On my drive home yesterday, I became very aware that I am set in my ways. Mind you, I am not admitting I am spoiled or anything of that sort.



As I traveled East on I-20, I was steadily gaining on a big truck pulling a van. This occurred over several miles, so I was reading the "rolling" bill board.



"Kids love pickles", it read.



I know mine did. Rian could consume a gallon jar of pickles before you realized he had opened them.



Back to the truck. It was owned or leased by Dalton's "Best Maid" products out of Fort Worth, proudly claiming to be "Best Maid since 1926".



I will admit, when I shop, I shop for brands I have "affiliations" with.



I can remember many years ago, for many years, my Dad's trucks along with Uncle J's, hauled cucumbers for Best Maid brands. From their producers in the Uvalde and Mayfield areas of Texas to their pickle farm just South of Fort Worth in Mansfield. I too, have hauled cucumbers into their yard of huge wooden brine tanks, where they begin their "pickling" process! The most remarkable thing is that the Best Maid brands began in a small single room grocery store.



I also admit when I walk down the can good aisle, I usually shop for "Bush" products. Baked Beans are one of my favorites. we have a history of having hauled into the Bush family canning facility in Muskogee in the past. Very impressive people, from top to bottom of their organization. Of course this would have to include the family TV celebrities, Jay and Duke!



A second choice would be for Del Monte canned goods, but it doesn't have the draw that Bush products do.



I draw the line with Bush at canned goods, and vehemently deny any affiliation with any Bush that was a politician.



I prefer Lays, or Frito branded chips. Once again we have worked with this people.



I prefer Campbell's soups. (My favorite is Chicken with Rice, although sometimes Tomato soup hits the spot).



I even have a convenience store preference, even though they are no longer in our area. Circle K. One of the first things I ever bought Krl was a Circle K cigarette lighter, and it seemed like when we dated there was always a Circle K we were pulling in to. A year or so ago I had been to South Texas and on the way back I saw a Circle K and pulled in and bought her another lighter. We both had a good light hearted laugh when she looked it over!



I prefer Chevrolet to Ford, Kenmore to Maytag, John Deere to International, Craftsman to Snap on or Mac! Pocket "T's to plain old "T" shirts.



Probably the most surprising area is that of religion, because I have become "less" set in my ways. I believe that it is more about heart than what sign is out front, and I don't really have an issue with women in worship or instrumental music.



I don't know if my liberation in some areas makes my favorites or preferences more credible or not. It just makes me, me.



Memama wet back to the doctor yesterday. The doctor removed ALL the pins, "debried" a lot of dead skin, and put a small gauze bandage on it. He gave her the admonishment, "Now it is up to you! You need to work those fingers, knuckle by knuckle, finger by finger, every hour of every day!"



It is going to be tough!



After some prodding and encouraging from Pepa, Krl and I finally agreed to begin dispatching another of his trucks. It had been parked, but an old driver wanted to come back. Actually this had much more to do with Krl than with me. I will admit I was leery of this driver. I had worked with him last year in south Texas and he was very high maintenance. It took a lot to keep him motivated. He and I talked and I told him what we were hauling, and asked how much he was wanting to run. He told me he wanted to run like the other drivers.



That would mean four to five hundred miles per day.



Three days into this project, I called the driver to make sure he found his delivery location in Laredo. I was stunned when he told me he was not even halfway to Laredo. He had driven two hundred miles the entire day before.



Later in the day, this man called me telling me he was lost. He made his delivery seven hours late, and still had to pick up his back haul. When he arrived there, the people were taking their lunch break. They don't open until ten or eleven and lunch is usually around three in the afternoon, sometimes taking at least two hours.

Krl called to check on this driver and said he definitely had an attitude. He told her he didn't have the patience, the endurance, or the gumption to do this job any more. He ended their conversation by telling her when he get back to Sweetwater he is parking the truck.

Needless to say, that did not make Krl's day. She has loads for that truck to pick up Today, Friday and Monday. In fact, every truck is booked. So that means we fizzed. I talked with Pepa and he told me not to return any loads to vendors, we would get it covered.

I tried to call the disgruntled truck driver, but he failed to answer or return my calls. Krl finally talked with him later in the evening. His day had not gotten any better. On his way back, he got a speeding ticket.

I wanted to tell this man, that everything he had done had only made his job more difficult.

Oh well. This week has been a difficult one!

Have a day!

FATHER, thank YOU for the good days. For the good reports on Memama, that YOU will continue to bless her with YOUR gifts of healing and care. FATHER, I need a lot of help today!