To begin with, the plumbing is fine!

Yesterday was a maintenance Sunday, although a few truckers didn't get any down time. Two truckers hauled bales all day long, just catching us up. We began loading seed trucks at one in the afternoon.

I have one driver who when you tell the group it is a maintenance Sunday, no matter what other instructions you give him, he is gone, leaving all the other drivers to pull his weight. I was going to have a talk with him about this because he is also the only one who complains about his checks. He has taken more time off than all the other drivers he works with. But, the other drivers tell me leave him alone and lets just get to the end.

We are on top of 160,000 bales with approximately 20, 245 to go. It appears it will be touch and go about the 180K. The bales per module is gradually dropping. As of this morning we lack 1656 modules. The computer says 20 days to the end.

I had requisitioned a large number of filters, some brake shoes, a case of freon, and an 1" impact wrench from Chris's parts supply. In almost a week they manage to get five brake shoe halves, or enough to do two and a half brakes. When he packaged the parts he failed to send me the freon. So if things go as they did last week, I should receive my remaining parts on order just about the time we finish. I was somewhat alarmed because when I called him to inquire about the freon he told me he realized he forgot it after he had jetted, but didn't care enough to correct the order. I told him I wasn't pleased and he said that was cool, I wouldn't be the first customer to get upset with him.

That sure doesn't seem like the proper attitude to have if he wants to succeed.

With the maintenance Sunday the crews flipped so now Juan is on days and Barco is on nights. This is always something I watch because Juan's crew usually will gin more bales than Barco's.

Herberto, one of my lead forklift operators did not show at shift change this morning. He went to San Antonio yesterday morning but assured me he would be back in time for his shift. I had a heart to heart with him last time he did this and it appears it didn't work. I am trying to decide what sort of discipline I am going to administer.

My first thought is to tell him not to bother coming back, pay him a reduced incentive and send him on his way. But, Santos's visa expires on April 7th and we will lose him. If both of them are gone it would leave only one man on their shift which would necessitate moving someone from the night shift to their shift. I am also considering making him take the rest of the week off. Lots of time unless it affects their pocket book, they don't care. The first option would cost him about four or five hundred dollars, the last option would cost him a little over five hundred dollars.

It is difficult to be a boss or a parent. In this particular case I feel like both. This employee is only 19.

Enough of that.

Krl and I made a quick trip in to Midland yesterday about mid-afternoon. Made a stop at Ajuua's Mexican Restaurant and then HEB. When we do leave out here we are going to miss HEB's expanded produce section! It will spoil you!

May your day and week be blessed!

FATHER, without YOU, I would be nothing and capable of doing nothing. YOU are my all in all!