I must admit, my mind hasn't been in a good place blog wise.

First of all, Happy Birthday to Memama and to Idget. March 7 & 8 respectively.

We finished putting up all the cotton fallow ground. It is very sobering to realize how dry it is. This old dirt sure needs a drink.

We spent some time cleaning up the tractor and minor maintenance. Removed all the gauge wheels from the plow to put them inside the shop. It seems that the two plows we have used have seven transport or gauge wheels. It had been several years since we had used these, and the tires they had were sun baked and weather rotted. All of them had to be replaced. We'll put them up and they should be good when we need them again.

We began a scrap operation at the farm. Twenty one years ago we did the major rebuild on the sled and all the discarded steel beams and sheet metal were piled behind the shop. We've begun loading and hauling this away as the scrap market is really good right now. We plan in the coming week to scrap some other equipment that we have removed engines and parts from for other projects.

Several years ago Pepa did a scrap operation. Then last year Jason did another one as he cleaned and straightened the shop. So I guess it is my turn now!

One bonus has been that I had replaced all the chain and sprockets, so I have several hundred feet of roller chain which is h-e-a-v-y.

My goal is to generate enough money to do repairs on truck 242 and 424. 242 needs a clutch, bumper and hood repair. 424 needs a power divider.

My farm helper is assisting me in this project. This will yield two positives. He knows and is familiar with the scrap business and him working for me gets him off Memama's farm payroll.

The little wild man truck driver was quiet most of the week, but he made up for it yesterday. I sure hate it when he gets tired and begins to think! When that happens nothing suits him. He always makes himself out to be a martyr. I do this for you, and I do this for them and all I want is a piece of the cookie. Blah, blah blah. I have tried to tell him that the hauling he does now is probably going to be more like a roller coaster and he will have good weeks and short weeks, that he is going to have to be disciplined enough to average his money expenditures. Probably the absolute biggest problem with most truck drivers is whatever they have in hand they will spend.

I have put this driver up in motels since the last week of January since the truck he is driving is a day cab. The driver tells me he spends more money on food staying in motels than he would staying in his truck. I figure this is his way of asking for a per diem (which he will not ever get). It is almost as if he thinks he would have no personal road expense if he stayed in his truck and fails to see the extra bonus of having a bed, bath and amenities.

I finally told him when he decided it doesn't work for him to bring the truck home.

Whew!

I took Krl to the Doctor yesterday. Her blood pressure has been running rampant, complete with chest pain. They did an EKG, are doing blood work, scheduled a wellness exam, and gave her a shot and script for anti-biotics. The Doctor also put her on a beta blocker. This is nothing new. She had been on a beta blocker last summer but the cardiologist took her off when she was having low pulse issues. The Doctor took a pretty big swing, we will have to see where it lands.

I sure feel like I need a road trip. Lots of stuff closing in.

Have a day!

FATHER, take control.

Monday we are scheduled in court for Pepa's will probate. I believe it will be short and sweet, no surprises. It will enable us to move forward with a few things that need to be done with the crop insurance, farm programs and such.