When I was leaving Abilene today I saw a sign at Star Chrysler Dodge. "Conversion Center". Does that mean eveyone on site is a convert?

Just wondering.

I am on the ground, up and running. My day ran really behind schedule but what the heck, I am two days early!

I began my day making contact with many of the vendors I use out here. Telephone, ISP, satellite television. Some of these want me to schedule coming on line months in advance, others want a call or an e-mail. There was a girl/ young women that I have always dealt with on the ISP. I would call, send a round sum of money and when I was home I would e-mail and they would roll the money over to next year. Today I e-mailed my friend and iot was returned. I knew that I had the right name and e-mail addie, because you don't confuse her name. Erica Hoar. Yep, what a name, what would it have been like to grow up with that load stone around your neck. Anyhow, thankfully I had filled out a more detailed profile for her and I had a telephone number to call and they confirmed it, Erica doesn't work here anymore. Anyhow, Susan got me up and on line and of course they had to change some access numbers but I am on line. Best news of the day was I have a seventy dollar credit!

I have running water, I have hot water. I have electricity, and I have telephone and internet. Tomorrow I hope to set up the satellite and have college football, hook up the propane, and hook up the sewer system on all three trailers. In between I hope I can build the fence for Krl's hounds.

Krl hopes to be on the road by ten. I don't care when she gets on the road as long as it is daylight and she drives safely. If you see a woman in a candy apple red Ford Expedition that is loaded with hounds that would be her. Honk if you see her.

Tomorrow is the big prep day for the fall festival (Which is Sunday). All the men will congregate at the Hall about five in the morning and begin cutting meat which will be used in the famous St. Lawrence Festival Sausage. By noon they will have made close to ten thousand pounds of it and all of it will be hanging in the sausage house until Sunday morning. The sausage making actually takes place in the gymnasium. The floor will be about six inches deep in saw dust, various tables will be set up, large compressors will be running outside to power the extruders which fill the sausage casings. Once the men are through cleaning up the women and kids take over setting up and decorating for the many activities of the festival. Later in the day the ribs from the meat cutting will be put on the grill and kegs will be rolled out. This is the fun day for all the natives because Sunday is pure work! About four Saturday the Padre will summon everyone in to mass. More ribs, more beer and finally a mandatory curfew for everyone to go home. These people are a party waiting to happen but they do know their weaknesses!

The population of St. Lawrence will swell to about two to three thousand on Sunday. For that day it would make it the largest town in Glasscock County!

I am "tarred". Be the real deal.

FATHER thank YOU for the safe travel, for the productive day. I ask for safe passage for Krl and the hound boys and girls. I continue to petition YOU on Krl's and my behalf for healing and renewal. I continue to ask fore safety for Adam and his men. I pray for Brenda and for Aaron, I ask that YOU fill their needs. I pray for Richard and Anastacia, James and Terah. I ask that YOU would keep them from bad situations. Help them to seek good company. Help them to seek YOUR way. I pray for Jenavene and for Susan. May we rejoice in YOU. Help us to give it up to YOU. Let us seize the opportunity to surrender to YOU. I ask that YOU bless our efforts as prayer partners. I pray for Kali. I pray for Addie, Memama, Pepa, Hag, Bets, Jess, B., Lillie, Aimee, Jennifer, Ashlyn Kate, Charles, Dr. Mackie, Jeanine, and K.C.. I lift these up for YOUR miracle of healing and care. I ask comfort for those hurting from loss. I pray for those of us who stumble trying to follow YOU. I pray for our spiritual family and for our leaders. I pray for the efforts being made to expand YOUR kingdom. Bind us together.

I made another trek westward today. To St. Lawrence. Camp is in place, not totally setup but in place.

I am like a kid at a birthday party. I just can't wait. I am having one of those "life" moments. I know that I am ready, come what may. Bring it on! Give it your best shot! I know where you live! You don't mess with Texas and you sure as thunder don't mess with me! I am prepared! I am locked and loaded.

So now I wait.

The GM told me today that he just wanted all the pieces in place and for all the contractors/ coordinators to be on site to participate and enjoy the Fall Festival this weekend. I am leaving again in the morning, going to, yep, you got it! If Krl can get her stuff done she will go as well, if not she will drive out Saturday morning. I had this really wild idea that if we both went we could drive to Roscoe and load my pickup and her Expedition and we would haul them on the big truck. It needs to go anyway.

Fuel has begun to go nuts. I think some governmental agency should be looking into this. Diesel has gone up thirty cents over night. Gas up almost twenty. People "in the know" are saying another forty to fifty cents by morning and another fifty cents by the weekend. $4.00 fuel. Somebody ought to be ashame.

I took the last travel trailer out today. I was not a happy camper. I had loaned this camper to a nephew to go to some kind of "kuntry" woodstock near Stephenville. I had been assured it was ready to go. Let's see. The awning was ripped front to back. A broken window. Missing window curtains. The accordion door was pulled from the ceiling, and the holding tank was almost full. I'll make you a bet. That's the last time that nephew ever gets permission to borrow anything from me. I spent all morning at a glass place having the window replaced. I left about the time I thought I would be arriving on the other end. I have had to battle my emotions all day long. Aaarrrrghhh!

I am excited. It has been so good seeing old friends, fellow workers, supervisors, and patrons at the jobsite.

I was reading the current edition of Guidepost earlier this evening. (O.K., I was soaking in the tub. That is my vice. Long, hot baths accompanied by good reading material). One article I read concerned team sports. What's your job? To love each other. What's it about? It's not about me! Outward focus, outward direction.

The next few days of transition are going to be difficult technology wise. I will do what I can but who knows what will happen (and of course it will be going into the weekend). You carry on without me.

FATHER, what a tremendous recovery YOU made today. The day began brisk and cool, then went rotten and yet YOU brought it full circle. Thank YOU. Remind me of this when I try to backseat drive. YOU do just fine without me! I continue to ask for healing and renewal for Krl and me. I pray for Adam and his men, keep them from harm. I pray for Brenda and her treatment, for Aaron and his job search. I pray for Kali. I pray for Richard, Anastacia, James and Terah. I pray that YOU will hold them in YOUR hand. Help them to make good choices. That they would respect and yield to the authority over them and they would find fulfillment in obedience. I pray for our prayer partners, bless our efforts. I pray for Addie, Memama, Pepa, Hag, Bets, B., Lillie, Aimee, Jennifer, Ashlyn Kate, Jess, Charles, Dr. Mackie, Jeanine, Verlin, S.T., and K.C.. I lift them up for YOUR miracle of healing. I ask comfort for those who are hurting from loss. 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 YOU kingdom. Bless us oh LORD.

Jetlag. And not a jet to be seen.

I was pretty much spent after the long day yesterday. I think I was sweated out, today I creaked and groaned all day. I decided not to make another trek to St. Lawrence because I had signed up to help with Oasis at 4pm. today. I get to help twice a year it seems and the meal always seems to be spaghetti and meatballs in primavera sauce. I was a little late getting there but when I did I went to work. I somehow got the job of painting bread sticks with melted butter. It took forever! About two and a half hours to complete all of them but I finally found the one I had been looking for, the last one!

Krl had a good night last night. Dr. Mackie had prescribed her a sleep aid to go to sleep. I think she did fifteen hours. She is exhausted. I had a pretty good night myself. I got up and decided not to rush anything.

All I had to do was meet KO and show him somethings about his recent travel trailer acquisition. I was slowly getting ready to run a couple of errands before going out there when my cell phone went off and DO was on line asking if I was coming out. She told me to come out around lunch and eat with them. It all worked out fine. I stopped and paid a couple of bills and then sat down and let AC give me probably the best haircut he has ever given me and I lit a shuck and headed north to the office. DO called in barbecue to Peacocks and we had a great meal finished up with coconut pie, chocolate pound cake and Blue Bell Ice Cream. It was a fun going away party! I was very appreciative.

When I left I ran by the house to pick up Krl and go to get the S-10 from the secured storage facility. We ran back by the storage building and unloaded some things from the bed of the truck. Krl has loaned it to Bobbie while we are gone. Krl brought the "S" home and I stayed there loading up the remaining supplies from storage that need to go to St. Lawrence. It all went well until I locked the unit and went to pull my key out. The entire cylinder of the lock came out and springs and plungers went everywhere! I kept thinking that I could get it unlocked, the lady at the office had told me the locks had a lifetime warranty and they would give me a new lock free of charge. Finally I told the lady to call her maintenance man to cut off the lock and put on a new one! Problem was he was between Abilene and Fort Worth. This is what threw me late getting to Oasis.

A quick shower and change of clothes and I was on my way.

Be the real deal!

FATHER, I need YOUR presence in my life. I continue to thank YOU for Krl and ask for her healing and renewal. I pray for Adam and his men in Iraq, keep them safe. I pray for Aaron and Brenda. Lead them where YOU intend. I pray for Kali. I pray for Addie, Memama. Pepa, Hag, Bets, B., Lillie, Aimee, Jennifer, Ashlyn Kate, Jess, Dr. Mackie, Jeanine, Verlin, S.T., amd K.C.. I ask YOUR miracle of healing and care for them. I pray for those sad and heavy hearted with loss, comfort them. I pray for those of us who stumble while following YOU. I pray for our spiritual family and our leaders. I pray for the efforts being made to expand YOUR kingdom. I pray for Richard, Anastacia, James, and Terah, that YOU would keep them from evil and that they would come to hate sin. I pray for Jenavene and Susan, bless our efforts and let us show YOUR unfailing love. Let us lead others to YOUR refuge. Let YOU be our source! YOU are above all others!

Wow! That was a very long but very productive day. Lots of miles.

I left my house this morning at ten 'til five. I went to the storage facility and coded in and checked out the big truck and travel trailer, started it, built air (for the brake system) coded out and I was on the road. I was meeting Goose at Roscoe and he was going to drive the big rig out and I was going to drive my pickup with one of the bumper pull trailers. Five to seven and Goose pulled up. My Mom had gotten up and had breakfast going for both of us. It was a good start to the day! We paced ourselves and the trip out was uneventful.

Goose was tremendous! We both crawled under and over both trailers setting them up. He takes instruction really well. I guess this was kind of a payback for lots of the work I have helped him with before! You could also tell it was educational for him learn about setting up the trailers and the advantages one has over the other. He got to drive the little Freightliner truck and seemed to be very impressed. It's old, it's ugly, but it sure runs good! Kind of like me!

I got back just in time tonight to take a bath and change clothes before going to the "prep" night for Oasis. It went really well. This was just the second time I have worked with this supervisor and she is good. In fact I think she is the head of the Oasis meal program. I like the way she thinks. Spaghetti and meatballs in tomato sauce, breadsticks, salad and sliced fruit for desert.

Meal prep is supposed to begin tomorrow at four. I don't think I am going to St. Lawrence tomorrow. One more trailer to move and set up. Employees start coming in Friday.

We had a milestone at the house today. Krl's driver's license expired in May. She had not been to renew them. She had not driven! Bobbie, our house cleaner and Krl's friend, took Krl to the DPS office and to the Doctor's office. She has meds! Thank goodness. I am convinced we will wake up in the morning and her world will be right side up!

Be the real deal!

FATHER, I thank YOU for the safe travel, and for the productive day. Thank YOU for friends like Goose. May I be the kind of friend a friend would like to have! I am thankful for Krl's good day. I continue to ask for healing and renewal for Krl and me. I pray for Kali. I pray for Adam and his men, keep them safe. I pray for Aaron and Brenda. For her treatment to be effective and for Aaron to find the job YOU have for him. Thank YOU for friends like Buzzy and Carolyn. I pray for all those suffering loss and displacement from the hurricanes, bless them with relief. FATHER, I pray for Richard, Anastacia, James, and Terah. I pray that they will come to know YOU and YOUR law, that they will come to hunger for YOU and YOUR way. I pray for our prayer partners, Jenavene and Susan. FATHER, YOU are Great, YOUR love reaches to the heavens, YOU are faithful to the skies, YOU are righteous like the mountains, YOUR justice like the deep! There is none other than YOU! FATHER, I pray for Addie, Memama, Pepa, Hag, Bets, B., Lillie, Aimee, Jennifer, Ashlyn Kate, Jess, Dr. Mackie, Jeanine, Verlin a,S.T., and K.C.. I ask YOUR miracle of healing and care for them. I pray for those suffering from loss, comfort 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. I need YOU every hour! Bless me Oh, LORD!

Wow, how about this weather. I had no idea how hot it was yesterday. I could just testify that it was uncomfortably warm. I was dripping wet with sweat, working, readying the travel trailer when KO arrived. Shortly thereafter we were standing at the back of the trailer assessing the situation when John, my next door neighbor to the north walked up. He was in his running garb, marked with sweat. I made the introductions between he and KO and inquired if he had been running. "Yes", he replied. "Isn't it too hot to be running this time of day", asked KO. "It's pretty warm", laughed John. John is disciplined. He runs regularly, rain or shine. By himself or with others. Used to, Jordan would ride her bike along side her Dad.

104 in Abilene yesterday! Yikes!

I awoke this morning with Charles heavy on my mind. I immediately checked the phone for messages from L.M., and there were none. I am very concerned. Charles is not only a good man but I consider him a good friend as well. Please continue to include him on your prayer list. I will try to do regular updates on his situation.

One of the first things I discovered this morning was that at some point during the night electricity had gone off. Actually it was somewhere near 12:40 this morning. All the clocks are flashing, there's liable to be a lot of people late for school and work tomorrow! I wish I new what the rest of my day holds. Is this just a precursor of things to come? Maybe the message is that it would be better if I didn't get out of bed.

Krl and I have been on a roll. A few more days like the last few and they can roll us out the door! Late nights, diligently working, readying things for us to leave for the fall work. Neither of us realized how hot it was, but by ten last evening we were both complaining of muscle cramps and joint discomfort. I think we were very dehydrated. We did a very late supper. Krl did the prep, I did the drop and flip. It just worked that way, we were going with out bodies spasms! Grilled peppered ham and cheese sandwiches with soup! It was a trade off. Quality for ease of preparation. By the time we were through eating, all the hounds were trying to coax us to the bedroom. They are so funny. I can only imagine the discussions through the fence about the pet humans that they allow to live with them!

Recently I had included in my blog information about people crossing over lines of preference, boundaries of denominations, and joining together with other leaders from across Abilene to pray over and for every aspect of the community. Stories of other church leaders coming and meeting with other church leaders and praying over and for them. There are some very powerful things going on in Abilene. LORD lead us on!

A couple of weeks ago we had opportunity to sign up for the wall of prayer. I signed Krl and I up. All together we were assigned four students in AISD along with two prayer partners. Chances are we will never meet these kids. Ours are all Sophomores at Abilene High. Richard, Anastacia, and Krl's prayer partner Jenavene, James, Terah, and my prayer partner Susan. There is a guide for the quarter with prayer subjects and scripture. This is scheduled to be an on going effort until these students graduate. I thought it was a neat opportunity and would invite you to include these students and prayer partners in your prayers .

Blogger spazzed this morning and only accepted half my entry for publishing. I tried to recover and it wouldn't do it so I am trying to pick up where I left off.

By having to edit my post I am able to give a late report on Charles. After he was Care-flighted to Lubbock, a Vascular Surgeon was waiting on him. They took him into surgery immediately and removed a blood clot that had lodged at the scar from an angioplasty in 1999. The doctor is cautiously optimistic he got all the clot. They had to split his calf on both sides to avoid muscle and nerve damage. Color and temperature in his extreme lower leg are good. Downside is at worst he could lose his lower leg, but that appears to be on the opposite end of the spectrum from where we are. He will remain in ICU for a couple of days. We are hopeful and thankful!

Things are ready for a major westward move tomorrow. I loaded my big pickup and took it to Roscoe and hooked up to one of the bumper pull trailers. It is pointed at the road right now. Thing is, I am in Abilene. I had Memama call Pat to see if Kyle could drive me back to Abilene. Kyle had a brain fart and didn't want to. Man was his mother bent! He knows how to get to my house but how does he get home! We had thirty minutes to make about sixty-five miles and Pat got me there. I picked up the trailer and big truck from the trailer repair shop. They actually didn't fix anything, but the A/C checked out. I am meeting "Goose" at seven in the morning in Roscoe. I am looking forward to spending some time with him.

Tomorrow evening I am supposed to be at Highland for Oasis "Prep". It will be a full day but "prep" shouldn't be too involved. Pouring some pasta sauce. Placing meatballs on cookie sheets and putting salad in the refrigerator. Yep, I have done this meal before, and it is not a favorite. I am hope that Buzzy brings Aaron. I would like to visit some with him.

Well, this will never be the original blog, but still its the best I can do. Be the real deal.

FATHER, I need YOU in my day and in my life. Lift and inspire me, fill me with YOUR goodness. I ask YOUR healing and renewal for Krl and me. FATHER I lift up Charles for YOUR miracle of healing and care. Thank YOU for the good reports, the successful procedure. I pray for Adam and his men, that YOU will keep them from harm. FATHER I lift up Richard, Anastacia, James, and Terah. I ask YOUR blessings on them, and I pray that they will come to know YOUR goodness and seek refuge in YOU and serve YOU. FATHER I pray for our prayer partners Jenavene and Susan. Bless our efforts, expand us, let us know that YOU are a GOD of love and don't wish any to perish, but to come to YOU. I pray for Kali and ask that she makes good decisions. I pray for Addie, Memama, Pepa, Hag, Bets, B., Lillie, Aimee, Jennifer, Ashlyn Kate, Jess, Dr. Mackie, Jeanine, Verlin, S.T., Brenda, and K.C.. Father I pray that YOU would place Aaron where YOU intend in his job search. I pray for those heavy hearted with loss and ask YOUR comfort for them. I pray for those of us struggling to follow YOU. I pray for our spiritual family and our leaders. I pray for the efforts being made to expand YOUR kingdom. Bless us,Oh LORD, and expand our boundaries and keep us from evil that we might do good. Abide in me!

Another strange night in our household. I told Krl that we have to get gone so we can get some rest! The rogue A/C is working better, it may just be a capacitor that needed to cycle. Krl said it actually was too cold in the trailer late last night when she was working in it. Still, it is scheduled to go to the shop early in the morning.

We busted butt all day. I did the Church and SS thing. I even took a casserole for the pot luck dinner even though I didn't stay. Am I domesticated or what? Actually I was going to take two casseroles, I was waiting on a recipe from DO and it never came via e-mail. I told DO I took an empty pyrex with a note of explanation in it and her phone number!

Once I arrived back home, I began working on the modifications to the closet Krl had requested. Then I moved to replacing the door screen (that was cut during the break in, in June), and then I removed and repaired the replacement window in the door. I had a "glass place" replace it after the break in but it left a lot to be desired! Then it was lock and load. In and out of the house with clothes and supplies all afternoon long! Finally I went to get the truck and returned to the house just as KO arrived to help me! Thank goodness for friends and good neighbors! The truck and travel trailer now sit at the RV storage facility until morning. I thought about even sleeping in it! I sure hate a thief. I don't guess I will ever be able to totally trust that gated facility.

During a break earlier in the afternoon I took a phone call, it was from L.M.. She was calling to tell me that Charles had had an episode this afternoon. He was complaining of pain in his lower leg and it was pale and cold. Eventually they went to the ER and they care-flighted him to Lubbock. Please put him and L.M. in your prayer list. Charles has been and will continue to be an important part of the fall work. I don't even want to think about doing without him during his recovery!

When KO came into Abilene this afternoon he brought the S-10. For the first time in two months it is home and in the driveway. He and I ran a couple of errands in it. It sure was fun burning cheap gas! About $2.00 per gallon if I recall when it was filled!

I am currently trying to re-hydrate. Later on Krl and I will do a little shake and bake in the kitchen and do a joint effort meal. Nothing special, just nutritious!

I am buzzausted! Bad to the Bone. Be the real deal!

FATHER, Please lift me and work in me. I am tired, I am antsy. I need YOUR stability, YOUR peace in my life. Take control. Let me seize the opportunity to surrender to YOU. I ask YOUR healing and renewal for Krl and me. I pray for Charles FATHER. I ask YOUR care and healing for him. I ask that YOU be with L.M., as she goes through this ordeal as well. FATHER, I pray for Adam and his men. Keep them from harms way. Let them be beacons of goodness. I pray for Brenda and Aaron. I pray for Brenda's recovery, that her treatments and medications might be effective. I continue to ask that YOU place Aaron where YOU plan for him in his job search. I pray for Kali and a solution for her situation. I pray for Addie, Memama, Pepa, Hag, Bets, B., Lillie, Aimee, Jennifer, Ashlyn Kate, Jess, Dr. Mackie, Jeanine, Verlin, S.T., K.C., and Charles. I lift them up for YOUR many gifts of healing and care. I pray for those hurting from loss. I ask YOUR comfort for them. I pray for those of us struggling to follow YOU. I pray for our spiritual family and our leaders. I pray for the efforts being made to expand YOUR kingdom. YOU are my salvation.

Krl and I had a late night last night. Actually it was a weird night. Krl is working very diligently in the trailer house, cleaning and loading. I have my special list of things to do. And I will get to them all. Last evening I had met KO in town for him to sign my paycheck. I don't know what the bank's problem is when the office forgets to sign them. I guess I am one level above the lease operators, last week they got their settlements and no checks! We all get busy once in a while.

Krl had asked if we could order out or pickup supper last evening. I was agreeable. Just tell me what you want. We covered it all, Rosa's, Wok, Arby's, Taco Bell, Rick and Carolyn's, but Krl kept going back to Arby's. Beef & cheddars. Special! Five for $5.99! Mix and match! Extra sauce! I will be the first to admit, I don't list Arby's on my top restaurant list, but hey, if it keeps us out of the kitchen! So Arby's it was. Again and again and again. Hopefully by nights end we will have Arby's out of our system for a while. Seriously, it was a pleasant change. I can eat anything if it has enough sauce!

I had eaten one of my 'witches and was watching the telly when I decided to lay down on the love seat. Now lately this has been the kiss of death. See you in the morning. This particular evening though Maple Syrple was missing her Momma. Cry! What a tit! I told Krl that if anything happened to her (meaning Krl) I would have to have her stuffed to shut the little mutt up! It worked out all right, Krl came in the house and said, "The smoke alarms are going off and I can't turn them off!" No mention of fire, thankfully! When I walked in the trailer I told Krl it wasn't the smoke alarm it was the alarm on the stereo! After just a few minutes it was quiet and we were headed to the house. We caught FX extreme and knew who all the winners and losers were and then we went to bed.

I slept like a baby. Don't ask me. Maybe it was pulling the string on the paperwork for Robert, maybe it was then end of the job. Whatever, I am thankful!

When I got up this morning I felt guilty. I thought of all the displaced people from Katrina and Rita and then there I was having enjoyed the best night of sleep I have had in years! I know that often times it is hard as we say "best side" to this scenario is that the more populated areas were spared because people have died, they have suffered loss. For this I am very sorry. I hate for anyone to gain at the expense of others, whether voluntary or not.

I have just returned from Lowe's. Supplies. Someone needs to lock me up. Everytime I go somewhere it seems like I can't get out the door for less that fifty dollars. Downside to this is that until the fall cash flow begins the company can't pay me back. Add to this the possible need to replace the A/C on the travel trailer and it could be tight $$$$$$!

Let's just get serious and get it done. Be the real deal! Bad to the bone!

FATHER, I need some divine intervention. I need YOU to take control. I pray for healing and renewal for Krl and me. I pray for Adam and his men. I pray for Aaron and his job, I pray for Brenda. I pray for Addie, Memama, Pepa, Hag, Bets, B., Lillie, Aimee, Jennifer, Ashlyn Kate, Jess, Dr. Mackie, Jeanine, Verlin, S.T., and KC. I ask YOUR gifts of healing and care for all of them. I pray for those suffering from loss. I ask comfort for them. I pray for all those affected by the hurricanes. I ask for their relief. 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. Restore unto me the joy of my salvation!

Today is in the books. Todo. Complete. No mas, no mas!

As it has turned out, today was my last day at the office up near Anson. It was a difficult day. It began in the office, covering the phones until someone else arrived, then it was up to the fleet shop and my last personal project. The S-10. We flushed the system, replaced the accumulator, compressor and orifice tube. Then we pulled a vacuum on the system and checked for leaks and finally charged it with freon and oil. Now we're chillin'.

Elizabeth, my replacement, had brought bean and roast burritos. KO, Jason and I went to the office and chowed down. It was good! Thanks, Liz. Liz may have much more potential than I ever did!

It was about then that reality began set in. This was it. Last day. It was much more difficult than I had anticipated. Maybe it was instant flashback to the "last day" at the family business, very sad, very somber. Maybe it was leaving an opportunity to get it all right this time. I don't know. What I do know is that I needed that job for my sanity. I appreciate the opportunity and only hope it was as good for them as it was for me. In reality, this wasn't just leaving a job, it was leaving friends and family! I have high hopes and expectations for KO and DO and their business venture. We will meet when I return to see what their situation is at that time.

I realize that everytime one door closes another opens. That is how I am keeping going with this. For the MAN upstairs knows the plans he has for me. And I will be patient to let him reveal it to me as he sees fit.

Today Krl and I succumbed to the family business. It has sucked and pulled us down so long. We fought the good fight and still we lost, even though I took one more swing for the fences with the purchase of a mega million ticket tonight. I spent part of my afternoon off at the court house, on the phone and finishing up our chapter seven bankruptcy petition. Finally I went to Kinko's to copy it and send it to RSt.C by fedex. 109 pages! A short novel. But there was nothing novel about that portion of our lives. Knowing my luck, when I close the book about it, my finger will get slammed in it! Forever changed.

I am sad. And that's all I am going to say about that. For now.

Special thanks to KO, DO, TJ, ES, Little Bill, Margaret, Jr., the Karoke King, and all our drivers. GOD speed and GOD bless! Man, Zip and Lady are going to miss me!

Be the real deal!

FATHER, a little help here please! I ask that YOU lift me, boost me, inspire and motivate me. Lead me on to the next item on YOUR list. I pray for renewal and healing for Krl and me. I pray for those near and dear who are in need of YOUR gifts of healing. I pray for safety for Adam and his men. I pray for relief for the victims of Katrina and Rita. I ask that YOU calm YOUR storms. I pray for those of us struggling to follow YOU. I pray for our spiritual family and our leaders. I pray for the efforts being made to expand YOUR kingdom. Peace be still.

Today was my day. I told KO that this morning. I had to get some things done. My timeline is running short. I can't just take a pencil and extend it a little. When I need to be on the job I need to be on the job.

Yesterday was one of "those" days. It began with us stringing some electric fence on KO's place. They are trying to keep cows and calves off a cultivation patch they would like to sow with wheat. Then I got back to the office in time to go to the fleet shop to install a new driver's door hinge on the little truck. Bad choice. That was an all day sucker. These hinges are so temperamental that when you fit the door the only really good way is to "spring" the door. Five hours later we felt we were as good as we were going to get. End of project. Down side was we didn't get the truck washed.

The day began today with Jason washing the truck down, KO and I acidized the aluminum tanks, saddle bag box and battery box, and then we just kind of gave it a good scrubbing. Finally I left the office with the truck and went to Chillerz to get some diesel. Two hundred fifty dollars later, it had a quarter tank. The amazing thing was this was my second trip there and the first one was for my pickup and cost me sixty dollars. Those folks are going to love me!

Finally I hit the road and went to Anson to get a DOT inspection. Piece of cake! I have the State of Texas' agreement that the little truck is road worthy!

Sporting the new sticker I put it into the wind and headed to Abilene to pickup the company travel trailer and take it to the house so Krl could clean and load it! A little driving professionalism later and we had an enormous task of leveling it. Our Yard rolls off toward the street so rapidly that when we were only approaching level, the low side tires were totally off the ground! KO swears that in eight foot the yard drops two feet! KO is new to the camper/trailer scene so I told him don't do this do what I tell you! Travel trailer 101 was educational for KO.
Luckily Jason was with us and he is young and energetic! Finally we were done and we took a late lunch. Right before we left we discovered that the breaker would not pull the A/C in the trailer so after I went to the office and got my pickup KO came by and we wired a four plug block with a heavy duty breaker directly below the breaker box! I am so glad that KO speaks electricity. I was wiring when he arrived but with him there he could tell me why! I know just enough about electricity to stay away from it, with a little coaching I understand more now!

Finally KO left. He has two trailers to repair before he leaves Abilene tonight. At the office we are covered up. Hurricane Rita is kicking our tails already!

Well. Be the real deal!

FATHER thank YOU for the blessing YOU rain down on us! YOU are indeed good. I am thankful that YOU continue to meet my every need. Glory to YOU! I thank YOU for good friends. I pray that YOU will let the master plan reveal itself to me. Help me to be patient and kind. I ask for healing and renewal for Krl and me. I pray for those in the path of Rita, allow them escape. I pray for those displaced by Katrina. I ask that YOU restore their lives. I pray for Adam and his men. Keep them from harm. I pray for peace. I pray for Aaron in his search for work, place him where YOU intend. I pray for Addie, Memama, Pepa, Hag, Bets, B., Lillie, Aimee, Jennifer, Ashlyn Kate, Jess, Dr. Mackie, Jeanine, Verlin, S.T., Brenda, and for KC. Bless them with YOUR gifts of healing. I pray for those hurting from loss, comfort them. I pray for those of us stumbling as we follow YOU. I pray for our spiritual family and leaders. I pray for the efforts being made to expand YOUR kingdom. Reign in me!

Have you ever had that feeling that you were mired in molasses? That is where I am at right now. Try as I might nothing is coming together as quickly as my brain tells me it should. I have so many small irons in the fire that I can't make all the rounds to push them on through to completion. Patience and tolerance. That's my story and I am sticking to it!

It seems strange but I find myself moving on to stage two of the annual move, and I haven't even completed stage one. I find myself doing mental inventory of what has to be hauled to the jobsite in conjunction with each travel trailer. Propane tank, totes, tools, parts, supplies, whew! Will it ever end. Thankfully Krl has taken the lead in moving stuff back into the trailer. Most of the office records have been stored in one of the spare bedrooms at the house while the majority of supplies have been in a storage building. I can make a stop or two at the storage building and when it is empty I will know the majority of the supplies are moved or in transit. The only other stop is at the farm shop and there are only a few items there.

I got home last evening and mowed the front yard. Then I ran some parts. I suppose one of the benefits to working on a truck is job security. You can work on one (even a new one) until you are blue in the face!

Well, I just got back to my entry, twenty-four hours later. I think I will leave it here. Forever a work in progress.

The list is getting shorter!

Actually the list is completed. #22 is hereby declared battle ready! Bring on the DOT inspection, the seasonal permits. It is done!

We completed the work on the truck this morning. Everything is cherry! Lights, A/C, everything! I am more confident of this truck than I have ever been.

The next part is the painful part. I need to fuel it. SMc thieved the fuel out of it while it was at his house. That is O.K. I know what I put in it to winterize it. Hopefully for him, he countered it with the anecdote, otherwise "hello fuel injection pump repair". I suppose it will be worth the lost fuel if he bites the bullet! $600.00 to fill the truck. Wow!

I plan on running the truck to Anson to get a DOT inspection. This may make it not feasible to take it to Abilene and drag the travel trailer to my house this afternoon. We may have to delay the day one day.

It sure is a good feeling.

One down, one to go. Now to the S-10.

Tommi in the office cooked some food last night for a funeral today, she was thoughtful enough to prepare lunch for everyone in the office as well. King Ranch casserole, spanish rice, and pinto beans. Very good. Thanx Tommi.

We went on an excursion earlier today. Inspected several possible acquisitions. We are doing a package offer and an individual item offer as well. This is one of those delicate situations where you have to be diplomatic in offering a dollar amount, hopeful that you don't insult the current owner. Some of this equipment is old. There is a limited market. Our need is seasonal, but some of the equipment would work for us.

I had not had opportunity to go cross cotton country. There is some cotton out there! And it is popping like pop corn! Gorgeous!

I need to find another gear. Lots to do yet. And time is wasting!

Be the real deal!

FATHER thanks for the productive day yesterday, I pray for a good day today. I ask for continued healing and renewal for Krl and me. I pray for those near and dear who are in need of YOUR gifts of healing. I ask comfort for those hurting from loss. I pray for those of us who struggle to follow YOU. I pray for our spiritual family and for our leaders. I pray for the efforts being made to expand YOUR kingdom. Let YOUR will be my heart's desire.

What a fitful night at out home. We seem to sleep in shifts. I told Krl that we are going to have to hurry to the fall jobsite where we can rest.

I am beginning my Monday in the office, fielding phone calls and making notations on some paysheets for Elizabeth to enter. When D.O. is in the office for the day, I will migrate to the shop and "git dirty".

Krl and I were talking yesterday about how it takes us six or eight months to find our groove after we return home from the fall work, and then we leave to do it all again.

This year I am finding is extremely hard to leave our SS. While I enjoy the church service, SS is more like a small group. One more Sunday and that will probably be it until we return.

Gayla called Krl yesterday, Krl returned the call today. I think some people have a very different idea of what is going on in Krl's and my life. Krl was discussing her health issues with Gayla and Gayla has absolutely no grasp of what is going on. $$$$$. Krl came awful close to telling Gayla "the rest of the story" but stopped just short. I just hope they understand a lot of what is going on after this week.

I am hopeful after this week, things will take on a somewhat better complexion. More later.

Busy busy day at the fleet shop! Almost everything is done on #22. Hopefully we found the problem with the leaky wheel seals and the new bumper gave this truck a whole new personality! What a hottie! I have the dash pulled out and we are chasing down the rogue a/c vent. I am putting one quarter fender on it, some mud-flap edging and then it will go out the door to the wash bay. It felt good to do physical labor, but already my back is aching. It would appear that we remain on track to bring the company trailer to the house Tuesday afternoon to clean and load. Maybe Thursday or Friday, Charles and I can make a run out with two of the company trailers. Another on Monday or Tuesday and the essential components of camp will be in place. It will take at least two loads with my pickup to get all the supply totes hauled.

Miles to go before I sleep and miles to go while I sleep. Go figure! Be the real deal!

FATHER, there is much to do, there is little time. Work through me, use me, guide me. I pray for Krl's and my healng and renewal. I pray for Adam and his men, watch over and keep them. I pray for Kali. I ask YOUR healing and care for Addie, Memama, Pepa, Hag, Bets, B., Lillie, Aimee, Jennifer, Ashlyn Kate, Jess, Dr. Mackie, Jeanine, Verlin, S.T., Brenda, and K.C.. I ask for relief for the victims of Katrina. I pray for comfort for those suffering from loss. I ask that YOU keep those of us who struggle to follow you centered and give us focus. I pray for our spiritual family and for our leaders. I pray for the efforts being made to expand YOUR kingdom. Shout to the LORD!

Ahhh!

Good day today. Church and SS were good. SS attendance seems to really be down. Both Mike in Church and Kurt in SS have chosen the beatitudes as subject matter. Blessed be the ....... . A couple of things I am wondering about. Shellie is no longer the children's minister at Highland. Dickie made the announcement and said if you wanted more information talk with an Elder. Now is that mysterious or what. Jim left in May and now Shellie. Also Val had blogged and included the worship order with him as leader. He wasn't. I hope nothing is wrong with him or his family.

Lots going on the next couple of weeks. Our SS class is supposed to participate in a "pot luck" lunch next Sunday with the "Inner City" class across the hallway and Joe Almanza's class around the corner. The other two classes have been told they can invite anyone they want, even if they can't bring food. Our class has been designated as the food provider, which may be a problem because we only had eight in class today. I don't know where everyone else was at.

The other activity scheduled is hosting the Oasis meal September 28 with the Library class. Spaghetti and meatballs! Yuk! Out of all the meals I have helped with, I think this one is the most "labor intense". Last time we had one of the young "inner city" children come and he wanted to help serve. Buzzy set him up with apron, plastic gloves and all and the boy did good for a while. A group of his friends came by and he wanted to fix himself a plate to eat with them. All meatballs. No pasta, no sauce. Just a couple of minutes after he left, we got a report of him throwing meatballs in the gym! He was chunking them at his friends! His plate was confiscated and he was reprimanded. Heh. Never a dull moment. I signed up with the qualification that I would help as long as I was in town.

The next thing going on in SS was the sign up for the wall of prayer. We were given opportunity to sign up and pray for some specific high school students (which will be assigned) for the next four years. I don't know if we are behind everyone else signing up or if we are ahead. I signed Krl and I up and we were the only two to sign up today.

Gayla is wanting Krl to attend women's Bible study with her Tuesday before we leave town for the fall work. I heard Krl's cell phone tone and there was a missed call. All right, I confess I got on the computer and did a reverse lookup and it was Gayla.

Buzzy and Carolyn want to come to St. Lawrence to see what we do and where we do it. I really like them. FYI, their son Adam and his men deployed at three in the morning Saturday and are on the ground in Iraq. Adam has asked for continued prayers on his and his men's behalf. One of their other sons Aaron, continues to seek a job in Fort Worth. He interviews with Fedex Tuesday I believe. His wife Brenda continues to struggle with her health issues. They have asked for prayers placing him in a job that has some benefits.

My plan is to begin the Monday out of the office, working on Trc's truck. Finally all the parts are in for what we have started. The only other immediate projects I would like to do is get the extreme left hand a/c outlet blowing, I think it is just a disconnected hose, and lastly to replace the hinge pins in the doors. The new door gaskets worked wonders, I just think this would be a little preventative maintenance. These trucks could be making between a thousand and fifteen hundred runs over the next four or five months. Multiply that by four openings and closings per trip and that's a lot of times.

This week my office time should be on an "as needed basis". Elizabeth had a pretty good first week, and it was at one of the most difficult times she could have started. By Tuesday evening late, I hope to have the company travel trailer in my front yard at the house. Not on the street, not on the side. In my front yard. This trailer is so long (thirty-eight feet) it won't fit in my steeply slanted driveway, with double slide outs it isn't feasible to put it on the street because either the steps or the slide outs would protrude into the street. I hope to see my neighbors to either side to make sure they don't have a problem with this. It should be for just a short span allowing Krl to clean it, for me to pull the washer/dryer out to take to the repair shop, and for Krl and I to load all our stuff. By late next week I expect to have at least two of the three trailers on the jobsite.

$2.639. That's what I paid for gas today. I had just been nickel and dime-ing gas hoping that it would continue to come down. Today I felt comfortable enough to put in $40.00 worth (and that still didn't fill the tank). Gasoline sure isn't coming down as quickly as it went up is it? What is wrong with this picture. Get in front of the wave before it gets to you and then ride it until the last ripple is done.

Well, hope your weekend was good. Be the real deal!

FATHER thank YOU for everything. I pray for a blessed week. I ask for continued healing and renewal for Krl and I. I pray for Adam and his men, keep them safe. I pray for the Hurricane victims, give them relief. I pray for Kali and her situation. I ask YOUR gifts of healing and care for Addie, Memama, Pepa, Hag, Bets,. B., Lillie, Aimee, Jennifer, Ashlyn Kate, Jess, Dr. Mackie, Jeanine, Verlin, S.T., Brenda, and K.C.. I ask YOUR comfort for those suffering from loss. I pray for those of us who struggle in our walk with YOU, keep us centered. I pray for our spiritual family and for our leaders. I pray for the efforts being made to expand YOUR kingdom. YOUR will, YOUR way!

Well, this was a long week. Work was pretty laid back, I didn't realize teaching was such a breeze! Next best thing to being retired. Only thing was, everyday was a long one. A couple of six o'clock days as well as one five thirty. Add to this our quarterly safety meeting this morning that we had been postponing since Hurricane Katrina and the FEMA water move and the week was extra extra long.

When I came home yesterday, I stopped by the grocery store and picked up supplies to make not a double recipe of my famous breakfast casserole, but a double double. Four times the recipe. Thirty-two eggs, four pounds of breakfast sausage, eight cups of cheese, four cans of chopped green chilies, and a loaf and a half of bread. When I walked in the door I began working to put it all together to chill overnight.

Kali came by. She was loaded and headed to Angelo. Yesterday was her last day at Star. I can't help but feel like it is a mistake. No reason for rushed decisions. Krl and I had told her that we would be leaving in the next couple of weeks and she and Addie could have the house all to themselves until we returned in January or February. Rent free, utility free,....... It would have sounded good to me. She just wanted out of the same town as "Lump". We did talk with Addie while Kali was at our house.

We got Kali off and Krl and I went back to work cooking sausage and mixing components. I finally took a break and made a dash for Corleys to pick up some truck parts. By the time I got back Krl had one of the recipes ready to complete construction and I began on the next batch.

This morning I got up about five-thirty and turned the oven on, greased some casserole dishes and stirred and poured the mixture into them and began the baking. It was almost eight o'clock when the last one came out of the oven. The safety meeting was to begin at ten so I had time to grab a bath and shave before loading up my truck. I arrived at the office thirty minutes early for the meeting. Just right to get everything set up.

The safety meeting was short and sweet. This is one of those things that sure looks good to insurance companies. We were also using it to adopt new procedures and policy and also to present some rewards for superior performance. All together we gave seven awards. Some were gift certificates, some were cash, some were supplies. The rewards program went over really well.

While we were meeting I took a phone call from CC&S asking us to cover some more weekend FEMA water can loads. Yesterday they had talked to us and they couldn't work around our meeting so they secured another carrier to take today's loads. That carrier never showed and when our meeting was over we had several truckers leaving to make runs to Irving for FEMA and we have four more loads scheduled for tomorrow. We are sure getting a lot of feathers in our caps because we seem to be the only dependable carrier working with the FEMA effort to fill cans with water. It still amazes me that this all began working with two of America's corporate giants. The big two and then us. Wow.

I've finished the Saturday chores. I think they need to close all the grocery stores west of Winter's Freeway and on Buffalo Gap Road. It seems that everytime I go to the store I end up getting mad and going to United on fourteenth!

I couldn't find Miami and Clemson on the tube so I keep going on line and watching the box score. Kirb has one rush for two yards and no pass attempts last time I looked. He may have to take a shower after this game! Just kidding. His time will come.

The Plowboys won and it would appear Brownwood didn't return for the second half. The Eagles need to put a complete game together to ease some supporter's minds. SW has to be concerned.

Well, be the real deal!

FATHER, rest me well and rest me quickly. I continue to ask for relief and healing for me and Krl. I ask for safety for Adam and his men. I pray for those near and dear who are in need of YOUR gifts of healing. I pray for those hurting from loss and ask YOUR comfort for them. I pray for those of us who are struggling to follow you. I pray for our spiritual family and for our leaders. I pray for the efforts being made to expand YOUR kingdom. Rain down YOUR goodness.

O.K., I warned you. When my brain starts rattling you better run. Like now! 5, 4, 3, 2, .....

Too late.

Why does GOD let bad things happen? An age old question. Cancer, disease, hurricanes, ethnic cleansing, war, accidents, famines, disabilities, the list could go on and on.

The best spin I can put on this is "we" (as in mankind) messed up. Adam and Eve had a pretty good gig going until they began to think and try to expand the parameters GOD gave them, then the "tilt" flashed across the gameboard marquee and they forfeited it all. For all of us. GOD set this universe into motion, and being the perfect gamemaster he is, enabled that motion to perpetuate itself. The bad things that happen are not the result of GOD's plan, but man's imperfection.

Being the good and passionate GOD that he is, GOD allows us a consolation bracket. This second opportunity to enjoy GOD's perfection is made possible through Jesus. GOD loves us so much that he was willing to sacrifice HIS SON to allow us an opportunity for redemption. The rules are more stringent, the reward is not immediate nor will there ever be heaven on this earth (as in Eden). The true reward is in the after life. Eternally. Any reward we enjoy on this earth is a "fringe" benefit.

Probably the most difficult thing for me to come to terms with has been the fact that no matter how "good" we try to live on this earth, it would never meet the criteria to qualify for GOD's eternal reward. At times I have almost thrown in the towel. Kind of like "why even bother". I have struggled with this. I think part of it is the result of some of the fire and brimstone teachings I was exposed to growing up. I continue to try to grasp a GOD of love instead of a GOD of damnation. I was raised a "fear factor Chrisitan" (fear the possible repercusions) instead of a "be all you can be Christian".

My consolation bracket is all about qualifying for GOD's GRACE and MERCY. Because it is GOD's goodness and love that will get me to the end.

Often times I will look around and see someone and just be amazed at their faith. They just seem to bubble over with Godliness, and then I wonder what is wrong with me. Then I see others like me who struggle but even more so. Maybe it's about direction.

How does someone like Mike Cope engage those at the bubbly end of the spectrum without alienating or discouraging those who have only begun to fiz. How does the leadership tend a flock that has such a wide array of need.

What I think is happening is somewhat similar to career paths. We all aren't doctors or lawyers, many of us are menial laborers. But we all contribute. Maybe that is the way our Christianity roles are. There are those who bubble over who continue to grow and flourish and provide hope and goal to many of us who struggle. Maybe there are ministers and church leaders whose role is to "shake our bottles" until the fiz stops and the bubbly flows.

Its all about letting the goodness inside flow outward.

I am glad that our GOD is a GOD of LOVE, of MERCY, and of GRACE, who cares enough to allow me multiple chances to accept his offer. I too am thankful that he is a GOD of FORGIVENESS because I must be a bitter disappointment requiring "do-overs" time and time again.

I think I would like to see a series, in classroom or worship "And Grace has set YOU free!"

YOU can't say I didn't warn you. Who knows, I may read this tomorrow afternoon and be shocked at what I wrote. Maybe instead of beginning to flow I am beginning to fiz out. Today's subject may be an opportunity of correction for blogs to come. Maybe I needed to purge my soul a little.

Be the real deal.

FATHER, I need YOU. Fill us with YOU and YOUR goodness. Let us spread that goodness in our lives. I am thankful for YOUR love and mercy and for the opportunities of grace YOU give us. Help me not to focus on how unworthy I am, but to work with what YOU present me with. FATHER I continue to pray for healing and renewal for Krl and me. I pray for Adam and his men, I ask for their safety and care. I pray for Kali. FATHER, I pray for Addie, Memama, Pepa, Hag, Bets, B., Lillie, Aimee, Jennifer, Ashlyn Kate, Jess, Dr. Mackie, Jeanine, Verlin, S.T., Brenda, and K.C.. I ask YOUR miracle of healing and care for them. I ask YOUR comfort for those who are heavy hearted from loss. I pray for those of us who stumble as we try to follow YOU. I pray for our spiritual family and for our leaders. I pray for the efforts being made to expand YOUR kingdom. Mold me and make me.

Downhill side of the week! Yeehaw!

Thursday could have been one of those days that you could have left out the h and the s from spelling the day. It was a little crazy. It seemed like everything that happened was just a little out of the ordinary. Example; we have one lease operator who is down today because his left signal light doesn't work. ????? This makes two days in the last two weeks he has had this problem. Either it wasn't fixed the first time or he has been running without it. It would appear this driver does none of his maintenance on the weekends............ . Maybe I should refer a new mechanic. If this truck doesn't get going for the Friday run we will know he just wanted a long weekend. Tsk tsk. I guess I am expecting the worst.

Had a call from my South Texas boys yesterday. They are ready to come West Texas for their seasonal work. Gilbert called for himself, his dad Adan, and his uncle Lino. These guys are real truckers. I never hear from them, they just tend to business, back and forth. Never a complaint. I think if I had six truckers like these that would be all I need. As it is I will have to have nine. I would rather them be safe and not run to the point of exhaustion. It's going to be a long season. Pacing. Run the smart race, be there at the end.

This morning I talked with Goose, another of my truckers and he was off loading in Arizona. His truck is going in the shop Monday morning for a major in-frame over haul. Pistons, liners, and bearings. It should come out of the shop just in time for the fall work.

Heh, heh! The team is coming together. I am hearing the fall work will probably be starting the week of the third of October. "Let's git 'er done!"

I have been kicking around several different scenarios in my head. I hope to get them in order enough to put them in my blog in the near future. Right now I am still organizing.

Well, have a day! Be the real deal!

FATHER, please carry me through the end of this week. Help me to be productive, help me to be fair. Be with me as I put together the Fall program. FATHER, I pray for continued healing and renewal for Krl and I. I pray for safety for Adam and his men. I pray for Makai. I ask YOUR gifts of healing for Addie, Memama, Pepa, Hag, Bet's, B., Lillie, Aimee, Jennifer, Ashlyn Kate, Jess, Dr. Mackie, Jeanine, Verlin, S.T., K.C., and Brenda. I ask YOUR comfort for those hurting from loss. I pray for focus for those of us who struggle as we try to follow YOU. I pray for our spiritual family and our leaders. I pray for the efforts being made to expand YOUR kingdom. I give it all to YOU. Use me.

Yesterday was a long but enjoyable Tuesday.

The day began at the office, looking over the spreadsheets and the work that Elizabeth (my replacement) had done on Monday. Good job. Only one minor mistake, I think she will do very well. I had loaded fuel purchases but waited on her to arrive before tackling any driver settlements or payables. I gave her a brief overview of our intentions with the spreadsheet and threw her to the wolves. My Monday was spent in and out of the office and I was never more than a quarter mile away (at the fleet shop). Tuesday I demonstrated one lease operator settlement, supervised her downloading the fuel reports and walked out the door for the day.

KO and I went to the metropolis of Roscoe, Texas. Hagerman Automotive's Grand Opening! We were running a little late so we cut through the country and when we arrived we discovered a beehive of activity. NAPA had two large trucks sitting on the northside of the business and in the parking lot had set up displays of a small fraction of their wares. An army of NAPA personnel were on hand as they were having a big tool sale as part of the promotion. Roscoe is a small rural community and it doesn't take a whole lot to create a stir, but this small town was buzzing!

Chris had flown in from Arkansas and was fitting nicely in the role of entrepreneur. That small business administration class is paying off. He was in the middle of it all, selling, invoicing, and hobnobbing. Pat and Steve were both occupied with pulling off the noon meal. Grilled hamburgers, hot dogs and all the trimmings The Grand Opening was an event in itself but in Roscoe, throw in a free meal and it is a real happening! Excellent attendance, a top notch day for the new enterprise.

After two and a half hours KO and I tallied out at the counter and made our way to the pickup. We headed east with one more stop before driving to Abilene. Recently KO had seen an advertisement in American Classifieds about a mobile wash unit for sale. I had made the calls and retrieved the basic info and KO felt it was worth a stop and look. I made the call and arranged for the gentleman to meet us at his building in Sweetwater. We killed some time getting gas and finally parked at the front of the address. When the seller drove up KO and I got out and looked like "pros", we were armed with a portable battery pack as we walked through the door. After a thorough look, we hooked up the battery pack and KO fired the engine up. Smooth. Once we started the power plant, a leak was revealed on the pump manifold and we were unable to get the diesel burner to ignite. Both of these could be costly to repair, especially if they were the victim of improper winterization. I thought KO was going to walk right then. The seller must have anticipated this possibility because he immediately began modifying his asking price. It must have been a hundred fifty degrees in this building and here were two misers haggling.

"I'd make concessions if I can keep my trailer", the seller said.

KO replied, "Fine, I don't want your trailer."

"How much do you think my trailer is worth", asked the seller.

On and on it went. Finally they were two hundred dollars apart and I was approaching meltdown. I told them "Just meet in the middle and be done". They did and they were. KO made the deal, trailer and all. I drove into the building and we hooked it up. In the end KO had purchased the portable washer for less that fifty percent of the advertised price and he had assumed the "what ifs" of making it operational. The next couple of days will determine if this was a value buy! It definitely has potential.

After airing the trailer tires at a local convenience store, KO and headed east to Abilene. We had a short list of things to do, the most pressing of which was to pick up KO's four year old son. We fielded a couple of phone calls, truck drivers with problems, made a stop in Northwest Abilene to assess a trailer problem, went to West Abilene to pick up Justin and just made it all the way across Abilene to Ogburn's to retrieve trailer parts at five o'clock straight up. One more stop at Corley's (which was a dry run because the didn't have what we needed) and we had invested another hour in the day. KO was on and off the phone trying to save me the drive back to the office (forty-six mile roundtrip) and we headed to the Better Burger. The way things worked, LO was going to get to go home early, a rare treat, and KO and Justin were going to ride with him. We switched the mobile pressure washer over to LO's pickup and I began making my way to South Abilene and home.

Over all, a good day. Laid back. Almost fun.

Hump day! What will it hold. Surely some office time. More checking of Elizabeth's work. I expect a question and answer session. I figure a couple of trips to the shop at least. We gave Jason a pretty full plate of chores yesterday. There might even be some trailer repairs. We have three with issues. I know of some parts requisitions needing to be made in the metroplex from one of our suppliers. I need to follow up on some equipment availability and pricing. Lots of variety in today.

Well, "Let's git 'er done!" Be the real deal!

FATHER, thank YOU for the good day yesterday. I pray for the success of Chris's business, I am thankful for the support shown by the community. I pray for Chris's safe travel back to Little Rock to finish school. I pray for a blessed day. FATHER, I ask for continued healing and renewal for Krl and me. I ask for relief for her. FATHER, I pray for Adam's platoon in Iraq. I ask for their safety and guidance. Let them be beacons of goodness in a trying situation. I continue to pray for Kali and her situation. I pray for Addie, Memama, Pepa, Hag, Bets, B., Lillie, Aimee, Ashlyn Kate, Jess, Dr. Mackie, Jeanine, Verlin, S.T., Brenda, and Gran. I ask that YOU fill their needs of healing and relief. I pray for those sad and heavy hearted with grief. I ask comfort for them. I pray for those of us who struggle to follow YOU. Keep us centered. I pray for our spiritual family and our leaders. I pray for the efforts being made to expand YOUR kingdom. YOU give me strength.

This past Sunday in Sunday School, Terry, our sponsoring elder in the class told us of an interesting gathering during the week prior. He told us of a gathering of seventy or eighty men, elders and church leaders from various churches across town who gathered on the twentieth floor of the Musgrave Tower. Once there they were divided into eight groups. There were eight stations placed around the perimeter overlooking every section of town. One station was directed to the south and Hendrick Home for Children, Ben Richey Boy's Ranch and Abilene Regional Hospital could be seen. Other stations could see McMurry, Hardin-Simmons, ACU, Dyess, High Schools, Middle Schools, Elementary Schools, churches, businesses and an abundance of family dwellings. These men spent a couple of hours rotating from station to station praying for those in each area.

Powerful.

I really love Southern Hills Church new marquee sign. Of late they have had a message advertising an upcoming day of prayer and the immediate next screen flashes the statement "We want to pray for you." The sign is located on Buffalo Gap. High impact area due to traffic. High impact message.

Terry told us the story of an Elders meeting at Highland following the January accident which took the life of one Highland youth and seriously injured several others. He told us that at that meeting many of the Elders from Southern Hills came to pray over and with the Elders from Highland.

I think I like what is going on in our community. Reaching out, crossing over lines of preferences, caring, loving, ministering.

I am thankful for these devout men.

Be the real deal!

FATHER, thank YOU for these spiritual leaders. Thank YOU for their leadership, for their strength, for their vision, for their direction. Bless them and guide them. FATHER I pray for continued healing and renewal for Krl and myself. I ask YOUR gifts of healing for Addie, Memama, Pepa, Hag, Bets, B., Lillie, Aimee, Jennifer, Ashlyn Kate, Jess, Dr. Mackie, Jeanine, Verlin, S.T., and Brenda. I pray for guidance for Kali as she makes difficult decisions and also for Aaron as he seeks employment. FATHER I pray for all those suffering and displaced from the hurricane. I ask for relief for them. FATHER I pray for those who are heavy hearted with loss. Please comfort them. I pray for focus for those of us who struggle as we try to follow YOU. I pray for our spiritual family. I pray for the efforts being made to expand YOUR kingdom. Watching over me.

I took Sunday off from the blog world. I just didn't have it in me.

I did make it to early church and SS. I didn't feel one hundred percent but I went. I was glad I did. It was kind of a different worship service. Wayne led and his praise team consisted of two other praise team leaders. I guess it would kind of be like all stars! There was a special musical presentation that was very good, Mike's lesson was on "bless-ed are the meek". And that's all I have to say about that. (You would have had to been there to understand that last part).

Lately in SS we have had a hard time getting to the lesson. I suppose this is one of the things I really like about the class. While I appreciate Kurt and Terry's preparations, sometimes I think that the most moving class time is very impromptu. We usually have a class concerns time when members can tell the class about prayer needs and problems, or to tell others how GOD is working in their lives. Yesterday was one of those classes that made you very glad to have been there and been a part of it. It pricked our hearts.

Buzzy and Carolyn are two of the kindest, sweetest people I have ever met. They are very soft spoken, very GODLY people. The brought to the class yesterday a letter from their son Adam, who is in Camp Lejeune N.C., preparing to ship out to Iraq. It was a very moving letter.

Adam is a 2nd Lt. and his letter asked for prayers "Before I set foot on Iraqi soil I want to be sure that the army of the LORD is going before me and my men". He went on to express concern for the safety of all his men as well as concern for their spiritual situations. He shared that his prayer for himself and his men was that of Psalm 91 "The Warrior's Prayer". Adam went on to list all the men in his platoon, asking that we pray for them specifically. I would like to forward this list to my blog readers as ask that you too join in our prayers for them. Their info is as follows:
2nd Battallion /Sixth Marines/ Golf Company ("G"ods Co)/ 1st Platoon
2nd Lt. Adam Andress
Ssgt. Travis Twigg
Sgt. Correnio
Cpl Beaudette, Cpl Sebastian, Cpl Buchman,
Cpl Bailey, LCpl Cummings, Cpl Cumberland,
Cpl Buck, LCpl Eckfield, Cpl Braunius,
Pfc Evans, LCpl Didio,
LCpl Kremm, LCpl Underwood, LCpl Blair,
LCpl Kuhnen, LCpl Zietz, Pfc Burbank,
Pfc Hurst, Pfc Doyle, Pfc Toothman,
Pfc Jobst, Pfc Ellison,
Cpl Pilkey, Cpl Clouse, LCpl Olds,
Cpl Fernandez, Pfc Martin, Pfc Mckinney,
LCpl Lunsford, LCpl Guthrie, Pfc Demi,
Pfc Deschner, LCpl Cheney

Adam and his men will be deployed between the 16th and 19th of this month. They will be operating in the city of Fallujah and the surrounding rural areas. Pray for all of them as well as Adam's leadership. Please include Buzzy and Carolyn in your petitions. The letter from Adam is quite a tribute to his Mom and Dad.

I am feverish. I go from chilled to hot sweats. Out of antibiotics. I hope I don't lose too much ground to this cold and flu. My day was changed a little late yesterday. KO called me telling me that he was going to be out of the office on a truck. (He is delivering water to Fort Hood). He is giving our new employee, Jason, to me to work on the day cab. The first stage of this should be a lot of washing and steam cleaning. We will throw the hood over and give it a good cleaning. Then we will get it in the shop and go to work. Wheel seals, oiler gaskets, fan clutch, bumper, door seals.

I am in hopes that we can get our outside work done quickly and get inside, one of the meds I am still taking calls for staying out of direct sunlight. I never put much faith in such a warning until this flu. I can get in the sun and it just zaps me.

I have a new girl coming in today that I am supposed to train to do the spreadsheets in my absence. She actually worked here once before but moved away and is now back again. She was in billing and fuel taxes so this will be something different for her and yet is should be good that she can fill in where she is needed. It may be difficult to do much training today if I am splitting my day between the office and the fleet shop.

Well, let's "git 'er done". Be the real deal.

FATHER, Thank YOU for all the blessings YOU pour out. FATHER I pray for healing and renewal for myself and for Krl. I pray for a blessed day and week. FATHER I lift up Adam and his platoon for YOUR blessing and care. Protect and keep them. I pray for Kali as she makes difficult decisions. I pray for Addie, Memama, Pepa, Hag, Bets, B., Lillie, Aimee, Jennifer, Ashlyn Kate, Jess, Dr. Mackie, Jeanine, Verlin, S.T., Shad, and Brenda, I ask YOUR gifts of healing for them. I pray for Aaron as he seeks a job in Fort Worth, put him where you intend. Father I pray for those hurting and suffering from loss. I ask YOUR comfort for them. I pray for those of us who stumble as we try to follow YOU. Keep us centered and focused. I pray for our spiritual family and our leaders. I pray for the efforts being made to expand YOUR kingdom. Praise be to YOUR name.

Whew! I slept like a rock. That is the absolute most sleep I have gotten in one stretch in years and years. Close to eleven hours. I could still be in there catnapping but I know it would bother Krl's rest. I knew this summer flu had drained me but I had no idea how much. I took my meds last evening, and went to sleep. Ah!

Add one more casualty to Katrina's aftermath. Michael Brown. The Homeland Security Chief replaced him with a Coast Guard Officer to head up FEMA's relief efforts. George Dumbya Bush's approval rating is in the toilet. Criticism continues.

You know what I would like to see. I would like to see George Dumbya say "Hey, we messed up. There were problems. We plan on doing better. You elected me as your leader and ultimately the buck stops here. I'm sorry. This thing is big, really big. The biggest natural disaster to ever hit our country. The need is tremendous. Help is on the way. We must learn from this and never again fail to react quickly to the needs of people devastated by circumstances beyond their control."

There has been so much finger pointing. "State and local governments have always been in charge of relief efforts, Federal government is just there to assist." How would you like to be the county commissioner or parish president with a budget of only a few million dollars facing a multi-billion dollar disaster? Doesn't make sense to me. Federal budget cuts contributed to the failure of the levee's protecting New Orleans. They knew anything over a level 3 storm would result in devastation. "Shhh, If we don't say it outloud it won't be real." Now there are people living the results and those results are very, very, real. Sad part is, the people affected are not the same ones who made the decisions. Where is the justice.

Probably the biggest problem I have had with all the post Katrina happenings is that everyone became so obsessed with New Orleans that other areas of need did not receive appropriate response. In actuality, Katrina could not have targeted a group or area as a whole, that is more ill-equipped to rebuild their lives. Two of the lowest median income states in our Nation of plenty.

Now, what makes me proud. American's have been quick to open their homes, their hearts, and their wallets to those devastated by Katrina. Never before have we seen this level of giving. I get to thinking about the small paltry amount Krl and I have been able to donate individually and it doesn't seem like much. Multiply that by the vast number of American's in similar situations and the totals become astronomical. A common bond. A common goal.

At the office we have continued to be over run with opportunities. It all began with truckloads of water to be shipped into Louisiana and outlying areas as their inventory was quickly mover closer to the center of the disaster. We have had multiple calls from churches and organizations asking us to take clothes, and supplies to Houston. Some of these have been totally volunteer, some have been for equipment donation with fuel reimbursement. Our biggest problem has been scheduling. We have been committed to the water transfer with every available unit. In fact even today we have FEMA water cans being shipped with ten additional loads toward the metroplex. We ended up canceling our quarterly driver's safety meeting to make equipment available. Only two of our group failed to volunteer. Not surprisingly, it is two of the same people from last week.

Hopefully Krl's and my weekend will be filled with rest and recuperation. Shadow continues to suffer with us, but that is much better than the alternative. I am fixing to have to requisition more antibiotic. It goes quickly when there are multiple users.

When I am out of the office and on the jobsite, I love to wear the popular "pocket T's". Krl had seen where the local outlet for a large chain had their shirts on sale, which was really good because I have great need for them. We made a quick run through the store and a clerk showed us to the "pocket T" table and Krl began loading up. When we got home she was complaining about how the young checker had "stuffed" the shirts into the sack and she began to get them out. It was only then that she noticed that only a fraction of the shirts from the display were "pocket T's". She was miffed. Looks like another trip there today. My money is on the ultra-lightweight I live with!

Currently I am waiting on a call from my main man forklift operator from the fall work. A few weeks ago he had called wanting to borrow some money as he was having difficulty securing a summer job. I got approval from above me and I got a money order and mailed it to him. I had sent him an insurance check to this same address and he got it, but for some reason the USPS returned the letter with the money order, not once, but multiple times. He failed to call me and I cannot make any number he has given me work. As luck would have it he called yesterday. He is no longer in South Texas, he is in Central Mexico. I told him about the returned money order and he was not upset. Maybe he left before it got there. Anyhow, he asked me to get a refund and find a Moneygram outlet to send his money. Suprisingly, the money order was not difficult to convert back to cash. The biggest problem there was they wanted to sent it by Western Union when there are no Western Union outlets nearby for him to redeem it. Finally I left with his cash and went to a nearby Moneygram station. This was a first for me. It had been years since I had wired money, and I guess that was before Moneygram.

The way this worked was pretty interesting. You pick up a phone, make your language request, and begin. It went about three stages into the program before an operator picked up. Operator #718, Wendy. She was good. I explained I was a rookie and she walked me through it. It had taken me fifteen minutes to write down the city, town, state, and country at the office but Wendy got it first time (and with correct spelling!). I quickly gave her the individual information, she gave me a number, a transaction fee, a total fee, the exchange rate and told me to go to the cashier. I gave the cashier the transaction number and the appropriate cash and she gave me a receipt two feet long with a reference number. Today when my man calls I will give him the number and he will go to an outlet and pick up his money. Slick.

This is a very common transaction for the many seasonal workers coming from South of the border as they send money home quite regularly. My boundaries continue to expand.

I have rambled quite enough. Let's "git 'er done!" Be the real deal.

FATHER, thank YOU for seeing us through the week. YOU continue to meet our every need. FATHER, I continue to ask for your blessings on all those suffering in the aftermath of the hurricane. Be with those displaced, those that lost everything, those that lost love ones. FATHER give them that glimmer of hope of things to come. I pray for all the relief workers and their efforts, I pray for all those who have donated time, money and supplies. May we always be a compassionate people. FATHER, let us allow YOU to shine through us as we try to aid others. FATHER, I continue to ask for relief and healing. I pray for Krl that YOU heal her and renew her. I pray for Addie, Memama, Pepa, Hag, Bets, B., Lillie, Aimee, Jennifer, Ashylyn Kate, Jess, Dr. Mackie, Jeanine, Verlin, S.T., Brenda, and Shadow. I ask YOUR care and healing for them. I pray for Kali. I pray for those hurting and suffering from loss. I pray for their comfort. 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 to expand YOUR kingdom. It only takes a spark.

Finally Friday!!

Thankfully. ''Cuz I am a whupped puppy. The frantic work week and the summer flu were just about the one two punch that did me in. Put me on the mat. Stick a fork in me. Calf rope! Uncle!

My Friday begins with breakfast at La Popular Bakery on the northside. Two weeks ago KB, GS and myself were to test drive a breakfast gathering of the men of our Sunday School class. KB and myself made it, GS was out of town. We thought it had potential, especially for one's like me who work out of town and cannot make lunch. KB expanded the invitation to the entire class this week. His e-mails say we have had good response. We will see. This is a good group of guys, I always enjoy it when we get together.

Things got wild at the office yesterday afternoon. I began to try to leave and it took me an hour and a half to make it out the door. Our core customer called wanting water hauled to Fort Hood Monday and Tuesday. Six loads worth. I would imagine any stock they had on hand has been forwarded to the relief efforts. We received an e-mail from the Dallas office of the core customer lamenting the problems they were encountering in finding trucks willing to go into the Katrina aftermath. Now they are offering demurrage pay for trucks to go in and not spaz about how quickly they get back out. Lots of infrastructure is having to be rebuilt. It is ironic that what began as a volunteer effort now has become an opportunity. The first weeks worth of loads were sent down there with eyes wide open and no-one expecting anything for their time or equipment, and only a hope for a fuel stipend. Now the core customer has made it clear that any loads sent by them down there will be paid loads. Don't tell me that you won't be rewarded for your goodness! Final problem of the day was the daily credit line on the fuel cards, Last week DO had increased the number of days each week that the card drafts the fuel account but they didn't increase the daily amount. This two seventy-something a gallon fuel price and two or three hundred gallons per filling multiplied across the fleet equals lots of dollars. As luck would have it DO was out of the office but I was able to reach her on the phone and hand the problem off to her. I spent the rest of my afternoon talking to drivers at fuel desks waiting for their transactions to clear.

Krl gave me an of errand to run on my way home, which ended up being a major ordeal. Two little twits at the Buffalo Gap United don't make one adequate customer service person. (Three twits might equal one decent service rep). A few extra miles and I had dodged the bullet and had Krl's request in hand.

I got home and Krl's first words to me were "We are losing him." Immediately I knew who she was talking about. Bink, Dough, Shad, Shadow, Old Man, McGoo. He lay in front on my chair. Lethargic. I kept watching him and finally told Krl "He has the same flu as I do. We got him some aspirin and some antibiotic and by "pup corn" time he was ready to participate. Slow, but ready. This morning he was asleep beside my bed and I reluctantly reached town to check on him. What a relief to find that he is still with us! Twelve years old. Now sporting curly poodle hair that is more gray than black in color.

It appears our driver's safety meeting is still on for Saturday. We are having to juggle the time to accommodate customer requests for early deliveries. I have been working on the totals for some of the awards that are performance based. DO has been on the phone polling customers for our customer choice award. Most customers think this is a good idea. Awarding the driver who is most cooperative with our customers. We had one customer that told us it didn't matter what we did, it would never change the way some of our drivers are. A guy has to try.

At noon today, KO and Do are attending a luncheon welcoming a new guy to the core customer's traffic division in Abilene. Talk about luck, this is the same guy who we worked with at Fort Worth. We already have a good working relationship with him. OBTI is paying for the lunch meal. KO is having a conniption fit. $$$$$$$$!

Well, let's do it! "Git 'er done!" Be the real deal!

FATHER, thank YOU for continued healing. I ask for a blessed day. I am thankful for the opportunities that YOU continue to present. Help me to be fair and considerate in my selections. I pray for Krl and ask for her healing and renewal. I pray for Addie, Memama, Pepa, Hag, Bets, B., Lillie, Aimee, Jennifer, Ashlyn Kate, Jess, Dr. Mackie, Jeanine, Verline, S.T., Brenda and Shad. I ask YOUR miracle of healing for them all. I pray for those sad and hurting from loss. I ask YOUR comfort and care for them. I pray for those of us who are struggling to follow YOU. I pray for our spiritual family and our leaders. I pray for the efforts being made to expand YOUR kingdom. FATHER I ask special blessings and YOUR care for all the victims of the hurricane. Bless the relief efforts and the relief workers. LORD, reign in us!

Maybe, just maybe, I will survive this flu.

I am somewhat better. Thankfully. I am very serious about my meds though.

I cannot believe that I have just been out of the office for the holiday and Tuesday and I got so far behind. Of course it doesn't help when trucks ran all through the weekend and Labor Day. It's been a bust butt Wednesday and the same thing on tap for Thursday before we hit Friday and begin the cycle all over again. I am already dreading this Friday because with the pay being held a week back it will be a pay period that covers the end of August and the beginning of September. Lots of breaking out to do. Friday and Monday would really be good days for whoever is taking over the spreadsheets to be looking over my shoulder. I may be a better instructor as do what I do, not what I say!

Today we have trucks scattered from West Texas to Southern Louisiana. It would appear that we may be making regular runs to the hurricane areas. So far our every load in there has been bottled water. We received a call yesterday from CC&S and they gave us another day of cans for Saturday delivery. These will be for the FEMA water like what we did this past Sunday and Monday. It doesn't appear any of this will be letting up in the near future. Lots of need.

We received a call for from Helping Hands International looking for help moving donated goods to Houston. They will reimburse fuel. We took their info but for the moment every extra truck we have seems to be going on water transfers toward the hurrican area.

We have a quarterly drivers meeting Saturday morning. We are having to do some last minute re-arranging in order to get our Saturday "can" load drivers back. Originally we had scheduled it for nine but now it is looking more like ten or ten thirty. We were going to do a kind of brunch deal but that may all change. DO had commissioned me to whip up my famous breakfast casserole for the main course. I am going to have to "super size" it because I know how much a truck driver can eat when it is free! We are continuing to put together the awards that will be presented at the meeting.

KO and I are planning on attending Hagerman Automotive NAPA Store's grand opening and tool sale Tuesday. We are going to look around and eat free barbecue. Chris is flying in from Little Rock for the event and also for an eye appointment. Hopefully when he returns he will only lack about one more week of his schooling. I know that this may be a tough deal for him. He sure seems to have flourished there. The thing that may make it a little easier is that several of his good friends have recently graduated. Shelby is already moving in the Main Street bachelor pad. These will be two of the three muskateers. These two along with Kirby are all within just a few months of each other in age. It should be an interesting place of residence. Best part is, Roscoe is small enough that everyone should know what is going on there. CBS's Big Brother doesn't have anything on this house.

Well, I guess I had better wind this up. "Git 'er done! Be the real deal!

FATHER, Thank YOU for the rest and relief a day brings. I ask for continued healing. I pray for Krl and her healing and renewal. I pray for Addie, Memama, Pepa, Hag, Bets, B., Lillie, Aimee, Jennifer, Ashlyn Kate, Jess, Dr. Mackie, Jeanine, Verlin, S.T., and Brenda. I ask YOUR gifts of healing for them. I pray for Kali as she makes decisions forming her and Addie's future. I pray for those who are sad and heavy hearted with grief, I ask YOUR comfort for them. I pray for those of us who struggle as we follow YOU. I pray for our spiritual family and our leaders. I pray for the efforts being made to expand YOUR kingdom. I pray for the victims of the hurricane and for the relief workers. I pray that their lives might be restored in full. YOU are good, a mighty and powerful GOD, capable and just. Bless-ed be YOUR name.

I feel like crud!

When I woke this morning it was to an endless stream of snot. Even if my head were totally empty, there is no way it could hold as much junk as I blew from my nose. Yuk! It went on for ever. I survived, but just barely.

I had become a little lax at taking my antibiotics, antihistimine and my tylenol and it came back and bit me on the backside. I got just a little bit too hot yesterday and I paid for it.

I got to work in the office today. Yeah! And I needed to. With trucks running over the weekend there was lots to catch up on and after a day like yesterday I needed to cool my jets. I had gotten an early start on my Tuesday and it was a good thing. By the time I got away from Abilene it was seven-thirty-nine, and I had a ten o'clock appointment on the east side of Fort Worth. I stayed with it and made it exactly at ten. I hit the dock and was live unloading when I learned that the Waco leg of the trip was for Wednesday not Tuesday. I was able to catch a load back to Abilene to finish my day.

I have no idea how many loads of water we have moved from Abilene. Abilene is one of the main sources for water distribution for our core customer. I don't know how many people would believe me if I told them their favorite bottled water originated in Fort Phantom Lake. It seems as though anytime we have a truck available we will take water at least as far Fort Worth. Tomorrow we do have two more trucks traveling to Thibodaux, Louisiana with you guessed it, water. The distribution network has begged and borrowed water resources and now the need is spreading outward.

I went to Freightliner yesterday and picked up some parts. They had almost everything I needed to get Trc's truck up in shape. A person can sure spend the money quickly when buying from an OEM.

We had a new guy start working here today. He is going to be training and hopefully will take over a lot of the maintenance issues. Today he is at the shop washing some trucks, one of which is Trc's. The guy worked for KO at the gin last year and his Dad works with us as well. He seems like a good kid, just young.

Not much news from my world. Let's "git 'er done!" Be the real deal.

FATHER, thank YOU for all YOU do. I pray for healing. I pray for Krl, I pray for all those near and dear who are in need. I pray for the victims of the hurricane. YOU bless us everyone.

I swear, we are weird.

Krl and I both were up, and it was two something in the morning. Right now she has laid back down trying to get a little more shut eye.

Me? I'm bright eyed and busy tailed! Eagerly anticipating the day! (Yeah, right). Watching the clock as it slowly moves toward morning. I've told Krl that our little home marches to the beat of a drum whose drummer had a seizure!

Krl and I both were awake. Tossing. Turning. Finally Krl said she was getting up. The hound boys and girls can take one of us getting up without feeling obligated, but when I threw back the bed covers they were immediately at the door wanting to go check on their Momma. Only exception was Maple Syrple. Talk about having a good streak of luck. I grinned as I saw her stretched out on the bed. Just seven months ago she was living on the street, her next meal as close as the next McDonald's sack she could find. This morning she was sprawled comfortably as the only inhabitant of a king size bed. It's a dog's life!

I have a serious character flaw. My internal alarm clock is defective. (In many instances I call it my infernal alarm clock). If I know I have to get up early, I sleep with one eye on the clock. We are scheduled to leave Ab this morning about seven. Ten o'clock appointment for Ft. Worth. Two o'clock appointment at Waco. I am not excited. I have filled in on this run just once before and I sat for six hours waiting.......at minutemaid. How ironic.

Actually the thing weighing heavy on my mind is the truck I am supposed to take. We are playing musical chairs. With the weekend water haul to the hurricane area we let the guys swap around where they took the "best" trucks or their "favorite" trucks. I am supposed to drive BP's truck today. BP has moved over to MB's truck. As of last evening BP's truck was in Cisco. BP dropped it off and picked up JA's truck to bring it to the fleet shop. KO had JA's truck making some repairs, and JA will bring BP's truck in when he comes to pickup his five-thirty load. Nothing like starting the day with a little scavenger hunt! Once I find the truck I will have to locate the keys. I am trying to figure out what else might be on the list. So far I have a clothes pin and a pomegranate. (These were two items on the last scavenger hunt I participated in). Anyhow, I am fixing to get my day started.

Well, well. I had good intentions last evening. Krl had already retired for the evening. I made myself comfortable on the love seat and turned on the Miami, Florida State game. Talk about a slow moving game! It seemed like the first half lasted forever. Anyway, I finally dozed off so I had to check the box score to see if Kirby got to play. Apparently he didn't. I did see him a few times on the sideline. I hope he can keep his head screwed on straight. The level he is participating at is a pretty exclusive group. I guess what goes around comes around. Florida State has died by the field goal so many times. This time it was Miami's. I guess the kicker for the 'Canes only consolation is he will probably live forever because from what I did see, he couldn't kick the bucket. 10-7 Seminoles.

Well, let's "git 'er done!" Be the real deal!

FATHER, YOU are so good to me! Thank YOU! I ask for a safe day today. Help me to be patient and attentive. Help me to be pleasant and productive. Let YOUR light shine in me. I thank YOU for Krl and ask her healing and care. I pray for Addie, Memama, Pepa, Hag, Bets, B., Lillie, Aimee, Jennifer, Ashlyn Kate, Jess, Dr. Mackie, Jeanine, Verlin, S.T., and Brenda. I pray for Kali as she assesses her situation and makes hard choices. I pray for the victims of the hurricane and ask comfort and relief for them. I pray for the relief efforts and relief workers. I pray for those who are sad and heavy hearted with grief. I ask YOUR comfort for them. I pray for those of us who struggle daily while trying to follow YOU. Keep us focused. I pray for our spiritual family and our leaders. I pray for the efforts being made to expand YOUR kingdom. You are my GOD.

My week is tilted on end already.

With all the logistics of the water move, the good turnout by our drivers, and the ongoing changes to scheduling, I am looking forward to the week getting on its normal scheduling. But that isn't going to happen. Due to scheduling over the weekend we are trying to give many of our guys some time off. That means KO and I will do FW-Waco-Ab Tuesday. We will only be two of four trucks doing this. We are in hopes that we can get in and out of Waco early enough to look at some yard mules (trucks that are used to move trailers to and from docks, they are short wheelbased and have hydraulic or air lift fifth wheels, so the driver never has to get out to hook up). CC&S has approached KO about us providing a truck and them paying a fee to move all shippers trailers to and from the dock. There is a yard that has two of them, one gas and one diesel. I told KO take 'em both. One is titled, the other is not, which means one can be registered and the other will be off road use.

Part of my Friday had been spent calling fuel stops in route to Louisiana making sure our trucks taking the hurricane relief water could get in and out. I talked to one fuel desk and they assured me if we were bringing relief supplies in they would guarantee us fuel to get out. Our core customer provided us with printouts of the relief move authorization. The regulatory bodies have waived all restrictions. Thankfully all of our chickens made their assigned runs and returned to the roost. We got the Sunday and Monday can move for relief water done as well.

I finally got to the fleet shop about nine-thirty today. I left the company truck and walked to the office to get the S-10. I don't know, it is a quarter mile or so. Once I returned to the shop I got busy removing the air conditioner compressor and accumulator. I got all the pressure sensors switched over to the new compressor and then got out the new accumulator only to find it is clocked wrong. The inlet and outlet are positioned wrong. Next project.

I went to work on the little Freightliner. This is the truck that KO gave me and I couldn't accept it but Trc did. There is a butt load of little bitty maintenance to do. It is unbelievable how the previous owner did very little! I replaced the driver's side door latch, and replaced twin fan belts with a banded double belt. I got the serial number and hopefully tomorrow I will pick up an a/c belt as well as front wheel seals, and oiler gaskets. In the process of replacing the fan belts I found a potential problem with the fan clutch. Better to find it now than later! Don't want that fan to go through the radiator (those things cost about $1200.00). Anyhow, I got a lot of the small stuff done and made a wish list which includes door and window gaskets. Hey, the driver had better like what he is riding in or he won't take care of it. Next project is to pull out the dash and see why the extreme left hand air vent is not blowing. I am betting on a disconnected distribution hose! I am seeing several things that I would like to address. I plan on talking with Trc to see if it is doable.

Final project was getting those atrocious signs off the door. Its already looking better, throw on a new bumper, a little accent logo (that Brently is working on) and it will be a good little truck that looks sharp!

I am starving. After I got home I got out of my greasy dirty clothes and hopped in the tub. When I exited there Krl told me that there was a very short list of things we needed from the "other" grocery store. I just slipped on jogging shorts and a T-shirt, grabbed some cash and my flip flops and headed out. I made quick work of the store and by the time I got home Krl was treating my clothes to a healthy dose of Spray 'n Wash. Are we a team or what!

Krl was pleasantly surprised to find that I had gone through the deli and changed our supper menu. She knows better than to send me to the store when I am hungry! Ha!

Well, Stay out of my way tomorrow. If you see a sky blue Freightshaker, I have the right of way!

Have a day, and by the way, be the real deal!

FATHER thank YOU for the productive day. I thank you for the safety of all our group that labored over the weekend and holiday to help in the relief effort. I ask YOUR blessing on each and everyone. FATHER, I ask YOU for a safe week, a blessed week. I pray for Krl's healing and renewal. I pray for all those near and dear who are in need of YOUR many gifts of healing and care. I pray for those sad with loss and ask YOUR comfort for them. I pray for those of us struggling to follow YOU. I pray for our spiritual family and our leaders. I pray for the efforts being made to expand YOUR kingdom. I continue to pray for all those affected by the hurricane. Comfort and care for them. YOU are the great physician.