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!