First day of Christmas break!  Nope.  We had school till noon.  Then I met up with a herd of kids and worked sheep and goats.  Kelly clipped wether goats, 13 toothed sheep, wormed and trimmed hooves on all.  Scales are free, so let’s catch a weight on all.

Then home to do chores, then back to Shattuck to make wurst.  Three generations working together.  The beef was wicked high quality, the pork was scary good (not just your old leftover pork shoulder roast).

What did I eat for supper?  Not wurst.  Got home late and nobody wanted to cook, so I ate some chex mix and a couple of meat sticks that I bought from Elliott Milligan back in September.  I don’t know who makes them but they are wicked good.

I find myself reminiscing about the early 80s.  Remember the Earl Campbell commercials.  The commercials that would now be illegal.  Skoal.  Dude, just a pinch between your cheek and gum. “Skoal brotha.”

First off, I ain’t had any Skoal since the early 80s.  Second, how good was the marketing campaign when some dude can remember specifics about a given product.  Next, how is this even still a product knowing now what we know about tobacco products.   And how stereotypical or racist was that commercial?

It wasn’t.  A specific product was offered.  Parties agreed to terms.

Van Halen has always been a favorite band of mine.  I got to see Van Hagar live but not Van Halen.  I liked both versions.  I also liked the original lead singer when he was with Van Halen and some of his solo stuff after Van Halen.  One of his solo hits was a simple little ditty that just happened to be all acoustic.  It was a song called “Damn Good!” Some could argue that David Lee Roth was one of the best front men of all time.  I won’t say that he was the best, but I could argue it.

Tonight, as I sit here sampling this years fresh delivery of chex mix, the term that comes to mind is “Damn Good!”   One could even think “Best ever!”   Brandon the Bruce makes a wicked mean chex mix.  I mean wicked good!  And this years version is unique.  I noticed something, new, different, yep, sure enough—that is a salad crouton in the mix.  Heck of a deal.  Different, but it works.

Now back to that Van Halen concert.  It was uneventful.  Well behaved.  But, the best drum solo that I ever witnessed was Alex Van Halen.  The best guitar solo that I ever witnessed was Eddie Van Halen.  Oh, he also played the best keyboard solo that I have seen.  The best act as a solo by a lead singer was Sammy Hagar playing his own stuff plus some un-released Van Hagar tunes.  And then the absolute best bass guitar solo was played by Michael Anthony.  Other than Gene Simmons, what bass player ever gets a solo.  His solo (Michael Anthony not Han Solo)  led right into the opening bass line thumping of “Why can’t this be love?”  Dudes, back in 1986, that was the song that I waited for on the radio.  No, there was no cool tie to a hot chick.  I just dug that tune.  It was and still is damn good.

It is that time of year when one just bundles up, puts the ear buds in, plays some tunes and goes about the chores of feeding stock and filling water tanks.  Dump some cake to the cows, put hay in feeders and plan on spending money knowing it will be several months until the next sale of stock.  Listening to a damn good tune and eating some damn good chex mix helps one cope.

“Right now”, I’m going to “jump” from this keyboard, even though I wish that I was in “Panama”.  “I’ll wait” until I can have the “best of both worlds”.  And I think I’ll just stop because I am drawing blanks on how to tie “poundcake”, “hot for teacher” and “why can’t this be love” into….wait, maybe I just did.

Dudes, have a good one.

I’ve got a little knowledge with a lot of time to dispense it.   Wait?  What?  Maybe that was supposed to say “a lot of knowledge with little time.”

Actually, I have just been kind of stupefied for the past day or so.  The Ok Youth Expo started a scholarship program years ago.  Very good scholarships as well as an academic all state program.  Kela was picked for a big scholarship and the all state honor.  It was cool.

Tuesday evening, kids started getting emails if they won a scholarship or better yet, they get to interview for one of the big scholarships.  Shattuck had four seniors apply.  Two of them–Kaylee Holt and Gatlin Goodson will interview in mid January.  Sierra Washmon and Duke, yes Duke, both received scholarships.  I am honored to get to work with these kids.

I’m also proud of Duke and his mother for filling out the application and writing the essays.  I told them that it was a waste of time.   Here it is in writing– I was wrong.  You can bet that the Dragon Lady has enjoyed proving me wrong.

Have a good one.

The title says it all.

Have a good one.  A better tomorrow.  And here’s to hoping that I am the only one with a sticky I on the keyboard.  (Trust me, Apple Macs never considered the drop of honey on a keyboard like the problem that we got going on, although it may be barbecue sauce, who knows?).  Since we know that there is an issue, we proofread.  We being Me or I.

I don’t and have not used drugs.  I haven’t even had an aspirin in over a decade.  I’ve never smoked weed.  I understand how people can get hooked on a substance.  I even know people that are addicted to buying goats online.  I get it.  But, somehow, I have managed to avoid most addictions.

But, this Christmas Crack stuff…….Oh, jeeminy……I don’t know.  I need to start buying bigger waist sizes.   Some kind of puffed corn with almond bark covering it.  It is so good!

Known fact that I spend more than my share of time behind the wheel of a pickup.  I don’t venture as far as I used to, but the miles are still covered.  Which means that the radio is on.  And with crappy cell service in this part of the world, I have time to think.

For example, while listening to the blue collar comedy tour, I got to thinking…one of these don’t fit!?!

Let’s look at the cast.  Jeff Foxworthy—arguably the greatest comedian ever.  Timeless, anybody can listen to him.  Larry the Cable Guy–one of the most popular comedians, ever.  Lots of bathroom jokes.  I like him.   Ron White–now, not everybody likes Ron White.  But, real comedians say that he is the funniest.  Sure, he isn’t always clean, but funny to the max.

And then there is Bill Engvall.   I’m not saying that he is bad.  Actually, he has some really good stuff.  But he doesn’t quite measure up to the other three.  Popular, yes.  Funny–very funny part of the time.  I’m not bashing him.  But, he doesn’t quite fit with the rest of them.

Then there is a super-group of artists.  The Highwaymen.   Waylon, Willie, Johnny Cash and…and….Kris Kristofferson.  One of my all-time favorite songs is the song of that name by that band.  I mean dang, listen to the song, there are 3 legendary bad ass singers and then one that is better than me.  But not so much better.  I think I could have sang that part and not hurt the song.  Listen to the song and it makes one think, “Hunh, he must have had some good drugs to share, so they keep him around.”

Duke walked by as I was writing this dribble.  I asked him, “What do you think of Kris Kristofferson?”

He said, “You and others have said that he must have some really good weed or something to be included in The Highwaymen and he kind of sounds like it.”

Now, before you go to blowing my phone up.  I didn’t say he was bad.  I know that he played in the iconic movie “Convoy”.  (crappy move that I like, crappy song that I still think is cool) By the way, you can still buy a chrome rubber duck truck hood ornament online.  I know that he played in PROBABLY the best version of “A Star is Born”.  (no, I haven’t seen the new one.)  Kind of like Engvall, he’s good.  The others are better–at singing.

If you do your research, one will quickly find that one doesn’t fit.

Golden Glove Boxer

Rhodes Scholar

Captain in the Army Airborne Rangers

Turned down an offer to teach English Lit at West Point.  RUSM?!  At West Point?!

Golden Globe actor winner

Grammy lifetime achievement award winner

Dang, dude!  Just how does that one fit with the others?  That’s a pretty good resume.

Now for your random crap of the night.  Who sang the song “Convoy”?

NOPE!  Not Kris Kristofferson.

Oh, you say CW McCall.  Sure.  But his real name is Chip Davis.  And his “real” band is Mannheim Steamroller which is played A LOT during this and every holiday season.  In fact, that band is the #64 all time high selling artist(s) in the USA.  Willie is #56 and Johnny Cash is #96, what, wait, really?  Hunh?  Heck, they made a big time movie about him.

Where’s Waylon?  Not in the top 100.  And he might be the best musician/artist of all of them.

Check out that top 100 all time certified music artists in the USA.  I can name a song from every one of the top 55 artists…..except for two.  R. Kelly at #55.  I know who he is but I cannot name a song of his.  I know that he is a POS.  So are several others on the list, but they had good songs.

The other that I cannot name a single song that they perform, however, I can name movies that she played in, but not one song.   #12–Barbara Streisand.  But, she did play in that “Star is Born” movie.

In review, what did we learn here tonight.  Engvall is funny.  But not Foxworthy funny.  Kristofferson has a bad-ass resume.  Convoy is still cool.  Willie is still “high” on the charts.  Cash is good.  Christmas tunes can rake some serious cash.  Waylon is my favorite of all of these.  Hollywood remakes too many movies.  And other than Saturday Night Live, that chick would not be relevant to me.  How does that one fit at #12 all time?

Shut the wind off in NW OK.  Have a good one and yes, by all means crank up some Highwaymen and Mannheim Steamroller this season.  (what were they doing to come up with that name?)

Once upon a time, as a younger ag teacher, I made regular rounds to see all livestock projects on a regular basis.  This wasn’t all bad but I quickly learned that it was better to load the stock and bring to a central location.  Don’t load the scales and haul from place to place.  Break the stock to drive, lead, etc.  Give them a bit of stress loading, unloading and riding in the trailer.  Expose them to new places.  Plus the scales stayed balanced.

Then, I wasn’t an ag teacher but I dealt with lots of stock.  Bring them to me.  I only occasionally stopped in to any given location if I was in the area or there was an emergency.  This also allowed to put showmen in contact with each other.  Peer pressure is a great motivator.  If every other kid can lead and show their stock, junior will typically get their ass in gear.

Now, as an older and wiser owl, I still prescribe to the bring the stock to one location.  But, sometimes, you just need to make the rounds.  Nominations are a good reason to do this.

Which brings us to this evening.  I left school a bit early, bout 3:10ish and headed south.  60 miles later, I made it to this project visit.  I met the dad at the barn, pulled hair and nominated several head of shoats.  Yes, that was 60 miles one way.  120 round trip.  And I only crossed 2 school districts.

No big deal.  Just another example of what parents will do for their kids.  Daughter is in school at Shattuck.  Mom works in Shattuck.  Pigs are getting started at their home barns and will move to ag farm during Christmas.  Nothing wrong here.  Just some miles to drive.  Actually, I get to check projects in 7 different school districts and cross state lines to see some.  It’s all good.  One just has to use some strategery to make efficient stops.

Shout out to a moron or two in the greater Billings, OK area.  They kind of made the news for some dude saving a bald eagle.  Cool deal!

As I am typing this, Tammy is telling me that Kela met some dude today on a tv or movie set named Charles Barkley.

Tammy asked Duke, “Do you know who Charles Barkley is?

Duke replied, “I feel like I should, but no.”

Tammy then told him, “He used to play for the Lakers.”

Me:  “WHAT IN THE, I will bet whatever against that statement.”

Tammy:  “Yes he did.  Didn’t he?”

Me:  “NOOO!   76ers, Suns and kind of the Rockets.  Dang sure was on the Dream Team.”

Have a good one.  Hopefully, an Al Czervik good one.  Nonetheless, here’s to a good one and a better tomorrow.

Bills.  Nobody likes a bill. But, you got to deal with them.  I wish that every bill showed up at the same time.  I don’t like writing bill checks but I would rather get it all done at once and be done for the month.

Electric bill, feed bill, dumpster bill, semen storage bill (goats and cattle, not mine), tire repair bill, cell phone bill, internet bill and the list keeps going.  You all know the routine.

Spent a bit of time helping some kids with some wether goats and wether sheep this weekend.  Then it hit me.  Sasha the corgi got really sick this summer.  She is 11 years old and now has some pancreas problems.  And now I get to pay a bill for her gut pills. As I was trimming hooves, she came running up to eat the trimmings.  That is when I realized that maybe her problems are a direct result of a massive diet change.  Hunh??

I used to trim hooves on 50-80 plus head of show goats every month.  Now, not so much.  And she loves to eat hoof trimmings.

Duke and I were driving home tonight.  AC/DC came on the radio.  “Dirty deeds done dirt cheap”.  Classic tune.  But, I can’t hear it without thinking of the Bob Rivers cover version–“Dirty deeds done with sheep.”  So wrong, but yet so funny.  Little Bo Peep.

Okie State put a whooping on the u of oklahoma today in the original sport–wrestling.  u of o even got a point deducted for unsportsmanlike conduct.  I wish that we could have made it to Stillwater to watch it live.

Decades ago, I had a student tell me that he was going to get a “B” tattooed on each butt cheek.  I asked, “Why?”

His reply, “That way every time I MOON somebody, it spells BOB.”

He now has numerous tattoos but I am afraid to ask the obvious question.  I don’t need to see it.

Bills and bobs.  Bobs and bills.  Some good, some not so good.  Have a good one and a better tomorrow.

Congratulations to the Shattuck Indian football team on winning their 11th state football championship.  All of those wins have came since 1991.  Yes, it is 8 man football, except for that ’91 win.  A win is a win.  And they had to beat a private school from the Tulsa area.  Money doesn’t always buy wins.

This class of senior football boys have won 3 state championships in 4 years.  They lost in over-time in the state championship game as sophomores, or it would have been 4.  By all accounts, nobody liked the refs that game.

This year’s head coach, Troy Bullard, has been a part of all 11 wins.  1 as a player, 8 as a head coach, 2 as an assistant coach.  Plus, he has been the head coach of 4 softball state titles.  Yes, that means that he wears state championship rings on his toes.

People can over-praise athletics.  Too much emphasis can be placed on winning.  Football can take over and be a focal point.  Shattuck, is a football school, but is also a  prime example of how football can propel other activities.

Just a week or so ago, the entire school had a send-off with police escort to lead the Shattuck Indian Big Red bus out of town for the Robotics Team that was headed to Ft. Smith.  Those kids loved it.

The principal is not a Shattuck native. But, he has been a part of quite a few state baseball, softball and basketball state championships.  He is a proven winner.  Thus, the reason he now works in Shattuck.  He was in awe at the first of this year when he realized that every kid can sing the school fight song.  That dates back to the early 80s and has continued with a wicked awesome choir that every kid takes part in until they are in high school.  Football schools allow choirs and bands to show their wares.  And cheerleading.  And, for that matter, FFA.

I did not go to the game.  One, I didn’t want to jinx them.  Two, it is a well documented fact that I like listening to games on radio.  Three, Duke was going.  So, I did chores until after opening kickoff.  It was close for most of the game.  But, the group of small town, low rent Shattuck-ites prevailed.

Cool fact.  There was only one player announced from Shattuck that is not currently in the Shattuck FFA.  But, EVERY kid that had his name called during the game can weld and has sold some Blue & Gold.  And they sound good on the radio.

Huge congratulations to small schools and the community pride that they inspire.  Yes, I like this Shattuck win.  But what about Tonkawa?  They gathered another banner.  And FOLLETT, TEXAS.   Holy Jeeminy, they are headed to the Texas state finals.  The Panthers will be playing in Jerry World next week.  Yes, that Jerry World. Go Panthers!

Raising goats, or any livestock, is a lot like athletics.  You can work hard, game plan properly and try to control karma and luck, yet stuff still doesn’t work like you want or expect.  I get it when people get fired up about their high school or college team.  I feel it.  It’s good.

But, I don’t care where you show some movies, such as the all-time great Christmas Vacation.  If you try to BLEEP a well placed word, people will always still say it out loud.  Example–When Cousin Eddie is in his bath robe, bomber hat, golashas and holding (heck, you all are already saying it) a brew for breakfast while dumping the RV sewage into the storm drain,  it is dang neart impossible to keep from saying ” The ……. is full!”  R U $h!tt!ng me!  We all know that line.  Why bleep it?

Here’s to all those hard reached goals, those that set and worked towards goals and those of us that should have worked harder.

Is it a loss if Al Czervik was right?

Here’s to horseshoes and shamrocks!   Have a good one.

How about this president of yours and mine?  This dude might actually know what he is doing.  China is back to doing business with the US of A.  Long way to go, but no matter which side you are on, this guy is backing up his talk and tweets with actual deeds.

However, I did buy some metal today.  And the price of that commodity has continued to go up.  At least it is American made steel.  Ask a young person why the Pittsburgh Steelers are called the steelers?  Not many know.  They can dang sure tell their record and fantasy #ers.  Of course, most u of o fans don’t know what a sooner actually is.  But, they are in the playoffs.

Speaking of high, I was reading an article about some unique farming.  Some of their land was bringing $70,500 per acre.  Yes, you read that right.  It is a bit high.

Land will not get cheaper.  They aren’t making anymore of it and as we add more and more people, space becomes more valuable.

Very few countries are growing in terms of land mass.  But one is.  The Netherlands.  Twenty percent of their land mass is former sea bottom.   I haven’t been there, but I like studying about Dutch agriculture.  Just my opinion, but these people are ahead of the rest of us when it comes to producing more per acre.

What major city in the United States is gaining actual land mass?  Do you know? Do you know?  Now, whistle the theme song from Jeopardy while thinking of the answer.  The correct answer would be Boston.  What?  One of our oldest cities is gaining ground?  Yep, they build pilings and piers and fill it with landfill.  Pack it and keep moving out to sea.  Slowly.  But about 16% of Boston’s land is built on landfill out into the ocean.  They just keep adding land mass like their pro sports teams keep adding trophies.  Well, at least the Red Sox have recently added a trophy.

Speaking of jinxes, I hate to mention it, for fear of jinxing it.  But, I was not holding my breath on our last AI program (goats not cattle).  I had a # of does that I hoped to get settled and it looks like we are in excess.  I’m a believer in setting goals but not all goals need to be lofty.  Any goal achieved is a step in the right direction.  Even if it costs a part of an acre of Dutch land.

And since we are talking about breeding,  I normally log off here with something about have a good day or horseshoes and shamrocks.  How about we all just hope for Al Czervik’s last line?  Of course, that will probably be a lot like goat breeding–low goals, high expectations.

Have a good one!