Bump day at Indy!

The field is full for next Sunday's running of the Indianapolis 500, now whoever is on the bubble (has the slowest time) is at risk for being "bumped" from the race line up.

I love the tradition of the Brickyard. From the firing of the gun signaling the end of qualifying to the unique way of filling the field.

Currently I am pulling for John Andretti to get back in. Yesterday he was in, but was bumped earlier today. John is the son of Aldo Andretti, the not so famous brother of Mario. That distinction also makes him the cousin of Michael. John had left the open wheel racing and pursued a career driving in NASCAR. The last couple of years have found him filling in, but not having a full time ride. One of the car owners for John's Indy car is the King, Richard Petty of NASCAR fame. John drove for the Petty's several years.

I am editing and wanted to post this Indy update, John made it into the field. Yea!

That was short and not so sweet.

As I had noted a couple of weeks ago, I had made mention that Krl had hired a new yard man. A young man eleven years old had left a flyer on our door, and Krl called him and had his Dad and them come over to make a deal. They sat on our couch and "Bear" told Krl $10. Krl told him, "That is too cheap, I will pay you twenty-five dollars to mow, weed eat and edge. AND, you have to bag the clippings."

A deal was struck and Bear scheduled a time to come over. Krl told him from time to time she would need some help in her flower beds or whatever, but that would be extra. In fact, when he came over to mow the first day, he ended up helping her in the flower beds, by the time he had finished mowing, he had pocketed $60. Not bad in my books for an after school gig.

The following week, Bear called and told Krl he couldn't mow, he had caught his hand in the chain on his bicycle, and lost his thumb nail. BUT, his Mom would mow. She arrived and did a so, so job doing the yard.

On Friday, Bear called to tell Krl he would be over to do the yard on Saturday. I guess he doesn't watch the news and weather, because he seemed to think I was from Mars when I told him it was supposed to rain Saturday!

He called Saturday and told Krl if it stopped raining he would mow Sunday afternoon.

About two o'clock the door bell rang. It was Bear and he was starting to do the yard. A short time later I could hear the mower move into the back yard, and the door bell rang again. Apparently Bear and his Mom took our generosity for stupidity.

"Do you want us to run the weed eater and edge?", he asked.

"That was our deal", Krl said.

"That will be $10 extra", came Bear's reply.

"No", Krl said, "We sat down and talked and we made a deal".

He left and Krl returned into the house, and came into the home office to tell me what was going on.

Shortly, the door bell rang again.

Krl opened it and found Bear's Mom on the other side.

"We are charging you $50 to do your yard. After I did it last week, I think $25 is to cheap!", she told Krl.

"We made a deal", Krl said. "That is why I had a parent come over because I wanted ya'll to know what was going on".

"Take it or leave it", seemed to be Bear's Mom's reply.

We left it.

What a witch! Krl said the lady acted as if she was mad about something!

I don't know.

I told Krl don't worry about it. We have a mower and all the other items it takes to do our yard. Our problem had been when we were gone, we needed someone to do it. It is much easier to get someone to do it all year long than to get someone to take it on at the end of the season.

I am a little surprised by Bear's and his Mom's actions.

I can do the yard, Mow, weed eat, edge, in an hour. I can go three weeks on two gallons of gas.

If they are paying $50 per yard, I may need to sharpen my blade!

Go figure!

Oh well.

I talked to Rian yesterday and then again about noon today. At their church, it was Senior Sunday and they were honoring their high school seniors. Since their pulpit minister and worship leader have kids in this group, Rian and Paul, the associate youth minister and the youth minister told them to take Sunday off and just be proud parents!

Rian led their worship service and Paul preached! (In a news flash, they both survived).

It has been a more laid back weekend that I really like. When the mail ran yesterday, there was no paperwork from the driver that lives in Lamesa. The driver who lived in Bangs drove his paperwork over, mid morning. What are the odds, both of them expect to be paid tomorrow.

That little glitch just means part of my Saturday and Sunday slide to my Monday. Yuk.

I hate Mondays.

Hope your weekend has been good!

FATHER, I seem to be treading water again. Help me.