Texas Beer Joint Sues Church

I loved this so felt that I should share it on here.

Texas Beer Joint Sues Church

In Mt. Vernon , Texas , Drummond's Bar began construction on expansion of their building to increase their business.

In response, the local Baptist church started a campaign to block the bar from expanding with petitions and prayers. Work progressed right up until the week before the grand reopening when lightning struck the bar and it burned to the ground.

After the bar burning to the ground by a lightning strike the church folks were rather smug in their outlook, bragging about “the power of prayer”, until the bar owner sued the church on the grounds that the church "was ultimately responsible for the demise of his building, either through direct or indirect actions or means".

In its reply to the court, the church vehemently denied all responsibility or any connection to the building's demise.

The judge read through the plaintiff's complaint and the defendant's reply and at the opening hearing he commented, "I don't know how I'm going to decide this, but it appears from the paperwork that we have a bar owner who believes in the power of prayer, and an entire church congregation that now does not."

The Last Week of Training

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. How is everyone doing? I pray that you all find this blog in good health and spirits. Everything is going smoothly and as planned out here on the road. We had some good runs this past week. The week started out slow but then our dispatcher took my trainer out of his normal Houston to Laredo run. We ran to Port Allen, LA, Concord, NC, and Newton, NC. I really enjoyed driving outside of Texas. Not only was I able to see more and get out of the routine I was getting into, but I was able to drive more hours. Remember, I have to drive 140 hours before I can get out of training and get into my own truck. I forgot to check how many more hours I need before leaving the truck yesterday. But if all goes well, this should be my last week in the training truck.

I am now back at the Americas Best Value Inn in Laredo, TX. I checked in yesterday afternoon. I took a shower, had some pizza, talked to my wife and then slept. I slept good. Today I plan to do laundry and relax. I will probably get some swimming in.

Things seem to be going pretty good at the house. Abigail seems to be testing Paula now that I am not home. But Paula seems to be handling it pretty good. She talked to one of the women on A Trucker's Wife to talk about this rebellious stage that Abigail seems to be in. Last week Paula and the kids went up to Claremore, OK to visit some friends. Well, the plan didn't go as planned. Micah ended up with a 102 deg temperature and Paula ended up taking him to the hospital. Our friends ended up meeting her their and watched Abigail while she took care of Micah. Even though things didn't go as planned, it still sounded like they had a good time. Micah is doing good now. Speaking of Micah, he is making good progress with therapy. He was able to tell Paula that he wanted a raisin using sign language. They even got Abigail involved, which I love. Looks like I will have to brush up on my sign language skills.

Well, the nights are getting colder in Okfuskee County, Oklahoma. Looks like one thing I must do when I get home is to get the wood stacked on the porch and the stoves and chimney cleaned out. Another thing we have planned is to take the 88 Oldsmobile to the shop so it can get fixed while I am on the road next time. We have chosen to get that car fixed first because it is completely down and my wife will need a vehicle while I am out. The van does still run so she will have that while the car is being fixed. When we have the car fixed then we will take either the van or the Ford Ranger to get fixed. Another reason for getting the car fixed first is because the car will do better on the roads in the winter time. I am leaning towards having the Ford Ranger fixed and waiting to have the van fixed since the van may not be needed in the winter. Not sure yet.

Well, I will go ahead and close for now. Take care and God Bless.

Love,
The Oklahoma Tomcat
http://www.myspace.com/oktomcat

108.25 hrs to go

Good morning. I will have been with my trainer for 1 week as of tomarrow. So far it has been slow going since my trainer just shuttles loads from Houston to Laredo. But it is going good. I do have a good trainer. As of now I have to drive 108.25 hrs before I am out of the training.

Things are going good at the house. Paula has been busy teaching and schooling Micah and Abigail. Sounds like sooner start has turned out to be a deal in helping us with Micah so we are looking at other options without government help. To tell you the truth, I am not surprised. Can never depend on government.

Love,
The Oklahoma Tomcat
http://www.myspace.com/oktomcat
----------
Sent from AT&T's Wireless network using Mobile Email

Leaving the inn

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. How are you doing? I pray that you find this post in good health and spirits. Today I leave the Americas Best Value Inn, where I have been staying Saturday and Sunday. Overall, I thank God that I got to stay here even though I was board and I didn't get much sleep. I would have much rather been on the truck and ran some miles over the weekend. I didn't get much sleep because my room mate had to have the TV on in order to sleep. But I look back and am thankful. I am thankful that I was in a motel that had a pool so that I did have some fun. I love to swim very much and that is why I always make sure I have my swim trunks with me. I thank God that even though I had to have a room mate and he had the TV on 24 hours a day, he wasn't a party person and was a nice person. I thank God that I was in a hotel that had real breakfast for free and not just a continental breakfast. So, I have to say that overall, it was a nice weekend.

At 0800 today, I will be heading back to the terminal. When I get to the terminal, I will do some classes on the computer. These are classes that I have to do before I finish training. I will see how much I can get done before my trainer gets back to the truck. He has a 1000 dental appointment so I think I can get at least 2 done. When he gets back we will start running again. I hope that this will be a very busy week and that I will get lots of hours driving.

Well, I will go and get some breakfast. Take care and God Bless.

Love,
The Oklahoma Tomcat
http://www.myspace.com/oktomcat

In Laredo for the weekend

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. How are you doing? I pray that this blog finds you in good health and spirits. I am doing good. The beginning of the week started out slow but it picked up and we started getting busy toward the end of the week. My trainer goes home on weekends so Werner got me a hotel in Laredo, TX and I will be here until Monday. On Monday I will go back to the truck early and do home more classes in the terminal. For now I will relax and do some swimming in the hotel pool.

Love,
The Oklahoma Tomcat
www.myspace.com/oktomcat

The Oklahoma Tomcat is Back

Good morning. We picked up a loaded trailer in Houston, TX at 7:15 pm yesterday and took it to Laredo, TX. I started out the trip & drive til midnight. It felt great & it reminded me why I loved driving nights. I was able to go through San Antonio with no traffic at all. It was an easy drive and I made great time. We picked up a trailer in Laredo and about to drop it in Houston now. So far the training is still going great.

Love,
The Oklahoma Tomcat
http://www.myspace.com/oktomcat
----------
Sent from AT&T's Wireless network using Mobile Email

Houston, TX

Greetings in the Name of our Lord & Savior. We picked up a loaded trailer in Laredo, TX this morning & delivered it this morning in Houston, TX. I am really enjoying this paperless log that Werner has. There are some downsides to it but the pros are better then the cons. The huge benefit is that it takes less time to update a paperless log. It is also much easier.

We were dispatched to pull a loaded trailer out of Houston, TX. The problem is that the trailer we were dispatched to pull out isn't in the drop yard. We think that the truck that was supposed to bring the trailer we were dispatched to take to Laredo has hooked up to the wrong trailer. Now we have to wait till dispatch sorts through the mess. Amazing how much trouble 1 persons mistake can cause. Just goes to show. We must always slow down and double check what we are doing before we do it.

Love,
The Oklahoma Tomcat
http://www.myspace.com/oktomcat
----------
Sent from AT&T's Wireless network using Mobile Email

Laredo,TX

Greetings in the name of our Lord & savior, Jesus Christ. How is everyone doing? I pray that everyone finds this post in good health & spirits. I am doing good out here on the road. I am finding getting back on the road easy. It is almost like I never left. I do miss my family. When I am making the run it isn't a problem because I am busy & have other things on my mind but when I shutdown it is diffecult. I will tell you though, technology is good. This time, unlike last time I was on the road, we have good cell phonnes.

I compleated the classroom part of training in Dallas, TX on Tuesday. Now I have to do 140 hrs behind the wheel with a trainer. I have to do this because I was off the road for a long time. To tell you the truth, I am glad I am with a trainer because I never used a paperless log which is what Werner has. We picked up a load yesterday at Dallas, TX and dropped it in Laredo, TX. A Mexican driver will pick it up from here & deliver it into Mexico.

Love,
The Oklahoma Tomcat
http://www.myspace.com/oktomcat
----------
Sent from AT&T's Wireless network using Mobile Email

Made it to Dallas, TX

I finally made it to Dallas, TX. This bus terminal is nice for a bus station in the heart of a big city. You step outside though & it is a different story. Reminds me of a truck stop Paula & I was at one time. A security guy stands at the entrance door and you are safe as long as you stay inside the building. I now wait here til 0645 when I catch a bus that will take me to Dallas South Park. I was going to check & see how much a taxi would be until I saw a man pimping taxi cabs next to the cabs. I decided to wait for the bus. It is funny how the Arab men keep coming up to me & talking to me like we are long time friends. Do I really look Arab. Lol.

Love,
The Oklahoma Tomcat
http://www.myspace.com/oktomcat
----------
Sent from AT&T's Wireless network using Mobile Email

It is crunch time

Greetings in the name of our Lord & Savior. My family and I got back from church just a few hours ago. We had lunch and the children went down for their naps. My wife & I then started doing some last minute packing. Most of the things I will be taking with me was packed this morning. Now all that is left to pack is my razor, deoderant, toothpaste, & tooth brush. Ofcourse, there was a lot of weepy moments followed by hugs. I know we are both going to be in tears at 1930. It has been over 2 1/2 years since we did this last time. I never thought I would be doing it again. I kept telling myself that I would never go OTR again. Good thing I didn't get rid of my CDL.

Love,
The Oklahoma Tomcat
http://www.myspace.com/oktomcat
----------
Sent from AT&T's Wireless network using Mobile Email

Teaching my daughter to play with food?

Greetings in the name of our Lord & savior Jesus Christ. We are currently in Shawnee, OK doing laundry & shopping. This our last big outing before I go back on the road. The big thing for me was making sure all the laundry was done up before I left.

This morning I was getting ready to make breakfast wraps. My 4yo daughter asked if she could have cold cerial. Went decided to go ahead & let her have cerial since I knew she would not eat breakfast wraps (yes, she is a comie. Lol). She ate most of the cerial but not all of it & said she was done. She was eating Captain Crunch Berry & I asked if she can eat 2 blues. So she scooped 2 blue "berries" onto her spoon and ate them. I then asked if she can eat 10 yellows & she did. We continued with this til she ate it all up.

Love,
The Oklahoma Tomcat
http://www.myspace.com/oktomcat
----------
Sent from AT&T's Wireless network using Mobile Email

So much for plan B

Greetings in the name of our Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ. How is everyone doing? I pray that everyone finds this blog in good health & spirits. It looks like we may finally get some rain today. It would be nice if it stayed cool & rained a little bit.

Yesterday we were supposed to make a run to Shawnee, OK & take care of some shopping, library & laundry. We didn't make it because everyone was too tired & cranky. So we decided to leave early this morning. Well, I had trouble sleeping & Micah kept crying last night. Leaving early didn't work. We do have to take care of the laundry today since I leave for Dallas tomarrow. So, we will make it out there today.

Love,
The Oklahoma Tomcat
http://www.myspace.com/oktomcat
----------
Sent from AT&T's Wireless network using Mobile Email

Leaving Sunday @ 1930

Greetings in the name of our Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ. How is everyone doing? I pray that everyone finds this blog in good health & spirit. There is no turning back now. Werner got me tickets today. I went down to Jefferson Bus Lines in Okemah, OK. to get the tickets. I leave out of Okemah on Sunday @ 1930. I will be in Oklahoma City @ 2045. I will then get onto Greyhound & will be in Dallas South Park & Ride, TX on Monday @ 0700. Orientation starts Monday @ 0700 but they made a note that I will be a little late.

It is going to be a busy day Sunday. We will be going to church in Okemah & then I have to get packed and make sure I have everything. It is a good thing that the loving people @ Sertco gave me lots of snacks for the trips because I am going to be hungry Monday morning. Thanks.

Love,
The Oklahoma Tomcat
http://www.myspace.com/oktomcat
----------
Sent from AT&T's Wireless network using Mobile Email

In Between Jobs

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior. Today was my last day at Sertco. I guess you could say that I am now in between jobs since technically, Werner has not really hired me yet. They can't hire me until I have hand written an application, passed a DOT physical, and passed a drug test. All of this is DOT law. I will get on a bus Sunday to go to Dallas, TX where I will attend an orientation class. There, they will take care of all the above things plus take care of other paper work and tell me about the company. After orientation, I will have to drive 140 hours with a trainer since I have been out of the truck for more then 2 years. I will then go to a terminal and pick up my truck and drive solo cross country. It is going to feel weird driving with a trainer since I was a trainer myself. But I kind of like going with a trainer at first since I have been out of the truck for over 2 years. It gives me a chance to get use to being on the road again.

My last day at Sertco was pretty good. I was given hugs, the people in the office gave me parting gifts and had an ice cream cake, and the south building asked me to sing "Tip-toe through the tulips" by Tiny Tim. They all stood around watching me do the Tiny Tim act as I sang and they all clapped when I finished. I was a star for a minute (lol). They all really made me feel good. I will miss working with all the people at Sertco. I love them all very much.

At work I concentrated on getting my work places cleaned and organized. I bothers me that Sertco didn't have a person taking my spot so I could show them what to do and where everything is. So, I showed June, who is a mechanic, where the maintenance records are for the lawn mower is and I posted the different things that had to be done each day. I organized everything so that everything could be found. I know what it is like to start a job with no one to show you where things are and what to do because when I started at Sertco I didn't really have anyone showing me what to do. They had a welder showing me some things but he was also welding.


Well, I am currently in Shawnee, OK. Got to pick up a few things and then get home. I will update you all on what is happening. Take care and God Bless.


Love,
The Oklahoma Tomcat
http://www.myspace.com/oktomcat

Last day at Sertco

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. How is everyone doing? I pray that everyone finds this blog in good health and spirits. I am doing good. Today is my last day working for Sertco. I have been spending the morning getting my work spaces cleaned up and organized for the next person to take over Janitorial/Grounds Keeping. So far they do not have anyone hired to take the job. So far everyone who tried out the job has quit.

Tomarrow my wife and I will be going to Shawnee to buy some things and do laundry. Saturday I will mow our yard and get things packed and ready for my trip to Dallas, TX. I will be on the bus to Dallas on Sunday and have to be in orientation on Monday. The next few days are going to be very busy.

Well, my lunch break is almost over. I will blog more later. Take care and God Bless.

Love,
The Oklahoma Tomcat
http://www.myspace.com/oktomcat

4 days left

Love,
The Oklahoma Tomcat
http://www.myspace.com/oktomcat
----------
Sent from AT&T's Wireless network using Mobile Email

Correction to last post

The church we go to in Oklahoma City is Crosswalk Community Church. Sorry.

Love,
The Oklahoma Tomcat
http://www.myspace.com/oktomcat
----------
Sent from AT&T's Wireless network using Mobile Email

On our way to church in Oklahoma City

It has been a long time since we have gone to Grace Community Church in Oklahoma City, OK. It is 81 miles away but it is our home church. We use to go there every Sunday but then started having problems being able to afford it. That is when we started looking for a church locally that teaches what we found to be true. Which is why we now go to St. Paul's Methodist Church in Okemah most of the time. This is my last Sunday before going back on the road, so I want to make it a point to get to Oklahoma City. So, here we go.

Love,
The Oklahoma Tomcat
http://www.myspace.com/oktomcat
----------
Sent from AT&T's Wireless network using Mobile Email

A muffin & coffee morning

What a great way to wake up. I was very very tired. I hit the snooze on my alarm about 3 times. Then I feel my wifes hand and her lovely voice ask me what time I wanted to get up & that she had coffe made and pumkin, raisin, pecan muffens finishing up in the oven. Yep, I was ready to get up. Mmmm, these are good.

Love,
The Oklahoma Tomcat
http://www.myspace.com/oktomcat
----------
Sent from AT&T's Wireless network using Mobile Email