Were you wondering if we survived? We were!

The meal went well. Numbers were down, we only fed eighty three. I know of two you could add to that but Krl and I were sick of seeing turkey before we began serving. The crew was grateful and excited to have a home cooked meal and lots of it.

Wednesday night we left the meeting room where we had seven broaster roasters cooking the turkey at eleven pm. I had finished the hams earlier in the day, all the pieces for Krl's famous dressing were ready, a table sat with all the side dishes ingredients.

Krl returned to the meeting room, checking turkey progress at one in the morning and again
about three to turn off the roasters. At five I went in and set all the turkeys out of the roasters into metal trays to cool and be boned. Immediately I began washing broaster roasters for other items to be warmed and cooked. At twenty 'til seven I woke Krl and we began to mix the dressing. We had wondered what we were going to mix fifty pounds of dressing in, but I had a brainstorm and bought a plastic storage tote that was about thirty inches long eighteen inches wide and eighteen inches deep. It was actually big enough for us both to crumble cornbread without encumbering the other! Finally we placed the dressing in two broaster roasters and turned them on. Ricky H. and Frank came in and began boneing turkey, I summoned Kyle Patrick Henry to help and when Krl and I got to it we both boned a bird apiece! Marie came in and began fixing the tray of cranberry sauce. Frank and I drained and poured three gallons of fruit cocktail into a large bowl Frank had borrowed from the hall. Marie added Kool Whip and marshmallows and later on added Pearl's banana's. We'd opened five gallons of corn and poured it into a broaster roaster to warm with just a touch of butter and some pepper. Krl had three gallons of giblet gravy "cooking" and we set up a crock pot to warm and dispense at meal time. One broaster roaster was filled with boned ham, another with boned turkey, and yet another with browned dinner rolls. All the broaster roasters were set to warm. Marie had sliced pies and placed them on dessert plates with Kool Whip readily available for accent. With twenty-one minutes until meal time Krl and I began making the Idahoan potatoes. In my turkey fryer! We did 102 servings in one sitting (with more waiting if we needed it). Amazingly, they were done and in serving trays by noon. The final accent was a half gallon of jalapenos (which were a late addition) and the meal was in place. Not a minute too soon as the crew began walking in. In the beginning the line was sparse but proved to be steady throughout the two hours set aside for the plant to be down and we had a few stragglers coming in until five o'clock. At five the cleanup began and left overs bagged and covered. We did send one tray of turkey, one tray of ham, a tray of dressing, some corn, several dozen dinner rolls, a tray of potatoes, and an assortment of pies into the plant to make sure everyone had opportunity to indulge. Special thanks, to Kristy, Becky, Marie, Frank, Nancee, Ricky, Ed, Pearl, Roy, and Kyle for their help. Of course this wouldn't have been possible without Krl's direction and expertise. I can follow directions and I am a first class dish washer!

Much to the dismay of many nay sayers, the meal was a success! I really think they wanted us to fail because they chose not to be a part of it!

The final detail was talking with the GM. The deal he had made with me was he couldn't help but he wanted me to bring him the tickets for all the ingredients. When it was all said and done, the meal cost $461.00, an average cost of $5.55 per person, and there are a few left over groceries which are rapidly disappearing. The GM didn't flinch as he approved it for reimbursement!

Best part of the meal is that it is over and a year away if we do it again. We did keep up with how much of what was prepared and made copies for everyone to keep for future use.

Krl has been exhausted. She is so frail she has no stamina.

Nancee made Krl and I a double layer pumpkin pie. It has graham cracker crust with cream cheese filling topped with pumpkin pie filling. Top it with a dose of Kool Whip and it is a slice of heaven. Of course this complimented the San Saba pecan pies Ed and Pearl had shipped in and were nice enough to give us one for our trailer.

Let the record show that we ate left over pizza Thanksgiving night.

I thought Krl was going to strangle Kyle when she told him to come over and watch Kirby's game Thursday night, He asked her if we were going to have "Thanksgiving dinner in our trailer!"

We have been struggling to keep up with the plant. They have been on a good run, averaging about twelve percent above their normal production.

I had placed my pickup under the office carport Wednesday and had the rotisierre set up. I didn't move my pickup from Wednesday until Friday. In fact the only time it was moved was when I would send Kyle to dispose of grease or broth left from cooking.

Friday afternoon I went to the fuel pumps to fill up with gas and while it was filling I was walking around the company truck when I noticed something new. There was a scrape that began just in front of the right rear tire and went intermittently all the way to the mirror of the door. In fact the door is where it is most heavily scraped. A closer walk around revealed blue paint on the left hand side. I was furious because I knew I had not put these on the truck. When I returned to the bale dock I immediately asked Kyle if he had anything he needed to tell me. He kept glancing at the pickup and stuttered and stammered before saying "No, I don't think so." I asked, "Are you sure?". He replied "Yes sir, I think so." I told him to come with me and let's take a look at my pickup. He just wanted to die. He would never admit guilt verbally but his actions gave him away.

I told him I know accidents happen but I will not tolerate a sneak or a fibber.

I am so disillusioned with him. Since he has been back he is in his own little world. Either to my credit or detriment I still have not yelled at him and made him "shut down".

But it is getting harder.

Tomorrow is a maintenance Sunday. Yes!

A week or so ago Pepa had some biopsies done and at that time the doctor said everything "looks good". Wednesday evening the doctors office called and the lab didn't support his "looks good" assessment. Next week he will be going in for a bone scan and then will have a discussion with his doctor to determine a course of treatment. Add him to your prayer list.

Also Wednesday evening our IRS negotiators called saying they had hit a snag in reconciling the tax liability left by the no defunct family business. Krl and I have never owned any portion of this business because we knew we couldn't because of me being in the sights of the IRS. Initially this corporation was set up for Krl and the grandbabies to do something but no stock was ever issued and when Trc needed to limit the liability exposure she used the corporation which was set up several years ago. The catch for the IRS is that Krl was the incorporating agent. She called the attorney to begin the process. If anything, this should make all of us think about things we do in the normal course of doing our jobs. Often times we do things and make calls which could be used against us in the future. If there is anything that helps this situation it is that Trc is not blood related. For some reason the IRS sees this as a distance factor, yet they are so afraid that assets are being shielded that they are anal. In regard to this please place Krl and I both on your prayer list, that this problem would be reconciled.

Well, I had better get busy and earn my pay. Driver and truck settlements.

Have a day!

FATHER, help us to relax and know that YOU are with us and we will be presented with nothing that YOU can't fix. For YOUR love and care I am thankful!