Pickleball Anyone?

Stardate 09.10.2026

My new friend, Barry, invited me to join his friends for a friendly game of pickleball at the Gladstone Community Center yesterday.

I knew he was serious when he showed up at the front desk drenched in rain from his motorcycle ride.

This is when you know you're addicted to pickleball. Nothing stops you from playing, not even heavy rain, lightning and thunder.

Good thing the community center has an amazing facility. I learned a new word, natatorium, which is a building or complex with a swimming pool. This place has it all, including multiple swimming pools.

When pickleball was over, I headed to one of the pools and had it all to myself for about an hour.

Pickleball and pool time were just what my body needed after some tough days facing intense heat outdoors during our pre-opening preparations for a new location.

Barry and his friends did not disappoint.

They weren't sure about me when I showed up wearing sunglasses at an indoor facility. I didn't even realize I still had them on until near the end of our time together.

I thanked Barry for all the fun and handed him a copy of Live Long and Prosper. That's when I found out he has a story he would like to share with the world. I will do my best to point him in the right direction.

Then something else unexpected happened.

He asked what story I had written that morning before pickleball.

"I did a restaurant review for a place in Lee's Summit that turned out to be my favorite," I answered.

Then he asked if I could do one for his restaurant and bar in San Diego when I visit in November to watch the pickleball pros.

His place happens to be in my old stomping grounds.

A friendly game of pickleball had opened a door to a story I didn't know existed.

Meanwhile, Pickleball Iowa County back home in Williamsburg is providing weekly updates on the four outdoor pickleball courts under construction at the Williamsburg Rec Center.

Maybe I can get Barry to come visit us when we're open for play.

Hebrews 13:2 says, "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares."

Yesterday, I was the stranger.

Barry and his friends welcomed me onto their court anyway.

Join me here:

Substack

Captain's Addendum

Spock: "Michael, your sunglasses incident appears to have caused less damage than anticipated."

Bones: "And you found a swimming pool after pickleball. I'll call that a successful mission."

Sometimes a new friend shows up drenched from the rain, invites you onto a pickleball court, and opens the door to a story you never expected to tell.

Thank you, Barry, and all of your friends who welcomed a stranger.

May you live long and prosper.

Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant in Lee's Summit Earns Top Honors

Stardate 09.09.2026

If you happen to be living in Kansas City or passing through, Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant in Lee’s Summit is a must, especially if you’re a wine lover like me.

Two things stood out when I walked through the door.

Number one was the wine bar at the entrance.

I thought I died and went to Heaven.

It is wide open, with staff located at every nook and cranny. The wine is made by these folks, and I had the opportunity to sample the house cabernet alongside a more expensive option. My taste buds found the two surprisingly similar.

They may have been a little less demanding after I had spent most of the day outside with the heat index reaching 107º before I punched out and headed to my five-star dinner.

Then something happened that told me I wasn't simply walking into another restaurant.

The greeter remembered me from a visit the previous week. I had tapped out that night when I saw the large crowds and decided to try again another time.

The bar was completely packed, and the wine bar at the entrance was standing room only when I decided to leave and try again on a different day.

Nick took care of me and spent some time going over the menu. He also shared some of the restaurant's history and told me about something the locals love: the wine club.

The club offers countless ways to save money on future visits.

I declined.

I'm only here for a brief moment in time.

Then came dinner.

I ordered an 8-ounce filet with steak butter, crispy onion rings, grilled broccoli, and oven-roasted vegetables.

The chef got this one just right.

Five stars.

I asked Nick to please send the manager on duty to my table because I wanted to share my appreciation for this gem of a place.

There is one thing I would emphasize if you decide to visit: make a reservation.

Based on my experience, I would plan ahead. Two weeks out would give you a much better chance of getting the table you want.

There are plenty of restaurants in the world. Every once in a while, you walk into one where the food, the people, and the experience come together.

Last night was one of those nights.

Scripture gives us a simple invitation:

“Taste and see that the LORD is good.” — Psalm 34:8

Last night, I tasted a wonderful meal and experienced some wonderful hospitality.

I'm grateful for both.

Join me here:

https://substack.com/@michaelmulliganlivelong

Captain's Addendum

Bones: “Michael, I have to admit it. That filet sounds pretty good.”

Spock: “Indeed, Doctor. The Captain appears to have made a logical decision.”

Bones: “Logical? He ordered steak, onion rings and vegetables.”

Spock: “Precisely. A remarkably balanced mission.”

Sometimes the best moments during a journey arrive when we simply allow ourselves to enjoy where we are.

Five stars for the meal.

Five stars for the people.

And gratitude for another good day on the journey.

A Light Bulb Moment

Stardate 09.08.2026

Creativity is the fuel that fires up my brain every morning before dawn.

I wake up without an alarm, pray, meditate, and then work on my daily stories. Over time, the way I deliver those stories has been evolving as technology improves.

Yesterday, on my day off, I experienced a light-bulb moment.

The spark came from two directions.

Colleagues have been asking me to read excerpts from my blog. New visitors to Substack are beginning to leave comments, click the like button, and become subscribers.

The greatest gift you can give a writer is to acknowledge the contribution.

I've been contributing to my daily blog since late August 2009. My first story on Substack was published at the beginning of this year. Today, 23 people are subscribers.

I'm overjoyed that people want to connect.

There's something else happening when I read those stories aloud. I enjoy imitating the voices of my childhood heroes, especially Spock and Bones. For a few moments, I'm reliving a time in my life filled with wonder.

Those childhood memories are now becoming part of the way I connect with people today.

That led me to another thought.

I grew up watching Captain Kirk and his crew explore strange new worlds with the ship's computer always available to help them navigate unfamiliar territory.

Now I'm doing something remarkably similar in cyberspace.

Alberta has become part of my storytelling process. I can explore ideas, ask questions, refine my writing, and discover possibilities that weren't visible to me before.

I'm beginning to see a new possibility for the 6,200-plus stories sitting in my archive.

I want to find a way for readers to navigate that archive using modern technology. Imagine being able to enter my collection of stories and discover one that might help you navigate whatever you're experiencing in your own life.

I don't know what that will look like yet.

It's a work in progress.

It's a labor of love.

Isaiah 43:19 reminds me, “See, I am doing a new thing!”

Maybe that's what yesterday's light-bulb moment was about.

Seeing something new.

Join me here:

https://substack.com/@michaelmulliganlivelong

Thank you for reading. Thank you for commenting. Thank you for asking me to share a story.

Every bit of encouragement helps me keep going.

Captain's Addendum

Spock: Michael, your archive now contains more than 6,200 stories. Perhaps we should improve the navigation system.

Bones: Spock, he's already got a computer helping him. Give the man a minute.

Spock: I believe that is precisely what I am suggesting, Doctor.

Yesterday reminded me why I love doing this.

I'm still that kid who finds wonder in exploring strange new worlds. The difference is that now I get to invite other people along for the journey.

Little Gifts

 Stardate 09.07.2026

The clouds were beginning to move in as we stood next to the lake, waiting for new members to stop by.

It was a quiet day.

With little activity around us, my new teammates and I found ourselves studying the cloud formations. We watched them change as they moved across the sky and talked about what we were seeing.

The heat index eventually reached 106º. Finding shade beneath the trees became a welcome part of the day. Some of those trees were already beginning to turn toward autumn.

There was something peaceful about watching the sky.

My new teammates have also become part of my story in an unexpected way. During our breaks, both asked me to read excerpts from some of my blog stories. I pulled up a few and read them aloud while we sheltered beneath the trees.

I didn't expect that when I came to work this assignment.

Then another little gift appeared in my inbox.

A new subscriber joined me on Substack.

Every new reader means something to me. I write these stories each morning without knowing who will eventually read them. Someone choosing to come along for the journey gives me another reason to be thankful.

By the time I finished work, I was ready for dinner.

I had discovered a restaurant near the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception called IL Lazzarone. Lucy and Abby took great care of me, making sure my water stayed topped off while I enjoyed a mushroom pizza.

I had discovered another little piece of the city.

Later that evening, I made my way to the cathedral for late-night Mass.

The storm that had been building throughout the day arrived almost exactly as Mass began.

I was already inside.

After Mass, I headed back toward the hotel. Lightning surrounded me as I drove through the night, illuminating the sky in every direction.

Earlier, we had stood beside the lake watching those clouds form.

Now I was driving beneath them.

I thought about how quietly the day had unfolded. There had been plenty of time to notice things. Clouds moving across the sky. Conversations beneath the trees. New teammates asking to hear my stories. A new subscriber. A mushroom pizza. Two people making sure I had enough water. Mass at the cathedral.

Then the storm.

Psalm 90:17 says, “May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands.”

Maybe some days give us their gifts loudly.

This one whispered.

I just needed to slow down enough to notice.

Join me here:

https://substack.com/@michaelmulliganlivelong

Captain's Addendum

“Michael, you spent the day watching clouds and ended it driving through lightning,” Bones said.

Spock raised an eyebrow. “An accurate observation, Doctor.”

“I'm beginning to think the Captain attracts weather.”

“Or perhaps he simply pays attention.”

I think Spock may have the better explanation.

There are days when grace arrives in ways that demand our attention. There are other days when it appears quietly in the ordinary moments we might easily overlook.

Yesterday was a quiet day.

And it was full of gifts.

Refining in the Fire

Stardate 09.06.2026

I earned my first three-night sleep badge this morning.

Sleep has become an important part of my daily journey. I pay attention to what helps me sleep well, and seeing three consecutive nights of hitting my targets feels good. The little badges on my phone are becoming reminders that small changes can produce measurable results.

Yesterday put all of that to the test.

The heat index reached 106º, making it the toughest day we've experienced so far. Our team rotated every 15 minutes so everyone could get out of the elements. By noon, the tents located away from our temporary office were shut down.

Those rotations helped all of us make it through the hottest day so far.

They also gave us an opportunity to learn more about one another.

Some of my new teammates discovered I'm a writer. They asked me to read some of my newest stories while we were working outside.

I read them the story about the alpacas. I also shared yesterday's sleep report.

Then they discovered another part of my personality.

They enjoyed my impressions of Spock and Bones.

I never expected to be reading stories and doing Star Trek impressions while standing outside in 106º heat. Somehow, it seemed perfectly natural once it happened.

My new teammates are now following my stories.

That's pretty special to me.

They have become part of a journey that started long before we met and will continue long after this assignment is finished. They'll see where the next story takes me, wherever I happen to be.

Yesterday also gave our new team something to shoot for.

One of the senior managers talked with us about the possibility of breaking a record for quality sign-ups. Now we have a goal in front of us as opening day gets closer.

There is something powerful about having a common goal.

We worked together through extreme heat. We rotated to take care of one another. We talked about a record we might break. We discovered stories, sleep reports, and a little Star Trek along the way.

That's how a team begins to take shape.

By the end of the day, I was ready for my reward.

I told the team I was headed to Texas Roadhouse, a family favorite back home. Saturday nights are always busy, so I've developed my own strategy. I sit at the bar.

I have my favorite spot, too.

It's the corner seat because it gives me a little more room for my food. It reminds me of Norm from Cheers, who always seemed to have his own place at the bar.

The bartenders already know me by name, even though I haven't been there that many times.

After a day like yesterday, that corner seat and a delicious steak were exactly what I needed.

I'm grateful for the people God puts in my path.

Some may only be part of my life for a season. Some may follow along for years. I don't always know where a connection will lead when it begins.

Yesterday, a group of new teammates became readers.

That was a pretty good ending to a very hot day.

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.” — Ecclesiastes 4:9

Join me here:

https://substack.com/@michaelmulliganlivelong

Captain's Addendum

Spock: “Michael, your ability to entertain the crew under extreme environmental conditions is fascinating.”

Bones: “For once, Spock, I agree. Although I still think the steak was the smarter decision.”

There are days when team building happens in a conference room. Yesterday, it happened outside in 106º heat, fifteen minutes at a time.

I'm thankful I got to be part of it. 

Maybe I'm Onto Something

Stardate 09.05.2026

Something unexpected showed up on my phone this morning when I checked my sleep report.

An 86.

Samsung Health placed me in the excellent range.

That surprised me.

I'm away from home. A heat wave is pushing temperatures into the 100º range, and I'm spending a lot of time outdoors. My to-do list is massive. My surroundings are different from what I'm accustomed to.

I would have expected those circumstances to affect my sleep.

Apparently, they haven't.

For me, feedback like a nightly sleep report helps me understand how I can keep improving, especially when I'm living outside my comfort zone.

I've been thinking about what's happening in my life right now, and one word keeps coming to mind:

Consistency.

I've established a few habits that help me prepare for sleep each night.

I keep a consistent bedtime. I don't watch television. I follow a steady eating routine. I have a preparation routine before going to bed that includes laying out my clothes for the next day and setting out my supplements.

I also continue my daily prayers and meditation.

These habits travel with me.

I'm not sleeping in my own bed. I'm dealing with extreme heat. My days are full, and my surroundings have changed.

My routines remain part of my daily rhythm.

Maybe that's one of the lessons I'm learning as I continue this journey.

The habits we establish can become part of us. They can come along when life takes us somewhere unfamiliar.

Psalm 90:17 says:

“May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands.”

I like that word.

Establish.

There is something encouraging about doing the small things repeatedly and then seeing an unexpected glimpse of what those efforts may be producing.

Sometimes the evidence shows up on a phone screen at 4:24 in the morning.

86.

Excellent.

Maybe I'm onto something.

Join me here:

https://substack.com/@michaelmulliganlivelong

Captain's Addendum

Spock: “Michael, the data suggests your sleep habits are functioning effectively under variable environmental conditions.”

Bones: “Spock, he's looking at a sleep score at 4:24 in the morning. Let the man enjoy his 86.”

Spock: “I believe that is precisely what I am recommending, Doctor.”

I smiled when I read that number.

Maybe the best evidence of progress isn't always dramatic. Sometimes it is simply noticing that something you've been working on is beginning to work.

And then you get to keep going. 

An Unforgettable Day with 70+ Alpacas at YaYa’s Alpaca Farm

 Stardate 09.04.2026

Sometimes an adventure begins with someone else's dream.

Her name is Katie.

Katie is a newly hired colleague I met while working in Wisconsin. She has a dream of someday owning her own alpaca farm.

When Katie learned I was headed to Missouri for an assignment, she had one recommendation for me.

“You have to visit YaYa’s Alpaca Farm.”

So I did.

Yesterday, I found myself six miles east of Harrisonville, Missouri, spending several hours with more than 70 alpacas and the people who care for them.

I had no idea what I was about to discover.

The owners are Karl and Kathy, affectionately known as the YaYas. They offer tours that last approximately 90 minutes to two hours. A tour must be booked if you want to interact with and feed the alpacas.

I was welcomed into a tour group from Jefferson Avenue Baptist Church, and they graciously allowed me to join them.

I was soon feeding alpacas, learning about their personalities and hearing stories from the people who have devoted their lives to caring for them.

Karl also shared his story.

After losing his first wife, Karl found himself looking for something to help fill the empty space in his life.

He decided to get an alpaca.

Then he learned something important.

Alpacas don't do well alone.

So Karl got two.

Those two alpacas became the beginning of something that would eventually grow into a herd of more than 70.

Along the way, Karl met Kathy. Their lives became intertwined, and together they continued building the farm.

Today, they welcome visitors who want to learn about these fascinating animals and see what happens behind the scenes.

And there is plenty to learn.

Someone Left the Gate Open

There was also a little unexpected excitement in the story.

Someone left a gate open.

The males and females found each other.

Let's just say they made good use of the opportunity.

Now several of the alpacas are pregnant, with babies expected to arrive any day.

I happened to visit at a pretty interesting time.

There may soon be quite a few new faces running around the farm.

Meeting Kathy

Near the end of the tour, I asked Kathy if I could interview her.

I wanted to help others discover the good work she and Karl are doing.

She graciously agreed.

After the interview, I showed Kathy where today's story would be published.

That's when we discovered another connection.

Kathy is a Star Trek fan.

So am I.

That discovery brought a smile to both of us.

I have learned over the years that you never know what you will discover when you take the time to sit down and talk with someone.

Seeing the Work Behind the Products

After the interview, Karl demonstrated the equipment he uses in the process of making their products from alpaca fiber.

Two women from our tour were invited to participate.

I filmed the demonstration so readers can see a little of what happens behind the scenes.

Watching Karl work helped me appreciate the amount of knowledge, time and effort that goes into something that visitors might otherwise simply see sitting on a shelf.

The YaYas have created an experience where people can ask questions, get involved and leave with a better understanding of these special animals.

Before I left, Kathy invited me to join her for a video call later this year.

I gladly accepted.

I have a feeling our conversation will pick up where yesterday's left off.

There may even be some new alpacas to meet by then.

Thank You, Katie

Katie, thank you for sending me to YaYa's.

You have a dream of someday owning your own alpaca farm.

Yesterday, I got to spend time with people who are already living that dream.

I learned about alpacas.

I learned about Karl's journey.

I met Kathy.

I discovered another Star Trek fan.

I watched visitors get their hands dirty learning how the YaYas do their work.

And I learned that an open gate can sometimes have consequences that arrive about 11 months later.

That last part made me laugh.

The deeper part of the story stayed with me.

Karl experienced loss. Two alpacas eventually became the beginning of a new chapter. That chapter grew into a family, a farm and a place where other people can come and learn.

There is something encouraging about watching a small beginning grow.

It reminded me of something Jesus said:

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.”
— Luke 16:10

We don't always know where a small step will lead.

Katie's recommendation led me to YaYa's.

Karl's decision to bring home two alpacas eventually led to more than 70.

Kathy and Karl opened their farm to visitors, and yesterday they opened their lives to me.

I'm grateful they did.

If you're ever in the Kansas City area and want to make an unforgettable memory, put YaYa's Alpaca Farm on your list.

Book a tour.

Feed an alpaca.

Ask some questions.

Listen to Karl and Kathy.

And keep an eye on the gates.

You never know what might happen next.

Join me here:

https://substack.com/@michaelmulliganlivelong

Captain's Addendum

Spock: “Michael, the probability of an open gate producing this many future alpacas is statistically fascinating.”

Bones: “Spock, sometimes a gate is just a gate. And sometimes somebody needs to remember to close it.”

Spock: “An astute observation, Doctor.”

I smiled at that thought this morning.

We make our plans. We take the next step. We try to do our best with whatever is placed in front of us.

And then life happens.

Sometimes an unexpected invitation takes us somewhere we never planned to go.

Sometimes a small beginning grows into something much bigger.

I'm thankful for yesterday's unexpected adventure.

I'm thankful for Katie's recommendation.

And I'm thankful for Karl and Kathy opening their gate to me.

One day at a time.

One percent better.

Live Long and Prosper. 🖖

Editors note: videos from my visit posted soon.