Well my Sunday prediction turned out accurate...dead, dead, dead. I did get a load though, and actually a good one, over 1,400 miles! It picks up near Salt Lake Monday morning and delivers the morning of the 4th day in Kankakee, IL ; very doable.
So being Sunday I have to dole out Sharry's weekly allowance; fun times. Still have to figure out how much I can afford, won't be that much, check for the week was very lame!
Now that I'm getting some miles that should change the $$ coming in for the better.
My daughter confirmed in a phone call that yes her and her hubby George are planning to move to the deep dark south within the next two years at the outside; although she didn't sound too enthused!
This makes matters both simple and complex for myself and Sharry.
On the simple side is the matter i addressed in my last blog "Detour Ahead". We must begin our activities needed to move back to Phoenix as soon as George is paid the money I owe on a personal loan.
As I stated previously; and for once I got total agreement from my wife, with Andrea, George and Dorian gone out of state there will be no reason whatsoever to stay in California.
So here is the complex part, the monetary and logistical planning that will need to be executed to pull this off.
To quote Spock "What is needed here is some linguistic legerdemain and a bit of intrepidity". In other words I will need to say the right things to my wife to keep this on track and also need to be intrepid in my pursuit of this goal or it will not happen.
This will avoid another Spock quote from happening "What you want is irrelevant, what is at hand is what matters."
So it's time to get this going in earnest, no lolly gagging!
Can't think of much else right now so I guess that's all.
Remember the road less travelled often has wildlife on it in unexpected places, beware of blind curves.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Warning: Detour ahead
So now it's been a couple of weeks since my last entry. Finally got home, spent 3 days - nice but not long enough! Got a different truck, same type; Volvo. Headed back out and have spent most of the time shuttling loads from Salt Lake to Denver and back. Finally get a load going to Ontario and then Rialto Ca, and I can't take it because I'm low on hours. So I have to decline it and am now doing a 34 hour restart at the scenic Salt Lake City Flying J. I will be available Sunday morning, well will see if I get anything. Sunday can be dead for freight, then again Swift surprised me and I got a load on Thanksgiving day-something I thought would never happen!
My wife Sharry finally admitted she can't handle the finances and gave me her blessings to take control. It's going to take a while but I will now be able to slowly pull us back onto solid financial ground.
The Webastco heater on the truck is not working right, meaning I have to idle more, Swift is going to love that!
Debating on when I should get it fixed. I will try to wait until I come in for home time again, hopefully about Christmas time.
George dropped a bombshell on me while he was driving me to the terminal to go out again. He announced that his plans were to only be in Perris for another year to year and a half and then move the whole family (sans my wife-of course) to Mississippi, where he is from and wants to buy land. This turn of events although only a possible at the present time puts a whole new spin on things. Priorities and time tables will need to be adjusted accordingly. I can not take the chance that this will actually occur and we are not ready for it!
It also makes the whole California vs Arizona debate a moot point. If Andrea is not in Cali, there is little to no point in living there. Neither of us really likes it all that much, too expensive, too crowded, too cold in winter.
I have been talking with my wife on this subject a lot; we are both agreed that if Andrea confirms there is even a small chance of this move out east happening we need to begin our plans for our exodus back to Phoenix. This way we have at least a year to save up for the move instead of having an "Oh NO!" moment.
At first we toyed with the idea of staying in So Cal regardless of the possible impending move. Then we got looking at several factors:
1) Cheaper medical vs. Cheaper rent.
2) Overall cost of living
3) Public transit systems
4) Climate
5) Location, age and overall health of relatives in California.
I will enumerate our conclusions:
1) Cost of rent vs. medical about equal out.
2) Overall living expenses lower in Phoenix. (IE. food, etc)
3) Public transit in Phoenix metro area is far superior to anything in the Inland Empire area.
4) Climate in Phoenix is easier for Sharry. (I like it better too!)
5) Only really 3 relatives in area of concern without Andrea, George and Dorian in picture. Her dad is 80 years old, no young man. In good health, but realistically for how long? Her sister Toni, and Brother Alfred are both having serious health issues that sound for all the world like cancer, although no diagnosis has been made for either one. Toni is really scary and not looking like she will be with us for a whole lot longer from what my wife says.
This basically brings me to the point of this issue; if we are staying in the area so she can be near family and her daughter and husband and grandson all move out of state, then that only leaves the three family members mentioned. With the a fore mentioned health and age issues how long will any of them be around? Two maybe 3 years, five at the outside??? I'm not wishing anyone ill! Far from it. But I need to be rational and put this is perspective. If your living somewhere to be near relatives and inside of the next few years none of them will be there, WHAT IS THE POINT IN STAYING??? Sharry would be every bit as isolated in California as she was in Arizona!
So as we currently stand it looks like we are going to start saving to move back to Phoenix as soon as I get George and Andrea payed off.
This is the ONLY logical way to do this. We have agreed she can always go and visit sick family members, and see to other family emergencies as needed.
The bottom line; we agreed, is if your going to be stuck somewhere isolated from your family it may as well be somewhere you ACTUALLY want to be as all other factors are fairly equal.
Andrea may not be aware but her mom wanted to move to Phoenix long before her and I met, Sharry has told me this more than once.
Well I think that's enough for now.
Remember, the road less travelled frequently has unexpected detours.
My wife Sharry finally admitted she can't handle the finances and gave me her blessings to take control. It's going to take a while but I will now be able to slowly pull us back onto solid financial ground.
The Webastco heater on the truck is not working right, meaning I have to idle more, Swift is going to love that!
Debating on when I should get it fixed. I will try to wait until I come in for home time again, hopefully about Christmas time.
George dropped a bombshell on me while he was driving me to the terminal to go out again. He announced that his plans were to only be in Perris for another year to year and a half and then move the whole family (sans my wife-of course) to Mississippi, where he is from and wants to buy land. This turn of events although only a possible at the present time puts a whole new spin on things. Priorities and time tables will need to be adjusted accordingly. I can not take the chance that this will actually occur and we are not ready for it!
It also makes the whole California vs Arizona debate a moot point. If Andrea is not in Cali, there is little to no point in living there. Neither of us really likes it all that much, too expensive, too crowded, too cold in winter.
I have been talking with my wife on this subject a lot; we are both agreed that if Andrea confirms there is even a small chance of this move out east happening we need to begin our plans for our exodus back to Phoenix. This way we have at least a year to save up for the move instead of having an "Oh NO!" moment.
At first we toyed with the idea of staying in So Cal regardless of the possible impending move. Then we got looking at several factors:
1) Cheaper medical vs. Cheaper rent.
2) Overall cost of living
3) Public transit systems
4) Climate
5) Location, age and overall health of relatives in California.
I will enumerate our conclusions:
1) Cost of rent vs. medical about equal out.
2) Overall living expenses lower in Phoenix. (IE. food, etc)
3) Public transit in Phoenix metro area is far superior to anything in the Inland Empire area.
4) Climate in Phoenix is easier for Sharry. (I like it better too!)
5) Only really 3 relatives in area of concern without Andrea, George and Dorian in picture. Her dad is 80 years old, no young man. In good health, but realistically for how long? Her sister Toni, and Brother Alfred are both having serious health issues that sound for all the world like cancer, although no diagnosis has been made for either one. Toni is really scary and not looking like she will be with us for a whole lot longer from what my wife says.
This basically brings me to the point of this issue; if we are staying in the area so she can be near family and her daughter and husband and grandson all move out of state, then that only leaves the three family members mentioned. With the a fore mentioned health and age issues how long will any of them be around? Two maybe 3 years, five at the outside??? I'm not wishing anyone ill! Far from it. But I need to be rational and put this is perspective. If your living somewhere to be near relatives and inside of the next few years none of them will be there, WHAT IS THE POINT IN STAYING??? Sharry would be every bit as isolated in California as she was in Arizona!
So as we currently stand it looks like we are going to start saving to move back to Phoenix as soon as I get George and Andrea payed off.
This is the ONLY logical way to do this. We have agreed she can always go and visit sick family members, and see to other family emergencies as needed.
The bottom line; we agreed, is if your going to be stuck somewhere isolated from your family it may as well be somewhere you ACTUALLY want to be as all other factors are fairly equal.
Andrea may not be aware but her mom wanted to move to Phoenix long before her and I met, Sharry has told me this more than once.
Well I think that's enough for now.
Remember, the road less travelled frequently has unexpected detours.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
What is the measure of a man?
In an earlier blog I referred to my step daughters husband as decent but arrogant. This was unfair of me because as my daughter pointed out in a comment as I don't really know him. Her details of the real man she knows and loves also got me thinking...what does make the measure of a man?
Is it his financial success in life? While this can be an outward indicator of business acumen and just plain hard work; I don't feel it is an accurate indicator of a guy's MAN status. There are too many outside social and economic forces at work for wealth to be an adequate measure of a man.
Is it his accumulation of material possessions? Again, like money itself; this is a poor indicator of an individuals ability to "man up" or not. For some material things are of great import, for others not so.
Is it his marital status or if he has children? For many men this is also a really big deal, your not a "man" unless you have a wife and kids of your own. I have long felt this is an outmoded line of thought; it goes back to the old days when children; preferably lots of them, were needed to work on the family farm. Now there are many economic and social reasons for having less or no children.
So if it's not money, it's not material goods, and it's not family that defines the measure of a man, then what does?
I firmly believe it all boils down to one not so simple, simple concept - Honor.
A man too me is defined by his honor. This is my definition of honor; I am sure not all would agree but that's okay.
A man of honor does not give his word lightly, but when he does he sticks to it regardless of the cost.
A man of honor does his best to provide for himself and his family, sacrificing as needed to ensure the best results are achieved.
A man of honor does not lie, cheat or steal as these behaviors are contemptible.
A man of honor recognizes his own shortcomings and realizes that bad things happen; even when we do everything right.
A man of honor takes personal responsibility for his actions or lack thereof. This does not mean he never makes mistakes, it means he man enough to admit when he does.
A man of honor does not expect others to live by his code of conduct; as much as he wishes all people would.
A man of honor accepts others as they are. Giving the respect and trust that a person has earned by their conduct; they do not expect others to be someone they are not.
Always doing your best, even if you fall flat on your face, even if you go off the rails for a while; it is still possible for a man to regain the title of Honorable.
So this to me is the measure of a man; not his wealth or possessions, not his family or lack thereof, not his social status, or profession. It is his honor or lack thereof that defines him as a man.
Using this very definition I can't help but find my daughters husband to be an honorable man, and for that I give him the respect he is due and the time to get to know each other we need.
As I said, I was wrong when I stated that he was arrogant, my daughter was right to call me on this and I am man enough to admit it.
The road less traveled doesn't always go where we thought it would.
Is it his financial success in life? While this can be an outward indicator of business acumen and just plain hard work; I don't feel it is an accurate indicator of a guy's MAN status. There are too many outside social and economic forces at work for wealth to be an adequate measure of a man.
Is it his accumulation of material possessions? Again, like money itself; this is a poor indicator of an individuals ability to "man up" or not. For some material things are of great import, for others not so.
Is it his marital status or if he has children? For many men this is also a really big deal, your not a "man" unless you have a wife and kids of your own. I have long felt this is an outmoded line of thought; it goes back to the old days when children; preferably lots of them, were needed to work on the family farm. Now there are many economic and social reasons for having less or no children.
So if it's not money, it's not material goods, and it's not family that defines the measure of a man, then what does?
I firmly believe it all boils down to one not so simple, simple concept - Honor.
A man too me is defined by his honor. This is my definition of honor; I am sure not all would agree but that's okay.
A man of honor does not give his word lightly, but when he does he sticks to it regardless of the cost.
A man of honor does his best to provide for himself and his family, sacrificing as needed to ensure the best results are achieved.
A man of honor does not lie, cheat or steal as these behaviors are contemptible.
A man of honor recognizes his own shortcomings and realizes that bad things happen; even when we do everything right.
A man of honor takes personal responsibility for his actions or lack thereof. This does not mean he never makes mistakes, it means he man enough to admit when he does.
A man of honor does not expect others to live by his code of conduct; as much as he wishes all people would.
A man of honor accepts others as they are. Giving the respect and trust that a person has earned by their conduct; they do not expect others to be someone they are not.
Always doing your best, even if you fall flat on your face, even if you go off the rails for a while; it is still possible for a man to regain the title of Honorable.
So this to me is the measure of a man; not his wealth or possessions, not his family or lack thereof, not his social status, or profession. It is his honor or lack thereof that defines him as a man.
Using this very definition I can't help but find my daughters husband to be an honorable man, and for that I give him the respect he is due and the time to get to know each other we need.
As I said, I was wrong when I stated that he was arrogant, my daughter was right to call me on this and I am man enough to admit it.
The road less traveled doesn't always go where we thought it would.
How I love Nebraska, let me count the four days
After unloading at a local Dodge dealer in Blair, NE. (about 30mi north of Omaha); I went to a nearby truck stop to await my next load dispatch. It finally comes, only to find upon close examination that I cant run this load in time with the driving hours I have available. So I have to first decline the load, then argue with Swift and prove to them I cant go from eastern Missouri (where it picked up) to Denver in three days when I only had only 5.5 hrs one of those days and 1.5 hours the next. Unless I strap a jet engine on this thing it ain't happening!
They pulled the load from me after I told them this, and got a different load. Still a tight load time wise, but doable. Now I pick up Monday in Omaha, and go to Reno, NV for delivery 3 days latter.
Now here comes the catch-there's ALWAYS a catch! Since it doesn't pick until Monday and the last load delivered on Thursday am, I get to sit here at a small truck stop across from a store like Kmart; for 4 days!
Fun huh?
I am keeping occupied as best I can, TV, DVDs, sudoku, and sleep. Nowhere else around here within walking distance. (cant use the truck for personal trips)-so here I sit.
Well at least I'm finally heading towards home.
The road less traveled always has the most potholes.
They pulled the load from me after I told them this, and got a different load. Still a tight load time wise, but doable. Now I pick up Monday in Omaha, and go to Reno, NV for delivery 3 days latter.
Now here comes the catch-there's ALWAYS a catch! Since it doesn't pick until Monday and the last load delivered on Thursday am, I get to sit here at a small truck stop across from a store like Kmart; for 4 days!
Fun huh?
I am keeping occupied as best I can, TV, DVDs, sudoku, and sleep. Nowhere else around here within walking distance. (cant use the truck for personal trips)-so here I sit.
Well at least I'm finally heading towards home.
The road less traveled always has the most potholes.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
The curse of Abe Lincoln Pt-2. Abe strikes again!
So; I get to the shipper this morning and there is another truck there from Swift (same company I drive for). This is not really a big surprise as it is a huge truck company. So both of us are in the dock getting loaded. We both get done about the same time; me just before him. Get to the gate to get my paperwork and leave only to find out they put his load on my trailer and my load on his trailer! (banging head on steering wheel now)
We are both sent back into the yard where we are picking up. Now this is physically an easy fix; just swap trailers, no big deal right? Wrong.
With two different driver managers working on the same issue (and fouling it up), it took almost an hour to finally get it right with dispatch and have the computer show the right trailer with the right truck!
After all the "fun" I was able to get going. The rest of the day was pleasant and uneventful; thank God!
Got about 30 miles from Missouri state line and called it a day. Only a little over 3 hours drive to final in the morning. So now it's time to kick back and relax at one of Iowas fine roadside rest areas, they are actually really nice-even have free wifi!
Tomorrow morning I will run this in the rest of the way and see what I get next. Still trying to get home as I have been for almost 2 weeks now. My wife is out to her friends again; which means her disability check hit the bank. I wonder if anything will be left or if she will blow it all as usual...hmmm, gee, really hard that one. NOT!
IF you take the road less traveled you might encounter farm equipment or heavy machinery but at least it will be interesting!
We are both sent back into the yard where we are picking up. Now this is physically an easy fix; just swap trailers, no big deal right? Wrong.
With two different driver managers working on the same issue (and fouling it up), it took almost an hour to finally get it right with dispatch and have the computer show the right trailer with the right truck!
After all the "fun" I was able to get going. The rest of the day was pleasant and uneventful; thank God!
Got about 30 miles from Missouri state line and called it a day. Only a little over 3 hours drive to final in the morning. So now it's time to kick back and relax at one of Iowas fine roadside rest areas, they are actually really nice-even have free wifi!
Tomorrow morning I will run this in the rest of the way and see what I get next. Still trying to get home as I have been for almost 2 weeks now. My wife is out to her friends again; which means her disability check hit the bank. I wonder if anything will be left or if she will blow it all as usual...hmmm, gee, really hard that one. NOT!
IF you take the road less traveled you might encounter farm equipment or heavy machinery but at least it will be interesting!
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