Thursday - late afternoon

Work was relatively short today. Traffic is much lighter than normal now that school is out. I am not really running into any traffic jams and I find it amazing how much traffic is out there when school is in session. I thought all of that was work related traffic, not school stuff.  Anyways, it means it takes about 15-20 minutes less to get up there.

And then, this time, their system was just short of half full, a far better cry than the almost completely empty it's been the last 2 times I was up there.  Offloading also went much faster than the last several times where it's been taking an hour and 20 minutes versus the 47 minutes it took today. So, I got home early, much earlier than normal. 

Fine by me. 

I just got a call a few minutes ago from the septic company - they are coming out next week. Umm, you do know that that system isn't working at all right now?  Well I'll let Randy know, he probably knows. I replied yes, he probably knows.  I guess it hasn't been working for a while now, what's a few more days?  They aren't going to charge much more than it would cost me to go out and rent a ditch witch and buy the wiring so I would rather have them do it. They are also going to pump out the tanks, the whole thing is going to cost $950. It is what it is. There is no do-it-yourself pump-out-the-tanks setup that I'm aware of lol.

The kids are coming home from church camp tomorrow.  A relatively short camp - they left Tuesday afternoon and coming home Friday afternoon. So that's only 3 days.  I only lament a little because it cost $175 per child.  I was thinking it was going to be for a whole week.  The kids are assigned to a camp counsellor, different one for each cabin and they take pics and send them out daily. We have like 40 pics now of them, they appear to be having a good time.

This is the first time they have been sent out on something like this so it will be interesting to not only hear their tales of glorious conquest but also asking the camp counselors how they did and more pointedly, how the youngest behaved? They haven't called us, but as I have stated before, they know all about him and had a plan in place if he started going haywire.  He probably has more latitude there than what he gets at home, but that's natural anyway. Home there are rules, camps - yes there are rules but there isn't as much rigidity. 

To that end, I ended up asking the manager for super early load, if he could ask the plant if I can come in early. The reason being is that mom has to be at work 2 towns over all day long - it's the end of the school year and that coincides with what she does for a living and there is a lot of paperwork she has to complete.  I just need to be home before noon thirty, that's the expected arrival time.  I don't necessarily believe that, but ok.  If they say 12:30, it's probably more like 1 or 1:30.  Kids "I have to go to the bathroom". Oh? pull over to the side of the road, see that tree? Lmao. 

Ooh, I could run an extension cord temporary for the septic system. Yes! That would be easy, it's just 110 volt running a pump.  It pumps air into the vaults and also pumps the water out at the final vault into sprinklers.  It's not what I wanted, really, I would have rather had underground leach fields but the clay in the ground makes that impossible.  The water simply won't be absorbed into the ground and you would have a backed up system constantly.  

No, an extension cord won't do unless I want to cut the connectors at the ends off. That would waste a very expensive cord, tho I could just buy replacements and screw them back on.  I might have some wire around somewhere.....I'll have to look.  Do you know how much long, heavy duty extension cords cost now? It's unbelievable.  

They have also raised the price of having the tanks pumped out to $500 per truckload.  That's ridiculous.  It started at $350 I think then to $400, then to $450 and now to $500 in just a few year's times?  I have no control over that and even if inflation comes down, I doubt they will ever bring prices back down. That's the way it works. Someone makes an excuse to raise prices and then everyone down the line raises their prices as well.  But once that system gets filled up with toilet paper and such, there is nothing you can do, you have to have it pumped out. Oh how I wish there was city sewer here along with the city water we have. But, city water is a blessing at least, there is that.

Highs are expected to be in the mid 90's starting tomorrow. That's hot.  Blazing saddles. Hades on earth. No, not really, but with humidity and other factors not found in desert regions, it feels the same.  

 Wednesday - evening

I had a guy come over and do some weed eating last week. I asked him to clean up the area around the septic system, it was overgrown and they need access to keep tabs on it.  They being the septic company and yes, I have to have a company do a monthly inspection apparently that's state law - for commercial operations, not household residences.  He informed me there was fluid coming out of the thing and it was disgusting.  

Say what? I went over there this morning before getting into the truck and sure enough.  Raw sewage flowing out the top of on of the tanks. Enough pressure to push the edge of the lid up and allow the fluid to escape.  

Well I don't know when they came out last for it was obvious that raw sewage had been pumping out the sides of one of the tank lid for quite a while now.  There is an entire lake of poop, pee, toilet paper and whatever else over there where the sewage flowed downhill. It is absolutely disgusting and I"m going to have to have a discussion with them about this "inspection" they are allegedly doing for $30 a month, payable in advance to the tune of $360 check per year.  

And I can tell ya, it was my fault. Unknowingly  of course, but nevertheless, my fault.  The power line to the aerator pump had been severed when I was digging doing the trenching.  That was a while ago, that means that system hasn't worked since then.  Gross.  I almost wish guests would have noticed the smell so I could have gotten it fixed sooner.  

I had actually thought about that power line when i was trenching but I didn't think it would go through the area I was digging for it would be out of the way. I had no idea where the line was tbh, I was working when they were doing a lot of the work of building that park.  I'd come back and take pics, yes, but they had already done the work and filled the trenches back up.  

I dunno, but the guy said it needs a new line and recommended having the tanks pumped out. Yup, I knew the tank pumping was going to come with this after seeing it this morning, I asked why they can't just fix the line instead of replacing the whole thing? Well it's pretty torn up.  If it's me, I'm going to Lowe's buying enough line to cut it into the damaged portion, connecting it and be done with it. But, I wanted it done and so I just authorized it. I'm sure that bill won't be fun. 

This is why I stopped with the trenching operation.  How much more damage can I do? Probably nothing now, I've already managed to somehow find every single thing that could be damaged in that area and tear it to shreds.  

My sleep has been so bad that when the nights come that I do sleep well, it's too much. And so it was today that I woke up groggy and out of it to the point that when I came home, I passed out on the bed and fell into a deep sleep. Not good.  You really don't want to do that in the middle of the day, it will probably affect your sleep the coming night.  I have no idea, I hope not.  

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Well it's almost bedtime now. It's rare that I actually finish a post in one setting, I usually end up having to do something or eat dinner or go somewhere.  This time it was a proposition for "you fly, I'll buy" for a Starbucks and of course, I will fly, I like Starbucks regardless of the sentiment against the establishment.  There is a Huey's coffee house in town that just opened up - they spent a small fortune on that place and I wasn't impressed with their coffee. Not to mention there is no indoors.  You walk up or drive up, but you can't walk into the place. They have outside seating. Some of it in the shade, some of it in the open sunlight. That should work well in the summer!

Then there's a 7 Brews that opened up last year, distinctly dislike their coffee.  And then there is a vet owned coffee truck called War Daddy which isn't too bad and I do like supporting vets.  

After that? Nothing. Well, some pushups. And for now? Time for bed. 

G'nite. 

 Tuesday - early afternoon

I got up at 3:50 am, got my stuff done and got busy driving the truck.  They wanted me there early so I could be in and out of there before another driver was to show up.  The problem? Not a problem, just a situation.  The other driver is basically OTR with this run.  He loads, delivers same day, loads delivers, etc.  He wants to do that, more power to him, I do NOT.  And I don't have to, so there is that. 

However...

When I was up there at the receiving plant 2 days ago (Sunday), I was shocked to find both tanks almost completely empty. They were glad to see me! I had no idea we were so far behind.  I was out 5 days sick and then before that, they had me doing the Ennis run and then they had 5 trucks break down all at once.  A driver quit and another driver refuses to do more than 2 loads per week. All well and fine, but if we get into trouble, perhaps his @$$ can help out just a little bit more and keep things afloat. 

But who am I? Just a person that doesn't want to go looking for another job right now because we lost our contract.  Don't read that wrong, we haven't lost the contract but who knows if we're close to doing so? They had to have 3 truckloads delivered up there from another company in the last 2 days because of our dilemma.  

One thing that hasn't made sense to me since I joined this company is the idea that trucks are breaking down but they don't rent tractors to fulfill their obligations? 

Anyway, I am likely working for-ever lol. No, I don't know.  If they can't get some OTR drivers to haul a few loads to get the tanks filled up again, I will be busy until they can get them in.  

One thing that was nice about today and getting done super early? I was back in time to see the boys off to church camp.  It's a camp somewhere south of Houston so at least 4 hour drive from here.  They are on the road now.  I predict the older boy will have an absolute blast and the younger boy will have numerous meltdown over minor, petty or even non-existent stuff. Just hoping they don't call us to come down there and get him.  Put him in time out the rest of the time there, I don't care, just don't make us come get him. 

They know all about him, btw, this isn't something they were going in blindly about.  They had already had a meeting a few months ago about this kid and what they were going to do with him if he goes south in his attitude. It's almost guaranteed he will. He won't get his way about eating, a game, another kid, whatever and he'll have a literal meltdown. Face burning right, feet stomping, mouthy. 

I have addressed him several times quite directly in the last few weeks for I am quite sick of it. Especially the sass and talking back shit.  I let loose on him not too long ago after he started yelling at me, I shut him down.  He freaked out because at that point I was angry. No, I didn't do anything to him, I just had my voice raised considerably and no one was doing anything but hearing me.  Even mom didn't try to stop me.. Why should she? We are all fed up with this boy's attitude.

Yesterday, I told him to do something and he started getting mouthy with me. It was outside in front of the house.  I completely shut him down and spoke right over the top of him telling him to go to his room.  He kept trying to talk over me - he tries to get mom to take sides - which never works but he tries anyway.  Then he'll trash her as well.  An incorrigible child as far as I'm concerned, I'm not tolerating any more of it. I sent him to his room, he went stomping off and whatever. 

He came back out 5 minutes later. I thought I told you to go to your room? I did!  GO BACK, NOW.  Another meltdown, I didn't care.  Stomping.  Blah blah blah.  Eventually I went in and had a short discussion with him and he was good for the rest of the day, amazingly enough.  I can tolerate a lot, but that sass and backtalking I cannot deal with.  There is no way he should be talking to adults like that. 

I finally did it today. I have been contemplating it for several days and I realized that it would be foolish not to do what I did today.  What did I do that was so hard to pull the trigger on? Pay off around 24k in credit card debt.  I reeeeeally didn't want to spend the money mom gave me on that kind of stuff, but I really thought about it.

Some of that stuff would have taken years to pay off and it would have cost far more in interest than paying it off now.  I just felt I was being saddled with debt and I have been really irritated about it lately.  After paying off 5 cards which was most of the debt - there's still a little bit more but it's less than 2k, I'm waiting to see how far the account goes down after all of that hits for I want X amount of cash in the bank,  I felt soooo much better!  It's going to free up over $800 per month in credit card payments, that's no small chunk of change.  

And the other thing is that I will now have tractor payments for 5 years I think it is.  I needed to dump some debt load to be able to easily afford those payments.  I'm back into a budget frenzy. Looking through everything and seeing where I can save some money. For me, Dish Network is a no brainer.  It's over $100 per month and I rarely even watch it anymore. 

I can't believe how much I had racked up in credit card debt. Not just that amount but that other loan paid off a lot of it as well. I still have 4 years on that loan.  But I can't pay that off now, it would leave me with too small amount of money in the bank.  Yes, I have gotten much better with credit cards, I rarely use them now.  They're good to have around, especially with a business, but I have too many of them. If you cancel them, it really hits your credit score and I still have other loan considerations to take into account.

Expanding the park and amenities for the park. I do not have the cash for that - well I can do the front portion that I was already working on, I am referring to the back portion that I got a bid on and if I thought I could get a loan, I - well right now I wouldn't do it.  I am not getting that many calls and tho I do have some people coming in, I just can't justify a loan. I need amenities to draw people in with. A pool and a building.  A large building.  

A building that can be divided up into a laundromat, a tv room, an office, possibly a game room and a c-store. I'm not really sure how I would do it, I have done zero research into it for it's just not in the cards - yet.  

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Long interval. Like almost time to go to bed. Fortunately, I don't have to get up at 3:50 am, I do have to get up at 5:30 am but that's a substantial difference in my world.  

Applebee's called me back - I've been going to that one for some 11 years now, service complaint of which they "promised to fix".  I wouldn't make such a complaint at a place I frequent if it weren't bad, like seriously bad.

And the John Deere people called but I didn't feel like talking to them so I just let the call go through.  We'd like to discuss with you your recent purchase...the local store calling tho, not some third party questionnaire group.  

And nothing else. The kids are gone, the house is quiet and that's amazing.  

 Friday - afternoon

Final day of work freedom. I spent most of it in bed so it wasn't like a vacation or anything. But, I am feeling much better today thankfully, sort of need to go back to work.

We - we being the kids and I, mom was at work - took the tractor over to the property, I had no problem getting it off. I thought I might because of the way the dude drove it up on there like it was -- difficult or something. Nope. It came off smoothly and without any problems at all really.  I then proceeded directly to the back of the RV park and plowed down the grass and weeds, almost all of it.  

This machine is 1,000% better than that thing I was using from the kid.  They're not even in the same world if you're talking functionality.  Mine is hydrostatic, his was old and completely manual. You had to push the clutch in for everything.  This? No clutch at all, it's pretty much the same as an automatic car.  Put it in gear and then forward and reverse are just separate pedals, no hand work at all.  There are levers all over the thing, of course, but it didn't take long at all to figure everything out.  So much easier and simpler operation.  

And the motor is very powerful, I am extremely glad I opted for the higher HP engine.  It's a smooth ride in the park, this thing is worth every penny I am paying for it.  

There is the entire front to do, but I figured not to push it too much, I have to get up at 5:30 am tomorrow - Saturday - don't want to tempt fate and get sick all over again.  We went to IHOP after that - remember, kids are on summer break as of yesterday early afternoon. Gone 3 days next week, we'll get a much needed break from them.  Love them to death, just it can get trying with young kids constantly full of energy and wanting this, that, the other thing, the house, the moon and the stars to boot. It's endless, trust me that is not an exaggeration. 

If I would have thought about it and touched on it yesterday in this blog...I just should have bought a new tractor 2 plus years ago.  Then again, I was helping the kid out. He's starting out in life, he has some sort of heart problem that he needs surgery for, was going to school, working a job and helping out on his family's farm.  He's now making at least $36 per hour fresh out of school, that's what SWEPCO (power company) pays them if they graduate.  

So, I guess I won't regret helping a person out that isn't lazy, has a good work ethic and just trying to get started in life. 

But now, I need to focus on getting the 3 empty lots filled up.  I forgot to take pics, dangit.  I'll have to go back over there.  I need pics and get ads running all over Facebook.  I won't use Google ads, they are useless. Pay a lot of money for nothing in return. Facebook ads are far cheaper as well and I usually get some results out of it.  The money is needed to pay off debt for the upgrade project - I spent several thousand on it already beyond the septic system and I want it paid off sooner than later - and I need more money to get those 4 lots finished.  

Why finish those lots when you have 3 empty? Because this stuff comes in waves.  You go without anyone calling for a lot to 50 people in a month calling.  It's crazy the way it works. Last year I probably turned away 50 people wanting a place to stay.

Now, I do have some prospects that are interested in coming and moving in there, but I don't count my chickens before they hatch, not in this industry.  People say they are coming and don't. They find something else and don't bother to tell you about it.  I am at a distinct disadvantage to other parks with not having a main building to have an office, a C store, game room, Tv room, whatever. A gathering place.  I'd love to have a deli, but that isn't really a thing unless you have enough spots to warrant a full time employee to run the thing. 

Since I don't have those amenities, I cut throat my rates and advertise the fact that my park is closer to town then any of them.  My park is cheaper and my park is easily the quietest park in the entire region.  I am a mile and a half away from the Interstate and several miles away from 59, a mile away from 43.  The first 2 are heavily used highways filled with truck traffic and those other rv parks are right next to or very close to them. NOISE NOISE NOISE all the time.  

You pick the best attributes you have and work with it.  It brings people in, but mostly the pricing is what gets people in there, that and the quiet part.  Students like it because it's close to all 3  colleges, tho the university if further away, it's still closer than any other park around.  They don't want to waste time going to school and they don't have a lot of money (usually, sometimes the parents are financing everything).  

That gives me an idea. I haven't even targeted the students! What a crock, I should have been doing that a long time ago. I get there are posting boards and internet rooms with students where I could post my park.  

 Thursday - night

Definitely still under the weather. I am getting better but not that much yet. At least the headaches are mostly gone.  That was annoying, an all day long headache I couldn't get rid of.  

Anyway, the boys got home from school early - earlier than I anticipated but not by a terrible amount. Mom was busy all day long with work, happy to help out if I"m not working or otherwise doing something that I have to get done.  

So, I decided we'd go get a bite to eat and then head over there to the tractor place, otherwise known as United AG and Turf, ergo: John Deere. If you look it up, it will tell you that John Deere was founded in 1837, long before gasoline or diesel engines were even invented much more an every day thing that you basically must have in this "modern" world.  

Now, I bought John Deere not just because of name brand and highly regarded reputation, no, that actually wasn't my top priority.  They have a very large store covering a few acres of property in town with a complete service shop. That's what did it for me.  I have extended warranty coverage and some plan for replacement parts including the expensive stuff if it goes on the whack.  A relative few extra dollars.  

Anyway, I don't want to have to drag a machine 25, 30, 40 even 45 miles each way to get the machine to a shop.  I don't have time for that or the desire.  John Deere is the only tractor store in town here. But boy do they have the selection.  From absolutely mammoth machines down to itty bitty little things.

Mine is bigger than itty bitty but certainly doesn't compare to those monster farm machines, I don't need anything that big and frankly, it wouldn't work.  This unit is hydrostatic, not clutch driven. That old Kubota the kid had over there was nice to have around but it was a pain to use. Push the clutch in for everything and slow.  I got the larger engine and I think I made the right decision on that. A few thousand more but the extra horsepower will get dirt jobs done easier.  

They also sell a hoe attachment for it, but at 12 grand I scoffed. No thank you. I use one of those every once in a while, if I absolutely have to have one, I'll just keep renting them.  They are near $500 per day rental, but at maybe twice a year? No need for it.  I was trying to keep the payment at around the cost of an RV lot. I was already giving the lot away for a couple of years in exchange for tractor use, now I wonder if I shouldn't have just bought the unit at the get go and have 2 years of payments behind me already....oh well. 

Anyway, after seeing the unit sitting there in it's green glory, I was very pleased with the purchase.  It's much easier operation than a manual setup, MUCH easier.  I wasn't very happy that people who came in after me were getting taken care of before me.  I had texted the salesman who asked me to let them know before I showed up he would make sure they have it ready. 

Nahh, bro. 2 other customers were taken care of before me.  I guess a form of discrimination in that they were obviously spending a lot more money and likely frequent customers.  I was actually on the verge of leaving - they can call me and I'll tell them exactly what was happening and how I felt about it, they can deliver the thing now or cancel the contract and I'll go out of town for my tractor needs.  Oh, I don't mind discrimination such as race or gender or whatever, just that you know that many businesses will give better service to repeat customers, especially if they're spendy.

Applebee's would be my example.  I go there often enough they all know me by name, they know where we want to sit and they know what we are drinking before we say a word.  I've been going in there for at least a decade now. It seems unfathomable that I have lived out here this long.

Well, they came up to my truck where we were waiting and said, well that guy just has to chain down his tractor and we can load you up. Some other dude came out and asked why not just ask that guy to move? He must have seen me sitting there patiently - trying to be patient anyway - waiting for some time now and I agreed. PLENTY of room up ahead of him and that tractor isn't going to magically fall off the trailer moving it 50 feet at 3 mph.

That guy that came out ended up being far more helpful than this salesman. Note that this salesman wasn't the one I was dealing with to purchase the unit. They had a yard worker drive the think up on there and then I asked where the tie down holes are? Well, there aren't any. 

Now that is kind of weird. MOST heavy equipment has holes built into them for chains to tie it down, the manufacturers know you have to chain down heavy equipment in order to haul it anywhere.  Just think after all of this time in the business they would have thought of that.  Anyway, the guy said well, just my input and you don't have to do anything I'm saying, but this is how I do it...

Yes please, I have no idea where you would chain this thing down without damaging it, at least not without studying it for quite a while.  We got it all nicely chained down and they were kind enough to put air in my trailer tires. They looked fine - until all that weight was driven up on it.  They were half flat.  Yikes! They filled all the tires up - they are newer tires that trailer just doesn't get used that often. Nice to have around when I need it but I really, really, reeeeeally didn't want to have to go out and buy a new trailer for this thing. It worked out nicely.

Well, I headed down I-20 to the next exit to get to my property but it started raining and I was running out of steam. Still sick, you know. Just wanted to get this done and over with. So, I got off at that exit and drove home instead.  It's parked in the front yard. I want to get a tracking device for it. One of those GPS things you hide on it in case it's stolen. But I have a good place to park it where a person or people would have to go way out of their way to steal it and would be doing it in plain view of tenants.  I have some good people in there now. I let them do things and in return, they watch out for me and my stuff. 

I've got another long term coming in soon, well they say they are anyway and another coming for a month or two.  Trying to get all the lots filled back up, I have 3 empties right now.  

That's about it. It did rain today but nothing like the forecast was showing. I didn't do much after the tractor affair.  Sleep, cook dinner, made the unfortunate decision to succumb to demands to go for a bike ride and just watched tv and played a few games after that. Oh, and one of the kids fell off his bike. Nasty fall.  I forced him to put a bag of ice on that knee, he was complaining at first but after a while, ohh this is working!

G'nite.  

 Thursday - morning

I slept the best sleep last night that I have had in quite a while. 9 solid hours. I was soooo tired when I went to bed last night I was really hoping to get some good z's in.  This is what helps you get over sickness more than anything, good quality sleep. 

It was 8 am before I finally said enough, it's time to get out of bed, but perhaps I should have slept  longer? It's an hour and a half later and I still feel like I could go right back to sleep and stay that way a couple more hours.  I might just do that.  I'd rather get better than "go do things".

The kids last day of school is today and they are getting early release. Mom says they should be getting home by around 12:45.  About 3 hours earlier than normal. I'm really not ready to have kids around like that, it can get old quickly. They still aren't allowed to play their games and even if they were allowed, dad has them with him in his truck.  He's not supposed to be home until some time late next month. 

However, the kids will be going to church camp and after that, grandma is coming for them to stay with her and grandpa for a week. The fact of that matter is is that they would be going to grandma's sooner but the youngest has a doctor's appointment that can't be missed. Won't go into those details, but he's having problems and not of the illness/sickness variety.

That tractor is sitting there waiting for me to come get it. I simply haven't had the energy for it and before I got sick, I didn't have time. I would have to go get the trailer then drag extremely heavy ramps out of the back yard and hope they actually work for the trailer I have and then go to the outlet, do whatever they want me to do there, load it up, chain it down, take it back to the park and offload it.  

It isn't that much work, or is it?  I really don't know how I feel until I try to start moving  - but - I didn't wake up coughing and this yucky feeling in my lungs so there is definitive improvement    

Anyway, the vacation in July is paid for, basically. I paid my room plus a room in New Orleans when we're heading there - no clue, the ladies want to see stuff there before we get to Gulf Shores - and just gas and food money. 

Well, I'd write more but I have decided to get out into the real world for a bit and see how I feel.  It's Saturday I'm slated to go back to work, so I have all of today and tomorrow to get to feeling well enough for that level of activity.  

  Tuesday - morning

I'm sorry the company is having driver issues. People who do not want to work probably shouldn't be - working.  Go live off the government I guess.  Trucks breaking down is not my responsibility either. They have an old fleet, this is expected. Having a lot of trucks break down at the same time? What do they expect? And they are too cheap to rent tractors while the trucks are in the shop. So, they put the contracts in jeopardy of losing them by not getting product to its intended destination on time.

Late shows are a big thing when you are hauling liquids that will shut down an entire plant if they run out.  

And if I get sick once in a while? It's been quite a while since I was last sick, some time last year.  It is what it is.  I'm not going to work. I'm sorry for the inconvenience, I truly am, but I feel like hell and have stayed in bed the entirety of yesterday excepting going to the bathroom and a couple visits to the kitchen and today I did until 8 am.  The 11 year is graduating elementary school. Yes, it's a thing nowadays to graduate elementary and middle school. Older generations will remember the only graduations were from high school.

Times have changed. So we went, the boy was given a certificate and a couple of awards and that was that. I am now back home and doing absolutely nothing.  How do you get better if you keep working or moving around too much? Well, it takes a lot longer.  You will likely, eventually get better but why drag it out? And feeling like this? No thank you. 

Oh I have plenty of things I could be doing, beyond work.  I kind of feel bad for the manager, this company puts him into impossible situations.  The driver quitting didn't help anything tho it certainly didn't bother me that that particular individual is now gone.  There is another driver who only does 2 runs per week, he could be doing 3 when times are demanding it?  I rarely ever  tell my manager no when he's asking for a favor - which is usually no small thing. A complete alteration to my plans, I don't like having to cut plans short because they want me to either drop what I am doing or continue to keep working when I was scheduled off.

I have nothing right now beyond this. Bed is calling my name. 

 Monday - morning late

Well when you get sick, you tend to sleep well enough anyway.  

Definitely not feeling well and have done nothing today besides lay in bed. 

It was no shock to me that work called - I had the ringer off and on purpose - and left a message stating: "We had you working today".  Uh, no and no.  You did not have me working today, I checked the tablet several times.  There was nothing put in there for Monday on Friday, which is when they would normally put it in there and there was nothing put in it Saturday or yesterday. 

As it stands, I barely made it through yesterday work-wise. I was going to go get the tractor today but I'm doubtful. Someone stole my tie down chains - they are expensive now a days - and so I would have to go spend $200 on those and binders before even considering going to get the tractor.  It's not that far, maybe 4 or 5 miles, I just don't have any energy.

Anyway, I was in no mood to talk to them so I waited an hour or longer before calling them back.  The manager clarified after I flatly stated there is nothing in the tablet for work for today that he knew it hadn't been put in there but they were supposed to put it in there yesterday.

No, I thought, they are supposed to put it in there Friday.  Regardless, I wasn't going to work today I don't care what the threats or urgency is.  I doubt he would threaten me but other trucking companies would try and I would quit right then and there. I will not be treated like some sort of machine or slave that is forced to do a company's bidding when they are the ones that screwed it up in the first place. 

If you can't tell, I'm in a mood. That phone message put me in that mood I am trying to claw back out of it.  I can tell ya my immediate thoughts were quitting, just say fine, come get your truck.  I have knee jerk reactions sometimes to stuff like this when it comes to trucking simply because of the way I have been treated in the past.  I don't need their job as much as they need me to drive their truck.  Yes, I need a job but they are more needy. Especially this company with junky equipment and low pay - tho I got out of the low pay bracket pretty quickly. 

Whatever was going through my mind, however, is not what came out of my mouth. I don't really want to quit or be fired and it really wasn't going to go there at all, I'm just not feeling well and a bit grumpy. I stay away from people when I get sick because - I get cranky. I know I get cranky so I just figure it's best to lay low until I get better again.  Getting phone calls from your employer when you shouldn't be getting phone calls from your employer mixed with sickness is a toxic combination, at least for me. 

He had dumped it on another driver who, admittedly, has been working his @$$ off. He is also 30 years younger than me and has lots more energy than I do. I remember the days in my 50's saying I could outwork 20 year olds, that isn't likely true anymore and I don't care that it's not true, it's just a part of growing older that I have accepted and I keep the pace that I can keep and I'm fine with it.  

However...he did not dump the entire load on the other driver, he wanted me to do the other half of the run tomorrow.  I said that isn't going to happen if I don't start feeling better and quickly, I am pretty weak right now.  It is highly likely he's going to have to figure something else out. I hate to put him in a bind but this is a legitimate reason unlike almost all of the other drivers who regularly bow out of work via lame @$$ excuses.  He tolerates them because he doesn't have much of a choice. This company doesn't have people breaking down the doors trying to get in with it for employment....

.......and when they do find people, they either can't do the job correctly or they don't last. I KNEW that driver that kept skipping in front of me until I had to get really pissy about it and put my foot down wasn't going to last. I figured 6 months and I was right on the nose. He found a "better" job somewhere else.  There are a lot of "better" companies that simply won't tolerate the crap he was doing at this company, good luck with that. 

Enough ranting. I have no ambitions to do anything today. I just made myself some breakfast and that's the end of the line for me.  

G'day