I'm not set in my ways, I just have preferences.

Make that strong preferences.

Some things never seem to change. Growing up, we had Borden's milk. In fact we had a milk man who drove to the house twice a week. Big old glass milk bottles. I am sure with five of us kids, we drank a lot of milk. The milk man I remember was named Joe. Fred and I were regulars waiting in the front yard for Joe to drive up. Then we would jump in the truck with him and drive the thirty or forty yards around the house to the back. It was a common occurrence for us to encourage Joe to slip a quart of chocolate milk in his delivery basket and then we would do our best sell job on Mom to let us have it. Sometimes she did and sometimes she didn't. I figure it had a lot to do with finances that particular week. I'm sure if we were lucky, each of us probably got one glass of chocolate milk.

But it was a treat. It probably ranked right up there with a six pack of Coca-Cola Mom would splurge on. Each of us had a bottle with one of those snap on lids that had the ring that slipped over the bottle neck. The lid insured freshness and also allowed each of us to identify our bottle of drink. I could stretch a bottle of Coke for days!

Krl and I talked the other day about coke bottles. I don't know how many times Fred and I sold Coke bottles to Shield's Grocery. Mr. Shields had a small storage and he would show us where he wanted the bottles and show us where bottle crates were and leave us to "work". I can remember .02 cents initially and thought we would become rich when they went to a nickel! Finding a coke bottle was like finding a treasure. Mr. Shields would come back when we were through and tabulate our windfall! I can't remember him ever disagreeing with our count.

Looking back, I realize that Shield's Grocery was a magical place. There you could almost get anything you might want or need. We kept a close eye on "cigar boxes" (yes kids, at one time the only way you could get them was to be present when the last cigar was sold) hoping we would be lucky enough to take one home. A cigar box was high on the priority list of "must have" items for school.

And of course, Shield's Grocery sold the illusive Indian moccasins. ( I know Mom, I just can't let go of it!).

The Floridians are supposed to be in. Spring Break. Yep, some people can't get it right. Most people go to Florida or Mexico. Our family members living in Florida, go to Texas. It will be interesting to see if Dakota has grown that much or if it is trick photography! They haven't been home since early January.

I talked with the seasonal jobsite yesterday. Hopefully we smoothed out a few more details of the seasonal work. I am hoping to finish a contract today and send it to them. If we have covered all the bases, it should be a simple formality and they will sign it and send a copy back to me. In yesterday's talks it seemed the GM was more cordial than last week.

If they have a problem with any of the wording, I suppose we will have to re-draft it.

Wasn't the rain great! I have no idea what accumulations we have had, not much I am sure, but I am encouraged that it can still rain! The newspaper said it would hardly make a dent in the drought.

Hey, anything helps.

Memama and I were talking yesterday and she made the comment that she sure wished the rain would cut loose. Then she immediately backed up and said "I'm sure GOD gets frustrated that we aren't satisfied."

I bet he does too.

Have a day! Stay warm, and count your blessings!

FATHER, thank YOU for YOUR blessing of rain. I pray for a productive day. I pray for safe travel. FATHER thank YOU for all YOU have blessed us with.