Day one is in the book! I spent the majority of my day in the St. Lawrence community at the job site. It is one of those good news bad news things. Bad news is that the work isn't going to start as scheduled, it may lag one to two weeks behind. Good news is two fold, I will be able to stay home a little longer and residents of St. Lawrence believe that their crops may be better than they thought!

I came back through Roscoe late in the day. We had been in contact on and off during the day trying to coordinate an eighteen wheeler to pick up the supplies coming in today. It is so frustrating. If yesterday was indicative of what is in store for the season, I had better get some valium! After repeated conversations, when I arrived in Roscoe nothing had been done! Finally I got in a truck REF'S Enterprises had sent to use in the equipment move, hooked up a trailer and headed to Abilene. I was then presented with a new dilemma, where to park the big rig and how to get home. I finally decided to drop the trailer at Krl's workplace and to take the truck to the house. I was hoping I could slip in under the radar of the neighborhood. As I turned the final corner I was shocked, it appeared almost everyone in the neighborhood was either working or visiting in their front yards! The next door neighbors were pulling into their driveway as I turned the engine off. They walked over and I explained my situation and asked their indulgence, everything was cool! Thankfully the neighbor on the other side was not outside. She is a problem waiting to happen! Maybe I can be gone before she is out and about.

The work start date reprieve is bitter sweet. I probably need the additional time to get the proper mindset for leaving but every week we move the start back, the end moves back as well. Krl and I are considering moving our Christmas to February. The unfortunate part is that multiple holidays are involved for multiple employees. The General Manager we work with has very little sympathy for his employees or contractors. If we are lucky he will shut down two hours for Thanksgiving and possibly get the day (maybe two) for Christmas, New Years Day is out of the question. I suppose it is the nature of the beast. We will survive. I usually pay a bonus at the end of the season which is tied to job performance, reliability and probably most important, attendance. Of course there is a possibility that most of the above is not relevant. If we have a really good run and weather cooperates we could go full speed right up to Christmas, turn out the lights and everyone go home!

FATHER, I thank YOU for the work opportunity. I know that YOU will get us through it, thank YOU for smoothing the bumps. I ask that YOU direct and guide the decisions I make. Instill in me the patience and tolerance that I need to do this exercise. I continue to ask for a safe and successful season. I ask YOUR healing for Rene', Carol, Michelle, and Aimee. Bless and provide for their needs as well as those of our extended family. Work YOUR plan FATHER!