Mercifully, today is a maintenance Sunday. Thanks we needed that.

It seems as though we have not "meshed" perfectly since we returned from our Christmas break. Half step out of step seems to be our mode of operation.

We continue to be one machine operator short. Delfino was taking his wife in for tests sometime after Christmas. He was supposed to call and let me know what the prognosis was but I have yet to hear from him. He had given me an outside window of January 3rd for his return. This is crucial because Baldemar has to go to Mexico this coming Thursday. He needs to renew his visa and other related paperwork. Also he did not go home Christmas. He has asked for a minimum two days off, maximum seven days off depending on our staffing numbers. I have a tentative new employee staged in the wings should Tuesday pass with no Delfino.

I spent most of my Saturday morning servicing forklifts. The new machine had a mandatory change of fluids and filters at fifty hours. We stretched it some but got it done. Everything looked good but I understand this is a precaution the manufacturer requires for warranty coverage. It was kind of interesting, Roy (or Rogelio), one of my Hispanic machine operators, showed up for work dressed to the nines. Dockers, dress shoes and a nice dress shirt. He wasn't a whole lot of help servicing machines as he was afraid he was going to get something on him. I complimented him on his shirt and he told me he bought it with Christmas money. "Paid $70 for it", he replied. I explained to him that I don't work in $70 shirts. Maybe $7 shirts. I think there are days when my unawares are the most expensive part of my wardrobe!

When Roy and I began servicing the new machine I had the manuals out reading (or trying to read) the fluid requirements. The manuals are written in Tai or some other oriental language with English para-phrasing as an after thought. I told Roy I was going to trade him and Paco for one oriental machine operator! Surely I could get a two for one deal somewhere!

We have had a side bet going between machine operators on who would put the first scratches on the new machine. Whoever did the first damage had to pay the other machine operators $100. I was working on my computer yesterday afternoon when I saw Roy driving up on his machine to my trailer. He looked a little worried and dejected. He made some small talk before he finally 'fessed up and told me he backed into another machine with the new one. Later in the afternoon I went to the loading dock with our digital camera and had Roy stand beside the "marked" forklift so I could get his picture along with the damaged area of the forklift. He wanted to die off.

Krl and I spent part of Saturday thrashing on settlements trying to get them done and checks written in 2005. Add to this the fact that it was a phase out Saturday night and it goes without saying that we did not make Steph's wedding. We did think about everyone though and we wish the newly weds the best.

Krl and I submitted our wishlist to the company for end of year donations. This year it was headed up by St. Jude's Children's Hospital. Lots of worthy organizations sprinkled throughout. One new one this year is Rescue the Animals. This is a direct result of Maple Syrple moving into our home and our hearts.

Talk about nasty. Just think about being in Odessa, Texas on a day with a strong wind storm and you have some indication of what we are experiencing today. Lots of wind and real estate rushing across the countryside. Needless to say we are rocking and rolling in our travel trailer. It's days like this that make you appreciate the leveling stabilizers but it also makes one thing about tie downs as well.

We had a call from Ollie's hubbie Kenny. He was wanting to do part time work out here but needed to remain flexible enough to fly on a phone call. He is doing contract pilot work for charters and business is slow. Problem is, it is not feasible to put part time workers in place here because we are on twenty-four/seven and when someone is not here, it makes it a hardship on the workers remaining. I can sympathize with his situation but don't really know what I can do from out here. I did suggest that it might be more advantageous for him to be in Midland rather than Lubbock.

Krl and I did not stay up to see the new year in. We did open our bottle of "Smashed Grapes" and the vintner needs to smash that recipe. We were both disappointed. Gee, I should have bought a Grape Nehi!

Happy New Year!

Be the real deal!

FATHER, thank you for the new year and the promise it holds. I ask YOUR blessings, your gifts of healing and care for those near and dear and in need. I pray for continued safety for Adam and his men. I pray for a blessed year for Richard, Anastacia, James, and Terah as well as our prayer partners Jenavene and Susan. May their year be filled with YOU. Give us strength and resolve.