Yesterday was the best day EVER for the big gin plant.

1249 bales in twenty-three hours of ginning. (They clean up thirty minutes for each shift). I think the individual record for a shift was 632, but never before had both shifts exceeded six hundred bales in the same day!

Needless to say, we have bales, bales and more bales sitting on the dock. Five loaded trailers, one load on the ground, and another load started on the ground at shift change. Add to this a load of motes tarped and ready, while motes are being put on the ground as well.

And the computer says three days, and I say "Thank YOU GOD!"

One of the patrons told me this morning he was going to miss me when I am gone. He is one of the early morning coffee club members, and we usually have a little conversation each morning before the serious coffee drinkers arrive.

I couldn't resist an opportunity, so I told him if I could coordinate my schedule with the outgoing GM, and Greg (the burr contractor), we would go to town and have a portrait made so they could at least continue to see us on a daily basis.

Even the out going GM thought that was funny.

On a not so funny note, I heard a rumor this morning that the board is rethinking their decision to end the season with the seed warehouse full. While it only holds a maximum of one hundred twenty-five loads, the way they have chosen to fill it, it only holds maybe one hundred loads (or will at the end of the season). I know all my South Texas boys are planning on leaving beginning Friday. So that would mean there would probably be maybe five or six trucks hauling, daylight hours only, meaning twelve loads maximum per day or nine days to completion with clean up.

I hope it is just a rumor!

Frank is campaigning for a Sunday evening end of season party. I will concede this if he will concede the "om pah" heavy bass in the polka/hispanic music. The last few years the loud music has rocked our trailer into the wee hours!

Frank had asked me to pick up some margarita supplies Tuesday when I was in town. It seems that Greg, the burr man, gave himself a Margarator for Christmas. Yesterday we set it up and did a test batch. Today we may do a different recipe.

I hate it when we have so little time to experiment!

Rian did another half day plus an hour and a half yesterday back at his job. Maybe he is getting on top of his surgery.

The Coop hired a replacement office manager Tuesday morning. Her name is Cathy and she is the wife of one of the patrons. She is a TT graduate and seems very capable of the job. She has a lot to learn before Kristy goes into labor!

I think one of the girls who worked part time during the busy time of the season is looking at taking Becky's place.

One thing about it, it someone wants to work it is a good opportunity. On the other side the crops have been so good that many of the wives no longer feel compelled to find work outside their home.

The office manager's position has only been open twice in thirty-six years. The GM position once in thirty six years.

We have begun an exit strategy. I left yesterday and went to Stanton to get some tires and an inspection sticker. I came back with everything except the inspection. They want me to adjust my parking brake.

Last summer K.O. and I replaced the brake shoes and adjusted them. While they will hold, they don't hold if you give the engine a lot of gas.

Duh, it is called a parking brake!

Continue to think and pray for us. We need all the help we can get to see this season to the end!

May you be blessed in this day!

FATHER, this has been such a trying year. We are just about empty. We thank YOU for blessing our many friends with such a bountiful harvest, we thank YOU for the tremendous work opportunity for us and our people. Now we ask YOU to see us to the end. FATHER we lift up Hank's family today four YOUR comfort and care as they lay his ashes to rest. We thank YOU for Rian's recovery and continue to ask YOUR gifts of healing for him. We thank YOU for all life's blessings, and we praise YOUR name!