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.