Very tense day, just making the time frame.

As you can tell, it is the bewitching hour and I am awake! Yuk!

My day began at the tire store, buying a tire for Memama's truck. This culminated a project I began last week. I am trying a new tire.

Pepa had been running Firestone 590 steer tires on the big Kenworth. These are a premium steer tire, but they have become very expensive. $500+ dollars per each. In the past six months they have gone up over a hundred dollars. (The pricing includes mount and balance but no tire disposal). Just a short while before Pepa died he had a bells and whistles three axle alignment on this truck. $4200. Yet the truck continues to knock the inside edge off of the steer tires between 50K and 80K miles. We could probably live with the 80K, but 50K is unacceptable.

Industry experts have said the tire wear is due to the set back axles on the newer trucks. Thing is, this truck is an extended hood with the conventional axle placement and it is far from new.

Recently I put a GT tire on one of our trucks steer axle (it is a set back axle) and have been very impressed. This tire is an import and runs at least a hundred dollars cheaper.

I guess I am doing research and development because I put a Double Coin steer tire on Memama's truck. This tire is a Chinese import and does possess an impressive casing warranty. Time will tell. (It is interesting the owner of the tire chain's son is a representative for this tire). I had never heard of this tire until last week.

After the tire store, I hit the road westbound talking on the phone, doing due diligence on some of Memama's other projects. We had an odd occurrence with one employee who received one check before electing to be a contractor. So there was one pay check with withholding and SS/medicare/medicaid deducted. My question was if we put all the monies paid on a 1099, do we have to match the SS/Medicare/medicaid amount. Her accountant's answer was to refund the withheld taxes and put the gross wages on the 1099. Simple enough.

Then it was the estate appraiser's turn for a call.

Next was a landlord's return call.

Finally I made it by the bank, by the post office and to the farm.

I have been wanting to put the duals on the 8310 tractor but have been reluctant because it is easier with two people.

As luck would have it, when the duals were put away, they were put away from the wrong side of the tire and wheel. When I picked the dual up with the forklift I was on the side that attaches to the tractor. With two people, you would get it out, one person would simply hold the tire and wheel upright and the other would drive the forklift around to the other side and pick it up again. Then once you lifted the tire and wheel where it was on the "ring" of the hub one person would hold the tire and wheel in while the other would align the holes for the bolts and begin bolting the tire and wheel on. Grab the air impact, run the bolts up and move to the other side.

It is much more complex with a single person. Just getting the tire and wheel turned is very physical while getting the tire up and aligned for bolts is almost an act of GOD.

The first dual went pretty well. Especially compared to the last one. When I finished the first dual installation I hopped on the forklift to retrieve the last dual and promptly ran out of diesel. A quick look revealed five minutes before lunch. I hooked a fuel tank to my pickup and headed to town.

After a quick lunch I filled the fuel tank and returned to the farm. As the forklift was fueling I primed the fuel system and when finished, the forklift started very easily. I grabbed the last dual and began maneuvering it to pick it up from the proper side. Finally I lifted the tire up to the hub. Then a wrestling match began with me finally getting one bolt started, but with the wheel coming off the hub ring. After fighting with it a while I realized I was out of time for my next duty and killed the forklift and hit the road again.

Last week I had made Memama an appointment with a hearing aid company. We had received an offer of a free test and assessment and a special price for a set of basic hearing aids.

When I arrived at Memama's house, we had forty-one minutes to go from Roscoe to Abilene for her appointment.

For those of you that know me, you know I love a challenge.

For those of you who use to know me, I don't like driving fast as I once did.

But we made it, possibly a minute or two late. As luck would have it, we waited forty-five minutes for our three o'clock appointment.

The hearing test was very interesting. I think Memama's hearing aids are six years old, although the technician thinks they are eight. Either way, there have been lots of technology improvements.

The technician was excellent. Very personable, excellent retention and name recognition/recall.

After a physical inspection of her ears and a cleaning of wax and dead skin, the technician put Memama in the booth and began the test.

Pretty interesting. Much more intense than when I was in school and was asked to hold up a finger when I heard the tone.

They did the base test and then added back ground noise. Later they began asking her to repeat words and zeroed in on specific sounds that cause problems. Ch, sch, st, v and f sounds seem to be an added problem.

When they finished the test Memama came from the booth and they began the assessment. Memama needs more than just amplification.

Good news is that they can program specific sounds to be enhanced with the new technology. BUT, these are not your base hearing aids (or the one's on special).

They did not recommend the most expensive hearing aids, rather a middle of the road. Multiple microphone pick ups, programmable with voice discernment and noise limiters. (This is my version of the technology).

These are about $2000 cheaper than what Memama bought six or eight years ago, but much better hearing aids.

They have a 100% money back guarantee. If these are not better, and if they do not do what they say they will do, or even if she doesn't like the color of them, she can return them no questions asked and receive a full refund. Two year warranty if she keeps them, and no charge for services related to them for the rest of her life.

They say these will be the last hearing aids she will ever need.

Call me crazy, but when Memama asked me what I thought she should do, I told her to buy them. I don't know for how much longer we will have her with us, but for the life of me I cannot see depriving her of any quality of life we can provide her.

Two weeks and the new hearing aids will be in, then she will begin a forty-five day rehabilitation of her hearing and they will "fine tune" her ear computers!

I am excited for her!

Best part was, no money due today!

My friend went to Dallas to have an initial consultation for lasik eye surgery. She is wanting to have mono-vision. One eye dominate for distance, the other dominate for close. They told her she was an excellent candidate and she scheduled her surgery the end of this week. (Provided her husband is not hospitalized again with complications from his appendectomy about three weeks ago. He now has an abscess they are draining).

When my friend texted me with the consult results, I told her I had come up with a promo for her eye doctor. "Four Eyes!" Bring a friend! or "Four for the price of three!" (For those who know me, I always refer to someone being shocked and looking at me like I had grown a third eye!).

Oh well, I thought the "Four Eyes" was cute.

Today my day begins with the hearing aid shop for Memama's old hearing aids. Then the truck shop to drop off rocker assemblies and cam shaft. Then meet a truck driver. Then the County Clerk's office for some research and finally at two, a meeting with Memama's attorney.

Whew.

And in my spare time I hope to get the last dual put on the tractor properly.

Have a day.

FATHER, thank YOU for seeing me through a busy day. I ask the same for my day today. Thank YOU for giving me the opportunity to spend time and do things with and for Memama. Help me to make good choices. May all we do bring glory to YOU!