The dreaded hour has come again. I had been so pleased that I had consistently slept past the "two in the morning" time span that used to see me getting my day up and running. Now the last two nights guess what? It's back!

When you are on a jobsite that is going around the clock, seven days a week, insomnia or erratic sleep habits can be a blessing. The shifts can never guess when you are going to be coming through their part of the compound. When the work is over and you get to come home to re-charge you sure don't need to be awake in the middle of the night.

Yesterday was used to work on workforce unemployment applications. So far I have received two claims (Oh, I am confident there will be more coming). One of these gentlemen did it as a last second thought, just before he crossed into Mexico he filed for unemployment. Usually I don't make too big a fuss, but if he is going to draw unemployment benefits from over here, he needs to be "in" this country. The second former employee to file for unemployment benefits calls me quite regularly. I think it is a conditioned reaction to his guilt when he is not doing anything. This is an employee who I constantly had to look for because he was usually off visiting instead of where he was supposed to be. This employee has told me repeatedly that he plans on vacationing until mid summer. Of course he does have a court date coming up then end of this month. I responded to both of these unemployment claims honestly and openly. If it is a valid claim these people should be entitled to benefits but if they are abusing the system because they do not want to work, they need to be thrown out on their ear. I am also considering using their claim history as a contributing criteria in whether or not I hire them next year and it will definitely affect the pay rate.

When I left my last job, I took a cut in pay with hopes of some benefits (medical insurance). I had almost decided I had made a foolish mistake when things began to look better for this development.

With the demise of the family business, Krl and I lost our insurance coverages that were provided. By the time we became aware of the problem, we could not even salvage it to COBRA. Luckily, we have not had any serious or lengthy illnesses. I was able to use some of my prior contacts to direct my employer where to go in their search. A few years back I had received some quotes from multiple agents and I was always impressed with one gentleman in particular. He was very plain spoken, listens very well to what you want, and is extremely knowledgeable in his field. Three weeks ago he called with news. After five months of searching he had something worthy of a presentation. Friday morning we sign papers and in thirty days insurance will go into effect. Hooray! (Just in time because this ordeal has made me .... sick.).

It seems that what he was looking for is almost non-existent. A small group policy with only three enrolling employees, only one of which is enrolling their entire family. Talk about odd deals, most years the seasonal employees are not on the payroll long enough to qualify for insurance. This year eighteen employees would have qualified. I am not sure if this influenced the underwriters or not but evidently no one wants to write small group policies. I guess everyone wants to hit a home run. We were very up front about year round employees so I am hopeful that the wheels don't come off this proposal.

Yes!

I am really frustrated right now with quarterly reports. It seems like every time I get things set up, they change the way they want their information reported. (Which means my spreadsheets don't fit!). I received a new addendum with the first quarter 941 yesterday. In addition to the revised form (Jan. 2006), they are wanting me to provide a payroll tax liability schedule showing when and how much payroll tax liability was incurred. We have always been required to deposit taxes by the fifteenth of the following month. We have found it easier to deposit them weekly. The last check Krl writes for payroll every week is the payroll tax deposit. I am hopeful this is a one time deal for them to determine if our current deposit schedule is sufficient or should be changed. They are very clear in their instructions that they don't want to know when you made the deposits, they want to know how much was owed, when. Sounds like overkill to me.

I had an inquiry yesterday during a telephone conversation about Marvin. I hadn't thought about him in a while. It has been a long time since I talked with him (probably since the last time he collected his money). I popped his number up in my phone and called it and went right to voice mail with no recorded message. Last I heard he was living in Eagle Pass, rumors have him having moved across the border. Man, if I was going to live in Mexico it would be on the Mexican Riviera not on the Rio Grande.

No word on Ed yesterday. They were supposed to wake him up over twenty-four hours in CCU. I didn't go out yesterday because I knew all of his family was still in. Krl and I will return when the numbers dwindle and Pearl and Greg need a break.

Enough.

Be the real deal.

FATHER. Give me a double dose of YOU today.