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.