I'm going to try this one more time. There is a chance however that my laptop may land in the middle of the parking lot where I can access it to run over it time and time again.

Since our arrival we have had nothing but trouble. Either with our ISP or my laptop. Either way, it has not been very enjoyable.

Currently the only way I can be online is by using my neighbors wireless network to access the internet.

Part of my problem is with the factory installed McAffee anti-virus. I hate McAffee. I hate Norton. If I ever meet up with either or both I have something to share with them.

I am intending to install Symantec but I have to disable some windows firewalls before it can be done. So I am reading up on "how to".

It has been the week from hell. Employee issues. Communication issues. You name it.

We have ginned over 4000 bales. That is the good news.

The crop is better than most producers anticipated. That too is good news.

Monday morning I laid in two more "on the ground hands". For the first time this season our crew was complete.

Tuesday I went to Roscoe to pick up a stack of trailers. They weren't ready so I decided to get the grain trailer Pepa had sold some farmers out here and they had asked me to deliver.

During my trip in I received a phone call telling me immigration was at the plant, and they were interviewing one of my guys.

When I returned I only found Delfino. The rest of the guys were MIA. I had a mess at the seed box and was cleaning it when a familiar vehicle drove up. It was my missing employees. They jumped out and began jabbering at a speed I could not understand so recruited an interpreter. Long story short, they had come with their friend who was now a guest of immigration. They told me since he was gone they were leaving too. So they wanted their checks. Problem was they hadn't turned in their paperwork so I didn't even have their names. It took them a brief while but they retireved their paperwork and completed it for themselves and their friend. I came to the trailer and figured their time so Krl could write checks. A brief while later they were gone.

Delfino and I were very sad because there were just the two of us and the plant was going around the clock that night.

We formulated a plan. Delfino would get a break from seven to eight in the evening then return to run until twelve thirty. I would relieve him and run until seven in the morning. I think I got an hour an half nap before I went back on duty. I think in three days I had seven hours sleep. I was running down quickly and even worse had been fighting a cold or the flu.

Luckily, we had another prospect come by and begin training. Friday night I took a turn for the worse, so Krl, Delfino and an ex-employee, who works for the co-op now, formulate a plan for me to be off. The new guy had around the clock supervision yet it allowed me to sleep all night and also allowed Delfino the same luxury.

I must have been quite entertaining during the evening because Krl is telling tales on me. She said she was scared to go to sleep, that I was out of my mind, shaking and shivering, burning up with fever and delirious. She said I even thought I was in a different locale and I can talk on the phone without a phone! She went so far as to tell me she thought she was going to lose me. (That would be hard since we are living in this travel trailer.)

Anyway, I am much better, although I am not well by any means. I am so sore.

I don't even want to talk about how the work is going but if I had to vote on renewing my contract right now, I would vote no! I am not a happy camper.

It has led me to beleve that as fickle as the old GM was, I was blessed to have worked with him for so long.

The new man is extremely squirelly. He hs told me one thing repeatedly and then done the exact opposite with absolutely no warning.

I have my doubts if I can work with this.

My first observation is that the board did not hire a gin manager, they hired an elevator manager. He has spent some serious cash on equipment for what may be a one time milo boom.

The one thng I learne down in South Texas is that managers love having cotton gins in place to cover the losses incurred in the volatile grain markets.

I've got to get. Settlements are calling.

Have a day!

FATHER, heal us quickly!