Another yikes! I can't believe my eyes are already open.

Congratulations are in order for Stacey and Paula on the arrival of their baby girl!

I've criss-crossed the city of Abilene so many times this week it is not funny. But........, I think I am getting a handle on things. It is amazing how in this time of endless technology, some things have managed to slow down.

I can remember when a business opened in Abilene a few years back and in their name is the word "fast". Then, that meant in a couple of hours or before close of business day. Now, that means sometime in the next week.

Yesterday, Alberto brought the third truck to the shop, and was supposed to return home in the second truck. It happened that they forgot to write down part of the work order. Luckily, Alberto checked it all out before he left, and caught the repair shop miscue. We had a thrash but got it all figured out. His wife had dialysis, so in a round robin way, we got him where he was supposed to be when he was supposed to be there.

I have not vocalized plans for my day until this moment, but I am going to try to make a mad dash for St. Lawrence today. What makes it very hard is that this will be the fifth trip this year, moving out there (at about $85 per trip) and we have not turned a tap, and it appears we won't for another week. Employees are supposed to begin arriving today, at least two of them are. We can hope. I realize these guys have given up other jobs to come to the seasonal jobsite. For one employee, this will mark ten years for our affiliation. For the other it will only be two years. If I can get these two guys in place, I will rest a little easier. Both of these are trained forklift operators, and the senior employee has trained several more for me. The other positions can be filled with warm bodies having way less talent or skill.

I will begin "payroll" when either of these guys get her. I won't give them excess hours, but I will guarantee them forty hours. They know, that when the plant begins rockin' and rollin', eighty-four hours+ will become the norm. These guys may not be rocket scientist, but when it comes to figuring pay and overtime Warren Buffet has nothing on them.

I wrote a letter to a friend the day before yesterday. It will be interesting to see if he responds. This friend went through a rough split up and lost his way for a period of time and is currently incarcerated. I still have faith this friend can be reclaimed. Krl asked me why I was writing him and I just told her I felt I needed to. I told her I would hire him in a minute if he was to be paroled.

If the "no news is good news" adage is correct, I am pleasantly surprised my nemesis has not made another move, no matter how bad or wrong it might be. I'm sitting back watching, thinking that if I give him enough line I can file a harassment lawsuit, and then make his termination part of the settlement. Right now I have a good grip on my fishing pole and I'm dancing the bait right in front of his eyes.

If things go well, I plan on going to the pre-game at Wylie this afternoon. I haven't seen "Coach" since July and this is probably the only opportunity I will have until maybe Christmas or after. This is as close as the lions will play all fall.

We live in such different worlds.

I picked up the "required" signage for the company trucks yesterday. Now I will have to clean the trucks (meaning wash and wax) before installing them. I can remember a day when all the signage was "freehand" paint or stencils with spray paint. I don't think graphics was even a word back then. To this end, it has been a marked improvement.

I am interested in one of those "wraps" like you see on city buses and many commercial vehicles. That would be so trick for the project. I am afraid however, that the cost would be astronomical. I know of some friends that checked on a wrap for their hauler and it was like six grand! That wouldn't be bad if it was part of a sponsor package and the sponsor was paying it, but to bear the cost yourself is just crazy.

My biggest fear would be, what if I don't like it.

Krl and I have almost reclaimed our home from the files and papers that have stretched throughout. Bad news is the dumpster is already full and they don't run again until Monday.

I hate paper and paperwork. The only good paperwork, takes place in the bathroom!

Sorry to have kept you this long and not said anything.

My bad.

Have a day!

FATHER, a little help here. (Or I would take a lot of help). I pray that YOU would heal our hearts and bodies. That YOU would make us whole. I lift up Stacey and Paula and their new baby girl and ask YOUR blessing on them, that the baby would grow in YOUR ways and in YOUR favor. I ask for safe travel. I pray that I will make wise decisions. I ask safety for my seasonal employees as they travel to the jobsite. Sing glory, glory, hallelujah!