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!