Freighthauler's Blues...

and purples, greens, browns and yellows !!

We are now entering our slow season at work. This is common every year and will last until late January. With smaller orders, comes shorter routes. Most customers are sitting on old stock until after the year end inventory. This means I have to work harder to make a satisfactory paycheck. Along with the fact that I have not routinely run into New England for the past several months, I am having to scramble if I want extra work.

Therefore I volunteer my services to other accounts as the need fits. Well, I don't volunteer, but you get the idea.

So, 2 weeks ago, an opportunity arose to help out the JoAnn's Fabric account. I was told it was a 2 stop, driver unload. Thinking it would not be a big deal, I agreed to give it a shot. After all, I managed to handle several loads from the furniture account a few years ago.

I was slightly dismayed when I went to pick up the load. Opening the trailer, I understood the severity of my decision. LOL. It was 100% percent DRIVER UNLOAD. No one else was allowed to step foot inside the trailer. The trailer was loaded front to rear, floor to ceiling with over 1400 boxes, some weighing as much as 80 pounds. YIKES!! As you can see, the condition of the load before I ever left the distribution center, promised to be highly entertaining. How the heck am I suppose to do this. But I am not one to give up without a fight.

I make my way to Orlando for the first delivery. I was told I had 4 hours to unload 983 boxes. I was told the last driver had to call for a replacement because he was injured and could not unload. I was feeling the pressure!!

The load didn't look much worse after the 8 hour drive and I am hard driven, so I climbed inside and gave it all I had. I actually gave a little too much. After the first 30 minutes, I had to take a break, run to the restroom and vomit. I was shaking, sweating and felt as if I was gonna pass out. I was determined to succeed. Using whatever means possible to climb into the ceiling, I managed to get the first delivery complete in about 3 hours. The store was pleased with my determination and perseverance, but it kicked my ass. I have never felt so sick and for a brief moment, I thought I was going to have to throw in the towel. When I took the sick leave, I seriously considered calling in. That is so unlike me. I never quit.

I moved on to stop number 2 in Kissimmee, very thankful for the break, even though I was driving. The second store delivery was a lot smaller, but I was discouraged when 4 sweet, fresh faced girls greeted me at the dock. They were just as disappointed to see me. The manager asked how long I had been delivering for JoAnns. When I told her this was my first time, I thought she was going to lose it. Turns out I was able to get the trailer empty in record time at that store as well, but I paid dearly for it.

Two weeks later, my body is still covered in a plethora of multi colored bruises. At last count I had 17. I don't know if I will ever volunteer for that assignment again, but it was fun for the first experience. They are always fun the first time you try something new, right?

Flirting With Disaster

Finally made it home from this week's journey and it was an exciting week to say the least. Well, there were a few exciting moments, anyways.

After the initial disruption and shock of the morning, Tuesday progressed into a most usual day. I made my Connecticut and Massachusetts deliveries. By lunchtime I was sitting in New Hampshire and waiting for my 4pm appointment to unload my last stop. Knowing that another major snowstorm was on the prowl, I called ahead and asked for one of those special favors. The customer agreed to unload me 4 hours early.

I made it back to Frystown, Pa and with the snow already falling, I knew there was no way I would find a parking spot if I continued south on Interstate 81. Besides, I prefer to face treacherous roads in full daylight.

When I went to bed, there was not quite an inch of fresh snow on the ground. I awoke to a half of a foot.

Deciding that I had better get a move on, I managed to make it out to the truck stop just before a pickup pulling another fourwheeler spun out on the main road and blocked the only way back to the Interstate. I had been watching the vehicle struggle to make it out of the driveway and before reaching the entry ramp, I heard that the road behind me was blocked. Talk about timing !! If you look to the left side of the picture you can see him. Who tows another vehicle in snowy conditions ??

As I merged onto the Interstate, I had a moment of regret that I had not continued further south the previous evening. Roads conditions were barely tolerable but there was no one else to be seen, so I had plenty of room for mistakes, although I had not intentions of making any.

I set a comfortable pace and and found myself in a rather content mood. I love winter, and I would much rather be in my Big Truck, than attempting to maneuver in the little Pony Car. Upon entering Interstate 81, the traffic got thicker and the pace got slower. For the next 90 miles, all motorists were content to play Convoy in the right lane, or wherever the tire tracks were. A few drivers reported over the CB that the Maryland Stateline was closed and we should find a place to park. If you are not aware, most states now implement the 511 Road Condition/ Traffic Report hotline. I called in and the road was opened, so I trudged onward.

Upon reaching the state line, I stumbled upon the reason for the earlier proclaimed closure. Good thing the snow stopped him, because next stop would have been head first into the bridge embankment. We were able to pass, but almost immediately the roads disappeared completely. At about this time, the winds picked up and started driving the already fallen snow into a whirling frenzy.

No visible road surface, and travelling at about 15 mph with little or no visibility, my passenger side windshield wiper decided to give up the ghost. With one last swipe followed by a loud thump, the wiper fell under the edge of the hood and played possum. I was extremely grateful that it was not the driver side. However, I was having to use a common truck driver trick to keep the amount of ice on the remaining blade to a minimum, even with the defrost set on broil.

By the time I made it into West Virginia, I was a little frayed. One more quick flick of the wiper and............. the damn thing flew into the wind and disappeared forever. I guess, it was tired of me beating on it. I grabbed the microphone, alerted the guys behind me that I had to slow down. Luckily for me, the next exit ramp was only 1/2 mile away. I rolled down my window and while leaning out to literally face the brunt of the winter storm, I was able to pull off. After making it to the end of the ramp, I was able to pop the hood and finagle the blade from the useless arm and reattach it to the driver's side. Thank God for duct tape, because I had broken the clip with numb fingers while removing it from the icy clutches of the now deceased wiper arm. During the whole process, a Trooper had pulled in behind me, because it seems I had parked in a 2 foot snow drift. LOL, I really had no choice, other than to block the entire ramp and with limited visibility ( me hanging out like a dog, lapping at the snow) I had been unable to discern how close I was to the right edge. I assured him that I was not stuck, because I had tested the waters twice by pulling forward before actually setting my brakes. He then leaves quietly. What happened to helping a damsel in distress. Oh well, he was a young pup and remarked that he knew nothing about Trucks, even though I was only working with wiper blades, which I am sure most vehicles do have these days.

By the time I made had the necessary repairs, I looked like a 5' snow bunny. I eased back out into traffic with no problem, except I lost a mudflap/hanger in the snowdrift. Another 50 miles and the roads were absolutely beautiful. Blue skies emerged and the snow was blinding as it reflected the brilliance of the Sun.

By this time, Pennsylvania had begun to shut down the Interstates...Those that I had just travelled. I had no more problems the rest of the way home, and I am even more thankful that my NH customer provided that one little favor. Otherwise, I would have spent a lot of time hanging out in Pennsylvania this week...Something I try to avoid doing with an empty trailer.

Looks like Ol Man Winter took me up on my dare last week, as he was throwing some pretty good punches. Stay tuned, I hear I am in for another one next week...

Day Two... Back To Work

Okay, so I was called back into work early, yes, I got hosed!! But I informed the boss that I would not be able to make the delivery until Friday morning, because I had a doctor's appointment on Thursday and I was not going to miss it. I have been in pain for almost 2 months now. The joint discomfort seem to be directly related to the type of shoe I was wearing and after purchasing 2 new pairs of running shoe, that issue seemed to be resolved.

However, at the same time, I have been acquiring a new pain. The sciatic nerve was becoming agitated and reeking havoc on my disposition. Imagine if you will that someone has "frogged" you in the right buttock. After 30 minutes the pain begins to creep down your leg. After an hour, you feel as if your kneecap is going to blow up, and after half a day, the entire leg is revolting in discomfort. Not a pretty picture! And such is the case, every week. Thirty minutes after releasing the brakes, the pain would manifest and maintain an irritating presence throughout my entire trip, lingering into my home time. Just as the pain would begin to subside, it would be time to head back to work. A vicious cycle!! Needless to say, it has had a very negative effect on my attitude to everyone around me. For this I apologize immensely... I have literally been very 6itchy.

So, I was not going to miss the appointment.

Although, after waiting around for 2 hours, I almost did walk out of the clinic because Miami is a long drive from Atlanta, and I was not even in Atlanta yet. I finally saw the Doc...Grrrr, what a joke!! He said the swelling was because I was a girl...and that I had sciatica. Then he gave me some prescriptions for an anti-inflammatory and a diuretic. But he never once, did any type of exam or asked any pertinent questions. He just made a generalized diagnosis based on the two words that stuck out in my original complaint.. Swelling.... Sciatic nerve.....UGH!! I do not belive in medications for myself. Hey , if they work for you, go for it.. But I was willing to try anything until I could get in to see another doctor, which would be after my upcoming 7 day tour de interstate. Guess what, the meds he prescribed..well, they had warnings written all over them. May cause drowsiness.... May cause dizziness....May cause one to function as if they were a half-wit or drunkard. Great, after an hour wait for the meds, I cannot even take them due to the nature of my job, because I am highly susceptible to the side effects of prescribed medicines.

Half a day lost and no relief in sight, I head to the plant to begin my tour of duty. This is when I was hit with the sight of all those trucks parked on the yard and wondered why I was even here. But alas, the day was not lost. I approached the nearest mechanic and asked if any of my repairs had been made while I was away........I was stunned to hear that the list was acknowledged and although not all repairs were attended to, the most important one had been sucessfully accomplished. I was completely elated! As insignificant as it seems, I was most grateful to find that my driver's seat had been replaced.

I made the request before I left, explaining how the seat had been worn out by the 275 pound man who drove the truck for 200K. I requested a swap. Give me Maggie's seat! It is broken in to the exact specifications of my posterior, and it has a defect in it. The defect actually causes the seat to sit lower allowing me to reach the pedals with no discomfort to the backs of my legs. I was told that they could not swap seats and knowingly give someone else a bad chair, but they would put in a request for a NEW seat. This left me apprehensive that I would have to endure the leg pain on the backs of my thighs while breaking in a new one. However, I was almost in tears when I opened up Frankentruck and saw that Maggies deformed captain's chair was bolted into position behind the steering wheel.

I forgot about all of my troubles! Seriously..I let everything go and embraced the possibility that my problems just may have been solved. I know, the odds that a stupid seat could be responsible for all my problems is ludicrous, but I climbed aboard embracing the ridiculousness of it all....

My dear friends, I am happy to report that I drove the next 1350 miles absolutely pain free... Not the first sign of irritation, inflamation or swelling. I had not taken the meds, so my theory was correct. The stupid chair was throwing my body so completely out of alignment, it was all I could do to not curl up and pray for death. I would have thought the pain would have went away while on vacation, but it seems I had done enough damage that it took the entire week to heal itself. I guess me and Maggie were always meant to be together....

And as for the swelling while on vacation. Ummm, do you know how much sodium shellfish contains? Talk about water retention.....LOL... I never claimed to be the brightest candle on the birthday cake, but I was informed by my friend Shadow that eating 2 buckets of shellfish will definitely make a female swell up, espcecially during the summer months... Thanks Shadow!! for not laughing too loudly.

Running Scared

It seems I just cannot get ahead. Whether it concerns trucking, or any number of different aspects regarding life outside of the truck. I don't feel as if I complain too much openly, but I do feel the intensity of it all weighing down on me physically.

Just this week, for instance, I have been having major problems with my legs. In regards to the running shoes, it seems that having been so determined to have a good mileage to record for the month, I may have possibly harmed myself by wearing the wrong shoes. In fact, for the month of June, I completed a total of 60.25 miles, which is my highest mileage ever for a one month period. While that may not be so impressive to die hard runners, it is quite a respectable accomplishment to me. The problem is that I was using a rigid shoe for stability. Not what I needed!! This in fact threw my entire body out of alignment and every joint began to ache. So, I opted to use my alternate shoes which were less rigid. And, while they were great for my foot strike, they had absolutely no cushioning, which resulted in very tender knees. I pressed on however.

This week, I was almost in panic mode when I noticed my knees and ankles were swelling, and there was an unusual amount of numbness in my legs. I did work a very high mileage week with very few breaks to stretch my legs, but the discomfort was so intense, at one point I had begun to worry that I would have to give up exercising, driving a truck, or possibly both. I believe I would be more able to give up running, as I could swap it for something of lower impact such as cycling. But driving? It is my livelihood. How would I cope? What would I do?? I regret to announce that I am not trained or educated to the degree of earning a salary to that which I am accustomed. I am completely self dependent, and if I had to give up driving, I have no idea what would happen to me. I thought about looking for a rich old man to fall in love with, but decided against that option. It would be nice to have someone to fall back on, if times got hard, but sadly, I have no significant other. And truthfully, I have never had any intention of growing old in a truck. Guess I better start making plans for my future, eh?? I don't think it would be too bad, if I could find something local and was home every night, but I just do not see me driving all over God's Creation when I am a little old lady.

So, for now, I have made a few alterations.

I have purchased a pillow to sit on, to raise my derriere up and prevent the seat from cutting off my circulation. I am planing to stop more often for walk breaks, and I got fitted (once again) for new running shoes.

Amazingly enough, I found out today that I have a perfect foot strike!! YAY!! What that means is the only requirement that my feet have when it comes to running shoes is the level of cushioning I require. That is exactly what I thought even when the other store recommended a rigid shoe for stability. I was videotaped while running and my foot strike is perfectly aligned. I got back into a pair of Sauconys and felt as if I was walking in the clouds. Took them for a test run, and had no immediate discomfort. So, I now have 3 pairs of running shoes. This is getting expensive!! sheesh... I do have the option of returning this pair if they do not work out, but they felt divine. I will find out tomorrow how they feel with several miles on them. The last pair of comfortable shoes I had were also Saucony, but they broke down quickly. I was told that this pair was rated for about 400-500 miles. The last ones I was able to run in only lasted about 200. Here's to hoping I can get more than 3-4 months out of this pair. But I am stoked!! I also learned of a few running trails in the area, and of some weekly fun runs. Also got signed up for event alerts. Sadly, the store did not have its own running team, like Gabby and her Cabot Cruisers, but later when I get a little more confidence built up, I will search for my own local crew to run with. The fun runs will be a great place to start as far as meeting some running buddies.

I seem to be rambling, but that is my latest update on the misfortunes that are ever present. Hopefully, I can get the leg issues worked out...Stay tuned....

And We're Off

I know I have not had much to complain about recently as far as the truck is concerned, but that does not mean there has not been anything to fuss about. Sometimes, I just get so tired of hearing myself grumble, and truthfully, if I cannot find some humor in the situation, I prefer to not even mention it.

Last week, when preparing to leave, after loading everything back into Frankentruck, I was not surprised to find myself stomping my feet and kicking up gravel. You see, the shop had my truck for 3 weeks. During the 3 weeks, the original problem completely disappeared. That's right, no repairs were made and the problem just vanished. The new inverter was installed into the AC and this forced me to have to wait for parts ( that is the real reason I had to wait 3 weeks). But at some point during this 3 week period, it seems that perhaps someone may have drove my truck.

The reason that I believe that someone else had their grubby mitts on my steering wheel is because when I checked my tires (which I always do, no time for blowouts) I found that just about every single one of my drive tires was littered with scraps of metal, nails, and screws. Lucky for me, only one was leaking air. It was a slow leak, and with the closest mechanic living over an hour away, I opted to let it ride and check the pressure each day. Okay, when I discovered it, the tire only had 37 pounds in it. BUT, I aired it up, and after completing all tasks at hand, I checked it again after one hour and had lost only a pound. So, I managed to make my entire journey and was able to keep it pumped up. On the way home, I stopped in South Carolina to see about getting new tires. My shop only has recaps, and I wanted virgin rubber. No deal... The South Carolina shop did mention that some of our trucks were currently on a test program with new Michelin tires, and if Moe (the head Stooge) called into the main office, he could get me signed up for 8 brand new drive tires. The only stipulation was that Moe would then have to monitor the wear pattern of my tires once a month.

I knew it was a losing battle, but I polished up my sweetest voice and phoned into the shop.

"Oh Please Please Please, could you do this for me." I mentioned that ALL of my drives would have to be replaced soon because of the vast array of metal objects lodged within the tread, and also mentioned the one that was already leaking. I was told that "we will see".

Yeah...So, you can imagine how I was not surprised to find that I have a new used recap on my drive axle, and all the debris has been removed from the other 7 tires. Yep, you guessed it. Looks like there is no chance of getting those Michelins. I think the reason being is that it would be too much trouble for them to monitor my wear pattern. Come on, I already monitor my tires on a weekly basis.. It is not that hard.

I did however, end up with 8 brand new shiny valve stem caps.... Oh BOY!! Reckon what it would cost to have them polished next time I have Frankentruck bathed. After all, I now have something shiny to be proud of.....

And for the record, this week I decided to leave a little early so I could find time to squeeze a few miles (running/walking) into my initial commute. Note to self: You know better!!. I left 1.5 hours earlier than normal, and spent 1.5 hours sitting in Qwinnett County on Interstate 85, due to an overturned vehicle. Um, yeah, I never have problems when I am running late....

Did I mention this was on a Saturday!!

Up In Smoke

Where were we.....

Oh yeah, the door was opening....My week was planned...Scrap Haul to finish out and a few more truck repairs......ha ha ha ha ahaahhahhaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

But, even the best laid plans can be brought to destruction, by the hands of fate.

After leaving my final delivery point, I began my 4 hour journey back to the plant! Georgia On My Mind, if you will. Excited about the prospects of a no hassle finish to the week, I was in excellent spirit.

I was on track to make it back to the plant with plenty of time to head north through Atlanta before rush hour slowed things to a grinding halt. My intentions were to get through town, swap trailers, and hit the two lanes to avoid the impending congestion that is Atlanta at its finest.

My intentions were tossed out the window as I rounded the curve at mile marker 35, a mere 12 miles from the plant...

I had noticed this guy passing me just a few minutes prior to his collision. I make it a habit to look at each Trucker as we pass..Usually to return a friendly wave, YES, I still do that!! This particular fellow did not appear to be sleepy, but he definitely was in another zone.  He smacked the barrier wall at top speed, ripping the front axle and fuel tank completely off the truck, sending diesel fuel over the entire roadway. Do not know how the driver fared this event, but I think he made it out un~charred.. Certainly, if the poor bloke had sustained major trauma or even death, we would have been there a lot longer....NO one mentioned seeing him pulled from the wreckage, so I assume he walked away.

After a two and a half hour delay, we were finally set free. It was now 4:30 pm...All hopes of getting into the mill before they locked the gates had vanished.....Another 30 minutes to grab the scrap trailer, plus a 1.75 hour trip through Atlanta...in Gwinnett County Rush Hour....Not gonna happen...So, I opted for a shower and a meal, then spent an hour or so catching my breath. The gates reopened at 10pm, and at this point, the five hour drive to the dump was out of the question. I made the swap, hit North Georgia and called it a night.

After dumping my load and scheduling repairs for my return trip, I headed back south towards the mill. About an hour from the mill, I received a phone call telling me NOT to go back.. There was nothing there for me.......My attitude took a nose dive. The week was too young to head for home. Besides, I had not even earned a decent paycheck yet. But lucky for me, we were pulling some scrap trailers out of another mill...  I was instructed to bobtail into North Carolina, and grab the last one.  So that is what I did....My repairs would have to wait until another week....Grrrrrr... and the best news of all.... I would be making the trip with the "Mayor".....

to be continued...................

Thanks For The Memories

Where do I even start...

So, did I mention that I went WEST this week. GA, AL, MS, TN, AR, OK, KS, MO......Not my usual run, but I have travelled these roads so many times in the past  that it was like returning home.

The memories actually start only 17 miles from the plant, but the flashbacks did not begin until I reached Memphis. You see, in Carrollton, Georgia there is this certain barn where I impacted my arches while jumping down from a gate after a crazy cow charged me! And that is where it all begins, if you look at it according to geography.  

Starting in the East. There was .....Hauling carpet out of Dalton to San Diego....Running with Rattlesnake and Little Witch....My first HOOD (which is another term for having a truck with a big long  hood, rather than the more streamlined aerodynamic versions seen running down the roads.)  Later came my chip-hauling days, back and forth, back and forth, back and forth...Papermill...Sawmill.....well you get the idea. But these are not the memories I relished in this week.

So many, just a s vivid as the moment in which they were created.

Running with the heavy haulers into Tunica. Borrowing $20.00 to play a few slots. Repaying the money, and then listening to a grown man whine for the next three states how the money I won was rightfully HIS, because it was his $20 to begin with!! Thankfully, we all went separate ways after reaching Oklahoma. I could not take it anymore, and I gave him half to get him to shut up! I heard about it for the next 2 years!

The West Memphis scales that pulled me around back 6 weeks in a row to check out my (er) logbook!!  While I was bobtailing from office to drop yard!! A 12 mile distance ...  I finally took an extremely out of date book in and tossed in on the desk. After six weeks of checking, I gave them an excuse......Told them I was hurt that they did not have lunch ready for me (they were all eating)....That was the last time they pulled me around back.

Loveless Farms and WW Livestock....NB, B, HW, SS,  EP......Man oh man. Did we have fun. Load up Thursday in Georgia, deliver in OK on Friday and come slinking back into town sometime on Sunday. There was Brinkley( eating frog legs with Squirrel), Wheatley, the Truck O Mat, watching ED's burn down twice!  The wash-out!!  Getting profiled by the Troopers just for pulling a certain type of trailer. The best part was playing in the barn! Chasing the girls, or convincing the last one to get out of the trailer.... There was Sallisaw, Tahlequah, Checotah......The Trooper who made me get out of the Truck , while he was laughin at me, because I was too little...He let me go with a warning... (speeding)  There was glass out of Sapulpa and Henrietta..Fort Collins, CO and Lakeland FL.... which leads me to.....

The one weekend I decided to leave late. That weekend!!! Had I left on- time, I would have been one of the vehicles sinking in the river, after the barge hit the bridge in Oklahoma....Had I left on time.....

There was that time on 75 heading into Tulsa, while sparing someone else's life, I almost lost my own!!

I know none of this means anything to you, a random bunch of jumbled words and hidden meanings. May be one day, I will share some of these stories with you. But for now, this is I all needed to relive the good ol days, lest I forget!  

There is a time and place for everything, and that time has past.  It all becomes a part of you, how you tick, what makes you who you are! I would not go back to any of those moments and relive them, but they served their purpose well, They made me who I am. I would also not trade a single one of them! Good, Bad or Ugly!!   I have lived so many experiences East of the Mississippi, far too many to post in a blog, and I am feeling extremely nostalgic, but New England is  my home away from home now, and I relish in that too!

Although I spent the majority of the week reminiscing while a huge smile on my face, I did notice on several occasions the complete lack of traffic. Something I am definitely not accustomed too as of late.

The trip was uneventful. I made it in and out of Tulsa the day before the tornadoes came through. I guess, other than my own personal delight, the only item of interest might be those extreme crosswinds I endured on my way home through Missouri.  So extreme that some of us did not make the entire journey without incident.

Yep, you guessed it..Blown over by the wind!!  Yikes!!

What's Up With That?

This week, I was delighted to find myself heading westwardly bound into the old familiar places of yesteryear. 

My route included heading through Alabama, Mississippi (one stop), Tennessee (one stop), Arkansas, Oklahoma (one stop) Kansas (one stop)  I was only in Kansas for a grand total of 11 miles, and Missouri (4 stops).

I have a separate post to enlighten you with the details of that journey, but for now......I just have two comments.

1.  Is it just me or is there an unusually large number of tire marks in the medians?  I don't mean where Smokies are making flips to chase down the bad guy either. I mean out of control vehicles... Seriously!  I drive in some of the heaviest traffic areas, and while there are some major malfunctions, there is nothing that compares to the battle scars left on I-40.  Did you people forget how to drive, or is the monotony of the open road/wide open spaces lulling you to sleep?  It just seems like every quarter of a mile, there was a new path cutting through the middle...Skids marks of a helter skelter design where someone left the roadway and ended up facing Jupiter, and not just the cars! Oh no, there were plenty of duel marks suggesting that the Big Riggers had been offroading it as well.

and 

2. Someone is trying to burn up Oklahoma. In the first 50 miles , I noticed over a dozen stretches where the grassy shoulders had been burned into oblivion.  Continuing onto the Muskogee Turnpike, I decided to film for a bit. In all, in a hundred mile stretch, there were 27 burns!!  I am thinking you should not be throwing those lite cigarettes out the window, but that is just my opinion!!

Vertically Challenged

I love being short. I really do. I think it is a big part of my personality.

It has never really hindered my ability to do anything, although it has made somethings a little more difficult to accomplish. But it has never stopped me.

Yesterday I posted that my legs have been aching lately , and actually, I do know the reason why. It is because I am short!!

HUH??

Yes, it is because I am built closer to the ground. This is a problem I have faced throughout my entire trucking career, but I have always managed to adjust.

When I first started driving, I had troubles reaching the fuel, brake and clutch. So, to accommodate, I strapped 4x6" wooden blocks onto the controls. By the time I got my second truck, I had learned to position myself in the seat to be able to reach the pedals. That first Truck, actually left my legs black and blue with bruises from the edge of the seat cutting into the backs of my thighs. It looked like someone was beating me on a regular basis.

I have found over the years that most trucks have seats that will adjust to fit my needs, and more and more Truck manufacturers are designing Big Rigs to be user friendly for people of all shapes and sizes. For example, the typical seat in a VOLVO will place me under the dash so I can indeed reach the pedals, the only problem with that is that the base of the seat itself is so high, that I cannot get low enough for comfort. Therefore, all though I am close enough, the seat itself presses into the backs of my thighs whilst I try to reach the floor or brake or fuel pedal, which is all the time!! And it cause my legs to be achy, cutting off my circulation.

The first time I ever drove a Volvo was quite amusing. My truck was a Peterbilt, and it was too long to get into a particular dock in OKC. So the broker I worked for, let me borrow one of their company trucks. A daycab volvo. While driving down the interstate to get back to the customer, I got some pretty strange looks from people. You see, every time I would hit a joint in the road, I would bounce inside the truck and mash on the accelerator..... Vrroooommmm Vrroooooommmmm vrrooooommmmmm... Which of course it about every 20 feet on the concrete surface. A police officer riding beside me decided he would see what I was up to. When I explained the situation, he let me go but not before laughing at my expense!! He had also tried to move the seat for me, but no adjustment would help.

For the past 9-10 months I have been driving one such Volvo, but had no problems with the seat adjustment. The air controls in the seat were broken and the little bags looked like squishy brains hanging out of the side of it. But I was comfortable!!! Then, after having exhaust leaks for 2 months, my boss decided to put me back into my original truck from a year ago. This thing had problems from day one, but seemed to have had all the kinks worked out of her. The day I got back in her, my legs went numb!! It has a perfectly good seat with all controls working, the little bags make her seat up high, which is no good for me! I have been in pain and uncomfortable ever since.

Divine Intervention

Normally, I leave out on Saturday Nights..... I have a long drive ahead and its best to get a jump on the week.

Lately (about 4-6 weeks) I have been feeling a bit out of sorts.. Loss of appetite, disorientation, short term memory loss, paranoia, extreme exhaustion, and vehemently angry mood swings... Rage, if you will.

I have been wondering if all of this could be a result of the enormous amounts of stress I have been feeling recently at work. My neck and shoulders have been knotted up as well, so I assumed the rest was possibly a direct result too.

This past weekend, I had to cancel a family trip due to the fact that when I got in my car to drive, I was completely disoriented....So, I turned around after 30 minutes and headed back home...I just couldn't risk it...It would have been a 4+ hour drive.

Tonight, when heading out for work, I felt 100% normal. I loaded up my truck and grabbed my trailer. That is when I noticed the unmistakable smell of diesel exhaust. I had two other drivers sniff around my truck and both agreed that there was a leak. I had intended on leaving with it anyway and finding a shop. I reported this leak six weeks ago, and a clamp was tightened. Obviously the leak was not fully repaired. But the other drivers strongly encouraged me to go home and wait it out.

I made all the appropriate calls and headed home. After about an hour, the Boss calls me back and says, "Take the spare, there is absolutely nothing wrong with it."

So, I load back up and headed for the shop. I got the keys and guess what.... It was D E D.... Dead!! Only 8.7 volts, not even enough to pretend like it was going to crank. So, I called the boss. He said have the mechanic come jump it.... The mechanic lives an hour and a half away, and by this time it is 11pm.....

No thanks.

He is going to meet me in the morning...I just can't justify leaving at 1am, when I could sleep in my own bed.

Oh, and I forgot to mention, during my first attempt to leave, the handle used to raise the dolly legs broke off. So I did not even fully attach to the trailer before calling it off for the night.

So, is it just me, or does it seem like maybe there was a reason I should not be driving down the highways tonight...

After all, I made three attempts to head out and was unsuccessful at every turn.

Little Trucker Productions Presents

Another Little Trucker Video.......

Hope you enjoy!!

Blasted Shoes and Other Running Dilemmas

It has been nearly a month since I purchased those new shoes and even with a diligent effort of trying to break them in, they are not going to cooperate.

It seems that there is something to sticking with what ya got... So, I will make another attempt with New Balance. After all, they have done such a splendid job so far. AND, they are not quite as expensive as the unobtainable brand I was wanting to purchase.

I am also on my fourth attempt at trying to find a suitable set of earphones for my running excursions. It seems my feet are not the only miniature thing about me. My ears are also tiny. After purchasing three different styles of ear buds, it had becoming painfully obvious that nothing was going to stay in my little bitty ear. So I opted for some athletic variety of ear phones.

WOW, I did not even notice they were on my head and OMG, the quality.... Seriously, I had to look at my display screen several times to figure out what song was on because there were new notes and lyrics that I had never heard before, not on any other musical device or with any other headset. WTH??

And finally...

I was feeling a little trepidation in mentioning this because I did not want anyone telling me that I should not be running in the first place. But after a little research, I feel a bit more secure about it. You see, when I run, my hands swell up like balloons. At first I thought it might be something to do with circulation and that I could work it out eventually. Then it was mentioned that it might have something to do with diabetes. But I do not have any diabetic symptoms. So I perused the Internets and found out that a swelling of the hands is normal for some runners as long as the swelling goes away relatively quickly upon finishing the run. Mine does!! The only thing that concerns me is that this swelling is typical in long distance runners and well, 6 miles is not really long distance in relation to , say, a marathon runner. But okay, I feel better about it anyway.

How Could That Be Possible?

I have been doing really well with my running here lately. In fact, I had decided to add another mile. That would put me up to 6 miles at a time. However, not to be deceptive, it is not all running. I go for half mile stretches, alternating a fast walk with a not so fast jog. But hey, whatever it takes to keep me motivated right. I find this routine works very well for me.

My last time out, I incorporated the additional mile with no problems whatsoever. So, I decided to treat myself to a couple of rewards, so to speak. First, I ordered new ear buds for my mp3. The ones I have now do not stay in my ears while I am pounding the pavement, and my brother had found some that squish up into your ears for better staying power. Second, I thought some nice new running shoes were in order. Once again, my small feet betrayed me. No store within a 30 mile radius carries any type of athletic shoe in an adult 5. Frustrated and not wanting to wait for shipping delays through ordering on-line, I decided to purchase a child's running shoe. It was the exact same shoe, except the sole is thinner. and only half the price.

I put them on, they felt wonderful. I had been running in some really old cross trainers that were past worn out. So, today I slipped them on the new kiddie shoes and set out to conquer another 6 miles.



What The Hell. As I ventured out (it is a half mile walk to my course, which I do not figure into my accumulated distance) I noticed that I was walking as if I was flat footed. CLUMP CLUMP CLUMP. When I got down to the track and started running, it didn't take 100 feet for my calf muscles to scream out in protest. They were on fire!! Now I have been running for a year and surely during this period I have used those muscles before. I did manage to complete the first lap with an extremely painful look on my face. Hell, it was extremely painful to finish. The second lap (walking) was damn near as painful. CLUMP CLUMP CLUMP. But I remained determined.

Okay, so I wussed out at 5 Miles. And thankfully, the kiddie shoes were a little broken in by the time I gave up. Not to mention those angry muscles had loosened up a bit.

I think if I continue to wear them, they will be fine once they are broken in. But with the amount of pain they caused me today, I am tempted to go back to the old broke down cross trainers. They never once hurt me, at all!!

On the bright side, by the end of 5 miles and a lot of grimacing I am no longer flat footed! But now, my arches hurt! Hopefully that will go away as the shoes get worn. What do you think?

EDIT: A few hours later and now my arches and ankles are killing me. So much for not wanting to wait... I have bought the wrong shoe, childsize or not! I am an underpronator, which means I run/walk on the outside of my foot. The correct shoe is available in Huntsville and in my adult size. Looks like I am taking that trip to Bama. The shoe I purchased is for someone who pronates normally. Damn, that is why I went to a sports store, so the friendly KNOWLEDGEABLE staff could point me in the right direction. No wonder those muscles were screaming at me. More than likely they are not used often any way, in my underpronated stride.

I Don't Need This Crap

Do you remember waaaay back when I tried to chop my thumb off late one Saturday night. September 08, 2007.

That was during the transition of Trucking Companys.

I had paid a premium to continue my health care insurance until the new insurance took over. It took them over 6 weeks to process the payment, by which time the benefits were no longer in affect. However, there was that one little claim that needed to be paid. I was told I was not eligible for coverage when the claim was made. I told them to send me back my premium check (which they had happily cashed) and I would pay my own damn bills. They checked on a few things and decided to pay the claim......

No harm.... No foul.....

Well, they only paid the hospital's invoice. They have yet to render payment to the attending Physician.

So, for the past four months I had received a statement indicating I owe $634.00. For the past four months, I have contacted the insurance company regarding their refusal to pay... And of course, for the past four months they have assured me that it would be handled.

Today, I received another statement. It seems I am now the proud owner of a delinquent account as reported by one of the fabulous credit reporting agencies. In fact, two of them are holding this against me.. WTF !!

So, once again, in the morning I will contact both offices and I will not hang up the phone until this issue is resolved... I would have gladly paid the bill, had they not accepted my premium payment to begin with. But for the nearly $600 premium I paid, I think they should at least honor the freaking policy and pay the damn claim already.

That Sally Sure Is A Sweet Ride......

Lately I have spent alot of time complaining about stuff, so today I thought I would take an alternative approach.

Instead of complaining, maybe I should list what I am thankful for, Right...?? Okay , I will give it a try.


I am Thankful that I found out today that there were several things that I have yet to be compensated for concerning work. Things totalling up to about $300.oo. My direct deposit was short the past few weeks, and rather than be upset about this.... I feel better knowing that they just have not found the time to take care of it, you know, rather than trying to short change me!
And on the same note, my pay rate is based on miles driven and stops delivered, however, my paystub reflects HOURLY wages...... I have to request each week, to be notified of what they are paying me for... Believe me, I have driven several miles that were never paid!! Got to keep an eye of those folks.

I am also Thankful that the sutures that have come untied on my thumb, are the ones close to the shallow end of the cut. Maybe it will be able to remain closed and heal properly.

I am also Thankful for JACKS restaurants.. We do not have them in Georgia, they seem to be local to Bama only. So whenever I head over for a visit, inevitably I have to stop at Jacks and get a Swiss Mushroom Burger... I am Thankful that they agreed to make it without onions... I am thankful that the cook acknowledged "NO ONIONS"... I am Thankful for the yummy milkshakes that they have. I drove 3.7 miles off the interstate just to get a burger and shake..

I am Thankful for the two pillowcases and few shop towels that were in my trunk. When I dumped the entire milkshake into my car, those rags came in handy!!

I am Thankful for Summer being over, otherwise with all that sugary goodness I dumped into Sally, I would have a shitload of ants by the time I got home next week.. I will have to keep my fingers crossed on that one.... Still a possibility.

I am Thankful for having $3.03 to purchase another milkshake!! This time I checked to make sure the lid was secure.

I am Thankful that I did not sit down in the parking lot and cry my eyes out, even though I REALLY wanted to.

I am Thankful that by the time I got around to opening my burger, I was no longer hungry... Because it had NO MUSHROOMS, but plenty of onions.


*sigh*

Out With The Old.. in with the old

No new truck again this week..

Maggie has even more problems and will be spending an additional amount of time in the repair shop.

She is freaking NEW... She should not need repairs...

I do not want to fuss too much about the loaner truck I have been driving, in case it has found this blog....and can read....

At one point this week, it would not travel at more then 40 MPH.. I thought I blew a turbo, but nooooo. It was just being temperamental. I had a light load and still could not climb the mountains.... 23MPH to the top!! And on the way home, it lost all of its coolant and the truck shut down and would not crank.... That happened while I was sleeping.. Imagine waking up to a truck that won't start, sitting in a rest area somewhere outside of Scranton, PA with no cell phone service!! Hmpppphhhh. Lucky for me, I had enough bottled water to pour in to it. That got it started and allowed me to get to a truck stop to purchase coolant.


Grrrrrrr.....

Oh yeah, some of my stitches are coming untied......

Here's Your Sign........

While standing in line at Wendy's, the man in front of me noticed that I was favoring my left hand, being extremely cautious and protective.

He continues to sneak glances at me and finally musters up the courage to ask, " Did you cut your thumb?"

ME: Yeah

MAN IN FRONT OF ME: How did you do it?

ME: Oh, the usual way. With a sharp object.

MAN BEHIND ME: Here's your sign.....

The entire line of patrons, along with the crew at the counter completely busted up laughing.

I did feel bad for the fellow who had asked, so I continued to engage him in conversation.

ME: Actually, Halloween is coming up and I wanted to get a start on my costume....I am going as Frankenstein's Monster....


At least he laughed that time....

After posting my 36 hour recap on Saturday evening, I had a few loose ends to tie up before going to bed for the night. While I was in the kitchen, with sharp object in hand, a large dog came crashing against my doorway... The loud bang and furious barking startled me. Yep, you guessed it.....



That was at 10:30 PM....

I spent the next s.e.v.e.r.a.l. hours at the ER (my first visit). There was never really any pain, but the loss of blood was overwhelming.. I bet I lost at least a half pint.... SERIOUSLY!!

Okay, maybe there was a little pain, but not from the injury.... The only pain involved the DR ramming the needle into my poor little thumb, to numb it... I normally sing silly songs to distract myself from intense pain and/or anger. I was busy singing a Christmas Jingle and she laughed at me...

DR: Are you trying to distract yourself from the pain?

ME: Well, its either sing or punch you in the nose.

DR: ...... had a very shiny nose.....And if you ever saw it, you would even say it glows.

You know, the DR had a lovely singing voice!

I finally made it home and in the bed around 4AM.... I was suppose to leave for Philly at 8AM...Looks like another long week.



sigh