# 56

Do you read the Bible?

I was raised in a Christian family and attended private Christian schools throughout my life. While I may not openly discuss religon or politics , I will openly admit that I do believe in God.

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# 55

Are you happier single or in a relationship?

Truth be known, I am happier just being me. I have been through alot to become the person that I am , and quite frankly, I am so in love with me!! I don't mean this in a conceited way at all, but given the circumstances, I could have turned out totally different.

As for a relationship, I am also very in love with the idea of love. I believe in happily ever after, rainbows, and fairy tales. No, I am not waiting for my prince to come, but wouldn't that be nice. When I see a relationship that works, but has no visible sign of emotion, I feel sad for that couple. But, hey, your relationship is not for me to judge, right. Whatever works for you.

In my life, I have noticed that I tend to be more contented with everyday life if I am in a relationship, and on the same note, I also find myself more adventurous. I guess it is just that empowerment of knowing someone is there with you whether you succeed or fail.

Does this mean that I am in need of a relationship to make me feel whole. Absolutely not!! As I stated in the beginning, I am so in love with me! Would I prefer to be committed to someone? Yeah, sure! I have this amazing capacity to love, and naturally, I enjoy being able to share that with someone special. Gosh, I hope this answered your question.

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# 54

How long was your longest relationship?

My longest relationship is the one I have with myself. There has been good and bad times, but I can honestly say that I love the person that I have been molded into throughout all the challenges I have faced in my life.

With a man, my longest love affair lasted 7 years...and its decline was just one more factor that pushed me forward into my trucking career. We were in our early 20s when we met, and basically matured into completely different types of people with different goals. Even after the separation, we attempted to give it one more try, but with both of us knowing that it was just not meant to be, we parted ways with sadness and acceptance.

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# 53

What really gives you the creeps?

You would be amazed to find that not too many things actually creep me out.

As far as the typical spiders and snakes, well, I can tolerate them as long as I can see them. In fact, I may even be so inclined to "study" their behavior, from a safe distance. There was a time a few decades back when I lived in a small home on the riverfront. This house was being renovated and for a short period of time there was a section of flooring that was being replace. This left an open area in which you could see down to the earth below. One day, while clearing this area for further work, I stumbled upon a snake skin that was freshly shed. It came in through the hole and wrapped around the bed post before going back under the flooring. It measured over 7' in length. I guess you could say I was pretty creeped out by that, knowing the snake had been in the house with me at some point, but it was just an ol rat snake. Otherwise, they do not bother me at all, as I have had numerous encounters with snakes in my life.

Blood, guts and gore..Strangely enough, these things fascinate me. I know, I should have been a doctor, right? A few years ago, when I almost severed my thumb, I spent several moments looking into the wound, before actually attempting to administer any pressure. I could see below the skin, into the meat and possibly a portion of bone. Was I concerned about the cut, not really, until I noticed the blood loss. I would have loved to had a few more moments to check out what is under the skin...

However, there is one thing that will absolutely gross me out, almost inciting immediate regurgitation. I want absolutely no part of it. It must not touch me at all. And even just seeing it, will cause me to heave.

That my friends, is everyday ordinary saliva. Spit, drool, whatever you want to call it. Especially baby drool. I will absolutely freak out!! Good thing I never gave birth, huh? And to this day, if I see a person with a glob of spit hanging from their mouth, in the pretense of sucking it back in, I will hurl chunks!! ( I hope that picture is centered because I am having difficulty just posting this)

Well, you wanted to know! Thanks for the question, and for the record, this does not affect my ability to give or receive passionate kisses...Thought you might be wondering about that.

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# 52 - Jeff

Have you ever had the pleasure ( or in most cases displeasure) of driving a 5 and 4? -Jeff

No, I have never had the pleasure of driving a two-stick transmission. I have had them explained to me, and I would love to attempt it. That would be another classic twist to the trucking industry that I would be thrilled to have achieved, but those transmissions are few and far between these days.

I am actually very grateful just to be able to have my 10 speed Eaton Fuller. A lot of companies are going with an automatic transmission for their fleets. My company had considered doing this as well. I had the displeasure of using one of the auto-shifters a few years ago and found it to be a royal nightmare. I only had to use it one week, but that was all it took to convince me I didn't like it. I have some very difficult backing maneuvers in Brooklyn, and the truck would not cooperate. It took me 20 minutes to back into an alley, because the truck wanted me to maintain at least 10mph or it would revert to neutral. Try dodging cars parked on both sides of an alley, from the blind-side, over a set of railroad tracks that were rutted out (causing major bouncing) into a tiny lot with an extended dock onto which you had to parallel park where there was razor wire overhead threatening to cut into the tarp if you got too close ( all while backing) at 10 plus mile per hour in REVERSE....

No Thanks, I will stick with my manual shift.

As an aside, I also think it is wrong for the trucking industry to make these vehicles so easy to drive. There are fewer skilled drivers on the roads these days, and I partially blame the industry for making it all too easy. Lets bring back the Twin Stick !!

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# 51 ~ Anonymous

Have you ever gone cow-tipping?

No, I have never felt the need to do such a thing. When I was younger, I had a "love" for all things bovine, and at one point in my trucking career, I worked with cattle for several months.

In fact, my high school crush had bought me a stuffed cow one year for my birthday, but then I also love Moose, and Bison too. Nope, no cow-tipping for me.

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# 50 ~ Jeff

If I could turn on the radio in your truck what would I be listening to? -Jeff

It really depends on where I am at. Seriously... If I am anywhere between Philadelphia, PA and Hartford, Ct I will most definitely be listening in to the sounds of madness from the CB radio with a slightly higher volume set on the AM frequency listening to the "Traffic On The Eights" via news radio.

Anywhere else, and you might find a more varied line-up. Currently rotating through my CD changer is Disturbed, U2, Stonesour, Pink, Shinedown, Muse, Don Henley, Blue October, Rob Thomas and Saliva.

I usually will get suck listening to the same 3 CDs for weeks at a time and I have not yet taken a dive into the world of satellite radio. But I do like a variety....When traffic is hectic, such as the greater New York area, I listen to more melodic, soothing music. In South Carolina, I might listen to some sort of screaming angst filled rage, turned to the highest volume....

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# 49 ~ Anonymous

Have you ever seen any ghost out on the road? Or anything strange like that?

I have never personally witnessed a ghost sighting while driving, and except for the occasional drunk driver, not too many weird things have ever happened around me. However, there is one particular stretch of highway located in Alabama that is said to be haunted.

Highway 5, running between Natural Bridge and Jasper, is said to be haunted on dark, stormy nights by a lady who was killed by a truck driver. She was hitchhiking when she was struck by a passing 18 wheeler and now she is suppose to climb onto the steps and look in the cab of any trucks passing through to see if it may be her killer in the drivers seat.

I love this stretch of road. It use to be my favorite two lane to use to get away from the crowded highways. But, sadly enough, I have never seen her. It is a winding highway with curves and hills, and a little narrow with no shoulders.

I do know that there are a lot of truck accidents on this road. I also know that She has been listed in many publications concerning the paranormal. And, there are a lot of drivers who will not travel Highway 5 at night. But, I have not seen her with my own eyes.

Do I believe she exists? Yeah, sure...after all, I lived with a ghost for over a year.

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# 48 ~ John II

When you were making videos of your road trips and deliveries, did the aluminum company have a problem with it, told you to be professional about it or gave you the OK on it? -John II

Actually, when I first started filming the videos, it never even crossed my mind to get permission. Throughout the YouTube Trucking Community, it seems a lot of people were being reprimanded by their employers for doing the same thing.

One day, I got a message from my boss indicating we needed to talk. Yikes. He alerted me to the fact that he had seen the videos and read the blog. I went into panic mode, thinking I was about to have to delete everything. You can imagine my relief when he said that my videos and blog were not the topic of our discussion. He just wanted to let me know that he enjoyed them.

To this day, I am aware that the Boss, Dispatcher, Mechanics and other Drivers have all read the blog. The videos have been viewed as well, but I also informed the customers of my antics. I have several "followers" whom I conduct business with on a weekly basis, and even they are asking for more videos.

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The Wonderful World Of Disney

Thought I should try to get a few of my photos posted from last weeks vacation. You know, before I forget.


While I thoroughly enjoyed my little adventure into the enchanted and magical realm of Disney, I think I have come away with a valuable realization. I don't ever have to go back. I mean, for the price, I would do just as well purchasing a season's pass to Six Flags because there are only 3 rides that I even care to ride.

First and foremost, when it comes to roller coasters, the Animal Kingdom's Expedition Everest was the top choice.

The normal standby time for this ride is 2 hours.....But with a little help from the single passenger queue, I managed to ride to my heart's content. Or, until I was so queasy from the continual G forces. It has a few surprises for the newcomer, such as the twisting and turning backward slide through the darkened mountain. Also, for entertainment value, once inside the mountain, a video is projected onto the rocky wall depicting the Yeti and his brutal attack on the very tracks you are sitting on. Of course, even better than that, is the exhilarating drop and the corkscrew action.

Even though I am a coaster fanatic, I realized very quickly that I can only handle 7 back to back rides. Of course, in a 7 day period, that ended up being a number in the dozens.

Also a treat was the view while climbing to the top. Here you can just barely make out Epcot (to the far left) and The Hollywood Tower of Terror at the Hollywood Studios (formerly known as MGM)

And speaking of the Tower of Terror, that is the best ride of all. Hands down !! I think I could ride that one over and over all day with only food and restroom breaks. But, I do have a little secret for making that ride even more enjoyable. It is an elevator style ride that propels and drops repeatedly at random heights.

There are 21 occupants seated on a single ride, and one of the things that I could not resist doing was my Wicked Witch laugh while proclaiming "I'll get you my pretty" Actually had a few folks believing that was actually part of the soundtrack for the ride. Of course, the room was dark at the time, so no one noticed it was actually me. Got a few screams out of that. Another stunt we liked to pull..after the ride was finished, my brother and I would lean forward and get as close to the elevator doors, so when they opened we could frighten the attendant with loud shrieks. That didn't work so well, as I am sure we are not the only ones to ever do that.

But my favorite stunt of all.....When told to securely fasten my safety belt....I er, um..would scoot forward in my seat before cinching it down. This allowed me more room to wiggle around and play with gravity because me arse had more airtime than those who were properly secured in place.

Then there was the Rocking Roller Coaster. It was actually pretty cool. 0 to 60mph in 2 seconds, and then spiraling and flipping through a blacked out room full of neon signs and objects. But not worth the 2 hour wait.

The food was not as spectacular as I remembered. The walking was even worse. My feet swelled every night and took up to 6 hours to stop hurting, only to wake up and do it all over again. Missed all the fireworks, and the shows I watched were not as brilliant as I had anticipated.

It was great to get away from the truck for a week, but I am equally as grateful to be back at work.

I know you probably expected a better post, but work is calling, so I will include more pictures at a later time *crossing fingers*.