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.