Sorry. It seems I am really having a hard time getting to the computer to blog. We have been a series of miscues so far. It hasn't helped that we are not fully staffed. Monday, hopefully Monday.

I had been somewhat concerned about my mainstay employee, Delfino. He had told me he would be here last Wednesday. No show. No phone call, nothing. He had a difficult summer and had called inquiring about when the fall work would begin. I think he too has been stretched $$$$-wise. Finally he asked to borrow some money. Unfortunately, the start up money was limited and his full request was not do-able, yet we were able to give him some help. Pepa has been a nay-sayer saying I would get burned, and I was beginning to wonder.

Late last night , my cell phone rang. It was Delfino. On the sixteen hour drive up from Mexico his car broke. Big time. This is the car that you would always see in the very last parking space in the far out reaches of Wal-Mart's parking lot. He has not had reverse for several years. (If someone parks in front of him he would have to wait until they moved or else push his car clear.) Long story short he was in South Texas and will arrive on the bus during the night Sunday. He wanted to know if I would pick him up Monday morning in Big Spring. Yes! I am willing to invest the two hour drive to get him on site. Next thing I am sure will be an interesting jaunt to buy his groceries. It always amazes me what shoppers my guys are.

The plant hit its stride yesterday, at least for a brief while. I know everyone will be thrilled when the duct work and machinery gets slicked up. We had a deluxe episode yesterday, but I will have to preface it.

In the plant we use air to move material through the machinery processing it. There is positive air, and there is negative air. Positive air pushes the material, negative pulls the material (positive-blows, negative-suction). For optimum travel you balance your air, this way the material doesn't move lazily, it's on a rope or like a line drive.

We had a choke up in the airways which ended up with the positive air not feeding the negative air and we collapsed one of the largest air ducts in the plant at a transitional plenum. "Sucked that booger right together". I had never seen that done before, now I'm a believer. Remarkable thing was this plenum was braced to prevent this collapse from happening. It is unbelievable the amount of air moving about this plant. The crew began to dismantle the damaged piping and of course as luck would have it its is twenty-five feet above the floor. These guys are remarkable as they would put "two by twelves" across a fifteen foot span high above the floor and then walk on them as if they are on the cement floor. Two hours and several chain hoists later the piping was on the ground and being loaded in Frankie's pickup headed to the shop. Even though it was late Friday Frankie hit the road. Looks like Monday before we will have the people to get it back up in the plant.

My dilemma with truckers continued yesterday. I called in at seven-thirty in the morning asking for "Black Sheep" to bring an empty trailer to the plant and pick up a loaded one. At three o'clock it finally showed up, the driver got lost. I know we are in the boonies but listen up guys. Worst thing about it, I already had another load. I talked with RPCC's manager and we made plans to be there at five yesterday afternoon and again at eight this morning. I sure am putting a lot of faith in a group of drivers that so far has not been deserving of it.

As it works out, Krl and I had made plans to make a quick trek to Abilene to pick-up winter clothes, PILLOWS, and various other supplies, winterize the pool and maybe mow the lawn. Did it happen, NO! We are still on site and I have almost another load of bales to load this morning. (I let all the help off until Monday since the plant is broken down). I think Krl and I are going to have a meeting today to see what we are going to do.

I promise to do better. I will get to the keyboard with more regularity.

Be the real deal!

FATHER, help me to make good decisions. Help me to be patient and tolerant. I pray for Krl's and my healing and renewal. I pray for Adam and his men in Iraq and ask that YOU would protect and take care of them. I pray for Brenda and Aaron. I pray for Kali. I pray for Addie, Memama, Pepa, Hag, Bets, B., Lillie, Aimee, Jennifer, Ashlyn Kate, Dr. Mackie, Jeanine, Verlin, and K.C.. I lift them up for YOUR gifts of healing and care. I pray for those hurting from loss, especially the Schneider family, I ask YOUR comfort and care for them. I ask that YOU send YOUR angels to surround and comfort 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 pray for Richard, Anastacia, James and Terah. I ask that YOU would influence their choices, surround them with good friend with good values. I pray for Jenavene and Susan and continue to ask that YOU will bless our efforts. All to Jesus I surrender.......