Sorry I haven't posted. Suffice it to say, "This has been the week from H-E-L-L".

We had our regular week laid before us, but we were also presented with several new challenges. The major one being how to get fuel to the trucks. We have only one fuel card still active, and I am waiting to see how long it is before WalMart discovers it. Currently, I am gathering information to argue with them, if and when they discover there is another card out there.

Trc wants to go and buy more WalMart cards, in her name, and use them until they are closed.

I am wondering if I can go and buy new cards in my name now that the two have been closed.

I had come up with a new alternative, but our bank didn't like it, and it might have ended up costing more money than we could afford. I wanted to set up additional checking accounts with debit cards and be able to transfer money from the primary accounts into the additional accounts, as need required, allowing the drivers to use "bank cards" for fuel transactions. Worse part of this is that our bank has a minimum deposit requirement of $1000 to not have any bank charges.

So, Trc did quite a bit of driving and coordinating meeting times. Handing cash to drivers for fuel. I am very uneasy giving them money, and of course they are always crying about the possibility of needing more money. One drive the other day called asking for more fuel money when he came through town and when Trc met him, she wanted an accounting of how much money he had on hand. Turned out he was yelling calf rope at least one fueling before he would exhaust his funds. She scolded him about yelling wolf!

In addition to my role with the trucks, I not only added the parts store, I added preparations for getting a truck to Bishop for the short gin run down there. This year not only is it short on haul distance, it is short time wise too. Edwin tells me he expects it to last only three to four days. I had planned on taking one of Krl's trucks down myself, but was finding it difficult to get in proper mindset. A number of events took place that made different options available, for both equipment and personnel.

The truck I was planning on taking had been at the shop since August 8, going in for a "do over". They had fixed an oil leak (multiple) but failed to get one to stop. As luck would have it the mechanic who had done the work took vacation, then had some personal issues that caused him to miss work for another week. Then when he did work, he didn't want to work on something he wasn't going to get paid for because he had botched it. The truck came out of the shop Friday afternoon.

Our heavy work load was prepping the trailer. The tarp (covering) had needed repairs, so we had removed it earlier in the year and sent it out for repairs. The hot sun and moisture do lots of damage to the tarp when they are exposed, so we were in no hurry to get the tarp back on the trailer. Since the repair shop was in Lubbock, Rian had picked it up and dropped it off in August when he came through. Then we needed to put some screws in the flooring materials, a few bolts in the sideboards and air tires and check lights. In addition to this, I had to fabricate a new license plate bracket (after having to find the plate) and bolt on one ratchet that is used to hold the tarp on. Finally we loaded all our "tools" into the trailer along with a few items that might be needed down there.

The truck needed only minor changes. Primarily moving the fifth wheel forward. Of course with an air slide this would be a job requiring just seconds. However, this trucks fifth wheel is bolted with ten grade eight bolts that are very, very tight!

It was with a tremendous sigh of relief Saturday afternoon when the truck and trailer rolled out of the shop.

By the way, I am trying something else for this truck's fuel. Last year I set up a bank account at a small local bank in Bishop. This bank has since merged with Compass Bank. I have a debit card from them, so I let the driver have it to fuel with. Cash deposited into that account is instantly available for point of purchase while ATM draws wait until after the day's activites post. Here is hoping!

Now the personnel changes. Earlier in the week, our newest driver threw a shoe. He wasn't wanting to load a load. He told Krl that his annual inspection as fixing to be out on the truck and if we weren't going to fix it (it needed the brakes adjusted and an air line replaced) he was going to park it. What Krl and I both tried to tell him was the inspection was not out until midnight this coming Monday and it was only Wednesday. The driver would cycle back in on Friday morning and we would have had time to set up appointments and get parts by then.

This is the driver who cried and cried about everything on Pepa's black truck and then finally talked the driver on the blue truck to trade with him. Now the cry baby had started it again.

I do not respond well to ultimatums. In fact I usually go the other way, pretty hard.

Krl had told this driver he needed to call Pepa, that it would take the middleman out of the mix, because I always try to develop a plan of action before talking to Pepa for him to make the final decision. This driver was wanting instant action, which doesn't usually happen.

The driver called me telling me he did not have the number for Pepa and before I could give it to him, Pepa drove up at the parts store. I told the driver to hold and I would let him talk to Pepa on my phone. I kept my phone open and explained everything to Pepa so he would not be caught flat-footed. Pepa asked this driver where he was and he told Pepa he was at B-line Oil change. Pepa told him I just drove back from there and you weren't there. The driver had been where he was supposed to load, helping another driver, wanting to fart around until it was too late for him to load. Pepa told him he was driving to the oil change and to remain there.

I am not sure what transpired when Pepa arrived, but it must not have been good. In a short while Pepa called me wanting me to come over to help him. I asked what he needed and he said he didn't know, he just might need some help. Chris told me to leave the parts store a few minutes early to check on Pepa.

When I arrived, Pepa's blue truck was parked haphazardly in the parking lot and Pepa was parked by the entrance to the building. There were all sorts of bags sitting next to the door, so I figured Pepa had trumped this driver and parked him.

My assumption was correct, but when Pepa had crawled into the truck to drive it to his house, he discovered this driver had been removing screws and the CB radio (which belonged to Pepa) from the truck. The driver denied taking the radio so Pepa wanted me to clarify that the radio was in the truck. Pepa had already called the police.

I could see the driver pacing inside the oil change waiting area, but he didn't dare come out side. Finally, the policeman arrived and he visited with the driver, then came out to talk with Pepa. He told us he was brokering a deal. After gathering the facts he went back to the driver. In moments he returned, saying the driver admitted taking the radio. He said he was protecting his interest because he was owed for three days work this week. I explained to the policeman that the drivers were on a percentage of the loads they hauled and if and when he turned in paperwork (proofs of delivery) he would be paid on the next regular pay day (which is Monday). I told the policeman I wanted paperwork before I left the oil change center, and he returned to tell the driver what he had learned.

When the cop came back to us, he said the driver would mail the paperwork and he was willing to surrender the CB radio but he didn't want to come out because he was very intimidated by me. The cop asked me to go to the parking lot by the truck and check for any other missing items.

I told the cop I wanted paperwork before I left, that I didn't trust the driver to do the right thing.

After a few minutes Pepa drove out to where the truck was parked, having received his CB. But no paperwork.

I was not confrontational to this man at, so I don't know where he gets off being intimidated by me. Surprisingly the driver called Krl telling her he just couldn't work for Pepa and that the paperwork would be in the mail.

Guess what, there is no paperwork for this man. Surprise, surprise.

So, that development freed up a truck, because Krl had to cancel all the loads for the rest of the week.

Surprisingly, the next day a driver who drove for me at Bishop last year walked into the parts store asking for a job. He gave me a down on his luck story and told me how sorry he was for a problem earlier in the year, and gave me assurances that if I would give him the opportunity, he would prove his worthiness.

This man busted his behind the last couple of days right along side me. So far so good!

This man had driven Pepa's truck that was recently vacated during his previous employment, and initially we assumed we would send him to Bishop in it. However, closer scrutiny revealed the annual permits for over axle expired August 12, 2009.

The route takes you directly through Riviera which has a weight and license check point. When the lights are on all trucks go across the scales. I visited with the driver and he told me he felt the permit was necessary, or we would give any profit to the state. (You are allowed 80,000 pounds without the permit, 84,000 with it, but it has to fit the axle groups. The 80 = 12, 34, 34, the 84 = proportionate increases.)

The point is, if you have the permit and load 80, the permit has enough variance to get you legal on all axles. Add to this fact the little truck in the shop is probably 5000 pounds lighter than Pepa's blue truck and at 80 you will be hauling a bigger payload.

We decided on the truck with the permit!

I told the driver I have my fingers crossed for a trouble free run down there and for him to be safe and do his part.

Memama had another hand doctor visit. They told her she doesn't have a retractor ligament in her index finger. That is the reason she can't bend it. She didn't see Dr. Lehman, only a resident. The resident said that with her advanced age, he didn't see them doing additional surgery. That kind of miffed me. I want Memama to see Dr. Lehman next time.

Krl finally went to see Dr. Mackie. Surprisingly, all of her blood work was good. The two problems were her blood pressure was "sky" high and she had lost weight. She weighed in at a hefty 95 pounds.

Dr. Mackie had been doing some research since I had gone in in May or June. He is trying to combat her osteoporosis and her IBS. He had her on Boniva, but her digestive system couldn't take it, so now, he is trying a nasal medication. He wanted to give her something for appetite, but after visiting with her learned it is not a problem with having appetite. He sent off one blood sample looking for a blood disease (its name escapes me at the moment) that prevents her body from absorbing nourishment from food.

And, finally another chapter in Ollie's life. Brad received five years for his most recent violation. I don't know if that is on top of his original sentence or if it is concurrently. Either way what a waste. I still think back to our conversation last summer. He told me he didn't mind being incarcerated. What an idiot.

And Krl said that Ollie had tried something that could have caused her to be on the inside looking out.

I just don't understand.

Well, if you were wondering, it wasn't me who won that Mega Millions jackpot, otherwise I would have a paid writer posting this! Just kidding.

I guess I put the kiss of death on San Antonio at the Little League World Series by picking them. They got beat in the United States bracket final by Chula Vista with the ten run mercy rule. Crazy thing is Texas had beaten them earlier in the tournament. They had three errors in the first inning and were trailing by eight before they ever had an at bat.

Sorry guys.

The highlight of the week was a surprise date night last evening. Krl and I went to Chili's. The company was wonderful, the appetizers and Presidente Margaritas were excellent, while the main entrees weren't quite up to par. If you frequent Chili's you have to try the Southwest eggrolls with avacado ranch! Yum!!

It was a great way to finish what was a hard week.

Hope your day and weekend are good!

FATHER, thank YOU for good finishes. Thank YOU for Krl, for her good reports and pending test, bless her with good health. Thank YOU for Dr. Mackie. Bless him with good health as he battles his disease. Then sings my soul!