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!