Wow, the Stanford women's basketball team looked tough last evening. Post player Jayne Appel scored 46 points in just over 30 minutes of playing time. If she had taken on Iowa State by herself she would have lost 53 to 46. With her teammates help, they scored 74.

I didn't do a women's tournament bracket.

Well, my Monday was busy. When I finally got away from the house, the morning was almost gone.

I have been driving the vehicle I repossessed, trying to decide what work it might need and also whether or not I might want to sell the little pickup instead of it. I was at Tye when I passed one of the drug task force cars that usually camp out between Merkel and Trent. I had the cruise control on and was cruising. For about twelve miles this car followed me, then the reds and blues began their rotation. I pulled over, and this "officer" gingerly approached the vehicle. I had rolled down the window, but was watching as he walked up to the back of the vehicle and looked into the cargo area, then he came along side looking in the back seat, and finally he cautiously peered around the door post and greeted me.

I know he had to be disappointed to find a "grey haired middle fifties aged man" driving the vehicle. He began by telling me "The license tags on this vehicle don't match the vehicle." (I'm sorry Officer, this was the only color available!).

I reached down the other side of the console and produced a set of tags that had been sent to me, and I gave them to him.

"Is this your car?", he asked.

"Yes and no", I replied, and I began telling him the tale of the Black Ford Explorer.

He took the tags, along with my license and insurance, and told me, "Wait in the vehicle while I run some checks on you and the vehicle."

About twenty minutes later, he finally came back to the Explorer. He said, "The tags on this vehicle belong on a 1975 Cadillac registered to a person named Villereal in San Angelo, Texas." And in his next breath he said, "Outside of some traffic offenses, you have no record."

I couldn't tell if that was a question or a statement.

He would have been really surprised if I had told him in my younger years I had 45's, 33 LP's, and even a 78 Alvin and the Chipmunks Christmas record!

After that I had 4 track and 8 track tapes, then cassettes and now I even own a few CD's.

So much for his Police work!

In a parting comment, he advised me to get the new tags on the vehicle, but if I didn't, "Don't do anything stupid if you get stopped again or you might end up getting shot".

Now who is looking stupid!

As soon as I got to the parts store, I changed the plates on the Explorer.

Then I ran by Memama and Pepa's house before going to the farm shop to pick up Rian's cast iron weights. I swapped vehicles and got into the big company pickup and hooked up the company service trailer. There were sixteen of these weights, still bolted together, but sitting on a pallet. I took the farm forklift and loaded them on the trailer. I took them to the parts store and off loaded them and separated them.

I told Chris, we would paint them in our spare time over the next couple of days!

Chris was thrilled to have his first official crew person duty.

I made some copies in the office, before heading back to Abilene and the home office. Our agreement with one of our vendors is that we fax them the paperwork on Monday for Wednesday pay, and the Monday clock was ticking. I also needed to get another vendor's bill "in the mail". So, by the time I went by the house and did some quick office work, it was ten 'til five when I walked in the Post Office.

From there it was three errands. Albertson's, Petsmart and Abby's.

When I had unloaded the supplies, I began supper preparation. Krl and I had agreed I would grill some 'burgers. I had purchased some ground sirloin, so I hand pressed two patties. These monsters were a whopping half pound each, of prime, uncooked, ground sirloin! I cooked them slowly, taking special care when turning them the first time (so they wouldn't break up). I had seasoned them heavily, and near the end of the cooking cycle, I dabbed a little barbecue sauce on them before finally turning them a final time and putting a slice of cheese on top.

Krl toasted the buns, and had prepped lettuce and tomatoes. It was delicious!

Fact is I wish I had another one for breakfast.

As I cooked last evening, I talked with Pat. She was taking Memama to see her eye doctors in Dallas. That is where Memama had her cornea transplants a few years ago and then she recently had more surgery. Their plan had been to leave Roscoe at three, make the drive and spend the night at the Radisson. It was after six when we spoke and they were going around Abilene, having decided to eat at Cracker Barrel before completing their drive to Dallas.

As I have often stated, Pat serves as the family medical revue officer. Since she is a licensed RN she can walk the walk and talk the talk. It has been a true blessing that she is able to go and talk with Memama and Pepa's doctors.

Pat "goes" more than any one I know. Constantly. Recently I have tried to lighten her load by letting Chris ride to Abilene with me for his meetings twice a week.

Yesterday the plans became complicated as Steph (Pat's daughter) called and told her she was having some issues, and needed Pat to come to Palestine to help with Chloe, and to provide a little support as Steph goes in for some tests and procedures Wednesday.

So, what that means is this. I am driving to Weatherford or Fort Worth this morning to retrieve Memama and return her home (after her doctors visit). This will allow Pat to "redirect" herself to Palestine to Steph's! (I know Pat didn't want to go see Chloe, but someone needed to! Ha! Actually I can't remember who I had talked with but they said it was about time for Pat to make the trek to Chloe's house this week, but whoever it was was prophetic!).

Then on Friday Pat will meet Hag in Pflugerville at Hank's house. Hag's brother is meeting them there and they are trying to get the house ready to go on the market.

So, if you want on Pat's calendar, you had better be looking at least a week down the road!

So, I will go Abilene-Weatherford/Fort Worth, back to Roscoe, back to Abilene with Chris for a 4 o'clock appointment. pick him up at 5, take him to Larry's Better 'Burger, then back for a 6 o'clock appointment. From there I will go home. Jake is picking Chris up from there at 8.

I can reminisce growing up, that we would go to Sweetwater once a week and Abilene maybe once every two or three months. Now we don't even think twice about putting down the miles! (I think back to a weekend one-day jaunt that on my day off I drove 459 miles departing my house and returning by dark!). I have lived in Abilene for twenty-two years, and if I drove to Roscoe an average of five days a week, I would have driven 572,000 miles on that 50 mile strip of blacktop. I think in that time span we have had twelve vehicles. (Counting the three we have now plus my company truck).

I think we are spoiled rotten. I don't think I am ready for the transporter room and "beam me up".

Heh, I can't help but compare our busy lives with life on the "Ponderosa" or "Gunsmoke" on the TV Land channel.

Have a day!

FATHER, help us not to get caught up in the goings on of our lives. I lift up Memama and Steph for YOUR miracle of healing. I ask for good reports, and for safe travel. I lift praises to YOUR name!