Wow. Freddy and TJ are just wearing me out!

O.K. guys, let's do this another way. Instead of me waking up from bad dreams with you in them, I am going to put you in charge of good dreams and good sleep! In fact, I am going to count on you two to be my "angels in the outfield" or whatever you want to call it!

In a lighter moment the other day, Krl and I had been talking and as we passed a large billboard for the megamillion lottery I told Krl, "You'd think Fred and Terri could pull some strings wouldn't you?"

I haven't blogged about my inner psyche the last few days, but it is still struggling. I can be perfectly fine and then something transpires and I am trying to "tear up". I know Krl is going through a lot of the same. An added "unknown" for Krl is that she has a brother who she cannot make contact with. About a month ago she called the police in the town her brother lives in and asked them to check on him. They responded and later reported that he was O.K. and experiencing some telephone problems but would be calling later. He didn't. Further efforts by Krl have yielded the same results.

On a progress note, I have gone to bed the last three nights. Maybe not for a very long time period, but it is an improvement. Hey, where I am at I am grasping for any straws I can find.

So, from this point forward, I am going to try to look at Fred and Terri as "angels in charge", looking out for my greater good. When I sleep. When I work. When I travel. When I play. And yes, even when I buy lotto tickets!

Day three in preparation for the family reunion next week is in the books. I don't know, it may go down to the wire. Krl and I have talked about "a perfect" timeline concerning our departure. For the third day Krl worked cleaning the company trailer. I think at one point she had three vacuum cleaners in there. Big Oreck, Little Oreck, and Shop Vac. I believe I heard her mumble something about "Dave" being a liar. I don't think we'll see Krl on any Oreck ads! In his defense I will say that she did throw away a bagless vacuum that came with the trailer.

Krl has been a cleaning dervish! Give that girl some pine sol, warm water, a little bleach, and a scrub brush and the dirt and filth will run away!

My role in the travel trailer reclamation has been more mechanical. Researching replacement parts, and fixing a few others. I am in hopes that the parts needed will be nothing more than a phone call to by friend Brandon who is a partner at a RV business. I know in the past he has been excellent, whether I had a company trailer in his shop for repairs and replacements or if we were on the jobsite with a problem. Last year he did some troubleshooting from long distance, then mailed me the parts (on an open account) along with detailed instructions on removal and installation. The man is good!

I can vaguely recall last year after the family reunion asking myself if it was really worth it. I would say yes, especially since it was the last one with Fred and Terri. This year our focus is somewhat different. We aren't going to try to take and do everything. We're just going to go with the flow. Minimum groceries (the big meals are catered), one cooler, the ice cream freezer, a couple pairs of shorts and some T-shirts. Flip flops, a swimsuit, a few unawares and a toothbrush! Currently we are not planning on taking the four houndgirls, if we can find a hound sitter. That would eliminate the need for taking our "mini" fencing supplies and any specialized hound equipment. We'll have to see how this goes. Of course the major change would be by changing travel trailers to the current model, it will allow us to take only one vehicle.

I have toyed with the idea of leaving the travel trailer at Coaches or Uncle Jess's place in Brownwood.

Four weeks from Wednesday I have to be at the Peach and Melon festival and I know that is going to be a LATE night and involve a big truck, which poses a problem because Krl doesn't tow and she doesn't drive the big rigs. I am still figuring on this one. I know I am planning on taking the equipment down for the show, about the eighth or ninth of August.

I doubt I will leave anything anywhere. I also doubt Krl will go to the Peach and Melon festival with me because of the hounds.

I guess I am revved and ready for my Monday. Not! I had forgotten how working Saturdays destroys the weekend, especially if you have to drive a hundred miles to and from work. In addition to being on the tired side, I am sore. Too much crawling up, down and around the travel trailer. I'm not alone. Krl is complaining that her leg is really hurting.

I did a little research for Pepa yesterday concerning the jet boat. In 2005 through some odd happenings, the jet boat's discharge outlet was damaged. This didn't allow for reversing and or steering. Last years reunion snuck up on everyone and by the time they remembered the need for repairs, the time frame was too short to get the parts. Pepa has been ahead of the curve and requisitioned parts in May from our friend Mr. Statkus. Saturday Pepa and Jake were putting the jet pump in the boat back together when they discovered one of the control cables needed to be replaced. Even though it was Saturday afternoon and I was off Pepa called me asking if I could get him what he needs from the parts store. Odds are good, but my backup plan involves my internet research I did over Saturday night and Sunday.

The jet boat was purchased when all of us were still at home. Over the years it has been re-upholstered, re-floored and maintained. It's entire life it has been sheltered. By looking at it you would never believe it is thirty-seven years old! The only give away is the basic styling and paint scheme which dates it to the early seventies. It should be featured in a Glastron ad. Last year was the first year in thirty-six that the jet boat didn't attend the reunion. I think it had one of the best attendance records!

While I am talking about the jet boat, anyone who reads this needs to remind me, boat registration. I figure one of my old college mates who is a lake patrolman is nearing retirement but I have never counted on Leroy for bending the rules!

Krl and I were making lists (isn't that the easy part of an activity) and in jest I told her to write down to pick me up an eye patch, just in case Pat and I find a way to swing the sailboat. I also set out a small wooden cutting board that we can use as a plank (as in "walking the plank". Hey, it's small but it's a small boat!). I'm also looking for a skull and cross bones flag! Aarrrgh! Chips ahoy matey!

I just love pirate talk!

I don't expect it to happen this year, and that is O.K.. What if the sailboat experience doesn't live up to our expectations?

I am finding that in hindsight my brain suffered brain fade Saturday at work. At one point during the day, D.B. came to me, telling me we were out of one dollar bills in the cash drawer. I went into the office and a few minutes later returned with the cash bag. After I counted out the money and put it into the drawer, I placed the cash bag under the counter because we were covered up with customers. Guess where the cash bag is? Luckily, I had done a Friday deposit and the bag held very little cash. I'll do better. Chris doesn't allow us to to do this function very often. I guess I can understand why.

I am hungry! We have only had one meal a day Saturday and Sunday. Hot dogs Saturday, but Sunday I treated Krl. Albertson's had king crab legs on for $6.99 a pound. When I was buying a money order at United I picked up a small package of Del Monico steaks. I had never purchased this particular cut of meat, but the small size seemed to fit with the crab legs. Krl threw baked taters in the oven, I cooked the crab legs on the back porch in the turkey fryer and Krl did the steaks and biscuits! Uuummmm! It was very good. I did tell Krl though that if I ate crab legs very often I would get skinny because they are a lot of work! I guess I don't get full, I get tired of cracking and extracting!

Well, I think I will try to get a short nap before morning.

Have a day!

FATHER, without YOU I am nothing.