Friday saw the repaired truck exit the shop for a test spin. It could have gone Thursday but a decision was made which required two parts to be over-nited in. I was somewhat disconcerted with the braking system, it just didn't seem right. When I returned to the shop after a shakedown run of seven miles, I found that the parking brakes were not working correctly either.

Hmmm.

Saturday morning I returned to the shop for more cleanup and to be honest most of my time was spent pondering the braking problem on the truck. When I finally got to a stopping point with the cleanup I grabbed a handfull of wrenches and went out to the truck. I took some lines loose and began to watch how air chambers reacted, re-adjusted the slack adjusters, did a small test with no improvement and finally decided that two lines had to be backward. Walla! Brakes!

It is no surprise when a vehicle has been dismantled to the extent this one was, some stupid mistakes are going to occur! I am just thankful I found the problem before I needed full braking. (P.S., I don't want you to think I am an idiot, I did have front brakes functioning properly.).

When I returned home I got to a project I had been pondering for a few weeks. One of Krl's flowerbeds had not been watering properly and I was fearful that the sprinkler system had been attacked (or attached) by the shrubs root system. This had happened in two other locations previously in the seventeen years we have lived here. I swear, if I ever build a house I will map out all the utilities and plant trees and shrubs accordingly! The first hour of my project was spent chasing the elusive leak. With minimal encouragement I had water bubbling through the ground, but locating the source was another matter. Although I could finally feel the leak, I could not visually assess the repair. The previous homeowners had planted three shrubs directly over the sprinkler line in this flowerbed and the shrubs are now ten to twelve feet tall. As my luck would have it, there is a huge root, probably five inches in diameter which crosses on top of the sprinkler line and immediately dives downward and under. All of this is under the shrub foliage which allows for a whopping two feet of swing room for a grubbing hoe or axe. I don't know how much time today and yesterday I have worked on chopping through but I still haven't laid eyes on the actual leak. Maybe today!

Krl tells me I should just cut down this shrub, but then I would still have to grub the roots up. Hmmm, I wonder if she is serious or just baiting me?

I suppose I have today off. KO and DO went to PK this weekend. Kind of an end of summer outing. They took the Rv and boat and were meeting several of KO's family. Late Friday, the girl in the office came by the shop to let me know she was leaving and she was surprised the truck was ready. She did tell me they had not gotten a load for it for Monday. Oh well, maybe a Tuesday shakedown run.

Actually I should qualify the day off. That just means I won't dedicate my day to messing with the actual truck. I have some monthly reporting to do along with some information SSI needs for a former employee. I have plenty to do, thing is none of it pays very well.

I am hopeful for some relief from the hot and dry conditions. There is supposed to be a chance. Yesterday I had some stuffed jalapenos on the grill and the tongs were so hot from the sunshine I could barely hold them.

I got in trouble Saturday because Maple Syrple got out. Krl scolded me that I am going to have to be more careful because the little hounds are quick as greased lightening! I may have to change Maple's name to Houdini because she got out again Sunday. Thankfully the next door neighbors of each side were alert enough to bring her home both times. Turned out the lawn guy broke a fence paling ....... . Seems like I have been through this before.

I was pretty pleased with the Brickyard 400. I would love to see Jeff Gordon be successful in his drive for five, but if he can't be as a driver I will settle for JJ win it for him as a car owner. Actually it might be more simple to list who I don't want to win, Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch, Matt Kennseth, or Kevin Harvick.

I was alarmed by the invocation at Indy Sunday. The gentleman prayed for safety for our troops abroad as they protect our liberties. I respect and support our troops, I do not respect or support "W's" playing war games with them. It seems that more and more of the world is seeing the U.S. as a bully. I don't think it is our job and I don't know if it will ever be possible for some of the war-ing factions to live peacefully. To them it is a way of life. The other night I watched a television program and a young father was shown with his two young daughters and he said his hope was that they would become martyrs. What a morbid thought. One thing about it though, we have someone in "W" who is right on their level mentally!

Have a week!

FATHER, there is so much that needs YOUR intervention. Instill in us the reassurance that YOUR plan is unfolding as YOU intend. YOU know my needs and I am confident YOU will meet them as YOU see fit. I ask YOUR blessings upon James, Terah, Richard and Anastacia as they prepare for the school year. Help them to be ready to soak up the knowledge their teachers impart and help them to continue to make good choices. Bless-ed be