"I've read the last page of the Bible. It's all going to turn out all right." ~ Billy Graham

Good morning and welcome to Monday, October 27, 2025. If you have wondered, and I know many of you have not because you don't really give a flip, but, for the one or two who have, the photo shows how I do my blogs. I am typically in the upstairs office and Lil Miss Biscuit sits in the chair with me and she is both my companion and at times, my inspiration. She is very patient as she waits for me to finish slinging words onto the electronic page. I do have an update. My doctor did get back to me about the new heart anomaly seen on the scan, and he said it might be impacted by my blood pressure, therefore, I should pay attention to my blood pressure. I was on a time release dosage blood pressure medication but my kidney specialist thought it was too much as it does directly impact kidney function. Might be, but, not to worry since he said nothing looked acute. I think the different meanings of that word acute from a medical perspective in this situation, would be severe. Nothing acute. Therefore, I will interpret it as being nothing severe at this time because the reading comes down to 'might be'. That's how we roll in today's medical test driven world. Pay attention to your blood pressure. I checked it this morning before I took my medication and it was 136/79. I'm no doctor but using his words, it might be nothing too serious. My weight is creeping back up. It is. They weigh you every time you visit any doctor. I think maybe 'I might be' wearing some really heavy clothing these days. And, these boots really add some extra to the mix. And, oh yeah, the cell phone. Mine is a large Android, therefore, it surely makes a difference. It might. Google Artificial Intelligence, AI, informs me how the average to adjust for a weigh in is 2 to five pounds. There you have it folks, I choose to subtract 5 pounds from my weigh in number. See how easy it is to get accurate facts when you are really motivated to seek it out. You can thank me later. Subtract 5 pounds and I am still over my target. That might be okay because who knows? I might be carrying some extra fluid these days. Again, that same Google AI reports how our bodies are made up of 50% to 70% fluids. That last weigh in, I was feeling rather fluid-y, therefore, I need to make another adjustment. You will not be surprised to know that I am approaching the margin of my plus or minus target. (I just made that up.) My final comment is how all animals need to put on weight for the winter and I can report my current Santa uniform is already trending towards being too big for me. What I can't explain is why my doctor always shrugs his shoulders whenever I share with him some of my research. Maybe he never understood the meaning of how we all can learn something new everyday.

 

One of the great things about our Santa program has to do with the folks we work with. We have been blessed overwhelmingly with wonderful experiences during our fifteen years of living out this fascinating adventure. However, I must report it has not been 100%. Nearly, but not every experience. One time we worked with a professional photographer in a major venue who thought she had descended from Leonardo da Vinci. She saw me as nothing more than a prop which led to me being turned every way but loose. The people waiting to have her take their photos picked up on it right away. You could hear the laughing and whispering in the line. It had some funny moments but most of it was not funny at all. That was a rare, very rare exception. I read many of the Santa sharing of their experiences and I can tell one and all: We have been blessed. And, as always, the children, the families, that's truly what it's all about. Y'all have a great rest of the day and may our Great God add His blessings. Amen. 

 

PS The wife, my proofreader at large, thinks I write too much about my experiences in dealing with my health, my doctors, and, related matters. When I think about it, at my age, it does occupy a significant part of my time. I'm certainly not bragging about needing so much medical attention, however, as we have often heard, it comes down to this: It is what it is, and, please feel free to skip any and all of what you receive from me. In fact, I suppose in that regard I am a fairly effective skipper myself.