This was not the Monday I had hoped for.

I hadn't posted my day goals, and I am thankful for that. That would have been a huge disappointment. As it was, it was big enough.

I began my day doing a corrected invoice in the office, I will admit it was my mistake. I found it when I was proofing them. Then it was to Fed Ex Office (formerly Kinkos). Copies, back to the office. I placed all the billing into the appropriate envelopes, which Krl had already put labels on. Then I handed them off to Trc as I needed to get out the door and do something!

I stopped by a friend's who owns a repair shop here in town. The Little S-10 is going to a new home and it has a couple of small issues. He told me to have it to him Wednesday and he will take a look at it!

Then it was to Roscoe for a late lunch with Memama and Pepa, then I inspected the truck that had a spindle issue a couple of weeks ago, then I went to the barn.

My main goal for the day was to unload and transport bale clamps (also known as bale squeezes) to the NAPA store. There I will go over them, inspect and replace hoses before installing them on forklifts I have leased out for the up coming ginning seasons.

What should have taken a half hour, took three. The bale clamps are in a supply van we ferry from job to job. When we completed the seasonal work last December, the bale clamps came off and the forks and side-shifts went on before the forklifts even were loaded to come home from the seasonal work. The bale clamps are placed on pallets. The two we were using at the completion of the season were place on a pallet I have used for many years. It was heavily built with four by fours instead of two by fours. The remaining clamp was at the repair shop in Midland and it rested on a pallet of its own. The single unloaded easily. The second pallet was not so good. I guess when the guys were loading the pallet, the cracked some of the boards. As I tried to move the pallet to the back of the trailer where I could get the forks fully under it, I could hear creaks and cracks. When I began to lift the pallet to remove it from the trailer, the pallet began to slowly self-destruct. Luckily as soon as I cleared the trailer, I immediately lowered the forks to near ground level. As the pallet broke totally in to, the clamps rocked, but remained strapped together. Now my dilemma was getting the clamps separated and picking them up and placing them an new pallets.

These clamps weight in at between 1500 and 2000 pounds, so this was a real struggle, even with the barn forklift. After three hours, I had all the clamps up and on pallets.

While I had planned on having all of them to the NAPA store by days end, I only had one by five thirty.

Pepa had asked me about a flat on one of his trucks so while I had the service trailer with the compressor I went by there to air up his flat. After I finished and killed the truck and compressor engines, I could hear a rapid leak. A quick inspection revealed the head of a large rivet, lodged in the edge of the tire tread. This tire was going to require a patch.

During my afternoon at the farm shop, I fielded a call from our commercial insurance agent. I had been expecting it. Our annual policy renews in nine days. This is a major expenditure to the tune of about $4000+ dollars for each power unit for liability and comprehensive, and about $600 for each units cargo insurance. Then there are the fringe policies for comprehensive, general liability and for extra trailers and such. I am very leery to cancel any of it the way thieves have been working in our area.

It is at this time of year that the insurance companies run all the drivers licenses, checking for violations and accidents.

Earlier this month, the little wild man had an accident. So far he hasn't received a citation, but all the new paper coverage pointed towards an at fault accident. Today's call was to inform me that our current carrier has chosen to exclude this driver.

I had been fearful of this, and had taken some other precautions to increase the leverage we have with our agent. I have two other companies quoting the same insurance. If they come back the same, there is nothing I can do. I one or both elect to cover this driver, I can negotiate with our current agent.

After he call today, I let the cat out of the bag and told her there were other carriers quoting. I could tell she didn't like it, but that is the way the cookie crumbles.

May the best agent and quote win!

A very distressing event occurred this past Saturday. It involved two "friends". And I use that word very loosely. One of these men sold the other some pulling equipment he use to compete with. In the course of the deal, he also sold a tractor chassis that did not belong to him. It belonged to Fred, and now belongs to Jason. Everyone in the country and in the pulling fraternity knows and knew this. However this one man must have thought with Fred gone, no one would question it. Probably the saddest part of this is the purchaser knew. He just chose not to acknowledge.

In my books, both parties are guilty.

I have had dealing with one of the parties before, and I know first hand they have been guilty of theft of fuel and equipment. In fact I have been told by another person who actually witnessed this thievery.

I guess you can't change your spots. Once a thief always a thief.

You can go down to First Badist Church Every Sunday, sit on the front row, run the lights and television cameras, and sing in the choir, but you're going to need a lot of help to get through those Pearly Gates! (Maybe you can steal them!).

This particular family owns a business here in town and like to portray that they are pillars of the community.

I vote for pillars of salt!

Well I ahd better get, I am doing the Cowboys no good tonight and now they are trailing.

Hope your Monday was better than mine!

Have a day!

FATHER, I need a lot of help!

I have been extremely short on patience lately. Probably the worst area is truck drivers. The next worse would be vendors.

My question to both would be, "Why can't they tell the truth?"

I have always said I can handle things as long as a person is being truthful with me. Nothing infuriates me more than to learn that someone has been trying to play me.

We have one vendor who has been promising to pay up for the last month. We have another who went so far as to tell Trc that he had a check for us. After sending a truck by to pick it up, this proved to be untrue.

I have one truck driver who is falsifying records for pay. This is the same driver who has been extremely rough on equipment. You ask him about damage to his truck or trailer and he will have a story that has more holes than swiss cheese. He tells me forklifts have caused the damage. I tell him if he allows them to bump and bang, he is still the one I hold accountable.

I like one story I heard about Jason. A forklift operator at the compress kept banging into Jason's trailer, even after Jason asked him not to. Finally, Jason asked the forklift operator what kind of car he drove. The man told him and asked "Why do you want to know?" Jason told him, "Because I am fixing to go and start beating on it with my ratchet bar!" The banging quit.

On a front closer to home, our idiot soon to be (hopefully) ex-son-in-law is thinking he is smarter than everyone again. Recently he had told Trc he could not afford her or the three girls any more. Of course he has provided very poorly the last year, having moved out between a year and half ago and two years ago. He says the move was to have access to more work. He went months without even stopping by to see or check on the girls yet he came into town every week to see his Dad who is in a nursing home suffering from Alzheimer's. Trc went to talk with an attorney and her estranged husband had a fit. Now he was crying saying he didn't want a divorce. Trc told him that a divorce was what he said he wanted and she could make it happy. Now a couple weeks later, he has come up with an idea. He is bidding some work for an international company and it is necessary for them to do a credit check on him and his company. Now he is trying to improve the appearance of his credit so he wants a divorce where Trc's credit won't show up. Crazy thing is, everything is in his name. The only thing showing up on Trc is medical. He says this is just a business deal and as soon as he has the work he will stop the proceedings.

I don't think Trc can trust him as far as she can throw him.

He is telling her he will see to it that she and the girls can stay in the house until Kat graduates, that he wants to be a part of their lives and do all the family stuff. Holidays and birthdays and such.

I am ready for another Grisham book I think. I would love to see him pick up where he left off with his last effort and do a sequel. I was very disappointed with his last book. It seemed like he had a time deadline or page target and as soon as he hit it, he ended the book.

I still would like to see a more a realistic book (and I am not just picking on Grisham, all of them are guilty). I would like to see a book where money does not abound endlessly and maybe the main character has a wart or a limp instead of being a good looking super hero or heroine. Maybe they have personal relationship difficulties that they are working through.

I don't' know, maybe that is why their books sell, that it is an escape from real life.

I may have to revisit Five Yard Fuller.

I know, fiction is fiction.

I took some of the proceeds from my Blockbuster scratch off and went to the grocery store. Albertson's had king crab legs on sale. I bought some of them and a rib-eye and brought them home to cook for supper last night. I felt like Krl and I needed a treat!

It was delicious.

Krl had not told me when I called to ask her what she needed from the store, but I had noticed earlier in the week she had run out of her main staple ice cream, so I surprised her with a new half gallon of it! She and the pups have a late night ritual of enjoying a coke float!

I did make the drive to and from Roscoe yesterday. I had to go pick up paperwork for LLE 242. Krl didn't want to ride so I took Maple Syrple with me. use to be she did not travel well, but she does now. When we got to Memama and Pepa's she was excited. She hasn't been there but a few times but she knew where she was. She dashed into the house so say hello, jumping into Pepa's lap and greeting him before settling in beside Memama in her chair. When I was ready to go I had begun to wonder if Maple was going to stay or go home with me. Finally she hopped down and we loaded back up for the hour drive back.

I caught myself comparing travel today with travel in the past and realize that my trek yesterday would be a rare occurrence in the horse and buggy days, and I find myself wondering what our grandchildren will see.

My tomorrow has me putting bale clamps on forklifts for delivery later in the week. I also need to get the S-10 to the shop. There are several thing that need to happen in the next week to make things work. Our annual insurances renew on the 7th and I have three quotes coming on these. Next weekend will probably see some dedicated work on equipment that will be going to various cotton gins soon.

Have a day!

FATHER, I continue to struggle. Thank YOU for small victories. Help me to be wise as I plan and schedule work. YOU strengthen me.

I've had jet lag all week. And of all weeks to have the blahs, this wasn't it.

I don't travel as well as I used to. I know the weekend in Wichita Falls was not typical, but the long days and late nights seem to fatigue me more than they use to.

Monday it was here at the home office, Tuesday it was at the parts store, Wednesday was the Customer Appreciation Annual Tool Sale, Thursday at the parts store and Friday back in the home office.

The tool sale is a day from you know where. It is fast and furious all day long. I picked up donuts from AM donuts. I was there at 6:20 in the morning. Sylvia made a mix of breakfast burritos, and Hag was on the schedule to cook hot dogs and hamburgers for noon. Pat made fifteen dozen chocolate chip cookies. Customer flow was slow in the beginning, but with the pulling equipment Chris had agreements with sitting out front, there were a lot of slow drive bys and picture opportunities. Chris had five vehicles on display, two of Rian's (which he took a personal day to come) and three of Kevin and Danny's.

As noon approached, foot traffic hit a fevered pitch. By the time burger and 'dogs were on the tables, it was a packed house. Gradually, traffic thinned until mid afternoon when the road crew began breaking down and re-loading the big trucks with the rolling sideshow.

While it was substantially better than last year, the totals lagged far behind the year before last and the year before that.

I sent the little wild man truck driver with Rian's tractors to Lubbock so he would have all his equipment where it needed to be. Shortly after the truck left, Rian loaded up to catch him and show him where they were going. I was right on Rian's heels, ready to make the trek to Abilene and decompress. As I was leaving I remembered I had a call from the truck driver asking me to buy him one of the clearance "creepers" the tool sale had on clearance for $7.50. I called Rian and told him to wait and I would bring it to him. He did and I did.

As Rian continued west, I turned around and went east toward Abilene. I didn't realize it, but I had been on my feet from eight in the morning until I got in my truck to go home. As I approached Merkel, my low fuel light came on in my truck, I decided to stop in Tye where fuel had been $2.219 that morning. I made it to my normal fuel stop and pulled up to a pump and killed my engine. I opened the door and began to get out when I realized rigor mortis had set in. My back, my hips, my knees, and my feet all seemed to refuse to acknowledge the instructions my brain was sending. It was kind of like my body was asking my brain "how do we walk!" No telling what the cashier in the fuel stop thought!

I could not believe how stove up I was.

This week was not one for sleep. I guess too many things are going on in my pea brain. I woke Tuesday morning at 2:11, Wednesday at 1:11, Thursday about 3, and this morning about 4. Today I made myself stay in bed until morning was near.

I can't wait until the seasonal hauling begins. I don't have homes for all the equipment, but I do have spots for some of them. I am supposed to have another meeting to discuss other possibilities.

Krl has had a difficult week keeping her trucks loaded. I had warned her that cotton would slow as the new crop neared harvest. Apparently we have entered that time of year. I had one driver work in the shop Wednesday building items we needed for the seasonal work, and building coil racks. Pepa's driver needed off Wednesday to go to the doctor, then he went home instead of going back to his truck. I keep telling myself these guys aren't rocket scientist, but it sure seems like they shoot themselves in the foot every time they can.

Then last evening Pepa's driver had a brainfart and went and got his truck and took it back to his home near Brownwood. Don't ask me, what an idiot. So that allowed me opportunity to look for loads from that area. Luckily we took two loads off the board and Krl's regular vendors provided Tuesday loads. Hopefully we are off of high center!

I have had a Blockbuster Scratch off ticket laying on the desk all week long. As many are aware this card has been perpetuated by a game card I bought in May or June, shortly after this game began. The original card has played enough to keep it winning while pocketing some of the money and buying additional game cards. I was down to the last card the winnings had produced, and to be honest I did not have a good feeling.

I am kind of odd, when I scratch a ticket, it may take days. I will work all the borders, divide all the prize and "your number" territory, and isolate the wining numbers into individual areas before ever revealing a single number.

This morning, I got serious about scratching this card.

The streak lives!

Not a life changer, but another $100!

Every little bit helps!

I am at a cross roads with my friend who is incarcerated. Krl has told me she has seen a pattern with his last few letters. I had noticed the last three letters he had began a tirade leaning toward racism and becoming a practicing homophob.

The last letter he seemed to be trying to absolve himself of any wrong. He talked of differing degrees of sin and how all he had done was "steal some cows".

Yesterday a mutual friend came into the parts store. I knew from the last correspondence, that this mutual friend had visited the prison last Sunday. We began talking, comparing stories, quizzing each other about what we had been told and comparing histories. According to what I have been told this is the second time this friend has been incarcerated. The first time was when he was a teenager for stealing irrigation motors. According to the mutual friend, this is the third lock up for this man and he told me all three have been for cattle theft.

Weird.

This man told me that if the rancher had not found his cattle when he did, they would have been on a truck and headed for Georgia in a matter of hours, that the cattle rustler had all the preparations made and his truck was ready and waiting. The rustler said if he had had one hour, he would not have been caught.

To me that is alarming. It appears he is sad he got caught, not that he did the crime. To me that indicates he may not be reformed.

For me, the difficulty is this man has asked me to write a letter on his behalf to the parole board. For me, I need to be convinced before I can be convincing.

And I don't want to be conned.

I did have one pleasant surprise this week. Wednesday when I arrived home after the tool sale, the yard was freshly mowed. It turned out that Ln's boyfriend Christian came and told Krl at the time he suffered his knee injury this past summer, we had prepaid him for one mowing and he wanted to settle up! Neat!

Have a day!

FATHER, thank YOU for YOUR blessings, both large and small. We continue to ask for relief. We pray for wisdom and guidance. Thank YOU for YOUR love!

Rian billed our weekend trip to Wichita Falls "The Father, Son, Son Trip".

That would be me, Rian and Reid. Technically, this would be Father, Son and Grandson from my perspective.

I arrived just a few minutes late at K.O.'s headquarters for our Friday estimated time of departure. When I did arrive, the two big Peterbilts were idling, pointed to the road. It took only a short while to load my bag, my hanging clothes, lawn chairs, and coolers. Then it was a quick walk around and getting in and putting the parade in motion.

In a different twist, I let K.O. lead. I don't know why, but usually when K.O. and I go somewhere in separate vehicles, I lead. Often times it is like pulling teeth to keep K.O. up. He will lag behind until CB radios might not have the range for us to talk, relegating me to check on him with my cell phone. So it was a welcome change as he assumed the point.

We were only two of four vehicles, but the additional vehicles were leaving, one about an hour and a half after we did on Friday and K.O.'s brother would not leave until Saturday afternoon.

We were headed to the TTTPA season finale taking place at Red River Raceway. The season had started in April in Priddy, Texas then moving further South before moving back to our general area.

While I haven't participated as a contestant in many years, often times I will work as an announcer or contract my weight transfer for the competition. I find I break far fewer parts since I quit pulling and began announcing. The weight transfer machine is by far the most difficult challenge I have taken on.

This year has been kind of a welcome year. I didn't announce but the season opener, and I didn't contract my weight transfer at any shows. I was un-attached through the summer. But that was O.K., it allowed me to assist Rian when he was participating. That was kind of fun because I know he enjoys it. Of course he would like to be more competitive, especially with his little tractor, but that will come. His big tractor is one of the best looking vehicles on the circuit, and I believe it will have to be contended with next year.

I was probably one of the most surprised people in the world that Rian experienced so many problems with his big tractor. This tractor had been run a long time ago as a twin engine tractor by Fred and then Jason. I figured taking a motor off would be simple enough. (The TTTPA rules call for a single blown engine, or twin small blocks naturally aspirated). It was not simple at all. He had to get a new gear for his transmission and the drive train that ran as a twin engine tractor failed as a single requiring massive re-design.

Rian and Reid were coming to Wichita Falls from Lubbock after they got out of school Friday. It would be nip and tuck if they made it before the start of the Friday show. Rian was going to spectate only, as his big tractor still has issues that will be resolved over the winter.

When K.O., his wife and I arrived at the raceway, we began unloading equipment. They are the biggest pulling team in the organization with five vehicles in three classes with three drivers. I remember a long time ago Larry (of Better Burger fame) came to Roscoe trying to buy a pulling tractor for K.O. to compete with. It seemed that K.O. had taken up with a young woman of questionable standards and values and Larry wanted to re-direct K.O.'s energies and time to activities that would limit opportunities to pursue a relationship with this young woman. While Fred finally wouldn't approve the sale of the tractor, we did hook them up with a gentleman named Lloyd Martin who had a tractor for sale. Long story short the following week they made the deal and were in business.

Although one of their vehicles was not competing (it has a recurring engine problem that will be dealt with during the winter), it was a long ordeal moving ramps and unloading the vehicles. After that it was a big deal to pump fuel into jugs and topping all the fuel tanks (most of these vehicles will burn between three and five gallons on the 300 foot track). While this was going on, K.O. was reading the weather meter and tuning on carbeurators, re-jetting and setting floats levels.

Later in the evening as it cools off the air gets better (racing term) he would return to check air quality and change the pill (orfice) in the injector systems on their blown engines.

All the time we were working to do this, K.O.'s wife and young son were cleaning and shining the pulling vehicles.

Finally it was time to tow the vehicles across the scales and staging them for their turn in the competition.

All of the competitors were competing for cash prizes and points, but at this particular pull points were extremely important as many of the season points championships were still up for grabs. At the award banquet in November awards will be given out including but not limited to a cash contingency in each class.

All of the pullers had done the math, they knew who they had to run ahead of and how many other competitors they needed between them. In K.O.'s Econo rod class, his nephew who drives one of their five vehicles, had already locked up the championship. All he had to do was hook both nights. However, K.O. was two point ahead of third place points meaning he had to run ahead of the third place points vehicle. Long story short by Friday nights end he had failed to beat the tractor and had lost one point. Saturday night would be the deciding session.

One advantage of having multiple entries in a class means you can swap equipments between them, especially if you are running equipment that is taking different approaches.

K.O. decided to roll the dice Saturday and switch the tires between his nephew's entry and his own. When all the dust had settled, the work didn't pay off and he gave up two points more to the tractor directly behind him in points and four to the tractor that won the class. End result, K.O. slid from second to a tie for third in season points.

K.O. and his pulling team ended up winning two season championships while being runner up in another and having two third place finishes. While he wasn't satisfied, I think that speaks very well. They were competitive on all fronts.

In an even more bizarre occurrence, the third place tractor coming into the final weekend of the Limited Modified tractor class vaulted over the two running ahead of it to take the season championship!

I think everyone was relieved and glad when Saturday's show was over.

I enjoyed the weekend, especially Friday evening at the pull and at the motel, spending time with Rian and Reid. Rian keeps telling me I never had a child like Reid. I beg to differ.

I had never seen Reid and K.O.'s youngest son together. Justin is 8 and Reid is 6, so they became big buds quickly. They ran and played and dug and threw clods. Boy stuff! Debbie was really good to include Reid as they went to and from the pits to the track.

In a blink of an eye, Reid can disappear. I did learn that often times even though Rian and I might not see Reid, he was usually where he could keep an eye on us. I realized this early Friday evening as Reid did his disappearing act and as Rian was walking looking for him I could see Reid moving about watching his Dad. Once when Reid saw me, I motioned for him to come to me and immediately he began moving my way. He is willing to risk getting in trouble, he just doesn't want it to be bad trouble.

Rian does a good job with Reid (with all three of the boys), explaining the whys and what fors and what is important. Reid is not stupid, in fact he is almost too smart for his own good!

Our time together was too short as Saturday morning we got up and went to Cracker Barrel for a late breakfast (Rian had to wake Reid at 9:30) and then to the track to visit with people before Rian and Reid took me back to the motel and left about 1:15 in the afternoon.

They had to be back for church Sunday morning and they were hosting a gathering at their home for 11 adults and 15 kids to watch the UT TT football game Saturday evening. Of course the Lubbock crowd was very pro-TT.

With my afternoon, I catnapped and watched some college football before K.O.'s wife drove to pick me up to go to the Saturday night pull.

Sunday morning I woke early, showered and shaved, and waited for my ride back to the track. When Debbie arrived she asked where a doughnut shop was at (luckily I had seen one when Rian, Reid and I were driving around Saturday morning) and we picked up doughnuts and kolache's. When we arrived at the track, both big Peterbilts were loaded and warming up for the trek back to Abilene. In short order, the Rv was hooked to the towing vehicle and we began our exodus.

We cruised back to GOD'S country uneventfully. Once there we unloaded my things into my pickup and we said our goodbyes. I hit the road headed from Hawley to Roscoe to pick up driver envelopes before returning to Abilene.

The rest of my evening was spent watching NASCAR and select NFL games.

It is going to take me most of the week to rest up from the weekend.

Have a day!

FATHER, thank YOU for a good weekend and for safe travel for all of us. YOU are good.

Friday. Ah.

Rian called me Tuesday asking me about how hard it would be and how long it would take to roll a set of rod and main bearings into his big pulling tractor. I told him a couple of hours, after the motor was out of the tractor. I had no problem with doing this, but I felt like the crankshaft needed to be magnafluxed to check for a broken crank. It would be extremely ugly if we rolled bearings into it and broke the crankshaft and lost many parts we might want to re-use.

Rian finally talked himself out of it. I think that is a good decision.

Rian asked me if Chris and I were going to Wichita Falls for the season finale. Two nights of truck and tractor pulling at the Red River raceway. I told him we hadn't decided. He told me he was going to go, and was taking Reid.

I talked to Chris and told him money remains tight and that I could cover the gas up and back, but he was going to have to help out with the motel, if he chose to go.

As it turns out things have really done an apple turnover shake and bake. Chris chose NOT to go. That doesn't surprise me, usually when he goes I am working the show and motel is "comp'd" or part of my deal so he can usually go for "nothing".

Rian decided they are only going for Friday night. So I figured I might just do the Friday thing too.

But, on my way home Thursday I talked with K.O. and he told me they were having to do some shifting because his brother D.O. couldn't go Friday. When he discovered I was going, he told me not to plan on taking a vehicle, I could drive one of his eighteen wheelers or go in their one-ton pulling their travel trailer.

So plans have been made and re-made. I am leaving at noon today in K.O.'s big burgundy Peterbilt. This is the same truck I took to Maxwell in May and stayed in it for the weekend.

That was a relief because I don't need to spend any money I don't have to. Collections for the business still lag. I am becoming very concerned. We got one check in the past week allowing us to do payroll and operate for the week, but now we are back to another payroll on Monday.

We have t0 have some relief.

Preparations are underway for the parts store annual tool sale. It takes place this coming Wednesday. I don't know what to expect. We have had lot of interest, and some people have already booked some items. This is a customer appreciation day where everything is at store cost. Each line we carry has an agreement to give the store a rebate on everything sold. It isn't a big money maker, but it gets people in the store, gives them a burger or hot dog or both or multiple, and hopefully a warm fuzzy feeling when they do need to make a purchase. We usually run a few "in store" specials on case quantities of items like selected oil, antifreeze and freon.

Anyhow, I had better get my day rolling. Noon will be here before we know it.

Have a day and a weekend!

FATHER, I pray for a safe weekend. For safe travel. I pray for relief for the business's finances. FATHER I ask that YOU lead us where YOU want us to go. YOUR love has lifted me.

No doubt about it, it's Monday!

Actually it all began Saturday.

Escalated through Sunday.

And I am going to remedy it on Monday!

Saturday I was running late to meet the truck driver at Pepa's shop. I had been trying to find where the bank had put a deposit. We had made the deposit on Thursday, another on Friday, and only the one on Friday had posted to the account. I am not sure how or why. I went to the branch bank and they assured me the deposit was there. I made a quick run by the house to check my on-line banking and when I was there I noticed a wet spot on the tile floor in the home office.

At first I thought one of the pups had an accident. When I went to clean it up, I discovered it was more than a small spot. I began moving boxes out of the supply closet and found more and more water. Finally, I went around into the hall and opened the doors to the utility closet. Inside I found the drain pan of the water heater filled with water and it wasn't draining. It had over flowed. I was somewhat puzzled because the water in the drain pan was not hot, it was cold. I did a little southern engineering and tried to open the drain outlet. Krl and I put down some towels and I decided we would monitor the drain pan.

All the way to and from the farm shop, I mulled over what might possibly be the problem. Finally I decided it had to be either a problem with the rain cap on the roof vent, or the hot water tank had a pin hole.

This is the second water heater we have had in this house since we bought it in 1989. If memory serves me correctly, I replaced the last one in 1999 or 2000. All I really remember is that water heater was the last thing I purchased from payless cashways before they went bankrupt. Apparently we are getting about ten years service.

Originally we had an A.O. Smith water heater. When it went out, Abilene was iced in and I had to take what I could get because many businesses weren't even open. Payless was, the A.O. Smith Distributor wasn't, and I ended up with a U.S. Craftsmaster.

I have a cousin who owns a plumbing company. They usually do new structures, but they have and will do existing structures. I had used them recently, but today I was shopping for information. I called Rick and asked what brand water heater he was using. He told me A.O. Smith, but only because that is the brand the wholesale plumbing supplier carries. He told me, there was very little difference in any of them. I asked him about price and he said there was a little variation, but not much.

So, as much as I hate it, I get to shop.

My other Monday indicator was an early morning call from a truck driver.

This man is just that. A driver. Outside of that, he can do very little. This morning he called me telling me he had stopped at a traffic light and when the light changed, the truck wouldn't move. I asked him if the clutch felt normal. He said yes. I asked if the transmission was going in gear. He told me yes. I asked if the air shifter was operating correctly. He shifted it and told me yes.

He told me the drive line was still in it, so it had to be either the clutch, the transmission or the differential. As soon as I got off the phone I had a thought. I began calling the driver back. He was putting his emergency triangles out, so he had to call me back when he got back in the truck.

When he called me back, I told him to lock his differential lock and see if the truck would move. It would. I told the driver check and be sure the rear driveline was still in it before he tried to move the truck, otherwise it would break over and beat anything in its path. In a moment he was back on the line. A u-joint went out, he said. I told him to see if he could pull the driveline out and he told me he would try. In short order he called me back telling me he didn't have the right tools to remove the driveline.

I began an internet search for mobile repair for big trucks in Laredo, Texas when I decided to call a former employee who had lived in Laredo. Not for help but for a name or number.

Finally I made a connection and help was on the way. Turned out it wasn't a u-joint, a nut and washer had come off allowing the driveline yoke to drop down when the truck stopped.

Luckily, it appears there was no damage to the driveline or yoke and the mobile service went to get a washer and nut to put it back the way it is supposed to be.

We can hope.

Rian and his family went to early morning service at Greenlawn yesterday, then Sunday School, then they made a mad dash to Roscoe to eat lunch with Memama and Pepa. I know that was a treat for them and for Memama and Pepa's regular gang. Rian said the cutest thing was Drew talking to Dakota. He calls her "Kota".

Rian went by the farm shop to get water off the seed trailer tarp on their way back to Lubbock. They were back at Greenlawn in time for evening services.

Parts of Abilene reported in excess of 4 inches of rain during this spell. Chances for more go through today.

I am cautiously optimistic. Last week Krl worked the past dues very hard. Several promised check would be going out on Friday. Today should be the tell tale day.

Have a day! I already feel like I have!

FATHER, I need a lot of help today.

Beautiful, gorgeous, bless-ed rain.

I spent yesterday at Pepa's farm shop doing some maintenance on the little wild man truck driver's truck and trailer. While I was there, the drizzle increased to a steady down pour which lasted for an extended period. At times you could hardly see across Hag's field of milo across from the barn.

The shop is a large metal building, and I have always enjoyed the sound of rain on a tin roof.

Although it was quite humid, it was cool inside the structure. Overall, it was an enjoyable time.

When we were finishing up, we had to get out into the rain to load and secure tarps and dunnage. My final chore was when the rain returned to a drizzle, I got the water off the tarp on the seed trailer that recently returned from South Texas. Apparently during its brief run down there it lost a couple of bows (which support the tarp and keep water from accumulating and stretching and tearing it).

By the times I got in my pickup, I was soaked enough to get chilled. I was already fantasizing about soaking in a tub of hot water.

I got home early enough to catch some college football. It was a very impressive day for freshman quarterbacks. Barkley and Forcier to be specific. Although I am not a fan of either program, I was awed by their poise and calm.

When I returned to civilization from my soak in the tub I was greeted by a sight for sore eyes. Krl was in the kitchen wearing a sweat suit that proclaims my favorite time of year is arriving. To add further emphasis, she was cooking a big pot of chili on the stove top.

My favorite time of year.

As much as I hate to admit it, I am fixing to be in the market for some new work boots. I hate shopping and buying and breaking in a new pair of boots.

It is amazing to me how much feet can influence the way we feel. I am one of those people that if my feet are comfortable, I am usually comfortable. If my feet are hurting I hurt all over.

A few years ago, I bought into the hiking boot thing. I loved the thick, heavy padding and the support and comfort the tall lace ups afforded. Problem is, my feet sweat. Long story short, when I came in and took my hiking boots off, they had to go outside the house. They were really lethal.

The only thing I have ever worn that came close to those boots was a pair of sandals. After a day at the jobsite, it was unbelievable how dirty my feet and sandals would be.

I guess my shoes would be the ultimate odor eater test.

I bet my money they'd gag!

Having the curse of the sweaty feet, I have always been awed by the ritual in Jesus's time of washing the feet of guests. The humbling of one's self to do what a slave might normally do, while placing the guest in a place of honor.

I think the symbolism speaks volumes.

Krl and I have had a fitful few nights of sleep. The money situation is really bothering me. Not that I am that concerned about Krl and I, but more concerned for Memama and Pepa. I know they want their trucks to subsidize their income. I may be stupid, but just the last couple of days I have begun to worry about the what ifs? What if one of our customers leaves us hanging. I wouldn't worry too much except, with the bad load situation, our customer base has been altered and we have taken loads from some people that we know are poor pay while newer customers have very little history with us at all!

I guess it finally hit home that if one of these defaults, especially one of the larger ones, it would have a domino effect on us and Memama and Pepa. I don't know if I am comfortable being in this position.

I do know that the last two days, Pepa's drivers have had brain farts that have been expensive. Foolish choices and lack of attention have ruined tires and wheels, requiring road service which have been very expensive. Knowing Memama and Pepa's position, Krl and I have tried to take care of anything that has come up.

To put a cap on the trucking week, the little wild man truck driver left the farm shop headed to his home in Lamesa. I had finished up getting the water off the tarp, then headed to Abilene, making one stop enroute. Just as I entered Abilene, my cell phone toned. It was the little wild man. "Hey, I had an accident coming into Lamesa. My light was green and I started through the intersection and it went straight to red. I never saw amber. An elderly lady began crossing and I took evasive action and braked hard, I made contact with the right front of my truck on the left side of her car between the front wheel and the driver's door".

I asked if he was alright, then I asked about the lady. Then I instructed the driver to take pictures and gather information.

The little wild man told me the lady was complaining of pain in her arm and of hitting her head. An ambulance was summoned and the lady was transported to the ER.

The driver was six blocks from his home.

Krl told me I sure was easy on the little wild man. I told her he was upset and un-nerved enough. When he finally got home, he called me and told me he was still shaking.

I am afraid this may disqualify him for insurance reasons. He had been accepted a year ago on a probationary basis, pending a ticket coming off his driving record. It did, but he got another one right after that so he remained in the same situation. Now if he has a fault accident, insurance may balk.

Thing is, insurance renews in three weeks.

And finally, I had better mention some birthdays. I know I missed Colby's this past week. #30 if I am counting correctly. And Coach will have one a week from yesterday, #51 if I am counting correctly again. If I missed anyone else in September, it is not intentional. Happy Birthday!

A final note, B.L.H. a relative on Rian's mothers side who lives in Lubbock and allows Rian to store some of his treasures out at his place, and who has driven a truck for Rian and worked with me at the seasonal work a couple of times, had a medical issue this past week. B.L. called Rian and told him he had suffered some "mini" strokes. At the time Rian called me, they did not think there was any severe or permanent damage. We will hope this remains the case.

Have a day and a weekend!

FATHER, thank YOU for YOUR blessing of rain. FATHER I ask that YOU bless Krl and I and help us to make good decisions concerning our small business as these decisions affect others. I lift up the lady injured in the accident yesterday and B.L. for YOUR miracles of healing. Bless them and restore them to full health. I know YOU are faithful to meet our needs!

O.K., here is one I am sure most of you have been waiting for.


On average an adult in the United States will use 57 sheets (or squares) of toilet paper, per day.


I heard this during the impossible question the other morning with Fearless and the Wop. (That is Rudy and Pete for those of you who don't know. They are a morning radio show here in the Big Country.


Lots of things going on. Money, there is not enough of it.


It would appear things are beginning to move in Trc's world. It seems Brntly came in and told her he wanted a divorce, telling her he couldn't afford her or the girls any more. They were too high maintenance. As much as we all knew this was coming, it is still a shock to hear him say it. For a few months I had been telling Trc he had an agenda and if she continued to just react instead of being proactive, she was going to find herself in a bad situation.

Reality has struck home. This morning she is visiting with an attorney. Later she is going to check on available aid. Medicaid, food stamps. I told her it doesn't cost to enter.


Although Brntly has been living in Angelo for the last year and half, he had deserted them long before that.


I wish we were in a better position to help her, but with us not going back to the seasonal work, resources are limited.

I know the roller coaster she is on emotionally.

She is fixing to learn a lot about herself. And she is fixing to learn a lot about her mother and things Trc had no idea were going on when they found themselves abandoned when Trc was just a teenager.

A relationship is work.

We have had an on going dialogue at the parts store about today's generations expecting to leave home, get married and start at the same point their parents were at when they left their parent's homes. It doesn't work like that. To get where parents are at, it has taken the majority of their lifetime and it hasn't been without sacrifice and hard work.

The girls are fixing to learn an economy mode. Trc knows it, she just forgot it somewhere.

Brntly quit college either three or nine hours away from his degree. He said he didn't need a diploma. He discouraged Trc from going to school, and she never even completed her associate degree. When Lrn graduated, Brntly saw no reason for her to go to college. He didn't have a degree and he had done alright, why would she need one?

I guess that is one of the things about him I don't understand. Most parents want their children to do better.

I feel his discouraging Trc was a way of making her dependent. For 20+ years she has dedicated herself to their family, and helping with whatever venture Brntly was pursuing at a given time. Now when he has decided he doesn't want her or the girls, she finds herself in a position where she has no job training or skills.

Krl has been working her trucks hard. Thankfully things have turned around as far as back hauls go. Unfortunately, the receivables have not been rolling in. I think for the week, we got one check in. Knowing the bind that Memama and Pepa's trucks have put them in, we flowed it right through to them, yet they were still short of what they needed.

Yesterday at lunch, it was Memama, Pepa and I. We talked quite candidly. Pepa has been very critical of my handling of the seasonal work contract situation. He has been very vocal that I should have been more willing to compromise. That was not and is not the problem. The problem was after the terms of the agreement were negotiated and we were verbally told, "We have a deal", the contract came and was not what we had negotiated. The current general manager has only been there for a year, yet I have already caught the man in several lies. Obviously he is not as honorable as the longtime general manager he replaced.

Krl and I talked at length about what to do with the "new and improved contract". We decided to let our attorney look it over, and he reinforced our doubts about it. He contacted the seasonal work who had their attorney contact our attorney and they began trying to work out the kinks between what they presented us with and what we agreed on. Krl and I decided if the general manager made the changes to reflect what was agreed on, he might be o.k.. If he did not, we probably didn't need to work in that situation.

If what I am hearing is correct, we may be leading a parade.

We are still confident that GOD has something bigger and better in store for us. We are just having a little problem with waiting for HIS time frame. I know, patience is a virtue.

This is an area I find myself struggling right now.

I have been flattered by the South Texas guys who have worked for us the past fourteen years. They continue to call telling me that the general manager has asked them to work directly for him, but they would prefer to go wherever I go. I have told them to do what they need to do.

One thing I have not done is try to handicap the general manager or my former sub-contractors. I have given all of them contact information to put them in contact with each other.

I was very impressed with President Obama's speech to Congress about health care reform. I like what he said, I just don't know how it is going to be achieved. I like no pre-existing conditions, I like the fact that providers cannot cancel you just because you get sick.

I was very disappointed with Representative Wilson's disrespectful outburst.

I received a correspondence yesterday from a friend and he was really trashing the President and the Democrat controlled Congress. I have a real problem with him trying to tell me all of this has happened since our last Presidential election. I am still very thankful our President is trying to lead.

That is much better than that last white boy we had in Washington.

I have had several people tell me that many of the problems we are experiencing as a nation go back through the Bush administration and into the Clinton administration. I don't know if I would take it that far.

Well, have a day!

FATHER, I seem to be struggling again. I bet YOU get tired of hearing that. I continue to pray YOU will lead us where YOU intend us to be. FATHER, I pray for Trc and the girls. That they will make good decisions, and that YOU will give them the strength, guidance and faith to get them through a difficult time. YOU are good.

Rian and I talked over the weekend.

I am amazed with him. Growing up, he didn't care to read. Nor did his sisters. Now it seems every time we talk, he is reading something.

He isn't an avid reader like his dad or his mother. He takes his time. Often his choices are work or church related, which sometimes means they are a little dry. However, when he tells me I need to read something, I usually do.

He was telling me the average "professional life" expectancy of a classroom teacher who gives 110% is 3 to 6 years.

That is unsettling.

Rian was at the Estacado football game at Lowery Field in Lubbock Friday night. It seems one of the three principals from Dunbar is required to be in attendance.

Rian was on the sideline, knowing many of the coaches from his days coaching in LISD. When half time came, a coach approached him, asking "are you Mr. Freeman?" Rian said yes. The coach continued, "I coached at Dunbar, my last year there was the year before you came. One of our student athletes was a boy named TJ. He was belligerent, had and attitude, and the nicest way I can put it, he was a turd. I knew he would be coming to Estacado, and I wasn't looking forward to it. What a pleasant surprise to find the new TJ arrived on our campus. He is courteous, he is hard working, he is a changed young man. I have asked around about what changed this out of control boy into the new model. The only answer I found was Mr. Freeman took him in.
I just wanted to meet you and say thanks and keep up the good work."

Priceless.

Rian knew TJ was somewhere in the stadium, and called the young man's cell phone. "I talked with one of your coaches, and we need to talk", Rian told TJ.

"Mr. Freeman, I didn't do anything!", TJ exclaimed.

Rian told TJ how proud he was to hear the good things the coach had to say, and that he was just as proud at that moment of TJ as he is when Reid, Holt or Drew receive accolades from their teachers. He finished his praise by reinforcing what he has preached to TJ, make good choices, and work to build character.

Pat called me yesterday. She had gone outside to have a little space. It has been the Dove Hunter Hotel at her house the past week. Hunters began arriving last Monday. The last hunters will be gone by noon today. Add the fact that she has had Chloe this week, and she has had her plate full. She said she fixed thirty-six pieces of chicken fried steak Saturday, and by the time she got a chance to eat, it was all gone. And that wasn't the only time that happened during the week.

I don't know how she does it.

Pat had gone to Palestine last week to accompany Steph to Huntsville/Conroe to do some testing and job interviews. She accepted a job in Conroe and they spent the remaining part of their weekend looking for a house. For the last year she has looked for employment in her area of expertise. It seems she has a deadline to complete a few thousand hours of clinical work before she can be licensed. She has about half of her clinical, but only has about a year left to complete it. Otherwise she will have to back off for a couple of years and then start over.

JR went to his bosses and told them what was going on, trying to be a stand up kind of guy. He told them he had no intention of quitting, but that Steph had to get in a situation where she could complete her licensing. They prepared a letter of commitment for him to sign, saying he would stay through April 15, 2010. He signed it.

Basically, he signed on for a four hour commute once they sell their house in Palestine.

On Friday, JR's bosses told him they were actively searching for his replacement and once he or she was hired, JR would be the temporary help. What a crock.

Jr and Steph listed their house on Wednesday night and Thursday morning they had two people come by to look at it.

Pat said they were moved in and ready for Chloe to come home.

Well, my lawn is beckoning me.

Have a day!

FATHER, help us to make good choices. Help us to be supportive. Help us to be proactive. Thank YOU for the rains. Bless and watch over all those who are near and dear to us. Love lifted me!

I can't watch ESPN College Gameday without re-living our trip to Norman, Oklahoma to watch The University of Miami play Oklahoma. The atmosphere is electric, hours before kick off.

Probably the biggest thing that television betrays to viewers is speed. I don't care if it is on a race track or on the football field. The players are big and fast! The cars, just a blur.

If you have attended a game at Norman, you know what I mean when I say that the field is close. There is very little room between the sideline and the grandstands. The angle of the seating is almost vertical, two levels on one side and three on the other.

Loud.

Well, it has been a week. I guess the word got out on Tuesday that Max and Chris were out of the parts store because that was the most traffic we saw all week.

The truck and driver I sent to Bishop returned Thursday. That was quick. E ginned 1049 bales. It was all on the yard when he fired the plant up. If it wasn't for protecting our jobs we wouldn't have gone. Now we will look down the road to next year and hope they break their drought down there.

As luck would have it. The very first load our driver hauled, he was signaled to pull into the scales and DOT inspection area. I had told the driver to load for 80,000 and let his permits work it to the right places. Luckily, the permit did its job, the inspection went well and the driver received no write ups! He was stopped two subsequent times during his stint down south.

K.O.'s truck was pulled into the weigh/inspection station on his way from the oil mill and he received a citation for brakes out of adjustment. K.O. was questioning the validity of it because he had put wheel bearings and brakes and seals on the trailer before he sent it south so he knew the brakes were adjusted.

DOT is kind of like some plays can't be reviewed with instant replay because they are judgement calls.

Problem is, DOT judgement calls cost money!

While we didn't receive any tickets, the a/c compressor clutch went out Wednesday morning. Then the driver said the cruise control would not set when he came through Menard. I am not too concerned about the cruise, it may have a pebble under the heel of the brake pedal or it something is just not quite where it ought to be. On these trucks if you have the least bit of "applied" air pressure it would engage the cruise control.

I am so glad August is over. From a trucking stand point it was horrible. Loads were difficult, and collecting almost impossible. Without a doubt, it has been the worst month all year for receivables.

I have looked things over and thought, of all the months for Pepa to put a second truck on. He had better pray for our mailman to tote some money today!

Use to be there was a joke about a man who had one truck and was just losing a little money. He bought a second truck, figuring another truck might get him in the black.

Why on earth if you are losing money with one,would you want another?

The little wild man truck driver has been on a binge. It seems like he just can't get along for very long before he has to try to piss Krl off.

Krl keeps telling me I am on his side and defend him. I'm not and I don't. I do know that she is going to have to whip him in line herself because if I do it, it won't ever last. Crazy thing is, the little wild man had better get it in check or he will find himself bringing the truck in and getting his belongings out.

Krl is a lot tougher than me.

We had quite a thunder storm come through late yesterday. I don't have any idea how much rain we received, but it was heavy for a while. They postponed the start of Abilene High's home opener before cancelling it all together. I noticed that Roscoe's game was delayed until noon today and Permian/San Angelo Central were postponed, Wylie was cancelled.

I was talking to Rian this morning and he told me that Kyle B had driven to Liberty Hill from Frienship to scout Wylie. The game didn't happen! Cancelled!

Trc and krl had talked and decided to fix beef stroganoff, garlic bread, and fried okra for supper last night. I decided to cook one huge batch of okra on the back porch with my over sized cast iron skillet and my turkey fryer burner. It was pouring rain while I was out there cooking!

I am finding I am not a real fried okra fan. Pickled Okra? Love it! Okra Gumbo? Love it. Boiled Okra? Love it.

Fried squash? Now that is my passion! Yellow crook-necked or zucchini.

In a bit of good news, doctors have decided Ln's flu is not swine flu. One of her volleyball teammates was not so fortunate.

My run of Blockbuster scratch off game cards continues. It is amazing. The one card has perpetuated itself since June. Ninety dollars this week. And I have $20 put back from prior winnings should I have a card that doesn't win.

Man if this could just pick up a little, I could quit my day job!

Yeah. Right.

Probably since I began playing it and including the card I bought for Pat's birthday (with winnings) we are probably ahead between three and four hundred dollars. As of last week, there were nine $2.5 million instant winners and 32 $1 million dollar winners, still out.

That would be nice.

I haven't decided, but I am toying with the possibility of going to Stephenville for the TTTPA show tonight. Originally Chris and I were going to go. Late in the week he had a brain fart and decided to stay in Roscoe and go dove hunting. His cousins and aunt were coming in from Amarillo.

There was a time I cheered for 'bama and Tennessee. That was before Saban and Kiffin. Now we can lump them with Florida, USC, Ohio State, Michigan, and LSU.

Hook 'em horns!

Have a good weekend.

FATHER, rest us quickly and rest us well. Bless our efforts. YOU are good!

Wow! September. Football. Labor Day. Fall.

I want to share a little.

As readers know, Rian is an assistant principal at Dunbar middle school in Lubbock and is also the associate youth minister at Greenlawn. Rian has taken his ministry into his school, and last year would carry a group of young men to Wednesday night service and it gradually escalated to include Sunday service. There have been three or four "faithful" attendees, although at times the group saw large enough numbers that a church van was needed. A few just wanted to go along for the eats and the socializing.

Three of these young men have moved on to Estacado High School. Rian tries to remain involved in their interest.

Rian has cultivated a new group including a brother of one of the Estacado boys. Yesterday, Rian had loaded up the boys from Dunbar and was fixing to leave when his phone rang and it was Tj, the older brother at Estacado. Mr. Freeman, we are ready and waiting to go to church. Rian was not prepared for this and asked who is "we". TJ replied, it was himself and the other two "faithful" from last year. Rian made the detour and picked them up. He had to put three in the bed of the pickup.

They went to Rian and Erica's home and ate barbecue sandwiches prior to going to services. Rian said they went through all the buns and then the boys asked for white bread. He reports that the boys can sure eat!

Luckily, Erica enjoyed having them there. Can you imagine 10 boys from two to 15?

It is not unusual for some of these boys to arrive at church on Sunday morning and spend the day with Rian and his family. If the family takes a nap, they take a nap.

Recently a counselor from Rian's school came to him, after hours, and wanted to share something with him. The younger brother had been in to visit with this counselor. He wanted to visit about Mr. Freeman.

The young man began, I never knew my Dad. He was killed when my mother was pregnant with me. There have been many men, in and out of our lives. A half brother's Dad came and told us he would be all of our Dad. He was around for about six years, but now he is in jail and will be for another eight or nine months.

Mr. Freeman tells all of us boys that he loves us. I want to love him, I think I do love him, but I don't want to because I loved my Dad (the half brother's Dad)and he went away. I don't want Mr. Freeman to go away.

Mr. Freeman is the most perfect role model I have ever had, he continued, and Wednesdays and Sunday's are my most favorite days of the week. When I wake up, I know I am going to get to go with Mr. Freeman, to church and to hang out.

This story brings tears to my eyes and makes my heart proud. Rian did not tell me of this until I told him I had heard the story through a third party.

Rian's school is probably 45% black, 35% hispanic, 15% white, and 5% Asian-Pacific. Probably half of the students come from single parent homes.

I don't think this counselor betrayed a trust sharing with Rian. I think they demonstrated to Rian how great an impact he can have.

This year, Dunbar's test grades went down for the first time since Jimmy became building principal. They were rated as unacceptable, and the media has been relentless about publicizing it. They have hailed the schools that were rated exemplary while berating those that didn't.

Rian had been in a quadrant meeting with their new superintendent and she made the mistake of asking if anyone had any questions or wanted to say something. Rian seized the opportunity. He told her that the ice cream socials they had planned for the exemplary campuses he thought were great because an exemplary rating is cause for celebration. But.......... .., he continued, the teachers at some of the exemplary schools didn't work half as hard as his teachers that struggle with students that come from sub standard socio-economic situations and these are the teachers and administrators who need the encouragement.

The students have to be encouraged and convinced that they too can excel. They have to develop that confidence in their ability.

And it all starts with one.

I think these teachers and administrators need to realize how great an impact they can have on a student.

Of course, rewards often may not show up on paper.

I can't think of a more fulfilling feeling than to know that you've made a difference.

Of course teachers will tell you if their students excel, the next year they will be presented with student that are more challenged. It is a vicious circle.

Have a day!

FATHER, help us to be more selfless.

I think I am going to go green.



Forget the plastic.



For those of you who have followed the moneycard fiasco, I now have a new story to tell.



I decided to keep fuel to the truck I sent to South Texas, I would give the driver a check card I received from Compass Bank. Last summer I had opened an account at Texas State Bank in Bishop and soon after they were bought by Compass.



I had never activated the card. In fact, when we returned from South Texas, I drew that account down to just a few hundred dollars, leaving just enough to keep the account open with no charges. Last Friday I had Trc call the bank to see when funds would be made available on the card if you deposited cash and also by check. Instantly with a cash deposit, Eight P.M. same day if a check was deposited.



That would work, so I activated the card and had Trc run a deposit to the bank. Both of these occurred Friday afternoon.



My driver left Sunday and at noon Monday decided to make a fuel purchase. When he was through he went inside, and gave the cashier his card.



It was declined. The driver called me.



I couldn't help laughing. Me and debit cards have not had an easy go of it.



I got out my card activation sheet and called the hot line. I keyed the necessary prompts, and finally got to talk to a person. I explained the situation and she put me on hold, then another person picked up and I repeated my story. Yes, I was told, the card was auto closed for dormancy. I asked how that was, the card was activated Friday and they closed it on Saturday? I asked the customer support representative what we needed to do to re-open the card. He told me I would need to go to the nearest branch and have picture identification with me. I slipped on my shoes and drove to the Buffalo Gap branch and met a lady named Jan. She was extremely helpful as we went through the process. Luckily, we were able to re-open the card after almost two hours.



And my poor driver was sitting at the fuel stop all that time.



The best laid plans of mice and men!



Needless to say, my Monday didn't stay anywhere close to the script. I had planned on mowing but never got to it.

I may get an anonymous letter from the neighborhood asking me to leave.

Have a day!!

FATHER, my day is going to need a lot of help!