The twenty-sixth of September would have been Gonnie's (Pepa's mother) 104th birthday. She's been gone thirty-eight years.

Wednesday at the parts store was busy. Lots of tools coming in from tool sale orders. Lots of empty slots on the floor displays to be "re-ordered".

I got to the parts store just before lunch. We did Krl's MRI but don't know the results. She is supposed to see Dr. Mackie Monday or Tuesday.

I got an early start Thursday and arrived at the seasonal jobsite about seven-twenty. It was a three hour drive. You do the math. I was first in to meet with the board. I left and was called back in. I finally got away about eleven. I am not happy with some of their decisions but we'll give it a shot.

I came back by the parts store and ordered some pieces for my company truck. I had made an appointment to have it int he shop Friday morning to have the parking brake fixed so I can get an inspection sticker.

I ran by Memama and Pepa's to say hi before stopping in Sweetwater to pick up lunch/supper. I decided to surprise Krl with Ma Allen's. Um Umm. Fried chicken, boiled squash and potato salad.

I ended up at K.O.'s before night. L.M., one of the truck drivers along with one of K.O.'s truck driver's had gone to Dallas to pickup lease trailers for the upcoming job. These are supposed to be ready to go, but L.M. had tire trouble before he got to Abilene. Luckily I had a couple of take-offs in the supply trailer and K.O. was willing to go and put them on.

By the time I got home I was totally wasted. Between the short nights I had all week long, then the early trip west. I sat in my chair and fell asleep.

Friday was back to the parts store. My parts came in but then the mechanic couldn't get to the company truck. It was a long day. It seems that Chris and DJ had had some problems yesterday that resulted in DJ just leaving. Chris seems to cycle like this sometimes. Highs and lows. I realize the week was a stressful one for all of us, yet Chris didn't seem worth his salt after the tool sale. I think he may have mowed the front area of the store three times during the week.

My Friday ended up back at K.O.'s shop. I led L.M. up there to leave one trailer and pickup another.

Saturday I met K.O. at the storage facility to get the big company trailer out and take it to the house. Krl got started cleaning it. I figure by mid week it will be in place at the jobsite. After we finished positioning the trailer we left for K.O.'s shop and worked on the parking brakes. Neither of us had every seen or worked on a set up like this so it was hit and miss. Thankfully K.O. is so good at figuring out puzzles. We had to take off the left rear tire and wheel three times to get it adjusted correctly. The right side we fixed in two tries, then K.O. did a cable adjustment. Crazy thing was, what we figured for an hour job took most of the afternoon.

K.O. argued with himself most of the afternoon whether to go to another show Saturday night. It was a benefit for the Peach and Melon Association in De Leon. Despite numerous calls, he chose not to go. Sometimes you just get tired of going. Especially if you have a list of other things to do.

By the time I got home I was ready for a bath and bed!

I am still so tired. My old nemesis, "leg cramps", began creeping up on me just before morning! Darn!

I may still try to lay back down.

Monday I will got to the jobsite. Then again either Tuesday and Wednesday or Wednesday and Thursday. Then we will be there either Friday night or Saturday morning for the weekend festival activities.

The GM told me to plan on the plant running at some time the week of the eighth.

Yikes!

Hope your week was a good one. Have a day!

FATHER, bless the coming week.

Three things down! Several yet to go!

Equipment project show. Check!

Tool sale. Check!

Sleep study. Check!

I have worked a tool sale and lived to tell about it. Overall we would have to term the tool sale a success. We sold about as many tools as we thought we might, but not as many as we hoped for. It is a lot of work!

My yesterday had begun very early because of tool sale. I was scheduled to pick up doughnuts in Sweetwater. I had service my little pickup Monday evening because I knew I would be leaving in the dark Tuesday. When I left the house I thought, "Man, this thing just doesn't sound like it should". As I waited for a traffic light I ran the gages. Water temperature was very low, oil pressure O.K., amp meter O.K.. I hit the freeway and headed out. Almost immediately the water temp began sweeping upward. I stopped and checked the water again, full. I made an assessment to return home and get another vehicle. I circled under and headed back, the water temp began coming down, the truck continued to run rougher and rougher. Finally I was looking for a place to park it when it quit. I coasted into a parking lot and began calling Krl. She picked up the third time and got her Expedition and came to rescue me. I was late to the tool sale by about a half hour. Worked there all day before leaving to retrieve my deceased truck, spent just a few minutes with Krl before leaving to check in at the sleep disorder clinic. I checked in at eight. They termed me lights out at ten-thirty. By one-thirty I was done. I watched television and read the remainder of the night until they released me at five something. No sleep apnea.

This morning I take Krl for an MRI. They are trying to determine what the cause of her headaches might be.

Then I will probably return to the remaining carnage of the parts store. At some point I have to bury my little truck. Tomorrow I have to be at the jobsite by eight in the morning to meet with the board of directors. That means I have to be on the road by five Thursday morning.

Yuk!

But I'm getting a handle on it!

Rian's surgery went well, however he had some complications and had to spend the night Monday in the hospital. I talked to him just before I went to the sleep disorder clinic and he was still in his hospital room. His doctor had not been by in almost thirty six hours. I bet that doctor gets a lecture.

Have a day!

FATHER, thank YOU for keeping me on task. See me through!

Flawless.

F-L-A-W-L-E-S-S

To be without flaw, without imperfection.

The equipment project was just that! It was flawless. It worked as we intended. The show went without a hitch.

WOO-HOO!!!! YIPPEE!!!!

I don't know who was more thrilled, K.O. or myself!

When the show began, I very very nervous. Of course since I was in the announcer's stand I was not available to help K.O.. We relied on two-way radios. When the promoter prepared the facility he had made an error in soil selection and we began only to stop and cut the course down deeper and finally the show began in earnest!

I could not be more satisfied.

The equipment worked well and K.O. did a good job.

More on that later.

I received a call from Erica telling me that Rian was out of surgery and in recovery. Everything went well.

Have a day!

FATHER, thank YOU!

That was a tough week, right up to the end, and we have one more day to go.

The repercussions from Thursday's equipment project made themselves known to me all day long. My knees even have dimples! The flooring on the operator's platform is diamond floor plate and I spent enough time on my knees while trying to reach under the dash during the rewiring, I now sport a set of directional dimples!

I oughta ..................................... get a tattoo to go with them!

I took a call from Pat yesterday morning, asking me to come by her house when it was convenient. I made it up there about nine-thirty. I could tell she was struggling. She handed me a group of papers and I began reading.

TJ's autopsy.

I found it very difficult to read. It began with a very impersonal description. "The deceased is a 5' 7", 227 lbs., obese, white female. Her head is covered with an abundance of brown hair, her eyes are brown". Then the technical terms began appearing (which I can't pronounce much less write). It continued, the whites of her eyes appear to be white with no evidence of yellowing. Natural teeth. The coroner continued by identifying scars from earlier surgeries and finally began weighing vital organs with written observations and lastly, blood and urine analysis.

Bottom line, TJ's death was the result of complications from surgery, ie. blood clot.

Now maybe people will stop asking.

The difficult thing for me, this was and is someone we love, to the coroner she was the deceased.

I did tell Pat that TJ would be so pissed about the adjective "obese".

We had to find something light.

Pat and I met and had lunch with Memama and Pepa and afterwards we went to the living room and Pat told them about the autopsy results. They took the report very well.

I guess one silver lining is that her death was not caused by a medical issue that needs to be addressed by us remaining siblings.

Pat is converting the autopsy report to simple English and returning it to E.

Today is "the" day for the equipment project. Win, lose or draw, I am glad we are at the end of a long summer project. I woke early this morning going over a mental checklist. I didn't want to be awake, my brain just kicked in gear! K.O. had worked on the project until about two in the morning Friday morning but didn't get it hooked to the truck. When I began coming home from work we talked and he was just hooking up and fixing to go fuel it. By the time I ran errands and got home, he called me and reported on the volume of fuel and declared the rig ready for departure. He was going to get a shower and change clothes before he, D.O., the boys, and Randy headed out with two big rigs and their travel trailer. They probably didn't get to Boyd until ten-thirty or eleven.

Me, I leave this morning with Blacksheep and the project in tow.

I have wondered if I spazz and fizz like K.O. is right now, just prior to a show. This is the first time he has been the primary operator and he is driving himself crazy over-analyzing. No doubt about it, K.O. has gotten a big dose of the project this time. A bigger dose than last time. As hard as he has worked, the project needs to go down there and perform flawlessly!

Then we'll bring it home and park it in the equipment line and let the weeds grow up around it until spring! I don't even want to look at it after tonight.

A reminder, Rian has his surgery Monday morning. Lift a little something on his behalf.

I could sure use your prayers as well, especially for today's travel and tonight's show.

Chris's tool sale is Tuesday. He has done a good job prep-ing our customer's for it!

Have a day!

FATHER, I call upon YOUR name. I pray for Rian and his doctors, that his surgery will go well and the results be positive. I pray that YOU will bless me with safe travel, that YOU will bless K.O. and the project with a safe, trouble free performance with no problems. I pray that YOU will bless me as I do the public address announcing. Help me to be entertaining and informative. I pray for Chris's sale, that his efforts would be rewarded. I ask YOUR blessings as we begin preparations for our move to the seasonal jobsite. I continue to lift up Hag for YOUR gifts of healing and care. I pray for our family as we deal with the report on TJ's death. I thank YOU for our family and friends and ask for YOUR blessings on them all. Thank YOU for the hope and promise we have in YOUR son JESUS. Thank YOU for all YOU do!

Ouch!

Yesterday was the final day of work on the equipment project for the year (and unless I have a short memory, forever).

K.O. and I put in a hard day. Tomorrow, the project is due at the last show of the year. Thank GOD. I wasn't aware how many different places I could ache. Shoulders, back, knees, feet. I would have to answer "all the above". My yesterday was spent on the operators platform, replacing system indicator lights and doing some rewiring that K.O. told me he wanted. Since he is operating the equipment (because I am announcing the show) I try to keep him happy! I left about a quarter of nine last evening. K.O. was still planning on working until the project was on the truck and pointed at the road. Actually there were just a few things left to work on. checking out road lights, a counter weight mount, and repairing one piece of ballast. Most of the drive into town I was on the phone with our hydraulic expert.

When I got home last evening I didn't know I could hurt in so many ways in so many places. I could NOT get comfortable. When I finally went to bed I tossed and turned until I got a reprimand from Krl. Sleep didn't visit long.

I had submitted a proposal to the GM at the Fall jobsite on Monday. Yesterday he and the Board of Directors met in a regular monthly meeting. Afterward the GM called me and asked me when I could travel to the jobsite to meet with the board. He said they have some questions about my proposal. Actually, they were summoning three of us there to meet with them. In addition to my proposal, I feel sure this is something of a pre-production meeting.

The way the GM put it to me was "Come and defend yourself and your proposal". Thing is, I don't feel compelled to defend anything. It is all on paper, pick an option and go. I might should have put a no substitution clause in my proposal. These men may be a fast food restaurant's worst nightmare, "Yes, I would like a number three but drop off item three and add half of a number six, and substitute side #4 for the regular side order!" Actually I say this in jest. I know all of these gentlemen and they are good men. Successful businessmen. And if there wasn't a need, they wouldn't waste my time. I am eager to hear their questions and comments.

I am going by a vendor's this morning to pick up a couple of items for Pepa. Then it will be off to work at Chris's part store. Two and a half work days until D-day, his annual tool sale. Yesterday he made follow up sales calls leading up to the sale. Once again I find myself getting anxious about so much being on my schedule. I keep having to separate them and put them back into their proper time frames.

I think I am going to go soak in the tub before I have to rush off. Maybe a hot bath and the Tylenol I have already ingested will get me through the day.

The 'Canes looked pretty good last evening (what little I got to see). I don't guess Kirb got to play, at least the portion of the game I saw.

Well, have a day!

FATHER, renew and refresh me.

Pollyanna!

That's who I think I am becoming. It seems that I catch myself putting the absolute very best spin on whatever has gone wrong with the equipment project.

I am beginning to "'cipher" how the project is going by the way K.O. refers to it. It is is "my" project it is going badly. If he refers to it as "our" project, things are going good.

Monday afternoon he called me and was referring to "my" project, so I knew something was wrong. It seems K.O. had completed the operational modifications and turned his attention to an over heating problem with the engine. We had changed the fan back to factory equipment and K.O. installed a new thermostat. He had been driving it from the shop to the county road and it did well until he would begin the climb up the hill and it would instantly over heat. He decided to flush the cooling system and engine block as well. During this time he noticed the water pump seemed to be surging. We had been battling with the decision on whether or not to replace the pump. K.O. decided to fill the system with water and see if there was any improvement. Afterwards, he drove back and forth from the shop to the county road again and again. Finally as he was approaching the county road, he looped out and turned onto it, traveling past his house and down to the pasture beyond. He thought it was doing some better in the temperature department and decided to turn back. When he began turning the bulky piece of equipment around he got into the edge of a coastal hay field where it was a little softer and required the engine to work a little harder. He told me just as he was completing the maneuver all H-E-double hockey sticks broke loose. He immediately killed the engine and when he looked into the engine compartment found that the shaft had snapped on the water pump, all of the engine belts had been broken and wadded up, and the fan had gouged the radiator perforating three of the cooling tubes.

That was when I got the call about "my" project.

Closer inspection revealed that the small circular flange which is pressed on to the water pump shaft (and this flange is where the belt pulley and fan clutch assembly bolt on) had been turning on the shaft instead of turning the shaft. Ie. While the fan and belts were turning and giving the appearance that all was in order, the shaft which turns the water pump was in fact NOT turning except at very slow engine RPM's. So the water was not circulating while the engine was working. Of course what made it more difficult to diagnose to diagnose was that the problem didn't reveal itself except at working RPM's.

We were forced to replace the water pump.

K.O. called me and wanted to report on "our" project. Heh, heh. I knew he had good news. He had worked the equipment hard for an hour and it never got over a hundred-seventy degrees.

YES!

This little train wreck when it broke led us to find the problem and fix it!

I can't wait for Saturday to be over.

Then Tuesday.

And on and on and on.

I'm sure before it is all over at the seasonal jobsite I will be in "can't wait" mode there as well. (The girls in the office have told Krl to pack our Easter clothes.

Well, let's git 'er done!

Have a day!

Pray for me, I seem to be really struggling!

FATHER, lift me!

I am baazhausted. I am so ready for this next Saturday to be behind me.

For those of you that don't know, this coming Saturday is the final show of the year for the equipment project. And that thrills my heart. It seems that any spare moment has been spent working on the project. And I'm tired of it! This goes back to June when the doctor released me. It's been a long summer. Of course if we can find the time we plan on doing a total rebuild before next season, but not until after we take some time off from it.

As taxing as the project has been physically, it has been even more demanding mentally. K.O. is beginning to realize what I have always said about when you fix one thing it affects something else on it adversely. We have begun to try to figure out how the dominoes will fall prior to spending the time changing a configuration. I suppose the project is most frustrating when you spend the time changing something and the desired results are not achieved and you spend more time putting it back the way it was. One day I pulled down and re-installed a three spool hydraulic control valve five times before I reached the configuration that yielded the results I was looking for.

This past weekend, K.O.'s brother Danny was in. Actually he was in specifically to work on the equipment project. Danny is extremely gifted when it comes to building or fabricating and his assistance was greatly appreciated. Landon, K.O.'s and Danny's nephew, has put a lot of late night time in as well.

Saturday was a long day on the project for me but even longer for K.O. and crew. I left their shop shortly after eight in the evening. We had a very good day to that point, and lacked only addressing one major problem. I'm not saying that everything else was ready, but it was done in broad strokes with completion just a matter of budgeting time. I guess it is much like an outline or mapping. Once you know what you need to do it moves much more rapidly. We had a discussion before I left about the last problem area and K.O. and Danny asked me if I had a preference on the re-fab. I told them what I thought but to use their best judgement. They chose to use the #2 fix on my list and worked until two in the morning before they could test the system. It didn't do the job. K.O. said it took the wind out of the sails when that occurred and they decided to call it a night.

Danny began work on the project about eight-thirty Sunday morning and worked until about noon before they had to get back on the road. The most productive part of K.O. and my morning was gathering parts to make the #1 fix on my list. We decided to take a break after lunch because K.O. needed to tend to somethings for his business and I needed to run a few errands and spend some time with Krl. Gotta keep some perspective here.

Priorities.

It wouldn't have taken much for me to sack out in my recliner. But I didn't.

We did go to bed early. I guess that is the age and exhaustion figuring in. By eleven in the evening my eyes were done resting and no matter how much I tossed and turned I couldn't convince them otherwise.

I have a business proposal that I needed to work on and I decided there is no time like the present! I came into the home office and began preparation when I realized my printer is in need of a black ink cartridge. No problem I thought, I will prepare the document and save it on a floppy disc. Then it dawned on me that my computer at the parts store does not have a floppy drive. Now I am trying to decide whether to find a blank CD. Then it will be a decision of which is less trouble, trying to figure out which drive is what on this computer or finding my laptop and preparing it there. My desktop is Krl's old work computer and it has multiple drives and it seems I spend all my time chasing which drive I am needing to put the disc in!

One of these days I am going to pay attention to which drive is which.

I have tried to limit how far I am looking forward. When I think about all the miles and everything that has to be done by October it is mind boggling. So I have broken it down into this week, through Sunday, then Monday and Tuesday (Tuesday is Chris's annual tool sale), and then the remainder of that week is section three and the beginning of the equipment move to the seasonal jobsite.

Normally the GM expects me to be in place at the jobsite by October 1. On Friday he and Frank
the Plant Superintendent stopped by the parts store and spent about an hour and a half with me. During that time he told me he wanted me in place by October 8. The one extra week was greatly appreciated. I know that he really wants us there by Sunday the 7th because that is the Fall Festival at the Church. That means I prefer to be there the 6th which is when the men make the festival staple of German sausage (about 10,000 lbs worth, which will be sold on Sunday), the women and children prepare the gymnasium and outdoor areas for the bake sale and gaming activities, finally they will cook ribs and sausage behind the facility and residents will gather around the pits and beer kegs and enjoy a little fellowship. Early in the evening, a group of men will put meat on to cook for the Sunday noon meal at the festival. Sunday it will be all business for the residents as they have assigned jobs for the day.

Frank told me part of his crew has begun to arrive on site and plant preparations are almost complete. He and I didn't voice it but we know after the record setting year of 2005 and speculation that this year would surpass it, we are faced with a daunting task. I look forward to being with our friends there and I look forward to seeing and working with our co-workers again.

I am not looking forward to being gone from home six or seven months.

But we will do what we need to do.

I've got to get my cell phone book out. I got a text message from "E" and I found I have no idea how to forward it. I guess I am going to be thrust into more technology.

While the equipment project has been a welcome diversion in many ways. It has been difficult in others. When I got home yesterday I showered and Krl and I talked. (She keeps telling me how alone she feels because I spend so much time either at work or at the project.). I was telling her that Sunday was a difficult day for me. I guess watching K.O. and his brother Danny work together and observing their non-verbal communication that has developed over a lifetime, made me sad that I won't ever experience that again with Fred. It is really strange too that the moment this hit home was I was sitting in the parking lot at United. It was like I was on a time delay.

I guess it took my mind that long to step away from the project and see beyond it.

Rian is scheduled for some surgery either this Friday or a week from tomorrow. It wouldn't hurt to lift up a little something on his behalf.

I think I am going to try to lay back down.

Have a day!

FATHER, then sings my soul.

Correction. TAM Aggies are next week for the "Canes. This week is FIU.


This is the opponent from last years brawl and in a new twist one of the former Miami coaches under Larry Coker is FIU's new Head Coach.


The suspense builds.


"LET"S GET READY TO RUUUUMMMMBBBLLLLE!"


My Monday was long. And that is an under statement. I didn't get home until almost eight.


But now a word from our sponsor.


Are you tired? Do you suffer from iron poor blood?


Yes, and I do!

Actually this blog may be a little weird, it is the culmination of two days of trying to find the time and the words I write.

Once again I am awake in the early hours. My old nemesis, leg cramps, has paid me a visit. I hate it when I begin having cramps in my lower leg and ankle area because there is almost no way to find a position for relief. My usual remedy of pickle juice is not having the desired affect. I may have over done it. I may have drank too much of it as my stomach is getting mad at me.

Dr. Mackie got me in for a sleep study later this month. He tells me that if his suspicions are right, when they correct it I am going to be a new man! He says I am not resting when I am asleep. I'd buy that.

The day after my appointment Krl is having her MRI.

The parts store was wild and woolie yesterday. I didn't expect it to be very busy because of the weather. Most of the farmers and many of the wind generator crews have ground to a halt. Those that were working seemed to keep us hopping.

It is a very uplifting experience to visit with many of my farming friends this year. It is amazing what a VERY good crop does for the mood! Many of these farmers tell me that they thought 2005 was as good as it can get. This year they are beginning to question that. Of course, at this point in time the crop is just hope. It isn't done until the crop is ginned and in the bale. The South Texas saga should remind us of that. They had a tremendous crop and too much rain has ruined it. Bolls, rotting from standing in water, cotton stained by the wet burr that holds it, and "E" tells me he has producers reporting the seed in some bolls are sprouting. "E's" assessment is it is quite a train wreck.

The University of Miami announced yesterday that Kyle Wright has been named the starter for this weeks football game against FIU. That means Kirby has been benched. After the defensive debacle at OU they have made some changes in their defensive secondary as well. To me they have made wholesale changes in several areas except the one that needed it most. Coaching and package. Coach Shannon made the comment Monday that the game against OU revealed the worst job coaching in the history of Miami. I think they should let the janitor or the band director prepare the game plan the rest of the season.

I have continued to mull over the game and have come to the decision that Kirby and the offense got very little help from the play calling. Oklahoma was teeing up and coming and I can think of only one screen pass attempt to slow them down. I know hindsight is 20/20 but I would have loved to see some shovel passes and some wide play action, pulling up and dump pass just over the pursuit.

Hey with the speed and quickness of Oklahoma, you have to use it against them.

I feel somewhat guilty. K.O. has been working some on the equipment project. He says some changes have been excellent. The new hydraulic configuration performs as billed. However, as I have often said, it always seems as though when you fix one thing, it exposes the next weakness. That is the case now. One of the chain drives is now suspect.

Already my day offtomorrow is pretty full. Skin Cancer doctor early, equipment project the remainder of the day. Hopefully I can squeeze in a visit to Nick the barber.

If my grandad could see me now he would tell me it is going to be a cold winter judging from my start on my winter coat of hair!

Yesterday marked six years since the World Trade Center tragedy. I was thinking about where I was when I learned of the planes crashing into the WTC. I suppose this will always be one of the days that you remember exactly where you were at when a historic even happens. Much like when JFK was assassinated.

I ask myself, is the world a better world today than six years ago?

Is it a safer world?

What do we have to show for all the American lives lost in Afghanistan and Iraq?

Under "W" has America become a bully?

I saw a bumper sticker that said "Someone give "W" a blowjob so we can impeach him!"

Maybe we should give "W" to the Iraqi people to try him as a war criminal.

Maybe we should try him for impersonating a President.

Have a day!

FATHER, I am tired. Mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally. I ask for renewal. Make me what I should be. Make me whole as YOU wish.

Short night.

I am so looking forward to next weekend. I am not scheduled to go anywhere!

Of course with the looming show deadline for the equipment project I can predict what I will be doing.

I am SO struggling with getting everything done that I need to. The project, Chris's Annual Tool Sale at the parts store, the move to the seasonal jobsite, prep-ing and loading all the company travel trailers before transporting them. Forklifts, supply trailer, fuel trailer, trucks and other trailers. It is an on-going list.

My boat is so loaded.

Of course it would be much less difficult if money were plentiful. Thing is, I need to minimize cash outlay until the seasonal work begins to generate a little cash flow.

I had a call from Delfino yesterday. He has been with me for eight or nine years. I got him a summer job with Et down south. I was so dreading hearing from him because history would show that usually when he calls he needs (or wants) money. Thing is, he has prospered through the grain harvest and now the South Texas cotton harvest. While I visited with him, I caught myself being a little defensive while I waited for him to ask the $$$$$ question. Much to my surprise, it never came. He was wanting to know if he could take a week off between the summer job and the work at St. Lawrence. On another positive note he told me he was completing his American citizenship this week. I think he said he has to go to Houston for this.

In a new twist he is asking me about bringing some additional workers. I have mixed feelings about this. I have never had a whole lot of luck hiring friends of workers. Usually if one wants off they all do, and of course they always want to be on the same shift. I told him I didn't know exactly where I was at on my crew. I am expecting at least one opening, possibly two with the possibility of adding one position.

At the present time, sources tell me the seasonal work will go from about October 1 to some point in April. I personally think it will be slightly longer than the 2005 record setting year. When I begin the move west I will talk with Frank, the plant superintendent, and get the REAL skinny!

Today we'll go in and try to get caught up at the parts store. It will be interesting to see if Chris is still pumped. Friday I got the packet that listed all of the store with the most improvement! Chris's was #2. Hey we try harder! Our neighboring store in Sweetwater was #5. Of course this is determined by percentage of improvement, not gross sales. There are many stores that will out sell us in $$$$$$ but we are building.

On a really funny note, Chris and I were talking Friday morning. There is a gentleman who owns several stores scattered around the state. He had three stores on the list, all of them below us. I jokingly told Chris that while we had this man beat down it might be a good time to make an offer to buy him out! Chris's Mother told me to bite my tongue.

I haven't put a pencil to it but I think (my mental projection) we will fall just short of doing 150% of 2006 sales.

Krl and I had a good Sunday together. We needed a little time. I know with the project and the past few weekends being filled for me, we have not had a whole lot of time for each other. We talked about the trek westward later this month and I told her I would try to bring the company trailer to the house where we could prep and load it. The storage on it renews for another month a week from tomorrow. I have always told Krl that I seem to cycle emotionally about the seasonal work. One year I am eager with anticipation, the next I am filled with dread. Thing is usually when we are on site with our friends there, we fall into step and "git r done". I think a lot of it is just culture shock. Going from being able to call out for pizza, steak express, golden chick or whatever to having to drive thirty two miles round trip for a burger from the closest grill, and driving nearly an hour to the closest "chain" grocery store! I know Krl and I always go wild when we get home from the jobsite, treating our taste buds to a bevy of delicacies! I almost can't wait to get started so we can get through so we can binge!

Of course when Krl begins pulling things out to load in the travel trailer the pups will know something is going on. More than likely she will let Maple Syrple and Phooey go with her while she works in the trailer and I am sure they will "know" where we are fixing to go.

I need to go to the jobsite where I can rest. This past Friday night I think I slept three hours, the previous Saturday I was up for just over twenty-five hours. It's making me old in a hurry.

Krl's last tests came back. Her thyroid was O.K. but in a real shocker, her cholesterol was very high! I told her that was why she was so darn fat! Hah! Even more amazing is the fact that my cholesterol was not an issue. I guess that explains why I am so petite. Yeah, right!

Actually they told Krl that they are finding that high cholesterol is more hereditary than diet.

It gets back to those hand me down genes!

Douglas, my brother-in-law in Indiana is having shoulder surgery today.

I continue to mull over the OU-Miami ball game. While we were in Norman, we were amazed at how many fans had signs and flags on their cars or trucks. Painted windows, and of course they were dressed in the Sooner colors. The six of us riding together in Rian's vehicle were tempted to stop in at Lowe's and make us a grill ornament. We were going to buy a full toilet seat and another one that is 3/4 seat or cut out in the front and then position them where it read OU. Oh well, we thought it was funny. The rules governing what you could take into the stadium were very interesting. No back packs, purses must be no larger than 10" x 10", no coolers. It seems these were all put into place after 9-11 and also after an attempt by someone last year who had a backpack bomb. I had told Devon and Dillon that when we were going through the gates and security their names would be Rashid and Mohammad.

I still don't think the 'Cane game plan was very good. I don't know if it was a total miscalculation on the coaches part or if it was not executing it or possibly an combination of both. Thing is OU whipped 'em like they were a step-child! I don't buy into the line that Miami won the special teams battle. When you punt ten times you should get it right! That is like the coach telling the press "with us punting so much it improved our conditioning". I can't believe the message boards I have read. Regardless of whether it is Kirby or Kyle, they can't do it by themselves and the coaches have to give them the plan to to it. Rian and I were sitting in the stands during the pregame just experiencing the game day atmosphere. We got tickled watching one of the loudest Miami supporters. He was very small, extremely vocal and probably got his letter jacket for choir. He was, is, and will be, a nerd. Mentally this is the image I picture when I read lots of the posts about what needs to happen to Miami football. Many of these experts wouldn't make a pimple on a football player's butt!

The Miami Herald reports that they expect to name a starter for this weeks game by Tuesday. I hope so, the TAM Aggies come to town Thursday I think!

What I would like to tell Kirby is first of all we are all proud of him and he is loved by many. Second, go out there and have fun. Stop playing to not make a mistake and to not lose his job. Leave it all on the field and be satisfied, knowing he did his very best. What happens happens. Lastly, remember it is still just a game, just a bigger stage.

Well, I guess I have taken my brain out, emptied it and played with it so I will reset it again.

Have a day!

FATHER, thank YOU for the day! I needed that. I continue to ask YOUR gifts of healing for Hag and Douglas. I ask for calm and focus for Kirby. I continue to ask that YOU heal our hearts. YOU are good!

I have a need to catch up!

I returned last evening from Norman, Oklahoma where a large contingency attended the OU Miami football game. They beat us like a drum and then I think they backed up and rolled over us with the darn thing! The best part of the trip was spending time with Rian and being with lots of friends and family.

Kirby did not have a good day, and that was very frustrating for all of his supporters because we were hoping for a breakout day. I am sure that we were no where near as frustrated as Kirby though. I am wondering if Stoopes had Kirby's number after watching him and having him participate in camps at OU during the time Kirb was recruited.

Don't be foolish, the Sooners are good. Very, very good! They are fast, they are physical and they stay with their assignments. OU ruled the offensive and defensive fronts. The once formidable Hurricane defense was not in attendance. It's very hard for me to believe that at one point in the third quarter there was only an eight point differential. Then the flood gates opened and OU ran up the score! The OU stadium is something else. Very close to the playing field and LOUD! I was very surprised by the football fever Sooner fans were afflicted with!

Miami pulled Kirby about midway of the second quarter. I was somewhat surprised after the past weeks quotes from Coach Shannon. To be honest, I feel like the 'Canes called a different set of plays for Kyle (Kirb's replacement). For a brief period of time Kyle moved the offense and did have a touchdown pass. Then OU went to the blitz which has always been Kyles downfall. Shortly before then end of the third quarter, the coaches put Kirby back in, but by then the game was out of hand.

Rian and I visited about the game from Norman to Wichita Falls where I had left my little pickup and I developed several assessments.

#1. Kirby became frustrated. I would have too.
#2. Kyle came in and did a respectable job for a brief period. I told Rian that Kyle had nothing to loose. Anything that happened with him being on the field could only be positive. Kyle seemed very relaxed in the beginning.
#3. When Kirby returned to the field the play calls were extremely conservative and it appeared Kirby was playing like he was trying to "not make a mistake". I think he needs to go out there and play, not play trying not to loose his job. I know things get out of hand sometimes, but this is still supposed to be a game.
#4. I would like to see the Canes go down the field, both passing and rushing. It seems as though too much of their offense is slow developing, trying to go wide or cross field. I think too many of the Cane's backs, receivers, and kick returners have aspirations of making the "highlight" reels. Too much juke-ing and stuttering. Put that hat down and plow ahead!
#5. I hate the disorganization of the Canes prior to getting in their play formation. No huddle, everyone standing, looking to the sideline for the play call. I think they need to regroup between plays and have an on field general demanding their attention and respect.
#6. The Canes did not play smart Saturday. Lots of stupid mistakes and penalties. It also seemed as though even the television timeouts worked against them
#7. Oklahoma out coached Miami.
#8. The Canes quit.
#9. Athletes at this level are a very elite group.
#10. We will learn a lot about the Miami players and coaches with how they handle getting routed!

And that's all I have to say about that!

Thursday equipment project day was good and bad. Monday we had re-plumbed and redirected the primary hydraulic system but when we tested it we exploded the big power take off (not the small one we had problems with in August). Further inspection Thursday revealed the damage was more extensive than we first thought but still it isn't something we can't overcome. I think K.O. is beginning to understand how frustrating this piece of equipment can be. You fix one thing and it negatively affect something else!

We devised a plan and began putting it in place late Thursday. The PTO exploding actually made it simpler for us to make our decision. Fewer options! One thing that really messes with my mind is the primary hydraulic motor. We had replaced the pump which powers the motor, but we didn't get the results we were looking for. Upon visiting with our hydraulic expert, he told us we had a low torque/high speed motor, that what we needed was a high torque/low speed motor. He brought one to the counter and what the one he says we need is about a third of the size of the old one. That just baffles my mind! He did explain it and it makes sense. He says with the old one were are operating at RPM's that are too slow. We aren't even getting into the power range of the motor. With the new one we will be operating at the top of the power range.

We ordered some sprockets for the chain drives and K.O. was going to pick them up and begin work on the project while I was gone to meet Rian and watch the ball game.

We are inside two weeks to show date! Yeow!

Have a day.

FATHER, rest me well.

Krl and I were at Dr. Mackie's at eight Wednesday morning. We spent almost three hours there. She had a full lab work up and also had her leg x-rayed. When we left she had nine prescriptions and I had one! We have more pills than Carter does! In addition to the meds, Dr. Mackie scheduled Krl for a scan and me for a sleep study!

For the record, Krl weighed in at a surprising 106. I would have guessed much less than that but it was good news compared to the 81 of a few years ago! I guess when they saw how little Krl weighed they saw no use in weighing me. Yeah, right! (Maybe I was standing sideways and they couldn't see me!).

Since we returned from the doctor Krl has repeatedly told me, "See, I really am sick!" I'm not the one she needed to convince. I've been trying to get her to the doctor for months!

Dr. Mackie couldn't believe that the specialist did not address Krl's broken leg (earlier this year) with surgery. His exact words were "that's a nasty looking break". He cautioned her to use her cane or a walker because just a bump on the wrong place or a fall could break it again. The doctor did outsource one test. He is looking at Krl's thyroid to see if it might account for her having problems keeping weight on.

My one med is an antibiotic for an infection from an insect bite I received this past weekend. I guess the announcer's booth at last weekends show hadn't been used in some time and a spider bit me just at the top of my short socks! (It was a tall spider because it is just about ankle high!).

I'm betting the spider died!

Since we spent the majority of the morning at the doctor, I was very late getting to the store. I had told Chris and he held down the fort, but it seemed like I played catch up all day long! We had a butt load of freight to check in and for some reason the computer failed to generate a check in sheet. Late in the day computer support figured out the problem and when the report did print, we had all the freight unpacked and put away. A comparison of the hand written freight list we checked and the printed shipment advice makes me think they may have sent us at least one tote in error! That is one of the problems with the computer generating the parts orders, it is a project just to be sure. I asked the distribution center if someone had complained about a big shortage but they didn't know! Crazy thing was all of the freight was stacked in layers and wrapped in plastic wrap on a shipping skid with our store number!

Oh well, I tried to report it!

Pat called me three times yesterday. The first call was telling me about Hag's trip to the Urologist Tuesday. That doctor was trying to convince Hag to have surgery next Thursday. From our conversation I would say this doctor uses scare tactics to convince patients to agree to his treatment plan. Pat said Hag was very upset with much of the information the urologist told them.

Pat and Hag stayed with the Hunter's Tuesday night, in fact the Hunters went to the doctor's office with them and then they sat around the kitchen table until late discussing options and treatments. Wednesday, Pat went to Dr. Mark's (Pepa's doctor at the cancer center in Lubbock) and she visited with the nurses there. In a chance meeting, Dr. Mark walked by and visited briefly with Pat and she told him about Hag's biopsies. Dr. Mark told her to get Hag there and made a place in the schedule for him.

I have not met this doctor, but he sounds like a remarkable man. Pat says he just lays it all out and is very frank and honest in his information and answers. Pat said he told Hag, if you were my brother this is what I would recommend. To me that would mean a lot. He told Hag that the cancer might recur in ten or fifteen years, BUT, he also told Hag that he believes by then there will be a vaccine for prostate cancer. He said they are learning a lot and about the disease and one thing they have learned is that it is brought on by a virus.

Pat said Hag was a different man when they walked out of the cancer center! They went back to the Hunter's and were cooking steaks on the grill and planning on spending another night before they returned home.

Hey, I've said before that Pat is a very good registered nurse. I guess yesterday proves that she can walk the walk and talk the talk because it is amazing that she could just walk in and the doctor would make room for an appointment with Hag.

By the way, Hag is scheduled in early January to have the same treatment Pepa did. Dr. Mark told him to enjoy his elk hunt and get his crops harvested and then they would take care of business. I could hear a sigh of relief from Pat because she had expressed serious concerns about major surgery for Hag because of his genetic blood disorder and the possibility he would throw a blood clot.

Today I am off from work which means it is an equipment project day. I am really dreading it because now we have an oily greasy mess that we will be working in, at least for part of the day. I guess we will begin with some damage control from Monday's mishap. K.O. and I have talked several times and he has some ideas we will look at seriously.

Two weeks to show time!

One thing K.O. and I have been told, we are NOT driving in after the show. I still have enough jet lag that I'm not arguing either!

Let's get on with it!

Have a day!

ffx3

LORD lead me on!

Worst thing about a holiday is the day after. Usually you have a two in one day! Yuk!

But first a word from our sponsor!

Let's talk about the holiday.

K.O. and I had scripted the last few "work" days on the equipment project. We have found that when we do this we are much more productive with our time. Throw that one out the window! While recent days had been dedicated to hydraulics our intention Monday was to finish the hydraulics and move on to the engine cooling system. We never made the move. We needed one hydraulic hose, one foot long to finish the hydraulics. It ended up being a four hour trip to get the hose. No one close by was open to build the hose so K.O. and I made sure I had my keys to the parts store and we hit the road.

Long story short, we returned to put the hose on just about the time I had told Krl I would be home. Due to the location of the spool valve, the hose installation was a major project. I finally finished the installation and climbed down to clean my hands before I began the drive home. K.O. couldn't believe I didn't even try the system, but I knew if it didn't perform properly I could get sidetracked very easily!. As I cleaned my hands K.O. began cycling the system when we heard a loud bang. A quick visual inspection revealed gear oil pouring from the main transmission. Further looking revealed a busted PTO housing.

We poured some oil dry to contain the oil and I crawled in my pickup and headed home.

Crapola!

Actually on the drive home I came to the realization that this could be a blessing in disguise. We had been wanting to make some changes, with this happening we are forced to. Best part is it limits our options.

When I walked in the house Krl had a feast prepared! I hopped in and out of the shower, made a quick trip to the store and returned to the house. We began to visit and I told her of the misfortune with the equipment project. Her immediate reaction was how much more money was I going to throw away on this project. My response was that two weeks ago I spent ten dollars on it. Last week I spent seven dollars and change. Monday's hydraulic hose rang up to twenty-six dollars (it was a big one). While K.O. and I have put in a tremendous amount of time, we have spent little money. I am thinking that to make the changes we will be forced to make it will take one sprocket, a little steel and a few welding rods, and maybe a foot or so of roller chain.

Two weeks from Saturday, this piece of equipment is scheduled to do a show!

Yikes!

While I probably should forgo the trip to Norman to watch the Sooners and Hurricanes to work on the equipment I think not!

My work Monday (which was actually a Tuesday) involved a tremendous amount of research. First project of the day ended up being five hours of computer and catalogues. And it was the first of three major research projects. It wouldn't have been so bad if Allen, our support at the distribution center had been at work but he is taking a week of vacation. I can't blame him, but we really miss him when he's gone!

On the other hand when Allen is gone it makes us expand ourselves and be more knowledgeable.

I kidded Chris all day about the bird hunting. With all the lush pastures and filled to capacity livestock tanks and lakes, the doves just aren't moving like normal. I guess like me they have become fat and lazy. What I told Chris is that he spent sixty dollars on a license, used shot gun shells from last year and he got zero birds. I didn't spend a dime on a license or shells and got the same number of birds! He told me "You ain't right Uncle Don" so I asked him to show me my math error.

Pat and Hag went to Lubbock yesterday for a consult with his urologist. She never called me last evening so I have no idea how things went. They were going to spend the night with the Hunters in Lubbock and return home some time today.

I am beginning today by taking Krl to the doctor. We fear her doctor is having health issues again because he is only working this morning and is not scheduled to work again for another ten days. Last week he didn't work at all, even though he had been scheduled to.

Have a day!

Go 'Canes!

FATHER, please bless this day. Continue to heal our hearts. I continue to lift up Hag and Dr. Mackie for YOUR gifts of healing and care.

Well,

I got what I wished for. A weekend. Problem is, I am more tired than I was before it got here!

My "infernal" alarm clock went off just after four Saturday morning! Yikes! Try as I might I could not go back to sleep. I guess it was the eager anticipation of the day!

Good golly, what was I anticipating????

I needed to go by a safety service for a random drug screen. My appointment time was at 8 a.m..

We (Kevin and I) were scheduled to leave for Stephenville as close to eight as I could get there!

I was at the grocery store shortly after six-thirty in the morning. I needed a few supplies to refurbish my briefcase. It has been several years since I last did the public address announcing at a show and many items had been "borrowed" from my supplies! While I was there I found some things Krl had asked for and I purchased them and took them back to the house. Then it was back to the store for ice for coolers and then on to the safety service. I arrived there about twenty minutes to eight and sat outside for about fifteen minutes.

I had already stepped up my normal liquid intake because I am not one of those people who can "perform" on demand! I have to feel the need! Thankfully though, I am not one of those people who totally shut down when they see a drug collection kit!

The technician doing the paperwork for me had done drug testing collections for the family business several years ago, so he wanted to catch up on happenings. Of course his first question was about Freddy. It seems that about a week prior to Freddy's death the technician and his wife had stopped by and visited with Freddy in his office. They had been as shocked as all of us when we lost him.

Finally I took the kit and did my thing and was on the road about eight-thirty. I arrived at K.O.'s to find trucks running and pointed toward the road, but K.O. had a few things to complete before we could leave. As things turned out we hit the road about nine-fifty-five.

We were scheduled to display a couple of the pulling vehicles at a strip mall in Stephenville, which would give us time to retrieve Blacksheep and the trailer hauling the K.O.'s other competition vehicles. As it turned out, Danny (K.O.'s brother) and I rode with the President of the association to get Blacksheep. When we were there, the President asked me to go with him to get his vehicle so Danny ended up driving Blacksheep. About five o'clock I finally arrived at the arena. I have always preferred to arrive in time to do a sound check and familiarize myself with any sound accessories, then I like to walk through the parking lot and inspect vehicles and visit with competitors. Just trying to pry a little inside information!

The show began at seven-thirty-eight, only eight minutes later than the advertised time! I closed the show out at 1:06 Sunday morning! I was a whipped puppy! I finally figured out it had been four years since I had worked a show and it was definitely more work than I remembered! I have always thought my job as an announcer is to tie everything together and fill any dead time! The concession people took pretty good care of use by sending bottled water up a couple of times during the show along with some barbecue sandwiches near the end of the show. Of course I had my trusty cooler iced down with a twelve pack of Diet Coke (this little cooler has done too many shows with me for me to count!). During the show there had been a drive train component failure which caused some safety concerns, so the board (K.O. included) went into executive session just before two in the morning. All the trucks were loaded, and everyone in our group was waiting for the board to vacate K.O.'s travel trailer so we could get on the road! As it turned out we got on the road about three in the morning! I was leading in Blacksheep followed by D.O. in their pickup with the travel trailer and generator trailer in tow, K.O. in his big truck, and Landon driving Larry and Ramona (of Better Burger fame) bringing up the rear. By the time I had parked Blacksheep at their farm near Anson, loaded my things into my little pickup and driven home, I was fading fast. Krl had order pizza Saturday night so I fixed me a plate and drink and sat down in my recliner. It was 5:51 Sunday morning. Next thing I knew the clock read 7:11 Sunday morning and I had a partial plate of pizza sitting in my lap. I moved to the couch and took another snoozer until 8:18.

My realization: I'm not as young as I once was.

I haven't been worth a dime since I got home. If I sit very long I'll probably go to sleep. Of course the scary thing is I don't get today to regroup. We are working on the equipment project today. Even worse, I don't get next weekend either. We are going to Norman to watch Kirby play. I am meeting Rian Friday night in Wichita Falls and we will drive on to Norman for Saturday mornings game. Sounds like a late Friday and an early Saturday and then another drive back home Saturday afternoon and or night.

If I wasn't worn out I will be!

Kirby had a pretty good first outing this past Saturday. One TD, one pick. There were several dropped passes, one sure touchdown was dropped. Of course Sam Shields was suspended by Coach Shannon and did not play. The Hurricanes were supposed to win by seventeen, they won by twenty-eight. 31-3.

I didn't get to see the game. I only got to listen to parts of the first half on K.O.'s XM radio. The message board seemed to think Kirby did a good job the first half but said the second half reminded them of last years struggles. One source told me that they went ultra conservative the second half trying to keep the score down. Oklahoma will tell the tale of where the Hurricanes are at!

I am hoping the Hurricanes blow the Sooner sails out rather than just filling them with wind!

Go 'Canes!

Have a day!

Oh FATHER, renew and refresh me! I continue to lift up Hag for YOUR miracle of healing!