That was a Monday, all day.

I spent a portion of my day on errands and doing some research and fact finding. I spent some time looking around a couple of pawn shops. I have never spent a lot of time in one, I could probably count the times I've gone inside one on my fingertips. I suppose they serve a niche. It had been several years since I had last ventured inside and they had changed some. Glass displays filled with jewelry would make you think you walked in the wrong store. There were a couple of items I was in the market for and I had done research as to "new cost". What I found was pawn shop pricing is one-half to two-thirds of new. One thing I was shocked with was the equipment with stenciled or painted company logos and names. My first inclination is that the pawn shop owner would have to know either a disgruntled employee was doing something wrong or else the items were stolen. I think I would have been tempted to call the name on the items. One shop didn't make any attempt to cover the names, another shop had sprayed black paint over the name. I made one inquiry about price and the person behind the counter asked "Are you selling or buying?" I again made my inquiry and he responded, "To you or from you?" Finally I got it across that I was shopping to buy, not shopping to pawn. I have never pawned anything and would probably be like a sheep being led to slaughter!

I am reserving judgment on these businesses, trying to determine if they make a viable contribution to society or if they aid and abet.

West Texas weather seems to be teasing us, it looks like 70's for highs increasing to 82 in a couple of days. Lows in the lower 40's. That ought to get the spring fever going! I did go and shop for lawn fertilizer with pre-emergent herbicide, and I also purchased some granular insecticide. We always do this in the spring. I had talked with a man who does lawns and trees and he was telling me what to look for and what to avoid. Lots of time what is good for one lawn plant may be bad for another. As I read labels I had to read around all the product declarations! Fastest acting! Kills on Contact! Controls weeds before you see them! (How would I know it is working?) Today I plan on applying said chemicals. I did find that the most influential factor in my purchase was price, followed by brand.

As far as I'm concerned, a couple of years ago they "banned" the best product on the market. Bureaucracy felt we needed to be protected from ourselves. Seems to me the logical thing would be to educate the public.

Last evening marked two years since I received the phone call telling me that my cousin Rene' had died after a lengthy battle with cancer. She was 44. She was the first cousin near my age that we have lost, and it definitely impacted me. It continues to weigh heavily on me. I think often of her two children and her Mom and Dad. I know it has to be difficult. I think of what a good friend once told me years after losing his young son. "You never get over it. If you are fortunate, you learn to live with it."

I think death and illness make me realize how inept I am at expressing my feelings. I just never know what to say or do. I suppose I am guilty of giving the impression that I am unfeeling or cold, but that is not my intent.

I received a call yesterday when I was out and about. Ed, a contractor I work with at the seasonal jobsite, was touching base. We hadn't talked since December. We discussed a few rumors we were hearing and trying to put it all through the B.S. filter. He also told me he is having a knee replacement Friday, here in Abilene. This was scheduled last year but had to be postponed after he had heart by-pass surgery. Odd thing is, his doctor is Krl's orthopedic doctor. Small world.

I think Ed may have been wanting to set up a meeting with a man in South Texas. He has been pushing me to pursue some work down there, I am just having a difficult time convincing myself. Everyone that I visit with (except Ed) tells me how difficult the General Manager is to work with. Last year he fired nine contractors, in season. I would probably do a meeting, just out of courtesy, and then make my own determination. When I told Ed about Krl being laid up and on the mend he never mentioned a meeting.

Things are getting serious. Either I need to find something for my employer to do or I need to find something else to do, at least for the interim.

Therapy for today. Yard and rain gutters!

Have a good one!

FATHER, help me to be more caring and considerate, help me to say and do the right thing.