Well, good to be back, and I apologize for those who have contacted me.

Things have been incredibly hellish over the last few months. The New
Orleans thing turned into a huge fiasco, with non-desired results.

My business has taken a lump in the form of a non-working partner. He has
not worked in eight months, and has still continued to draw a fat pay check.
All kinds of problems have been caused by this. Before anyone asks, no, I
can't fire him or remove him. I have been through all the lawyers and tax
attorney's and had to go a completely different route. Within the next few
weeks, I will have resigned from the company and the new company will be off
and rolling. Let's just say that I am glad there was a lack of a
"non-compete" clause in our bylaws.

So anyways, life has been extremely busy. Ball season is in full swing. 2
boys playing again, and I am the head coach for the 7y/o. Of course, we are
the Mustangs, so now this damned post is on topic. Next year we will have 3
in ball. Good news there is that I have a sponsor, and that is Joe Cooper
Ford in Midwest City.

We have moved up a bit in the world. Our second failed attempt at buying a
house pissed me off so much that I bought a new vehicle. I actually had the
credit this time to buy, but because I am technically self-employed I had to
provide 2 years of tax returns. While my income shows that I made a nice
chunk of money last year, I didn't make crap the year before. Not after my
write-offs.

Oh yeah, so we bought a new "vehicle". My first new car ever. Went looking
for a used one, and got talked onto the new car lot where pretty much the
last one anywhere in the greater OKC area was sitting. Since it is now out
of production, I thought it would be nice to get one of the last new ones
out there. I was stuck on options since I couldn't order one, but since it
was the Eddie Bauer edition, it wasn't like I would be on the base model end
of the deal. Of course we fell in love with it. What kept me from
immediately throwing it on the ground and having sex with it was the $42k
price tag. So, the salesman reminds me that it is truck month, that I have a
trade-in, and that it has been sitting on the lot for a while so they are
anxious to get rid of it. This was a Saturday, late evening. Monday
afternoon, I drove off in my brand new 2005 Excursion. We have had it for a
month now and absolutely love it. My actual purchase price was $31k.

Start the flames...gas mileage. I know, believe me. Last fill up was $107 I
think. However, we really don't drive that much. We filled up 2 weeks ago
and are sitting at just under a half tank. As for our ability to safely and
legally transport our children, there was no other choice. I guess we could
have got a Econoline van or a small bus, but then gas is an issue again. The
Suburban does not offer the same amount of interior room. Figure we have the
five boys right now, with two of them in car seats. We needed room for six
kids, with three being in car seats. Why six you ask? Well, we are expecting
another child. This one is due in October, and we will not know the sex
until Thursday of this week. No question or ass'ish remarks about "having a
girl this time?".

So my driveway has been restored to a solid Ford family. The Mustang, the
Crown Vic, and the Excursion. The Vic might very well be going bye-bye soon,
but that is ties in with the company issues and I might have to give it up.
I could get lucky though and get to keep it, but if it does leave it will be
replaced by another one. The Mustang is for sell. I think  it has been
driven about 4 or 5 times in the last 6 months. It needs a battery and an
oil change and it is ready to roll. I just haven't been motivated to do it.
I am asking $4000 if anyone is interested. 1989 GT, 308, Windsor Jr. spec
heads, rebuilt tranny, sfc's, 3G alt, Steeda STB, brand new tires (size
eludes me right now), Steeda Tri-Ax, some Steeda billet goodies on the
inside. The motor and tranny have less than 5K miles on it. New clutch setup
as well.

I lost my paternal grandparents over the holidays. Grandfather passed in
October, and Grandmother followed 3 months to the day after him. I am sick
of funerals. I have had far to many people in my family or very close to me
die in the last 9 years. I am running out of family. And friends. My
great-grandmother passed on Christmas day. Normally, you might think it is a
sad thing. When you live 98 years, there is absolutely nothing that can be
taken away from that and you can only rejoice in the life that was lived.
She arrived in Oklahoma on a covered wagon. Very few people left living can
say that.

I guess that is about it. I am only going to acknowledge that I missed one
person. Kate, when you read this, give me a call. All of my numbers are
still the same. I have something I need to send to you, and I am also going
to be a rat bastard and ask you for some help again.

Good to be back...

Don Manning