Method to my madness!

Maybe I am getting up early in order to rush my week to the weekend. Sounds like a plan.

I reflect on my Wednesday and while I stayed busy, I don't have much to show for it.

The day began with KO throwing a tantrum. His youngest son had cleaned Dad's desk off. Nothing was thrown away, it was all piled on the floor behind his desk. An entire can of Pledge had been used to dust and polish the wood desk. Justin was very proud of his work, his Dad was not. KO kept saying he couldn't believe we would commission a child to clean his desk (we didn't). Finally KO calmed down.

A portion of my day was dedicated to the equipment we are looking to sell for salvage. We have moved on from the first contact. These guys are pretty specialized (junk yards have come a long way since Sanford & Son). We are discovering that these guys deal exclusively in Cummins powered trucks, some in Caterpillar and some in Detroit. It also appears that the majority of the equipment ends up in Mexico or is totally dis-assembled and card filed for parts.

My spreads are 99.9% complete for July and it looks good. Some changes in cash flow and cash management have made some major differences. It sure makes the bankers happier. The business has been on and around the bubble so long it feels good for it to finally ride over the crest and have a really solid month. KO and I discussed this yesterday and talked of favorably posturing the business as I take leave and as the business goes into the "good margin" time of the year. I feel that the difference from last year to this year is monumental. If we can get the "can" contract put back together it could really be a grand slam. I am happy for KO and DO and for their success, they have worked long and hard. I do realize that at times I have probably sounded like a broken record and come across like scrooge. It's a tough job but someone has to do it!

KO and I talked in earnest about the fall work. Mine and his. He made a couple of calls and was told his work would probably begin around the twentieth of September. I haven't looked at the calendar but the last couple of years I have been on site by about the twenty-second of September. Thing is usually the better the crop, the later harvest begins. I had tentatively planned on close to the first of October even though I figured I would be on and off site for the two weeks leading up to that getting camp in order. I am budgeting between one-hundred-twenty and one-hundred-fifty days for this year. Anything less is a surprise, anything more means my friends have done well.

Lots to do between now and then.

If I ever have money I am going to start a leasing company. Talk about "both sides" of their bread being buttered! Lots of tax advantages, depreciation, and when the equipment is returned, you nail them to the wall with repairs for normal wear and tear! Go figure. Its kind of like having your cake and eating it too. You buy the equipment, lease it out, basically have someone else pay for it and when you get it back you have a piece of paid for equipment that has been restored to like new.

I was distracted for much of the day yesterday with computer problems. Every morning I boot everyone up, establish all the network connections with both servers and then begin my work day with fuel activity downloads. This entire week I have not consistently been able to print from the network printers and yesterday I was up and running and then the network connection was gone. I sometimes wonder if the servers encounter a problem and are rebooted, which would necessitate me rebooting. Regardless, I rebooted yesterday until my rebooty was tired. I never did get my fuel downloads yesterday. TJ had to download them for me.

We had two trailer issues yesterday. One vendor is really being hard on the equipment. We are watching them closely. KO and I were getting ready to begin repairs prior to my leaving for the day. He got on the phone and then all we were able to do was get tools rounded up and back in the service trailer before I had to leave. I hope he was able to complete the repairs because we needed both trailers for today.

I had advised everyone in the office that I was leaving early yesterday. Krl and I had been discussing some shopping we needed to do. That is the way I like to shop. Know what you want to buy and then get it. One store, in and out. Man on a mission.

Well, make it a day!

FATHER, take charge. YOU can see all that is out there, take me through the maize. Help me to not become distracted with trivial issues and projects, keep me on task. I ask for YOUR wisdom and guidance in all I do. I continue my thanks for Krl and ask for her healing and renewal. I pray for Addie, Memama, Pepa, Hag, B., Lillie, Aimee, Jennifer, Ashlyn Kate, Jess, Dr. Mackie, Jeanine, Verlin and S.T., I ask for YOUR miracle of healing for each of them. I pray for those sad and hurting with loss and ask YOUR comfort for them. I pray for those of us who struggle to follow YOU. I pray for our spiritual family and our leaders. I pray for the efforts being made to expand YOUR kingdom. Let YOUR light shine in me.