What are the odds?

Late yesterday I made a mad dash for Kinko's, the last of the quarterly reports. There is a way to exit behind the Kinko's parking lot into what was the old Butterfield Junction complex and then thru the alley behind Oasis, Quiznos, and some empty commercial buildings. This is all done to avoid having to make the trek to Southwest Drive and doing the U-ie thing. Time. Isn't it what we all try to save?

As I was driving down the alley I was thinking back several years ago to when my chiropractor was located in this small strip mall. I also thought how long it had been since I had done my exercises to stretch and hopefully keep everything from tilting out of whack.

Another slight diversion as I cut through another parking lot to an adjoining strip mall where my chiropractor now offices, around Blockbuster, by Taco Bell and on to Buffalo Gap. I was on my way and I had saved ...... seconds.

This morning I awoke with a catch in my back. What are the odds. I would rather have awakened to a DVD or a burrito.

I am hopeful that this is just the weekend activities of garage and storage building projects catching up with me and my back. We should know later today as a man is coming over to pick up a few remaining items, one of which is an electric cook stove. Oh well, I have all day to limber up.

My Monday was upended and set on end. I have been procrastinating getting some quarterly reports finished. I had all the data processed and grouped, I just needed to transfer it to the official forms. Probably the one thing that had me dreading it was filling out the paperwork for "when" "what" liability was incurred. This is a deluxe four ticket ride because there are three pay groups and three pay days. This is "your" uncle's way of determining how often you need to "send money". Interesting fact is, this particular entity is officially a monthly depositor by "uncle's" determinations of the past, however this depositor deposits weekly. In fact the very last check written each pay day are for the payroll taxes. Talk about government waste, and now they're wanting to waste my ..... time!

I thought I had a week to complete this baloney when scheduling required me to have it ready by morning. Talk about putting the "M" in Monday. Best part is, it is done. Which opens up my schedule to go to .... the chiropractor.

I don't know what my day is today. Krl had made plans to make a westward trek. Initially it was going to be her and Trc but apparently that fell through and then it was going to be a friend from down the street and that fell through (her spouse didn't want her that far from home. 158 miles each way, six hour round trip? Go figure.) So it may well be that I get asked to accompany Krl. Why am I always picked last?

Actually I was hoping to catch a ride, at least as far as Roscoe. One more attempt at picking up the last company truck and getting it to Abilene. This will be try #4. I have been told that it is there this time. I am hopeful that BS 22 will come out of the body shop and I can get the two side by side and try to make some "tire sense". One of my directives given me was to go over and look over each piece of equipment and make sure it is "road ready". Actually BS 22 has not required a whole lot. I am hopeful that BS 222 is a similar situation. Now BS 2, that was a time consuming project, lots of little stuff that just consumed your entire day! I am hopeful that some tires can be swapped between trucks and only one new set of tires will be required at this time. Aren't I the considerate employee? Maybe I should be working on a percentage of how much I save my employer.

I had a call from Rogelio (one of the seasonal employees) yesterday. He had been scheduled for court yesterday and today. This has been hanging over his head for a couple of years and apparently it will go on a while longer. The judge issued another continuance. This one until June. They don't expect to go to trial until next year sometime. Rogelio did say he was enjoying his vacation and his unemployment. Little jerk! I don't think he has the vaguest idea how unemployment works.

I have a confession to make. I am hooked on NBC's hit program Deal or No Deal. I have always enjoyed Howie Mandel and the ease and grace he exhibits hosting this show is top shelf. When we were still at the work compound I was able to watch an interview Howie did with Ellen Degeneres. He actually does a lot of work preparing for the show. He interviews all the contestants prior to the show and creates a very personable relationship during their being on the show. I was very moved to know that he sometimes wants to tell the contestants to take the "deal" because he has inside knowledge about their financial situations. Money (or the possibility of) makes people do crazy things. As for me, I don't have to worry about being crazy 'cause I don't have any money! My favorite moment of the show was when one contestant was proposing to his fiance and Howie interrupted and told them it was his show, let him do it. Howie then got on one knee and asked the fiance, Deal or No Deal?

Well, let's git 'er done!

Be the real deal.

FATHER, thank YOU for hope. Thank YOU for promise.