I had this feeling today.

Driving back, I was like, I bet they're going to keep me going.  I won't get any time off.  

Sure enough.  I get sent a trip to West Virginia and a message after that: Is this okay with you?

I thought about it quite a while and talked with others about it before I gave an answer. Because I am ready for just a single day off. Most people get a couple of days off here and there.  Except truck drivers. 

They don't care if you run constantly or if your weekends are constantly eaten up and can't spend time with "normal" friends who don't work weekends.  I can't remember the last time I had an entire weekend off.  A day, maybe.  But Friday evening through Monday morning?

I replied - eventually - that I would take if you need me to, but I am looking for a day off, soon.  That isn't a refusal of the load, I also said, I don't do that.  So she eventually wrote back and said she'd get me a day after this trip, but that 2 drivers are out because of the hurricane.  Oh, didn't think of that. 2 of them are from the southern Louisiana region.  I didn't hesitate after that to say yes, I'll take it.  I mean, it's good money, I just want to spend some time here and there with people beyond Facebook and text messaging?  

You start feeling alienated from the world when you've been out too long.  A connection with humans is not a bad thing.

So, I invited them out to eat tonight.  Chili's it is!  Phoenix ran straight for me after he eyeballed me at the restaurant - I arrived before them, sat down next to me and was wanting my attention, hugs, etc the entire time.  It had been 6 days. He wanted to go home with me as well instead of in their vehicle - but I was going to the store and they needed to go to bed, school is open in Texas.  He was very unhappy that I wouldn't let him go with me and no amount of explanation would assuage his feelings, sorry buddy.  He's only 5 years old, he's a very emotional person and he doesn't understand such things.  

They were in bed - the boys that is - by the time I got home. But I haven't been to the grocery store in almost 2 weeks, have been short on supplies in the truck and couldn't possibly imagine driving another 3 or 4 days without replenishing supplies.  No food, mostly.  No sugar free sweets, no drink shakes for the mornings.  No paper plates or cups for coffee. No heavy cream for coffee. Etc.  

Noon load time. Way late for this run, I don't know how they've gotten the schedule so screwed up with loading times for particular runs, it means I'll be running midnight plus tomorrow night.  Smiths Grove Kentucky the first day goal, Charleston and back to Smiths Grove the second day goal and back to the yard the 3rd.  Doesn't always happen that way, but that keeps it at 3 days instead of going into a 4th day.  

So yea, I'm getting a little burnt out here. It's either feast or famine with this company.  You are either running as much as you can for 70 hour clock or off 2 days at a time between runs.  I should be thankful, a plant or more will shut down eventually and we'll be begging for work.  My mindset is at least a day off after 7 days working. Well, actually, after 5 days working.  

Whatever the case, they are all in bed - they have been doing hat in the last several months, going to bed early (not the kids, that's a given, the adults).  I'll get up early and see everyone off, at least Taylor and the kids, James is still unemployed tho he has a good lead on some work.  

Me? I have to get my mind into going on a relentless, 3-day run that goes on and on and onnnnnn......until the last day and I re-enter Texas and I'm like - home!