I think I have entered the zombie stage. We have been here so long that I am numb (and probably dumb).

The last few days we have experienced some problems with the plant. 115,000 bales and weaknesses will surface. Sunday night we thought we were ready to bring the plant back on line when a problem was discovered that required parts to be brought in from the OEM in Lubbock. It was after midnight before the plant came on line.

Monday was spent trying to find our rabbit's foot. It seems everytime we go down for scheduled maintenance it takes us several days to find that comfort zone.

Tuesday was a disastrous morning. I made my rounds and when I arrived at the bale dock I found three loaded trailers and two loads stacked on the ground. I immediately looked at the sign-out log to see which drivers had been in and out. The drivers are not privy to all my information. I have the forklift operators fillings out a time log so I know exactly when a truck entered and when he left. Immediately I zeroed in on a driver who was off last week and the situation was much improved. Before I left the dock this driver drove up and wanted to visit. I think he feels he is so dynamic that he can pour a line of baloney on you and you can't separate it quickly enough to know which end is up. I was pretty blunt. He admitted that he had laid down for two and a half hours during the night. I converted that to one and a quarter loads sitting at my dock. I continued on and told him that last week when he was off things flowed much better. I don't think he ever realized that I told him he was the weak link in the chain. Oh well. I am hopeful we have a replacement in the wings.

It took all day Tuesday and two extra trucks to catch us up.

Pepa was out early on the "black V". Later in the day he and Jack (a family friend) came out in Blacksheep 22, one of the new acquisitions, on a shake down trip. On the second load I had called to see where he was and he told me "halfway there". Turns out he hadn't even left his home. We had a mote fire in the plant and the crew was having a big problem getting all the fire out of the pipe work. As it turned out, Juan arrived just minutes before Pepa and there was only one load waiting. Luckily I had a load of motes ready and sent them in on 22.

Late last night I received a call informing me that the salesman had made a mistake on the lienholder on the title application. "But it's not a big deal, you can straighten it out when the title comes back". I don't think so. I told the salesman that either he could pick up the truck or we would return it to his lot sometime today. It really miffed me that he thought it was our problem. I guess he realized I was serious because this morning at eight-thirty-five he called and informed me that he was able to catch the erroneous paperwork at the county tax-assessor collector's office and they were going to re-do it.

I don't know about you but "ballpark" is not close enough in my job. I expect more from people I do business with.

A couple of family notes. Two cousins are currently undergoing and or recuperating from treatment for cancer. Frances in Tempe and Jack in Amarillo. Being isolated out here I only found out of this yesterday. Please add them to you prayer list.

Be the real deal!

FATHER, bless me with patience. Temper me. Help me to be slow to speak and slow to anger. I pray for Krl's healing and renewal. I pray for safety for Adam and his men in Iraq. I lift up Memama, Pepa, Hag, Bets, Jess, Lillie, Aimee, Ashlyn Kate, Frances, Jack, Dr. Mackie, Jeanine, JBCjr, K.C. , Hope, and Kristy and her baby for YOUR miracles 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 stumble while trying to follow YOU, I pray for focus and resolve. 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. That they would desire to be sinless but confident that they are redeemed by JESUS. I pray for our prayer partners Jenavene and Susan, knowing that great is YOUR love for us that we should be called children of GOD. Greater is HE who is in me than he who is in the world!