I'm not sure where my head is at, but I am sure that where it is at is not a good place!

I can't sleep, for the battle rages within. When I can relax, (like watching last nights NASCAR race), I repeatedly dozed off, but when I went to bed it was toss and turn.

I am fearful the weather is going to be a problem at the jobsite. Saturday saw no measurable precipitation, but contacts there said you could cut the air with a knife. On-line area newspapers showed wet streets. The forecast for today and Monday calls for rain followed by a chance of rain on Wednesday.

We definitely don't need to be carrying a full slate of employees when there is no work to be done. That might get me called on the carpet.

Let's hope I am making a mountain out of a mole hill.

It has been absolutely wonderful being at home. Walking in the house last night (or early this morning, to be correct), the smell of fresh paint and the familiar settings were a sight for sore eyes. While the houndgirls had finally relegated themselves to a road trip they weren't happy. The two older hounds were miffed because they were up past their bed-time, the two younger pups were miffed because they were confined to a vehicle. ALL of them were surprised when we let them out at the house!

Saturday was a really nice day and Krl left the backdoor open so the hounds could come and go as they pleased. She was very surprised how little time they spent outside. It was almost as if they were satisfied once they knew no-one had stolen their yard.

I made two treks outside the house. I met a truck at the shop at nine this morning, only to find that the parts needed to make the necessary repair were not in stock. They will arrive Monday morning and we will have to schedule the truck in the shop to install them. The second trek was to the grocery store. Either we took, or had depleted many essential items. I made a dash and got paper towels, paper plates, toilet paper, and something to put on Saturday nite's menu.

I did expand my grocery run to include a parts house. Early Saturday morning, just as we exited I-20 coming into Abilene, we were pulled over by a DPS Trooper. He must have been a lonely man because he stopped us for a license plate light. It has a new bulb and is working now. That is one thing I have never understood, why make the license plates reflective if you ar going to shine a light on them? thank goodness it was only a warning!

I was lucky enough to find a bag of Jimmy Dean's Skillet breakfast mix in the freezer Saturday morning and a quick count revealed six eggs in the fridge. Just enough! I had it going when Krl woke up!

We have been gathering up items left behind. Equipment chargers, clothes, and tools just to name a few. Some items remain to be found. I guess when I packed them in the big trailer and the company truck I hid them good.

One of the most pressing issues is the mail from the company mail box. I have been expecting quarterly reporting forms. I am hopeful that we can catch our neighbor and borrow the key back. Trc has the other one.

Krl had talked with Trc and she said Kat had been busy. It seems the Abilene Fire Department had a coloring contest for ALL the second graders in Abilene. Kat won it and is now sporting a new bicycle! Way to go Kat! Meme got to talk with Kat and Le. Meme reported that Trc is not feeling well and is scheduled to go to the doctor Monday. Preliminary diagnosis calls for some surgery later this month.

I did talk with Memama. She was visiting with Kyle Patrick Henry so I made my call quick. She told me he had not quit talking since he got there. I guess that's a good sign. It is funny that so much of what goes on out there at the jobsite has become old hat to us veterans while a rookie is pretty much in awe. I figure Kyle Patrick's first big test will be when it comes time to return to the jobsite. Will he or won't he?

FATHER, cover me.

Wow!

We are back in Abilene, and it is wonderful! We have been on the jobsite two weeks, yet when I walked in I wanted to do a snow angel on the floor!

Weather has been a constant problem out there. Last weekend the area received moisture ranging from eight tenths of an inch to four inches. Just when equipment was returning to the fields scattered showers returned with heavier rains predicted for the weekend.

While we have made massive strides setting up the jobsite, we are still without internet. I am finding it very difficult to work on and at my desk. Maybe this next week. I have all the pertinent pieces but I am mindful of the problems I encountered last season with the wireless router.

We have processed just over four thousand bales of cotton. A good beginning. We should be somewhere between a tenth and a thirteenth through.

I am going to be able to write a book. Kyle Patrick is working with us (somedays) and while I know it is sometimes trying for him I know it is an exercise in patience for me. After a horrible first day on the jobsite, he rallied for a very good ten to twelve days. The last couple have not been too good. After learning we had no cotton to gin Thursday morning, he asked if he could sleep in. He emerged from his trailer after dark, only to eat supper with Krl and I. While he is beginning to understand the concept of pay and the time clock, he hasn't totally grasped the idea of productive time. Yesterday he reported for duty at eleven but thought he had been on the clock since he had been drinking coffee since nine-thirty. I suppose if he remembers anything from this experience it will be my asking him, "Am I paying you for this?"

Probably the most difficult thing for us at the jobsite is to let Kyle stretch his boundaries. If Aunt Krl had her way she would ask him over for every meal. We have tried to limit this to an every other day schedule and only for supper. It's pretty easy to figure out Kyle is a carnivore. Chicken fried steak or roast on the menu and he is ready. Something from the grill is even better! The boy has lived on baloney sandwiches for the past two weeks. His mother had tried to get him to buy some frozen dinners but he didn't. Last weekend the plant shut down two hours early so everyone could go to town to get supplies. Kyle rode in with us and followed me with his basket. Finally he bought a huge bottle of gatorade and a twelve pack of Dr. Pepper, some powdered donuts and he was done. Krl and I went down the frozen food aisle pointing out different items. "Kyle, here is chicken fried steak!", we would say. He would respond by saying, "Yep, but I bet it's not as good as Aunt Krl's!" I pointed out, "Kyle, this is roast with brown gravy and mashed potatoes!" Kyle said, "It doesn't look as good as Krl's." Krl and left the frozen food aisle defeated, every highlight we pointed out was countered by "Kyle" logic.

On Wednesday we made a run to Midland and on to Odessa for parts. Kyle had ridden on a truck to Lubbock with motes. One of the last stops we made was at an Albertson's and we made quick work of our list. Krl finally made a confession that she had brought some of Kyle's money from his envelope (we were keeping for him) and she intended to buy him some frozen dinners. We ended up selecting a bag of microwaveable chicken nuggets (one of Kyle's favorites), a chicken fried steak dinner, (even though it probably isn't as good as Aunt Krl's), a turkey diner, a sliced roast beef dinner, hamburger helper, and a box of chicken quesidillas. When we returned to the jobsite and delivered these to Kyle his first question was, "How much did this cost?" We told him, and that we took money from his funds (it is much less painful for him if he doesn't personally have to surrender it). He seemed pleased with our choices and pricing.

Thursday night, after staying in all day, when he came over for supper, he confessed that he had eaten all but two of his frozen dinners. (I knew the boy was tired of baloney!). We may have created a monster.

The key may be in how you present it. This week was "A taste of Stouffer's". Next week may be "the Banquet parade".

As you can tell I need some R & R.

Hopefully "more" before we return to the jobsite tomorrow!

FATHER, YOU reign.