Good morning from Baker, OR!

And it is too dang early to be writing on the blog as it isn't even 5 AM.  Dang nab it, the cell phone did not reset itself to PST and woke me up at CST....4 AM!  Well, we at least have time for a hot breakfast before we take this swapped load to Kennewick.  We have our second load of sweet potato fries......this load was picked up at the same place in LA.

I received a picture from Joe (the guaranteed flatbed position that is waiting for me if I want it) of a new day cab truck that he stated was waiting for me.  It has been quite a few years since I have had employment options and it does bring on added confidence knowing that I can look at all my options and KNOW I have a job if the other opportunities go south. 

We should be home today and I will be taking a full four days off and maybe five depending on what gets accomplished.  I will take Sunday to empty the truck, meet Joe after my first interview on Monday, go to the second interview on Tuesday and if all goes well, return the truck to Salt Lake City either Wednesday or Thursday.  Still haven't figured out the details on how I will return home.

Bless my mom or think she is crazy!  She wants this blog in a book form!  A hard copy full size book in color will cost at least $130!  She has lived with me the past 15 months via this blog and now she wants to hold onto these memories on paper.  I will take this as a complement.....I love you Mom!

I want!

Rockchuck hunting!

Caught this crop duster doing his job behind the truck stop....

Good morning from Twin Falls, ID!

Poor Lorene!  She was so hoping to sleep in a tad this morning before returning me to my truck but alas, my body clock was alive and awake at 5 AM.  Thank you for yet another wonderful evening lil sistah!

It was a great day yesterday between catching up with Marie (my first trainer), arriving at the client 22 hours early and unloaded just as quickly; and time spent with John and Lorene.

Now we sit (it has been an hour already), waiting on a load to take us home.

Things I will miss as a long haul professional driver:

Catching up with friends and family all over the  United States
Beautiful sunsets
Wild life of all types
Unique individuals in unique little towns
The always changing landscape
Making new friendships with individuals I would never have met if I hadn't been behind the wheel

Things I won't miss as a long haul professional driver:

Urine soaked parking lots
Dirty showers
Piss bombs
Rude drivers
Lot lizards
Unpaid holidays
Working 7 days a week
Solitude
Being away from home for weeks at a time
Missing every single holiday, birthday, anniversary and special occasion
And the dispatchers!

Pictures!

Now that is advertising!

Lovely Marie

Riding her bike from CA to ND!

Attack of the crazy truck driver!

The aliens have arrived...........

Someone should not have fired their landscaper!

Good evening from Rock Springs, Wy......

The past two days have been great!  Great daily runs, great scenery and not only do I have a trucking job waiting for me when I get home if I want it, I have two interviews for office positions!  Gads, the last time I had an office position interview was nearly two years ago!  My window of opportunities has gotten bigger to be able to stay HOME!

I worked hard to become a commercial driver but not by choice and the idea to returning to an office setting is so tempting as I go to work pretty and return the same way (another driver told me that).  But my mom did remind me that I am a very outspoken woman with a mind of my own that won't back down to anyone......and if I have a female boss, my position will end quickly.  Hence why trucking has been somewhat more for me......I don't have to really check in with anyone and use the word SAFETY to my full advantage. 

One interview sounds perfect as it is managing programming engineers and the other, I haven't been be able to research yet.  All I know, is that the first one wants to interview me because I want to WORK!  It made an impression to him that I completey changed profession in order to WORK. 

I will be dropping this load in Twin Falls, Idaho, tomorrow around 4 PM and then off to visit my sister until my next load towards home.  I am hoping to cross paths with Marie (one of my Werner trainers) on her bike on her way back to ND.........it would be awesome as I haven't seen her since that dang horse broke my rib last summer!

Now tell me, which sunset pic to you like the best?  I loved them all  :)

We met a few critters!

Well good evening my virtual truckers!  We are in Texas with a load of frozen sweet potatoes fries that are going to the biggest potato capital in the states.......Idaho!  Go figure!

Per my request, they are sending me home for a few days.  You know, if they gave me loads like this one and the two I had before my first home time, I would have never considered leaving until late fall.  I should be home by the 6th, get the truck empty and let my dispatcher know that I will have only one load, the one required to get me to Salt Lake City so I can turn in my truck.  I am hoping I will be back in Seattle on or around the 10th for a few days before I start my DAY job!

Now for the critters!

My first incounter with a baby Copperhead (thanks Mom)!

Such a pretty snake!

On the hunt!

Now isn't he a cutey!

I just requested home time.....it is time to move on!

Considering how disposible I am and all this damn sitting and knowing the next check is going to be smaller than the last; I should be working with Werner!  If I am going to sit, I will do it at home! 

Been offered that local run and there will be glitches I am sure but even if I get the same pay as currently, home every night and weekends, well worth the effort to give it a try!  And that means hanging up on this blog.....but not quite yet!

That's right folks, you can eat em shell-n-all!  I did try a few, the added salt was good but the added fiber just wasn't required in my diet.

Good morning from Hammond, LA!

And......here we sit!  We drove only 12 hours in the past two days, dropped our load at 6 PM last night and have been waiting for a new load since 6 AM.  It is now......9 AM!

I am currently working with the owner of the small fleet back home for the local route on a few remaining details and I am hoping we can get everything finalized today so I can request a load back to Seattle.  After all this sitting the past two weeks, I could make just as much working part time at home and in my own bed every night!

And I am so grateful to have an APU on the truck as I forgot just how hot and muggy it is way down south!