I am going to try my yesterday post one more time. When I told it to publish, there was a google error and all was lost. This will be reyped from my feeble mind.

Let the record reflect my guess for this years plant production is, (Drum roll please) 64,000 bales. Don't ask me why. I have no rhyme or reason. I have talked with many producers who tell me the '08 crop is better than the '06 crop. We did 56,000 in '06.

The GM and the Plant Superintendent both guessed in the patron guess box and in a freak occurence, their guesses are only a few bales apart. I don't know who cheated off of who! (Just kidding). They were both in the 51,000 range.

The average guess by the patrons is 47,800. In the past this has usually been conservative.

One sure fire way to know is to wait until we are through.

Yesterday morning the GM proclaimed he belived we were half way through. The daily total board showed 25,294 bales. He went farther and said he believed we would be done just prior to Christmas.

I told Krl I much prefer finishing the week after Christmas than a few days before. We would return home to no tree and no decorations.

In fact if memory serves me correctly, Trc "borrowed" our tree last year.

I visited with Rian yesterday and he told me we had another opportunity. If it is something that moves you to contribute, you can contact him directly or myself, or you can even contact me through this blog.

Friday was very cool and crisp in Lubbock, and as Rian was leaving school he noticed one of his young students walking with no coat. Rian asked him if he would like a ride. The boy climbed in Rian's truck and they began talking.

Rian asked, "Where's your coat?"

"I don't have one", came the reply.

The boy continued telling Rian his family was doing much better, that they had recently moved from a small motel room into a small home rental unit. The boy further explained that they were now trying to get enough money to have the gas turned on.

This is a single parent family, and Rian is researching it, but knows there is a sister also attending Dunbar.

Rian inquired as to how they cooked.

"We eat a lot of TV dinners", came the reply.

"Do you get enough to eat?" Rian asked.

"Sometimes I go to bed hungry", the boy explained.

Rian paused, and then told the boy, "Our church is having a Community Thanksgiving meal Sunday night after church, do you think you might like to go to it?"

"Sure", the boy said before asking, "Is this one of those meals where it is all you can eat?"

"Yes", Rian said.

And a deal was struck.

Rian told me he had been given a turkey earlier that day at school and he started to give it this family until he thought about how they would cook it.

I told Rian with all the food he is preparing for us, as well as other catering customers, it wouldn't be a stretch for him to cook the bird for this family.

I put Krl and Rian in contact. He is going to do more research to be sure that help would be accepted, so I will let you know.

I do know that this young man will have a new winter jacket in just a day or two.

Over the years, we have been blessed to participate in student challenges, and other opportunities to help Rian's students, (like when one's family's home burned).

I have not gone to bed hungry, but I have been closer to being destitute than I have ever admitted before. At one point it was a blessing that all the kids were gone, and we had only to worry about providing for ourselves.

I will admit today that I cheered for the Red Raiders in my blog that did not publish. I will also admit that I was sorely disappointed in their game with the Sooners. I do know the stadium environment is very hostile in Norman. But elite teams overcome, week in and week out.

I think the loss is a wake up call that Tech is close, but not quite there. I am also afraid that Graham's perfomance (or lack there of) did not help his Heisman hopes.

Hope your weekend is going good.

FATHER, thank YOU for allowing us opportunities to help others. May our hearts be happy in sharing, may it please you. Pass it on.