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!