Saturday, May 26, 2012

What a day...

Well we have been moving right along... We are now working off our recaps (for those of you that read this and don't truck... We are allowed to work 70 hours in an 8 day period... So as we move to the next day, more hours become available to work... However if you don't budget your time, you can spend it all at the first part of that 8 day stretch and not have the hours to work)... And that is the most efficient way to roll, but also the most wearing... Because you are constantly moving... Again, careful what you wish for!! So yesterday we were in SLC, at the terminal. We were going to get our truck inspected for UT since it is licensed there... By the time we made it to the inspection bay, the crew that could do the inspection had already left... So we wasted almost an hour and a half there... Dropped off our load and picked up our other one (in Ogden) and headed to Phoenix... Got there this morning... There is no areas at night to stop along HWY 20 or HWY 89!! Glad we have the bucket!! (sorry if TMI) So we get to Phoenix, and again, the hunt for an empty trailer... Then the OK to go in without one... So we are almost out of town heading to Ohio this time and we stop for fuel .. Both diesel and coffee... Oh and the Flying J has the BEST munching ice!!! While there I got to be 'verbally assaulted'... Basically an ignorant bully... I blogged about the detailed in a draft because it shook me enough that I was forgetting details... My hands were shaking and everything! Did not like that feeling at all!! So now we are back in the truck and heading north on I-17 (really getting to know this road well) then to 40 and 44... Our usual :) Now that I've decompressed, I need to get back to my 'office' work... Sigh... It sure was easier when I had a desk... But then I wouldn't have the views I get now :) ... Here is the one I had last night at the beginning of my drive shift in Eastern Wyoming on I-80...LINK Can't figure out how to post a picture with the iPad... So hopefully the link will work ;)

Friday, May 18, 2012

Frustrated, bored and waiting...

So we got to AZ to drop our load way early... So I tried to line up medical insurance for us, since our Cobra will be running out in a couple months. HOWEVER we have a 'pre-existing' condition of WLS. We are now healthier than we have been in YEARS, but can't get insurance in CA... But if we lived in OK we could... LOL! There is my frustration for the day. Still have more calls to make and ideas to peruse... I'll just put it on my todo list - LOL! So the bored part... While waiting, after I got disheartened about insurance, we started looking at other possible routes to our usual I-17 to I-40... There is US-60... On the Atlas it looks OK, but not highlighted as STAA... Maybe this is why... ARG! Using my IPad and can't figure out how to post a picture... GRRR! Anyway if I'm your friend on FB it's posted there... And it has one section that is very hairpin turn-ish... Not good with a LONG A$$ trailer!! Well only 40 more minutes until we can head to our delivery, to again wait... I hear this place takes HOURS... Sigh...

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Back on the road again...

Yep... Back rolling then waiting... LOL! It was a productive time at home, and unplanned. We took advantage of it though :) got to squeeze the kids and the grand. Man is growing FAST! Also noticed the increased work done outside the house.. Thank you! Now we are on a mission though... To get as many miles under us (without killing us) until August when we are planning to enjoy our grand's first birthday. That is of course if God doesn't laugh at our plans again :/ he has a way of doing that! So my Mother's day gift was an iPad of my own... That way Gary can play his games and I can read. Now he is having fun trying to get the old iPad to recognize HIM as the owner and not me (how it was originally set up)... You know programs like 4square, based off of the Apple Registration. Hey it's keeping him busy and entertained (and very vocal) while we are waiting for our load time. Well just thought I would check in, say hi... And now I'm off to read my book... One of the free ones... And it's turning out pretty good :D

Monday, May 14, 2012

Fights and battles... So tired of them!

Not with the driving so much as with other things in our lives. Medi-Cal for one... Bless Gary, he has taken that battle from my shoulders! It has been 3 months so far and we might have caught a break by him actually talking to a supervisor ... At least we can hope! Then there are the weekly 'discussions' with payroll re: our settlements/detention/reimbursements etc... I wonder just how many drivers take their settlements at face value and never check? Then dealing with our DM that doesn't really communicate with us and has an attitue that can be VERY abrasive! Then there is the mortgage... I can't believe I am going to pick up that battle again and try to get the load 'modified'... It was a year and a half battle last time and they won by wearing me down... So we let everything else slide... Then the battle of juggling which bills to pay, and which not to (also known as robbing Peter to pay Paul)... and other concerns that I have to deal with internally and not talk about... Because no matter how I try to express my concerns, I get made to feel like the bad guy or tyrant or bitch... Just a sensitive issue all the way around. Then there are concerns to what will happen in the future (house maintainance/mail/bills vs. OTR trucking)... Yeah, easy to say rest it on the Lord's shoulders... But we still have to work towards a goal and plan for what we are expecting... Not knowing what his plans are going to be. All of this equals stress, frustration, pain and depression... Love my Husband... Love my family... Like my job... Just hate the battle life can be sometimes! But I guess without that battle, the good times wouldn't look so good... I just wish for more of them... Until then though, I refuse (I am my father's daughter!!) to quit!! I will keep on 'going with the flow', and will look until I find the good parts of the day. I refuse to let life get me down (for long ... LOL!)!!!