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!!

Brush With Celebrity

Could it get any better?

Seriously !!

On Sunday, whilst cruising about in a state of utter nonchalance, I found myself daydreaming while traversing the corridors of Virginia. It did not take me very long to come to my senses, when I noticed the familiar sight of flashing lights peeking out from behind my trailer.

What was I thinking !! I knew exactly where I was at, and the fact that I was in complete disregard for my location bit me in the arse. No, it was not a reduced speed zone. But, it is one that is watched with intense scrutiny. In fact, I believe the Smokey Bear who hangs out in this area has a mail box set up on the interstate ramp.

I pulled over to the side and although he gave me a warning for the speed, he did proceed to put me through a level 3 inspection. I assured him that he probably did not want to look at my log book, and he said he would be willing to take that risk. After 10-15 minutes he returned to my truck and gently reprimanded me for being negligent. I was not off by much, but enough to be required to send in some revenue. The sad part is that I was exactly where I was suppose to be, and legally able to be there. I just did not make note of it in my log book that day, or the prior day!! D'oh !! Hey, with all of this truck swapping, I am lucky if I even remember who I am.

After the initial meet and greet, reprimand and recovery from sticker shock, I asked the Officer if he knew he was indeed famous, or infamous, as the case may be.

"What do you mean?" he inquired.

" Well, Mr Smokey, YOU, SIR, are the famous burgundy wrapper that lives at the million dollar get-on ramp. All the truckers know about you!! I knew about you, but I was busy day-dreaming about fire-fighters and forgot to see if you were home" ( okay, I did not mention the firefighters) " Even I know about you, but I was waiting on my com padre to catch up and was busy day dreaming."

About that time, AA creeps by. Later, AA told me that he had never seen a Smokey Bear with such a big grin on his face.

The Smokey seemed pleased to learn of his reputation and as he puts it, " Well, I do work em over pretty hard!" He then waited for me to get ready to roll and escorted me back out onto the interstate. Of course for the next 30 miles, all I heard on the CB was how that dastardly Smokey was shaking his finger at the little girl.

HA! We know the truth, eh??

Double Your Pleasure

Here are a few facts that most of my loyal readers should be aware of.

I love New York!!

I love Men In Uniforms (Police, Firefighters, Servicemen)

Okay, that was fairly simple and since those are the only two facts that really pertain to this story, those are all I will be supplying.

Oh, another fact, you may not know. When at work, because I make multiple deliveries, I try to be the most efficient for everyone involved, primarily myself. You see, I get paid the same amount if I deliver the load in 2 days or 4. Therefore, I do not like delays, and am constantly rerouting myself to shorten my work day.

Last week, I had finished up with my Long Island drops and had one customer to deliver to in the Bronx. After that, I had to head back into New Jersey to catch my first scheduled delivery of the day. Why did I not deliver it first, you may ask. That is simple. The material was buried under stop number 4 AND the first customer hand unloads. Therefore, I had no choice but to work out a new strategy. After that, I would be heading up to Massachusetts. Yes, I am aware that I was back tracking, but if you can get the loaders to do any better, I will be eternally grateful.

SO.....heading into the Bronx, I made my turn into the neighborhood and was dismayed to see the road closed ahead. I hate getting off my beaten path, as there are plenty of one way streets, and although I am not above using them inappropriately under extreme circumstances, I prefer to go with the flow of traffic at all times if possible. The reason for the closure was obvious. There were 2 firetrucks sitting in the road with hoses discharging at full capacity. I made my way a few blocks south, ended up going the wrong way down a one-way and worked my way back towards the customer. The opposing street was also closed. More fire trucks. After a few more turns and illegal maneuvers, I got to the third section of the block closest to my customer, only to be halted again. This time it was as plain as the nose on my face that this delivery was going to be delayed. Three more fire trucks were parked and functioning. Only this time, they were parked in my unloading zone. Thankfully it was not my customer who was smoldering, but the empty warehouse across the street.

With my options running low, I set the brakes. Yes, I was parked in the road, but in New York, these things are often overlooked. I began the trek towards the customer, hoping to see a familiar face and get an opinion of the situation. I noticed a fireman standing close by and I sashayed up to him with a gleam in my eye.

"Excuse me, Man In Uniform, ( purr) could you tell me how long this might take, as I need to make a delivery right there?"

The Fireman looked at me, looked at the smoldering building, checked his watch, and grinned from ear to ear as he replied, " Well, now Little Lady, this might take awhile."

We spent the next few minutes chatting away. We worked out a signal, and off he went to save the day. After several minutes, he waved his hat at me signalling that they were about to wrap it up and as soon as the ladder truck was loaded, they would be out of my way.

I am such a dork. Who else do you know that would saunter up to a fireman whilst on duty (even though the flames were already extinguished) and proceed to charm the reflective strips off his gear. Leave it to me. I do not do this intentionally. I am just a friendly person. And ohhhh, how I loves me a man in uniform.

Dont Try This At Home

or anywhere for that matter.

What I am about to tell you is so ridiculously funny and embarrassing, but I thought it was too good to not pass along.

Last night, I decided to go running after I arrived at my destination. It was a tad bit late, and although I did not leave the immediate vicinity, I still took precautions to ensure a reasonable amount of safety. I carry certain items with me, in case of emergency type items. This includes my phone, and some sort of weapon. Sure, if I was to be attacked I might not do much damage to a big hulking man, but I do want to do some damage.

After finishing my run and cleaning up, I retrieved the weapons and was going to stow them away.

The safety latch was off.

I accidentally hit the trigger.

and shot a mist of pepper spray into the cab of my truck. Although I did not spray myself directly, the mist almost instantaneously took affect. I shut my eyes the instant I realized what I had done, thankfully!! My nasal passages and mouth were not so lucky. My mouth started to burn and my sinuses went numb and began to flow like a water tap. I made a not so successful dive for the drivers side window to allow fresh air into the truck, but managed to stumble over the gear shifter and almost do a face plant in the steering wheel. The only thing I could even remotely compare it to would be eating a spoonful of Wasabi in one bite. I have had a lot of wasabi, and this was more painful than the largest dosage of the good stuff that I have ever been brave enough to swallow.

I did get the windows down and turned the ac fans on full blast to try and extricate any remaining fumes. It was only a tiny blast and cleared out quickly, but I had a sack full of snotty rags from trying to stop the nasal drainage. My eyes were never affected as I stumbled about blindly, and I suppose that was the funniest part, or maybe it was me hanging my head as far out of the window as humanly possible, reminiscent of a dog going for a joy ride with his tongue lashing about.

Unless you take into consideration that I did this to myself!! Yep, that is pretty darn funny too!!

Local Driver: Do Not Follow

This seems to happen to me quite frequently when cruising around the streets of New York...

Several weeks ago, I was coming off of the Triborough Bridge into Queens and at the bottom of the ramp is a Truck Detour. The detour is actually just placing all trucks onto the service road for less than a mile to go around a low clearance bridge, but there is no trick to the detour. Just stay to the right....Because I have numerous stops in and around the city, I take for granted that there are some individuals who do not know the "routes" and may just happen to be following me, thinking I am taking the Truck Detour. One such fellow did just that. He got to the detour sign which pointed to the right and watched me make a right turn. So he followed. After several blocks, he asks over the CB if I am indeed taking the detour. I just felt horrible for him because I was not, and now he had no idea where he was at, and I can assure you, in New York, that is not a good feeling. Luckily, my customer was on a route that would very easily send him back to the interstate.

Today, I was cruising around the Bronx and noticed a Western Express truck sitting on the side of the road. As soon as I passed, the truck makes a dive into the street behind me. We go through several lights and just as I am preparing to turn to make my delivery, the radio comes alive.

"hey driver, are you going to the interstate?"

Oh, no, not again!! This time it was a young lady and she had been sitting patiently waiting for a truck to pass, so she could be guided back to the Big Road. She noticed ME and commenced to following. This time, it did not end so pleasantly. My customer is just about the last turn before you have no more options in a Truck. The ramp for the interstate was previously just a few blocks away, but had been closed for YEARS!! If she followed me, well, I was going to be double parked for awhile unloading and there was no room on that particular block for her to park. I gave her some quick instructions as to how she might manage to get back to New Jersey, but I don't think she understood what I was trying to tell her. I am sure she was nervous as hell, and maybe even a little scared. I know I was the first time I got lost in Queens. I feel just horrible for her!! Because I was unable to lead her out as I did with the last fellow.

But seriously, if you ever get lost....Do NOT follow the first truck that passes you. They may not be leading you to safety... I have led more than a few drivers into unfamiliar territories and at no fault of myself.

I really do feel horrible for her, because if she missed the first turn I told her about.....well, she will definitely not do it again. I hope she made it out okay.

Positive Influences

Sunset in The Ozarks

A few weeks ago ( or longer) I had the pleasure of running out to Texas and along the way, got to meet up with fellow blogger Gabsatrucker. We were able to spend a few hours together chatting away like two schoolgirls and seem to get along quite splendidly. Gabby is so awesome and extremely devoted to keeping fit. I told her I had lost motivation and she was able to give me a magazine that had a section directed at starting a new running program and a guideline to follow.

She also said to me that it is not important how hard you strive as long as you get moving! Essentially I believe she meant that even if you cannot go out and run long and hard, at least just get out there. ( Forgive me, as these are not direct quotes, but I am exhausted and well, you get the jest of it).

So, I began a newly modified version of this program and have been quite successful at keeping up with it. It is a slow starter, but I am apt to push to hard and burn out after a few months, so this is doing wonders for building my stamina and encouraging motivation. The only problem I seem to be having is that I cannot always find the time to run. I know, sounds like another excuse, but after a 14 hour day of non-stop deliveries along with 3 to 4 hundred miles of driving, 10pm is just not the best time to get out and run in some of my delivery neighborhoods.

Tonight I ran into that exact problem. After driving 596 miles, dusk was catching up with me very quickly. I had to get fuel before I could allow myself time for a run, and fueling could not be done until I got close to the end of my day. I expressed my dismay to a friend, and he concurred that I should be happy with the fact that the desire is so strong, but some days I will just not be able to do it. The more I thought about it, the more it sounded like an excuse! So, I got my run in tonight. I will not settle for excuses anymore. It was a boring run around a parking lot but I got it done and satisfied my need.

Anyways, I have completely digressed. My point is that Gabby has made such a positive influence upon me, and her husband is awesome too! I had the pleasure of visiting with them last week, again. This time we set out on an approximate 2.5 mile walk across the Big Dam Bridge. Such a beautiful place! Afterwards we grabbed a bite to eat and chatted some more. I am really grateful I have gotten to meet these two wonderful people!! and the influence reaches even further.

Due to my enthusiasm, my niece and nephew have also been bitten by the bug. When I am at home, they often ask to tag along on my running adventures. Of course, because they are young, I take them to the local track so I can keep an eye on them. Last week, they went with me and both of them were able to complete 2 miles easily. They opted to rest while I finished up my workout, but I just think that is so awesome!!

Anywho, way past time for bed and I no longer make sense to myself, but I just felt the need to share!!

Chinese Fire Drill

After spending the previous week begrudging the extended stay in Maggie, I was anxious to get back to Frankentruck. I called the Three Stooges to see if any repairs had been made, and should I anticipate getting him back.

Moe (shop foreman) informed me that although he, himself had witnessed the problem, the local Volvo shop could not find anything in need of repair. Therefore it was sent back to our yard untouched. However, there were a few minor needs to be addressed, such as a slow air leak and replacing the inverter. The air leak was a simple replacement of an O ring and the new inverter had been delivered.

I allowed myself to feel elated.

The installation of the inverter did not go as planned. Instead, when mounting the box, Moe inadvertently positioned the screw so that it would pierce through the auxiliary air conditioner, therefore releasing all the freon and placing Frankentruck back on the dead line for another week. I was told the new unit was ordered and would be replaced before I returned home from my next excursion. However, this left me in a dilemma. I absolutely refuse to ever be the Master and Commander of Miss Maggie Mae, ever again. That left me moving into yet another truck for this weeks adventure. The Stooges thought I may be opposed to this idea, but after the way Maggie has treated me, I was more than happy to pack up and move.

Well, not really happy about it. I wished I had been getting back into Frankentruck, but with no auxiliary air, I was WILLING to make the swap for something drivable, as Maggie is not.

The newly acquired loaner had only one thing wrong with it. A crack in the windshield. That's it! Now why should I have been opposed to borrowing it? I am not sure why the mechanics would assume that, after all, I am just looking for a decent vehicle to drive. This one had NO PROBLEMS. I made my weekly deliveries and once again phoned into the shop to inquire about the AC repair. D'oh !! It seems that possibly someone had forgotten to order it. Part delivery could happen on Friday, and I could very well be climbing back on my trusty steed come Sunday, but I am not holding my breath.

Hmmmmm, with all this truck swapping ( 4 moves in 5 weeks ) I should be getting really good at it. In fact, I think I set a record time of less than 15 minutes with the last swap. And just so you know, I do tend to over pack!! There is bedding and clothes, food, dishes, cooler, microwave, tools, paperwork, radio, entertainment (cd's and gadgets) cleaning supplies, cases of water and basic necessities that go hand in hand with pulling a flatbed. And, yes, that it just the junk I am moving from one truck to another. I do like to be prepared, even if I am only on the road for 4 days!

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.

       

Maggie Mae

Last week when I turned Frankentruck over to the shop, I was told I would be taking Maggie out for a spin this week.  I felt very little apprehension about saddling her up again because she supposedly had her exhaust components replaced. Maggie is the truck who poisoned me with her exhaust to the point that I had absolutely no comprehension of where I was at....I was in Atlanta, a city I lived near and have driven through thousands of times.

The good news is that she did not have her exhaust problems repaired because  some MAN said she had a leak. The bad news, she did not have her exhaust problems repaired, at all. Grrrrrr!!

This trip has done nothing but fuel my animosity towards  several individuals and create even more tension in my muscles, and I have not even made my first delivery. Fourteen in all this week.

You see, the problem is once I took hold of the reins, it was immediately obvious that she had numerous defects. I do not care to mention what they are, but I will say that I am having to be extremely conscientious of every move I make, as well as every move that is being  made around me. I do this as a normal course of action, every week. But this week, my vigilance is tenfold.  

I have always known that Maggie was a problem child. I have written a book of repair requests. I finally threw in the towel, and washed my hands of her on March 19th.....

Since that time, she has been driven approximately 17,000 miles. The Mayor had custody of her for two weeks, during which time he had called me to confirm every negative thing I had ever said about her.  He had her for two weeks.  And during this two week period, he never once gave her one bad mark on his daily inspections. NOT ONE!!  

Needless to say, when I climbed aboard to take her for a trip into New England, I absolutely came unglued to find out that not a single thing has been repaired since the very last time I set my arse in her driver's seat. I had left a write-up of 4 very important safety repairs on March 19th. None of which have been addressed.

I give the mechanics a substantial amount of written abuse based on their inability to make the necessary repairs, but if drivers don't not bother to write up defects, just how much blame actually belongs to the mechanics.  Sure, they do not address my needs....For that, I have my grievances....But the Mayor had Maggie for two weeks and gave her a clean bill of health every day. 

Essentially, I gave up Frankentruck for critical  repairs, only to get back into the deathtrap  that is Miss Maggie Mae.  I am  absolutely astonished that the Mayor could be so negligent. But then,  a lot of drivers are. 

And yes, I do have the exhaust headache, which tends to make me very hostile. And for the record, driving with the windows down does keep the cab air clean, but even at 15 mph, you smell exhaust IN the truck. I am absolutely livid at this point, so I should just publish this post and be done with it......

If anybody has a spare set of shoulders I can rest my weary head on, I will be more than happy to pay for postage....

One is the Magic Number

I recently recall pleading for just ONE week of trucking with no issues, and much to my surprise, I got it...I ran a Texas load that week.

The next week, I found myself camping out in New Hampshire  while Frankentruck went through some more repairs....

I then decided to ask for two consecutive weeks of no worries. But it looks like ONE is the only option available to me at this time...I suppose I really shouldn't complain too much, as I am never stranded.  I normally diagnose the symptoms before they actually become major problems. This alleviates any wait time I may have otherwise been forced to endure sitting on the shoulder of the interstate.

Well...Can you guess what I am about to tell you?  Oh come on, be more specific.  I bet you cant guess which part of the truck needs to be repaired. 

That's okay! I will be happy to share. It seems I may have a broken motor mount.  If I feather the throttle, there is no indication of anything wrong, but if you want to test out my theory, just get in a traffic jam and try to close the door on someone who raced up in the lane beside you only to cut you off at the last minute....Ummmm...Okay, what I meant to say was, if you apply fast hard pressure to the fuel petal, you will feel a certain amount of "slack" give way followed by a loud "clunk" noise. Again, if you remove your foot from the throttle, you will feel the same thing. As long as you are gentle, you will never notice it..... Don't know how long it may have been this way, but I did notice my truck does not recover from the potholes of New England as well as it should.  Could be the slight rocking of the motor???  Differential?? Universal joints??  Anyway, there is slack, and there is noise...Clunk!!!

Well, you will be very proud to know that when I wrote up the repair request, I used my best blonde wig and simply said. " There is a funny loud noise when you put your foot on the thingy..." (coooo, giggle, cooooo, smile, bat eyelashes).......They found the noise and I will be borrowing Maggie for next weeks adventure.....

Seems to be a good time to get 1) the inverter replaced   and   2) the leaking brake valve on the dash replaced.  Or I could just save that for another time. Say after I have had ONE good week in the truck!  LOL.....