Goofy........probably....

I'm thankful daily for hearing my alarm at 5:20am. ("Pavlov's dogs" awaken me every Saturday and Sunday about the same time for breakfast at Hy Vee).. I'm thankful for breakfast at Hy Vee.

I'm thankful for a car that starts., a furnace that turns on, and a fridge that keeps my food (beer) cold.

I'm thankful for wherever it is flies go in the winter. I'm thankful for paying a hunnerd dollars a month to watch the Channel 9 news every day.

I'm thankful for those I would never wanna text, phone, go to lunch with for never texting, calling, asking to go to lunch.

I'm thankful for getting up in the dark, grabbing a pair of undies and three socks, scooting to the bathroom only to find a matching pair of socks, sometimes three.

I'm thankful for being 62 and not wanting a boss that continually looks over my shoulder, and for having a boss that doesn't continually look over my shoulder.

I'm thankful for caller ID and the wonder of discern. Even though I occasionally slip, I'm thankful age has taught me not to blurt, talk/type/regret when I hear/see/read something that makes me wanna barf.

I'm thankful for store's restrooms that have those automatic flusher thingys that actually work. I'm thankful, when they don't work, when there's no one close on my heels to take my place in the stall.

I'm thankful that for 5 year olds, race is, "first one to the tree and back."

I'm thankful for Mr. Clean's Magic Eraser, and for the Dollar Tree where I can buy 'generic' for half the cost.

I'm thankful for Apartment living in that my walk is shoveled, my grass is mowed, and when something in my apartment doesn't work, one call to the maintenance man, presto- it's like snapping one's fingers.

I'm thankful none of the folks in my building play "American Werewolf in London" (or similar) at way too many decibels at 2am. I'm thankful the neighbors above me moved even though I'm not personally opposed to amor at 3am. I'm thankful my ceiling has sturdy crossbeams.

I'm thankful for living where we have four seasons, giving one just cause to bitch no matter the month/weather.

I'm thankful for Freedom of Speech (in spite of, scroll to 'barf' above).. I'm thankful for merchants that reciprocate with "Hi" and say "thanks" cause they know if it weren't for us, they wouldn't be there.

I'm thankful for being able to backsapce. I'm thankful for being a male every time I walk in an ORI.

I'm thankful for my windshield wiper solution, even though I pay twice as much as most, as about half the spray shoots over the top of my car. I'm thankful, when people tailgate, I'm able to use my windshield wiper solution.

I'm thankful for being a simpleton, probably over-loving me some Liberty Bluejays, William Jewell Cardinals, Missouri Tigers, Kansas City Royals and Kansas City Chiefs. I'm thankful I'm one the edge of my seat when watching. I'm also thankful it doesn't bother me that I haven't the foggiest idea when someone says "Remember that game back in '94?"

Never been a big fan of thrill rides or jungle gyms, but love that life is a rollercoaster and a teeter-totter.

I'm thankful for breasts, at Kentucky Fried Chicken. I'm thankful for folks who jump to conclusions only to find themselves wrong.

I'm thankful for my BFF. He's occasionally an idiot. Sometimes imbibes. Can certainly be opinionated. He gets irate when vendors get an attitude. Mostly though, he's a wuss, but again, I like him, for he is me. (If one can't enjoy being in one's own skin... well, nevermind.)

I'm thankful there wasn't a class in college entitled "Women", for I would have received an "INC". I'm thankful I enjoy the quest of trying to figure out women, but knowing I never will. I'm thankful that 50% of you that just read that didn't get pissed off because you're aware AT LEAST half of my best friends are women.

I'm thankful for the opportunity to sit here and write whateverinthehell I wanna, and it really doesn't bug me too much what others think about it.

I'm even thankful my dad called me Victurd. (Count your blessings, unless you were a shop teacher)...

Love, Victurd.

Have you ever noticed?

Those that smile.

I am immersed in those that smile so... Years and years of being able to open my eyes daily, also tells me these people have wonderfully good hearts.

I, like many, find myself (certainly at times) in the dregs of "I don't wanna go to work today... I hate Mondays.. Come on 5 o'clock... It really sucks the funds are so low... WHY ME? This ALWAYS happens to ME!.." Paddling life upstream. Pity, as in self.

Not the smilers. Nuh uh. You can't tell if they've got a migraine... if their rent check just bounced.. if the love of their life is now the love of someone else's life... or if they're simply just having a really crappy day.

For many, many years - I've preferred to live life in the background. Heck, when I did/do talk, people say "Huh?" cause my voice is so goofily soft. No longer though. My all-time favorite boss (an Elementary Principal where I taught) offered out "catch 'em being good." I liked that, I really liked that. Doesn't have to apply to children only though.

The other day, a smiler walked by me. From my spot in the background, I've watched this person walk by some 4,376 times - and each and every time, with smile. On this, the 4,377th time, I emailed this person. "Just wanted to let you know, I really think you have a great take on life, and I really think it's cool you always, ALWAYS offer your smile to others. You must have had really good role models growing up."

This person emailed back "That may be the nicest compliment anyone has ever given me." (And this isn't why I write, anyone can wing a compliment, not everyone can 'earn' them).. Continuing "My ex left me when I was pregnant with our 3rd child. Never a penny of child support. My kids lived on mac and cheese, no milk, because it's all I could afford. My grandparents were my role models, and you're right, I remember them smiling all the time. My sister married a millionaire and is never happy - me, I guess I'm just happy for what I have, even at times when it isn't much. I always wanted to go to college but could never afford.. well, I finally got remarried, went back to college, and now I have my degree."

Wow. Far out. Smile out.

I have friends who,it's pretty obvious, live with physical difficulties.. you see struggle, hurt, and most assuredly (on the inside) have to wonder WHY ME? You could never tell on the outside. They smile. Lots. Often. Mostly without impetus.

Another thing I've noticed. A smile generally brings one back in the other direction. What better?

Stealing a few:

"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." Dr. Seuss.

"Peace begins with a smile.." Mother Teresa.

"If you only have one smile in you, give it to the people you love. Don't be surly at home, then go out in the street and start grinning 'Good morning' to total strangers." Maya Angelou.

"You'll find that life is still worthwhile, if you just smile." Charles Chaplin.

That's about it. I guess we should smile. It's inexpensive. It isn't nearly as difficult as a jumping jack. It seems to 'talk.' It makes an impression on depression, both in giving and receiving. Seems people that give smiles are also givers. Seems there's some kind of connection between the heart and a smile.

When it's least expected, you're elected, it's your lucky day......... smile

Love, Victurd.

People are strange when you're a stranger

Faces look ugly when you're alone
Women seem wicked when you're unwanted
Streets are uneven when you're down

A ten minute walk through Google related at least 28 different meanings behind the writing of this song.. depression.. seeing strange people on the tour.. acid/LSD.. He had writer's block, walked to the top of the canyon where he lived, observed a Hallucinogenic party in a backyard nearby, went running home "I need to write! I need to write!".. the fact that Jim himself, while brilliant, was strange (at least he supposedly perceived himself, and others, as that)..

When you're strange
Faces come out of the rain
When you're strange
No one remembers your name
When you're strange
When you're strange
When you're strange

One 'guesser' as to the meaning of these lyrics also wrote "there's a person I don't like in the cubicle next to me, and when she gets real loud, I start singing this song... it bugs her." (LIGHTBULB! I'm gonna try this!)

People are strange when you're a stranger
Faces look ugly when you're alone
Women seem wicked when you're unwanted
Streets are uneven when you're down

I do believe the hint of depression. When one is alienated, even if self induced, we perhaps tend to see others as strange so we can be more accepting of our own self. I know it's the day and age of HR Departments perusing public message boards, Facebook, etc. That said, I don't care, there are some strange folks at work - and yeah, maybe I'm even one of 'em! (Ever seen a guy wear the same jacket 20+ years?)

When you're strange
Faces come out of the rain
When you're strange
No one remembers your name
When you're strange
When you're strange
When you're strange

The City. Happens to be Kansas City where I'm near, but a trip to The City oozes of strange people, at least coming from the shoes of this simpleton suburbanite. It's reinforcement of "how lucky I am/we are to live where we live." (Even though all the while the next door neighbor is maybe a sexual offender, religious zealot, or, has been in a "People of WalMart" chain email.)

When you're strange
Faces come out of the rain
When you're strange
No one remembers your name
When you're strange
When you're strange
When you're strange

"Women seem wicked when you're unwanted?"... Hmmm, MAYBE! All's fair in love and war, could as easily been written "Men seem wicked when you're unwanted". Another vice versa way to like ourselves.

We're all strange. Unique. I'm unique, just like you. We look different, act different, think different, believe differently, dress differently. Queer, I believe we called it, before we even knew what the word actually insinuated.

Strange blog. Sorry. Kinda. Strange person. Don't be a stranger, love VIcturd.