Sometimes I really wonder about whether or not it is all worth it.

Today marks 135 consecutive days away from home for me, 133 for Krl. Current projections call for 49 more days before the mass exodus begins. I am figuring on a week to move everything home. I plan on keeping one "on the ground" employee as well as one truck driver to assist in moving everything.

Have you ever done business with someone or a company that constantly misled or mis-stated the situation? Earlier this year I decided to not deal with one person who would promise the world if it got you off the telephone. I had tried to deal directly with his boss but recently this person has been in-accessible and on occasion was no more truthful than his employee. I had been given another contact to deal with but Monday evening and Tuesday morning proved he may be the worst of the lot. Birds of a feather flock together.

I find that I am strung tighter than a ukelele. Thankfully, I continue to receive phone calls with offers of help, many of which are proven commodities. I am currently studying options. One option would eliminate two trucks (one of which left Monday and I will not allow the truck or the driver back regardless of the need or availability) which are mediocre runners at best, and replace them with one truck with a driver who can get it done. Best part of this problem is with the current options it is multiple choice.

I have determined who the problem driver is on the bale haul. One thing about it, if you put enough heat on the drivers one of them will crack and sing like a canary! This is exactly what happened yesterday and either the problem will be corrected today or the options come into play again.

Krl made the statement last night "Do you ever get tired of being mean?"

I told her I get tired of having to be hard with people. The nature of the beast is to the point where employees take kindness for weakness and often they try to exploit that possibility. Many of my current employees and contacts do not understand anything unless it is extremely blunt and to the point.

I have decided that options are better than being wound up. I could have called and dressed down the contact which dropped the ball Monday evening and Tuesday morning, but I decided that he isn't worth it! Maybe, just maybe if I hit his boss in the pocketbook his boss can get the point across.

I feel the 2006 edition of a stupid tax coming on! .......................... And the winner is ........

We are to the point that we are looking beyond March 29th. Plans are being made to send equipment to the shop between now and season's end. There are plans to retire some equipment and re-assign it to other less strenuous areas of the owner's businesses. I've been given the responsibility to look into possible equipment acquisitions over the next few days, weeks and months. With that said, you can bet that I have been spending lots of time on the telephone and computer chasing down leads. Some possibilities and one of my men on the ground are in Abilene, another possibility is in Lubbock, one long shot possibility is the acquisition of a company that is in Chapter 11 re-organization.

Be the real deal!

FATHER, reign in me. Steady me. Anchor me. I feel as though I am on the edge of a great precipice. Pull me from the edge. I pray for Krl and ask for her healing and care. I ask for safety for Adam and his men in Iraq. I pray for Memama, Pepa, Hag, Bets, Jess, Lillie, Trc, Ashlyn Kate, B., Dr. Mackie, Jeanine, K.C., Hope and for Kristy and her baby. I pray for their health. I ask comfort for those who are sad and hurting from loss. I pray for those of us who stumble trying to follow YOUR way. I pray for our spiritual family and our leaders. I pray for the efforts to expand YOUR kingdom. I pray for Richard, Anastacia, James, and Terah, that they would set their sights and their values not on this world but on what comes after. I pray for our prayer partners Jenavene and Susan, that we would not delight in evil, but rejoice in truth. Let YOUR light shine through me.