WOYM # 12-13

How did you do the dash-cam sorta videos? Tripod? Specialized camera mount? Pillow and luck?

It is actually a specialized camera mount that costs about $20 dollars and is attached to hand rail of dash with ZipTies....I have also tried the TriPod in the center of the sleeper, but you really need a lot of weight to keep it steady. I have found that mounting directly to the dash is a lose/lose situation because the camera shakes entirely too much no matter how much duct tape you use. You need to mount to the most immobile portion of the truck, which happens to be the handrail by the dash panel on a Volvo. I should show a picture, but it is mounted in my truck at this time, and I have not seen my truck in 5 weeks.

Do you blog on the road via a laptop and wireless or do you save it all up till ye get home?

I do blog in my head when I am on the road, and I try to get it posted as quickly as possible, but I am very busy from sun up to sun down and usually do not allow myself the time. So when I get home, the emotion of the moment is lost, and I blog what I remember... I would probably do better to go ahead and do a draft then edit it when I get home. For the most part, you will find new posts Thursday thru Sunday. I will comment, that I seem to lose readers, by waiting to post..but that is just the way it is. I am a very busy girl, when out on the road. Thanks for the questions!!

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WOYM # 11

I used to have my own "large car" running Toronto to NYC 2or3 times per week my favorite part of the city has to be Queens because of the great people I have met. Whats your favorite part of the city and why?

Ohhh, I love this question!! I love New York and most people don't understand that. I would have to agree, I love Queens. I do have wonderful customers in Bronx, and Brooklyn, but my best trucking stories always happen in Queens.I almost feel like a local because I spend so much time there and the Natives know me. So, free meals, good stories, and plenty of laughs....almost guaranteed to in happen in Queens. In fact, the first time I ever got lost was in Queens. The local garbage service blocked the roads for me so I could make a turn. And there was that time I got bombarded with Krispy Kreme donut holes...The morning after was hilarious.

Astoria Blvd, Queens, New York

I have had plenty of good times in Queens, but I do try to make all my stops good ones. That isnt too hard running dedicated. The Bronx stops are fairly easy, and Brooklyn can be a pain, but I love all parts New York..

One of my favorite videos to produce was this one, with quite a bit of footage in Queens, New York. Hope you enjoy!! I know I did!!

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WOYM # 9-10

Have you ever been arrested, if so, what for?

No, I have never been arrested..The worst conviction I have ever faced was my moving violations...and those have mostly occurred in the Big Truck. Seems I have difficulty slamming on my brakes when folks in the middle lane make erratic and just plain stupid decisions. So, I have a collection of left lane violations...Yes, the left lane is restricted for Trucks on most 3 or more laned interstates. That does not mean I have not been in a few shady situations...but I have never been arrested

When was the last time you flew overseas?

I regret to admit that I have never been overseas. Not for the lack of desire, as I would love to get out and travel the world. My lack of exploration is due to the fact that I prefer to have a companion on my adventures, and I have never talked anyone in to jetting off into a foreign sunset. I grew up with some form of social anxiety, and found it hard to be thrust into throngs of strange people, without at least one ally. Although I have outgrown this anxiety, I am concerned it might reappear, and 5000 miles from home is not the place to freak out!! Hopefully, one day I will either meet friends abroad and establish that much needed ally, or I will find someone itching for the same adventure and agree to make a go of it!

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WOYM # 8

Will you be posting anymore youtube videos? I enjoyed watching your other ones.

Thanks so much. I had a really good time editing those videos and seem to have developed quite a fan club. I do hope to posting more in the future..

It is all a matter of creativity and leisure time. This past year, I have been through the mill with work and home. I am also having a bit of difficulty with my laptop, camera and software. Hoping to purchase a new HD camera and possibly a new laptop. Then I should be back in the swing of things. Since I am somewhat a perfectionist, I have become frustrated with the viewing quality of the current videos...that is probably also why my creativity seems to be stifled at the moment. I want my new ones to be even better, and just don't enjoy producing a lesser quality..Kind of a complicated answer, but YES, I do intend to post more videos!!

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To view my videos, click HERE and for those of you who are curious, but have not watched them, Check this OUT!! My first video!!

WOYM # 7

What are you wearing? OK not the right question for this forum?Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Denver SB

I am wearing the perfect outfit to appear on the "People Of Wal-Mart" website, but it is my first day home and I tend to be lazy. Ewwwwwwwww!!

Okay, seriously. I seem to one of those people who are caught up in the here and now! I would love to be able to see myself in the future, but I just dont. It has always been hard for me to look past the immediate future. I think that would be a good task for me. Set up a few long-term goals and make decisions to get there. But as for right now, I can only hope that I am as happy and somewhat more healthy in 10 years. I think my first challenge is to find a place that sincerely feels like home. A friend of mine labeled me as having a "wanderer's disease" and I think that it fits. Thanks DenverSB for the thought provoking question.

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WOW, I have had a huge response to this, so if I have not answered your question, just sit tight. I will get to it, I promise!!

WOYM # 6

How come the sunrises in the east and falls in the west? ~ Anon

Well, I think perhaps the main reason the sunlight proceeds in this pattern is because I am typically heading east in the morning. And likewise heading west in the evening. It is just another one of life's designs to annoy me...You may also notice that the days are shorter in the winter..That is because I tend to sleep more when I am cold, so there is no need to irritate me with excessive sunlight...

Anon, you do realize that the sun actually does neither..It is the Earth's rotation that gives the illusion of the sun's placement.

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Tuesday 1-12-10

I was finally able to get some decent sleep last night, having decided to just go with the flow. I get ready to make my next delivery and the truck starts just fine. I don't know about you, but when something is wrong with my truck, I am almost embarrassed to drive it. Thankfully, I eased out of the parking lot without making a single screech. As soon as I entered the roadway, it started.

I get to Southington, Connecticut and enter the first of 2 indoor deliveries for the day. Once again, the truck remains quiet throughout the whole process. Back to the big road and all hell breaks loose.

The aforementioned injector/cup troubles have reignited. At least I am able to make all my deliveries, and will be heading southbound. This is not MY truck, so if I end up having to get repairs made on the road, I will not be a happy camper. I don't mind waiting, if I reap the rewards. But babysitting a spare truck is not my idea of a good time.

So, I have discovered that as long as I am creeping along, the truck remains somewhat quiet. But in order for this beast to pull, I have to keep the RPMs almost maxed out. Conflicting interests..........And for the record, the truck feels like the whole motor is coming apart, but the Stooges knew that before they put me in it..I will drive until it quits...At this point I am not concerned with creating more damage. Bastards knew better than to do this to me.

So, as the day progresses, I am slowly losing my cool. Along with all the noises, I now have to endure these surges. The best way I can explain it is 1) It feels as if a 3 stage jake engages every 15-20 seconds, but only for a moment 2) remember when you were a kid, and just as you were about to run after something, your older brother snatched your shirttail and halted you in your tracks, repeatedly!!

I spoke with the boss and asked if Frankentruck would be joining me next week... The verdict is still out. They are hoping to have him finished on Friday. If that is not the case, I might just take next week off. I have endured enough tension over the previous 4 loads with faulty equipment, that I am almost willing to park this one deep in ravine. I joked with a friend earlier that this truck is making me feel suicidal/homicidal. Not sure which one, but I have definitely had my fill.

I am currently about 10 hours away from the plant, and the good news is.....

OH, the good news is that even though I have not been into New England since November of last year, I still received 3 Christmas presents this week.. Awwww, they missed me!!

Round Two

The first week of 2010 did not treat me to kindly.

The second week does not seem to fare any better.

I had been informed at the end of the week, that I would be taking another spare truck this week. I assumed this was due to the fact that the Regen repairs could not be made in time, at least that is what they told. But with the way this week is turning out, it almost feels like a revenge tactic. You know, to get me to shut up about how crappy our trucks are.

The last words spoken in the ominous message were "You SHOULD be able to make it". BOY, that instills confidence!

Well, there is a very annoying screech that has been piercing my brain ever since I put this beast into gear..I have searched for the cause with no success. I have checked belts, pulleys and hoses. Almost sounds like a bearing, but not quite. It sounds like the intake is sucking air. It sounds like the Turbo is not working.It sounds like if I had to deal with this constantly, I would lose my mind.

Oh wait, I do! The good news is that the noise disappears entirely when I turn off the truck.

It actually increases in volume with the rpms, it also increases in volume with the engine brake engaged, it also increases in volume if you press on the throttle, the brake, or even if you are just idling. When does it not increase in volume?...when it is turned off.

I was not too overly concerned about it though. Worse case scenario is that I would end up in a hotel room. Well, that is not quite true. I never want to be deterred, but I try to handle it with a sufficient amount of grace.

I had made all of Mondays deliveries and was heading for Hartford, Connecticut when the motor started grumbling. The previously mentioned screeching was not affecting performance, but the sudden loss of power and angry mechanical stuttering I felt in New Rochelle was cause for alarm...Hmmm, crap!! I think I just lost an injector/cup or 3...

I made it to the Milford Pilot and after several successful attempts to engage the engine, I alerted my boss to the fact that while the truck is running, it will possibly not make it all the way back to Atlanta. I am concerned because two of my remaining deliveries are inside a building. Should the truck fail to start, I will be blocking the entire receiving lane and one of these lanes is literally a 10' wide aisle in a warehouse. The only aisle that is used for all motor and pedestrian traffic.Not exactly the predicament I want to be in.

Oh, in other good news...The inverter does not work in this truck. Very thankful I brought a few books to read, because waiting 15 hours to unload could get boring without the TV, computer, or phone to play with. Yeah, I cannot charge my phone either....

WOYM # 5

Whats your opinion? whats the difference between a large car and a big truck?

Ohhh, this one is easy. Any commercial combination vehicle with at least 3 axles is a Big Truck. All Large Cars are Big Trucks, but not all Big Trucks are Large Cars...

Okay...The top photo is what one might consider to be a Large Car..extended sleeper, all the bells and whistles. But really, that is just a nice house!!

The Volvo is a perfect example of a Big Truck. It is simply a tractor for hauling trailers. Does not matter how it runs, how many lights it has, or what trailer it is pulling..It will always be a Big Truck.

A Large Car has class...It will run as fast as the driver allows, not being governed by a computer. It has style and can usually be seen from a great distance because of the many "chicken lights" mounted on its shiny chrome. Now, I am aware that the Volvo can be adorned with lights and run screaming down the highway, but a Volvo will never have class. Usually a Large Car is piloted by an "Old School" mentality driver. A Big Truck can be driven by any Class A bozo. A Large Car is rarely ever dirty. A Big Truck, well that depends on the bozo driving it. A Large Car is typically owned by an individual, but there are some company trucks that earn the moniker of Large Car....Hmmmm, where is this going..

Okay, A Large Car is the essence of trucking...and Big Trucks are a dime a dozen.

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Whats On Your Mind # 4

I decided to give you, the reader, an opportunity to ask me anything you want to know. Of course, it is with my discretion that I post the answers. I figured this is a good way to get to know me better and perhaps get a few more posts out of me. So, have fun with it!! Just click the link at the bottom of the post and ask away!!

Whats the white stuff on top of chicken poop? Anonymous

Well, the text book answer would be mostly Uric Acid. Birds do not urinate, so this is how they excrete waste from their kidneys. BUT, in my opinion, the white stuff is just the instigator of my anger, because it usually appears on the Pony Car within moments of a good wash job!

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