It's not like I don't have TIME to do this

As posted last - almost TWO WEEKS ago - I have lots of time on my hands these days. Perhaps I'm not as good at 'time management' as I think. I need a goal to force me into action - like a delivery schedule. I'm very good at getting where I am suppose to be WHEN I'm suppose to be there.

But now I sit around alot waiting for the phone to ring. I have to be available because when it DOES ring, they expect me to respond within the hour. So there are limitations on what I can do Mon-Fri from 7 until 4.

My last two weekends have been an educational experience tho. My best friends own property on a lake in south-eastern Illinois - about 130 miles from here. It is pretty much in the wilderness. A rocky mountain top - at least what qualifies as a 'mountain' in Illinois - covered with trees on a dead-end road overlooking one of the fingers of the lake.

They cleared a path up the hill last spring and have had electric and water run to the top where their house will eventually sit. Weekend before last, we began building a 24' x 40' metal building. I have never done anything like this before. It was physically challenging for me. I don't do this 'manual labor' thing very much anymore (as my 640 skeletal muscles frequently reminded me). Fortunately I had an old prescription for muscle relaxers. I now need a refill!

But it was also a lot of fun. Besides learning something I had never done before, I spent time with great people that make me laugh until I cry. Occasionally I just cried. Like that time the ladder I was on - 8' in the air - was in the way for a piece of sheet metal being hoisted. My pal just pushed the ladder - with me still on it - a few inches off the building so they could slide the sheeting up! What the heck. it makes for great memories - and stories around the campfire. Just add Grey Goose.

There was plenty of that going around each Saturday night, both stories and Grey Goose. I think that is one of the best parts of life; building memories for when you get old and sit on the porch in your rocking chair.

Another significant event last week was progress on getting our Authority from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The trucking industry is highly regulated by both the state and the FMCSA. For interstate commerce - carrying freight for hire across state lines - the FMCSA mandates certain things be in place. Once all the requirements are met they will issue a Letter of Authority, or permission to conduct business. We have completed that process and are now waiting (hopefully) for the letter.

This letter will allow me to get back On-the-Road again. Which means I can get back to Paradise (Florida) more often. I am looking for a part-time CDL driver to cover for me here when I'm 'out.' Our main account here is in the construction business and they are going into a seasonally slow time of year. Their 'slowness' is compounded by the economy. But we still have to be available for their needs.

And speaking of slow, we have had two weeks of BEAUTIFUL weather - until today. It's raining now and forecasted to continue until Thursday so I'm not too optimistic about alot of work this week. Next week is a short week as we celebrate my personal "Favorite" holiday Thanksgiving. I will be going to Georgia with my middle brother and his youngest daughter for 'The Feast.'

I will probably have more to say about Thanksgiving in a future post but I'd like to remind everyone to consider that regardless of your current situation there are many, many people out there that have it much worse than you do. Be thankful and share some of your good fortune even if it's just a smile.

And don't forget all those people that make it possible for you to have the life you live. I don't care if you are a hermit-survivalist or a radical ratchet-mouth standing on the street corner spouting your crazy ideas. If you live in the United States of America there are a lot of people making sacrifices for you to live the way you want. Thank a veteran!