"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!