I sat at my computer almost all day long yesterday!

About four I got cabin fever and took a quick bath, dressed and bolted out the door! I had two of my reports in hand, and only needed to get a money order to complete them and put them in the mail.

I drove cross town to check on Pepa's truck which is in the shop, back cross town to Sam's, to Albertson's and finally a dry haul at WalMart. Last stop was the post office.

I am finding substantial savings at Sam's on over the counter meds. Especially with generics. I just wish they would put up a sign that says "This is the same as that". Maybe with arrows. It sure takes some time when you have to read and compare labels. It is getting some better as I am beginning to cycle through again.

I had found on-line that Sam's was supposedly carrying tax forms with a software program I have used in the past. (I had purchased current year software at Office Depot, but it is not the same as I have used in the past as Office Depot has released their own version. Problem is, their program doesn't talk with my old program, and exporting and importing data doesn't happen). Anyhow, if Sam's is selling it, you can't prove it by me!

Albertson's was a stop for things I didn't need a gross of. And the money orders.

Walmart was for the pharmacy, which had already closed. One of these days I will learn their schedule. I suppose the most aggravating thing is after you park, go in and return to your vehicle, you can waste an easy thirty minutes if you don't look at any thing else.

I am discovering that I am becoming one of those old shoppers you hate to get behind. I can look and compare, and just dotter around.

One report left. And it is probably the one I dread the most. 940 FUTA. Yuk! I have loaded all the W-2 info, but have yet to print them. Should be a simple process. I just have been lazy and didn't want to hook my printer up to my laptop or get its printer from the closet.

Get ready. Memory foam shoes. I just saw a segment on the tele. It amazes me how excited women can get over shoes! More so that they can get so excited over shoes that only cost $195.

Ollie begins her new job today. Not what she wants to do, but it will be a paycheck and a stepping stone to something else.

Rian spent the weekend with the stomach flu. Erica had it earlier in the week and Rian had told me he and the boys had missed it! Famous last words. In fact he is home today.

Highs in the 20's the next three days. Wind chills near zero. Lows in the teens except for Wednesday night when they are predicting 9. Brrrrrr. I'm ready for Fall.

I'm playing the middle man for Pepa. The shop called K.O., K.O. called me and I called Pepa. Rear housing oil leak on Pepa's truck. $$$$$$$. Plus two days the truck won't work. Pepa didn't want to talk to the shop, so I talked with the service manager.

Never a dull moment.

As much as I hate to, let's get this Monday over!

Have a day!

Oh FATHER, this week is getting away from me already!

I went to Southern Nights with the group Friday night. Interesting outing! The group was snaggle toothed again. Several missing. Some sick. But we forged ahead.

I had an interesting event occur. At an adjacent table there were about six people. Three men and three women. They had been drinking, their table strewn with empty beer bottles. There was an older woman who for some reason became enamored with my dimples!

She began to heckle me, asking me to smile. "Show me your dimples!", she would say. Try as I might not to, it was so funny I couldn't help but smile. For some reason this woman decided that I was partners with an attorney we have in our group and she began loudly chanting "I want to hire you!"

"For what" is a scary thought!

I asked Andi, a group member to dance, figuring if I was not available, maybe my heckler would forget me.

As I returned to my seat I learned that her forgetting was only wishful thinking. I would have to say that absence "does" make the heart grow fonder, or so it seemed from her perspective. As I sat there my table cleared, except for me. Everyone was on the dance floor. When I looked over, there sat my heckler all alone. She had introduced herself as Rhonda. She began asking me to smile so she could see my dimples again.

Finally I got up, extended my hand and said "Rhonda, would you like to dance?"

As we walked to the dance floor she told me, "I have a bad knee, so be easy with me!"

I laughed and told her, "Rhonda, show me what ya got!"

She was a hoot to dance with. I think I laughed all around the dance floor! (By the way she sure did have short arms!)

"I sure do like it when you smile and show me those dimples and teeth!", she said repeatedly.

I started to tell her if she like those dimples she should see the ones on the other end! But then she didn't need any encouragement!

I ended up escaping, dimples and reputation intact.

A brief while later, I returned from the dance floor and realized Rhonda and her group were gone.

My "partner" lawyer friend in the group laughed and told me, "That was tough! I did sell her a divorce though!"

"You too?", I replied!

We had a good laugh!

I told Krl about my close encounter of a third kind with Rhonda and she had to laugh before interjecting, "I think you like all this attention from these other women!"

I'm going to start carrying bandaids to cover my dimples in the future!

Too funny!

The last two times I have gone to Southern Nights I have seen two couples fall in the same area of the dance floor. I don't know if it is rough there, needs sawdust, or just what. I do know that I have "hung" a boot in that area myself.

I think it is possible the women are sliding backward, hit the place in the floor and begin to go down. I think it catches the guys so by surprise that they can't catch their partner and they go down right on top of them.

Kind of looks like "dog pile" on whoever in the South East corner of the dance floor!

I had a message that told me two members of our group suffered a fall on the Southern Nights dance floor last evening, although I am not sure where they were on the floor. There is some speculation that the lady might have suffered a broken rib.

I didn't know that Country Western Dancing was a contact sport!

I made a trek across town yesterday to check on Pepa's truck in the shop. I invited Krl to accompany me with the lure of eating out as a bribe. We ended up going to Chili's and having lunch ( and I had Presidentes). We brought enough leftovers home to have supper!

Doctor Mackie made some changes to Krl's medications and it remains to be seen if she is going to be able to take them. It seems their side affects are worse than their benefits.

Aunt Betsy didn't have a good day yesterday. Very nauseous, and began running a low grade fever. The doctor checked her out and decided to send her back to the hospital. Turns out her pneumonia is back. Meds ordered.

Bets had better get it in gear if she is going to make Memama's birthday party! (Incentive).

I have made the decision to get me a new smart phone. I am waiting for the release of the new Droid X 4th generation. The sales people who have gone through training say that people with Iphones are going to be trading them in for the new Droid X. Best part is that they think when they hit the market for sale they will be offered two for one.

Well, maybe I have emptied my brain enough to go back to sleep! Lots of time I can't sleep because of digestive tract indigestion, other times it is because of brain indigestion!

Have a day!

FATHER, thank YOU for good times. We continue to lift Betsy for YOUR gifts of healing and care. For I know whom I have believ-ed!

My Thursday was spent trying to get to the farm, but I never made it. I ended up spending the entire day at Memama and Pepa's.

Wednesday after school, Jake and Lindsay brought the babies to Memama's and Memama and Pepa watched them as Jake and Lindsay put in the new light fixture over the kitchen table.

I have to say that while I liked these lights in the store I like them even more in Memama's house! Really nice looking, Jake and Lindsay did an excellent job of installation, and oh, what light!

Since Memama's cornea transplants and with her glaucoma, her vision is very "dim" so she likes lots of light! (If you have ever noticed, Memama usually doesn't drive on "gray" days or at night.) Pepa said Thursday morning when he went to the kitchen Memama was sitting at the table reading the newspaper!

Thursday, Jason came by Memama's and we took the old dishwasher out, then we began determining what we would need to install the new one. Jason made two trips to Sweetwater getting a longer power supply cord, a new water supply line and a new drain hose, and he made one trip to NAPA hardware to get a new valve. Later, I made two trips to NAPA hardware. I think we put the dishwasher in the hole three times. We had to change the water valve that sits behind the dishwasher and replace it with a vertical ball valve to get needed room between the machine and the wall.

When Jason and I gathered our tools, we were both very satisfied with the install!

Later in the evening Jake came back by and took down the ceiling fan where the other light fixture was going. Jake was working solo, so he called Jason for some assistance. Pepa said they were through with the R & R in less than a hour.

Lots of light and it looks great! Thanks Jason, Jake, Lindsay, and the twins!

I finally made it to the farm Friday.

Pray for rain. It sure is getting dry.

Ollie got a job. It isn't what she wants, but she has to start somewhere. I think it will do wonders for her self esteem. Get that paycheck in hand!

When Ollie called me, Addison was with her (home sick from school), so I got to talk with Ms. Addie. Sounds like she is going to be another volleyball player! All A's except for one B on her last report card.

Well, Pepa just called me. He wants me to check on his truck that is in the shop.

New tax software installed, just need to load some employee information, then input some dollars and push print!

Have a day!

FATHER, I could sure use your assurance that everything is good!

My Tuesday was nothing like I had envisioned.

Pat and Memama went to Fort Worth to see Betsy yesterday. Due to a scheduling conflict, I was called into service. Pepa had an appointment with his dermatologist.

After a series of phone calls, plus a wait to see if we had any snow stick in the Big Country, it was decided that Pat and Memama would drop Pepa at his doctor's office when they passed through Abilene and I would meet him there.

Memama wanted me to go with him to make sure all his issues that needed to be discussed were discussed. I asked her to tell me specifically what his issues were. She responded, "You know, the little growth."

"Oh", I said, "I understand, that growth on top of his shoulders. His head!"

She laughed and went on to address everything she thought the doctor needed to know.

I had taken work clothes, figuring we would be in Roscoe around lunch and I would just go on to the farm.

I was wrong.

Once we finished at the doctor, we went light fixture shopping. (I had already looked so I had it narrowed down to what I thought we the best choices). Ran into some friends from Roscoe in the store and had to visit. Then Pepa wanted to look at dishwashers.

I am not a Home Depot fan. I have a real problem with the people that work (allegedly) there. No one would wait onus, so I finally asked a man at a desk if he would page someone. He turned around and asked another man to help us and the second man began to get up, then sat back down.

Pepa and I were talking and I told him let's just leave the basket with the lights and go to Lowes. He asked me why no one would wait on us and I told him it was characteristic of Home Depot. Just as we were ready to walk away, a woman walked by and asked if we were finding everything. We told her everything except someone to help us. She asked what we were interested in and we showed her the dishwasher Pepa had selected. She began talking to us and told us we could pick it up in a week to ten days. I almost blew a gasket. I asked her if Home Depot was a mail order company. She replied, "No, but we cannot keep everything in stock". I asked he to check and see if they had this particular item in stock and she said she would, but she was positive they did not have it.

After another wait, she came back and told me it was our lucky day! They did have one left from their Christmas sale.

After another extended wait, they finally pulled the dishwasher from inventory and got it to the register. Checking out was an adventure in itself!

Finally we were paid out and I went to get the pickup for them to load the dishwasher. Then Pepa parked his go-kart and got in the pickup. By now he was ready to eat.

He told me let's find somewhere to eat and I inquired what he was in the mood for. (Usually he likes to go Amanda's or Enriques, but they are still closed after the fire). I started making suggestions, Abuellos, Golden Corral, Chili's. I was trying to think of somewhere that would be very accessible for him. Then I withdrew Golden Corral from his choices because I know he isn't going to fix his own plate and Memama wasn't there and I wasn't going to! Out of the blue he told me, "Lytle Land and Cattle". Away we went. As we passed Chili's by the mall he told me, "I have never eaten there".

At Lytle, we had a sweetheart of a waitress. She was attentive and gave Pepa a free water and cobbler and sang for him since his birthday was Friday. Pepa got him a rib-eye steak and the waitress kept asking him if it was o.k. and he would tell her he would let her know in a minute. She told him if she needed to she would have them fix him another one. Finally he told her "Yes, tell them to fix me another steak". She said, "Honey, we have a problem because you already ate almost the entire steak trying to decide if it was cooked properly!"

In our only confrontation of the day, Pepa and I argued about the tip. He got upset when I added money to what he had left. He explained to me that he had a formula. He looks at what the tax is and that is what he tips. I explained that the tax was 8.25 percent in Abilene, while other towns are as low as 6.25 percent, and that the standard for tipping is 15 percent. I told him he was leaving about half of what he should. This conversation lasted almost the entire way from Abilene to Roscoe.

We made three more stops before finally hitting the highway West. It was after four when we got to his house and began unloading. Then a trip to the fuel island, back to his house before finally heading back to Abilene.

Once in Abilene I pinged about. Walgreens, Office Depot, Office Max, Allsups, and finally home.

I was worn out!

Have a day!

FATHER, thank YOU for all YOUR blessings. Do YOU think maybe we could have a little rain?

I'm glad Monday is behind us.

I spent the morning at the truck shop. In a very pleasant surprise, none of the "issues" the little wild man had with his truck were very big. A couple of small fittings with some labor. Air leak, oil leak.

Then a stop at the truck stop to set up a full service for this little truck. After that a short trip to the other truck stop to buy some e-clip ratchet straps to put in the truck. I was standing in line waiting to check out when the man in front of me turned around and asked, "Are you buying those?"

"Yes", I replied.

"I don't think so", he said. "Put them back".

"Excuse me?" I said.

He told me, "Put them back and come with me"

I asked, "Are you joking?"

"No", he replied, "come with me."

The little wild man and I followed this man to his truck where he opened the side storage to reveal an overflowing supply of the e-clip ratchet straps. The man explained that he hauls school furniture and when he picks his loads up they are already strapped inside the vans and the company does not want the straps returned.

I told him, "Let me pay you something."

"No", he replied, "they don't cost me anything", as he handed me two of them.

"I would be glad to pay you something", I said.

"O.K., if it makes you happy give me ten dollars", he replied.

As I handed over ten dollars the man said, "Well hell, take another one!"

These e-clip ratchet straps usually cost twenty dollars each.

That sort of luck does not happen to me!

After that I returned the little wild man truck driver to the truck shop and I headed to Roscoe. I lunched with Memama and Pepa before going to the farm. Once there I put the tires and wheels that Jason had picked up back on the plow they belonged on, then I moved it from in front of the barn door to make room to park the shredder to work on it.

I had removed the spinner gauge wheel from one side that was having difficulty spinning. Turned out it was dry of grease, and beginning to gall and seize. I had cleaned it all up, cleaned the grease passages, then treated it all with graphite anti-seize. Re-assembly turned out to be much more difficult by myself than I anticipated. After two or three hours of trying I finally got everything aligned and it went together easily. Then I greased it very liberally, turned it 180 degrees and did it again. When I grabbed the spinner wheel and gave it a throw, it spun round and round.

About then Pepa drove up and we moved the shredder to Wastella and I shredded one end of the field before parking it and returning to the barn with him.

I did some cleaning and picking up at the shop before feeding and watering cats and locking up.

I returned to Abilene, talking on the phone nearly the entire way. I walked in the house and Krl asked me if I was going to dance class. At that time I was undecided. As I was preparing to get a bath I got a text pleading for guys for dance class. They were over run with ladies. I texted back that I could be there in thirty minutes.

I was wanting to go to dance class because it was going to be jitterbug.

Well, I went to dance class, only to find they were doing waltz. All night long. I can waltz, but I don't like to waltz. I think I was snookered by my friends. My legs are so sore! All of that step, side, together. 1,2,3,1,2,3. 1,2,3,4,5,6. And on your toes! Yikes!

Turned out they were making up for a sick day missed class.

I will say it was quite a work out! I was dripping wet from sweat!

Pat and Memama are going to Fort Worth to visit Betsy today. I am meeting Pepa at his dermatologist for a standard appointment. Then Pepa and I are going to shop for light fixtures for their kitchen.

If things work right, Pat will drop him off and I will meet him and take him back to Roscoe this afternoon.

Realize in my world very little works right!

Have a day!

FATHER, I could use a double dose of patience.

True to form. Neither of my picks in the NFL playoffs yesterday won.

I have said, I pick with my heart and not my head. I guess I am just a tad hard headed. My Super Bowl is a choice of who I like less. That means my pick is Green Bay!

I just can't make myself cheer for the black and gold of Big Ben and Pittsburg. It is almost scary, but I caught myself yesterday wanting the Jets, any Jet, to put the hurt on Big Ben.

Sorry. I just don't like him.

Well, the missing thumb drive is still just that! Don't ask me. I told Krl that allof the payroll records will have to be reconstructed. I don't think I have made it clear to her how difficult and time consuming that is going to be. W-2's are due out next Monday!

Also, TWC reporting and tax and 940 is due out!

Yuk!

Of course all of them would be a breeze with the thumb drive.

My only Saturday errand I didn't do was run into Sam's. I got so dis-illusioned with the Bears yesterday that I slipped on my jeans, shirt and shoes and bolted! I had a handful for items I was looking to see if Sam's had. I am finding that paper goods and over the counter medications can be had at tremendous savings.

The rest of it is simply a question of whether or not we really need that much of whatever.

I returned home with my treasures. Some things I am willing to try. Krl spent a little time re-packaging things into smaller portions before freezing.

For supper Krl decided to do tacos. I had my plate fixed when i took a bite of meat. "Did you put taco seasoning in?" I asked.

"No", came the reply. Go figure. Today we may have hot dogs without the wieners.

Some things are difficult for me to wrap my mind around.

Planning on going to Roscoe today after I meet the truck driver at the shop.

Tonight I would like to go to country western dance class. One of the guys in the group teaches this and tonight he is teaching jitterbug! Actually he teaches several different dances, two step, waltz, jitterbug, shottis, sweetheart shottis, and cotton-eye-Joe. Seems like there is one more or maybe another variation. Don't put too much faith in those spellings either! ha!

Well, lets get 'er done!

Have a day!

FATHER, please bless this day and week.

My skin is crawling. Generally, that is not a good sign. Something is fixing to happen.

I'm not sure it is related or not, but I had missed a 1:25 call this morning. When I looked the call up it was listed as from a restricted number. Crazy part is, with ginning over all the trucks should have been parked. I made a couple of calls, sent a couple of texts, but haven't learned the culprit. Maybe it was a wrong number.

I am bringing the little wild man in tomorrow. A few small issues with his truck that we are going to address. Then we will probably send him back to get the last trailer at the gin at Loop.

He has been driving unit #222, a Volvo daycab. As we transition over, we need to get him into a sleeper truck, otherwise motels will eat our sack lunch. Where we have been hauling with our own trailer, moving into the van side of my friends operation will cost additional percentage to pull one of his. I have considered possibly trading or selling equipment to purchase other equipment that would make us more versatile. I think I would like to keep three flat beds.

I had planned on moving the driver into the little International truck, but it lost the power divider and I have yet to repair it. I had plans, but a two week stretch around the end of the year, we had lots of repairs and maintenance. $$$$$$$$ That is what it always comes to. I had sold the International cabover, or at least made the deal. However I have not been able to make contact with the purchaser. One option had been to take the rear-ends out of the cabover and put both of them in the truck with the issue. That would fix two things. It would get a higher rear-end ratio for better highway use which should mean the Cat engine will get into a more comfortable RPM range, resulting in even better MPG.

My Saturday search that took the most time was researching whether the two trucks rear-ends would be interchangeable. I visited with Randall and Bill at the local International dealership and they told me according to their info, they didn't believe they would.

On most trucks, you can go to the local dealer for that particular make and give the the last six numbers of the vehicle identification number (VIN) to the parts counter and they can tell you exactly what that truck was originally equipped with. Engine, transmission, rear-ends, axles, suspension, alternator, compressor, radiator, air to air, condensor, and the list goes on and on.

Problem is, when they pull up the cabover info, they say that truck has RA15 rear-ends, with a ratio of 4.30 to 1.

The tags on the rear-ends show a ratio of 3.55 to 1. The rear-ends have been swapped out. (I think housings and all!). From My visual inspection, I think the rear-ends are compatible. I don't want to swap complete rear-ends. I just want to take the chunks and axles and swap them. Probably a day in the shop to do this. AND, this is something I could do myself. (O.k. probably a couple of days if I do it!).

The next project is the big Volvo truck. It needs a clutch and some TLC. Probably $1600 for the clutch. $700 for the bumper, some part swapping and having some fiberglass work done on the hood. I'm guessing $3-4,000. But this truck is definitely something a driver would want to drive. Big, roomie, and lots of power. It has been down since last February.

I have several things going on to generate money, but none of them are coming to fruition right now.

Ollie is wanting her Explorer that I repo-ed back. Thing is, when she messed up and borrowed money from the check I sent to the guy she bought it from, she owes an additional $500 (the money she borrowed from the seller plus what he charged us when he picked it up), plus a $700 repair. Factor in that she never made a payment. I would welcome moving the vehicle for cash. However she is wanting me to finance it, zero down.

Yuk! I've been burned once. I want her to be successful but I have to be sensible.

Then there is the deal on the cabover truck. The man made the deal and asked for some time before he had to pay. I have tried to call him and he has not answered or returned my calls. Best part is, I still have the truck in my possession.

Then there is a forklift a man is wanting to buy. I have priced it, but we have not entered into negotiations.

There is still one months forklift rental to be collected too.

Also there has been a little interest in a steel flatbed trailer that I could be convinced to part with. I am hoping to talk with the guy this week. They are wanting a steel trailer to rig up to haul a mule forklift on the rear of for on site, on farm deliveries.

So, lots of stuff going on. Very little money being generated.

Ah, but the chase!

I just talked with my friend K.O. and he was telling me that scrap iron is at an all time high. $11.00/cwt.. I have some old cotton strippers I might part with, along with some old sled scrap.

Anything to make a dollar!

Well almost.

Aunt Betsy is now in a rehab hospital at Fort Worth. Shannon's reports on Caring Bridge say she is doing well.

I sent Coach a text message Friday. He is doing his convalescing at the Lake house. I told him if he was just sitting on his fat asthma, I would commission him to address all the invites for Memama's birthday party! (I bet that stirred him up! His handwriting is worse than mine!).

Which, it is very possible I have omitted someone from our date poll for Memama's party. If I have, it was unintentional. If you were and have a preference contact Pat or me.

NFL conference Championships today! Here are my picks. Bears, Jets. (Of course I am picking with me heart, so bet accordingly).

Enjoy the day!

FATHER, thank YOU for all YOUR blessings. Forgive me when I get the heebie jeebies and become anxious about what comes next. Instill in me YOUR perfect peace and YOUR assurance that everything is unfolding as you intend. I ask YOUR blessings on Ollie, thanking YOU for new beginnings, and ask that YOU will help her to make good decisions. For YOUR love FATHER, I hope to be eternally grateful.

Krl and I made our doctor visit yesterday morning. I was a little aggravated because we had fasted for blood work. Then their (good) person that draws blood was not there and he decided not to do the blood work at this point. Needless to say Krl and I both were starving when we made our escape.

Krl had been wanting to eat at Red Lobster, so we went there to eat! Lordy, it sure has gotten expensive! Even their "package meal" is $10 over competitors. Of course what Krl wanted and what I ordered weren't in their packages. Probably the best part of the meal was the New England seafood sampler. Clams, bacon wrapped scallops, and stuffed mushrooms! I will say that the service and entrees were better than when we last ate there. I could tell Krl was out of Red Lobster conditioning because she wasn't able to finish her meal.

When we were finished I looked at my phone and I had missed two calls. I didn't recognize the number and called it back. When someone answered it went like this, "Hello, this is Merrit Aleis Freeman and I'm a free woman!"

I couldn't resist and replied, "Ms. Freeman this is William Taskerly with the Texas Department of Corrections. We have made a mistake and need you to come back."

Very quickly she replied, "Well, I'm not coming back!"

"That's part of what got you in trouble in the first place," I said.

Ollie's mother thought she would be released around 8 in the morning. I don't know where I got my info but I was under the impression it would be 11 in the morning. Turns out it was 11:45 when she exited. True to form, the guards there would not let her Mom wait in the lobby!

I have never visited such an unfriendly, rude place as the Dawson unit in Dallas. I'm not usually prejudiced, but every guard I saw was trying to prove to everyone how much "power" they held. There is no place, rhyme, or reason for a guard to ever yell at visitors.

I posted Pepa's birthday on my Facebook page and he received lots of birthday wishes from friends. I printed them all out for him! Thanx!

Most of my afternoon was spent at Walmart. Since Krl and I had gotten prescription refills, I had to take them and tell them which ones to fill and which ones to file. Fourteen combined, including new scripts for Krl's sinus infection and her tummy. I had to wait in line for the new meds and decided to do some shopping as the pharmacy line was 28 people long! Guess who was 28 before I became a drop out!

The Doctor told me I should be a poster child for my blood pressure meds. 102/78. Four pound fluctuation in weight that he wasn't concerned about, and swelling was under control.

Krl has had falls Tuesday night and Wednesday night of this week. She is bunged up and opted out of going to Southern Nights last evening. She really wanted to go tonight as Johnny Rodriguez is headlining. $20 @ the door is pretty tough especially if you aren't going to dance! I still have a bad taste in my mouth from paying $15 to see, hear, and dance to Johnny Lee. His band played until about the last hour when he came on and talked ugly and sang for about half of the final hour!

The group was thin again last evening. About a dozen total, and only four guys! Some of the bunch was at Firehouse where Jody Nix was playing. I saw of couple of people who had been there and then moved to Southern Nights to get away from the crowded dance floor.

I am so not enjoying this cold weather. Two cold fronts through already this week and another due tomorrow! I think I would like them better if they had moisture in them.

The gin got through at Loop Wednesday night. It is bitter sweet. It was a good run!

Well, let's have a weekend!

FATHER, thank YOU for getting us through the week. Thank YOU for the seasonal work. We ask that YOU lead us to where you want us next! To YOU be the glory, great things YOU do every day!!

"Free at last, free at last. Thank GOD I'm free at last!"

No, I'm not quoting Martin Luther King, I'm speculating on the sentiment of Ollie Freeman.

Happy Birthday Pepa. 82 years old today.

The TXDOT audit went pretty well. I believe we had three items of concern. The first was our failure to have the driver drug tested when his tarp came off the trailer. We didn't feel this was a qualifying accident. The other two were some date related issues. We had a driver drug tested but he didn't go to work within the time frame and the auditor told me we should have retested. (Hey it is just money and not theirs). The final issue concerned the consortium we belonged to for random selection.

Today is doctors office. Krl at 10, me at 10:30. Krl has had falls the last two nights. She really bunged her ankle up. So far she hasn't done any additional damage to her hip.

Pat and Memama rescheduled their trip to Plano to see Betsy. They are going instead next Tuesday. If things go well, they will move Betsy to a rehab hospital in Fort Worth today or tomorrow.

Looks like March 5th is winning in Memama's Birthday party lottery. We won't make a final announcement yet.

Well, lets get this day started! Make it good one and we'll take the next two off!

Have a day!

FATHER, it has been a tough week, but YOU'VE got me through it! Thank YOU!

Waiting to exhale!

Two more days in this week. Scheduled activities both days. I don't know who will feel more relief, Ollie or me.

One day in the Ollie watch.

I wonder if governmental agency employees are aware of the tremendous apprehension their "clients" have. More importantly, I wonder if they care. Is it a rush for them to "have" power over people, or do they just become thick skinned and uncaring.

Now, I will admit it is a breath of fresh air when I find a governmental employee who is genuine and caring.

My week has been filled with governmental agencies. Yesterday I was completing the certification at the NAPA store for commercial vehicle annual inspection. This is a process that began last April, when I tested and passed both classifications. In waiting for Max and Sylvia to do their testing, we lost about three or four months, and then the area supervisor seemed to drop us off her radar for the next couple. Finally she came, wanting to certify the inspection station, after setting up appointments and canceling. When she finally came to certify us as inspectors she had us all there, with vehicles to inspect representing both classes. She forgot her checklist for commercial inspectors and was not comfortable doing it without it. We had rescheduled for early December, only to be canceled, and then finally we rescheduled for yesterday at 1 o'clock.

About noon, the store received a call rescheduling for 2:30. At 1:30 I went to the NAPA store to study and wait. The last time I looked at the clock it was 3:09. Finally she arrived, and I gathered my material, we visited briefly, but she was ready to get the process going.

I did tell her I wasn't near as smart as I was at 1 o'clock.

Just before five, we completed the certification process. I now have an additional endorsement on my certified inspectors sheet.

Seven tries scheduling the area supervisor to certification completion.

Whew.

By the time I took the truck back to Hag's headquarters, traveled to Abilene, stopped by the pharmacy and drove home, it was dark.

Today, TXDOT audit. I am working with an auditor I have worked with before, so that should be an advantage.

My least favorite governmental office to vist? The Taylor County Tax Assessor Collector's (where you get license plates/car registrations).

Pat and I began research for Memama's 80th birthday party yesterday. We have sent questionnaires out to many family members (and we are still sending them) to determine the best date for the majority. March 5th or March 12th. Trying to get as many of the kids, grandkids, greats, and Memama's and Pepa's siblings, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends together as we can.

Probably going to do the cow patties on a bun and hot dogs in a crevice, with all the appropriate condiments, chips and dips. Planning on at Memama's house right now.

It was a funny moment yesterday when I was talking with Memama about the party. Pepa began mumbling under his breath "Oh sh" and other phrases indicating his displeasure at the thought of another party at their house. I told him, "You sure didn't have a problem when it was your 80th birthday we were celebrating!"

He didn't know what to say. I swear he is jealous. If it isn't for me, I'm not interested! I had to remind him of him doing his very best Grandpa Freeman imitation opening the card and shaking the money out!

Maybe we should leave him off the invitation list!

If any of you have any ideas for Memama's celebration Pat and I would welcome them.

Have a day!

FATHER, YOU are doing good! One hard day down, two to go! Help me to make good decisions.

Attention all units. We have a missing thumb drive in our house. Put out an APB!

I have a USB thumb drive (storage device) that I have had since 2008. It is sizable storage, being the equivalent of nearly 1800 floppy discs. On this disc, I have billing, payrolls, contract proposals, tax deposit info, wage reporting, W-2, 1099, and all sorts of other info. For a long long time I carried this device in my pocket, but earlier this year I began leaving it in a small basket on Krl's desk.

We have not needed it since we lapsed our authority and leased the trucks on with my friend until yesterday. And it is no where to be found!

With the DOT audit Thursday, this is a major handicap. I have had to do estimates on miles and earnings, as well as separation dates for employees.

I know it will show up. I keep telling Krl to take a break, and come back to the search that it will appear and is probably in broad daylight!

I don't want to admit it, but I am stressing about the audit. This will be five of these I have been a part of and none of them are fun. Thing is, when the auditor walks through the door, they know exactly what they are looking for. It usually takes them a while to put you through the wringer and ask for it! At the family business we went through a week long audit and it came down to the last day that they lowered the boom.

The biggest problem with this business is tremendous exposure through employees. Not only on the roadways, but through their paperwork. The carrier is held accountable for vehicle inspections and daily driving logs of the drivers. One of the many perils is what they call a false log. A driver puts down where he wanted to be instead of where he was. When auditors come in they look at fuel times, loading and unloading times and cross reference all the above. They haven't invented a truck driver who can fool the system for very long on all the fronts.

But that doesn't keep them from trying! Try as I might, I don't catch all their indiscretions.

I am going to Roscoe today. Maybe a little R & R is in order. (Along with some banking).

Four days in the Ollie count!

Good reports for Betsy and Ellen. Betsy has walked with a walker and is working with her occupational therapist while Ellen attended the winter formal. I sent Ellen a message asking her, "Hey hop along how u b?" I was setting her up to ask her if they played hip hop music! (That would be fitting with her hip hopping around.).

Well, I'm going to try to get a nap.

Have a day!

FATHER, lift me up!

Well, NFL playoffs. I'm about fifty percent on my picks.

I would never be a good gambler, I let too much emotion come into my decisions. I find it is more about who I dislike than who I like. Sometimes it is about who I dislike less.

In my biggest thrill of the day, Tom Brady, Bill Belicheck, and the New England Patriots fell. Of course that means the Jets, Mark Sanchez, and Rex Ryan won. My pick. Excellent.

I suppose my sentiment about the Sunday NFC game were the ties to ACU players and Lovie Smith. I was as happy to see them win as I was sad to see Matt Hasselbeck lose.

I am not a Packer fan, or Aaron Rogers for that matter. Too much silver and blue under the bridge during the Cowboys hay days! But, the Pack was very impressive. It appears they are peaking at the right time.

I could only shake my head in disbelief at the Falcons poor luck. Sure reminded me of someone I know! They couldn't buy a break!

And finally, I was pulling for the Ravens against the Steelers. Once again, wrong pick. I have a hard time cheering for Big Ben and Pittsburg. Of course the Ravens helped them all they could on Saturday.

Steelers-Jets. Bears-Packers. I'm going to hope for a Jets-Bears Super Bowl but I won't be surprised if it is Jets-Packers.

I worked on paperwork for the TXDOT audit most of Sunday.

K.O. received a call from the gin at Loop telling him to return seed trucks, that they had almost filled the on ground storage. I called a driver who had been off since Thursday to alert him to the call. When I had told him what was happening he asked me, did you get my truck serviced?

First I had heard of that. I swear this man thinks I can read his mind.

This driver is the one that signed on to work until January 15, but was ready to bolt in December. When that didn't work out he wanted to come back. Last week he asked if I could use him until February 1. I told him I could but it wouldn't all be on a truck, some would be on the farm. He told me he didn't care that he just needed the work. Then yesterday he did not seem receptive to returning to Loop or to helping on the farm.

Go figure.

Lots going on inside my head and in my house. Very little of it is good!

Five days in the Ollie count. By the way, Brad was released Friday, so that part of Ollie's plans worked out. We will see if everything else falls into place!

Busy week ahead.

Have a day!

FATHER, I could use a lot of help this week!

The week that was.

Yesterday I needed to make a 941 tax deposit. I did the calculating, had Krl find the coupon (which was a treasure hunt) and went to the bank. Rather than make the 316 mile drive to and from the company bank, I decided to withdraw cash and make a personal loan to the company for the tax deposit and do it locally at one of the banks I use.

You can imagine my dismay when I walked up to the window and the cashier told me effective 12/31/10 the banks no longer handle payroll tax deposits for the U.S. Treasury. It must now be done electronically. That means the money had to be on deposit and you go on the Internal Revenue website and transfer the money.

My dilemma was this, if I learned anything from the family business, you don't ever want to tie personal accounts to business. Especially with the IRS. So, I either had to hit the road and drive or figure out an alternate method.

My solution was to do the 941 filing, enclose the payment and get it in the mail post marked no later than 1/15/11. I was at the drop box at 5 pm. on the 14th!

That is one thing off our plate! Also, a lot of that prep work will make other reporting easier.

Our plate got pretty full in the past few days!

Krl received a call and a fax informing her that her little company was going to have a TXDOT safety audit this coming Wednesday at 10 am. Krl's last truck driver had a tarp fall off his trailer and a car ran over it and in TXDOT's interpretation that is an accident that triggers the audit because it combines with a roadside inspection where there was a citation issued earlier. Crazy part is, the auditor (who I worked with last summer in Pepa's audit) is asking if we had the truck driver drug tested after the accident.

My assessment is that we should have had the tarp drug tested!

My biggest problem with TXDOT and Texas DPS DOT officers is the variation in interpretation of the rules and regulations.

At the defunct family business, we had two hired consultants, both retired DOT officers, and even then we had issues between them and any auditors who came in the door.

My understanding was if there was a fatality, or if the vehicle was un-drivable, a test was in order. The auditor coming next week says a test is required for either or if the truck driver was cited.

One interesting thing was a conflict with the Texas DPS TAVIS area supervisor coming to NAPA Wednesday at 1. I called the DOT auditor and she agreed to reschedule for Thursday at 10.

Second interesting thing is that Krl's little company is inactive and has been since August. We made the decision in September to run the trucks under my friend K.O.'s insurances and authority.

But, they say it makes no difference now. So we will be gathering driver qualification files, driver daily logs, drug testing files, and equipment maintenance files.

Wonderful!

That is exactly what I wanted to spend my weekend doing!

Add to this that January is my least favorite month of the year! 941's, 940's, TWC quarterly's, W-2's, 1099's. These are a few of my least favorite things!

On Facebook, I posted I much prefer visions of sugar plums dancin' in my head!

Pat and Hag are visiting Chloe. I just got off the phone with Pat and she said Chloe was wanting to go shopping (or chopping as Chloe calls it!). Grumpy asked her if she had any money and Chloe told him, "No, you do!"

Pat and Hag went by Plano and visited Betsy. They missed Scottie and Shannon. I have been trying to get an accurate assessment of where Betsy is at and there are contrasts between the view from Shannon's eyes as a daughter and Pat's eyes as a professional care giver.

While there is definite improvement, Pat said Bets has a long row to hoe. Holes in her memory are apparent, and some motor skills are going to have to be re-learned. Pat says she feels that they are a long way from going home, if they get to take her home at all. Other issues are whether or not Big Scottie can care for her.

I would guess a nursing home is in the future, at least for an extended rehabilitation.

Best part is, all of this is guess and supposition. GOD is in control and he can do what he wants to do!

GO GOD!

Krl and I went to Southern Nights last evening. The groups was very sparse. Maybe nine in attendance, but there were several guests, so we still filled the tables.

For whatever reasons I am really battling muscle cramps. I addition to this I learned Thursday that I have a floating rib that is really dealing me some pain. (I don't feel any better knowing what was causing the pain!).

Brad was released yesterday. One week in the Ollie wait! How long do you think it will be before Ollie screws up again! (I am throwing down the gauntlet to Ollie).

And it is time for true confessions. I failed to wish Holt and Erica Happy Birthday! So Happy belated Birthday to you both! My bad!

Rian is baching it this week. Erica is at a CoC Educators National conference in San Antonio. Rian said he formed the two little boys out to the Mother-in-law and had to take Reid to basketball practice in Shallowater before making an appearance at the county stock show later today! Rian will have a busy week until Erica's return!

And Dillon had the third place Duroc hog at the Nolan County Stock show yesterday. I think Devon was eighth with his Chester white. Good job!

Have a day! Put two together and we will call it a weekend!

FATHER, thank YOU for getting us through the week. We ask YOUR continued help in preparation for everything in the coming week. We thank YOU for the progress Betsy, Ellen, and Coach have made and we continue to lift them up for YOUR miracle of healing. Glorify YOUR name!

Yesterday was kind of a neat date 1-11-11.

Lots of stuff going on. Lots of miles.

Saturday was spent gathering items for the guys running at Loop. Oil, and a steer tire. I went to several different places gathering prices and availability. The one place I went to that I usually buy from, I could never get anyone to come to the front to wait on me. I could see them in the back, and I know they saw me. Kind of chapped my butt!

Today I am going by there to get a couple of tires for Pepa on the farm and I plan on squealing like a pig! I'm not sure how, when, why or what, but Rex/Beav or the new guy, you should have tended to business!

Sunday I woke, and while the forecast had called for slick conditions, roadways were very good. In a split second decision I hopped in the pickup and headed for Loop to deliver the tire and supplies. Eight hours later I pulled into the driveway again! 400 miles!

Monday I was back to the farm, trying to get a tractor and then hooking up a plow that we haven't used in several years.

It has been very frustrating lately dealing with Pepa. I think the only part of the farm he is interested in is the $$$$'s.

My Monday ended with a quick dash to Hawley. I knew I needed to go either late Monday or early Tuesday and when it began snowing sideways late Monday I decided to get that forty mile trek out of the way. About ten miles into the trek the snow stopped.

Oh well, an ounce of prevention . . . . . . . ...........

Yesterday I got a call from Pepa telling me it was too cold to mess with the farm and to stay home. I needed to go to Roscoe anyhow to do some banking. It was a good thing as Rachel from the Texas DPS motor vehicle inspection Division came by with our certifications, station license and sign for the building! She wanted to visit with me and set up a time for certification for the commercial trucks.

On a sad note, the seasonal work at Loop is winding down. Probably a week to ten days and this season will be in the books. This has been a real blessing and I have to have faith that GOD has something waiting for us to move on to.

The Loop shut down actually began yesterday as the GM there decided to begin putting a seed stock pile into the on the ground storage. He wants to store about 2500 bales of seed. Jeff, the man who has been working nights since October was wanting to go to Colorado to pursue his work in the wind generator industry (he received his degree in December) had agreed to work until January 9 or 15, so this is fitting pretty well. He didn't seem to upset at all when I told him to clear out his motel room and come in. In fact he actually seemed a little excited. He will run today at Anson to help K.O. out though. (K.O. had a bad day and at one point had three trucks down).

Then K.O. and I decided to bring Robert in. He is the man who had been working from 6 in the morning until 4 in the afternoon. Robert actually wanted a day or two off, but with the trucks down, K.O. asked me to approach Robert about coming in and running van freight today. He agreed and that meant I was on a mission searching for e-clip ratchet straps for vans. None of the regular vendors had them and finally I back tracked to Flying J and found them. $43 worth (for two).

I have a friend who I argue with regularly about where she shops for groceries (HEB) and where I shop for groceries (Albertsons) and who is cheaper and who has better service. I tell her that HEB could give their products away but with their service it would still be too expensive. My friend also preaches to me about the saving at Sams. While I was searching for ratchet straps I went to Sams and while I was there I picked up a few items. Mainly over the counter medications. On two of the items I saved over five dollars each. The other items had savings although not as dramatic.

Needless to say, this type savings makes the trek to Sams worth it!

I hate it when my friend is right! I may not tell her!

Single digits in the Ollie count. No word on any sanctions for her not going to work.

I would point out that Ole man winter is visiting West Texas. Chance of snow later today!

And, on Sunday they took Aunt Betsy off the ventilator and removed the feeding tubes. Good news, but they may have to put them back in to shut her up! Memama has talked with her twice on the phone. Betsy was even able to eat some pureed food on Monday!

Good news.

And with that, have a day!

FATHER, thank YOU for all YOUR blessings, and for the good medical reports and improvements! YOU are indeed good! Place us where you intend.

Thirteen days in the Ollie count! With an asterisk! *

* Ollie had a stomach bug the other day and didn't go to work and got in big trouble. She said she didn't know what they were going to do, usually they suspend commissary privileges for a period of time, but they suspend the inmate trust accounts fourteen days prior to the release date. With her being inside the fourteen day release window that wouldn't be an issue.

If they wanted to hold her for a few extra days they would have an irate customer!

I didn't receive a confirmation, but Coach was scheduled for release yesterday. When I texted with Colby he told me the plan called for Coach to go to the lake house with a home health service coming by to work with him and monitor his progress.

In a surprise move, the orthopedic surgeon released Ellen to home instead of the rehab hospital. Trc is supposed to come and get Meme's broken hip toys!

Bets was still responsive, although sedated. They were going to try to take out the ventilator tube again yesterday. I think Robs and Wade went there late yesterday.

Pat has been under Doctor martin's care. For the last month she has had laryngitis, or so they think. They have had her on steroids, but her voice has not returned. So the doctor told her no talking! This week she has faxed Memama each day and I usually receive text messages. They do say another possibility is that her acid reflux has damaged her vocal cords.

I spent the last few days on the farm. I finished shredding cotton stalks on the section. I have repeatedly asked Pepa what his plan is for putting up the land and I have yet to get an answer. He is much more worried about plowing terraces up. He has this wild idea in his head that we will use the two big tractors to plow them. But we don't have two tractor drivers. I see another train wreck like the cultivating last summer.

I don't need help like that!

Yesterday I came home a little early, planning on going to a birthday party at Abuello's prior to going out with the group. Just as I drove into the driveway K.O. called me with a forklift seal issue. I made a quick dash into the house informing Krl of the delay in our evening and got on the road to Anson. K.O. and I have almost gotten this seal thing down to a speed science! Probably thirty minutes for the actual repair, excluding travel time, testing and checking and filling fluid levels.

If I had not gone by the Better Burger on my way home it would have been a quick trip.

I decided to run by and pick up my driving check and to see if the January forklift rental check was there, but while en route I decided to call in an order for supper.

They were covered up! They had a bunch of big orders (I would guess for nurses at the hospital or something) and they were boxing them up in tomato boxes! I would venture to say it wouldn't have taken any longer if I had waited to order when I walked through the door!

Long story short, it was after nine when Krl and I walked in Southern Nights. Big "group" crowd last evening. Actually they have been working at combining two groups. There were eighteen of our group, and probably seven or eight of the other.

Two group members have birthdays this weekend, so there was cake for treats!

I had thought the group was going to be fragmented last evening. There was a small contingent that wanted to go to Firehouse where Jake Hooker was playing ($15 cover at the door) while the larger contingent wanted to go to Southern Nights and hear Cody Crouch ($5 cover). For whatever reasons, everyone ended up at SN.

I'm not sure what was going on when we left but there were three cop cars in the parking lot!

I am trying to make a plan for getting driver paperwork from Loop. I really don't want to make the drive if it gets cold and wet! Probably between seven and fourteen days and the gin job will be history for this year!

The gin at Roscoe got through yesterday. 70,379 bales.

Have a day. Two in row and we will call it a weekend!

FATHER, thank YOU for all YOUR blessings!

Updates:

Reports were good for Betsy yesterday. Responsive to commands.

Ln's neurologist ordered another MRI. They are still trying to determine why she is having the horrible headaches and nausea.

And for Coach an update and retraction. First of all he only had his left knee replaced. Colby texted me and told me that the procedure went well, his Dad was doing good and his Dad looked very cute in his hospital gown.

16 days in the Ollie count!

I spent part of yesterday at the farm shop, taking an air valve off the wrecked Volvo to send to Loop. I think the little wild man truck driver is looking for trouble. I swear if he was on a new truck he would have something to complain about! I think if I can send him a right hand front signal light, I might quiet him for a minute or two.

Yesterday I talked with a friend who works for my cell phone service provider. My current phone's screen is slowly filling with liquid. I have talked with them about it, and I have insurance, but they tell me I dropped the phone in oil or something. I thought stuff like that was why you had insurance. Just in case something happened. Any how, I have been contemplating a move to a smart phone. I haven't wanted to been so pretentious as to buy an Iphone, but would entertain the idea of a Uphone. (Kind of like reach out and touch you! Reach out and touch somebody!).

Actually my friend had two suggestions, and my service provider does have some promo's going on right now! One of the promotions is that if your second line or number is the smart phone, you get the smart subscription part free for two years. Other enticements are buy one get one free!

I'm going to have to study on this.

And, long time friend, barber, church elder, James Ince died recently. His services were yesterday. We send our condolences to all his family.

After a fitful night, let's get on with it! Have a day!

FATHER, thank YOU for the continued good reports for Betsy and for Coach. We continue to lift them and Ellen for YOUR gifts of healing and care. We lift James' family for YOUR gifts of comfort.

First work day of '11.

Lots of really good football over the weekend. I only watched bits and pieces or the compacted versions during the middle of the night.

I am very proud for TCU and their Rose Bowl win and perfect season.

I have never been a fan of the BCS and I suppose this proves that point.

Lets see, medical reports.

Saturday was encouraging for Betsy. Some positive signs, but still a long journey ahead.

Saturday night was the worst night Ellen has had. Pain, nausea, headache. They were going to do another MRI on her head. Still thinking possible concussion.

Pepa was helping Memama with groceries Saturday afternoon. She was bringing in the groceries to the back porch and placing them on his rolling walker and then would take them in the kitchen. During one of these trips he took a spill and sprawled in the floor.

Pat was summoned and found no broken bones, only some missing skin. She and Kyle were able to sit him up and Jake and Jason came by and got Pepa out of the floor.

Sunday morning Pepa called Pat wanting her to come out and check them out. Pat had a house full of people and told him when her company left, she would get by their house. In a matter of minutes he called again, telling her her thought he had broken something when he fell. She asked what he thought he broke and he responded, "A finger". She told him a finger was not an emergency and all they would do is splint it or tape it to the one next to it.

I think there were four calls in all.

Pat has a lot of patience.

Later in the day Pat was talking with Memama when all the sudden Memama said, "Oh, my. I have to get off."

Pat asked, "Whats wrong Mama, are you O.K.?"

"I have to go. Coach Freeman just walked in the door and I need to give him a hug!", Memama replied.

Click!

And Memama's and Pepa's world sat up right!

Heh, heh. Get you a dose of that Coach!

Coach is having double knee replacement tomorrow (If my tidbits of information are good) in Dallas but doesn't want anyone to know or when because he thinks Pat or I will bring Memama and Pepa down there.

Pat and I have been talking. Coach has not attended Christmas the last two years. Whether it was convenient or convoluted, either scheduling, travel, or whatever, none of coaches crew has made it. Pat and I have decided that Coach has still not dealt with losing Fred and Terri. Thing is, if we lost any of the rest of us, the problem will only compound.

Ollie is at 18 days and counting!

Have a day!

FATHER, thank YOU for YOUR blessings. We continue to lift Betsy and Ellen for YOUR gifts of healing and care. We lift Ollie, that you would keep her grounded and make good decisions! To YOU be the glory!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We got all the good out of 2010!

I had a call from Pat earlier today telling me she had talked with Shannon. They are doing more neurological testing on Aunt Betsy today. Shannon said the nurses came looking for Memama this morning, saying Betsy had been more responsive to her than anyone else.

Pat and Memama returned to Roscoe yesterday afternoon. Pat said Memama was very worn out and felt she needed to check on Pepa. Now that she is home she feels she needs to be in Plano with Betsy.

I called just a few minutes ago to talk with Mom, just to be sure she is all right. I can tell from talking with her that she is struggling. The only reassurance I can give her is that we are NOT in control.

Pat and I have talked a little about the fact that Betsy is Memama's family's Terri Jo, the baby girl. It is surprising that almost four years after losing TJ, Pat and I can finally begin to vocalize some things. My point is that we know how special TJ was to our family.

Realistically, things look bleak in Plano, but we will continue to hope.

Ln had a good day and is looking well. Krl and I took her some things late yesterday.

And on a somber note I have to report that Drew is no longer Baby Moses. He told his Dad yesterday he wants to be called "the little fat boy".

I may see a great deal of counseling in the future for this child!

I went to Anson today to take parts and supplies that truck drivers had requested at Loop. As bale truck drivers come in and out of service there we will traffic parts and such out, and paperwork back in.

While I was in Anson I retrieved my service trailer.

Eat your peas!

Have a day!

FATHER, thank YOU for new beginnings, for the new year and for the hope and promise it holds. We continue to lift Betsy and Ellen for YOUR miracle of healing.

Medical reports!

Ln had a good night Thursday night. They seem to do a good job managing her pain.

Aunt Betsy's report is not as brief and not as good. They began bringing her to temperature by raisin her temp 1.5 degrees Celsius per hour. Their target temp was 37 degrees, when they reached that temperature they would begin taking meds away that they had used to induce the coma.

When they began taking the meds away she had a seizure and arrested two times before they put her back in the coma. They say that they now have a better idea what part of her brain has been affected by the oxygen deprivation.

Interesting part was that earlier in the day Pat and Memama went in to visit and Pat said on three occasions Betsy was responsive to Memama's voice.

But, the issues bringing her out of the coma were about as bad as they could be.

The assessment may take a few days.

Happy New Year!

FATHER, I continue to lift up Ln and Aunt Betsy for YOUR gifts of healing and care.