I am officially 80% human again except for dealing with this off and on toothache. So far, with it only causing 2 hours of tough pain throughout the day.......I might make it home to my dentist. Let's hope!
I am only two hours away from my drop (it is 8 PM so I will arrive at 7:30 AM) and there is no receiving until 8 PM. Gads, I don't want to sit 12 hours on a load that is going to take me past my bedtime (9 PM). I hope my dispatcher is in first thing in the AM to help or I will spend the day cleaning the truck and finding my laptop mouse or a dentist!
You have to be kidding me! Google now wants to charge me a fee for picture uploads......I have to research this dang nab it!
It appears that there is another server that holds my pictures for this blog and I have maxed out my storage between Walkabout and Truckabout. I deleted the Walkabout blog and we will see what happens tomorrow.....everyone wants a dime! I need it for a inch of coffee!
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Friday, March 16, 2012
Just shoot me and bury me in my son's backyard!
This is day 3 of being sick (I think) and I am sick and tired of it. Not only did this cold go into my sinuses but my vocal cords as well...........and to top it all off, I have a bloody toothache that will only get worse and we know how these buggers treat you!
My sister swears that the sinus infection is moving around and now in my lower jar, hence the feeling of a toothache. So, I called my doctor to see if I could get a prescription sent to the next Walmart in route and as soon as he heard "bottom jaw"....Nope! Sinus infections can only bother the roots of the top jaw, not the bottom.
So here I sit, with a truck and trailer that would not be parking friendly at any Urgent Care and if it is a tooth, they would send me elsewhere anyway! Now trying to find a dentist in route working over the weekend that won't clean out my savings account.......better odds of winning the lottery!
It is times like this this when you really miss home.....to be sick and wrapped up in a blanket in front of the TV and fall asleep as needed, to be near your doctors when you can no longer handle being ill, and knowing you can take a sick day or two to recover......that is PRICELESS!
Oh, I almost forgot......we have a load of Idaho spuds going to Fort Worth, Texas, and we are running 12 hours ahead of schedule.
My sister swears that the sinus infection is moving around and now in my lower jar, hence the feeling of a toothache. So, I called my doctor to see if I could get a prescription sent to the next Walmart in route and as soon as he heard "bottom jaw"....Nope! Sinus infections can only bother the roots of the top jaw, not the bottom.
So here I sit, with a truck and trailer that would not be parking friendly at any Urgent Care and if it is a tooth, they would send me elsewhere anyway! Now trying to find a dentist in route working over the weekend that won't clean out my savings account.......better odds of winning the lottery!
It is times like this this when you really miss home.....to be sick and wrapped up in a blanket in front of the TV and fall asleep as needed, to be near your doctors when you can no longer handle being ill, and knowing you can take a sick day or two to recover......that is PRICELESS!
Oh, I almost forgot......we have a load of Idaho spuds going to Fort Worth, Texas, and we are running 12 hours ahead of schedule.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
KJ Travel Center rocks!
My first truck stop review! KJ's Travel Center in Idaho Falls, Idaho, impressed me even in my sickened state. The staff are very friendly (some of the girls are little too friendly but who am I to judge), the bathrooms/showers clean and inviting; and the attached restaruant, Mitchell's, can wrangle you up bacon and eggs in less than 10 minutes! Let me tell you, the internet speed was perfect for watching my favorite shows from the comfort of my truck......for free!
3.5 stars!
I am still sick but lasted the night with no fever and I did sleep deep as I remember dreaming. I notified my dispatcher that I was ready to roll at 6 AM and no load was waiting for me. One nice thing about this company, I am not glued to my truck waiting on a load...when one is ready, not only do they send the message to my qualcom but to my cell phone........so very handy when waiting during breakfast or a nice walk.
Now my virtual truckers, for those that need a fresh read as my blog can just DRAG on ;) Please gander over to Mike's blog at Rolling My Way. I enjoy reading his exploits of being a NEW driver and I am sure you will too!
3.5 stars!
I am still sick but lasted the night with no fever and I did sleep deep as I remember dreaming. I notified my dispatcher that I was ready to roll at 6 AM and no load was waiting for me. One nice thing about this company, I am not glued to my truck waiting on a load...when one is ready, not only do they send the message to my qualcom but to my cell phone........so very handy when waiting during breakfast or a nice walk.
Now my virtual truckers, for those that need a fresh read as my blog can just DRAG on ;) Please gander over to Mike's blog at Rolling My Way. I enjoy reading his exploits of being a NEW driver and I am sure you will too!
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Done for the day at 1 PM.......huh?
I am suprised that I got the load to the drop on Sugar City at all! I was less than two hours into my drive this morning and I was yawning. By the third hour, I was shaking my head and slapping my face! I felt like I had no sleep at all during the night and was crashing fast! After that fever burned itself out of me, it left me totally exhausted! My saving grace was the sun slowly rising behind the pouring rain so I could at least see something besides a wet white line down the middle of the freeway.
I was at the receivers at noon, just a little over 6 hours of driving and a couple of breaks including fuel. I took a fellow driver's advice regarding the truck's MPG and did it the old fashioned way, on paper! Between my last fuel up and today's, the average MPG was 7.56 while the computer showed 7.10. I sent the information to my dispatcher as the numbers don't lie and he stated the shop should look into it.....they have, THREE TIMES.
I have talked myself blue in the face between the company and Freightliner regarding the inconsistancies and I am treated as just some dumb blond as the COMPUTER wouldn't screw up......augh! I will continue to send in my numbers with every fuel up as the COMPUTER'S numbers will never get me a fuel bonus. Hmmmmm........
As for stopping early, as my body was telling me early this morning, I need some down time. I just woke from a very needed nap and will relax until 6 AM tomorrow. That leaves me with a few shows, a few walks, a hot dinner and hopefully a good night's rest with a rested and hopefully healed body come morning.
And soon my virtual truckers, I will be home for the first time since last September! It has been almost six months since I stepped foot in my other tin can and I do miss home sometimes. The only big difference between that tin can and this one is a RESTROOM. But I have others to visit with beside my dog, I can cook as much bacon as I want to go with those Bloody Marys, and catch up with some dear friends.
As for Gonja, he is glad to be back with his girlfriend, Mattole; whines whenever Buddy picks on him and now will have to deal with a full gown SillyMan as he was just a pup when we left. What he loves the most is laying next to the fireplace. But he has gotten so use to be tied to my hip, he expects the same at home......poor darling!
Congrats Jeff for getting the TRUCKER's license and Steve, good luck on your drive test tomorrow. And Mike......keep up with your blog, I just don't know how you find the hours to be so creative ;)
And by the way, all the money I had to put up for start up costs, it now back in my money market account!
See you all in the morning!
I was at the receivers at noon, just a little over 6 hours of driving and a couple of breaks including fuel. I took a fellow driver's advice regarding the truck's MPG and did it the old fashioned way, on paper! Between my last fuel up and today's, the average MPG was 7.56 while the computer showed 7.10. I sent the information to my dispatcher as the numbers don't lie and he stated the shop should look into it.....they have, THREE TIMES.
I have talked myself blue in the face between the company and Freightliner regarding the inconsistancies and I am treated as just some dumb blond as the COMPUTER wouldn't screw up......augh! I will continue to send in my numbers with every fuel up as the COMPUTER'S numbers will never get me a fuel bonus. Hmmmmm........
As for stopping early, as my body was telling me early this morning, I need some down time. I just woke from a very needed nap and will relax until 6 AM tomorrow. That leaves me with a few shows, a few walks, a hot dinner and hopefully a good night's rest with a rested and hopefully healed body come morning.
And soon my virtual truckers, I will be home for the first time since last September! It has been almost six months since I stepped foot in my other tin can and I do miss home sometimes. The only big difference between that tin can and this one is a RESTROOM. But I have others to visit with beside my dog, I can cook as much bacon as I want to go with those Bloody Marys, and catch up with some dear friends.
As for Gonja, he is glad to be back with his girlfriend, Mattole; whines whenever Buddy picks on him and now will have to deal with a full gown SillyMan as he was just a pup when we left. What he loves the most is laying next to the fireplace. But he has gotten so use to be tied to my hip, he expects the same at home......poor darling!
Congrats Jeff for getting the TRUCKER's license and Steve, good luck on your drive test tomorrow. And Mike......keep up with your blog, I just don't know how you find the hours to be so creative ;)
And by the way, all the money I had to put up for start up costs, it now back in my money market account!
See you all in the morning!
Good **sniffles** morning from Caldwell, Oregon
Yuppers, I woke up with a cold yesterday that kicked my backside! When I got my load information at 7 AM, I wasn’t the perkiest. This load was due for pickup until tomorrow morning in Vale but I contacted the shipper and was approved for pick up today…….a nice load of onions are now heading to Sugar City, Idaho.
My dispatcher was so pleased that I managed an early pickup; he thought I was Wonder Woman and could deliver the load at 8 AM today. It is currently 4:30 AM and I am 350 miles from my drop……..and at 58 miles per hour, expect 11 AM.
I got a computer message about the temperature of my reefer being too low. I contacted the night dispatcher for assistance as I have never changed temps, I just push the little ole button that gets me to the setting they send me. He was NOT amused that I had to ask for assistance on changing the temps. I have only been pulling reefer for two weeks for Pete’s sake and have no experience on handling cold freight. Then he went on about why I stopped early when I still had hours on my clock…….whether I driver two more hours or not, my arrival time will not change. Augh!
Anyway, I will be dragging my sick body to the truck soon, taking the southern route to Idaho Falls, and hope for a load that will take me to warmer temps.
My dispatcher was so pleased that I managed an early pickup; he thought I was Wonder Woman and could deliver the load at 8 AM today. It is currently 4:30 AM and I am 350 miles from my drop……..and at 58 miles per hour, expect 11 AM.
I got a computer message about the temperature of my reefer being too low. I contacted the night dispatcher for assistance as I have never changed temps, I just push the little ole button that gets me to the setting they send me. He was NOT amused that I had to ask for assistance on changing the temps. I have only been pulling reefer for two weeks for Pete’s sake and have no experience on handling cold freight. Then he went on about why I stopped early when I still had hours on my clock…….whether I driver two more hours or not, my arrival time will not change. Augh!
Anyway, I will be dragging my sick body to the truck soon, taking the southern route to Idaho Falls, and hope for a load that will take me to warmer temps.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Yuppers, it is the starter!
We found a Freightliner mechanic that knows his job! The starter is getting replaced and the sensors checked. They hope to have the truck done within the next 3 hours which will give me 45 minutes to find a truck stop for the night. I was informed there is one right down the street with three diners, a bar, a theater........nice score if you are doing a 34!
Let's hope for another good load tomorrow morning!
Let's hope for another good load tomorrow morning!
At the Freightliner in Portland........augh!
After dropping that load this morning, we went back to the TA to wait for a new load and I was so tickled to see a short load.......from here to Auburn, WA! The load wasn't due until tomorrow morning which means I could spend some time with friends before the drop! I was so excited to get to the shipper and beg for the load early as I turned that truck key........and SILENCE! AUGH!!!
Not only silence, but the key turned all away around inside the switch! Just like our last breakdown, battery was low, the starter wouldn't jump and the truck had to be pull started. And guess what, the shop mechanic got in the truck and it started! So now we sit, waiting to see if they can find the problem......dang nab it!
They pulled that load to Auburn :(
Not only silence, but the key turned all away around inside the switch! Just like our last breakdown, battery was low, the starter wouldn't jump and the truck had to be pull started. And guess what, the shop mechanic got in the truck and it started! So now we sit, waiting to see if they can find the problem......dang nab it!
They pulled that load to Auburn :(
Good morning from Portland, OR……….
And yes, we did make it to Jerome to spend time with the family! But before I share more let me share pictures!
Truck Stop Round Up! Nebraska was beautiful to drive through today as it was calving season and new babies were in every cornfield. Not only that, I saw thousands of migrating birds from snow white geese to grey herons………it was amazing! Nebraska was beautiful to drive through today as it was calving season and new babies were in every cornfield. Not only that, I saw thousands of migrating birds from snow white geese to grey herons………it was amazing!
Fuel Sensor finally worked……for a bit!
Cabbage Pass - I hope the last storm of the winter!
View of mountains entering Salt Lake from the east.....
We drove hard day before yesterday so we could arrive early to my ole stomping grounds. Mom was waiting for us so we did a little shopping and took a gander at my lil sistah’s new home (it would never happen to me in my wildest dreams) and then spent the evening with Lorene’s family and of course……Mom. Who by the way was my bed mate and that dang woman doesn’t require much sleep! We went to bed at 11:30 and she was tossing and turning at 3:30 AM, ready to face the world……augh! None the less, it made for a good morning as we had more time together, a hot breakfast and an early start to my drop location. Love you all!
My son posted a link to a YouTube video that my sister, Rhonda, produced. Her daughter should have been 32 years of age this year but her life was taken away at the young age of 14 and no one has been brought to justice for her murder. Rhonda just finished her book of their/her life in hopes of finding an audience and a publisher. Take a look and let her know what you think or who might be interesting in helping her.
Rhonda's Video
On that note, we have an extra hour of light so I am going to walk Gonja for a bit before I update my blog and maybe watch a show……….I am running three weeks behind!
And you get to sleep in…….drop is 30 minutes away and not due until 8 AM tomorrow!
And it is morning.....grab your coffee!
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