As I predicted, the day after the holiday was long and difficult! Sales were nothing to scoff at, yet they were nothing to write home about either! Luckily there were three of us on duty! We had everything from trash pickup outside to working on the air conditioner inside as it decided to flood the parts warehouse with condensation!

Chris agreed to let one of our major customers have a safety meeting in the shop and I can see why they wanted to have it somewhere else. They wanted someone else to have the trouble of setting it up and having to clean up. I told Chris I thought some type charge should be in order. We will have to see. Chris thinks $50, I was thinking $100, Pat was thinking maybe $200! The more I look at the carnage we might ought to add all the above together!

It would appear our summer weather is about to move over and let the monsoon return! It has been gorgeous the last two days. Downside is it rained and all the farmers and all the windmill work has come to a screeching halt! That seems to have the adverse affect on all the economy.

Pepa is not doing well. And that pisses him off! And that makes it hard to visit or be around him. Pat tries, but Pepa can't or won't tell her what his problem is. She told him that is O.K. but he is going to have to tell his doctor before they can fix it!

Pepa agreed to let a young man put some goats in the old ostrich pens. Of course the big benefit to Pepa is that he won't have to mow or plow those acreages. Every time I have called I ask if they have any Billy Goats for sale! Heh!

The Brown family was visited by tragedy yesterday. It resulted in the death of a thirteen year old son, grandson, nephew, cousin, sibling, and serious injury to a granddaughter and minor injuries to a couple of others. The vehicle in which they were riding veered off the road and overturned. One shared relative was a passenger in the vehicle but was unhurt! As bad as it was, and as hard as it could be to imagine, it could have been worse. It is a sobering thought!

But for the grace of GOD...................

FATHER, help us to accept your plan as it unfolds. Thank YOU for YOUR love!

Wow!

I was blissfully snoozing the night away when all the sudden I became aware of an intruder in our bed!

Black Dog!

Which means it is fixing to storm.

If you didn't wake, that was quite a display nature put on. Lots of lightning and rumbling thunder. Thankfully it didn't have the loud crackling thunder which seems to upset our hounds in the house.

Sometimes I am in awe of the power and the beauty that nature possesses. Last night was gorgeous. It made me think about the open shutter lightning photos that a couple of former acquaintances use to do during West Texas storms. I'm not sure if some of J.B. Cooper's photos still hang in the gin office at Roscoe or not, but there were some good ones!

If our neighborhood had overhead electric lines I would have sworn that they were arc-ing between each other. Another possibility would have been that a welding shop had moved into the neighborhood.

I think the weather caught our local weathermen by surprise as it was a good half hour after the storm came through before I saw the first one give a live warning.

Lots of observances on Memorial Day. I would say probably the most somber sight I have ever seen is Arlington National Cemetery. Row after row after row of graves. They seem to go on forever. For some reason a television shot doesn't convey the vastness of the cemetery.

Well, we have to pay for our day off! Isn't that the way it always is! At the old family business I got where I would argue with myself whether a day off was worth it!

Have a day! Hope yours is a good one!

FATHER. Help!

My day is up in the air. I had offered to help Hag on the farm if he needed it. (His one farm hand went AWOL last Friday just after he got his paycheck). K.O.'s brother D.O. is in and wanted to run some test passes on the piece of equipment K.O. and I have been working on. K.O. can run it, he just said he would be more comfortable if I was there at the controls. Anyhow, I'm sitting here waiting for the phone to ring to see which way to jump.

Pat, Chris and I have been talking about what makes a business attract employees. I have asked them some questions. Of course the first is compensation, followed by benefits, then followed by the possibility of advancement or promotion.

The parts store is very competitive, for the area, wage wise. We are doing some planning for group medical insurance probably with some death benefits, retirement and possibly some type of profit sharing. One thing that surprised me was that the store has no paid holiday policy. Most work places have a set policy and declared paid holidays. Any additional time off is at the discretion of the employee and his supervisor and is without pay. Probably one of the most difficult projects I did at my former job was an employee handbook. The upside is you get it all down in black and white! We had six paid holidays, Memorial Day, July fourth, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. We also had a policy that you must work the day before and the day after a holiday for the holiday to be paid. The only exception was a Thanksgiving, Christmas trade off. If you took off the day after Thanksgiving you were to work Christmas Eve.

Pat and I haven't talked but Chris told me today is a paid holiday!

Of course all this is simple compared to preventative politics policy!

If the phone does not ring, Krl and I will cook out, like many other Americans today! We bought a few items to grill today. If we do them all we won't have to cook the rest of the week! And that includes my lunches.

The Sunday before Memorial Day is always "my" day. I always enjoy watching the eleven hundred miles of racing between the Indy 500 and the Coke 600. Krl usually humors me and handles the cooking. Saturday when we were in the store she discovered they had King Crab legs on sale. Use to I could argue about the excessive price but of late the butcher blocks steaks have escalated in price. $12.99/lb. regular price and maybe $8.99 or $9.99 on special. With my argument moot, I agreed to purchase some crab legs! (They were actually much cheaper).

I don't know how or where Krl learned to cook her seafood but she does a good job! I think I would much rather eat this meal at home than in most restaurants (the Cattle Baron being the lone exception). My biggest complaint is that they are so much work! It is a lot like Fondue, I don't know if you get full or just give up! (At the Cattle Baron they crack and open all the crab legs before they bring them to the table).

Krl and I live in our own little world. It is really funny sometimes. She went to bed early, I lay on the couch and watched NASCAR. Just about the time the race was concluding Krl got up. I finished the race and migrated to the bedroom to read a little before turning out the lights. Of course I couldn't go to bed alone, Miss Maple Syrple loves to go to bed with me and read! It is usually just a few moments before she is snoring! I don't know if she moved all night long! Lately I have given her another nickname. In honor of her pumpkin color and due to the fact that she needs clipped and she appears to be a little hefty, I call her "Plumpkin". She is a cutie. Between "Plumkin" and Phooey they are bed hogs! If you have to get up to go to the bathroom, odds are Phoo will stake claim to your territory! I think she lives for someone to roll over and allow her a warm spot in the bed!

We are cautiously optimistic that Krl will get her cast off tomorrow. I am afraid she will be so disappointed if the Doctor doesn't do it. Lately she has been walking on it some. She says the first thing she is going to do when she gets her cast off and back home is soak in the tub! I don't blame her!

And last but not least, let's remember that today is Memorial Day. A day of remembrance for all those who have given so much for so many. I personally hope that with some of the political shenanigans going on, some of the politicians will do a reality check and realize how self serving they have become.

Have a day!

FATHER, help us all to be selfless. It's all about YOU!

Well, we got Lrn and Jordan graduated. Like many others it took thirteen years!



We left for the festivities well in advance, yet an hour ended up being just a little early. Abilene's facilities are pathetic, their traffic systems worse.


I have never seen so much security at a school activity. Nearly anywhere you looked you would see someone dressed in blue patrolling. I have never seen people as rude and crude as what we witnessed yesterday. Maybe those policemen should just line them up and shoot them or at least give them a dose of the taser!


I think there were a lot of late comers who never found seats, the cops just herded them around and around the packed coliseum.

Of course yesterday was our one and hopefully only outing to a major function being handicapped. It was an eye opening experience. People don't care about parking restrictions, they would do their dead level best to take advantage of you opening a door to wheel a wheelchair through, and they sure didn't care if they banged and bumped trying to get where they were going. They were vulgar and vocal for the most part. It was very evident the day was a major celebration for them.


We were happy and glad for our graduates, but we don't view this as the family's crowning achievement, merely a stepping stone to bigger and better things. We've come to expect it!


Krl and I laughed about all the fashion statements we witnessed. Obviously, anything goes!


I wasn't impressed with the Superintendent's remarks. His jokes about parents and credit cards hit way too close to home to be comfortable. About the only thing I could agree with with his quip about "to all the "C" students I say you too can be President". I would have probably added that you couldn't do worse than "W". I was a little appalled too with his response when the Principal presented the class to him and certified them as having completed all the requirements of the state and local school district to graduate. The "Super" responded, "I say you are graduates". I told Krl I thought it would be more appropriate to "declare" them graduates. Who knows, he may have graduated from Abilene Public Schools!

One of the most touching moments was recognizing a class member who fell eleven days short of making it to graduation. He succumbed to a life long illness. His mother and sister accepted his diploma in his place!

All in all we had a pretty good day! Shortly after lunch Krl and I ran a few errands. Tuesday I had replaced the thermostats in our clothes dryer. Friday night it quit heating again. I took it apart and took the pieces with me to the appliance store. We ran diagnostics on them and as my luck would have it, one of the new thermostats had gone bad and of course they were out of them. We ended up taking another sending unit and "engineering". The dryer was working last night! Heh, heh!

It is amazing how quickly everything flies by! I stopped to pay some utilities and it seems like I just paid them last week! When we got the mail, already we are getting new bills! Yuk!

All of my farmer friends and family are taking advantage of favorable weather trying to get in the fields! I think everyone is "very concerned" about getting the crops in! There is tremendous crop potential provided they can plant it! With all the wet weather, the only thing in the fields growing are the weeds! Even the cleanest farmers are experiencing problems! Some are spraying roundup. some are shredding and trying to plow!

The ground is so wet I had a farmer come into the store Friday and buy an assortment of scrappers to clean his planter discs.

If today's weather cooperates they will run Indy and the Coke 600! Lots of racing. I'm cheering for the women at Indy and for the 24 at Charlotte!

Have a day! And if you are lucky enough to have the holiday off, enjoy!

FATHER, keep it up, your gaining on me!

Today is a bittersweet day. I have a doctor's appointment later. Krl said Dr. Mackie's office said to be prepared to undergo a procedure today! Hello, I am just getting used to this idea. Don't rush me.

Since I am home all day, I am going to take Krl to get her hair cut. I tried to make a lunch date but her tummy has been really mad lately and she thinks if we are out for four or five hours it could be a problem.

I talked earlier with Pepa. He is still in the hospital in Lubbock and for the second day in a row he is telling me "today is the day"! Pat told me we should have a really good picture of Pepa's health when he gets out. They are doing extensive testing. If I understood her right, they are doing tests prior to and after meals. In fact the other day they gave him a little bump of insulin. Problem is, Memama and Pepa failed to tell the doctors and nurses they sit there eating Snickers in between meals. I'm sure they figure if they tell them they will have to share! Can you imagine the doctor having to tell them that Pepa has a caramel nuget filled center?

Do you suppose they keep records of intake and outputs for a reason! Naw, they just like the paperwork! I told Pepa my sources said he had consumed so much chocolate that Grandpa's bloodline claim was very possible!

Chris leaves for Vegas today. His flight is actually in the morning but he will get as far as Lubbock tonight. He and Thumper are going for the wedding of a friend. As the trip has gotten closer he has become more and more conservative. Now he is telling me he is going to stay in his room for the entire trip. He doesn't want to gamble. I told him it's O.K. that he doesn't want to gamble, but there are other activities. Shows, tours. I suggested Circus Ole' and a trip to the Hoover Dam. I told him I enjoy watching people. Go down and watch the high rollers. Shoot if one of them gets short and bets his girl's ring and loses it she might dump him and Chris could step in! I told him I didn't want to come to work Tuesday and every time he exhales costume feathers fly! Woo Hoo!

I just think if he spends the money to go he should enjoy himself!

Lots of people putting in lots of miles beginning today for graduation ceremonies! Be safe!

Looks like the monsoons are returning for the next four or five days! Never turn down rain in West Texas!

Have a day!

FATHER, be with me!

I got an unexpected day off Tuesday!

Thanks, I needed that!

For once we were going to be fully staffed which meant we were going to be over staffed. Since the weather has been so wet, it had been pretty slow at the store. Farmers couldn't get in the field and wind farm people weren't doing a whole lot either.

Now the worm has turned. All the farmers are in the field and the wind farm people are trying to "git 'er done" while they can! Not much traffic at all and if someone comes in the door they are usually in and out in a hurry!

I have a huge project laying on my desk. Our hardware supplier sent me a CD with a list of every item the store has purchased from them. Ever! Page after page of bar codes to be loaded into the computer system. It has been almost tempting to request the over staffing and for me and DB to load bar codes!

Be the way I would mention that DB defended his state title at the State Track meet. Congratulations for being a repeat State Champion in the shot put!

Since I had the day off I decided to go to K.O.'s. We needed to get on the same page on what we wanted to do for this season. We came up with a plan, now to figure out the finances!

As my days usually go, mine went south early on. Krl's dryer went on the blink. It would run but wasn't heating. I decided to take the heating element out and took it to a local appliance store we use. We tested it and it was good so I got a thermostat kit instead. Within an hour I had it up and running. Krl said it was drying better than it had in some time!

Brownie Points!

Finally I was on my way to K.O.'s. I arrived and did some measuring and comparisons, and after a while K.O. arrived and we got into a deep discussion. We did some tests and both agreed that we are satisfied with the mechanics of the equipment, now we need to concentrate on electric system and cosmetics. We have one add on project to do and I left early enough to make a few stops to visit with some experts. K.O. had happened into a relatively new establishment and saw some pieces that he thought were just what we needed. I asked if he had inquired as to "How much?". He responded $181. I was sold! When I arrived there and began to do my own research I was impressed with what I was finding. Just as a courtesy I asked the price. "$618", the specialist replied. I am so glad I didn't just walk in and tell them to load it up! Now that would have been embarrassing! Thing is we need about four more items to go with this and our plan is already over budget! Best part of this stop was we found someone who knows a lot more than we do, and this man is willing and interested in helping us!

I may have to take a night job to come up with the budget over run!

Pepa remains in the hospital. They have now determined he has three infections. Two had been addressed and treatment was progressing. The third infection sometimes settles around the heart or the sack the heart resides in. I had talked a couple of times Monday to his hospital room and Pat had as well. Monday night Aunt Anna called Pat wanting TJ's address (she had knee replacement yesterday). During the conversation Anna mentioned to Pat her concern for the heart procedure that they were doing on Pepa today. Pat inquired further and all Anna could tell her was it was some sort of surgical procedure and the heart specialist wasn't liking what his heart was doing! Pat got off the phone and called Pepa's room to find out what was going on. Memama has been without her hearing aids since they went up there so she has done a lot of faking. There is no telling what instructions they have given her and she has just nodded her head! Neither Memama or Pepa could tell Pat exactly what was going on and what was scheduled! Pepe thought it might be a heart cath procedure but when Pat asked in it was an angioplasty he thought "it might be that"! They have become so use to Pat being their "medical voice" they don't listen and they sure don't ask questions! After Pat talked with them she hung up and called the nurses station. As it turns out they were doing an EKG. Pat called me back to call off the alarm and we joked. The doctor could have told them they were going to do a heart transplant and Memama and Pepa would have been agreeable! I took it farther and told Pat it was a good thing they didn't tell them that the body snatchers were going to harvest his heart, because Pepa would have agreed and Memama's head would be bobbing!

I haven't heard the results of the EKG! Contact us for all your parts needs!

Hump day! Make it a good one! Have a day!

FATHER, stick with me!

Krl and I had a laugh yesterday. I had walked through the garage and was giggling when I walked into the house. I told her by all appearances I am a Diet Coke-aholic.

Stacked against the big old safe (which is located next to the fridge in the garage) are seven twelve packs of Diet Coke, along with one twelve pack of Diet Dr. Pepper. Opening the fridge reveals a twelve pack of Diet Coke and a twelve pack of Fresca chilling for consumption.

I go through a minimum of ten cans of Diet Coke each week. Minimum! One each morning for or with my breakfast and one with my lunch each day. Normally on Monday I pack my work cooler for the week with a twelve pack and each morning thereafter I just add ice! By the end of the week my work cooler is usually near empty! The last couple of weeks I have probably cut down on my soft drink intake by substituting Gatorade in the afternoon.

I cannot walk by a display when Diet Coke is on sale. Last week I was in a store that had three for eight, Saturday our regular grocery had four for eleven. Actually I know at some point these will be consumed. Either on some recreational excursion or with company in the back yard.

One side note I would add, a few weeks ago I purchased a twelve pack of Diet Coke Plus. (Yes it was on sale!). It didn't take but drinking one can to determine why they were pushing it. That's some nasty stuff! Why is it when they make something better for us (added minerals and vitamins it ruins the product)? Usually when I fix my cooler for the week I will throw one or two in the mix, then it is the luck of the draw!

Thank you, I am feeling some better! Krl and I are wondering if I had fever because of the doctor freezing off the moles. Actually the spots appear to be "burns", which might explain the body's defense mechanism. The one thing that has helped more than any other is that all the blisters have burst! It had been interesting to watch our resident doctor, Miss Maple Syrple as she monitored my progress. As long as the blisters were present she wouldn't touch me! Now that they are gone I must look like some sort of doggie treat! I'm just not tough enough to allow her to trim the edges off the blisters.

It is hard to believe school is almost out. Abilene is out this week along with many other area schools. Frenship ISD (Rian's employer) has another week to go. Frenship started a week late because two new campuses were not ready. In a rather odd scenario, the Frenship seniors will go through commencement a week before completing the school year due to scheduling conflicts with the United Spirit Arena (where the ceremony is held).

My big Sunday afternoon projects were helping with the prep work on the bacon wrapped stuffed jalapenos, throwing them on the grill and then cooking some hamburger patties for meals later in the week. Since NASCAR had their All-Star race Saturday night I had to look for some racing. I finally settled on Bump day at Indy! I love all the tradition of that race and place. A historic field of thirty-three is in place for next Sunday's race. What makes this a historic field is that three women drivers made the field. I believe they are starting eighth, twenty-fourth and twenty-ninth.

I bet the odds are astronomical for their finishing one, two, three, but I'd love it!

Actually it is a toss up for me to pick Danica or her teammate Marco to win this year's race!

Well, I've had a brief nap prior to now, I think I'll try to get another one in before the alarm goes off.

Have a day! (Let's call it Monday).

Oh FATHER, I am really struggling!

The weekend is almost over. Darn!

I have to admit my visit to the doctor and his freezing off the seven moles was a little more traumatic than I had anticipated. Dr. Mackie used liquid nitrogen and there was some discomfort as he applied it, but nothing like a couple of them have been since then. One site, located inside my right knee, has had a blister about the size of a quarter that is raised three quarters of an inch and is very painful to touch. The remaining sites depend on what activity I might be doing. Yesterday while doing some lifting and carrying, the site between my shoulder blades became uncomfortable, probably the most irritating one is located at my waist. You can't do a whole lot without bending or folding!

I also have to admit that I am not looking forward to my appointment this next week with the surgeon.

I've never been one to be ill. I just don't like it.

Of course the kicker is I have been kidding Krl that when she got her cast off it was my time to be sick, and I was going to be really sick. I have always said I'm not a very good nurse but that is O.K. because Krl isn't a very good patient. I'm not a good patient either! Heh, heh!

Paybacks are hell!

I went to K.O.'s yesterday to look over the equipment project and do a little cyphering. I finally got out some paper and began making a list of what I want to change and then what each change would affect. My list is two pages long! I took a list of seven things down to three. I don't believe any of these will be major money as most are using existing parts in a more effective configuration. I have a long range plan, but it could take as much as ten or twelve thousand dollars to do in a poor boy manner, or possibly twenty grand if a guy said to heck with the cost!

Of course often times I can find odd pieces to put together and get the desired result!

I should have been an engineer!

K.O. had asked me for a copy of some costs. I had recently faxed him the requested costs, he copied it and took it to a meeting and gave ALL the copies away! It took me some looking to find my copy (for some reason I didn't save it on my computer). While I was looking I found a ratio and spec sheet I thought he might like to have for reference purposes. It also had a list of the last time the equipment was used and what the settings were.

As luck would have it, K.O. had gone to run an errand and didn't return by the time I was leaving. We talked on the phone twice and he had gotten sidetracked and ended up in Hamlin. He was wanting me to wait but I was ready to get home and I also knew there was another man waiting on him. I ended up leaving the paperwork on the desk figuring we could talk later. He asked me to leave a list of the proposed changes. I didn't, because I think each one deserves to be addressed individually.

After all, I am a salesman! (As well as an engineer).

Pepa remains hospitalized in Lubbock. The doctor had admitted him to try to figure out what the problem is. As it turns out he had some type of infection but is doing much better. They are hoping today or tomorrow he will be dismissed. This little excursion has been a lot like a trip on the U. S. S. Minnow, a three hour cruise. Memama and Pepa had expected to make a six hour trip and now have been gone 118 hours!

I asked Krl and Krl asked Trc if Highland was honoring their seniors today. She said Lrn had not mentioned it, but they usually recognize them the week before graduation. Of course this could be a continuation of the difficulties between Lrn and Trc. I'm not going to take a side but I think Lrn is going to realize a lot about what Trc has done to keep her family functioning in the style and manner they have wanted (which has often been WAY beyond their means). Lrn has some difficult lessons to learn. I have a premonition of where Lrn will be a year or so down the road. If it comes down to it, she won't be totally to blame. That's what she learned growing up.

If I don't go back to K.O.'s today my biggest project on my horizon is to seed and de-vein some jalapenos, stuff 'em with cream cheese, wrap them with bacon and toss them on the grill! Yum!

Have a day!

FATHER, reign in me, reign me in!

I can't wait for today to be over!

For the umpteenth time I have begun again, and every time I think it can't get any worse, my day proves me wrong.

My day began with a handwritten note Krl left for me that simply said "Fix it!" That should tell you the mood she was in last evening. Under that note was an envelope with it's contents spilled out that I had retrieved from the post office box of the seasonal employer. I had left this envelope on my desk in the home office. How it came to be in the kitchen on the counter where I keep my keys is beyond me because "Krl" NEVER messes with things on my desk! Anyhow, it had to do with Trc's delinquent student loan and their efforts to garnish Trc's pay (she made $4 last month, just enough to qualify her for group insurance).

What is most aggravating to me is I am supposed to fix this. I paid for the tuition once already and the student loan was supposed to be a reimbursement. Somehow the address for the student loan was changed to Trc's on campus mailbox and the money never made it through channels to me. It must have been a heck of a party, at least for that semester. GPA 0.00! Woo Hoo!

Of late things have been extremely unsettled at Trc's house. Lrn will graduate in a eight days. She has really been using that "I'm 18, you can't tell me what to do" line. I would believe everyone in that house is ready for her to take her eighteen and get out! WELCOME to the real world! You want it, you got it!

Try as I might, I can't drum up too much sympathy for Trc because the harder I think back about twenty years, the more likenesses I see between Trc and Lrn. Throw Brntly in the mix and I can almost hear my Grandpa saying "Looks like you're paying for your raising!" Trc has come a long way but she is not and was not lilly white!

So in regard to "Fix it". I will. "Trc, you are fired!" Goodbye insurance!

I had made the statement the other day that this week had been more like babysitting than being a co-worker! Today only re-enforces that. We had several project to do and I was working on them. Bank deposits, putting invoices in order, and doing some return goods authorization for some defective goods and parts shipped in error. I had asked Chris to call jobber services to see if we could put all the defects on one paper and all the merchandise returned for credit on another. He didn't want to, and said all they could do was send it back and chew us out. That kind of defeats the purpose of doing this now, I am trying to get it in in time for a credit before month end. Oh well, if it doesn't matter to Chris, why should it matter to me! I just gave him the paper and told him do it anyway he wanted!

So for the last bit I have been getting the silent treatment.

What I haven't vocalized is that today was the first day since I began this project that I found myself not wanting to come to work.

Not a good omen.

I finally got to see Dr. Mackie yesterday. I decided before I went there to take everything I might ever need and to "kill" the receptionist with kindness. I decided even if I reached through the window and dragged the receptionist through it and tossed her out the front door, I would do it with a smile on my face.

Dr. Mackie was great. He probably spent a hour and a half, or close to it, with me. That is one thing I have always liked, he does listen. Before it was all over he was doing a blood pressure med change, froze seven moles off, did a blood workup, gave me a referral to a surgeon for next week and another for a dermatologist in three weeks. If he can't do what needs to be done he sure doesn't hesitate to out source you!

At the clinic they have a really big male nurse, I'm not talking fat, I'm talking big. Tall, broad, muscular. When Dr. Mackie told me he wanted to take three viles of blood, I told him to send the big boy to get it because if they hurt me trying to get the blood at least with big boy it would be a fair fight! Doc laughed, but he did send the big boy in. Big boy was remarkably good!

Well that is about it, the tailgate to what has been a miserable week. Hope yours has been better!

FATHER, still need some help here!

I'm off work today. I sure needed it. For some reason this has been a difficult week.

We did happen to have a hardware salesman come in yesterday and he hooked me up with their computer guru who is sending me a CD of bar code information for all purchases made since Chris's acquisition of the store. This could really make my bar code catalogue project a lot easier. Actually I didn't even get to work on it yesterday, it seemed like there was something going on all day. Chris had gone to lunch at eleven-thirty and returned about two forty. He decided to go get his eye glasses adjusted. He kind of had a sly mischievous look on his face when I was asking him what was the deal. He sure has been kinky headed lately! It's been more like I've been a babysitter this week than a co-worker.

Chris is scheduled to leave a week from tomorrow to go to Vegas for a friends wedding. I would like to be a fly on the wall. As tight as he is with his money those pit bosses will have a problem getting him to buy gum from a gumball machine, he wouldn't like the odds!

I am trying to decide what to do with my day. I made another attempt yesterday to get new prescriptions at Dr. Mackie's. It was futile. I swear they have the sorriest receptionists I have ever encountered! The wouldn't make a wart on the ass of a real receptionist (even if you combined the two of them). I made sure I had what they said I lacked on Saturday. Picture Id and insurance information. I had driver's license and my insurance key chain card. Guess what, the receptionist wouldn't take the key chain card even though they had pictures of the wallet card on file. I was furious. In fact, I still am. She told me she had never seen one (which was a lie because we have used them there before) and that she was adhering to clinic policy. I couldn't resist telling her if the clinic had more competent employees they might not have to have such basic policy. (What's the problem, you have the policy number and group number on the key chain card along with a 800 phone number).

Sorry, but I had to vent.

Initially I had planned on going to K.O.'s to work on the project. However the damp weather probably eliminated this possibility. I have limited required tasks to do, then the cosmetic reclamation will begin again. We are still considering a few modifications. Crazy thing is seventeen years ago we did some innovative design and are considering removing it and installing new technology, some research on-line reveals that some of the leading experts in this field are beginning to use some of the technology we are considering removing. We may be pioneers! Now isn't that scary. Funny thing is, one website proclaims they are using the latest technology available. (They may be, they are just using it late!).

Pepa didn't get a good report yesterday at his first post procedure follow-up. In fact, they admitted him to the hospital late yesterday. They are trying to figure out what is going on, but are thinking he has or is getting an infection. The doctor said it may take a few days to figure it all out.

On the upside, at least this may be an explanation of why he isn't bouncing back.

Well, right or wrong I need to get my day off high center!

Have a day!

FATHER, help!

I don't know where this will really go tonight. For a different twist, I am posting before bed, not after!

I awoke this morning about three-thirty. I tried to practice a little self discipline and didn't get out of bed. About five-forty-five Krl got up and rolled to the bathroom. When she came out I flipped the bed covers back and invited her in. She climbed in and immediately began that rhythmic breathing. Ten minutes later the alarm went off and I reached across her to turn it off. I whispered to her, "If you can lose the other half of those PJ's, I'll call in sick!"

I worked today.

It was really a productive day at work. We were fully staffed! Three of us all day, a fourth came in after school. We did lots of computer work that needed to be done. My latest project is a bar code catalogue of hardware items! It took me a time or two to refresh my memory on how to add the "non-chain" items, but I got it done! By the end of day I had put together the first rough draft of row one. I decided to do one row at a time from the hardware room. Hey, you have to start somewhere!

I continue to believe that the parts store is the male version of women's beauty shops! You can't believe the gossip!

I have enjoyed immensely the country music awards tonight. It amazes me that country now is what rock and roll was when I was growing up! I do enjoy the tremendous performances, some of these people are so blessed. Vocalist always have impressed and entertained me. Often times they have no idea the gift they possess. Many of these are church praise team members, leaders. The Jermiah Gibson's, the Ryan Porche's, the Val Durrington's. I don't think they will ever know how blessed we are to enjoy their gifts. Of course there are many more who fall into a class of their own, more like professionals surrounded by other trained performers.

Pepa is due in Lubbock tomorrow for his first follow up to his treatment. He has really been depressed. He isn't bouncing back from the final treatment like he did before. Of course he is entitled, he is 78. I know he is impatient. We are hopeful and expectant of a good report!

Tomorrow is Fred's birthday, so here's an early happy birthday to him!

I had a call from my tax negotiator today and she told me the case is closed and headed back to committee with recommendations to accept our offer in compromise! Yeehaw! Hopefully this whole deal will be behind us in just a few weeks! Basically seven years after the fact. I find myself soo excited about this possibility. I have already begun to draft my resignation for dear old Marvin! Of course finding a valid address could be another thing.

Well, it's short and sweet but that's today!

Hope yours was a good one!

FATHER, thank YOU for the blessing YOU rain down on us!

I know, I haven't been very regular posting. My head is just not in a very good spot right now. I think I may just have too much going on in it.

If I am not headed to work, I'm working on the project at K.O.'s. It seems as though I haven't had a two day weekend in quite a while.

Here was my Saturday. Left the house at seven in the morning. Home Depot, Lowes, and a local appliance dealer (the latter was the best hope but was not yet open). Looking for a kitchen cook top for Memama for Mother's Day. (Pat and I had talked about this and she had fronted the money figuring we would see what the other siblings could contribute. Wouldn't it be wild if this were a money making project?). Then the twenty minute drive to K.O.'s. to work on the project. There was a group coming between ten and eleven to meet and look over the project. At eleven, they called and they were JUST leaving Dublin. They were still at least two hours away! A quick reassessment and I headed back to town. I arrived at the appliance store and began studying the different makes and models. My personal preference was a glass cook top which had no knobs, it was all touch screen. As much as I liked it, I decided it wouldn't be functional for Memama. Finally, it came down to one model in either white or black. I went with the black to match her ovens. Turns out the only one they had was the floor display so they had to find a box and finally I was on my way. It was after one in the afternoon. To the house to pickup a gas coupon, then a quick call to let Pat know I was on my way. (We were going to meet at Trent). I fueled my truck and was just fixing to hit the interstate when my cell phone toned. It was Krl, she had been on the phone with our pharmacist and they had told her she had one more refill on her medication (she had been out for a couple of days but her doctor wasn't working until three Saturday afternoon). They were also going to loan me three of my tabs to get me through the weekend because the pharmacy would be closing at two. I had thirty minutes to get back to the pharmacy to pick up our meds, so I turned around and started back, calling Pat while I was in route to tell her of the delay. I picked up the meds, pointed my truck west and lit a shuck again! Surprisingly, I beat Pat to the meeting destination. Once we loaded the cook top in her Tahoe, I headed back to pick up Krl and make the doctor's office. I arrived home and Krl was in a foul mood. She didn't need to go because she now had another months supply and she didn't want to go to the doctor, but I insisted. I jumped in the tub to rinse off and then change clothes. My cell phone toned and I was informed that the group of men had finally arrived to look over the project. I deferred to K.O. and continued to head to the doctor. I loaded Krl and her wheel chair and we made the short drive. We walked in and told the receptionist who we were and what we needed. Another nurse (she reminds me of Pebble's on the Flintstones or the girl from Bambi) decided to get involved and began telling us what we would need, even though they had all the information on file). I didn't have my insurance card with me and she told me I would have to pay $150 so I told her I wouldn't see the doctor, just schedule Krl. Before the exchange was over Krl told them forget it, she had a month worth of medications and she wouldn't see anyone either! We left there and made the grocery store before returning home. By the time the truck was unloaded it was after five-thirty.

Day off? I don't think so.

I suppose the thing I have a problem with is that I am not the one who is a problem to get by the doctor's office. I'm within a couple of blocks of there twice a day every day! I also take offense at the statement Krl made that she didn't need to see the doctor for another month because she has meds.

I have three days of meds, mainly because she has been halving my blood pressure tabs since she has been out.

I'm wondering if we can double up on her anti-depressants to get her back on track. Right now she is more testy than I can take.

I may have to remember this viewpoint next time I don't want to do something.

FATHER, need some help here!

Rain and more rain! Ain't it great!

There is an old joke about three men who died and were waiting at the pearly gates for their judgement.

They asked the receptionist, "What is GOD like?"

"First of all, SHE is black", the receptionist responded.

Of the three men waiting, one was a doctor, one was a lawyer, and the last was a farmer. They were all quite nervous as they sat waiting to be summoned to judgment. Finally the phone toned and the receptionist told the doctor to go on back.

When the doctor arrived in the back office, GOD was looking over his file. "Sit down", GOD told him. The doctor complied.

Finally GOD looked up and asked, "Are you ready for my decision?"

"I suppose", said the doctor.

GOD leaned up in his chair and told the doctor, "You can't enter in. You are going the other way. There were times your bedside manner was quite lacking, you weren't compassionate to patients and their families, and at times you didn't do all you could."

The doctor leaned up prepared to argue, but thought better of it. He decided to try another tactic. "O.K., I'm not going to argue. Everyone has their price. What is yours?", the doctor asked.

GOD looked at him and said, "A million dollars!"

The doctor wrote him a check and handed it across the big desk.

"Enter in", GOD said, and showed the doctor to the door!

The phone in the waiting room toned again and the receptionist told the lawyer to go on back. The lawyer settled in as GOD looked through his file. Finally GOD sat the file folder down and turned to the lawyer.

"I can't let you in" GOD said, "You represented clients you knew were guilty, you worked along the fringe of the law, right on the verge of breaking it. I'm sorry, but you're going down!"

The lawyer was very accustomed to negotiations and looked at GOD and said, "Everyone has their price, what's yours?"

God responded, "One million dollars!"

The lawyer wrote a check and slid it across the desk.

"Enter in", GOD said and showed him to the door.

The phone toned again in the waiting room and the receptionist told the farmer to go on back.

When the farmer entered, he walked slowly to his chair as GOD mulled over his file on the farmer's life.

Finally GOD sat down the folder and turned to the farmer. "I can't let you in" GOD responded, "You were never happy with what I did! It was always too hot or too cold, or it was too dry or too wet! I couldn't please you! So no, you can't enter in, you are going down!"

The farmer sat quietly as GOD's voice reverberated through the room. Finally he looked at GOD and said, "Everyone has their price, what's yours?"

"A million dollars", GOD said.

The farmer responded, "Where do I sign?"

Those of you who have farm back grounds will realize the relevance of the farmer's statement. Contrary to what many people think, most farmers put it all on the line every year to go another round. They place equipment, inventory, and even land up as collateral for operating loans, so it is a joke among farmers, "Where do I sign?"

I don't want anyone to think I am foolish enough to think that GOD can and could be bought either. This is offered up in humor.

What made me think about this old joke is that I am beginning to hear grumblings about too much rain and I began to smile and think of the farmer's excesses.

I for one am profoundly grateful that their is not a dollar price admission to enter through the pearly gates! I also confess readily my daily battle to "toe" GOD"S line and attempt to live "Christ like". Most days I fail miserably. Thankfully, I am the recipient of GOD"S unfailing, unending love and his bountiful grace, through which my hope abounds.

I hope you had a laugh, and I hope your day is a good one, filled with HIM!

FATHER, YOU are my all in all.

The week is off to a quick start. My eyeballs wanted to get started long before the rest of my body! Shortly after midnight, my eyes were wide open and ready to get the day underway!

It was a pretty laid back weekend. At least the part that I spent around the house. We ended up grilling both Saturday and Sunday. I kind of enjoy doing it and hopefully it is some relief for Krl. We did shishkabobs on Saturday and served them on a bed of rice. Sunday it was some bacon wrapped stuffed jalapenos for appetizers followed by a couple of little steaks and sausage. Best part is I have leftovers to use for lunch. Heh! Heh!

All my life I have battled with myself. I am not a person who is overly enthusiastic or wears my feelings on my sleeve. I am somewhat reserved. I suppose I have never wanted anyone to doubt my sincerity or consider me to be a hypocrite. Conversely I now find myself wondering the exact same of others. I figure you can sit in the church pew every time the doors open but if it is all for show it is futile. You have to back it up with living it. I figure there are a lot of people who lead christian lives that may not darken the doors of a church.

Instead of wondering if it is live or memorex, I find myself wondering if it is real or for show.

One of the things that has fed this dilemma is a "relationship" with a person that is supposed to be a devout Christian, yet they don't back it up. This person says and does all the right things when people are around to see it, but when it is just them they seem to lose all "Christ likeness".

I try not to be judgemental. But this is affecting lots more than the relationship.

I'm still sorting through things in my brain. More later!

Have a day! Let's get Monday out of the way!

FATHER, Thank YOU for YOUR love!

I'm finding myself running low on energy! It seems as though these last few weeks have been utilizing every waking moment of every day away from the job to try to complete a project of some sort. Thankfully, the equipment project is only twenty minutes away now, not an hour.

The past week schedule was parts store, MTWF and K.O.'s shop ThS.

Actually the time off project at K.O.'s is coming together quite nicely. The hardest part is remembering how everything works. There are a number of controls and switches (about fifteen or sixteen in all) several of which have to be operated in a proper sequence. We did discover a problem and develop a fix. I mixed a lubricant cocktail of diesel and transmission fluid and put it into a pump up sprayer and just began spraying down all the chains and sprocket assemblies. After that we started cycling the equipment to try to free up chains and drives. About the only thing we lack is tracing out some electrical issues and we should be ready to test.

I actually think this is going to be a slam dunk!

Thursday I had called Chris to remind him where we were at in ordering parts. I told him due to the run on windshield wipers and with the forecast we needed to get everything up to inventory standards. When I went in Friday morning one of the first customers (who is a very good regular) came in wanting supplies for oil change service, a front brake pad replacement, and ...... windshield wiper blades. After looking up the replacement refill number I went to the display to find that particular number empty. Chris was in the shop so I called to him to see if he had put the new inventory in the back. He told me "No, I didn't order any!" I went back to the computer and looked up a complete wiper replacement (meaning framework as well as the rubber insert). We had two of them so I pulled them from the shelf and told the customer "Do I have a deal for you! I'm going to sell you these two complete replacements for the price of the two refills, and Chris is going to feel the hit!" (A $22 value for only about $8 or $9). The customer was thrilled and accepted. Needless to say, Chris wasn't.

When the customer left and we had a few minutes, Chris and I discussed the wiper deal. Chris told me he had gotten busy and just didn't order the blades. My response to him was "If you aren't interested, why should anyone else be?" You lead by example.

One thing for sure, if it affects the cash box Chris understands.

In another work related issue, it was a short honeymoon. We had begun to order certain lubricants from a new vendor. The salesman came in about a month ago and gave us excellent prices, told us he comes every other Thursday and the order is delivered the following Tuesday. Our first order was sizable. We were trying some different brands and some were very promising. We put together our order for Thursday, Wednesday. When I arrived at work Friday, the order was still sitting on the counter. The salesman had been a no show. Chris called to make an inquiry and was assured the salesman would be in Friday. He wasn't. Saturday at almost noon, just before Chris closed, the salesman dragged in the door. By that time part of his order had been placed with other vendors.

Don't tell me what you're going to do and then not do it!

I'm excited about another possibility. I have had preliminary contact wanting to know if I would be willing to do some public address announcing this next weekend. For several years I did quite a bit of it but for the last few years I had been silent. Krl is encouraging me to try it again. I don't figure it will pay near what it used to as this go round will involve new or first time promoters, but if I can make a little cash and have a good time, it will be worth it. (My best rate ever was $300/hour plus all expenses! Sign me up for some of that!).

Krl and I went to Texas Road House for her birthday. I just can't like that restaurant, it is just too noisy and crowded. From the moment we walked in, (O.K., I walked in, Krl rolled) from the hostess on through the employees were very lacking in manners and professionalism. Krl took one bite of her meal and quit. I picked through mine. The hi-lites were the drinks, the ice tea and the garden salads. It was somewhat easier to handle as we had a gift card. I think our waiter was too thick to understand my insult when he asked if we wanted a box for our left overs. (I told him they could throw it away there rather than us take it home and throw it away!).

My back and joints are killing me again. I find myself needed to drink a glass of WD-40.

I've got a big blog coming together in my mind. I'm trying to figure out how to best say it.

Have a day, and a great week!

FATHER, rescue me!

Coming off a record month, there is a price to pay at the parts store. Inventory. We spent most of the day walking around the store and ordering merchandise to fill holes. If you don't have it, you can't sell it!

The national chain's software has an automatically activated ordering system. You can set minimum and maximums and the system is supposed to keep numbers on the shelf in between. Crazy thing is, sometimes when you need two, you get twelve. This has made Chris go in and drop the min maxes on several items but by doing so he has created another job for us. Police-ing and identifying inventory problems and filling them.

The other villain in this equation is bad inventory numbers. The other day I was watching the end of day run and I saw a negative 197 for one certain item. I can't believe we sold 197 more of an item than what we had in stock. Of course several things could contribute to this. A bad count, which if using high school guys they may not care. Multiple vendors for items. If you buy outside the system, numbers have to be adjusted.

I am off today, but Chris will have lots of inventory to put up. I think that will be good because I know yesterday was a looong day once the weather began! I thought it was almost quitting time and looked at the clock and it was two in the afternoon. We actually closed a little early.

Originally I had been scheduled to work MWF. That has escalated and now I am working MTWF eight to six unless I have to be there to open which would mean seven to six. The man who is in charge of the plumbing hardware room has always come in on TTh. For the last several weeks he has not been showing but about one day per week and then for just a short time. Tuesday he didn't come in but talked with Chris's Dad and told him he didn't want to work but one day a week. I've know this man for a long long time. He was one year behind me in school. He does a really good job with the part of the store he purchases and prices for and he knows a lot about the chain's system. I have tried NOT to be intimidating, but for some reason he is very threatened. The only part of his inventory that Chris and I put up is what is need to fill sales and special orders.

I can't be distracted with the politics. I hate he feels that way, but if I attended like him Chris would be in a bind!

Chris and I have been having a good time. Pat always says I think "outside" the box. My big thing is to be sure we recognize "possibilities". I think Chris is also realizing I am there to do more than sell parts and help with the books. We talk a bunch about what interests he has. I told his Mom and Dad yesterday not to be mad when he chooses to talk with them. I think his Dad may be too conservative, but Chris isn't a kid any more and he definitely has other things beside auto parts that he would like to get into. Many of which would compliment his existing business.

Chris may be a mogul in the making!

If Chris wasn't a parts man he would be a weather man! I have never seen anyone monitor radar and broadcasts like he does! I don't know if it is because of his visual impairment that weather is so important.

Kyle Patrick was born to mow! Let me qualify that. Sleep and mow! I have no idea how many times Chris called him before yesterday before he woke him up about ten-thirty. Chris wanted the ditch in front of the store mowed before it rained. Funny thing is, he only lets Kyle use his push mowers. One of the riding mowers is out of the question. Chris had gotten Kyle started before he went to lunch and I watched this exercise unfold. Kyle finished up and loaded the mower. He sure is a lot stronger when he doesn't know anyone is watching. I went outside and chastised him for not mowing to the edge of the property, so he unloaded and tried it again. He finished just before the rain hit.

Chris returned just in time to help me eat some left over pork ribs. We asked Kyle to join in but he preferred a TC burrito! I told Chris we needed a barbecue pit at the store for impromptu opportunities. We probably should keep a loaf of bread and large jars of dill pickle spears and jalapenos on hand as well! P. R..

I had also told Chris I thought a large ice machine (the old crushed ice) would be pretty good to draw people in. Let them come by to fix their water jugs and while they are there pick up incidentals for the day! During the heat of summer, put two or three water melons in there to chill and set up an old picnic table on the cement apron that we could just hose down!

The store's item of the week has been what they call a "Tri-Ball receiver hitch". It is an insert that has three different size trailer balls that you can choose from. You just turn it to the desired size and insert the pin and locking pin. We had a local that asked us to order one. It took quite a bit of research (once again the chain doesn't call things what I call them!). Chris and I ordered two in, one for stock. The one for stock was gone before the special ordered one. We ordered one more for stock and it came in yesterday. It lasted less than an hour on the shelf. The same person that bought the stock item the day before bought the stock item yesterday and asked me to get six more! Them babies ain't cheap! Craziest thing was the local who started all this came in and asked me if there was insurance on the Tri-Ball hitch. I asked if it had broken and he said, "No. Tuesday when I picked it up I put it in the back of my pickup and someone stole it Tuesday night. I never got to use it!"

I am going to K.O.'s today to work on equipment. He has been piddling with it and is very excited! That is what this piece of equipment needs is someone who is excited about it! I can remember when I once was! They have it tuned up, today we'll be checking out the gearbox/drive mechanics. I think Saturday D.O. (K.O.'s brother, not D.O. his wife) is supposed to be in and we will look at paint.

I had been joking with Chris and told him the national chain should furnish the paint for the equipment, that I thought I could negotiate a deal for them to put their log on it too. Next thing I knew Chris was on the phone calling the store's territory sales rep and when he didn't make contact he called the big dog himself. It doesn't hurt to be in line just in case Mikey gives some sponsorship money back! Chris is not bashful!

Ollie has changed jobs again. She is now a property manager in Angelo. That girl changes jobs like I change unawares!

And finally, Happy Birthday to Krl. Today is her day!

Have a day!

FATHER, thank YOU for YOUR continued blessing of rain. I pray for healing and I ask YOUR blessings on Krl on her birthday! Revive us again!