Well here I am. I finally got rid of the Arm & Hammer load I was hauling in Bolingbrook, IL. Only to lose not one but BOTH of my next two loads that would have taken me to Ft. Collins, Co.
Why? because I had to spend 3 hours chasing around trying to get the right kind of empty trailer (yes there is a wrong kind). That time wasted made it so I did not have time to do the actual load! So here I sit in the truck stop in Morris, IL, down for the night; with the SAME trailer I started with!!! UGH!!!
On the home front, my wife is going first to one of her Doctors to get her bad knees looked at (they are a mess, no cartilage!) Then it's off to her friend to swill beer and spend my money,
I am looking forward to finally getting home, it seems to take forever! I have been thinking alot about where we should live and although my heart says Phoenix, practical considerations say somewhere around Riverside, CA. In Phoenix we are VERY isolated from all of her family and really only have a few friends. If anything happens to her there is no one there to help, not a great situation for Sharry to be in. At least out in Cali she is near people that care about her and can help out, look in on her and make sure shes okay.
So really; as much as i kind of really don't want to be in California it is the logical thing to do.
I have been playing both sides of the fence for a while now and still hold an AZ CDL with an AZ address even though I have not seen Arizona in almost 5 months. (car is still licenced in AZ as well)
I guess I really need to get my CDL switched to CA and address as well as the car. I guess I have been putting it off this long because doing these things means the move is real and long term and in a lot of ways I feel like I have failed in not being able to keep us in Phoenix.
Time for me to admit that this part of my life is done, on to the next. Today is a very appropriate day for this to happen; October 31- Samhain-the pagan new year, and with it the wheel of the year turns anew. The end of one cycle the beginning of another. What will happen next? Turn the page.
Until next time-the road less traveled always has the best scenery.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Friday, October 28, 2011
It's like dejavu all over again
A couple of days ago I went to NJ to pick up a load of Arm & Hammer backing soda. The load was not ready, this was the second time it was not ready; another truck had tried to get it the previous day. Next I'm told it will be 24 hours before it is ready! So having nothing else to do and no coin in my pocket (yes its paraphrased Mobey Dick) I thus proceeded to wait. Went back the next morning it was finally done. Got the load and let dispatch know how long it would take to get it to its destination...well the receiver was unwilling to wait that long so I had to drop the load at a terminal only 234 miles away, ripped off of the other 1000 miles for the trip! ( a team truck with two drivers took it the rest of the way) Then I have to sit for another day waiting on a load. I finally get one; guess where? Yep , Arm & Hammer again, just a different facility. This one I get tomorrow morning and take to a suburb of Chicago. Its not as far but its headed in the right direction-west. I am still trying to get home to Perris, CA. I have been out 8 going on 9 weeks now.
That's quite long enough. By the time I actually get home it will be between 9 and 10 weeks out! Never again!
I am trying to get my wife to figure out if she wants to stay in so cal near her relatives or go back to Phoenix, AZ where we lived for 10 yrs. I think I know the answer, and its fine by me; move back to Phoenix. I was there 2 years before I met her and in those 12 yrs Ive come to call Phoenix home. I miss it more than any other place Ive lived, and a lived in a few different states over the years. Well its late and I need to get some sleep.
So as always remember the road less traveled always has the most interesting scenery.
That's quite long enough. By the time I actually get home it will be between 9 and 10 weeks out! Never again!
I am trying to get my wife to figure out if she wants to stay in so cal near her relatives or go back to Phoenix, AZ where we lived for 10 yrs. I think I know the answer, and its fine by me; move back to Phoenix. I was there 2 years before I met her and in those 12 yrs Ive come to call Phoenix home. I miss it more than any other place Ive lived, and a lived in a few different states over the years. Well its late and I need to get some sleep.
So as always remember the road less traveled always has the most interesting scenery.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
All stessed up and no one to choke
Well here I sit in wonderful Lakewood, New Jersey. The load I was to pick up this morning was not ready and has been rescheduled for 24 hours from now! Then I find out it's the second time it's been pushed out. I have lost 130 hrs; almost 5 1/2 days not going anywhere and making Nothing due to breakdowns and delays.
The company I drive for CLAIMS they are going to try to get breakdown pay and detention pay for me- yea, I'll hold my breath on that!
I just want to go home! I have been out now for 8 weeks. I need a break. I was supposed to be home on 10/28, like that's happening.
Please excuse be while I do the second most favorite thing for a truck driver; complain.
And of course to add to all this fun Sharry once again calls asking for money. So I check her balance, she had not; there was as much in her account as mine! I called her back told her as much; and said "You don't need any money." and sent her on her way.
Life just gets better.
Enough of this for now.
The road less traveled always has the most interesting scenery. (I said interesting, as in surprising- not always great! or even what you wanted to see!)
The company I drive for CLAIMS they are going to try to get breakdown pay and detention pay for me- yea, I'll hold my breath on that!
I just want to go home! I have been out now for 8 weeks. I need a break. I was supposed to be home on 10/28, like that's happening.
Please excuse be while I do the second most favorite thing for a truck driver; complain.
And of course to add to all this fun Sharry once again calls asking for money. So I check her balance, she had not; there was as much in her account as mine! I called her back told her as much; and said "You don't need any money." and sent her on her way.
Life just gets better.
Enough of this for now.
The road less traveled always has the most interesting scenery. (I said interesting, as in surprising- not always great! or even what you wanted to see!)
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Of Trucks and Drivers
I was going to wait on this post, but simply could not. I was talking to my step daughters husband on the phone maybe a week or two ago and I was trying to explain how truck drivers get paid. Well as per typical him, he proceeded to tell me "well its a lot like being in the military reserve; you only get paid if your on orders". At which time I had to correct him and say no, if that's were the case the only time when your on orders that you would get paid would be when you are in the field in actual military ops. If you are in your tent at night you don't get paid, if your eating you don't get paid...basically you don't get paid unless your in the field soldering. ( you need to realize he in a career Marine now on reserve status). Now I have the deepest respect for his service as I am ex Navy. However; he thinks he knows everything, The man has never driven a big rig for living and knows nothing about the job, yet presumes to tell me ( I've did this for a total of about 5 years) how trucking works! Amateurs!
I would like to see him do my job for 1 month, he would never last. Just like I would not last on his job in the corp. He is a decent guy, just arrogant as all get out. I learned a long time ago the only thing I know everything about is nothing.
As always the road less travelled has the best scenery.
I would like to see him do my job for 1 month, he would never last. Just like I would not last on his job in the corp. He is a decent guy, just arrogant as all get out. I learned a long time ago the only thing I know everything about is nothing.
As always the road less travelled has the best scenery.
Bill Gates I ain't
It's now been almost 5 months since I went back to driving a truck. My wife is still having issues understanding the concept of money management. You've heard the line "If you build it they will come"; well with my wife Sharry its "If she has money she will spend it". I am more and more coming to the conclusion that I will need to play fiduciary guardian for her as she seems unable to curb her impulse spending. If she has $400 to spend after rent she will blow it all in a VERY short time rather than spreading it out through the month to cover her personal needs. It's partly my own fault; I give her a weekly "Fun Money" allowance that comes from my income. this allows her to F up and not really suffer all that much. Sadly, I'm a softy and usually will give a little something b4 cutting her off for the week. Next month we are trying a different plan set up to see if she can actually be responsible (if she isn't she goes without). We shall see...I think it will be an unqualified disaster. Meanwhile; despite all of this financial drama, I have still managed to pay off Sharry's Father and am close to being able to pay off her daughter (both borrowed us money when we were broke and I was in truck school). I pretty proud of this Hail marry play that I've pulled off.
More on the next subject next time.
Until then remember the road less travelled always has the best scenery.
More on the next subject next time.
Until then remember the road less travelled always has the best scenery.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Moving backward to go forwards
Where do i even start; wow. About eight months ago I quit my job fed up with the nonsense that was going on and decided to go back to doing something I had done about six years earlier-driving 18 wheelers.
Now while I'm going back to school for trucks' my wife who I love dearly, unfortunately decided this would be a good time to blow the rent on other "more important" things. This left me in a position of not being able to pay of course and with no income (you pay for school-school doesn't pay you) we needed to leave our apartment before eviction began. Now to say my wife has all the ability to hold onto money that a sieve has to hold water would be an understatement! (this is a sore spot) Luckily; my adult step daughter offered to help bail us out. I am forever grateful for the help she gave us then and continues to give us now while I work to dig us out of the financial hole we are in.
I wish with all my heart however, that she would take the time to actually sit down and talk to her mother (my wife). She is really a very good person who tries hard but unfortunately has difficulties with complex/higher level reasoning due to a combination of lack of training, mental illness issues, and possible cognitive impairment due to drug abuse for a good portion of her life both prior to us meeting and for a good while after. I am no saint'; I used crack (which my wife introduced me to) for about a year after I had a mental breakdown. I was of course self medicating, as was my wife. We were both dealing with the traumatic death of my parents at the time in a car wreck the she (my wife) was also in. This also brought up issues for my wife with another trauma she suffered earlier in life; the death of her young son by a drunk driver (another accident!). Neither of us did too well that year after my folks passed. We blew the insurance settlement on stupid stuff for the most part, because stoned people don't think too good! After about a year I finally got professional help and medication for my depression and anxiety. It made a world of difference and started me on the road to recovery. My wife; unfortunately, was not ready to get help and get better at that point. After me moving out on her twice, and the third time letting her know that if I went again it would be permanent - she finally got the help she needed and got off the drugs. She has been clean now for close to 3 years now and I have clean for over 7. All I can say is Thank You God!
I just wish her daughter could realize how really messed up her mom was earlier in life, and how far she has actually come from a very dark place. My wife loves her daughter, always has- its hard for her sometimes to show it, but it is there. As for my step daughter, she is a good person with some very deep hurts still inside where her relationship with her mom is concerned. This also involves the death of her big brother, the son I mentioned earlier. I would pay money to get the two together and sit them down and actually talk to each other about all this pain, hurt, misunderstanding, and hard feelings they both have bottled up. I hate seeing this situation, my wife is 57 and not in the greatest health. They need to clear the air before it's not possible-time goes by too quickly, and if it;s not done the opportunity will be gone forever. I was fortunate enough to do this with my own mother (whom i haven't always gotten along with that great) before her death. i still wish I would have done it sooner instead of holding on to the past hurts like some precious stone. All these issues we think we have with our parents are in the end, trivial nonsense that just does not matter when compared with the importance of at least trying to have a good relationship with those that brought you into the world.
I think that's quite enough for my first entry. I will continue the story on the next.
Until then remember- the road less travelled always has the most interesting scenery
Now while I'm going back to school for trucks' my wife who I love dearly, unfortunately decided this would be a good time to blow the rent on other "more important" things. This left me in a position of not being able to pay of course and with no income (you pay for school-school doesn't pay you) we needed to leave our apartment before eviction began. Now to say my wife has all the ability to hold onto money that a sieve has to hold water would be an understatement! (this is a sore spot) Luckily; my adult step daughter offered to help bail us out. I am forever grateful for the help she gave us then and continues to give us now while I work to dig us out of the financial hole we are in.
I wish with all my heart however, that she would take the time to actually sit down and talk to her mother (my wife). She is really a very good person who tries hard but unfortunately has difficulties with complex/higher level reasoning due to a combination of lack of training, mental illness issues, and possible cognitive impairment due to drug abuse for a good portion of her life both prior to us meeting and for a good while after. I am no saint'; I used crack (which my wife introduced me to) for about a year after I had a mental breakdown. I was of course self medicating, as was my wife. We were both dealing with the traumatic death of my parents at the time in a car wreck the she (my wife) was also in. This also brought up issues for my wife with another trauma she suffered earlier in life; the death of her young son by a drunk driver (another accident!). Neither of us did too well that year after my folks passed. We blew the insurance settlement on stupid stuff for the most part, because stoned people don't think too good! After about a year I finally got professional help and medication for my depression and anxiety. It made a world of difference and started me on the road to recovery. My wife; unfortunately, was not ready to get help and get better at that point. After me moving out on her twice, and the third time letting her know that if I went again it would be permanent - she finally got the help she needed and got off the drugs. She has been clean now for close to 3 years now and I have clean for over 7. All I can say is Thank You God!
I just wish her daughter could realize how really messed up her mom was earlier in life, and how far she has actually come from a very dark place. My wife loves her daughter, always has- its hard for her sometimes to show it, but it is there. As for my step daughter, she is a good person with some very deep hurts still inside where her relationship with her mom is concerned. This also involves the death of her big brother, the son I mentioned earlier. I would pay money to get the two together and sit them down and actually talk to each other about all this pain, hurt, misunderstanding, and hard feelings they both have bottled up. I hate seeing this situation, my wife is 57 and not in the greatest health. They need to clear the air before it's not possible-time goes by too quickly, and if it;s not done the opportunity will be gone forever. I was fortunate enough to do this with my own mother (whom i haven't always gotten along with that great) before her death. i still wish I would have done it sooner instead of holding on to the past hurts like some precious stone. All these issues we think we have with our parents are in the end, trivial nonsense that just does not matter when compared with the importance of at least trying to have a good relationship with those that brought you into the world.
I think that's quite enough for my first entry. I will continue the story on the next.
Until then remember- the road less travelled always has the most interesting scenery
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