“No patient or staff food to be kept in refrigerator. (please help keep our kitchen clean)” – sign on wall posted next to Coca-Cola dispensing machine.

Where the cost of living is low, one can afford to not worry about whether kitchen visitors can read.

Do we sing the songs that speak our thoughts or our emotions?

Should the labels “thought” and “emotion” represent separate concepts?

What is hidden inside a box labeled as a Douwe Egberts coffee dispensing machine?

What is taedium vitae?

Do you understand the effects of the profit motive on your actions?

You see, I find myself at the usual center of two lines of warriors: the defense budget cutters and the social services budget cutters.

If either side “wins,” I win and lose.

My household budget depends on both.

My investment portfolio will roll with the punches.

Newspapers tell me about a group or groups of people in Libya – “Help us!” they shout over the political maneuverings of the U.S. government of the people, by the people and for the people.

As a simple man, I ask myself who is the maker of the wooden basket full of snacks provided for hospital patient families.

A virtual horn of infinite plenty.

What is the difference between real artificial flavour and the “real taste” of its zero calorie equivalent?

Which is better, “original” or “new and improved,” and which one is better for me?

Just because you can pack more people into an arena doesn’t mean the product is any better, just that the owner(s) and investor(s) are spreading fixed costs across a larger portion of the population.

…where was I?…

…hmm…diverted by Kenny at the Rogersville PO (thanks for the U.S. Civil War and evergreen stamps, btw) for a trip to Eidson to get some Ronald Reagan stamps, purple heart stamps and golden ring stamps, breathing in the view from mountain top twisty roads…

Has Shirley Begley claimed a dog named Bella as a dependent on her 2010 taxes? Rita Richardson won’t say but she did share the story of a Japanese lady who made the origami gift of love hanging in the rural post office.

Was it Brenda who kindly brought the Ingraham clock?

Thanks to Peggy for the delicious boiled custard! I’m spoiled!

Thanks to Joe Price for stopping by.

There is, in conversation, a level of understanding, corresponding to our number of experiences, to which we adjust regularly, willingly or not.