Good evening from somewhere in Nebraska!

I am beat!  I have been running hard for the past two days and it caught up with me.  I drove only 7 hours today…..but did work additional 2.5 hours, 45 minutes of that was waiting in line for fuel in Cheyenne!  All the truckers decided to buy gas at the same time, go figure.

I am having issues trying to get online so this update might be a day or two late.  I am on my way to Omaha to pick up my license plate and then off to St. Louis.  I was not able to catch up with Lorene the other morning because of driving over my hours and starting my day before I gained my hours.  So…….lesson learned.  If you get a log violation, continue driving until your decided stop.  I could have sat with Lorene for two hours instead of the truck stop in Ontario!

And I will tell you, the drive through Wyoming was beautiful and boring……depending on the location.  I saw elk, antelope, deer, and one dead badger!

Another kitty in a truck!

Click on the picture for details......he is hauling tree stumps!

I am only HUMAN!

Did I spell that right?  I am 4 hrs away from my drop and done for the night.  I could write more but......I am human and need to watch one my favorite shows or at least one of them when I can.  Be bored.......as that is it.  Good day! And down under, good night!

Read with glee......and count the typos!

I am parked in Baker City, Oregon for the night!  I was a bad woman and went over my 14 hours by 30 minutes because I missed the dang exit.  I am currently using the hotel's internet across the street and the speed is slow so I decided to type directly to you, my virtual truckers, instead of using my secretary to screen all my typos!

We are on our way to Chenneye (?) to drop a load of truck parks at the company  yard.  We were surpose to be there tomorrow evening but between the lack of communication between fleet and maintenance, I was delayed an hour or two chasing a trailer that disappeared because a vendor decided to burn that trailer and hide the fact!  Yuppers, I was sent to pick up a trailer that had a sticky substance on the floor and take it to the truck yard and wash it.  But the client, contacted our sub contractor for repairs.  The boy that arrived decided that a blow torch would melt that sticky away........FIRE!  They took off with the trailer for repairs without telling Fleet because of their screw up.  From what the staff told me.....it was a nice black hole!

I almost lost my bindi today!  I was washing my face this morning and noticed the piercing was just a tad out of place.......totally!  I was able to push it back into place, called my piercer for ideas and I will be wearing a bandaid on the ole forhead for at least two weeks except to party of course (per my piercer's instructions).  The lack of fat/meat tissue under the piercing is making it a slow process to heal with just skin.  Go figure!

Since we are in trouble for driving 30 minutes past our time........enjoy those 30 minutes to sleep in.  I need to figure out when I will be in Jerome in the morning so I can catch up with lil sis Lorene. Good night all!

Home time is now....road time!

Good morning virtual truckers!  I should be getting ready for my surgery today but due to the insurance company delay on paperwork, the surgery has not yet been approved.  They have up to 15 days to review the paperwork and decide if the surgery is cosmetic, pre-existing or even required.   Break a leg and instant assistance.  Plan a procedure and you better be prepared to wait.  Due to the fact that I will only be home for 3 days every 3 weeks, trying to schedule surgery once approved is going to be frustrating!

I was not prepared for the delay in surgery so I was not prepared to quickly return to work.  I spent last night cooking and freezing my meals on wheels while washing laundry.  Today will be cleaning the trailer and packing.  I will not take all my clothes like I did my last trip but pack what I have been wearing the past few weeks.  Most truck stops have laundry facilities if needed.  Then we will head south and spend the night at Valery’s so I will be near the truck to start my day at 6 AM tomorrow.

I did catch up with Jim at the Red Robin for dinner.  Brian could not attend as he was given a load to Texas that morning.  I don’t think Brian is quite ready to quit as he appeared eager to be back on the road, even if it meant not dining with Jim and I.  Jim is doing well; he is back to a normal life where it is somewhat predictable and more controllable.  He hated the unknown, not knowing from one load to the next, from one day to another, where he was going or what he would be hauling.  He hating backing the trailers and I think he hated the truck too as the HVAC broke down when he needed it the most.  We will still stay in contact as a good friendship has been building between the three of us.

Trucking driving is not meant for everyone!  The first year of driving is financially and emotionally draining.  You are taken out of your natural environment and placed in situations where you wonder what in the hell have you gotten yourself into!  You will have heart pounding experiences, moments of gut wrenching depression and the reality check of just how much you miss your loved ones and home.  You work 14 hours a day, 7 days a week, and have little to show for it.  But if you can make that first year, you will see financial gain and hopefully a career with a company where you are a name, not a number.

That being said, I better let my fleet manager know that I will be ready to roll tomorrow.  See you all in the yard at 6 AM!

And thank you Matt for fixing my laptop so I can continue to bore you all as we drive down the interstate!

And Lisa, I haven't heard from you in Skype...shoot me an email :)

I can't believe I did it!

And here is the proof that I am bonkers!

Truckers and Bonkers and Life......oh my!

Good evening from the other tin can!

I have been home now for two days and really haven’t accomplished a bloody thing!  I took care of my medical needs as soon as I got home though.  I now have a shiny and very expensive gold crown to add to my pearly white smile.  I also have surgery scheduled for Tuesday (our departure date) to have that synovial cyst removed from my thumb.  I have notified my fleet manager that I would be back behind the wheel on the 28^th and she stated I won’t be unless I have a doctor’s release.   Maria laughed when she heard just how extreme I would go to get a couple of extra days off!

My Mother thinks I have gone bonkers when I told her that I went to the tattoo parlor today to barter with the shop owner.  I have 8 - 14K Gold captive rings that he wants. I want a sub dermal bindi and some more ink.  I asked for $400 worth of tattoos including the bindi.  He is researching and will come back with a yes or a counter offer.  I know, I am a little bonkers to want an implant stuck in between my eyes that will allow me to have a colorful array of balls/stones that I can twist into my forehead!  You are shaking your heads and wondering WHY???? All I can say is…….because I can!  J  After years of dry cleaning bills and high heels while sitting behind a desk, I can now do whatever I wish as I now sit behind a steering wheel! 

I still haven’t been able to work on the yard or the property as while the nation is dying in severe heat, Seattle is nothing but a cool tropical paradise that won’t stop raining long enough to get things done outside!  My little patch of forest is taking over my little patch of grass and pretty soon, I will just be able to reach out my window and pick blackberries from the vines that have covered my trailer!  I am still crossing my fingers that I will get the chance before my surgery Tuesday morning. 

OH, I will be dining with Brian and Jim this Sunday so I will be updating you with their “over the road” stories and pictures soon.

Off to do nothing……it is rather nice at the moment!

Home for 6 days....whether they like it or not!

Just a little post letting you all know that I finally am home for a lil while.  I have only been home for five days in the past five months and they tried to tell me that I only get 5.5 days off!  I put in for six days and dang nab it, I am taking six days!

I spent seven hours today on a $20 shag......big money folks!  I met with my doctor regarding the tumor on my thumb and have a gold tooth waiting at 9 AM tomorrow, nails will follow next and the hand specialist for the tumor at 1:30.  I still have a party on Saturday to attend, dinner with Jim (he did quit) and Brian (who is quitting) on Sunday......and I plan on at least one fishing trip.  Rain is scheduled for the week so I don't know if I will be able to reseal the roof of the RV.  Gads, so much to do when being away from home so long!

I am TIRED.........get some rest my virtual truckers and THANK YOU all for riding with me.