Is it possible that time off moves at a higher rate of speed than time on the job? Inquiring minds want to know!

I cannot believe how quickly three days were gone! It just baffles me! I want more!

We brought the plant back on line about forty minutes behind schedule yesterday. We pretty much thought that was a victory. Surprisingly a majority of the employees were honorable and did what they said they would do. My hourly people were fifty-fifty in this category. Forklift operators showed, seed loaders were eleven hours late. All but two of my trucks were on time, these two are on the poop list. It would be bad enough if these people were just irresponsible but they felt no remorse. Oh well, I suppose that should make for a clean conscience for me when I replace them!

Mondays are a horrible day for me to be short handed. There are settlements (and yesterday not all of them were done due to the fuel reporting glitch), there is weekly billing, there is banking, bill paying, along with FYI meetings for the week.

The two seed loaders had asked me if they could leave early Thursday night. They reasoned that if they could cross the border when it was not busy they could get their certification that would expedite their recrossing Sunday. Sounded good. By the time they arrived, about six yesterday evening, I had been on the phone making calls to employees from past years that made contact after our roster was filled. The former employees and I were trying to see what time frame they could be on site when the two renegades drove up. Actually they thought it was funny until I told them not to unpack. After that the mood became quite somber and they were telling me how much they needed to work and needed their paychecks. Their actions sure didn't show it! I really have a problem when a person would rather lie than tell the truth. One thing about it, neither of these will be eligible for rehire and neither would want me as a reference! What goes around comes around!

Two of my regular truckers did not meet their scheduled "in" time. When we send everyone out, whether it is a maintenance Sunday or Christmas, I prepare a phase-out, phase-in schedule. This tells all the guys when their last load out is and at what time they need to return after the down time. The primary reason is to prevent all of them from racing to get back and get the number one position, it also protects their position in the loading order and prevents anyone from improving their position. All of them can go home, enjoy reasonably close to the same amount of time off and then return and slide smoothly into the rotation. At the bottom of my standard form I always put my cell phone number along with my office number and advise them to call me if there is a problem meeting schedule. One trucker was scheduled in at eleven Monday morning, he arrived at four, the other was scheduled for noon, he arrived about three-thirty. One of these has not met a phase-in schedule all season. Lucky for them I had hedged my bet and also that my South Texas trucks arrived early. I loaded two ranch loads early in the day (in the number three and four positions) in order to keep things flowing and the plant rolling. I am making my list and checking it twice, gonna find out who's naughty and nice, Boss is deciding on rehires, right now!!!!!

I had told Krl prior to the holiday that if an hourly employee stayed until the end of their shift and if that employee returned on schedule, I thought they should receive pay for eight hours regular time for Christmas Day. She concurred. I told her that I was not going to tell any of the guys about this and that way they would not be swayed by money, just by honor. Only two employees met the overall criteria and when I informed everyone of the silent bonus pay, or lack of, these two were the only ones wearing wicked little grins! Thanks Delfino and Julio!

Coming to the trailer last evening was like arriving at a safe haven! It had been a long day loading all the trucks and I was covered in cottonseed lint! Krl was picking lint off of me by the handful! I made a direct connect route to the shower and it was heavenly! This morning I am still paying, because my eyes were matted shut and I have a cough (even though I wore protective equipment). I think it was probably because of the in and out cycling from job to job!

How long until the next time off? This weekend is a scheduled maintenance Sunday. It should not be a full day because the last one was comprehensive and we were off three days for Christmas. The GM was telling us in the FYI group Monday morning that his projections are for six more weeks to completion! Longer than we had anticipated but also a much larger season. Regardless, we will be here until the end, GOD willing!

FATHER, thank YOU for seeing me through yesterday, it was a long, trying, testing, day. Help me to be fair and honorable in my dealings and help me to appreciate those striving to do likewise. I continue to pray for those in need of physical healing, bless and comfort them. I pray for those is spiritual need. Fill us and make us whole. Please bless this day and week! For YOUR love FATHER, I am thankful!