap.) and...........  The rising costs to Medicare, completely wiped out any increase in Social Security.

I read the news today oh boy......  THAT.  Not ONLY, are the Chiefs NOT in the playoffs... I hadn't noticed, but someone mentioned our Continental Divide is worser than ever before.

So...... joining the list....... bears, ground squirrels, bats, hedgehogs, chipmunks (Alvin?  Get in here!  Alvin?  ALVIN!!!!! "OK!"... dormice (what's a dormice), skunks, opossums, snakes, turtles, frogs, ladybugs, bumblebees... a lot of us are.

As I age........... I just likes the sounds of some of the aspects of hibernation.

Minimal activity.  Sign me up Gomer, I'm right there withya. Maynard G. Krebs, you comin?

Before entering hibernation, animals need to store enough energy to last through the duration of their dormant period.  Larger species eat a large amount of food and storing the energy in their bodies in the form of fat deposits.  Tell 'em Austin! YEAH BABY, pass the Twinkies Sherlock, flip those funnel cakes Arnold!! Hyperphagic, they call it.  Whatever, sign me up Goober!  Ms. Piggy?  You in? (Kermit is fer sure)

So.......... ya think this means I'll go in the ground fat, then, once Pux gives the OK, I'll come out skinny?  Ain't no GI Blues here, let's go Elvis! We both could use it!

Researchers have studied how to induce hibernation in humans.  You could... hibernate 'em, treat the ones with afflictions whilst they snooze...  or, traveled to Mars...turna' last Century, the Brits tried to help some peasant Ruskies by having families sleep six months around the stove, waking up once a day for bread and water...  You in Boris?  Natasha?

I mean........ what better?

Mahomes would be damn near healed....... ICE melted.. it's a joke son.... Midterms near... and, Katie only fitty-one.

Who needs five months of Mehico?  A hunnerd-plus at night at an Arizona RV Park.... 

My pocketbook.......... my fatness.... and my disposition all vote yes.

Taking a long Blogcation....... There's a snow shovel and a bag and half of ice melt in the shed if anyone needs it.

Good day(s)........ Paul Harvey

Love, Victurd

 

Oh, who are the people in your neighborhood... in your neighborhood?

The Muppets tossed about the Mailman.... and.... the Fireman... and, it's twue, it's reawwy twue...  and, where I live, well, Agnes is next door... Mr. Davis, catacorner across the street... Opal next door to him........

Yeah yeah yeah, but, not really what I meant.

Oh the games minds play now, every night and every day now...... (crapola, tangent warning, here he goes!)

I have moments.  I look at my phone..  nope, no texts.  Then, check the recently called me list.. huh uh, nuttin' there.  So, naturally, my mind takes a walk down 'poor poor pitiful me road'...  Them thoughts up there in the brain... I'm just sure it's akin to needin' to clean your gutters out... or, have one'a the fitty local "YOU HAVE TO get your ducts cleaned out" companies that clog up Facebook. And, reckon we do.  We all visit the boxing ring of our brain to have a sparring bout.  All too frequently.

To have a friend, we learn, we gotta be one.

Why can't we be friends, why can't we be friends... Lemme ask first, WHY do we NEED friends?  Mebbe I'll Google it...  I dunno about you, but, at this point in my life I don't needs no Encyclopedia Brittanica, Yahoo, Google, and especially HELL TO THE NO'S I don't need, want, amscray AI, don't let the dangling participle hitya in the ass..... BUT(T?).......

In this instance, I kinda did like AI's response as to why we need friends:

Friends provide crucial emotional support, reduce stress, combat loneliness, boost happiness, improve mental and physical health and offer different perspectives, helping us feel a sense of belonging and purpose, leading to a more fulfilling life.  Friends are essential companions for celebrating joys, navigating hardships, building self-esteem and encouraging personal growth, acting as a vital buffer against life's challenges.

Nicely done AI, and, conversely, it too feels pretty darn good to be on the 'giving end' of friendship...

We are unique in life......  our age..... our disposition... so, so many factors... where we live, what we look like, our families (or not)..our health... our economic situation... PARTNER (or not)... siblings, cousins, other fam... jobs can uproot us to different zips, time zones...

"Friendship is not something you learn in school.. but, if you haven't learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven't learned anything."    Muhammed Ali

OK, I admit, it feels pretty darn good when someone looks you in the eye.... or, calls you on the phone, and specifically asks "How are you doing?"  We needs it... and again, it must travel East and West, North and South, both directions.

Perhaps the Muppets were even smarter than we thought......... the Fireman, a great example.. one might grease the pole a little so he, his friends can board the firetruck a little faster...  another, might operate the ladder lift.... raising his friend up in time of need..    And, I think it's known and common most everywhere, Firemen (and Women) work 24 hour shifts.. so... there can be oodles and oodles of time to sit around, enjoy camaraderie, become wonderful buddies with great emphasis on helping.  I've found, any job where plenty of time is allotted 'off task', healthier work habits happen... greater friendships are achieved.  Just my take.

"I have learned that to be with those I like is enough."  Walt Witman

"Pickya a friend who can make driving to the gas station to get gas, FUN."  Rufus Iheard Itsomehwere

"The world is round so that friendship may encircle it."  Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

We've heard.... Friends don't let friends...  drive drunk... give friends haircuts.. hire their friends.. a true friend intervenes to prevent a friend from doing something foolish, harmful, or embarrassing, even if it is unpopular advice...  friends, dont let ice buildup on the electrical line over the head of their friendship - for you never ever want that severed.

Can you imagine someone who doesn't have any friends?

I gotta go... I'm gonna run out and ask Mr. Davis whyinthehell is he mowing his yard at 7am, waking up Agnes, Opal, Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie, the firehouse boys and girls... me.. .and...  I MEAN... I'm going out to see if he needs a glass of iced tea.  yeah, that's it.  He's a good friend!

Love, Victurd