I sure hope Monday is behind us.

Actually, I can't complain. It was very productive. I had opportunity to do some things that needed done, and even a few that I wanted to do.

My biggest project was working on our lawn sprinkler system. For some reason, two stations were having problems. One of them I could turn on manually, but the other one would not. I ended up digging the second valve up. I wanted to do a really good inspection. Crazy thing is, once I had it where I could readily get to it (meaning I had a hole larger than the plastic valve housing), I retrieved a spare valve from the work bench in the garage. Just to satisfy myself, I took the valve apart to see how it worked. I finally determined either there was a solenoid problem or possibly a diaphragm problem. I didn't think I could do it, but I decided to remove the electric solenoid without turning the water off. Turns out after I turned the solenoid about a round, the valve opened and the sprinklers began working. I took the opportunity to "dig" out all the sprinkler heads. So, I need to go and get another solenoid.

My other dilemma is the lawn computer that controls the system. It is not too elaborate, but it is weird to program. I always put the instruction booklet behind the control unit. We have stretched the watering rules in the past, when we were restricted to one day a week for watering. By stretching them, I don't mean violating them, just taking them to the letter of the law (or city ordinance in this case). We water at night. The first cycle begins just after midnight. The second cycle begins backed up from midnight the following night, just enough to conclude on the required day. Simply said. We watered twice a day on our given day. The cycles are short enough to prevent any run off, and gives each application opportunity to "soak" in.

I am conscientious enough to turn the lawn computer off any time we have had rain.

Now my problem. When we had the house painted, the painter took the lawn computer off the wall to paint behind it. What he did with my booklet I don't know. It hadn't been a problem until recently. The city began restrictions on lawn watering, twice per week. Our days are Sunday and Thursday. I began reprogramming the lawn computer because it was still set for Mondays. Try as I might, the lawn computer has a mind of its own. I am going to try to go on line and see if I can print instructions for programing. I have to be missing something.

Krl's week got off to a good start. She has the trucks loaded through Wednesday already. Coming and going, and that is a big improvement from lately. Our preferred lanes have been one sided due to the recent legislation in Mexico, but we are hoping we have found a new vendor. Best part is, their hauls right now are coming right back to Abilene. They say they have enough for the next month.

I was working in the office when Pepa called me. "I thought you were coming over", he said. I had told him I was going to have to use one of my days off in the not to distance future to go to Roscoe and do a few things to get equipment ready to go to South Texas. I didn't designate any specific day. I asked Pepa what he was doing and he told me, "I am still trying to farm".

He was trying to change the oil in his big tractor and couldn't find the oil plug. He said he was going to try to get Hag to stop by there and show him. Then we got to the reason he wanted me to come to Roscoe. He told me he wanted to put the duals on his tractor. I don't know why he couldn't have told me that up front. I don't mind helping him when I can. It would be nice if he could say, "I'd like to put the duals on my tractor but I can't do it myself, do you think we could find a time when you could help me?" Instead, he can't ask and he doesn't like to work on any one's schedule but his. The end result is that it makes me feel like I have been ambushed when I go to some particular task and end up spending all my time doing what he wants to do. I am sure this is an issue with JPF and JEF as well.

It only makes me think that Pepa needs to re-think whether he needs to be farming or not. I know money is an issue, but he isn't physically able to do what he needs to do on a day in, day out basis. Another issue is that he has become so difficult to work with, few of the available farm hands want to work with him.

I don't know what the answer is.

I am watching a segment on the CBS News Early edition about sleep apnea. It all sounds too familiar, even though my sleep study didn't support it. Of course the night I did my study I only slept three hours. I had a problem from the time I began trying to go sleep to getting twisted up in all the wires when I would toss and turn. The observing nurse had to hold me until I reached the insurance limits, which made it a long night. This nurse told me she felt sure the Doctor would request I repeat the study. The only thing we learned from this one is that I am the most vicious sleeper they ever had through their program. By that the nurse meant I thrash all night, turning over and over. She told me she had never had anyone sleep so rough the fitted sheets came off the corners, that is until I was there. She told me to make the beds, she has to raise the head and feet both, to slip the sheets on and them put the bed back level. The only thing I got out of the study was a 'script for restless leg.

The segment I just watched was saying many people who suffer from sleep apnea stop breathing for thirty or forty seconds, then they wake up and breathe, repeating the process over and over. There are lots of times I wake, thinking I have had an episode and seeming to be oxygen starved.

Health care reform. What's the deal? People that have health care don't want reform, those that need it want it. To be honest, I am for a national health care program. I think it is long over due. I know when RT lived Sweden, he was covered under their health care program. He said there was a basic service that was paid for, anything above that costs. That would be a good starting point. Then maybe we could have a supplement that would determine a service level.

I do like the fact that the President doesn't want to pay doctors for every procedure or test, he wants to pay them for having healthier patients. This would probably rid the system of testing that was not necessary or was duplicated. I know lots of times I feel like the doctors send you round their circle and everyone gets a little piece. I know it seems even worse for medicaid/medicare patients.

O.K., so much for my soap box. Don't you wish I hadn't found it?

Have a day!

FATHER, thank YOU for a good day. I thank YOU for the new day and the blessings it holds. YOU are indeed good.