I guess the week of eratic sleep behavior caught up with me.

Last evening when I returned home, Krl was grilling out. I couldn't resist teasing her about that Kingsford Charcoal advertisement, so I told her there was a technique involved, it wasn't just striking a match.

I helped, but just before the ribs and brisket were ready, I guess I went to sleep in my chair. She finished it up.

That is O.K., I like barbecue enough to have it for breakfast!

It appeared that Krl had indulged in a boneless rib sandwich.

I am in hopes Krl can have a kicked back day. It has been a stressful week.

I would figure the little truck driver thinks everyone was after him yesterday. He likes to try to aggravate Krl, calling at unreal hours when he knows nothing can be done until customer offices are open. He always is changing plans and expects everyone to adapt to his plan.

Yesterday it all came to a head. He had been telling us for two months he wanted to take vacation the week of the fourth of July. He said he wanted to be home the morning of the third. We had been working on a plan to meet this criteria, when all the sudden he turned down a load earlier in the week, telling Krl he wanted to be home on the second, and he couldn't "run" long.

In addition to facilitating his plans, I was trying to get his truck into the body shop to have some "deer" damage repaired. In fact this little driver and I had discussed this repeatedly.

The day before yesterday he called me, and he was upset I wanted the truck left in Abilene. "How am I going to get home?", he asked. I told him he would have to have someone pick him up. Then he wanted to take one of my vehicles home. I reminded him, the last vehicle he borrowed is still awaiting repairs. When we got off the phone he told me to figure it out and let him know. I countered by telling him he was the one who needed to figure it out.

Yesterday he called and immediately began pushing all the wrong buttons. In an instant I was furious. And it didn't get any better. He said he wasn't taking vacation, he just needed a long weekend. I swear I haven't seen such juking and jiving since Michael Jackson. He was about a mile away from the parts store when he called but he decided in that mile to stay on the highway, he did not want to see me in person!

Needless to say, we had a very animated conversation with him denying having ever requested vacation. I asked him how he was the only one who had a different story and it had changed in the course of a day or two.

I explained to him, that communication is the key and that Krl and I both had written everything down. He told me how violated he felt being accused of changing his plan and he didn't know if he could get over it and continue working for us. I told him not to let the door hit him in the butt on his way out (which only hurt his bruised feelings more).

It seems when he and I got through talking he and Krl talked and he ran into a buzz saw!

Later in the day he called me and I could tell he had talked with his wife. He apologized for any mis-communication and vowing to do better.

We'll see how long the air remains cleared.

Krl and I have very little on our weekend horizon. I hope it is just yard, and minor projects. The only need to do thing is to put an air conditi0ning clutch on one of Pepa's tractors. But that may be a Monday "to do".

Happy Fourth!

FATHER, thank YOU for the many blessings we enjoy. I thank YOU for this country and the liberties and principles it was founded on and ask YOUR blessings on it, and our leaders.