That game took years off my life.  I didn’t go for good reason(s).  I did however watch it on tv instead of listening to it on the radio as I usually do.  Okie State did not get out-coached.  They did not get screwed by the refs.  I do not like that qb but that dude is a gamer.  He was the difference.  Beaver dam no. 2!!!

I sat here at the house in paradise, watching, hoping, thinking, cussing, believing, going outside to whizz, coming back for more, r u kidding me, kind of, what in the kind of call was that, did that just happen, wow, oh, no.  Like a flat tire–deflated.  But still wearing orange.

I am not anti-ou.  I just don’t like the ou fans.  I am fine with the true ou fans that actually attended ou or have family that attended ou.  It is a stellar university and the OU alumni are fine to deal but I could throat punch all of the fair-weather non-ou students/alumni that are a pain to listen to.

I guess where those of us that are loyal and true differ from those clowns, we have cows and goats to cuss at after a game.  It was funny following Kela, Tammy and I via text during the second half.  By the way, Kela is room-mates and friends with several OU grads.  Entertaining.

I am the oldest of three boys.  Tammy and I had a daughter and then a son.  Roughly ten years apart.  Jacob (Jake) is the middle child.  He and Jodee had a daughter and then a son.  Daniel is the baby.  He and Jessica had a daughter and NOW a son.

I haven’t seen the new addition.  Tammy came home sick today.  Let me tell you something.  If that chick leaves work early, she does NOT feel well.  I am fine but I have been around a bunch of sick kids.  We will wait to see the new addition to the family.

I’m not much of a baby person.  If you hand me one, I won’t drop it.  But I really don’t want to hold it.  And I dang sure won’t change a diaper.  I’ve done it.  I’m done.  My parents and Jake are WAY into babies, weddings and family reunions.  Me….I’m the uncle you call when you need bail money.  Now, Tammy will go to any ball game, buy toys, whatever it takes…she is the fun aunt.  It all works.

Kela, Duke, Jaycee, Jett, Kevlee and now Adam.  I have a feeling that this one may go by his middle name.  Kind of like Duke.   Here’s to proud parents, prouder grandparents and healthy babies.  Regardless of species, it’s always good to get them out, up and going.  Then it is up to a good home and a proper upbringing.  After that, genetics take over. Two of the three are in his favor.  GOD help us all!  Another Kelln male.

How is it, that a doe in heat can be standing at the buck pen gate, tail wagging, wanting in that gate….yet, once you open that gate, she can NOT see the opening and will NOT go through the gate?  Of course, it is dark outside as I am trying to maneuver these rips in with their lovers.  I think that I need to get some night vision goggles for these unpleasant beasts.

I re-heard an old Halloween joke the other day.  I remembered this joke from my childhood.

Little boy with a hairlip goes up to the door, rings the bell and waits.  A woman opens the door.  He says, “Twick or Tweat!”

The woman smiles and says let me look at you.  You’ve got a triangular shaped cap with a skull and crossbones on it.  You have a parrot on your shoulder, a sword at your side, a hook for a hand and a peg leg.  You are a pirate.

She looks around, notices that the boy is by himself.  She then asks, “Mr. Pirate, where are your buccaneers?”

The little boy replied, “Right here on each side of my bucking head!”

Have a good one.

I could provide a long list of downers.  These damn animals called goats continue to provide a litany of downers.  But, I don’t want to be in that bad of mood and talk about these beasts.  So, the downer that I will discuss is a real deal.

I got inside after dark and turned on the tube.  WHAT?!   The Empire Strikes Back is on.  I mean, I’ve only seen it a couple hundred times.  But it is still awesome!  The downer…..happened when I went to get my real-life light saber (no, it doesn’t actually cut—Oh, how I wish—but it makes all the sounds when brandished like Vader uses his.  Yes, it is kind of bad ass.)  But, the batteries were dead and need recharged.  RUSM?!  The ending of the movie was just as I remembered it, but it would have been better with a fully operational light saber.  Some of us have real problems!

Now to the uppers!   I had to go pig shopping this weekend.  This should be a downer but I got to spend the day with a couple of friends driving to and from these sales.  The Greers and I made it to 2 pig sales and then picked up a couple of bucks near I35 and then took delivery of a pigger or two.  Big fun.  Then on Sunday, several crews were here to swap bucks.  Then I headed to another pig sale and then to practice with a group of FFA kids.  All uppers!

As I sat here depressed about my dead light saber, I checked the socially transmitted disease known as Facebook.  Sure enough, there was a nice smart ass student post about National FFA Convention and her award.  She had received the American FFA Degree.  Big upper!

Too often in my travels and discussions with people from across the country, I hear comments about I didn’t do such and such because my ag teacher or because my coach or because…whatever.  Homey don’t play that!  It is up to you.

I look back on my FFA career.  It was really good and I learned a lot.  I learned a lot from my Dad who was not an ag teacher.  But, I learned from others as well.  My main mentor was a retired ag teacher,  Mr. W. E. Bradley.  Then Mr. Hughes had a positive influence on me.  My senior year, I had a rookie ag teacher, Maxie Myers.  He tried to do right.  He became a successful teacher and then moved on to being a lawyer.  Makes sense.  All three of these guys still influence me even though I only see one of them on occasion.

As I look back, there were numerous state proficiency awards that I could have been successful in.  But, I didn’t know about them.  Was that the teachers fault?  No.  Myself nor my parents pushed or looked for any opportunities like that.  I didn’t get the American FFA Degree.  I knew about it but had my mind on other things.  We named that one Kela.  I had a herd of cows, several sows and numerous jobs.  It shouldn’t have been a problem to earn.  But, I didn’t know enough nor really care about it.  My fault…not the teachers.

My point, kids and parents should talk to their teachers and coaches and inquire about the possibilities that are out there.  Almost all teachers will help you but it really helps a teacher to know what it is that you want to do.

I have watched a crew of Georgia FFA members via Facebook.  I know the ag teacher, have met the parents and the kids.  I have witnessed this crew in action as they traveled to livestock judging camps,  hunted show animals and I have had the honor to bow my head in prayer with these kids, their families and ag teacher as these kids led the blessing before supper in an IHOP.  No, they did not end up as national champs, but this crew was in the hunt in the creed speaking contest, agriscience and livestock judging.  Dude, it was an upper watching and hoping for them.  I am proud just to know them.  And it is an upper knowing that their crew, and hundreds just like them are out there across this great land.

Let the media focus on them and their kind instead of the crap that our politics and professional athletes give us.  Now that would truly be an upper.

And at any time that you want to be a downer, call me and I will gladly give you a bunch of reasons that you can take to the bank that there is a lot of good around us.  And it is up to each and every one of us to find the good.  And if you don’t like that, I can tell which direction to shove it ……and that would be UP!

Stupid question time.   Which way is a duck?  Nope.  Ducks fly up.  I know.  Stupid.

Winter has made it to our doorstep.  The wind (which blows all year here) has a different, colder feel to it.  The temps have dropped.  And it is as it should be.  It is getting ready to be November.

Time for blankets on the show goats.  Our rules for blankets.  If you need a hoody–the wethers need a blanket.  If you need a coat–the wethers need 2 blankets.  And if you are bundled up–the wethers need bundled up.

Make sure all of your hoses are unhooked and drained.  I about forgot to unhook a float valve last night.

It’s Friday.  It’s hog buying season.  Fortunately, I don’t have very many to buy.

Have a good one and a better tomorrow.

This is not a point aimed at any one show, animal or person.  This is just a general observation that has came from several years.

There has been a growing trend in the show ring.  Goats are getting fatter.  We are feeding them to be fatter and then spending several days before show day hardening them up.  Either way, winning goats are fatter than they have ever been.  This is just a trend that happens in the stock show world.  It won’t be long and we will start to swing back the other way.

However, a fat goat actually fits right in with all of the other species.  Sheep have been borderline obese for the past couple of years.  It isn’t uncommon to see 180 pound wether lambs that are pulled back to 158 #s.  How, fat pulls.

The key word in the cattle business for several years has been “chubby”.  We’ve put more and more body and guts into these animals.

And hogs, where to begin.   Low protein, high fat diets.  I couldn’t even begin to list all of the fat supplements for pigs.  Fittingly, there is a supplement called Sumo.  Pigs are so massive wide, with extra muscle and fat draped on to their skeleton that they can barely handle it all.

We have built all of these animals to be wide based, wide chested, round ribbed and big assed.  All of these “desirable” traits add up to people feeding them to be fatter to appear wider, etc.  Some of these animals can carry it and look good.  Some not so much.

Appropriately enough, the people feeding these animals are fat as well.  Not everyone.  But Americans as a whole.  We are the fattest country in the world.  So, it is only fitting that we would make our animals fat.  I can tell you that I am the fattest that I have ever been.  I’ve never weighed 200#s but I have gotten closer.  I weigh on the dog scales by the front door of the vet clinic.   199.4 is the heaviest that I have ever been.  For about 20 years, I ranged from 188 to 192.  Maybe it is almost 50 years of age catching up to me. Maybe it is a bad diet, lack of proper exercise and a bad habit or two.

And….cats and dogs in the USofA have a higher rate of obesity that ever before.  It is all relevant.

Have a good day and a better tomorrow.

Last Wednesday, as we were trying to leave for KC, things just didn’t fall into place.  I needed daylight to look at cattle on my way.  I also had to load and deliver several wethers along the way.  Duke had one goat sheared, a 64 pounder.  I said, “Load him and let’s go.”  Basically, we went to KC just to play.  Mission accomplished.

Danny Edwards Blvd. BBQ, 801 Chophouse, Rockstar Burgers, spook houses, our first Uber and lots of cool people.  We had a large time.  Most of the big boys from across the USofA was in Kansas City this past week.  As a result of not really taking a goat, I watched the show with complete objectivity.  And…

And this show was the best that I have ever seen at the Royal.  Top end quality of every class was extremely good.  Watching class 1 was a fore-shadowing of what was to come.  That little class was loaded deep with good ones, probably 10 deep.  There were dang good Texas goats, Okie goats, Yankee goats and plenty of other places brought good goats.  The goats were good, the showmanship was good and the fitting and presentation was good.  It was apparent that Kedrick’s crew came to play.  Those goats looked the part and as a result, they dominated.

Hats off to all the exhibitors, spectators and people that attended the American Royal this year.  We went to play and we had a large time.  Now, back to work.

I’ve got another reason to not like the nfl.  This morning about 2 am, I watched an ESPN 30 for 30.  It was one that had aired a month or so ago but I hadn’t seen it.  It was about the nfl players strike in 1987 and the team of scab players that the washington redskins put together.

These guys were the basis for the movie “The Replacements”.  I like that movie. It’s kind of cheesy and half-ass made but I still like the film and routinely quote lines from it.

Anyways, this group of scab players in ’87 played 3 games together and won all 3 games.  These dudes even beat the actual dallas cowboys whose team had already crossed the picket lines.  We’re talking about a cowboys team that had hall of famers Tony Dorsett and Randy White as well as Too Tall Jones and other big names.  Then the regular redskin players crossed the picket lines and came back to play.  Thus the end for the scabs.  The redskins went on to win the super bowl that year.  The 3 wins with the scab players counted towards the victory totals.  But the scab players didn’t get a super bowl ring.  That’s a bunch of crap.  If they are going to count the wins that those players earned, they should get a ring.  The trainers, towel managers, water boys and office help all get rings; therefore, the players that earned those 3 wins should get a ring as well.  I’m surprised that no lawyer has taken up this cause.  Looks like an easy win to me.

With it being the 30th anniversary, the redskins should bring those dudes back to a game and present them with past-due rings.

Even though most of these players only got to play 3 nfl games, there has been a movie and a tv show made about their experience.   These dudes got to live a short lived dream and their story is still around–30 years later.   Kind of cool.

I’ve always liked Dustin Hoffman’s characters in movies.  Little Big Man–great one.  Tootsie–Who knew that 1982 movie was just a prelude to the cross-dressing, trans-, metro-sexual, whatever the hell we have currently going on in our society .  At least he had a goal and the movie was funny.  Plus, Bill Murray was in that movie.  But, my favorite is probably The Graduate.  That movie was the bomb.  He was lost in life, mom and daughter were both hot, things happen–at least in the movies.  I get it.  Made for a great flick.

Better yet, was the soundtrack to that movie.  It is over-loaded with Simon & Garfunkel.  That ain’t all bad–Heck, they are hall of famers.  Back in ’86 or ’87, I even had a cassette tape of Paul Simon.   Graceland.  I remember the video with Chevy Chase in it–“You can call me Al.”  Good stuff.  I even got my cassette tape briefcase like thing stolen.  They took the Van Halen, George Strait, ZZ Top, AC/DC and Huey Lewis tapes but left that one.   That one and a tape that I stole/borrowed from Dad.  It was a Willie Nelson &  Julio Iglesias tape that had “To all the girls I’ve loved before”.

There are several great songs from The Graduate soundtrack but my fav has always been “The Sound of Silence”.  That song is wicked good.  Especially in a dark vehicle at night on an unlit dirt road.  It is a classic song that has stood the test of time.

I normally don’t like remakes of great songs.  Very few have ever stood up to the original.  A select few have surpassed the OG.  A year or so ago, I heard “The Sound of Silence” on the radio and it was performed by Disturbed.  Dude, I was a bit disturbed by this.  But… but, it was good.  Maybe even real good.  And the video is wicked good.  It only took 50 years to remake this song–disturbingly good.  Baby brother Daniel and I are both expert music critics.  We both like this remake.

Right now, I’m listening to some chick named Adele singing “Rolling in the Deep.”  There ain’t no improving that one.  But, who knows, maybe 50 years from now…….

I’m just waiting, like the rest of us, on the next big hit in the goat industry.  Hogs—it seems like breeds go up and down in quality while the next big thing is coming. Berks are hot right now.  Polands–not so much.  Sheep—they just throw a breed to the side that can’t currently help.  See ya Suffolks.  Cattle—steers–they are all out of MAB or some other cross–shorthorn, herds, blacks, smokes, whatever.  Goats–we’re just all sitting around the campfire waiting on the next great outcross.  Too many breeders have never been told what they were breeding to, or it is a son of, or they were just lied to.  Basically, we just need a buck named Sound of Silence.  Because we are all just at the mercy of what we have been told.  Maybe name one Hoffman.  How about that round trip to get here?  Bet you clowns didn’t see that one coming when you started reading this crap!

Have a good one and a better tomorrow.  Got a little Copperhead Road playing now.  Awesome!! It’s like having a pile of horseshoes and shamrocks.

If you can, look up Mike Rowe’s posts on Facebook.  Yes,  that is the Dirty Jobs guy.  I like following this guy.  He gets it.  His latest post about farmers is good.  Wicked Good!  The U.S. farmer provides the most abundant, safest and healthiest food supply that the world has ever seen and does it on less land and with more restrictions and requirements.  He brings up the point that EVERYTHING on the news affects agriculture.  He is correct.  Hurricane, freeze, foreign trade, wars, immigration, fuel prices and the list keeps going.  We can pay these athletes X amount of dollars, but the day is coming when true agriculturists will be a valued commodity.  It is simple…we all have to eat.

And since I have been looking on the Socially Transmitted Disease known as Facebook, I love the Donnie Baker video about not trusting the media.  That dude ain’t right in the head, but he is right.  Oh, the part about the dude that doesn’t like fake but likes Pamela Anderson….yeah, I laughed.  A lot.

I also saw a post from one of the good Kelln’s about working cattle.  Becky Kelln was helping my middle brother and his two kids work calves.  I love it.  For one, Becky can out work just about anybody.  Two, I love the fact that these Kelln Kids are taking a break from sports to work cattle.  My middle brother Jake was an elite athlete.  If it had a ball, this kid could play it but baseball was the specialty.  How good?  All State.  JUCO and then lots of accolades in sr. college.  The ball just never bounced his way to make it a career.  Oh, his wife might have played college basketball as well.  Yes, these kids are going to be athletes.

When he was being scouted by the majors, a Kansas City Royals scout called me.  This was cool.  He was trying to get the mindset of the family if Jake got drafted.  Dad was working in the former Soviet Union at the time.  We are talking mid-90s at this point and Dad was instrumental in helping the new Russia develop an ag credit program.  So, I got the phone call.  I told that scout that there was no worries signing Jake Kelln.  I said, “Give him a bus ticket or plane ticket to where he needs to report plus a roll of copenhagen and that kid is ready to play ball.”  The scout laughed and said, “You are the second person to tell me that.”  I then had a conversation about why it is harder to sign middle class white kids versus hispanics or even rich white kids.  This scout allowed that the middle class family is more likely to try for more signing bonus money whereas the others don’t care—just play ball.  Jake could have made it but for two problems—the others, as we now know, were juiced.  And then he had an accident that damaged an eye.  Hard to play ball with one good eye.  Although, I think that he still could.

I tell you this because back about 1988, I remember working a load of cattle for C.Q. Kelln, my grandpa, at his place near Higgins, TX.  Dad made Jake help us.  It was a cold day in early April.  Jake did NOT want to be there.  He had his hands buried in his pockets.  Then, Dad made Jake start cutting calves. There was some stern discussions.  Jake was like “give me that knife” and went to cutting calves.  He then wanted to keep that job as he allowed that “his hands were warm”.  And now, that athlete manages a large Co-oP and runs cattle.  It all comes full circle.  We all have to eat.  Of course, this dude, much like the youngest brother and myself have been surrounded by strong work ethic, morals and the opportunities to work towards goals.  Then, we found hot wives that are of similar mind sets.  It is a simple recipe.

And we aren’t the only ones.  If you are reading this stuff, you are too.  I deal with lots of good kids that are backed with work ethic, values, and morals.  As do you.  The media just doesn’t spend time on the positives.  And yes, there are positives.  Lots and lots of them.

Speaking of simple recipes, I had the honor of eating a home-made chicken pot pie on this fine evening.  Tammy is taking a class.  Duke doesn’t cook for others and my mom made me a pot pie. GREAT!  It only took 30 minutes to cook and then 4 hours to cool down enough to eat.  The heat holding properties of a pot pie should be studied by elite scientists.  Unreal!

People, it is all good and tomorrow will be better.  If not, we will wish it would have been. Have a good one.