I've got the jet lag and rigor mortis.

We returned home last evening just about 8:30. Krl and I had talked and decided not to take the houndgirls, making it necessary for us to return to Abilene.

We left the house about noon, made a couple of stops to gather information for a couple of producers at St. Lawrence, made a stop in Roscoe to get an afghan or throw (Krl was freezing in the Expedition), and arrived at the parish complex just about three in the afternoon.

The groups were divided, one group under tents guarding kegs of Coors Light, the other group gathered in the shade of the building guarding their own kegs of Bud Light. Additional groups were inside but I sat Krl's lawn chair just in the sunlight where she would stay warm. Immediately many of our friends began coming over to catch us up on what's been going on during our brief absence.

The Parish Priest had set a four o'clock mass, and many of his parishioners left for services while others remained behind. As soon as the exodus began, the "Pit Cooks" began loading the pits with slabs of ribs and freshly made "St. Lawrence sausage". Others began loading glowing red coals into the pits. Quickly the area was filled with the smell of mesquite wood burning and meat cooking.

This is a well choreographed activity because when mass turned out, the cooks were cutting ribs and sausage. Immediately long lines began to form as residents made their way through the serving area.

I don't know what it is that makes eating right off the grill so good. Several loaves of bread along with many packages of flour tortillas accompanied by mustard or ketchup were consumed.

These people have done this so long that they even have times for kegs to be brought from the cooler vault. They know their weaknesses, and to their credit, very few were drinking to excess.

About six o'clock the crowd began to move toward the old Hall. The rumor had it that Dancers from Texas A & M were going to perform. Of course this is an "Aggie environment" as the majority of the residents claim allegiance to College Station followed closely by TT. I had notice many of the group were absent, yet when I heard the rumor of the dancers, I knew that these friends had to be performing in the skit.

As the crowd moved toward the hall, Krl and I moved along the fringe and to our SUV. We made a quick trip to our travel trailer before pointing the rig East and to home.

I am sure I will make a couple of treks West this week to finalize "camp". I also have some business to do at the tax office. I will probably be on site next Friday as that is the day that my crew is supposed to begin arriving.

I think that is will be one week from tomorrow before we start the plant. I am very thankful for the extra time because there is much to do. I have to finalize insurances, finish a claim for the wrecked truck, have signage made for all the company trucks, pick up one truck from the shop and put another one in!

It doesn't sound like a whole lot, but that along with loading my final load (freezers and refrigerators) in my pickup and utility trailer will probably keep me busy! Somewhere in there I have to pick out and load clothes, and at some point I need to take K.O. and my project and put it into storage.

For the last few years I have rented storage for the company travel trailer that Krl and I use, when we are out of season. It seems that every year the "down time" is less and less. The biggest problem has been whether a space is available once we return from the jobsite. So I decided the project has probably done well enough the last two shows to deserve being out of the weather. To many chains and gearboxes to let them rust up! So during our seasonal work, the project can enjoy the rented storage areas.

My long term goal is to purchase a facility large enough to store our equipment when it is not in use, safe from the elements and from those who covet others belongings. (I thought that was a very diplomatic way of saying safe from those thieving bustards.). I hate renting because after five years we have nothing to show for the money! I'm not particular. It could be old, it could be sparkling new, it could be anywhere in between. It just needs to be big enough to get a forty foot travel trailer in along with a thirty-four footer, a thirty-two footer, a twenty-eight footer and the project, oh, and maybe a couple of trucks (if they aren't in use). Maybe I could get one of the gymnasiums from one of the closed schools in town!

I have kind of cooled in my pursuit of another pickup truck. Krl sometimes has a way of bringing me to my senses. I told her I didn't want to trade. I wanted to keep my company truck. She analyzed, O.K., you would have the one-ton crew cab, a heavy half-ton and your S-10. Kind of makes me sound like the three bears. On any given day I should have a truck that was "just right". Thing is, each one would be specialized. None would be worth much as a trade in (they are worth way more to me) as mileages are very high (my work truck rolled over 130K Friday). I could probably justify the bookends although the middle truck would be extremely hard to make an argument for.

I must confess I am not excited about this years work. Last season was too long and combined with the summer job it seems as though we have had very little down time. Understand that I am thankful for opportunities but find it more difficult to be gone from home.

Please pray for us in our struggle.

Hope your weekend is a good one!

FATHER, we are struggling so. Renew our resolve. Lift us. YOU are great!