Is it real or is it memorex?

I watched the majority of last nights Presidential debate. Yawn!

I think they should just put on the gloves and let 'er rip!

I don't understand. Town hall meeting. O.K.. Selected members from the audience asked to participate. O.K.. BUT, why pre-screen the questions, both in house and by e-mail, and let both candidates see them prior to the bright lights being turned on?

Last nights debate came off for me as a very carefully staged production. Sure, Obama and McCain traded barbs and did the required accusatory finger pointing, but neither rocked me.

It seemed as though McCain wanted to come across as your dear old grandfather. Soft spoken and seemingly caring.

Obama came across as being a very eloquent speaker and was honest enough to not try to tell us that he and McCain are middle class Americans. (You can imagine my shock to recently learn that I am not a middle class American, I am poverty level. But hey I'm happy, I just didn't know any better!).

Both seemed to be trying not to lose what they have in the current poles. (I hate polls by the way).

I suppose the most aggravating thing last evening was McCain repeatedly beginning his foray multiple times with the phrase, "My friend......".

What I want both of these gentlemen to know is, I am not your friend, even if I vote for you. I am one of your bosses. And don't forget it!

I think back to Charlie Stenholms initial run for Congress. "I'm asking for a two year contract", he proclaimed.

I cannot imagine wanting a job in the political arena. I just can't fathom it. What drives these people. Who would voluntarily put themselves and their family under the giant microscope of the media, where learning experiences are never forgotten.

Don't get me wrong. I am thankful that someone wants to run for office. But I am more thankful that our forefathers had the foresight to design our system of government with checks and balances.

'nuff said.

I'm running a little tight this month on my budget. I think I will call Washington tomorrow and see of they are interested in bailing me out.

What are the odds. I don't need 700 billion, not even a million. Hey, I would be satisfied with just a few hundred.

I had wondered a few weeks back about the federal governments decision to let Lehman Brothers go into bankruptcy. As congressional hearings progress, I am appalled and furious that while they (meaning Lehman) were seeking help, they were paying executives millions of dollars in severance.

I hope those in Washington that have access to this big stack of money are smarter than I am. Can you imagine the choices they have to make? I heard they have hired someone to help them analyze and turn this thing around. I don't know if it is a consultant or what, but they are going to pay him a million dollars a month! ?????? Huh? Wouldn't it just be cheaper to buy his magic wand?

This morning the internet reports the Nikkei was down 10%, Moscow has suspended their trading until Friday, Iceland (the country) is poised to become the first country to file bankruptcy! I wonder, if we had had technology in 1929, what would the news headlines have said? Trillions of dollars have been lost, by individuals, by retirement groups, by companies.

I think back to what a wise man told me. Don't ever gamble with money that you can't afford to lose.

I am afraid we not only have the curse of the disease (Wall Street tumbling and being reformed and reshaped), I am afraid we also have the curse of the cure (meaning bailout) as well. Did we pull the plug in our own boat?

Row like hell!

Krl and I spent the entire day working in the office. Ugh! We have purged and packed away a ton of files, and we have about a half ton to go. This has needed to be done. I am just thankful we had opportunity. We have found a couple of things we had been searching for.

One was my forklift maintenance notebook. This notebook goes back fourteen years. It tells the story of every forklift I have used, filter and fluid requirements, and a bevy of repairs that have been made! It tells the story in repairman terms. At some point I am going to have to figure out how to keep the protective covers on the front and back. The spirals have about worn out the cardboard.

The other thing I was glad to locate was the company's 2008 payroll tax deposit requirements. I have been arguing with Rita in Ogden about why I didn't file a Schedule B with the first quarter 2008 941. This piece of paper should be the knockout punch I needed. I had told her what it said, now she can "read it and weep!"

Krl put together a huge file of correspondence from my nemesis. We have kept everything, from proof of delivery slips to envelopes, to letters and responses. Best part is my nemesis, in his very own letters, has given me proof that he is wrong. So, "Let's get ready to RUMBLE!"

I even found a letter telling me if I had questions or problems who and where to call. Yes sir-eee! Now I need to call, give them my nemesis's name, ID#, and office location. Two can play this game!

I had modeled my day, not knowing what K.O.'s schedule was. I had stayed close to the house, run minimal errands, figuring he would call me and tell me what time he wanted to leave for Stephenville. Finally about three something, I called him. He told me, "I was going to call you when I got on the road!" Hey, don't invite me if you don't want me to go. It's not like I have any more hours in my day than you do.

It really didn't bother me that much. I don't have a dog in the fight that was happening last night. I was just going as an unbiased observer, just to keep K.O. company and awake. However, I might have done something different with my day if I had known of the change in plans.

I had one of my driver prospects call me last evening about eight telling me he was a half hour out of Abilene. He was wanting an address to go do a pre-employment drug screen. I told him it was a little late to be setting up to do the test. I'm wondering if he was feeling lucky or what?

I had one driver who had been calling me wanting to go back to work for me. I had lost him to tickets last year (meaning insurance cancelled him), and it seemed every time I turned around he was calling wanting to go to work. Just yesterday, I got the O.K. from the new insurance company that they would cover this man. I called and left a message for him, and when he called he hem hawed and said he had changed jobs and was in road construction. He decided he didn't want to drive this fall. Thanks for the call. I told him when it gets cold and he is freezing his butt off, don't call me.

And finally, I had a call from the other contractor at the seasonal work. He has been out there a week, just hiding out. (I've done this too). He reported that they got rain Sunday and it would keep producers out of the field most of the week, meaning they will not spray as scheduled. He says he thinks it will be another week after this one before we need to be on site, and he was leaving to go home this morning. Now if I can get the blessing of the GM I will go with the flow.

On the plus side, that does mean I can do the announcing at Boyd on the 18th. What miffs me is that we had the project rented out to do this show and gave the show to one of our competitors. That's like having a hole in my pocket! But, we make the best calls we can with the information we have available at a given time. Oh well, give me my briefcase and show me the mic!

And, I will stop my rant there for today!

Have a day!

FATHER, thank YOU for the gift of finding lost items. Thank YOU for the gift of finding ourselves and YOUR purpose for us. Thank YOU for Jesus! My hope is built on nothing less.