There is a lot to be thankful for....

I am thankful for our troops everywhere in the world who sacrifice so that our great country can maintain freedom.

Smiles. Eyes that familiarly meet. A door held. Texts. Sunshine. Rain. Critters, and the excitement with which they demonstrate.

A dog off a leash. A cat who gives you that 'for real?' look when you call it by name.

Loyalty. Care. Trust. Bosses who don't fire me when I make stupid errors that cost our company. Bosses who reward/share the wealth.

Relationships, every kind. Hope. The excitement of tomorrow. Money, and knowing all will be ok when there ain't any.

People that have to work today, and appreciation of their sacrificing to do so. Gas that's back under $3/gallon. A car that starts. A fridge that runs, a furnace that brings warmth.

Dimples. A nice derriere, sorry.. kinda.

Youth - their excitement, and those older who are able to maintain that excitement in life. Routine. No routine. Trying new things. Repeating things done with anewed enjoyment.

Givers. A beer bought and being able to by one for another. Compliments. Health.

Gulp, the fact we at least have a major league baseball team and a national football league team in our town.

Equality. Facebook. Email. The internet. Expressing, no matter the type/method.

Pecan pie, pumpkin pie, turkey, dressing.......... Snickers, Butterfingers.. Chili Cheese Fritos... Pulled pork, scrumptious ribs.. A 300 burger. Breakfast, cigs and coffee at Nelly Belle's..

Bonfires, firepits, and friendship aound same. People my age. People older. People younger. People of different colors, religions, nationalities, and gulp again, political views.

I'm thankful that wasn't the last panel of toilet paper I just used.

Handshakes, fist-bumps, a hand on the shoulder.

Teammates. Running mates. Gulp, past mates.

Medical personnel. A good HR department. Having a job I do not dread at all driving to.

Kissing. Sorry, kinda. Anticipation. Walking when running is desired.

Smiles on those whose life has not given them a fair deal.

Coffee. Miller Lite.

The ability to go ahead and write a blog when I should be in the shower getting ready for family comraderie and the fact they won't be upset if I'm a couple minutes late.

MU, and fans alike.. gulp, yes, even KU, their fans.

The crack of a bat. The "umph" of a tackle. The near silence of a 'swish'.

Bosses that pretty much leave old farts alone to do their job, and understand the appreciation of doing so.

I know I've forgotten, missed a lot. Comes with aging.

Aging. Brownspots and the ability to scrape them off, only to have them return like a hound fetching a ball.

Happy Thanksgiving. Happy day. Happy hour. Happy minute.

Spellcheck, and having the ability to swerve around it when they tell you firepits ain't a word.

Big Gulps.

Love, Victurd.

"And you are?"......

I know. It's almost Thanksgiving. I should be chirpy, "Gobble Gobble".. Eh, I figure there are enough do-gooders sprouting good(said lovingly, and genuinely, and admirably)out there that I'm safe to offset with a bitch session.

"And you are?" (when calling a company you work with..... mosta the time they're a vendor, and you are PAYING them money")

"Think of me as a naked baby... just like everyone else who enters this world... I realize some grow to greater heights, become more honorable, uh huh, more important.. but let's pretend we're all naked babies calling you... CAN YOU JUST TRANSFER ME TO MARGARET?"

Or..........

"I am.. ahm.. This it Tom... Tom Selleck".. .to which one obviously very young receptionist replied "Just a minute Mr. Selleck, I'll transfer you now".. followed closely by "I KNEW IT WAS YOU!!!!(giggles)"

"And you're with?"...

"Wilson and Ditch Digging America" but that wouldn't be right, because that, in and of itself too, is discrimination.

Victor, geez Louise, it really is a time to give thanks.. so can you DO THAT?"

Ok... I love a company we deal with, they answer with "It's a great day at (enter name of company here) HOW may I direct your call?" Far out.. A nursery of babies.. all grown.. calling in one-by-one, each as important as the other.

Voicemail. May I stop on this almost THANKSgiving day and bitch about voicemail? Too bad, I'm gonna. Frustrating thing. I realize people go to lunch, pee, smoke, pick up sick kids from school/day care, take vacation.. are away from their desks... And sure, I get voicemails at work too, so color me guilty (or normal)... Our work is not life or death critical - but there are occasions where we have GOT to talk to someone, NOW.

(We move freight. Sometimes the bill of lading we've faxed them has grown feet, and walked away, the truck is there, driver calling dispatcher, in turn calling us.. Sometimes they say, "nope, we don't have that shipment"... It could be a multitude of things, but, a truck is there, there is a problem, and we need an answer... a warm-fuzzy voice... a... after 4-5 tries into voicemail)

You punch ZERO (upon voicemail).... and are met with "I'm sorry, that's an invalid entry"... or... you get reconnected with "And you are?" chirpy person, you tell 'em what's transpired.. "I'd be happy to take a message, and take your phone number for them to call you back as soon as it's possible for them"......."You no comprende, the truck is AT YOUR DOCK, there's a problem, we need help/an answer... GD (gosh darnit) can you just find someone who can help me?)...

Or maybe "I'm sorry, (so-and-so) is unavailable at present, I'd be happy to take a message for (that B, that A-hole who never picks up their phone but smiles gayly upon logging on to their bank website to see their payroll direct deposit) and have them get back to you at their first opportunity"... and all the while your BP is increasing, screw the fact that Turkey Day and Christmas are nearing... and you reduce to "nevermind"...

I love my job, I do. It's the little things in life that get my goat........

Getting in line at Mickey D's behind someone who says "well... give me just a bit to look at the menu" (and they've been here 4,723 times, driven 17 miles to order [think about what you want?].. The guy/gal with 29 items in the 15 items or less checkout lane.. The guy at the four-way stop who got there when Bush was president, but won't move an inch. The person you pass in the morning at the gas station on your way to get a cuppa coffee, get ur eyes open, you nod, say "Hi" and NOTHING in return.

The boss who has his secretary record his voicemail greeting. REALLY?

Ok, I'll admit. 99% of the time life goes great, people are amazing.. service workers give great service... people hold the door open for you... people you hold the door open for smile and say "Thank you".. People are givers. If ever in need of help, they're amazing.

I am thankful for life, people, events, carrying on's of this planet. I do, however, very much enjoy sometimes coming from left field.

Sorry... Kinda.. Happy Thanksgiving, Victurd

Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of a mate (the 2nd, or 3rd time over)

Life, should come with instructions. (Pressing one for English, thanks)...

Sometimes it goes as smooth as a puck across a well powdered shuffleboard table... others, it's like trying to iron a porcupine.

I see a red door and I want it painted black. Fickle. We, are fickle. With apologies to long-term couples who "get it".... we formally married, formally dating, wanna date, usedta date, dating:

"This porridge is too hot!" It's just not there any longer. I've found someone else. You are: too big, too small, worry too much about money, don't have the same goals/aspirations.. Too old, too young.... our bucket list is not similar... Honest, I much prefer blonde, redhead, brunette, fairskin, darkskin, green/blue/brown/black/grey eyes.. "This porridge is too cold!"... You work too much.. need a better job... need a job. You don't bring me flowers - any more.. All you think about is sex. You NEVER wanna be intimate any more..

"The older I get, the pickier I get." "Yeah but....".. 'Yes, I'd love to proceed, but I remember what happened in the last relationship" ... "This chair is too big!".. "You live (there), and I live (here)".. We're not the same age/type.. I'm just not sure the "oh baby" is there.

Sure, we had fun, but.... starting allover... again? I dunno...

There is semblance between dating, and resume's (and yes, whilst old age dating is 'resuming' and that GD word (resume') means two things, I'm talking the prettied up paper for job-hunting). .. When young, eye's wide open, Carly Simon's "Anticipation", gussied up, heart palpitations for each... when older: we could give a rat's ass about resume's.. . "Why should eyes wide open, anticipation, gussied, palpitations happen... it's like meat in the freezer, you know it's not forever.. "

"Advanced dating", considering marriage... at an older age... can be kinda like fearing water 'cause you once almost drowned. Freezing up in commute due to the GD tail-gater, 'cause the last rear-ender is still fresh on your brain... re-living, re-hearing after-the-fact 'advice' --> "I told you so"...

"Someone's been sleeping in my bed", and there ain't no way I'm gonna do that shit again.

All that said.. I actually had a pretty nice time tonight. I wish written instructions came with life. Anyone seen Goldilocks?

Victor, you've got a big mouth..... I know. Sorry.

Love, Victurd.