As the comedian Jose Jiminez would say:

"Please don't let them do this to me!"

I think I will be a much happier camper once I am camping. And you can quote me on that! I am to the point now that I just need to get 'er done.

Yesterday was filled with little busy details, unloading and reloading the company truck, trying to pack it in as tightly as possible. Several trips to the post office. (3). Churning out some last minute correspondence. Beginning the musical vehicles parking. Rotate! Loading personal affects. Meeting with the interim yard man, (the last time he came back after dark)! Meeting our neighbors to the north and giving them a quick virtual tour before giving them a set of keys to our house, briefing their daughter on plants, mail etc.

Thing is, we didn't get it all done! And that means an early start to today.

Krl and I were exhausted last evening. We sat and argued over who was more tired. Of course "supper" was an issue. What, when, who? I gave in first and did one of those off the cuff meals. Luckily she had some meat thawed. It was a tired poor boy's quick version of Swiss steak with English pea salad, mashed potatoes and sliced bread. ( I wanted club crackers. Krl did fix the English pea salad.) Actually this may be one recipe I need to write down.

I didn't make it through the day without injury. At one point in the day I was standing in the dining room and Krl and I were going over some things when Maple Syrple ran out of patience with her understudy, Phooey. Maple snapped at Phooey, the pup snapped back and the jig was on! When Phooey realized that Maple was serious she dashed for cover which just happened to be my leg. Now I have been snapped at and have the wounds to prove it!

For some reason Krl didn't accept my injury as serious. I told her I would need months and months of physical and mental therapy to overcome the trauma, that immediately I needed a wheel chair and that she had better go on to the job site without me. I realized it would be difficult being here at home injured and alone but I would persevere. She didn't buy what I was shoveling. (If I had only thought to grab the ketchup ........).

Maple has been penitent all evening and night. Phooey is leary of me because she knows if I get the opportunity, I will bite her. After all, it is Phooey's fault!

It has been interesting as we load everything. The two black dogs realize what is going on and they are moping. Maple Syrple has a good idea what is happening, earlier in the week she had gone to the travel trailer with me as we were prepping it. Phooey has no idea! It must be blissful to be blond!

Kyle Patrick Henry's mother and I have been talking. She says he has not left the house because he is afraid he will miss my call. In fact, she made him go to the post office and he went but only after she swore to stay by the phone. He is riding with a driver today to Midland to pickup forklifts and then back to STL. He has convinced himself that he needs to be in place Monday. (I never told him such, although Krl and I have discussed letting him come out and stay with us and work some. Get a little experience, a little exposure.) Just recently he applied for his first job ever outside of the family. It has been a real hoot talking with him about that process. I realize that he can be difficult to work with but I think it would do him a world of good to land a job. He would feel ten feet tall and bullet proof.

My biggest question is how he will handle things when he has to work and he knows that Memama and Pepa are going somewhere. Also how will Pepa adjust if KPH is at STL and the birds need fed while they are gone.

Holt is getting tubes in his ears this morning. He has had recurring ear infections. Actually he is pretty young to be getting tubes, they probably won't stay in too long. It's odd, because he isn't a bottle baby. I think his dad is hoping this will let him sleep all night so mom and dad can do the same.

Dream on dad.

Congratulations to the girl next door. I don't think she reads this but I still won't tell her what I am congratulating her about. You'll find out today! (KPH's mother isn't the only parent I talk to!)

I learned something yesterday. The post office has a $4.05 stamp. I went in to get a number of "flat rate" priority mail envelopes and was going to pre-pay them. In the past they would print out the tape that had the postage on it and stick it on the envelope (or put them in a bag for me to put on later). The gentleman at the window asked me how many $4.05 stamps I needed and responded, "You have $4.05 stamps?" My first thought was, "they must be huge!"

I have moved the cell phone fuss to the next level. After today, they will have seven days to respond to our request or give us a reply with their reasons for refusing. Man, I haven't sued or been sued in over a year! I think that is why postage went up, because since I was not being sued about something the mail volume went down. I kind of miss ol' Lance.

Can you tell I am stalling?

When next I post, it will be from the badlands of further West Texas. I don't know exactly when that might be. I expect it might take a few days to get the new ISP up and running.

Think of us, pray for us.

FATHER, this is difficult. I'm not ready for this but I know this is an opportunity you are giving us, and I am thankful. Thank YOU for being patient with me, I'll get my head right. I pray for Holt and his procedure. I pray for safe travel. Bless-ed be your name.