There is a cool song about “1985” by some obscure band.  Cool tune!  They reference a lot of highlights from that year.

Some of my highlights from 1985 include running a tractor and combine for Omer Schneider on the property that I now live.  Van Halen’s tune “Why can’t this be love?”  ….it has not lost it’s allure to me.  I still listen to Q102.3 just for the off chance they actually play some bad ass tune from back in the day.

Other highlights from 1985 include John Q. Kelln sending me to the grocery store to…..rent a movie and get a player to play it.  YES!!  RUSM???

So, I would illegally drive a block or two to the Jack & Jill Grocery Store.  (I was yet to have a driver’s license) I would pick out a movie and get a VHS player to go with it.  I didn’t have to pay for crap.  I had to sign a ticket that had the movie listed and the machine that I took.  Hand that ticket to me and I will gladly sign it.

I do remember renting a specific movie back in the day.  I hadn’t seen it yet.  I couldn’t believe that we were the first to rent this flick.  RUFSM??!!!???!   The First?   YYYEEEESSSSS!!!!!   I had seen 1,2 & 3 but this one was supposed to be the best yet.  How could it be?   We were going to find out.

I can’t operate a DVR but I can still hook up a rented VCR machine to any tv unit.  Dude, I was stoked on this night.  We were going to go watch this chapter of a great American movie story.  I couldn’t wait.  Just push play.   Oh snap!!!

Now, 34 years later, I find myself operating a remote control with the same movie on one channel, while there is another movie on a similar channel with the same two movie stars.

Rocky IV has always held an allure for me.  Horrible acting, great music, great action.  When the training montage starts, I still feel like chopping wood, running up mountains and beating GMO commi bastards.  Steroids?  Drago on steroids?  That’s nothing.  In the livestock world, you just need to hire the right lawyer to get around that stuff.  Not that I have had to do that but I know his friends and those friends have a lawyer.  No, I won’t give you his name but I still have his # on my voicemail from a separate incident other than watching Rocky flicks.

Now, I watch part of The Expendables and realize “those dudes were/are still on something.”  I don’t even care.  As I flip back to Rocky IV, I still get amped with the training montage.  I still like the fight.  I still don’t want to listen to his final speech which almost ruins a great movie.

Old, tired and can’t type all or part of the thoughts in my brain.  It is getting harder to do this.  I want to say stuff.  I want to be done but….

I have been sicker than all get out since Monday night.  No gut problems.  Just severe aches and wicked, wicked chills and shakes.  I’ve still taken care of business but I have managed to steer clear of people.   I told Tammy to shoot me on Tuesday and Wednesday.  I’m still surprised that she didn’t take me up on it.  I think that she had a guilty conscience.  Because I have since found out that she had this shit while I was gone to state contests & convention and that she slept on my pillow.

I watched some videos of SNL with Tom Hanks on Black Jeapordy. Funny stuff.  I heard a comment of somebody saying that Jeapordy will be playing in hell.  Not for me.  That would be heaven.  Especially if it had categories covering Wether Goat Genetics, Law & Order, Rock Music, Frosty Beverages and Star Wars.  Let’s make this a true daily double, Alex.

Speaking of Star Wars, some of Kela’s friends took her to Disneyland for her birthday.  Yes, she did get to meet Vader and Chewie.  Sure, it wasn’t THE real thing.  But she allowed as it is as close as one can get.  Yes, Vader had the voice and Chewbacca dang sure did the Wookie roar.   Oh, and I got an inflatable remote control R2D2 given to me.  Much wasted time in my future I see.

And on that Star Wars note.  We don’t know who Annakin’s dad actually was.  Nor do we know Yoda’s lineage.  But we don’t give a rat’s ass when they are that cool.

People, I have an FFA banquet tonight and Duke’s graduation (and after party) tomorrow night.  Peace out and have a good one.

I went to my job for a bit this morning.  Made it to the weekly teacher’s meeting.  Kind of a big accomplishment since the weather has jacked up the Shattuck school calendar for the last week or two.  Why?  Well…between softball and baseball state tourneys and tri-state music and state FFA convention and state track and….I’m not sure about the complete educational journey of any kid in Shattuck but the extra-curricular activities is second to NONE!  For a small school, Shattuck kids can check lots of boxes when it comes to success.  Basically, we are trying to cram a lot into the last week.

Speaking of educational opportunities.  I attended an awards program today.  Yes, Shattuck held theirs but I went to the High Plains Technology Center program.  Dual reasons–first, Duke is finishing there and second, Tammy works there and has a huge part of conducting this program.

Wow!!!  Huge deal.  Anybody that ever wondered why they pay taxes for an area school needs to attend this program.  SUPER, neat, BAD ass kind of deal.

I am really proud of Tammy and her work for the success of this deal.  I am real proud of the Shattuck kids and the awards that they won.  One in particular–Duke won perfect attendance and was named the Welding student of the year.  He has had an extremely positive experience at HPTC.  Mr. Tracy Borden has been an excellent buffer between Duke and I.  I am damn glad that Duke had this experience.

Over the past couple of years, I have got the privilege to know the “service careers” teacher.  She has given our greenhouse (the teachers) a lot of guidance.  But, the cool thing is watching this woman deal with her students.  Unreal!   I have watched some of the best athletes ever ( Barry Sanders).  I have seen some of the best musicians ever perform (pick one).  I have had the honor to know the best of the best in the livestock world.  Dudes, I know great ones when I see them.  This lady is the top shelf.  She is good but you realize how dang good she is when you watch her and students in a large setting like this deal.   It is a pleasure to watch her students interact with the other teachers, the administration and the general public….then you realize how good she is.  Karen Rogers is this teacher.  And she is wicked awesome!

I have listened to her “bosses” brag for years about her and this program.  Her husband retired but still helps.  (And he wears cool caps).  How cool is he?  He helps Danna Goss in her TAP program.  And you livestock people know that it ain’t easy keeping up with Danna at a stock show….come watch this chick with her TAP kids.    That’s another story.

I could go on and on and on.  To reiterate (yes, Barclay, to say it again) HPTC has hired some bad ass chicks–Tammy, Danna Goss and others–but that one deal is off the hook wicked good.  Everybody in this area needs to realize how good of a program that this Karen Rogers runs.  It is unparalleled.   And  yes, that even means all the Shattuck stuff.  ALL of it!

It does not bother me to see others do a job better.  In fact, it makes me feel better to think “Damn!  They are doing that right/better!/whatever the hell/does it matter/ NO/a job well done is a job well done”

Cheers to all of these people involved with this big day.  Job well done.  This is one of those topics that I don’t want to put into print.  The real story is always better.

Peace out and have a good one.

And how good is the ending to the Outlaw Josey Wales?   I like that flick.

It is that time of year.  Baccalaureate sessions and graduations.  Lots of people will have stupid grins on their faces as others make them stand still for pictures.  Kids, parents, grandparents….anybody tied to a graduate.

I got in from the kidding barn and I kind of had a stupid grin on my face.  I actually did some physical labor this weekend and cleaned pens.  And I like watching some of these kids.  As a huge added bonus, I like the percentage of doe kids.

But then I turned on the toob and McLintock! was on.  That movie has you grinning from start to finish.

Did you catch SNL the other night?  Me either.  But Kela texted me the video link of Adam Sandler singing a tribute song to Chris Farley.  Classic stuff.

I’m Back!!!  I apologize to those that have clicked to here looking for something.  But I have had way too many irons in the proverbial fire.  Something had to give and guess what…this blog was it.

I have a lot of gladness that the State FFA convention is done.  YESSS!!!!!    I’m glad to be done with CDE contests, proficiency awards, speech contests, star interviews, scholarship apps, entry deadlines & on & on & on. I’m done for a bit.

I have exceptional gladness for some of the kids that I get to work with.  I’m not saying that you don’t deal with good kids.  I’m just saying that I get to deal with a whole bunch of damn good ones.  I’ve got stories, moments and pics to back me up.  Might even be a tear or two involved.

I’m glad that, today,  I did my own chores.  The Dragon Lady has kept things running.  I’m glad for her help.  There is a lot of gladness that graduation is oh, so near.

We are exceptionally glad that when it comes to our parents health, that tests come back clean.  Tammy & I aren’t getting any younger which means that our parents are….well….they are doing their best to hold their age. So far, it’s all good.  Thank GOD!!

I do have sadness.  I have sadness as to how some of our politics work.  I have sadness about day2day things that aren’t right.

I have sadness that there are first-timer does that don’t want to be a good mother.  (this is two fold—1) I don’t like it.  2) There isn’t a close kill plant to get rid of crappy doe. )

I also got a phone call telling me that Chewbacca was dead.  What?  Wait? NOOOOO!!!!   Peter Mayhew passed away.  He was the big dude inside the hairy suit.  7’2″ of a big dude.  George Lucas wanted somebody that would be bigger than Darth Vader.   Think about that.  When Lucas was writing this crap, he realized that somebody on the good side had to be bigger than the evil.  And he made it a character that used language that only a few could understand.  Everybody likes and knows Chewbacca.  Truly a transcendent character.

But, I still have gladness.  I am truly glad to deal with the kids and parents that I get to deal with.  Why?  Those people make me a better person.  Well, most of them.

And how cool is it that Chewbacca will be remembered for decades.  ICONIC.  Is he the best Star Wars character?  Han Solo is the epitome of cool but Chewie makes Han look cool. Hard to beat Vader, Yoda or R2D2.  No matter your opinion, there ain’t no arguing  Chewbacca is the best.

I think that I will go pull that Chewbacca onesie out of the closet that Lexi Vanderwork and Chesley Comstock brought me several years ago.  Here’s to Chewbacca and cool chicks with wicked awesome gifts.

Have a good one and a better tomorrow.  Dude’s, I can promise you that I will.  It’s all good .

Where to begin…..there is so much about the goat industry that I do not understand  (maybe: that should have been spelled knot?)

Yes, that would make more sense.   For what I know about the current goat business….it is all KNOTTED up like two dogs in the front yard.  Yep–they are happy.  Yes, somebody is going to have to get a water hose to spray them.   Yes, some parties will be glad–not happy.   No—it really isn’t working for anyone.  There is a whole bunch of NOT that applies.

IDK.  And you don’t either.  Have a good one.

March 7.  That was the last time that I had a hair cut.  I’m not a prideful person when it comes to my hair.  I still have it.  It is getting grayer and grayer.  I have more than my YOUNGER brothers which is further proof that I am genetically superior.  I needed a haircut as it was getting so thick that a cap didn’t fit properly.

So, I went to get my haircut this afternoon.  I looked at the old dachshund across the fence as I parked and then walked past that fence to go into Snips in Shattuck, America.  He is a cantankerous old dachshund.  Maybe we are kindred spirits.

The lady that cuts my hair now, also used to cut it back in the 80s and early 90s.  And now, she cuts my hair and Duke’s.  Cool chick.  She has talked to me about animal chiropractors, laser therapy, different vets, animal drugs, etc.  Not your usual, but kuhl conversation stuff while getting a haircut over the past several years.

I left the haircut and headed to the chiropractor for this hip deal.  I got squared away to get worked on and then told the Doc,   “I just saw one of your clients at my last stop.”

She asked, “Did they say good things?”

I said, “Heck, he was loud but I didn’t understand one thing that he said.”

She said, “Why not?”

Me:   “Dang Doc.  I was just getting a haircut and that damn dachshund was acting like I was invading his space.”

Her:   “OH MY goodness!  Did you see Peanut?   YES!  He is a favorite!   He was one of my first animal patients.”

I now drink a lot of water.  No mountain dew. And I am taking advice from somebody that deals with a bad attitude dachshund.   Cool enough for me.

Buck prices are off.  Yes, yes they are.  Semen prices are about where they need to be.  Until somebody can do a consistent job of settling does, this stuff doesn’t need to be high.  Of course, there are a few select bucks that are worth more.  The other 99.5% of the bucks in the industry need to be where somebody can gamble a few bucks in order to make a Kuhl one.  I’ll keep offering HIGH quality swimmers and genetics and I don’t care what it brings.  There ought to be a guarantee with that stupid high dollar stuff.  If motility isn’t high, it shouldn’t bring that much.  But, I have seen the movie “Tommy Boy” (LOVE IT) and I remember the brake pad guarantee speech.

I’m just having fun with some proven genetics, some genetics that I shouldn’t have and a couple of bad ass female goats.  It is all just kuhl enuff 4 me.  Anymore would make us relevant.

It is time to evaluate current career situations.  I am 5 years into a 1 year agreement.  I served my tour of duty.  Cool.  The Dragon Lady likes what she is doing.  Maybe I can just live off of her paycheck….NOPE!  I asked her if that was okay.  Not cool.

If you dare, read this crap and realize that I feel a bit cocky cuz I just got a fresh haircut.  That dachshund and I are both old but getting on down the road.  I’ve got a job that I wasn’t looking for (nor was anybody else looking for this job).  I like a lot about this job.  But……..

Van Halen is playing Panama on the tunes.  The days are counting down to Duke’s graduation.  Tammy and I properly raised a pair of kids.  I do not owe anybody, a thing, in the goat game.  We do not owe anybody in the ag teaching/FFA game.  We can walk away and feel good about what we have done.  The future looks bright for all.

Now comes a weekend of state CDE contests, state speaking finals, then state FFA convention next week and some people that are having a hard time understanding why I can’t be here to show bucks or why I can’t drive 7 hours roundtrip to deliver a buck to some damn place that is not on any beaten path.

Can U Tell that I am getting some texts that are changing my mood?

All in all, it is cool enough 4 me.

Colors are important in the day2day life of most people.  I like orange and black.  It doesn’t make me buy more of something but I do like the colors.

I also like green.  Actually, I really like the green color of 100 dollar bills.  I also like green grass, green tractors and such.  There is a reason that John Deere stuff is worth more.

I like the colors pink, black, blue and OH, I really like purple.  That is a pretty color.  There are a lot of professionals that wear bright purple–Russell Westbrook, some pit bosses, a couple of pimps and of course Willy Wonka.

Although I do like purple (grape jelly is my fave), I don’t want many of my foods to be purple.  But on Easter Sunday, I ate some purple food.  Eggplant–NO.  My parents had the dangdest spread of food–oh, it was magnificent!  I dang neart foundered on deviled eggs BEFORE the meal.  Then there was PRIME rib, twice baked taters, green beans, some frog eye salad, lettuce salad with home-made ranch.  People, I did not even eat bread. But, I did eat some cauliflower.  I had not eaten cauliflower since the late 80s.  I didn’t care for it then.  But this was different.  This stuff was purple.  The heads were dang sure purple.  The stalk looked like it had been dipped in purple.

So, I stepped out of my comfort zone, grabbed a piece, dipped it in the home-made ranch…..and…..guess what?  That purple crap tasted just like the white stuff back in the 80s.  Chalky, crappy and thank goodness there was some ranch on it.

I hear people say that they like cauliflower.  NO! No you don’t.  You like ranch on stuff.  I hear others say that they like broccoli.  No! You like cheese ON broccoli.  I do not care what color it is… IT IS WHAT IT IS and it ain’t nothing without the toppings.  No matter the color.

I guess people are kind of the same.  I really don’t care what color people are.  They are what they are.  Good ones are good no matter what.  Although, I would like to meet some purple people.  That’d be cool.

This blog is stupid.  However, I am sure that I am a dish that needs to be served with ranch.  A lot of ranch.

Words of advice.  Always wait a few days after a rain before trimming hooves on bucks.  The moisture in the ground softens the hooves.  BELIEVE you me, this is great advice.

I said that the buck market was off.  When David Garrett can win most every TX show and his offering brings under 10K–Dudes, the market is off.   Except, of course, if somebody has that magical bad ass.  Unicorns will bring a pile.  That, and Pfeiffer doe kids.  There is obviously still a market for kick ass doe kids.

Heva a godo one and a bteter tmorrow!

One only has to deal with either of my offspring to realize that being hard-bearded, driven, draw a line in the dirt, goal oriented issues–is a genetic trait.  I will take the blame for this.  Is this a Kelln trait or derived from the Schneider side?  How about double-bred on the sire side.  Now, throw in some genetics from the maternal side.  What do you get?  Two damn great kids if you ask the Dragon Lady.

However, at least one of these kids inherited a cool gene that involves recognizing cool music.  Both actually got this gene (from me) but one is POSITIVE while the other may just be a carrier.   I got a text tonight from the favorite daughter about a collaboration song that involves a cool chick and a dead guy.  Hunh?!?

Yep.  A little ditty from Sheryl Crow and Johnny Cash.  Redemption Day.  I’m not hear to tell anybody that this is the best duet/song/video whatever.  It’s just bad ass.  Pick a cause.  It applies.  Personal–Political–Religon (No kidding, it was released on Good Friday.)  This song applies.

How powerful is a well placed piano note?  Listen to that song and you will know.

The ironic thing about Kela texting me to check out this song, was the timing.  I don’t need any redemption on the political side.  Personally, I don’t need many friends but I strongly value the ones that I call friend.  Friend is a powerful, powerful term with me.  Religion–I will want and need redemption until the day that I pass…and then some more.  Jesus himself gathered a few days until redemption.  I’m pretty sure a few days won’t suffice for me, nor any of you reading this.

I can feel this typing getting dark.  We ain’t having no part of that.  I spent Thursday in my rightful place… in a pickup hauling livestock.  There isn’t a sale barn in the NW OK, TX panhandle or SW kansas that deals with sheep and goats.  So, I made a mile or three and headed towards Pawnee, OK.  Dumped some critters on 6 different tickets.  Then, I headed towards Braggs, OK.  I had to put a $20 bill into the turnpike fund machine.  It kicked me back gold coins instead of dollar bills.

We made it to the Isbell family compound.  No luck for us.  The women were gone being productive… which left us with Gary.  Cattle were looked at in many pastures.  I’m not sure what county or state we were in.  LOTS OF TREES.  But, we saw good calves.  Then, it got dark and Gary said lets go to a Mexican joint in Warner.   Dude, Fargo to Warner is a bit of a drive.  I’d do it again.

The doctor has me on 90 ounces of water a day.  PEOPLE, 90 ounces per day means that you piss a lot.  I was also “allowed” to drive as long as I broke it into 90 minute intervals.  Dude, there was a time or two that I needed to stop just so I could get rid of part of that 90 ounces of water.  Got in about 1 am, checked does.  Crashed for a few hours, did chores and headed to CDE practice.  Then off to sort calves.  Good day.  If I was any better they would call me Mr. Greg TravASS Simonson.    Junior.

It is getting late on this evening that was filled with tornados.  Nothing serious, but my parents sent cell phone pics of 2 funnels in the same picture.  Luckily, nobody was hurt.

I got home from a speech contest and headed to the kidding barn.  I enjoyed a break from kidding this winter, but I am kind of glad that there are babies on the place.   I poured feed in pans, put hay with each momma, checked babies, made sure all were nursing and then I sat down on a bale of hay.  And I looked and thought, looked some more and thought even more.

The value of proven maternal lines is SO under-rated.  We all want the hot buck genetics.  Dude, those bad donkey females are where it’s at.  Dealing with does can be a joy when they have them, take them, milk them and raise them.  There is a doe in the barn that I already liked (she has raised a class winner at OYE, a res. grand at a district show and a profitable buck).  This female is moving to the top of my favorites list.  Obviously she produces.  And she is polite, easy to deal with, looks good AND…AND doesn’t tear up panels.  I only own 1/2 of this rip but I will keep them around when they act like her.

Remind me, why is this bone and shag so important?   NOBODY can answer that question properly.  For backdrop pics?  RUFSM?   I do not care that it is in style. That does not make it a positive attribute.  All of these judges that get hung up on bone circumference  should have to raise goats.  There is a reason that I 80 is one of the highest selling semen bulls on the market.  Small calves and have a chance to be good.

These big footed, wide skulled, massive babies that we have trended towards are not profitable.  They have a harder birth which makes them slow to nurse then slow to feed.  Then, this type of animal doesn’t grow well.

I’m not in the commercial business.  But, we need to be mindful of production traits.