I ran across a site called "WhatifSports.com:December Madness 2006"

It is a computer generated collegiate playoff system.

If you remember, yesterday I told you I saw no reason for them to play the games any more. This is pretty interesting though. It took the top sixteen rated teams with the pairings set by the rankings. 1 plays 16. 8 plays 9. 2 plays 15. 7 plays 10. 3 plays 14. 4 plays 13 and so on. Of course 1 and 2 are on opposite ends of the bracket. The elite 8 were Ohio State against Auburn, LSU vs USC, Michigan vs. Louisville, and Oklahoma vs. Florida. The final four saw Ohio State vs. LSU and Michigan vs. Oklahoma. The final pitted LSU against Michigan. They didn't post the "winner" of the championship game. Neither of the "darlings" of the BCS made it through the first round. Boise State lost to Auburn, Wake Forest lost to USC.

I don't know about you, but I would like to see a playoff system.

For the first time since we have been back from the jobsite, we did some office work. We had a dilemma, the young woman who had collected mail and forwarded it to the jobsite had a death in her family and we were reluctant to intrude during that time, but we had seen her a few days ago and she was going to get the keys back to Krl. Once Krl had the keys, she dispatched me to the post office where I found that the key didn't open the mail box. When the young woman was alerted to this she began a search, but we had not heard anything. Strangest thing, Krl took down a cut crystal ash tray from the cabinet and inside it were three keys. I took one of them to the post office and it worked! Yea! Talk about mail though, it was running wild. Thing is, lots of it is and was time sensitive. Yesterday afternoon I had been out and about to return to the house. I knew when I had left I locked the entry way door and it was unlocked on my return. Krl said the young woman had located and returned the rogue key.

So like the mystery of the pickle, the key that was lost, is found.

One of my final jobs of the seasonal work is handling unemployment claims. I have a real problem with the guys who just want to work long enough to qualify for benefits. My problem employee yesterday filed for unemployment just prior to crossing into Mexico. If he is going to draw benefits, I expect him to search for a job. As it is, he is sixteen hours South of the border, probably kicked back and sipping on a Corona. I don't hardly see how he can draw benefits after only working sixty-six days.

As added incentive, Krl left the new TWC rate on my desk. A twenty-four percent increase over 2006. And that was with just two employees who were awarded benefits. One was the same one as I mentioned above, the other was a young man who was awaiting trial for vehicular manslaughter. It's odd, but these guys think it doesn't affect their employer. I tried to show them what it did, taking their earnings and figuring how much the company pays in on them in particular. Their view is why should I care, that's the company not me.

If I had their viewpoint, I would probably be filing with them because I would be out of a job too. I can't tell these men not to file. All I can do is fight the claim. If they award benefits, I can protest because usually these guys aren't going to come back for a hearing. It's kind of like swinging for the fence and hoping they make contact. Where I find it impacts them most is if and when they want a raise.

The good news continued as more mail was opened. The annual 941 payroll tax look back period showed the company payroll exceeded the guidelines for monthly tax depositors. Beginning this month, tax deposits are to be bi-weekly. This is no big deal as Krl had been depositing weekly.

I did spend a portion of my day printing summaries for year end and quarterly reports. I'll give it another week, but by then I figure Krl will be fielding calls wanting to know when W-2's will go out.

I made my daily round with the repair shop. Finally late yesterday one truck was deemed ready. They were driving the other out of the shop when it had a problem and had to pull it back in. Of course I had made an appointment at the alignment shop for the one that had a problem. It didn't make it. Maybe today. This is the truck I drove most last summer and it is a little skittish at times. The company had put new steer tires on it a while back and I told Krl and Trc it would be foolish not to check the front end out. I was surprised to learn that a three axle alignment only takes about one and a half to two hours, provided it doesn't require king pin bushings or ball joint ends. To be honest, I was pretty impressed with the alignment place.

I need to get some things done that I have to do so I can do some things I want to do!

Krl and I are still puny. She says her stomach isn't right (when has it been). Both of us are plagued with sinus infections. My nose stays stopped up. Most times when I wake up my throat is sore and dry because I've been breathing through my mouth. Krl says I have snored unmercifully. Night before last I woke up to find her finger resting from the tip of my nose across my lips. It was like a "sshh" suggestion. Last night I checked to be sure she didn't have a two by four laying by her side of the bed. Hey it's not like I do it on purpose.

Golly do I have a mess. I have yet to get Krl's computer set back up. There are still boxes of supplies sitting 'round the office. In due time. I figure Krl will tell me when it is time.

I just saw a segment about the Christmas shopping season. They reported is wasn't a good season for retailers which makes it good news for consumers because bargains abound. They interviewed a woman who had just gotten a buy on seven pair of shoes. ????? I don't think I own seven pair of shoes. The lady was thrilled and explained that she had not bought herself a holiday gift. Do you give yourself a gift?

Have a day!

FATHER, thank YOU for this day and all that it holds.