Looooooooooong day.  I'm just out of it.  I got up at 3:00 am, but I woke up at 1:00 am. Dumb dog made a bunch of noise, woke me up and I never got back to sleep.  So, to the plant, 2-1/2 hours there, the on the road almost 600 miles and finally "here".  I felt so bad and so wiped out I decided a cheap hotel room would be better than trying to sleep in that truck all night long.  Not to mention I probably won't get rolling until around 7:00 am, meaning here for at least 12 hours.

I wanted to make it here whether detention pay or not.  Get the run over with in 2 days if not and have time to get more driving in somewhere else - mostly likely a day/overnight trip somewhere.  It's just that she's given me this early rise thing 2 runs in a row, only 1 day apart.  I just can't deal with this.  The alternative was probably some crappy run somewhere that doesn't get me miles and doesn't pay enough.  So, I'm not going to complain I'm just going to hope whatever's next is not an early rise.  The 7 oclock one is fine by me.

I know I complain about this every time she does it, I've told her enough times about how much it affects me but she still does it anyway.  So, I'm a stop complaining to her about it and just try to deal with it.  It would have been really cool if there would have been no trailers in the yard when I got here - not only detention pay but a long wait meaning just rest.

Anyway, James mom and stepdad are at the house.  I always offer my room if I'm not there cause' otherwise they have to stay at a hotel and the experience is not the same.  It's not that they're broke and can't afford a hotel, it's that they have to leave and come back etc., it's not the same as waking up, walking out into the kitchen and making breakfast or going to get the boys out of the bed. She loves those kids.

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Okay, that was yesterday.  Took a shower after writing that and went to sleep.  Woke up early this morning and - went right back to sleep lol.  Then I woke up at 4:30 am - jolted upright actually - my brain told me while sleeping, apparently, that I had forgotten to put the elog device into off duty mode.  I laid there and thought about it for a while, finally got up and went out to look. Sure enough.  I put it in off duty, but that wasn't going to help me. A full 10 hours from the time I put it in off duty would have to pass.  No worries, I thought, I'll just sleep in and call the office in the morning to fix it and then I can leave.

I mean, :I made phone call after phone call this morning - it is Monday, I get that, but it was after opening time in the Amariallo office, someone should be answering the phone.  Many more phone calls later and getting new phone numbers from a different upper level manager and I had someone on the phone, they updated the info, sent it to my elog and it automatically updated itself.

Ugh, I thought, late start.  Oh well. Late arrival back, lol.  Houston traffic was terrible. Rain and accidents, slow downs everywhere, people driving stupid.  I just have never understood the rain and people's driving habits. It's absolutely nothing to drive in the rain.  To hydroplane you are either going really fast or there is a LOT of water on the road, any way about it, you can feel it when it starts to lose traction and you need only let your foot off the accelerator to get it to stop.

But it never fails. I don't care where you are, but when you are in a high density traffic area, the effects are much worse.  It seemed like an eternity to get through that.  Finally got to the northern part of Houston up to Humble - where I usually stop to take a break.  I never take breaks before I get through Houston coming from either direction. Get it over with before rush hour hits.

3 days done and gone. Preparing myself for another 3:15 am wakeup call from mama Iphone.  I took the new ride on a mini road trip to see how it rides.  Very nice. A lot of buttons and switches on the console I don't even know what they are for.  I mean, it's like looking at a semi console excepting I know what all that stuff is for.

I'll eventually figure it out.  I just got the dogs in the back door.  I'm curious if the 2 seats there are removable.  I don't need them. The dogs could either sit on the floor there or they can get on the back bench. Yes, there are 3 rows of seating in this thing

Of course now I'm stuck with a monthly car payment plus increased car insurance premiuim. I knew all of this, I walked into this, I made the choice, hopefully it wasn't a bad one.

I'm not really proud of myself for this 3 days off lol. I accomplished much of nothing.  Just didn't feel like doing anything. Spending an afternoon at a dealership wasn't too much fun and negotiating the price and having to get up to walk out 4 times, well, it's mentally draining. I hate buying vehicles, I really hoped I could get it done at the first place I went to - and considering I had already looked at dozens and dozens of car lots on the internet - I pretty much had an idea that this was the place to go.

I didn't want the only truck they had in their inventory that met my needs and the SUV didn't qualify on my financing.
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Okay, I have been deficient on posting.  It's Saturday afternoon, around 2:30.  I went to a place in Houston yesterday to deliver a load of Ethylyene.  A facility I hadn't been to before, workers disgruntled with pay and wanting to get the thing unloaded and get me out of there. I'm not sure having disgruntled workers around a plant that could take out an entire city block if it blew up is a very good combination, so I didn't want to be there that long either. However, in terms of a one day trip, this is truly a one day turn around.  I got loaded, got down there, unloaded and back up with about 50 minutes to spare on the clock out of 14 hours. 

And I felt like crap, all day long.  Another 3 am rise and get to work thing to be on the scales at 5:00 am.  I actually was there around 4:45 am and they got me right on and started loaded right away. That's the only advantage of the first load:  you're pretty much in an out of there around 2 hours, instead of the 3 it takes (at least) at any other loading time.  I had 3 days off, btw.  I pay for those 3 days off every time.  My next load is in the morning - and yup - another 3 am rise.  I'm still not feeling all that wonderful from yesterday even tho I slept in this morning.

I just shrug my shoulders. It will be a long day trying to drive the 562 miles in one drive tomorrow.  It always is on those early loads.  I usually try to drive straight to Ganado, Texas, where there's a TA Truckstop (preferred truck stop of our company with fuel contracts), fuel up the truck, take my 30 minute break and sleep all of that break.  However, yesterday I didn't want to stop to fuel cause I wanted to get home and have some pool fun with the folks here. So, I'll hit Lufkin after I leave the plant, fuel up at Love's, but still try to make it to Ganado or thereabouts to take that much needed 30 minute sleep break.  I have found out that many drivers don't make it down there same day. They stop 150 miles out or so and sleep the night.  They make it a 3 day trip tho.  I only like it a 3 day trip if I"m getting detention time. Last several times down there that hasn't happened.

But I did do a hotel down there last time since I got there at 6 pm and had at least 12 hours to enjoy a hotel room and it was Father's Day.  I got the room cheap and looking at it now, those rooms are still quite low.  It's a pretty decent room for the price and if there is a trailer at the yard down there, I hook up and park at the hotel parking lot.  I may do that again if I make it there tomorrow - which I will definitely try to do no matter how crappy I'm feeling - and get a good night's sleep. I'll be there no later than 6 again since it's first load.

Onto other news. The "new" Cadillac Escalade.  Beautiful vehicle, shiny chrome, good paint, all kinds of bells and whistles?  The transmission stopped working on the way back home yesterday. I was passing someone on the Interstate going around 78 mph - 75 mph speed limit - and it just stopped working.  I was almost to my exit.  I pulled over. Put it in park and then back in gear.  It started rolling again, but only in 1st gear. I limped it the rest of the way home in 1st gear and immediately called the dealer, the salesman that sold me this thing.

Well, let me go talk to my manager.  Sure.  He comes back and says bring it in, if it's something minor we'll fix it.  Oh, I replied, and if it isn't? Well we're not going to replace an entire transmission. I blew a fuse, instantly.  They got premium price on that thing because of the excellent condition it was in and the fact that there was nothing wrong with it. I had put all of 220 miles on it, the transmission goes out and they are passing the buck to me? I don't think so.  I retained my composure on the phone but I was fuming.  I let him know about his claims of 11 years straight president's award and how wonderful the dealership is because their customers are all happy....

Caught him off guard apparently.  Well bring it in and we'll look at it, but the service department isn't open until Monday.  That's fine, my reply, I'll bring it in tomorrow (today) and leave it for you to have your service department find out what's wrong with it and fix it. He didn't reply with the "minor" stuff. I turned the thing on today and it drove just fine over there, but the engine light still on, at least it coded so they can retrieve the codes and see what happened - hopefully anyway.

It was a sigh of relief tho that the transmission acted like nothing was wrong.  That probably means something electric, electronic, something cheaper than replacing an entire transmission.  But, I am prepared to find a lawyer and take this to court if it is, indeed, a faulty transmission.  Not after the claims they made.  I am also prepared to call all the local news outlets around here and see if they will pick it up. And of course social media, where outrage takes off like a kite in a tornado. 

Today? Well, I stayed up late last night at the pool with my friends here.  I did that on purpose tho. I wanted to sleep through the night and I knew I could sleep in.  That's exactly what happened. I think I woke up around 6 am only to fall right back asleep.  They texted me at  10 am, are you up and out and about with the dogs? Umm, no, I'm fixing to get up.  They were shocked, lol. I don't normally sleep that late. 

Now, Donny and Rene are coming over in a bit to enjoy the pool and we're going to have some steak and potatoes.  Sounds good to me. So, I'm a bit more at ease about the Cadillac, I can enjoy the rest of the day, go to bed around 9pm - I'd go earlier but it doesn't work - get up early and deal with tomorrow when it gets here. 

As for right now? Gotta make a trip to the store. I'm buying the food, someone else can make it : ) 

If someone asks me if I want to work, I'm going to tell them no.  My manager does this to me sometimes and I'm caught off guard.  I need to work, I should be saying yes. But she'll text me out of the blue and ask the question, do you want to work tomorrow.  I'm going to have to get more discipline and tell her yes, I need to work, doesn't matter what some other driver wants, I'm obviously the next in line, let's go. 

I'm just tired of working weekends and rest assured, I will be working another full weekend.  I don't know why I have to get dumped with weekend work all the time, it is what it is.  So, I really should have gone to work yesterday and I did ask her about it cause that's when I wanted to go get a run.  No, you are off duty until tomorrow.  That's what threw me off. Oh, I mean this morning. I could have gone out today. I wanted to.  I need the routine. I get all whacked out of line when I dont work when I should.

So, I am going to have to start doing what other drivers do. Just ask.  But I have another way of asking the question: Where am I going tomorrow?  Instead of asking IF, ask where, as if implied that she is sending me out. 

Anyway, I gave up whatever she had available. It's  a weakness i didn't know I had.  I mean, what manager asks you if you want to work? They have hired more new people since I got in there and this is the result. They have more drivers than work available.   They are trying to secure contracts and they have to have the drivers to cover all of it - but - they don't have the specialized trailers to cover this stuff. 

Ugh, forget it. It's late, I have been racking my brains out about stuff all day long, I'm going to sleep. 

The days of the old car are over.  I had had enough of it.  The doors don't open right, the front windows don't work, the windshield is cracked, the gauges don't work, the headliner is falling off, just a long list of things wrong with it. Not worth fixing. Decided that I would get a new (new to me, not brand new) vehicle.  I just spent a good 5 hours at a local dealership, shook hands after a lot of negotiating on a Cadillac Escalade, I'm very happy.  It's older but it's in excellent condition and is absolutely loaded with options.  It has a sun roof, automatic step bars that come out when stepping out of the vehicle, front and rear ac, heated seats and steering wheel - on and on and on the list.

I'm not really even sure all it has, but more than enough for me.  22 inch wheels, Chrome. Tires will be expensive, but it has good rubber on it.  My car insurance went up 600 dollars per 6 months, I'm going to be looking for a better deal. In fact, the salesman gave me the address of a local insurance agency that represents a bunch of insurers and tries to find a better deal for you. It is, to me anyway, a beautiful vehicle, lots of chrome, just very nice, IMO. 

Well whatever. I have a vehicle now I hope I can trust for road trips.  Not that I have that much time to do it, but I will eventually accumulate paid leave here, yes I'm trying to stick with this place, and then can take a week off here and there and have some time to go places.  That isn't really why i bought it tho.  I don't really want to take extended road trips, but the necessity has arisen in the past, such as the situation with dad on his death bed and then, dad dying.  5,000 miles of driving just for those 2 trips.  I'm more thinking about flying places now and using Uber or Lyft to get me around (versus renting expensive rental cars). 

Well, there it is. I'll take pics tomorrow and post on Facebook. Oh, wait, I'm not going anywhere tomorrow and I am letting my friend take the thing to work lol.  I'll take pics when she gets home.  If I can get in, I am getting my teeth finished tomorrow. But if not, there isn't much else I need to do.  I did the saliva swabs this morning, put them in the vials, went to the post office and sent them off to the lab.  This is the DNA thing that tells you what your heritage is. I would be shocked if there isn't Irish blood in there, considering what I've been told all my life. But hey, people are told a lot of stuff and then find out different.  I eagerly await the results, which admittedly could be weeks off. 

This thing has a trailer hitch on it. I'm ready to roll. Oh, yes, the road trips, well my friends are like, we know what vehicle we're taking if we all go on a trip somewhere! lol the thing has a DVD with a pop down screen to watch on - back rows only.  3 rows of seats!  I just didn't want a small version of an SUV.  They do not have the capacity for people hauling and they don't have 8 cylinder engines and they can't haul heavier loads.  I will probably invest in airbags for this thing to make a smoother ride for pulling the trailer.  I'm still on the path of getting a couple more 4 wheelers and going out on weekends that I'm home with the folks and having some fun.  Or taking off alone with the dogs and doing the same if during the week.

Ugh.  I should have known I would be at the dealer for hours and hours. I had gone to the grocery store before all of that, had 2 racks of ribs, 3 pound chub of ground beef and a lot of other stuff. It was hot and that stuff was sitting in my trunk.  I forgot all about it. For a couple of hours. When I remembered, the ribs were defrosted and stuff was getting warm. I ended up firing up the car and letting it idle with AC on max to cool it back down. I bought the ribs for future reference.  The ground beef was for a smoked meat loaf recipe I found today.  Now, I"m forced to cook all of that meat tomorrow or write it off.  More food than we are going to eat, but I'm cooking it anyway and have a lot of leftovers.

Note that both of them are working now and time to cook is limited. When I'm home, I have all day if I want to to smoke meats. Or make a less time consuming meal that is both good and satisfying.  Note also that both of them are excellent cooks. But getting home from work late and with 2 young kids, well, they skimp on meals to beat cooking. I understand it completely, just saying when I'm there during a weekday, I'll make dinner. Today was the exception since I was sitting in that dealer all day. I wanted to leave with a vehicle, I wasn't leaving with a bad deal lol.

I'm on an uncertain route at the moment. Taking steps to rectify old situations that I have done nothing about because I didn't have the resources to deal with it.  I'm really very pleased with this SUV.  It's better than a pickup in my view, though I couldn't say that if I didn't already have a trailer to use if I need to get things that would otherwise fit in the bed of a pickup. 

There are other things I want to get done.  Not anything I can do right now, but they are on the horizon.  The light is showing at the end of the tunnel.  Couldn't say that a year ago today. 

It's late. I need to get up fairly early and fire up the smoker.  Time to go to sleep. 

I'm so tired that I can't sleep.  This started yesterday when I went to the plant to load the trailer, waited an hour and a half for another truck in front of (I was at the appointment time as scheduled) and then found out a valve isn't working on the trailer. 

This led into a 6 hour visit with the plant and a repair shop to get the trailer fixed.  Skipping over the details of that, I drove straight down to Pasadena to make the delivery, try to at least get the trailer offloaded and partially drive the way back before I ran out of hours, drive back to the yard early and get home for a mostly full day.  This because I knew in that I have to get up at 3:20 am Sunday and be back at the plant to get loaded yet again and drive down to Brownsville. 

Ann is always trying to dump me with that first load. I am always saying no if she asks, pretty much every single time unless the options are garbage.  The only real way to deal with that first load and not have it affect me so much that day would be to drive the truck over to the plant, park in the parking lot and spend the night there.  Then I get up at 4:45 am instead of 3:20, I don't have all the rigarmaroo to deal with in getting up here, at the house and dealing with the dogs and everything else, getting to the yard, hooking up and getting paperwork done.  Plus I could enter the plant off duty and not have so much time on the clock already taken off before I even leave the plant, leaving me extra time on the road to stop and rest if necessary.

Back to the story, I'm told they "have to make another batch" from the plant operate in Pasadena.  I had no idea what that means but I did know what his next sentences meant and he concluded them with, "hurry up and wait".  I knew it would be hours before they got to me.  I got the truck parked and waited - for hours.  Nothing.  I went to bed around midnight, waiting.  1 hour and 45 minutes later, at almost 2 am, they come banging on the door. Are you ready to unload? This dude is all bright and chipper as if it's 12 pm, not the middle of the night. 

I suffered through it.  3-1/2 hours of it.  I was dying, at least it felt like that at the time. I was having trouble staying awake. I had to constantly monitor the pressure on the trailer and keep it within their desired limits.  When it was done, I was on the scale, got the truck weighed, I asked about parking the truck somewhere, I'm out of hours I have to finish the mandatory break.  This is the shit that truckers get that is a total load of crap. Uhh, technically no. Then several people got into a discussion of whether I could stay on the property.  I can tell ya and I did tell them, I am not going anywhere.  You find as place for this truck that meets your company standards. 

Forgot to add, the batch they had to run? They had too much Ethylene in their giant tank. Not enough room for my load.  Weird that they're ordering product that they don't need. I ended up with about 15 hours of detention pay on this run, I can't complain about that, it was the being up literally all night long that I simply can't even deal with.
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They finally agreed at the end of all this nonsense that I could park in a parking space they have, outside of the gate, off the immediate property.  Simple enough.  This is the trucker's life anymore.  Everyone wants what you've got but get you and your trucks the hell out of here.  What a crock.  I truly wish enough truckers could unite, shut down for a week and shut down the US economy.  Even Congress would bow down to us after enough time expired, grocery store shelves emptied out, etc etc.  Imagine anything that trucks bring - which is pretty much everything - gone.  I'm not sorry for such sentiments, towns and cities treat us like shit, I'm very tired of it.  But even the place that you deliver to? 

I'm home.  Not much time here before I have to go back out, but I got the dogs anyway on the way back. 

I have a job offer from another company. It's one that I looked at previously. I hadn't heard back from them but then again, they didn't have any openings at the time near me.  Now, they have numerous openings and as most companies, are now desperate for drivers.  The good side effect of all of this is that wages are coming up, substantially actually. I have no idea what I will do, it's just there.  I don't have to do anything. Stick it out here for a year and see what happens.  I refer back to a bit of advice my dear dad gave me decades ago: when you think to commit to something, promise yourself that you will do it for at least a year.  If it doesn't work out after that, fine, but do it for a year at least. I have really found that to be excellent wisdom throughout my life.  I have applied it in several situations with great outcomes.  I feel like if anything, I could honor my now passed father and try it where I'm at.  I hate some of the things going on with this company, but I could certainly survive on the money I'm making. 

I tend to do nothing when met with a situation of not knowing what to do. Nothing, that is, until a viable plan and a realistic way through whatever comes to me.  In other words, don't make brash decisions, life will not end if I do nothing to change a current situation and many times it's better to just be patient than to rush into things. Or not rush into things but do things that you aren't certain about.  Yet, there is still that thing about humans taking risks and stepping out. It keeps life interesting.  Getting into this field of trucking was one of those steps.  And there have definitely been some interesting situations. 

Okay. Vehicles. Car starting to make a noise.  I think it's an accessory, not the engine, but it's coming from the engine area.  Unless cheap fixes for any mechanical problems, the car isn't worth fixing.  It's got 186000 miles, it's worn out. I've driven that thing until the wheels are falling off, as car dealers will tell you about your old car to try and talk you into buying a new one.  I've gotten a good life out of it, it's served me well, but it's time to move on.  I know it sounds wishy washy, my vacillating back and forth about things like this, but I have to talk myself into such things.  The thing that bothers me is this: if I do get into a vehicle with payments, I want something nice.  It's likely going to have to be another 10 year vehicle, I don't want something that "works", I want something that works and  is nice at the same time. 

Well, to do that, you have to be willing to pay more money.  And probably a longer payment plan than you want. That's kind of where I'm stuck right now.  I want the bargain of a lifetime, I probably won't find it anywhere.  To settle for something less simply means going and buying another cheap car with 2 years or less payments or even finding one I can by outright for cash and be done with it. 

What to do.

So much for a nap today.  I'm just going to try to go to bed around 9pm and hope I can get to sleep and stay that way long enough to get at least 5 hours in.

Some people.  This dude, I've known him since missionary days in the 80's.  He came up from El Savlador, a refugee from a land that was under revolt, he had been cut up with a machete and had the huge scars to prove it.  Regardless, this guy has always been brash and mouth.  He gets on my Facebook and starts making outrageous accusations against me last week.  Yesterday, I see him at it again on someone else's wall and made a comment to him - which in turn had him direct messaging me on Facebook, coming out with even more ridiculous accusations. Such as "How many women have you slept with since you got divorced" and on and on and on...

I finally blocked the dude.  The fact that this guy claims to be a pastor - he lives in Mexico now - is disconcerting.  How do you come out against people like that and be a pastor at the same time?  I know numerous pastors, none of them act in this manner at all.  Made me wonder what, exactly, he is teaching his flock?

Moving on.  My kit to test DNA to find out what my heritage came in.  It's sitting on my computer desk.  I'm not doing it until I can take it direction to the post office and get it sent out, which I don't figure I'm going to have time to do this morning. I'm heading out to Pasadena and I have to be at the yard at 8:00 am to get to the plant by 8:30 am.  So yea, that doesn't leave time to stop at the post office. I suppose I could take the kit with me and stop at one along the way since it's only Friday. 

Nah, I'll wait until next week when I have a chance to make sure I'm not rushed and do it right.

The news is abuzz with all the fallout of the IG's report.  I'm rather skeptical that anything will become of it.  Obvious bias in the FBI, intent is a bit less clear.  It's interesting to watch the double talk and hypocrisy of the left who brushes all of this stuff off, including another IG report about Clinton and Obama having communication with her on her unauthorized email server - when Obama said he didn't know about it until he saw it on the news....that...is a bald faced lie, obviously.

Meanwhile, I was driving home and had this itch to stop at a car dealer in the next town over. So I drove over there on the way home - I had just gotten back from the Brownsville run - got to the lot - and kept driving haha.  What can I say.  My car is falling apart, yet I can't get myself to go and get into payments lol.  I know what will happen. I'll get on the lot, they'll show me something I like, I'll buy it, bam, stuck with payments for 3 to 5 years, drive off the lot and wonder what I have just done.  I've got quite a bit of debt going no as it stands after getting my teeth done.

Oh, yea.  Teeth! My new front teeth are in, crowns.  My smile looks normal now.  I was looking at the before and after pics and just gag.  My teeth were so bad!  They looked nasty!  I didn't realize how bad the looked until the doc texted me the pics.  This was something I have wanted to get done for many years.  I hate debt, but the alternative was eventually having no front teeth. They were chipped - several of them half way down - they weren't going to get any better that's for sure. 

Ok. Well next - I think anyway  - on my plate is a trip to Phoenix. I haven't been back in 2-1/2 years?  I think that's how long.  No, I forgot about my trips to see dad and then be at his Memorial last year.  That was a very short trip to Phoenix, tho.  Then I saw my mom up at her place in the mountains.  Took steaks up there and we had a beautiful steak and potatoes breakfast.  Anyway, I really could just make a 3 day trip via plane leaving out  of the airport 2 towns over and just do a quick trip to at least touch base with everyone that I am wanting to visit.  It's too hard to judge when I'm going to have several days in a row off. I either have to take the time off or hope that on one of these weekends I'm not getting sent out until a Tuesday. 

Hmm, a bit pricey leaving at last minute.  Used to be you could find some deals for empty seats at the last minute, not anymore!  About $135 more than what a normal ticket out of there would be.  I have no umption to drive clear to Dallas in that old car tho.  If something happens to it, I don't want to be 150 miles from home.  At least if I drive to the towns in my area, I can have a tow truck take it to the shop in town that I use without paying a fortune for the tow.  Tho likely if the car broke down that bad I would have it towed to the house, get the Jeep ac fixed immediately and start driving that instead.  Well, cheapest airfare is $450.  Not bad I guess for last minute and flying out of a small airport to connect at Dallas. 

Okay enough searching lol. I get caught up looking for flights and I'll be sitting here for an hour wasting time on something that I'm not even going to do right now!  My trip today could be a day trip, but I'll guess it won't be. If anything goes wrong at the plant to load or if they take too long to unload at the receiver, toast.  I'm planning on an overnighter but hoping for a day trip lol.  It would be lovely to have a weekend off, but I suspect I'll be sent out either Sunday or Monday somewhere.  I really like the Brownsville trip simply because it's good miles for the amount of time out - many times only 2 days and almost 1,200 miles round trip.  5 of those in a pay period would make for a very nice paycheck. Or 4 of them with ample detention time.  But I only had 3 options for today - Chenier, a place I love to hate, a plant in Houston that I haven't been to yet or this place in Pasadena.  I would have done the Houston trip because Ann stated it's definitely a day trip, but it was the early load.  Meaning right now I would be either at the plant or more likely leaving it already. Yeah, I very much dislike the 3:20 am rise time so I passed on that one.  Maybe some other time I'll try that one. 

Okay, better get moving : )

Didn't finish this post but, starting another.

I had started to put buying a truck out of my mind, or at least put it on hold until I noticed they put the price of that pickup I had been debating over down another grand.  I was still on the fence about it, but I thought if I could talk them down another thousand, I would take it.  Well, they emailed me today, I emailed them back and then they informed me someone had bought it.

No love lost, no let down at all, it's just a truck. It was a nice one, yes, but it was also 9 years old.  Pretty hefty price tag for something 9 years old.  I'm likely never to fall in love with the cost of a vehicle being that high and being that old at the same time.  I'm glad it went, actually, just a temptation I don't need.  I'd like to get into the 2011 or up range.  Or, I'd like to do nothing. Or whatever, lol, I just don't know.
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I don't even remember when I started this post, kind of got distracted with things going on around here.  Last night, there was a party here. They were all getting drunk, frankly, which doesn't bother me, I just didn't partake in that particular activity.  However, as drunkenness goes, things got out of hand.  To the point a man that was invited over - single man, wasted drunk - decided he was going to kiss my friend on the lips, right in front of her husband.  That's my friends I live with.  I wasn't outside at the time where they were hanging out, I was making some buffalo wings for everyone to munch on.

I quickly found out tho. The man ran off after he was engaged, is how I will put it.  Never saw him again, assuredly never will.  Really strange stuff tho.  How do you go kissing a person you don't have that kind of relationship with and right in front of her husband? Wasted drunk, that's the answer.  I heard a lot of "well I wouldn't do that even if I were that drunk" type of stuff, but I know what a person is capable of being stone drunk.  I spent most of my teenage years around it and several occasions in my adult life.  I'm not excusing it at all, it was wrong, the guy got away before any physical altercation took place, which was good.

I have heard nothing back from the dealer that was going to sell me that truck. They have other trucks there, some of which are in my category of a truck I would want.  But I"m not going to go chasing after them, a truck or anything since I'm not fully sold on the idea and had all but given it up until they brought the price down yet again on that one and then sold it.

It's Sunday.  Lots of cleaning to do today.  That's cleaning up the aftermath of a rather wild party, laundry, clean my room, etc etc etc.  Oh and I'm cooking a pork roast.  Not smoking this though, it would be really hard IMO to slow cook a fat roast in a smoker without burning the meat.  I found an interesting recipe and I'm well on the way to trying it out.  The roast is dressed with the dry rub and in another hour or so I'm going to dump it into a roasting pan, put all the rest of the ingredients in and see what happens. I will probably add Dr Pepper injections to it, tho, for better flavor.  It really works.  Inject it slowly into the meat in several different places.

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Okay, cleaning done.  Roast in the oven. Laundry in the machine.  Dogs content.  Back yard a lot of junk from partying last night but I expect them to do that.  I am not going to do everything.  I intend on spending sometime kicking back and watching TV today.  Tomorrow morning I have to be at the dentist early, I expect Tuesday morning to have to be on the scales at the plant early and off to wherever.

Yes, great day to sit around doing nothing.  The jist of the work is over.  The roast will be nothing more than pulling it out of the oven, making some sort of puree out of the juices and serving it.  Hopefully this recipe was worth the effort it took. Lots of ingredients, lots of slicing and dicing, measuring, pouring, finding stuff, etc.

Here we are Wednesday. I very much expected to be sent out today, in fact, I wanted to be sent out this morning. I was on a 34 hour reset but that was completed last night.  I have this feeling the way my manager was talking that she went on another vacation.  Since I am not hearing back from her, I just texted the lady driver - she is always in on the loop on everything - asking her if Ann went on vacation.  If she did, my next text will be to Sheila, who left me hanging for 6 days last time this happened which wasn't all that long ago.  I wanted to be sent out today so if it's a 4 day run, I could be back Saturday morning at the latest and partake in the party they are going to have here.  I could still get sent out on a 3 day run and get back in time.

Meanwhile I've sent out a few more applications.  Only really looking at tanker work.  Probably don't have enough minimum experience to be looked at by most companies, but worth a shot.

I have no grand aspirations for today. I was casually looking at local pickups, prices high unless high mileage, then they are still too high for having over 200k miles.  Not sure how they came to the conclusion in these parts that a used, older pickup is worth as much as they want for them.  I guess the market and buyers will pay it.  But if you are getting into an old truck with over 200k miles, you can expect at least a top end job, alternator, water pump, power steering pump, front end parts to go out sooner or later.  You  will end with nickle and dime stuff on a constant basis - tho these days, it's not nickles and dimes,

I saw one truck that was mildly luring because it had 40,000 miles on it. It was a 2011 but in excellent condition.  I think it was 18k.  See that's what I'm saying. The truck is 7 years old and still worth that much money?  I just can't embrace that notion.

Rene asked me for money to go to Michigan again.  I've got expenses and I've got dental work to pay for. If I don't get a truck, I'm fixing the AC in the Jeep and start driving that, perhaps get rid of that old car.  I like having a backup but we've got a lot of vehicles sitting here.  I dunno. I might donate to it but pay for the whole ticket I don't think so. She needs to find other sources to help her out.  She can take a Greyhound bus round trip for $180.  Airfare is around $320 - but that's if she buys it soon.  She says she wants to see her dying friend, that may be true, but the real story is she just wants a trip out of here.  She really needs to come up with some other people to tap for such things.  I have things I want to do with my money, this isn't a loan. It's called that but I know I'll never get paid back so if I give money towards it, it's a gift, that way I wash my hands of it and don't expect anything back, ever. She is on very limited income.

I actually slept very well in that sleeper last night. The vibration of the engine running and the sound of the air coming out of the sleeper vents kept me asleep much of the night.  I got up a little early but certainly a full night's sleep.  I had just decided that the truck would be taken into the same shop that had done the repairs in the first place.  They are a competent shop, they just didn't get this one right.

After getting to the yard - and not finding anyone there, which I thought strange considering Monday either the Safety Officer or the manager should be there - I unhooked the truck and took it over to the shop.  My car was parked there so not even an ordeal.  It was a bit uncomfortable when I walked in there. Uhh, did anyone call in from (my company)?  They just looked around and I said, no, probably not.  And went into the problem with the turn signal.  The owner of the company, very nice gentleman - was very apologetic.  Started explaining it was an electrical issue. I had already come to that conclusion after trying a different bulb and checking the fuses.

But, I didn't have a light tester with me, I could have figured the problem out myself otherwise.  He indicated the front running lights hadn't worked because of a short in the wiring.  I said that's great, but the turn signal isn't working. He started getting apologetic and wanting me to go look at what they were talking about. No, no, I believe you, I have no issues, I just need it fixed : )  No need to start trouble with them.  Is that all you need done then? Uh, no, they wanted a "minor inspection" and grease everything.  Y'all didn't have time for that the other day.  Oh yes, okay, we'll get it done!  Thanks, I don't think I'll be working for 2 days (I need a 34 hour reset) so plenty of time.

Oh hey, the owner says, could you do me a favor and take the truck around back and line it up in front of the trailer? Oh, do we have a trailer here too?  Yes, I need to move it.  No problem, do you need it hooked up?  Well no I can do that, I just need it lined up to hook it up.  Uhh, yeah, I just went out there and hooked the truck up and left.  They have the much trouble hooking a tractor to a trailer,l I have no problem doing it. Takes maybe 4 minutes including backing under the trailer, tug test, hooking up airlines and pigtail, checking connection and cranking up the landing gear.

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Okay,  now Tuesday.  I kept to my word and did much of nothing yesterday. Today will be different, just normal stuff I need to get done.  Texted my manager yesterday about taking the truck to the shop and never heard back from her - which is pretty normal.  And also very irritating.  She is an extremely busy person, yes.  Probably overworked - yes.  Probably more on her plate doled out by the company than she should have to deal with on her own - yes.  But, she has to at least be able to find a few seconds to communicate with the employees that are entrusted to her care.

I found a job opening with Cardinal in Shreveport and have fully filled out the application.  They are supposedly a very good company.  I'm sick of these companies that don't want to repair their trucks, don't have sufficient resources to deal with it and put it off.  Today starts the Roadside check, I'm just glad I'm not driving today and the truck is in the shop.  There are 10 check stations on the way down and back up to Brownsville, I wouldn't be surprised if every single one of them is open - when most of them are normally closed.  Oh, I have an app that will show it.  Well then. Only 2 of them are open.  Oh, now I see, it's raining lol. 

I haven't actually made my mind up about leaving this current place, but as I have stated before, priority on keeping trucks well maintained is a huge sticking point in my book.  The fact that I have to go through what I do to get a truck fixed is ridiculous. I have a written statement from a senior manager that states that if there is even something as minor as a lighting issue - which current truck has - it should be fixed before it leaves the yard. That's near impossible without a mechanic working there.  Yes I could have figured it out, I do some minor stuff on the truck, but I am not being paid to do mechanical work.  And I didn't have my tools with and and  I don't feel inclined to do such work for free.  This isn't my truck, I'm just paid to drive it and get it loaded and unloaded. 

By the way, the current job I'm looking at is "specialized tankers", home daily, whether there is weekend work or not is unknown.  Average $1,100 per week at 2,000 miles.  2,000 miles is fairly light for a truck driver.  On a 5 day work week that's only 400 miles per day.  It would be a pay cut but I'm perfectly willing to accept that, it's still far more than I was making at Ferguson.  In fact, it's not much less than what I was making with OT at Ferguson. It isn't awesome money, but I can live with it. 

Well whatever.  Weighing a pickup truck, the prices out here are just plain too high.  A 2005 Chevy 2500 HD for almost 20 grand? I understand HD is popular,, but there is nothing in my little world that tells me that a 13 year old pickup is worth that much money.  I emailed the salesman back and laughed, then asked him to take me off his email list.  Another pickup for almost 20 k, 8 years old. Not even HD.  Or 2500.  I just don't get where they think these old vehicles are worth so much money.  Apparently others think the same, the latter one just mentioned has been on their lot so long they have a "manager's special" of $18,895. Bring the thing down to 12k and I'll do business lol. 

I've looked all over the place and I am just saying no.  Unless some super deal comes along, I'm not going to take the bait.  I have found much better deals in Phoenix for used trucks, which is an option I could definitely take if it comes to that.  Same trucks for thousands and thousands less.  2017 and 2018 models still way up there, but going back to 2012 or around that year, the prices are 4 and 5 thousand dollars less, at the least, than anything I'm finding around here.  I also don't have to think about rusting frames and such in Phoenix, any truck that was bought there and stays there isn't going to have that problem.  And finding some with 100k or less mileage with those prices..

Well sitting here on the internet isn't going to get anything done today. 

After all that with trying to get the truck fixed, especially the AC in the sleeper, I drove over to the shop where they had done the work, parked my car there, got in an drove.  When I got to the yard to hook up the trailer, doing a pre trip, I noticed the front right turn signal not working. Upon further inspection, who knows what they did. They fixed the marker lights only to make the turn signal not work?  I swapped out bulbs from one side to the other, no go.  I checked the fuses, none of them were bad. 

Fuse box poorly illustrated for what's what, so I checked a bunch of them.  After that? Well, I don't have a light tester with me so I can't find out whether there is even power going to it or not.  I couldn't find anywhere where they might have messed with the wiring.  Now, why they would call their work completely and not check it out? No clue.  Fixing one thing only to break another is not a finished product, it's shoddy mechanics.  If I get pulled over by Troopers, the first thing they check is lights. Any lights out, they write you up.  I've gone to the trouble to make the company aware of the situation.  The shop closed early yesterday, I couldn't take it back to have them fix it.

Anyway, I just went ahead and drove the truck.  Got to the plant, only to find out that the pump had quit working to pump the ethylene into the tanks.  Well, that had happened earlier, the pump came back online, but now they were behind. So, I sat there quite a while waiting, my turn finally came.  He got me loaded and I was about to leave when I noted the weight.  Huh?  Turns out he had taken the word of the driver before me about the weigh master telling him my weight on the phone.  Why he asked that dude for MY weight I have no clue.  It was WAY off.  This is a heavy trailer.  I had my weight written right on the ticket that I give him, which he always checks.

So, I had to sit there and wait even longer to get the excess unloaded from the truck and then, finally get out of that place over 4 hours later.  I was already 5 hours on the clock, no chance I was going to make it to Brownsville, not enough hours. But I drove that thing for hours and hours without stopping anyway, just to get some miles between me and the plant and also to ensure that I was going to get through Houston, I didn't want to hit morning rush hour traffic. But thinking about it, lol, it's Sunday and there won't be any rush hour traffic.  I have it stuck in my head that it's a weekday for some reason.

Turns out I made it much further than Houston.  I drove 463 miles before stopping. I still had an hour left on the drive clock but it was 11:00 pm and I was wasted tired.  No thanks.  It just stinks not to make it straight down there because if there is no trailer available to pick up, the detention clock starts the minute you drive into the yard and start waiting.  Nothing I can do about it, sometimes that happens on this run, fortunately not too often. At this point, I won't mind finding a trailer down there, turning around and just start heading back up and get the crux of the driving down on a Sunday instead of a weekday. I'll find that out later.

Meanwhile, I'm stopped at a Love's with a "mechanic" shop.  But they don't do much mechanics there.  I asked anyway, told them the situation, "We don't do electrical work here".  Yea I didn't think so but it was worth trying.  The thing is, there is an inspection station about 20 miles south of me.  It's always open during the weekdays, sporadic on weekends.  I always get the pass to not stop - my truck has pre-pass and it always gives me a green light meaning blow by the place and c'ya.  Hopefully it's closed today and I won't have to worry about it. There's a TA down south, it's out of route but after I get a trailer I may just drive the 25 miles out of way and see if they can fix it. They have a real mechanical shop with real mechanics. 

Look the real problem is the International Roadside check that fires up for 3 days starting on the 5th, which is 2 days from now, Tuesday.  You can read about it here: https://cvsa.org/news-entry/2018-roadcheck/  Their main focus this year is electronic logging devices and do you have it properly filled in.,  Yes, I think I do, but I guess I'll find out.  I can't remember any year where I didn't get pulled over.  Well maybe a few, but your odds of getting a level 1 inspection are good, it's likely going to happen, you need to be prepared. They check the lights on any level of inspection. So, it is what it is. If worse comes to worse, I'll drive the thing back to that shop - providing I even make it there without getting pulled over, they do inspections year round, just during this annual event, they have sites set up EVERYWHERE and pull over as many trucks as they can - and have them fix the damn thing and perhaps give them a small piece of my mind for giving me a truck back that has a mechanic created problem. 

They also did check the brakes, I'll give them kudos for that, I can tell when I hit the brakes it's much tighter.  That's another focus, brakes. A level 1 inspection has them checking the truck from front to back. They even get on creepers and get underneath the truck.  Cracks, oil or air leaks, loose wires, anything and you get written up.  Anything really bad and they will put you out of service. 

That's kind of going to possess my thoughts until it's over and more importantly, until this light issue is fixed. 

I had a fitful sleep last night. Too many thoughts running through my brain.  It's the next morning now, but I got up 2 hours before my 10 rest reset was over.  I did that to at least ask them if they could look at it, but they admitted they can't fix electrical problems. 

Onto other things. I"ve really been weighing this idea of getting into car payments again.  I have that Jeep, it's old but it runs good and mostly in good condition. A few body issues and the headliner needs replaced and fix the AC, but other than that it's really in pretty good shape.  Gas guzzler, but even with that still cheaper than a truck payment and higher insurance to have full coverage.  I don't pay full coverage for old vehicles.  If I get in an accident that's my fault, oh well, send the thing to the recycler, get a few hundred in scrap metal out of it and move on. 

I'm not sure what I'm going to do and therefore, I am going to do nothing about it.  Yet anyway.  Actually, if I could find the right deal on a truck, I would go for it.  But, they want a lot of money for old trucks with high miles.  Why would anyone pay 17k for a pickup that has almost 200k miles on it?  How long before it starts having all kinds of mechanical issues?  Alternators, water pumps and injectors don't last forever.  And that stuff costs a lot to replace if you take it to a shop.  I don't want someone's leftovers at a ridiculous price.  I want something at or near 100k miles tops.  These aren't semi trucks made to last hundreds of thousands of miles, millions of miles even, they are pickups and they simply don't last that long.  I'm just in awe that they ask so much money for such high mileage vehicles.

I'm not doing it.  I don't even think the financing I have will allow high mileage and for good reason.  I've seen some high mileage trucks going for 3 grand cash that still look good. That might be doable, then if it needs work you don't feel so bad about it.  You only paid a few thousand for it, what's dumping another couple grand into it? 

Well, my friends have bought an above ground pool.  Getting it this week sometime.  And already having a party this coming weekend.  I was, of course, invited but my manager has a penchant for sending me out on weekends. Of course she does, longer tenured drivers that have the apparent privilege of demanding no weekend work.  It just irks me because it's part of this company's deal: you agree to work on weekends.  Well, that should go across the board, not just for new people.  I have gotten some weekends off, but not that many.  I couldn't commit, of course, but here's to hoping that I can get it off.  I already had to ask for a day off on the 11th to get most of my teeth work finished.  That's very important to me and I would have pushed the issue with my manager had I needed to.  I will have to remind her because she doesn't seem good at keeping these dates on a calendar. 

I probably sound overly negative.  Just everything that's going on right now.  There are always positives in life.  I still have decent health, I have 2 beautiful dogs that love me, I have a wonderful son and a lovely mother still alive and kicking and even driving.  I'm responsible for the bills of 3 houses but they are mostly paying for themselves. I have a job that pays well if nothing else about it seems good.  I just get hung up on broken down trucks and companies not immediately getting them fixed.  And also, a company lying about giving you a new truck to lure you in.  That was a lie, there is no getting around that. 

I just need a good vacation and go somewhere.  I was digging through my stuff looking for my passport.  Can't find it but I know it's in one of those boxes. I want it out and be able to look at it. It motivates me to think about flying over the ocean and seeing a new land.  I dunno how it is going on a vacation alone, but I'm quite content being by myself as long as I have at least intermittent contact with real humans (in person, social media is interesting but it doesn't replace personal contact).  I think I got that from my mother.  She is content to sit up at her property, alone, for weeks at a time. She goes to meetings here and there up there, but most of her time is spent reading books, putting together puzzles and just enjoying the outdoors.  She does have a goofy dog with her tho.

It's not that hard to strike up conversations with strangers anyway.  I'm probably more on the outgoing personality side of things when it comes to that. 

Well, 25 minutes and I can take off. Think I'll do my pretrip and get ready to get rolling. 






                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

I'm at the "I can't do this anymore" phase.  The job has it's pros and it's cons, most of which I can deal with even if I don't like it. But there is one sticking point that I will never get used to: broken trucks.  If a company won't fix their equipment, they don't deserve good drivers driving for them.  And so it is coming to that point with this company.

The AC stopped working in the sleeper over a week ago.  I put in a request to have it fixed. I was told that I was needed on another run and that it would have to wait. I very reluctantly agreed to it, knowing that sleep would be evasive.  And sure enough, 3 nights in that thing and sporadic sleep.  I'm freaking wasted tired now, hard to get anything done at home when you haven't slept. 

Anyway, on this last trip, the trailer also had problems.  These are new trailers, like 1 to 2 years old. They are very expensive.  They don't mind spending the money on these trailers, it's the trucks they seem to have an aversion to.  Anyway, I noticed one of the air gauges moving up and down rapidly and hearing the air passing through the valve to air up the trailer.  I mean, that needle was moving up and down - down being the bad part - very quickly.

After checking, I found the air system for the tires on one of the hubs was the culprit.  Air leaking out of the hub at a massive rate, you could hear it 20 feet away. So I informed the fleet manager (not my terminal manager). I was already at a TA truckstop, their preferred place to get trucks repaired on the road, but after inquiring, they said there would be about a 6 hour wait.  No thanks.  I drove down the road to the next TA, who quickly "fixed" the problem.

But, 10  minutes down the road and the same thing happened again, except even worse.  Upon checking, yup, their fix, didn't work.  Well, I had to stop for the night - another half sleepless night in a warm truck in that sleeper - got up early and drove to yet the next TA outside of Memphis.  They wanted to argue about paying for it, I said no, this is your company, it's a nationwide account, please fix it, thanks. 

The fix didn't work.  Then they tried replacing seals. That didn't work either and then they decided that the mechanic who had put on the new hub at the other TA had over torqued the fitting and had cracked it.  This set a 4 hour wait for them to go to Memphis, get another hub, bring it back, find out they had the wrong one, back to memphis again, back and fixed.  Over a 2 day span I wasted a lot of hours on that "project".  Near the end of getting it fixed, this fleet manager texted me saying he was on the phone with my manager and his manager and that his manager said to get the truck greased.  Why did they wait almost 5 hours to tell me that?  I inquired, no, you'll go to the back of the line and it will be 4 hours.

No way am I waiting in that veritable hell hole another 4 hours.  I informed the fleet manager about that and offered to take it into Peterbilt down the road in Little Rock where we could get the whole truck fixed and have the maintenance done. I received no reply.  I never received a reply from this dude.  But, after about 10 minutes, I shrugged my shoulders, go in the truck and drove.  I called my manager near Little Rock who had already gotten into it with numerous members of management and proceeded to tell me about it lol. 

The problem is we have no mechanic, they haven't been able to find one and there is all kinds of issues needing to be addressed in the entire fleet at our branch.  It's all being neglected and she wasn't being given any of the paperwork to alert her to what maintenance needs to be done on whichever trucks.  I don't know if it's a shortage of mechanics or if they just aren't paying anything.  It creates headaches because you have to take a truck in somewhere for simple maintenance or minor repairs and either wait or get a ride back to the yard.  I mean, look at it: you have the truck at the yard, the mechanic pulls it into the shop, walaah, it's fixed there and you don't have to wait. 

Anyway, yesterday, it was left at the idea that my manager was going to call this fleet manager and have him call around to find the best place to get the truck fixed right away instead of having to wait.  I asked her to please call me back and tell me what the plan is, take it in yesterday or take it in this morning?  I heard nothing from her yesterday and it's after noon today and still nothing.  So, I sent her a text message.  I refuse to drive that truck until/if/when it's fixed.  Etc etc etc.  If that doesn't set well with management, please let me know and I will start putting out applications. 

The trucking industry doesn't lure drivers in with old trucks.  They promise you brand new equipment and nowadays alot of the large carriers actually follow through with that promise.  This company did the same thing: we are getting 10 brand new trucks, one of them will be yours. Great! that promise was made at least a dozen times before, during and after orientation.  When the trucks were ready to be delivered, they gave them to another division with team drivers instead, told me that I would have to drive that old piece of junk Volvo. It was truly a take it or leave it proposition.

I made mention of the new trucks promised, but they ignored that.  Well, they aren't ignoring it anymore.  I was quite serious about that text and I have already started putting out applications.  I don't know why they think I would be happy sleeping in a hot truck?  And other issues that I sent to the fleet manager, including front running lights not working.  I could have figured that one out, probably, without a shop but the thing has to go into a shop anyway, so why bother?  The thing is, Roadside Check 2018 starts in a few days. It's 3 days of law enforcement pulling over commercial vehicles all over the nation. If you are driving on any major highway, it's almost guaranteed you will see them out there somewhere with their camps set up.  They do level 1 inspections and they will put you or your truck or both out of service for flagrant violations.  I dunno if they would put a truck out of service for the front running lights not working, but I would definitely get written up for it.

It looks poorly on your record for having that kind of stuff on there.  It makes you look like you don't do pre and post trip inspections and that you don't take care of the equipment.  Another trucking company seeing that would have to consider whether I am worthy of being put in one of their brand new trucks. Of course, there is a documented, legitimate truck driver shortage going on now, so probably a person with no accidents or tickets on their record would get hired just about anywhere.

I dunno, but I"m putting out applications at hazmat tanker companies offering local positions. No guarantees of course, but it's all fuel trucks that go to gas stations and fill up underground tanks.  0

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2 hours later and I get a phone call.  She, Ann my manager, was like, okay, let's get this truck fixed right now.  She had completely forgotten about it, but hadn't forgotten a load she wants me to do tomorrow?  A bit ridiculous but I didn't push the issue.  I drove over to the yard, took the truck to the shop and supposedly they will have it done today. 

Tomorrow I guess I will leave me car at that shop and pick up the truck and drive it back to the yard, get the trailer and then head to the plant.  I expect to not have to go through this crap again if the truck has a problem. It's ridiculous.

Anyway, hours later and I'm finally back home.  Not really feeling all that great with the lack of sleep in the truck for the last several days.  I slept for several hours earlier but I need more.  At least I don't have to be to the plant until 11:00 am tomorrow - but that's not really all that great either because it takes 10 hours to get down there.  That would put me at 1:00am at the earliest arrival time and that ain't gonna happen.  I take that back, I might be able to make it as early as 11:00 pm, it really depends on the plant and how long it takes.  But that's a long day.  I hate driving that late.  I dunno, guess I'll play it on how I feel.  I figure to make at least 500 miles tho, and if I do make 500, I'll just finish out the rest of it.  It's better to get down there as fast as possible in case there isn't a trailer there. Then you get to start the detention pay clock the minute you pull into the yard. 

Oh, this is the Brownsville run, lol.  I do like this run because of the potential detention pay, I got quite a bit last time.  Oh, and I stayed at a hotel I remember now.  That was a truck load of detention pay and the hotel was great for the price.  So, I hope I can do that again.  The weekend I have more of a chance of getting down there and not being a trailer there. 

Well, bed time. 

So the end of 2 full days off arrives and will pass after tonight is over.  I don't mind the long trips, as long as they aren't back to back. Which isn't a problem, many other drivers only want the long trips.  I need one here and there for the paycheck's sake, but enough shorter trips adds up as well.  And I get home more often. They could send me on one of the Canada trips, but that isn't going to happen anytime soon.  The really good runs are eaten up by longer term drivers.  I can't really blame them for doing that, but once in a great while, one of those runs would be nice.

But, hey, I got the Stryker run tomorrow and that is highly desired, to the point mostly only 2 drivers get to go up there. I dunno why tho. It's out in the middle of nowhere and it is no more miles than the West Virginia run.  I've been to both and I can't see any difference in pay.  Maybe those people live up there or have relatives, girlfriends, who knows.  There is a litany of reasons people like to go to certain locations, most of which have nothing to do with money.

But, the sleeper AC isn't working so this going to be a long trip.  It means to stay cool in the sleeper, I have to leave the curtain open to the cab.  The sleeper stays cool, it's just that there are always lights wherever I'm parking or just the idea of potentially being exposed to whosoever. No one is likely to look in there, they'd have to probably get up on the truck to see me in there anyway, just a "feeling" I guess.  I'm going to push getting it fixed when I get back. Well, I'd like to get it fixed on an already time off, such as 34 hour reset.  I'll have around 44 hours used up on this round, which still leaves quite a bit when I get back, no clue.

Today - many people didn't show up for the cookout that said they would. No biggies, but the next door neighbor came over and we sat and talked for hours.  Confirmed from his mouth that he is running for Sheriff next  in 2020 and confirmed he has a lot of rich people that are going to support him - to the point they have already pledged to pay for his campaign.  That's a pretty nice piece of security.  He's a great guy.  I've had my issues with them, but nothing too major besides the boy destroying my 4 wheeler.  I didn't bring that up, no point in ruining a fine afternoon.  A buddy of James came over too, really cool, really had a good time.

3 racks of my ribs turned out nice, 2 of them did not.  My fault, I'm learning.  First foray into doing that much meat all at once. It would be easier to do in a much larger cabinet style smoker or a barrel cooker may be better.  I dunno. But, the Sheriff liked them. He also told me the credit union he works for (2 jobs, makes big bucks as a banker) has repos and if I see something I like, he can very likely bring the price down. Short list, tho, 2 trucks, both Dodge Rams.  Nice trucks but at 29k and 24k, even if he could bring it down a few thousand, still out of my price range.  Well, the lender thinks I qualify for 40k, but screw that.  I"m really much more in love with either GMC pickups or Chevy.  Yes, same company but different truck lines.  Much prefer GMC, actually, but the Chevy Silverado is a beautiful truck.

No rush. Maybe they'll get something in that I'll like.  Whatever I end up getting, I'm stuck with it for at least 4 or 5 years.  Maybe the rest of my life.  I want something nice.  Not too nice - trucks and extras equal big bucks - but nicely appointed.  As for buying my own semi for work - I decided to wait a year from my employment date. If I'm still there, I'll ask about their lease/purchase program.  If it looks decent - maybe.  If not - buy my own with my own lending - or just not.  Right now is not the time for this, I have decided and that will go on the back burner for another 6 months.

I mean, I had a great day tho.  Just cooking and hanging out.  A bit of laundry.  Dogs given more attention by the man that showed up with his kid than they even get from me. Well, okay, not really lol.  Those dogs are lavished with love on a daily basis when I'm home and the same when I take them over to Donny and Rene.  Oh, well there was one thing tho.  I was looking through my wallet  yesterday and realized my driver's license is missing.  I went through it 3 times again this morning - maybe it will magically appear in there! lolol

I got the smoker fired up, got the ribs in there and drove to work after that.  Sure enough, it was sitting on the passenger's seat as I suspected it was.  Not totally fruitless trip - there was a pile of permits and operating authority documents in my bin in the office.  Roadside Check is just around the corner.  They want every piece of paperwork up to date in that book we carry around with us.  Most people have insurance and registration. We have that and dozens and dozens of other permits and authorities because of hazmat.  It all has to be up to date.  Authorities have already stated that paperwork is going to be one of their main focuses.  I spent an hour going through all of that stuff in my book and replacing that which was outdated. Actually, there was nothing outdated, it was going to be outdated as of the first of June.

I got all of that in order.  Got the tractor hooked up to the trailer for tomorrow and left.  Oh, well I checked the refrigerator.  I have finally figured this out. The truck will run the refrigerator...until the truck says that that battery levels are at minimum levels and anything running? won't be running anymore.  It shuts off all sources of power drains and says enough.  I don't know how long that takes.  More than 2 days, I know that but how long for sure, no idea. . I ran the truck for awhile since I was there hooking it up to a trailer, going into the office and checking out paperwork and getting paperwork for the next load.

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Memorial Day morning.  Just getting ready to head out and get to the yard.  Not really looking forward today's drive but only because I am starting late meaning I'll have to be driving late.  I mean, at least 500 miles in to make sure I can finish out the drive tomorrow and be there at  6 am Wednesday morning.  Which in turn leaves me to have to drive that day quite a bit to be able to get back on Thursday.  Oh, well anyway, I'm not much of a late driver and the prospect of driving until midnight isn't too great for me. 

Nothing of great interest left here.  Watching footage of official Memorial's day ceremonies around the nation. 

Time stops for no-one, certainly not me.  Off to trucking wonderland. 

I've been driving the same car for 10 years now.  I'm very tired of driving it, mostly because it's falling apart. If it were still in good condition - interior is what's the problem - I probably wouldn't be so tired of this particular vehicle.

My next vehicle will switch back to a pickup.  I'm looking.  Pre qualified for up to 40k, tho I have no intention of spending near that much money on any vehicle.  That could actually get me into a new truck, but everyone knows that the second you drive that vehicle off the dealer lot, it loses thousands of dollars worth of value. The only reason to buy new - is the experience of having new.  I've had that before, I don't particularly need to take a loss right off the bat.  Dealers do great jobs of cleaning out used vehicles and getting them into great condition both visually and the smell that comes into your nostrils once you open the door.

I'm looking at several that are more in the price range I want.  And making offers lol.  2 grand less on any vehicle I am making an offer on.  I'll never take their advertised offer and I always look up the blue book on any given vehicle for dealer pricing. Which, in turn, almost always comes up with a price less than what is advertised.  Buying vehicles from a dealer is not for the faint of heart unless you are willing to just go in, buy the thing at face value and be done with it.

I'm not that kind of shopper.  I spent 6 months looking for a car when I bought the one I currently have.   It's actually served me quite well with no major breakdowns.  But it's old and it doesn't look nice and I want a truck.  I kicked myself after buying that car and realizing that I am a truck person. But, I paid the thing off and have been driving it for 5 years without making any car payments.  I also have that Jeep. We are working on it.

I say we because they have used it when something of theirs breaks down.  I have far too much money dumped into it to sell it.  In fact, I'm going to get the AC fixed with is another 5 or 600 dollars, but after that, there are just minor repairs that can be stretched out over time.  Right now, the brakes are being fixed but once we got the tires off saw that the rotors are quite bad.  I knew it was metal on metal, they were that way when I got it.  I haven't really driven it that much, but once they started using it as a back up vehicle, I figured it's time to fix them.  So, I got new rotors yesterday, but James is going to install all that stuff.

James is an accomplished mechanic, I have no doubt about his ability to do a good job.  Otherwise, yes, I would do it myself.  Anyway, I'm full blown into looking for a pickup.  That does not mean I'm jumping into anything.  I want a GMC or Chevy Silverado. It must have 4 full doors and at least a 6 foot bed on it.  4WD is optional, fun to have but not a deal breaker. 4WD is pretty expensive stuff to fix when the components go out - but - that wouldn't deter me from getting one now that I have a much better income coming in.

I kind of worried about making more money and then just getting into debt that would eat all that up. But, my car has near 200k miles on it and it's really time to upgrade.  I'm looking at 2011 to 2012 models, a couple a few years older.  They are, actually, all 4 wheel drivers.  I am going through Capital One loan and it comes up with a rather large selection of vehicles that they say they will finance. I've noted that it must be around 100k miles or less for them to show any potential vehicle. It's a different animal shopping for a vehicle online.  It really saves a lot of hassle in going to endless car dealers, getting the run around, getting sat down, getting a dozen different "managers" trying to talk you into something you don't want and then, getting up and walking out.

This method weeds out all of that nonsense.  You find something you like, you email them, ask what their best price is and see if they contact you back. If they don't, who cares, shrug shoulders, move on to the next one.  I have queries in for 4 of them now.  No hurry.

I have plenty on my list of things to do today anyway. Actually going out and looking at any of these is not really in the equation. The local dealers have nothing in stock that I want. Well, they do if I wanted to buy brand new. Their used prices are way too high, I won't even try to haggle with them when they have stuff listed 3 to 5 k above what even the Kelly blue book is showing should be the highest price for a dealer, in my area.  Just a waste of time trying to get them to come down.  Even if they do, they are still at the high end of the price range for whatever vehicle. Whatever the case, I have a set amount for a monthly payment that I won't go over.  Kind of like gambling, when I go to the casino I have a set amount of money I am willing to lose and if I get to that point, I get up and leave.  Should be no different with buying a vehicle. You get a number in your mind that you think you'd be okay with paying for the next 48 months and stick to it.  And yes, trying to keep it at 48 months versus 60.  At about 3-1/2 years of paying on a vehicle, I am ready to be done with the payments.  4 years you are already getting antzy about all that money going out every month.

Okay. Well I have goals today.  I didn't know what I was going to do today, but that took care of itself. I'm going to Lowe's and getting a bug zapper and some wood for smoking tomorrow, over to Kroger's to get a couple of things of ribs and some other stuff for a feast we're having tomorrow.  Next door neighbors are coming over or we're going over there, not sure about that plus they're having friends over plus Rene and donny are coming.  I'll probably be visiting with Rene and Donny most of the time.  They're just different types of people that you have to get used to being around.

I am also going to clean off the front porch today and sweep out the entire cement area in the back.  I'ma make sure the smoker is cleaned out and I guess there's going to be 4 or 5 racks of ribs going in there. The next door neighbor just brought over a large rib rack.  It's funny to have people wanting to taste your cooking.  Ribs are easier because you can't really over cook them.  Put them in the smoker for 4 hours, pull them out, wrap them up in red paper (special wrap I ordered after being informed by what amounts to a professional smoker that putting it in that paper makes the finished product taste way better than putting it into tin foil) and let them cook for another 2 hours or more and then pull them back out for another hour or 2 of finish cooking.  Melt in your mouth, the meat just falls off the rib.

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Lucky me, I've misplaced my license.  Good thing I don't have to be to the plant until 11 on Monday morning.  I've searched everywhere except the truck, will be driving over there tomorrow morning to take a look.  The last place I can remember using it is at the dentist office.  I dunno, but if I don't find it before Monday, I'm getting my birth certificate and passport ready to go straight to the DL office and apply for a replacement.  They will issue me a temporary license - which suffices. No license at all? While pulling hazmat? Big trouble.  Now I am very glad that I didn't take the Sunday load.  The dentist office definitely gave me my creditcare card back, I don't remember either way if they gave me my license back.  That will be my first call at 8:00 am on Monday morning.  Actually I'll be at their doorstep because if they don't have it, I have limited time to run to the DL and get a replacement.

I'm straining my brain thinking - oh yes. I used it at the plant in Louisiana. Highly likely my DL is sitting in the seat at work.  Simple drive over there will confirm either way.  Yes, now that I think about it, it's probably on the passenger seat.  Forgot about that. I have to give them 3 forms of ID, none of which are in my wallet. Well, the TWIC card doesn't fit in my wallet, the other 2 do.  Ok, sigh of relief.  Glad I wrote this out, kinda made me think about it a bit more.  That plant is a port and port require all kinds of credentials.  If you don't have a TWIC card, tho, good luck getting in there.

I was near panicking on that one.  You seriously do not want to get caught driving a tractor trailer rig without your CDL. But now I remember, after walking back from the guard shack, I put all that stuff on the passenger seat and forgot about it. The Safety Council card missing in my wallet confirms it.  That card is 8 hours worth of training just to get into that specific plant. I feel I wasted my time doing that.  Many  more senior drivers don't have and won't get that card and for good reason. They will legitimately not be asked to go down there because they don't have it.

Well, anyway, got quite a bit done today.  I finally found a place that sells small logs for smoking instead of the large chips.  The large chips burn out quickly and you have to keep replacing them. Pain in the butt to say the least, causes you to have to tend to the smoker much more than one should have to.  I mean, you can't just use any logs, it has to be Hickory, or Mesquite, Pecan, Apple, whatever you want to use.  You aren't really going to use the oak wood I have outside. The smoke adds flavor to the meat, you certainly don't want to add bad flavor lol.

Ok, well everything is ready.  5 racks of ribs. That's my part in this, I'll be tending to it on and off all day. I'm definitely going to spend the hour plus going to the yard to make positive sure that the license is in there. I just can't take any chances.  I can hook the truck up to the intended trailer at least so I have less to do on Monday.

Tomorrow, James and Taylor put out a Facebook "all welcome to come" thing.  We have no idea how many people are going to show up. But, on rack is going back to the neighbors, another is going to work with Taylor and half a rack is going with me on Monday.  That's 2-1/2 racks without even starting to eat tomorrow. The rest? Well, i said, if it doesn't get eaten, I'ma put it in the freezer and I'll eat it when I get back - which I definitely will. In fact, eating leftovers from last smoking today.  Still some of that nice pork loin left, still very tasty. 

Ok, well before tomorrow morning gets here, I need to see if those logs are going to fit into the hot box on the smoker. If they don't, there is an electric chain saw here I can cut them up with. 

So my pork ribs have now been requested outside of the house.  Lol.  I don't fancy myself a famous smoker in the future, but it's cool to have your food liked by people you don't even know.  `I actually have the weekend off and then on the road for 4 days going up to northern Ohio.  That's the place where the Ethylene was leaking out of a tube, into the cabinet and made me high as a kite lolol.  It's a nice trip and a bit of a different scene than the West Virginia and other runs I have been going on pretty much non stop.  There's even more places we go that I have yet to get sent out on .  I don't question it, not at the moment anyway.  Ann has a job of trying to keep long time drivers happy.  They "could" go work elsewhere, but at their ages, that would be a very unwise move considering their tenure and accrued benefits. 

Some of them threaten it anyway.  I get it, going through that myself, but this place isn't even in the same realm as that place I quit.  There is a good, decent, nice manager at the very least.  They get the cream of the crop runs. They don't even go to the undesirable places such as Cheniere, Pasadena or El Dorado.  Many of them live on the road. Great for them, not for me.  I'll take some of the crappy runs to get home more often. My paychecks are great, maybe not as great as theirs but I'm not spending months at a time out on the road.

Again, they like that stuff, they live it. That's their choice. My manager called me earlier: would you rather go out on Sunday or Monday?  I immediately said Monday, but if you have stuff that needs to be covered, I'll do whatever needs to be done.  She sent me a run going to Ohio for Monday, I don't have to be at the plant until 11:00 am.  That's a little late, I'd rather get in there earlier considering the amount of miles I need to cover before Wednesday morning, but I'll make it work.  If I get my own truck, I'd have to do a bit more running than what I'm doing now to make it work.

You know what?  I am making more money than I ever have, excepting a 6 month stint years ago.  I mean, I don't have to make $125k to be happy. It'd be nice to do that a couple of years, at a younger age.  I'm just not what I used to be. Things are slowly - slowing down.  I guess if I started working out again on a regular basis this wouldn't really be that much of an issue. 

Anyway, I have to sit here and think what I want to do with this weekend.  We have decided that Rene and Donny are coming over for a feast on Sunday.  Rene asked if we wanted to do one and she would do all the cooking.  Sure, why not.  Well, I didn't exactly say that, I had to float that by Taylor and James, Taylor had already had her asking her about it.

Tomorrow. Do I have a to do list or do I take it easy? I'm just coming off this sickness.  I mean, just starting to feel better.  I'm not necessarily interested in getting all huffy and puffy and doing stuff but at the same time, there is plenty that needs to get done.  I'll have to decide that tomorrow. I would rather take a 4 wheeler out and spin some wheels but the thing isn't working and I haven't had time to figure it out. 

Lol I dunno.  Just going to play it out tomorrow when it gets here.  I'm thinking I would rather go see a movie, if there are any worth watching, at the theater.  I mean, at the local theater, a matinee is $6 so if I got caught up in a lame movie, walking out wouldn't be much of a loss.  Funny that I used to movies fairly regularly until I moved out here.  Whatever the case, spending money isn't on my agenda, tho buying a pickup truck has also been swirling around in my head.  One in particular has my attention, but they would have to bring the price down for me to actually buy it.

I spent 3 hours at the dentist.  We are going for all of it. The dentist said we are putting in one crown today.  Statement of fact, yes that was the original thing and then it spread to everything else on the first visit.  I said, well, let's go for as much of it as you have time for today. He looked at the info and said we could do the 2 cracked teeth and all 4 front teeth.  Yes, let's do that please.  I'm ready to get this over with, even if payments are going to last a day and a half next and half of forever.

3 hours of 4 sets of hands.  Mouth wide open.  Uppers deaded to the point there was no feeling in them for hours.  I haven't had dental work done - since my 20's actually.  I mean, I've been to the dentist but I haven't had any work done.  Just given costs for what they want to do and me thinking, I don't have that kind of money right now. I didn't have any credit then, either.

I truly hate going further into debt, but it was either get these teeth fixed or eventually have to have them pulled and implants.  So, 2 weeks into June I have an appointment to finish the 6 crowns, get fitted for the last crown and have all the rest of the work down.  "You are going to have to be prepared to be here for 3 or 4 hours again". That's fine, I said, I want to get this done.  He lines his pockets, I get the work done, capitalism at it's finest.  I could have probably found a place to get it done cheaper, but this guy knows what he's doing.  I've had enough dentists that don't know what they are doing or hand your off to apprentices/aides that have no clue and not enough oversight.  You pay full price for half assed work.  I'll just pay this time, thanks.

I'm going to have a sit down with my manager next time I'm in there.  What does it take to switch over to Owner Operator, is ti feasible in my case and can I do it whenever I want to?  Does the company have any trucks for sale, btw?  Just curious, lol.

I am going back to Cheneire tomorrow. I was given a choice of that or another undesirable place, so I took the one that has a "chance" of getting back the same day.  Unlikely, of course, but perhaps after the last fiasco and the man that runs that place raising hell over there, it might go a lot faster.  That doesn't change the attitudes of 2 particular punks kids working there, but I'm prepared to deal with that as well now.  And yes, I'm taking food this time.  Enough to carry me over a night if need be.  Just enough, but enough.

So I got a spot in a couple hours at the dentist office. Hopefully that means a couple of crowns to start with? I have no clue how long that takes nowadays, I haven't had dental work done literally in decades.  Hmm, it appears there is new technology out that you can have the new crown put in the same day.  Whether this dentist has that or not, unknown.  Will be finding out lol.

My new CareCredit account brought my credit card usage down to 30% which in turn upped my credit score.  However, and unfortunately, that particular account will be all used up by the time I am done.  I fully intend on using all the $2,000 my dental insurance gives plus that credit plus any cash necessary beyond that, get my teeth all fixed, done and over with.  I don't care if I have to make payments on it for a few years.  I'm 54 years old, this stuff isn't getting any better and my smile is wretched.  Chipped, cracked teeth on the front.  Broken teeth.  Teeth that need fillings.  And now a mild pain in one of the cracked teeth. Naww, we aren't going to just continue to let this go.

Moving on, I have looked into financing on a semi tractor.  Seems like there are quite a few lenders out there willing to finance such.  That qualifications vary as does the down payment, some requiring no down payment at all.  I'm in the "I'm thinking about it" stage.  Nothing I will take action on any time in the next few months.  I'm sort of more interested in my relationship with this company at the moment.  I'm new.  I get a notice that I made it through the month of April without any violations and congratulations! 

Well, that's cool, but I had at least 2 over speeds this month and I'm sure I'll be getting their version of a company issued citation for those coming next month.  This is why I'm not really going to invest anything, even in the company truck I am driving now, until I have further evidence, over time, that they are actually going to keep me.  The orientation was full of instances of how they can and will fire you for this and that.  That's kind of what is keeping me on the fence.  In reality, there is no perfect driver and I'm not pretending to be.  Staying out of accidents is my number one priority, if I do that, that should count for something. But in this age and era of big brother watching everything you are doing,  that isn't necessarily true. If you are engaging in "risky" behavior, they like to call it, then you are no better than a person that just rear ended a car in front of you can injured everyone inside of it. 

Next month is CVSA International Roadcheck. Level 1 inspections done on trucks randomely pulled in - wherever.  Weigh stations, roadside check stations, just pulling you off to a safe area on the side of the road.  Almost guaranteed with the places we drive through I'll get pulled over yet again. Last 2 checks have netted "NO VIOLATIONS" against me, but they weren't level 1 inspections, either.  I've had a self initiated crash course on Quaalcomm, since I haven't used one in 20 plus years and they have completely changed since then.  I didn't know about the "load" info you have to put on for each trip, it isn't right there in front of your face when you look at it.  In fact, the thing is loaded with all kinds of screens and you have to just sit there and go through each one to learn how to use it..

They will be looking at driver's ELD's (electronic logging device) and I want the thing to be completely accurate.  One of our drivers recently got dinged for 8 days worth of not having the load info in there. That was a lot of points against his record and against the company.  I don't want any points and I want to keep in as good a standing with the company as possible.  The load info is actually quite easy to input once you actually find the field where to do it at.

Well, I'm smoking some meats in the smoker today.  Figure James can tend it while I'm at the dentist.  Doesn't take much, if temp is down, add some chips, maybe throw in some more charcoal to make sure it stays consistent heat.  Other than that, somewhere around 6 or 7 pm we'll be having that wonderful pork loin roast again. If it turns out as good as it did last time, hands down excellent meal.

With that, I must be off to the shower and then off to the dentist.