Poems and Thoughts    by Frank Maurer

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Like-mindedness or Absent-mindedness? A few weeks ago I was introduced to a retired, soft spoken, computer programmer--Jon. He further revealed that he was also a 'pragmatic' vegan. Our first meeting was filled with conversation, lasting five-and-one half hours! The second meeting a week later, consumed a wonderful four-and-one half hours. During the latter, Jon declared he was interested in better organizing My hundreds (630 so far) of poems concerning many different subjects. In the meantime, we earnestly discussed the values of a vegetarian diet-- Jon, being the vegan and I, being a declared 'Reverent Omnivore'. Days later I was shopping for food and mainly for a gallon of milk. Jon had shown me four graphs comparing milk with several other 'milks' (almond, oat, etc.). One graph showed the excessive use of fresh water needed to produce a gallon of milk. The second graph demonstrated milk's production requiring excessive land surface. The third graphed the great excess of CO2 and methane produced (from the cows!). The last showed the excess eutrophication or runoff of Ag bodily waste (N being one). All these facts made me deeply ponder just what I was doing, consuming milk. At any rate, I saw at the store half gallons of Oat Milk, so I grabbed two of them. As I remembered, I then pulled out a gallon of my regular milk purchase. Returning home, I unloaded my purchases, carrying them into the house. I suddenly realized I had not brought the milk into the fridge.> I checked and double checked, but could not find the milk! Had I left it at the checkout or in the cart? Being empirical, I perused the grocery receipt-- No milk had been purchased. My absentmindedness might possibly have actually been overwhelmed By Jon's influence, and had hypnotized me with an obedient like-mindedness! At any rate,this week's imbibitions will be mostly oat milk! Frank Maurer 19 September 2025 1000 Hours.