Tuesday. Should be a laid back day, but so far it hasn't happened. Bale trucks dropped the ball Sunday night, no trucks after midnight. Zero, zilch. This converted to five hundred bales sitting on the dock and on trailers.

Conversations with drivers told me they "thought". A violation of my cardinal rule. Don't think, just do what I instruct you to do. Add to this the fact that one of the drivers who has become very abusive to my forklift operators and it is very evident everyone is worn down and easily irritated. An additional person who was irritated yesterday was the DOT cop who stopped and put the aforementioned driver "out of service". Four hours after the fact, the driver called to inform us of his predicament. Needless to say, the carry-over from Sunday night was still evident this morning, even though I had two extra trucks try to catch us up yesterday.

I visited with my mainstay driver Charles last evening. He continues to recover from the surgery he had in September. I find that I need to talk with him from time to time, just for his calming effect. He continues to be optimistic about his return, he is frustrated that his convalescing is so slow. I am ready for him to be ready to return to work.

Krl and I made a quick trip to Midland. I checked on a truck for Roscoe. It is the truck that went down out here last week. Burned piston. I haven't seen a piston burned this bad in a long time. It is burned all the way down to the compression ring land in the front, there are molten aluminum deposits situated on the top of the piston and these deposits have been "tap dancing" on the head surface and valves. Our trip continued on to check on the company's new forklift, a quick stop for Becky, and then on to "Big Lots" and the grocery store. Our final stop was to pick up the washer and dryer at Lowe's. This ended up being an exercise in patience. I was finally ready for them to just refund the money. After a couple of hours they finally brought them up and loaded them in my truck. We couldn't leave there fast enough.

Hopefully I will get some renovations done in the utility room and tonight install the new appliances. Sounds like a plan!

Be the real deal.

FATHER, I need YOUR peace YOUR understanding, YOUR wisdom. Guide and direct me. Calm me. I pray for Krl's healing and renewal. I pray for Adam and his men in Iraq. I ask for their safety and care. I lift up Addie, Memama, Pepa, Hag, Bets, Jess, B., Lillie, Aimee, Jennifer, Ashlyn Kate, Dr. Mackie, Jeanine, Verlin, Brenda, Hope, K.C., and Tyler. I ask that YOU bless each of them with YOUR gifts of healing and care. I pray for those 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 Richard, Anastacia, James, and Terah. Help them to be accountable, filled with good. I pray for our prayer partners Jenavene and Susan, knowing that all things are possible. LORD lift us up!