Love is in the air...

There was undoubtedly a time, folks like Wayne Gretzky, Stan Musial, Barry Sanders, Dolly Parton, Keanu Reeves, Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, many, were beset with, "I've never done this before", ie, started their 'craft' the very first time, assuredly, doubt set in...

Wonderful coaches remind, "you think Brett always batted .300?  We're you aware there was a time, MJ had never dunked?  McCartney's voice used to crack?"

I'm certain it was certain to those around them.  They provided belief, a shoulder to lean on, coupled with care, concern.

I have friends, that unfortunately have lost a child.  I never ever knew what to say to them, if anything.

Not all that long ago, a gal I had dated, had cancer and her demise, soon, was a certainty.  In fact, she texted me, something like, "I'd love to see you... they've started a morphine drip."

Selfishly, I guess, I thought of me. What do I say?  What if I cry? I truly though, didn't want to upset her.

I leaned on my coworker who doubles as a preacher.

"What do I say?"  Doesn't matter, he answered.  "What if I cry?"  That's ok, just being there is all that matters.

I admit to being worried about 'today' in our land.  I belong to college and professional sport's team fan forums, local Liberty ones and sometimes, just FB in general online. A single topic happens- it doesn't take 5, 6 comments before hatred, mudslinging, name calling sets in. I very much admit to 'conflict upsets me.'

It's everpresent today in all walks, topics, locally,  nationally, on our roadways, at kid's games, even in grocery checkout aisles.

There is not much good, at least as we walk the planet, with death.

"I've never done this before."

Three of my very best friends have, and their words to me, our family, have been beautiful.

My worry of our town, nation, every day life - has lessened.

This is day 3.  I, we, have had so many incredibly kind, loving, hugging, comforting texts, phone calls, DM's, personal meets in public, and those have helped me at least, to know I can do this. (And I know my family, ex, feel the same way.)

Your love, kindness, concern, prayer, has given me purpose to simply get out of bed.

There is no doubt any longer our world is wonderful, as always.

From being on your end, not knowing what to say. Fear of saying the wrong thing, we all know how difficult that is.

You must've already spoken to my preacher buddy Mike.  "Doesn't matter what you say, it's OK to cry, just being there is what matters."

You've truly been incredible, each and every one.

I can forsee down the road, when silence sets in, that could be the tough time(s). I have such admiration for those of you who have been through and are still going through this.

We are all different and I read, briefly, about what to say, not say and there is no mandated concensus 

I've always loved when folks bring up my parents..  my sister... and into the future, hopefully my son.

Thank you, thank you, truly, thank you. Love is in the air.

We, as a nation, are, have been, always will be, great.

Stuck in the middle...

Continental divide.

Together we stand, divided we fall

Come on now people, let's get on the ball and work together

Come on, come on, let's work together

Now now people

'Cause together we will stand ev'ry boy, girl, woman and man

A river runs through it. Two blondes, one on either side. One hollers, "How do I get to the other side?".. the other one replies, "You ARE on the other side!" MISOGYNIST! AM NOT!

Jump the brook. Your bench, their bench. This is your bucket first half, we switch at halftime.

This side, that side. A plumber,  up unner the sink.  Hatfield, McCoy. A quick descent to the chair in perty tight pants, rip/tear, oops. Turn the other cheek?

Tastes great. Less filling! You say goodbye and I say hello...

Before when things go wrong, as they sometimes will

And the road that you travel, it stays all up hill

Let's work together

Come on, come on, let's work together

Now now people

You know together we will stand, ev'ry boy, girl, woman and a man

Judge Judy. Jerry ("Jerry! Jerry! Jerry!) Springer.

MARCH (aprilmayjunejulyaugustseptemberoctobernovemberdecemberjanuaryfebruary) MADNESS.

Lefty loosey Righty tighty. 

See the USA in your Chevrolet. First On Race Day.

My side, your side, sleep number bed. "But where's the hound go?" Anywhere he, she wants.

Streaming. Cable. Analog. 

"You better cut the pizza in four pieces 'cause I'm not hungry enough to eat six", right Yogi?

Caste, religion, race, wealth.

Oh well now, two or three minutes, two or three hours

What does it matter now, if this time go round

Let's work together

Come on, come on

Let's work together, now people

'Cause together we will stand, ev'ry boy, every woman and a man

He said she said. No she didn't.

Call Roto Rooter... no, that ain't it, look it up on Snopes.

That fork in the road. Two-way traffic.

MMA? WWE?  CNN? FOX? FACEBOOK? PARLOR? Ain't it all scripted?

Economy, Healthcare, Supreme Court nominees, Foreign policy.

Coke. Diet Coke. Coke Zero. It's PEPSI YOU IDIOT!

Because together we will stand, ev'ry boy, girl, woman and a man

Well together we will stand, ev'ry boy, girl, woman and a man

Yeah...

Let's work together

Come on, come on

Let's work together

Come on, come on

It all kinda makes ya wanna take a Xanax. NO VICTOR! Try TM instead!

I'm gonna take a nap. NO VICTOR!  Treadmill, cardio is the answer.

Go West young man.  WHAT? Ain't you seen the Adirondacks? Catskills? Smokeys?

To the Moon Alice.  You can get anything you want at Alice's Restaurant.  

Vegan. Vegetarian.  Feed me Seymour. Mikey likes it. Molly don't. MISOGYNIST! AM NOT!

Doe, a deer, a female deer,

Ray, a drop of golden sun,

Me, a name I call myself,

Far, a long long way to run,

Sew, a needle pulling thread.

Beetlejuice begs, "Somebody help me... thread this needle."

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

Then FIX IT, dear Henry, dear Henry.  

And Jack, Jill, Timmy, Tina, Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice.

Someone's in the kitchen with Dinah.   It's Alice. "Use the oven Dinah, don't use that Canned Heat."

"A table for two (Parties) please..   Last name Starving...

For UNIT(Y)ED STATES.

Love, Victurd

Who are WE?

Brothers.

Born: Minneapolis, MN.

From hereafter, oldest will be known as O, and of course, youngest, Y.

P, that's parents if you're keeping score, or, pee, if you're old like me and ya gotta, almost any, every, hour of the day. 

P: dad's ancestry Norwegian,  mom's German.

O: not a big fan of school, poor student, skipped class a lot to load, unload boxcars at the railway.. finally graduating.

Y: I was a sophomore when O was a senior and skipping school. I liked school and was a decent athlete if I do say so myself, as I was a two-time Minnesota State Champ in the 120 yard high hurdles.

Neither O or Y could hurdle WWII, and neither wanted to.

Y:  was in the Army. Reached the rank of corporal, and was awarded the American Campaign Medal, and, the World War II Victory Medal.

O: I wanted to be a Navy fighter pilot, but feared my eyesight was too poor to do so. Turns out, didn't matter, I'm 6'7" and the max to be a pilot was 6'2". So....

(O) "You're in the Army now"... I was a rifleman.  On January 22, 1944, we (2nd Platoon,  E Company, 7th Infantry Regiment,  landed on Anzio Beachead. They looked at me and said, "Hey you, the tall guy..  jump off the boat first so we can tell how deep the water is." (O continued below)

Made it ashore, and in the battle I was severely wounded in the leg..  they airlifted me from Italy, back to the US to a hospital in Clinton, Iowa. After several surgeries and a long hospital stay I was honorably discharged in January of 1945.  I dealt with chronic leg pain that could become acute, the remainder of my life, especially when I mounted horses. (Oops)

O: looooooong list of honors.. Bronze Stars (3), Purple Heart, WWII Victory Medal, and the Combat Infantryman  Badge.

Y: remember me? I got out of the Army, went to see my brother in the Hospital,  then enrolled at the University of Minnesota on the GI Bill.

O: after I finally got out of the Hospital,  I got a job as a radio broadcasting announcer at WLOL in Minneapolis... after awhile, got the itch to go into acting..  hitchiked, bad leg and all, to Hollywood. Knocked on every door, finally, in 1947 I got my first part, a real movie, The Farmer's Daughter, as her brother.

Y: Big brother didn't have nuttin' on me. In my career, I appeared in over 70 total films, TV shows and TV movies. Actually had a major role in the 1953 WWII film Stalag 17.

(More Y) My longest gig was a TV series from 1967 to 1973... and it was actually reprised in 1988 and I was the Lone Ranger (no...that ain't it.) I mean I was the only actor to return from the original series.

(Even more, Y) during the 50's, 60's, 70's, I played mostly serious roles. By the time the 80's rolled around I was ready to let my hair down, have some fun in a comedy. Two, actually,  ______!, and ______2: The Sequel. You might remember the line "What's your vector Victurd?" Oh, and that hint will self destruct in two minutes. There, another. Until I went to my grave, I used the last name of my mother's family to honor them.

O:  I appeared in a couple Sci-fi films, but my primary gigs were of the Western variety.  I lucked into playing supporting roles in quite a few movies with some guy named John Wayne. We became really good friends.

(Mo' O) in fact, my biggest gig ever, THE longest running primetime drama series in TV history (20 years)... anyways, it was rumored they initially offered the role to The Duke - not so, but it is true he recommended me for it.

(Yet more O).. you might remember Doc, Festus, Chester, Ms. Kitty, and some young blacksmith Quint. "Quint would later say "THE most fun period of my life" and I guess it musta been as he wrote the forward in my autobiography. 

(Still mo' O) my role was kinda stoic..   I no likey'd publicity (we banned reporters from the set). I did like Fun, capital F. One role actor said "He'd laugh from his toes to the top of his head, and that's a long way.  In fact, he'd get the giggles and we'd have to suspend shooting for awhile."

Y (Remember me?) They wanted to make a movie outta our TV series but I turned it down..  because, they wrote the script for me to be a traitor, kill 3 of my IMF buddies, and eventually get shot down, killed in a helicopter crash. Nope, nada, John Voight, you go ahead and do it.

Getting long, sorry.

Two, highly successful chaps, Brothers.

Mission Impossible, Airplane, Gunsmoke. Wow!

Peter Graves, born Peter Dussler Aurness, and..  James Arness, born James King Aurness. 

One of them, I read, was a very good friend of Dick Howser, MLB player, manager, but damn daddy I've read, reread, and I can't find which. Oh well, lollypop if anyone can find out which. Hell it mighta been Burt Reynolds, I dunno. Using a phone to blog drives me cRaZy, but you knew I'm cRaZy.  

Enjoy the day,

Love, what's your vector Victurd

Are we there yet, huh, are we are we?

What are your plans?

Are you like me.. same ole same ole stuff pretty much every day?

Enlighten me... is your brain exploring Booking.com for your dreams, desires, bucket list stuff?

Me, I've got a baby affliction (it ain't bad, I've just slowed down, have to chase slower women now), but, to that end, I'll play golf anytime, any temp, condition, because I can see, envision, know 'it's' coming (the day I eventually cant.) Stuff like that cross your brain, play into your plans?

I hope my buddy Randy won't whack me, and I don't think he will.  For quite a few years now, he's posted these really cool videos of his hound, Buddy, winding in and out of forest paths, by, around, over, through creeks (Randy follows with his all terrain,  GoPro camera) for the express purpose, intent of fun, exploration, and, grabbing the nicest stick to bring home, navigate back thru the woods. .. Randy's latest post, he wrote:

"Some things never change. Even though he’s getting older, he’s still a kid at heart. I hope we can all relate. We don’t need to grab the biggest stick anymore. Just grabbing a stick with a purpose in mind will give us pleasure. My purpose is the fire pit and his purpose is to keep me having to sharpen my mower blades. 🤣😂😜."

You go Buddy!  And Randy, you continue to follow, video as we all enjoy immensely!

Are you.... yes, you. Still a kid at heart?

Are you OK if your quest doesn't involve the biggest stick any longer?

Do you think, as you wind thru the roads of life, ie, following Buddy, playing golf, hitting the hay at night for that smooch and "night night", do you, in the back of your mind, think about knowing 'that day' will come, THUS, gaining a heightened appreciation,  vote of thanks for the ability to enjoy same ole same ole?

I sure as heck do.  Life can be a struggle.  

It is said, in golf, if you mentally think about your every move, you're toast.

While I very much struggle in golf (and don't really care that I do), knowing that last round will one day happen gives perfect impetus to put a smile on my face and fend off being a sour puss! And....hells to the nos I ain't perfect, SURE I slip.

I hope, I/we do the same (enjoy, appreciate, are thankful) as we wind these trails. 

Life is, can be, fulla shoulda woulda coulda.  Oh the games people play now (you? Me? Mebbe we slip up sometimes) resort to "ain't it awful?"... "Why me?".. yada.

Even with all the (sorry about the French) political shit we've endured the last however many years... 

There ain't no place better than here, today.

Lucky, we are.

Remind me from time to time, wouldya?

Keep chasing that stick Buddy...

Love, Victurd

Robot umps...

Say it ain't so....

I haven't really delved into full force... but I know experimentation is happening in Spring Training, 'ABS' (Automated Ball-Strike System)...

The ump still makes the call, but, the batter, pitcher or catcher has the right to tap their helmet... indicating 'challenging the call' (they get two per game)... they immediately use the camera image of the ball crossing the plate (or not.)

They've got the inside-outside call down. (Victor, this is boring... Bear wit' me, sorry) but it's the top and bottom of the zone they struggle with. Picture a short Jose Altuve and a grande' Aaron Judge.

Nonea that is my gripe.

Say it ain't so, but if it is, I will very much miss:

"You couldn't call a cab ump!"..  "Did you star in Weekend at Bernies"?...  and mebbe, 

"I thought only horses sleep standing up!"... "That was higher than a blouse at Mardi Gras!"

And my personal favorite (dangit Victor you've told this one. . Oh well)..  the college coach was on the umpire, griping and grunting nonstop for 6 innings..   he'd come from the dugout again..  escorted him back to the dugout... finally,  threw him outta the game... but,

Manager kept barking, staying in the field.   Ump finally eschewed "GO SOMEWHERE WHERE I CANT SEE YOU!"... And, of course.. 

Then, the manager walked directly to home plate and stood on top of it!

"Can it R2D2"... "You suck Mr. Roboto"... Just ain't got the same intrigue, passion, humor.

Upon further review....

Play ball...

I am human, hear me roar.

Someone suggested MLB hire female umpires.   They're never wrong. MISOGYNIST!  Wasn't me!  'Someone' suggested it!

With all the contention, dissention, present mood of our land, I've truly struggled to write.  I know I know, some may applaud that.

That said..  please don't take away the last bastion to yell, holler at someone without getting blocked on Facebook, ruffling relative feathers, yada.

3 blind mice. 3 blind mice.

Victor, no more mice jokes, you got to go...

Love, Victurd

A little ditty 'bout Jackie and Shadow..

Victor, that ain't it..  it's Jack and Diane.. 

Well... (That's a deep subject)..

Well, Jackie and Shadow are actually bald eagles.  Happy ones.  They live high up in a tree...  

In Big Bear Valley.. which sets inside the San Bernardino National Forest in Southern California. 

They, unwittingly, are the stars in the newest reality show.

Some time ago, I don't remember anything about Shadow and wearin' Bobbie Brooks, don't think she was..

Jackie gonna be, a football star?  Play for the Eagles?  Ahm, no.

The two were suckin' on a chilled herron outside the big trees...  Shadow's sittin' on Jackie's lap, turns his beak out to see...

Jackie says "Hey Shadow, let's run off to the top of that shady tree."

Or, however it happened.

Love and herron, love and herron, go together like a horse and a carriage.. this I tell you brother, you can't have one without the other.

Shadow consented.  They'd been flyin' down the road, tryna loosen their load... ie, wanted to Take It Easy.. you know, Eagles.

Plop plop plop, 3 eggs. Victor, you misogynist, you're gonna catch hell from women for that.  Ok, lemme rephrase.

Her feathers in a dander, on end.. frantic, fear, OUCH, near hatred in her eyes, Shadow then pointed a talon claw at Jackie and screamed, "DAMN YOU!  THIS IS YOUR FAULT!" (Plop, plop, plop. .. or something like that.)

36 days later:  Pip. Pip.

Gladys Knight?

No. Pips are baby pecks that put a small tear in the egg, as if to say, "Lemme outta here!"

Two, greeted the World yesterday.  They are the cutest, ugliest, fuzziest damn things you ever saw!

So..  24/7, they have a cam on them. I trust your Googling skills if you'd like to track them down. You can also look at my Facebook post just before this. (If it's dark-thirty, or, ya can't see the eaglets cause mom or dad are sittin on em, you can 'rewind' to an earlier hour.)

Could be too, ya just ain't into this. I get a peaceful easy feeling you'd simply prefer Sudoku, Fox/CNN, Judge Judy, Aunt Bea and Ope. I'm good with that.

But, Desperado, I could be wrong..  you and the Witchy Woman (MISOGYNIST! AM NOT!) might even wanna Take It To The Limit, drive over them Seven Bridges, get ya a California Hotel, or sumpin like that..    simply to see for yourself, what, you know in these days of Lyin Eyes, ya never know.

Wiki done tells me Bald Eagles ain't really bald. That's derived from an older meaning if the word, "white-headed."

"The sexes are identical in plumage, but females are about 25% larger than males." MISOGYNIST!  AM NOT, THAT WAS WIKI!

Ok, I'll get out of your hair.  I, personally, am fascinated by this, the cam..  and Eagles in general.  They make THE biggest nests of any bird, impressive.

A little ditty 'bout Jackie and Shadow... two American Eagles doin' the best they can..

Forward by Joe Walsh, Don Henley, Glenn Frey, and two Eagle Scouts

Love, Victurd

Bad boy bad boy watcha gonna do..Therapy...

Seeing someone in the aisle of the Piggly Wiggly that makes ya wanna run to 'em, not away from.

Table and chairs really aren't too exciting, but... fill 'em with good friends, family, no reason to keep checking your watch..  the table and chairs become magical. 

A hound's tail, a kitty cat's indifference...

Barney Fife, Weeee Doggies Jed Clampett... Conway, Burnett and also Harvey Korman - the only man to become a zillionaire simply by holding in burst at the seams laughter as long as he could.

Us geezers, running,  actually running in Wally World, after holding in burst at the seams tinkle as long as we could.

A full Mickey D's bag, and, "Hey, they didn't forget nuthin."

A song on the radio (Sirius for you uptown ones) that takes you to a happy time, place, age, along with the faces of who was there, then. Bad boy bad boy whatcha gonna do? SING those damn lyrics, even if they ain't right!)

A photo album, much like the table, chairs above, unfilled, none too exciting.  Fill it. Go back. Yum. A mixture of happy, a pinch of sad, and a note of thanks to whomever took the time to snap and develop the pics.

Among the best presents I ever got (ballglove, 8ish, clock radio, age 9ish).. a simple envelope of family pics a loved one had around the house (71ish), and the specifics of knowing those times musta meant a lot to the giver as well.

Lasagna, Fritos (Chili Cheese or regular, dont matter), a fall off the peel tangerine in fronta me (at least for me anyways, figure you got your own yummy list)..  a grandkid's face, hidden behind a vanilla cone.

24/7 in that it means we're still here (QT and the Awful Waffle are open), but, perhaps the bestest are the pink and light orange hues of sunrise, sunset.

When the key, Fob, EV allows one to go, (almost) the first time, everything.

Waves, hugs, smiles, fist bumps, preceded by the how you thankfully got to know that person.

Friend's list, Facebook, phone contact, even just simply the ones up there in the noggin.

Simple, easy. Elation, exhaustion upon completion of hard.

When your child, grand, friend, buddy, coworker, maybe even boss, asks, "Where ya going?", followed by, "I'm 72, any damn where I wanna."

The ability to sense, restless, are we there yet are we huh huh? And, reply...

OK, OK, OK.. 

But, before ya go... you point out, none of the good above has anything to do with which lever one pulls on election day... what color, orientation, yada yada one is.. where ya came from..  the figures on one's receipt from the bank...

Happy is happy.

If. .

We let it be.

Right John, Paul, George, Ringo?

And if you can't be, with the one you love... love the one you're with... unless, ya done said them 'I do's'. We all understand what makes grass greener.

By Henry Gibson

Love, Victurd