I really can't tell much difference from the weekend and weekdays. No monumental tasks, no great accomplishments, it just seems that I stay steady and busy.

Krl and I had made plans for Saturday morning. She was wanting to go to Big Lots, on to eat breakfast, by the Mall, to the grocery store and then home. She was about an hour late getting motivated but things fell in place. We made the first stop and purchased the item she was coveting, then decided to go to IHOP for breakfast. As we grow older we are finding breakfast is our most enjoyable meal! When we arrived, there was a line extending out the door of IHOP. Where did all these people come from? Krl's next choice was Denny's and we began to make our way there when I mentioned that Cracker Barrel serves breakfast all day long. That was it, Cracker Barrel here we come. When we arrived there it made IHOP look like a step-child. I have never ever seen as many cars and people at Cracker Barrel. Krl was dejected and asked "What next?". I told her Skillets was just down the service road and we arrived there to find minimal room in the parking area, adequate room inside, but more importantly we found a fully stocked breakfast buffet! It was delicious! One factor Krl and I had not planned on was the regional track meet in Abilene this weekend. Pee-wee school buses were everywhere!

As luck would have it, we had forgotten our grocery list and had to return to the house. We took a short break before making a final push toward ending our errands. We went to Petsmart, went directly to the aisle our dog food was on and placed a large bag in the basket, then we continued on toward the checkout, on our way I saw a display for our dog food advertising ten percent more for free with the same price as what we had picked up. That would mean five or so days more before we needed to repeat this exercise. Immediately I Picked up the larger promotional bag, took a second look at the pricing and then returned to replace the smaller bag and check pricing there. Sure enough! Petsmart was playing a snooker game with us! We went to the grocery store and made quick work of that before we returned home to put up our stock! Actually Krl did the putting up once everything was on the house.

The three houndgirls were in the back yard, enjoying the warm sunlight and getting a little exercise when they began to franticly bark. Krl scolded them from inside the house before she finally went to check on them. They were very excited, and on closer examination Krl found they had chased a field mouse until it had collapsed on the back porch. The mouse was scared to death, the hound girls were quite proud. I grabbed a paper towel and picked up this trophy by the tail, it was still breathing and upon close scrutiny I can say there were no markings, no evidence that the houndgirls ever had this beast in their possession. I knew I was going to have to answer to Krl as to my disposal of our unwanted guest so I made one of those quick calls. I dropped it into our dumpster which is full enough that a mouse with "will" could escape. I am confident this intruder will not make the same mistake of entering "our forbidden zone".

I'm already looking for signs, "Beware of Houndgirls".

My next project was to put down an application of insect protection on the yard. For years and years we had used Dursban which had been very effective in controlling flies, mosquitos, even fire ants were hesitant to move into our yard. The main reason for this applications is to keep our hounds free of any un-wanted guests. They get a monthly spraying, this is just the other half of the program. I had to do some quick maintenance on the cyclone spreader, but this task was done rather quickly.

Krl and I had decided to do 'burgers on the grill for supper. One of Trc's to do things was to replace my grill. Krl had given me a Thermos gas grill six or seven years ago for Father's Day. I had never really wanted one but I have found that there are some advantages to having a gas grill. We probably look like "grill collectors" because we have the gas grill, a smoker, and a charcoal grill. On certain occasions I have been known to use all of them for the same meal.

I decided to clean out the gas grill. It was filled with lava rocks and lately it had been increasingly difficult to regulate the fire. We removed the grate and began removing lava rocks piece by piece. Surprisingly many of these had actually heated themselves into nothingness. Just a pile of granules. Finally we reached the point where we could remove the shield that protects the burner. You can imagine my surprise when I found that the burner had holes burned in it at multiple locations and one of the pipes had rusted through! No wonder it had become so difficult to cook on! I suppose the only thing that had made it possible was the load of lava rock deferred the flames enough to cook on it.

'Burgers thawing on the cabinet and the gas grill is down and no charcoal for the others! Krl had told me I needed to buy a new grill. Actually she is making good on a promise she had made a couple of years ago. She had told me I could get a new grill, after she got a new kitchen stove. Since Trc had taken care of the stove part, I was good to go. Now they have some absolutely fantabulous grills out. Best part is they have changed the direction of the burners and have put more of them in. Stainless steel has replaced the black painted aluminum. Rottisseries are optional on nearly every model. Side burners now have griddle attachments. Some models even have panels that are located on the back wall that brown and cook. One thing I had always wondered is why they don't make a grill with a side burner on one side and a deep fryer on the other end? I had told Krl that I am going to wait until I can get what I want, not what the manufacturer's want me to have. I can remember a few years ago seeing a Coleman "mobile kitchen" that was about ten yards long. It had a place for a cooler, condiments, cooking tools, side burner and on the far end it had a connection for a water hose because it was equipped with a sink! I know the grill suspense is "grilling" to you. I coerced Krl into going with me ....... to the storage building and I got the Stl grill and took it home. I'm going to strip down the old grill and get all the parts I can salvage before I "retire" it from duty.

By the way, the burgers were great!

It was last night before we realized we had omitted the Mall errand.

This morning we were laying in bed, I was dozing, Krl was sleeping, and Maple was cuddling when I thought I heard my cell phone. I hopped up and went to retrieve it from the charger. The screen showed one missed call. I punched the appropriate buttons and it showed Merrit had called. She had been here Wednesday night on her way to the metroplex. Immediately I was concerned that she had had car trouble or even an accident. I tried repeatedly to call her but ended up in voice mail. Realize that this girl should have been blond. I have no idea why GOD made such a large space for a brain and then didn't install one. Finally after an hour she returned my call. She was on her way home, she was in Weatherford, she was going to get gas but someone had stolen sixty-five dollars from her purse. "But don't worry, AAA auto club brought me ten dollars worth of gas!" This reassurance came from someone who stopped by to spend the night on her way to the metroplex with three dollars in her possession. Luckily for her Krl and I gave her her birthday money along with a stern warning about a fool and her money ........ . Well, this fool and her money were soon parted! I asked where she thought she lost her money and she told me she thought her friend Liz had taken it. My response was, that is no friend. What really miffs me is a jaunt to this "friends" was not even on the itinerary when she left here. My final words to her before I hung up were "If you have to push that car home it will teach you a lesson". Duh!

Krl and I had reservations about giving her the money. She can't manage money. Heck, she can't even manage her life. To much success, to much money, too fast friends, bad choices, bad vices, have all contributed to her situation. I guess I have rolled the dice in hopes that her inability to tell the truth has a hand in this tale.

I didn't go to church this morning. To be honest I continue to have a hard time with what went on with our Sunday School Class while we were gone. This in turn is making it almost impossible to"get" connected. Initially I had decided to go to Southern Hills, but today is a combined service at Cooper. They are calling it W.A.T.S.. (We are the sermon). No early service, no classes. Of course Merrit and her call made me miss Highland's early service which was the second option. I'm going to have to come to grips with this. I am almost afraid if I go to Highland and see Terry, I will lower the boom with everything that is bothering me about it. I will admit that between ACU and Highland we always get mail, not cheap presentations but very high end print productions. Add to this what seems to be the current mentality at Highland and I am wondering if it "is" the right fit any longer.

I guess I need to practice what I blog. I need to go back a year to my blog about the "Jesus Saves" church north of Abilene. I need to not let church get in the way of GOD and worship.

Be the real deal.

Hope that I don't have to go and shine the lights for Merrit to push her car home!

FATHER, I need YOU, I need YOUR help.