Her second vet visit in as many days.

Yeah, the little maskless heeler was having conniption fits. She had been here for a follow-up visit for the fang holes her sister left in her cheek and eyelid just yesterday. And everything checked out okay.

So today, as I'm gathering leashes for the daily trek to the post office, youngest son points out her cheek and eye are horribly swollen.

The other cheek and eye.

No injuries I can see, but he's right. Her left eye is just as puffy as the right ever was, and the cheek and jaw badly distorted as well.

So a half hour later, she's having conniption panics in the vets' waiting room. And worse in the examination room.

Vet wasn't too concerned. No sign of injury, and poking and prodding the swollen areas didn't bring any sign of pain at all. He figures it's an allergic reaction. First concern was if she'd been bit by a snake, but she hasn't been out in country for two days. So, that left spider bite or a sting of some bee or wasp.

So, she got yet another shot, and pills for five days. He expects the antihistamine shot alone should do the trick.

Anyway, that's not today's entry. Today's entry is about giving directions.

As I waited to pay our latest heeler bill ($75.50), a man came in and asked the vet's wife and office manager for directions to the Fairgrounds. And she starts asking all of us in the room for the names of each and every street as she gives him the convoluted (but yes, shortest) route to the Fairgrounds. Throwing in lots of lefts and rights through the industrial part of town, the route she herself would drive to the fair.

The man is clearly totally lost before she even gets him to the where the new jail is being built. I politely interrupt.

You want easier directions?

The relief on his face was clear, and his acceptance of my offer almost rude. It takes a male to give directions that a male can follow.

You know the street down the road on the left?

"You mean the Main Drag into Town?

Yep. Just keep going into town on that until you get to the Quik-E-Lube on your right at the top of the hill. Then make a right turn, back down the hill. Fairgrounds are at the bottom of the hill, on your left.

Man expresses his great thanks, and is out the door.

I think now that it is probably a Jiffy Lube, rather than Quik-E-Lube, but I'm still sure he'll recognize it.

Vet's wife is also relieved, and embarrassed that she couldn't give the man directions to a place she knows so well.

I had to explain to her, if it had been a woman asking, her directions would have been perfect.

It just takes a man to give directions that a man can understand.

And we'll say no more about it than that.

Oh, and the little maskless heeler just came into the room. Her swelling is way down already. Expensive little shot, but well worth the peace of mind.