Septage is on the table

Brendan Cahoon commented on the “Is there an echo in here?” entry, that Robert Skoglund, the Humble Farmer, is a wicked good practitioner of the art of Maine humor. I’ve heard him on radio a couple times passing Maine, just long enough to say: “Who the heck is that? He’s funny.” Brendan alerted me to the Humble’s on-line newsletter “Whine and Snivel” and I checked out his lively and humorous web site thehumblefarmer.com. Brendan wondered if I knew Humble in person, but I don’t. Wish I did. He’s a hoot and a half.

I notice that like me he takes pictures of his audiences. He’s posted one called “Captivating” in which people are asleep at their tables. That’s what we call self-deprecating humor. Reminded me of how my story about Fred Courser and the fellas from DES went over with the Model-T Club – that is, like a lead balloon. Yake a look at them, they're stunned, except for the one guy on the left who got a kick out of it:

OK, here’s the story, but don’t read on unless you can stand some spicy language, so to speak.

In Sutton, or it might have been South Sutton, two fellas from the DES, that’s Department of Environmental Services, did a demonstration of a new septage filtration system, top of the line. “When the septage goes through the first filter,” said the official, “it’ll look like this.” And he held up a water glass full of brown liquid. “When it goes through the second filter, it’ll look like this.” And he held up a glass filled with tan liquid. “When it goes through the third filter, it’ll look like this.” He held up a glass of clear looking liquid, handed it to his partner who drank it with relish. “Any questions?”

Fred raised his hand. “Yes, sir,” he said. “I have a question. How many filters does it take to turn a turd into a cookie?”

Did I mention that my new favorite word is septage? I’ve been invited to speak at a convention of the Septage Haulers of New England. Until they called, I didn’t even know septage was a word. It’s a grand word. Evocative.

Anybody have some favorite words to share? Or septage stories? Bring ‘em on.

Comments

[oldeman]

Guess the words I find most interesting come from the language spoken by most NH selectmen, and only them Namely--"-We will take it under advisement" which in common citizens talk means you will get a reply when hell freezes over.

[rebecca Rule]

You are correct. I'd forgotten that one, but I'm sure I'll hear it used a good many times at School District Meeting.
Thanks, Oldeman.
Becky