This year's Indy 500 is the Centennial running of this famous race. For the last several years my sister who lives near Indianapolis and works for the Indianapolis Star, sends me their newspaper from when activity begins at the raceway until the day after the race. Also included in this is an official race program.

I had thumbed through the Centennial Program, but I had not "really" looked through it. I guess yesterday I began the prelude to race day. My mindset was "racy" so as I sat in my chair I began looking through the program. In the center of the publication is an envelope, full of different things. A ticket replica from 1934, a ticket replica from 1961, and a copy of the bid agreement for bricks to build the racing surface, among other things. It was very interesting. the 1934 ticket price was $1, the 1961 ticket $12. Of course anyone who knows anything about the raceway knows it's nickname is the brickyard, a reference to the original racing surface.

Now, all that remains of the "brick" surface is the yard long strip of bricks across the track at the start finish line.

I kind of feel like I have hit the mother lode! My very own treasure chest.

I have not talked with Coach or anyone, and I asked Rian about it and he didn't know anything. I may need to ask Jake about it. I read on the internet that the forty-niners "waived" Kirby. I don't really know what this means. Usually when it is a veteran, they place players on waivers and if they clear waivers with no other team claiming them, the original team can re-sign them to a new contract. I have no idea what the strategy would be to do this with a rookie free agent or even if there is a strategy.

I know Kirb would love to play in the NFL. And, he does possess the physical attributes necessary to do this. I keep going back to when he was at Brownwood and a redshirt freshman at UM. In High School he handled the punter duties, and at UM as a true freshman they considered not redshirting him and using him as a punter. If he could do that, he would provide other options especially if he was the holder for the place kicker, there would be the option of a serious threat of a fake with a former collegiate quarterback holding. My upside is that he would stay healthy and even better clean.

I know Kirb's brother toyed with the idea of playing in the NFL. The big difference is that Kirb has stayed pretty healthy, save the broken foot and a problem with a shoulder when he was a Lion.

Success is where dreams and desire come together! Good luck Kirb!

I have to admit, I have been pleasantly surprised with Rian's "frame of mind". Usually long before now I am hearing on a daily basis about how bad he has spring fever. So either he is in a better situation or he has matured. He has only made mention one time how many days of school were left, and that was toward the end of April.

I frequent a business establishment in town, and one of the employees is a senior at Merkel. Last week he was telling me it appeared they were going to have to make up the days the school was closed due to the swine flu. Rian had told me when the UIL postponed all activities, there was talk of closing the entire school system statewide. He said if they did that, the days would not have to be made up, but if a school district closed on it's on decision, the days would have to be made up.

The young man told me the school year would conclude several days after commencement, so he wasn't planning on finishing the year after crossing the stage. His reasoning was, "What are they going to do if you don't?"

Heh, heh. Oh to be young and foolish. This young man has a lot to learn.

I am "cautiously" optimistic about this week.

I had a call from Pepa's truck driver yesterday. I had instructed him to hunt down a small water leak on the truck. This man is not very "mechanical" so I was telling him what to look for. Of course the obvious puddle would be an indication, but a more minute leak might be nothing more than a discoloration on the frame, block or radiator. Sure enough, a close inspection revealed a pin hole in a hose going to the water filter.

Here is hoping this is the trucking glitch of the week!

Of course it seems as though we get things moving only to have a holiday. Guess what next Monday is?

In a bit, I am going to get our mower out, check it out, and then mow. To have begun with such promise, Krl's lawn deal with Bear and his Dad went South as soon as Bear's Mom got in the middle. The woman must be an idiot. Last week Krl didn't have a $5 bill or five $1's, so she had paid with a $50 bill, telling the woman she did not have the correct denominations to make the agreed $25, so she would just pay for two weeks. Maybe this is what put the burr under Bear's Mom's saddle. Yesterday, when she was so hateful talking to Krl, Krl reminded her that she had pre-paid this weeks mowing. The woman told her she did not. When Krl told them she wouldn't pay $50 a week for mowing, the woman and Bear quit right where they were.

Crazy thing is, they mowed with their mower so high they didn't fill one single bag after mowing the entire front yard.

I am wondering what this woman is trying to teach Bear.

It disappoints me, because we have always been more than fair to any employee or contractor. But on the other hand, this is not the first time we have been taken advantage off.

Why do people take kindness and generosity as weakness or license to exploit?

Oh well, now we've got an extra $100 a month back in the budget.

Well, let's get on with it! Have a day and a week!

FATHER, thank YOU for today and the blessings it holds. FATHER, I lift up the Kerby family for YOUR gifts of comfort in their loss. I continue to lift up Memama for YOUR gifts of healing. Thank YOU for YOUR blessing of rain. Help me to be all YOU want me to be. Be with me!