Our Tree

So we got a bit energetic yesterday...and UP WENT THE TREE!...this year the color of the condo is to be RED...at least, that's the emphasis...I always forget how time consuming this project is...adding time for missing parts...finding them...up goes the Santas, too...and, of course, the decorating of the...tree...sifting thru the myriad of ornaments of all colors...this time, SILVER and RED, only...but, it's all fun and there you go...you see our finished project...if ya'll want a kick, TMZ ran a bit, on all 'the celebs' and their trees...well, some may be on the lines of DWTS stars...but, it's the trees that are interesting, kids...

As I forewarned ya, the new Covid variant is in South Africa...big enough for major concern, and got it's own name...Omicron...we ALL want protection from this and...ah, all of them...why so many in this time of the earth's existence?...why now?...why are these so deadly?...

The collegiate football games of rivalries...so fun and exasperating at the same time...yesterday's UNC and NC State was one like that...the Tar Heels, nursing a 9 point lead with 2 minutes to go...blew it all in less than 1 minute...and lost...in this day and age, coaches get fired for the debacle...

Oregon St at Oregon...the mood...in Eugene at Autzen Stadium,, where it 'never rains'....12:30 kick off...the Vegas boys have held steady at 7 favoring the Ducks...hmmm, I would have thought just the opposite...what do they know, that I don't?...

Ohio St at Michigan...man, the Buckeyes have been playing so well...and the Wolverine HC, Harbaugh, has history of rarely winning the big ones...closer than you think, but Ohio St will prevail...

The rest?...JCC...

Two NBA games of note last eve...first of all, the Golden St Warriors just absolutely TOYED with the Blazers...never a match...GS plays really really hard, kids...and well...the other?...the LaLa Lakers lost to the Sac Kings in triple OT...odd one, as the LeBron blokes have so much more talent...well, veterans...and simply ran outta gas...ha ha...couldn't happen to a better bunch of lads...

The Match...was kind of a let down...as Brooks destroyed DeChamboo...who didn't win one hole...as the contest was only going 12 holes, instead of 18...bummer...oh well, back to the gaming tables for all...

Does anyone bowl anymore?...used to...talking the Horse...the two things I didn't like about it...it was redundant and the ball weighed so much...what I did like?...it was great for a date...and it was fun to be in a league at nite...I bring this up, cuz when I golf...I may say 'I should try bowling'...

Another thing...we have many board games that we haven't played seemingly forever...we are board people...not good mind you...but active participants...FYI...

A negative thing that has been occurring...mass burglaries...of places such as Nordstrom...many people together...overwhelm security and rob the businesses...come in cars and move quickly...testing the police force once again...man, is there more bad guys out there than ever before?...

SDSU upset Boise...man, I tell ya...the D dominates...and the coach switched back to the season beginning starter at QB, and he was dynamic-o-mite!...huge win and the Aztecs are better than YOU think...

We had the Eddie V's leftovers...added some turkey gravy and listen up kids...as good (almost) as the night before...and some cold cranberry sauce...they served theirs as hot...weird...

Think back just a wee bit...and grasp this...not only did trump lose the last Prez election, but he has yet to concede...but so did Ye...did he concede, too?...we live in strange times, my good friends...

Now this...US REP Marjorie Taylor Greene (Georgia) has introduced a bill to the House of Reps...to honor Kyle Rittenhouse with the Congressional Gold Medal...this award is the highest honor given by the House...I kid you not...

To the grocery store we go...the cupboards be bare...the needs are there...we traverse so far...to stock our bar...and our fridge...

Brace Yourself

Man, when you hear those two words...BRACE YOURSELF!...it's never gonna be good...NEVER!!!...so, why am I leading with this?...there is a new Covid Variant coming out of South Africa...feared to be horrific...immediate reactions throughout the WORLD are these...cancelling all flights from there...NOW!...the stock market is plunging...the people of this earth will combat this ASAP...leaders of all countries are reacting...probably while I am writing this, this morning...over reaction?...who knows...stay tuned, as this is the number one story in most of my 23 sources...

Of course, this overshadows Black Friday...the day of deals in the stores...to move merchandise and give the public an early chance for Christmas shopping...I am sure I wrote in years past about this phenomena...where we got up real early, and went to them...the stores...they would open like at 5 or 6 in the am...yup, there were lines of peops ready to pounce...some actually had coffee and donuts...I recall Freddy's did...I also remember when we got there, the loss leaders that I was interested in, were all GONE!...but, the donuts, I did find...

How did your Thanksgiving (Friendsgiving) go?...as you know, we went to Eddie V's...and I will say this...the restaurant was a total first class operation...the turkey was...and I will not jest...in all of my years of eating this bird...this was the most tender and juicy of ALL TIME...the best, Jerry, the best...and we couldn't even come close to finishing off the plate that was served...ah, take home?...you betcha...

Just for your info...at least for the west coast flyers...Alaska Airlines is offering awesome flight fares for their Black Friday deals...you have 'til the 28th to book...seriously, check them out...like under a $100 bucks to Maui...

The Horse has a sore knee, and to be extremely cautious...am not hitting the links today...as I need to be strong for the T next week...all I need, is to wrench it and make it worse...

So...in lieu of that...it may be put up the tree day...I have not talked to Boss Lady about this...yet...and naturally, she makes most of the decisions...

The next two days have some really cool collegiate football rivalries going...today, of interest...SDSU hosts Boise St, well sorta...up in Carson...the home field is to be ready for next season...WSU at the Dawgs...Colorado at Utah...and in pro hoops, PDX is at Golden St...let's see where these two teams are...and mañana...some beauts...Ohio St at Michigan...Georgia at Georgia Tech...Penn St at Mich St...Alabama at Auburn (closer than YOU think)...and of course, Oreg St at Oregon...

I am going to venture away from my normal here...talk some religion...the use of it...in our extreme diversity in this country...we have religious variants, if you will...just had to use that word in a different manner...as the blend of races, the religions, the people...try to coexist...there is this subliminal feeling of a Christmas...in many of the religions...not all, mind you...that is used for commercial success...and for some, for the the birth of Jesus, the Christ child...a celebration...it, like Thanksgiving, has other meanings too...more of the family thing...not sure of the amounts of church goers anymore...but somewhere, in your soul, one must have some feelings...might only be of fear...I am not preaching, just causing us all to take a step back and look...some of my favorite times, were when a church choir was singing...Christmas songs...time to reflect...Covid made the parishioners not to gather...as we try to make some semblance of order in this...as we age, life takes on a different meaning...I think...value our time on earth...more than ever...I thank you all...for reading me...

Peace...

Is the Turkey in the Oven?

Is the turkey in the oven, yet?...famous last words...a full one?...how long does it take, anyhoo?...one of my favorite shows to watch on the pixels, is the cooking ones...did you know, they rarely cook a bird on them?...it's true...of course, that's all I give you...the truth...maybe Emeril did, plugging one of his cooking systems...I dunno...

As you know, our din din is to be over at Eddie V's...with our closest 200 friends...thus, Friendsgiving, for us...and I hope they are cooking enough turkeys to feed the lot of us...seem to recall, a Valentine's romantic dinner at Al Forneo...where they ran out of lots of stuff...the waiter started telling us what they didn't have...I stopped him, and asked 'just tell us what you DO have'...true story...

Why does the name 'turkey' get such a bad rap?...Often referred to as a joke thing...'this is a real turkey'...no bigger turkey than trump...dang, there I go again...stop it Horse...

Serious stuff...the 3 guys in Georgia did get guilty verdicts...on the killing of Ahmaud Arbery...wondering out loud...if there was no phone video of the shooting, that they would have been found guilty?...

LeBron James...it's just a game, dude...he was in the Indy palace...got incensed at 'hecklers' of him...got the two thrown out...then, he hit like 3 3's to seal the win for LaLa...and he danced around like he's the king...wait, he may be...'show some class', if you are...

Yakking about lack of class...Aaron Rodgers...is he or isn't he vaccinated for Covid 19?...then he goes on the tube and shows us his toe, the bad one...lawdy....I will repeat the above phrase, 'show some class'...

Staying in hoops...the new and better version of the PDX Blazers...they do hedge now...thank goodness, Chauncey...but, the O is still out of whack...I do believe, he will figure it out...stay with them, PNW kids...

Turkey day games in the NFL...Bears at Lions at 9:30 (oh my, the turkey game of them all)...Raiders at Cowboys at 1:30...and Bills at Saints at 5:20...there you go, you heathens, your day is set...put them on your daily calendar...hey, for fun, and I do mean it...Ole Miss is at Miss St at 4:30...this will be a beaut...really...

Just went out on the deck...6 am...and there was only one car about...and one Xmas tree lit...and NO people walking about...

Using a red and yellow ball in the fall, is not such a good idea...

Have you started Longmire (Netflix) yet?...

Why is it, that the web net is so slow today?...not only on me Mac, but the iPhone, too...

You bikers out there, what is the best bike rack that you have run across?...

Turkey, if you can find one, is at $2 a lb?...that's what I heard...

This might make you wonder...why or how can a tire shop offer a Black Friday deal?...

Eating the grand meal...the bib is used for the very young ones, and the very old ones...why is it, that the Boss Lady wants me to use the bib?...

Really, it should be called a BIF...an anagram...for 'before it falls'...

Anyhoo, if you are not gonna eat turkey...ah, you vegans, ya''l get a break...but, the rest of you...if you eat steak, you are indeed heathens...

Gobble Gobble...

Black Friday

Red Wednesday, Blue Monday, and Green Saturday?...of all the colors, one could choose for the day after Friendsgiving...Black?...yea, I know...but still?...it is but a recent concoction of descriptive thangs...rumor is, that it started in Philly (like Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) by some cops...who marveled (complained) about the mass amount of vehicular and foot traffic in the city...1961...some say that it started much further back...in 1869, when a couple of investors, Gould and Fisk, caused a market crash...drove up the price of gold...I dunno, kids...some how it has to be tied to when the businesses actually make money, and go into the black...out of the red...whatever...

Your guy trump, doesn't miss a chance to try to steal the spotlight...like duh...actually asked the bloke Rittenhouse...the honor of visiting him at Mar-a Lago...and bellowed out this 'he's really good young guy'...OK then...he has chosen a peculiar way to climb to the ____...well, you know...

Wonder if donny is a bit hot under his white shirt collar?...the commission of the Jan 6 attempted coup is calling more and more and more people, closer to him...hmmm...and the news about the paid up telephones...non-traceable...that is downright interesting...linked to Eric and his wonderful wife...and Mark Meadow...allegedly...that the 'protestors' had to keep in contact with the 3 (and more) named above...while in action...and so it goes...

The Ducks did a nose dive to number 11...after the debacle at Utah...will they find themselves prior to the Beavers coming to Eugene on Saturday?...which brings me back to my old coaching days of hoops...I would have a player, seemingly, every year...that would miss a mandatory practice to go see the 'Civil War' game...ah, whatever it is to be called now...they chose, it, and I sat them in game 1...tough, or ornery, old coot...and it was ALWAYS a starter...well, not game 1...

Watched a full concert of Paul McCartney last eve on YouTube...circa '05 or '06...he was unbelievable...find it and dig it...that good...

The Horse hasn't hit the links in over 2 weeks...and has a T coming up late next week...so, have 3 practice sessions prior to that...egads...let's see if I can remember what I was doing...was it good?...hmmm, I can't recall nuttin...

FORE!...

Livin on Temecula Time

OK, I changed it from Tulsa...but, our time zone is the PC one...finally, and I do mean, finally...am getting used to it getting so dark early...like I need to be in bed by eight...and so it goes...

Did you see the melee in the Pistons/Lakers game the other nite?...caused by LeBron James 'inadvertent' elbow and fist to the jaw of the Detroit player?...Isaiah Stewart, went ballistic...bloodied, and tried to get at James...in retaliation...these are huge human beings, kids...both got suspensions, duh...

I am still amazed at how dominant Tom Terrific (TOM BRADY) is at pro football...40 something, whatever...he throws a perfect pass so often...the latest to copy him?...Justin Herbert...not kidding...anyhoo, the now team that has TT leading it, the Bucs...handled the woeful Giants last nite on MNF...BTW, a far cry of a telecast from Dandy Don, Frank Gifford, and Howard...Cosell...and so it goes...

DWTS...named the former hoopster, Iman Shumpert, as it's winner...nope, didn't watch it...as when they canned Tom Bergeron, for the over the top gal, I gave it up...and don't get me started on the judges...there were those out there, that thought the gal team should have won...hmmm...and so it goes...

Just as unwatchable...in any case...Tucker (rhyme) Carlson, had a televised interview with the freed up Rittenhouse guy...guess on what network?...yea, so, the guy had some blame towards Prez B...there are many people out there in the Horse world, that have found fault in the media...there you go, your side with Tucker (rhyme) has been shown...happy?...

Do you know what a regulator is?...right, me neither...my power window in the Beetle wouldn't work...driver's side...the regulator drives the bloody thing up and down...egads...found the best spot to get it fixed, via Yelp...do you ever use this app?...sure it depends on where ya'll live...anyhoo, $400 later, and it shall be fixed...a bonafide new VW part is 2 months on backorder, and is double that price...and so it goes...

The Arbery trial...closing arguments have taken more than one day...well, after the Wisconsin one, I would say, why not?...gotta tie in all the loose ends...if that is what you call it...

Friendsgiving?...that is what some are calling the new approach to this Thursday...I dig it...are you still having family or now, friends for the day?...well, we shall be dining with our closest 200 friends at Eddie V's...ha ha...

Yesterday's blog post...on where you were, when you heard the news of the JFK assassination...drew many people sharing their timeline...it was highly interesting...a few years back, we hosted a dinner for like 8 or 10, I can't recall exactly...and we all discussed where and when we were, when we heard the news...of the killing...it's like we all could go right back there, in our minds...

Jeff Bezos...his rocket company...Blue Origin...seems to blast off to outer space more than any of the military ones, right?...or Russia's, too...anyhoo, the one and only former Giant, and now GMA dude, Michael Strahan, is going up...ah, Bezos, Mr Amazon...

Nostalgia time...back when the TV had real late night hosts...Don Rickles, Mr Warmth, was hosting the Johnny Carson Show, when JC was on one of his 'night offs'...and unbeknownst to him...out came, in order, and to extreme crowd clapping and near hysteria...Bob Hope...then Bing Crosby...then John Wayne...this is back when there were stars...real stars...magical night...and not planned...well, by the 3 yes, but by the producers, no...

The line on the 'Civl War' game...wait, they can't call it that anymore...or can they?...I dunno...whatever...the Ducks are favored by 7 over the Beavers, so say the Vegas Boys...hmmm...

'Tulsa Time' was a knockout hit for the country crooner, Don Williams...Temecula is the resting spot for one of our favorite getaways...Ponte Vineyards...and resort...lurve it there...

November 22

This day of the month, is etched in my brain PERMANENTLY!...no bigger crisis in my lifetime than on this day, November 22, 1963...the time of life and death...when our President, John F Kennedy was assassinated...actually changed the news coverage by the television...became full time, in lieu of a 15 minute time slot...if you were to ask ANYONE from my generation, they could tell you EXACTLY where they were, what they were doing, and how it immediately affected them...TIME STOOD STILL!...

In due time, I was fortunate enough to visit the site where it occurred...Dallas, Texas...so I could peace meal what I saw on the pixels...by saying fortunate, I mean that I had the chance to figure it all out...as to this day, I don't believe what the government told us as to why, by whom, and the reasoning for not publishing the info they have...

As I have alluded to before...I was in the Texas School Book Depository building where Oswald was...I stepped off the streets where the motorcade was...gandered out the window, albeit one floor off...I stood exactly where Zapruder was when he filmed the shooting...I examined the infamous 'grassy knoll'...all of it...and was so surprised at how small an area that whole site was and is...

Over time, I have read so many books about the assassination...the boatloads of theories...the ones that said that the Warren Commission was right on, too...like so many things, we all have our own thoughts...mine are different than what we were given...

The Rittenhouse trial...back to this...there are those of you out there, that think that the media has tried and convicted the accused...before getting the facts...included in that are people in the government...facts, hmmm...what can and can't be allowed into court...the case is what it is...the jury found him innocent...one more thing...in a case like this, they jurors should have been sequestered, rather than allowed to go home each night...but, it does not solve my concerns about the AR-15 rifles...just enhances it...my fear is that more and more people will get them and now, perhaps, use them...in defense...of?...

Let's mosey on over to collegiate football...as the Ducks tumbled out of the Natty picture, for sure...a bad loss to Utah...but a silly arse headline out of the Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon...'The Ducks didn't show up'...pure hogwash...they were there...and got their strengths of line play...a comeuppance...the Utes were tougher that night...pure and simple...the next Q is how they will rebound and handle the Beavers...at Autzen...we shall see...or be handled...

One more question before I leave Utah...prior to the game, they use the same song and motorcycle entry of the team...who did this first?...them or UO?...just a wondering...

We (the Boss Lady and I) had a monster time over at the Del Mar race track...watching these fantastic animals race...found a new seating system...the only thing, is that during this time of year, the stands are completely blocked from the sun...so, even tho it's like 80*, it's much cooler where one sits...an absolutely way cool thing...the Marine Corps Marching Band performed...'America the Beautiful'...it was chilling...

Back to Wisconsin...egads...as there was a Holiday Parade...and some bloke drove his SUV right thru it...killing at least 5 and injuring countless...early reports were, that he was fleeing from another thing he had done...this has been covered by 90% of my sources...

Hang on to your chair...or hairpiece...or AR-15...whatever...the Ahmaud Arbery trial is in closing arguments...ah hem, do you think that the media has pre-judged this one too?...

Saw the latter part of the Charger/Steeler NFL game last eve...in LaLa...to be sure, there were far more Pittsburgh fans than Charger ones...not even close...this owner Spanos, did his team wrong moving 'em outta SD...imagine playing all road games...oh yea, Duck QB Justin Herbert, was magnifico...and threw a late breaking TD pass for the W...30/41, 382 yds, with 3 td passes...and ran for 90 yds...

Darn it all, I missed the AMA's...American Music Awards...what did I miss?...heard JLo was there...was madonna?...Taylor?...c'mon...

The Futures were up quite nicely this am...a good day, ya think?...

This just released...Tahget is closed on Thanksgiving Day...'they' say permanently for all TDays...

It was 58 years ago this day...that we heard the news...

Simply Stunning

Who'd a thunk that the Utah Utes would dominate the Oregon Ducks the way they did?...last eve in Salt Lake City...a crushing 38-7 win...well, the Vegas boys did...but, they said by 3...did they hit a typo, and actually mean 30?...well, congrats to Utah...their superiority was evident from the get go...their line play was devastating and powerful...of course, the National scene for UO is now over...

Picking up the pieces...pride, too...and host the fast closing Oregon St Beavers...who themselves whupped the Arizona St Sun Devils in Corvallis late last night...they too, were in complete control of that game...I dunno kids, the way the Ducks were, and the way the Bevos were...the fav should be with the OSU lads...collegiate football, is truly a fun and mysterious sport...

Before I leave this, must mention the SDSU Aztecs, who are now 10-1...including a big win over that same Utah team mentioned above...hmmm...33-31...State has Boise left...I asked Snooki if he could imagine the Aztecs beating the Utes, his one word answer?..."No!"...

There was some discussion about the Rittenhouse verdict...questions, or comments, about the issues I raised...as the validity of the jury system for their views, they felt were justified...yes, kids, we all have feelings...you certainly don't have to agree with me, nor I, you...thanks for reading the Horse...whatever the case, I just don't see the use of an AR-15 by a common man, ever...that's just me...

Now, I am gonna ruffle some more feathers out there...the meaning of Thanksgiving has been lost over time...the idea of the Pilgrims and the 'Indians' getting along and sharing a meal...well, c'mon...it used to do with family...gathering at the home of the parents, grandparents, or son or daughter..it probably doesn't happen too often anymore...?...millennials...or, whatever they are called...things have changed...hey, who brought up the turkey thing anyway?...regardless, it is a great meal, football, and well, whatever that's left...a movie?...sounds kinda shallow, huh...

This entry is going to be trump free...ah, dang it, just by saying this, it is not...

Here on the home front...there appears to be a quelling of the bottle falling...not sure what happened...hush is the word...there is one of those 'mandates' that some of you despise...there is to be NO EXTERIOR XMAS LIGHTS' until after Thanksgiving...the day after is OK...achtung!...

So, I'll do some of my very own contradictions...ha ha...the country is expecting record breaking travel this week...planes and cars, er vehicles...they must be going 'home'...appears to be less of that here at the condo...what do you pay for a gallon of petrol?...almost $5 around here for regular...a buck cheaper elsewhere...how about a cup of coffee?...like black?...have you checked the price per lb. on the turkey?...

While on the pricing...as we came back from our RV site...where it is stored...we had to clean it and pick up what we forgot...we decided to stop at a market on the way home...Smart and Final...never been their before...final is right...the pricing was like a Whole Foods...what the heck?...never again...Von's, Ralph's, Sprouts, and Trader Joe's...that's where you get the most consistent foods and prices...so says the Horse...maybe even Tahget...

Well, at least we have time to prepare our deco for the Holidays...we already have a HUGE Santa ready to go...have yet to decide the color of the interior...red?...haven't done that yet...the voting will begin soon...there has been some gerrymandering going on...the key seems to be where Sammi has set up shop the most...and she is the final and deciding vote...

Peace...