My Monday lived up to it's billing.

It wasn't a very productive day. It seemed that everything we needed was not available, that anything we picked up was wrong, and try as we might, I don't know that we completed one single thing.

I ended up leaving for Abilene just before four, stopped to return some "wrong parts" and then raced to a supply house in Abilene. I arrived just before five and set my defective parts on the counter. They had all but one item, but I needed seven of that one item. (It was a left hand thread lug bolt for a big trucks trailer.). Luckily their competitor across the street had them!

I had today mapped out until I got a phone call from Pepa last evening. We had picked up a tractor he has had in the shop for the last year. Seriously, it has been in three Quality Implement shops and BE in Lamesa. I swear every time the tractor comes back it is worse off than when it went. It began as transmission and hydraulic problems, he spent 23k on it there. Then he spent another 6k to fix what really needed to be fixed, got the tractor home and ran it for a day and had a problem with the motor. He told them to put a new engine it. 18K. When my driver went to load it, the muffler was loose, and it was leaking antifreeze and hydraulic oil. When they backed it off the trailer in Roscoe, it had no hydraulics. So they sent a mechanic down here yesterday to fix it and last night he gave up. His boss said the tractor has to come back to their shop. Apparently they are getting metal in valves, so either they had bad parts, or they didn't clean everything good when they were re-assembling it, or they used the old oil.

And that is where my today already got messed up! It is going to be hard to recover from that.

I should probably just go back to bed.

Hope your day has more promise!

FATHER, rescue this day!

Let the record show. I own no silver and blue jersey, nothing with a star on it.

And I am thankful for that.

How 'bout them cowgirls! I think Jerry Jones should change the team colors to pink and dress 'em in frilly lace!

I don't watch sports very much, but usually this time of the year is a good time to buck that trend. Lots of important games with playoff implications, lots of college bowl games. Thirty-seven years ago I spent the week from Christmas Day to New Years in the hospital. An excellent week to be confined to bed.

I grew up a Cowboy fan. I can remember being at different stock shows and Fred and I taking turns, one tending to our animals, the other listening to the radio. Then we would trade off. I suffered with the 'boys when they were growing up, I was loyal to Tom and Clint. Dandy Don, Bob, Jethro, Walt, Leroy, Chuck, Charlie, Mel, Roger, and the rest of the boys were bonuses. When JJ bought the boys, it broke my heart to see the way he discarded tradition.

I thought he might have just wanted to put his mark on the team, and with Jimmy on the sideline, and Troy leading the charge on the field, he almost had me returning to the fold. Then the aftermath of the Superbowl, and I was done.

I realize that sports franchises have become big business. But right is right and wrong is wrong. You have to have ethics. The 'boys have sold their souls for instant success. And they have come up short. What happened to when the 'boys were symbolic of all that was good? Instead they have become a haven for players in trouble, needing to be reclaimed, a battle of egos.

Over the years I have developed a dislike for the professional sports. I hate so see someone making mega bucks put forth a pathetic effort.

So from my view point all I can do is borrow and modify a line from Bruce Willis in Diehard. "Yippee ki yea ........... Jerry Jones".

Can you believe I am already awake?

We have had a fitful weekend at our house. Krl has thought we might have a bug. We are quizzy, the pups have felt poorly, and Krl took two spills Saturday night.

I was in the home office and heard a big clatter, I rushed from the room to see what was the matter! I rounded the corner and what should I see?

O.K., I got caught up in the remnants of the season.

I heard a noise and when I investigated I found her tangled up with the Oreck vacuum cleaner. She had been to bed, gone to sleep and then woke wanting a piece of pumpkin pie. She doesn't really remember what happened, just that she woke up on the floor. I helped her up and she went down again. Must be a problem with altitude.

Today she is complaining that her tail bone hurts. That would be about par. She is sporting a bruise.

I haven't asked her in almost two months about doing her monthly bone density treatment. I know she really dislikes it, but if we are going to continue this kamikaze routine, either we are going to have to do it or buy protective armour.

I am really getting frustrated about her and her health. It seems if it is a good choice and it would benefit her, she doesn't want to do it.

I got a report yesterday that the hooligans were well on their way home! In fact they were approaching the halfway mark. Rian said on Saturday #2 was begging to go to Holtie's house. He told him one more night in the motel and they would all go to Holtie's house. #2 told him, you go to the motel, I'll go to Holtie's house.

I know this trip has been difficult for the kids. They have been pent up, unable to run and play like usual. They have toys they can't play with.

I knew we should have bought them ruby slippers!

I am not ready for tomorrow. I don't want to do anything. I am still burned our, bummed out, tired and worn out. I have two drivers coming in to do "maintenance" on trailers. I have two trailers and one truck that need registration renewed, which will entail another trip to the seasonal jobsite. But I have three days to do that.

Krl and I have been doing a little research, and while we knew this year was short, it appears to be much shorter on the books than we had first thought. Lots of out go. Currently I am dickering with our insurance agent trying to make some changes that they say I can't make. I bet if I don't pay them they won't continue the coverages I am wanting to change. Talk about trying to hem you up! I have never heard such.

My plan tomorrow is to work in Pepa's barn. In fact the next three trailers scheduled in the shop are his. Late in the day I plan on sending a truck to Abilene to pick up a trailer we dropped off last week, I had told them there was no rush, but Christmas Eve they called me and told me the trailer repairs were made and they were putting an inspection sticker on it.

I am hoping to get the driver off early enough to stop by Garbo's to get a key made for his truck. I would love to have an extra for my master key chain, but they are pricey. $45 per key. I asked Gretta if there was a break for the second key and she told me no. I can't remember for sure but I think she told me the machine cost either $8k or $12k. These are weird keys, the only key I have seen like them or Saab's and Volkswagen, and it takes a special machine to make them. I guess I shouldn't complain, to buy one from Volvo takes an act of congress and permission from all parties to any treaties. Actually it requires proof of ownership, meaning the title, permission (if you are not the owner), the truck and the key must be present, and they will send the key to their factory and hold the truck until it comes back. Huh? They told me it could take a week and would cost a couple of hundred dollars. Of course if you lose a week worth of revenue, that key gets really expensive.

By the way, I am not kidding about the locksmith. It is Garbo's, and her name is Gretta. That just isn't her last name. All the locksmiths that work there are female.

Maybe I am beginning to get cabin fever. I need to go somewhere and do something. Unlike Hooligan #2, and lucky for me I guess, it doesn't bother me to be gone from home for extended periods. I guess it is the nature of the beast of my vocation, and mentally I know I like $$ and one sacrifice I have to make for them is to be away from the house. It is hard to do what I do from the confines of home or the surrounding area. I guess I am beginning to feel the need of accomplishing something. I figure I have this coming week to do what I need to catch up on and get trucks where they need to be and then Pat and I will talk about the parts store.

While I am thankful for the parts store work, and the benefits it brings, I am also well aware of it's limitations. Probably more aware than most. I know when I am there it is a different atmosphere, and I am not a co-workers favorite. There is nothing they like more than for me to be gone on one of my excursions. Of course I have to add in the fact that being with Chris is like counseling on the go. I like to think I challenge him to be and do better.

Well, I may see if I can get a nap in before morning. Tomorrow is going to be one of those days that isn't much fun. The two drivers will be expecting payroll checks and yet they have turned nothing in for me to generate checks. I guess I will have to take my laptop, printer, and Schedule E with me. I can probably get by with using my phone for a calculator. Lovely, simply lovely.

Have a day!

FATHER, I need a lot of help here. I'm beginning to spazz. Peace, perfect peace.

Wow. I may survive. I am still stiff and sore, but I think I will survive!

We did very little yesterday. I got out of the house one time to go to the storage facility and to the grocery store, but that was it. Oh, throw in a stop at the Southern Hill Post Office on my way too.

I figured as a precaution, I should put an electric heater in the big company travel trailer. I would hate to have to plumb! While I was there I went ahead and winterized the drains as well. I stopped in at Albertson's and picked up a few items before returning home.

When I got home, I had decided we would eat brisket for supper. Rian had cooked (although he said he wasn't) some briskets for a friend to take to Mexico to Greenlawn's missionaries. Rian said he just could not turn the gentleman down. So, when Rian told me he was cooking, I told him if he had room or needed one more to fill the pit, put my name on it! He did and we did and we do.

Krl and I continue to talk about 2008 Christmas night at our home. Some really funny stories. The oldest grand daughter (Lrn 20) took the middle grand son to the bathroom. He needed to do little business. She tried to sit him down but he revolted, telling her he wanted to stand on the toilet seat! She obliged, and shortly thereafter he was hosing down the tank, the seat, and the wall! When they returned from the bathroom Lrn was very frustrated and told her tale. #2's Dad told her, you have to aim. She responded that she kept picking him up and tilted him this way or that to try to make him more accurate. #2's Dad got more specific, no you have to aim IT!

Before it was all said and done, Lrn conceded that she knew nothing about little boys peeing. It was all very funny.

One other story was a call #1's Mom got from the school teacher. Does Reid know the word of china? Huh? And their conversation went on and on. As it turns out #1's Dad left his school early to pick Reid up from school, when he arrived he asked about the word of china. The teacher was very confused. They finally figured it out, and #1's Dad turned very red and was embarrassed. It seems the teachers inquiry wasn't about "the word of china".

The word was vagina.

And #1's Mom and Dad agreed, #1 doesn't know that word, and it isn't used in normal conversation around their home.

One thing about it, they are gathering fodder for the baby books!

Three days left in '08. I can't believe it, can you? It has been a blur!

I have began thinking about '09. What is in store for all of us? I wish I had a crystal ball. What is the economy going to do? Is it a bear market or a bull market (or is there really any difference?).

Hey, enjoy and reflect in these last few days of '08 and think about '09 with great anticipation of good things happening in your life!

Have a day!

FATHER, thank YOU for all the blessing of this year. And we thank YOU for all the blessings the New Year will bring. YOU are good!

I had a call this morning. It was Rian, at the motel in San Angelo. It seems that he, Erica and the hooligans had gone to the lobby to have their complimentary breakfast. As they were completing their meal, the boys began getting up and wandering. Rian said hooligan #2 was by the door one minute and the next thing they heard was the sound of tearing wrapping paper!

The unwrapping fiend had struck again! The victim came from under the tree in the lobby. The culprit didn't even bother opening the box, he was satisfied with just undressing it!

Come to think of it, this might explain more than is on the surface. This child also has a tremendous dislike for clothes! Hhhhmmmm.

Yesterday, when I was watching the hooligans and their Dad while their Mom packed their room, I observed #2 hooligan talking on the phone. (His parents had disconnected the phones).

"Mr. Policeman, would you come get Reid?", he would ask. It seems they have play phones at home that have "emergency" services. It was comical listening because whoever was out of #2's good graces, was placed on the radar of Mr. Policeman.

When hooligan #2's Dad was reporting this mornings happenings to their Dandy, I asked, "Do I need to call Mr. Policeman?"

Dad gave the phone to #2, telling him Mr. Policeman was on the line.

"Mr. Policeman, can you come get my brother Drew?", he asked.

"No", I replied, "But I can come get you! I had a call reporting someone had opened gifts that were not his! Was that you?"

I was treated to a very high shrill, "Noooo!".

It is amazing how innocent he became! Get out the cuffs, give me the rubber hose. I'll deal with this one! I'm going to sentence him to thirty minutes hard play and he is going to have to wear clothes!

During my baby sitting duties yesterday, Reid took a break to go to the bathroom. He was needing to play little entrepreneur! When he emerged later, he had on his underwear, was putting on his jeans, and carrying his shirt! I asked his Daddy where Reid got that he had to be totally unclothed to sit on the throne! These kids come by some things honest! Lucky for the hooligan's Daddy, he has his very on private bathroom off his office! It might be embarrassing if he had to share the bathroom with the general population of the school!

I don't know that I have laughed this much in recent years!

I am fearful that the hooligans are going to be worn totally out by the time they get back to their home in Lubbock. Yesterday afternoon they moved their camp from Abilene to Angelo where they will stay until Sunday when they return home. They are having Christmas at Rian's mother's this afternoon or tonight! Originally they had planned to return home tonight! I am sure their trip home will probably include a quick stop over in Roscoe.

I have so much stuff to do between now and the end of the year! Finding stuff could be an all day sucker itself! Our office is stacked! Fresh from the travel trailer. A stack here, a stack there, and already I am getting un-employment claims. And we are only a few days beyond the conclusion of the seasonal work. Wow! these guys have to fill out their paperwork prior to completion of the work to file so quickly!

I am so sore. My back, knees, hips. They are killing me. I have been on a steady regiment of Tylenol, Advil, Aleeve and Percogesic! It has been three days since I have had enough hot water to soak in a really hot tub! But today is the day I correct all that! I don't care if I have to build a fire in the middle of the bathroom floor and heat water in a tub!

Yesterday I carried the chunky hooligan from the indoor mall playground, outside toward the car. I finally traded Rian and carried the diaper bag the rest of the way! I think that the parents should sit the grand children in the laps of the grand parents, while said grand parents are sitting in their chairs.

I get tickled every time I hear Holt tell someone what Reid got for Christmas. "Santa brought my brother a baby gun!" (Meaning a B B gun). He says it with a near reverence.

Well, I had thought we might ought to trade these hooligans for new grand sons, but upon more reflection, I would hate to have to go through the training again that we have already gone through. So, as much as it pains me, I guess we will keep what we got. I've just got to keep Mr. Policeman's number close by!

Hope your 2008 Christmas memories are good!

FATHER, thank YOU for laughter!

Oh what a day!

Christmas 2008 was a busy day. We began by making the drive to Roscoe early to help Memama with lunch.

Due to our busy day we had requested a noon meal! Thing is, that is a little bit rushed. Memama had originally scheduled lunch for one to two. Our problem was, there were sixteen people coming to our house Christmas evening, beginning at 6, they would be expecting a meal and festivities!

So, while Meme had been preparing meal pieces, we had to put them all together. We had turkey breasts to cook (two and a half hours) and casseroles and Meme's dressing!

We arrived at Roscoe shortly after our target time, and Krl and I began helping. I was working on a sweet potato casserole, while Krl was working on a pie. Memama's dressing was cooking, and the turkeys and hams were in the ovens at Jake and Jason's. Ollie bailed on us very quickly (as she did most of Christmas Even and Christmas Day), but slowly a steady stream of help came through the door. Pat and Memama had worked until late the night before, peeling potatoes and making other preparations.

While we missed our meal target time by about forty minutes, we pulled off the meal and the white elephant gift exchange before we headed east for our own festivities. By then we had made up all but four minutes. It was four minutes after three.

When Krl and I walked through the door, we began working, turning on ovens, pulling supplies from refrigerators, and developing a game plan. We put Ollie to work cleaning and polishing Reid's x-mas from us. Finally we seemed to have the upper hand on our meal. We had both ovens occupied, one crock pot and a broaster roaster all working at once. I'll bet the electric company was thrilled to watch our meter whirl!

The house began filling with the aroma of the meal as it also began filling with our guests for the evening.

Our final guests arrived after seven in the evening. They came bringing food and gifts, so we tried to overlook their tardiness (This group comes from a long line of tardy). The house was soon filled with laughter and spirited visiting!

It is really so ironic that Trc has three girls ranging from 9 to 20, while Rian has three boys ranging from 1 to 5! You might think that wouldn't be a good combination but the boys loved playing with the girls, and the girls were very good with them. The entire evening was filled with hoots and hollers and lots of fun!

Our final event was the exchange of gifts. Meme and Dandy gave all of the bigger kids cash or gift cards, while ages 9 and under enjoyed opening a vast array of gifts! I had one stack of gifts for the hooligans, so if Reid or Holt were idle, it wasn't for long. (It was like one size fits all). Of course all the gifts looked like they had been in a fight before the unveiling took place. The middle hooligan is a gift opening fiend, and he was constantly in trouble prior to permission being granted!

Overall, the night was a great success. Almost worth all the work to pull it off!

This morning, Rian called wanting specific instructions to La Popular Bakery for burritos. He asked for my order and then told me to bring him a Dr. Pepper and a bottle of water and he would have me a burrito to my specifications.

I drove to their motel and went into the dining area for their continental breakfast. There Rian, Reid and Holt waited for me. As soon as I walked in Holt told me, "I don't like you!" I told him, "That's O.K., I won't like you!" And the scrum was on! We ate and went to their room where I watched the boys and their Dad while Erica packed! Hey it is a dirty job but someone has to do it! We left the motel looking for somewhere for the boys to burn off some energy. We went to a jump jungle but it was closed until tomorrow, so we settled for the mall and their playground. Rian told me, "Watch this, in a few minutes we will be the only ones here. These boys are the bullies of the playground!" When the boy's mother began talking rules and the boys knew them by heart, I knew this could get ugly! No kicking, no scratching, no biting, no pushing, no tripping!
Sure enough, it was full throttle! Luckily when we left, there was no blood and no stitches. Lucky for the others! I didn't know whether to be glad or appalled!

I felt like I had survived Roller Derby. In fact I began to try to get the boys to taunt the other boys with, "My Daddy can whip your Daddy!" You know, maybe we could get some side bet action going. I figured we could include their Mother later.

It was an experience! Seeing these hooligans you would never know their grandfather is a lover not a fighter!

Really it was a fun day. Even though that one Mother did whip the hooligans Daddy! (Just kidding).

I am so glad it is a year until Christmas. My feet ache, my back aches, come to think of it, I hurt all over!

Hope your Christmas was half the fun ours was!

FATHER, thank YOU! For JESUS, for it all!

What would Walt think?

I often catch myself, watching some recent movie release (not that recent, we don't go to the theatre) and catch myself wondering, what would Walt Disney think. Of the process, of the subject matter, of society.

Growing up, if it was a movie we were going to see, you could bet it was a Disney production. Good, clean, wholesome entertainment. This was a guideline for my Mother as well as for George Parks, the director of the Boys club in Roscoe. Of course you never had to wonder about a show that George took you to, usually while he dropped a group off at one theatre, he would be going to another to "scout" out the next film to be sure it met requirements.

I think back to my childhood and realize that all of us young men growing up in Roscoe were lucky enough to have three parents. Our Moms and Dads, and George.

It has been interesting for me to watch many new releases of old Christmas movies. I don't think they are any better, but technology has come so far.

Well, I am wondering what the pulse will be like at the hooligan headquarters in Lubbock. Last evening began their Christmas endurance event. Tonight will see them having their tree at home, and of course during the night, Ol' Santa will come. IF THEY HAVE BEEN GOOD!

Rian told me the two biggest hooligans have been moving a magnet, everyday, to see how far Christmas is away. Well boys, it is upon us!

And a quick word if I may. As a courtesy to all the players, I have been awake since three and have not made one phone call, but just for good measure, "Christmas Eve gift!" You can contact me on where to send "said" gift!

Krl's Mom use to do this and should have been in her own league. It isn't fair to let professionals play with amateurs. When Krl and I would shop, we would go ahead and buy a box of chocolate covered cherries for Nanny because we knew she would beat us with the call.

My Dad, Pepa, also played this game earlier in his life. I hear tell that his Mother, Gonnie, was a Christmas Eve gift player too. In recent years, Pepa has begun making these calls again.

Rian has caught on to this tradition.

I am sure I will hear the word "foul", but what is technology for?

Krl and I went out briefly yesterday afternoon. We made a couple of stops, bought nothing, before going to the grocery store. I am sure we forgot something, but we have enough to feed a small army. Of course if the small army eats everything, they will be susceptible to attack during naps.

Krl began cooking "pieces" last evening. She boiled chicken, boiled squash, boiled eggs, and cooked cornbread. I got the job of slicing all the squash. I guess I have been replaced or demoted, Trc is cooking the ham this year. I'm not complaining, just call me when it is ready!

I am fixing to go in the kitchen and begin preparing pieces for rotelle dip. I will cube the cheese and brown and drain sausage, before bagging them for use tomorrow. I will probably go ahead and cook the little smokies in my secret recipe concoction before bagging them and storing them until we get ready to wrap them in crescent rolls tomorrow. We were doing this long before they ever were put on the shelf in the store. In fact we were doing little smokies and cheddar before they began making a cheddar little smokie.

I guess we were ahead of our time.

We are having a weird combination of traditional Christmas Dinner and finger foods that have become our own tradition. (Use to everyone was tired of turkey and ham with all the trimmings
by the time they got to our house, some would have already made tow or three Christmases).

Krl and I will go to Roscoe Christmas morning and hopefully help Memama expedite her lunch. (I hope we are helpful). We have agreed to a 12 noon meal. Then we will do the tree/white elephant, before we race home to prepare Christmas dinner for our immediate family. We have had the foresight not to put a time on the evening festivities.

And, in the biggest news of our neighborhood, the big travel trailer is gone. Between one and two yesterday, the truck came and took it to storage. I don't know how many times I went in and out of that thing yesterday. My back is telling me too many. No items are thrown in the yard, although the home office may be locked and off limits during Christmas.

Of course the RV move to storage couldn't go without some excitement. I rented another storage stall or slip. They had no more with electrical hookups, so I took one without. The "project", has enjoyed residing in the RV space since we left for the seasonal jobsite, but I decided to move the "project" to the new stall and put the Rv where I could plug it in. I had a driver returning a rental trailer to North of Abilene, so I met him at the storage facility. I started the project to hook it to the big truck, then we moved it to the new location. I went inside, taking my flashlight to make sure the driver could see my signals. As he began backing I stopped him once and had him move over, then I went to the back of the stall and when he was nearing the wall I began flashing my light and waving a white towel. Much to my dismay, he continued to back until he had hit the rear wall and sheared some concrete nails that secure the bottom retainer to which the metal siding is connected. When he finally stopped, I walked to his truck, opened the door, and asked him if he was satisfied or if he wanted to back completely through the wall. "Did I hit it?", he asked. "Much more that that!", I replied. He pulled forward and we assessed the damage. The project was not hurt, and the damage wasn't too major on the rear wall. Problem was, we didn't have everything we needed to fix it. So, we did the best we could for the time being. While we were making the makeshift repairs, the driver began making excuses.

"I hate backing from the sunlight into a dark building", he said.

"Haven't you seen all these trucks that have GOAL (Get Out And Look) signs", I asked.

"You know, I don't see real good anyhow", he said.

I replied, "You don't see real well, not real good, but either way I wasn't aware of that, if it is true, and apparently it is, you have no business driving anything, especially a big truck. It doesn't help when you are wearing your too cool shades, and even more so if you have your head in your fruit of the looms!"

Conversation was limited from that point on.

I told him we would go into the office to tell the site manager of his miscue, but when I went in, he failed to follow, he drove on past and turned West.

You don't even know how tempted I was to tell her, "I saw it all. It was a big truck with a little guy driving it, with too cool shades on, and he just assaulted the rear wall of your building and he fled the scene going west!"

Whoever said confession is good for the soul has never confessed to this site manager.

Krl and I are going to do our shopping today. I almost went on strike because Abuello's is not open on Christmas Eve. I guess we will have to go to Chili's or El Chico's. Trc has been a big help, she has done lots of leg work for Krl and I. The majority of our shopping will be gift cards, but the little hooligans (they may can fool Santa, but they can never fool their Dandy) need something to open. Some shopping will be easier than others. We are pooling resources for some gifts, and thought about giving cash, but decided to give a gift card to make it site specific and dedicated to a particular thing.

I spoke with my older sister night before last. She is in Indiana where she will celebrate Christmas. At Memama and Pepa's, Fred's family will be in attendance I expect, Pat and her crew will be there full force, "Ex" Coach and his family intend to be there provided Colby has a good holiday (meaning no emergencies), Krl and I with our abbreviated family will be there also. On a somber note, but understandably, TJ's family is going home to Sinton for Christmas.

I realize the need for moving on and beginning new traditions. So with that, I will wish ET, Steph, Shelb, Robyn, Wee, and Rilo a Merry Christmas. Hey, we are going to miss you guys! Know that we love you!

This year we will see Chloe and Dakota celebrate their first Christmas.

And I pause and reflect, and wonder what other changes we will see, as I visit Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Future.

Fred and TJ we love and miss you! Merry Christmas!

Have a day!

FATHER, fill us with the spirit of the season!

Will the madness ever stop?

I went back to the seasonal jobsite yesterday. The GM asked me if I was rested? I told him I was going to have to return just to rest up! It seems like all I have done is run here and there. I fueled my pickup just after mid-day yesterday and I had been 372 miles already. Yesterday afternoon I lived in that truck.

I am getting very frustrated with employees. I have two who want to remain on year round. One says he can dispatch himself and make money for him and the truck. I am willing to try this to see. The other driver wants to stay right where he is. Last year he worked with us and left, buying his own truck. I knew the truck he was buying and tried to talk him out of it, telling him I was afraid he was buying someone else's trouble. As it turned out, I was prophetic. Now he tells me he is content to stay where he is, even if it gets slow.

What is frustrating me is, they talk a good show. When we finished the seasonal work the one driver told me he was going to call his contact and begin flatbedding. The following day he called me telling me they were closing from the December 16th to January 5th. Now he wanted to bat the ball back in my court. What are we going to do? I can't go without working.

I devised a plan to keep both these men working. They wouldn't be making huge bucks like during the seasonal work, but it would be good money. After I gave them the plan, they began modifying it. Finally I threw up my hands in frustration and called two more drivers in. Then the original drivers complained at how the part timers were stealing their money! Hey, the money is there and someone is going to get it when the do the job when I say to do it. One driver who could have worked everyday last week, worked only three. Yesterday neither showed up before nine, with one arriving closer to ten.

I gave them a list of things to do. I had the broken down into expedite, today and tomorrow. They have hunted and picked through that list so much it looks like swiss cheese. I even had the driver who came in close to ten tell me he needed off early to go cash his check.

Today one can't work. The other only wants to work part of the day. So, good Lord willing, by mid-afternoon, we will be done until after the jolly fatman's visit!

Much to their dismay, we are shutting down until after Christmas. It is more work for me to keep them working than it is for them!

I have made a a private promise to myself on my neighbors behalf that by nightfall, the big travel trailer will be gone. That is the bogey on my screen. Krl just wanted to die off. I will have all the office moved out, all the bed linens removed, everything from the entertainment center. I give you my word, it will all be out of the trailer when it leaves.

It may be sitting in the front yard, but it will be out of the trailer.

No progress yesterday on the Christmas shopping. If you are on our list and your name begins with a letter between A and Z in the alphabet, your gift could be in jeopardy. You have been advised.

I am in hopes Krl and I can do the gift shopping like the old show, "Name that Tune!", and contestants would say, "I can name that tune in ten notes", and so on and so forth and the note bidding would come down until the one contestant would challenge the other, "Name that tune!"

I can do all our Christmas shopping in four hours! That will be my opening bid. When Krl counters, I will challenge her to "Buy those gifts!" Meanwhile, back at the house I will be sitting beside the roaring fire, roasting marshmallows and drinking hot chocolate!

You know I won't do that. I will suffer through every step until we have finished.

That line above is what I tell my buddy K.O., he is still at his seasonal jobsite (albeit six miles from his home), but everytime we talk he tells me what he is doing and I respond with the fire and marshmallow and hot chocolate line!

I'm sorry, but I can't write his response here because this is a family blog!

It was an interesting night last night. I dreamed a lot. (O.K., I was un-medicated). I dreamed of Tj, and Fred, Felipe, Leonard, and even a patron from the jobsite Duane H. I have no idea what this dream meant, it involved a crewcab module truck, a really big cotton crop for Pepa on a place that hasn't had cotton in three years, and even Don H. and Moe were in it with the old John Blue Module builder. Of course Fred's old white suburban had to play a part in an underground labyrinth at his house.

Not just weird. Extremely weird! I may need counseling!

Well, I am going to go. I think I will jumpstart my day by soaking in the tub and reading for a while! Have a day!

Two days and counting!

LORD help us all.

I am desperately trying to find my Christmas Spirit!

I must admit, I am soooo enjoying being home! I am sleeping like a rock (or like someone hit me over the head with one), and it is very refreshing to get up and find our Christmas tree lighted and adorned with festive decorations. Krl is getting in the mood. I can tell. She has a collection of Santas, and yesterday they began appearing all over the house.

Krl and I have been dedication about one or two hours a day to removing and moving things out of the company travel trailer and into the house. Yesterday we did kitchen knives, refrigerator and freezer, along with a few things that we just "needed". Today we will probably move a little office. Files, tub file, notebooks, insurances. You know, a lot of the garbage you are required to have on hand! I need to get my charger for my laptop, along with all of my connecting gear.

Yet, probably the one thing I am missing most in my office is the television. I don't necessarily watch it, but I need the noise. (I will admit that I do retreat once in a while to watch something other that what Krl has on.).

My goal is to have the travel trailer emptied and moved by Monday night. Yikes!

Ollie called yesterday evening, telling us that her car was great! Everything works! She said her last couple of cars the heater didn't work. (That is news to me). She was also complaining that their in store traffic had dropped tremendously! She knows why though. Why come in if what you buy can't be delivered for ten days!

She finds herself in a dilema. The assistant manager failed to include her sales numbers when they were submitted a week ago today. While she was expecting a check with near four numbers to the left of the decimal, when it arrived it had only two. Her manager and assistant manager say there is nothing they can do. I beg to differ.

They had told her they would have her check Fed Exed in Friday but it never arrived. I think someone screwed up and doesn't want to draw any attention to it or themselves, that they will probably just submit the numbers in addition to this past weeks, and Ollie will get a BIG check. Problem is it is right here at Christmas. I told Ollie to get a number and name on who to call in Denver. Now the manager and assistant manager are wanting to loan her a hundred dollar each to tide her over! Yeah, right!

We are well on our way to completing Christmas shopping. We have purchased two gifts! I say that tongue in cheek. We did the two purchases from the confines of our home. Krl and I aren't spazzing though. We have done this before. We will spend a morning looking, probably buying nothing, go to lunch at Abuello's, drink a pitcher of margaritas and do the shopping blitzkrieg!

What size is that? 14. What size do we need? 4. That's only 1 off!

I say that in jest! Most of our recipients are the kind that take whatever you give them back. So it doesn't really matter what you give them, it isn't going to be right anyhow! Thank the store guru who invented gift cards! Easy to buy, one size fits all, and wrapping is a breeze!

Krl and I aren't going to exchange gifts this year. We seldom do, Christmas or birthdays. Last time we did, I made a major purchase I was very pleased with (no it wasn't from Victoria's Secret) and she returned it for a smaller, cheaper version and took the residual money and bought other things. So now we just cut to the chase. Take your money and go buy what you want!

Yesterday, having checked the weather forecast, I made a call to Pepa to see if he had hooked the water hose to the one RV stored at his house when Frances (the cleaning lady) cleaned all of them. We didn't use the one I was inquiring about at the jobsite this year. If the water had not been hooked up, it would still be winterized. If water had been hooked to it, the tank and water heater would have to be drained.

Guess what? I drove a hundred miles to spend ten minutes pulling the plug from the storage tank, removing the plug from the water heater, and pouring alcohol down all the drains. (The alcohol forces any water to flow through and the alcohol will evaporate quickly leaving nothing to freeze and burst the drain traps). I didn't even go in to Memama's and Pepa's house. I just drove up, did the job and left!

Well, I have been wanting breakfast. I may just go in there and see what needs cooking! Bacon, eggs, biscuits and a little jelly would hit the spot. (Actually I have been wanting to go to Denny's, IHOP, or the Dixie Pig, although I would almost die for hueves rancheros from La Popular!).

At some point today, I have to get back in jobsite mode. I have one last bill, one last round of settlements to do. My thumb drive is lying on my laptop, my notebook with all the little extra things drivers hauled is beside it. One last go 'round before the quarterly and year end fun begin! I will make the drive back to the jobsite tomorrow to deliver the final bill, wait for the check and then on my way back do the banking. I am hopeful, but not expectant of a quick trip.

Well, I hear Phoo Doo barking. That is the signal that the four females are up!

Stay warm! Have a day!

Oh FATHER, I am having a hard time getting the right mindset. Right me!

We have landed on our feet, running!

I really dislike finishing the seasonal work so close to Christmas. It seems there just aren't enough hours in the day, and even more pressing, enough days between now and when the jolly fatman comes.

Of course it does not help to have extra errands. But we will do what we can.

We have not had Christmas at our house in six years. The last time was when we learned of Reid being on the way. 2004 saw us move Christmas to February 12, 2005 and Trc hosted it at her house. That was the one we started at the bowling alley, took in a girl's city league basketball game, had the tree, went shopping, had a style show, went to Abuello's and ended it with the first (and only) Texas Hold 'em family poker tournament. 2005, we moved Christmas to June and celebrated it in Cozumel, Mexico. This was just a small gathering of us and Trc's family. 2006 we returned to Trc's home for a scaled down Christmas. Krl and I had completed the seasonal work and returned to Abilene December 18. Rian's family did not come in, and his sisters blew in just long enough to collect the loot! 2007 did not see our kids get together. Krl and I drove in Christmas Day from the compound to spend the day at Memama and Pepas. None of our kids made the drive. Ironically, by us driving in, it made ALL the kids have the shortest drives possible.

This year we are having Christmas at our home, and with the exception of Makai and her live in, everyone is welcome to come, but we aren't going to beg. Makai has been exiled until she remembers where she left her brain and hopefully it will take a charge.

I am thinking it has been two years since I have seen the oldest grand-daughter. Of course she has been busy with work and school, and she probably has passed closer than a mile from our home hundreds of times. She has her own agenda. To old and too busy to check on her Meme. Put her at the end of the list. We'll see what we have left.

The second oldest grand-daughter I have seen once in the past year. She too is becoming self absorbed. Got her driver's license and is looking for places to go. Meme's just isn't one of them. What a change from the child of a few years ago. I'll toss that one back in the hat for later.

Kathryn keeps the best tabs on her Meme of anyone. She loves to come over and stay with Meme and help out and cook. Problem is she doesn't always have transportation to get here. (But that is a problem when you are nine years old). I'm going to put her first on my list!

Addison is probably the need-iest of all the grand-children. She needs lot of things, but first of all she needs a Mother and Dad. It is difficult to know what to buy for her because you always fear her Mom will return it for store credit or cash and spend it on herself. Addie is a gorgeous little girl that needs to be taken care of and loved, not used as access to aid. She needs to build self confidence. I am so fearful that her Mom is teaching her all that is wrong. A few weeks ago Meme called Addie to talk and she was very ugly and rude. Maybe with appropriate penance we can get her something for Christmas.

The three hooligans from Lubbock do good just to talk to Meme and Dandy, but they are getting better. Any more when Reid does call Dandy's phone he wants to talk to his Meme. Holt is a REAL talker. He is one of those three year olds (almost four) that has developed some sort of hybrid language. It is very fast and Dandy can just pickup a word every once and a while. Drew is happiest when he can see his Mom and food is available.

At Lubbock yesterday they had a major crisis. At school Reid had wrapped a large box with a poem on the outside that said something like this: This is for my Mom and Dad. They love me and take care of me. Feed me and clothe me. This box is filled with My Love. You cannot see it, but you know that it is there.

It is intended to never be opened and year after year to be placed under the tree. I think it is neat and I wish I had the actual poem. Problem was Holt opened Reid's box of love! It seems that nothing deters Holt from opening at least a gift a day. Rian says you can bust his butt and the next time you aren't watching the tree, Holt will get another gift.

Needless to say, when Reid called his Dad he was heart broken. He was sobbing and could hardly breathe. "Holt opened my box of love and now I don't have any more love", he would sob.

His Dad told him that his Aunt would help him find a bigger box and wrap it. After a while he finally agreed. I suppose it was some satisfaction to see Holt in the timeout chair waiting for Mom to paddle him with the wooden spoon!

The last frontier! Ollie is twenty-six years old. Divorced. But, (thankfully) working. A former rookie of the year in Lubbock Real Estate who poofed it all away and made a lot of really poor choices. She has had a very hard time keeping a job more that two or three months (if we are lucky). Her latest hurdle has been transportation. Her car was totalled (Her step Dad tells me it was number 5, only to be followed by his truck she was driving later being number 6). Miraculously, only the last one was her fault (she hit a deer and then a pole).

Currently she has the best opportunity since her Real Estate career. (You can't believe how many careers this girl has had. In careers, she is an old woman). The problem was no wheels.
Krl and I discussed it and decided to help her out, or at least try to level the playing field where she has a hope of succeeding. We decided to try to find her a car. Nothing flashy, just dependable transportation. I had been looking at American Classifieds, and had told Rian to keep his eye out. He called me back quickly saying his boss had a Toyota Camry for sale. We made a deal and told the man we didn't need the car for two or three weeks. Actually I was trying to figure out the logistics of delivering the car. In the mean time Ollie was supposed to be lining up her insurance.

I have explained to her that at twenty-six, she should be getting her bearings. Of course I am sure it is confusing when her twenty-eight year old idiot sister has just moved back in with their mother, "live in" and daughter in tow. But, I told Ollie this is our last attempt. From here it is up to her. We are doing this as a business transaction. There is a lien holder on the car, and this lien holder is ready and willing to come and get it. All the appropriate insurance coverages are in place.

Yesterday, Rian drove from Lubbock pulling a car carrier trailer with said car loaded. I met him in Roscoe and we made the drive to Angelo. Just as we pulled into town, I told him to find a station and we would fill both vehicles up. Shortly we arrived at Ollie's workplace and unloaded the car. We gave her all the extra parts and pieces the previous owner had boxed, including all the maintenance records from way back. We did a few small things like put the new windshield registration sticker on, and Rian tightened a faring bolt before Ollie arrived and drove the car to employee parking.

Rian and I loaded up and began the trek back to Roscoe. He had made a dinner date with Memama on Wednesday and I had confirmed it for him on Thursday. You can imagine his disappointment when he called them and they had just returned from Abilene where they had eaten supper. "Come on by, I'll put a baked potato in the oven for you, I've got a doggie bag", she told him. I'm not stupid and I could tell that he has his taste buds set for chicken fried steak! He wanted me to call Krl and see if it was all right to eat before I drove home. From there it was a discussion of where to eat. Big Boys or Ma Allen's buffet. Ma won out. I ate my money's worth of potato salad, squash, and fried chicken. Rian was not a value buy from the restaurant view point. Before we were through I ordered an order of chicken to go with a pint each of squash, potato salad, and peach cobbler. If Krl was awake when I got home she was in for a surprise!

She wasn't.

It was a very enjoyable time with Rian. We discussed lots of things. Some we agreed on, others we agreed to disagree on. He is growing up. We talked about their housing situation, the lot they have bought, what he would like to have, and what is realistic. We talked of job aspirations, of not over loading the boat, how sometimes less money is better than more, if the job is right. You can certainly tell he plays a lot of political games being an administrator. It was a good day overall!

Hope your day today is a good one!

By the way if you see that fat man in the red suit, I would pay to "delay" him about a week!

FATHER thanks I needed that. Forgive me when my faith wavers. Thank YOU for showing me results and the potential for future results.

It has been a busy few days.

Sunday Krl and I made the trek to town to eat. The choice of restaurants was hers, even though we did discuss it. We would toss names out as options and either confirm or reject them. The criteria was simple! If we had one of these restaurants in Abilene, it was not in consideration.

That limited the number of establishments. On the Border, Ajuas, Woofers and Tweeters, The Cattle Baron, and Copper Kettle, just to mention a few. I knew when the Cattle Baron was tossed into play Krl's decision was made. I also knew that I would be embarrassed by this incredibly small woman consuming several times her weight in crab legs!

We arrived shortly after two in the afternoon, and found "the Baron" was winding down from their Sunday lunch run. Excellent timing! We were seated and I scoured the menu just to be sure that our "usual fares" were still available and that no other entrees leapt off the page. It was a quick and simple process before menus were discarded. When our waiter arrived, I began ordering for both of us when he cut me off after I said Alaskan King Crab legs on rice pilaf. I couldn't believe my ears. They were out of what Krl desired most. The ONLY reason this establishment was selected. I asked Krl if she wanted to go on down the list of finalists. The waiter could not believe we would even consider leaving! Obviously he doesn't know us very well.

With a very poor choice, we decided to stay. Krl ordered a seafood sampler, me a peppered steak. When Krl's seafood sampler arrived I was shocked. Everything on it was fried. That was bad. My next question to her was, "Is that catfish on your SEAFOOD platter?" In a shocker, it was!

She picked through her plate, confessing to me the only reason we stayed was for the salad bar! By the time we were leaving, Krl was already getting sick. Too much grease!

Krl told me to point the SUV toward the compound, that the Christmas gifts for all our co-workers would have to wait!

Monday morning saw a plan coming together. I would deliver the weekly billing sheet to the office manager and as soon as she wrote our cheque, Krl, myself and the houndgirls would depart for Abilene. We would carry a load of clothes and other sundry items, spend the night, leave the houndgirls and return to the compound Tuesday morning before lunch (The patron Christmas party was at lunch. The GM was cooking Cajun grub (he actually graduated from a Cajun cooking school in New Orleans) and he had asked Krl and I to do fruit salad for desert!).

The plan was derailed because the office manager, as she has done all year, failed to get checks written in a timely manner. Three o'clock in the afternoon to be specific. So, Krl scrapped the plans to drive in which meant an additional trip because I was going to follow Krl with one truck and trailer to Sweetwater and then I would drive Krl and the hounds the rest of the way home.

My biggest gripe was that I gave the bills to the office manager at two minutes after eight in the morning. She is a nice enough person but I get the feeling she is in "over" her head.

I spent part of my Tuesday morning watching the preparation of part of the noon meal. I had set the fruit cocktail outside the building the previous night to chill (fridge space was in short supply), so I was loose until near noon when Krl and I would mix it up! The GM has an enclosed trailer they were cooking in. If my count was correct they had five burners going. A few of the patrons who "cook" at various functions were on hand to assist and observe.

The GM and his wife had done the cutting and bagging the previous day at their home. Bags of onion, peppers, broccoli, shrimp, mushrooms, and olives laid on the tables ready for their exposure to the large wok as shrimp stir fry was their fate! Secret seasoning was waiting on the table as well. On other burners, pots were heating water to boil jumbo shrimp and sausage while across the way a large grill was being loaded with glowing red coals for grilling shrimp with jalapenos and bacon. Inside the meeting room, beans and rice were cooking toward perfection alongside some chicken dishes for those who couldn't eat shellfish!

The aroma was enough to drive any fat boy wild!

The patrons turned out in good numbers for the meal, and it was a big success! I was beginning to wonder if I had requisitioned enough supplies for my fruit salad, but as I was contemplating using the final gallon of fruit cocktail the serving line dwindled down. The remaining fruit salad was consumed by those who had cooked and served the meal. The left overs were bagged and many found their way home with the many volunteers who assisted.

After the meal, Krl and the houndgirls left the compound headed for Abilene. I waved as they drove away, but I was very jealous.

I had one more obligation for Wednesday night. We were feeding the crews of the compound. Fifteen racks of ribs, 110 1" rib-eyes, Val's loaded red potatoes, several bags of tossed salad along with bread, and of course what all the crew had stayed around for, two water troughs filled with beer and ice. Fourteen thirty packs of Bud Light and six cases of Dos Equis. Of course this didn't count the numerous other coolers of the cooks. Needless to say, alcohol abounded. It wasn't long until the crew brought out tequila and began challenging anyone within range to tequila shots! Of course the primary targets are all the bosses and supervisors, so we were very scarce. Luckily I only had one tequila shot with Fifus, one of the long time employees, before I retreated to the confines of the meeting room to eat.

When I ventured outside again, the crews were passing half gallons of gin and whiskey around. I watched briefly as I made my way to my travel trailer. Four hours of this was enough, and I knew that the loud Mexican music would serenade me into the night. (This is the reason Krl wanted to leave early).

Now the season was over. My last obligation filled.

I had a truck coming to get my big travel trailer at ten Thursday morning. I woke at one-thirty in the morning and began storing items so I could move the slide-outs in for the ride to Abilene.

We left the compound at ten-thirty and by two-thirty the big Rv was pulled across the front of the house in Abilene. We scurried about, levelling and securing, before the driver pulled out with the big truck. They have a bunch of restrictions concerning big trucks in our part of town so we try to get in and out as quickly and quietly as possible.

As soon as the truck was gone, I backed my pickup into the driveway. I was loaded down. One freezer (complete with contents), on small refrigerator (complete with contents), one barbecue grill, our bright yellow mailbox, three propane bottles, one cooler, three tool boxes, one truck tire, lawn chairs, AND a lot of other junk!

We transferred the freezer contents into the freezer in our garage before I grabbed the freezer and lifted it out of the pickup and to the ground. I knew I had this one day to get all of this heavy lifting done because my back would be mad for days! By four-thirty my truck was unloaded and I was ready to soak in a hot bath tub!

By eight I was ready for bed!

Kathryn had come over to see her Meme and Dandy while Trc ran some errands. Trc was picking up supper from Fazzoli's, but my eyes were to heavy to wait.

This morning I woke about five, laid in bed, just soaking it all in. The pups were snoozing, content with their selected spots on top of the electric blanket, Prissy slept, happy to have reclaimed her bed on Krl's side of the bed, and I could hear Krl's steady breathing telling me she was asleep.

It is a great feeling to know that everything is right in your world. And I would agree, "There's no place like home!"

FATHER, thank YOU for all the blessings we enjoy. For the work, for the safety of all the workers and all the miles traveled, for seeing it through. Thank YOU for homecomings! I pray this holiday season will be one to remember! Thank YOU for baby JESUS and the hope and promise we have in him!

The silence is deafening.

About one forty-five this morning, Bertha finished her swan song.

Yes, the fat lady has sung!

The big plant went silent. For an additional hour the crew re-packaged some "soldiers" as Frank, the superintendent, calls them. I call them "suspects" or "survivors". These are bales that were inside the system when they had a fire. Some are marked with burn marks, others are unscathed. They are set aside to see if there is fire inside that will eventually find its way to the outside.

If you remember, last year we had a fire load towards the end of the season and the load and the trailer were lost. The crews have stepped up precautions if they think there is any chance of a fire bale.

I gave all of our crews off until Monday morning at eight. Then we will begin making ready for the big exodus, which will take place either Tuesday or Wednesday. or maybe both. It appears we have 11 loads of equipment, product, travel trailers, supply trailer, service trailer, and even one rogue truck that no longer has a driver on it!

Monday we will move the product loads, leaving the loads needing to go "home" at eight. I guess I need to find a place to store them to avoid Pepa having a bad day and complaining about them being around his home or the barn.

Hopefully, not all of it will be sitting still. At least not for long.

I hope to keep three or four of these rigs running until we go South for the harvest. Of course it is going to have to rain down there for them to plant to have a harvest.

I have bittersweet feelings about being done. I am anxious to go home. I look forward to the house and a bath tub with endless hot water! I look forward to being able to sprawl out across the office as we do year end reports.

I am in hopes that we will take our big trailer home, get it unloaded and only have a brief while before we send it to have new paint, carpet, drapes and shades installed. I just need to be sure it is winterized as the "project" currently occupies its slot at the secure yard.

Krl took a phone call the other day from a company wanting to help secure a government grant to help expand the company. They have sent us a lot of stuff for her to look over, but it appears that with the company being owned by a woman, and that woman having Native American hertitage, the possibilities are much better for approval.

We will have to see.

I think Krl and I are going to go to Midland today. I hear a Margarita calling my name! Use to we would load up and meet six or eight of the permanent people at the plant (spouses included) and have a season's end meal and fellowship. This year I don't really feel sociable. Krl is all the company I want right now.

This will mark only the second time WE have eaten in town this season.

One quick note, Drew is celebrating 1 year old today. Happy Birthday Drew! Actually it was yesterday but they are having his party today. I always figure out special way to remember different birthdays. Reid and Drew both are on the 13th, one in August one in December. Holt and his Mother share the 12th of January, while Rian shares August with Reid but celebrates on the 23rd.

Have a good day and week!

FATHER, thank YOU. For seeing us to the end, for the safety of all the workers and drivers. Thank YOU for beginnings and endings. We ask YOUR continued blessings as we make the move home and to new opportunities. To YOU be the glory!

I am excited!

It is Friday, and by two this afternoon, ALL the settlements were on Krl's desk! Hourly checks were written, bale driver and seed driver loads were spread and settlements finished!

I have even loaded a third of the tax deposit in my spreadsheet!

I have no idea what I will find to do with the rest of my weekend!

As most of you know, my favorite thing about winter is the food. Soups, stews, chilis! I love them all.

With the cool weather that came through, I was in the mood for stew. Krl got out her big crock pot and began putting together a masterpiece. It is really funny because she was so worried that it wasn't going to "come together". All her fretting was for naught as it was probably one of her best creations ever! We have eaten on it for two days and I am still not tired of it!

Next up, taco soup! I can't wait for the next cold spell!

We are rapidly working ourselves out of a job here at the jobsite. They are telling me Sunday or Monday and it will all be a memory.

I have finally begun to get excited about going home.

I already know we will go through our "culture shock" and eat out for several days. That is the nature of the beast after we return. I want it all! Of course we have Famous Dave's to add to our list along with Abuello's, Red Lobster, El Chicos, Larry's Better Burger, Arby's, Lytle Land & Cattle Company, Sonic, La Popular Bakery, spinach rolls from Joe's, on to IHOP, and Denny's and we will have pretty well covered it all, once we call Pizza Pro.

Of course, it won't take too long until we realize that the best food is at 5249 Meadowick Lane!

It is the convenience that suckers us!

So maybe by Christmas we will be clicking our ruby slippers together and saying, "There's no place like home!"

Since we are going to be home, we are finallizing our plans. We will spend part of the day at Memama and Pepa's. Of course this has always has been difficult with our seasonal work the past fifteen years, but had we known Fred and TJ were going to leave us early, we would have made a greater effort! We will always regret that, BUT, onward and upward!

We have about three or four thousand bales to attend to before we get that sparkle in our eyes!

Then it is EASTBOUND and down!


Oh FATHER, temper us. Keep us on task. Thank YOU for this opportunity. Thank YOU for safe work, see us through to the end! YOU strengthen me!

This week has followed the lead of the rest of this season. Busy.

I had two drivers who missed their scheduled return times just after the start of Monday. I had let one go home mid-afternoon Saturday due to the scheduled maintenance Sunday and the fact that his family had a relative die. I had told him to keep me posted so we could plan. He had told me he would would be back in the wee hours of Monday (it was pay day and he knew checks would be on the dock) and he would let me know when he needed off for the funeral.

Turns out, they decided not to go.

When I went to the bale dock Monday morning I had every trailer loaded and two full loads on the ground and another one being built on the ground.

My milo truck driver had gone home for an appointment so I decided to get in his truck and haul.

By the time the second tardy driver arrived, we had already moved six loads of bales. That was shortly after noon.

When I returned from my second bale load, I was asked if I would haul a load of milo to Miles. They had sold ten loads that had to be loaded on rail cars before the train bumped the cars at six-thirty.

I made it in plenty of time and I got back to the compound a tick before eight.

I sure could tell I am out of road warrior shape.

Tuesday morning was spent running parts in Midland and Odessa. My milo driver had come back and there was no load for him. I figured I could get some parts and let him install them. Hey, I would probably be paying someone anyway.

Late yesterday after the cold front blew through, this man told me, if he could get his check he would go home. We had a brief "come to Jesus" meeting and I told him that could be arranged. I went on to tell him how many loads he had declined by going home or staying in Lubbock with friends. It came to a lot more than him sitting for a day. The big difference was he didn't make the decison for yesterday. And he didn't want to be here anyway.

He gave me his paperwork and in a short time Krl had cut is check. I had to look him up to give it to him. He was in the back drinking and carousing with some other drivers.

When I was in Odessa I heard an advertisement on the radio station I was listening to. It said, "Redefine Christmas. Give to a charity in the name of someone you love!"

I like that.

Another interesting thing was a sign I saw. I had followed a big rig for a number of miles, so I had time to study a graphic they had placed on the back. It read:
Driven by Faith. Prosperous by Grace.

How true.

Have a day!

FATHER, thank YOU!

It is very dis-heartening when you try to help someone and they don't try to help themselves.

We have had opportunities recently to help five individuals. Of course going in we knew the odds were not good.
One was a single mother of eight, another was a homeless man displaced and stranded. One was a family, which has no transportation, which limits what work the parents can get. The fourth is a young man who we gave a job, even though his record did not support our decision. The final one was a family member who we agreed to help for one final time.

Surprisingly, the first three have responded beyond our wildest expectations, while the remaining two have made us question the human race.

I am very dis-illushioned.

One quality I put a lot of stock in is honesty. My grandfather use to tell me if a man will lie, he will steal.

So many quotes dart about in my mind. "A man's word is his bond", being one that stands out!

I guess it is my upbringing, but I can deal with just about anything as long as it it the truth. Lies and deception are one quick way to lose any faith I might have had.

I really need to get away from that for a while.

In breaking news Friday, Coach resigned effective at the end of this semester, as head football coach and athletic director.

For some reason I knew this was coming. I had voiced my thoughts to Krl and to Pat. In fact I had been watching the Brownwood newspaper.

Over the last few weeks I had called Coach just to check on him and visit, and although I called him very early I never got through to him.

Oh well. My opinion wouldn't have swayed him one way or the other although his announcement might have been much more colorful!

At the compound, we are racing toward completion. Probably a week from tomorrow. The only variable is "How many stragglers do we have?" For the most part, these farmers are very diligent about harvesting their crops. However there are a few that usually begin about the time everyone else is getting through.

That could be a disaster.

Today is a maintenance Sunday. The absence of noise is beautiful.

I have brought in a relief driver to clean up the bale load awaiting shipment.

My regulars will get a little R & R.

Krl and I are thinking we might go to town today. We have not gone to town on any previous maintenance Sunday this season. I am having Abuello's with-drawal. I find myself thinking about Los Mejores Especialle.

Of course Krl has a say in where we go too.

Rian reported to me that the boys trip on the "Polar Express" was really neat!
Actually I should back up. Drew's tip wasn't so good, he didn't get to go. I know, I told Rian he will probably need counseling. Reid and Holt's trip sounded wonderful! Rian said it was unbelievable. The train, the depot, Santa, and the dancing elves! Rian said when they pulled into the station Reid gasped and said, "It's him. It's Santa!", as Santa exited the depot.

When they asked Holt who that was, he responded, "Merry Christmas". I think it is so cute that he calls Santa, Merry Christmas.

Rian said the worst part of the trip was it went so far past bed times!

Rmember the reason for the season.

Without a birth, there could be no death, no resurrection.

We have much to rejoice about!

Merry Christmas!

FATHER, thank YOU for YOUR grand plan!

Hello readers. This is D. Lee reporting to you live from ................... . . . . Abilene, Texas!

Civilization! Yes!

After a very busy day, we left the compound shortly after five in the evening. We arrived home just a tick before nine last night. Enjoying one of "city life's" perks, we ordered out to be delivered! Wow!

Bobbie, the lady who cleans our house and waters plants and looks after things while we are gone, had come by and turned the thermostat up and given the house a quick run over.

I have to say, "There's no place like home!"

I posted before about what it is like to return from extended period in the travel trailer, but I still don't think I have gotten the point across. It seems so huge!

Immediately after we walked in, Krl put her glasses down. Shortly, she was searching for "said glasses". I told her that one of the benefits of living in "tight" quarters is, it is harder to lose something!

The houndgirls have run and run, and played and played. All of them had to go out and check "their yard" multiple times last night.

My yesterday had been filled. I began the day with hooking up to my service trailer. I wanted to get the bale clamp that blew the cylinder to the shop in Midland. Of course nothing is simple, when I got to the other end of the plant my night operators had parked one forklift right against the faulty clamp. When I tried to start it, it didn't even turn on a light. At first I thought there was a battery/alternator issue, but after investigating I found they had backed under a trailer and collapsed the backup/brake lights, turn signal bulbs, where there was a dead short. For some reason, most manufacturers of forklifts, put these backup lights on the ignition circuit. I gave Arturo a pair of pliers and told him to remove all the broken light bulbs and I began looking at fuses. Sure enough, the ignition fuse was burned in to. I made a quick dash to the farm store and bought a new box of fuses, returned and installed one, and the forklift roared to life. In retrospect, I now believe the night operators had to push the forklift with the problem to where it was at.

I hate it when someone tries to cover up their miscue.

In a mistake on my part, I did not listen to Arturo completely. He had told me the forklift would not start because it was out of diesel. I thought he meant that was the reason he was not running it, and that the mobile storage tank we fill from was empty. So immediately after I had the bale clamp loaded and Arturo's machine running, I dropped my service trailer and hooked to the fuel tank. I thought I could feel fuel sloshing as I drove the half mile to the fuel facility, but decided to fill it, just to be safe! Sure enough it only held eighty-five gallons.

When I took time to think about all that had transpired, I knew that Arturo was telling me the reason the forklift wouldn't start was because it was out of fuel. I don't know what it is about his association with something not starting and fuel. I am sure if he would think about it he would realize it had no electrical power.

When I was in Midland, I went to the forklift shop, Target, Home Depot, Petsmart, Lowes, Albertsons, a filter supply, and Tractor Supply. It was an intense trip.

When I returned to the compound, Krl was packing for our sleepover at home. I unloaded and reloaded and arranged, and fueled and took all sorts of precautions, giving Delfino all the tools he might need to be the acting "Patron" while I was gone! I think it is a real ego booster for him when I put him in control. He does me a really good job!

Things are really beginning to slow down at the compound. What I mean is, fewer farmers are tagging cotton in to be hauled and processed, and yesterday when I left, there had not been one load of milo in-bound.

The GM made the declaration yesterday that he believed we would be through with the cotton by December 16! That is two weeks. He also said he thinks we will be just under fifty thousand bales. That news is bitter sweet. Being home for Christmas would only be the second time in the last several years, but that would be good. Bad part is, $$$$ are tied directly to the total number of bales produced. Much like the farmers, we have good years and bad years.

Well, the doorbell chimed and the window installation people are on the job! They told me they would have no problem making all the installs today. And that is good because that is all we budgeted for them!

It is so odd, I have internet that responds, I have a keyboard that I can type on. It has been so frustrating working with our ISP on the jobsite this year. They told us it was a modem problem so we bought a new DSL modem from them, while it is better than before is still has hiccups! For whatever reason, this year my laptop's flat keyboard has bothered me more than ever before. In fact, I have even thought about hooking up a conventional keyboard, but haven't . . . . . yet!

Well, I am going to see my barber today. I may even splurge and get a haircut and a shave! I have always wanted to do that, today may be the day! My barber shop is one of the few old timey ones that still uses the hot lather and straight razor. None of that weed eater on your neck and over your ears! Of course the crim de la crim is when they stretch those springs from the vibrator over their hand and give your shoulders and neck a brief massage!

I have parts cores that have to go back to the distributor, and I have lots of other stops I would love to make. We'll just have to see if time allows.

Krl and I are discussing when we are going back. She is thinking today sometime, I am thinking in the morning.

Surprisingly, this is the first time I have been away from the jobsite overnight during the season in probably ten or twelve years (for more than a quick jaunt to town for supplies or a direct jobsite to Abilene turnaround). The burr contractor does it all the time. I have found in the past that it is much harder to return than it is to stay.

Maybe I am expanding myself to allow more responsibility on my key people.

Well, it is getting noisy here. I can hear hammers and saws (so far no breaking glass). Brandy and Phoodoo think they need to protect their home. They are the biggest chickens. They both wanted with me, but since they got in the office with me they have been growling and barking at the noises!

Rian called this morning and wanted to know what it felt like to sleep in our own bed! Wonderful!

He said he is trying to map out the rest of his week where he can be in Abilene this weekend and go to a rules meeting in Stephenville Saturday. He is wanting to bring his tractor to Abilene, remove the motor so he can roll in new rod and main bearings, before dropping the chassis at K.O.'s shop where K.O.'s brother is going to build Rian's roll cage.

One of Rian's biggest problems is overloading his boat. Tomorrow night he and Erica are taking the boys to "The Polar Express" in Lubbock. They already have tickets. They have brought in some passenger cars that are replicas of the movie and they ask parents to bring their kids in their pajamas and serve hot chocolate and such! I know the boys will enjoy it!

Well, I am going to sign off!

Have a day!

FATHER, thank YOU for home. Thank YOU for giving us a place we return to, to rest, to refresh, to renew. We can only anticipate what it will be like when we go home to YOU!