Well, here we are, home.
Not really the biggest downer ever. Just the s*** that occurred when I came back here in the house. I notice now that entry as a draft, maybe I will post it - maybe not worth it.
That was a situation that occurred in the house here and is an entire entry in itself.
The real thing of interest for me was coming back to work and seeing the manager coming down on all kinds of people at different levels getting reamed. Yes, about petty stuff. Please. I steered clear of it, though I heard a lot of it. In other words, yes, I was there, and yes, I said nothing. I was no part of it, yet it was astounding to see this man riding people that give their all to doing whatever he says to do.
Humans make mistakes, he has no grace or mercy for that. It's perfection, perfection, perfection. He proclaimed that "we are on the top now", comparing us to other stores in the region. Yes, we may very well be, but at what cost to the human experience? To living a life of peace, including at the workplace? He's threatened to get rid of certain people if they don't step up their game. Maybe that is warranted, but he's also riding people that strive for excellence. I saw an inside salesman come into the showroom the other day and instantly knew by the look on his face. I asked him if everything was ok? He put his hand up to the top of his forehead and gestured. In other words, the shit has gotten deep, he's getting fed up.
The other inside salesman is looking for a new job. They both might be, in reality, I dunno about the other dude, I haven't asked him and I'm pretty sure he wouldn't tell me if he was. It would come back on him if the manager found out. The outside salesman have it too good there, they are making too much money. The manager isn't really over them, in fact he isn't their manager at all, but he can and does make life hell for them .
But, this coming in to work two days in a row and walking in on this stuff was astounding the. Day 2 was worse, actually. He was riding 3 people. The 2 inside salesmen and the warehouse "manager". The warehouse manager was in a foul mood for the rest of the day after that. I didn't ask what the manager was chewing them out for, I heard some of it, I've heard it over and over. Just getting shitty over minor things that he should be able to talk to people about without acting like a total ass.
The warehouse manager is close to retirement. The 2 inside salesmen have a lot of years left in front of them. If I were in my 20's or even 30's, I would be going back to school, learning something that is for the modern world - namely automation - and getting degrees in relevant fields. My desire to go back to school has always been stifled by the exorbitant amount of money they want to go. I would love to learn something different and get into a completely different line of work. But, education is the key nowadays. Oh well. My only concern with my field is how long will I be able to pass the medical exam? Or even, will the field become automated in itself? They are talking about driverless cars and trucks, it's coming sooner or later.
Well going to post this one even though unfinished. Appears I haven't posted in a while lol.
Saturday, August 26, 2017
August 26, 2017 Facebook Is Down!
Facebook has crashed. People either can't get on, or can get on but can't post, comment or do anything. You know? I'd love to see it down for about a week and find out what people would do in it's absence. People structure their entire lives around FB, the awakening might be exactly what this nation needs!
Sunday, August 13, 2017
6 am in Torrance, CA.
Yesterday, I witnessed the most beautiful wedding I'm likely to ever be a part of, ever. I'm still just amazed how wonderful it was.
Caleb has a lot of close friends and those were his grooms men. They took the wedding seriously, definitely, but at the same time they did the same kinds of fun things with each other that you might expect young men to do that are filled with the love of the Lord.
Mom and I were actually the first ones to walk down the aisle, apparently as tradition would have it. I'm not sure, but it was my former pastors that showed up to run it, namely, Susan, who has done a large number of weddings and has the protocol down to a science. I am quite sure that if she hadn't been there the whole thing would not have turned out as amazing as it did.
It was funny because when the grooms men came up, they had obviously practiced special handshakes with Caleb. Each one did a different one with him and it was quite comical but still they were in the state of mind of, this is Caleb's big day. Anyway, it was almost magical the whole experience. Out doors, gorgeous, beautiful day, maybe a quarter mile from the beach. Trump golf course below the facility, I didn't know there was a Trump course out here. This particular area is very ritzy, it was amazing that there would be a Salvation Army facility here at all. They said it has been there for at least 50 years, so I am assuming the Salvation Army College was there before this all got built up into a fancy, pricey area.\
There are no large signs at the entrance, just two small signs that say what it is and then an unassuming driveway down a steep hill to the entrance of this rather large facility. The Uber drivers that lived there all their lives had never heard of it and said they probably had driven past this place a hundred times and never saw it.
Anyway, after the ceremony was picture taking time and of course mom and I were in that. But our portion of it was over quickly and we left the area to go to the reception area, where there was a chocolate and vanilla fountain set up replete with strawberries and various types of fruits to dip into it. That was outside, and then we were ushered indoors to have a marvelous dinner of fresh salmon and chicken cordon blue.
I got to visit with friends I hadn't seen in many years. Some of them, the last time we visited, our relationship not going so well, especially with other former pastors of long ago. That was a falling out from long ago that was well documented in this or one of my blogs, but I think this one. But the past is behind us, we are older now and it isn't worth carrying around that kind of baggage. At least not for me and she didn't either. In fact, we sat together at one of the head tables and had a good time. That, including my first ex wife. We didn't talk much, my ex and I, but we had to be amiable for the sake of our son.
When Caleb and Grace came in, about an hour later actually, apparently they were taking all kinds of pictures down there and whooping it up, they went straight to the dance floor and had their first official dance together. This place had dozens and dozens of people that are in the college there that had volunteered to serve the guests. In other words, it was much like a restaurant. I will certainly be writing my version of a letter of thanks to the college when I get home.
Anyway, it was an evening full of all kinds of quirky stuff. Such as the money dance. Where some of the guys stood with baskets to take donations of any kind to have a dance with the bride or groom. It may have looked gay, but it really wasn't. Just young people having a good time.
The evening progressed and the activities started to die off and it was obviously time to start thinking about leaving. Mom was pretty tired out by that point anyway. She is in her 80's and I was escorting her everywhere. She dressed up for the occasion and was very beautiful, took a nice pic of her and posted it on my FB wall. It was nice that Caleb's grandma could show up. Grace's entire family lines appeared to be there, including grandma and great grandma.
The thing that got to me was that Grace and Caleb were going to spend the night in one of the dorm hotel rooms. I mean, I found that out as this was all happening in the reception, but then one of the young men came up and said don't worry, we have that covered. We are surprising them with a hotel stay overnight at a very nice hotel just down the road from here. Awesome. They had made a gift basket up for the occasion. Later on, Caleb asked what is in there. I smiled and giggled a little, uhh, son, stuff you will probably need tonight.
It had dawned on me that my ex was having her son leave the nest. Yes, Caleb is 24 but he's been living with her since I left Phoenix and when he's been in town. That obviously isn't going to happen now and she is going to be having an empty room. The Susan said no, I'm going to fix that room up. She helps out with people that need a place to stay that are affiliated with the church, I am going to see to it that she isn't living in an empty house. I have no ill will against her.
I didn't intentionally set myself up to be living with people that love me as family, and they are currently in Georgia, but that's exactly what is happening in my life. As it stands, my only real family are my mom and my son. My brothers are pretty much permanently out of the picture. I found out yesterday from mom that my middle brother went into a tirade against her on Mother's Day, of all days. I know mom can be a little bit difficult at times, but nothing worth blowing up over. She's older, she is set in her ways, but she generally has a sweet demeanor about her. I can't even imagine what it was that set off my stupid brother on her special day and I don't really want to contemplate it, for it will just irritate me to no end. She was saddened by the fact that he hasn't spoken to her since then. I doubt he's spoken to my oldest brother, so his prophecy about me when he went off on me was it earlier this year or late last year? Can't remember, but is actually coming upon his head.
His anger and hate are coming back upon him in ways I doubt he imagined. Mom said because of his ego and pride, he won't apologize and so, because of that, he is stuck there. I fully agree. I made my apologies but he didn't accept them. He wanted more apologies and then went off into a 1,000 word texted tirade of how terrible I am, how I need psychological help, on and on and on. I don't imagine a person in that sort of mind frame having much of a peaceable life. I almost feel sorry for him, but now that he's done it to mom, I don't much care anymore.
Well, I probably should wind this one down. I need to leave out of here in an hour to get to LAX which is about a 30 minute ride. Need to find an Uber a bit in advance and leave myself a couple of hours at the airport to get everything taken care of. I am always apprehensive about TSA because you never know how long the line is going to be, how long it's going to take to get through it or what potential trouble they may give you. If it weren't for that, you could easily arrive at an airport less than an hour from boarding time with no problems. It's not a chance worth taking, you don't want the airplane to take off without you.
I planned this particular day out so that I wouldn't have to be rushed early to get this all done, which mom apparently did not do. I would have liked to go with her to the airport but she had to leave much earlier than me and I just wished her a happy journey back home. She had a great time though, she was all smiles and laughter last night until fatigue settled on, but she did remarkably well considering.
I will have more writing to do when I get home, but I think I better wrap this up, take a shower, get ready to go.
Yesterday, I witnessed the most beautiful wedding I'm likely to ever be a part of, ever. I'm still just amazed how wonderful it was.
Caleb has a lot of close friends and those were his grooms men. They took the wedding seriously, definitely, but at the same time they did the same kinds of fun things with each other that you might expect young men to do that are filled with the love of the Lord.
Mom and I were actually the first ones to walk down the aisle, apparently as tradition would have it. I'm not sure, but it was my former pastors that showed up to run it, namely, Susan, who has done a large number of weddings and has the protocol down to a science. I am quite sure that if she hadn't been there the whole thing would not have turned out as amazing as it did.
It was funny because when the grooms men came up, they had obviously practiced special handshakes with Caleb. Each one did a different one with him and it was quite comical but still they were in the state of mind of, this is Caleb's big day. Anyway, it was almost magical the whole experience. Out doors, gorgeous, beautiful day, maybe a quarter mile from the beach. Trump golf course below the facility, I didn't know there was a Trump course out here. This particular area is very ritzy, it was amazing that there would be a Salvation Army facility here at all. They said it has been there for at least 50 years, so I am assuming the Salvation Army College was there before this all got built up into a fancy, pricey area.\
There are no large signs at the entrance, just two small signs that say what it is and then an unassuming driveway down a steep hill to the entrance of this rather large facility. The Uber drivers that lived there all their lives had never heard of it and said they probably had driven past this place a hundred times and never saw it.
Anyway, after the ceremony was picture taking time and of course mom and I were in that. But our portion of it was over quickly and we left the area to go to the reception area, where there was a chocolate and vanilla fountain set up replete with strawberries and various types of fruits to dip into it. That was outside, and then we were ushered indoors to have a marvelous dinner of fresh salmon and chicken cordon blue.
I got to visit with friends I hadn't seen in many years. Some of them, the last time we visited, our relationship not going so well, especially with other former pastors of long ago. That was a falling out from long ago that was well documented in this or one of my blogs, but I think this one. But the past is behind us, we are older now and it isn't worth carrying around that kind of baggage. At least not for me and she didn't either. In fact, we sat together at one of the head tables and had a good time. That, including my first ex wife. We didn't talk much, my ex and I, but we had to be amiable for the sake of our son.
When Caleb and Grace came in, about an hour later actually, apparently they were taking all kinds of pictures down there and whooping it up, they went straight to the dance floor and had their first official dance together. This place had dozens and dozens of people that are in the college there that had volunteered to serve the guests. In other words, it was much like a restaurant. I will certainly be writing my version of a letter of thanks to the college when I get home.
Anyway, it was an evening full of all kinds of quirky stuff. Such as the money dance. Where some of the guys stood with baskets to take donations of any kind to have a dance with the bride or groom. It may have looked gay, but it really wasn't. Just young people having a good time.
The evening progressed and the activities started to die off and it was obviously time to start thinking about leaving. Mom was pretty tired out by that point anyway. She is in her 80's and I was escorting her everywhere. She dressed up for the occasion and was very beautiful, took a nice pic of her and posted it on my FB wall. It was nice that Caleb's grandma could show up. Grace's entire family lines appeared to be there, including grandma and great grandma.
The thing that got to me was that Grace and Caleb were going to spend the night in one of the dorm hotel rooms. I mean, I found that out as this was all happening in the reception, but then one of the young men came up and said don't worry, we have that covered. We are surprising them with a hotel stay overnight at a very nice hotel just down the road from here. Awesome. They had made a gift basket up for the occasion. Later on, Caleb asked what is in there. I smiled and giggled a little, uhh, son, stuff you will probably need tonight.
It had dawned on me that my ex was having her son leave the nest. Yes, Caleb is 24 but he's been living with her since I left Phoenix and when he's been in town. That obviously isn't going to happen now and she is going to be having an empty room. The Susan said no, I'm going to fix that room up. She helps out with people that need a place to stay that are affiliated with the church, I am going to see to it that she isn't living in an empty house. I have no ill will against her.
I didn't intentionally set myself up to be living with people that love me as family, and they are currently in Georgia, but that's exactly what is happening in my life. As it stands, my only real family are my mom and my son. My brothers are pretty much permanently out of the picture. I found out yesterday from mom that my middle brother went into a tirade against her on Mother's Day, of all days. I know mom can be a little bit difficult at times, but nothing worth blowing up over. She's older, she is set in her ways, but she generally has a sweet demeanor about her. I can't even imagine what it was that set off my stupid brother on her special day and I don't really want to contemplate it, for it will just irritate me to no end. She was saddened by the fact that he hasn't spoken to her since then. I doubt he's spoken to my oldest brother, so his prophecy about me when he went off on me was it earlier this year or late last year? Can't remember, but is actually coming upon his head.
His anger and hate are coming back upon him in ways I doubt he imagined. Mom said because of his ego and pride, he won't apologize and so, because of that, he is stuck there. I fully agree. I made my apologies but he didn't accept them. He wanted more apologies and then went off into a 1,000 word texted tirade of how terrible I am, how I need psychological help, on and on and on. I don't imagine a person in that sort of mind frame having much of a peaceable life. I almost feel sorry for him, but now that he's done it to mom, I don't much care anymore.
Well, I probably should wind this one down. I need to leave out of here in an hour to get to LAX which is about a 30 minute ride. Need to find an Uber a bit in advance and leave myself a couple of hours at the airport to get everything taken care of. I am always apprehensive about TSA because you never know how long the line is going to be, how long it's going to take to get through it or what potential trouble they may give you. If it weren't for that, you could easily arrive at an airport less than an hour from boarding time with no problems. It's not a chance worth taking, you don't want the airplane to take off without you.
I planned this particular day out so that I wouldn't have to be rushed early to get this all done, which mom apparently did not do. I would have liked to go with her to the airport but she had to leave much earlier than me and I just wished her a happy journey back home. She had a great time though, she was all smiles and laughter last night until fatigue settled on, but she did remarkably well considering.
I will have more writing to do when I get home, but I think I better wrap this up, take a shower, get ready to go.
Final full day here. The wedding starts at 4 eastern time today and probably will go on into the night as far as the reception goes.
Mom was exhausted last night and considering her age, I thought she did very well to be able to last as long as she did. In fact, for being in her 80's, she is doing very well indeed.
We met for for free breakfast earlier. The golfing lady came in and sat down right next to us, so we got into yet another conversation. She is going to do some practice golfing today before the real deal starts tomorrow. I wished her good luck, she is in contention with 52 other ladies for 15 spots. I dunno how good a golfer she is, she didn't too her own horn which I found very nice, indeed, especially in this world full of braggarts and self-exalted human gods floating around telling everyone how superior they are to everyone else.
I've had a pleasant time here. The loud, obnoxious "neighbors" must have checked out, for I didn't hear a peep last night and I slept like a log. I was seriously tired after a fitful night of not sleeping the night before. Or very little sleep, anyway. So, I got in 9 hours worth. I'm enjoying my hotel room today, I'm going to go for a swim in a bit, have a lunch with mom a little later and then get out my wedding outfit, iron it nice and tight and get ready for the grand affair. I was contemplating going to the beach, but I suspect that would take too much of my energies away for the wedding ceremony and ensuing reception.
Caleb - isn't having a honeymoon afterwards which I found disappointing though I said nothing. It is obvious the money situation is tight and they just couldn't afford one. From my perspective, and it's just IMO of course, but I think your wedding night should at least be a hotel stay at a fabulous resort and have the time of your life if you aren't going to do anything else. I gave him the money I had to give him last month, it was the best I could do at $350. Good thing I gave it to him then, I'm seriously going to be hurting after this trip lol, even trying to be frugal the expenses are adding up. If it wasn't for Uber, it would really be costly.
Dangit. I just looked up the number of the dropped call from yesterday. It was an employer trying to contact me about a job. It was Chem-Air. They are a huge company hauling all kinds of products for various types of plant operations and such. I hope I didn't blow it, but the call kept cutting out until it totally dropped. I am pretty sure I would love to go to work for a company like that as long as the starting pay is good. Wait, this is a different job. They go around spraying chemicals out of helicopters, you pull up with a tanker filled with the chemicals they spray. The helicopter actually lands on top of the truck to refill. Pretty crazy stuff, but they are advertising a good pay package, definitely going to give them a call Monday. I'll be back in town and I took off Tuesday as well. It makes little difference now in taking vacation time since we are stuck at 8 hours mostly and no OT.
Before, taking a vacation meant giving up the OT and taking a smaller paycheck, not anymore.
Dangit, I'm really not happy about that call dropping. Best I can do is apologize Monday and hope that they see that I was very busy with important family stuff.
However, the tanker company across the street from work is advertising for CDL jobs. I have no qualms going over there and at least inquiring about it.
Closing this one out to write a new one.
Mom was exhausted last night and considering her age, I thought she did very well to be able to last as long as she did. In fact, for being in her 80's, she is doing very well indeed.
We met for for free breakfast earlier. The golfing lady came in and sat down right next to us, so we got into yet another conversation. She is going to do some practice golfing today before the real deal starts tomorrow. I wished her good luck, she is in contention with 52 other ladies for 15 spots. I dunno how good a golfer she is, she didn't too her own horn which I found very nice, indeed, especially in this world full of braggarts and self-exalted human gods floating around telling everyone how superior they are to everyone else.
I've had a pleasant time here. The loud, obnoxious "neighbors" must have checked out, for I didn't hear a peep last night and I slept like a log. I was seriously tired after a fitful night of not sleeping the night before. Or very little sleep, anyway. So, I got in 9 hours worth. I'm enjoying my hotel room today, I'm going to go for a swim in a bit, have a lunch with mom a little later and then get out my wedding outfit, iron it nice and tight and get ready for the grand affair. I was contemplating going to the beach, but I suspect that would take too much of my energies away for the wedding ceremony and ensuing reception.
Caleb - isn't having a honeymoon afterwards which I found disappointing though I said nothing. It is obvious the money situation is tight and they just couldn't afford one. From my perspective, and it's just IMO of course, but I think your wedding night should at least be a hotel stay at a fabulous resort and have the time of your life if you aren't going to do anything else. I gave him the money I had to give him last month, it was the best I could do at $350. Good thing I gave it to him then, I'm seriously going to be hurting after this trip lol, even trying to be frugal the expenses are adding up. If it wasn't for Uber, it would really be costly.
Dangit. I just looked up the number of the dropped call from yesterday. It was an employer trying to contact me about a job. It was Chem-Air. They are a huge company hauling all kinds of products for various types of plant operations and such. I hope I didn't blow it, but the call kept cutting out until it totally dropped. I am pretty sure I would love to go to work for a company like that as long as the starting pay is good. Wait, this is a different job. They go around spraying chemicals out of helicopters, you pull up with a tanker filled with the chemicals they spray. The helicopter actually lands on top of the truck to refill. Pretty crazy stuff, but they are advertising a good pay package, definitely going to give them a call Monday. I'll be back in town and I took off Tuesday as well. It makes little difference now in taking vacation time since we are stuck at 8 hours mostly and no OT.
Before, taking a vacation meant giving up the OT and taking a smaller paycheck, not anymore.
Dangit, I'm really not happy about that call dropping. Best I can do is apologize Monday and hope that they see that I was very busy with important family stuff.
However, the tanker company across the street from work is advertising for CDL jobs. I have no qualms going over there and at least inquiring about it.
Closing this one out to write a new one.
Friday, August 11, 2017
Well, interesting day.
I got up somewhat early and was trying to decide if I wanted to do anything - or nothing at all.
I decided on mostly nothing at all, because the people next door kept me awake half the night. Or at least until 1:30 am and yes, I did make a complaint to management who got them somewhat subdued, at least the yelling stopped but they were being obnoxiously loud. I actually don't know when they stopped. I suddenly dawned me at the hour of the morning that there is probably a youtube video that has fan noise on it - a thing that can help tune out that noise and help me go to sleep.
Sure enough. There were many of them, but I picked the one that sounds like my box fan and, extra added bonus, it's an 11 hour playing video, lol. Yes, it is a YouTube video that goes on for 11 hours and plays nothing but the sound of a fan.
I got to sleep after that but still woke up early for unknown reasons. So, I got up, made some coffee, went and had free breakfast, and then sat outside for several hours talking with a lady who is here on an amateur golf competition. I dunno, man, this lady just sat down at the table, we started talking and it literally went on for 2 hours straight.
She got up and left, I saw a missed call from Caleb so I tried to call him back. Hunger hitting me, I decided I was going to walk half a mile to the nearest, decent place to get a good meal, but, there is a Chinese restaurant attached to the front of this hotel. I opted for that instead. This is a real Chinese food place, not one of those buffets. I was the only white person in there, the place was full of Asians talking their languages. I was brought a bowl of soup, a large pot of tea and a menu right off the bat. I decided on double spicy beef, which turned out to be beef with a LOT of jalapenos mixed in with it. They had chopsticks - fancy ones, not the disposable kind - on the table and no, there was no silverware.
This turned into an instant adventure. Can I actually eat this plate of food without a fork or a spoon? I was determined to at least try. I just wasn't getting it at first until I started observing other people using them. After close scrutiny, I mimicked them and sure enough, I started getting the hang of it. Now I understand why they like their rice sticky - it's much easier to pick up with the chopsticks clumped together (but not gross like way over cooked or anything like that).
That fairly well killed the afternoon, got a text from mom: in Uber. She flew in today, took an Uber to the hotel, but at the same time I got a call from Caleb: we are having a wedding rehearsal and dinner. I know he has a lot on his mind, so I didn't give him a hard time about telling us 30 minutes in advance of what was going on, lol.
It turns out they really should have had a couple of rooms for us at the college hotel facility. People were surprised that we were staying in an off site hotel, but we weren't given an opportunity to stay at the next to free place. It would have saved me hundreds of dollars on this trip. But, it is what it is and I am not going to get pissy about it, it's his wedding let's have a good time.
Well, I saw a bunch of faces I hadn't seen in years. Well I see them on Facebook but not in person. One of them was a kid I practically raised - who is not a kid anymore lol. He's a budding actor, actually, trying to get his career off the ground. He is now 33 years old, he informed me today which was shocking. Yes it was shocking. I mean, I've known him since he was 7 years old, I just had no idea that that kind of time has passed.
My pastors from Tempe were there, we visited for quite a while. My ex was there, though she gave me a very strange look when I first saw her. I said hi and she said nothing, so I figured I would just avoid her if that's the way it was going to be. I'm not going to let someone else's "stuff" get me down, I want to be full of joy and happiness at my son's special day. Well, I got to meet Caleb's bride to be, a very sweet girl with a nice family. It was nice to meet everyone, excepting her dad who continued to ignore my mom and I, so, I just let that go as well. I don't even know the man, have never met him, no clue.
There was a nice dinnerprepared by the bride's mom, very tasty stuff. We ate and then headed down to a grassy area where there were seats set up for tomorrow. So it is an outdoor wedding. I filled in for a person in the guy's side of the ceremony since he hasn't made it yet and got to talk to a bunch of Caleb's friends. He's pretty popular guy.
The funny thing about this is, mom and I will be the first walking down the aisle. I thought that strange, but we are to walk down to where our seats are and then take a seat for the rest of the ceremony. Well it was fun anyway. All these young guys bantering back and forth, I joined in the fray lol. Well this went on for several hours and mom was getting tired, so I got on Uber and we had a driver there in 10 minutes. I kinda like Uber. It's much cheaper than a taxi, you don't have to call, you just input the addresses of start and end point, it gives you a price and you agree to it. That's it. It puts out the search for the nearest driver.
I dunno what else. I get the feeling tomorrow is going to be an emotional day for numerous people. Me? I dunno. I am just happy that my son is happy. Dunno if this is the best choice or not, it's not my life to live, I wish him the best and prosperity and a long and happy marriage. And with that, I think this one is done and over with. I had no idea how late it actually is, we were there much longer than I realized.
I got up somewhat early and was trying to decide if I wanted to do anything - or nothing at all.
I decided on mostly nothing at all, because the people next door kept me awake half the night. Or at least until 1:30 am and yes, I did make a complaint to management who got them somewhat subdued, at least the yelling stopped but they were being obnoxiously loud. I actually don't know when they stopped. I suddenly dawned me at the hour of the morning that there is probably a youtube video that has fan noise on it - a thing that can help tune out that noise and help me go to sleep.
Sure enough. There were many of them, but I picked the one that sounds like my box fan and, extra added bonus, it's an 11 hour playing video, lol. Yes, it is a YouTube video that goes on for 11 hours and plays nothing but the sound of a fan.
I got to sleep after that but still woke up early for unknown reasons. So, I got up, made some coffee, went and had free breakfast, and then sat outside for several hours talking with a lady who is here on an amateur golf competition. I dunno, man, this lady just sat down at the table, we started talking and it literally went on for 2 hours straight.
She got up and left, I saw a missed call from Caleb so I tried to call him back. Hunger hitting me, I decided I was going to walk half a mile to the nearest, decent place to get a good meal, but, there is a Chinese restaurant attached to the front of this hotel. I opted for that instead. This is a real Chinese food place, not one of those buffets. I was the only white person in there, the place was full of Asians talking their languages. I was brought a bowl of soup, a large pot of tea and a menu right off the bat. I decided on double spicy beef, which turned out to be beef with a LOT of jalapenos mixed in with it. They had chopsticks - fancy ones, not the disposable kind - on the table and no, there was no silverware.
This turned into an instant adventure. Can I actually eat this plate of food without a fork or a spoon? I was determined to at least try. I just wasn't getting it at first until I started observing other people using them. After close scrutiny, I mimicked them and sure enough, I started getting the hang of it. Now I understand why they like their rice sticky - it's much easier to pick up with the chopsticks clumped together (but not gross like way over cooked or anything like that).
That fairly well killed the afternoon, got a text from mom: in Uber. She flew in today, took an Uber to the hotel, but at the same time I got a call from Caleb: we are having a wedding rehearsal and dinner. I know he has a lot on his mind, so I didn't give him a hard time about telling us 30 minutes in advance of what was going on, lol.
It turns out they really should have had a couple of rooms for us at the college hotel facility. People were surprised that we were staying in an off site hotel, but we weren't given an opportunity to stay at the next to free place. It would have saved me hundreds of dollars on this trip. But, it is what it is and I am not going to get pissy about it, it's his wedding let's have a good time.
Well, I saw a bunch of faces I hadn't seen in years. Well I see them on Facebook but not in person. One of them was a kid I practically raised - who is not a kid anymore lol. He's a budding actor, actually, trying to get his career off the ground. He is now 33 years old, he informed me today which was shocking. Yes it was shocking. I mean, I've known him since he was 7 years old, I just had no idea that that kind of time has passed.
My pastors from Tempe were there, we visited for quite a while. My ex was there, though she gave me a very strange look when I first saw her. I said hi and she said nothing, so I figured I would just avoid her if that's the way it was going to be. I'm not going to let someone else's "stuff" get me down, I want to be full of joy and happiness at my son's special day. Well, I got to meet Caleb's bride to be, a very sweet girl with a nice family. It was nice to meet everyone, excepting her dad who continued to ignore my mom and I, so, I just let that go as well. I don't even know the man, have never met him, no clue.
There was a nice dinnerprepared by the bride's mom, very tasty stuff. We ate and then headed down to a grassy area where there were seats set up for tomorrow. So it is an outdoor wedding. I filled in for a person in the guy's side of the ceremony since he hasn't made it yet and got to talk to a bunch of Caleb's friends. He's pretty popular guy.
The funny thing about this is, mom and I will be the first walking down the aisle. I thought that strange, but we are to walk down to where our seats are and then take a seat for the rest of the ceremony. Well it was fun anyway. All these young guys bantering back and forth, I joined in the fray lol. Well this went on for several hours and mom was getting tired, so I got on Uber and we had a driver there in 10 minutes. I kinda like Uber. It's much cheaper than a taxi, you don't have to call, you just input the addresses of start and end point, it gives you a price and you agree to it. That's it. It puts out the search for the nearest driver.
I dunno what else. I get the feeling tomorrow is going to be an emotional day for numerous people. Me? I dunno. I am just happy that my son is happy. Dunno if this is the best choice or not, it's not my life to live, I wish him the best and prosperity and a long and happy marriage. And with that, I think this one is done and over with. I had no idea how late it actually is, we were there much longer than I realized.
Thursday, August 10, 2017
Started at 2:50am our time over there and ended up here 15 hours later. I can drive a lot of miles in 15 hours lol, actually 186 of those miles coming over here was driving. But, no way I would have really wanted to drive a car clear over here for such a short trip. I mean, I'm here til' Sunday but that really isn't that long. The flights were uneventful, which is a good thing. The second flight wasn't even an hour long, I don't think, the hope from San Francisco over to LA. I was going to take a city bus to the hotel, but the darn bus station was over a mile a while. After getting up that early, I just didn't feel like walking that far.
So, I called Super Shuttle, parted way with yet another $25 plus tip and got myself over here to the hotel.
So, I laid down as soon as I got in the room and took an hour plus nap. Which made me feel much better. Walked up to El Pollo Loco, the nearest food place, got some tacos and feeling much better though still tired. But, I can try to sleep that off tonight. Mom is coming over sometime tomorrow, not sure exactly when, and coming to this same hotel.
The hotel isn't bad. I don't think it's $100 plus per night quality, but I relented from finding another, cheaper hotel to help her out. She hasn't done any traveling like this in a good while.
Now, getting on my facebook and seeing pics appear. These pics are from old friends turned enemies turned acquaintances, is the best way I can put it. And whose face was with the old friend'w wife, who are all over here somewhere now as well? My 1st ex. Of course she's coming, I knew that, he's our son. But the thought of showing up at his wedding with her there is not really all that wonderful, to be honest. We haven't talked in years now, after she said she never wanted to talk to me again, I said sure, no problem! lol
I have no idea where they are staying, hopefully she isn't staying here. But if she is, oh well. The registry lists this hotel as the one to stay at, but that's just suggestion, you still have to pay for it yourself, it's just the closest one to the facility apparently. I haven't even looked that up yet, another expenditure in getting to the wedding location. If it weren't my son getting married, I wouldn't be over here right now. As it stands, I am going to relax tonight, try to meet up with my son tomorrow and maybe hang out at the pool here for awhile. There are going to be a lot of faces here on the wedding day that I haven't seen in many, many years.
I guess the point is that I really don';t want to run into judgmental people that have that in their genes, apparently. I simply won't tolerate it. You can take that stuff and pile it on yourself while looking into a mirror as far as I'm concerned, my life and my lifestyle are none of your business, thanks. I'm here to celebrate Caleb's wedding and that is the only focus I will have with all of these people. I do hope to see some people that i had a good relationship with, I just really don't know who is coming.
Anyway, seeing her face almost was crazy. I was like, okay, we have to be in the same area together for much or part of a day. You see, my biggest beef with her is her lying tongue. She has always made up stories or exaggerated things that happened to fit a narrative. He's bad, I'm good type of narrative. It's part of what drove me away from her. But, we both have no choice but to put on happy faces, meet and greet whoever and everyone, and also the other people I was talking about. I know some of them will be there and I doubt they have changed any.
Alrighty. It's a good thing this hotel has free wifi cause ATT stinks here, too. The second this plan I am on with them is over, I'm switching, probably to Verizon. I hate their customer service but their coverage is wayyyyy better than ATT. I got almost another year to go, unfortunately. But I'm in a metro area, there is no way that I should be having this bad of a service here.
Well anyway, that was my day. Tomorrow is just a lazy day too. This is sort of a vacation albeit I doubt I will get much of anywhere since it will just mean spending even more money to get there. Would love to go to the beach though. Still haven't ruled it out. The ocean is about 4 miles from here. The facility for the wedding looks to be about 5 or 6 miles. I'll figure out what I want to do tomorrow. The pool here looks inviting enough. Just would be nice to have access to wheels without having to pay extra for it.
Well enough of this for now.
So, I called Super Shuttle, parted way with yet another $25 plus tip and got myself over here to the hotel.
So, I laid down as soon as I got in the room and took an hour plus nap. Which made me feel much better. Walked up to El Pollo Loco, the nearest food place, got some tacos and feeling much better though still tired. But, I can try to sleep that off tonight. Mom is coming over sometime tomorrow, not sure exactly when, and coming to this same hotel.
The hotel isn't bad. I don't think it's $100 plus per night quality, but I relented from finding another, cheaper hotel to help her out. She hasn't done any traveling like this in a good while.
Now, getting on my facebook and seeing pics appear. These pics are from old friends turned enemies turned acquaintances, is the best way I can put it. And whose face was with the old friend'w wife, who are all over here somewhere now as well? My 1st ex. Of course she's coming, I knew that, he's our son. But the thought of showing up at his wedding with her there is not really all that wonderful, to be honest. We haven't talked in years now, after she said she never wanted to talk to me again, I said sure, no problem! lol
I have no idea where they are staying, hopefully she isn't staying here. But if she is, oh well. The registry lists this hotel as the one to stay at, but that's just suggestion, you still have to pay for it yourself, it's just the closest one to the facility apparently. I haven't even looked that up yet, another expenditure in getting to the wedding location. If it weren't my son getting married, I wouldn't be over here right now. As it stands, I am going to relax tonight, try to meet up with my son tomorrow and maybe hang out at the pool here for awhile. There are going to be a lot of faces here on the wedding day that I haven't seen in many, many years.
I guess the point is that I really don';t want to run into judgmental people that have that in their genes, apparently. I simply won't tolerate it. You can take that stuff and pile it on yourself while looking into a mirror as far as I'm concerned, my life and my lifestyle are none of your business, thanks. I'm here to celebrate Caleb's wedding and that is the only focus I will have with all of these people. I do hope to see some people that i had a good relationship with, I just really don't know who is coming.
Anyway, seeing her face almost was crazy. I was like, okay, we have to be in the same area together for much or part of a day. You see, my biggest beef with her is her lying tongue. She has always made up stories or exaggerated things that happened to fit a narrative. He's bad, I'm good type of narrative. It's part of what drove me away from her. But, we both have no choice but to put on happy faces, meet and greet whoever and everyone, and also the other people I was talking about. I know some of them will be there and I doubt they have changed any.
Alrighty. It's a good thing this hotel has free wifi cause ATT stinks here, too. The second this plan I am on with them is over, I'm switching, probably to Verizon. I hate their customer service but their coverage is wayyyyy better than ATT. I got almost another year to go, unfortunately. But I'm in a metro area, there is no way that I should be having this bad of a service here.
Well anyway, that was my day. Tomorrow is just a lazy day too. This is sort of a vacation albeit I doubt I will get much of anywhere since it will just mean spending even more money to get there. Would love to go to the beach though. Still haven't ruled it out. The ocean is about 4 miles from here. The facility for the wedding looks to be about 5 or 6 miles. I'll figure out what I want to do tomorrow. The pool here looks inviting enough. Just would be nice to have access to wheels without having to pay extra for it.
Well enough of this for now.
Wednesday, August 9, 2017
So, I am getting ready for the trip. I decided that since I had to pay for baggage on the Spirit airlines trip back (which was still far cheaper than anything else available), I might as well not try to cram everything into a little piece of luggage for the trip there. Yes it will cost me $25 but in this case it's worth it as far as I'm concerned. I have a much bigger bag, I can fit everything into it and then some.
I tried to get a Southwest Airlines flight there and back when I was looking at all of this, but their prices were, frankly, outrageous compared to the other offerings available. Even with free checked baggage, they weren't even close and yet, I checked out at least 30 different ways to get reduced airfare tickets, they weren't even in the running. Funny how I have to take on airline here and another back to get the best price instead of the normal - book-it-round-trip-through-one-carrier - method. Trust met, I spent hours on this, days and days worth of looking at different times, using incognito window so they couldn't pick up my "cookie" trail left behind and have them understand I wasn't here the 2cd, 3rd and 4th time.
Cause' I have noticed that when you do that without being incognito? The price goes way up even the very next try with the same parameters. They're tricky little buggers. I also went on the company computer to ensure that I wasn't screwing myself and it was coming up with the same deal.
I will save myself about $80 or maybe a little more by getting up 7-1/4 hours from now at 2:45 am to drive to Fort Worth instead of going to a hotel tonight. I couldn't justify the money spent. I'm likely to be tired and there is nothing I can do about that, but I didn't think driving there straight after work today and checking into a hotel would do me much good, either, so why waste the money? And the reason I haven't gone to bed yet is that it is WAY too early for me to try and go to sleep. I'm shooting for 9 to 9:30 pm which is in a couple hours. I'll drink a couple cups of coffee, I'll be wired anyway, no way will I be too tired to drive there.
And flying, I usually can't sleep. I always get a window seat and I'm looking out the window most of the trip. I have zero fear of flying, never have had. I have gotten sick a few times but that was some special circumstances that I was already sick on one flight and on another, a much smaller plane that was getting bounced alllll over the place by turbulence. I literally kissed the earth after I got off that second one. Never deterred me though. I think airline captain is a missed calling for me. I even thought about taking flying lessons when I was working at the airport in the early 80's, but the price was far too steep for my minimum wage job. Interesting sometimes to muse how life might be different had I taken different steps. Note that I did not say pouting, just curious.
Well. I ironed my new shirt - it's one of the ones I got for dad's funeral but didn't use, it was a 2 for 1 deal and this one is much more apt for an affair such as a flight than the other one which presented much more formal. They are both formal wear, I just like the look of this one for flying. My slacks are very comfortable, more so than blue jeans so that will be a comfortable fit during the flight. Something about flying in a huge aircraft and the prestige of it, for me anyway. Now if I get stuck beside some person that is wearing pajamas as I have seen flight attendants complaining about in the news......
Just about ready. Gun out of car, car cleaned up, new bag of dog food in the container for them to feed the dogs with, clothing in bag, not much else to do now but wait until around 9 and try to go to sleep.
And with that, I'm ending this one.
I tried to get a Southwest Airlines flight there and back when I was looking at all of this, but their prices were, frankly, outrageous compared to the other offerings available. Even with free checked baggage, they weren't even close and yet, I checked out at least 30 different ways to get reduced airfare tickets, they weren't even in the running. Funny how I have to take on airline here and another back to get the best price instead of the normal - book-it-round-trip-through-one-carrier - method. Trust met, I spent hours on this, days and days worth of looking at different times, using incognito window so they couldn't pick up my "cookie" trail left behind and have them understand I wasn't here the 2cd, 3rd and 4th time.
Cause' I have noticed that when you do that without being incognito? The price goes way up even the very next try with the same parameters. They're tricky little buggers. I also went on the company computer to ensure that I wasn't screwing myself and it was coming up with the same deal.
I will save myself about $80 or maybe a little more by getting up 7-1/4 hours from now at 2:45 am to drive to Fort Worth instead of going to a hotel tonight. I couldn't justify the money spent. I'm likely to be tired and there is nothing I can do about that, but I didn't think driving there straight after work today and checking into a hotel would do me much good, either, so why waste the money? And the reason I haven't gone to bed yet is that it is WAY too early for me to try and go to sleep. I'm shooting for 9 to 9:30 pm which is in a couple hours. I'll drink a couple cups of coffee, I'll be wired anyway, no way will I be too tired to drive there.
And flying, I usually can't sleep. I always get a window seat and I'm looking out the window most of the trip. I have zero fear of flying, never have had. I have gotten sick a few times but that was some special circumstances that I was already sick on one flight and on another, a much smaller plane that was getting bounced alllll over the place by turbulence. I literally kissed the earth after I got off that second one. Never deterred me though. I think airline captain is a missed calling for me. I even thought about taking flying lessons when I was working at the airport in the early 80's, but the price was far too steep for my minimum wage job. Interesting sometimes to muse how life might be different had I taken different steps. Note that I did not say pouting, just curious.
Well. I ironed my new shirt - it's one of the ones I got for dad's funeral but didn't use, it was a 2 for 1 deal and this one is much more apt for an affair such as a flight than the other one which presented much more formal. They are both formal wear, I just like the look of this one for flying. My slacks are very comfortable, more so than blue jeans so that will be a comfortable fit during the flight. Something about flying in a huge aircraft and the prestige of it, for me anyway. Now if I get stuck beside some person that is wearing pajamas as I have seen flight attendants complaining about in the news......
Just about ready. Gun out of car, car cleaned up, new bag of dog food in the container for them to feed the dogs with, clothing in bag, not much else to do now but wait until around 9 and try to go to sleep.
And with that, I'm ending this one.
Sunday, August 6, 2017
Well this is kind of the blitz/marathon weekend.
I have to go to the bigger town about 35 miles away and find clothes for Caleb's wedding.
Need to get a hair cut.
Have to do my share of the monthly grocery shopping.
Figure out what clothes to take with me on the trip and figure out how to get all of that into
a small piece of luggage.
Get housework done around here.
The only reason I'm not out there right now getting all this stuff done?
I forgot last night that I have zero clean pants to wear. So, waiting on the dryer to get my
clothes dried, get in the car and get moving.
______________________
Sunday Evening. Most things done that needed to be.
Not everything, but the minutia I can deal with in the next 3 days.
I still haven't bought the parking for my car at DFW, and I still haven't
bought the fare for the ride from the airport to the hotel. But these things
are stuff that isn't time consuming and I will get around to it the next couple of
days.
I guess I still have to buy a pair of shoes for the affair so I'll try to get that done
over in Shreveport after work. Other than that, just trying to figure out how to stuff
enough clothes into a small suitcase.
And then I just realized that the flight leaves at 8:03 am on Thursday. Why did I do that? Oh, yes, to save money. The question begs itself: Do I leave early Thursday morning and drive there or leave Wednesday after work and not have to worry about getting up at - 4am I guess, to drive clear over there and be there early enough to make sure I don't have any issues with security check points? I will be pondering that the next few days. I really don't want to spend any more money than I have to, my finances are at negligible levels and there are plenty more expenses on this trip than just getting to the airport and parking the car somewhere.
The days of worry about finances returned? Hmm, not to the degree it used to be ten years plus ago.
Iphone maps just told me it's a 2 hour and 30 minute drive from here to DFW. Plus you always have to show up early, I like to show up 2 hours early in case there are problems. So 4-1/2 hours early, plus include time to stop and fuel and get something to eat, park the car, anything else. Figure 5 hours. Meaning getting up at 2:45 am to get out of here at 3:00 am.
Money be damned, I am fairly sure my trip to Fort Worth will occur Wednesday night. But I'll think about it. Well would you lookit there. Deals online to stay at hotel overnight and have free parking and shuttle to airport to and from the airport. There's at least $30 worth of free parking and that's with a coupon. That reduces the actual price of the hotel down to $45. Oh forget it. going into doing the deal, they added almost $17 to the price for "fees". Whatever dudes! In other words, parking ain't free!
I guess we are just a bunch of sheep that are supposed to fall into the ditch with each other, blindly doing whatever the man tells us to do.
Well anyway, this is winding down, finally. After this trip, I'm shutting down spending money on anything but what I have to for a while. Not a pleasant prospect, but I've been here, done this before. Nothing new in my life. Never really expected that I would ever be going through this again though.
I did finally find a church locally. That is different news on a different realm. I was looking through all kinds of ads and google and this and that and found a church 5 minutes away. :Looked good, went this morning. Great worship service - though they didn't have drum player or any guitars, it was just a keyboard, but it was still good. Pastor and animated man but very much down to earth. Smaller church. I mean, the auditorium can hold a lot of people but the place isn't even half full. I don't know how they are supporting that facility with such small membership, but it's apparently been there for quite a while.
The sermon was also spot on, certainly spoke to my heart and spirit. He also used enough scripture to make me happy. Spirit filled, deliverance, all kinds of stuff that I really liked and agreed with . Anyway, I'm hopeful that I might find a new church home here. I won't be able to go next weekend and I doubt I will make the Wednesday service since I am leaving for CA the next morning. What to do, what to do. If money weren't such a consideration, I would have already dealt with this and it would be over with. I guess I can get up at 2:30 am or 2:45 and drive and save myself the hotel money, get a coupon for parking and spend around 5 per day for parking which makes it $20 and change instead of almost $100.
I'm still going to reserve commitment on that until Wednesday and really decide whether I can get up that early, drive at night for 2-1/2 hours to get to the airport early enough. I'd far rather just drive there after work and have a full night's sleep. The flip side is that besides flying and a layover, I have nothing I have to do that day after that. Just get to the hotel, relax, rest. Likely not even meet up with my son that day, I expect to spend a day to myself in the hotel doing much of nothing, or if the beach is close enough, I will spend some quality time there. I expect I will just spend some time alone, reading, lounging, doing much of nothing. Because I like hotels and I like being along in an at least decent room. I can't tell you why, I just do. Probably child hood thing and traveling a lot and staying in lots of hotels while growing up.
Hmm, maybe I'll go to church on Wednesday, not stay too late, come home, go to bed, set the alarm for 2:45, get out of here and on the road, get to the airport and start the adventure. I just hate being tired while doing the air travel/airport layover thing.
Anyway, that's it for now. There's more that has nothing to do with any of this, but I don't feel like going into it.
I have to go to the bigger town about 35 miles away and find clothes for Caleb's wedding.
Need to get a hair cut.
Have to do my share of the monthly grocery shopping.
Figure out what clothes to take with me on the trip and figure out how to get all of that into
a small piece of luggage.
Get housework done around here.
The only reason I'm not out there right now getting all this stuff done?
I forgot last night that I have zero clean pants to wear. So, waiting on the dryer to get my
clothes dried, get in the car and get moving.
______________________
Sunday Evening. Most things done that needed to be.
Not everything, but the minutia I can deal with in the next 3 days.
I still haven't bought the parking for my car at DFW, and I still haven't
bought the fare for the ride from the airport to the hotel. But these things
are stuff that isn't time consuming and I will get around to it the next couple of
days.
I guess I still have to buy a pair of shoes for the affair so I'll try to get that done
over in Shreveport after work. Other than that, just trying to figure out how to stuff
enough clothes into a small suitcase.
And then I just realized that the flight leaves at 8:03 am on Thursday. Why did I do that? Oh, yes, to save money. The question begs itself: Do I leave early Thursday morning and drive there or leave Wednesday after work and not have to worry about getting up at - 4am I guess, to drive clear over there and be there early enough to make sure I don't have any issues with security check points? I will be pondering that the next few days. I really don't want to spend any more money than I have to, my finances are at negligible levels and there are plenty more expenses on this trip than just getting to the airport and parking the car somewhere.
The days of worry about finances returned? Hmm, not to the degree it used to be ten years plus ago.
Iphone maps just told me it's a 2 hour and 30 minute drive from here to DFW. Plus you always have to show up early, I like to show up 2 hours early in case there are problems. So 4-1/2 hours early, plus include time to stop and fuel and get something to eat, park the car, anything else. Figure 5 hours. Meaning getting up at 2:45 am to get out of here at 3:00 am.
Money be damned, I am fairly sure my trip to Fort Worth will occur Wednesday night. But I'll think about it. Well would you lookit there. Deals online to stay at hotel overnight and have free parking and shuttle to airport to and from the airport. There's at least $30 worth of free parking and that's with a coupon. That reduces the actual price of the hotel down to $45. Oh forget it. going into doing the deal, they added almost $17 to the price for "fees". Whatever dudes! In other words, parking ain't free!
I guess we are just a bunch of sheep that are supposed to fall into the ditch with each other, blindly doing whatever the man tells us to do.
Well anyway, this is winding down, finally. After this trip, I'm shutting down spending money on anything but what I have to for a while. Not a pleasant prospect, but I've been here, done this before. Nothing new in my life. Never really expected that I would ever be going through this again though.
I did finally find a church locally. That is different news on a different realm. I was looking through all kinds of ads and google and this and that and found a church 5 minutes away. :Looked good, went this morning. Great worship service - though they didn't have drum player or any guitars, it was just a keyboard, but it was still good. Pastor and animated man but very much down to earth. Smaller church. I mean, the auditorium can hold a lot of people but the place isn't even half full. I don't know how they are supporting that facility with such small membership, but it's apparently been there for quite a while.
The sermon was also spot on, certainly spoke to my heart and spirit. He also used enough scripture to make me happy. Spirit filled, deliverance, all kinds of stuff that I really liked and agreed with . Anyway, I'm hopeful that I might find a new church home here. I won't be able to go next weekend and I doubt I will make the Wednesday service since I am leaving for CA the next morning. What to do, what to do. If money weren't such a consideration, I would have already dealt with this and it would be over with. I guess I can get up at 2:30 am or 2:45 and drive and save myself the hotel money, get a coupon for parking and spend around 5 per day for parking which makes it $20 and change instead of almost $100.
I'm still going to reserve commitment on that until Wednesday and really decide whether I can get up that early, drive at night for 2-1/2 hours to get to the airport early enough. I'd far rather just drive there after work and have a full night's sleep. The flip side is that besides flying and a layover, I have nothing I have to do that day after that. Just get to the hotel, relax, rest. Likely not even meet up with my son that day, I expect to spend a day to myself in the hotel doing much of nothing, or if the beach is close enough, I will spend some quality time there. I expect I will just spend some time alone, reading, lounging, doing much of nothing. Because I like hotels and I like being along in an at least decent room. I can't tell you why, I just do. Probably child hood thing and traveling a lot and staying in lots of hotels while growing up.
Hmm, maybe I'll go to church on Wednesday, not stay too late, come home, go to bed, set the alarm for 2:45, get out of here and on the road, get to the airport and start the adventure. I just hate being tired while doing the air travel/airport layover thing.
Anyway, that's it for now. There's more that has nothing to do with any of this, but I don't feel like going into it.
Wednesday, August 2, 2017
Well now I'm on the cusp, sort of, of the next travel adventure.
Had to ask several people in various venues about "Summer Outdoorsy" or whatever that style of dress is.
I have decided on light colored,button down shirt and probably either khaki's or some sort of slacks, who konws, I'll figure it out once i get to the store. Though I can hardly afford this kind of expenditure right now, really have no choice. I never really did buy any more formal style clothing after my house burned down years ago. I mostly just bought work clothes and extremely casual stuff. Excepting for a few pairs of church clothing.
Well, that is changing since I bought to more formal style button down shirts for the funeral (it was a two for one sale) and some dress slacks, but that isn't going to work at this wedding. One thing at least, after I buy whatever I am getting I can wear it on any given day after that, it won't just sit in my closet.
I have to get that down before or on this coming weekend. After that I won't really have a lot of time for it. I'm not good at buying clothes if you can't tell. I just don't have the knack for matching stuff when it comes to formal wear. I had to ask the lady at JC Penny's about whether she thought the stuff I bought would look good on me. There were plenty of colors and variations of styles available. Anyway, that one turned out well, I'm hoping for a second success and hopefully keep it lower on the price tag. Guess I better see if there are any sales now that I think of it.
It's Wednesday morning. I've been on a Bible reading marathon so I have been ignoring watching TV or seeing much of any news. Not a bad thing, I"m finding out. Well I don't watch that much TV anyway, excepting the news. I take in large doses of that on a daily basis. Perhaps I really don't need to be doing that so much. I've got til Sunday to try and finish the entire New Testament, an undertaking that I didn't realize would be so difficult. Not that I don't like reading the Bible, but there is a lot of content and I find myself getting caught up in certain Scriptures instead of continuing to read through and get it done. Perhaps I'll adjust the goal and make it two weeks so I can take in more content and reflect on it.
But, I have done Bible marathons in the past where, at least one time, I read the entire New Testament in 2 days. It was quite the adventure for me and really eye opening some of the stuff that came at me.
So that's what I'm doing with my free time right now, that and putting out an application here, an application there. Just got to keep plugging away at it until the right offer comes along.
The manager is down in Baton Rouge right now, tho. I don't have any great hopes since I really have no reason to have such, but both he and the GM said they would look into getting me a better paycheck. I don't have til' the 9th of never to deal with this. They tend to take their sweet ole' time in making such decisions and then come back and tell you that they aren't going to give you any more money because it isn't a good move right now. Whatever. Their pay certainly doesn't come down any when they determine that times are tough. In fact, the only people's whose pay comes down in our company is the drivers and yard hands. everyone else's stays intact. Of course the flip side of that is that if really hard times come, corporate starts giving management pink slips and saying adios to them.
Well whatever. I am just going to keep plugging away at finding the job that suits me best. I have had several offers yet again, but this is all crazy stuff. One of them is 120 hours per week! Yes, the pay is 120k to 140k, but how do you work 120 hours per week? That's like something for a 20 something, not a 50 something. I'd take such a job for a year or so if I were young and had a bit more stamina than I have now, work it for a year and save up some serious money. I mean, with those kinds of hours, you'd have no for anything, really. Your life on hold, lol. I am guessing there is some serious turnover in a job like that.
I found another one that offers free hotel for every night you're out, but it's still out for 21 days. I just don't want to do that right now. If my hand is forced, then yes, I'll go OTR or Regional and eat it. I'm gertting close to that, yes, but not quite there yet. Lots of local companies still left to go to apply at. At least there are some jobs available out there that are regional and get you home every weekend in a worse case scenario. I'm not really looking to live in a truck, though. Just keep hoping that I find something local that pays decent. So far that has been all night driving offers that I just can't do. I get too sleepy after around 10:00 pm and I just don't think I could handle driving until 4 am every day. I don't want to quit current job and "try it out" to find out. I'd be stuck with it and I can't afford that kind of risk.
Well, time to be off to work.
Had to ask several people in various venues about "Summer Outdoorsy" or whatever that style of dress is.
I have decided on light colored,button down shirt and probably either khaki's or some sort of slacks, who konws, I'll figure it out once i get to the store. Though I can hardly afford this kind of expenditure right now, really have no choice. I never really did buy any more formal style clothing after my house burned down years ago. I mostly just bought work clothes and extremely casual stuff. Excepting for a few pairs of church clothing.
Well, that is changing since I bought to more formal style button down shirts for the funeral (it was a two for one sale) and some dress slacks, but that isn't going to work at this wedding. One thing at least, after I buy whatever I am getting I can wear it on any given day after that, it won't just sit in my closet.
I have to get that down before or on this coming weekend. After that I won't really have a lot of time for it. I'm not good at buying clothes if you can't tell. I just don't have the knack for matching stuff when it comes to formal wear. I had to ask the lady at JC Penny's about whether she thought the stuff I bought would look good on me. There were plenty of colors and variations of styles available. Anyway, that one turned out well, I'm hoping for a second success and hopefully keep it lower on the price tag. Guess I better see if there are any sales now that I think of it.
It's Wednesday morning. I've been on a Bible reading marathon so I have been ignoring watching TV or seeing much of any news. Not a bad thing, I"m finding out. Well I don't watch that much TV anyway, excepting the news. I take in large doses of that on a daily basis. Perhaps I really don't need to be doing that so much. I've got til Sunday to try and finish the entire New Testament, an undertaking that I didn't realize would be so difficult. Not that I don't like reading the Bible, but there is a lot of content and I find myself getting caught up in certain Scriptures instead of continuing to read through and get it done. Perhaps I'll adjust the goal and make it two weeks so I can take in more content and reflect on it.
But, I have done Bible marathons in the past where, at least one time, I read the entire New Testament in 2 days. It was quite the adventure for me and really eye opening some of the stuff that came at me.
So that's what I'm doing with my free time right now, that and putting out an application here, an application there. Just got to keep plugging away at it until the right offer comes along.
The manager is down in Baton Rouge right now, tho. I don't have any great hopes since I really have no reason to have such, but both he and the GM said they would look into getting me a better paycheck. I don't have til' the 9th of never to deal with this. They tend to take their sweet ole' time in making such decisions and then come back and tell you that they aren't going to give you any more money because it isn't a good move right now. Whatever. Their pay certainly doesn't come down any when they determine that times are tough. In fact, the only people's whose pay comes down in our company is the drivers and yard hands. everyone else's stays intact. Of course the flip side of that is that if really hard times come, corporate starts giving management pink slips and saying adios to them.
Well whatever. I am just going to keep plugging away at finding the job that suits me best. I have had several offers yet again, but this is all crazy stuff. One of them is 120 hours per week! Yes, the pay is 120k to 140k, but how do you work 120 hours per week? That's like something for a 20 something, not a 50 something. I'd take such a job for a year or so if I were young and had a bit more stamina than I have now, work it for a year and save up some serious money. I mean, with those kinds of hours, you'd have no for anything, really. Your life on hold, lol. I am guessing there is some serious turnover in a job like that.
I found another one that offers free hotel for every night you're out, but it's still out for 21 days. I just don't want to do that right now. If my hand is forced, then yes, I'll go OTR or Regional and eat it. I'm gertting close to that, yes, but not quite there yet. Lots of local companies still left to go to apply at. At least there are some jobs available out there that are regional and get you home every weekend in a worse case scenario. I'm not really looking to live in a truck, though. Just keep hoping that I find something local that pays decent. So far that has been all night driving offers that I just can't do. I get too sleepy after around 10:00 pm and I just don't think I could handle driving until 4 am every day. I don't want to quit current job and "try it out" to find out. I'd be stuck with it and I can't afford that kind of risk.
Well, time to be off to work.
Sunday, July 30, 2017
As the days pass, I get broker and broker.
I have definitely not been in this position in a long, long time.
And it sucks, to be frank about it.
But, stuff like this motivates people.
Since the wedding is only a few weeks away, I have started the job search - this weekend actually.
Currently, I am mostly applying at tanker/hazmat positions, but there are other jobs out there that aren't hazmat that also pay quite well. I'm applying at all of them. I just need a crack in the door to get into tanker, someone to give me a chance.
Though, I see tankers roller over at least once a week in the area I work in. Just saw another one yesterday. Dunno how the guy did it, but the entire truck was rolled off the side of the on ramp coming onto the Interstate, there was a large wrecker there trying to pull it up.
I wouldn't mind getting into heavy haul or even one of those giant wrecker trucks. I have some experience at heavy haul, zero at wreckers. Again, it's all about someone giving you a chance.
Since I am so broke, I have nothing else to do this weekend anyway. Might as well spend it filling out applications. And these trucking applications are quite lengthy. It takes at least 30 minutes if not more (wasn't keeping track of time) to fill one of them out, they want so much information.
Definitely wouldn't have opted to go to California if it wasn't a life event. My son getting married is definitely up there at the top. But, I still have to pay to get to Dallas, pay to park the car 4 days there, pay to get from the airport to the hotel, pay to get from the hotel to the wedding location. I've got at least $125 or more in those expenses plus I have to eat. That's really hundreds of dollars that I don't have to spend.
If it weren't so far away, I would have driven there instead. But at almost 1,700 miles, I don't think so. It would have saved me a lot of money though. Now I'm hearing a rumor from my ex pastors that my son doesn't have a ride to California to his own wedding? Uhhh, okay. Take a Greyhound. That's my best advice. Apparently his ride fell through. He hasn't contacted me about that, but I'm in no position to help him anyway. I gave him the money I had saved up as a wedding gift when I was in Phoenix last month. It seems since then my financial status has deteriorate quickly, all due to these small paychecks I am getting due to the boss cutting hours.
However, I can sort of understand the plight. The store was only at 600k in sales as of yesterday, something I didn't know until I looked it up. Still, the first people they take pay cuts out on are the drivers. No-one else gets a cut in hours resulting in cut in pay, it's always the drivers that get the shaft. I'm pretty tired of it. This has been going on in this company for years, but when I was in Phoenix, my hourly pay was much higher and was easier to ride out those storms. Now, when hour cuts come, not even possible. I forgot about the auto insurance pay that just went through. And then I have the phone payment coming up....
However. I did put extra money on the electric last month at the Phoenix house. There should be enough on there now that I won't have to add but maybe a couple hundred dollars to keep that going through til September. Oh if it were the winter or even fall months right now, my expenses would be much cheaper. that house goes down hundreds of dollars in electric use in the winter and the water bill goes way down as well. That's a reprieve I could use right now.
The only thing I have to look forward to is my son getting cut off from my health insurance. That should be around $300 per month in savings. Hey, it's not my choice, once he gets married, that nixes him being on my company plan. I let him know a couple months ago about that. I wish him well, but I hope he doesn't go through hard financial times, but reality is about to hit him. He has never had to pay for a place to live and he's 24 years old.
Well enough about him, love the boy dearly but I am kinda focused on my situation. It would be grand if I could get at least one call to go to the store this weekend to service a customer and get the extra $100. So far, nothing. Ready to go at a moment's notice though. In fact, I wouldn't mind being on call ALL the time for that kind of payout. Even during the week at the middle of the night. I'd do pretty much anything right now to make some extra cash excepting taking on a second job. I'm not doing the work 2 jobs thing, I'll go find a better single job instead. I mean seriously. I would even have to consider taking a regional driving job the further in the hole I get. At least get paid 60k per year and not have to worry about money - but - out on the road 5 days a week. That kinda sucks. Not as bad as OTR, but still bad enough.
Okay, I guess I need to make up a resume. So, spend an hour or more doing that. But I am applying at Haliburton and I want to give myself the best opportunity I can get to make a good first impression. They are an excellent company to work for, excellent pay and benefits. Would love to end my working career with them. They have some job openings available, but like any other company in high demand, I will be competing with a lot of other drivers for one and same position.
Oh well. I'll motivate myself to write up that resume, I got to that point and ended that one. Most of these companies just make you fill out extensive applications instead of uploading resmes, but I've had a couple that want one, likely if you don't supply one, they will just delete your application. First I need to find a format for one and then fill it out.
I guess that's all I'm going to do this weekend. All of this financial stuff is really draining. It keeps me awake at night and I have little motivation to do anything else, such as finish the 4 wheeler and load it up, take it out for a spin somewhere. It's freaking hot outside anyway, the humidity is killer.
______________________
Sunday early afternoon. I felt impressed of the Holy Spirit that I need to read the New Testament in 7 days. The Word is a treasure if you treat it as such, the gems that you get from it can be awe-inspiring. At the point I am at in my life with my finances drained and the prospects looking bleaker and bleaker by the day, my only hope that I have ever truly have relied on is God, His Word, the Holy Spirit and my relationship with Jesus Christ. Where I find the answers that I need in the word, if I take the time to seek it out.
I don't even know what I am supposed to be doing now in life. If I am at an unseen crossroads, then I want direction from the Lord, not from this world.
In fact, after my dad's death and reflecting on his life and seeing all those people that were influenced by him, and reflecting on things I have done earlier in life for the Lord, I have come to the conclusion that I am basically wasting my life at this point, accomplishing no heavenly good or seeing souls won to Christ. That...should be more of a concern to me than what I am to eat, what I am to wear, how I am to pay my bills. Seek ye first the Kingdom of Heaven and all these things shall be added unto you, the Scripture says. All these things being the daily things of life that you need. Many, many more scriptures that relate to this as well, but the point is made.
So, I divided up the number of pages in the New Testament against the number of days and see that I have 130 pages to read per day. I'm almost done with today's allotment, though during the week this will be much more demanding. Though, I don't watch that much TV anymore, I do spend time on FB admittedly. But today, while getting absorbed in the Word, all of that just sort of floated away.
It helped that it is a nice day outside, actually. I mean, it isn't 70 degrees but compared ot what we have had all this week, it was a cool day. I much prefer reading outdoors than indoors is the point.
The art of quiet reflection, meditation and prayer are things I have kinda let slip out of my life. I am seeking a return to that To not let the actions and words of other people bother me. To not worry about finances. Yes, take whatever action I can take, but worry about it? no.
So, that will be my main endeavor for the next 7 days, tho I am still going to put in applications. I filled out a resume maker yesterday and then got sidetracked. It's a minimal cost - $1.79 - to be able to copy and save it into a file, but unfortunately I turned m computer off and lost all of that, so will have to start over. Oh well.
The days are short until Caleb's wedding. It's the 30th today and I leave on the 10th. There are things I need to get done but waiting until some more money comes in before I do that. Wedding attire should be relatively easy to find at the mall. Paying in advance for parking at DFW and the shuttle to the hotel in LA. I have a 2-1/2 hour stopover in San Francisco. Wish it were longer, actually, I wouldn't mind taking a trip around that city for the fun of it. But 2-1/2 hours isn't long enough to do that and always a hassle getting in an out of airports, so I'll pass.
Well, I think that's enough for one entry.
G'day.
I have definitely not been in this position in a long, long time.
And it sucks, to be frank about it.
But, stuff like this motivates people.
Since the wedding is only a few weeks away, I have started the job search - this weekend actually.
Currently, I am mostly applying at tanker/hazmat positions, but there are other jobs out there that aren't hazmat that also pay quite well. I'm applying at all of them. I just need a crack in the door to get into tanker, someone to give me a chance.
Though, I see tankers roller over at least once a week in the area I work in. Just saw another one yesterday. Dunno how the guy did it, but the entire truck was rolled off the side of the on ramp coming onto the Interstate, there was a large wrecker there trying to pull it up.
I wouldn't mind getting into heavy haul or even one of those giant wrecker trucks. I have some experience at heavy haul, zero at wreckers. Again, it's all about someone giving you a chance.
Since I am so broke, I have nothing else to do this weekend anyway. Might as well spend it filling out applications. And these trucking applications are quite lengthy. It takes at least 30 minutes if not more (wasn't keeping track of time) to fill one of them out, they want so much information.
Definitely wouldn't have opted to go to California if it wasn't a life event. My son getting married is definitely up there at the top. But, I still have to pay to get to Dallas, pay to park the car 4 days there, pay to get from the airport to the hotel, pay to get from the hotel to the wedding location. I've got at least $125 or more in those expenses plus I have to eat. That's really hundreds of dollars that I don't have to spend.
If it weren't so far away, I would have driven there instead. But at almost 1,700 miles, I don't think so. It would have saved me a lot of money though. Now I'm hearing a rumor from my ex pastors that my son doesn't have a ride to California to his own wedding? Uhhh, okay. Take a Greyhound. That's my best advice. Apparently his ride fell through. He hasn't contacted me about that, but I'm in no position to help him anyway. I gave him the money I had saved up as a wedding gift when I was in Phoenix last month. It seems since then my financial status has deteriorate quickly, all due to these small paychecks I am getting due to the boss cutting hours.
However, I can sort of understand the plight. The store was only at 600k in sales as of yesterday, something I didn't know until I looked it up. Still, the first people they take pay cuts out on are the drivers. No-one else gets a cut in hours resulting in cut in pay, it's always the drivers that get the shaft. I'm pretty tired of it. This has been going on in this company for years, but when I was in Phoenix, my hourly pay was much higher and was easier to ride out those storms. Now, when hour cuts come, not even possible. I forgot about the auto insurance pay that just went through. And then I have the phone payment coming up....
However. I did put extra money on the electric last month at the Phoenix house. There should be enough on there now that I won't have to add but maybe a couple hundred dollars to keep that going through til September. Oh if it were the winter or even fall months right now, my expenses would be much cheaper. that house goes down hundreds of dollars in electric use in the winter and the water bill goes way down as well. That's a reprieve I could use right now.
The only thing I have to look forward to is my son getting cut off from my health insurance. That should be around $300 per month in savings. Hey, it's not my choice, once he gets married, that nixes him being on my company plan. I let him know a couple months ago about that. I wish him well, but I hope he doesn't go through hard financial times, but reality is about to hit him. He has never had to pay for a place to live and he's 24 years old.
Well enough about him, love the boy dearly but I am kinda focused on my situation. It would be grand if I could get at least one call to go to the store this weekend to service a customer and get the extra $100. So far, nothing. Ready to go at a moment's notice though. In fact, I wouldn't mind being on call ALL the time for that kind of payout. Even during the week at the middle of the night. I'd do pretty much anything right now to make some extra cash excepting taking on a second job. I'm not doing the work 2 jobs thing, I'll go find a better single job instead. I mean seriously. I would even have to consider taking a regional driving job the further in the hole I get. At least get paid 60k per year and not have to worry about money - but - out on the road 5 days a week. That kinda sucks. Not as bad as OTR, but still bad enough.
Okay, I guess I need to make up a resume. So, spend an hour or more doing that. But I am applying at Haliburton and I want to give myself the best opportunity I can get to make a good first impression. They are an excellent company to work for, excellent pay and benefits. Would love to end my working career with them. They have some job openings available, but like any other company in high demand, I will be competing with a lot of other drivers for one and same position.
Oh well. I'll motivate myself to write up that resume, I got to that point and ended that one. Most of these companies just make you fill out extensive applications instead of uploading resmes, but I've had a couple that want one, likely if you don't supply one, they will just delete your application. First I need to find a format for one and then fill it out.
I guess that's all I'm going to do this weekend. All of this financial stuff is really draining. It keeps me awake at night and I have little motivation to do anything else, such as finish the 4 wheeler and load it up, take it out for a spin somewhere. It's freaking hot outside anyway, the humidity is killer.
______________________
Sunday early afternoon. I felt impressed of the Holy Spirit that I need to read the New Testament in 7 days. The Word is a treasure if you treat it as such, the gems that you get from it can be awe-inspiring. At the point I am at in my life with my finances drained and the prospects looking bleaker and bleaker by the day, my only hope that I have ever truly have relied on is God, His Word, the Holy Spirit and my relationship with Jesus Christ. Where I find the answers that I need in the word, if I take the time to seek it out.
I don't even know what I am supposed to be doing now in life. If I am at an unseen crossroads, then I want direction from the Lord, not from this world.
In fact, after my dad's death and reflecting on his life and seeing all those people that were influenced by him, and reflecting on things I have done earlier in life for the Lord, I have come to the conclusion that I am basically wasting my life at this point, accomplishing no heavenly good or seeing souls won to Christ. That...should be more of a concern to me than what I am to eat, what I am to wear, how I am to pay my bills. Seek ye first the Kingdom of Heaven and all these things shall be added unto you, the Scripture says. All these things being the daily things of life that you need. Many, many more scriptures that relate to this as well, but the point is made.
So, I divided up the number of pages in the New Testament against the number of days and see that I have 130 pages to read per day. I'm almost done with today's allotment, though during the week this will be much more demanding. Though, I don't watch that much TV anymore, I do spend time on FB admittedly. But today, while getting absorbed in the Word, all of that just sort of floated away.
It helped that it is a nice day outside, actually. I mean, it isn't 70 degrees but compared ot what we have had all this week, it was a cool day. I much prefer reading outdoors than indoors is the point.
The art of quiet reflection, meditation and prayer are things I have kinda let slip out of my life. I am seeking a return to that To not let the actions and words of other people bother me. To not worry about finances. Yes, take whatever action I can take, but worry about it? no.
So, that will be my main endeavor for the next 7 days, tho I am still going to put in applications. I filled out a resume maker yesterday and then got sidetracked. It's a minimal cost - $1.79 - to be able to copy and save it into a file, but unfortunately I turned m computer off and lost all of that, so will have to start over. Oh well.
The days are short until Caleb's wedding. It's the 30th today and I leave on the 10th. There are things I need to get done but waiting until some more money comes in before I do that. Wedding attire should be relatively easy to find at the mall. Paying in advance for parking at DFW and the shuttle to the hotel in LA. I have a 2-1/2 hour stopover in San Francisco. Wish it were longer, actually, I wouldn't mind taking a trip around that city for the fun of it. But 2-1/2 hours isn't long enough to do that and always a hassle getting in an out of airports, so I'll pass.
Well, I think that's enough for one entry.
G'day.
Thursday, July 27, 2017
Thirsty Thursday switched to - whatever Wednesday.
Dunno, haven't done it in a month, I don't have the funds to be going out and having beers, but today I went anyway. Inside sales dude there with his girlfriend, no one else.
It's a brewery, actually, with a beer bar. The sell what they make. It's a pretty cool venue. Well, only one showed up with his girlfriend and he bought me a few beers which was nice and then went into this idea of how to make some extra money.
See, we get calls after hours. Water lines break, they have to be fixed regardless of what time it is. Our company gives whoever shows up a $100 spiff for coming to work to deal with it. Well, this portion of our company hasn't been doing that and therefore I have zero interest in driving all the way to work to help a customer when I know I am only going to get maybe an hour on the clock. Just not worth it.
But, as happens. the manager changed that as of yesterday. You see, some of the guys that are always called out started complaining about it. Anyway, he was telling me that he is on call this weekend, but has no desire to do that when he's got his boys and his girlfriend over. Great, I said, I'll be on call all weekend long. Anything comes in, call me, I'll jump in my car and head over there.
That's a done deal. Whether anyone calls or not is not guaranteed, but right now? I need money. He then went on about the other inside salesman who is actually looking for a second job. Well, I replied, then he probably won't need to do that now. Nope, he said, he is too lazy. If he knows he can dump it off on someone else he will. I strongly suggest you tell him you will take his calls when he gets back from vacation, he'll be on call for the next 3 weeks.
I don't want to get my hopes up too much, but even a couple of these this weekend would help me out immensely.
Welp, it's Thursday morning and time to head out to work.
Dunno, haven't done it in a month, I don't have the funds to be going out and having beers, but today I went anyway. Inside sales dude there with his girlfriend, no one else.
It's a brewery, actually, with a beer bar. The sell what they make. It's a pretty cool venue. Well, only one showed up with his girlfriend and he bought me a few beers which was nice and then went into this idea of how to make some extra money.
See, we get calls after hours. Water lines break, they have to be fixed regardless of what time it is. Our company gives whoever shows up a $100 spiff for coming to work to deal with it. Well, this portion of our company hasn't been doing that and therefore I have zero interest in driving all the way to work to help a customer when I know I am only going to get maybe an hour on the clock. Just not worth it.
But, as happens. the manager changed that as of yesterday. You see, some of the guys that are always called out started complaining about it. Anyway, he was telling me that he is on call this weekend, but has no desire to do that when he's got his boys and his girlfriend over. Great, I said, I'll be on call all weekend long. Anything comes in, call me, I'll jump in my car and head over there.
That's a done deal. Whether anyone calls or not is not guaranteed, but right now? I need money. He then went on about the other inside salesman who is actually looking for a second job. Well, I replied, then he probably won't need to do that now. Nope, he said, he is too lazy. If he knows he can dump it off on someone else he will. I strongly suggest you tell him you will take his calls when he gets back from vacation, he'll be on call for the next 3 weeks.
I don't want to get my hopes up too much, but even a couple of these this weekend would help me out immensely.
Welp, it's Thursday morning and time to head out to work.
Monday, July 24, 2017
I decided to start my search for a new job now.
There is no point in waiting. I can caveat that I am definitely going to my son's wedding if I actually found something that starts before then. It's not that far off now.
I found some great opportunities for local jobs that I am very much interested in.
There is a giant frac sand operation starting up soon enough in Shreveport, I know this because I have been hauling pipe out there. I have found 2 companies that will be hauling out of that facility and have applied with them. I also found a very nice sounding fuel hauling operation located out of a town about 25 miles east of here. It's a night shift, yes, but it's not all driving. It's load the truck with fuel at a refinery, drive to fueling stations and fill up underground tanks. I could do this much easier than an all night driving job where you are just sitting in the truck, driving and - falling asleep.
That is the reason I have declined 2 jobs now, driving endlessly at night is simply not my forte. The frac sand operation is undoubtedly a 24 hour operation as well. In fact, I may see if I can find the company and hiring for that plant. Though I expect they are flooded with applications, it can't hurt to try. Anyway, I am going to continue to look for jobs.
The argument for this is easy. Even if my company decided that I am worth more pay, how much more are they going to give me? It simply won't pan out. I am literally down to 8 hours a day now. My next paycheck will be the lowest I have ever seen with this company. The manager could be giving us OT if he wanted to, as all the other stores in our region are doing so, but he doesn't want to per "company rules". Well, as other managers attest, those rules can be broken if you can come up with excuses to make it happen. He just doesn't want to do that. All fine and dandy, I'm going to look for new employment.
So, that's that. Put in several applications and expect to put in more as I find jobs that are the kind of pay I am looking for with home every night qualification.
I have no expectations on a new job actually coming to me, until an offer is made, the pay and benefits are good and it suits me.
There is no point in waiting. I can caveat that I am definitely going to my son's wedding if I actually found something that starts before then. It's not that far off now.
I found some great opportunities for local jobs that I am very much interested in.
There is a giant frac sand operation starting up soon enough in Shreveport, I know this because I have been hauling pipe out there. I have found 2 companies that will be hauling out of that facility and have applied with them. I also found a very nice sounding fuel hauling operation located out of a town about 25 miles east of here. It's a night shift, yes, but it's not all driving. It's load the truck with fuel at a refinery, drive to fueling stations and fill up underground tanks. I could do this much easier than an all night driving job where you are just sitting in the truck, driving and - falling asleep.
That is the reason I have declined 2 jobs now, driving endlessly at night is simply not my forte. The frac sand operation is undoubtedly a 24 hour operation as well. In fact, I may see if I can find the company and hiring for that plant. Though I expect they are flooded with applications, it can't hurt to try. Anyway, I am going to continue to look for jobs.
The argument for this is easy. Even if my company decided that I am worth more pay, how much more are they going to give me? It simply won't pan out. I am literally down to 8 hours a day now. My next paycheck will be the lowest I have ever seen with this company. The manager could be giving us OT if he wanted to, as all the other stores in our region are doing so, but he doesn't want to per "company rules". Well, as other managers attest, those rules can be broken if you can come up with excuses to make it happen. He just doesn't want to do that. All fine and dandy, I'm going to look for new employment.
So, that's that. Put in several applications and expect to put in more as I find jobs that are the kind of pay I am looking for with home every night qualification.
I have no expectations on a new job actually coming to me, until an offer is made, the pay and benefits are good and it suits me.
Sunday, July 23, 2017
My plan for today accomplished.
Hook the trailer up to the Jeep for the first time, haul it over to the town where my stuff is in storage, empty it out, haul it back.
But, not without a stop at Sam's for 50 pounds of dog food and then a stop at the newly built Red Robin, of which before this one, there were no Red Robins around these parts.
Phoenix has plenty of them, but I don't remember the pricing of a hamburger being that high. It was a delicious hamburger, it was quality beef, cooked to the way I like it, but $14? Endless fries. Well of course, with that kind of price tag, that is a calculated "risk".
Won't be going back there anytime soon, but I will go back, just not a regular thing. They could serve to add some kind of veggie to that meal for that kind of pricing. Dunno how that place is going to stand in a town like that. It's not a big town, it's not a small town, just somewhere in between. Lots of oil wealth in the area I guess. Cattle ranching as well.
I was just glad to get my boxes and get out of that monthly payment. I don't really even remember what's in those boxes, though I do believe there are some letters from dad in there. The hand written stuff from him I don't have much of. The emails I have plenty of. I'm really hoping one of his Christmas writings are in there.
No rush to go through all of that. Pull a box out, go through it,,save what's worth saving and trash anything I won't be using. Most of what I want to keep is anything of sentimental value. The rest of it I don't necessarily care about. Just couldn't justify continuing paying $48 per month for a unit that has stuff in it that I haven't even looked at in 3 years. There wasn't even that much in there. 8 boxes. Stuff I shipped out when I moved out here and was informed that it's in the way, wasn't useful for anything and what was I going to do with it? That coming from Valerie.
Speaking of her, I was in Sam's club over there today, a place we spent some time in. Looked around, didn't really want to run into her or any of the clan. Let it go, but, I still live in the area, I just don't get to that town much anymore.
Anyway, the Jeep ran fine, it pulled the trailer nicely, didn't overheat, didn't start choking on me. Hot as hell though. No working AC in it and not in the cards anytime soon. I simply don't have any more money to spend on it or much of anything else. We have been cut back to almost a strict 8 hours a day at work now. Which they aren't doing at the other sister stores, it's just the manager's decision. He blames the company, but he could get away with it if he really wanted to give us a good living wage. He did promise to look into getting me more hourly wage, but I already had that discussion with the GM last week. I won't be holding my breath and frankly, their idea of a raise likely wouldn't bring me anywhere close to the money I was making at 50 hours per week. I've all but lost 40 hours of OT per month, and that's a sting.
That was motivation to get that storage unit emptied out today. Start cutting back on whatever I can.
That Jeep is not fuel friendly. The gas gauge went down a quarter tank in 60 miles of driving. Gag. I wasn't fixing it for a daily driver, though. It was to be a recreation thing and use for house projects and such, not the drive back and forth to work. But, I will be taking it and the trailer to work soon to get some pipe so I can finish drainage project, though really, when it pours here, it floods. I would have to do a lot more projects to deal with that. No priority, at all, considering the financial status. Free pipe, yes, but there are fittings and grates you need to make it work.
_________________________
Sunday morning.
God to nail down what I'm going to wear to my son's wedding. Supposedly it's "beach casual" meaning pretty informal dress. Which is fine by me, I don't need to be spending a lot of money on dress clothes. I did get some for dad's funeral, though. Hmm, I take that back. In going to their site on the Knot, it's "Summer Outdoorsy", whatever that means. Shorts and T shirts? Lol, no clue. Doesn't sound formal, that's for sure.
Looking up some sites, Seersuckers? What on earth is that? Casual dress slacks and a casual button down shirt sounds like what I'll do. Time to look up some sales and see if anyone has some deals going, not interested in spending a fortune on this since I don't have to. New shoes in order though, something I can use well beyond just a single use at a wedding. This may be difficult for me, I"m no fashion expert at all. Not even remotely close. Henley shirts and shorts are fine by me, lol, but all the opinions I read is that shorts are a big no-no at a wedding, even a "summer outdoorsy" affair. Though i suspect my son has different ideas about that, he always does lol.
Well I have almost 3 weeks to figure that out. A trip to one of the larger towns and perhaps a mall, JC Penney's, mall type stores, we'll see.
That's really all I have going right now, since that's enough. Meeting mother in CA, I'm coming a day ealrier than her. We are, however, staying at the same hotel (different rooms of course). She sounded like she really wanted to have someone helping her around, so I suppose I'll get some alone time with mom while there. Would like to have some time on the beach, too, but that probably isn't possible.
Anyway, as for today? I may mow the front lawn and do some light cleaning, but mostly intend on relaxing. It's freaking hot outside and this week isn't going to be any better at work. Really don't like summers out here, but I don't like them anywhere so grin and bear it.
Hook the trailer up to the Jeep for the first time, haul it over to the town where my stuff is in storage, empty it out, haul it back.
But, not without a stop at Sam's for 50 pounds of dog food and then a stop at the newly built Red Robin, of which before this one, there were no Red Robins around these parts.
Phoenix has plenty of them, but I don't remember the pricing of a hamburger being that high. It was a delicious hamburger, it was quality beef, cooked to the way I like it, but $14? Endless fries. Well of course, with that kind of price tag, that is a calculated "risk".
Won't be going back there anytime soon, but I will go back, just not a regular thing. They could serve to add some kind of veggie to that meal for that kind of pricing. Dunno how that place is going to stand in a town like that. It's not a big town, it's not a small town, just somewhere in between. Lots of oil wealth in the area I guess. Cattle ranching as well.
I was just glad to get my boxes and get out of that monthly payment. I don't really even remember what's in those boxes, though I do believe there are some letters from dad in there. The hand written stuff from him I don't have much of. The emails I have plenty of. I'm really hoping one of his Christmas writings are in there.
No rush to go through all of that. Pull a box out, go through it,,save what's worth saving and trash anything I won't be using. Most of what I want to keep is anything of sentimental value. The rest of it I don't necessarily care about. Just couldn't justify continuing paying $48 per month for a unit that has stuff in it that I haven't even looked at in 3 years. There wasn't even that much in there. 8 boxes. Stuff I shipped out when I moved out here and was informed that it's in the way, wasn't useful for anything and what was I going to do with it? That coming from Valerie.
Speaking of her, I was in Sam's club over there today, a place we spent some time in. Looked around, didn't really want to run into her or any of the clan. Let it go, but, I still live in the area, I just don't get to that town much anymore.
Anyway, the Jeep ran fine, it pulled the trailer nicely, didn't overheat, didn't start choking on me. Hot as hell though. No working AC in it and not in the cards anytime soon. I simply don't have any more money to spend on it or much of anything else. We have been cut back to almost a strict 8 hours a day at work now. Which they aren't doing at the other sister stores, it's just the manager's decision. He blames the company, but he could get away with it if he really wanted to give us a good living wage. He did promise to look into getting me more hourly wage, but I already had that discussion with the GM last week. I won't be holding my breath and frankly, their idea of a raise likely wouldn't bring me anywhere close to the money I was making at 50 hours per week. I've all but lost 40 hours of OT per month, and that's a sting.
That was motivation to get that storage unit emptied out today. Start cutting back on whatever I can.
That Jeep is not fuel friendly. The gas gauge went down a quarter tank in 60 miles of driving. Gag. I wasn't fixing it for a daily driver, though. It was to be a recreation thing and use for house projects and such, not the drive back and forth to work. But, I will be taking it and the trailer to work soon to get some pipe so I can finish drainage project, though really, when it pours here, it floods. I would have to do a lot more projects to deal with that. No priority, at all, considering the financial status. Free pipe, yes, but there are fittings and grates you need to make it work.
_________________________
Sunday morning.
God to nail down what I'm going to wear to my son's wedding. Supposedly it's "beach casual" meaning pretty informal dress. Which is fine by me, I don't need to be spending a lot of money on dress clothes. I did get some for dad's funeral, though. Hmm, I take that back. In going to their site on the Knot, it's "Summer Outdoorsy", whatever that means. Shorts and T shirts? Lol, no clue. Doesn't sound formal, that's for sure.
Looking up some sites, Seersuckers? What on earth is that? Casual dress slacks and a casual button down shirt sounds like what I'll do. Time to look up some sales and see if anyone has some deals going, not interested in spending a fortune on this since I don't have to. New shoes in order though, something I can use well beyond just a single use at a wedding. This may be difficult for me, I"m no fashion expert at all. Not even remotely close. Henley shirts and shorts are fine by me, lol, but all the opinions I read is that shorts are a big no-no at a wedding, even a "summer outdoorsy" affair. Though i suspect my son has different ideas about that, he always does lol.
Well I have almost 3 weeks to figure that out. A trip to one of the larger towns and perhaps a mall, JC Penney's, mall type stores, we'll see.
That's really all I have going right now, since that's enough. Meeting mother in CA, I'm coming a day ealrier than her. We are, however, staying at the same hotel (different rooms of course). She sounded like she really wanted to have someone helping her around, so I suppose I'll get some alone time with mom while there. Would like to have some time on the beach, too, but that probably isn't possible.
Anyway, as for today? I may mow the front lawn and do some light cleaning, but mostly intend on relaxing. It's freaking hot outside and this week isn't going to be any better at work. Really don't like summers out here, but I don't like them anywhere so grin and bear it.
Wednesday, July 19, 2017
Welp, my hand is being forced.
I'm not going to take a 14 hour a day job, but I"m going to have to really start searching for a new job again.
My bank account is the lowest it has been in years. Seriously, if I had an emergency right now, I would be hurting. I don't have any options.
Work has all of us down to 8 hours a day, sometimes a few minutes more, but nothing like the 10 hours a day I was getting all the way up until the new manager took over.
I can't wait around forever while the GM decides or doesn't decide about a pay increase.
A couple more months of this and I will be completely broke, living paycheck to paycheck, having no kind of life sans going back and forth to work.
Whereas, I used to have thousands of dollars in the checking account and at least a grand in the savings account.
\
It is no help all these trips.
I wish my son would have picked somewhere else to have a wedding, California is just over price don everything. A shuttle from the airport to the hotel - 16 miles - minimum $25 plus tip. Each way.
I am just so uncomfortable right now that I don't have the extra money I need to be able to do what I want in these situations.
Lord knows I have struggled with this for so long. I guess I need to try and get this life insurance policy cashed out. It's a 5k policy my dad took out that he placed in my name when he dies. I knew nothing about it until I went down there the first time a few weeks ago. I'm not even sure the policy is worth the entire 5k, but at this point, much of anything would help.
It doesn't help that I have people that almost never leave the house here, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. That means the AC has to run all the time. The homeowners have this on one of those deals where the amount is calculated by the year and divided by the month. That amount has gone up $30 per month since they moved in here. The lady tenant tried to tell me it will go down. Oh? How will it go down? It's not going down, it's going up. Honestly, the advantages of having a full time cook are not outweighed by the homeowners/friends who are much more frugal and my expenses would be far less per month living here if they moved back.
My house in Phoenix? I made sure the electricity has enough to be more than covered. But Phoenix has experience and excessive heat wave even by Phoenix standards.
One thing I can do, this weekend if it isn't too late, is hook up that trailer to the Jeep, providing the setup will work, drive 2 towns over and get my stuff out of that storage unit, save myself the $48 per month and also start looking at other ways I can save money.
Of course with no AC, it will be a miserable trip but hey, take a jug of ice water.
I tried a consolidation loan a few weeks ago, take all debt and dump it on there, but, my credit still isn't good enough for that. Next year some time I am guessing I will have much better credit. The house insurance is outrageous since the company I was with dumped me because the agent quit and the bank put on it's own insurance, so I need to definitely pursue that.
Actually, I have pursued that. I don't get agents not calling you back? Returning emails? But this is what I have been running into when I put in a query for house insurance. But, I haven't done a lot of it and I guess I need to get it in gear and get it done. At least a $100 per month reduction in the mortgage if I can find what I was getting before this policy just evaporated into thin air.
My son will be going off of my insurance next month after he is married. That will drop my health insurance premium by $200 plus per month.
I'm just really not happy with my company right now and all this cutting back when they are making the same or more money per month and GP is high, yet they have cut us out a grand plus per month in wages? lol. Okay then.
Trucking is coming back, on top of that, at least according to a report I was reading yesterday. I didn't know it had gone anywhere, but I don't do OTR driving so I wouldn't really have knowledge of that without researching it.
Well whatever. I am thinking about applying at some of these local freight hauling companies. They pay very well, much more than what I am making now.
I'm not going to take a 14 hour a day job, but I"m going to have to really start searching for a new job again.
My bank account is the lowest it has been in years. Seriously, if I had an emergency right now, I would be hurting. I don't have any options.
Work has all of us down to 8 hours a day, sometimes a few minutes more, but nothing like the 10 hours a day I was getting all the way up until the new manager took over.
I can't wait around forever while the GM decides or doesn't decide about a pay increase.
A couple more months of this and I will be completely broke, living paycheck to paycheck, having no kind of life sans going back and forth to work.
Whereas, I used to have thousands of dollars in the checking account and at least a grand in the savings account.
\
It is no help all these trips.
I wish my son would have picked somewhere else to have a wedding, California is just over price don everything. A shuttle from the airport to the hotel - 16 miles - minimum $25 plus tip. Each way.
I am just so uncomfortable right now that I don't have the extra money I need to be able to do what I want in these situations.
Lord knows I have struggled with this for so long. I guess I need to try and get this life insurance policy cashed out. It's a 5k policy my dad took out that he placed in my name when he dies. I knew nothing about it until I went down there the first time a few weeks ago. I'm not even sure the policy is worth the entire 5k, but at this point, much of anything would help.
It doesn't help that I have people that almost never leave the house here, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. That means the AC has to run all the time. The homeowners have this on one of those deals where the amount is calculated by the year and divided by the month. That amount has gone up $30 per month since they moved in here. The lady tenant tried to tell me it will go down. Oh? How will it go down? It's not going down, it's going up. Honestly, the advantages of having a full time cook are not outweighed by the homeowners/friends who are much more frugal and my expenses would be far less per month living here if they moved back.
My house in Phoenix? I made sure the electricity has enough to be more than covered. But Phoenix has experience and excessive heat wave even by Phoenix standards.
One thing I can do, this weekend if it isn't too late, is hook up that trailer to the Jeep, providing the setup will work, drive 2 towns over and get my stuff out of that storage unit, save myself the $48 per month and also start looking at other ways I can save money.
Of course with no AC, it will be a miserable trip but hey, take a jug of ice water.
I tried a consolidation loan a few weeks ago, take all debt and dump it on there, but, my credit still isn't good enough for that. Next year some time I am guessing I will have much better credit. The house insurance is outrageous since the company I was with dumped me because the agent quit and the bank put on it's own insurance, so I need to definitely pursue that.
Actually, I have pursued that. I don't get agents not calling you back? Returning emails? But this is what I have been running into when I put in a query for house insurance. But, I haven't done a lot of it and I guess I need to get it in gear and get it done. At least a $100 per month reduction in the mortgage if I can find what I was getting before this policy just evaporated into thin air.
My son will be going off of my insurance next month after he is married. That will drop my health insurance premium by $200 plus per month.
I'm just really not happy with my company right now and all this cutting back when they are making the same or more money per month and GP is high, yet they have cut us out a grand plus per month in wages? lol. Okay then.
Trucking is coming back, on top of that, at least according to a report I was reading yesterday. I didn't know it had gone anywhere, but I don't do OTR driving so I wouldn't really have knowledge of that without researching it.
Well whatever. I am thinking about applying at some of these local freight hauling companies. They pay very well, much more than what I am making now.
Saturday, July 15, 2017
Weekend finally here.
Has been a very humid week. The humidity is something I likely will never get used to.
Anyway, this place that wants to hire me called my work 2 days in a row, lol.
I find it amusing because of the reactions to it.
I don't want the job, just to make that clear here. It's 14 hour days and it's night driving, no thanks.
Yes, it's a LOT more money but I would have NO life, screw that.
Anyway, on Thursday, the manager came walking up, stopping me from leaving the yard, asking me about this company. I made a valid excuse: I am in their system. As you remember from last year, I was looking for a new job. Turns out, ALL of these companies keep your name in their system indefinitely and will keep hounding you to work for them - indefinitely. I did tell him that they had offered me a job but after listening to the hours, I decided against it.
I also told him that no offense to him, but the pay here isn't enough. Without the OT, I can't afford to work at this place. So, he said okay, but wasn't going to give that company the information they were seeking since I wasn't agreeable to it.
Next was yesterday. The company called again, seeking information about my employment. Specifically, driving record with the company, any failed drug tests, things like that. I've never failed a drug test, that's cause' I don't do drugs lol.
I get back from a long run and handed a piece of paper. Call Brian. Ohhhh goody, I thought, I know what this is about. I was a bit gleeful cause' look at the problems they have had hiring a new driver! hahahahahahahah Very funny. They think they can just replace people at a whim, they have found out that that isn't even remotely close to the case. They had 30 people apply for the position and all 30 of them failed some portion of the back ground check or failed the drug screening, lol. Every time the manager thinks he finally got someone, bam, corporate says no thanks.
On top of that, most of these are OTR drivers that will have very little interest in the physical labor required of this job. So even when they do eventually find someone, that person is likely not going to want to do anything but sit behind a steering wheel if it's a former OTR driver.
Anyway, I call Brian back. He's the GM over our region covering Louisiana and a part of Mississippi - Gulfport to be precise. Well, the manager there is gone and I got a call from the office asking what to do about this request from this company to release your information. But what I really want to know, is, what are your intentions? I told him the same story and added a few things. I'm not really looking for a job right now, but honestly, I wouldn't turn one down if it was offered to me if it was for more pay, going a little into my current financial status. I didn't complain about my pay, I just said this is my reality, I have to deal with it.
He informed me that pay raises were coming up. Sure, I thought, 2% increase might as well be nothing. That's all they give, a 2% "cost of living" increase which certainly doesn't cover the increases in cost of living. It's just a slap in the face as far as I'm concerned. But, I said none of that to him, I've had the pay arguments with him in the past, this is just a waste of my time going back into that. So, he then went into, well, I'll see what I can do. I told him I'd love to retire from here which is what got him saying that. Really? That's all I had to say to get him to at least think about it? lol
In reality, I would love to retire from there. Coming up on 12 years, which will increase my paid leave hours to 200 per year. But, this company isn't known for great pay. I just talked my way into it in Phoenix, along with a GM who believes in paying their talent well. It took 6 months of meetings with him to get that though. Basically, the situation with GM's in this company is they're given X amount of dollars per month for pay. Out of that pool comes the pay for everyone. So, it's a matter of how much he likes or dislikes you, or whatever mood he is in, or however he goes about thinking about how much a person gets paid. Yes, they could replace me. But who would they get? Now they are finally thinking in this realm with all the problems they've had hiring someone. You see, they aren't even being that picky right now since there are 2 of us that are very experienced. The new driver would just be picking up the slack. But to lose an experienced driver? They're going to be hurting whether they admit it or not. And the other dude is looking around for a better paying job as well.
I just find it funny that this situation is even occurring, for the guy that quit wasn't even that good. He was slow, talked on the phone more than worked, took waaaaaay longer to do a run than either of us other two and complained all the time. But you see, now that he is gone, further revelations have come to my ears. He was talking quite a lot of s*** behind my back about me, which was influencing the manager's view of me. It wasn't a week after he quit the manager came up to me and told me that now that that guy quit, it seems our relationship has improved dramatically.
Anyway, I won't hold my breath on any substantial pay increase, but it's a nice dream. I really didn't think it was a good time to be looking for a job what with my dad in his death bed and visiting, then him dying and going to the funeral and now my son's wedding coming up next month. Which had to go on a credit card, unfortunately, I don't even have the cash to cover airfare over there and back, not to mention pricey hotel stay. Just the area, even lower priced chains are high in that area and there isn't a thing you can do about it.
But, I won't put a road trip out of my mind. And now my Jeep is fixed. I need to finish up the Polaris - I never completed the project because the Jeep was taking forever and I lost all motivation. I had thoughts about taking it somewhere for a ride today, but I would have to spend a couple hours finishing it up. Since all this traveling, this is quite a lot of house work that needs to be tended to, so save that for another day.
Well. I need to go out and mow the back lawn, replace the pond pump, do some sweeping and general cleaning out there, spray the whole yard down with bug killer - bugs are crazy thick, especially mosquitoes, clean my room, laundry, etc etc etc This is what my Saturday and probably my Sunday look like. The tradeoff is two trips that I really had to take.
Has been a very humid week. The humidity is something I likely will never get used to.
Anyway, this place that wants to hire me called my work 2 days in a row, lol.
I find it amusing because of the reactions to it.
I don't want the job, just to make that clear here. It's 14 hour days and it's night driving, no thanks.
Yes, it's a LOT more money but I would have NO life, screw that.
Anyway, on Thursday, the manager came walking up, stopping me from leaving the yard, asking me about this company. I made a valid excuse: I am in their system. As you remember from last year, I was looking for a new job. Turns out, ALL of these companies keep your name in their system indefinitely and will keep hounding you to work for them - indefinitely. I did tell him that they had offered me a job but after listening to the hours, I decided against it.
I also told him that no offense to him, but the pay here isn't enough. Without the OT, I can't afford to work at this place. So, he said okay, but wasn't going to give that company the information they were seeking since I wasn't agreeable to it.
Next was yesterday. The company called again, seeking information about my employment. Specifically, driving record with the company, any failed drug tests, things like that. I've never failed a drug test, that's cause' I don't do drugs lol.
I get back from a long run and handed a piece of paper. Call Brian. Ohhhh goody, I thought, I know what this is about. I was a bit gleeful cause' look at the problems they have had hiring a new driver! hahahahahahahah Very funny. They think they can just replace people at a whim, they have found out that that isn't even remotely close to the case. They had 30 people apply for the position and all 30 of them failed some portion of the back ground check or failed the drug screening, lol. Every time the manager thinks he finally got someone, bam, corporate says no thanks.
On top of that, most of these are OTR drivers that will have very little interest in the physical labor required of this job. So even when they do eventually find someone, that person is likely not going to want to do anything but sit behind a steering wheel if it's a former OTR driver.
Anyway, I call Brian back. He's the GM over our region covering Louisiana and a part of Mississippi - Gulfport to be precise. Well, the manager there is gone and I got a call from the office asking what to do about this request from this company to release your information. But what I really want to know, is, what are your intentions? I told him the same story and added a few things. I'm not really looking for a job right now, but honestly, I wouldn't turn one down if it was offered to me if it was for more pay, going a little into my current financial status. I didn't complain about my pay, I just said this is my reality, I have to deal with it.
He informed me that pay raises were coming up. Sure, I thought, 2% increase might as well be nothing. That's all they give, a 2% "cost of living" increase which certainly doesn't cover the increases in cost of living. It's just a slap in the face as far as I'm concerned. But, I said none of that to him, I've had the pay arguments with him in the past, this is just a waste of my time going back into that. So, he then went into, well, I'll see what I can do. I told him I'd love to retire from here which is what got him saying that. Really? That's all I had to say to get him to at least think about it? lol
In reality, I would love to retire from there. Coming up on 12 years, which will increase my paid leave hours to 200 per year. But, this company isn't known for great pay. I just talked my way into it in Phoenix, along with a GM who believes in paying their talent well. It took 6 months of meetings with him to get that though. Basically, the situation with GM's in this company is they're given X amount of dollars per month for pay. Out of that pool comes the pay for everyone. So, it's a matter of how much he likes or dislikes you, or whatever mood he is in, or however he goes about thinking about how much a person gets paid. Yes, they could replace me. But who would they get? Now they are finally thinking in this realm with all the problems they've had hiring someone. You see, they aren't even being that picky right now since there are 2 of us that are very experienced. The new driver would just be picking up the slack. But to lose an experienced driver? They're going to be hurting whether they admit it or not. And the other dude is looking around for a better paying job as well.
I just find it funny that this situation is even occurring, for the guy that quit wasn't even that good. He was slow, talked on the phone more than worked, took waaaaaay longer to do a run than either of us other two and complained all the time. But you see, now that he is gone, further revelations have come to my ears. He was talking quite a lot of s*** behind my back about me, which was influencing the manager's view of me. It wasn't a week after he quit the manager came up to me and told me that now that that guy quit, it seems our relationship has improved dramatically.
Anyway, I won't hold my breath on any substantial pay increase, but it's a nice dream. I really didn't think it was a good time to be looking for a job what with my dad in his death bed and visiting, then him dying and going to the funeral and now my son's wedding coming up next month. Which had to go on a credit card, unfortunately, I don't even have the cash to cover airfare over there and back, not to mention pricey hotel stay. Just the area, even lower priced chains are high in that area and there isn't a thing you can do about it.
But, I won't put a road trip out of my mind. And now my Jeep is fixed. I need to finish up the Polaris - I never completed the project because the Jeep was taking forever and I lost all motivation. I had thoughts about taking it somewhere for a ride today, but I would have to spend a couple hours finishing it up. Since all this traveling, this is quite a lot of house work that needs to be tended to, so save that for another day.
Well. I need to go out and mow the back lawn, replace the pond pump, do some sweeping and general cleaning out there, spray the whole yard down with bug killer - bugs are crazy thick, especially mosquitoes, clean my room, laundry, etc etc etc This is what my Saturday and probably my Sunday look like. The tradeoff is two trips that I really had to take.
Monday, July 10, 2017
I literally dread going back to work tomorrow.
This was no vacation, neither was the trip last week.
In fact, it's quite the opposite.
It's been quite draining.
Thousands of miles of driving. Emotional drain. Expenses that are mounting up.
Really quite the opposite.
So, going back to work after everything isn't really helping anything at all.
I am hardly rested. I am quite worn out.
I am half tempted to tell them I am not coming back tomorrow either.
In fact, I may very well.
Or, I'll go in, tough it up and just work out the week and pray for the weekend to come.
I've got yet another trip coming up in a month's time.
I'm done here for today. I think I need to go to bed early tonight at the very least and give
myself a fighting chance at being somewhat rested for work tomorrow.
This was no vacation, neither was the trip last week.
In fact, it's quite the opposite.
It's been quite draining.
Thousands of miles of driving. Emotional drain. Expenses that are mounting up.
Really quite the opposite.
So, going back to work after everything isn't really helping anything at all.
I am hardly rested. I am quite worn out.
I am half tempted to tell them I am not coming back tomorrow either.
In fact, I may very well.
Or, I'll go in, tough it up and just work out the week and pray for the weekend to come.
I've got yet another trip coming up in a month's time.
I'm done here for today. I think I need to go to bed early tonight at the very least and give
myself a fighting chance at being somewhat rested for work tomorrow.
Sunday, July 9, 2017
I think I'm a little out of sorts at the moment.
I'm not full of grief, though I've had my moments, especially during the memorial service.
My thought processes seem to be going into places they haven't gone before.
And reacting to things differently.
It's a very strange feeling.
To have one of your parents gone.
There is some kind of strength to your life when they are alive, even though you
aren't living with them or even seeing them every day.
It's like, yeah, they're there.
I don't really know how to explain it.
It wasn't long ago, I heard someone talking about their deceased parents
and a casual conversation where I said, I am blessed, both of mine are still around.
But that's no longer true.
The grief I've experienced, though, isn't just about my dad's passing.
It is also about my brother's hatred for him.
And my mother's disdain for him, to the point of thinking he is evil.
This haunts my mind and my heart and my soul.
It is perplexing to me.
It is something that will bug me - at the very least - for the rest of my life.
And somehow, I have to cope with people full of hate an anger towards a
person that only loved them? Or only spoke how wonderful they were?
Or only showed compassion and reaching out to them, trying to amend things?
How do you say to yourself, father, I don't ever want to hear from you again.
Father, I don't want any part of your life.
Father, stay out of my life.
Father, you are evil, you are the epitome of everything that is
wrong in this world.
How do you take that to the point that you don't even go to
your own father's funeral?
There is a part of my that wants to hold this against them for the
rest of their lives.
There is another part of me that wants to understand why?
And yet another part that challenges my walk with the Lord.
I struggle with this. I have struggled with this for a very long time.
But now, it has become much more magnified.
Father is dead. He has passed from the earthly living to the eternal life.
He is among the cloud of witnesses now.
Would dad judge them and say he holds this against him?
As certain as I am that the sun will come up tomorrow is the same
certainty that I have that he would still have compassion for them.
Even though they didn't go to his funeral. Even though they couldn't
even find it within themselves to shadow the door of the church it occurred
in and stand from afar off if nothing else and watch the beauty of the
celebration of a life well lived.
But, I remember once his lamenting to his wonderful wife - and yes, she is
a wonderful lady I have come to realize during this time of grief - his lamenting
about my 2 older brothers. I'm trying to think how long ago this was. Maybe 10
years? They were discussing this and he said: "They probably won't even come to
my own funeral". She replied, well of course they will come.
And yet, they did not. They weren't even interested in his passing. They didn't care.
In fact, the day dad died, my oldest brother got onto the group texting and said his
beloved doggy had died. That ;little dog had been around 17 years. I offered him
condolences and he replied, "yeah, it sucks". A few hours later, I went back on there
and said, "There was another loss today. Whether you are interested in hearing or not,
I thought I'd let you know that dad passed away today. I won't say anything more about
it".
My oldest brother replied: "I wish him well and hope he finds what he has been searching
for". ??? That is something you say to someone who you've broken up a relationship, not
something you say about someone who has passed. It was very strange. And it was also the
last text that has taken place on that 4 way text since Friday, June 30th.
I suspect I won't hear anything else from him. He is likely talking to mom on a private text now
instead of a 4 way group thing. It's been somewhere around 6 months since I heard from my middle brother.
I'm ready to write my family off now. This was the last straw. I don't have to like them. God
doesn't even say that in the Bible. It says a lot of things about loving people with the love of Christ,
but I don't have to like people that hate their own father. I can pray for them. I can love them in the love of Christ, but if I never see either of them again, I will not have suffered one iota.
If dad were a psychotic murderer. Perhaps some sort of life long criminal. I don't know what
causes you to hate your own dad. I have read accounts where I thought, well yeah, that might cause
a person to disown their father. But my dad? And so it is, that they hate, as far as I'm concerned, the
God that he served with his whole life and therefore, rejected him as well.
My mother tried to say that my dad was evil a week ago. I asked why the hate towards him from
my brothers, which she went into from her perception, but her perception was wrong from the get-go.
For if she believed the stuff that she said, it was misinformation from my brothers who fed it to her
as a lie. I love my mom, don't get me wrong, but her vitriol during this time has been astonishing.
You don't tell a son that loves his father that his dad is evil unless you can substantiate that with some solid evidence. And I can assure you, my dad was not an evil man.
I have to somehow come to terms with this. For I can shut my brothers out. I have tried for so long to get them to do anything in even subtle ways to acknowledge him as their dad.
One of my cousins wrote me last week about dad's death. He said he had sent "this" message to them but didn't have my email and was re sending to me what he had sent to them. It was a letter of sympathy and condolences to my brothers. I guess he didn't realize how they feel about their dad, so I responded to him this (I do not have a relationship with this person. whatever his reaction be after writing this, I thought, will have no bearing on me): "Hi Stephen:
I'm not full of grief, though I've had my moments, especially during the memorial service.
My thought processes seem to be going into places they haven't gone before.
And reacting to things differently.
It's a very strange feeling.
To have one of your parents gone.
There is some kind of strength to your life when they are alive, even though you
aren't living with them or even seeing them every day.
It's like, yeah, they're there.
I don't really know how to explain it.
It wasn't long ago, I heard someone talking about their deceased parents
and a casual conversation where I said, I am blessed, both of mine are still around.
But that's no longer true.
The grief I've experienced, though, isn't just about my dad's passing.
It is also about my brother's hatred for him.
And my mother's disdain for him, to the point of thinking he is evil.
This haunts my mind and my heart and my soul.
It is perplexing to me.
It is something that will bug me - at the very least - for the rest of my life.
And somehow, I have to cope with people full of hate an anger towards a
person that only loved them? Or only spoke how wonderful they were?
Or only showed compassion and reaching out to them, trying to amend things?
How do you say to yourself, father, I don't ever want to hear from you again.
Father, I don't want any part of your life.
Father, stay out of my life.
Father, you are evil, you are the epitome of everything that is
wrong in this world.
How do you take that to the point that you don't even go to
your own father's funeral?
There is a part of my that wants to hold this against them for the
rest of their lives.
There is another part of me that wants to understand why?
And yet another part that challenges my walk with the Lord.
I struggle with this. I have struggled with this for a very long time.
But now, it has become much more magnified.
Father is dead. He has passed from the earthly living to the eternal life.
He is among the cloud of witnesses now.
Would dad judge them and say he holds this against him?
As certain as I am that the sun will come up tomorrow is the same
certainty that I have that he would still have compassion for them.
Even though they didn't go to his funeral. Even though they couldn't
even find it within themselves to shadow the door of the church it occurred
in and stand from afar off if nothing else and watch the beauty of the
celebration of a life well lived.
But, I remember once his lamenting to his wonderful wife - and yes, she is
a wonderful lady I have come to realize during this time of grief - his lamenting
about my 2 older brothers. I'm trying to think how long ago this was. Maybe 10
years? They were discussing this and he said: "They probably won't even come to
my own funeral". She replied, well of course they will come.
And yet, they did not. They weren't even interested in his passing. They didn't care.
In fact, the day dad died, my oldest brother got onto the group texting and said his
beloved doggy had died. That ;little dog had been around 17 years. I offered him
condolences and he replied, "yeah, it sucks". A few hours later, I went back on there
and said, "There was another loss today. Whether you are interested in hearing or not,
I thought I'd let you know that dad passed away today. I won't say anything more about
it".
My oldest brother replied: "I wish him well and hope he finds what he has been searching
for". ??? That is something you say to someone who you've broken up a relationship, not
something you say about someone who has passed. It was very strange. And it was also the
last text that has taken place on that 4 way text since Friday, June 30th.
I suspect I won't hear anything else from him. He is likely talking to mom on a private text now
instead of a 4 way group thing. It's been somewhere around 6 months since I heard from my middle brother.
I'm ready to write my family off now. This was the last straw. I don't have to like them. God
doesn't even say that in the Bible. It says a lot of things about loving people with the love of Christ,
but I don't have to like people that hate their own father. I can pray for them. I can love them in the love of Christ, but if I never see either of them again, I will not have suffered one iota.
If dad were a psychotic murderer. Perhaps some sort of life long criminal. I don't know what
causes you to hate your own dad. I have read accounts where I thought, well yeah, that might cause
a person to disown their father. But my dad? And so it is, that they hate, as far as I'm concerned, the
God that he served with his whole life and therefore, rejected him as well.
My mother tried to say that my dad was evil a week ago. I asked why the hate towards him from
my brothers, which she went into from her perception, but her perception was wrong from the get-go.
For if she believed the stuff that she said, it was misinformation from my brothers who fed it to her
as a lie. I love my mom, don't get me wrong, but her vitriol during this time has been astonishing.
You don't tell a son that loves his father that his dad is evil unless you can substantiate that with some solid evidence. And I can assure you, my dad was not an evil man.
I have to somehow come to terms with this. For I can shut my brothers out. I have tried for so long to get them to do anything in even subtle ways to acknowledge him as their dad.
One of my cousins wrote me last week about dad's death. He said he had sent "this" message to them but didn't have my email and was re sending to me what he had sent to them. It was a letter of sympathy and condolences to my brothers. I guess he didn't realize how they feel about their dad, so I responded to him this (I do not have a relationship with this person. whatever his reaction be after writing this, I thought, will have no bearing on me): "Hi Stephen:
I'm not going to pull any punches here, for my brothers are assholes when it comes to my father.
They wrote him off at least a decade and a half ago and refused to talk to him, either in email, texting, even in person. They have their grievances from youth and then took extreme offense over a family reunion where dad backed out of it and said it wasn't going to happen later on in life.
Chris said last week in a text, and I will quote him: " Just so we are clear, I did not go to Brocks graduation, I will not be going to California for Calebs wedding and I will not be going to visit or to a service for JDB". JDB is J. David Barkley. I have no qualms or hold backs now of telling whosoever that my brothers are total dicks and assholes. They haven't seen him in a very long time, they aren't going to his funeral and they can go fuck themselves. They don't remember any good times, if they do they won't acknowledge it. I am going to drive 1,200 miles one way for his funeral on Saturday, they can't be bothered by their own petty bullshit to drive 150 miles.
I'm sorry to be the one to deliver this kind of message. And I don't really know you or anyone else on the other side of the clan, excepting John Robertson who is on FB and we have communicated here and there for a few years now. I hold no ill will against you if you find this message offensive and don't want to communicate with me again, but I have had enough of Barkley bullshit.
Sincerely,
ben b"
I was pissed at the time, so yes my vulgar language and no, Stephen never responded to me.
Instead, one of his brothers who is a friend on FB wrote me a message saying he and his family offer their condolences to me and the rest of the other side of the family. It was nice to hear from John like that, we aren't close at all, but we do banter a little here and there on FB. They are all the offspring of my dad's sister, who also has Alzheimer's. What a sickening disease.
But I'm not as much in anger now as in awe of people that hold extreme resentment and unforgiveness in their lives to the point that it affects their view of people to the extent that they will even write off their own family.
And now, I write them off. But not in anger. I think the anger has subsided. It's more of a, I don't know these people. They may be blood, but they are no part of my life and I am no part of theirs. They have chosen that stance towards me. It won't just "go away" in my mind. It never will. I grew up with them, we lived together in the same house. We shared life experience together.
But my dad's death has brought about a new perspective. Several new perspectives, actually. I don't need these people in my life. They haven't been a part of my life in decades. I have reached out to them eerily, just the same as my dad did, and they have received it as a fart in the air. Just nothing. I may continue to write about this for some time, but as far as ever seeing them again? No thanks. If it occurs, it will likely not be a pleasant situation. I won't be going to Christmas or Thanksgiving with them, I won't be sending them any more gifts. I won't be doing anything. They may remain in my heart as my brothers, but they aren't my family. Not in the true sense of the word.
Yes, my dad's death has had a profound effect on my view of certain things, but nothing I ever anticipated. I just don't see any use for them. They are total strangers. My connection with them is in childhood and it will ever remain that way. And now, I understand. It's my love for the Lord. It's my outspoken relationship with Christ. It's my devotion to God, that I believe, that I long for the day to be brought unto Him. Their hatred is really directed at God. And that is a huge problem for them, not me. My heart grieves for them though. Do they understand what they are doing?
God bless them - with salvation. My mom, a bit different. You can't write off your own mom. She changed her tune quite a lot towards me about this when I invited her to stay out of my life if my showing my love for my dad on my FB wall is a problem. She has no affection for my father, obviously, but that isn't stopping me from showing the love I had for my father on FB. I know she can't stand it, yet I don't do it to spite her, but to show my love for my dad, to have a memory put in place for him, to share to my limited world how I feel about him since that seems to be a large part of what occurs on FB anyway. And really just to express grief, to process it and eventually get past it. Though I can't say that this is anything I have ever dealt with before. Everything else was outside of family, this is Dad. This is the man whose seed brought me into existence. I am as much a part of him as I am my mom.
So yes. These are very perplexing times for me. I have to learn how to deal with this post-death now. I have to learn how to go about my life without my brothers at all. I suspect the letter I sent to my cousin got back to them, as that particular cousin has always been friends with my middle brother.
You know what's cool though? The lady - my friend - who owns the house I am living in, wrote me a message yesterday. She said: "I love you Ben, you're in my thoughts today". She's more of a family now than I have known from my own family in a very long time. Well all of them really, but her especially. She talks to me about stuff that I find amazing she would even share with a man, but it's not that kind of thing you might expect. It's about asking for advice and wisdom on how to deal with things.
I am, as I stated earlier... exhausted. I felt the need to type some of this out. I need to figure out how to proceed with the rest of my life. And if that's without family, then that's without family. I have "new" family. I have people that love me more than my own family does. I really tried with my oldest brother, though. I really did. God bless him - with salvation and a healing of his broken heart.
G'nite.
Over 5,000 miles of driving in a 13 year old car with over 170k miles on it, 2 trips and home successfully without a hitch besides a bad tire. And filling the thing up a dozen times lol. That car will still drive 90 mph down the Interstate without a gasp of hesitation. It still runs as smooth as the day I first bought it at 28,000 miles. It has never had a tune up. I've had to replace the battery 3 times, front brakes several times, rear brakes once. I spent $500 on it almost 2 years ago now to get some front end work done on it. Countless oil changes of course. The aesthetics of the car have all but gone away, but the mechanical function of the thing is flawless. I dunno how much longer that will last, but until the time it dies, I can't complain about the thing. I can and I have, actually, lol, the front windows especially, the cable kept breaking and I kept having it fixed until a gave up on it.
I haven't even replaced the accessory belt on the engine. And after checking it, it doesn't need replaced yet. Don't fix what ain't broke. I don't have the "extra money" for car payments right now and haven't had in a while. I mean, I could if I had to but why? Newer cars are wonderful to drive. Everything works on them. And you are stuck with endless, monthly payments and full coverage auto insurance that costs a small fortune every month. I would LOVE to drive a 10 year newer vehicle, really would. But right now, that isn't prudent. Especially now that I have the Jeep running, albeit the AC doesn't work yet. If the car does break down, I have a back up.
I've heard of people getting 300k miles out of this particular brand of car. I'm quite sure I don't want to drive it that long even if it does last that long, but still. Would I make another trip somewhere with that car like the last two? Absolutely and thinking of one in particular going the other direction. The thing needs the transmission fluid replaced again, I"ll likely have that done soon. It's worth it to do the required maintenance if I expect to keep it much longer, and right now, unless something happens substantial to my income, I see nothing to change that scenario.
Anyway, I have an old friend that has been asking me for years to come visit him. He is tied down by his business, he doesn't get out much. It's 800 miles each way. I have priced airline tickets there on numerous occasions and just couldn't come up with anything viable. Not for a 3 or 4 day visit. He's got a diesel repair shop near Indianapolis. He's got contracts with many major trucking carriers because his work is that good. We worked together on the mission field in the mid 80's, we became very good friends, but I haven't seen him in decades now. Just one trip I would like to make.
I had no time to really plan either of the last two trips in the last two weeks, otherwise I would have really dug into getting the hotel stuff down because the last place I stayed? Was a horrid place. The reviews were manipulated to make it appear as if it were some wonderful hotel at a great price. It was like to sleep in a landfill, the odor in the room was horrendous. Hence, I posted the previous post I did. Eventually, that post will come up in searches for that particular hotel but I also left a nice nasty review on TripAdvisor.
Hotels have become so expensive. This is another drawback to travelling. You want a place to sleep and take a shower? You're going to pay for it in many areas. For example. the entire area between Dallas and Pecos is full of pricey hotels. It's oil pumping region, as evidence by huge numbers of businesses lined up along the Interstate that either sell products to the oil industry or service the oil industry in some way. It is also a major thoroughfare for highway travelers and the hoteliers take full advantage of it.
Last night, as I was driving, I kept doing searches for all the cities in front of me and as I did the search over for some of the same places, the prices kept going up and up. The later it got, the higher the price became. It obviously pays to be able to book well in advance and get better pricing, but I didn't have that privilege on either of these trips. They were both last minute types of deals, do whatever it takes to get there and get back.
Still, the traveling bug has been reborn within me. Once you get on the road and get into that mode, it really isn't bad at all. It's just getting started that seems to be my problem. Once I'm well away from the region I live in, it's like, okay, this has now become an adventure.
The next trip isn't that far off, next month, to Palo Ranchos Verdes in California for my son's wedding. And trust me, even well in advance, the price of hotels there is unbelievable. Just a ritzy area on the coast. And also the home of the Salvation Army's officer training college. But, I am "only" driving to Dallas for that one. Around 160 miles or so. Flying over there and then ground transportation yet to be arranged for going back and forth from the airport to the hotel and also from the hotel to the facility. I am not going to drive that far, just no way. Almost 1, 700 miles one way, not going there. It will be the 3rd trip in a short span of time, none of these trips are vacations. Although I am not saying it's going to be a drag to go to Caleb's wedding lol, it's not a vacation. If it were, I would be flying over the ocean to some European destination, not to anywhere in the US.
That has been put off indefinitely. I've spent all my money, had to put Caleb's wedding travel on a credit card and now starts the paying that back before the wedding even occurs.
Any trips overseas? Off limits for now. But another driving trip? Well, if planned well enough in advance for hotels or whatever accommodations, I can do that. Of course that is contingent on time off, which so far I have been using mostly personal time and floating holidays.
Well anyway. I'm pretty tired right now. I didn't sleep well at this nightmare hotel last night, I think I got a total of 5 hours out of it. It took a while to get the fog out of my head this morning as I got up and got out of there as fast as possible. Like, time to hit the road. I told the front desk about the horrific odor in the room, which I'm sure they already knew about. They didn't care. Neither do I, anymore, excepting to make sure that I get the reviews out there where it counts. I just can't remember the last time that I stayed at a place that bad with reviews that good. Well, the reviews just added up to a "good" rating. Booking.com won't be getting any business from me in the future unless I know the property I want to stay at and they have the best price.
What now? Well, I'm home, it's getting late. Lots on my mind. My dad's death, his life, the people that he affected still flooding my mind. Another post coming soon about his Memorial Service which will have much more depth to it than anything I wrote about it on Facebook.
I haven't even replaced the accessory belt on the engine. And after checking it, it doesn't need replaced yet. Don't fix what ain't broke. I don't have the "extra money" for car payments right now and haven't had in a while. I mean, I could if I had to but why? Newer cars are wonderful to drive. Everything works on them. And you are stuck with endless, monthly payments and full coverage auto insurance that costs a small fortune every month. I would LOVE to drive a 10 year newer vehicle, really would. But right now, that isn't prudent. Especially now that I have the Jeep running, albeit the AC doesn't work yet. If the car does break down, I have a back up.
I've heard of people getting 300k miles out of this particular brand of car. I'm quite sure I don't want to drive it that long even if it does last that long, but still. Would I make another trip somewhere with that car like the last two? Absolutely and thinking of one in particular going the other direction. The thing needs the transmission fluid replaced again, I"ll likely have that done soon. It's worth it to do the required maintenance if I expect to keep it much longer, and right now, unless something happens substantial to my income, I see nothing to change that scenario.
Anyway, I have an old friend that has been asking me for years to come visit him. He is tied down by his business, he doesn't get out much. It's 800 miles each way. I have priced airline tickets there on numerous occasions and just couldn't come up with anything viable. Not for a 3 or 4 day visit. He's got a diesel repair shop near Indianapolis. He's got contracts with many major trucking carriers because his work is that good. We worked together on the mission field in the mid 80's, we became very good friends, but I haven't seen him in decades now. Just one trip I would like to make.
I had no time to really plan either of the last two trips in the last two weeks, otherwise I would have really dug into getting the hotel stuff down because the last place I stayed? Was a horrid place. The reviews were manipulated to make it appear as if it were some wonderful hotel at a great price. It was like to sleep in a landfill, the odor in the room was horrendous. Hence, I posted the previous post I did. Eventually, that post will come up in searches for that particular hotel but I also left a nice nasty review on TripAdvisor.
Hotels have become so expensive. This is another drawback to travelling. You want a place to sleep and take a shower? You're going to pay for it in many areas. For example. the entire area between Dallas and Pecos is full of pricey hotels. It's oil pumping region, as evidence by huge numbers of businesses lined up along the Interstate that either sell products to the oil industry or service the oil industry in some way. It is also a major thoroughfare for highway travelers and the hoteliers take full advantage of it.
Last night, as I was driving, I kept doing searches for all the cities in front of me and as I did the search over for some of the same places, the prices kept going up and up. The later it got, the higher the price became. It obviously pays to be able to book well in advance and get better pricing, but I didn't have that privilege on either of these trips. They were both last minute types of deals, do whatever it takes to get there and get back.
Still, the traveling bug has been reborn within me. Once you get on the road and get into that mode, it really isn't bad at all. It's just getting started that seems to be my problem. Once I'm well away from the region I live in, it's like, okay, this has now become an adventure.
The next trip isn't that far off, next month, to Palo Ranchos Verdes in California for my son's wedding. And trust me, even well in advance, the price of hotels there is unbelievable. Just a ritzy area on the coast. And also the home of the Salvation Army's officer training college. But, I am "only" driving to Dallas for that one. Around 160 miles or so. Flying over there and then ground transportation yet to be arranged for going back and forth from the airport to the hotel and also from the hotel to the facility. I am not going to drive that far, just no way. Almost 1, 700 miles one way, not going there. It will be the 3rd trip in a short span of time, none of these trips are vacations. Although I am not saying it's going to be a drag to go to Caleb's wedding lol, it's not a vacation. If it were, I would be flying over the ocean to some European destination, not to anywhere in the US.
That has been put off indefinitely. I've spent all my money, had to put Caleb's wedding travel on a credit card and now starts the paying that back before the wedding even occurs.
Any trips overseas? Off limits for now. But another driving trip? Well, if planned well enough in advance for hotels or whatever accommodations, I can do that. Of course that is contingent on time off, which so far I have been using mostly personal time and floating holidays.
Well anyway. I'm pretty tired right now. I didn't sleep well at this nightmare hotel last night, I think I got a total of 5 hours out of it. It took a while to get the fog out of my head this morning as I got up and got out of there as fast as possible. Like, time to hit the road. I told the front desk about the horrific odor in the room, which I'm sure they already knew about. They didn't care. Neither do I, anymore, excepting to make sure that I get the reviews out there where it counts. I just can't remember the last time that I stayed at a place that bad with reviews that good. Well, the reviews just added up to a "good" rating. Booking.com won't be getting any business from me in the future unless I know the property I want to stay at and they have the best price.
What now? Well, I'm home, it's getting late. Lots on my mind. My dad's death, his life, the people that he affected still flooding my mind. Another post coming soon about his Memorial Service which will have much more depth to it than anything I wrote about it on Facebook.
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