With another round of shut downs set to take place across the country, my compound in Montana is looking more enticing every day. I’ll need to come up with a name for our cult, so if y’all have any ideas, please send them my way. In the meanwhile, Imma dish up another episode of the better and the worse that tucked itself into the news cycle.
So let’s get to it . . .
Michael Esmond is the owner and operator of Gulf Breeze Pools and Spas in Pensacola, Florida, and while business has been good, he knows how fortunate he is. This meanest of seasons has not been nearly so kind to many of his friends and neighbors. So Esmond took his good fortune and he paid the past due utility bills- totaling more than $7,600- for 114 families who were about to be disconnected.
The 74 year old experienced his share of trying times in the past, and so he felt it was only right to give what he could in order to help others see their way through.
“I have been down on my luck like people are today, where I had trouble paying bills and raising three daughters,” he said. “The gas company shut the gas off and we didn’t have any heat . . . People can’t afford to pay their bills and put food on the table, so I hope doing my part and paying some bills for these folks takes a little bit of stress off of them around Christmas time,” he said.
In dark times, it’s people like Desmond who shine brightest of all.
Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving says he will make himself available to the press when he damn well feels like it and not a moment before. Seeing as how this is the same dude who insisted the world was flat and LeBron James is simply an okay player, I think he’s doing everyone a great service by not sharing his scary genius. Seriously, if you’re giving a penny for Irving’s thoughts, you’ve drastically overpaid.
If you’re a fan of Fargo, like me (and Joe Pesci), then Brainerd, Minnesota already holds a special place. The city the Coen Brothers once described as “Siberia, with family restaurants,” is back in the news again . . for all the right reasons. It seems the peeps of this county seat have taken the idea of paying it forward to new heights.
What began as a simple act of kindness has warmed the heart of this small town to such a degree, that Jack Frost took a weekend trip to Miami Beach until things cooled down again. I’ll let Dairy Queen manager Tina Jensen provide the what for this what?
So (a customer) pulled up and I said ‘just to let you know the gentleman in front of you paid for your order. If you like, I can pay it forward and you can pay for the order behind you and we can keep this going.’ She’s like ‘really, why would he do that?’ I said ‘we just have it every once in a while where someone will take care of the person behind them and today is your lucky day.’
The customer was duly inspired to pay for the order behind her. And then so forth became so on. And on, and on . . . until the pay it forward chain was finally broken three days, nine hundred vehicles and ten thousand dollars in sales later. Jensen says it’s not the first time her DQ has gotten all caught up in such a beautiful chain as this, and it’s not likely to be the last.
Which means Jack Frost best be taking a week in Aruba the next time.
It feels like I just got done ranting about the low down dirty shame of a college football program LSU has proven to be when this week happened. And with it, a hot new pile of forgettable to sink the former darlings of the sport.
The university announced it was imposing a one year bowl ban on its football team due to violations which included former Tiger Odell Beckham Jr handing out cash on the sidelines after his Alma mater beat Clemson for the national title in January. The other charges include school boosters doing the same as OBJ, albeit not quite so prominently.
Did LSU suddenly find religion? Not hardly. See, when a football factory like LSU penalizes itself, this means the violations we know about are a cupcake sale compared with the shit we do not know. But seeing as how none of the violations pertain to the multiple rapes committed by members of the football team, any right minded individual should be outraged. Too bad the school, and the NCAA for that matter, don’t much care for the safety and well being of women.
And to add further injurious insult to this bread and circuses program, with the team’s record currently at 3-5, they would have been lucky to score an invite to the Marshmallow Fluff Bowl. And any revenue they might lose because of the ban? Some booster not under investigation is sure to write that check.
And the beat goes on.
I’m not going to lie. The Christmas spirit that’s supposed to be running through my veins right about now, well . . it hasn’t shown up just yet. And I know I ain’t alone in this respect, not by a longshot. Which means that Erin Durga is right on time in this, the season of giving, with a story that would take Santa’s breath away.
Things were looking bleak for Patrick Mertens inside a year that has already proven unforgiving for so many. But the sixty four year old custodian at Kimball Elementary School in Minnesota was facing a much different health crisis. Mertens was in need of a kidney, and he was running out of time.
The teachers at Kimball had pitched in with fundraisers to help pay for his dialysis treatments, but mortality was busy rapping knuckle at his door until Erin Durga- a third-grade teacher at Kimball- made certain that 2020 wasn’t going to claim someone else. Once tests confirmed that she was a match, she drove to Mertens home to deliver the news that she would be his donor.
“I felt in my heart, from the very beginning, that this was my thing,” Durga said. “Once I decided that, yes, I’m going to donate to Pat, I felt really good about it, and I was at peace with it throughout the entire thing.”
The operation was a success and both Mertens and Durga were able to return to work in August. He calls her his angel, for being the messenger who delivered him the best gift, like . . ever.
Turns out maybe I don’t need the Christmas spirit after all. Maybe the human spirit will do just fine.
Dude, sometimes, sometimes your list just rips the bandaid off. This time you’ve done it.
First, in light of your opening photo, I’m pretty sure the appropriate title of your Montana cult (I’ve packed my bags, by the way) is the Gal Gadot Fan Club. I mean … I went to see Wonder Woman in the theatre (remember, back in the day, when we had movie theatres), all I could do is look at her. Story, what story?
On to your heroes…
We need a lot more Michael Esmond’s or there is going to be a whole lot of pain in the coming months. And I’m pretty sure that Mitch McConnell is the leading candidate for the Anti-Michael Esmond Award.
Kyrie Irving … I just wrote a post about this. I kind of agree with your quick spin on him, but I think it’s more complicated.
I’ve heard of the pay it forward thing going around. Every once in awhile, when I went to the corner store near my office to get a snack or a soda, I’d pay for the person standing next to me in line. I think it’s time to do that again, the next time I go through the drive-thru.
As for LSU … what kind of idiot is Beckham? To be passing around cash on the sideline. I just can’t even comprehend that.
And Erin Durga … that story threatened to get the waterworks going. It really did.
Well done.
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Wait, Wonder Woman has a story?
Uh, I mean of course it has a story . . .
Because the GOP is still stuck with its head up its ass and Mitch . . he’s the poster boy for how it’s done. Esmond is how things work in the day to day world when people who have the chance to help others, do just that.
Problem is, I don’t think Kyrie deserves the benefit of the doubt any longer. Fool me once, shame on me, fool me a dozen times and nope. Kyrie is Odell is every athlete who wants to be left alone while inviting attention in any way possible.
It’s a great feeling, having been on both sides of the equation.
Beckham is the reason why the Browns are having a great year. He hasn’t been in the lineup . . .
That is some story. The two knew each other for years as his wife worked at the nursery where Durga took her kids.
Gracias King.
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Outstanding, Pilgrim. I think the cult ought to be named Marco’s Merry Montana Band. We could even record music for extra cash. I couldn’t help think about that one person who said after all those 900 gestures of goodwill., “Hell no, I’m not paying shit forward. Gimme my free order.” I love all the good folks here and boo’s and hissed at the asshats. And the beat goes on. I hope you get bitten by a little spirit. Hey, wait a minute. A glass of bourbon should do it. Put on some Christmas tunes, pour three fingers, and watch the snow. It’ll come. 🎄 (You can sub any spirit you want for the bourbon.)
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It has a ring to it. Although if Gal Gadot wants naming rights . . I can’t argue. It wouldn’t be gentlemanly.
Now the cash part, I think me and you can do some business with this!
You know, that’s true. I didn’t think about how it ended but yeah, someone had to end it.
I like the way you think Boss. Always have.
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Thank you, Marc.
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I’m chivalrous like that . . .
As for you, I figure we can solve the world’s problems overlooking a pond at dusk . . with friendly beverages in tow.
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I would like that. I hope a few bass jump while we are sitting there.
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Tell us how you really feel, Boss. 😉
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Music too.
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This was like a sandwich – ok – make it a shit sandwich – the glories of mankind as the bread that feeds humanity – and the filling – well, it is what it is. But this post also got me thinking …. Heroes one day …. Whatever we want to call them another.
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Cincy,
You are a regular William Wordsworth, you know that? But hey, it speaks to what we are, what society is. We can believe it’s all hunky meets dory, but the truth of the matter is . . . the dark side of the moon trespasses across our sunshiny lawns, like . . all the time.
When you said that last part . . . I immediately thought Rudy G!
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the Christmas hasn’t show up here as well 😫 but your stories and heroes cheered me up, some are funny, too :))
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RNB . . . Let’s start a Secret Society of Spirit Riven Creatures Of The Night. Or something like that . . .
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lol why not? ppl will never memorise the name of our society… but hey, lets make this world more difficult place to live in – that’s why we are here for haha
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And that’s the key. We want them to always be guessing. We remain in the shadows . . .
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I love that – “remain in the shadows…” 🤩😬😬
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Shhhhh, 😉
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The Dairy Queen thing….wow. Of course, my first thought is, how does that work money wise? Do you give your credit card info? Because yeah…that’s how I think
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Me too! I have started carrying cash, small amounts like say, fifty bucks in assorted, just in the event. Because for the longest time I went cash-less. So yeah, I WOULD be ready for this now since I trust nothing credit card wise, LOL
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I need to figure out how to do this. It’s hard here, now, because so many order in advance.
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It’s such a different world. I remember when I used to carry so much cash! No idea where those days got to. Well . . I do have an idea.
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None here takes cash anymore. Even the buskers have Venmo accounts on their signs
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I feel very old sometimes.
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Yup. Things like this do it to me
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I know right?
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But John did bring up a good point. How did this end? Was it awkward or more like YAY, we did that!
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Had to be awkward…I mean really….imagine you’re the grinch that ended it
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I think, and this is just me thinking out loud . . that perhaps DQ should have ended the chain after the third day by treating a customer and thanking everyone for the chain.
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Agreed. That would have been nice. They already got so much publicity!
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I think so.
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They usually have several orders in process, so that already know what the next order total is. I’d be the Scrooge at the end of the line, because it seems silly to me. The first person pays for an extra order, the last person gets a free order. Big deal. Now, paying for all those delinquent electric bills? That’s a real deal!! And a kidney? Superhero!!!!
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It’s why I don’t use drive-thru. I don’t like being put on the spot.
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I just pretty much avoid fast food altogether!
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I had a McRib this past week. It was forgettable. And now it’ll be a while before I go back to the trough.
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When I’m in the road, an egg McMuffin is de rigueur. I love them, but it’s a rare treat.
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For me, it’s the McGriddle. Although the one I make at home is far better, in my humble opinion.
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True. And as always bringing me back to reality. But the Dairy Queen thing just amazes me still
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Three days . . . whoa
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B,
Your compound is starting to sound better every day: Marco’s Merry (and/or Motley) Mix of Miscreants, is my submission for name.
Michael Esmond is an amazingly generous soul. This pandemic is really bringing out the heart in those able to share. You said it. What a wonderful light.
Irving is acting all holier than thou, isn’t it? What did he say? “I do not talk to Pawns. My attention is worth more.” My, my, my… we are high and mighty. Shut up.
That pay it forward chain is cray-cray! In a beautiful way, of course. And, like John, I wonder who decided, fuck it, It ends here…And like LA said, just how is it done, anyway? I mean, I’m all for leaving a few bucks for the next one, but it won’t necessarily cover the mega trio, yanno? Dunno that leaving a credit card number is the wisest thing to do, either. Hmmm. Still. Wow.
Hmmm… concerning LSU. Methinks you are right – all ’round.
It is difficult to find that Christmas spirit this year. In an attempt to find it, some have decorated ultra early while others have decided to forego the effort. We each deal, best we can, I say. Respect to both camps. Erin Durga is definitely an angel walking this ragged and broken Earth of ours. You can’t get more generous than to give a piece of your body to save another. Best. Gift. Ever.
Human spirit is what lifts us into appreciating the true Christmas spirit which is not filled with things. Beautiful song to go with this wonderful post.
Q
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Q
On second thought, I say we go with something completely different. My name shouldn’t be stamped on it. We should make it cool sounding though, the way the OK Coral once did it up.
And what’s more, Esmond remembers being in those shoe where he didn’t have the flow to keep things solvent. So his perspective is genuine, and beautiful.
Irving behaved like a pawn when he said nothing during the Communist China boondoggle the NBA found itself in. One of the NBA GM’s had come out in support of the pro-democracy movement and was condemned by players. Why? Because Nike, that’s why. Sad.
I said that DQ should have ended the chain by paying for a customer’s order and then saying thank you to all.
It’s reprehensible that the safety and well being of young women does not come first at many of these schools.
It most certainly is a ragged and broken earth right now, so thank God for the angels such as Erin that walk on the regular and teach us all what the human spirit can accomplish.
Love this song at this time of year.
Gracias Q.
B
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K. I’ll put my thinking cap on. We definitely need to come up with something cool. Without your name,
Yes. But isn’t that how it goes, usually? Once you’ve lived through something and come out the other side, you are better able to have empathy for others. Not all act on that, though so yes, genuinely beautiful.
Very sad. We do give way more importance to what sports “stars” have to say anyway.
That would have been a good idea for DQ to do.
It is. Why the hell is it always a side-note, if anything at all?
Our Earth needs some serious TLC and with inhabitants such as Erin, it is a step in the right directin.
It is a beauty.
My pleasure B.
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I believe so.
No act, just truth. And it’s why his story is just so damned beautiful. He understands, he gets it.
And I have no problem with these guys using their platforms. But hey, when they speak up they have to realize there are two sides to the coin. Expect pushback.
I mean, why not?
I know what you mean.
I think we will find our ways there, eventually.
I dig it.
MUAH!
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Alrighty then.
He does. He’s real.
For sure. And using their platforms for good, is great. Just giving your opinion? I dunno…
There must come a point to bring this to a graceful end. With no one feeling like the bad guy.
Frustrating.
I like to think so!
With good reason. I like Christmas songs that are not all jolly and bright (though they do have their place)
MWAH!
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I think it means more to him, to know that he has a means by which to help others. From first hand knowledge, it means more.
And then you have the guys like OBJ who do everything in their power to attract attention and then cry like children when they get criticized. Grown ass men behaving like children. Someone should gift him diapers.
Seriously. Why shouldn’t DQ be the end of the chain.
It is.
Me too.
I just listened to Bowie and Bing again. A true classic.
MUAH!
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I truly believe that. He’s not doing it for any praise towards himself.
Grown-ass men behaving as children is the perfect way to describe these whiners.
It should.
Ooohh Love Bowie and Bing!
MWAH!
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Beautiful.
So I wonder why these writers don’t just ask guys like OBJ why they draw attention to themselves and then cry when people talk about them? He asked for it, so tough.
Yeahya.
Me too.
MUAH!
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Yes.
Honestly. When will they get nailed for what they are? You don’t want attention? Lay low, FFS. It ain’t that hard. You do? Then hey, know it comes with consequences.
Unh huh!
Course, you do
MWAH!
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And mind you, there are plenty of players out there who get that. But for the ones who cry, I find it funny.
Mmm Hmm!
MUAH!
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Yes, this is true. The crybabies will always exist.
Mmmmmmm!
MWAH!
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And the common sense folk will always ignore the petulant children.
MUAH!
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Yes! As they should! No giving attention to them.it only encourages them to keep acting this way.
MWAH!
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And let’s face it, no one is going to tell Kyrie to cut the shit and grow up because he sounds like an angry high schooler. They SHOULD tell him that, but they won’t.
MUAH
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No, they won’t, They never do, do they?
MWAH!
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I think the press isn’t being smart enough to get creative with Irving.
MUAH!
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Notice how the press has gone from being a respectable institution to one that lacks balls?
MWAH!
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Sad, isn’t it?
MUAH!
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Very.
MWAH! 😘
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MWAH! 😘😘
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MWAH!
😘😘
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More tales to light up a dark afternoon. Grateful for these mate, cheers
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Great ones PM
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The kidney donor — wow. Thanks for the good news, it’s sorely needed.
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So inspiring, I agree.
Thanks man.
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Every once in a while you read stories like yours today and say, “huh, so the world isn’t a bunch of a-holes after all?” Well except for Kyrie. He’s always faithful to his bad little self-important self. Thanks for sharing some holiday goodness in this dumpster fire of a year. We can all use a lot more of the Michael Esmond’s and the good guys in Brainerd, MN in this messed up world. It’s reassuring to know not everyone is plotting to kidnap a governor or threaten a Secretary of State in the Midwest.
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Haha!
No, the world is in better shape than we imagine it is on the day to day.
Michael Esmond what he did and what he does, shows us the strength of perspective. What a story. What a special man.
And there’s no truth to the rumor that Ted Cruz was the one to break the chain on that DQ line. As believable as it is . . .
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Now THAT wouldn’t surprise me one bit!
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Haha!
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Dude the teachers at Kimball Elementary rock. I mean c’mon they’re already trying to educate the future and then they sprinkle tris epic kindness on this man. DUDE. We need more of that and the Dairy Queen action we need more. I heard about that one on the news and was like man people are trying, I mean most of the time I see hate and crime on the news but that Dairy Queen that should have been everywhere. A definite highlight… all these small acts of kindness adding up. Plus the electric bill payoff. DUDE How amazing is that guy? Doing more for people and disaster relief than Reps and Mitch. I wish we had more of these kind folks running the country we’d be in much better shape because these folks knew about empathy. Thanks for the feel-good stories. Keep them coming 🙂 Sunshine and waves 🙂
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Cali,
The teachers, and Erin especially. How special a group of human beings to be there and to do what they did for a man they worked with and knew.
The DQ action is fun, isn’t it? I can imagine the people getting swept up in it, and for a moment in time the year 2020 was something much better than forgettable.
And Esmond, to come from that place, with his perspective. The need to give back, to make someone’s life better. Wow.
Oh I will hermana, I will.
Sunshine and waves
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These were definite pick-me-ups so glad that there are people out there still being kind r doing the right thing because from all the online stuff and tv it didn’t look like it. But you pop out with these stories and it’s a good thing.
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You da best.
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