I've never been big on New Year's resolutions, how 'bout you?

For that matter, I've never been big on seeing the New Year in, and believe me there have been years I have been glad to see end.

I guess my thoughts are "why just try to improve myself once a year". I am a work in progress. It is a daily battle, but I like to think I have potential.

Krl keeps telling me I have changed. To borrow a phrase, she thinks I am "a kinder, gentler" person. Her main barometer is the houndgirls. She says animals can sense what kind of person is inside. She is continually amazed at Maple Syrple's attachment to me. I can walk out of a room and Maple cries. When I put my shoes on to leave the house, same thing. When I sit in my chair, I sit to one side where Maple can back in beside me. Of late, Phooey seems to be competing for me. I think I am going to have to get a bigger chair.

Actually, I think it is kind of neat. I've had a lot of animals in my lifetime, but never one that was so dedicated as Maple.

I don't think I have changed. I think enough baggage has been stripped away, that I can be "me" again. I am convinced that we are often swallowed up by circumstances and surroundings. More often than not, the most dangerous circumstances revolve around money and possessions. This would be a lot simpler world if money were no object. I sometimes revert to a statement my Mom once made, "I sure hope they don't have money in heaven".

The older I get, the less I find I need new, bright, or shiny.

The older I get the more I prefer older, predictable, established.

My most valuable asset is time. It is also convenient that time is what I have the most of, that I can give to others. Now isn't that scary.

And that's all I have to say 'bout that.

One gift I received Christmas, actually it is two gifts because Trc and her Momma were in cahoots, is to an upscale men's salon here in town. It's within a mile of the house. One certificate is for a shave and a hair cut. This is one of those places where they use the hot towels and a straight razor. The other certificate is for a manicure, pedicure, and massage. They tell me I'm gonna love it. We'll see. One thing for sure, I would never do this for myself.

What if I like it?

One of the people I admire the most is my sister Pat. I don't know how she does what she does. I guess she is lucky her day has 36 hours , her weeks have 8 days, and her year has an extra month. She is the school nurse for two smaller rural schools (a job she has had for twenty plus years), she works weekends at a nursing home, she helps Hag out with the farm and keeps all his books, she does the books at Chris' parts store, and she serves as medical revue officer not only for my parents, but for Hag's Dad and step Mom as well. At one point in time she had Hag's step Mom having a double radical masectomy one day, Hag's dad having surgery in another hospital the next day, and went to doctor's appointments with Memama and Pepa during the week. ........ and in her spare time she enjoys guns and handgrenades!

Did I mention she raised a family with two special need children. Chris, who is legally blind, was burned when he was a baby and Kyle is learning challenged.

I probably ought to let Pat have my gift certificates, she deserves to be pampered.

I try to tell her that she is going to have to slow down. Her merry go 'round is going so fast it's going to sling her off. Of course her biggest problem is "people expect it" and she doesn't like to disappoint, but when is too much, too much and enough, enough. Due to physical limitations she cannot continue to be all things to all people.

Often times I feel that us siblings intrude on her too much, expecting her to go and talk with Mom and Dad's doctors. Thing is she can talk the talk and walk the walk. Why she doesn't go to medical school is a puzzle to me. I think she is very good at what she does. As for me, ignorance is bliss and I'm pretty blissful.

Besides, if she went back to medical school maybe she could clone herself and I wouldn't feel so guilty.

Three days ago I visited briefly with Pat. It was almost night, she was at the parts store. Year end inventory. In addition to her normal happenings, one of her best friends growing up is visiting along with this friend's family. This has become a post-Christmas ritual over the years. I told her inventory should be a snap with all the people available. She just laughed and said, "Right!". At that moment she needed to get off the phone, Chris was wanting to go to the deer lease with one of the friends from Lubbock instead of opening the parts store on Friday, and Hag was wanting Pat to come home to play hostess. The only kind of hostess I would have wanted would be a hostess twinkie!

Friday morning I called the parts store out of curiosity to see who opened the store. Chris answered the phone and I asked where his Mom was at. He didn't know. I told him that I bet she was at the deer lease. It got real quiet on his end before he realized I was jerking his chain.

Well, if you've been waiting to do something this year you'd better get busy.

FATHER, as I reflect on the past year I realize how blessed I am, and I thank YOU. I am confident the new year holds many surprises and challenges, but nothing I can't deal with as long as YOU are in my corner. Keep me centered in YOUR ways. I ask Your blessings on Krl and Pat. I pray for health and healing for all those near and dear. Like a Shepard, lead us.

I'm happy to report that the "pickle" which was lost has been saved. I mean found! And the congregation said "Amen".

I'm trying to decide if I feel safer today in a world without Saddam. To be honest, I think I don't feel much different than I did when he was incarcerated. One article I read stated that Saddam received the justice that he denied for many and was found guilty at trial and condemned to hang.

This is one of those dilemmas concerning capital punishment. I continue to ask if it is for us to condemn. The only sure thing I can say is when I have been asked during jury selections how I felt about the death penalty, my response is I feel it should be an option for any criminal law attorney, defense or prosecution.

Thankfully, I have never been selected for one of these jury panels. (I guess I'm answering something right).

Krl and I have talked at length about Iraq. She probably makes more sense than many analyst I have heard on television. The violence is a way of life there. It has gone on for generations and we aren't going to change their mentality with a happy meal and a trip to Wal-Mart.

Don't get me wrong. I support our troops, I disagree with the current administration's lack of a plan. I support our troops coming home.

Last night, Krl and I floated between televisions sets and different programming. Since we are storing the company equipment from the entertainment center, I figure it should be monitored for problems, so I hooked up that television in our home office. Heh, heh. Usually that's where you will find me for a least a portion of the day. Of course this time of the year there is an abundance of football to watch. Krl thinks I am attention deficit, because during the regular seasons I don't watch baseball and I don't watch a lot of college football. It has to be Peyton in a pretty good matchup if I watch pro ball at all. However, there are exceptions to this rule. I like to watch the world series, I like college bowl games, and I am pulling for Peyton to win it all.

Yesterday late, Krl was feeling poorly and decided to lay down. As my luck would have it, bowl games were already on so I got control of the "big" TV by default. This continued until Krl had gotten up and I discovered she had gone into the office to watch TV. (One thing I don't want her to do is ruin that television with an over dose of "law and order" or "charmed".) By this time the Red Raiders were on and looking to continue the way of the Aggies. I quickly lost interest and gave control of the big TV back to Krl. You can imagine my surprise when I awoke this morning to find that the Red Raiders had mounted the biggest comeback in bowl history. You got to give credit to the players and coaches for staying on track. It could have gotten really ugly. I suppose the most credit probably belongs with the fans who stayed with the game until the fat lady sang!

I did see a delayed telecast, does that count? It was almost comical listening to the announcers as Minnesota built a huge lead. I can tell you from experience that the hardest thing to do from an announcer's stand point is keep things interesting in a run away. Luckily they had talked about the quick strike offense of Tech, but even they were dismayed when Tech took it to overtime and won.

So what have we learned since last time. You probably would want me on your jury if it is a death penalty case, unless you are one of the attorneys, and to persevere.

FATHER, I pray for Krl's health. I pray for this troubled world. I ask that you settle my muddled mind and keep me focused on what is important.

The mystery of the lost "pickle".

My cell phone toned yesterday, but I didn't get to it in time. It was on the charger, I was in the office. Krl was indisposed, still suffering from our stomach bug. On my way to retrieve my phone, the doorbell rang. When it rains (or rings) it pours. I opened the door to find Memama and Pepa placing gifts outside the door. They came in for a brief moment although we issued verbal warnings about keeping their distance. If they had any doubts about our being sick, they were put to rest. They had brought over gifts from Kyle Patrick Henry and his parents that weren't under the tree Christmas morning when I made my unannounced visit to their house.

When Memama and Pepa left I followed them out. They were telling me that they had a call from Reidman earlier in the day and he was very distraught. He couldn't find his "pickle". "Would you see if I left my "pickle" at your house?", he asked. A quick look revealed no "pickle", and Reidman was sad.

When I returned into the house I picked up my phone and called Reidman's dad. "Yes, it was true, the "pickle" was missing." I immediately offered to go to Wal-Mart and pick up a new "pickle" and send it to Reidman, but his dad said to wait to see if it surfaced.

If anyone sees a "pickle" marching alone, please let me know so we can return it to it's rightful player.

No one knows how in the world Reid came to call his harmonica a "pickle". I suppose another mystery is when a harmonica became a marching band instrument. But hey, it works for him.

Reidman's Meme and Dandy may have to send him a back up supply of "pickles".

I hate that for some people, their holiday is mixed with sadness. We have been home just over a week. I have visited briefly with our next door neighbor J, the young woman who watched and cared for our house while we were gone, but that was on the day we returned. She keeps a very busy schedule. On the 23rd, I visited with her Dad briefly asking if they had big holiday plans and he informed me no, that his wife's mother, J's grandmother, was hospitalized and not doing well. She has suffered from a lengthy illness. J and her mother have been very regular in spending time with their grandmother and mother. Several times when Krl would call to chat with J during our absence, she would be at the care facility having dinner with her grandmother. The past few days, there has been limited activity next door, although I knew that they were at home because their dumpster was rolled out for service. This was not verified by any personal contact however. This morning, while reading the local newspaper on-line, I ran across an obituary, listing our neighbors as family. This is one thing I hate about the new policies regarding death notices, and obituaries. Today's announcement was the first listing the survivors. Funeral is at 10 this morning followed by a private family gravesite service.

I feel badly. We haven't been very good neighbors. We didn't know and we didn't want to intrude. As it turns out, visitation was last evening.

As I stated in the beginning of this entry, we find our home still in the throws (literally) of the stomach virus. I felt queasy most of the day. Krl spent her day running from bathroom to bathroom. I finally had to make a dash to the post office, I had missed the mail man here at the house. While I was out I decided that my queasiness was due to being hungry. Everything looked good as I made my way downtown. Krl had requested cherry popsicles, and when I was in the store I made my way by the deli. For weeks I have had this thing wanting barbecue. One of my favorites used to be red beans and brisket, with jalapenos and cornbread. Beans 'n Brisket is how the menu read at our old haunt. I knew I had some canned pinto beans at home, I knew I had left over cornbread as well. As luck would have it, the deli had brisket and I purchased half a pound, then just to be safe I picked up a jar of peppers. Upon arriving at home I presented Krl with her prize, then set about satisfying my "taste buds". When I sat down at my recliner with a tray, Krl wouldn't even look at what I was going to eat. Her only statement was "You are a glutton for punishment". Yeah, and I'm not real smart either! For a while there it was touch and go but by the time the aggies had made sure they were beat, I knew I could keep it down.

I talked briefly with Pat last evening. She has been busy working at the parts store trying to do year end inventory. As her luck would have it, the computers have been down. Of course many of the side lines not supplied by the nationally affiliated are not in the computer generated inventory so they have had something to do, other than work on computers. She was very excited. An opportunity had presented itself and they had received notice late yesterday that it was going to happen. The further we talked, she finally said, "Please don't tell me this is going to adversely affect other family members". I don't know. I don't think so, and I would tell her if I though it would. I think it could provide another opportunity.

More on this as it can be disclosed.

FATHER, thank YOU for opportunities, help us to use them as you intend us too. I ask comfort for our neighbors as they deal with their loss. Fill their void with happy memories. Help us to be sensitive to their needs. YOURS is the glory. Fill the earth!

Yes, we are still alive. Thanks for asking. For a while it was touch and go.

It has been ages since Krl and I were hit with a stomach virus, but that little booger whipped us good and even took our names! We had felt a little "off" Tuesday and we knew that two attendees of the family Christmas had had bouts with a stomach bug, but both attributed it to not stringently obeying a water boil order when they were in Angelo the previous week. By Wednesday morning, I was running fever and just trying to select a spot to lay down and die. Then the festivities began. We hadn't eaten all day, but our bodies had saved up for this special occasion. Another of those decision problems as to which end to aim where! Needless to say, we spent most of our day under the blankets, on or near the toilet or running to get Tylenol. Worst part was when the dry heaves set in. I am so sore.

I need to lose weight but not like this!

One thing us feeling poorly did was to keep us from driving over to see the grand boys open their presents. I had dropped them off when I made my Christmas morning jaunt to my parents. We gave both of them cowboy hats, Holt got a truck loaded with cows and also a farm activity scene. He also got a Baby Einstein dvd. Reid got a pair of six shooters complete with holster (I couldn't find the rolls of caps for them but I am still looking, I plan to buy a case of them for him). Reid also got a guitar (a real one) and a harmonica.

I talked with Reid on the phone and he was excited. His favorite is his pickle. ?????? Huh? We haven't quite figured it out but he likes his harmonica and marches while he plays it.

Reid's Dad was kind of chastising me about all the music instruments we have given Reid. My response was that you never know what they are going to take up with, all you can do is present it to them.

I did take a walk down memory lane when we were shopping and I ran across the six shooters. Of course growing up we had Roy Rogers, and the Lone Ranger. Numerous other westerns molded our play time as well. We would divide up into cowboys and indians or as lawmen and outlaws and make for a day of play, in and out of the shrubs surrounding the house. It was quite common for us to have a fort constructed somewhere. I think back to the compression rifles that we would place a cork in the end of and cock the lever. I'm sure these would probably be considered unsafe today. Our divisions would be considered unethical and politically incorrect.

For some reason I just can't get into space invaders and vaporizing guns. I'm sure though that Reid and Holt are forming the very own special memories of games they play while growing up.

FATHER, I ask that YOU replenish Krl's and my bodies.

Over the last few years, one gift I look forward to receiving is from my Mom. Each year she goes through the items remaining in her keep, left from her Dad.

He and I were extremely close. I was born the day his Father died. I loved the farm and all things related. (Except snakes.) Every opportunity that presented itself for me to go and work with him, or to stay with them was instantly accepted. It was never in doubt. On occasion my Mom would come and get me and make me go home for a night, but then it was back to my grand parents until the next required home visit.

A number of events continue to stand out in my mind. The annual rite of summer, a trip to Shelansky's for new straw hats. My first pay day. We had paid all the farm hands and I was checking on show steers when my grandfather came to me asking if I had forgotten something. "No, I don't think so", I replied. He asked me, "Did you get paid?" "No, but I didn't know I was supposed too", I said. And with that he handed over a roll of bills with a rubber band around them. I was rich! A later count would reveal fifteen one dollar bills. I did commission my Mom to take it to the bank and open me an account. She ended up opening a joint account for my brother and I. Here I was, eleven years old and I already had a bank account! 1969, the summer before he died, he was moving his son and daughter-in-law to Ithaca, New York. My uncle had been accepted to do some graduate work there after completing the Texas A & M Veterinary School. They were going to do some sight seeing, visit their oldest daughter living in Virginia, taking three or four weeks to go and return. I was in charge of the farm and it's employees. Before leaving my grandad took me into the bank and we sat down across the desk from Mr. Potter, the bank president. He explained that I was in charge while he was gone. I would be writing payroll checks along with any others that might be incidental. He informed the president that I was acting with his blessing and that any transaction should be treated as if he had done it himself. The bank president chided me about responsibility and maturity.

My grandfather had the ability to make you feel the importance of the responsibility and yet make sure you were also aware of what was expected of you. I was sixteen at the time.

Three months later, he was gone. Dead at 61, from a massive heart attack. If there was a silver lining, I did spend the entire day before he died with him, the reality of it though was that our talk and dreams of farming together, died with him. I can only imagine what might have been.

My mother says he was a hard man. I never saw it. She tells me I am a lot like him, that sometimes I am hard and unforgiving. Maybe I am, maybe I'm not, but either way I come by it honest.

To be totally honest, I don't know if I have ever dealt with losing him.

Back to the gift, sorry 'bout that. I got to strolling down memory lane.

Over the years, my Mom has given me several gifts, beginning with my grandad's pipe. It's mounted on a plaque and hung on the wall. She's given me a keepsake box that over the years has become more and more crowded as it fills with items. Last year's gift was his wallet and pocket knife. Sitting by the keepsake box is his pipe kit. Several pipes in racks along with a glass tobacco container. Before our house was remodeled, the bell that hanged by the garage door at his house, hanged in the entry way at mine. There is a weathered bench made of barn siding sitting in the entry way as well. Many were the times we sat side by side on that bench, removing or putting on our shoes as we came to and from their house.

This year's gift was his Timex wristwatch and a small pocket notebook. I wound the watch but it doesn't run. Too many years sitting idle, I guess. The outside of the notebook simply states "Memorandum Book". On the inside cover, my grandfather had written his name, H.L. McLeod, the date, December 14, 1930, and where he lived at the time, Lamesa, Texas. There were no directions to buried treasure hidden in these pages. There are not any startling messages, any hidden family secrets. But every page is a treasure to me.

It is a testament of a frugal man, a good man. Some of the information is almost unbelievable. In March of 1930 there is an entry, What we owe Daddy. 1st bill of groceries and there is a list with each item priced and totaled at the bottom. $5.88. Throughout this book are records of business he transacted. From supplies to the blacksmith. There are some I have studied before figuring out their meaning. There were several entries that began with PA. Finally we discovered that stood for Prince Albert tobacco. Almost every list of supplies ended with 10 cents for candy. One item that is almost unbelievable is that on one charge he got $1 for his pocket. I guess it was an early version of ATM's. I'm sure with that dollar he had more than enough money to do whatever he needed. Other entries of note include; foolishness .10, rent $5.13, babies presents .05, Doc $2.

On the inside back cover there is another hand written note in pencil. It is almost faded. It lists Elnor Glynn Mc Leod age one month and eight days, and her older sister Mary Jo Mc Leod age two years and six months. Elnor is my mom. This entry is from April 15, 1931.

Who said children were the only ones who couldn't wait for Christmas.

FATHER, thank YOU for precious memories.

The jolly fatman has come and gone once again.

Christmas this year was kind of bitter sweet. I love to see the joy and anticipation of a child. It is sad to see that child as an adult who has out grown that innocence. It is sadder still to see a parent who wants to make their children's Christmas even bigger than their parent's made theirs.

When did we lose sight of the magic?

For the first time in several years, our crew was all together zans one. It is amazing to see what the must be present to win requirement does for attendance. Addie had been at her Dad's since earlier in the week and Kali, Merrit and Kali's friend were coming to retrieve her, stop by for Christmas at Trc's and then return to Angelo to have Christmas. Kali's friend, Scott, was not feeling too well when they stopped by our house. Before it was over he had gotten sick and Kali had his shirt in the dryer trying to dry it. I loaned him a shirt but it was a poor fit as he is much much shorter than me. Finally, after about an hour delay and fifty-seven thousand questions by Addie about when we were going to Kathryn's house, we made our way over. Trc had already been by and retrieved one load of food and presents. We had another load and the turkey and ham. Once we were there, everyone was anxious to eat. For a brief time we were very popular until everyone's stomachs were stuffed. Kali, and Merrit were very fitful as they wanted to have the tree and get on down the road. I realize their predicament, but we didn't force them to come by and it wasn't our fault she had to do laundry. Sometimes, it happens. Live with it.

Krl and I have discussed the possibility that these Christmas' may be few and far between when we are home. I think that it may become standard for our friends to produce eighty-five to a hundred thousand bales of cotton. This year was an oddity in that there was very little dryland cotton harvested and they still almost did sixty thousand bales. Add to this the fact that there were several producers who didn't start a single well. I think they were farming dryland just for a tax write-off. Wow, that's how I used to farm trying to make a living!

In the future we may change our program. First thing I would like to do is make it a qualification for an invitation to our Christmas you must have participated in our Thanksgiving project, feeding the crews. This isn't like feeding homeless people, but these people are displaced as well. It is amazing to see the communication gap be bridged by smiles and gestures of kindness. Second, I would move Christmas from Christmas. Oh, we could keep it close, slide it a week one way or the other, but move it to make attending easier. Instigate a spending limit. Personally I would like to make it that what gifts you gave, you had to make them. It could be crafts, it could be candies, it could be as vast as your talents are! All of us would be watching Martha Stewart!

Just some thoughts.

As was anticipated, the meal was delicious. Way too much food, lots of left overs. I would bet Trc's crew fixes that left over problem. The three most popular items were the rotelle w/sausage dip, the deviled eggs, and the little smokies pigs in a blanket. All FINGER foods! I had scolded Krl for making such a large tray of deviled eggs, but she was right once again. She knows her family's palates. I thought the pigs in a blanket would be good later in the evening, but they were devoured with the meal. We had done a two pound and one pound of rotelle dip. Two pounds of velvetta and a pound of sausage and it made it through the meal and into the evening before being scraped clean! In stark contrast to what Krl and I have become accustomed too, we did only a twelve pound turkey and a five pound half ham (spiral cut). Normally, we are doing eight half hams that weight twelve or thirteen pounds each and the seven turkeys are weighing twenty. I guess the big difference is that at Thanksgiving the meal is eaten primarily by males while the Christmas meal was consumed primarily by females. Carnivores!

I did make an early Christmas morning jaunt to my parents. It was very quiet and calm. Only Mom and Dad were there. Mom was in a tiz, she didn't believe she had ever been that far behind, cooking and wrapping! Big woo! She is entitled. It was a weird Christmas as Tj and Et and their family remained in South Texas, I heard they were hosting Et's family Christmas. Coach and his family had gathered at Colby's because Colb was on call delivering parts to the operating room. Coach and Kirb did drive out to give Mom and Dad their Christmas. Kirb began trying to fly out Sunday night to Boise for UM's bowl game, this coming Sunday night. Pat and her family were in town, and were expected at Mom and Dad's. I never heard what Fred's family's plans were.

I suppose the holiday is over. I guess I had better get some clothes on and find a job. Actually, I will probably make the rounds and put some feelers out, but devote the rest of the week to generating end of year reports. I still have obligations to my current employer even though I have worked myself out of a job. If I can get the quarterly reporting done and print the w-2's and 1099's, I can pack the office up and ship it!

If you haven't done something noteworthy this year, time is running out!

FATHER, surround us with YOUR presence.

Merry Christmas!

Hope you and yours have big plans for the day!

Maple Syrple and I are the only ones stirring in our house. Everyone else is sacked out!

I'm having to deceive Maple a little, Santa did come to see the pups but I know if she finds their four gifts she is going to claim them all.

Krl and I sat down and had a special meal last evening, then we exchanged gifts. Nothing mammoth, nothing expensive. Just some things we either needed or that are comfort items. Right now Krl is "comfortably" snoozing in a gift that probably pleases her as much or more than anything I have ever given her. A pair of flannel footy pajamas! I actually bought them off of a rack in the girls clothing department. They are a size 14/16 but they fit!

This acquisition actually began as a joke earlier this year. We were on the jobsite and the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show had aired the night before. Neither Frank, myself or the two girls in the office husbands got to watch it. What I did see of it was when Krl was changing channels and went by it. All of the jobsite women had the same comment, "Do men actually think if they buy something there that their wife or girlfriend is going to look like those models do in it?"

They continued, telling us that most of it is uncomfortable and not functional. Their final comment was to question how much money had been spent surgically enhancing the models used on that program.

When in doubt, go with flannel. It's always safe! I know this is a little late this shopping season but file it away for future use.

My plan today is to make a quick run to my folks house, maybe eat breakfast with them, drop off gifts for their tree and then return to help Krl with Christmas dinner. We are due at Trc's mid-afternoon. Kali is coming to pick Addison up and Merrit is riding along on the trip. I figure they will stop by if for no other reason than to see if there is any loot!

Our plans are not very rigid. Give gifts out, enjoy some food. Watch a little football, possibly nap a dab. Get out the finger foods (chips, dips, pigs in a blanket, pickle and relish tray) I have been working on for later in the day, we have margarita fixings (the girls at the jobsite even gave me a book to learn Spanish while making margaritas (muey bueno), a couple of bottles of Thirsty Lizard wine, and there has been talk of playing some Texas Hold 'em. It will be fun.

Have a joyous day!

FATHER, bless-ed be YOUR name.

Like a fool I went to the mall yesterday afternoon. Surprisingly, it wasn't as bad as I expected, but then anytime for me at the mall is bad.

I entered at one end of the mall and when I returned to my vehicle, I had been all the way to the other end and back. Doesn't take this guy long. I hate shopping when I don't know what I am shopping for. I guess I am not a shopper, I am a picker upper!

I had bad information. I thought Krl and I weren't exchanging gifts (that was our gift). Totally by coincidence, she had a slip of the tongue and mentioned that she needed to check with Trc about my Christmas. Now if that isn't deceitful I don't know what is! Get out the switches and the lump of coal and show me to her shoes!

I am amazed at some of the promos going on. Of course every store has it's featured buy. Many of them are proclaiming their after Christmas sale has already started. Probably the funniest sign I saw was this one, "Buy that nice girl something naughty!" I am also amazed at the different hooks stores are using. No credit check with military ID. No payments until 2007.

I would love to see one that proclaimed presents that fit your budget! That sales person would have their work cut out with me as the customer! I have been in the spot before where all my shopping was done on plastic. Yuk! In hindsight, I can't believe I did that. Even more amazing, you can't convince someone not to do it. That's another one of those nightmares you have to live through and hopefully wake up from. It often comes to mind what my Mom has always told me, "Children don't care what they get because of the magic of the season".

Over the last several years I have converted almost totally to a cash basis. When the green is gone, it is gone! I do carry one credit card and it is used either in road emergencies or for pay at the pump when I am pressed for time. If I ever use it, either I am reimbursed for the road emergency and it flows through to the credit card account, or if it is for personal use, the card is paid in full each month. At present I do not even have a checking account. I am becoming a pro at money orders! Just call me Ebeneezer!

The most crowded place yesterday was the grocery store, and I made two of them. One wasn't enough.

Krl and I seem to be on different clocks. I begin early and end early. She begins late and runs later! The two young pups are the ones who are winning because they go to bed with me and stay in bed until she gets up. By the time Krl got up yesterday I had made the cornbread for the Christmas dressing and I had made a large batch of chex trash mix. Although she would argue with me, I was cleaning the kitchen when she walked through.

Krl has been on some kind of weird kick where she is going ninety miles an hour, she began decorating yesterday, did a lot of meal "part" cooking (she boiled eggs, squash, and chicken. I think I even remember hearing her cookie press that she used to make deviled eggs.) While I was out and about I had picked up frozen lasagna for supper last night and she even found time to throw it and some garlic bread into the oven. I wasn't in there but it was probably a behind your back or under your leg toss! We talked briefly, and I told her if she would group what she wanted wrapped together for the little girls, I would do it. The stuff for the little boys is no problem, even I can figure that one out.

We ate supper then Maple Syrple, Phooey and I sat back in my recliner watching a little television. Next thing I remember is being awakened by some loud snoring (I am almost positive it was one of the pups) and Krl telling me to take my cohorts and go to bed. She was sitting in the floor wrapping (not rappin') and I told her not to worry about that because I would do it "in the morning". Because we do need to keep these young pups on schedule I took them to bed.

Twas the night before the night before Christmas and all through the house, there were lights on, the tele, with gifts and wrappings all about. I could hear Krl working as she wrapped away, taking brief respites to check on food preparation for Christmas Day. Imagine my surprise when I awoke with a startle, to walk in the living room and find the Charlie Brown Tree as well as another, twinkling and blinking in full Christmas splendor. This was tree-mendous! I then looked around at all the packages wrapped with great care, and began to stutter because there was no clutter.

The woman had stayed up long enough to get it all done.

I guess I will head into the kitchen and see if I can start the cycle all over again. I'm going to make her sausage, eggs and biscuits to begin her Christmas Eve. Then I may make time to go out and buy my nice girl something naughty, because she has been just too good!

May your holiday be filled with laughter and cheer.

Thank YOU FATHER, for the blessings we enjoy!

I was afraid to stray too far from the house yesterday, at least until the mail man was by. I've been waiting and hoping for the year end bonus. Yep, could sure use that 53M about now.

As you can tell, I'm still hung up on this bonus deal I've been reading about. I've been wondering what in the world that person did to qualify for a bonus that large?

Do you think this person is so vain that they believe they did it all by themselves?

I still belong to the Billy Sol school of success. Surround yourself with good people. Multiply by dividing. Don't ask anyone to do something that you can't do or aren't willing to do, if you are an effective boss and manager, you will find someone who can do it better than you.

I still think Billy Sol was one of the great business minds of his time. He just pissed the wrong people off!

Well, well. The company travel trailer is gone from in front of the house. Funny how it works, two of the neighbors came over and visited with me in the front yard, once the trailer was gone.
It felt really good to return the trailer to it's proper place.

Krl and did an inventory of the grandbabies Christmas yesterday afternoon. Everything has to appear equal. Later on, when they are older the measuring bar will turn into equal dollars. We decided to make a quick trek, mid afternoon. Krl announced that this was her last effort to find the elusive item she had placed multiple orders for, online. The last place we went knew exactly what she was looking for and they knew how many they had on hand. Zero! And with that she called off the search. After that we went to the grocery store. Krl and Trc talked and opted for a traditional Christmas meal. Trc told us that we didn't need to go to all that trouble and her Momma told her what trouble. "We can cook for a small group like this with no effort!" When you prepare for one-hundred-twenty for Thanksgiving, you have to have your program in order. All the fixings are here. I probably should have some cornbread in the oven right now!
This will be a fun meal because we will get to do some things that the co-workers at the jobsite didn't like. We will do squash dressing, green bean casserole, and mandarin salad instead of fruit salad and don't you dare forget the sweet potatoe casserole! We bought pies from our pie lady. Trc is fixing fresh bread. It will be a feast!

After dropping the groceries off at the house and taking a break, we made our way out and about. Target, the new Wal-Mart, and finally Abuello's. Target was the target of many late shoppers. It didn't matter if it was after dark. The new Wal-Mart was the least packed of any place we had been. We did our leveling buying and then headed for Abuello's and we were starving! We figured since it was after eight-thirty in the evening we wouldn't have much problem getting a table. We were wrong. They asked us to sit in the bar, and we were lucky as a couple got up just as we walked in. Krl headed for the ladies room. I ordered a couple of margaritas and when Krl returned I had just ordered two Los mejores de la casa, which used to be los mejores especialle. Bacon wrapped shrimp and beef medallions, papas, frijoles, and a side of espiniche. While it was good, it wasn't quite up to standards, even though we were starving! Use to be we thought Abilene's Abuello's was better than Midland's, it may be the other way now. Krl and I discussed the difference in meal portions, and the different ways they present their offering. There is more than one way to hike prices.

The company we enjoyed was excellent.

Best part of the outing is that we are through. Today begins a gift wrapping medley. That won't be too bad because we shopped primarily for little people. If we did shop for a big people, you must be present to win! Otherwise, the gift goes back to the general population.

Once of the last things I did before the company trailer left was borrow the Charlie Brown Christmas tree. All four feet of it adorned with lights as it exits the box sporting two hundred fifty seven pine needle appendages. If I get through wrapping gifts, I may just count them.

And with that, we begin to reflect on the reason for the season. I doubt that the man upstairs ever dreamed how commercial it would become. Growing up in a CoC family, it always seemed as though extra precautions were taken to insure that we didn't celebrate the birth of Christ. While we communed regularly with his death (and this point was regularly pointed out, that we didn't celebrate his death and resurrection only at Easter, we did it weekly), there was no celebration to his entry into this world. I don't know the CoC might be too uncomfortable with the immaculate conception. Regardless, for me there had to be a birth for there to be a death, a death for there to be a resurrection. And I see no reason not to celebrate Christmas.

And this is all I have to say about that:

For unto you a savior is born.

And the wise men had come a great distance, bringing gifts.

Merry Christmas. May the peace and love of Christ be with you and yours throughout this season and the coming year.

FATHER, thank YOU for that precious baby, born in a manger.

The company trailer looks like a recently used and vacated motel room, 'cept someone took the sheets.

With few exceptions, I hauled it all into the house, deposited it, and Krl took over from there. The lone exception to this was that I did fold and put away my socks and unawares.

It was kind of funny, I stripped the bed in one trip. Blankets, comforter, sheets, mattress pad, pillow cases, and when I walked in the house, Krl told me to put it on the kitchen floor. I did and you would have thought I had brought in an old friend of the houndgirls. They all took turns laying on top of the mountain of bedding. I guess they are going to need some counseling to separate their own identity from being trailer park hounds.

We did take a break to go get haircuts. Krl had been wanting one since she got a bad one in early October. I had been needing one but had not had opportunity. I took Krl to Trc's stylist and I went back to my regular barber. I really don't know why I continue to go back. There is about a one in ten chance I get a cut I like, and it looks good for a few days and then I need to go back for warranty. The man has perfected cutting hair with the repeat customer in mind.

On the way home we stopped at Dollar Tree for a few items. To be honest that was my first trek inside. I was impressed, that is quite the concept and it makes more since to me than Family Dollar or The Dollar Store. At least everything at Dollar Tree is a dollar. Not once did I hear the p/a speakers call for a price check.

One more stop at Target yielded some of the requested grandbabie items, but the main item we were looking for remains elusive. Krl had ordered this item online. In fact she ordered several of them online and asked that they be shipped to our home. They have not arrived and it has been almost four weeks. This is one of those items that is "not available in stores" or so they say. After two more stops, I'm beginning to believe it!

Actually our final stop knew what we were talking about and told us they were just out. Delivery truck runs Tuesday.

I am appalled at what I have been reading the last couple of days. The Goldman Sachs CEO received a $50M+ bonus. The Pfizer CEO received a buy out/retirement package of $180M. Are we nuts are what. There is no way you can convince me that these people are worth that kind of money. These guys are allowed more for car and driver allowance than I make in a year! I have always heard how expensive it is to get a new medication through trials. This retiring CEO must have been driving it over himself! It sure looks like corporate America's pay scale is tilted and from where I'm at it is a long ways to the top.

A few years ago, when things were looking badly at the family business, a troubleshooting company was brought in to look over the company and to devise a "work out" plan. (Not a workout plan, a work out plan.) These people looked at all sorts of information, plugged it into an industry standard and then made recommendations. Of course the first recommendation was that you pay them a pretty stout fee. Some of this company's revelations were surprising. For the most part, they considered the pay we were paying to workers, to be over the industry standard. This group included dispatchers, billing, collections, payroll, safety, insurance, telephone operators, and even the cleaning crew. They considered these people to be "minimum wage" people. I remember them telling us that these people are a dime a dozen. My response was "not in our area". I went on to tell them about the low turn over rate, the established communication between workers and customers. I felt and still feel that the stability was a very valuable asset. We weren't always training someone new. I will be the first to tell you we weren't paying $50M+ bonuses or $180M+ retirement packages, but the pay was good for that time, in that area. The other interesting revelation regarding payroll was that the management level pay was below industry standards. In fact they could combine Fred's and my pay and it wouldn't add up to the industry average of one manager.

Were we stupid or what? Good guys finish last. Good guys have footprints on their back where they got trampled.

Nah. I think we were trying to be fair. To all concerned.

But man did we have fun!

I'll bet you that these people earning these big bonuses, big salaries, big retirement packages, are not happy people. The smiles they have on their faces are probably permanent and the result of a creative plastic surgeon.

When is enough, enough?

I don't want to be rich. I would like to be comfortable.

And that's all I have to say about that.

Dang, two years away and already the fields are forming for the '08 presidential race. Call me crazy but I think it would be extremely difficult for me to even look at a Republican candidate after life with Jorge' Bush (that's pronounced Horgay Boosch). I figure any Republican considering a run for this office would feel that he had been "bushwacked". Actually, I think a Republican would have a better chance becoming president of Iraq.

Personally, I like John Edwards and Hillary. I know, Edwards is the rich trial lawyer, and we all know about Hillary. I think government needs to be returned to "the people" and not special interest groups and businesses.

It may be time for a woman to head this nation. Lord knows they can't do any worse. Besides, my Mom is pretty smart and she's a woman.

My biggest concern for Hillary is simple, how would Bill look in a blue dress?

Three days 'til the jolly fatman comes. Oh joy.

FATHER, rescue us, harbor us.

This moving back into the house is killing me!

I spent almost my whole day hauling things in from the company travel trailer. First the 'frige stuff, then stuff stored in the bathroom, into the bedroom, back into the office area. And I still have tons to do!

This has kind of been an affirmation that Krl and I are not complete without each other. There are things I think of, others that I don't, and she is the same way. When I was positive there was not a single grocery item left in the trailer, in she walked with an arm full.

Today, I am hopeful that I can get clothes moved and strip the bed. If it is a good day, the trailer will be gone by dark.

And the neighbors breathed a sigh of relief.

Funniest happening yesterday was my very last trip in and out of the trailer. Krl asked me to get her vacuum cleaner before I locked the trailer for the night. When I emerged and began walking up the sidewalk I saw two young gentlemen at the door talking with Krl. I apologized to her and told her it was my intention to sell her a vacuum cleaner but it would appear these gentlemen had beat me to it. They immediately made it clear that they were missionaries with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I guess door to door vacuum cleaner salesmen are a rung below that on their scale. To their credit, they did volunteer to help finish unloading the trailer tomorrow.

I thanked them but declined their offer of help. It might be too pricey.

Where are the Jehova's Witnesses when you could use them. Now that would be entertaining. Wonder who would have converted who?

I guess I am considered to be pretty self sufficient. At least according to my parents. For years when we were all working together, if one of us was going to need away to work, it seemed as though it was me, especially if it was one person alone. 1979 is the first year I can recall being away for an extended period. That year I stripped cotton in far West Texas and Eastern New Mexico. The following year was our first year going to South Texas (actually the Coastal Plains) to harvest. A few years after this, through some contacts I had made in 1978, I had learned of some equipment that had been abandoned and was hung up in red tape with creditors. It was an excellent opportunity to swing for the fences and the elusive home run. A deal was made on a lease, no money up front and would entitle the lessee to make two harvest season in South Texas and one in West Texas before the equipment would have to be surrendered. It was probably a once in a life time deal. It now required a "crew" of people to man the equipment. I got to stay at home. For the farming operation, the harvest revenue provided a welcome shot of relief. This regiment became a standard for several years. Customers were developed along the Coastal Plains and also in Central Texas. In 1984 it was a drought year for our farming operation but we custom harvested cotton over six months of the year, from July to February. A stale farm economy and poor weather conditions had made it necessary and welcome to have an alternative source of income.

In 1986 my children's mother and I divorced and for a brief while I was a single parent, which limited my time away from home. During this time I think I probably learned more about myself than at any other time in my life. I still get tickled because sometimes Rian used to say, "Dad, do you remember when we were single?" After Krl and I married, that seemed to allow me an additional reprieve, at least for a while.

In 1995, I began the seasonal work that Krl and I have just returned from. Twelve years of going to the jobsite, living there for the duration and then migrating home. At one point Krl had figured out how much time I had been gone, and it wasn't a nice figure. But a man's got to do what a man's got to do. The job has provided food and shelter. The nicest thing is that the last three years Krl has been able to go with me, and while it must be torture for her, the companionship for me is wonderful. It also makes us more easily accepted into the community circles. It has been an opportunity, twelve years, three employers, being a part of a record setting year, and the formation of many friendships. I have lived there for as brief a period as sixty-four days (1997), and for as long as six months and two days (2005).

The first couple of years, Memama and Pepa would come out about once a month to allow me a weekend to go home. As grand kids got older and involved in sports, this practice was gradually phased out. Memama and Pepa have probably seen more football games than anyone, other than coaches, and they have worn out more than a few vehicles on road trips. Now that the only school age grandchildren live over four hundred miles away, they are more selective of away games, but they see a steady diet of Plowboy or Lion games.

Actually, I have found it much easier not to go home during the season because returning is so difficult. Krl has found this to be true also. Last year was the longest ever at the jobsite. Six months and two days. Memama and Pepa did drive out one Sunday to visit and earlier in the year Pepa had done a little fill in trucking. Krl had invited them out for my birthday but that didn't work out. This year we were gone almost three months. That was three months without seeing my parents. This past Sunday when I took the first travel trailer in, as I was parking it, Mom and Dad were going to their car to go to church. Mom came to meet me and I walked her back to the car. I was mildly surprised at how frail she has become. It seemed as though her balance was off as she held to my arm as we returned to their car. Dad doesn't seem to be as large a man as he used to be. He is still taller than I (if this is a trend, poor Reid and Holt will be three foot tall), a big barrel chested man who has slimmed down. He never had much of a butt and stands on thin spindly legs. (Now you know where all of their offspring got their back bumpers, Momma got "back" (or I guess I should say "had"). They are a work to see as fifty plus years have given way to unspoken communication.

Don't get me wrong, I think they do very well for people their age. I guess the surprise was because I haven't seen them much the past few years. I am sure if I was there regularly I might not see the aging process as well. Once thing for sure, they won't ever be sick because Mom never allowed us to be sick and that's one thing all of us kids learned well.

Before anyone thinks I am a hardass, I do want to let you know that I have told them I am always available to take them to look at nursing homes!

Krl and I had been wondering what was going on with the final stages of negotiations with our final nemesis remaining from the defunct family business. We haven't heard from them in a month. I figured no news was good news but Krl wanted to check. Suzanne, our representative, said they are continuing to investigate whether or not we have undisclosed assets. Right, like we staged the whole event when our farmland was auctioned off on the courthouse steps! I don't know what part of the bankruptcy discharge they don't understand.

I am so ready for this to be over. I feel like it is time to get on with my life but what is the reason if someone is waiting to take anything you might put together away. We had made this nemesis an offer, they rejected it and countered. We accepted and now it's like they aren't sure if they are ready to sign off on it because we accepted their offer. We just want to get on down the road.

I have been approached about another opportunity. After the first of the year, an acquaintance wants to take me down the country to meet with one of his associates. I guess my work as jobsite coordinator for the past twelve years is getting me a reputation. Thing is, I'm not interested in doing this for someone else, specifically, to just give it up. I'd rather stay where I am at and make the wage I am making.

FATHER, thank YOU for YOUR love. Thank YOU for my parents, I pray for their health. Thank YOU for opportunities. Help me to be smart and thorough as I think them through. I pray that this final matter be resolved. Show us the way.

Krl and I are trying to adjust to civilization. And we are loving it!

We go through this insatiable love affair with restaurants and delivery foods every year when we return home. Usually it begins with a proclamation from Krl, "I'm not cooking!"

So for those of you keeping score; Fazzoli's, Larry's Better Burger, Pizza Pro!

The absolute worst part of returning home is putting everything in it's proper place. I hate loading and unloading the travel trailer, but hey someone has to do it. A few years ago when we returned, the company trailer was put into storage intact, in fact Krl and I didn't even take out all our personal items. The trailer was broken into and cleaned out! Ever since then we take extra precautions to protect not only our belongings but those of the company that we can provide refuge.

Yesterday morning I began unloading groceries. We always take them out of the cupboard when traveling. It's one of those precautionary things. Over the months and due to the remoteness of our seasonal location we sometimes have a build up of surplus items. This makes for some heavy weight to be bouncing on those shelves while the trailer is going down the road. Many of these were bagged, some were in coolers, even some light items were in trash bags. I have tried to perfect my technique over the year, but I will go inside and stack everything as close to the door as possible, then I begin the repeated trek to and from the house. Yesterday's exercise was accented by the steady drizzle of rain. Another project was unloading the company truck. I had moved my personal pickup out of the garage. Surprisingly it had started after sitting three months. I backed into the garage and unloaded the small 'frige, then backed up to the freezer we keep in our garage. There Krl and I tag teamed it and made quick work transferring those items. Then it was personal tools, battery cables, that sort of stuff. Finally about noon, I was ready for a break and found my recliner. We had a few errands to do after lunch that we were putting off but finally we went out the door. Went to the storage facility, stopped in at Larry's (hey we felt we needed to be rewarded), on to the truck repair shop and finally by Wal-Mart for a few items. By the time we left Wally's we had several gift items piled in our cart. We have had a few special requests that we had been looking for, to no avail. Yesterday we lucked into several of these items. I think we have one DVD and one doll item that we haven't found yet. Next trip out we may change our tactics.

Krl and I have always had a difference of opinion on Christmas gifts. Her tradition had always been to let family members pick out and try on, then take it home and wrap it up. Hello? Where is the surprise in that. I have always believed in "total surprise". You can make your request, but it is my option. I have always thought that Krl's method was just more trouble than giving $$$$. However, I think the $$$$ option is really appealing this year!

Let's be real! Meme and Dandy are not going to buy one of the grandaughters a pair of jeans that don't sufficiently cover the rear bumper, or will we buy a top that closely resembles lingerie. Call us crazy, call us fuddy duddies, but call us to act as fashion police.

In our treks into the stores the past weeks I have never seen so many people so uncomfortable with what they were wearing. Either they are tugging their pants up or their tops down. Hey, if they don't meet in the middle obviously there isn't enough material to start with! Yesterday in the toy department I thought I was going to go blind. As Krl and I were trying to pick something out for one of the grandbabies, a young mother was retrieving something from the bottom shelf and she was cracking a smile at both ends!

Today, weather permitting, I hope to unload the 'frige of the trailer. I have it plugged in, but we need to get anything that is perishable. I guess that is one of the frills of cleaning the company trailer, we get first option on all left overs! After that it will be moving the office files and office supplies, followed by emptying the entertainment center. Final project will be unloading Krl's and my clothes. I'd just as soon go naked as have to suffer through that.

But that is what Krl is there for. To keep me on track! Can you believe the luck some people have with career opportunities?

Have a day!

FATHER, thank YOU for home!

Oh Happy Day!

Oh Happy Dayee!

When we moved awayee.

Oh Happy Day!

Hello civilization!

Bet you can't guess that we are away from the jobsite and sitting at home sweet home! We finished the trek yesterday, just about five o'clock. We deposited two of the company trucks at a repair shop (nothing major), unhooked the company travel trailer in front of the house (so we can get our personal effects out), then we took the remaining company truck to the lock up yard. An hour later I was dropping off the three truck drivers in Roscoe and Sweetwater, another hour and I was sitting in the drive thru at Fazzoli's, another hour and I had leveled the travel trailer, slid the slideouts out, connected the electricity, turned the propane and heater on, and finally I parked the company pickup just as level as I could get it and connected an extension cord to the freezer in the bed. Next stop was my recliner where I rocked Maple Syrple and Phooey. Finally I made my way to the bathroom and ran a steaming hot tub of water. While it was wonderful, I had ridden so many miles that my backside was sore from sitting, I didn't soak for long. Oh well, I have set aside half of my day today for soaking in the tub!

Our trek in went well, although we did have a few glitches. Sunday Krl had made sure all the truck and driver settlements were done, I gave her the time sheets for Manuel and Julio, the only two remaining onsite co-workers, I tabulated their seasonal hours so she could prepare their end of season bonuses, and she wrote all the checks. I took the office down and stowed everything for the trip back to Abilene. Come Monday morning, no Manuel. I began to get several different versions of his story. He had a family emergency and had to go to Mexico. His wife had an emergency and had to go to Mexico. He was tired and ready to go home. Regardless of the reason, he wasn't there. The pre-figured checks were incorrect, and probably more importantly, he had violated the qualification for his year end bonus. Everyone knows when they hire on a year to date total is kept for the number of hours worked. There is a variable amount (depending on job description) paid for each of these hours at the end of the season. To qualify, you must show up for work everyday, and you must work until released by the job coordinator (me). Everyone saw first hand how it worked last year. A seed poker named Paco violated the company standards and left before the season's end with no bonus. I suppose the difficult part for me to understand is that Manuel was three hours away from completing the season, he was being compensated for eight hours for only three hours work, and the bonus waited in the end. Yet Manuel left. I think he got tanked up over the weekend and his wife took advantage of this to pack him up and leave. By nine o'clock yesterday morning Manuel had called my interpreter three times. He wasn't in Mexico,he was at his wife's sister's home in Sonora but he would drive back to pick up his check and bonus. He sure didn't like the reply that the office was closed for moving and that it would re-open at our convenience. He was also told that the reason we had pre-calculated his checks were to allow us to not unpack the office until after the holiday. His brother-in-law, Julio, put in his two cents that it wasn't fair for him to be there to qualify for his bonus if I paid Manuel one and Manuel was absent. I talked to several different supervisors and it was difficult to find any sympathy for Manuel. Nearly everyone expressed an opinion that Manuel had disqualified himself for his bonus. Probably the two most sympathetic people were Krl and I, and we both think some sort of discipline is in order. Right now I am of a mind to half his bonus. I am very disappointed in Manuel, this was two years with him working for me (this was the first year with his wife accompanying him, and therein might lie the problem), and if things progress the way I think they will, I think Julio is going on to bigger and better things inside the plant. Initially I had tabbed Manuel as the heir apparent to be one shift's lead, but the happenings over the weekend leave me with serious doubts.

We did get sixteen miles down the road before I stopped and had the spare tire put on the travel trailer. This added about an hour to our trip. Of course it always is the last one. Luckily, it wasn't on the pickup. The past two years I had blown out a tire on at least one trip in. Now make it three! Best part was, yesterday we were a block away from a small tire service we use and I was needing to go to the bank to cash my check. (I hadn't cashed a one since October 2. When I walked out of the bank I knew how Kyle felt!)

A few interesting notes about the transition home:

I called Krl on her cell phone as we traveled down the interstate to direct her attention to the nativity scene compete with Santa and his reindeer. Now she knows I wasn't spoofing.

Kyle cleaned his trailer really well. You don't want to inhabit a dwelling after him because everything is gone. The paper towel rack is vacant as is the toilet paper roller. (Funny thing is, the company stocks the travel trailers with toilet paper because all the trailers share a common septic system).

Funniest happening. When Kyle was leaving Krl asked him if he had any Pine Sol. Yes, he replied and went to retrieve it. Upon his return, he told Krl that it was $2.53. The little miser! Krl paid him. I wonder what he would think if she presented him with a bill for meals and laundry? I'd pay to see that, just to witness his reaction!

Krl and I are thinking about writing a book. Christmas in six days. I guess it would depend on if we pull it off. We haven't heard from but one of the kids and we have decided we are not going to call and let them know we are home. They can call us. Our intentions are to do for grandbabies but the rest depends on how things move along. I guess you get tired of just being fit in the schedules and then it seems like a flash visit to pick up the loot and move on down the road. To be honest that has been one thing that was very nice the last few years being on the jobsite. No one wanted to visit us there so we were never made to feel slighted. Oh, one year there was a stop by on the way to their Mom's and last year we met Kali and Addy in Sterling to give them their gifts. But it wasn't like Christmas.

Right now Krl and I are debating whether to put up a tree or not. Trc has invited us to spend Christmas at her house. I am doubtful about that. I just got home. And I am loving it.

Besides, how would Santa know where to find me?

FATHER, we are thankful for the safe trip home. We are thankful for the safe work. We thank YOU for this opportunity. We eagerly look forward to what YOU present for us next. YOU are good, YOU are great.

Hello campers, this is "d" reporting from the badlands.

It has been a busy four days. We did complete processing Thursday night about nine-fifteen and Bertha coasted to a stop. 56,949 bales were processed in 73 total days. Of course there were several days in the beginning that we were looking for cotton to gin. One the plant went around the clock, I can remember only one day that it didn't pass 1000 bales for the day.

The two remaining on site employees spent Friday loading and unloading the supply trailer, hopefully with a cleaning in between. Our final task Friday was loading the fuel tank behind a partial load of bales and then taking the forklifts to the produce shed so we could load them.

Saturday I took Blacksheep and the one remaining flatbed and loaded the forklifts. At this minute the trailer is anxiously waiting for one of the three truckers coming here in the morning to hook up and head East. Right behind it sits the supply van. As soon as we dismantle the fence here at the trailer and get it loaded up, this trailer will be ready to head East too. The final trucker will hook up to the big travel trailer and gingerly move towards Abilene.

I did get a head start. Late Saturday I disconnected all the utilities from Kyle's trailer, cranked the stabilizers up and hooked it to my pickup. Early Sunday I headed out, dropped the trailer at Roscoe and was back in St. Lawrence before lunch. I did see the most interesting thing, it was a nativity scene complete with manger, Mary, Joseph, the wise men, the normal stable animals, but the finishing touch was Santa, his sleigh and all the reindeer. But that should probably be another blog.

Krl and I spent the afternoon in Midland, most of it at the Mall. We very quickly found that we were not in shopping shape. There were some stores I simply told Krl that I "had" to get out of. Too loud music and the selection was horrible.

Anyhow, we got the shopping done we needed to do, grabbed a quick bite and were back at the trailer just after dark.

We are enjoying our final evening on the jobsite. This will be my final post from this locale. Lord willing my next post will be from civilization.

FATHER, please be willing.

Krl and I have been skirting around the issue of "when we will be done out here". After last year we had an unspoken agreement that it was much less painful to "not discuss it".

Krl had told me that she didn't see any need in going home a week from tomorrow because there just wasn't enough time to get prepared for Christmas. I'm not real sure but if Krl told me correctly, Trc borrowed our tree and decorations last year. Not that I am griping, we haven't had it up in four years as our little "Charlie Brown" tree has been carrying the load here at the jobsite. Charlie is small, quick and easy. Give us ten minutes and Charlie can be out from under the travel trailer and perched in place or ten minutes more and Charlie is put away for another year.

This morning I walked into the office and found the one farmer who has still been harvesting was present. He was tagging more modules, and at the end of his transaction he informed us that they were through. YES! A quick survey showed we had either thirty-seven modules or thirty modules to gin. It is very, very possible we can be done by end of the day today. Which means we can go home.

I took my time, got the on site employees started on a project we had abandoned earlier in the year, but finally I made my way to the trailer to inform Krl of this "good news". I figured she would be excited and would jump up and begin putting things away for the ride back to Abilene but she hardly reacted at all. Finally after I had been out and about and returned to the trailer for lunch, she made this announcement, "I think we should stay here until at least Monday. We can finish all the seasonal paperwork, the last payroll, the last lease settlements, present the gin with their final bill and hit the road once and for all".

She continued explaining that the agony was not knowing "when" but now that we know, we should sit back and take our time, go to town, go to eat out, and possibly shop a little.

Obviously she doesn't share Kyle Patrick Henry's concerns. Kyle told everyone he needed to get home to avoid the holiday traffic.

Now I am trying to coordinate scheduling to finish hauling and get everything at least as far east as Roscoe. We might have to hold the wagon train there just to avoid the holiday traffic.

I have not slept for didly since we let the night crew go. I am going to have Frank run the plant just so I can sleep at night.

FATHER, see us home both on this earth and in the hereafter.

Silent night, kind of!

The days of 'round the clock running are behind us. At ten minutes until five Tuesday morning, Juan turned the power off at the console and the big plant coasted to a stop. The day crew came on as usual, but in a cleaning mode. Frank, the plant superintendent was trying to get all the miles out of all the people he could before night crew members and other selected personnel began to leave today. The night crew came back on at noon to assist in the heavy cleanup efforts.

When five in the evening came, it was time to celebrate. The plant had put together an end of season party prior to the departure of the night crew. Ribeyes, baked potatoes, salad, some veggies and lots and lots of beer. It was an excellent meal, prepared by a few of the patrons. Neat part is that the crews were the guests of honor.

While the big plant was idle, the party went well into the night. Finally after over seven hours of partying, the party left the parking lot and went to some of the private residence on the back of the jobsite. Even now I still can almost feel the reverberations of the thumping bass of the mexican music.

I find myself jealous of those leaving, but more precisely I find myself jealous of Baldemar and Kyle. Kyle left this afternoon, Baldemar leaves at four in the morning. Me, I've got another week and a day before we can fold our tent and go home. That means we would be home on the 22nd.

I hate it when we arrive just ahead of Christmas.

We do have the option this weekend of going home but Krl thinks it would be better spent going to Midland and trying to shop for the smaller grandbabies. The older ones have some pretty weird gift requests. The oldest wants to have her moles removed from her tummy! Weird!

All I want for Christmas is.........

Home, sweet home.

Trc called today saying they were at the orthodontist with Ln. She has had a terrible headache for the last week and for the last year has had recurring headaches ever since she got her concussions playing basketball last year. The next step appears to be an MRI.

FATHER, deliver us!

Yeehaaw!

Tonight is the night I have been looking for. This is the last night for the night crew!

Funny thing is some of my guys thought Saturday was the last night. They didn't work last night and did I have a mess on my hands this morning! But, we lived to tell about it. By one o'clock we had moved five loads of bales to Sweetwater. By end of day we will be caught up and then I am sending all my drivers home regardless of the out come. I told them to be here with bells on in the morning "ready to rock and roll".

I am doing a phase out for my seed trucks. One more cycle and they are done. Some are happy some are glad.

Me, I am ecstatic!

My biggest problem is trying to whittle my onsite crew down. Earlier, all but one were wanting to stay. Today, the tide began to turn. Another told me if he could work through the end of the pay cycle he would be ready to go. The cycle ends Thursday evening. I am trying to get one employee back on with the plant maintenance crew. I had him there last year and felt it might be a career changing move but he came back. Now I think he sees the wisdom of making the move. I am hoping I can close the deal but I don't look for him to be back. He has been with me four years, the poster child has been with me eight. I have always said I won't stand in the way of an employee improving their position. Besides, his english is getting better the longer his daughter stays in public school!

Sometimes I think I have been exposed to too much. I think I have experienced much more than most men my age. Some of it good some of it bad. Probably the most uncomfortable has been sitting in a lawyer's office listening as someone clears the air and the attorney looks at them and asks, "What were you thinking?" "Are you an idiot?" "Did you ever think that your actions could be punishable by imprisonment?"

Right now, I'm living paycheck to paycheck. Friday to Friday. Yep, I think I am doing just fine. I haven't mugged anyone, haven't fingered anyone. Just doing my thing, getting on down the road.

FATHER, may YOUR thing be my thing!

It's usually about this point in the harvest season that I begin to reason with myself. I find a new carrot to hang out there and chase, just to get my mind off going home.

I was showering this morning, (yes we do practice personal hygiene here in the badlands), and I began to think about how great it will be when we do get to go home. Don't mis-understand, I really appreciate the travel trailer the company provides, it is a step above the other two I have lived in while on the jobsite. While my favorite part of the travel trailer is the shower, I began to think about the wide open spaces of home. The pristine tub with an abundance of hot H2O, the large bathroom, and a porcelain, not plastic, toilet. Say goodbye to the plastic shower insert and hello tile, and probably the most noticeable in my daily routine will be the porcelain sink. I am a creature of habit, and every day, day in and day out, when I finish brushing my teeth and rinsing my toothbrush (an extremely firm bristle, I might add. I wish I could get a wire tooth brush), I tap it on the edge of the sink. This morning when I went through my ritual I had to laugh as my ears were greeted with the hollow plastic retort of the trailer sink. Oh, for the little pleasures of home. Plink, plink instead of thud!

Just call me simple.

We have been running nip and tuck here at the jobsite. We have thirty something contract seed loads that I need to move but I cannot get the trucks in here to get them. I have dropped two more trucks from the oil mill ranks and I fear I am running these guy's ragged. I keep telling myself only two more days and it will ease up. I have exhausted my phone book calling carriers that are booked to get these loads. I don't think they understand that this party is just about over!

The GM went to Mass this morning in an adjoining community. When he left he made mention to wish him luck as he hoped his attending there would drum up some additional business. When he walked back into the office he had a sly smile on his face and a notebook giving the tagging information for 43 additional modules.

I'm not sure how GOD will feel about him mixing business and religion. Kind of reminds me of a man who attended church where I grew up who sold mail order shoes. You couldn't talk with him without him eventually inspecting your shoes.

A number of concerns for others today. One of our former dispatchers' daughter died a couple of days ago. She had been in and out of trouble throughout her brief life. She was a mother to two small children. Gone at 26. A gentleman who came to my home town to teach, not much older than myself lost a brave battle with cancer. He was 59 and taught to the end. He leaves a wife and young daughter at home. Another former co-worker has been diagnosed with cancer. He is much younger than I, they say his body has been ravaged with this vicious disease. I am not sure what his prognosis is but he has a wife and small children at home. DH begins her cancer treatments tomorrow.

And I think I have it bad.

Forgive me FATHER when I get mired in me. Help me to think of others first and self last. There is so much I don't understand about YOUR world, why the pain, why the suffering. Help us to know that YOUR plan is unfolding as YOU intend. Be with those who are sad from loss, bless them and comfort them. I ask YOUR miracle of healing and care for those undergoing treatment. All things are possible through YOU.

Some of the responses I have received from my "Once upon a time" post seemed to indicate that some readers missed what I was hoping for. My point was and is, that everyone get on down the road with their lives and quit devoting so much time to wishing ill for others.

Ah, the jobsite.

We are getting antsy! 53,000 bales and counting. 55K by Monday morning. The yard should be cleared by sometime Monday, the night shift will become history, a celebratory barbecue is in the works for Tuesday. Then the hard part begins. We have no idea how long it will take the remaining farmers to harvest their crops and get it to us for processing. The only for sure thing is that we will be here until it is all over.

Kyle Patrick is really beginning to be hard to deal with. I think he is really wanting me to fire him and send him home. But that isn't going to happen.

All the sudden he is not happy he is on the day crew, because the night crew will be through. He is getting extremely lazy, just trying to make someone else do what he is supposed to be doing. I have rousted him from his pickup so many times I quit counting! He is beginning to complain about this and that.

Yesterday we had a situation where I needed to take Blacksheep 2 and make a run, while I was gone he took control, telling other drivers what to do and when to do it. Funny thing is, one of them knew no better and then was mad at me. I think I have dealt with this problem for the time being.

The frustrating thing for me is that Kyle had done well. He had actually surprised me. But lately he is almost zombie like, simply going through the motions and not really caring what the result is. He came over yesterday to the trailer, "just to check on Krl". He spent an hour and a half and all he talked about was going home. In the course of the conversation he asked Krl if He came to visit next year would we put him to work or could he just visit. Apparently he wants to be sure that no one misunderstands that when he is done, he is done with this! Forever.

This was supposed to be a learning experience and evidently it has worked because he has learned that he doesn't like or want to work! I will be furious if when he gets home his Mom and Dad allow him to sleep 'til all hours and watch endless television. I was hopeful that the money could motivate him but I guess I was wrong. They may have to take his gas card and some of his frills to make him not only need to work but to want to work.

He had voiced a desire to try to get his CDL driver's license. He will never be an over the road driver but I think in the right circumstance he could do repeated regional hauls. Of course anyone who knows him already knows his love of trucks.

He has been exposed to so much out here in a very short time. I had a talk with his former roommates, threatening them if they didn't exercise some restraint and better judgment. There have been all sorts of vices present but I am in hopes we nipped some of them in the bud. Thankfully everyone has been very kind, very tolerant of Kyle.

But I am beginning to look forward to not having to police him on the job!

Krl and I don't know whether to put our "charlie brown" tree up or not! It would appear we will be an the fast track for Christmas regardless of where were are, here or in Abilene.

Regardless of where we are at, I can't imagine better company than Krl!

Think of us as we enter this difficult part of the harvest season.

FATHER, keep us tethered, keep us centered in YOU!

I knew that it had to happen, but I was hoping against hope that it wouldn't.

Late Monday evening I decided to make a mad dash for town to see if I could find some sort of fan that could be used on the forklift heater. I was almost to town when I got the call from Krl that Delfino, my lead forklift operator had come over to the trailer telling her that his forklift had a lot of problemmas. It infuriated her that after that he began spitting Spanish, not even trying to communicate with her.

I could only imagine what might have been wrong, but I did understand the second part, the other forklift would not start, it was "todo", completely, dead. Turned out Kyle had tried to start if without cycling the glow plugs and burned a battery cable off.

Since I was already an hour away and in town, I felt I needed to complete my quest for the fan. Last year the forklift dealer had located a bolt on heater for the forklifts. This in conjunction with the weather covers makes for a pretty comfortable work environment in a harsh forklift application. The original fan lasted from December 'til March and then back on the job again from October until the end of November, then the center broke out. The dealer was not able to order just a new fan so he ordered an entire heater assembly. Basically, he charge the company $219 for the fan and just threw in the remainder of the heater kit. He said the parts were not available separately. The new fan lasted less than a week and the center broke out of it. Now the manufacturer wants us to return the entire kit and they will replace it. Since I hadn't even installed the heater core or switch, we just threw the new broken fan back into the box to return.

The closest thing I found was a twelve volt clip on fan at Wal-Mart, price $9.99. The smile on the night forklift men's face would've made you think it had cost a million $$. These guys are really O.K., they just want to know they are appreciated.

When I did returned to the jobsite I found the one forklift running but the other was out of commission because of a bale clamp problem. Earlier this year we had a problem and I had taken a cylinder to town to be repaired and welded. As luck would have it, the problem was the exact same thing. Turns out the machine shop welder didn't get any penetration on the majority of his weld. Frank, the plant Super and I looked at it and he told me we can do that good, and a lot cheaper. Long story short, Frank did a bang up good job welding the mount back on the cylinder. It ended up taking me until three Tuesday afternoon to get the forklift back in service, but I did take time to install bolzoni sleeves in it while I had it apart.

Probably the wildest thrash of the year was Monday night. I had laid down on the couch and was watching T.V. with one eye, while Brandy cuddled and snoozed when I got called out. The backup forklift had a problem. Turns out it had blown a transmission cooler return line which Julio had re-installed prior to my getting there, what he needed was transmission fluid and lots of it. I thrashed through the supple trailer and found seven quarts and he located two more on the bale dock and the machine was back in service before we had a big mess.

If all else fails we revert to an old metal wheeled cart, and it ain't fun!

When I finally returned to the trailer Tuesday afternoon, we had just began to put seed into storage for more outside trucks. I had one scheduled to be in at 5pm. I had barely sat down when there as a loud knocking on the door. Gilbert, one of my seed haulers was upset. He had been asleep for about five hours but now he wanted to load so he could work on his trailer. He was not tactful, he was not courteous. We had been pointed down this road nearly all season, but especially since his father left the jobsite because of illness. Since then nothing I had done had suited Gilbert. He was going to complain and gripe and moan no matter what. He told me if this is the way it was going to be he might just gather his things and go. I told him to make the call, but that was exactly what the GM was hoping for. It has been a job to keep all the truckers working because of the seed that was sold outside to dairies. Gilbert refuses to understand this. When the seed load being put up was complete, Baldemar went to get him and Gilbert refused to load. I probably added fuel to the fire because when he refused I flopped the valve another direction and began putting another load up. When Gilbert's other truck arrived they had a meeting and began loading tires and supplies to go home. I didn't talk with them, I didn't help them. Really I am relieved, because Gilbert had been like a bad seed. He won't be invited back unless his father comes again. Gilbert has a lot of baggage and in simplest terms he isn't worth it.

I find myself looking to this weekend. I expect the yard to be cleaned either Sunday or Monday which should mean that we will cut back to one crew. I have heard other rumors that we could go to one crew Friday (which would fit with the pay cycle). Scuttlebutt has it that Frank is having a difficult time getting enough people from the two crews to stay to make one. Everyone is ready to go home.

Me included.

I have been on the phone with seed brokers holding contracts with the gin, telling them they had better get their trucks here if they want to fill their contracts. This might stretch out a little but it won't last forever.

FATHER, calm me, soothe me. Help me to be patient. Help me to be fair in my dealing with others.