26 degrees was the high here yesterday. Wind chill put it down into single digits over night. At the Australian Open Tennis tournament yesterday they suspended play on the outdoor courts. Its was 102.

I think I need to be half way between here and there.

I rolled over and looked at the clock and couldn't hardly believe it was just after midnight. Knowing myself as well as I do, I knew I wasn't going back to sleep, at least not very quickly, so I grabbed my glasses, my cup of diet coke and headed for the office. I've already read my regular on-line newspapers, checked mail, read the news worthy headlines on my internet browser, and I'm still not sleepy, yet.

I think I had another of those episodes. When I woke, I could feel my heart beating in my chest and was breathing rather quickly. My throat and nose are extremely dry (that's a change for my nose). I keep hoping that I can wait for a sleep study until they can do multiple tasks, but I may have to give in.

Today is the day that Pepa is supposed to meet with his doctors. I hope the roads are good enough to travel without incident. Several weeks back Pepa's doctor sent him in for a biopsy after his psa level continued to be high. (I'm trying to recall some of the terms that Pat has relayed to me, so if it isn't exact, blame it on my brain). Preliminary evaluation by the specialist didn't reveal anything to be concerned about, but they did the biopsy anyway. Turns out the biopsy didn't support the preliminary findings. The biopsy was malignant. Pepa has prostate cancer. He went in for all the follow ups, bone scan and additional testing and those tests came back with good reports. The cancer appears to be limited to the prostate. Pepa's doctor cleared his schedule one afternoon in December just to meet with Memama and Pepa to discuss treatment options. If I am not mistaken, not only did Pat attend (remember, she is the family medical review officer) but I believe Fred went also. I admire the way the doctor laid things out. He told Pepa, at his age he was not going to die from prostate cancer. He laid the treatment options out from the most radical treatments to the least invasive. He was available to answer any questions they might have.

Today's appointment is to inform the doctor of which option Pepa has selected.

I have not discussed any of this with Pepa or Memama. I think I am enough like Pepa to know he has to adjust in order to deal with this. He has been doing sort of a self therapy. He has been trying to get all of his farming to a point that the treatment won't make his farming suffer, or vice versa. He has sowed wheat on every acre of farmland he owns and on the farmland he rents, he has sowed about as much wheat as his landlords will allow. This will limit the amount of row cropping he has to do.

I think he knows the rest of us are not going to let his farming suffer, but I know he is dealing with this and he has developed a plan of his own.

I am thrilled with the winter moisture we have received because it is what Pepa's wheat needs.

I talked yesterday with one of my men on the ground at the seasonal jobsite. This man had worked with me for two years but this year the plant Superintendent needed an above par employee so we made a deal. Actually it worked out well because the crew I work with was loaded too heavy. At the conclusion of the seasonal work the Superintendent offered this man year round employment.

I had been looking through the jobsite work crew W-4's, checking on addresses and comparing other information. (I know, it probably would have been easier to do this at the jobsite just in case there were questions.) The reason I called this man was I knew the address he had given was prior to him taking the year round job at the jobsite. It was a good thing I called, he had an address change and he also gave me two more changes for other workers. At the jobsite this man is jokingly referred to as "the lawyer" because he is always acting as a liaison.

We had a good visit. He said they have received substantial moisture in the month since we left. He said the wheat crop is looking good and the underground moisture for the cotton crop is better than last years. No other major news. Everyone is doing good. Brent and Carol had their baby. She's a girl! Life as Brent knows it is now over.

Sometimes I catch myself thinking about GOD, but with lots of my personal limitations and that's not right. You know he has a big job. I don't know how he does it. Imagine getting up in the morning knowing you have to be all things to all people. Wow.

I think a lot about prayer. That has to be quite a communication system. I know we are supposed to be prayerful in all things, but sometimes I wonder if I'm imposing. I wonder if sometimes GOD would like to say "O.K., is that really important". Or does GOD use what we pray about as "a heart check". A reflection of the inner person. It is hard to compare some trivial thing I might pray about when he is dealing with life and death constantly.

But then I'm just a mere mortal.

Keep the home fires burning. If you are out and about, be safe!

FATHER, please bless this day. I ask for safety as Memama and Pepa travel to his doctor appointment. I pray for their decision that it would be the right one, and for the treatment that it would be effective. I continue to lift up Krl's brother for YOUR miracle of healing and care. Thank YOU for all that YOU do and all that YOU are. Forgive me when I think of YOU with human limitations. How great YOU are.