As many of you are aware, I have begun dieting and trying to exercise. My recent visit to the doctor for my annual physical revealed a substantial weight gain since January.

When I want to justify this I tell myself it is from three rounds of steroids while battling respiratory issues during the past year. It seemed that every time the doctor gave me the big shots and followed with oral steroids, I could count on about a fourteen pound gain. It seemed I would be battling to get it off when the next round of meds arrived.

But, down deep, I know and knew I need to take that plus some off.

I have a friend who threw down the gauntlet, betting me they could lose to their goal before I could. I accepted that bet three weeks ago this coming week.

I have become really conscious of what I eating as well as portions, and I have begun trying to walk when I can. Usually two to three miles.

Therein lies my problem.

The walking is killing my feet and legs. I have changed shoes three times, and just this past week I bought some high dollar gel insoles.

Believe me, I am learning a lot about shoes. A shoe with a heel affects the backs of my legs as well as my lower back. What I once considered the most comfortable shoe I had ever worn (New Balance)now is almost unbearable, although the insoles have helped.

Even the bottoms of my feet ache.

Enter my masseuse a friend put me on to. My friend had discussed my issues with the masseuse, who I have used a few times previously, and Janet (the masseuse) looked at my feet and legs as a personal challenge.

Two weeks ago I had gone in and although I had an hour appointment, she worked on me two hours and twenty minutes. The majority of that was on feet and legs. When I left her studio my legs and feet felt wonderful. It just didn't last long enough.

When my problem persisted, this past week Janet sent word to me that she had something she wanted to try.

I made an appointment for Saturday at one.

When I arrived, she sat me in a chair and placed my feet in a pan with hot water and sea salt. After soaking for a few minutes, when began filling her palms with the warm water and pouring it over my legs and feet. After a brief while, she removed one foot and placed it on her lap. She poured a generous amount of sea salt into one hand and began massaging my foot.

At first my foot was very jumpy from the coarse mixture, but quickly settled down. This went on for several minutes before Janet placed it back in the water and repeated the process with the other foot.

Nirvana! This felt so wonderful.

Finally she put me on the table, beginning me face up so she could concentrate on my feet. She worked on the soles, informing me I one kidney that was somewhat improved from my last visit (she had told me it was clogged) and she told me I had a kernel on my sole that indicated congestion. So she addressed both of these.

She took the hot stones and rubbed my feet and legs before repeating the process with a massage lotion.

Believe me, if I could afford it I would go see Janet every day!

Ironically, my brain got to thinking about when Jesus was on this earth, and the washing of feet. I figure back then with the sandals and the walking travel, the the feet were very smelly, but I can imagine how good it felt to have one's feet washed after a long day. You know this wasn't a job very high up on the work list but it was an act that when Jesus or a host performed it to their guests it humbled the provider and honored the guests.

Janet worked on me Saturday and hour and twenty minutes. I swear the woman has magic fingers.

In addition to this, she is into natural cures. Some of them are not conventional, but I still wouldn't call it holistic medicine.

One issue the doctors are working on, and now Janet, is severe swelling in my lowere legs and feet.

Surprisingly, the walking has helped with the swelling. They say this is due to increased circulation in my extremities.

Now. On my grocery trip, Janet had given me a list. Parsley, celery, and lemon. I am supposed to put parsley leaves and chopped celery in a sauce pan and "steep" it. Let it cool and package it for use later. Lemon water is high on her priority list and she wants me drinking tonic water as well.

Janet says I will lose another five or six pounds just from water! (And I am already on two diuretics).

I will weigh in tomorrow, but as of last Monday I had lost 12 pounds and had gone down a size in jeans.

Of course Rian has been an inspiration, he is sitting at 55 pounds lost, and Joni Sue is in that same neighborhood. And my friend I have the wager with is good about encouraging and walking with me.

So I have examples.

Yesterday Carol wanted to go to the mall to see if a skirt she had seen when we got her new eye glasses was still on the hanger. We went, it was. As was a top, and next door where Ellen works she found a blouse, jeans and two pair of shoes.

On our way out, she encouraged me to look at new shoes for walking. I called Rian and he told me I needed "Brooks" shoes. Problem was this brand was extremely limited in the Abilene mall. This is the brand shoe that Rian's doctor, elder, and friend instructed him to get before he began working out.

I tried shoes on and was unable to find a Brooks shoe that felt really good. I finally asked the young man helping me what kind of shoe he was wearing. He was a big man and told me he too had very wide feet.

GOD must have been on break when he made my feet because they look like webbed feet. Very wide, and absolutely no arch.

I instructed the young man to bring me a pair of shoes like he was wearing in my size. Nike Air Maxes. Very comfortable. And they came home to live with me. More money than I have ever spent on a pair of shoes, boots being the exception.

So hopefully I am going to have more relief from my feet and legs.

But I am already looking forward to my next visit to Janet's!

Who'd a thunk losing weight and getting in better shape would be such a big deal!

I currently have an ongoing argument with the City of Abilene Utility Service about a $600 water bill. They tell us we have a leak. I asked for a new meter.. The guy came out and replaced the meter. He verified that there is no leak. He believes as I do that their meter reader did not do their job. (I had cleaned the meter of mud and leaves. I only wish I had taken a picture prior to.) The city says they tested the meter and it was slow. I say horse hockey. I want the meter sent to Texas meter works for testing. They tell us we have the greenest lawn on the block. I tell them to talk to the lawn service that does our yard. We have mowed six times since March. We aren't even using the pool!

I am not very hopeful. You know what they say, "You can't fight city hall". But I hope they have a minimal IQ.

Time will tell.

Hope you've had a great weekend!

FATHER, thank YOU for all the blessings you pour down on us. Bless my efforts on losing weight and exercising. I ask for a blessed week.

Two weeks into the dieting and it is going well. I'm trying to walk every night, two to three miles. 24% of the way to my base goal. I swear I think by the time I get to the goal I will be growing feathers from eating so much chicken.

My biggest problem so far has been these extremely flat feet don't like walking. Very sore and tender as are my lower legs. I have changed shoes, but this morning decided to pursue new insoles.

On the package it advertised, "Do you suffer from tired achey feet?"

"Enjoy Outrageous comfort!"

I was sold. These are the Dr. Scholl's "gel" insoles. So far, so good. I just don't know about the outrageous comfort. Yet!

The next fix would be another pair of New Balance walking shoes.

I have been taking the little redhead walking with me. I can put my walking shoes on and she begins to get hyper. She will pull you through the first mile and a half. After that she is coming back to me. So far she hasn't gone over two miles, and a single mile seems to really work well for her.

Last night for the first time I took Phoo Doo walking. She did well. But, it almost broke the redheads heart. I did one mile with Phoo Doo, one with the redhead, one without any hound and then I came back and got Eville and went down the street and back. Eville is about like walking a grasshopper.

Tonight I took each of the bigger dogs on a lap, and lastly I got Eville and walked her to the end of the street and back. She did much better.

I have been trying to put my pickup back together. The radiator shop completed their repairs Friday, and I have been trying to prepare the air conditioner condenser and the transmission and engine oil cooler before putting the radiator back in place. Nine years at the old seasonal work has filled all the little fins with cotton lint.

So tomorrow, I am going to pickup a gallon pump sprayer and a gallon of bleach and I'm going to spray it down. The bleach should eat all the cotton lint out of the fins.

I have a breakfast meeting tomorrow morning, then to Roscoe. I will work on the pickup before boarding the "big green tractor".

We also have a ground rig that is supposed to begin spraying tomorrow.

On Monday I attended Dortha Mae Smiths funeral. Only Memama is left from the foursome of Wilson and Dortha, and Memama and Pepa.

Let's see, Coach had a birthday yesterday. We texted back and forth. #53 I believe.

Rian is having a procedure tomorrow. He has had an on going issue that has not responded to conventional treatment, so the doctor is taking a more radical approach.

Have a day.

FATHER, YOU are in control!

Whew.

Well, I did the eight o'clock church deal. A quick run to Walmart, back home to get Carol and the Expedition before hitting the road to Albany for the noon meal for the family and then the graveside service at 2 at Baker Cemetery. I was supposed to be there at 11 am.

Whatever can go wrong, did go wrong.

The Expedition had not been out of the garage since January until last weekend. I had to jump start it of course, and even after running and driving it it was slow and sluggish to start.

I had pulled the battery cables off and let them soak all yesterday in vinegar, trying to remove any corrosion. Last night I put them back on the battery and the Expedition started. This morning it was slow and sluggish again but it did start.

Carol was not ready when I walked in the house, so I started the Expedition and transferred all the needed items from Pepa's pickup. By then Carol was ready and we left the house headed to the Valero station for gas. When we completed fueling I hoped in the driver's seat and hit the key. It wouldn't start. And we were at thirty minutes until we were supposed to be in Albany.

I asked a man if he could jump us and he reluctantly agreed, but we were unsuccessful. Too little battery and too little alternator. I called my friend to see if they were still in town and luckily they were and they came to our rescue.

We were twenty-two minutes late to meet the lady at the community center. Luckily, Jason and Christy were already there and had been getting instructions. I walked in, paid the lady and we got to work.

We had ended up getting food for fifty people. Ma Allens. We fed 46 I believe. Two orders of chicken were not even opened. Pretty close figuring.

That was one interesting thing. Listening to Memama figure how much of what we needed. She converts everything to cups, and is pretty darn close.

A pretty good group.

Special thanks to Carol, Jason and Christy, Linda and Joni, Pat and Memama, Chet and Shirley, Cody and April. It went pretty smooth from start to cleanup.

The service was good. Rian did it with an assist from Holt on a prayer. Some of Doug's friends spoke about growing up with Doug and their lasting friendship. A very touching and humorous remembrance by Rian. It was more a celebration than a sad event. It was kinda of funny as a herd of cows came by the cemetery and would moo and beller.

Well, I guess it could have been boo and beller! Lol!

Carol and I were already home when she told me about an altercation she encountered. It seems that a tact-less, hill billy of a woman wanted to know how she was handling my having a lover. Typical B.S. by this woman. Some things never change! There will come a time when I run into this woman and she isn't going to like it when I do.

I told Carol if there were any substance to the lady's question or accusation it would be one thing, but there isn't and never has been. Totally unfounded gossip and tongue-wagging.

What goes around comes around and I can't wait!

I really feel like sending this lady a bill for her meal.

#1) it is none of this lady's business and #2) it was neither the time or place for the inquiry.

Can you say ignorant ASS bitch! I can!

Visitation was tonight in San Angelo for Doug's family. Good turn out. Carol and I made the drive down.

Graveside service tomorrow at 2 o'clock at the Baker Cemetery between Albany and Breckenridge.

Rian will be doing the service and Holt is assisting with a prayer.

Rian had talked with me Friday and suggested if my family wanted to do something for Doug's family it would be a great convenience if we could arrange a meal enroute to the cemetery from San Angelo.

The community center in Albany was rented and Memama, Pat and myself sat down at Memama's table to figure out the meal. We selected Ma Allen's fried chicken and trimmings for the meal.

Rian called me with a number. Twenty people. We began working with that number trying to determine the amount of food needed. By Saturday morning that number had doubled and by Saturday night it had increased by another fourth.

So, Pat took my worksheet and ordered the chicken and veggies. I began putting together a list of paper goods, plastic ware, cups and miscellaneous needs.

Memama encouraged me to go to Wal Mart to buy my list of stuff rather than buy a "huge" number at Sam's. As my luck would have it, nothing fits. Trying to work toward fifty people and the plastic ware has 48 in a box. Plates have 40. Napkins have 100.

My biggest challenge proved to be "table toppers". The plastic that you can cover the tables with and just throw it away. I had spent about three hours looking for it when I finally called Jason and asked him where to go. He asked Christy and she told me the Card and Party Store next to Hastings on South Fourteenth.

They had every color you can imagine, but I settled for white.

Now the only thing I have to pick up is Red Diamond tea.

Planning of 8 o'clock church tomorrow, a run to Wal Mart, then to the house to get Carol and hit the road. I have to meet the lady at 11 to get the key to the building.

Pat is picking up Memama at 10 and the chicken at 10:30 (hopefully 10:15).

If you are going to the grave side service, bring a chair.

Headed for bed to get a little shut eye before the alarm goes off.

Wow. Tough weekend. The two shows at the fair that I announced were tough. Some shows just flow quickly and when its over the announcer goes wow, "I didn't even use all my stuff". That wasn't the case with these. The show seemed mired in molasses. A three hour show stretched to over four hours. Yikes. My feet and legs have really been hurting and after standing for both shows, my feet and legs have yet to forgive me!

I had been to see Janet , the lady who does massages, Friday afternoon and she worked on me two hours and fifteen minutes. Mainly my legs and feet, but by Sunday night you couldn't prove it by me!

Right now if I had to give my friend K.O. an answer on whether or not I would announce next year, my answer would be "No".

The shows were just too difficult to work and it just wasn't fun.

Someone asked me if I would rather go and just watch. I told them no, I would rather stay home and wait for highlights on the news. Lol.

Recently when I went to the doctor he made some medication changes to help with some swelling in my feet and lower legs, as well as to help with my restless leg. So far I can't tell any improvement on the restless leg. In fact it seems much worse. Most days I get home and take half my prescribed medication immediately. But, on days like yesterday that isn't enough. I could hardly put my feet on the floor last evening!

I have worked in the shop some this week, plowed some, messed with trucks and my pickup.

Earlier in the summer my pickup had blown a heater hose and I just folded the hose and zip tied it. Last week I began to smell antifreeze and close inspection revealed a small crack in the plastic tank on the radiator. It is at the shop as I type. I removed the radiator Wednesday morning and took it to the shop Thursday morning. If things went well, they have already cleaned and rod-ed the radiator core and the new tank will be in mid morning.

I went to bed relatively early tonight and woke to discover three missed calls from Rian. I figured it was too late to call him so I put my phone back on the bathroom counter. I was back in bed when I thought I heard it tone again. Immediately I hopped from the bed and went to my phone. It indicated Ollie was calling.

A jillion thoughts crossed my mind immediately. Problems with her pregnancy, her diabetes, Brad, school. It all flashed across my brain.

But, I was not prepared for her to tell me that Doug, the kid's step Dad had died. Yesterday was his sixtieth birthday. It seemed he and the kid's mother had gone to San Angelo for the week, and last evening they were celebrating Doug's birthday at Brad's house. Ollie said they had sung happy birthday and were beginning to eat the meal when Doug began to choke. Despite the efforts of all who were there, they couldn't dis-lodge the obstruction. When Emt's arrived they were able to remove the obstruction with forceps, but couldn't bring him back.

I know this will be one of those events that impacts the kiddos, but I am really more concerned with Addison. She was the apple of Doug's eye (although she was a rotten apple more often than not).

Of course it goes without saying it will impact the kiddo's mother.

Just earlier this summer they had moved to Post to be close to and supervise some rental property they own there. In fact it was just a couple of weeks ago that Alton took what was hopefully their last load from the San Angelo house.

For many years, Doug had coached and taught in Odessa nd San Angelo. In later years he had taught, making honors history his specialty. About five years ago he had retired from teaching every day, but taught all he wanted as a substitute. He had knee replacement that didn't yield the wanted results and to be honest he had enjoyed very little quality the last few years. From my view point it appeared that he had mounting health issues. Still, I wasn't ready for the news that Ollie delivered to me.

I don't know what the plans are other than Rian will be traveling to Angelo in the morning and they will make plans. When I know more I will share it with you.

Don't know about you but I am tired of people dying.

Don't know exactly what my Friday holds now.

But I need to do a little business. Happy birthday to my friend DMS and also to Christy.

Happy birthday girls!

Well, I may see if I can find an apple or something to snack on and then try to go back to bed.

Have a day!

FATHER, only YOU know what plans YOU have for us. Bless all of Doug's family. We lift them for YOUR gifts of comfort. Bless DMS and Christy on their birthdays and we ask you bless them with many more. Thank YOU for the rain showers. We ask YOU for more of YOUR rain blessings.

Texas High School Football. Go Figure.

Only the Plowboys remain perfect this season, and not in a good way. The Buckaroos fell to Bangs last night while the Mustangs beat Levelland. Both Breckenridge and Sweetwater are now 2-1 while Roscoe is 0-3.

Probably the biggest shocker for me was the Stephenville Brownwood game or the battle of 377 (Highway 377) as it has come to be known. I wasn't shocked that the Yellowjackets won, but the margin they won by. 77-0. Yikes. I betcha ol' Gordon rolled over!

I have often told Coach that he is depending on 16, 17, and 18 year old kids for his livelihood.

I can remember attending Roscoe High in 1968 and the varsity football team going 0-10. That made for some long bus rides! It didn't matter if you were on the varsity, JV, Band, Cheering Squad or just a resident of the community, everyone suffered.

Crazy thing was the "winless" season followed a district championship in 1967 and would preface another in 1970.

John Short was the head coach in the championship year 1967 and the winless season in 1968. (Rudy Raughton was an assistant).

I don't remember the circumstances involving Coach Short's departure. I don't know if he resigned or was pressured out or fired.

I guess I just wanted to play football.

Vernon Townsend took over as head coach in 1969 and won a district title in 1970. Only two of the coaches from the previous staff were retained.

Where I am going with this, is that while it was difficult, we probably learned more from the losing season than if it had been the other way.

You know the old adage, adversity builds character. We built a lot of character in 1968.

It is ironic that Freddy was a starter on that winless team of 1968 and in 2011 two of his grandsons are starters on a team that has begun the season 0-3.

Life is filled with cycles, just as sports are. Thing is, the athletes go on to bigger and better things while their coach mentors are sometimes shown the door.

Parents!

Coaches can only do so much with what they are given to work with. Granted, Coaches sometimes make poor preparation or game planning or make poor game decisions. But that is life. You make the best call you can at that precise moment.

People are fickle! Everyone loves a winner and despises a wiener!

Once again, go figure!

Here is hoping the Plowboys right their ship!

Tonight and tomorrow I will be announcing the West Texas Fair Truck and Tractor Pull.
Don't ask me why but I am really not in the mood. Let's hope I can reach into my briefcase and pull another couple of shows out!

Come on out! 7pm. today, 2pm tomorrow.

FATHER, help us to learn life lessons day by day! Reign is us!

Yesterday was Colby Lucille's Birthday. #32 if I am counting right. We had some text message exchange early in the day. So to make it blog official, Happy Birthday!

I continued my regular schedule. Working around the shop in the morning and driving the tractor in the heat of the afternoon. Its kind of a throw back, driving without the guidance system. Hey, but I can do it, it is just not perfectly straight.

My biggest adjustment is no puzzles, no book reading, and it is terribly hard to text and to post on this blog.

Probably another week before I know which guidance system we are going with for the new one!

I am hoping to go to Lubbock and "shop" farm equipment. I have a short wish list, but I am not tied to the green and yellow!

Yesterday my shop project was adjusting the clutch on Memama's big Kenworth truck. If I crawled under that truck once I crawled under it fifty times, trying to bump the starter and get the adjustment portion of the pressure plate to come up in the inspection window. It seemed like it would roll just past, or not quite there.

I had given up when I got on the tractor to plow, but late in the day I had another flat on the right front tire (again!) and ended up at the shop early, so I began messing with the clutch again. Second time I bumped the starter, I finally hit everything right! Twenty minutes later, the clutch was adjusted! Yay! (I had to find something long enough to keep the clutch depressed while I adjusted it underneath!

When I looked at my clock, it was 5:41. In the seat of my pickup I had a FedEx envelope that needed to ship before end of day. Final pickup in Abilene was 6:30.

Drive time!

I made it to the airport Fedex with seven minutes to spare.

I had a friend who threw down the gauntlet earlier in the week. I was told they could lose 50 pounds before I could.

Them's fighting words!

I accepted the challenge and have really started to monitor what I eat. In addition, I have begun walking at night. Two miles Tuesday, dancing Wednesday night, and last night three miles.

My feet and legs are very sore.

What my friend doesn't understand is I would cut off a leg before I would let them win the bet! (Hey that's a tough way to lose weight, but it's quick).

Anyhow, it is a start!

I am done at Roscoe for the week. Carol has an eye appointment this morning and I am getting a massage this afternoon (legs and feet). Then I will probably run by the pulling track at the fair grounds to see how Kevin and Danny are making it!

On a funny note, Pat had been trying to get Robyn's new address for a Deed with Life benefits done on Memama's property. Numerous texts went unanswered. I told Pat to tell her either respond or she was out of the will! She may be slow but she ain't stupid! The response came very quickly!

Hey, have a day and if we can put two together we'll call it a weekend.

FATHER, thank YOU for the relief from the heat. We continue to ask for YOUR rain blessing. Bless our day and our weekend and weekend activities! Greater are you!

Well, the Buckaroos and the Plowboys remain perfect. The Buckaroos in a good way (2-0) and the Plowboys in a bad way (0-2). The Mustangs hang in the middle at 1-1.

The Fire House was a blast Wednesday night. Probably the most fun I have had there in a long, long time, maybe ever!

The group was attending the grand re-opening of Southern Nights last night and also tonight. I didn't attend last night, but probably will for a while tonight.

The larger part of my week was filled with driving a tractor. The smaller part was filled with working in the shop in the mornings.

My South Texas man was coming back to Roscoe to pick up the last trailer. He was also wanting to pickup the oldest truck I got from the bank repo sale last year. A gem of a truck. 1984 International cabover! I put a price on this truck and told my man anything he gets over that he can have. Believe me he got busy. I see this truck moving permanently to Mexico.

Initially he was going to be in Roscoe Thursday morning. Then it was Friday morning. I got to the farm at 8 and he wasn't there so I crawled on my tractor and plowed until he showed up between ten and eleven.

I told him I had to leave Roscoe at 2 o'clock as Carol and I had doctor appointments at 4 pm. in Albany.

We had been dealing with bank wires on all money matters, but on Friday my man drove up with a personal check. Not drawn on him, but on his associate. I spent quite some time in the bank trying to figure out how to deal with a check and protect myself. The biggest problem was the check included trip expense money that they wanted me to give the driver.

So, if the check were to bounce, I would be out that plus the amount given to their driver.

I called and verified funds, made a deposit, and gave the driver a post dated check. I also kept the title for the trailer this man was picking up. When the check clears I will Fed Ex the title to them. Due to changes in plans the driver was going straight back to San Benito so he didn't need additional cash. Luckily none of the players had an issue.

I left Roscoe at 2:30. Got to the house ran through, got Expedition keys and Carol and I loaded up. Click. Nothing. The last time the Expedition was driven was last doctor appointment in January.

We unloaded and got back in my pickup. Twenty two minutes later we were at the doctor's office in Albany!

Carol has gained. She weighed a whopping 98. I don't want to talk about my weight, way too many steroids when I had the flu three times earlier this past year.


Minor changes in medications. A whole handful of prescriptions. A stop by the pharmacy. A haircut for Carol. Some grocery shopping for me. A trip home to put groceries up and we ended our day at Logan's with Nikki's Swirl as a chaser.

It was after nine when we got home.

It has been a long day on the computer today.

Personal note. Facebook doesn't like me today. Saturday, September 10th at 7pm. and Sunday September 11th at 2pm, West Texas Fair Truck and Tractor Pull. TTTPA sanction. No local stock classes. I will be doing the announcing again. They have added grandstands this year. Come on out!

Have a weekend! I'm going out!

FATHER, thank YOU for the cooler temperatures. We continue to ask for relief from the hot and the dry. Bless us oh LORD and expand our boundaries!