Guess who's up?

I don't know what the deal was tonight. Actually I was uncontested for my part of the bed (Maple Syrple and Phooey were on the other side of Krl) and very possibly not having to fight for space may have awakened me. When the pups realized I was tossing and turning they corrected their oversight.

I have delayed all I can delay. Stl. today. Ouch. I just can't get pumped for this.

Yesterday saw a little more prep work. BS 222 is now in the shop. Two issues that are computer related that I am not equipped to diagnose and fix. I will have to see what the service writer does. I told him (and I wrote it on the service authorization) to call with an estimate before repairing. Verbally I told him funds were limited and if the first repair was too expensive the second would have to wait. I didn't receive a call from him. Last time I sent a truck to him a couple of hours repair turned into two weeks and a three hundred dollar project ended up costing twelve-hundred. (I think they charged the company storage). They were in need of a special o-ring and it took two weeks to get it right. I am hopeful this man remembers those events because I certainly do.

We did have a little comic relief yesterday. Krl continues to work in the travel trailer. At one point she came storming into the office and told me, "We have rats!"

I said, "What?"

"We have big rats in the trailer", she exclaimed, "in the ceiling and in the walls."

When we store the trailer, I do all I can to discourage "visitors". I wasn't going to say it wasn't mice or rats but I wasn't prepared to say it was. When we store the trailer I don't lay the power cord on the ground, I suspend it from the wall plug so as not to give access to "stowaways". Earlier in the week I had been all through the storage areas of the trailer and I didn't see any evidence of "company". I slipped on my shoes and followed her outside and into the trailer. She went into the bedroom on my side of the bed and beat on the wall and ceiling and stepped back. In a few moments you could hear scratching and screeching. I asked her to wait there and I went outside and took a broomstick and moved the small tree limbs that were in contact with the trailer. I went back inside and asked her if she heard the noise again. She responded affirmatively and I explained. About that time, the noise rustled again and she wanted to know why. We went outside and watched as the wind gusts moved the small branches against the trailer, one of the very smallest branches had a blunt end and when it made contact it would make a high shrill screech. We laughed as we made our way back to the house and I reminded her that when birds are on the roof of the trailer it sounds like tap dancers!

I would never have caught that one. (And that's all my psyche needs is another unattainable goal).

Another hot topic over at preachermike.com. Mike's post yesterday was about the Time magazine cover story, Does God wants you to be rich? Lots of good view points. I was surprised at the amount of bashing the prayer of Jabez was getting. Call me stupid but I never thought about "expand my boundaries" as wealth. I always thought of it as "making" me more complete. As a spouse, friend, son, parent, Christian, worker. Kind of that "be all you can be" mentality. Let me get back to you on this one.

I don't want to be rich. I just want to be comfortable. I would like to go out and eat once in a while (although the best place to eat in town is at our house). I would like to be in a position to be able to help someone. I would like to be able to splurge once in a while at the grocery store. I want to have a small reserve in my pocket. I don't want to worry when I use a credit card whether I am over limit or whether or not they have received their payment.

Ever since the episode with the family business and it's aftermath, I will never part with a dollar without thinking it through. Now don't be mistaken. I/we were never wealthy. Even though the business grew to $20M in annual sales, it wasn't around long enough for the small margin to accumulate. In fact, I would think most people would be surprised how little family members drew as salaries when compared to other businesses in the industry. When an outside firm was brought in to evaluate the family operation, the only salaries that weren't criticized were those of the family members (which proved to be only a third of the industry standard).

I still laugh to myself when I think back to a conversation with my Mom in the aftermath of the failed business after it's association with the less than honorable international company, and after our unsuccessful lawsuit. Neither my Mom or I ever prayed for a verdict in our favor and neither of us ever prayed for a large "reward". We just never felt it was right to approach GOD in matters like this. Since then, we have had other laughs about our exit interview from this world (or our entry interview to the hereafter) with GOD.

GOD- "You seem to have really had a problem with the demise of the family business, the international barracuda and losing the lawsuit."

Me- "Yes."

GOD- "You never asked me to help out with that."

Me- "I just didn't feel it was right to ask. You have lots more important things going on. I just prayed that things would work out as YOU intended."

GOD- "Oh, and I thought it didn't really matter to you."

End of interview.

I might need a do-over for that. I look at all that has happened since then. How I have grown. How I have mellowed. How I have hardened. How priorities have changed. I can't help but think "my boundaries" have expanded. I am confident GOD's plan for me remains on track.

I probably need to re-read a book which talked about prayer. It said to be specific in what you pray about. Pray about individuals by name. Pray about needs specifically. Pray about thanks specifically. Be specific.

I need to work on that.

It is ironic that as I wrestle with dollars and cents, a few of the wealthy individuals are giving and pledging huge amounts of their excess to projects like global warming, world hunger, HIV, and other worthy projects.

I like the fact that we have a former President (Clinton) who is young enough to still be active for chosen causes. Lately he seems to have been very visible. Like him or not (we all have our demons), I think he is doing good things with his celebrity.

On another note, I look anxiously forward to when we have another former President.

I saw a guy the other day that had a "W" 04 sticker on his car. He didn't respond when I asked if the "W" stood for "Won't come off".

FATHER, I pray for safety today. I pray for a smooth, productive day. I pray for motivation. I ask that YOU remove the dread of the task ahead. Fill my day with YOU.