This past week while working at the parts store I encountered a problem I had never had to deal with.

I had a customer, who I have known almost my whole life, walk through the door and approach the counter. We exchanged greetings and I asked, "What can we do for you today?"

"I need a .......... . . .. . .. . a .. .. . ...... .. . . . . . a . . . . .. .. . . . .. ", he replied, "I forgot what its called."

He stood there using his hands forming an unidentifiable shape, while trying to think real hard.

After several uncomfortable minutes, I began a conversation going back to his last visit to the parts store when his quest was a "V"-belt for his lathe.

"Did you get your lathe fixed?", I asked.

"No, I haven't even thought about it since I was in here the other day", he replied.

We talked some small talk before I came back to the current visit to the parts store. "What are we working on today?", I asked.

"I put a hay bale lift on Big John's pickup and the switch isn't working right. I can take the hot wire off and touch the other terminal and it works like it is supposed too", he said.

All the sudden you could see the dots connect and he said, "That's what I need. A switch. A solenoid switch!"

Whew, that was uncomfortable for me and I know it had to be embarrassing for the customer. Thank goodness, we worked through it.

The majority of my Friday was consumed gathering parts and supplies. Eight stops in all. Almost $300 total. I hope I have everything I need.

I have not talked with the little wildman truck driver to see how we are going to do this. He is supposed to come on about eleven in the evening, so he is probably going to want a nap before beginning the shop work.

I did talk with Rian late Friday and he was quizzing me about gassing a snake den. He and a hunting friend are going to Roaring Springs early Saturday to go deer hunting, but when they are done deer hunting he is wanting to go and gas a big rattlesnake den.

This past week I had been talking with people, trying to find someone who might go and collect the snakes from this den. Now Rian just wants them gone.

This place belongs to his in-laws, and last time Rian and his father-in-law went there they killed eleven or fourteen rattlesnakes. Last weekend when Rian and his two oldest boys went there, Rian killed four snakes.

I think that is the main reason Rian wants to rid the farm of the snakes, so he can be more comfortable taking the boys.

Rian comes by his dislike for snakes honest. His Dad hates them too.

But, my plan would be to find someone who enjoys snake hunting. Especially with the market what it is now.

Rian's plan is to back his pickup to within ten or twelve feet of the den entrance, start the gas going in, and then him and his friend getting in the back of the pickup and shooting the snakes as they flee the gas.

I asked Rian what was going to happen if the snakes exited so quickly they couldn't shoot them all and they got under the pickup, how was he going to get in the pickup to leave. He told me if that happened he would do that old Bo and Luke Duke deal and crawl over the top and enter through the window.

I am up and an unholy hour again. I find it difficult to get comfortable lying down. My shoulders have been a problem, as they still are, but now my hips seem to ache as well. Krl had been complaining to Trc of not sleeping well and they changed some things with our mattress that may take some adapting to.

I had a call from the old seasonal jobsite. I must admit, this is the most enjoyable phone call I have had. I will not identify the caller however.

The call came as I was going around Sweetwater and lasted until after I had killed my pickup in our driveway. Here are highlights from that conversation. "Hello, how are you?" I asked the caller.

"Oh Mr. Freeman, I'm O.K.. Not really though. I'm not very happy. No one is very happy. I don't know if any of these guys will be back after this year. Plant employees are complaining, truck drivers are complaining. The plant is not running very well. The changes Mr. Turner made to increase production have not done that, the new equipment has not run like it was supposed to and production is down almost a third. I think maybe this job is to big for Mr. Turner. Mr. Turner is not very smart!", the party on the other end said.

I couldn't help but laugh! I don't want to wish bad on any of our friends and former co-workers out there, but if Mr. Turner is in a pickle I can think of no one more deserving. (As you can tell I consider him neither a friend nor a former co-worker).

I must admit, it is an odd feeling to plan for Thanksgiving and Christmas knowing we will be home!

Ain't life grand!

Ahhhhhh!

FATHER, thank YOU for small blessings! Thank YOU for Ollie getting out of the hospital, and for Phoo Doo's recovery. YOU strengthen me.