| May 2010 Daniel Taylor |
May 2 (Sunday) 8:45 am
I have not written to my journal in a week, and that is because I have been extremely busy. Busy does not
mean "making money;" it simply means working, and in this case not making money. But that is bound to
change.
Friday I developed back spasms, which have stayed with me through today so far, and I am hopeful that the
spasms get better soon. I have been in so much pain that I can hardly find a comfortable position in which
to sit or lie down. Sleep has been difficult to find. I am feeling slightly better this morning, but I am still
hobbling around.
The monsoons have returned to Alcorn County, bringing work to a standstill. There will be no TVA work
next week, and probably barely any other work. We have not worked with TVA in a couple of weeks. Of
course, we wouldn't be working with TVA anyway: the chipper is down and in need of engine repair.
Cliff continues his sojourn at Willow Oak. His disability has been approved, and his money has started
coming in, so he has been able to contribute to the expenses around here.
The Willow Oak crew is okay. The thunder we are having today has put Clyde into my lap. He is scared of
"funders."
I have not written to my journal in a week, and that is because I have been extremely busy. Busy does not
mean "making money;" it simply means working, and in this case not making money. But that is bound to
change.
Friday I developed back spasms, which have stayed with me through today so far, and I am hopeful that the
spasms get better soon. I have been in so much pain that I can hardly find a comfortable position in which
to sit or lie down. Sleep has been difficult to find. I am feeling slightly better this morning, but I am still
hobbling around.
The monsoons have returned to Alcorn County, bringing work to a standstill. There will be no TVA work
next week, and probably barely any other work. We have not worked with TVA in a couple of weeks. Of
course, we wouldn't be working with TVA anyway: the chipper is down and in need of engine repair.
Cliff continues his sojourn at Willow Oak. His disability has been approved, and his money has started
coming in, so he has been able to contribute to the expenses around here.
The Willow Oak crew is okay. The thunder we are having today has put Clyde into my lap. He is scared of
"funders."
May 8 (Saturday) 4:45 am
The back spasms continue. I did see a chiropractor on Tuesday, but had to postpone the appointment
scheduled for yesterday due to some excitement we had on Willow Oak. A former employee, whom I had to
fire for incompetence, showed up, threatening to shoot me and my dogs. He had a friend with him
(ostensibly he was afraid to come by himself), and although I was alone and unarmed, I chased him off
anyway. I thought I was alone: evidently Cliff observed the incident from his trailer. He told me that he
heard the boy threatening to shoot me and my dogs.
I am not afraid of the boy. He does have a serious anger management issue, and personally I believe that
he is probably bipolar; he is weak and full of bluff: all talk and no action. He brags about how good a
mechanic he is, but he's broken nearly every piece of equipment I have at one time or another. The boy
cost me a lot of money. I tried to help him out. I tried every way I could: I gave him money to buy his
children Christmas; I paid his salary even when we had no work; I allowed him to drive one of my vehicles.
But in the end, as is so typical, he showed no appreciation or respect for the things that I did for him. As
the sole owner of a company, one is sometimes faced with difficult decisions, so I had no choice but to let
the boy go. I feel sorry for his family. I found out yesterday from a deputy sheriff that the boy has three
outstanding warrants for his arrest on various charges. I personally have no ill feelings for the boy -- I wish
him and his family only the best. I hate to see him go to jail, but that is probably exactly what he needs. He
needs anger management counseling. Hopefully the judge will not confine him behind bars for a lengthy
time -- he does have those children and that wife to feed; hopefully, some community service time will
ordered.
I have failed to mention anything about Patrice. She was found wandering the streets of Corinth just a few
days ago, and as usual, ended up here at Willow oak. I've already found a good home for her, but she will
be staying here for a few days until her new family can pick her up. There are many wonderful days and
years ahead for the crew at Willow Oak. Everybody is fine and healthy.
| On the day that she arrived, I placed Patrice in a small animal kennel, while I made preparations to introduce her to rest of the Willow Oak crew. She is a very smart dog: I was able to "house train" her in one day. Before the sun went down she was regularly going in and out of the doggie door doing her "thing." |
May 9 (Sunday) 6:25 am
Well, my inbox fairly overflowed yesterday from readers wanting more information on Friday's events at
Willow Oak. May I assure everyone that I and the dogs are safe and secure, and there is nothing to worry
about from the vagabond who threatened us. While it is puzzling that heretofore this young man has been
allowed to roam unmolested, even though he has had a suspended driver's license for several years, and
even though he has outstanding warrants for his arrest, that situation will not remain for long. A county
supervisor called me yesterday, along with a detective from the Alcorn County Sheriff's department, and an
arrest is imminent. Yawn. Call me when it happens.
Anyway, I have a call in with the state police and with internal affairs. If there are some shady dealings
going on that are keeping this young man out of jail, we shall soon get to the bottom of this, and somebody
is going to be in deep "doo-doo."
In the meantime I had a pleasant visit with Cliff's son and daughter-in-law and a friend of theirs yesterday
here at Willow Oak. They are animal lovers and took great pleasure in becoming acquainted with the Willow
Oak crew. We enjoyed a barbecue, and sat around "shooting the breeze," as Southerners are wont to do.
Work with TVA is imminent. I have made arrangements myself to have the chipper repaired, and such
repairs should be made soon. In the meantime I have contracted to keep the dump truck and the tractor
busy, so it looks like business will be picking up soon. Alas, business will have to proceed under a
different name. After doing a bit of "downsizing," I shall be proceeding alone, but things should be running
much more smoothly from here out.
May 10 (Monday) 11:40 am
This morning I had my second visit to the chiropractor. I hope that I am not fooling myself, but I do believe
that I sense some improvement. Last night was very bad, sleep-wise: I was in excruciating pain all night.
But I do have a high tolerance for pain: I always have. The times that I had surgery I disdained the use of
pain medications: I have no intention of becoming a dope-head; besides, there is something positive to be
said for pain: a corpse feels no pain.
I have hired a new mechanic for my equipment: Cliff. Cliff's mechanical skills are far superior to my
previous mechanic, and the results are already showing themselves. Cliff spent the better part of the
weekend ferreting out and fixing problems with the equipment -- problems, many of which were brought on
by the neglect of my previous mechanic.
May 11 (Tuesday) 9:00 pm
Life continues to serve up peaches here at Willow Oak. We put all new 8-ply tires on the trailer with which
we haul the tractor, and what a difference that makes! I've added three new crew members, and I spent the
day in training, teaching the new ones how to operate and maintain the tractor and the dump truck. We do
have work lined up, and TVA called again for the umpteenth time, and I promised them that the tractor will
be ready to roll on Monday. I am already looking for a second dump truck to handle the extra work load that
we have lined up.
The Willow oak crew continue to be well and happy. Patrice has fit in right nicely, and all of the others have
made her one of the crew. I do have an adoptive family in waiting, but if they do not work out there will be
no problem in keeping Patrice right here at Willow Oak.
May 13 (Thursday) 10:20 am
My, my how activity at Willow Oak has picked up since last Friday! I already have a crew in the field working,
and I am at home enjoying the fruits of my aching back. I cannot tell if the back is improving, but I did get a
full night sleep last night. We've fixed up the trailer really good and performed some much needed
maintenance on the rest of the equipment.
The dogs are enjoying all the attention that they receive from the new work crew at Willow Oak. The cats
are still trying to sort things out.
May 15 (Saturday) 6:00 am
May Moveth along, and June is Just around the corner.
I know. I know. I am so clever with words. Some would say, "weird," but ...
Yes I am in a good mood. For sure I am still in considerable pain with whatever is ailing my back.
Sometimes the pain radiates into my leg. I am in constant pain and cannot find a comfortable position in
which to relieve the pain. Four chiropractor visits evidently have not done much good, so I guess I am
down to seeking more invasive help. We shall see. Thank goodness I do have a high tolerance for pain.
I have made mention of "previous" employees and such. I have wanted to avoid mentioning details, and I
shall, but Friday week ago I had to remove myself from the Stump Busters crew. They are on their own now,
doing their thing I suppose, and more power to them. I have in the mean time taken on a new crew with
which I am solely in charge. I shall say no more about the situation that prompted my move.
The other Willow Oak crew -- the main crew -- is still with me. I could never leave them. They need me, but I
need them more. Patrice has fit right in. The others have accepted her as a full member of the crew. All
are happy and healthy.
May 18 (Tuesday) 3:15 pm
The day isn't over, but it has been an interesting one. For starters, I did not finally get to sleep until around
4:00 this morning, my usual rising time: my leg was on fire all night. But today I have been relatively pain
free. I do not understand how I can feel so good during the day and have so much pain at night.
The drama over the recent reorganization of the company continues. I truly wish to let it go and not say
anything, but the entertainment value is so high! The poor boy continues to cry over his poor mistreatment
at the hands of that mean, mean man. "Boo hoo! I want my truck back! Wah!" It must really bite: tossing
and turning at night; worrying about those unpaid tickets; those outstanding warrants for one's arrest!
Face it, dude: I won; you lost; end of story!
| The yellow truck is back where it belongs, safe in the fold at Willow Oak. |
I really have no one to blame beside myself: I should have been more careful. May I suggest two things
when going into business with someone else: 1) personal references; 2) criminal background check!
May 20 (Thursday) 1:45 am
I don't often post so early in the morning, but here I am. I am wired, perhaps, but I am in some pain, albeit I
have experienced worse. Yesterday was an exceedingly satisfying one, our work crew having spent 10
hours in Tennessee, working for TVA. Our chipper, which has a completely overhauled motor, performed
flawlessly, and Cliff and I were on hand to observe its performance, along with our rookie crew. We were
worried needlessly. Boy the day was gorgeous, and the scenery even more so! Today our crew travels to
Alabama, where more good work and wonderful scenery awaits!
The best part of the day, as usual, was returning home to find the Willow Oak crew intact. I am always happy
to see my gang and to observe that they are all well and happy. I went to bed around 9:00, and the alarm
clock is set for 4:00, and I sit here with Patrice and Boots in my lap. What a life!
| Kenneth is a climber for TVA and does a great job. His is dangerous work, and we all respect his abilities and courage to scale the heights and perform such a delicate task. |
| Our rookie crew, Cory and Johnathan, performed like veterans. |
| Cliff sits in his yellow truck, which is parked right in the middle of the TVA R. O. W., sage grass and sunlight his only companions. |
May 25 (Tuesday) 5:45 am
Even though the weather man predicted mostly hot and humid conditions with little chance for rain, we
have experienced a virtual monsoon in the area; so TVA is on hold for now. TVA has informed me that there
is much work to be done, including work with the tractor, so if we can ever get a break in the weather ...
I have been asked about the tall grass in the picture above, with Cliff sitting in the truck: I am told that the
grass is Kentucky Fescue; but I don't know ...
Anyway, we have lots of sage grass in the area, and Willow Oak is covered with it. I have allowed the grass
in the front yard of Willow Oak to grow a bit taller than usual, and the dogs have a great time romping in it.
Even little Patrice gets lost in the tall weeds and grass.
May 30 (Sunday) 6:00 am
Still struggling with the back and leg pains. The problem is not as bad and the pain is not as acute as it was
a couple of weeks ago, but the discomfort continues to nag. TVA wants me to work all of this coming week,
and they want me to use my tractor. Surely that will not be a problem.
The Willow Oak crew continues to do well. Patrice has really settled in, and she and Grace and Willie often
play an extended game of "tag." That is fun to watch: Patrice has no fear of the bigger dogs, and although
they show no animosity towards her, I still must be vigilant. The little girl is so small compared to the others
that not much would be required to do her some major damage.
Ethyl is doing fine, as are Buddy and Sasha.