Scratch that. They tore my life apart. A peal of thunder rolled overhead, shaking me back to reality. Rattles came from the stacks of plates on the co...nter and I could see little circular ripples on the surface of my drink. I looked around the diner. During the day, the 24-hour diner was a pretty busy place, but at 3 a.m. there weren’t many patrons. There was an old woman in the corner booth talking to herself while munching on a piece of wheat toast. Every once in a while, she would glance. We saw a few other people as we hiked, in pairs or small groups, but as we got higher up into the mountains we saw less and less. Carol downed the first bottle of water I gave her, and then another from my pack shortly thereafter. She told me, "I didn't realize this would be such thirsty work, but with the sun out I'm working up a sweat!" I laughed and told her I didn't mind. It was nice to have someone to talk and hike with. After about 45 minutes of walking, Carol was starting to get a bit. The oil deal on Jeanna’s joint venture had one well pumping oil now. Ten more would be pumping before the end of the year.The South Africa gold and diamond mines just kept producing record amounts. They were trying their best to keep the amounts from the public eyes. Right now there was a backlog of getting the gold shipped to Morton because all the C5s were busy with military contracts and Iran.I suggested that rerouting a couple of the empty C5s to Polokwane on their way home might help.. " What business are you in?" I sell wind chimes." You make them yourself?" No, they come from China. I just buy them and then sell them to retail outlets. It's a good business though. I don't have to work very hard and I make enough to keep me in hot dogs and beans." Hot dogs and beans? Didn't I see you getting out of that big blue Navigator before? With the way that SUV guzzles up the gas, I doubt you could even afford hot dogs and beans, not the way gasoline prices have gone up lately." You'd.