Happy Birthday Tj!

This appears to be another blue day. I will be so glad when June is over.

I got all the driver settlements and billing done, so I was able to watch my NASCAR race. Michigan was the location. With everything going on in the auto industry, there were lots of segments with drivers promoting "their" make of vehicle. It was a really good race that came down to fuel mileage. The 48 had taken the lead from the 16, but when they were coming to take the white flag, the 48 ran out of gas. It appeared the 16 had it in the bag when he slowed on the backstretch, out of gas. That allowed the 5 to make the pass and take the win. The 24 was second. So what looked like one in the bag for Jimmy Johnson, fell into Greg Biffle's lap, only for Mark Martin to slip up and take the win with Jeff Gordon running second.

When the race was over, I gathered all my invoices that needed copying and I headed for Kinko's. I walked in to find only one customer who was on their way out. I have a little routine when I make my copies, so as I began, it amazed me that a steady stream of customers began coming in. In fact, the girl working there told me "See what you started?"

Fifty-four copies later, I gathered my copies and originals and walked out the door. I was needing to load some money on fuel cards for trucks, so I detoured by Wal-Mart. Once I was done there I headed for the grocery store.

Krl had given me a short list, but I also do a mental list of what we have used, so there are always some additional items.

They are doing a re-model on the store we frequent, so I was not looking forward to going in. I hate it when they mess with everything. My understanding is that they are going to "flip" the entire store. Use to you would go in and the bread and condiments were first thing inside, followed by the produce and meat markets across the back. If you needed pharmaceuticals, they were as far away from the door as you could put them. In fact you had to go all the way through the store to pick up a prescription. Now bread moved closer to produce while chips and condiments moved halfway across the store. Other shifts include some that they simply switched the rear half of an aisle with the front half of the same isle.

What should have been a quick stop, ended up taking over double the time.

I saw one of the shift managers and couldn't resist giving an earful. He was very courteous with offers of assistance.

When I made my last stop at the customer service counter to get Krl's cigarettes, I was visiting with the person behind the counter, and she told me our long time store director was no longer working there. In fact, she said he was no longer working for the chain. That was a huge surprise for me because he had been there as long as we have shopped there.

That makes two store directors in a year that we have lost. One from both of the stores closest to our home. If what I am hearing is correct, both are no longer with their respective former employers.

By the way, the primary reasons we shop where we shop is because of the people and the fact they carry Krl's cigarettes which are somewhat exotic and not carried by many stores. Now we may have to re-think that.

When I got home, I unloaded the groceries and took them in the house. Krl began putting them up. We were discussing what we were going to eat for supper and decided to have leftover hamburgers we had grilled Saturday night.

While I was at the store I had picked up some zucchini. Krl and I use to go to Gardski's and zucchini sticks were a favorite appetizer. Krl and I did a tag team on them and I sliced them while she battered them. We got them in the skillet and in a short time we were feasting them! It was delicious.

Late yesterday I talked with Memama and she had talked with Robbie in Brownwood. Uncle Jesse is not doing well at all. In fact, Little Scottye talked with Jesse's doctor and the doctor told him it was just a matter of time. Scottye asked what sort of time they could be looking at and the doctor said possible four days, maybe sooner.

For those of you who don't know Uncle Jesse, he had a lung transplant several years ago. Initially they had thought he suffered from emphysema, but later found it was something very similar, but also different. Actually, he has out-lived the prognosis of the transplant team. In fact he has usually done that with regularity. For the last couple of years he has had a difficult time, especially the last few months, and you have to wonder about quality of life. It has to be difficult for Robbie and the boys to sit by and watch him struggle.

When I was talking to Memama, I told her I was sad to hear what the doctor had told Scottye, but the doctor isn't the one calling the shots. I ask that you continue to lift Jesse and his family up in prayer.

Uncle Jesse is a very special man.

Have a day!

FATHER, thank YOU for all the blessings we enjoy. FATHER we lift Uncle Jesse and his family up to YOU for YOUR gifts of healing and care and comfort. FATHER we ask your will be done. You are all seeing all knowing.