Andrew Escalante

SaaS Implementation Manager/Technical Trainer talking pro wrestling, TV, movies, tech, and music.

[𐡀 @Xyleniqq]

My neighbor, Ed, was ninety one. Lived alone. Had a cat named Mr. Buttons.

Ed died three weeks ago. Heart attack. Quiet. Quick.

I didn't know him well. We'd wave. Small talk about the weather. That's it.

Two days after he died, there's a knock on my door.

It's Ed's daughter. I'd never met her.

Ed's daughter: Hi. I'm Rachel. Ed's daughter.

Me: Oh. I'm so sorry for your loss.

Rachel: Thank you. I'm here about the cat.

Me: The cat?

Rachel: Mr. Buttons. My dad left instructions. He wanted you to take him.

Me: What?

Rachel: He left a note. Said you were the only person on the street who didn't hate the cat.

Me: I don't even know the cat.

Rachel: Apparently you fed him once.

I tried to remember. Then it clicked.

Six months ago, Ed was out of town. He asked if I'd feed Mr. Buttons for two days. I said yes. I fed the cat. That was it.

Me: I fed him one time.

Rachel: Well, he left the cat to you.

Me: I don't want a cat.

Rachel: Neither do I. I'm allergic.

Me: So take him to a shelter.

Rachel: He's eighteen years old. No one's going to adopt him.

Me: That's not my problem.

Rachel: Please. I'll pay for his food. I just need someone to take him.

My wife appeared behind me.

My wife: We'll take him.

Me: What?

My wife: We'll take the cat.

Rachel looked relieved.

Rachel: Really?

My wife: Yes. Bring him over.

Rachel left. I turned to my wife.

Me: We're not cat people.

My wife: Ed left you his cat. We're taking the cat.

Me: I don't want a cat.

My wife: Too bad.

An hour later, Rachel showed up with Mr. Buttons. He's the ugliest cat I've ever seen. One eye. Half a tail. Looks like he lost a fight with a lawnmower.

Rachel: He's very sweet.

She handed me a carrier and left.

I put the carrier in the living room and opened it.

Mr. Buttons walked out, looked at me, and hissed.

Me: Great.

For three days, the cat hid under the couch. Wouldn't eat. Wouldn't come out.

My wife: Maybe he's grieving.

Me: He's a cat.

My wife: Cats grieve.

On day four, I'm sitting on the couch watching TV and Mr. Buttons jumps up next to me.

Just sits there.

I didn't move.

He curled up and fell asleep.

Now he follows me everywhere. Kitchen. Garage. Bathroom.

My wife thinks it's hilarious.

My wife: He loves you.

Me: I don't love him.

My wife: Yes you do.

Last week I took him to the vet. Spent $300 on bloodwork.

The vet said he's in good shape for eighteen.

I told my wife.

My wife: See? He's going to be around for a while.

Me: That's not comforting.

Yesterday I caught myself talking to him.

Me: You want dinner?

Mr. Buttons meowed.

Me: Yeah, me too.

My wife walked in.

My wife: Are you talking to the cat?

Me: No.

She smiled.

I'm a cat person now.

I hate it.

[Andrew Escalante @andexitall]

@TheCinesthetic that cameo in Happy Gilmore 2 want another shot?

[MAGA FOREVER AMEN 🇨🇦 🇺🇸 🇬🇷 @VictoriaSask]

There are athletes who never acknowledge the fans, the kids that want to be just like them when they grow up.

Then there’s Haaland. ❤️

[Gabriele Corno @Gabriele_Corno]

This was tilmed yesterday at the community adoption event in San Diego, California. The dog is Duke, a 10-year-old German Shepherd being showcased for adoption. The veteran is Tech Sergeant James Parker, 39, Air Force, walking through the parking lot heading into the store. Duke served with James in Afghanistan from 2011-2013. When Duke retired from military service two years ago, James couldn't adopt him immediately-rental restrictions. Duke went into the adoption system. James had been searching for months through databases.
Yesterday, James was at the pet store buying supplies. Had no idea there was an adoption event happening. Duke was sitting with volunteers at the outdoor table.
Watch what happened. James walks through the parking lot. Duke's head snaps up. Sees James. Goes completely rigid.
Staring. Then breaks into a full sprint. Rips the leash from the volunteer's hand. Runs straight across the parking lot. Launches into James's chest. Both crash to the ground. Duke frantically checking James's face with his nose. Whining. Tail going insane. James wrapping both arms around Duke. Sobbing. "I've been looking everywhere for you. Everywhere." Volunteer told us: "Duke saw James and just took off. The recognition was instant. l've never seen anything like it." James adopted Duke immediately. Took him home yesterday. Ten years after serving together. Found by complete chance in a parking lot. James told us: "I searched every database for months. Never expected to find him at a random pet store. But Duke found me." Sometimes the reunion you're desperately searching for happens when you're just buying dog food.

[Andrew Escalante @andexitall]

@VCUBatman @newheightshow NEW NEWS!

[Andrew Escalante @andexitall]

@Mr_Husky1 Easily and happily

[Andrew Escalante @andexitall]

@WrestlingNewsCo @FightfulSelect I’m not surprised. He wasn’t one of the chosen ones that WWE bothered to maintain creative for. A fresh start will be good for him

[WWE @WWE]

.@FightOwensFight & @BeckyLynchWWE couldn't wait to congratulate their friend @SamiZayn 🥹

[BossLogic @Bosslogic]

For the new folks. Stop at season 1

[Olivia Charlotte @OliviaChar30912]

Imagine explaining this to a dog sitter 😂

[Andrew Escalante @andexitall]

@TheMekon_Venus @samkohl Why do you think you couldn’t test it? The Apple Store does demos all the time they told them today and they will calibrate it to your prescription.

[Sahil Bloom @SahilBloom]

I’m convinced that the most underrated trait in a romantic partner is that they bring peace into your life. Days are filled with enough chaos and uncertainty. Being able to come home to someone who defaults to emotional consistency, who creates a peace, is massively underrated.

[Andrew Escalante @andexitall]

☝️

[WWE @WWE]

"YOU CAN'T BEAT ME" 👑

The Ruler Oba Femi is now the 2026 King of the Ring!

[Andrew Escalante @andexitall]

☝️

[WWE @WWE]

The emotions are flowing for @samizayn! 🥹

Let it out, champ!

[The Figen @TheFigen_]

The puppy was happily playing at daycare until he realized his family was there to take him home.

[6ɪx✦ @ok6ixx]

So my dad has been ending every phone call with "stay dangerous" instead of "goodbye" for like six months now. We all thought he was just being a weird dad. Turns out he's been mishearing the ending of a podcast he listens to. The host says "stay curious" but my dad is slightly deaf in one ear. He's been going around telling his coworkers, my grandmother, and apparently his DOCTOR to "stay dangerous" this entire time. My mom only found out because his doctor called to check if everything was okay at home. My dad has now decided he likes his version better and refuses to stop. Yesterday he told a nun to stay dangerous.

[Camus @newstart_2024]

Jimmy Carr realized something big after years with his partner and no kids:

“Not having kids is like playing life on easy mode with a cheat code. You think you have skin in the game… but you don’t. Having kids is like your heart living outside your body. The stakes suddenly feel real.”

He says it’s made him more invested in the future, more aware of mortality, but also incredibly joyful.

“Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.” - Elizabeth Stone

[RudeBwoy ™☠️🏴‍☠️ @RudeBwoy_254]

Happy Father's Day

[Andrew Escalante @andexitall]

@WrestleFeatures 😂

[Michael Girdley @girdley]

One of life's great questions for me (as a loser who thinks about things like this) has been why Anthony Bourdain was so beloved, and why nobody else has come close.

I've watched almost every travel/cooking show that tried to recreate his magic. They all annoy me — Somebody Feed Phil, Eugene Levy, Stanley Tucci, Eva Longoria. None of them has what he had.

What made it work?

This video shows the answer in under 3 minutes:

https://t.co/ca4v1Qad2l

Bourdain does two things here that make it compelling.

First, he takes a point of view. From the moment he calls something "old school," you see someone unafraid to be real.

Second, he's vulnerable. He jokes that he's been "so good lately" he deserves a beer.

In today's Hollywood, nobody's willing to be seen as anything but perfect. Everyone's a Girl Boss; no star wants to play a flawed character.

But we connect with the imperfect. That's what Bourdain put on screen, and that's what made him so beloved.

Have a great Friday. RIP Anthony.