"If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it". ~ Ronald Reagan

Well hello there and welcome to today's visit. I hope you and yours are well on this Friday, February 6, 2026. The photo was taken using the desktop camera and that would be yours truly with my little sidekick, the famous, one and only, Lil Miss Biscuit. I zoomed in to cover up the messy office I work in. I'm still waiting on the cleaners to come in. I think they were here, maybe in 2022. Probably on strike or something. You know. Good help is hard to find these days. Here's what my Artificial Intelligence friend has to say about a messy office: "A messy office often signals a, overloaded, or creative mind, but is frequently perceived by others as a sign of low conscientiousness, disorganization, or laziness. While sometimes indicating a person is deeply focused on high-priority projects, it can also lead to increased stress, decreased productivity, and negative professional impressions." The wife of my youth would likely cast her vote for the lazy component, however, I tend to think perhaps the creative mind is a better fit. And, if I could find proof of it in all the papers I have laying here and there, I would share that proof with you. You do know that I'm just kidding. Not about my messy office. That's the truth. I am concerned about it. I actually talk about it quite often, especially how much it needs to be straightened up, however, thus far, it remains a future work endeavor. Typically, I will enlist some assistance as we prepare to prepare to do our tax return. Another project to look forward to. Ugh. We will get very serious about it, I think maybe in early April. We always pay in, so why get in a hurry? Right, Vern? I can identify with this quote from the late great radio and TV host, Arthur Godfrey, "I’m proud to pay taxes in the United States; the only thing is, I could be just as proud for half the money." 

I really can't complain about the taxes I pay. I feel privileged to live in the country God placed me in. I feel blessed, and, yes, I do enjoy the freedoms we have in this land of the free and home of the brave. At the same time, it is part of the psyche of the tax paying public to joke about and make noise about paying taxes. I am not a fan of the state exercising ownership over my home and property after it was paid off many years ago. The people we elect here in the state of Texas all promise to do something about property taxes, however, not much is done. This is where the state gets the money to operate and while there are other methods of collecting, special interests, and, all kinds of political shenanigans always keep any permanent solutions from being enacted. I know. That's a particularly sore spot with me. Maybe it's just an old people deal. Back when taxes were a part of the mortgage payout, well, it didn't bother me as much. Now, as a card carrying senior citizen I get to see how it works, up close and personal. But, there are other fish to fry as they say, and, I'm sure my ongoing issue with property taxation is one that will continue well after I attain that desired status, "absent from the body, present with the Lord." (2nd Corinthians 5:8) And, yes, I am well aware of the Apostle Paul's inspired admonition regarding government taxation: Romans 13:6-7 NIV ~ "This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor." I stand corrected. As always, God has the final say. Amen? Yes. Amen.