I just saw a segment linking childhood obesity with weight problems as adults.

That explains a lot. I had two childhoods. Go figure.

I've had better Mondays, but then I've had much worse. The day got off to a slow start, which suited me just right. I thought I might run into a friend I have worked with and for in the past, and we could spend some time together, figuring some things out. We have had some general talks, broadly developing some parameters of what we need to zero in on. I finally, stopped in at Denny's, figuring my friend would be coming by anytime. He didn't.

From there I headed east, looked at some equipment and made my way to the yard to try to complete the repairs to Blacksheep. Within an hour, the tools were put away, Blacksheep was locked and secured, and I was taking the scenic route back toward the house.

I keep finding myself drawn to an equipment yard I pass almost daily. There is a large company who is trying something different. Last year they traded a group of trucks. This year they purchased new trucks outright, and now they are readying their used fleet for private party sales. I would estimate they have fifty or sixty of these units. For the most part these are late model, low mileage units. They try to replace their fleet every five to seven years. I am wondering about their logic. I can see the advantage of marketing the trucks direct. I just wonder about their ability to find financing options for a prospective buyer. It will be interesting to watch and see what happens. We may all learn something.

I guess I stopped back by the house to reload with new tasks and direction. I returned to the repair shop to check on the company's truck that lives there. It still wasn't ready. I am so frustrated. Yesterday began week number four. I had the full attention of the service manager and the parts manager. They both offered up their apologies, saying that they could not believe how everything that could possibly go wrong, had. From wrong parts, to parts that were packaged wrong (right package, wrong contents), to parts damaged in transit, to incomplete service write up, to mechanics fixing one thing at the expense of another. It has been a messed up deal. Yesterday the service manager told me the truck was almost ready, they just needed to check one more thing, but their machine they use to check it was having problems. He assured me it was minor, he had called a technician to make a service call, and just as soon as he knew something he would be calling me. If I had a nickel for everytime he was going to call me in the past four weeks, I could pay for Christmas! I did go out to make a visual inspection and found that they had not done one of the things I had requested. This is getting old!

My mind goes back to an article I read several years ago, that stated a truck runs for clear profit four days per month. All the rest of the month is to cover overhead. The article criticized dispatchers who don't look for loads until a truck empties, because if a truck waits until the following day, it has lost 25% of its profit for the month. Truck shops were the next target of the article. These shops are roadside thieves who not only charge exorbitant prices for inferior work, they steal productive, profitable time from the truck.

O.k., I am venting. If I don't I might hurt someone or something.

Oh well, onward and upward.

The rest of my day was spent either going to the post office or dropping off payments for my employer, or picking up money orders and paying personal bills. (Hey, if I'm already there). Finally, on my way home I stopped by the grocery and got a few items and picked up medicines Krl had called in. (Of course three hours wasn't enough time to have them ready). When I did get home Krl was working in the kitchen and I pitched in and peeled "taters". To be honest, I enjoy working in the kitchen with her.

I did talk with Rian. He said Holt had been puny, to the doctor last Friday and a trip to the children's emergency room Sunday night. They said he has RSV. There was a time that really unnerved me, but basically I feel that this is a new name put on an old ailment. It is supposed to be contagious. This really put the whoa on his birthday plans.

I want to be perfectly clear on one thing. I didn't cheer for Florida last night. I cheered against Ohio State. Wow. Who would have thought it.

I find myself to be battling. It seems I am having "faith" issues. I am questioning my faith in others, I am questioning my faith in myself. I know these doubts are seeds sown by satan, trying to get his foot in the door.

I am giving myself a constant pep talk that things in my life are unfolding as GOD intends, that I am where I am supposed to be, doing what I'm supposed to be doing.

Have a day!

FATHER, I know my redeemer lives.