I like like.....

Seems when driving, the brain thinks about virtually everything else (other than paying attention to the road, oncoming traffic, speed, distance, yada).. Some'a the best thinking is done behind the wheel...

As I was driving home from bi-weekly breakfast at Mickey D's, my mind wandered to my granddaughter.. the past six months or so have seen her go from yucky formula, to wow-almost-any-every-thing.. How does one decide 'like'? I am certain there are foods that aren't to her pleasure - but why? What makes us like/not like things?

Clothing doesn't just jump off the rack into our hands.. the menu at the restaurant doesn't shout "pick me! pick me!" We don't pickup the phone and purposely dial those we don't like. We like for a reason. How come?

"Like" propels... In junior high, why I'll never know, but we plastered other's yearbooks with 'coc' if we liked them. Hehe. Like makes us smile, laugh, get a good tummy feel, breeds familiarity, makes us write 'lol', click a FB button.. date, hold hands, kiss, doink, be a parent. And the cycle begins anew.

Perceived like. I like my job, but find myself at times simply wishing I was out mowing grass on a golf course. Like the money where I work better than whadda greenskeeper makes, but I think I'd like it more.

Running with my lifelong buddies.. We have fun. We like it. We like each other. After so long, I'd like to do something else (too). Perceived like that I ain't so sure I like as much as I usedta, and don't mean that derogatorily about anyone.

Just like the "date, hold hands, kiss, doink thing".. sometimes we fall outta like. (Witness #1 and #2)... What makes one no longer like? I guess you can "de-friend" on Facebook, but you can't unclick the 'like' button.

I'm unique, just like you. We like many different things. Some in a crowd can be happy tucked neatly away in a corner, others love love love (or like like like) the limelight. Flashy clothing, mundane same ole same ole. Tats, no tats. Sports, politics, yes, no. Like, don't. Teeter, totter. Left lane on Interstate, close enough to see your ear hairs, ten miles over speed limit.... right hand lane, one and a half car lengths back per 10mph, ten miles under speed limit. New car, clunker. Car. Truck. Some even like bike.

Some even like 'like', and are attempting to get laws passed to wed. Hey, it's cool by me, who am I to force 'like' on others? (Don't you dare mention 'coc' Victor... ok, won't.)

Like seemingly is learned internally, handed down, rubbed off from others, and simply a response from our senses. I really liked the idea of writing this blog, now I ain't so sure. Are you like that?

That's the way, uh-huh uh-huh, I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh. I, selfishly, like to be liked. On the other hand, I know others that could give a rats. They like not caring, I guess. So, that's kinda bassackwards, but "I like not being liked." Whatever Howard. Oops. Slipped, sorry.

I'd like to go now. Gonna fetch my granddaughter, we're going to a breakfast buffet. I wonder what she'll like. Life is a buffet, kinda-sorta. That's the way, uh-huh uh-huh, I like it, uh-huh, uh-huh. Love'n like, Victurd

Life as an old, single fart, on Valentine's Day.........

Drum roll.... throw pity my way? Nah, hardly.

2/13/2012. Mentioned on Facebook I got outta shower, HATED what stared back at me in mirror.. "That's NOT me!.. I usedta high jump... over 6' for goodness sakes!.. I usedta be kinda of a "V".. shit, now I'm an "O"... or turned another way, maybe a "b".. crap...

Then... went to work... snow... those of that made it in...... company sprang for pizza... in addition to GS cookies and chocolate covered cherries on file cabinets... screw working out, I'll start 'tomorrow'....

2/14/2012... In keeping with tradition of this blog, and the name therein... the heater blower fan on my car went out en route. Crap. Laughed. What more can u do? Took stored napkins out, wiped condensation from inner windshield...happened to have a 2nd winter coat in car.. made my legs toasty.. made it in.

Lo and behold.. 4 dudes.. 7 ladies in our department.. treats... the 7 brought treats.. heart shaped fudge brownies.. cream filled cupcakes... TWO party trays with summer sausage, pepperoni, crackers, cheese.. a buncha chocolate thingies..... yum.

Today, 2/14 is my ex's birthday, so I teasingly said "Did you do this 'cause it's Marilyn's birthday?" (Apologies to any ex inlaws that may read, please know I love you)... gotta laugh.. "Yes, that's why."

A regular ole day, but everyone upbeat. A very good thing.

So, now home, solitary. All, still very good.

Recently, I said to myself, "self, you've been going into the office for like 6 Sundays in a row... and you referee little turd's basketball on Saturdays... do you realize you ain't had a day off since New Year's Day?"

No, didn't. Relaxation needed.

What could be the very next best thing to "being coupled" at damn near age sixty on Valentine's Day? Ray. That's what.

I put my feet up on the ottoman. I went to YouTube. I searched Ray, as in Ray Charles. Yes, I'm old. Don't care. Ray moves me. Ray relaxes me. Ray pumps me up. Ray makes me think "good gosh he's awesome... to have his 'limitation' and to be so in love with life.. to be so happy... and to be so friggin' talented"... wow... . makes my pitfalls minuscule.. .

His music relaxes me. Pumps me up. Makes me feel good. Makes me happy. Reverberates thru me... Makes me wish he was still with us.

Georgia... America The Beautiful.. What I Say.. Song For You... Hit The Road Jack... I've Got a Woman... My Bonnie.. I Can't Stop Loving You...

Ray Charles.. one of the very few artists.. u listen to his stuff... doesn't matter "original studio version"... live from a TV show in the 60's... 70's.. in concert the 80's... even the 90's... his stuff is special.. (I'm a youtube addict. I go to my favorite artists, 7 times outta 10 their live stuff is crap. Not Ray.)

Victor? Do you think anyone really cares about what you're saying here?

Ahm.. Dearest chocolate covered strawberry breath, you've missed why I'm here. I write to me. For me. Hitchhikers welcome. U no likey, quoting Snagglepuss, 'exit, stage left'....

Ray.. his music.. his life.. his demeanor.. reminds me of the lesson (And it hits home on this, Valentine's Day)... "Don't worry about what you don't have."

Ain't. Thanks Ray. Happy Valentine's Day. Love, Victurd

I need a tickling.....

I actually had one person say "why aren't you writing any more?"... I just KNEW someone read this damn thing once!

Sometimes life likens a manual transmission that simply won't go into gear. Winter has been a manual transmission that won't go into gear. Please 'shift', get it on so we can be done with it!

With all the poo that's occurred in life, I just ain't had the itchin' to (again make a fool of myself here) write. Relatives in a very, very bad car accident. Death of friend, too young, very unexpectedly. BFF's mom passing. Too many friends of friends, loved ones of friends passing.

Much smaller scale: Two of us at work, do the same thing. An old boss sought my buddy out at the end of November, made an offer he couldn't refuse. I've been attempting to do two people's job ever since, and it ain't working so great. Notice a pattern here? The damn car won't go into gear.

Victor, FORCE yourself to try to be funny... sorry, can't.

Reflecting on all this - it does tend to make one more appreciative of when good happens..

My big calendar at work has this plastic thing that goes across whatever week it is.. and within that, there's a small 'window frame' so you can slide and highlight the present date as a reminder. I was recently walking out on a Friday, started to switch the calendar to Monday's date, then thought to myself "nah, Monday ain't promised."

Since Monday ain't promised (and please remember I write to me, that one hitchhiker welcome to come along) "Victor, remember to walk with a smile.. whistle... meet/greet.. when shit happens, look for good. Don't sweat the small stuff... Call a friend, loved one, ya just never know what day it will be you won't have that chance. You see someone doing good, let them know. Start again your stupid backhanded way with friends, coworkers, customers, vendors.. stating "you're always in a good mood, the hell is wrong with you?!!"... "

Mostly, remember Monday ain't promised. Smile, cause one day the calendar runs out on us all. Thanks for the tickle. Car in drive now. Bring on a Nor'easter, think I can handle it now. For every hill there's a valley. Not so much fun going up, titillating going down. Good follows bad. You put the lime in the coconut and drink it all up. Love, Victurd