Rian had called a couple of weeks ago wanting me to come to Shallowater after they closed on their new home.

Almost a year ago they agreed to purchase this home while the former owner built a new house.

I don't know if I have that kind of patience.

Of course that gave them lots of time to plan. Wednesday at 1 they closed on the house. Wednesday night they began painting and unloading trailers that have been loaded for weeks.

Rian's request for me to come to Shallowater involved tiling a bathroom. I will be honest enough to tell you that this one plus one more will make two bathrooms I have tiled or helped tile.

I arrived Thursday morning late and found a paint crew comprised of Erica and her parents. The finished product seemed to fuel them for the next room. This family is gifted with the ability to paint. Lots of patience and nerves of steel. They had a plan developed of Chet doing cuts and the girls coming behind and rolling, although I did see the girls with brushes at times and Chet with a roller. Erica's sister is a pro. She does interior design professionally, and she came in Friday to apply some trick paint that had sand and glitter. From the first coat to the finished wall was unbelievable. Obviously Crystal knows her stuff! By days end she had shown Erica a few tricks of the trade.

Many friends came by after their work day to grab a brush for a while.

When I arrived at the house Thursday, Rian had tile laid out on the floor. During my drive up I think we had talked six times on the phone and I told him the first tile was the most important one. Everything spins off of it! (Our home is tiled in every room. It amazes me that one tile is common to every tile in the house!).

Rian had talked with many people who had done tile (none of which volunteered or showed up) and many said he needed to shoot chalk lines on the the floor. I disagreed, figuring that past laying the floor out these lines would be useless when covered with glue.

We began our project and laid all the "whole" tiles we could. Then we began cutting tiles. As my luck would have it, this is a corner bathroom that sits diagonally. Of course that means we had a lot of 45 degree cuts to make. We began cutting tiles mid afternoon, and at 11 that night I made the final cut. In another hour that tile was glued.

I'm not going to lie to you, I ached all over!

By morning the rigor mortis had set in!

Friday morning we began collecting tile spacers and cleaning between tiles and tile surface. We found a couple of issues and R & R'd a few tiles and reset them.

Thursday night late I couldn't help thinking as I cut tiles and Rian layed them, how much we owe Pepa and Grandpa for the genetics we have to do projects like these.

I am not gifted with the ability or patience to paint. But give me a saw or specialty tool and I can figure out how to operate it. I also seem to have the ability to see a project start to finish.

I guess you could say we are blessed with the ability to turn a sows ear into a silk purse (or some semblance of).

Friday we hauled some freezers, toys, refrigerators, lawn implements and such until late in the day! The carpet layer was busy R & R ing carpet. I think by Saturday night all but the dining room will have the floor covered, and it will be getting wood laminate later!

Oh, I failed to mention I had taken the boys Christmas present to them. For this past Christmas we had given the boys a trampoline. BUT, their Dad preferred we keep it until they moved. Needless to say, the boys were pumped about their new toy!

Rian and Erica's new home is going to be awesome! Four bedroom, two and a half bath, gorgeous kitchen complete with bar and island, casual and formal dining room, large family room, and the back porch is huge! In my books the biggest drawback is the size of the yard. The back yard is near a half acre! Yikes! The entire lot is an acre. Large fenced back yard.

Erica is using a lot of color inside. The porch was Rian's special project. It may take some time, but it will be gorgeous inside and out!

This home is ten years old, and has had virtually no landscaping done. I would almost bet you that Rian with possibly some help from Uncle Kyle, will tend to that.

We did talk some about installing a lawn sprinkler system. I figure we could do it in two days. (By the way, they have their own water well!). I see some BIG gear sprinkler heads in their future! ARRRRRR aaarrrrgh!!!!!!!!

Today the move continues. While there has been a steady stream of people in and out of the house, today people are off!

Let the games begin!

Ouch! If I am physically able I may reward myself with a margarita or two!

Probably my biggest disappointment was the fluctuation in material we were working with. Tiles that were bowed, tiles that were not square. There are cheap materials and there are expensive materials. Sometimes expensive is not expensive, and sometimes cheap is "cheap".

Oh, for the good ol' days! Pride in workmanship!

I did run across a business opportunity while in Lubbock. I can't help but think about it! A company is wanting to expand to Abilene and is looking for someone to run the operation for them and eventually own it. The big cheese was not available so I didn't learn if there is a franchising fee or not!

Have a weekend!

FATHER, thank YOU for projects that go well. I lift up all of Rian and Erica's friends that have stopped by and unloaded something or picked up a paint brush or simply helped to clean. Bless those who brought food and refreshment by. Bless those who are helping them move. I lift up Rian and Erica and the boys new home for YOUR blessing!

I drove to Roscoe today, met up with Memama, went to church, picked up Chris and went back to Memama's house for lunch.

Originally the plan called for going out to eat but we had received some faulty intel. Turned out it was Memama, Chris, Joni, Linda and myself for lunch and Jake and Lindsay and the twins were enroute for a late lunch.

Wow. Not much of a crowd at church today.

It is raining in Abilene, Texas. With accessories. (Up to golf ball size hail).

Lots of reports of tornadoes in the area and our little weather dog is throwing a shoe!

And, it seems the teacher in the five year old Sunday School Class asked if they knew what the last supper was. Holt, the five year old grandson responded, "Yes, that is when we are having leftovers".

Hope your day was blessed.

FATHER, thank YOU for JESUS!

Happy Birthday Ollie!

I really enjoyed watching the Academy of Country Music Tribute to the women superstars of country!

Some very interesting duet combinations.

Excellent!

I haven't mentioned it, but as all of you know this Sunday is Easter, which means this week has been Holy Week.

Growing up in the CoC, it seems that the preachers and teachers made it a point not to emphasize Christmas or Easter. More often than not it was said that the CoC celebrated the birth, death, and resurrection on a weekly basis.

For many, Christmas and Easter are the two reasons for them to enter the doors of a church twice annually.

I am not going to sit in judgment, or take sides.

As many of you are aware, I spent fifteen years working in a community that was 99.9%devout Catholic. I have always been impressed with their tradition and ceremony.

Of course Easter culminates lent. The Sunday prior to Easter is Palm Sunday. The Thursday prior is Maundy Thursday, commemorating the last supper and the command to love one another.

Good Friday commemorates Jesus' arrest, trial, crucifixion, death and burial. I caught a brief daily devotional yesterday that was was very poignant. Probably the best recap of Easter and the events leading up to it in less than two minutes that I had ever heard.

The speaker said that Good Friday was the day that GOD's plan to gift us with forgiveness was complete. With Christ's death we were taught sacrifice by example and gifted forgiveness according to GOD's plan.

Holy Saturday is today and of course tomorrow is Easter which commemorates the resurrection of Christ.

Often we cloud the true meaning by glossing over with chocolate rabbits, candied eggs, and spring fashion competition.

May your week and your days be centered in Christ!

FATHER, thank YOU for the hope and promise we have in JESUS. For the gift of forgiveness, for YOUR sacrifice and HIS. I lay my burdens down and come to YOUR table knowing that I am unworthy, but also knowing my way has been made possible by CHRIST crucified. FATHER, I continue to lift Carole and her husband for YOUR miracles of healing. I lift all of those who are traveling to be with family for Easter, that they would be kept safe. I lift Ollie for YOUR Birthday Blessings.

It has been a day. And not one to write home about.

My day began working on Memama's big Kenworth truck. Robert her driver wanted to meet me at 8 this morning to go over some issues. I worked on the truck by myself until 9:30. The driver called me after 10 wanting to know if I was going to work on it.

Needless to say, I was not a happy camper.

Then it was on to the little wild man truck driver and his issue of the day.

Finally I was on my way to the farm.

My farm help didn't show up yesterday. No call, no text, no anything. Today he called telling me he was locked out of the barn.

The day with my farm helper degenerated from there. He called, telling me he was taking an early lunch, then he texted telling me he was going to his parenting class at 2:15.

In later texts he told me I knew he had the classes two NIGHTS a week for 10 weeks.

To me that still doesn't explain leaving at 2:15 in the afternoon.

I finally threw the gauntlet down, telling him he had tripped the BS meter. Take the Explorer to the farm and don't come back until he is serious about working.

Last week this man had 16.5 hours for the week.

Crazy thing is he is an ex-marine. Go figure.

I would like to ask a favor of all you who faithfully read this blog.

My fried DMS has a friend and co-worker, Carole I. who along with her husband was involved in a motorcycle accident near Austin last weekend. Initially there were questions that they could save her husband's leg although they now believe they can but there may be limited movement at the ankle and foot.

Tests indicated Carole had suffered internal injuries and some exploratory surgery was scheduled. During this surgery they discovered an injury to her liver, but also revealed cancer on one kidney. It was hoped that the accident was a blessing in disguise revealing the cancer, hopefully in an early stage. Surgery was scheduled for today to remove the diseased kidney. More tests revealed the cancer had spread to her lungs. Further testing is on-going.

I would ask that each of you include Carole and her husband in your prayers and in your prayer groups.

And we think we have had a bad day!

Forgive me FATHER when I become engrossed in my day and my problems. YOU are bigger than any problem I can bring to YOU. FATHER, I lift up Carole and her husband for YOUR gifts of healing and care. Be with their doctors and nurses as they care for them. To YOU be the glory!

I did my part. 2010 Federal Income tax filed and mailed yesterday!

Four down, one to go!

In 2006 I did an offer in compromise to the U.S. Treasury involving Transportation Alliance Bank's dereliction of duties handling the company payroll trust deposits. For those of you who remember I had two Treasury agents come to my door wanting to resolve a $1.3M shortage. All of these monies had been sent to the bank, the bank failed to deposit them in the Treasury account. The Treasury agents, in their infinite wisdom refused to look at the bank.

Long story short, I reached a deal with them for a lump sum payment, timely filing for five years, and the Treasury would keep any tax refund monies for the five year period. Of course the Federal Government operates so efficiently it was 2007 when they accepted my offer.

Our 2011 tax return will complete the terms of the offer in compromise! Woo Hoo!

Yesterday morning I was on my way to Lamesa to take some parts to the little wild man truck driver when my phone rang. It was Tom, my accountant informing me that my tax return was ready. Later in the day I made arrangements to stop by and pick it up.

Oh, by the way, I am due money back.

The biggest problem with filing tax returns is now with the postal service. I can remember when the last pickup at Abilene's downtown post office was 12 midnight. Then it went to 9, then 8, and now is 6. If you have a postal machine you have a little latitude.

Many small town post offices will make agreements with local tax preparers to post mark everything in the out going mail before changing the dates on their equipment.

Last night I rolled up to the mail box downtown just as they were rolling the big cart to empty it!

I hate deadlines!

I've been trying to find someone or someway to finance the Explorer to the current farm hand. He wants me to finance it, but I could sure stand more relief than a monthly payment would afford. Worst part of this is that this man would have nothing substantial in it. The man did offer me 25% add on if I would finance it!

On my excursion to Lamesa, I captured a rather large turtle! From the pickup until my return to Roscoe I was on a mission looking for Johnson grass to whip it with! When I finally found it, I whipped this turtle unmercifully (before releasing it to the wilds again).

As many of you know, Uncle Wilson is the one who came up with this sure fire method of getting rain! So I am putting it to the test!

RAIN by the weekend!

I released the turtle in the pond just off Robertson on the route to the house!

My back is better. Still tight. Still tender. But I made the whole day with no pain killer. I did take one as a luxury last evening. Slept until about 1.

Sure would like to get a nap in before morning!

One of my perks early in the morning has been watching MASH from 4 to 5 in the morning. This morning they have replaced it with I Love Lucy episodes.

What a different place in time.

Have a day!

FATHER, thank YOU for YOUR blessings, large and small!

Sorry for the lapse in blog!

I had been working at the farm this week. We had been weed eating and spraying. Trying to just make things look nice, while waiting for rain!

Monday I had taken Pepa's sprayer and mower out there. Tuesday I took the sprayer back to town to do some repair to a wing on the boom. Wednesday was my most productive spray day!

That is until I stepped off the mower to spray between some stationary items. I don't know if I stepped wrong or what, but i felt a twinge in my back and almost went to the ground!

Several years ago a chiropractor told me I have tight hamstrings! I didn't know if this was a compliment or what!

Actually what he was telling me is that if I don't keep them stretched (my hamstrings), they will tilt my pelvis, pinching a nerve, causing need for an adjustment and hot and cold therapy along with stretching exercises.

Long story short, my back got no better during the rest of the day!

I have been to see Dr. Summers twice and feel some better. But I got a ways to go.

After extended horizontal periods I feel really good. But, after walking and being up my back becomes tight and begins to hurt.

Luckily I had some meds to help with the pain.

So her is hoping I can take it easy and be totally healed by Monday! (Even though I do plan on going to Roscoe today!).

Anyhow, hope your week is going good!

Have a day!

FATHER, heal me. I continue to ask for YOUR rain blessing!

My Sunday nap has messed up my Sunday night sleep.

That is O.K.. I needed to do some correspondence.

I am needing to do some decompressing. Mind overload! Which doesn't take much considering my limited capacity.

I need some mindless MASH night time television.

Need to laugh!

Have a night!

FATHER, rest well.

Went to 8:15 church this morning.

Southern Hills has two services. Daybreak at 8:15 and Refresh at 11:00. Daybreak is a more contemporary service while refresh is more geared for younger worshippers.

Quite a crowd at the Daybreak service.

The Refresh service praise team leader sings tenor in the Daybreak praise team if that tells you anything. The Daybreak praise team leader can really sing, but it almost gets to be where everyone else is singing back up for him.

I didn't stay for classes. Left, went by post office to check LLE mail and on to a new breakfast burrito place I have found. Came home, fed Krl, ate, and took a three hour nap.

Yawn!

I don't understand about the Master's golf tournament. If all those guys want a green jacket so much why don't they just buy one! Or, they could get a group discount!

O.K.. Just kidding. I think the Master's is one of the most beautiful settings for a golf tournament. Add all the tradition, pomp and circumstance and it is quite the tourney.

I wonder if these professional golfers have ever worked a day in their life?

I was so disappointed when I woke and it had not rained.

Hope your day is a good one!

Have a day!

FATHER, we continue to ask for YOUR rain blessing.

I had my talk with my helper.

I told him I didn't need him if I was going to have to look over his shoulder. That he starts lots of jobs and finishes few, and that was going to have to change. Finished off the talk by giving him some things to do.

Later in the day I returned and found he began the jobs but didn't totally complete them again. His explanation when picking up tools was, "I didn't know you considered that a tool".

Our final discussion of the day was about the farm truck he is driving. It is for transportation to and from work to home. Nothing more. I had reports of him being seen around town on Thursday in it. (He didn't work from Tuesday until yesterday and had a whopping 15 hours of time for the week).

Last night I had a call and the truck was at the hospital. I feel pretty confident come Monday the farm truck will be living at the farm again.

Killed my first rattler of the year yesterday. I was headed to town and thought it was a shadow on the road. When I discovered it was a snake I veered over to run over it. When I backed up to see if I had run over it, the rattler was a little feisty, pursuing and attacking the pickup. I am hopeful the snakes moving is a sign of rain coming. (Good chance of rain tonight and tomorrow).

I am fixing to go look at Memama's Kenworth air conditioner. It has a contact issue on the high low pressure switches. It is a factory double blade plug, but I may cut them off and just put blade connectors in their place.

Here is hoping this farm boy repair works!

Have a day!

FATHER, we ask for YOUR rain blessing.

Yikes!

The little wildman truck driver and I took his truck to the shop yesterday morning! We needed an annual inspection. A quick walk around would reveal all the lights worked. We had already replaced the windshield, and done some serious preliminary work.

Once they did the initial inspection, they told us that we needed a suspension leveling valve, a re-arranging some air lines. Oh, and the horn was not working! $1311 and two days later the truck has a new sticker. The kicker is that the horn has already stopped working!

The little wildman spent the day with me. Best part is that he knows what the inspection process involved and cost.

I have mention before that this man is extremely religious. This afternoon was no exception. He told me he was going to go get fuel and bless his truck.

This man has his crucifix hanging from the roof of the truck. He usually has a picture of the Holy Mother in the truck as well. This is the same man who last year told me we keep blessing GOD and he keeps blessing us! This man did see my Mom today and upon leaving told her how good it was to see her and he asked GOD'S blessings on her.

I told this man today how crucial it was that we run trouble free and try to recoup some of the funds that have been spent on the repairs. So I too will bless his truck and him, asking for safe travel with no problems.

I sent $10 with my friend to Vegas. I sure hope it pays off big! I am fixing to have to get busy collecting some money! Not the laid back two days I had hoped for.

My farm helper finally texted me. Now he is wanting to work. Imagine that. Hope your day and week have been better than mine!

Have a day!

FATHER, I wish I knew the plans you have for me! To YOU be the glory!

Jury duty sucked! Wasted over half my day, then they hurt my feelings and didn't pick me! During jury selection they were asking questions about if we had been involved in a law suit, if so were we the plaintiff or defendant. I responded I had played both sides of the ball. They inquired as to the outcome of the litigation. I responded that the outcome of the litigation was a very serious dislike for attorneys. The defendant's attorney was a little shocked and asked if it was plaintiff's attorneys or defendant's attorneys or all attorneys. I responded, "All attorneys". Then it was pointed out that judges were attorneys and I responded that judges were indeed attorneys who like to play dress up and wear long flowing gowns. Needless to say, it was very funny. Everyone was laughing. Except me when they didn't pick me. The other event at jury selection was being seated in draw order I was seated by a woman who was rather large. She made me feel about normal people size. This lady sat in her seat and in my lap (overflow). About midway through the selection process my neighbor got extremely squirmy and then a barrage of small smelly farts began permeating the area. I thought I was going to be ASSphixiated! Seven dollars just wasn't enough pay for my day! My biggest complaint concerns the courthouse security. Give a guy a uniform and a badge and he is important. I have never seen such over kill in all my life. And rude? Don't get me started. As prospective jurors we were instructed to use a particular entrance at the courthouse. There was a back log of us waiting as a guard had left his post. In the past we had been given a token, or pass giving us passage around courthouse security. However, yesterday we were allowed inside through the assigned entrance on our initial visit only. They told us at the first break that if we had a pocket knife, pepper spray, or other items that might be revealed through the courthouse metal detectors we needed to take them to our vehicles before we went upstairs. We were told these items would be confiscated and would not be returned. I didn't have any such items, but many did. When they exited through the special juror door, they had no idea they would not be allowed back in. That meant they had to walk complete around the courthouse to reach the only entrance they were using for public access. I am hopeful today that I will get the little wildman truck drive changed over to his old truck. All along our plan had been for the switch today. He began having an issue yesterday with his current truck. Although I had told him I was in jury duty I had repeated calls from him. I had texted him reminding him where I was. During a break I talked with K.O. and he was telling me he had talked with the driver and made me aware of the truck issue and that it was not anything that would prevent him from returning from Fort Worth. By the time the little wildman got to Abilene, he had changed his tune and was running his mouth. He had made some statements and was taken out of the dispatch rotation for today and then was upset about it. Of course is kind of his MO. To have dealt with the existing issue would have taken maybe an hour. As it turns out, he turned down a Sunday cross dock, did a Ab-FW;FW-Ab, then turned down a Monday cross dock and got himself taken out of the Tuesday rotation. All the sudden he is thinking of his wallet and wants to blame someone else. Yesterday, shortly after being released from jury duty, I began working on registration for the truck I plan on putting the driver in. I had given K.O. the VIN # and requested an insurance card and lease. As of this morning I have received neither. Hey, don't handcuff me! My day looks something like this. IRS to pay 2290 for the truck that has been down since February 16, 2010. Registration for same. Go to Roscoe. Put signage on truck. Charge Air conditioner. Get annual inspection on truck. Swap trucks out! My friend DMS is in Las Vegas! Contrary to rumors, she is not trying out to be a "Vegas Showgirl". She is actually on a 35th wedding anniversary jaunt with her man! Congratulations! By the way, I keep looking at my phone. I sent $10 with her and told her to make me rich! LOL! Well, even though I am killing time until governmental offices open, I had better get my day going! By the way. Three weeks ago I told Kyle Brown the UConn would win the NCAA men's basketball title! Although I was pulling for Butler, I sure like being right! Problem was I was not confident enough to put down a wager! heh, heh! Have a day! FATHER, I need you to take over and manage my time, manage my affairs, manage me! Pace me. Instill in me YOUR perfect peace! I pray for patience.

What a week! What a month. Thank goodness it is over! We had been doing our scrap operation, getting rid of some old parts and pieces, in hopes of funding some equipment repairs. This past week, we began the repairs on the purple Volvo. Clutch was first on the list. We removed the clutch and I carried it to Abilene to exchange it. It has been a real patience tester. Anything that can go wrong has. Some of it is our fault, and I have continually given my man pep talks about muscle and brawn is O.K., but some projects require finesse and smarts. We had put the transmission in and out three times by Friday night. Bill was getting so frustrated he couldn't grab his butt with both hands and a road map. I was getting frustrated with Bill. This clutch is a multi disc clutch and we were getting into the second disc when it seems to stop sliding. Each time we removed the transmission, we re-aligned the clutch and every time it was right on! Finally about 7:30 Friday evening I told Bill, "Let's take it to the house for the evening and we will reconvene Saturday morning." He agreed, we tallied for the week, I headed for Abilene, Bill headed for Sweetwater. Saturday morning Bill was a no show. In fact, he didn't show all day long. Biggest problem was that he wasn't where he said he would be either. I left him a message, telling him if we get side-ways it will be over him not doing what we agree for him to do and not being where he is supposed to be. He still has not responded. So this fat ol' gray headed man crawled under that truck and put that transmission in. That ought to show that young buck! We are going to have a talk Monday. I feel reasonably sure Bill's farm truck privileges will be gone. I think we make our own luck to a point and Bill seems hell bent on making his luck bad. May be time to part ways. I am blessed to have jury duty in the morning. I have polished my standard line, that I think capital punishment should be an option for any attorney in any case! They usually run me out the door. If that doesn't do it, I tell the judge that judges are just reformed lawyers, and if the shoe fits wear it! Our legal system is messed up! And it ain't gonna get no better if they pick me tomorrow! FATHER, rest me well, rest me quickly. Bless our efforts on the repairs. We ask for a blessed week!