My Monday ended on a high note. I got a text message from Jason saying the Coyonosa forklift is doing good. I'm not holding my breath though. I spent some time with my hydraulic man and he is waiting for pricing on the custom made one piece cylinder seals. He is now more optimistic that these seals won't be as pricey as he once thought! We could have pricing today and could have the seals before the end of the week. I told him I am interested in two of the seals. We are going to keep the dimensions and the company making them should have the order information on file. Once they load the dimensions in their computer it should be no big deal to repeat the machining.

My Monday began by making the rounds of truck and trailer parts dealers. I needed six pieces Sunday and only got one. I filled my order Monday morning.

Then it was to Sweetwater to pick up driver envelopes from Loop, then to the farm shop to work on the little Peterbilt. I had taken a "good" radiator from a truck that wrecked several years ago, flushed it out, drained it and readied it for installation. My biggest concern was how I could guide the radiator mounting bolts into the bushings and washers while operating the forklift! But it proved to be very easy! Hey, I not only am a farm boy, I graduated from RHS! Improvisation!

Now my biggest concern is the radiator itself. I opted out of taking it to a radiator shop and spending $$$$ for them to check it out.. A former mechanic familiar with the wrecked truck told me it was a new radiator prior to that truck's accident. Oh well, time is my most plentiful and cheapest commodity!

Sometimes you just have to roll the dice!

My driver search is spazzing. The man who wanted to drive, now has recanted, and he would have been a good one! He was going to refer a friend, but that hasn't happened either! I have K.O. looking through applications.

I may have learned something about my friend yesterday, but I am going to wait before I vocalize. I am looking at his drivers, lease operators, and my brain is wondering.

It would probably slow my world down if I don't find a driver. I could go out there and drive myself. Often I tell my guys that the easiest thing in the world to do is crawl in that cab and shut the door! It is outside that cab that all the baloney starts!

My two biggest obstacles to doing that are the forklift seal in Coyonosa, and that Pepa called me yesterday telling me we could begin cutting stalks and plowing up terraces.

Let me put that on my list.

It appears that Pepa's first farm made close to a bale to the acre. With current cotton prices that is excellent. The custom harvester was on the last cotton farm yesterday. That farm appeared to be better cotton, but the plants were thin. it will be interesting to see if it was good enough to make up for the thin stand (low plant population).

Dang, if it does as well as the first farm Pepa could find himself in a tax bracket!

I wonder if that would qualify as a rich relative! Heh, heh! I bet he puts one of his bathtubs in every bathroom in his house! (Just joking).

52 days in the Ollie countdown! We are contemplating holding Christmas until she is released.

Krl has been putting up decorations. We put the tree up Sunday. For some reason when Trc put the tree up, she unplugged all the permanently attached lights. It was like a puzzle finding all the appropriate plugs. That kind of defeated the purpose of buying a tree like that! It has delayed the hanging of ornaments, but there are a few. I have always enjoyed all the Christmas scenes scattered about the house, especially the collection of Santas!

Well, have a day!

FATHER thank YOU for a productive day! I enjoy days like that! :-) I pray that this day too will be blessed. I lift Ashlyn Kate today as she has surgery. I lift her doctors and nurses for YOUR guidance and ask YOUR gifts of healing for her and that YOU would strengthen and anchor her family. I lift Rebecca for YOUR continued gifts of healing and care. May all we do glorify YOU!

AISD football teams, (and more from surrounding area), exit stage left!

The field is getting thinned out! Not a whole lot of teams play football in December!

And in collegiate ball, the grim reaper had a very sharp scythe. Boise State, Alabama (again! yes), Florida, LSU, Oklahoma State, Texas.

The reaper was stacking fire wood!

And, Randy Shannon. University of Miami cut him lose. While their intentions might have been admirable, I have always felt the man was somewhat over whelmed. I also feel that no player ever got a total commitment from him. At that elite level, confidence is a must and Coach Shannon never made his athletes feel he was confident of their ability.

Now the message boards are busy touting Mike Leach as the likely replacement. There have also been calls for a return of the bad boys of the nineties. One poster even went so far as to say forget graduation rates, win. If that is the mentality, Leach is their man!

The University of Miami is really unique. A private school with an enrollment of about 8500 students. The goals of the administration and alumni are quite lofty attempting to compete with schools much much larger! Their scholarship program is very different, they have a waiting list of alumni waiting to sponsor incoming recruits. If memory serves me correctly it cost 17 to 18K per semester to sponsor a scholarship for a student athlete. Per capita, Miami alumni donate more to their Alma mater than any other university.

Maybe they can buy them another National Championship!

Well, I have to get busy! I have one week to find a replacement driver for one of the Loop trucks! Actually I am thinking about swapping out one of the trucks when I finish the repairs to the little Peterbilt truck at the farm shop. It isn't pretty, it isn't fast, but it is probably the most fun truck we have to drive! I love to take an older truck with less horsepower and tote the load! I particularly like to compare weight tickets with some of the guys in those big pretty trucks. The ugly duckling usually totes 2 to 3 more tons per load!

Cha ching!

I have a guy wanting to drive from Corpus Christi. The problem is getting him qualified in this time frame. I would love to get on the truck and drive. That would sure simplify my world, but it sure makes it difficult to do all the extras (like work on forklifts).

I did spend a little time with my hydraulic guru Saturday morning. We are both baffled as to the forklift packing failures. Come Monday we are looking diligently for the one piece seal! I have now invested over $350 just in gas to and from Coyonosa. I don't even want to think about costs of seal kits and hydraulic oil.

Today I plan to bring Krl's Christmas tree into the house! Fa la la la La! Bah Humbug! Actually we are having talks about waiting to have Christmas after Ollie is released January 21, 2011. At present we are thinking about just having children's Christmas. I have always wanted to do Christmas where whatever gifts you gave, you had to make. No one else shared in my idea.

Have a day and a week!

FATHER, wow, I am spazzing! I pray that you will help me in the search for a new truck driver. I continue to lift up Ashlyn Kate and Rebecca for YOUR miracle of healing. I pray for Ashlyn's surgical team on Tuesday, that their efforts would be rewarded. FATHER we acknowledge that YOU are the great physician and pray for positive results for both of these children. Through YOU, all things are possible.

It was the day after Thanksgiving and back to business!

The business of the day was forklift repair in Coyonosa!

By my return home last evening at 9, I had put in 493 miles!

The packing, or backing behind the seal failed again. I am and was so disappointed. We had made a change, only to have it fail as well. Later this morning I am meeting my hydraulic man to assess and discuss the failure and options.

I am still leaning toward a one piece seal, even if it has to be custom manufactured. Sometimes the most expensive fix is the cheapest.

I have four errands on my plate this morning.

It is pretty cool in West Texas today. I just hope the wind doesn't blow today!

Rian, Holt and TJ went deer hunting at Roaring Springs yesterday. The made some changes at the farm, didn't get a deer but killed two rattlers. Rian pitched one of the rattlers on the pickup tailgate to cut the rattlers off for Holt. When he turned around Holt was holding the snake up (Rian had cut its head off already) and the snake was longer than Holt was tall! "The Great White Hunter", as they call Holt, is fearless! TJ was even amazed and appalled at Holt's hunting prowess. Rian said they sat in the deer blind over an hour and a half and Holt never said a word. Pretty remarkable for a four year old! (Almost five).

I am usually fearful about the snake population out there and the boys, especially Holt. But, any snake with a lick of sense knows if it bit that boy the snake would die!

I was listening to see if I heard a scream when Holt handed the rattlers to his mother when he got home, but I never heard it!

Have a weekend!

FATHER, rest me quick and rest me well!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I went to Memama's for a late lunch, having wakened early and began meal pieces for Krl's and my Thanksgiving supper. Memama told me she was going to have lunch at 1-1:30.

Wrong.

Pat and her family (minus Steph and her fam) arrived and unloaded a bevy of casseroles, ham and turkey. Memama had ham and turkey going along with an entire bag of potatoes for creamed potatoes, and a selection of vegetables, complimented by rolls and biscuits!

I ended up helping with the creamed potatoes. I felt sorry for her mixer! I probably need to send it to Tim the tool man to get it souped up a little! Aargh! aargh!

We were a little short on mouths to feed as coach and his family were in Dallas and Linda and Joni went to Liberty, Jake Lindsay and the twins ate at her grandmothers but did come to visit, and I was the only representative from my family.

Needless to say, there was plenty of food! As usual I over did it when I fixed myself a sampler plate! And I didn't even get to the pies! There was one turkey still cooking when I left!

Then I returned home to get busy!

Krl finally got hungry and ate before going to bed early.

Can you believe someone snuck into our home and piled dirty dishes in our sink! I can, and the dish washer ran at least once during the day!

My Wednesday was a long day. I arrived at the gin at 6:06 a.m. The gin went down at 7:09 and was down until 6:20 p.m.. I ended up helping K.O. at his shop, loading cotton seed and looking for things that needed to be done!

For me, that is a harder day than if you work your butt off!

Late Wednesday I received a call from Jason. Forklift problems in Coyonosa. Same machine, same problem. Dang the luck!

I have spare parts in my pickup and after doing a little cleaning in the kitchen I am heading there to repair it for the third time!

Here is hoping the third time is a charm!

Have a day!

FATHER, thank YOU for all the blessing YOU pour down upon us! Thank YOU for JESUS. I continue to lift Rebecca and Ashlyn Kate for YOUR gifts and miracles of healing. I lift those who have suffered loss and ask YOUR comfort for them. I pray for safe travel for all those traveling. To YOU be the glory! Great things YOU have done and will do!

'Twas the Tuesday before Turkey day 2010 and not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse! But there were probably lots of visions of "birds" and hams and all the trimmings of the banquet meal coming on Thursday!

Don't know what my Thanksgiving plans are at this point in time!

For the first time in a while I am going to NAPA today! We are supposed to have an inspector coming to certify the parts store as an inspection station and to certify us as inspectors! However, we have not had a confirmation call from the area inspector. She had given us three days to choose from and we chose Tuesday! It could be a long day if we wait all day!

I had driven to Roscoe yesterday to work on the little Peterbilt. I had lunch with Memama, Pepa, Pat, Steph, and Chloe! Ran by the NAPA store and never found my groove after that.

I was ADDHD.

Just saw a couple of news clips. In their own way both are alarming. North and South Korea exchanged weapons fire for over an hour yesterday. And Oprah gave each member of her studio audience a 2012 Volkswagen Beetle along with an Ipad and other items.

For their own reasons, both of these events unsettle me.

Tomorrow is at Anson for K.O..

Have a day!

FATHER, thank YOU for all the blessings YOU pour down on us! YOU are indeed good!

I left Abilene shortly after eight Sunday morning. Destination Lamesa, Texas with a turn around point at Loop, Texas. Ultimately heading north from Abilene to Hawley and Anson.

Objective, to pick up driver envelopes for the previous week and get them to the office ASAP to be processed for pay since it is going to be a short work week! The OBT office is closing from Wednesday on for Thanksgiving.

Another almost 400 miles in the books. My poor little pickup truck is so tired! Count me in on the tired as well! I did an awful lot of driving this week. It sure would have broken up the monotony if I had had someone to talk or argue with!

I had a strange happening occur at our pharmacy on Thursday. I walked in to pick up a prescription that had been lost for a week. The cashier retrieved it and I paid her, only to have her tell me that due to a new company policy she could not put my medicine in the bag, the pharmacist would have to. So I got in line to have my medicine bagged. When it was my turn I could not help but comment to the pharmacist that he has a lot of education to be just a sacker! He didn't share my humor.

As if it matters to any of you, my week looks like this. Farm shop at Roscoe on Monday. NAPA store in Roscoe on Tuesday. Working for Kevin @ Anson on Wednesday. (I have to be at the gin in Anson by 6 a.m. Doing a 12 hour shift.).

Have a day!

FATHER, I need a little pick me up!

Right at a thousand miles and almost $200 in gas and the forklift repair is done. Once again.

At this precise moment in time, this operation is running like a well oiled machine with a digestive disorder!

It could go South at any moment!

Just kidding!

Whew. I am jet lagged! Lots of driving for less than an hour of tear down and repair. I am hopeful this is the end of the trouble. I am totally baffled as to the "why". If I had stored the machines outside I might be able to explain it, but I didn't and they weren't and I can't.

Each time I have gone to Coyonosa (now totalling three times) my fuel mileage has improved. The first time I was pulling my service trailer and went from Abilene back to Big Spring before topping the tank to make it home. The second time I went from Abilene and back to Colorado City. Yesterday, I round tripped it. Tye to Tye! And I had a half gallon of gas to spare! I don't know if it was wind, temperature or all the above. But, yesterday my little half ton work truck (which has 193,000 miles on it) did 18 miles per gallon! Well above its historic average!

I have to run by and settle up on the seal kit at the hydraulic shop today and then stop by and pay for the truck repair earlier in the week. If order to expedite my trip, the hydraulic shop told me to hit the road and return at my convenience. The truck shop had their telephone and data lines cut by a ditching crew and they were unable to get into their system.

After that, I am going to Roscoe! I really don't want to drive, but I do need to complete the radiator R & R on the little Peterbilt.

I had a gentleman call about the older truck at Colorado City. I originally had intended to piece it out at salvage. When I priced it to him he nearly ran backward. Later in the day I called him and explained my pricing and another option. Now he is mulling over the possibilities.

On my way back into town I ran by Walmart to pick up one of my prescriptions I had been out of for a week. The doctor called it in to the wrong pharmacy and when I went there they had no record. Finally they got it to the right one. this 'script is for restless leg. Crazy thing is after taking it I have had one of the worst nights sleeping I have had in several weeks.

In a rather bizarre occurrence, when I paid the checker at the pharmacy they told me they could no longer bag the medication, the pharmacist would have to do that. I could not help myself as the pharmacist fumbled and bumbled with the bag and stapler and I finally said, "You have a lot of education to just be a sacker".

He failed to see the humor in my comment.

Have a day!

FATHER, thank YOU for the safe travel. I pray the repairs will hold, that our work would be good. I ask for a better paced day. I continue to lift up Ashlyn Kate and Rebecca for YOUR gifts of healing. Some glad morning!

"White Chevrolet pickup, you are cleared for approach and landing!"

O.K., that is a slight exaggeration.

I left the house yesterday morning and went to my hydraulic man's shop. I just wanted to clear my plan with him. I was traveling to Coyonosa to remove the ram (or rod) from the first stage forklift cylinder and I wanted to replace the two piece seal with a one piece seal. My man gave me his blessings, and I hit the road about 8.

I drove. And I stress "drove". As in like a banchi! The only stops were minimal. My parents, and WalMart in Midland. I will say that I love it when you get West of Odessa and the speed limit goes to 80. Four hours and eight minutes after leaving Abilene, I pulled up to the forklift. Fourteen minutes later, I drove away!

We were on a time frame. In order to have parts delivered this morning, I had to have the rod back in Abilene and replacement parts ordered by 4:30. I had the rod back with thirty minutes to spare. Bad news was and is, it is a metric seal and it is not available in the preferred one piece seal. There is a more narrow synthetic seal with lip, backed with a spiral packing (or backing).

The original seal had failed because of a failed spiral packing that had broken. The failure yesterday appeared to be an issue with the seal "walking" on the edge of the packing, allowing oil to pass by.

500 miles yesterday, and it would appear another 500 on tap for today. Best part is I am not on a time frame today. If I get there before dark, I have forever to return.

And, I have another Loop trip on the horizon later in the week. I received a call yesterday "pushing" me on the Loop trip and it didn't sit very well. I am a big boy and don't need prodding. It does amaze me that when my schedule is convenient for others it is great, but others can make no concessions to fit their schedules to accomodate the entire group involved. Memory bank! 'Nuff said!

As I had told you regular readers, Merrit had been moved Monday night. I did a TDCJ search Tuesday and yielded no results. Last night I repeated the search and learned that she has indeed been moved to the Woodson State Jail facility in Gatesville. 58 days remaining with her count. We got a letter yesterday that she had left with a friend to be mailed in the event she was moved and she had speculated that was where she would be moved and that she hoped it would be a transition location prior to her release. By the way, her TDCJ projected release is January 21, 2011. (That is 64 days. Don't ask me.) I sure hope she doesn't get set on a date and be wrong, because I bet those six days between would be really L-O-N-G! And I really doubt she is going to convince them she is right and they are wrong.

Well, this is not getting the job done.

Have a day!

FATHER, I thank YOU for a safe day yesterday. I ask for another today. I pray our repairs are successful. I continue to lift Rebecca and Ashlyn Kate for YOUR gifts of healing. I ask YOUR blessings on Hag as he celebrates his birthday. Great things YOU have done!

That was almost a wasted Tuesday!

I had a call Monday from a man inquiring as to the cotton strippers I acquired two years ago. I gave this man a "group price". Take them all! He asked when he could meet me to see the John Deere and I told him I would be at and around the farm all day yesterday. He never showed.

Finally about 3:30 I got a call asking "Dandy, where are you?"

I replied, "Who is this?"

"Holt Freeman" came the reply!

Rian was traveling with the Shallowater girls basketball team and I knew he was coming to Roscoe enroute to Colorado City. I didn't know that Holt was coming with him, but it was a good surprise!

After two days in the shop and another parts order, the teal Volvo came out of the shop! So far so good. I was not convinced the engine wiring harness was going to fix the issue but I have my fingers crossed! Best news was that the service manager was working on a little relief for their screw up!

And, Krl received a call yesterday from someone we don't know, telling us that Ollie had been moved from Tom Green County! We have no definite news of where they moved her although we had a couple of possibilities! Sure seems stupid on the state's part. She had just gone under 50 days until release (her count). I did a TDCJ search last evening and they have no record.

I bet the girl is spazzing!

I have been awake, trying to return to sleep since before three. I am fixing to bust out the door, get in my truck and head to Coyonosa! Forklift issue. Dang the luck! My plan is to bring the cylinder ram back with me and order one of the good seals from my hydraulic man, then return (possibly tomorrow) to put it back together!

I have only caught a little of the engagement hoopla involving Prince William and Kate (soon to be Kathryn). I have enjoyed seeing them doing interviews and really appreciate his advice to her. "Breathe".

Life in the fish bowl!

After getting totally frustrated, I finally got my computer back up! And I got my Facebook account re-instated. Don't ask me they why or what! It may have just bee a very strange coincidence.

Well, I had better get my day off and running!

Have one!

FATHER, I pray for a safe day. For good decisions. For productive work. I continue to lift up Ashlyn Kate and Rebecca for YOUR gifts for healing and care! To YOU be the glory!

I have been without my computer for almost a week. I got it back yesterday and guess what. It still isn't fixed! I am pissed off! The jerk at the computer shop told me it was fixed and ready to go. Liar!

If you are in Abilene and going to take your computer to a shop, check with me and I will make sure you don't get messed over.

One crazy side line of my computer travails is that Facebook has suspended my account for some reason, pending my jumping through hoops. Crazier thing is my computer won't allow me to jump! Heh!

I talked with Jeanetta yesterday. She celebrated another birthday! I think she has at least two to every one I have! Happy Birthday Jeanetta!

Also I have been told I missed Janice K.'s birthday on facebook, so happy birthday Janice!

Lots on my plate. Truck in shop. Forklift issue. Pickup in Sweetwater. Rian coming in to Roscoe.

I put the truck in the shop yesterday to have the engine harness installed. We have had an ongoing dialogue at the dealership for the last week! Turns out they were wrong. They ordered the harness and I carried it for a week, but it turned out they failed to order two smaller jumper harnesses. That didn't make me very happy! Not only does it mean more money, it also means another day in the shop. I think these guys fail to see that not only is it an expense to be in their shop, it is also a stoppage on any revenue.

The forklift at Coyonosa is having an issue again. Losing oil out the weep hole on the first stage cylinder. I talked with Jason yesterday and I told him I would like to bring the ram in and order one of the really good seals from my hydraulic man. Thing is it is a two day deal. AND it would involve 986 miles, start to finish!

I was driving Krl's Expedition yesterday and was only a few blocks from my house when I heard a strange noise and lost power steering. Closer inspection of the instrument panel revealed the alternator discharging too. The serpentine belt had shredded or come off. I continued home before stopping to check out the issue. I let the engine cool down for a period of time before deciding it was time to do or die. Worst part was all my tools were in my pickup in Sweetwater. So I made a b-line for a small tire shop that does repairs. Turned out the belt tensioner was going out, so an hour later I was on my way again with a new belt and tensioner and considerably lighter in my pocket book!

I am supposed to meet some men today that want to buy my cotton strippers.

And I have a man wanting me to put a price on the truck that I was planning on salvaging at Colorado City! If I could do one or both of those, things could definitely be looking up.

Cross your fingers!

Have a day!

FATHER, I could sure use a little pick me up!

Probably the one thing I miss most from the old seasonal jobsite is preparing the Thanksgiving meal for the crews. Lots of work, but very fulfilling. Those guys don't expect much, but they really appreciated our efforts!

Just don't try to feed them oyster dressing! Ha! You would have to be out of your element to understand or do that!

Lots of meat, lots of bread, lots of whole kernel corn!

With minimal help and minimal facilities we prepared for as many as 150 people.

Busy day on tap.

Have a good one!

FATHER, YOU're gonna have to carry me on this one! I am fizzed out! I continue to lift Rebecca and Ashlyn Kate for YOUR gifts of healing and care.

Yikey yike yikes!


These meds continue to really .. . . mess with me! I should have signed a DNR.


In the early part of the day I an extremely nauseous, in the late part of the day or early to midnight I am wired and can't sleep.


I drove from here yesterday to the truck shop where they had "only just begun" diagnostics. I drove on to Sweetwater to get driver envelopes and check on Memama and Pepa and do a couple of other Roscoe errands. Then back toward Abilene. More truck shop. Hawley, Anson, Abilene.


The diagnosis came in on the truck saying multiple sensor failures. They want to replace the engine harness from the CPU. Cost of harness, $900.oo. Labor to install harness, $1000! Throw in a little tax and you scare $2 grand.


Yep, it was a Monday!


Two day wait on the harness.


I told Cody the service manager my big fear is that this doesn't fix it. I hate paying for someone's education. I've done it before and don't want to do it again!

Supposed to be windy today! Cold front due in. Chance of rain Wednesday & Thursday.

Needing to send Ollie money today. Their trust department is closing form November 12 to after Thanksgiving. So she is wanting a double dose. Crazy thing is Leonard is asking for money too.

I may have to get another job to support my friends inside.

We have an appointment with an attorney to look over our mortgage modification. We received it last week and they want it back by the 12th. We may not need to, but I will feel better. I would hate to get snookered.

I have heard way too many horror stories about re-working a mortgage.

I have been without my work pickup since Sunday and I sure do miss it! Truck drivers have been using it to motor around. The splorer is still incarcerated. the splorer has not touched the ground since Glen Rose.

Since I was awake last evening I watched the Bengals and the Steelers. I enjoyed watching Jordan Shipley for Cincinnati and found I have an extremely major dislike for Ben Rothelessberger (sp?).

I am also enjoying the success that Colt McCoy is having in Cleveland.

Well, this isn't getting it done.

Have a day!

FATHER, how 'bout a little hep over here!

I will say this. The meds I now have can make me feel as badly as my cold or flu. The antibiotic is atrocious although apparently effective. With the steroid cluster it will get your attention and make you wonder if your are going to throw up or do your britches!

I am constantly amazed at how they can make our bodies do so many things with a simple medication.

My biggest complaint right now is the cough and fever.

How 'bout those Cowboys? I just do not understand. I am not a Romo fan. I think he is a flash in the pan that has already fizzled. There are too many other good qb's out there. But it is more far reaching than a single position. I think it may be about heart! I sure feel sorry for Wade Phillips.

I was very disappointed in NASCAR yesterday. Add Denny Hamlin to that Romo list. Behavior earlier this year took him off my list. I hated to see him win at Texas Motorspeedway and hated even more that he took the points lead.

About the only thing I enjoyed yesterday was when Jeff Burton put Jeff Gordon into the wall while under caution and Gordon showed a little fire when he walked down the track to have a conversation with Burton. That will probably cost both of them some $$$$$.

As much as I hate to admit it, I guess I am pulling for Kevin Harvick to win the Sprint Cup Championship.

I have already been on the phone with the truck shop this morning (at 7) and I am killing time to give them time to do the diagnostics on it. Cross your fingers for me for it to be a small, trivial, cheap repair.

We are down one truck at the seasonal jobsite, but we have a coast day today! It will probably begin getting serious about tomorrow afternoon.

Rain in the forecast for the end of the week. Bad for the harvest, good for next year's crops.

Windy again today! Drat!

Have a day!

FATHER, bless this day and my efforts!

To have had the new meds, I could tell no improvement yesterday. Still feverish, coughing, drainage.

This morning my voice vaguely resembles my voice. So I am hopeful I am on the mend. I don't feel as feverish and my drainage is diminished. Tell DMS not to start counting yet!

My meds call for them to be taken with the biggest meal of the day. I may sneak down to Mickey D's and pick up breakfast so I can down me meds. Hopefully I can split them today because the antibiotic and the cortisone cluster together sure made me nauseous yesterday.

I got out yesterday for three hours or so. I took some parts to K.O. in Anson and we daisy chained them to the Loop trucks. We have been working around seed blocks or seed catches at Loop. Monday is no different. In fact, it might be a little more complex because they are doing seed block test plots. That means it will be an all day affair!

This is O.K. because one truck needs to run by the shop to let them plug it into their diagnostic computer. We seem to have an idle issue along with something else. Crazy thing is this truck was in the shop prior to going to the seasonal work and has run less than 5000 miles and may be, I said may be, experiencing the same issues.

I have visited with Cody and he is waiting to put the truck in the door.

When this truck is out of the shop I will run it to Anson and K.O. will load it to get it back to Loop.

K.O. approached me with a different program yesterday. It is appealing. It would also not require me to be in Loop. We will have to see how it shakes out.

My steroids are really kicking in today. I think I could eat a horse.

I talked with Rian yesterday. The Hendersons were in and they had put together an very quick and impromptu birthday party for Moses and Maddie. I told Rian they were getting way out of synch since Moses's birthday is December 13. Poor little boy won't have any idea how old he is or when he was born.

Rian was also telling me that Reid's flag football team will play in the Super Bowl next weekend.

And Rian is going to the Wie (I think) ranch in New Mexico next Friday with Coach Joe (who worked with Rian at Lubbock Dunbar). It seems that Coach Joe goes Elk hunting the weekend after football is over each year and he has invited Rian to accompany him. It seems that Rian and Coach Joe became very close last year and every Friday morning Coach Joe calls Rian and checks on him visits. When he asked Rian to go to New Mexico with him he told Rian they needed a little seat time to catch up!

I got a letter from Ollie yesterday and she now has 69 days to go. I am beginning to wonder how close she has to be before they won't ship her to state jail. Of course they could probably care less. Anyhow, of course she was wanting money deposited to her inmate trust account for commissary privileges. With Thanksgiving coming up all monies have to be on deposit by the 12th of November. Otherwise it will be two weeks before they will have commissary opportunity.

Go figure, no mail on weekends, and you have to plan three weeks in advance for the employee's Thanksgiving. Excuse us, don't let us interfere with your weekends or Holidays.

Well, the Golden Arches doesn't deliver so I had better get serious about breakfast!

Have a day!

FATHER, I continue to pray for relief. Thank YOU for friends. I lift up Ashlyn Kate and Rebecca for YOUR gifts of healing and care.

I went to the doctor again yesterday. She told me my chest sounds worse now than it did. Yikes! Breathing treatment in the office, and I was hoping for another big shot in the end, BUT that didn't happen. She changed me from the z-pak to a more potent anti-biotic and a cortisone cluster for the next seven days.

I am so ready to feel better!

Regular season football is over. Once again I made it through the season without indulging in any contest. I guess the fifteen years at the jobsite made me immune to the lure.

Abilene Cooper lost their undefeated season bid last evening and they settled for being a "tri" champion of the little Southwest Conference. I am not even sure who they shared the title with but I would guess Abilene High and Midland High, but don't quote me on that.

I would like to ask a favor of my readers. My sister who lives in Indiana has a granddaughter, Ashlyn Kate, age 5, who was born with Spina Bifida. Ashlyn Kate is a great niece to me. My sister has asked me to enlist all the people I can to pray for Ashlyn and her family as she is scheduled for more surgeries November 30. She will be admitted to the hospital on the 29th. I am not sure of the reasons, but they are having to re-do the surgeries they performed earlier this year. (In the summer). Please lift Ashlyn, her extended family and doctors and nurses for GOD's gifts and guidance as they go through this procedure.

Ashlyn is getting big enough to realize what is going on and it is difficult for her parents and grandparents to deal with this and explain it to her to her satisfaction.

Knock on wood. I talked with Jason's truck driver and my forklift repair is holding so far! YES!

The seed drivers at Loop are fussing. I had calls from two of them yesterday. The final call was from the driver running the ten at night to eight in the morning shift. This driver usually sees the gin hit its stride, and twice this week he has had to call in the next truck to help him. The driver who pulls the shift before him has been shorted this week two nights and he is wanting to stay on to make his third load. The night guy says he doesn't need the help. But the loads show otherwise.

I have trimmed their time a little, but I have also told them the key is going to be communication.

Well, have a day!

FATHER, I pray for relief and healing from this cold. I lift up Ashlyn Kate and her family and medical team for YOUR gifts. I continue to lift Rebecca for YOUR miracle of healing. YOU strengthen me.

What a week!

I began to get sick last week. Saturday I felt terrible. I was taking and anti-biotic, tylenol and ibuprofin to manage fever, and living on cough drops.

Each day passing showed absolutely no improvement. I had thought about going to the doctor on Monday but instead I dealt with a forklift issue. Tuesday I didn't do a whole lot.

Wednesday I got a call and the forklift that just went to Coyonosa had a hydraulic issue. Oil escaping through a relief valve, mast leaking down. I called my dealer checking on parts and availability. He didn't have the needed parts on the shelf and while he began chasing them I began driving westward. I arrived at Roscoe and stopped in at Memama and Pepa's. Pepa was alarmed at my cough and congestion and called Christy to get me in at the doctor.

A short while later I had received a big shot in my fat asthma and had a 'script for a z-pak and cough syrup. Instructions were to go home and stay in.

My forklift man called me and told me the parts I needed were in Ontario, California. We wouldn't have them in until Thursday morning. I asked my man to figure what it would cost me for him to go from Midland to Coyonosa and to do the repair.

I didn't hear from him the rest of Wednesday, and my Dad has always told me if you have to ask for price you probably can't afford it!

Thursday morning early I left fairly early headed west. Against doctor's orders.

I picked up my service trailer in Roscoe and drove to Midland where I picked up parts from a UPS drop, then drove on. (By the way my forklift man told me two and a half hours @ 90/hr plus drive time, plus mileage, plus parts. Or in the neighborhood of $400).

I made the trek and did the repair in about one hour and ten minutes, actual working time. Am I good or what? Took the machine and tested it, and checked out another possible issue as well. Finally I loaded my tools, said my goodbyes to Gail and her staff and I headed east!

493 miles.

But the dust and cool air did not do me any good. So I am going back to the doctor today and will let them give me a shot on the other side of the great divide of my fat asthma! I figure with the weekend and all and since they had told me I was on the verge of pneumonia, an ounce of prevention is worth . . . . . a pain in the butt!

I have not heard from Jason's truck driver who has been using the forklift so I will say that is good news.

I sure was looking forward to staying in today!

I believe Fall officially arrived last night!

Have a day!

FATHER, I pray for you healing. I pray that the equipment woes will come to an end. I pray for safe and profitable work. To YOU be the glory!

FYI, my Sunday was 412 miles.

The problem forklift is repaired. Again. I think this may work. The seal or packing kit we had used the first time was from the OEM. The second time we used one the hydraulic shop ordered.

The OEM packing had a more narrow o-ring with a spiral packing behind it. The problem was that the spiral packing had an end (or tail) come out and it would get caught between the o-ring and the barrel (or wall) of the cylinder. When this would happen the o-ring could not seal and the cylinder would leak down. On the rare occasions the cylinder did seal, the spiral packing "tail" would be clear of the o-ring.

The new o-ring or seal is the full width of the groove on the piston and requires no spiral packing.

I will say that K.O. and I are getting to be real pros at removing and replacing the cylinder!

I am noticing my delete button is not working this morning. I do a little three finger shuffle with my right hand and I had never realized how much I "edit" as I type!

Seed block at Loop, two trucks by the shop in Lubbock. Neither one's heater is working. According to the forecast, it is going to get cold later this week.

One truck hauling motes.

Forklift battery for Coyonosa.

Looking for a notary.

I am so sore. A cough is a killer, a sneeze even worse. I think I am getting better because I was extremely hungry last night!

Have a day!

Oh FATHER, you know!

Well, Saturday I felt like a yo-yo.

I left Abilene for Loop and before I got to Snyder I received a call from K.O. telling me the forklift cylinder we had repaired 1 week earlier, was malfunctioning. I pulled over and we talked back and forth, and I made calls to the hydraulic shop I use after hours numbers. Finally I circled and began making my way to Anson.

What this meant was I would have to round trip it to Loop Sunday.

Dang the luck!

To further complicate my trials, I have been under the weather. To be honest, I feel rotten! I believe what started out as allergies has moved down to include, but not be limited to, my ears.

Saturday's drive to Anson revealed a forklift that miraculously healed itself.

I was hopeful that the gin at Anson would not gin on Sunday, but a mis-communication between the assistant ginner and the manager led them to gin on Sunday.

I woke Sunday morning with horrible drainage, feverish, and achey, but neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow will keep me from my appointed rounds.

I left Abilene shortly after 8 and drove to Loop, spent a few hours there collecting paperwork from drivers, then began the trek back. On my return trip I received a call from K.O. telling me the forklift had malfunctioned again! I drove directly to the gin at Anson and by the time I left I had the forklift cylinder in my truck.

On my way home, I made a stop at Walgreens for more meds.

I am so sore from coughing and to sneeze is unreal!

I'm headed to the hydraulic shop!

Have a day!

FATHER, give me a double dose today!