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!