My soul is hurting today. I don't know why. It is just one of those deep down hollow aching feelings. I need some healing!

Krl went to the laundromat yesterday shortly after noon. I went by once to check on the hound boys and girls but barely stuck my head in the trailer. Late in the day Krl returned from town and summoned me to the trailer. She advised me that she thought we had a leak. Under the lower cabinets it was wet. I put towels down to soak up the water and to hopefully allow me to track down this leak. As of my going to bed, the leaky culprit had not come forward.

When I awoke this morning I tackled the new leak with (yes) a new vigor! The water heater is located under the kitchen sink and it appears that it is the problem. I removed some partitions and got everything good and dry and made a dash for Odessa to see if I could find a "bolt in replacement". I don't want to engineer something that would work "in a pinch". I want to put it back just like it was created! Eventually I returned to St. Lawrence, my tail between my legs, disappointed and dejected! After exhausting all sources in the Basin, I had struck out! Thankfully I had contacted Rian via his pager (we have an urgency code and I almost put the full court press on) and he started looking for a heater up there. On his last call he located the elusive water conditioner receptacle and in short time it will be in custody and on the way to the oil mill and ultimately to me! Thank YOU LORD! Now my next priority is to determine a proper course of action for the parquay floor in the kitchen. I would have loved to have stepped on the parquay this morning and heard it respond by saying "butter", but all it could muster was "squish"!

FATHER, I am sorry but I am going to have to ride on YOUR shirt-tail again today! I need YOU. YOUR strength, YOUR wisdom, YOUR guidance. I need YOU to energize me. FATHER I continue to pray for healing for those who are near and dear to me. I pray for all those who are in need. For YOUR love I am thankful, for YOUR faithfulness to me I hope to be eternally grateful!

My Monday is actually beginning with left over weekend chores. (How appropriate that everything after holidays have leftovers!). I finally got enough truckers back that Krl and I bailed and went to Midland. I had been promising for two days we would make the trek and I was running out of day possibilities. We were really very wise and didn't over do it. We enjoyed a meal and made two stops for supplies unavailable at our work compound. Today Krl is going to the bank and then to the laundromat. Our new trailer is equipped with a washer and dryer but since it only holds four pair of jeans in a load it would be very unfair to begin with laundry so far behind.

We are returning to our twenty-four/seven schedule today. I am hopeful that Felipe's crew can keep the cotton coming at enough volume to satiate these two plants. It is a catch twenty-two. Once we go back around the clock their is no grace period to catch up so I felt I needed to bring back my South Texas guys. I had a call from two of them yesterday and it was evident they are ready to go back to work. My biggest fear is that they will get up here and it will weather and everyone will be sitting looking at each other.

FATHER, be with us as we find our work groove. Thank YOU for the reprieve afforded us by the Holiday. We are a blessed people, thank YOU! I continue my prayer for Hag, Lillie, Rene', Carol, Michelle, Aimee, and for Rusty and Kim's baby. Please bless them with YOUR healing. I pray for R2D2 and our spiritual family. I pray for YOUR kingdom.

It was a pretty productive work day, for a day off. I believe everyone needed that brief rest period provided by Thanksgiving. Everyone here at the plant seems to be more upbeat and energized. Even the plant seems to be humming at a higher pitch!

One of the most difficult things from my perspective is getting my truckers back in the rotation. These are people that have been able to go home, stretch out and enjoy family. Yesterday was no different from any other. I started calling for trucks shortly after nine AM. They straggled in until eight PM. last evening, while they had promised to be in route "shortly".

Congratulations to the AHS Eagles for a successful season. They put up an admirable fight agains Southlake-Carrolton (ranked #1 in the nation) before falling short by five points. Success breeds success. I expect Steve Warren and his Eagles to make another deep playoff run next season!

We have almost completed the travel trailer leap frog! Krl and I are settled in, we still have some supplies to store but we are enjoying the new(er) trailer! Delfino moved last evening into our old one, Roy will make the move later today and Evelio and Baldemar will move into Delfino and Roy's old trailer tonight. I am needing to make a decision on what to do with Amado later in the week. We have been enjoying a single shift during this Holiday period, plans are to resume around the clock Monday! It will be interesting to see if the hands that got to go home return! We have friendly wagers on how many "warm bodies" the gin will be short at both plants come Monday.

Talking about friendly wagers, yesterday I was in the big plant and noticed one of the ginners helpers going around with his little notebook collecting money. This man's name is Chapo. He is very close to being a dwarf but out here he is a big business man! They call him the "Don King" of St. Lawrence. He had put together a group that subscribed to some pay for view boxing matches last evening, then he coerced Barco into hosting the event (O.K., Barco's wife drew the line to having twenty extra people in her house but did allow Barco to move the television outside), then "our Little Don King" was making "book"!

FATHER, I give today to YOU. Energize me, boost me, lead me, use me. Temper me, soften my words. I pray for Hag, Lillie, Rene', Carol, Michelle and Aimee, along with Rusty and Kim's baby. I ask that YOU work YOUR miracle of healing! I pray for R2D2 and for our spiritual family. FATHER I pray for safe travel for all those returning from their Holiday. YOUR day, YOUR way!

Heh heh! I didn't just fall off the pumpkin truck! Just when you get comfortable with a plan out here expect it to change. We had been told to turn our people loose until Monday morning. The GM wanted to lighten the payroll load. Luckily I stayed around and one of my crew stayed as well, because this morning the compound was bustlin'! In a short while the GM told me we would run one shift today and one shift tomorrow. Expect the unexpected!

We are still cautiously optimistic that we will get to make a jaunt into town tomorrow. We don't need that much, we would just like to experience civilization once again.

FATHER, thank YOU for the small blessings we take for granted! Help me to be more observant, more appreciative, more like YOU. I continue to lift up Hag, Lillie,Rene', Carol, Michelle and Aimee as well as Rusty and Kim's baby. Heal them, comfort them. I ask YOUR blessings for our spiritual family as well as R2D2. YOUR WILL be done!

It has been quite a few days since I last blogged, sorry to you faithful readers. It has been extremely crazy out here. We survived the short staff only to be inundated with rain. In the previous ten years I cannot remember when things have been so wet! We have acre after acre of still promising cotton standing in the fields (some in water) and we have between thirteen and fourteen thousand bales already harvested and in modules to be hauled to the gin for processing, problem is, it has been too wet to haul them. We cleared the module yards early Wednesday night and the GM sent everyone packing until Monday. I gave my people their option and all but one left. The one remaining joined Krl and I last evening for our Thanksgiving meal. I went and got Delfino about five and he came to our trailer wanting to visit and indulge in the scrumptious meal that Krl prepared (I did help a little). I don't think I have ever seen anyone take such time in eating a meal. Three hours after beginning his meal, he finally laid down his tools and gave a reflective sigh! It gave me a warm fuzzy feeling to know how special this meal was for him along with the fact that we had invited him into our home. He is a good man.

On Wednesday Rian, Erica and Reid came through and we enjoyed spending a few hours with them. Thursday afternoon Merrit Aleis and her houndterage (Max and Witleigh) came by. It was good to see Ollie and the grandhounds. Trace and her crew talked with Meme on the phone briefly Thursday afternoon. I talked with Pepa and they had a house full. I gave a belated birthday call to Jeanetta in Indiana late Wednesday and got caught up on her news, she is puny with the flu. The only one I didn't talk with or hear from or get an update on was Kali and her crew. They had been to her mother's in Angelo.

We are continuing to try to get settled in our new home away from home. Krl is enjoying it immensely. It was much more pleasant to pull off Thanksgiving dinner in it. Hopefully we are going to finish up some of the remaining things today and then get into Midland today or tomorrow. We need some R&R and I just know Courtney has a pitcher of Margaritas sitting on a table waiting for us at Abuelos!

FATHER, I have much to be thankful for! I thank YOU for the blessings YOU rain down on me. I am thankful for the doors that YOU open for me as YOU guide me through this journey. I am thankful for family and friends. I continue to pray for Hag, Lillie, Rene, Carol, Michelle and Aimee. I ask for their healing. I pray for Rusty and Kim's unborn child, that the doctors will make wise decisions in the pre-natal treatment. I pray for our spiritual family along with R2D2. The Glory is YOURS! YOU are a great and powerful GOD.

I am enjoying one of the peaks today. It is unbelievable how quickly the peaks and valleys can change positions.

For the first time in a week we are at full staff. Julio, the machine operator who wanted Sunday off to check on his brother in Acuna finally showed up today. He was somewhat shocked to find another worker on his machine. As luck would have it, I had brought in a machine operator to
work at the other plant when it comes on line. While it was frustrating to try to train this new employee at the "monster" plant, this experience should prove very valuable. I suppose he has been baptized with fire! Julio was very relieved to learn he had not been terminated and the only excuse he offered was "I'm sorry!" x 2. I actually find myself feeling sorry for him because he has very few hours for the week.

We are now at the threshold of doing something different with our housing. I just have to put my conservative side down and take the plunge. One of my dilemma's has been trying to figure out a way to add to the campsite without having to totally destroy it. Yesterday Greg brought another of their travel trailers from Corpus and when he went to back it in beside my trailer it sunk about a foot deep! It is wet!

We are enjoying another day of bright sunshine. The weather is calling for the same thing tomorrow and then a chance of rain Sunday. Every little bit of drying we experience is welcome.

Today we are eating lunch as part of the community Thanksgiving meal. We are eating in the office with co-workers, a meal prepared by the school. I can't believe Thanksgiving is only a week away! Krl is starting to put together her shopping list for next Thursday. In past years we have fed our crews, this year we plan on expanding it to anyone that wants to eat with us. At present that number is at seventy-six potential mouths to feed. I saw a thanksgiving program a while back and it said to plan for a pound and a half per person for the main meal and adequate (but not excessive) leftovers. Krl is supposed to be getting the broaster ovens out along with the showtime rotisierre and the steno servers. It is a major undertaking but one that sure delivers a return on the investment. The smiles on these peoples faces are priceless.

FATHER I continue my thanks for everything I have been blessed with. I ask YOUR help as we plan a thanksgiving for those who we work along side. Help us as we share, our time, YOUR food YOU provide, and our fellowship. I pray for Hag, for Lillie, for Rene', for Carol, for Michelle, and for Aimee. I ask that YOU bless them with YOUR healing. I pray for our spiritual family, for R2D2 and for those in need. May this season be blessed with YOU!

For the first time in many days I feel as though things are in control. Some of this is because the plant is well off production capabilities and the second plant has not yet come on line. Our weather has been far different from normal West Texas weather. Rain, rain and more rain. We still have much work to do but it appears we are limited as far as the amount of raw cotton on hand goes. We can run to the weekend with the cotton on the yard and then we have almost two more weeks of cotton in modules still in the fields. The question is when can we get the cotton picked up and to the plant.

I went to Stanton yesterday to pay my telephone bill. I had put it on the dash of my pickup and forgotten about it. I needed to go to Midland/Odessa for parts anyway so I just made an afternoon of it. It was nice to experience civilization. I made Walmart, Lowe's, Academy, Wendy's, and West Texas Plastics. I even bought Lotto and Mega Millions.

I got my water heater working again. It is amazing how much a small frill like that improves my outlook. We are a spoiled people, taking much for granted. Every year it is like a reality check when I come here. It is somewhat like a modified survivor show and I am the star, and the butt of the script.

FATHER, I thank YOU for the blessings I enjoy. The glory is YOURS! I continue to pray for Hag, for Lillie, for Rene', for Carol,for Michelle, and for Aimee. I ask YOUR bounty of blessings for our spiritual family. I pray for R2D2 and for a world in need. YOUR will be done!

I am on that roller coaster going for the record, it is no longer fun. I am obligated. Committed, Destined. Help!

Wow! Whoever said to much of a good thing is bad must have lived it to learn it!

I am still here. Pray for me.

The rains came down and the floods came up! We still have enough cotton on hand to gin for fifteen days. We can run through Friday or Saturday with cotton on the gin yard. The remaining twelve hundred modules are still in the field. We have been advised we will have this Sunday off. (Hello Lubbock). The general membership met today and voted to put the second plant on line.............tomorrow! Oh well. I am still short my ace day man. He asked for Sunday off to visit his brother who was ailing in Acuna Mexico with the assurances that he would be in place Monday morning............ !

FATHER, do it to it!

I need some healing! Mentally, physically, spiritually! I feel like I am running on reserves. The job has gone without a major hitch, thanks to some very dedicated truckers. Two trucks remain in the shop, one until Monday and the remaining faithful join ranks! I know they are tired. This afternoon I have another extra coming in, hopefully that will allow the guys to get some much needed and deserved rest.

I made a modified offer on another travel trailer. We are supposed to know something this afternoon. I am in hopes. We are so cramped. If it is supposed to happen it will.

My day began with a forklift problem. The operators had been complaining of sluggish performance with their primary machine. I had not been to excited about remedying the situation because one of my operators is heavy footed, spinning his tires with regularity. This performance problem sure was lengthening my tire life, however close to morning the machine slowed to a crawl. I had ordered some filters from the farm store but when they arrived they were wrong. Luckily when I got in my trailer looking for my parts books and maintenance manuals I found a sack with two new fuel filters. Lucky me! I replaced said filter and everyone is operating at peak performance.

Rian is taking his exit exam for his Master's in Education today. He is more nervous than a cat in a room full of rockin' chairs! We expect him to pass with flying colors regardless of his reservations! All we have ever asked is for him to do his best.

FATHER, you are my GOD! I surrender to YOU, take control, carry me, use me. I ask YOUR healing for Hag, Lillie, Rene', Carol, and Aimee. Bless them. I pray for R2D2, for those in need. I ask YOUR blessings on our spiritual family. Work YOUR plan!

Extreme day. My Thursday began with a sprinkling of "to do's" throughout. It ended up that all the "to do's" arrived within minutes of each other!

My day usually begins with a drive around the compound. This may be at six-thirty or seven in the morning or it might be at three-thirty or four. Usually it is a quick assessment of equipment and need. This Thursday was somewhat different because of a scheduled "called" meeting of the board of directors. When this happens, the GM and the plant Supervisor are obligated to attend so I expand my scope to compensate. We began with an eight o'clock seed block. This was to be followed by my forklift people coming at eleven. That to be followed by an inbound shipment of supplies. I had two outside trucks scheduled in along with our regular roster of duties. The seed block began late at nine followed very quickly by the forklift people, with the first outside truck arriving on their heels accompanied by the inbound supplies. Throw into the mix a problem with the electrical wiring on the trailer our CIA agent had rewired the previous night and I was training to join the circus! It was a frenzied, frantic morning. One of those jack of all trades, master of none, days! The upside was when all of these were completed it seemed as though time stood still, for a brief while.

Krl's foot felt well enough for her to go into town and do laundry and buy supplies. This is really an added blessing having her her to do this. She even picked up "prepared food" so we had all the things the "city folk" have. At least for an evening. We begin settlements later today for the Monday payroll. Plans call for Krl to go to Abilene for a few days late Monday. I know the hound boys and hound girls need to check on their yard at home!

The board of directors voted to to bring the small plant on line effective next week. There was a split vote. I just hope it doesn't split the community. With this new development, several new issues surface. The first is the need for more people, the second for more equipment and the third a need for more housing. While the initial decision calls for the second plant to be operated one shift, the dissenting voters have waged a war calling for full production or none. Currently I have three employees living in plant housing. I have not been told to move them but we are trying to get a plan in place just in case.

I need to brag on my crew! They have bellied up to the bar! Due to the recent problems with personnel, the problems with trucks (two are in the shop) and coupled with the fact that Goose had to leave to go to his contract, the remaining faithful have performed flawlessly and admirably! They are true warriors and I appreciate everyone of them! A common bond, a common goal!

FATHER, thank YOU for a wonderful day. YOU know our needs and YOU are faithful to meet them. I pray for Hag, for Lillie, for Rene', for Carol, for Michelle, and for Aimee. Bless them with YOUR gift of healing. I pray for our spiritual family and its needs. I pray for a world in turmoil and strife. I pray for R2D2, for lost souls, for deliverance. I am thankful for the blessings YOU rain down on us. I continue to ask YOUR blessings for safe and productive work for all. YOU are a mighty GOD, capable and willing to meet our needs! Thank YOU FATHER.

Bah! Humbug! Harrumph, harrumph! It is pretty bad when you sell YOURSELF some swampland! While expectations have been high, the days have left much to be desired!

It has not been easy lately. I made some changes in the "team" and it improved dramatically, but I still had one "bad seed". No more! It all came to a head and we may be short handed at the moment but at least we can depend on the group that is left. I sent one on his way and put another on probation for the remainder of the year. I honestly think that they felt I was not in a position to do anything. Talk about believers! And the congregation said "Amen!".

This one guy, I have known for quite some time. He used to be a war horse and had worked with me before. Initially I was glad he had signed on. The glee was short lived however. From the get go he was a distraction. He was a detriment to morale and his work ethic left a lot to be desired. His command of four letter words was astounding! I do not believe I have ever had to interact with a person as vulgar as he is.

From the beginning he was constantly questioning management decisions made by me and failing to maintain the status quo with his co-workers. The final straw came late Wednesday. He had made a delivery to Lubbock and was en route to reload at our location. During the previous night he had dropped his trailer and picked up another trailer that one of my other trucks had left. I don't like anyone making changes without my approval, usually the overall combination and weight of a "rig" has been taken into account in matching trucks and trailers. There was also the distinct probability of an altercation between the two truckers vying for the same trailer. I made mention to one of they guys who had inquired about the equipment change that I didn't appreciate the problem driver taking it upon himself to make changes without asking and I figured when the first trucker returned to get his trailer I would draw a circle on the ground and let them duke it out! By the time the "problem" got back to the plant he had blown this thing sky high in his mind. I had only recently been made aware that this man had committed himself to a substance abuse clinic prior to coming to our jobsite. He is currently medicated, floundering through anger management, and has totally lucid conversations with himself. When this person arrived back at the plant he stormed to my trailer and banged on the door. I opened the door and he told me he wanted me in the General Managers office "now" because he wanted the GM to witness what he was fixing to tell me. I informed him I was in the middle of an employee insurance roster reporting form that had to go out and when it was convenient I would come to the office. He immediately started shouting that he said "now" and that is what he meant. I told him that one thing he hadn't figured out was that he was not running the show. I returned to my trailer and finished the report and headed to the office to fax it. When I walked in he jumped up and got in my face and stated his name, saying he was required by law to inform me that he was registered with the United States Government, the CIA, the military, and the Navy Seals. He went on to tell me that he had been trained in the martial arts and his hands were registered weapons and that any aggressive behavior on my part whether vocal or physical would be met with what ever means and what ever intensity he deemed necessary to immobilize me! I could not help but laugh! I turned to the GM and apologized and turned back to this individual and asked if he was through. He replied he was. I told him O.K., get your crap out of the truck, "you are terminated". (I will admit I was more explicit in this directive). This caught him off guard and he informed me that the truck was assigned to him and would not abandon it. I told him he could abide by my decision or deal with the law when I reported it stolen. Ultimately I agreed to let him take the truck to the shop in Roscoe. Shortly afterward, I shook his hand and told him I was sorry things didn't work out, that I couldn't work with some people and some people could not work for me. I also urged him to see his therapist to have his medications adjusted. He responded by telling me how tickled he was to be leaving and that he wanted to tell me to my face how big an "asshole" I was. I responded by telling him I would truly have to reflect on his statement because I felt he was a person who was well versed in assholes. Immediately after his departure I went into the GM's office to apologize once again for the behavior of one of my crew. Surprisingly, he was laughing his head off and told me that he couldn't remember when he had had such an entertaining afternoon! In the course of the conversation he revealed his hope that I would terminate this employee earlier. Later, the Plant Supervisor told me he had heard the problem employee on the phone a few days ago telling the person on the other end that he couldn't talk because the line was not secure! My personal feeling are that when he made his spiel about being registered and all, he should have included that he is certifiably nutz! It is amazing how relieved and refreshed everyone is since the person parted our company. All is well that ends well. I feel for this individual but until he wants help, he is not going to get better. He can whip himself in a frenzy immediately over the most trivial thing and when he is told something he can expand on the subject until it does not even resemble what he was initially told! I guess GOD needed a little quality control for many of us!

It was not a good day in many ways. One truck had problems with his trailer. Another truck had a recurring problem with his flywheel. Another, pulling a specialty trailer hung a warehouse door so I spent time making this high dollar trailer operational once again.

I have Medley Material Handling coming this morning to install solid rubber tires on forklift number three. Earlier this week I had secured solid tires for number four. The comfort zone afforded by these tires is worth the price. No more flats!

FATHER, I have much to thank YOU for and I have much to ask YOUR help with. Bless those that are dealing with illness, heal them comfort them. Bless those who are ailing spiritually. Fill and inspire them. Praise to YOU from whom all blessings flow!

Great Expectations!

I know this bad streak can't keep on going so I am going to be optimistic that each day, each hour, each minute that goes by is getting me a little closer to turning this thing around! Things can keep on piling on but I will just ask for a snorkel!

My maintenance Sunday was a maintaining Sunday. It would have been very easy to just sprag out or trip a spring (these are new terms I am learning from some of my street savvy truckers). I chose instead to remain in control, I did this by giving up control. YOU the GOD!

We had a full day scheduled with payroll and settlements for Monday. When drivers kept waking me up through the night Saturday I got serious and had a lot done by the time Krl awoke. I finally printed settlements and she spent her afternoon proofing and making corrections while I was out and about fixing forklift flats and performing routine service to the engines and power trains. I couldn't believe it when I made my early rounds Sunday morning just after shut down. Each forklift had a flat tire on the right steer wheel. I can handle one flat but this extended the count to five since Friday. I am "flat" dab at my limit.

My phone started ringing with calls from truck drivers. It is always interesting to hear what new and supposedly fool proof excuses they can come up with for being late or unable to return. I use this to separate the men from the boys. I made two major adjustments and the team has a lot better look. Roscoe dropped the ball getting a tire and wheel out here for one of their trucks so we ran one truck short through the night. We will see what they forget to do today. I requested an extra truck for late last night or very early today. So far this truck is non-existent. Priorities sure seem messed up. Roscoe sent five trucks to Coyonosa yesterday for a little piddly job that is about fifteen percent the size of this one. I would hate to have to make a statement but some people don't understand unless it hits their pocket book. I am adjusting my sight on the target.

FATHER thank YOU. I ask YOUR blessing on this day and this week. I pray for continued safe work, for productive work. Help me to keep my perspective. I pray for Hag, Lillie, Rene', Carol and Michelle. Bless them with YOUR healing. I pray for spiritual healing for R2D2 and all of us who are weak and searching. I pray for the needs of our spiritual family. The glory is YOURS.

It's a relationship,
not religion!

There is a small church I pass occasionally, it is located about sixteen miles from headquarters. They have some of the neatest messages on their marquee. The above is their latest!

What a week. Satan has been present at every turn. I have been tested repeatedly and I am disappointed in my score. I have been flailing as I get sucked under by all the baloney. Productivity wise it has been tremendous! With only one major problem with the plant, production has been full bore! Many of my people have had sub-par performances this week though. Some of the guys think that their time on the job is adequate to challenge what it has taken ten years for me to learn. There are no substitutes for consistency and hardwork. I have been awakened six of the past seven nights. Some of the problems were legitimate, others were the result of people having the blue jeans on the wrong end. The worst night I would get up, address a problem and get back to my trailer and doze off just in time to get the next call. The bad night was four times between midnight and six am.. Some of my leased equipment is experiencing major problems.

I finally told some of my bigger employee problems that it was to early in the season for me to get this bent about things and I threw down the gauntlet to them. My way or the highway! Simple, straight forward. No doubt as to whose will, will prevail. I finally felt it was right to call in my South Texas Ace. Adan will be here late Sunday afternoon. He will be the rabbit all the others chase. I have always enjoyed working with Adan and find myself feeling a sense of relief and eager anticipation that he is on his way!

When things really get going out here we have what we call maintenance Sundays. Today is our first this season. We will shut down at seven in the morning and the night crew will come back in at one and do maintenance that is not do-able when we are up and running. Tonight at shift change, last week's day crew will come in as they swap to night shift. The crews will remain on the new shifts for two weeks until our next maintenance Sunday and they will swap over again.

I find myself barely running ahead of last weeks data entry. I made a concentrated effort to do my entries every day instead of letting it build up. I did really well and today I began building my settlements and all the sudden it was gone. I had saved it to disc and it just vanished right in the middle of my session. I looked and looked and finally decided less time would be lost if I went back into the office and began building the load master list again. Technology is wonderful, when it works!

We have been on our own out here for the last few days. Lillie, the GM's wife had a biopsy last week and the prognosis was not good. About the middle of the week she had major surgery in the metroplex. The GM has been taking care of this personal situation so we have done our best to continue on as he would expect. Today the GM called and said lab reports came back and it was very good news. He did not elaborate further! We are thankful for this news and anxious for the complete report when they return.

FATHER, forgive me when I am weak. Forgive me when I try to do things without YOU. I need YOUR strength, I need YOUR wisdom, I need YOUR guidance. I need YOUR presence in my life. Take control and use me. FATHER I continue to lift up Hag, Rene, Lillie, Carol and Michelle for YOUR healing. I ask YOUR healing for Krl's health concerns. FATHER I am thankful for the preliminary good reports for Lillie as well as for Aimee. I pray for continued good results. I am thankful that the week has been productive. I thank YOU for the safe week and I pray YOU will help me as I put a work plan in place. Help those who are doing maintenance on our equipment to do their work with the long term in mind and not just a quick fix. Help me to see the whole picture as I analyze and make adjustments and repairs. Help us not to become frustrated and angry. FATHER I pray for our spiritual family. I pray for those searching for YOU, I pray for R2D2. I pray for YOUR WILL to be done. FATHER, I am unworthy of YOUR love and blessings. I thank YOU for YOUR grace and mercy! To YOU be the glory!

Momma told me there would be days (and should have included nights) like yesterday.

We had a major major break down in the plant today. We went down shortly after lunch and didn't come back up until well after midnight. The ram on the press began leaking down making it nearly impossible for the gin-glo to tie out the bales. Continental told Frankie it was in a valve bank in the press pit. Frankie spent three hours chasing these goblins, tearing down and rebuilding, then a subsequent test showed no improvement. A quick note of enlightenment, the press pit is like a basement only it is about twenty-five feet deep, then there is a ram hole which goes another sixteen feet below the pit floor. The crew pulled up the flooring to inspect the ram hole and found it holding several feet of hydraulic oil. Two sump pumps were put into use and over several hours were able to pump out a large quantity of oil before the thick slurry took its toll and burned up the pumps. The final few feet of oil was bailed out the good old fashioned way with buckets and ropes and a human relay. Finally enough oil was removed to reveal a blown o-ring on the eight inch pressure line supplying oil to the ram cylinder. Continental support was called and arrangements were made to meet the GM in Lamesa to pick up the much needed o-ring. By the time the GM returned everything was at the ready for installation and the plant came back on line shortly. My parking area looks like a truck stop! All the trucks cycled in and just after shift change I made the thirty-two mile trek and picked up burgers for those who wanted them. Hopefully with full bellies my truckers got in their trucks and got some rest.

Thankfully the election crapola is over. Who were the winners. No-one. Who were the losers? All of us. I saw a news program which revealed that in excess of one billion dollars had been spent on campaigns. America, land of excesses, excuses and egos!

FATHER, thank YOU for getting me to this point. I ask that YOU continue to get me through these times. I pray for Hag, for Lillie, for Rene', for Carol, for Michelle, for Aimee. FATHER we need you. Fill the earth with YOU!

I try not to think about it but it continues to surface on an almost daily basis.

I am not working with rocket scientists! There I said it! Bold, brazen words! I feel better. This is not NASA, this is not advanced physics! (Golly this feels good!).

O.K., I am sure you are dying to know what has my drawers in a wad! Middle of the night! Truck drivers! Diesel! Lack of afore mentioned! Cold! Drizzle! Telephones!

There ought to be a stupid tax. It could be another payroll deduction! I'm sure I can convince this crew that it was passed in today's elections... . Heh, it just might be the lift this day is going to need!

What my guys do is repetition. You go there and come back over and over again. I have issued fuel cards, these cards work twenty-four seven. On each given trip to Lubbock, every truck passes within fifty yards of the fuel stop not once but twice! Usually if there is a problem it is within a few miles of the fuel stop and someone has made a minor miscalculation or weather (read wind) has changed. Tonight's fiasco is nothing short of a hundred mile mistake! Yeah, five goes into .......times, take away, and borrow a one or what ever! The alarming thing is this crew does not have a groove it just kind of smears its way along!

FATHER, today is going to be a test. Prepare me, temper me. Control me when it would be so easy to get ugly. Bless Hag, Lillie, Rene', Carol, Michelle, and Aimee with YOUR healing. Please fill the needs of those in our spiritual family. I pray for YOUR presence in R2D2's life. I pray for a world that needs YOU. Thank YOU for YOUR love!

I am thankful that once again I have survived Halloween! Close encounters of the ghost and goblin kind!

I always prepare zip lock bags with goodies for the entire crew out here. I make a round handing treats out while the day crew is on and then after shift change I do it all again! It isn't a big investment but it sure is good PR. This morning I was in the plant as they had a problem and one of the guys yelled for me to come there as he rummaged through his things. Then he presented me with a baggy of authentic homemade salsa, telling me "trick or treat"! I thought it was neat! The salsa sure smells potent!

It has been a good week for everyone! We shipped one hundred fifty-one loads with two inbounds. Everyone got those big checks and now feel motivated for another week!

Weather is threatening. It has showered around the area but a few people were able to continue harvesting. We have enough cotton on hand to run to Thursday. It is supposed to get cold with a possibility of one to three inches of snow. We'll cross our fingers.

FATHER thank YOU for blessing us so. Thank YOU for YOUR love, YOUR mercy and YOUR grace. I continue to lift up Hag, Lillie, Rene', Michelle, and Aimee for YOUR miracle of healing. I pray for those who are suffering from loss. I pray for our spiritual family, for R2D2, for those searching for YOU. Lord Reign in me!