Driving on 99W today I passed through a town marked by a huge boulder. Next to it was the town motto, or at least I think that's what it was. A sign that read: Build your life on a solid foundation.

You reckon that's what's known as a drive-by sermon?

Had interviews scattered throughout the day as I continue to work on this new book. One interview was with a child welfare expert. He's earned the reputation of being a guru on issues related to child welfare. He's an attorney. But in order to get to him, I had to get the guy working the backhoe to stop so that I could drive my car across the newly installed sewer lines. The backhoe fella didn't mind though, he used the opportunity to light up a cigarette.

Mr. Attorney was very cordial. Very knowledgeable. Children aren't his only interest, though. Mr. Attorney rescues animals. The latest is a Newfoundland named Ripley. A beautiful black and white animal that Shelby said is the size of a small horse, but I think is really the size of some third-world countries. He's HUGE!!! But sweet. As I sat taking notes, Ripley sprawled out at my feet, rolled over on his back and put his paws up in the air. They almost touched the ceiling. You know those Carl books? Where Carl is big and the house is small? That's how Ripley makes everything seem. Like he's the center of the universe or deserved to be. He just wanted a good ole belly rub.

As we drove to the valley last night Shelby and I came upon a car with the license plate WTF. Shelby remarked that since you can't put profanity on those vanity plates, why would they allow WTF?

We decided it was because WTF actually stood for Walter T. Franklin, the plumber from Nacogdoches, Texas, who owns WTF Plumbing. W.T. (That's what his wife Tilly calls him) is going to paint his business motto on the side of his truck as soon as he figures out a clever line. It's hard to come up with witty mottos for plumbers without being crass and W.T. is Baptist, so he avoids that.

Besides Tilly writes the ever-popular Devouring the Word cookbooks. It wouldn't be seemly for a man married to her to run around Nacogdoches with inappropriate motto on his truck -- even if he is a plumber. Tilly's bestselling cookbooks are based upon scriptures. You know Genesis: The Season of Fruits and Nuts. Proverbs: Making the most of table scraps. The Book of John: Cooking with Honey.

Well, anyway, I'm just saying the next time you come across WTF, it might be a reference to W.T. Franklin of Nacogdoches. W.T. is a really great guy. It would hurt his feelings if he thought for one minute that someone was slandering his name. A name he's so proud of, he painted it on the side of his Chevy truck. Men in Texas don't paint the sides of their trucks, except for tailgate parties or some other football-related event.

In addition to meeting with attorneys all day long, I did enjoy a visit with author Bob Welch of Eugene. Welch wrote the American Nightingale: The story of Francis Slanger. A very compelling story about a nurse during World War II. If you haven't read it you should. Bob is a columnist at the Eugene Register-Guard. He's been a terrific inspiration to me over the years. Other than his misguided loyalties to the Oregon Ducks, Bob is an all-around great guy.

Go Beavs!!