"I am slow to learn and slow to forget that which I have learned." ~ Abraham Lincoln.

Good morning blog readers, and, welcome to another day in my neighborhood. It is Tuesday, August 5, 2025, and I do hope all is well with you and yours. The other day when I had Lil Miss Biscuit at the vet's office, they were unable to collect enough fecal matter to do the testing that was a part of her annual check up. Like, really? Too much information as far as I am concerned. But, it gets better. Since they couldn't collect it they handed me a little vial and told me to do the collecting. You're kidding. Right? Okay. We came home and I did the work as assigned. They clearly told me I had 30 days for this testing provision. I waited a couple of days and I carried the little vial back to them. When was this sample collected? I felt like Sergeant Joe Friday had shown up with a version of "Just the facts mam, just the facts." Okay. A couple of days ago. That will not do sir. It must be fresh like in the same day preferably within an hour or two. I explained how the helper girl, (I call her a girl because I can assure you I have socks older than her.), she made it clear I have 30 days to return it. No, no, no, no. The testing is available with the annual physical and it covers this test for 30 days but the sample itself must be fresh. You got it? Fresh, sir. Fresh. My wife must have known something because she said I should take it the day I collected the sample. However, it is a 15 minute drive from my house, 30 minute round trip, therefore, being a card carrying member of the National Association of Procrastinators, I elected to put it off. (That's a joke but it is the reason I put it off.) That brings us to today. I collected a new, FRESH, sample and Lil Miss Biscuit and I hurried it down to the vet's office. It reminded me of that episode of Amos and Andy where Kingfish and Andy have a check and they say they need to get it to the bank before the ink dries. That's how I felt. Oh well, Paw Paw Mac would be so disappointed in the type of collections I am into today. They say you learn something everyday. I would give my version of Abe's quote in the title, "I am slow to learn and very fast in forgetting", period, and that's my story and I am sticking to it.

 

I hear them say we have done exceptionally well this year, thus far, and not having as many 100 degree days. Tell that to our electrical power provider. They excel at keeping up with all things related to counting kilowatts. By mid-afternoon that electronic meter hanging outside on our garage, it can be seen rocking and rolling and it does know how to do the high pitch hum. We still get a paper bill even though we pay it electronically. There's something about tearing it open and hearing the wife say, "Is that he light bill, is there a problem?" (We grew up hearing it called the light bill.) I usually respond, "Do you have any idea how much our bill is this month?" It's our little routine way of dealing with these sorts of reality checks. I'm just messing around here. First and foremost, I thank God we are able to pay it. You don't? That's your choice, I do. I also think about those who struggle in many areas like paying the light bill. When I was a kid I could look forward to some cooler weather even as early as late August or September. Nowadays, after Al Gore got through with our climate we can't enjoy even a cold Christmas anymore. You do know that's a joke so please don't write me, and, just for the record I will not be relocating to Illinois or New York to avoid doing the work I was elected to do, you know, collecting a sample. Y'all have a great rest of the day and may God add His blessings. Amen.