As our driver Ralph would say, "I'm kicking, just not too high!"

Friday was another long day at the office. I had arranged for some antibiotics to be brought to me at work. It would have been quicker for me to have gone and gotten them. It ended up being a three person relay and the end of the work day before they made it to me. Luckily, the phone continued to ring and I stayed "so-so" busy. I got bored for a while and went next door to the owner's house and installed a water mixer for DO. As I have stated repeatedly KO can fix anything, his big problem is getting started. I think DO had the water mixer for two or three months and finally she asked me if I knew plumbing. I told her as long as it didn't involve sweating valves and fittings on with molten lead I could pretty much handle it. KO acted a little peeved that I did the repair for DO but,oh well. She has asked me if I would show her how to put a sink in their vanity in their bathroom. I told her sure, but if we were going to do it she needs to get all the repair parts, faucet, drain assembly, plumber's putty. Everything! Twenty-three miles from Abilene, we don't need to start without having it all right there. Turns out DO has had the new sink for three years! I told you, KO has a real problem with motivation.

My biggest mistake for the day was not maintaining my tylenol, aspirin regiment and when I finally walked back into the office my sinus' were free flowing again! YUK! When KO and DO finally returned, I tried to quickly fill them in on what I felt was pertinent and I made my exit. I felt like something that is brown, cylindrical in shape, and floats in your toilet! I stopped by the bank and then went directly to the house. When I walked in, I grabbed some tylenol and was taking my shoes off when Krl said we needed a few things from the store. #!**!# I decided to go to the store that has the pharmacy we use. I made quick work of the groceries we needed and made my way to the pharmacy. I picked up some antacid and made my way to the counter to pickup a prescription and while I had the attention of the tech I asked what they had "over the counter" that would give me some relief from my cold symptoms. They asked about a few health questions and then made a recommendation, which I purchased. Talk about disappointed, when I got home the antibiotics I had had shipped to me and the cold and flu relief I bought at the pharmacy were little bitty tiny pills. What is the problem here. I am dying. I need industrial strength! I need something the size you would give a horse or bovine! I went ahead and took the meds and surprisingly, a short while later I was feeling better. At least my nose wasn't dripping and my head wasn't sloshing. More importantly I was able to sleep, which was a tremendous improvement over the last two nights.

No guarantees, but I may survive. Either way, I don't care. And that's all I'm going to say about that.

When I returned home the second time Friday evening, I sat down at the computer to respond to some e-mails when my cell phone toned. It was Pepa wanting me to tell them how to go to the website of a radio station that carried the Brownwood Lions. I don't know how many of you have ever tried to walk someone through something on the computer by talking on the telephone but it is frustrating. Finally I talked on the phone with Memama while Pepa executed my instructions with the keyboard and mouse and we "Got 'er done!" From my quick scan of sports scores this morning it wouldn't appear their support of the Lion's helped because they got drilled. Not to worry. The last few years that seems to be the way coach's teams start. Slowly and build. They sure have a schedule this year! I don't think a victory will be on the scoreboard, I think a victory will be if they can come through it all without serious injury. Their district schedule might look like "Ned and the Primer" after their non-district schedule.

I am seriously considering giving my notice at the office. I am struggling with the dollars right now to see if it might be do-able for a short period. A few things are really bothering me. I have always heard that the best way to ruin a friendship is to try working for one. So far, our friendship has not suffered, but I am beginning to feel used and abused. I can devote days and days to a project and when I report in on it, KO says we can't afford that! Which I knew in the first place. I now find myself questioning some projects, asking how realistic he thinks the possibility is of actually doing it. If he says not very, I respond "Why bother". Our biggest project got shot down yesterday. It hasn't hit the ground but it is a wounded bird. The smaller of the two banks KO uses told him one acquisition we were looking at was beyond their limits. I asked him if he asked the bank if they had a partner bank they worked with on large loans and he said he didn't ask. My theory is never take a "No" without making the other party feel inferior. (Not capable, no vision, no guts, no glory!).

I received a call concerning my core customer yesterday. There was a gentleman on the line wanting to "help" me with some parts of it. After some brief courtesy talk he told me he had been referred to me by a mutual acquaintance and that with some revisions to my program he could help me to get some stuff done for the core customer. I quickly told him it wasn't negotiable. Eleven years of managing this customer's affairs, I know what will work and what doesn't. This gentleman began telling me "why" and I interrupted him. I told him "Correct me if I am wrong, but you called me." He responded, "Yes, but . ." I thanked him for the call and disconnected. Another golddigger wanting to force his program. (There ought to be a hunting season, three golddigger bag limit).

Well, as you can tell, I still don't feel very good. If "Don't mess with Texas" didn't already use that phrase I would say "Don't mess with me!" And I mean it!

Have a weekend on me!

FATHER, YOU have some work to do. I feel rotten, I am short, I am abrupt. FATHER, I need some relief. I ask YOUR healing from this dreaded cold. I continue my thanks to YOU for Krl and ask for her healing and renewal. I pray for Addie, Memama, Pepa, Hag, Bets, B., Lillie, Aimee, Jennifer, Jess, Dr. Mackie, Jeanine, Verlin, S.T., and Karen. I ask YOUR miracle of healing for them all. I pray for those sad and heavy hearted with grief and hurt from loss. I ask YOUR comfort for them. I pray for those of us struggling as we follow YOU. Keep us centered in YOU. I pray for our spiritual family and our leaders. I ask YOUR blessings on the efforts being made to expand YOUR kingdom. Some glad morning.... . .