I hope to get back to a more structured regiment, particularly involving my blog.

Many who know me and read this regularly, tell me they can tell how my world is ticking. You may be more perceptive than I am.

My blog is usually my view of what is right in my little world and probably more often than not, what is wrong in that same little space. I even sometimes use it as a day planner, mapping out my day so I can vent about it tomorrow when things don't work out! Ha!

Over the years I have become an early riser. Used to be Krl would tell me if I would stay up later I could sleep later. I disproved that. I could go to bed at eight and my internal alarm clock would go off at two, so I stayed up until midnight and my internal alarm clock went off at ...... two! It has been so long since I have been asleep when an alarm clock went off I can't remember! It is a curse. Krl and I are almost exact opposites, because on occasion when I get her morning call I am already in the metroplex.

This week is one of the busiest of the year for KO and his core customer. I sometimes amazes me how much soft drink is shipped into and out of the Abilene facility each and every day! It also amazes me how many variations there are of said soft drinks. With lemon, lime, vanilla, cherry, the list continues to expand.

KO had told me to enjoy my weekend because this week would be difficult and tiring. I rested up and was so disappointed when I talked with him and he told me I had a metroplex roundtrip with a metro appointment of 1 pm. Huh? What a bummer! What am I supposed to do with the rest of the day? I'm burning daylight! He assures me by week's end I will be yelling calf rope.

KO and his business are at a threshold. They need more equipment, particularly trailers. He is ultra conservative. I can understand this, to a point. But sometimes I want to shake him and tell him you can analyze until you are blue in the face but until you pull the trigger nothing happens. His business is needing an influx of twenty to twenty-five trailers. Personally I believe in purchasing, if at all possible, over leasing. The current fleet of trailers are predominately leased trailers that will be returned to the leasing company. KO has leased them with no maintenance program, all the repairs are his responsibility. This cheapens the monthly payments but when the fleet becomes older, it eats you up time and money wise. My biggest complaint about leases is that you have nothing to show for the money. The lease fees may be totally deductible but in the end you have nothing to show for thousands of dollars.

I put KO onto a man who deals in trailers coming out of large fleets. These trailers are priced at slightly more than half of new cost and the average age is six years old. This is probably what I feel is middle of the road. I have stressed to KO to form a strategy. If he does this deal, plan on in three years replacing them (hey, he will have some equity in this group). Over an extended period he can upgrade to the point where he is able to run newer equipment while not going through the shock of buying it all at one time.

I can frustrate him by telling him the best situation is to run all new trucks and trailers and to trade them before they go out of warranty. I may never own them but I will work with a fixed cost (payment only with all repairs being on warranty). No surprises.

One thing about it, if he continues to procrastinate, the opportunity may evaporate!

FATHER, keep me centered, keep me focused. May my day be safe and blessed.

I feel much like a child does immediately after Christmas. Now what do I have to look forward to in the near future?

I suppose the two blips on our schedule I was so looking forward to have come and gone. In fact the next blip looks more like a fly speck, way down the calendar. The trip has come and gone and now the reunion weekend with our co-workers from the Fall jobsite has been completed and personally I feel like I have fizzed out. Now I am beginning to fight being depressed. I suppose I need to get a grip.

I am working on one "fly speck", but it will probably be at the end of summer or just prior to departure for the Fall work. At the present I am not ready to divulge any of the details!

Thankfully, we do have some weekend activities coming up. This coming weekend finds two family reunions taking place less than a mile apart. One is my paternal side, the other my maternal side. The paternal side is a weekend activity, the maternal side is a single day event taking place at SHCoC. Actually it hadn't registered until a few moments ago that they were both this coming weekend. Now I have to spazz about meeting commitments. I had committed to attend the single day event last year at the urging of a cousin. She has since been taken from this world to the next level. The way I see it, a commitment is a commitment. I will attend to honor her wishes, I am hopeful the other cousins she threw down the gauntlet too will do the same. I had verbally committed to play in a family golf scramble with the paternal reunion group. This has gone out the window with the conflict of scheduling. It was to take place beginning at seven Saturday morning and concluding with a noon meal. Problem is, I am scheduled to run the reunion auction, along with Waylon, at the paternal reunion. This is scheduled for two Saturday afternoon. My best solution is to attend the maternal reunion through the noon meal and then leave to perform my duties at the paternal reunion.

Whoever said "Ain't it nice when people fuss over you?", obviously never lost an appendage! (I think it was Hogue in Driving Miss Daisy.)

We are going to do what we can do.

A couple of notes from our co-workers visit. As regular readers are aware, while we were gone, Trc re-did our home. While we were gone in excess of six months, we returned prior to her completing every detail so some things have been dragging along. In addition to her project, we had been waiting on roofers for something like two years. They had received insurance proceeds from hail damage and we had received a deep discount for being patient. Thing is, part of the back porch needed to be stripped and re-decked prior the painter doing his thing. The only other visual incomplete were the naked window awning frames awaiting their new fabric. Krl had thrown down the gauntlet to all the participants of the house project, they would be done by the visit of our co-workers! The roofer did his thing, although he has some fine tuning to do, but he had failed to put the porch back together as everyone assumed he would. That left it to me and Jim, the painter, to finish up so Jim could finish his painting. Thursday night, about ten, the carpentry work was completed. Friday was paint day. Friday morning saw rain but by late in the day Jim completed his work. I appreciated him going above and beyond the call of his duties. He has been kind of hit and miss this summer, either being super busy or not working at all. Lately he has had work but so far has been unable to collect, so we were more that happy to give him some additional work. Krl and I had resolved ourselves to the fact that the awnings would not be in place by the time our friends arrived Friday evening. That was exactly the case. We had been in the back yard for thirty minutes or so when we heard someone yelling. It was almost seven in the evening, we were in the middle of entertaining guests when the awning people showed up. It would have been no big deal if they had only done the front awnings, but in a bit they were in the back yard installing the rear awnings. Picture this, in the middle of our back yard party, the sound of drills and the chatter of three co-workers trying to do what should have been done weeks ago. Thing is, the three awning men were too dense to even realize they had missed their bogy and that they were interrupting our evening. Thankfully our friends are good friends and they were understanding. The woman I live with was not near as forgiving of the intruders!

I suppose the awning people were bad, but they were just ahead of the people that had committed but didn't show, and they know who they are. Sometimes you get tired of sucking hind tit, that is where I am at now. There are no free rides.

July see's the second and final reunion weekend the week of the fifteenth. Lake Brownwood. I plan on attending for the first time in about three years. I am hopeful Krl will also. We have booked the company trailer for that weekend.

The coming week should be a full work week. I plan on helping KO with his core customer. Since it is the last full week leading up to the Fourth of July it should be packed! It is unbelievable how much cola is consumed. I would imagine that the coming week will be filled either with double metroplex days or double Lubbock and Odessa days, maybe even throw in a Waco.

It has been a different type summer for me. It is not often that I have opportunity to sit behind the wheel of one of the big rigs. It usually riles the truck drivers when I tell them the easiest part of the trucking industry is getting in that truck and closing the door. They would prefer to think that they are indispensable in and of themselves. Fact is they are a part of a team effort. In addition to making notes about equipment and making repairs, I am able to relate to what these people are facing on the road. It also plays to my managerial theory that "You never ask someone to do something you can't do or are not willing to do". If you are effective as a manager you find someone who is more proficient at a given task than you are. Back to that Billie Sol theory, "Surround yourself with good people."

I continue to look for drivers for the company trucks, but in many ways I am enjoying filling in. I do look forward to returning to my coordinating role this fall although I may expand my duties.

In the near future I am hopeful that after the Fourth of July cola slow down, the compress transfers will pick up. If not, I still have the option of helping KO in the office since one employee has quit and the other is going on vacation. I'm just not sure how I can justify parking one of the company trucks if I don't have drivers in them by then. I guess I am like a doctor. "Do no harm". Priority is the company I work for (that pays me), then additional opportunities personally (which puts a short time employment opportunity with KO at the end of the line).

Hard to believe summer is half gone.

FATHER, thank YOU for blessing me with skills and opportunities. Lead me through them.

Thanks, I needed that!

Last night was our long awaited end of season get together. Scrolling back you might remember that after the extremely long, record setting season at the jobsite last year (which stretched into this year), everyone was so exhausted that we didn't go to town for what has become a celebratory meal and party! All the participants had agreed that when we were rested we would select a date. The latter part of April Krl had been in contact with all the girls and June 23 was selected.

The best part of the entire evening was that the company had budgeted for the night on the town. A few of the details; three couples came from their remote West Texas homes to Abilene. That should be a treat in itself. While they all stayed at a local hotel, we picked them up to be our guests in our home for drinks and appetizers prior to going out for dinner. (The purpose was two fold, we wanted to entertain them but we also wanted to separate them from their personal transportation. In their home county there is no assigned highway patrol, no local police. The sheriff and his two deputies handle all the law enforcement. I had tried to tell them that Abilene was a different animal because police here would rather catch someone for driving under the influence over catching a murderer). When they all heard what we saying, Becky came up with an idea to rent a "limo". Surprisingly, they are much more affordable than one would think especially when a group of eight are involved.

It was a magical evening. Lots of laughs and reminiscing, hugs and handshakes. We spent a couple of hours in the back yard of our home before loading up for Lance to take us out to eat. When we left the house he took us through Wyndham Place, across the South loop to Oldham Lane, North to East South Eleventh. Destination, Lytle Land and Cattle Company. Lance's route took us through some of the more impressive residential areas of Abilene. The dinner meal was sensational, it had been way to long since I had been there. After a leisurely meal we returned to "our ride" and Lance drove a large roaming route around the ACU Hill, through HSU, back by the Grace, through Frontier Texas, before a slow drive through the Elmwood River Oaks sections of "old Abilene". Once we returned to our house, Kristy decided to return to the hotel while the remainder of the group returned to the back yard for a nightcap. It was all over too quickly.

It is a somber thought but it isn't that long until we will all return to the jobsite. Upside is, we enjoy each other's company and we all provide essential elements to the team. I love each and everyone of these guys!

In the quiet and still of our bedroom last night, just as sleep was coming to us Krl quietly said, "I miss these people".

I couldn't say it better!

From the conversations of the evening it is very evident we are not going to set a production record this year. It would appear that about a third of last years record number would be acceptable at this point in time. It has been dry, dry. Lots of the surrounding areas have received rain but not where our friends need it. We are confident GOD will deliver in good time.

FATHER, thank YOU for good friends, for laughs and hugs. I ask YOUR blessings on our small group, to know you, for their safety, for happiness, for success. I ask YOUR blessing of rain for the crops. Work YOUR plan for us and in us. Use us!

I coulda thought of that!

I get really frustrated when I am faced with some simple, yet creative invention or convenience that I should've thought of first.

I was raised like so many middle class Americans. Simple guidelines, a few basic rules. The one rule that stands out is "Wear clean underwear in case your are in an accident". I don't know where my Mother's brain was at when her mouth was in gear, but she is not alone.

Prior to our trip with Trace and her family, Krl and I went shopping. I found a "bonus buy" in the fruit of the loom department. I didn't hesitate to put them in my basket and head to the checkout! When I got home I found the bonus. Each pair of "unawares" was placed inside another pair, inside another, inside another,......... you get my drift! I studied this for a while until I realized I had stumbled upon a windfall!

Taking my time, I was able to put the entire package of unawares, intact, on my body. It was a little uncomfortable (for the first few days), but oh the advantages. Everyday, just peel a layer off and you are in compliance with Mother rules, rules! An added bonus was when we returned home I had one pair left to peel away which revealed a designer pair of "unawares" which were kind of a light coffee color!

What will they think of next!

FATHER, you have much work to do! Rescue me!

Jetlag.

I am thankful that we had yesterday to recharge. I hadn't realized how much the trip and traveling took from me.

FATHER's Day was laid back. I left the house only on two occasions. I was surprised by the destruction I saw that was left behind the Saturday night storm. One of my trips out of the house was a necessary trip to the store. You can't be gone without many things going bad in the fridge! Our weekend culminated with firing up the grill! Bacon wrapped jalapenos, some sausage, and a little beef! It's good being home!

I almost feel smothered. Maple Syrple and Phooey seem to be intent on catching up on their lovin'. If one of them hop in my lap the other is quick to follow. They have napped, cuddled, snuggled and just basked in my company. Add to this, the fact that Black Dog and Prissy will stop by for a friendly scratch behind the ear or a quick pat on the head. It's a mass of writhing, moving puppies with me providing the background. I can stand it! I think I missed them as much as they missed me!

I thought I was scheduled out again today but that didn't happen. I called yesterday and found that D.O. wasn't sure what my schedule was going to be so I am off again today. Hopefully I am going to make good use of it. I need to tie up some loose ends left by the roofing crew and then the painter is supposed to come back and touch up his masterpiece! Yesterday morning when I left the house I found hundreds of roofing nails which the roofing crew had swept into the rain gutter along with small pieces of shingles. When the rain came the floating materials pushed the nails to the down duct. I had been picking up nails for a few minutes when Krl came out to help. She was amazed!

Sunday afternoon I watched the rain plagued NASCAR race from Michigan. That was a disappointment. My final program was the NBA game 5. That was disappointing. Probably the best viewing of the day was a movie that I had never watched. Bruce Almighty. I enjoyed it. I loved Morgan Freeman as GOD.

I needed that.

FATHER, take charge.

I'm back!

Wow, I didn't realize how long it had been since I had last blogged! Ten days and thousands of miles by land, sea and air!

When I last left you I had been to Lubbock piloting BS 222. I spent the remainder of that week doing that exact same thing. Lubbock repeatedly, metroplex, Waco and multiple stops in between! I suppose this was just a necessary step, total exhaustion, before we left for holiday with Trace and her family.

Of course you can't take holiday without last minute detail, so a week ago today we were up to our ears in such detail. Concerns about commitments which were being passed along to friends and colleagues. The welfare of the houndgirls while we were gone was another worry. Not that Jordan, our teenage neighbor from next door wouldn't be able to handle them, but knowing the psyched out funk they go through when we have left before. Last but not least was the rush making sure equipment was available should it be needed. Actually, it probably would have been less thrash and trash had I just stayed home!

Finally it was Sunday afternoon and the agreed upon time departure time was approaching. Even this couldn't go by without some drama. Trace's father-in-law is battling some age related mental health issues. It is a very sad situation because for the last two years his wife has been posturing herself be rid of him while taking the benefits of his many years of labor. Historically, she has always found it to be much easier to over medicate her husband than to deal with him. She has waited so many times for him to die she has a closet filled with black fashions! Recently she had placed him in an alzheimer facility. Gradually moved his personal belongings there and then just dropped him off. No conversation, no explanation. Very cruel. This gentleman is lucid enough to know what is going on and he became very upset. After a single night, the home called his wife to return and pick him up as he didn't need their services. His wife refused to pick him up or allow him to return home. He ended up at Trace's home for a week before the evil witch relented. The witch's last ploy was timed to coincide with our family's Mexico trip. She had committed him to a psychiatric facility but before we left, the doctor's called and released him to Trace's husband. This was against the wicked witch's wishes but the doctor said many of the problems were from the continual over-medication by her. Actually he offered that if they could get her to the hospital he would commit her! We had made a quick decision and decided we would just take Trace's father-in-law on our trip. Trace called and was able to get another spot on the plane and at the hotel, Brently was trying to get some clothes together for his dad when all the sudden we hit a hurdle. The wicked witch had reared her head again and refused to produce any of the necessary travel documents needed! Finally an alternate plan was in place, the ailing father-in-law would stay with his daughter while we were gone! A plan was made to meet her in the metroplex for the transfer.

This wicked witch is a bad woman!

Finally we were on our way in two SUV's!

Our next obstacle was at the check-in at the airport. Trace's husband has never gotten a passport and has done his limited traveling with his drivers license and a birth certificate. But this is a changing world and after the end of this year, this will no longer be possible. At check-in the agent discovered that our son-in-law's Texas license was expired this disqualified him from boarding our flight. So reduced by one we muddled on. O.K., I'll kill the suspense, officials told our son-in-law he would have to stay until he could renew his license and then they would put him on stand by on the next charter flight.

We arrived with no further incident, made it through immigration, customs, and finally we were on our way to the resort hotel. It was a bit like coming home. Familiar surroundings, several staff remained from our previous visit. Gradually we settled in. It would be several hours before our ocean view suites would be ready for us to occupy. The hostess was quick to accommodate us with our bracelets which enable us to go and do, any and everywhere on the resort. We were in search of air conditioning, food and drink. I suppose we should have traveled in our swim suits which were in our luggage which were in custody of the hotel concierge. Finally our rooms were made ready and we began our ascent. We were on the eighth floor. Personally, I was ready to relax with a book and read a little! As for the rest of the gang, they were ready for a some water and sun.

At this point, I would say it is a solemn occasion to stand on the balcony eight stories up and look across the golf course that is cut through the tropical forest and to visually register the devastation caused by last year's hurricane which ravaged this small island for over two days! Huge trees toppled over, masonry walls lay in waste. Residence's, resorts, ravaged by nature. Luckily for us, the resort we were at was on the backside of the island and while it had been closed for three months, it survived. A sister resort a mile down the beach was totally destroyed! Surprisingly, the people are upbeat. Most of the hotel workers worked at cleaning up and re-opening the resort. Their stories are incredible, their experiences almost unbelievable. Their spirit is resilient.

This area has to be one of GOD's proudest creations. The simple beauty, the contrasts of color, the new and the old, blended as one.

Brently made it in sometime the first night after Krl and I had retired for the evening. The next day saw us booking extracurricular events beginning with a glass bottom boat snorkeling excursion and later in the week some members of our group would have an opportunity to swim with the dolphins!

Krl and I made an offer to the grand-daughters mid-week. They could choose comparable activities (they didn't have to be the same), and we would foot the bill. The catch was they had to negotiate their own deal. Mom and Dad were out of the equation. Both of the older girls had expressed a desire to go para-sailing, and they have always enjoyed the motorized watercraft. Turns out when it came down to them having to make the arrangements, they didn't. Talk about spoiled! Later in the week, they had the gall to ask Krl if we were still going to give them money. Ahmm.....mmmmmm. No!

Krl and I came to an early realization that this is the final family vacation with Trace's family. They are growing up and next year Lrn will graduate. By the time we want to do this again she will probably be married and have 3.2 kids. This realization only made it easier for us to accept that the grand-daughters are spoiled brats, looking out for only themselves, and have no consideration for anyone else. They are oblivious to schedules and time. They are frustrating to travel with.

Therefore it is with great anticipation that Krl and I announce that when we do something like this in the future, it will just be us.

I don't know if I will revisit the trip or not via this blog. There are so many things to write about, the ferry ride to the mainland, Pepe. We will just have to see what happens. Right now, Krl and I are enjoying the best part of a trip. Coming home.

By the way, the houndgirls were thrilled to see us!

FATHER, thank YOU for the safe travel and our return. Thank YOU for renewing us daily!

I've been busy!

Fact is, I've been busier than that one legged man in the butt kicking contest.

It isn't fun, but it is a job. I guess I am growing up. Often times we do what we wouldn't choose to do. I've got my eyes open, checking out the options. I figure I will go with the flow and see what presents itself. I suppose I should be happy that I am blessed with being able to adapt. You know the old saying, "Jack of all trades and Master of none"! That's me. Just call me Jack!

In lots of ways this has been enlightening. By going down the road in these vehicles I get a much better idea of what they need. The frustrating thing is that it seems like they are endless projects. A week on BS 22 brought out four issues. Most of these required a trip to the dealer, of course this decision was influenced by my being needed be elsewhere. Three days after putting BS 22 in the shop I was able to check on the repair progress. It would appear we are waiting on a fifteen cent o-ring. Hello!

Yesterday I went to Lubbock in BS 222. I had never driven this truck while pulling a load (actually I had only driven it fifty miles total). I had heard different comments comparing it to other BS power units. My personal assessment was mixed. Contrary to conversations, I was impressed with the horsepower, downside is I was disappointed at the fuel pump. This is usually a trade off. More power equals more fuel. 10% to be exact. I keep trying to justify it as being wind conditions, which were not optimum. My biggest peeve with this truck is that the cruise control is not working. With the onboard computers, many power programs are set to provide more horsepower on the cruise button than on the accelerator pedal while minimizing fuel consumption. Today I am going to Ft. Worth to off load, then to Waco to pick up a Lubbock Friday delivery. This is a new development as KO's core customer put this new route together. Next week it should expand to include Odessa. The core customer has been trying out a new central dispatch and it has not been trouble free. Now they seem to be going back to a lot of dedicated routes. They even agreed to a rate increase of about thirty percent, but when other carriers are leaving loads on the dock, dependable service demands a premium!

It was a lot like a family reunion yesterday, I saw more of the drivers from OBTI in one day than I had seen since last fall's driver safety meeting at the office. I am hoping some benefit will come from it. "Hot Chocolate" told me he would find me some drivers to put on the other BS units. I have had calls out to some of the guys who did the seasonal work, thing is they expect the same kind of money as they make in season.

The more business I can generate for the company re-enforces my case for going back to "in season" pay. Of course the major issue is if you do the work you had better be able to collect. It would probably surprise a lot of my drivers and co-workers, but when they are at the jobsite and on commission, their pay dwarfs mine. A lot of this has to do with me making a deal for health insurance though. If I could get the problem with my final nemesis resolved, I wouldn't worry too much about money, but right now they are yanking on me.

Out of curiosity, would anyone hazard a guess how long it takes mail to go from Sweetwater to Abilene? Looks like a precedent is being set!

One of Memama and Pepa's neighbors died yesterday evening. Last Friday he had a blood clot make it to his brain. Pepa had called me to tell me of this development. Pat had called and offered a little more insight as to what happened and (at that time) why it would be fatal. This neighbor had helped with the seasonal work last fall for about three weeks. This man had an idea of what he wanted in equipment, in co-workers, and in the part-time job. I can respect that. The last time I talked with him was either Thanksgiving or Christmas when he called to see how things were going. Condolences to Francis, Karen, Doris, Willis and Judy, along with their extended families.

I have about decided not to go with Krl and Trc and her family on their trip next week. I feel compelled to stay here and work. I am not sure how much I could enjoy being gone if I felt like I needed to be here to work. I told Krl to see if Trc can cash me out. If not, I may put my place up for sale.

Any bidders?

Be the real deal.

FATHER, I pray for a safe day.

I despise weekends like this last one.

I don't know what it is about them, that may be why I dislike them so much, there is nothing that stands out. Nothing to brag about, nothing to grab hold of and trash.

One day weekends are the pits! This wasn't really scheduled to be even a one day weekend because I had things I could have been doing. Krl and I didn't even do our standard Saturday afternoon, and that is strange. When I returned from Lubbock Saturday afternoon, she was dressed and had her list of "to-do's" laid out but for whatever reason, she granted me a reprieve! Since I haven't driven much the past few months, I guess you could say I am in training because I went to bed very early. It's probably going to take me a little time to get used to being on the road again.

Kat came over again Sunday. She and her Meme are working on their tans. I also had Kat working on looking "appealing" because I told her I was going to use her for bait and fish for sharks! She was in a better than normal mood and took it in stride! A large portion of my afternoon was spent doing some prep work in the kitchen. I have been craving jalapenos the last couple of weeks so I did some cream cheese filled, bacon wrapped peppers. Since Kat and Meme don't have my stomach of steel, I also did some beef kabobs and barbecue chicken. Meme is usually good for a bite of jalapeno, sometimes a whole one, but Kat was pathetic. You would have needed a magnifying glass to see where she took "a" bite! Sheesh!

I believe Trc is busier since school is out than she was before. Lrn leaves today for cheerleading camp at Tech. Ln is doing basketball camp at Cooper this week. Ln seems to have lost interest in Tech's basketball camp since Marsha Sharp decided to quit. Trc will have a brief reprieve before later in the week having to round up the girls to leave on their trip.

I hate money. Worse yet, I hate money problems and money issues. It seems like I can't make my brain leave it alone. Always looking, always trying to figure them out. I keep on telling myself that it will be another week before I will see the fruits of last week's labors. I told Krl I need to stay here and work instead of going with Trc and her family this coming weekend. I just don't know if I can enjoy myself if I feel I am not contributing.

Monday. Yuk! My day today, no Lubbock. And that is probably good. BS 22 is going to the shop. BS 222 is going to the tire shop. Me, I am going to the metroplex in KO's Pete. Eleven this morning load pick up appointment, two pm. delivery at Fossil Creek. Just a single which is fine with me.

My Tuesday is in the air. BS 222 is leasing on with OTI, that means paperwork and signs, getting the paperwork to Trc to sign and then the authority and insurance packet from OTI. Add to this the fact that Ollie is coming into town and wants me to go to Breckenridge with her to check on her step-grandfather's grave. It has been a year since he died. Ollie said she can't remember where the little private cemetery is located. (Just look for the foot stone! Private joke!)

If you can't tell, I can't wait to get my day going! Yeah, right.

Saturday night, or actually very early Sunday morning, I was up and watching television, surfing the 'net, and finishing up paperwork for last weeks loads. Actually, I had already given KO the Coca Cola paperwork so what I was finishing up was a single load for TSD and doing the trip envelope miles and fuel. The national spelling bee was on the television and I got interested. These kids can spell words that blogger spellcheck doesn't even have on file. I was impressed. Probably because none of my kids can spell! I believe it is the first time in seven years we have a female champion, in fact the final three contestants were female. There was also excellent representation of heritages.

I would guess Kyle Patrick Henry and his mom and dad are home. It will be interesting to hear about Kyle's week in Hawaii. I look forward to his account of Pearl Harbor. For some reason I think this will have had a profound impression on him. In my book, Kyle is into hard facts. I hope their trip was memorable. Luckily for Hag, after some rain, he didn't end up losing the whole time he was gone. Friday was the first day I began to see planters moving and by Saturday they looked like ants!

Let's git 'er done!

Be the real deal.

FATHER, I find myself struggling.

Well, well. I have been absent.

An opportunity presented itself and I jumped on it.

After the Wednesday trip to the metroplex and an opportunity Thursday to make a quick run to Lubbock for KO, things escalated. As many of you know, this year is the first year that I have remained on salary, hopefully year round, with my employer that had been only seasonal in the past. It hasn't been much salary, but more importantly it is continuing to meet the requirements for the medical insurance coverage. I had been in hopes of putting together a program for the company to tread water until the seasonal work came again. It had been slim pickings the last couple of months. I know if I can put together a program for my employer, I might get my salary raised from the off season level. Another personal option had been to juggle a second job. Last summer I had worked in KO's office working on spreadsheets. When the seasonal work required my presence last fall, I trained Elizabeth to come in and handle the spreadsheets, then I took a leave of absence. Now, it appears Elizabeth may be moving back to the metroplex. However, I don't feel that the spreadsheet work load requires a full time employee unless other duties are added. Basically, the hardest part of the program is getting it going! I had a pretty good mix last year of office, shop and driving, so it is doable.

What I thought was going to be a quick trip to Lubbock ended up being more. While Marolen (a KO driver) and I were waiting to bump the dock, my cell phone toned and KO informed me that Coke had added two more loads, we needed to get back, to get back. In fact Lubbock was keeping people on just to unload us. Man, I was wishing I had gotten an early start! It made for a late night after going Ab-Lubb, Lubb-Ab, Ab-Lubb, Lubb-Ab. It was after midnight before I finally made it to my bed. I already knew a double Abilene Lubbock was in the mix for Friday and I wanted to get an early start. I was back in Abilene shortly after noon to pick up the second load and I had just been informed that Coke was wanting Saturday commitments so I told KO to sign me up. Another Abilene to Lubbock. As my luck would have it, I arrived back at warehouse just prior to shift change which is not good, and it wasn't. I dropped through the cracks and my second delivery was not even loaded until almost four. Being a Friday I called DO at the office to inform her of my dilemma. Turns out it was a good thing. Coke-Lubbock was letting all their help go early and I would not be there in time to unload. Another development was that one of the Saturday loads was cancelled making it possible for me to deliver my late Friday load, Saturday.

A single Abilene to Lubbock seemed like a piece of cake.

For the past two months, all I have done is work on trucks my employer has leased. Everything is pointed at having them as ready as they can be come the end of summer and the return to the seasonal work. I am finding one of the best ways to determine problems is to put them on the road and keep notes. While I was pretty confident of BS 22, I now have a short list ranging from an oil leak to a signal light problem and ending with a strange occurrence with the clutch. The clutch mechanism is a hydraulic master cylinder which activates a hydraulic cylinder which engages and disengages the clutch. I have found that if I hold the clutch pedal depressed, it becomes soft, almost like not having the clutch or gradually letting it out. This hasn't been a problem because I am aware but I wouldn't want to put any yay-hoo in it without making the repair. You sure don't sit with the clutch depressed through a whole traffic light!

When I returned the truck to the yard, I did some quick diagnostics on the signal light. I don't anticipate it being a major repair, but I do deem it as extremely necessary. You have to go the long way if you can only signal turns in one direction!

If Monday gives me the chance, BS 222 is going to the tire shop to get eight new shoes, and then it will be going on the road for its shakedown.

One week to departure! Why aren't I excited?

Be the real deal!

FATHER, I am lost, draw me out!