Lots has been happening, on all fronts!

It seems as though my truckers can't remember exactly how we were doing what we were doing, and of course the worst thing you can do is park one of these trucks because it brings out the gremlins in force!

The maintenance day Thursday went almost into the night shift. Not quite as brief as Frank had hoped, but maybe everything that needed attention got it!

My three close seed trucks were supposed to be here Thursday morning. One of them made it Thursday afternoon about four, one came out Friday night and the other hasn't made it yet. My South Texas trucks began showing up early Thursday. Two of them were picking up their second loads before the time I had actually expected them to pick up their first loads. The other two showed up just about as I expected.

Bale trucks are cycling, although some what erratically.

We'll hit our stride.

My crew went 50/50. Half of them stayed until their agreed time to depart for Christmas and they returned at their appointed time. That half was rewarded with eight hours pay for Christmas Day, straight time.

The half that didn't leave correctly or return correctly received no reward.

You have no idea how thrilled I was to drive out to the plant and see Julio's smiling face Thursday morning and then Delfino's on Friday morning.

Herberto had called to tell me he was going to be a half hour late Thursday night. That stretched to two and a half hours. Penalty!

Santos came to my trailer at twelve noon Thursday to tell me he was taking his mother to Sonora. I reminded him he was scheduled to go on shift at three in the afternoon. He told me, "No problema!"

He came on at six Thursday evening. Penalty!

You live by the sword, you die by the sword!

Most readers will know by now that Kirby asked for and received his release from his scholarship at the University of Miami. The situation had deteriorated to a point that is seemed all parties thought they needed a fresh start. Miami is looking a few years down the road, Kirby is looking at moving closer to home. Kirby has completed his undergraduate degree and can transfer to another school to use up his remaining year of eligibility. If he goes to a Division 1-
AA program he wouldn't have to sit out. If he goes to a BCS School he will have to have a waiver from the NCAA. He has been working with an NCAA compliance expert trying to make sure he dots all his "i's" and crosses his "T's". He will be eligible for the waiver if the Master's program he wants to pursue is not offered at Miami but is offered at the school of his choice. Currently it appears the school of choice is Baylor. Of course when Art Briles was hired at Stephenville, Coach Freeman was his first hire. I think Art and Coach may have roomed together in the weight room for a semester! So there is a tie there.

Hopefully, Art can build Kirby's confidence level back to pre-Miami. Maybe things will work and Kirby's final year will be a good one.

And last but not least. Today would mark Fred and Linda's thirty-fourth wedding anniversary. Jake and Lindsey are getting married later today in Sweetwater. Congratulations and best wishes!

My yesterday and today have been filled with road miles. I had decided to submit my resume for the GM position here and made a flying trip to Big Spring yesterday to pick up a presentation folder. As soon as I completed the ninety plus mile trip and was walking up the step to my trailer, my phone toned and the new driver on Pepa's #15 truck was between Stanton and Lamesa with a problem. I made the drive and we did a farmer fix on it. Pepa had called telling me he was on his way and I had called him back telling him I had enough bits and pieces to fix it. He kept coming even though we were back on the road and told us to wait for him at Stanton. Once we were there we adjusted to air governor to prevent the truck from building too much pressure!

When we left Stanton, I took the lead and was briskly putting the miles behind me when I heard a noise that sounded like a tire throwing the tread. Immediately I recalled that the tire shop had not put my tools back in my truck to lower the spare to the ground! I slowed, just hoping I could make it home! About seventeen miles out I heard the noise again and slowed even more. About seven miles from the plant I heard the all too familiar noise and slowed once more. By the time I arrived at the plant I was running about fifty miles an hour.

With a sigh of relief I pulled into my parking place and a quick inspection revealed my assumptions to be true. As above better luck would have it, the tire was about halfway inflated!

Yes!

This morning I was greeted with a truck driver waiting for a fuel card. The other driver had a brain fart and took the card out of the truck. I may have to begin a penalty system where if a driver takes the card out he has to pay for the other drivers fuel with a payroll deduction.

While talking with this driver he told me he had hit two deer last night and what had remained of the plastic bumper was gone. I wasn't too bent, since I have new bumpers already prepped and painted on the Sweetwater end. What troubled me was that the center section with the license plate is missing.

Once again I drove almost all the way to Big Spring before giving up. I found two sizeable pieces of bumper, but no license tag.

Oh well. Once again as better than average luck would have it, that tag runs out Monday night.

Heh! Heh! Once again, I would rather be lucky than good!

Have a day!

FATHER, keep me sane!