So much has changed...almost.

Wow it seems as though the last few blogs I have written I have started out with….it’s been a while since I have blogged.  Well guess what…yep it’s been a while since I have blogged. So much has happened in the past 30 days I am not sure where to start.

We spent 7 days in the Caribbean on a cruise that took us to Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, and St. Marten. We had a wonderful time with our kids but it was a much older crowd on the ship with a lot of walkers, wheelchairs, and electric scooters. My son summarized it best by saying “ it was one of the nicest nursing homes (the ship) he has ever been to”…he gets his humor from his mother…lol

After the cruise Irene and I had a long talk and decided it was time that we part ways. Yes I am sad to say that we headed in opposite directions, it just made sense at the time.

Oh wait yall are thinking we are divorcing. Shame on you she is the best thing that has ever happened to me…no I took a job with a local company that at the time seemed like the right move but it wasn’t to be. Everyone can relax I am back in the truck with Irene and life couldn’t be better. She did run by herself for about 3 weeks and did an awesome job as a solo. She managed to keep it together dealing with broke equipment, snow storms, and creepy guys who like to hassle women drivers. I am very proud of her! The thing is in this business there are lots of opportunities to get ahead.  Irene and I saw a chance that allowed me to get my foot in the door with a company that was in our home town. This company would have allowed me more home time and better money. There was talk of Irene coming on at a later date possibly; the only problem was I am not sure the money was there. So I passed on it and called Conway back and was reinstated (they have a 30 day no questions asked policy) Life is good again and every day is spent with the woman I love…it doesn’t get any better than that.

Freight has been a little slow as of late but tis the season…it should pick up here in a couple weeks. We managed to squeak out 5700 miles last week but would be much happier with 6700. We just brought a load from California and are currently leaving Atlanta heading to Pennsylvania and then to Nashville…kind of a slow start but maybe the week will get better…at least I hope so or the “blonde bombshell” I call my partner will be on the phone chewing someone’s A$$. That’s one of the nice things about her and I teaming…she handles all the paperwork and phone calls and I do the muscle work…basically I get the dummy end of the teamwork…she doesn’t trust me what can I say…ha ha ha.

Well it’s great to be back and I look forward to sharing our adventures with everyone as we zig zag back and forth across this beautiful country we live in…we are so blessed!   

A Look Back

AS we sit waiting on a trailer at a truck stop in Denver an old friend from Greenville, NC reminded me that I should blog…(thanks Guerry).  Actually he asked me what the Blog address was…but I think that he meant get off your duff and write…lol.  Anyway, Irene and I just celebrated our 1 one year anniversary with the company back on Thanksgiving Day. We have traveled over 250,000 miles in that time with plenty of memories. I couldn’t have asked for a better partner…thank you Irene…you are hear by christened “professional steering wheel holder”

We have learned a lot over the past year and I would like to reflect on a few things that come to mind.

1)    Make sure Irene has the low cut V-neck shirts on when she checks into customers. Better service…lol

2)    When the sign flashing overhead says chain law in effect…they mean chain law in effect…I guess you either get towed or go to jail…according to California HP…lol

3)     The DOT inspectors have no sense of humor.

4)    Never let Irene talk to Border Patrol…I would rather she fake sign language and confuse them.

5)    Always take the quad lock (brake key) with you so Irene doesn’t drive off and leave you when you stop somewhere.

6)    Somehow get Irene to understand the truck doesn’t fit in all McDonalds.

 

I could keep going but I better end there…she’s giving me that look…lol

Well the holiday season is upon us and we look forward to getting home and spending quality time with the kids. Unfortunately it won’t be for Christmas…we will arrive a couple days late but this was planned so that we could stay for 2 weeks. Reason being we are all heading on a cruise for a week for some much needed quality time together. The Caribbean will never be the same once I’m done with it…lol

Our miles have been great lately and we have managed to do very well in our 1^st year. The truck has been flawless and hasn’t skipped a beat…I am really impressed with this Volvo. I guess tonight we will see how it does in the snow as we are headed to the Pacific NW and winter storm Draco is headed towards us. So far we have managed to avoid the winter weather…I guess our luck has finally run out.

I would like to take this time to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year…we look forward to the year ahead…provided the Mayans were incorrect with their calendar…ha ha! We shall see ya again around the next curve…

Oh Deer!

Well after a quick 4 days home we are back on the road and rolling across America. Home time was pleasant and we once again enjoyed family and friends. My parents traveled from New York to stay for a few days so that our time was just a little more special. We also were able to get out and exercise our right to vote, and I was able to spend some much needed time in a tree stand which was long overdue. The good Lord and Mother Nature combined to make my hunt one of the most memorable ones yet with me harvesting my 2^nd largest buck ever. I would like to thank a very good friend (David) for his hospitality during my time in the outdoors. I can’t wait to finish up deer season at Christmas time!

The funny thing about this job is you never know where the road is going to take you next. As I mentioned before my parents had visited while we were on home time. The day we headed back on the road we were sent from Charlotte to Kansas City…then KC to Silver Springs, NY, and then onto Rochester, NY where we picked up a load heading to Texas. I noticed we would be traveling right past Mom and Dad’s and I knew they had arrived home the night before from their trip to NC so Irene and I stopped in for a quick shower and snack…haven’t seen them in over a year and now its twice in a week…LOL

Another funny thing about this job is you never know what you are going to see next. While traveling up through Tennessee a few nights back we witnessed a scene where a woman apparently committed suicide and jumped from an overpass onto I-40 and was struck by several vehicles. It was a horrible scene and I cannot imagine what the drivers of those vehicles are going through. I also cannot imagine what drove that woman to the point where she felt that this was her only alternative.

Well I opened with a deer story and I will close with one. After all it is deer season…LOL

For the past couple weeks I have witnessed the rut (whitetail breeding season) while traveling in several states. I have pointed out to Irene some Bucks chasing Does along the road, across fields, and everywhere else in between trying to get their chance at a little tail. Sounds typical…right guys…LOL.  Anyway with Irene driving one half of the night and myself the other, I constantly remind her to be cautious and keep her eyes open for deer running into the highway. Well the other night while traveling through Kansas we had dodged a few monster bucks that had thought of crossing in our path, but at the last second stopped…lucky for us. Well the night before last, after falling asleep for a few hours, I woke up to Irene asking me if I want the good news or the bad news. So of course, I tell her that I want the good news first.  “The good news is that we did not crash”, she said. She continued with “the bad news is that we have killed a deer”. You mean you hit a deer right? “No” Irene said, “The deer ran into us. I maintained my lane and avoided us crashing, but the deer ran out and bounced off the side of the truck”. Did you stop and see if there was any damage Irene? “Nooo…it’s too dark outside”. Was it a buck or doe Irene? “Doe”, Irene answered. Well I’m going back to sleep; wake me up when we get to the next truck stop Irene. The Doe had hit the side skirting that covers our fuel tank and took a chunk out of it about the size of a golf ball…minimal damage.  Our people said the next time we make it into our main terminal they will repair it.  They told Irene that this is not her fault and they would rather have the driver hit the deer instead of swerving and possibly crashing.  As I questioned Irene again about the incident I got the feeling that she was maybe jealous of my deer that I harvested while at home and all the attention I received from it. Maybe…just maybe, she needed her own deer story to tell when the gangs all together. Hey, I have offered to take her hunting all of our married life…if she chooses to use the truck instead of bow or gun…so be it. Who am I to judge…LOL