A Little Entertainment...

There has been so much going these past few months and I promise to return to the blog soon. Perhaps with some exciting changes. Exciting for me, that is. But first...

Here is my latest video creation. ENJOY!!

In continuation of the Gravy Run, this is how a car-hauler does it!

I was recently approached by a car-hauler to help him with a video project. He had just finished watching Gravy Run and was determined to have his own standout video representing what he does. I agreed to the challenge. Armed with over 100gb of raw video and a systematically chaotic song, I attempted the impossible. This is the result....

Hybrid...

As long as I have been driving up to New England, I have often claimed that the area felt like my second home. It is by far my favorite route to run. After begging AA for weeks, I finally manage to grab this little jewel. Being a southern girl and loving New England, I am a hybrid!!

My first delivery was to be in Bloomfield, Connecticut. I arrived on Sunday night and set up camp only to oversleep the next morning. No worries, however, as I have big plans for my return trip "home". Leaving Connecticut, I take the scenic route up to North Adams, Massachusetts. Have I ever mentioned how much I love driving the two lanes. Well, the two lanes in Mass are my absolute favorite.

After delivering in N Adams, I make the executive decision to take my absolute favorite scenic route back towards Boston. Knowing full well it will cost me additional time, the journey is so worth it. The Mohawk Indian Trail !! Absolutely love this route...

At this point, I am halfway thru my journey with only 2 stops left. But, as I have mentioned before, I have big plans. So I slowly amble towards the Cape thinking I may get finished on Monday. After calling the customer, it was decided that my stay in New England was to be extended. Oh Joy!!

No seriously... Oh Joy!! I now have more time to appreciate my beloved New England. So I change my course and head up to New Hampshire. This customer only takes deliveries after 4pm. After sitting in the dock for several hours, my plan is finally set into motion. Quick text to a friend and I am on my way.

The Big Plans... Meeting up with Trucker ATK. You see, we have a little task at hand to be completed. A certain Scorching Habanero Doritos Challenge... "The Deadly Doritos Snackdown"

After a lovely visit, I make tracks south to set up camp for my final delivery in Hanson, Ma. Another treat in itself because this is possibly my favorite delivery. The owner of the company has been so good to me and Andy throughout the years, and it is always a pleasure to make an appearance here.

Trailer is empty and it dawns upon me that I am also driving past another delivery point where I have made a friend. Sooooooo, why not? I pull into Taunton, park the truck, and race inside to yell Surprise. I actually ended up spending the entire morning with my friend Pat, catching up on all the gossip. We ended the visit with a nice lunch at a local Italian restaurant, complete with a view of the lake!

Not wanting to leave just yet, I contact ATK again and schedule another visit. My pickup is set for 5am the next morning in Hartford, CT. I have plenty of time! Lucky for me, so does ATK. So he swings in to pick me up and takes me on a more scenic tour of Massachusetts. ATK is a local car hauler and a good friend of mine, so it was a pleasure to see him again before heading out.

The next day it was business as usual. Up at 5am to load a meager 280 pounds and begin the long trek home... sigh!!

What an absolutely splendid week. It was almost as if I did not work at all and that, my friends, is how it should be. Next week, the excitement continues as I head to SOUTH DAKOTA. I know, right! I have not been west of I-35 in years.. Hoping to see a few more friends next week!!

Did I ever mention how much I love my job? Yeah, I thought so...

The Smokey Bears Saga

It has been awhile since I have had an encounter with a Officer of the Law so I have not had any delightful tales to pass along. However, last week, there was just such an occurrence.

As any of my returning loyal readers may remember, I have very fortunate luck when it comes to encounters with The Men In Blue, and well, I just love them so for that reason. I also have great respect for them and all they do to protect and serve!

So, as I am making my way home through South Carolina, I am engaged into a conversation with one of the local Roadway drivers. After several miles, he brings to my attention that a certain marked automobile has entered the runway and is creeping up behind me. Knowing full well, he might not like my chosen speed, I proceed to slow and watch as he takes his ever loving time to catch me. I had a feeling he may have been watching for my next move. As he cruises past, I notice him looking at me, so I put on my brightest smile and wave.

We proceed to maintain the designated speed for several miles and he eventually enters my lane ahead of me. Ever so slowly he begins to increase his speed.. So, do I! Of course as is when any law enforcement is present the rest of the motorists have slowed, certain this Smokey is hungry. But we continue to motivate until we are about 10 mph above the posted speed limit. I notice in my mirror that there is a car flying up the left lane, so I grab my CB mic and tell the Smokey "You got a customer coming!"

Surprise!! Mr Smokey had his radio on and replied to me that he was feeling generous. The car slowed before reaching the Officer and we continued to roll south. A few miles later, another car was blazing a trail down the left lane and I once again grabbed my mic. "Oh come on, Mr Smokey, you know you wanna!!"

He then asked me to maintain my current speed and position as he dropped off to my right and had me run cover for him. The car blasted past and on came the blue lights!! "Thank you Little Lady" was the last thing I heard as he attended to more pressing business. This absolutely made my day and I wondered if perhaps I should give South Carolina a reprieve from my constant badgering.

Yeah, that probably won't happen!! And in other tales of wrongdoing...

On my way through Georgia, heading to the house, there was a major backup getting to the Watermelon 500 due to construction. I get so tickled at listening to all the whining and misinformation. I tried to alert anyone who would listen that it was normal construction at high traffic volume. It only lasted a few miles, blah, blah, blah. This is a stretch of road that is seven lanes wide and the construction had it reduced to the 3 extreme left lanes, which included the HOV lane. Of course the 3 extreme left lanes are all very restricted where commercial vehicles are concerned. I figured if construction puts us in violation anyways........

So, along with another flatbed and tanker, we hit the dusty trail and made our way through the congestion. Even had an Evil Knievel (officer on a motorcycle) wave as we went by. The radio came alive with folks complaining about what we were doing, but the way I see it is. If I am taking a risk, it is my business. If the only lanes open are restricted, well, all lanes are illegal right? And how often are you going to be able to get a picture like this !!

New Year.... New Blog Post

Oh WOW!! Where have I been ?

This seems like a pretty good time to do a new blog post, don't ya think? So, let's get started, shall we.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday Season, if in fact there are any readers still checking in to this seemingly abandoned blog. Hi Dad !!

My year ended with a rush of many, many different emotions. Starting with my return journey from the East Coast the week before Christmas. I was able to spend some time with Geoff just days before Christmas in Elkton, Maryland. However, my trek back to the Southland left much to be desired. I encountered several traffic delays en route, which is common during the Holiday Season. But I can tell you that I never want to spend that much time in Washington DC, ever again. 150 minutes to travel a mere 30 miles. But the most anxious moment of the journey was crossing the Susquehanna River near Perryville, Md. There are warning signs on both sides of the river bridge warning of high wind gusts. I have felt the force of the gusts and tend to get a little nervous on a windy day. That day was exceptionally windy.

Having an empty trailer, I was hoping to find a heavy load to hide beside as I made the crossing. No such luck, but at least the wind was blowing me towards the middle of the bridge and not to the outer wall. To prepare, I slowed and watched as cars began to make erratic maneuvers ahead of me and that is when I noticed the trucks tipping to one side. I slowed even more as I began to fear the worst. I watched as the trailer in front of me lurched and swayed to the left. Then ever so gently, the tires on the right side began to rise into the air... This happened several times and thankfully, he never toppled over.

NO !! That is not the actual truck I witnessed. But how would you like to see that happening in front of you. My experience was with a trailer only rising about a foot off the ground, but that is still 12" too much !!

After all the delays and dastardly daredevilish demonstrations, I finally arrived back at the yard just before midnight, to find that my battery in my car was dead. The plant was closed, only 2 other souls on the premises. Luckily, I was able to get one of them to jump off my battery and I scurried home to bed. Too much excitement for one day. But the next morning held no reprieve. The battery was dead again, a battery just purchased 15 months before. I was able to hitch a ride, battery in hand, to the AutoZone where I had purchased it, and they handed me a brand new one. Once the new battery was nestled snug under the Pony Car's hood, I trotted back over to the store and had the alternator tested. Sure enough, bad diode! And I was expected to be in Bama for the Holidays. There was no way I was going to spend the Holidays at home alone. The dealership did not have one in stock, so my only option was to get a rental.

I did make it home for the Holidays and was pleasantly surprised by about 5" of snow on Christmas morning. We had a blast and a few arguments while we commenced to building the biggest snowman these parts had ever seen. Not really sure about that last statement, but we like to think he was. In the end, our Snowman stood at 8' and made the evening news (on the weather report) !!

So, I think that about wraps up 2010.... Or the best shot I am prepared to give it at this moment. I am really out of practice with this whole blogging thing, sheesh! But it is late, and I have work to do tomorrow....Oh, that reminds me...

Think I will save that for the next post.. Stay Tuned, I promise I will be back !!!

Happy Birthday Bedbugger

After a very long 5 weeks, my aching heart has been given a reprieve. The most handsome bedbugger I know was set to arrive in Georgia just in time for his birthday.

Although the weekend was much too short, in my opinion, we were able to celebrate with several trucking friends. Here is a short video that was put together for this special occasion.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEDBUGGER !!! I love you.

It's All in the Timing

Yes, I am a truck driver. Yes, I do my fair share of complaining about certain things that occur in my day, career, life, etc....

One of the things I do not understand about other drivers, is the constant need to complain about traffic conditions, congestion in certain areas of the country, weather and accident delays. Really? How long have you been driving, Driver?

So you can imagine my delight when I am able to scoot through certain areas with minimal or no delays, just because I know a few tricks of the trade. For example...New York City, one of the most dreaded locations for a driver to be sent into. No problem for me, because I am usually going against the grain, I have secondary shortcuts and as a rule, I never take the EXPRESS LANES to the George Washington Bridge on a Sunday Night. Don't let that word EXPRESS fool you. And if I do get caught up in a major delay, well, it is to be expected.

Atlanta is another fabled area of major turmoil. I have heard all the stories... Oh, that city is always backed up... There is no good time to go through. The people drive like idiots. It is a freaking nightmare... Blah, blah, blah. Hey folks, I live near Atlanta and the rumors are not true, but I don't think I will ever be able to convince anyone else of that.

Atlanta, just like any other major city has its own flow. Yes, if you enter the perimeter after 6:30am, you will notice congestion starting to build, but that normally dissipates after 9:30. Lets call it Rush Hour. And surprisingly, 4:00pm to 7:00pm is fairly similar. As for the rest of the day, it moves reasonably well. Also, another tip to consider, the south side always moves much better than the northern stretch of the loop. Just sayin...

So, last Wednesday, I am flying south on 85, heading into Atlanta during Rush Hour. As, I approach Spaghetti Junction, I scan the horizon and what to my wondering eyes should appear... Traffic is at a dead stop in all directions on the Perimeter. Time to make a quick decision. Top Side, oh hell no!! Bottom Side, not looking too good either at the moment. So what do I do at 4:19 pm?

I slide left one lane and make the executive decision to shoot through the Middle of Town. I know, I know. All Thru Trucks Must Use 285. I have seen the sign a million times and from experience, I know that if I stay to the right and don't exceed the flow of traffic, I will be just fine. My only concern is that going downtown is one of those nightmares, drivers commonly refer too. The Grady Curve usually backs up and The Connector is always crawling during rush hour, but after weighing the odds, I had decided to chance it anyways. This based on the fact that 285 East should not be stopped so far north, I am thinking there must be an accident ahead.

It is 28 miles around the southern end of the loop to my exit. Even further around the top at 33 miles. Through the middle, it is only 26 miles, but is notorious for the worst in traffic snafus during Rush Hour.

Looks like my gut instinct was right !!

It only took me 25 minutes to go straight through town !!

After reemerging at the bottom end of the perimeter, I heard numerous complaints about travel times being an hour plus for the 28 mile route I normally take. What did you expect at Rush Hour? Sometimes, you just have to go with your gut, and once again, mine paid off for me! Woohoo !!

And as an added Bonus, just thought I would throw this at you. Heading into New York via the George Washington Bridge on a Monday morning at 6:00 am.... See folks, it is not as bad as people make it out to be !!

The Long Road Ahead

So I took Seabiscuit out for a "getting to know you" trot up in New England last week. I know, New England, right...

Or maybe you didn't know. I have not been to the North East in over 2 months.

Seabiscuit is the spare truck I took into the mid-west a few weeks ago, the one with the leaking coolant sensor. The one that put me on the side of the Interstate last Sunday. Because I do not hardly ever trust the Stooges diagnosis, I was prepared for the worst. After "repairing" the leaking fill cap, I managed to make my round of deliveries and decided to take some extra time off in Connecticut.

Okay, I didn't just decide, it was actually planned out in advance. You see, I have spent a great deal of time casually running into my favorite bedbugger (that would be a household mover, for those not in the know). And really, it was not too casually either. Well planned, in advance, "Fancy meeting you here, giggle~giggle" kind of casual.

So back to relaxing in Connecticut... I arrived early, and he was destined to show up mid-afternoon. After enjoying dinner and spending some time playing games with his 10yr old son, I decided it was time to hit the dusty trail. I had been keeping an eye on the coolant levels, but after the cap repair, it seemed all was well. That is until I decided to leave. We noticed a large puddle under the truck and sure enough, another leak had sprung. This time it was the line flowing from the reservoir to the radiator. The clip which holds it in place had stretched and was allowing a steady stream to poor from the innards of Seabiscuit. Grrrrrr !! I had already stayed longer than I should, but my Knight in Shining Chrome grabbed some supplies, climbed under the hood and made emergency repairs to get me safely home... Swoon !! You just have to love Zip Ties.

Upon arrival back at the ranch, I promptly wrote up that the sensor was still leaking....

Errr, um, I wrote up the real issues and was pleasantly surprised to find both repairs were made, 2 other repairs were acknowledged and there was even a promise of replacing some of the surface damages.

Maybe I should cut the mechanics some slack? Not in a minute.. I think the only reason the repairs were made is because I was able to pinpoint the exact problem and request the parts on my own.

Next week, I will tackle an air leak, seal leak, and the APU.

The Dynamics of My Week

Every weekend, I grab my trailer and head out for a demanding week of deliveries. I have become so accustomed to the pressures of this job that it rarely even affects my demeanor if unplanned delays manifest. I will simply refocus my train of thought and develop a new plan of action.

As I leave out Saturday night, my schedule is simple. First drop, Central Islip, NY. Then I will fight rush hour traffic back into the Bronx. Next will be a mad dash into Southington, Ct...but wait...My Connecticut customer requires an appointment and I am fairly certain that one has not been made. So, I make a mental note to call them bright and early to beg for a stay of execution. They quit receiving at noon, so even with clemency, I will be in at full speed ahead. After Connecticut, I will meander my way through the Berkshire Mountains of western Massachusetts to arrive at stop number four. Next, I will take the scenic route on the Mohawk Trail (Route 2) and end up in New Hampshire...oh crud..New Hampshire only receives after 4 pm, and normally will not unload from my company until Tuesday, due to a regularly scheduled delivery from Canada. Okay, so the simple thing to do would be head for my final stop in Fall River, Massachusetts, before making the NH drop. With all plans finalized in my noggin, I drift off to dream.

Sunday finds me fighting a load that is slowly collapsing. Great!! I take a quick peek from the back of the trailer, and note that the bottom bundles are literally starting to roll. All I can do at this point is to check the straps every so often and hope for the best.

Monday morning starts with quite a struggle to get the trailer open. You can see from the picture, that the metal had rolled, meaning the edges were now passed the rails that the tarp kit rides on. This forced me to do a lot of pushing and prying, but to no avail. Finally, I had to get the customer to use his forklift to gently nudge the bundles back towards the center while I slide the curtains and repositioned the straps, thus enabling me to finally open up the trailer. Total time elapsed 1.5 hours including unloading 13 bundles. Normally a 10 minute procedure. That puts me in the heart of rush hour.

I actually make it into the Bronx in record time for a Monday morning. I arrived at 8:30 after a 45 mile commute, of course, I did take a side route to avoid the worst of Long Island Expressway delays into The City. It paid off, too, as my drive time was only 75 minutes.

The 2 bundles were off in a flash. It was then I remembered to call Connecticut, and just as I had expected, they granted me favor by allowing me to, not only deliver without an appointment, but they also accounted for me being late.

I took off in a flash, and made the executive decision to forego my normal coffee stop, which could have took up to 30 minutes, just because of the confusion that is ever present at the Milford Pilot. That decision paid off as well because I did make the delivery on time. Just my way on showing appreciation for the favor they granted me, by not making them wait.

However, during the mornings motorized melee, I seem to recall seeing a notification somewhere on my bills that one of my customers was not taking Monday deliveries...Hmm, I knew NH wasnt, and I remembered that I had once endured that delay in North Adams, Ma. So I dug out the original manifest...UGH!! Seems my Fall River stop was also closed on Mondays.

Trying to eliminate too much wait time, I decided to go ahead and start making phone calls. Good news, North Adams was open and New Hampshire was no longer booked on Mondays, so it was full steam ahead. I tried to contact Fall River, but it seems that notification was legitimate. That turned out to be a blessing in disguise because there was no way to unload their freight due to the positioning of it. Kind of hard to get a forklift in the gap to remove a sideways bundle...grrrrr!!

I make it through the Berkshires and offloaded 5 more bundles. Next up, my favorite scenic route this side of the Mississippi. The Mohawk Trail !!

Maybe you noticed it too..The first signs of Spring...I am referring to the large bug splatter on my windshield. Looks like winter may be on its way out !!

After about a 2 hour diversion through the splender of northern Massachusetts, I make my way into NH and arrive right on time to pull in the bay.

Winding down for the evening, I make my way back south, heading into Fall River. I will be empty at 7am, and the long journey home begins. It is about a 20 hour drive, so there is no big rush. I tend to get wore out on the return journey, but the job is done. And even better than that...I am off duty for the next 11 days..Going to see what Goofy is up to these days. And maybe spend some time with Donald. I am off to the House of Mouse!!

I am Grateful !!

Those of you who may be new, and quite a few of you who don't really know might not understand that while I tend to complain a lot on this here blog, I am actually extremely grateful. I have such an awesome job, if you don't mind a little hard work, and I don't.

For the week of January 24th, I ventured beyond my personal restrictions and took a load heading into Chicago. I hate Chicago, and I have good reason. Years ago, I use to run into Chicago on a weekly basis and have seen 2 fatalities on 294. I just had no desire to return to the area because of the graphic memory.

So I surprised Dispatch by latching hold of this money run. With a total of 3600 miles and 15 stops, it was guaranteed to be a long week. But the week was to get longer before it even began. Back in the spare truck, and at this point, it does not even matter as long as it gets me from point A to point B. My first stop in Tennessee did not open until 9am, and was a crane unload which takes a little time. Because of these delays, Tennessee was going to be my only delivery for the day.

My route included 3 stops for Sparta, Tn; Cincinnati, Oh; Akron, Oh; Detroit, MI; Troy, MI; Flint, MI; Arthur, Il; 2 stops in Chicago, Waukesha, Wi; Schofield, Wi;Hawkins, Wi and Winona, Mn.

Tuesday morning started out in Cincinnati and even though I only expected to get 2 stops that day, I somehow managed to slip into Detroit and make that delivery as well. My day ended at 4pm and I had 9 customers left on the trailer. I was a little discouraged because I am normally on my way home on Tuesdays.

Wednesday was all about playing the odds. After making Troy and Flint, I had to make a decision. I called the next 4 customers to arrange for deliveries and confirm hours of operation. At first glance, it looked like my day was over before I ever left Wisconsin, but luck smiled upon me and I was able to get both the Chicago' drops and the Arthur, Il as well. How did I manage? All three customers agreed to wait for me after hours.

I had already come to the conclusion that I would not be empty until Friday, but I was a bit frustrated when my 14th customer asked why I was taking so long to deliver.. Seems the Customer Service Rep at my plant told the facility that they were 4th on the load and I would make delivery on Tuesday...Grrrr, they were actually 14th on the load, and Thursday afternoon would have not even happened had it not been for the generosity of the Illinois customers. But, I understand, someone has to be blamed, and a truck driver is an easy target.

Friday morning I made my Minnesota delivery and began the journey home. The only thing to deter me was the nasty winter storm encroaching my path. After making a quick call to my father, I determined I would not make it much further than Mt Vernon, Il, before the storm manifested and true to prediction, I was greeted with almost whiteout conditions just south of Mt. Vernon. I decided to call it a day in Paducah, Kentucky and quickly grabbed the last parking spot.
I awoke to several inches of snow the next morning, but road conditions were excellent. That is until I made my way into Tennessee. Seems they were a little behind schedule in keeping the roads clean. In fact the only plow I saw near the metro Nashville area was upturned in a ditch.

But Kentucky was on the ball!!

Because of all the delays, I decided to head straight for my next load. After a quick drop and hook, I grabbed a motel room and was treated to a $20 discount, plus a 15% off coupon for the steak house next door. And to top it off, the clerk let me use the "housekeeping only" laundry to wash my clothing.

I think I may have forgotten to mention that 7 of my customers refueled my coffee mug. And, there were the 5 customers who unloaded after hours. This is my job. This is my story. This is why I love what I do. In the generic freight division, it is unheard of to receive these amenities, but yet, they are offered to me on a daily basis. I truly am a lucky girl, and I am forever GRATEFUL for my wonderful customers!!

Rebel Without A Cause

My buddy AA always gives me grief about the actions I take and the deductive reasoning behind it. For example, most states have a regulation in place that states that if there are more than 2 lanes, Trucks are restricted to the right two. Great, no problem. Except, when someone does something stupid directly in front of you and the left lane is your only means of avoiding a collision.

For example, a few years back, I was cruising the middle lane in Connecticut passing the slower traffic in the right lane, when a lady in a four wheeler decided to dart in front of me. I slowed to accommodate for her erratic decision. But then, every 100 yards or so, she would slam on the brakes, slowing to well below the posted speed limit. Eventually, she is able to maintain a constant speed and we are flowing nicely. But, I suppose her phone must have rang, because, after a few minutes, she really locked it down. I know, you are probably thinking I should have left more space between vehicles, but lets face it. That is just not possible on the 95 corridor around NY/CT. So, rather than plow into her, or slam into vehicles on my right, I dodged and weaved my way into the VERY RESTRICTED left lane. I was in it for maybe 30 seconds, but it was 30 seconds too long. In an instant, there were blue lights behind me. I received a very lovely driving reward, and of course, preventing an accident was not a good enough excuse to be there.

Another example would be the time I was empty running up a steep incline into the Allentown area of Pennsylvania. I was in the middle lane, again. But, I was empty, and it was a steeeeeep grade. About half way up the hill is a high volume traffic entrance ramp, usually filled with heavy trucks trying to merge into traffic at 20 mph. That was exactly the case this time. Except, it was two trucks. Both were heavy, but the second truck was moving 3 mph faster than the lead truck. So what does he do. He comes off the ramp directly into the middle lane at 25 mph. Now, at this point I am flying up the hill at about 65 and could have never stopped in time. SOOOOOO, my only option? Go LEFT. Yep, another 15 seconds too long. As soon as I passed the idiot in the center lane, I immediately cut back over in front of him, but it was too late. I pulled off at the next exit and although I had just saved my own life and prevented the interstate from being closed extensively, my reasoning was not good enough for the Officer.

Therefore , I do NOT EVER resort to using the left lane in Connecticut or Pennsylvania. Been there, done that, paid for the experience. And the Pony Car insurance was not cheap to begin with. But here is where my logic becomes the topic of AA's amusement.

I will not run the left lane in CT or PA, but since I have not been busted in NYC.....LOL.....Well, you get the idea. Heck, the left lane is the only way to fly on the Cross Bronx.

But of course, I am not stupid, so no, I dont abuse the "privilege" on the other expressways around the city. However, today, I managed to try out a new left lane. That being the one belonging on the Long Island Expressway... Definitely a NO NO. Supposedly, the two right lanes were blocked ahead for a Pothole Patrol, and well, by deductive reasoning, that only leaves the HOV and left lane open. Right? Not being one to dilly dally, I quickly jumped left along with a few more brave souls and we got through the back up with very little delays, but only a few others followed. The rest were busy telling us we were not allowed over there. Until a few miles down the road, when they figured out they had to be there.

Oh, and I wish I could have got a picture of Saturday Night's big adventure. Little Trucker riding the HOV lane in Atlanta... This time I was the only truck to do it. Accident ahead, and we were merging from 7 lanes down to 2. One of them being the HOV. Will naturally, I am there.

I personally do not think that in an emergency situation, the Law Enforcement Officers are going to penalize you for riding in a restricted lane, especially if the only lanes available are restricted. Might as well, go for broke. But I can guarantee you that it will be a long time before you catch me in an HOV lane again...

Distractions

Once again, I have managed to take a break and put in a personal appearance on my blog. Lots of things going on. New Changes, Upcoming events, and Birthday plans. No, not my birthday. But I do love a good birthday. This month, the little blond girl turns 9 years old. She is such a girl, too! Which is so much fun. Also, Shadow has a birthday this month, and we are going to hide out in a distant city for a birthday bash!

Also, on Tuesday, my brother and nephew are going to meet me in Atlanta to pay homage to Bono, the Edge, Larry, and Adam! Yep, we have tickets to the U2 360 tour! This will be the Wonder Boy's first concert. No better way to start than with U2. Of course that means I had to give up my NE run, but some things are just worth it.

Also, I have finally found a local hairdresser that I think I am going to be very happy with. I stumbled on to her, while trying to set up an appointment with my Mother's hairdresser. I think I got lucky, because April is so much fun and did a wonderful job with my unruly hair! YAY!!

Hmmmmm, the running is not so much of a priority anymore. Well, at least the numbers. I have discovered that I have a much better time running without the garmin. I can put more focus into the enjoyment of running, because I am a numbers freak, I seem to put too much emphasis on time and distance. I have a local running trail that is 4 miles, out and back. So, I have been doing that as much as possible. I still seem to have a few complications from leg pain that I believe are associated with the truck, but I will no longer be using them as excuses. If the pain continues to persist, I will see out a reputable orthopedic doctor to diagnose my problem. By the way, the pain is none existent while running.

Well, I guess that about covers all the basics for now. Hopefully, I will be able to squeeze in a few blog posts as the events of October take place. Good Times!!

The Scenic Route

or my new favorite road...

Last week during my trip through Massachusetts, a new location was added to my regulars. Well, it is not necessarily new, but I have only been there one time before and that was during the blizzard-like conditions of 07-08. (I think that is correct, when the New York Upstate was covered 10-12 feet of snowy goodness.) Needless to say, the location was unfamiliar to me. On the previous excursion to North Adams, Mass, I was advised to NOT take Route 2 because of the weather conditions. This trip, however, it is just the beginning of Autumn and the road beckoned to me. I was heading back to New Hampshire, and this was the most direct route back east. Besides , I can never resist a good scenic route.

Without further ado, I will present my findings. I hope you enjoy these as much as I did first hand!!

The customer! Nice little out of the way place!

Route 2 following the river through the Mohawk Trail State Forest.

Lots of curve and twists!!

...A view from the top, if you look closely, you just may see a Moose!!

And finally, the first telltale signs that Mother Nature is ready to strut her stuff!!

Oh Happy Day !!

It is about time, but I think my truckin luck has finally turned around.

After spending a fabulous Friday getting pampered, I made a quick visit to see my nephew and help celebrate his birthday.

Did I mention that I also swapped out my mattress? In conjunction with getting the alternate seat in the truck, I seem to have eliminated ALL sources of pain. No more back, leg, knee, sciatic, swelling, numbness. All of it gone without so much as a trace.

On Saturday, I decided to leave out early to meet up with a friend. When I got to the yard, I inspected Frankentruck and noticed that he had a new set of shocks all the way around! But I also noticed that there were new airlines running from the valves to the bags !! I made my way through a very ferocious storm in South Carolina, and it did not take me long to realize that the truck was no longer slipping and sliding around. I went through several storms that day and never broke traction one single time. I am happy that I have the new shocks, but honestly I don't think they were the answer. I had mentioned checking the lines for debris, and waaalaaaaa, I got new lines. I think that is what solved the problem, whether it was debris or just crimped, I am not concerned. It is finally repaired.

So, I left out Saturday to meet up with a friend, as I said before. Someone I do not often get to see, so that was a nice distraction.

As for today, I am running a different route, so I do not have the hectic pace of the New England run bearing down on me. I was finished with deliveries at 12:30 and will not resume them until 8:00am tomorrow. With only 200 miles between stops, I have managed to enjoy a quiet afternoon reflecting on the wonderful weekend, the wonderful repairs and the wonderful lack of tension I feel in my shoulders.

Watch Out. I am on the verge of once again becoming irritatingly happy!!

In the Beginning...

I really do not know where to start, because of all the topics I listed on the last post, well, they all relate to one another, so Maybe I should do this by the day instead of the trying to separate the different topics... Yeah, That sounds good

DAY ONE ( Florida Vacation )

As you should be aware, I headed to the Sunshine state for a 5 day get-a-way. The weather was wonderful most of the time. It was overcast for most of the stay, so sunburn was a minimal risk. I did get cooked on the final day, but I was too busy kayaking to pay much heed to the telltale signs that I was slow roasting. On the second day, I ventured out early and joined the multitudes that were making use of a pedestrian traffic only route through the community and ended up traversing the sand dunes of this little island retreat. The run was great, although I am still much slower than the average runner. My legs were fine all day!! ( Keep this statement in mind throughout the following posts).

Of course, while staying at a tropical destination, you must indulge in the catch of the day, or in my case, a huge bucket of steamed everything. Crab, shrimp, mussel, oyster, crawdads, clams, and some new potatoes to top it off. Ummmm, yummy!! In fact, it was so delicious the first night, I enjoyed another bucket the second night. LOL

While the vacation was a nice reprieve from every day life, I have come to the conclusion that I no longer know how to relax. Seriously, I just spent an entire 8 days away from the truck, but my demeanor and attitude have not adjusted at all. There is, of course, several reasons for that.

First, I shall mention that while my legs felt divine the day of my run, they were swollen like water balloons the entire trip (except the ONE DAY). In fact my legs have been aching ever since I got into Frankentruck (but that is another post) So, the entire vacation seemed to be overshadowed by my anguish over just what exactly is happening to my body. The only way I seem to get any relief from the sciatic nerve and hip and knee pains, is to lie down on my belly. That does not lead to a very productive day, and you cannot drive while lying face first....Grrrr, needless to say the only thing left to do was endure. Oh yeah, I totally forget about the aches and pains while I was out row row rowing my boat! Did I mention how much I enjoyed the kayak..Ha HA, you would have thought I was in a competitive race the way I was slicing through the salty waters. That is a hobby I need to become more involved in!!

I should also mention the little adventure we had whilst parasailing... LOL....I am sooooo mean!!

I have been wanting to go parasailing for quite some time, and thought this was the perfect opportunity to do so. Of course, all adventures are best when shared with someone, so I loaded up my two nephews and one's girlfriend. I was going to ride with the youngest nephew, while the other rode with his girlfriend. Once we hoped aboard the boat, the first mate began preparations. Me and Asti Spumante(not his real name) were first, and after a brief trip around the bay, we were submerged in the water before being reeled back onto the boat. Next up was the Kiddo and Miss Ashlee. They had instructed the first mate that they were not to be dunked into the water. But I had alternate plans for them. So after another bayside boat ride, the captain asked if I wanted them dunked...." Well, of course, I paid for it so I think they should abide by my wishes. In fact, you should probably just let them soak for a bit!!" While slowing reeling them in, the first mate dropped them low enough to skim their toes across the top of the water, that is when I busted a gut laughing. Ashlee knew she was in trouble!! They were submerged and then dragged for several seconds...... Afterwards, everyone was in good spirits, even the victims of my little prank. You see, I think Ashlee really wanted to get dunked, but Kiddo is growing up and he had teenage things on his mind...Oh well, hope he forgives me!!

So yeah, all in all, it was a good trip, but I seem to need to learn how to relax again. I am going to practice this on the coming weekends. Hopefully I will have more non-trucking adventures to report in the future.

And Speaking of the Big A

Oh gosh, I hope you did not think I was referring to my beloved New York City....

No, the Big A , I am referring to is Atlanta.

Last week, while cruising around the Watermelon 500, a lively conversation was taking place amongst the Truckers as to just "Why exactly is everybody in such a hurry in the ATL?" You see, while the speed limit is set at 55 mph, there are only about 5 people who actually abide by it. As for the rest, they will run you over.

Of course, everyone had to put their 2 cents worth in. Although some remarks were meant to be humorous, the initial inquisitor was actually quite disgruntled

"...because they are trying to catch their spouse cheating on them."

"...because their spouses' lover will drink all the beer, so they are trying to catch them."

"...because they want to get home and be the first to the mailbox to get the welfare check."

"...because Judge Judy comes on at five."

after a litany of not so clever responses, I casually pick up the microphone and inform the masses that the real reason everyone is in such a hurry in Atlanta, is because the last one in is a rotten egg.

SILENCE

And then the airwaves were filled to capacity with bellowing laughter. Between gasps, sighs, cackles and guffaws, the original initiator of the conversation thanked me for my insight and assured me he was in a much better mood to deal with the rest of his lap around the loop.

Hey, it was the least I could do!!

What's In A Name

Everything has a name. Whether it is a common noun, or Proper Name, all things are identified. Some of you may be unaware of this (not the part about nouns, duh), but most of our States have been renamed by the Truck Driving community. Of course, some of the nicknames are fairly obvious and we cant lay claim to be the brilliant ones who thought of such wonderful nicknames, but some are truly generated from the minds of my fellow Concrete Cohorts. For example, can you tell me which State would be known as the Keystone? How about the Bluegrass? Of course you can. But how about the Bikini , Shakey or the Hillbilly. Well maybe those are fairly obvious too.

Okay, let's try cities......Smoke? No, I am not asking you if you would like to....Which city is known as Smoke? Guitar? Circle City? MonkeyTown, MickeyMouse, Little Cuba, Cigar, Cowtown, Armadillo, Brickyard, Beantown, K-town, E-town, Big A, Big D...

...and I am seriously digressing. So, back to the matter at hand.

Missouri is most commonly referred to as The Show Me State. This may, or may not be appropriate in all aspects, but today, it certainly was, and naturally, I think kudos are in order.

Today, while traversing the I-70 Corridor, I was pleasantly surprised. Every time I turned my blinker on, a car slowed down and let me change lanes. Every time there was merging ramp traffic, all vehicles accommodated those who wished to enter the rat race. Every time a Police Officer had a subject apprehended on the shoulder of the road, everyone moved to the left. Every time there was a lane closure, everyone had merged well before the lane ended. Everyone! Every time!

Show Me, indeed. It seems that we can get along and behave properly on the interstates. Of course, there were alot of girls showing their legs as well, according to the truckers. But that is not what made me so proud.

Thanks Missouri, for showing me a good time. Thanks for giving me reason to have a little faith in my fellow travelers. Because , you know as well as I do, that there are a lot of idiots out on the roads who are only concerned with themselves.

Update for Gabby

I suppose the rest of you could not really care any less about my running adventures, so this will have to be a post for Gabby. After all, she is my current inspiration. Well, maybe Indy.....I think he pays attention too, and has been inspired a little himself.

So, I had a wonderful day. Absolutely beautiful. Tried out a new running trail which just happens to be only a few miles away. I am so glad I went to that running store and felt inquisitive. They turned me on to alot of information. In fact, the trail I ran today is proposed to be a 40-50 mile circuit meandering through much of the area by the time it is completed. I believe they have 4 distinct sections finished and the one I was on today was a 4 miler (out and back for 2 each way).

I was rejuvenated. The shoes worked very well. I was a little timid at first thinking that with all the pain I had been through lately, maybe I should just stick to walking. But after a 10 minute fast walk, I was ready. The shoes are awesome and felt like I was running on clouds. I never once felt the urge to stop before my predetermined time was complete. In fact , I wanted to keep going. So, I am back on schedule for the program I started several weeks ago. Therefore, I did not continue on, but I am looking forward to my next run, and trying out the other trails.

The Best Birthday Present Evah POST

As most of you know, I have the privilege of running a route through New York on a fairly regular basis. New York being Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Staten Island and Long Island. Heck, I have even delivered in Harlem once before. I have professed my love for this route on numerous occasions. Yeah, I know, why would anyone want to drive a Truck through the streets of New York. But, I do!!

Last week, mid-stride, I was called upon to retrieve the New England load that was en route, and of course, I had no issues with making the change. I found AA in poor health and relieved him of his duties so he could attend to his health. But not before he gave me the news......

This week's New England route included a new customer. A customer on Grand Ave. For those of you who do not know where exactly a Grand Ave in New York might be.....Well, it is in LOWER MANHATTAN......

Yes, you read that correctly!  On  Tuesday, May 19th, which just happened to be MY birthday, I was to be in Lower Manhattan making a delivery. And of course, you had to know fairly quickly that I would make the  most of this journey. Why would anyone take the Exit closest to the customer and only get a small glimpse of the Marvelous Metropolis, especially when I had been given permission to be there. Nope, not me!  I used this privilege to my advantage and drove the entire length of Broadway in my big ol truck. 

I will admit, the closer I got to the 179th street  exit, the more apprehension I began to feel. For the first time ever, I crossed the George Washington Bridge in the right lane. I eased onto Broadway and all my apprehensions disappeared immediately....  OMG....I am on Broadway..World Famous Broadway...In a BIG TRUCK.....HOLY COW!!!  Little Ol Me!!!!  OMG!!! No longer feeling any fear, I made my way through the city streets as if I belonged there.... Zigging and zagging with the ebb of traffic. Watch out for taxi cabs, hee! They better watch out for me. My enthusiasm was evident as I waved at all who noticed me. And while I may have been mesmerized by the locale, it seemed the locals where quite taken by the site of the little girl maneuver the huge truck.

 Oh what a delightful day!  This is the stop that cost me 4 hours, and honestly it was the best four hours I have ever experienced in a Big Truck. Several months ago, I was almost allowed to go down into the city, making deliveries for one of our customers as a side job. That fell apart and my excitement receded.  I was very aware of the length restrictions, and had stated such when the original proposal was made. But this time, I never said a word. Surely they knew, right? Who cares! It was my ticket to paradise, and I was not about to wave a red flag. In fact, I was actually hoping to be apprehended so I could experience the journey to its fullest capacity. It's the Aluminum Company's dime anyways! As I made my way south, the buildings grew taller, and the crowds got thicker. The taxis were flying around like little Energizer bunnies and even the local Law Enforcement paid me no heed as they darted and dived mere inches in front of my bumper. I was like a child at Christmas, marvelling at all of the sites and relishing in the gift I had received so unexpectedly.

Of course, my first obligation was to ensure as much safety around my vehicle as possible. AA told me the best plan of action was to act as if I was in my Bronx neighborhoods. So, with that mindset, I bob and weaved with the best of them. Naturally, this means I did not have the opportunity to gaze upon every aspect of what was before me(I did leave the video camera running the entire time), and at one point I looked to my immediate right and who should be staring down on me?  Good Ol David Letterman. I was sitting right in front of the Ed Sullivan Theatre and almost started drooling on myself. Not because of Ed or Dave, but because I was in Manhattan...I WAS IN MANHATTAN !! On my birthday!!!  ME!!

The sites and sounds of everything around me was consuming, and I continued to move south noticing other landmark sites so often viewed on television. It was not until I noticed I was approaching Times Square that I actually began to squeal with delight. Okay, maybe I had shrieked several hundred times already in the previous 130 blocks.  But this time, I drew attention to myself and quite a few of the locals got a good laugh at me while I was pointing and clapping, illustrating just what had tickled me so... HA HA..Silly Tourists...Eventually, the buildings began to diminish in stature and I knew I needed to pay attention to exactly where I was at.                                                                                                                                                               

Fifteen blocks south of First Street (Houston) I was to make a left turn onto Grand. I started on 179th...I think I got my money's worth on this trip.

Upon arriving at Grand, I became very aware that this turn was not going to happen...Four lanes wide, I scooted to the edge of the center lane to allow myself ample amount to room..Nope not gonna work. I knew better, but I had to try anyway. I got 3/4 of the way through the turn when I had no other option than to back up and try again. I suppose I could have run over the car parked on the left corner, but I did not want to spoil this adventure by a bunch of unnecessary paperwork.  I was astonished to find a crew of workers diligently studying my efforts and once it was determined that I was not going to proceed forward, they scaled down from the scaffolding and commenced to blocking all four lanes of traffic so I could give it another shot. They had commandeered enough space to allow me to scoot all the way to the right side of the road and get a good swing on the second attempt. SUCCESS..As I drove away  from being the center of attention, I noticed shouts and clapping and catcalls....See, these people love me as much as I love them. Not one single horn pierced the air in protest.

I made it down a very tight single lane Grand St. (ave, rd) and was instructed to pull into a commercial loading zone and pay the meter. I was unloaded rather quickly and sent on my way. In just a few short maneuvers, I was atop the Williamsburg Bridge making my departure.  After arriving back on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway, I glanced to my left and gazed upon the site. I was there.  I WAS THERE !!

It was truly the best gift I could have received. A free trip to Manhattan, all expenses paid. On my birthday, even !! And little did I know that 5 days later, they would close down Broadway to all traffic through Times Square. I had just barely made it. Now, it will become a pedestrian only area, of course the cross streets  are still open. But that view, from afar, will live emblazoned in my mind, as it will never be experienced again.

And when I say all expenses paid, I suppose I should mention that I was apprehended !!  LOL....Experience complete ! I received two fines for disregarding the restrictions. One for over length trailer. Guess the big "53' " stickers on the side of my ride gave me away. And another for over length combination.  The Officer was a delight and was tickled at my responsiveness to him. I think he did question my mental health, as it is not often a Truck Driver takes such delight in this journey. 

So, there you have it. The Best Birthday Present Evah!!  and no, I am not insane.

       

Happy Birthday to ME!!!

No this is not a post to encourage anyone to send me well wishes....But I am so freaking excited.......

Tomorrow....May 19th.....I am going to receive the most awesomest, bestest, mostest excitingest, Birthday present ever!!!!  And it was not even meant for me!!  But I am going to receive it anyways!!

Oh, I cannot wait to tell you!  And for the 3 of you who already know, keep your traps shut!!  This is my blog. I will not post the outcome, until after I receive it. But I am just so darn tootin excited, I thought I should try to create a little bit of a frenzy on this here blog to get you folks eager in anticipation of my most delectable news.....

Good thing you can not hear me, because ....well, I am just so excited I might spill the beans!

Wait For It......................

Blue Skies

"Blue skies, smiling on me.....nothing but blue skies forever I see...."

or something like that....

Hey Kids... I am really excited to report that I will be playing Over The Road trucker next week. Well, okay, maybe not anymore than I normally do already. I am however, venturing out into uncharted territory. Um...yeah, okay so it is not so remote, not even to me. The girl who thrives in the North Eastern United States, and yes, I have ventured west of the Mississippi River a few times here of late.

This week, I have chosen a route that will take me back "home". I am making deliveries in Alabama, Memphis, Louisiana, and Texas!! The way it is set up, will actually take me longer to deliver than I am normally accustomed too. I have usually completed my deliveries by lunchtime on Tuesday, but I foresee myself to be lingering in Texas well into Thursday.

You know, I am beginning to feel a little restless, but have no fear, I tend to get this way every so often. I think a nice vacation would do the trick. Maybe a beach trip!  

But alas, I am feeling better about things, although I do have some excessive energy I need to burn off. Mentally and physically, perhaps due to the restlessness. But things are looking up emotionally..You cant fight this stuff forever!