Fishin' Season

Last week, I received a surprise phone call from none other than the Fisherman. I have to be honest and say that a few years ago, when he left the company, I was a little more than relieved. I have never known a pathological liar, but I am feeling pretty secure with my assessment that the Fisherman is just that.

So, after a few missed calls, I finally decided to see what he could possibly want. It seems that he keeps in touch with quite a few of our drivers and while his phone call was apparently harmless in nature, there was a particular reason he had phoned me, although he never stated it. I will get to that portion of this story soon enough.

The amazing thing about the Fisherman, is that he has not changed one iota. After catching up on all the going's on, he casually mentioned that he was going in for retesting. Retesting? He then elaborated by telling me that he had been diagnosed with cancer and had been going through a series of chemo and/or radiation therapy. He was going in for more testing to make sure he was still in remission.

??

I, of course, offered my support and sympathy. I wished him well. Oh yeah, he also mentioned that he had been running about 4000 miles and it was wearing him out. Okay, so I had officially took the bait, but felt that perhaps there were some inaccuracies in his tale. He was also quick to inquire how my week was going. At first, I thought nothing of it.

BUT, this week did hold a few surprises for me, which had me reeling with a mild anger.

My trip was to be routed through Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, and Kentucky before returning home. Whew! Big Trip, lots of miles and with the first stop being only 3 hours from the plant, I was in no hurry to leave out on Sunday.

That morning, while I was still tucked snugly in my bed, my phone begins to ring at an indecent hour. It was the Mayor, calling to say hello ?! I did not answer the phone, and his message was just that. "How are you? I have not spoke with you in awhile and just wanted to check on you."

When I returned his call a little later, it was once again just superfluous jargon with no hint of urgency. I finally arrived at the plant around 8pm and that is when I found out that my first stop had been omitted and my trip was now a 10 hour run straight into Louisiana. YIKES! I was not prepared for an all nighter. After dissecting my trip numerous times, and trying to reroute myself for efficiency, I finally decided to stick to the original plan. After all, the second customer had no clue that they had become the first, so there was really no harm in not arriving at 7am. They were not expecting me until lunch anyways. I drove my three hours and went to bed. If you know me at all, you would be aware that I had a very hard time not forcing myself to pull the all nighter. I am the epitome of efficiency when it comes to making my deliveries. I could not fathom not being at the customer upon awaking. It was just not acceptable (to me). But I gave in after completely stressing myself out.

I had no problems making all my deliveries. I even completed the task before expected, because I do reroute myself for efficiency. I felt very good about everything. Until.....

I received a phone call from AA. He was concerned about my trip and asked if I was okay. A little clueless, I inquired as to what he was referring to. It was then that he alerted me to the fact that the Mayor had looked at my bills and knew that my trip had been altered. I had originally panicked (mildly) when I saw the changes. Now, I am furious. You see, the Mayor knew. The Mayor called me that morning (which would have been ample time to for me to make the Louisiana destination at 7am) But the Mayor never said a word.

It is not often that I receive phone calls from other drivers, especially those who no longer work with us. I should have known something fishy was going on. I received multiple phone calls that week. Everyone curious has to how my week was going. I guess everyone else already knew that the Mayor had been privy to information that would have been helpful to me. And I suppose everyone knew that the Mayor kept this information to himself.

Now I know why the Fisherman called me. And for the record, I was also told that NO, the Fisherman does not have cancer, nor has he been through chemo. Yeah, I thought 4000 miles a week would be a little difficult to manage during treatment. I cannot believe the depths this man will go in weaving his delusions.

I know this post is running rampant, but as an added bonus, I thought I would share with you the first thing I encountered after learning my trip had been altered. I had been blocked in. The truck on the right was hooked to a trailer and ready to leave, however the driver was at home relaxing by the pool. He did not do this intentionally, but he also did not notice that my truck was now barricaded into position. I called him to see if he would move his rig, so I could begin my altered trip. Good thing he only lives 5 minutes away. All the other drivers live no closer than 45 minutes away. And our trucks are not keyed the same.

It was a good week all in all. I completed my route on Wednesday, and got to run with Gabby and James back into West Memphis... Good Times!!

Back Again......

Did I mention that someone else took my load this week.... Um, yeah, I think I did..



Well.. Monday, the Fisherman (aggghhhhhhhh !!!) called me AGAIN... He said that he had spoke with JH and was told that HE would be taking the NE load from now on....





Just another way for the Fisherman to try and provoke me... I don't know that JH will be taking this load on a regular basis.. Normally, he does not do New York.... But the Fisherman just wanted to try and get things stirred up..... He does not even work with us anymore and is still trying to provoke several of us..... So, if JH does take the load.....well, nothing I can do about it..



I think it is amazing that a grown man feels so much desire to create havoc in others lives, that he has to create scenarios in order to get reactions

Why Won't You Leave Me Alone ?!?

I don't know if I ever even mentioned this, but the Fisherman quit!! Well, actually he was on Workman's comp for awhile (for a false claim) and then he quit.. He had scheduled to take off for a week for vacation and while he was home doing some home improvements, he injured himself. While still on vacation, he comes into work under the false pretenses of cleaning his truck... During which, he of course staged his accident.... He verbally had told me a day before that he had injured himself at home. He told another driver as well, but then a day later he claims he did it at work.. Well, first things first.. um, he was on paid vacation and not performing any duties that apply to his job!! But he claimed it, and they paid it!!

Anyhoo, after a month on Workman's compensation, Homer calls the Fisherman and tells him to have someone clean out his truck so another driver can use it.

YAY!! He is officially gone!!

until......

He calls me this past Sunday and begins commenting on how much he hates his new job and other assorted useless garbage.... He called another driver and raved about how wonderful his job was!!!

I am so pissed right now, but I will get to that.....

So, later in the week, Razz calls me and tells me he too has spoken with the Fisherman recently.. My name had been bought up... The Fisherman had mentioned that I had not been invited to a friends wedding and why, and then goes into other derogatory comments about me...

The so-called friends in question are some people I had met thru the Fisherman 3 years ago on a couple of brief encounters... Not bosom buddies, not even social friends, just some people I had the opportunity to cordially say hello to on more than one occasion. Should I have been upset that I was not invited to the nuptials?? He obviously thought so!! I could not have cared less.. We don't exchange greeting cards or chat on the phone, we do not socialize on the weekend, so why should this upset me.. It doesn't.... But I can only presume that he wanted it to.

Then he dropped the bomb!! This is why I am so enraged!!

He had the audacity to make comments about my social life and lack of a spouse. Something to do with my inability to "Keep A Man"...

And the worst comment of all.... "Someone ought to check and see if she has a kickstand".. Meaning that I perhaps was equipped with masculine genitalia (once again referring to my inability to secure a husband)....

HOW DARE HE!! Just who the *&$* does he think he is.. I mean damn!! he has a new job, why can't he pick on new people!! And it is not so much, what he said that disturbs me. I know why I am single and a girl has a right to be choosy. Not to mention the fact the being a truck driver has really put a damper on certain things in my life! But his meddling just really makes me want to go Jerry Springer on him.

I don't believe I will be accepting his phone calls in the future!



For those of you unfamiliar with the Fisherman, just click on the Fisherman tag below for other assorted stories.... They are not this cruel, but I don't feel like linking!!

Annoyed IS an Understatement

Everything seems to be going fine.. Life is good. (for the most part) But for some reason......

Everything. Is. Irritating. The. Crap. Out. Of. Me. !!

I cant take much more of this...

A Fishing Story....

Just how big a fish was it?.......

So here it the latest scoop on the fisherman

He said he was out of here, right... I have stood firm that I do not believe in his shenanigans. I did confer with several other people and they all believe him.. The assistant site manager and other drivers to boot. But not me!!

Okay, so he gave his 2 week notice... The first week, he took a paid vacation... The second week he was suppose to run a single Florida trip and be done with it!!

During, the vacation week, he reported that he had cleaned out his truck of everything except the essentials...

On Tuesday of the second week (his last hoooooorah) he calls me.

" I have hurt my back while cleaning out my truck"

" I have hurt my back and could not work this week."

"I will probably lose my new job, because I have hurt my back and can't work"

"I should probably just stay here, because I already have the insurance to cover this injury, and I will probably lose my new job because I can't work"

Sounds FISHY to me.!!

So when I arrived back at the plant on Thursday, I did a little snooping... I know I should not have, but.....

All of our trucks are keyed the same.. Anyone can open any truck!! Which really pisses me off. I have seen numerous times when there are huge dusty footprints in my truck and the mechanics have been no where near it. How about a little privacy folks, I mean DAMN, this is my home away from home!!

Like I said, I know it was wrong, but I opened up his truck and what should I see.

A very messy, overly stocked truck.... He has not removed anything!!! So, how did he hurt his back?? Or did he hurt his back??

He is so full of it!!!! I am just soooooo curious what he thinks he is up to.... I love a good mystery, but the suspense is killing me

Weather Update

Boy has this week been something.....

Usually when I am heading out, I will check the forecast for the locations I am to deliver to..SO, I did that and noticed nothing unusual.. Temps were to be a little cooler than normal for this time of year. I did not notice precipitation forecasts. I only check those when temps dip below freezing.

So, it seems I was the only person not informed of the Nor Easter that was to be blowing through New England this week..

What the hell is a Nor Easter anyway??

I head out early Sunday and after a few hours, the phone calls start pouring in..

"Have you run into the snow yet?""

I am in Charlotte NC at this time and it is 76 degrees...

I laugh it off thinking the Fisherman is trying to start "something".

Well now, 100 miles further up the road and the local temperatures have plummeted to 28 degrees and there is quite an accumulation of snow on the ground and my mirrors and windows.. It is freakin' white out conditions and traffic is doing well to maintain 35 mph...

Can you imagine.... a 48 degree drop in 90 minutes.....

But wait....Another 100 miles and we are back to 50+ degrees with a mild drizzle... The winds however are blasting away at over 50 mph... Now if that ain't white knuckle driving. ...My trailer has a large tarp mounted on an aluminum frame and acts like a parachute.. I am being tossed from lane to lane along with everyone else on the roadway, even with 40k on my trailer...

The torrential rains were ahead of me, so I was spared that portion of the program.. I managed to arrive in Baltimore safe and sound...

But this week has lead to a lot of concerns.... New Jersey was very hard hit and numerous roads have been closed due to flooding... The bridge crossings into New York have been closed to 18 Wheelers due to high winds... My trip is not looking so good, eh??

I was informed that those deliveries that could not made early in the week would have to be reattempted on my way home. Bit so far I have managed to get them all made..

I am currently sitting in Boston, okay just north of Boston in a little town called Salem. Ring a bell? Oooohhhhhhhhh Witchy woman, see how high she flies tonight....

OMG, you should see this place.. I would love to get out and stroll around a bit, but with these winds.. I don't think so!! Maybe I will get some pics in the morning....

I had some photos to add to this post, but my computer is not speaking to my camera at the present time.... Maybe when I get home I will share a photo montage of this weeks journey.

Until then, Happy Trails!!

Rapid Advancement

I just received a phone call.

It was the Fisherman..

"It's all yours !" he says.

He has decided to pursue other career options at this time.. He went in for an interview today and was hired on-the-spot.. Next week, he is on vacation. The following week will be his last with our current employer...

Two other drivers finished up their tour of duty this week, and the trucks have already been cleaned out..

Another two drivers have also already proclaimed that they too will be abandoning ship in a relatively short amount of time...

I HAVE GAINED 5 rungs on the LADDER in two weeks.... The NE route is now my baby!!

Sweeeeeeet !!

That means a potential 12% gross in my yearly wages.... (I know, I am outta here soon myself, but I am looking at the immediate gains at the moment)

I also set up my interview with the new company for next week, and he assured me it was just a formality and then he "Welcomed" me to the new team!!

Yes, my social life may suffer for the next year, but I am looking to relocate and purchase a home soon, so I am willing to sacrifice it for the good of my future.....

Brrrrrrrrrrrr, It's Cold

So the Fisherman called me this week and announced his current weather conditions.... SNOW 7-8" forecasted...

Homer called this morning for dispatch....

Guess where I am going next week.....

Silly Snowbirds!!

Dropping Like Flies!!

Okay, so I made my announcement about the job info last week and while everything looks good from my standpoint, the other c0-workers are not faring too well..
First let me just say that most of them ARE in fact, your typical Truck Driver... Country Fellows with little (or no) book smarts, driving to live and living to drive!! An uneducated lot, with no desire to better themselves, but given their age group I can understand why..

The vast majority is in the 50+ age group... This group is a bit divided on "What to do" A few of them will make the transfer (they have been pulling the same freight for over 25 years with no less than 6 different employer changes...) A few of them have decided to move on with the existing employer..(no need to start over with a new company which would result in lost seniority and accrued vacation time)... I understand both sides!! Of course the Fisherman is telling a different response each time he is asked what his future holds...

We are losing 2 drivers this week, who have decided to transfer into new positions with the current employer... Good News for me, because that means I will gain 2 rungs on the ladder...Meaning I will have more routes to chose from.

And this could not come at a better time...

Our industry is in quite a lull at the moment...Sad to say, but our business thrives on natural disaster!! With no devastating hurricanes the previous season, the demand for our product has been greatly reduced!

So Friday morning is Dispatch Day. Homer will call on each of us to claim our route for the following week.. For the most part, I head into the Great North East every week.

This week, my choices were limited to 3 Florida routes, 1 Alabama, or a South Carolina-Tennessee Run...

WTF!?

I am so out of the loop... First off, I do not keep up with the other drivers daily grumbles and try to distance myself from the goings on at the office...It makes for better mental health, I assure you. I asked Homer "What is going on?" Knowing I would be upset, he tried to explain to me how seniority works and that I should just choose.

I KNOW how seniority works, but what I don't know is why no one wants to go to Florida. Usually, those routes are the first to disappear...

Well, freight is slow!!!! Usually the FL runs are snatched up because they are quick deliveries with only 1 night away from home.. Drivers then rush back to grab up a second load...

There are no second loads!!

So, I chose the SC-TN adventure.... I have plans for next weekend and needed to be off at the end of the week....

But now I am becoming concerned that my normal paycheck is being threatened!! Looks like the sofa might have to wait until things level off....Good thing those 2 fellows are leaving this week!!!

Damn Snowbirds!!

Well there you have it. My fate is sealed!!

The Fisherman took my much beloved route... This week, I will conquer North Carolina, Virginia and Pennsylvania.

Not a bad trip, but the locations are spread out a bit, so it will take approximately the same amount of time to earn considerably less money.... Phooey!! I was really enjoying watching my savings grow by leaps and bounds...

I am familiar with this route, so no hardship involved from that aspect.

I was prepared. I was warned. I am not surprised..

But there is always a silver lining... Our Meeting is Sunday, and with my first stop being only 5 hours away, I will not have to worry about being late... This meeting is so important!!

Also, the potential for more home time is greater, with the exception of this week. I deliberately sacrificed my social life during the winter for the added income...

So actually, you could probably say that I am NOW getting back to my normal routine. A routine that has the potential of changing every single week... Which Sucks. A routine which involves backstabbing, ass kissing and general pandemonium... I have now been thrown back into the mix.. I don't participate in these antics, but it frustrates me to be affected by them on a weekly basis...

Soooo Long Old Man Winter

Well it is official....

Spring has sprung!!!!!!!

So, what did I do on the last official day of spring?? I drove around in vast amounts of snow!! Of, course.... I live for this stuff!!

I know this might not seem like a lot to some people, but growing up in the South, it was very uncommon to see anymore than perhaps an inch at a time, maybe once a year if we were lucky. And it never lingered more than a day...

Unlike the prior weeks, I was able to stray a bit from my normal route. Final Stop this week was N Adams, Mass. And let me tell you, once I learned the location of this little town, I became as giddy as a school girl!!

The Canadian enlightened me to all sorts of helpful knowledge. He told me that N Adams was in the mountains of Western Mass.. OMG, I loves me some mountains!! Whenever I am near them, my first inclination is to jump out of the truck and start climbing!!!

When I arrived at Mt Greylock, I was a tad bit disappointed... MOUNTAINS?? More like Big Hills.. Okay, so the eastern ranges can be quite impressive at times, but they will never hold such grandeur as their Western US counterparts...

And while I may have been unenthused by the site of the summits and peaks, I was completely in awe of the pristine whiteness that surrounded me.

Okay, not sooo pristine in the towns, but out in the open....OMG.....Beeee-u-ti-full.

So, until next year, Hugs and Kisses Ol Man Winter!!!

And speaking of farewells...* sniff sniff* The Fisherman is acting up again. I received a phone announcing that this would be my last journey towards New England (until next winter).. Hope he is bluffing, just like before.. Who knows with him. DAMN SNOWBIRDS

All is Fair In Love and Truckin'

I think the Fisherman knows!!

Tell Me Lies, Tell Me Sweet Little Lies...

I am over last weeks disappointment brought on by the Fisherman's lies. But not before I got a little revenge action in.. Hee hee hee

On my home on Tuesday, I ran into a little bit of snowy weather. As much as this excited me, I knew that the Fisherman would be very concerned about this situation. So I gave him a little phone call. Now , he was travelling approximately 5 hours behind me and weather conditions can change dramatically in that time frame... My first call was primarily to alert him of potential wintry conditions.. " You better hurry up, its snowing like a S O B down here!!!" My second phone call further stressed the situation by elaborating on the severity of the situation.. "Yep, still snowing and coming down pretty hard for at least a hundred miles!!" Next call was to inform him that the interstate was shut down (just passed the Exit to turn and head home) due to a major accident involving several vehicles.. Icy road conditions were responsible.. My final phone call was to notify him that "Virginia has brought out the Salt Shakers"

Virginia normally does not bring out the snowplow/salt spreader until after the second major snowfall of the season.. UNLESS, they are expecting severe snow storms!!

So with all that being said, I continued merrily on towards the house... The seed was planted.

Guess what folks!! My friend , the Fisherman, then proceeded to alter his course and ended up driving from Harrisburg, PA back to Baltimore before heading South to the Greater ATL.... Although it was only 50 miles further, I took great pleasure in knowing I had "Got one over on him".

Truth is, there were some snow flurries, but not enough to issue travel advisories... No impending blizzard in sight.

The Fisherman

You think I would be over this by now!!

There is one particular fellow at work who cannot seem to be honest if his life depended on it. Now most of his untruths are seemingly harmless. Just how big a fish was it?? Yes, he is a tournament angler.. So naturally, we dont believe his fishing stories. I personally have been witness to the tall tales. On a particular fishing expedition, he caught 3 teeny tiny large mouth bass. Upon returning to the shore, his story grew to epic proportions.. 15 fish in all, several over 5 lbs... It seems he forgot that I was on the boat...I just stood there, looking dumb.

Well, the lies dont stop there. He incorporates MAJOR exaggerations into everything he says , on a daily basis. Since I have known him for over 4 years, you would think that this would not bother me anymore. And for the most part it doesnt.

Except, his does this with work issues as well.

Every week, we are dispatched based on seniority... Every week, he choses the best paying NorthEast Route... Every week, he fusses, rants, raves, complains about his selection... Every week, he claims he is never going back... Every week, I tell him he is full of IT... EVERY WEEK.

Now normally, when the snow starts to fall, he does change his routine. Typically traveling south for the winter season... But with these wacky weather patterns this year, he has yet to give up this little pot of gold at the end of the George Washington Bridge...

This week, he sank to an all time low. He made his weekly declaration of Never Again and I simply told him he was I was not concerned. That he had made the same statement for 3 months and I would not get my hopes up. So he threw in the Family excuse.. "I have family in Florida that I have not seen in awhile and a new grand baby.. I must go south!!!"

Well you guessed it. He is going northeast this week... I actually did get my hopes up and now I feel so deflated.. I am not let down so much because he took the money load, but more because I actually fell for it...