Short night. Which means someone has dropped the ball.

I had a premonition, then I had a warning. Then a driver dropped the ball. Now he is looking for gainful employment elsewhere.

In eleven years I have developed a pretty good concept of what needs to happen to conduct this job. I often tell my drivers, "don't think, just drive". It is repetitive, it is not rocket science. I tell these men if they will allow me to schedule them, they will make money and it will be easier on all of them.

My current dilemma is a driver that has been with me from square one this year. He is likeable enough but he seems to have two weaknesses. The first of which is women, the second of which is that when we have a maintenance day he hits the bottle not knowing when to quit. At different points in the season both of these have hurt his ability to show up on time and perform his duties. I have talked with this man on several occasions explaining how critical it is for everyone to pull their weight. Each time he has told me he will do better if I will allow him another opportunity.

This past week I talked with him and told him that by his not pulling his weight he was making it hard on the other drivers. I actually told him if I was one of his co-workers I would probably organize an effort where all the other drivers would gang up on him and "get" their point across. I explained that if I allow one weak driver to sluff off and it burns out the other guys who are picking up the slack, I will be in a position needing to replace seven drivers on that particular run. The simplest solution is to replace the weak driver with one comparable to the rest of the group, that way I am replacing only one driver. I received fluff comments. He said all the right words, but actions speak louder than words. Tonight, for the second time in three days, he dropped the ball again. Enough is enough.

On the other end of the plant I have another driver who didn't show Friday night but sent someone in their place. Mighty thoughtful but pretty stupid. This stand in driver is not on any of the insurances, has not filled out an application and has not done a pre-employment drug screen. Talk about open season. If there was an accident it would be bad.

At seven this morning we will shut the plant down for a maintenance day. Of course this will mean we have opportunity to do scheduled forklift maintenance as well. In addition we will be flipping our crews day to night and vice versa. Normally this would mean a quick dash to town for a late lunch, picking up some supplies and some much needed R & R away from the compound.

Today's wrench in the plans is that it is the local parish Christmas party and I was volunteered to play Santa. This means the day is up in the air. We will play it by ear and see what happens. This year appears to be an accelerated schedule which might still mean the possibility of a quick trip in.

Thankfully Krl and I are well on the way to completing settlements. I became bleary eyed from staying on the computer but it is almost done. I think I lack printing a copy or two of some individual settlements and it will be done. Krl is pretty close behind with preparing the checks. She is becoming as frustrated as I am with some of the on-goings. She is threatening to hold on to checks to get some people's attention.

Enough about us, how was your day?

Be the real deal!

FATHER, I am weary. I need YOUR pick me up. Help me to take things one day at a time, one problem at a time. I pray for Krl's healing and renewal. I pray for safety and YOUR watch and care for Adam and his men in Iraq. I lift up Addie, Memama, Pepa, Hag, Bets, Jess, B., Lillie, Aimee, Jennifer, Ashlyn Kate, Dr. Mackie, Jeanine, Verlin, Karen, Hope, K.C., and Tyler for YOUR gifts of healing and care. I pray for comfort for those hurting from grief. I pray for diligence and endurance 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 pray especially for Richard, Anastacia, James and Terah, that they might be godly men and women. I pray for our prayer partners Jenavene and Susan, may we give thanks to YOU, from whom all blessings flow. I sing praises to YOU.