WOYM # 30 -33

Eric #AsksTerry: beer or wine?

Actually I do not really care for either, but I do love champaign!! I will enjoy a cold Michelob Ultra sitting the garage with my brother on occasion. But if I am in the mood to have a relaxing adult beverage, it usually includes vodka or rum and a pretty little umbrella. Ohhhh, and Margaritas, I can never turn those down.

Eric #asksTerry: If you could change one thing about youtube, what would it be?

I personally enjoy YouTube for one reason, and one reason only. I enjoy creating the video itself. I have noticed a lot of peer pressure to join the right groups. Everyone demands that you comment, rate and subscribe. To me, this is very tiresome. I just want to create a video, I love the editing process!! It is not the social networking site of my choice because if you give an honest opinion of someone's video, their "friends" will attack your comments. Why cant we just watch, and leave real feedback. Why does it have to be so "highschool" I have been withdrawing from that forum quite a bit in the past year and only view things in silence. I just find it to be more peaceful that way.

Eric #AsksTerry: did you play any sports growing up?

I played every sport that was ever offered to me while growing up. In basketball, I was a starting guard. I was pretty good at spiking the volleyball and mastered a mean serve. I never became a dynamo in softball, but I was always running bases, so at least I held my own. And as far as track, you have never seen such short legs burn up the runway. I did okay in short sprints, but I was queen of the team in longer runs...sigh..I wish I could still run!!

Eric #AsksTerry: Whats your favorite vacation destination?

Dont really know that I have a favorite yet.. I did enjoy my Vegas trip and plan to repeat it in the future. I am taking another excursion to Disney World this year, but that is more about affordability and family. I think if I had to chose, I would wind up lost somewhere in the great outdoors and that would be just about perfect. A little more far fetched would be a tour of Europe or Australia, but since I have been to neither, I couldnt call that my favorite yet, now could I?

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WOYM # 29

List 5 place on Planet Earth you wish to visit.

Alaska, Ireland, Tanzania, Australia, and you know it is not really fair to ask for a specific number of places. I would love to visit any jagged snowy mountain peak. I would also love to visit some places like the Galapagos Islands.

I am actually quite fascinated with Alaska and would not mind a bit in the world to winter there for a season or two. I think that comes from my love of mountains and also cold climates. Being a southern girl, I have unnaturally adapted to frozen temperatures and find it to be extremely exhilarating.

While I may list Ireland as a definite, I would love to tour all European Countries! I know a few people from Ireland. My favorite band is from Ireland. And the whole fascination with leprechauns kind of lured me in. Okay, so I am joking about that last part, but the Emerald Isle is a must see for me.

Tanzania is on the list because for as long as I can remember I have always wanted to go on Safari. In my younger days, I dreamed of being a photographer for periodicals such as National Geographic and wildlife shows absolutely fascinate me. This is another place that I would love to submerge myself into the cultural experience. Maybe not so much with the natives, but more in the surrounding wildlife. And yes, I do realize that they have nasty bites and sharp teeth.

Also included in this list is Australia. I have always loved the accent, but then I love all accents. And the idea of The Outback !! I have made a few friends Down Under thanks to the Internet and hopefully one day some of these "dreams" will come to fruition.

List 5 things you want do before you die.

Sky Dive from a perfectly good plane, perform on stage in front of an mesmerized audience, climb a mountain peak and soar with the eagles, take an Alaskan Cruise, and then I would like to fall in love again..Yeah, that would be nice.

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Sour Puss

Two weeks ago, when I had the misfortune of driving 247, I arrived back at the plant in such a state of ill emotion that one of the security guards decided to cheer me up. She sent me this picture, telling me that THIS IS WHAT I LOOKED LIKE upon my return..

Knowing my CB handle, is was absolutely perfect and I laughed until I cried!!

One week back in Frankentruck, and there was the whole pine tree incident...I knew I would be back in a spare the coming week. I asked Stooge #2 which truck would that be. He updated me on the scheduled repairs for each of the spare trucks and I remarked that I never wanted to get back in 247...He claimed that as of 1/20/10 there were no repairs made to 247 and Volvo could find nothing wrong with it. My video shows different!!

Guess what....Sunday night rolls around and the keys placed in my box are for 247. I literally came unglued. The guard heard a few nasty words come out of my mouth. I even threatened to quit. Thankfully, Andy was able to calm me down I after a shed a few enraged tears.

To make matters worse, it was raining cats and dogs and I still had to load up my gear. The first thing I did was check the inspection book. The only mechanic whom I trust, had actually signed off on all the repairs I had previously requested...This brought about a sense of hope. So, I loaded my gear, dragged my trailer out of the only muddy crater in our parking lot and proceeded down the highway...

Everything seems to be in order, but there is still a hint of that horrible whistle. It comes and goes. So my sanity might prevail this week.

I am pulling a 16 stop load through Tennessee, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota. I expect it to be a long week, so no trying to race the clock. The customers are too far spread out.

The good news is that I managed to grab the bike out of my truck. I figure with all the hostility that I am experiencing, I should be able to get some good miles in this week. Kind of hard to make that 3500 mile goal for the year, if the bike is locked in a shop and I can only ride weekends.

If A Tree Falls In The Forest...

...and no one is around to hear it, does it still make a sound?

I will not be able to answer that question for you today. However, I do know first hand that if a tree falls in the forest it might not make a sound even if you are right next to it.

That is exactly what happened to me only FIVE HOURS after I got back in Frankentruck. Sweet little Frankentruck, who was doing his best to not disappoint me.

I was minding my own business, heading north on Interstate 95 through South Carolina. It was late evening, so the sun had already vanished from the sky. The rural areas of South Carolina are densely populated with pine trees, therefore the night sky is even darker. I could clearly see the tail lights of the Big Rig less than a quarter of a mile in front of me. There was absolutely no indication of any obstacles blocking the Interstate as the lead truck had not so much as tapped his brakes.

In a split second, there is a horrific noise as my windshield is filled with pine branches. It all happened in less than 2 seconds. Thankfully, I am not one of those who panics, and I was able to stay the course. There was a car just about to pass me and he was able to clear the obstruction because my initial reaction was NOT to swerve. In fact, he never even tapped his brakes until after I collided with the evergreen.

I quickly made my way to the shoulder of the road to assess my damage, but not before grabbing the CB microphone to alert other truckers of the debris. Too late! Two other trucks ran through the remnants, but lucky for them, I had obliterated the mass of potential lane blockage. After a quick summation of the destruction, I eased further down the road into a rest area. It was there I stumbled upon the preambulatory driver. He asked what happened? I asked why he did not mention the *#@$#!% tree that was blocking the road. He knew nothing of its existence, and I did (and do) believe him. His previous actions did not indicate that anything was even remotely near the asphalt. We determined that the tree must have been falling at the moment I was passing through, because I did not run over it. Had I done that, I would have flat tires, busted wheels, defective brakes and missing airlines.

The severe damage was limited to the right front end of my hood. It also managed to knock both the spot mirror and passenger side mirrors loose. I had pine straw wedged under my wiper blades and under the tank straps and a dozen smaller branches pushing out of every crevice visible..

The good news is that nothing had happened to the braking system, the tires , or the engine/radiator. So while I impacted, I was mobile!! The bad news...

I WILL BE IN A SPARE TRUCK NEXT WEEK !! argghghghhhhhh!! That is 4 trucks in 4 weeks, bringing the total to ?? 40 swaps in 28 months?? But who is counting.

He's Alive

You have no idea the relief I felt when I pulled into the yard on Sunday and saw Frankentruck sitting in his designated parking spot. The sheer joy, I felt to open the doors and see all of my creature comforts...er, um piled high on the bunk. The passionate abandon I experienced , when I pulled the hood to see his shiny new heart! (even if the motor was the wrong color).

Everything I had been through the first few weeks of the year suddenly melted away into oblivion. Albeit an ephemeral oblivion!

As I started to reacquaint myself with the interior, and load my weekly requisition of staples, I was quickly forced into battling a surge of negative emotion. Poor Frankentruck was trashed! When I left him, I made sure everything was tucked away, so it would not hinder the task at hand. But who knew certified mechanics would need to root around in the sleeper just to replace an engine. It was bad enough that when I first attained Franky, the previous driver had already done enough damage to the interior, to make sure it never really ever felt clean enough. What I mean by that is, even though I could obtain the look of cleanliness, the scarring and tearing of the paneling and cabinets would never be up to my standards. I like my truck to continue to look new for as long as I am in it. All the screw holes and ripped upholstery would prevent that from happening. But still I claimed him and mustered through as best I could.

Grease!!

The filth left behind from the mechanics had me in a blinding rage. Even the rugs I had folded and placed out of the way, were covered in grease. But I decided to try and ignore it. I did not have time to do another thorough cleansing, so I covered the muck and proceeded to test out his capabilities. I did have to wipe down the steering wheel and shifter and cover the seat in a towel, but the flooring and side panels would have to wait.

As soon as I put him in gear, I knew ! I knew that everything was going to be okay. I hit the Interstate and he churned away in a dignified fashion, making each hill seem less of challenge than it had ever been before. And I could hear myself think, for once.

Could I be dreaming? Is this real?

Frankentruck survived his surgery and has come back to life as the Monster Of The Highways, and even with all the deep cleaning he will endure in the next few days, his performance is nothing less than stellar.

For those of you not familiar with how he got his moniker, Frankentruck is named for the fasteners mounted on his shoulders, as well as the internal upholstery scarring.To me, he resembles Frankenstein's Monster!!

HE'S ALIVE!!!!

WOYM # 28

I have recently read on lady truckers blogs that it is very difficult to get showers.I have not noticed you complaining about this and was wondering, if you find it hard as a woman to keep clean out on the road? -Cindy

Thanks for the question Cindy. This is a subject I have also seen floating around cyberspace, and to be honest it makes me want to cringe.

Personal Hygiene is always a matter of personal preference. For myself, I work in a very dirty portion of trucking because of physically handling the trailer and freight numerous times throughout the day. The last thing I want to do at the end of the day is crawl inside my clean sheets with a filthy body. Therefore I allow myself that extra hour to stop and get a shower.

I would think that all Truck Stops and possibly 80% of all Fuel Stops have showers available to the drivers. Most truck stops will give you a free shower for purchasing a minimum of 50 gallons of fuel. There are still several Mom-n-Pop operations that provide FREE showers to drivers, as well as free coffee. Now, bear in mind that there are times when I have had to wait up to an hour or more for my turn in the shower, but I am willing to wait!! Without the purchase of fuel, you have 2 options to obtain yourself a shower. The first is to outright pay for it, usually $8 -$12 bucks. The second option would be to redeem reward points for a free shower. Each truck stop supplies the driver with a Reward Card, and every single gallon purchased applies points to the card for free merchandise, free food, or even free showers. Surprisingly, I have even had drivers offer to give up their shower coupon for me. Had one do that last week because my reward card was out of free showers. Often you will hear drivers on the CB asking if anyone has a spare coupon they can have, and there are quite a few drivers willing to help each other out.

I personally think that there is no reason any driver should have to go without a shower, unless of course it is their own personal decision. I really do appreciate you asking this question, and I hope I have helped you in some way. If you are looking into becoming a trucker, please do not believe everything you read on the Internet. Feel free to ask questions, and always get more than one opinion. I have noticed some very disgruntled drivers who try to tell it like it is, only to be misleading the readers, simply because they are not happy with their jobs. If you have any more questions, please feel free to ask!!

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WOYM # 27

what is your all time favorite movie?

This is a very hard question..Hmmm, my all time favorite movie...Sorry, I cant name just one, but there are a few that really stir the soul for me.
RUDY, Mr Holland's Opus, Pride and Prejudice, Serendipity, and The Count of Monte Cristo are probably the ones I could watch over and over again. In fact I have... I could keep listing the good ones, you know!!

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WOYM # 24-26

What got you interested in commercial trucking and was it due to family careers or something that sparked your curiosity in driving semis?-John II

Hey John, actually I am the first commercial driver in my family and I think my initial decision probably frightened every member of my family. I was introduced to the industry through my job at a Lumber Mill. During that time I developed a great respect for Truck Drivers. When my job came to an end at the mill, I was asked what line of work I was going to pursue. I decided right then and there I was going to drive. I was told I would not be able to do it, and 12 years later, I am still trucking up. The initial conversation had been more like a dare, so I think I was challenged into proving myself...

What do you think of the trucking industries future? amremann

, I do not really consider myself to be directly involved in the Trucking Industry. I feel I am more related to the Aluminum Industry because I haul freight for one company only. I do believe that the larger "training" companies are ruining the respect that the general public has for the drivers by churning out less than qualified drivers to fill their trucks. I would never want to be a part of "Big Trucking" because of the lack of value placed on the individual driver. I know this does not answer your question, but until I am in a truck, not knowing who, what , when, where or why, I don't feel like I can give you an informed opinion. I prefer to stay out of it, and as long as aluminum is in demand, that is where I will be!

If you could design your dream load for the week were would it take you?Henry

Henry, what a great question. I don't think I could cover my dream load in just one week. I would have so many roads I would like to cover and the sights to behold are limitless. I absolutely love running into New York and New England, but if I had to pick one area to spend the week traveling through, it would have to be Big Sky Country and the North West. That has got to be the most beautiful portion of the 48 contiguous States...That is of course, unless I could get a load to Alaska..

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WOYM ~ Eric

Eric #asksTerry: Would you consider yourself to be more of a dog person, or a cat person?

I am no doubt a DOG person. I don't have anything against cats, but DOGS are just so much more social, affectionate, and loyal. I have had several really great dogs in my life and I cant say that I have had one favorite, because like people, they all have very unique personalities...I wish I could show some pictures, but they are in an album tucked away for now. My first love was Whisky. He was a mutt that came into my life at a very difficult time. He was extremely sensitive to my moods and was my best friend for years! Then, there was Tequila. He was a very devoted Chow Chow who would have defended me to the death, but he was tragically murdered! Then came Warrior. He was an Alaskan Malamute. He could speak human, I swear!! I had to give him up when I started driving, but he went to a very good home. I think he was my most playful pup. So, yeah, I am definitely a dog person, and always will be!!

Eric #AsksTerry: When you first joined @Twitter, you had a cartoon lookin background pic on ur home page of a cute Girl with fluffy hair, did you sketch that? & if so, who was it? =]

wow!! I think you did not get a very good look at the image. It is actually a woman who is experiencing anger...rage if you will. Say, perhaps, a bit like ROADRAGE...The is an image that was emailed to me because of the curly hair and the angry characteristic of the image. I have no idea who drew it, but I thought it was a pretty good representation of what I would look like when dealing with the Stooges..

Eric #asksTerry: Chocolates or Roses?

I am definitely NOT a chocolate girl...I know, right! Don't get me wrong, I love receiving little gifts from the special someone, but flowers are better. I prefer Tulips....and for the record, I really don't like a lot of chocolate. NO cakes, no cookies, no brownies, no ice cream, no dark chocolate..Hmmm, about the only chocolate I care to partake in is the "skin" of a candy bar. And it cant be one of those really chocolaty candy bars. Yeah, I am weird!!

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WOYM # 20

What is your greatest, yet private passion?

Hmm, not sure what exactly you mean by private? By as far as my greatest passion that is unknown , that is easy.

My greatest passion is acting. Theatrics. Drama. I want to be a thespian!! This started at a very young age when I would perform entire stories to the viewing audience of about 50 stuffed animals. It followed me through highschool, and if I had a regular job that did not require travel, I would almost guarantee you would find me on a stage performing for the local population.

As a child, I would play act for hours, and to this day I can still recite most of those vinyl albums from memory. My school did not offer a drama program until my Junior year, but I jumped at the opportunity. We performed at a National Competition and took second place. My senior year, Mr Hope (the drama coach) encouraged me to chase the dream, as he felt I had great potential. But life was full of changes at that time, and I never pursued it. I still enjoy watching the local theatre troupe performing, but a part of me still longs to be on the stage. And when the day comes that I park my rig for good, I fully expect to find my name on a cast list, even if it is a small community production.

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