I finished the new Grisham book. I made it last longer than any of his previous books, and I have read them all. I really didn't care for the ending. It seemed like he had a total number of pages targeted for the book and when he got there he quit. Quickly. (And everyone lived happily ever after!). I am in hopes he has plans to re-visit Kyle McAvoy and Bennie in a future book. Otherwise I am going to really be disappointed!



And that is all I am going to say about that!



Krl received a call from Ollie this morning. She said they barely got to talk when someone came on the line and said "You will have to set up an account if you wish to talk to this person." Krl began talking to this person and they wanted address, name, telephone number, and a credit card number. $24.95. I could tell the person was being quite rude to Krl and she was getting frustrated. Finally I told Krl to ask who she was talking to and who they worked for. The man refused to tell her so she hung up and called her credit card people. Long story short, we haven't talked or heard from Ollie today.



I made a run to the Post Office to pick up a certified letter. I could tell it was from San Angelo by the zip code. Turned out it was from the wrecker service who towed Ollie's car. They were notifying the lien holder of the charges. Talk about a racket. $100 tow fee. $25 impound fee. $25 notification fee, and $20 per day storage. I figure it is about $230 by morning. $250 by the time the weekend is over.



Ollie's mother said that Ollie's attorney dropped the ball. Said he admitted as much. That Ollie thought everything was good but he had failed to complete his work. He had better hope she doesn't get out! I see an ass whippin' in his future.



Still doesn't matter, she shouldn't have been in the position to need a lawyer. Crazy thing is, he messed up and she is going to not be able to bond out until Tuesday. I think I would report him to the State Bar Ethics Committee.



I received a call from the GM at the seasonal jobsite. As I have written, this is the first time in fifteen years I have been out of contract. The old GM always wanted to have a new deal in place before the current deal ran out. The new GM told me he didn't want to do a deal until after the season. I had opportunity prior to his hiring, to get a contract extension, but declined. The board President had told me they wanted to be sure everything was in place for a smooth transition. I told him I didn't think it was a good idea. I would hate to saddle the new GM with me if we didn't gee haw and vice versa.



This morning's call was to inform me that me and the company's contract were on the agenda for the February Board meeting. February 19th. They have yet to decide if it is a morning or night meeting! Morning would mean leaving Abilene about four-thirty to be there on time, a night meeting would mean leaving the meeting and getting home well after midnight! I asked the GM if I was dealing with him or the board. He said he guessed the board. I asked if he and I needed to sit down and work things out before the meeting and he said he didn't know. All he volunteered was that he was leaving February 11th and would not return until the 17th. He is going to Washington DC. In the past the former GM and I would work out an agreement and the board was just a formality. I do know the current GM does not like multi-year contracts. He wants one year deals. From my point of view, one year deals are very difficult to sell to any financing executive or committee. Currently I am in need of selling or trading two of the company's forklifts. Replacement cost will be around $50,000. It is hard to finance something that large and pay it out in one year! I am probably more comfortable dealing with the board than with just the GM.



I have been working on a new contract proposal on and off since last summer. I may get back on that and tweak it a little.



My drivers called me and told me they were beginning to work themselves out of a job. They think they will be done Wednesday or Thursday of this coming week. I am hoping they stretch it until Friday. Last year the flat storage held 86 loads, but it was filled more full this year. Currently we are at 82 loads with about six taken out prior to us arriving on the job. A full day Wednesday would be 106 loads total, Thursday 112, and Friday 118. I think I would like to see it go to Friday. One thing about it, it is very difficult to say how many loads are in a seed pile that is gradually going down. Last year the loader operator told me there were three loads left, and thirteen loads later we were done!



Lets hope his math is as good this year!



Krl has chided me not to get too greedy with the new contract. I don't plan on it, but I would like to close the gap between freight allowance and freight rate. $8 per ton is where it landed this year and that is way too much! I can understand the board not wanting to add money to the freight allowance, but they don't need to be making $200 per load! Of course the variable rate fuel surcharge and the low price of fuel had a lot to do with that. When the mill set freight rates fuel was still way up there! I also realize that this past year was pretty freaky. The oil mill last adjusted the freight rates December 6, 2007 for the 2007 crop year. That season ran into April and fuel spiraled upward another twenty cents. They said they would compensate for it later which they did, but by then it was for the 2008 season and fuel became much more affordable. Since we were on a base rate with a variable rate fuel surcharge instead of a fixed rate, we left a lot of money on the table.

Krl and I made a quick jaunt out yesterday afternoon. We drove to Chili's about four. We had an all in one meal for the day! On a whim I ordered Southwest egg rolls with avocado ranch dip for an appetizer. It was excellent. They had meat, peppers, corn and I don't know what else in them, but they were very good! Krl even liked them. For our main entrees, Krl ordered an old timer burger and I ordered a cajun ribeye. There are about five different Chili's restaurants I frequent, and I find myself comparing them. I would guess that the most difficult thing for a restaurant chain would be finding consistency in their products. Where if you order a chicken fry in Abilene, it would be comparable to one ordered in Midland, Stephenville, Five Points, or Kingsville. I have noticed that there are small variations in menu offerings in some locales. I guess modification to fit that particular consumer profile. I have ordered the exact same thing in all the restaurants mentioned above, and there is a wide variance as to the finished product.

Our experience yesterday was a typical Abilene Chili's experience. It seems that every time we go there, it takes two or three tries for them to get our order right. Mine came out with no Texas toast, Krls had been billed as and Old Time Burger with mustard, shredded lettuce, sliced tomatoes, pickles, and onion, cheese as an option, with the meat cooked to your specifications. Krl opted for the Old Timer with mayo, no mustard and cut the onions, cooked medium. It came with mayo, no onions and no tomatoes. The little waitress acted miffed that we would expect it to arrive at our table like we ordered it! There was a young man who had waited on us intermittently, and when we were getting ready to pay the check we visited some. I told him we caught ourselves comparing all the Chili's restaurants we frequent and he wanted to know how they rated. I told him Kingsville tops my list and dropped it at that. It would have been mean to tell him Abilene comes in a distant last, but then they have the most potential for improvement.

After a quick stop at Albertson's we were home for the evening!

Krl came into the office last evening and told me watch this, and she turned and walked from the room. No limp, no gingerly taking of steps, no cane. She just turned and walked. She says she has no idea why or how, she is just glad. I guess we will find out this morning if it was a fluke! It has been a slow process since the broken leg of '06 and the broken feet and ankle of '08.

And finally, I am taking Krl in to see Dr. Mackie today. Today's visit is for what I think is a severe sinus infection, which causes her to get dizzy, and of course her tummy. Krl and I have talked a lot and while she has seen several doctors about her tummy, none of them have ever run an upper GI. I think that is very odd. They have done a lower GI and found nothing, but the problem is her stomach I think. We will see what he thinks. For some reason I think any one who eats a half gallon of ice cream every four days should gain weigh more than 80 pounds!

Heh, heh! NASCAR begins their new season today. The Bud Shootout is tonight. Actually they began practicing yesterday for the shootout and Daytona qualifying Sunday afternoon. The twin qualifier races are next Thursday and of course the Daytona 500 is next Sunday. There has been a lot of talk about the economy's effect on NASCAR. Over the winter several teams have sold while others have merged yet 57 cars are racing for 43 positions on the starting grid.

I have never liked Rush Limbaugh. I like him even less today. In an interview he is quoted as saying "I hope he fails!" (Meaning President Obama). He went on to qualify his statement saying if he is going to push a "liberal" agenda, he hoped he failed. This coming from an addict, former used car salesman who gained access to a soap box. Deport him.

My drivers are off today and tomorrow, which means I had trip envelopes in the mail box. So, Krl and I have work to do. Funny how when they have the weekend off it creates work for us.

Chance of rain this weekend! I could almost swear I heard thunder last night or early this morning. Best chance is for Sunday night. I am loving this weather, 58 when I got up this morning, went out to the mail box barefoot. You can thank Krl for the lovely weather. All it has done is warm up since she bought that late season cord of wood!

Have a day and a weekend!

FATHER, thank YOU for all the blessing YOU give us. FATHER we ask that YOU bring us rain. We are in need of a good soaker. FATHER, bless my efforts as I prepare a new contract proposal. Help me to be fair, and not greedy. Forgive me when I fall short and disappoint YOU. Some glad morning.