Ok, well I guess I have posts that I started the last few days and didn't finish. 

I got back from PA, was talking with my manager, he had called me 25 minutes before I got back asking me - when was I getting back? Odd, really, he can look at the system and see where I'm at - I told him 25 minutes and he said fine, we'll talk when you get here. 

Ohh? I thought, what are we talking about?  I haven't gotten into any "trouble" so that statement was a bit disconcerting.  What he wanted to inform me of was that I was being sent out "tomorrow" and then another run directly after that.  I thought it humorous that he doesn't check anything that he can easily access.  I had to inform him that I was done to 45 minutes on my 70 hour clock, I can't go anywhere.  

OHHHHH, that's right! You just got back from Enery.  And a Brownsville run before that, all of that driving consumed my entire clock.  

It was somewhere around noon. Taylor and I met at Chili's after I left the yard, I was ready for some conversation in-person with people I actually know and like.  I really didn't do much of anything the rest of that day.  But the next day?  Sitting in a truck for 8 days?  Yeah, it's time to get some physical activity in.

The entire front lawn was covered with leaves from the oak tree - again.  I figured it would take 3 times with the lawn mower to deal with that tree dropping leaves, it's huge tree.    I got the lawn mower out, after getting laundry in the washer and went to work. I wanted it looking good, but really, I just needed the exercise pushing the mower back and forth and back and forth and walking.  

I was getting close to done and - zoning out, just doing the job and not really paying attention to my surroundings - James walks up to me. But totally freaked me out, lol, I just happened to look up and there he was.  Taylor wanted him to come join her at Chili's - she's working there now, to give some context, she gets a free meal every day - and he was getting the boys fed and dressed so they could come outside.  

Sure thing. Day before Christmas, pent up anxieties, the little ones needed to blow off some energy/steam and get it out of their system.   It took me longer to finish than I expected, but that was because I was also dealing with the neighbor's portion of lawn covered with their tree's junk dumping leaves and then, the rain or wind comes and blows it onto our driveway and then, of course, into our yard.  

But finally done? I did not go inside, the boys wanted to play and I was content to let them. It was a gorgeous, beautiful day, clear blue skies, the front yard completely cleaned up - at least temporarily lol - and I was happy to have gotten 3 hours of some physical activity in.  I actually would have started on the back yard - a total disaster and nightmare, but I was out of steam.  People think truck driving is easy.  You think so, huh?  You come spend the day with me that I just had and the 8 days worth of running I had before that and get back to me.  

And anyway, I had lots of laundry to do, it was time to go inside. The boys were happy to, actually, after all that time outside.  I spent ample amounts of time petting Addler out front as well after getting done with the yard work.  He wasn't just craving attention, he was demanding it lol.  Pet him for a few minutes, stop, and he would turn around, jam his giant head into my body and one of my hands - you will pet me and you will pet me now! lol

Umm, anyway, I put the boys down for a nap - they get really cranky if they don't get an afternoon nap - and got working on the laundry. They came back after that, I got out the rib roast, dressed it up and put it in the oven. As much as I wanted to smoke it, I just didn't have the time or the energy.  I finally got a chance to sit down and chat.  

See, the idea of cashing out that 401k and getting that business going just amped way up after I found several properties that would do the trick. One of them just outside of town, 1 minute off the interstate - that's a perfect scenario, but still have water and electric.  Sewage would have to be a septic system.  Kind of expecting that once you get outside of city limits.  The next door neighbor is the head of 2 banks, I'm going to ask him about what I need to do to approach a lender about getting a business loan. How much up front money do I need to get X amount of money loaned?

Why did I just throw that in there? Because I"m tired of working for corporate America.  Especially this company, who doesn't care if you have to work on holidays and all weekends and really whether you have a life outside of their company or not.  

Alright, well, today.  Loading was a breeze, getting out of the plant easy.  I got 460 miles down the road, 138 miles away from Brownsville - and a trailer tire blew out.  It trashed the fender in the process. My first thought? How many hours do I have left to get down there? Not, call the repair numbers first lol.  Cause' this is Christmas Day and it was highly likely that there wouldn't be any empty trailers down here.  

3-1/2 hours later, both service calls done. One to fix the tire, the other to jerry rig the fender, I had nothing in the truck to be able to do that or I would have done that part myself.  The clock? I was sweating that one.  Looked like a toss.  Get here in time to stop the clock and get in off-duty mode. I wasn't wrong, either.  I didn't even get into the yard before I had to deal with that  - but - I did legally make it down here with - no time left at the gate lol.

I was pleading for no empty trailers in here.  Sure enough, there wasn't a single empty in here.  So glad. Finally get some sit and wait pay and if it's too late tomorrow before they bring empties, I'll get out of the Oklahoma run that is scheduled for Sunday morning load.  

Well as much as I"d like to write more, fatigue has overtaken me. It was literally a 16 hour day.  And I'm ready to go to bed. 

Merry Christmas!