One to Laugh About

This one is a laugher, at least the Funny Lady is.

I innocently forgot this yesterday and Teresa reminded me of it again... so here goes.

On our bobtailing ride down to Dallas from OKC we were about an hour and a half enroute and Teresa was getting ready for a snooze so I pulled into a rest area for a potty break, with my book of course. Well, I was a couple of minutes and then hopped into the truck. Without looking in the back a said "so you're all snuggled in" and got no reply so I figured she was sleeping already. I then took a few minutes to get my log book updated. Again, without actually looking in the back I headed out. I picked up my phone to call my Mom as I do every morning. A couple of minutes later I got a call on my phone and since I was already on it I ignored it. A minute later Teresa's phone starts going off so I say to the back "Babe." Nothing, so I say "BABE" louder. By then I know I've got a problem.

In the meantime Teresa has been wandering around the rest area and comes back to where the truck was and sees that it's gone... hard to miss those big orange trucks. She borrowed a phone from one of the other rest area attendees.

So, I call the phone that had just called me and of course it's busy cause she's on it still trying to call me...

You get the picture. I spun around about as fast as a bobtailing truck can do so on the freeway and headed back, then she caught me on the phone. So I got to cover that 6 miles three times that morning. Honestly I had thoughts of heading on but could imagine the grief I would get so I headed back and got grief anyway, just joking. I couldn't go anywhere without her and I didn't get grief, just laughs.

That was the first time in the year we've been out that something like that has happened, don't figure to repeat that one any time soon!!!

At it Again

Well, we're at it again. After two days to golf in Ponca City and plenty of sewing we're over not making our trip to Mexico. I contacted my DBL at Schneider Monday morning and asked if we could come back on Wed instead of Fri. No problemo.

We got to the drop lot in OKC Wed morn just befor 0800 and about 15 minutes later we got a note to bobtail down to Dallas to pick up a little load. After making sure they were paid miles we headed to Walmart to pick up our staples for the week and headed south. The load was a shorty, pick up at the OC and take it over to Ft. Worth to deliver at 1900. The short loads don't pay to bad; $1 per mile and $25 ( or $15, I don't remember exactly) for the extra stop. Anyway it's about 40 miles and we delivered at the designated time. We headed out early to miss traffic and to watch "Nights at Rodanthe." With a walk in the nice weather and a movie, not bad.

Today our next w/a is to pick up a load in Dallas and head for Elkhart, IN. Doesn't deliver until Monday morning at 0800 so we've got about 3 1/2 days to travel 1,000 miles. Of course it's back to cold country so I'll have to put my shorts away on Saturday. Looks like we'll head up to I44 and over to St. Louis. Since we've got some extra time I think we'll take I57 out of St. Louis instead of I55 and drop into Champaign and see the girls, probably Friday night and then on to Gary Saturday. We'll have a quiet day for most of Sunday and either leave for Elkhart Sunday evening or early Monday morning. Of course my girl doesn't like early mornings too much so we'll probably leave Gary in the afternoon and settle into Elkhart early so she can watch Amazing Race and Brothers and Sisters.

As everyone is tightening their belts, so is Schneider. They announced Monday no pay increases for "anyone." I was due for my 1 year increase this coming Sunday. Nice timing for me...
Oh well, at least we're running, pretty well. Can you believe it, one year already ?

We're in good health and have each other so who could ask for anything more ?

Drats Foiled by the Passport

We made are delivery in Williamsburg, IA on Wednesday and got our next w/a to pick up in Oskaloosa, IA and deliver in Springfield, MO. Success. Thursday we delivered to Kraft there. Our next w/a was to run to a Kingsford Charcoal in Belle north of Rolla, MO and take it to the drop lot in OKC. We finished that 550 mile run about 1800. Enroute Teresa checked to see if there were any flights out that night to Atlanta (Friday) she "thought", yes, 2130. We headed over to the airport and tried to get on. The airport looked pretty empty, we hung around until an agent came by. Nope, no flights. They pretty much shut down by then.

Cool, we headed to Ponca City and checked in with the family and spent Saturday resting, chatting and getting ready. Of course Teresa had to get to the store and pick up some stuff to make a baby quilt for Scott's (our oldest) expected baby.

This morning we got up and had breakfast with Grandma and Grandpa and headed for the airport to head out on our long awaited and much deserved vacation. When we checked in we were unexpectedly turned away. Teresa's passport had expired on her birthday two weeks ago. Can you believe it. Nothing we could do, no exceptions to take advantage of. So we're back in Ponca City.

I'll call Schneider tomorrow and see if we can get back on the road Wednesday morning instead of our previously scheduled Friday.

Oh well, what can you do ? Who thinks about a passport that expires every 10 years. Obviously we did not.

If you were expecting pics of sleep, sun, sand and skin you'll have to wait for us to get to Vegas.

Wed in Missouri

Sunday night we finally got our next w/a - someone from the yard there in Reserve, LA was going over to the shipper and picking up the load Monday morning and bringing it back to the OC. We were then to run it up to Williamsburg, IA. Hooooray, back at it !!! Don't ask me why we weren't to do the pickup. The OC is on 19th street and the shipper was on 10th street. Anyway the other driver gave us the thumbs up as he headed out then pulled right up next to us to hand the trailer over. 45,000 pounds of abrasives - I think that means it some sort of sandblasting product.

I think we got out of there about 1030 and headed to W. Memphis, AR - 380 miles. Shower and laundry. We even get towels there at the W. Memphis OC, though I do have to plead for an extra for my "authorized rider." We were quite surprised to learn that at the Reserve OC you have to bring your own towel. Oh, the indignities we suffer.

Yesterday we covered 450 miles and made it to Wayland, MO, all the way to the top of Missouri and about 120 miles left to the consignee. We figure to be there by about 0930 and with an estimated 2:30 to unload be ready to head out at noon. We dined in Hannibal, MO, home of Mark Twain. By the time we got there at about 1700, I was famished. We had the buffet at KFC, that was a first for us, pretty good.

We're scheduled for GTAH ( guaranteed time at home) starting Sunday to head to Cancun. Drivers are allowed to request 6 GTAHs per year. Looks like we're about 650 miles from OKC so we'll only need a day and a half to make it. Our plane leaves about 1330 from OKC, we can make it there even by leaving IA by sometime Saturday, I think we're good to go.

We're no longer in the warm country but so far it's not that bad.

Truck update - as you know we had our "old" truck for almost a year. The trucks have this module called a LVD (low voltage disable, not sure about the D). Anyway when the output of the batteries drop to 12.2 volts it turns off all of the inside power. The Wabasto heater will continue to run, everything else is caput. Our "new" truck has been reaching the LVD threshold about 0300 every morning. This means our little refer, and everything else, are without power. So about that time I wake up and start the motor to let it run and try to go back to sleep. That doesn't usually work for me. So that means my new wake up time is around 0300, annoying Teresa a bit, of course me too. I took it to the shop yesterday morning in W. Memphis but they couldn't find anything wrong. They advised me to unplug the refer overnight. Like we're going to want warm milk in the morning for our cereal !!!

Well I'm trying not to get too hung up on it this week, just get through and get onto our vacation. Sand, sun, sleep, skin, maybe I'm thinking too far ahead, we'll see.

Lemonade - Lemonade - Lemonade

Lemonade - Lemonade - Lemonade

After updating our blog this morning I got an idea... wonder if there's a bus from here to New Orleans. Turns out there's one that travels from Baton Rouge to New Orleans several times a day and back. Five bucks each, each way. That was at 0600. Yup, got an idea. I headed out and who did I run into at 0600 - the Not-so Funny Lady. For a couple of reasons she had a lousy nights sleep. Looked a little groggy and cranky. So I hopped a little leprechaun-ish two step and got her going. We headed out to the Pilot where the bus arrived and showered and ate our cereal for breakfast.

The bus was nice and new and also pretty well full. Seems like it's working for them. Anyway we caught the 0730 and by 0805 we were in New Orleans. That's the better Funny Lady having her Chai Frapaccino inside the Sheraton on Canal Street while I head off to Harrah's for a bit.

Here she comes to get me... much better humor now, can you tell.

At the bottom of Canal St. on the riverwalk that takes people, bikes and cars across to Algier Island. It's FREE. That's me pulling the ferry up to the dock. What a strongman, huh ?

We wandered the riverwalk and the French Quarter for a couple of hours and had a Muffelleta and Shrimp Po-boy at Franks and chatted with these folks attending a convention here from South Dakota. They were enjoying the warmth and sunshine as much as we were.
Then we headed back down to Canal St. to watch one of the many Mardi Gras parades.

We're back at the OC and tomorrow we have a load headed to Williamsburg, IA. So we'll be busy for a couple of days...

But we had a great day today.

Sunday in N'awlens

Friday was moving day, got'er done. Everything moved, bed made, good stuff. About noon while waiting for a w/a I noticed that the inside lights didn't come on when I opened the door and the CB wouldn't come on and the heater wouldn't turn off. So the truck spent the afternoon, evening and night in the shop and we checked into the Quality Inn in Reserve, LA which is about 20 miles form New Orleans. New alternator, a few fixed wires, good to go. We got back about 0900 and everything seems to be OK. The batteries don't seem to hold as good a charge as our "old" truck but OK. Maybe once we get it out on the road for a couple of hours it will start to get a good charge.

The hotel included a hot breakfast so we were good for the day. About 3:30 we headed out for lunch/dinner. Pier 51 - very good. We had fried soft shell crabs - a first and good, fried okra, fried calamari, chicken and andouille gumbo, crawfish and corn chowder. Great spread. I know that's a lot of fried stuff, but "when in Rome." We don't eat like that often but after all it was Valentine's day so we had to.

There's an interesting anomaly here in Louisiana; they have daiquiri places all over, with drive thrus. You pull in get your daiquiri and go home. As long as the little hole for the straw is intact you're legal. They guys tell me they carry extra lids so if they get stopped they can put a fresh lid on and they'll be OK.

We're fine and maybe a little bored and next Sunday we'll head for Cancun. I'm pretty much guessing that by Wednesday/Thursday we'll be somewhere in Texas and Schneider will head us north and send us home. That will be fine for us, we'll see the folks in Ponca City and if the weather holds get some golfing in. I checked some of the courses in Cancun and they want $90 to $180 for a round of golf. I like to golf, but not that much.

You probably are aware that Mardi Gras has started they've got parades everywhere - it's literally a month long party here.

Got a couple of secrets brewing I can hopefully let out of the bag when we get back from Cancun, and no we're not pregnant.

On a Downer

Doesn't happen very often, actually rarely, but I'm on a bit of downer right now.

We delivered Wednesday morning. Finished at 1000 am, then sat all the rest of the day. About 2100 we get our next w/a for Thursday. Another short run to Opeluesas, LA, 230 miles. Can't pay the bills with 230 miles in two days. After we delivered and I waited 19 minutes on the phone to determine whether I should pick up a trailer to take out, they said yep.

Went over to a closeby truck stop and started steaming. I called Cathy, my DBL and started in. The crux of the issue is; when I started Schneider had an obligation to make sure each driver got 2,500 miles per week. Now with slow freight and what looks to me like too many drivers. So far this week we're at about 800 miles. Now to be fair the three days we were in layover status last weekend we got paid $80 per day. That compares to a fairly normal day of 400 miles that at .33 cents per mile is 133. So $80 is better than a kick in the head but not good enough.

So I said to Cathy "I need to get the 2,500 miles or Schneider needs to lay me off." Schneider's position is they aren't laying off drivers. If I quit, no unemployment. If I stay, insufficient income and lots of sitting. I haven't quite figured out why they won't lay of drivers but I'm guessing it's so that they cannot collect unemployment benefits. I don't know where this is headed.

On top of that Cathy instructed me to head to New Orleans, they were ready to trade in my truck. It's a 2003 with 630,000 miles. I figure no problem, the next truck will have to be better. I'm not sure of the year but it already has 513,000 miles on it, no passenger seat, no working radio, and who knows what else. You know the feeling; take your wife to look at a new place, and it's a dump. Teresa was pissed. How can you make someone move into a dump ? I'm not sure. But so far I haven't moved any thing into it. It's not like I have much choice, but I guess I'll have to get it up-to-snuff before I move anything. So that means we're stuck here for the day probably.

Anyway, with the lack of miles and the truck change scenario, I'm on a little of a downer.

The good news is that I'm showered and it's warm out and we have each other, so like they say "make lemonade from lemons" we're pretty good at that. Let you know how it works out.

Still in the warm country

Friday without running was good. Checking into the Motel 6 on Saturday was great, but by Sunday I was fit to be tied. I won the battle regarding washing the truck. Finally I said "it's my job and it's a reflection on me." That clinched the deal. Wash we did and it looks real good.

Remember, I'm the guy that has empathy for my automobiles when it's time for an oil change and I'm the one that gets anxious when I'm running low on fuel. So I guess it's OK for me to feel like the truck also wants to look running around the country.

Monday started off pretty poorly. By noon we had not received a new w/a. In some places we probably wouldn't have minded much. But the two truck stops we were at I wouldn't wash my dog in, so you can see how we might feel. Also around noon I indicated we were checking back into the Motel 6, which got a tepid OK. By then we're feeling we deserve it again. I sent a note on the Qualcomm - "load or hotel, you make the call." So about 1300 we're getting ready to head over and low and behold a w/a. At this point I wasn't sure whether to be elated or disappointed. And to top it off it's a relatively short run. But it's activity so we're off.

We ran 90 miles to Palestine, TX to pick up a load at a WalMart d/c to take to San Antonio and deliver in the morning. We stopped for the night in Rockdale, TX.

This morning at 0500 I went into WalMart and picked up these flowers for my Funny Lady; today is her birthday, the BIG 50.

They're her color - she's a purple person.

That's my water jug I used as a vase to present to her. I got hugs and kisses and laughs all before 530 in the morning. What a day !

We delivered in San Antonio and then picked up another load in San Antonio to deliver in Houston. We're now at the Houston OC and I am, doing laundry. Teresa's watching her favorite show - Scrubs. Well I guess it is her birthday, it's the least I can do.

Ten days till Cancun...

60 and warming

We arrived and were unloaded by 1100 Friday and have had nothing since. Do I sound annoyed ? That's a yes and no. We hung out in WalMart lot Friday afternoon until I was pretty sure nothing was going to be forthcoming. I read for awhile and took a nap while Teresa walked over to the going-out-of-business Goody's store. She got a few things at 60% off. Then we grabbed a couple of movies from the Red Box there and headed for a truck stop.

By noon yesterday nothing still happening. They say we're #3 on the list but no loads moving. We drove over to Marshall, TX and checked into a Motel 6. We headed out to return our Red Box movies and have lunch. We ate at the Jalapeno Tree in Marshall. Fajitas and Chili Relleno. I can swear that the skirt steak with the fajitas was the tenderest I've EVER had.

We enjoyed our accomodations, and had what Jason refers to as "a hot night."

We'll check-out today about noon. I'm planning to wash the truck; it's covered in salt and grime and Teresa's planning to talk me out of it. Let you know who won later.

It's beautiful out - sunny 60 and warming. We'll head out and hike around town this afternoon.

Man, I couldn't do this alone, but with Teresa along, it's pretty good.

Effingham, IL

After making our two stops in Chicago we paused at the South Holland Oasis thinking a little nap and a Panda lunch would be good then maybe head over to the Gary OC. Nope !!!

We pulled in and used the facilities and went back to the truck to catch up on my log paperwork.

The trick here is "a watched pot never boils." Since we were planning for a nap we got a new w/a, happens every time.

We treked into downtown Chicago and picked up our next load. We're headed for Longview, TX. I have checked the weather in route and it's going to get better, but so far it's really cold.

We waved at the girls in Champaign on the way down I57 and stopped for the night in Effingham, IL. Who names a place "Effing" anyway. Here's the answer:

Effingham is named for Effingham County, which was named after Edward Effingham, who resigned his commission as general in the British army in 1775, refusing to serve in the war against the Colonies. The name is Anglo-Saxon for "Effa's house".

Enquiring minds want to know.

We're 16 days to Cancun. As I am wont to do, I made our plane reservations about 6 months ago hedging against the rising airline costs. Sometimes that works in your favor and sometimes not. In this case prices have actually gone down about 35% in the last six months. Fortunately for us in the meantime Frontier has made a couple minor changes to the schedule. Viola, yesterday we used that excuse to cancel those reservations without a cancelation fee and made new reservations. We actually got a better schedule and reduced our airfare from 1050 to 698. We're flying Delta now. Who new ?!

Now, for our next adventure we're working on a trip to Las Vegas. There are a few reasons for this location - both Moms can come fairly easily, Scott and Jennie can hop down, Claire and Ledo and Adam can drive over from Monterey without too much difficulty. But the real reason is that Donnie and Marie Osmond have a show at the Flamingo. Teresa still has a thing for Donnie, I guess those old infatuations never go away. Teresa's Mom, too. We have asked the management team there to extend their tour, which currently ends in April. We'll see. If they do, we'll begin making some solid arrangements. I know LV in June - whoa hot ! But sitting here in Effingham at 8 degrees, it sounds pretty good.

Time to go get the Funny Lady up and hit the road. She still is my Funny Lady, I guess those old infatuations really never do go away, do they ? I hope not.

Back in the cold

We spent a glorious day in Virginia enjoying the 60 plus degree weather. Monday morning we headed to Winchester, VA to pick up a trailer and then through the hills to Baltimore, MD for our next w/a. We picked up a 43,400 pound load of miscellaneous cables to deliver in Chicago.

Have to tell you that was pretty much the toughest load we've had so far. Those hills of MD and WV were really tough with that much weight. It wasn't that bad going east with 30,000 but going west with the 43,000 plus was a real bear. Up at 25 miles per hour and down at 35, over and over and over again. Took 6 hours to cover 200 miles. The one consolation was that I passed two trucks who were obviously going slower than me at 25 mph. I guess they had a real long day.

Once we got through that and on into Ohio we had clear sailing until we got to Valpariso, IN. SNOW and lots of it. We went through numerous accidents. Another 30 miles at 25 mph - white outs all around.

We pushed through, carefully, to I65 where it was clear and on into Gary, 13 hour day. Long but pretty much legal.

We have two deliveries this morning - Hazel Crest and Alsip and then who knows. Maybe a break for the afternoon. They continue to say freight is slow but so far we haven't really seen it.

The weather folks say it's supposed to get down to 1 degree overnight. So far I think it's about 10.

Congratulations to Jason for completing the year-end 1099 process, on time.

Front Royal, VA - 66 Degrees

Makes your mind wander, doesn't it. I had forgotten this one. It's from the bridge outside of Pasadena, TX just east and a little south of Houston.

You want to know what -2 degrees looks like ? I'll tell you that literally ALL of Iowa looks like this and yes it was that cold. And that's a prison in Hutchinson, KS.

Yesterday we had breakfast in Champaign, IL with the girls. Andrea's beau Josh came along, he's the tall one. We then made it on to Indianapolis where Teresa did the laundry and I napped and we showered and hit the road again. Made it all the way to Lafayette, OH and spent the night. About 1400 CST we made it to Front Royal, VA and dropped out trailer of cookies and oatmeal for Family Dollar.

Had our salad and Marie Callender's chicken pot pie. Pretty good stuff. Now we're with our new found friends at the Love's Truck Stop at MM291 on I81 watching the super bowl. Can you spot the Funny Lady ?

Tomorrow we pick up a trailer in Winchester, VA and head into Baltimore to get loaded, not sure of what yet. Then we head back to Chicago.

It's all good.

Bob and Teresa