Latest Pictures from last week...

Moab, Utah

Irene chokes again…

For those of you who follow us you may remember a while back
I spoke of how Irene chokes every time we cross the border or have to talk to anyone in uniform. Well this past week we had a run from Dallas/Fort Worth up to Vancouver Canada. I was behind the wheel on our way into Canada and had fun with Border Patrol on our way in…they are always so serious but I had this guy chuckling before I drove away. After our drop in Canada it was Irene’s turn behind the wheel for the trip out. We had rehearsed several times what they would ask her and how she should respond…well so much for that. We pulled to customs and the 1st question asked was, where are you coming from, and without skipping a beat Irene replied…Ahhhh, dang here we go again… so I replied, Vancouver, British Columbia…I thought for sure we would be pulled to the side and interrogated for hours but I answered all there questions and we were cleared to return to the United States. I had to ask Irene as we laughed our way into the U.S. what is with you and people in Uniform…all she could say was that she chokes…but of all places the U.S./Canada border…we rehearsed this…are you trying to get us locked up?...lol

We had a great trip though and took a new route to Canada that took us thru Moab, Utah. What an awesome place…one that I will have to add to our bucket list of vacations. The mountains, caverns, and the Colorado river…and the fact that you can rent Jeeps to drive everywhere, will keep me plenty happy. On our way back from Canada we crossed through the mountains from
Washington to Montana down through South Dakota on I-90…awesome country and a beautiful ride…for me…the whole time all I heard from Irene was…there’s no beach…lol…which reminds me of another funny moment on this trip. While heading up I-5 through Seattle Washington Irene looked at the GPS and said what’s that water to our left…that would be the ocean Irene…she replied, ocean…what ocean…OMG…the Pacific ocean Irene…lol…needless to say I will be giving Irene geography classes on our free time…lol. As we passed down through the Bad Lands of South Dakota we decided to take a short cut through Indian territories. I was joking with Irene that we may get scalped, and that we should call Richard one of our co-workers who is Indian, to see if there is a password to use if we ran into trouble…lol…Irene replied to me yeah what is that word they always say to each other…chewbaca?...holy cow Irene, that was the dude on Star Wars…I laughed for hours. She is soooo entertaining to travel with.

We are currently sitting in St. Louis waiting to drop this trailer then we will be picking up another and heading to San Antonio…life is good and we are still enjoying life on the road together. I know when I write it seems like I am always picking (joking) on Irene but how can I not…she truly is a riot to be on the road with. She knows I mean no harm though and that I truly love her very much! Trust me she gets her sweet revenge when she can…and I deserve it.

We hope everyone is enjoying the Blog and if there is anything we can do to make it better please feel free to drop us a line…stay tuned!

Seems like Déjà vu

Well 2 weeks later and here we are back in the same hotel in El Centro California. Fortunately this time it was our choice. We brought a load here to our drop yard in Calexico and after dropping the trailer off we were told by dispatch there was nothing moving. It seemed that 2/3rds of the nation was under a weather advisory of some sort and trucks were shutdown everywhere. They told us Sunday at the earliest or maybe Monday morning before we would get a load. So off to the hotel but not before stopping at our favorite Chinese restaurant. Nice to sleep in a bed once and a while that is not traveling down the highway at 65 mph…lol…I can sleep fine in the truck when it is parked but not while it is moving. Irene can sleep fine while I drive but the best I can do is maybe 3 hrs if Irene is driving…wait, could it be that I am afraid to close my eyes while she is behind the wheel? Hmmm, no she does great and I never worry…much. I will admit though as of late she has this thing when she wakes up that she whips open the curtain of the sleeper and scares the daylights out of me. I have asked her on more than one occasion to let me know in a gentler way that she is awake and moving about. It’s a little startling to be driving for several hours relaxed, reflecting on things, enjoying the day and all of a sudden, SWOOSH, the curtain opens and out pops Irene…dam Irene, are ya trying to get us killed by scaring me half to death and causing me to swerve off the road? Or better yet…every now and then she would leave the curtain open at night when she slept and I would drive. When she would wake she would stand quietly just behind me while trying to wake up…I would get this feeling something was wrong and turn around to look and there she is standing there looking like the girl from the movie The Ring hair hanging down looking like a zombie…Damn Irene…again…ya trying to kill us? We’ve had a couple discussions and things are much better now…LOL

We had a good week though and spent part of it in Indiana with the snow and cold…now I remember why we moved to North Carolina. It’s nice to be back in the south though…we love the road but also like to step out of the truck occasionally to. We made a run to Laredo Texas from California earlier in the week and took a new route that routed us close to the Mexican border…along the Rio Grande and the Pecos river. The scenery was beautiful especially when we crossed the Pecos…if we would’ve had time we could have taken some great photos…we vowed next time through we would definitely stop. Irene does have some photos posted from late so we hope you enjoy….well I just noticed Irene is asleep so I guess I need to finish the laundry…another great thing about being in the hotel… oh, maybe I will scare her and see how she likes it…stay tuned!

We made the right choice...

Well after getting the truck back from the shop last week, things have been going well. We have been bouncing from coast to coast with an occasional dip to Southern Texas. The other day we ran a load out of Oakland, California area and headed out on I-80 thru the Sierra's and down Donner Pass. For those of you who are not familiar with Donner Pass, it is in the top 5 on the Truck Driver's nightmare list. Luckily we had a light load and no bad weather. From there we rolled across Nevada into Salt Lake City, Utah and the weather kept getting colder with a little snow added here and there. We dropped our load in Kansas City and thank the Lord they dispatched us back to sunny and warm California. Currently we are headed into Indiana to drop a load and pickup another load headed out to guess where...you got it California.

Sorry, I did not mean to get so side tracked from the title of this posting. When Irene and I finished up driving school we had multiple offers from various trucking companies. We did a lot of research on the industry and a lot of research on the many companies out there. We narrowed it down to two choices. We made our decision to go with Con-way and although still uncertain if we made the right choice we went full steam ahead. Well after three months of driving for them the miles are great, the equipment is good and the people we deal with on a daily basis are wonderful. It seems that once a week I get a phone call from someone I know from driving school who is very unhappy with the choice they have made on choosing a company. Even strangers at truck stops complain about the company they drive for. I am not saying that our company is perfect because they all have there pros and cons, but I do feel that our choice was definitely the best. The job is not perfect in anyway, but you will get out what you put in and it starts with a good positive attitude. That is the nice thing about sharing each work day with Irene...she keeps my attitude good and positive. LOL

Time to run...stay tuned!

Time to get back to work…

Well our truck is out of the shop and we are headed back on the road. It has been a wonderful 5 day break for us though. Irene and I rented a car and headed up to San Diego to do some sightseeing. We spent the day walking along the coastline enjoying the ocean breeze, sunshine, and each other’s company. We managed to see the seals and sea lions that hang out on the rocks while we walked in La Jolla…kinda funny, we were walking along and I said to Irene, those rocks just moved…all she could do was laugh…they blend in so well when they lay on the rocks they are hard to see…oh well so my eye sight is getting bad…lol

We had the chance to eat at some great restaurants, catch up on rest, and watch Alabama whoop LSU…loved it! We met some very nice people during our stay and can’t wait to return. California is such a beautiful state and there is soooo much to see and do, but I would never want to live here…way to tight for me. A lot of traffic, small houses stacked together tight and way to many people…some very strange ones I might add…lol…still a great place to visit.

I would like to thank Irene for the time we shared in Cali…she is my best friend, my lover, my wife. She makes spending everyday with her such a joy and I look forward to growing old with her and doing a lot more sightseeing together in the future…I love you Irene!

Quit Complaining Randy…

We had the most amazing time together roaming the west coast. I absolutely love this job and the places it takes me. I know so many people that say they would love to visit California to see what it is like, well my job allows me to do just that. I even felt a little guilty for having such a good time and staying in a nice place. However, the reality is that while we are not in the truck moving, we are not making any money. It was worth it though; we have seen some amazing things. The only drawback to all this is that our children are not with us. I am posting a few pictures for you to see of how we spent our free time.

Still Idle In Cali…

Well we received the bad news that the truck would not be ready till Monday…maybe. Are you kidding me…with today’s technology you would think a few hours and done…plug into the computer, get a diagnosis, fix and go. Oh well…wishful thinking.

So we rented a car and have been wandering enjoying all this area has to offer. First we needed to stop by the repair shop and retrieve the camera and a few other items. When we pulled into the repair shop Irene and I were both wondering why our truck was sitting outside…is it finished? Great now that we rented a car right…I asked Irene to grab what we needed out of the truck and I would talk with the service manager. The service manager is nowhere to be found so out to the truck I go…wait, why is Irene laughing hysterically…and who is that stranger crawling out of our truck…oh snap, that’s not our truck! Another Conway driver had come to the shop that morning for service, and was asleep in his truck…Irene was trying to get in and he woke up and came out of the sleeper scaring the day lights out of her…I turned around and looked in the shop and there was our truck, right where we left it on Thursday…uhhhh Irene, our truck is over here…LOL…by now everyone in the place is laughing hysterically…Poor Irene…lol

Anyway we have been eating and shopping…then eating and shopping. We had the most incredible Chinese you could imagine yesterday…one of the locals told us of a Chinese restaurant that had a Mexican spin to its taste…incredible! Today we were told of an authentic Mexican restaurant (we are only a few miles from the border) that was just down the street…yes we are still trying to cool the flames…hot and spicy but delicious. I love this area…it’s impossible to loose Irene…she is the only blonde I have seen here so far…lol…and yes English is the 2nd language here…but everyone is very nice to us. The best part of course is they have my favorite Mexican beer…Sol…love the stuff!

Well enough for now I guess…need to help Irene catch up on the laundry…she managed to break the only machine the hotel had…kinda…so the manager is letting us use the big machines they use for the linens. Way to go Irene…I love having her with me…she’s so entertaining!

Start of a New Year...

Well after a wonderful home time for Christmas with the family Irene and I were excited to get back on the road and run...well not so fast. We got our planned load to pick up in Charlotte NC on the 28th, and deliver in Blythe Ca. on the 30th We dropped our trailer in Blythe and grabbed another load and headed to Atlanta GA. From there up to Gaffney SC. and then off to Calexico Ca....Wow we are on a roll and bouncing coast to coast...Chah Ching! Well, all good things must come to an end...we are sitting in El Centro CA. right now at a Hotel and our truck is in the shop. Halfway across Texas the check engine light came on so we called our service dept. and they advised us to finish the run and then take it to the International dealer close to our drop. A few hours later it’s ready and off we go…not so fast…2 miles down the road the light comes on so back to the shop we go. The company pays for our room so no big deal…unfortunately if the wheels aren’t turning that means the money is not flowing. However, hot showers, internet access, continental breakfast…we can get used to this!

Being on the road has been wonderful though. We have seen so much of this great country we live in…I just can’t get enough of it. Better yet, what other job can you work where you get paid to sight see every day, spend it with the woman you love, and pretty much be your own boss. We are loving this.

Of course traveling with Irene is the best part…lol…I remember our 1st trip into Canada crossing the border. Border Patrol asked Irene, Miss have you ever been to Canada before, Irene says, yes, no, wait…for work or pleasure? Border Patrol, Miss would you pull the truck around back to the dock so our officers can search it…what the heck Irene, couldn’t you just say yes? After an hour of them searching our truck they say you are free to go. Or I remember going thru a checkpoint in Arizona…border patrol, Miss where are you coming from…uhhhhh, Randy, where are we coming from…Charlotte NC sir…and what are you hauling Miss…uhhhhh Randy, what are we hauling…truck parts sir…thank you folks, have a safe trip. What the heck Irene…why can’t you just answer the questions…It has to be that “man in a uniform” thing. We occasionally haul a load of Hazmat material and we are required by law to stop at every scale house…I remember on a couple occasions while I was resting hearing a certain someone mumble…”dang” I was supposed to stop there…OMG…she is bound to get us thrown in jail…lol…seriously though…we laugh all day long. Don’t get me wrong, we do have our bad days and they have to be made good ones as quick as possible. The truck is only so big and there really is nowhere to go to get away from each other so you just fix things…”your right Irene…I’m sorry” works every time.

As much as she worries me every time we see a guy in uniform she does come in handy at some of our stops. We haul a lot of freight for UPS…and they pretty much treat us like crap when we stop at their terminals. I would always go in and handle the paperwork and all so Irene would not have to deal with their childlike behavior. So one day, while in Ohio she decided to go in, b/c my fuse was getting shorter each stop with these people…well…they could not do enough for her…what the heck…so now every UPS stop…you got it…I hide and Irene handles the rest…we are in and out in minutes…(which usually took an hour) We joke about it at every UPS stop…time to “Pimp” you out Irene…put something sexy on and some lipstick to…we are in a hurry to get out of here…LOL…we pulled into an Orlando terminal a couple weeks back and before she could stop the truck some guy pulls up and says “just drop the trailer there miss and I will take care of it” what the heck…it was usually a ½ hr. before I could even get someone to talk to me. Hey works for me…

All kidding aside though we are enjoying life and each other every minute of the day. We miss home and the kids very much and this is the hardest part of it all. With the girls in college though we would not get to see them a lot anyhow but it’s nice to know you are only 150 miles away from them when home instead of 2300 when on the road. And with Justin going to school and working we never saw him much either so it does make it a little easier being gone. We miss them all and love them very much though, and are very proud of all they are accomplishing.

Well…enough for now…gotta check on the truck to see if it will be ready before the weekend…if not…time to rent a car and sight see…maybe San Diego...I love this life…stay tuned!

Some Pics

 

Happy New Year

What a year 2011 has been. It is hard to believe all the changes we have gone thru. But most importantly, we all healthy, happy and thriving.

I will try to post more often. It is hard to do so on this itty bitty phone. (For now, I am playing with this blog to see what I can and/or cannot do. So please forgive me if something looks odd or doesn't fit on a page.)