Once again, in the United States, Thanksgiving is almost upon us. It's a time to reflect on what we have to be thankful for and reflect on the blessings of the time that has passed since last Thanksgiving. I guess the biggest thing I have to be thankful for is the fact that I'm not spending it at a truck stop in Stockton, California, like I did last year.
I haven't blogged a lot here, because I have had nothing of interest to say, and I really don't think anyone really wants to hear my whining and complaining about every little thing in my life.
This Thanksgiving, I'll be making a maple and mustard glazed pork roast with bread stuffing, glazed apples, and a berry pie for dessert. We're not big turkey eaters here. I guess I've never really thought of a turkey as anything more than an over-inflated chicken, and we can have chicken any old time, so I never understood what all the fuss was about.
So, for those of you that read this, whether you celebrate the holiday or not, I wish you the best and thanks for sticking around.
Showing posts with label personal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label personal. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Anniversary wrap-up
Music playing, coffee nearby, having finished breakfast, I sit here and reflect on last night. Last night was the anniversary celebration that we had put off, because we've both learned that making plans in the middle of the week is damn near impossible, and at times a complete waste of time because something always arises to disrupt the plans. Weekends are more laid back, more open for getting things completed, and thus we set Saturday as our celebration day.
My day started earlier than I would have liked, having gone to bed way too late the day before, and begrudgingly I answered the shrill call of the alarm clock and set off to the laundromat. My weekly chore, getting the laundry done. goes a lot quicker if I get there just as the place opens at 7 am. This way, I don't have to struggle to find an unoccupied washer and dryer. It's times like this I miss not having a washer and dryer of my own, but I've had to make do with this in the past, and hey, it's only once a week anyway. I put my headphones on and listen to my music while I sit and read a book on my Kindle app for my phone. The television doesn't interest me all that much, showing either music videos from groups I've never heard of, playing music I really don't care for these days. Or, the channel will be set to a local Spanish-language station, and since I can't follow along I don't give it another serious look, raising my head only to let my neck relax for a moment. About an hour later, I have the clean laundry bagged and I'm heading home. One hour out of my day, and one more chore complete.
Saturday is also our shopping day, so we had to go out earlier than we normally do. We got what we needed for the week, and after it all got put away, we had a little bit to relax before we had to get ready. Our dinner reservations were at a fondue restaurant that we'd heard about, and we finally had the money to give it a try. Our strategy is to save our pocket change fro the year, and when anniversary time rolls around, we cash it in and use the proceeds from that to pay for a luxurious dinner. Last night was not a disappointment. I never knew fondue could be so good, and so filling. The amount of food that was served didn't look like a lot, but it sure filled me up. From the cheese course right through the dessert, it was small bites of fresh vegetables, wonderfully seasoned meats, and rich, decadent chocolate with luscious sweet treats.
Our only problem was the meal didn't take as long as we were figuring, so we had close to two hours to kill before we were to go see a comedy show at the Improv club. There was a coffee shop in the same general complex, so we nipped in for a frozen hot chocolate, which I can only describe as pure, concentrated evil in a glass topped with whipped cream. So good.
About an hour before we needed to check in at the box office, we went to the car and watch the sudden rainstorm roll through. Made me kind of glad we didn't wander far, as sudden as it came on. We saw the ominous-looking clouds heading our way, and since we had time to waste, it was kind of neat watching the rain and the other people coming in trying to fond a place to park. That was the one benefit to getting there early. The show started a bit late, but that didn't matter. I don't think I'd laughed so hard in quite a long time. This was the first comedy club we'd been to since we left the Frozen Tundra, and the first big-name, national comedy club we'd ever been to.
We went back to the coffee shop to let the traffic thin out and grab a snack before we finally headed home around midnight. I hadn't had a night out like that in a long time, too long by my estimates. I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old. Clubbing has lost its allure, I'm not a big drinker in public being as risky as it is these days, and I usually don't have the money. Last night, however, was worth every penny I paid for it. And, it's nice after eight years to have someone that shares the same interests I do and that I can have a great time with. Here's to lots more nights like that, and even more days together.
My day started earlier than I would have liked, having gone to bed way too late the day before, and begrudgingly I answered the shrill call of the alarm clock and set off to the laundromat. My weekly chore, getting the laundry done. goes a lot quicker if I get there just as the place opens at 7 am. This way, I don't have to struggle to find an unoccupied washer and dryer. It's times like this I miss not having a washer and dryer of my own, but I've had to make do with this in the past, and hey, it's only once a week anyway. I put my headphones on and listen to my music while I sit and read a book on my Kindle app for my phone. The television doesn't interest me all that much, showing either music videos from groups I've never heard of, playing music I really don't care for these days. Or, the channel will be set to a local Spanish-language station, and since I can't follow along I don't give it another serious look, raising my head only to let my neck relax for a moment. About an hour later, I have the clean laundry bagged and I'm heading home. One hour out of my day, and one more chore complete.
Saturday is also our shopping day, so we had to go out earlier than we normally do. We got what we needed for the week, and after it all got put away, we had a little bit to relax before we had to get ready. Our dinner reservations were at a fondue restaurant that we'd heard about, and we finally had the money to give it a try. Our strategy is to save our pocket change fro the year, and when anniversary time rolls around, we cash it in and use the proceeds from that to pay for a luxurious dinner. Last night was not a disappointment. I never knew fondue could be so good, and so filling. The amount of food that was served didn't look like a lot, but it sure filled me up. From the cheese course right through the dessert, it was small bites of fresh vegetables, wonderfully seasoned meats, and rich, decadent chocolate with luscious sweet treats.
Our only problem was the meal didn't take as long as we were figuring, so we had close to two hours to kill before we were to go see a comedy show at the Improv club. There was a coffee shop in the same general complex, so we nipped in for a frozen hot chocolate, which I can only describe as pure, concentrated evil in a glass topped with whipped cream. So good.
About an hour before we needed to check in at the box office, we went to the car and watch the sudden rainstorm roll through. Made me kind of glad we didn't wander far, as sudden as it came on. We saw the ominous-looking clouds heading our way, and since we had time to waste, it was kind of neat watching the rain and the other people coming in trying to fond a place to park. That was the one benefit to getting there early. The show started a bit late, but that didn't matter. I don't think I'd laughed so hard in quite a long time. This was the first comedy club we'd been to since we left the Frozen Tundra, and the first big-name, national comedy club we'd ever been to.
We went back to the coffee shop to let the traffic thin out and grab a snack before we finally headed home around midnight. I hadn't had a night out like that in a long time, too long by my estimates. I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old. Clubbing has lost its allure, I'm not a big drinker in public being as risky as it is these days, and I usually don't have the money. Last night, however, was worth every penny I paid for it. And, it's nice after eight years to have someone that shares the same interests I do and that I can have a great time with. Here's to lots more nights like that, and even more days together.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Changing seasons, changing moods
Today was a terrific day, weatherwise. The sun was shining, and it warmed up nicely. By the time I parked, I'm sure the temperature was in the upper 70s, maybe even the low 80s. I saw greening along the sides of the road, and landscapers out mowing the grass at a few local businesses.
Not bad for the end of February.
This was the main reason I moved to Texas in the first place. I spent enough of my life in places that had actual winter that I had really reached the point of not being able to withstand another spell of freezing cold and snow. Worse yet, my travels had brought me to the Upper Midwest, which has even more winter than I had ever experienced.
With the job I have now, I've had to venture into areas of the country that are still having winter. I consider myself lucky that my experiences with winter haven't been too horrible thus far, and we're in the waning days of the season. The daylight hours are growing longer and eventually the threat of snow will cease for a little while anyway.
It was warm days like this that fueled a wanderlust when I was younger. Usually, at the first signs of warm weather, I would hop in the car and take an aimless ride, windows down if it was warm enough for that, just enjoying the return of warmer weather after the onslaught of bitter cold and icy roads. I would just pick a road and follow it, turning whenever I felt the urge to do so, until eventually I would turn toward home, just glad to be able to be out and revel in the return of more temperate weather.
Today, I didn't feel that. I haven't felt that for quite a while, actually. Maybe it's the advancing age, maybe it's the fact that I spend most of my time on the road anyway, there was just no thrill to the springlike feel to the day. In fact, I felt a little melancholy at times, not really sure of the cause.
I'll still be glad when winter is over completely, everywhere, and I no longer have to worry about icy highways, snowy mountain passes, or the threat of dropping temperatures. I've always said I can cool down quicker than I can warm up. With the air conditioning running in The Cave (my cutesy nickname for the sleeper compartment of the truck), I'm keeping quite cool and comfortable. I plan to enjoy the weather as long as I'm able, because before I know it, I could be back in the northern part of the country where winter still maintains it's icy grip.
Let's all hope it won't hold on too much longer.
Not bad for the end of February.
This was the main reason I moved to Texas in the first place. I spent enough of my life in places that had actual winter that I had really reached the point of not being able to withstand another spell of freezing cold and snow. Worse yet, my travels had brought me to the Upper Midwest, which has even more winter than I had ever experienced.
With the job I have now, I've had to venture into areas of the country that are still having winter. I consider myself lucky that my experiences with winter haven't been too horrible thus far, and we're in the waning days of the season. The daylight hours are growing longer and eventually the threat of snow will cease for a little while anyway.
It was warm days like this that fueled a wanderlust when I was younger. Usually, at the first signs of warm weather, I would hop in the car and take an aimless ride, windows down if it was warm enough for that, just enjoying the return of warmer weather after the onslaught of bitter cold and icy roads. I would just pick a road and follow it, turning whenever I felt the urge to do so, until eventually I would turn toward home, just glad to be able to be out and revel in the return of more temperate weather.
Today, I didn't feel that. I haven't felt that for quite a while, actually. Maybe it's the advancing age, maybe it's the fact that I spend most of my time on the road anyway, there was just no thrill to the springlike feel to the day. In fact, I felt a little melancholy at times, not really sure of the cause.
I'll still be glad when winter is over completely, everywhere, and I no longer have to worry about icy highways, snowy mountain passes, or the threat of dropping temperatures. I've always said I can cool down quicker than I can warm up. With the air conditioning running in The Cave (my cutesy nickname for the sleeper compartment of the truck), I'm keeping quite cool and comfortable. I plan to enjoy the weather as long as I'm able, because before I know it, I could be back in the northern part of the country where winter still maintains it's icy grip.
Let's all hope it won't hold on too much longer.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
More idiotic ramblings and a serious answer
As many of my long-time followers know, I am an idiot.
I make no secret of this fact. However, yesterday I did something that falls on the borderline of idiotic and accidental, so this time I am an accidental idiot.
Much to my surprise, I picked up some new blog followers. I know, I was shocked, too. One of these followers is the wonderful Sonya, who had left a comment on my blog yesterday. I got the notification in my email, and went to hit the Publish link. I think we can see where this is going.
Either my fat thumb hit the wrong mark, or the touchscreen placed the touch in the wrong spot, but -- I'm sure you've figured it out -- the Delete link activated.
In my defense, Blogger should have a window that appears whenever you attempt to delete a comment that says something along the lines of:
I hope this answers your question and I apologize for being an idiot.
So, my load finally was ready last night, and I rolled all night to my stopping point in western New Mexico. The load has two drops. I will not be able to make the last one since my hours for that day will be up before I even get close. No problem I'll just have to have the load repowered and someone else will have to make the final stop.
I will close with a picture of the view from where I am. Have a great day.
I make no secret of this fact. However, yesterday I did something that falls on the borderline of idiotic and accidental, so this time I am an accidental idiot.
Much to my surprise, I picked up some new blog followers. I know, I was shocked, too. One of these followers is the wonderful Sonya, who had left a comment on my blog yesterday. I got the notification in my email, and went to hit the Publish link. I think we can see where this is going.
Either my fat thumb hit the wrong mark, or the touchscreen placed the touch in the wrong spot, but -- I'm sure you've figured it out -- the Delete link activated.
In my defense, Blogger should have a window that appears whenever you attempt to delete a comment that says something along the lines of:
"You are attempting to delete a comment. It is quite possible that you may want this comment published after all, and deleting it now would make you look like a total idiot. Are you absolutely SURE you want to send this comment off to comment oblivion? And make sure you hit the right button this time, idiot."However, all is not completely lost, because I had the good sense to save the comment email. Here's the question Sonya asked in her comment:
Has to be exciting waiting for the next dispatch. Do you usually have an idea where it might be (repeats) or is it always a complete surprise?All of my dispatches are a surprise, and I never know from one moment to the next where I may be going. So far, I've never been to the same place twice as far as a shipper or receiver, but I have traveled the same highways in the same parts of the country. It is a bit exciting getting sent to an area I've never been to before, and in a way it's nerve-wracking, mostly from trying to figure out how to best get the load picked up and delivered.
I hope this answers your question and I apologize for being an idiot.
So, my load finally was ready last night, and I rolled all night to my stopping point in western New Mexico. The load has two drops. I will not be able to make the last one since my hours for that day will be up before I even get close. No problem I'll just have to have the load repowered and someone else will have to make the final stop.
I will close with a picture of the view from where I am. Have a great day.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Trying something new (to me)
This is a picture of the sunrise over the mountains near Albuquerque. This is actually the better of the ones I took. When possible, I try to take a picture a day, mostly because it's cheaper than buying postcards, and not a lot of truck stops offer postcards for sale. It also provides a way of keeping those at home posted as to my whereabouts and allows me to share some of the things I see on a daily basis.
I keep the pictures confined to my Google Plus account for the most part, but if I think there's something fairly interesting to those of you that follow this blog (and that fact still amazes me), I will put it here so as not to overwhelm you all.
Have a great day, everyone.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Looking out at the road rushing under my wheels
I know, I tend to use a lot of song lyrics. Do you know why? Because they fit. Thank you.
So, as you can probably guess, The One Shot ... shot down. It's not so much the "why" of it all, but more of the "how" that has me in a mood. Pull up a seat and I shall explain.
I interviewed with this place on Monday afternoon. I thought things were going fairly well, and I told them flat out that I was due to report back on Thursday to begin another stretch. I was told by them that they would have an answer for me before then, on Wednesday. That was fine by me, we shook hands and off I went.
Wednesday rolled around, and I had received no word. I figured they were busy (small office, ya know) so I waited until later in the afternoon to call them. I got what was best termed a "non-answer." It went along the lines of they were very busy, they would be interviewing for the rest of the week, how long would I be gone for, yadda yadda evade doubletalk tapdance yadda. I thanked them for the update and resigned myself to yet another fun-filled trek across this great country of ours.
Deep down, I was hoping for an eleventh-hour reprieve, as was Ms. Darkstar. I was fortunate that I could not leave the yard until Friday afternoon at best, so that day was spent getting done what I needed to be allowed to leave the yard and hoping, praying, and almost begging for the phone call.
It never came.
So here I am in Oklahoma, headed into Colorado, with lots of funtime weather ahead of me. When I received this assignnment, I did not take it very well. After about fifteen minutes, I collected myself and got things moving again.
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed, and I'd be lying even harder if I said that what they did really didn't matter to me all that much, because it should have been obvious from Wednesday's phone call that I was not the one to be chosen. Although, how hard would it have been to say right then that I wasn't the candidate they were going to hire, in which case I wouldn't have had my hopes raised as high as they were.
I've also learned that I should wait a few days before listening to music the next time I set out (gods help me), because it gets real tough to see the road ahead with blurry, tear-obscured vision.
And the journey begins anew.
So, as you can probably guess, The One Shot ... shot down. It's not so much the "why" of it all, but more of the "how" that has me in a mood. Pull up a seat and I shall explain.
I interviewed with this place on Monday afternoon. I thought things were going fairly well, and I told them flat out that I was due to report back on Thursday to begin another stretch. I was told by them that they would have an answer for me before then, on Wednesday. That was fine by me, we shook hands and off I went.
Wednesday rolled around, and I had received no word. I figured they were busy (small office, ya know) so I waited until later in the afternoon to call them. I got what was best termed a "non-answer." It went along the lines of they were very busy, they would be interviewing for the rest of the week, how long would I be gone for, yadda yadda evade doubletalk tapdance yadda. I thanked them for the update and resigned myself to yet another fun-filled trek across this great country of ours.
Deep down, I was hoping for an eleventh-hour reprieve, as was Ms. Darkstar. I was fortunate that I could not leave the yard until Friday afternoon at best, so that day was spent getting done what I needed to be allowed to leave the yard and hoping, praying, and almost begging for the phone call.
It never came.
So here I am in Oklahoma, headed into Colorado, with lots of funtime weather ahead of me. When I received this assignnment, I did not take it very well. After about fifteen minutes, I collected myself and got things moving again.
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed, and I'd be lying even harder if I said that what they did really didn't matter to me all that much, because it should have been obvious from Wednesday's phone call that I was not the one to be chosen. Although, how hard would it have been to say right then that I wasn't the candidate they were going to hire, in which case I wouldn't have had my hopes raised as high as they were.
I've also learned that I should wait a few days before listening to music the next time I set out (gods help me), because it gets real tough to see the road ahead with blurry, tear-obscured vision.
And the journey begins anew.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Reflections on the recent trip...
... or, "Please Don't Make me Leave Again."
I'm finally home. I never thought I would get this far, nor did I think I would ever make it back here. Considering if I hadn't said anything when they tried to route me toward Denver, I'd be sitting there, snowbound, wondering if I would ever make it home. Or if the damn snow would thaw so I could get the hell out of Denver.
As I tend to do when I have a moment, I reflect on the past trip and all that I have seen over the past nearly two months. I remember playing Ring Around The Blizzard on my first trip, spending Christmas Day at the only truck stop in Rhode Island, my layover in Houston, the traffic jam from Hell in Virginia that made me go from having three hours to spare on my delivery to being a half hour late, seeing Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, returning to San Diego, and wishing I had enough time to go pet ostriches and see what the big deal was about The Thing.
I am grateful that they allowed me to bring the load I had back to the truck yard, although I think that, when they saw my trip plan and knew I was going to be super-early, that they could have made that decision sooner. I guess they had hope that I could deliver early, although with the runaround I got I had a feeling they were going to make me wait it out for the three days and deliver when I was scheduled.
Once again, I will make the most of the time I have at home, and once again, I will dread the moment when I have to return to the truck and set off on yet another two-month tour. I dread it because I know it will be more of the same: more trying to work my remaining hours of service so I can make the near-impossible delivery times they set for me; more repowers in the middle of the afternoon that have to deliver early in the morning, meaning I won't get enough sleep but have no choice but to deliver anyway; more aggravation at trying to get hold of someone in the office to answer a question, only to have to sit on hold for close to three hours; and just the feeling of being totally alone and missing home and all that goes with it.
Tomorrow I will do my laundry (along with Ms. Darkstar's), and for the rest of the week we will eat wonderful dinners that I will prepare, eating as if each one is our last. Only because come Wednesday, it will be. And then it will be so long home, and hello once again to my tiny rolling office/apartment.
I'm hoping for an out before that day comes.
I'm finally home. I never thought I would get this far, nor did I think I would ever make it back here. Considering if I hadn't said anything when they tried to route me toward Denver, I'd be sitting there, snowbound, wondering if I would ever make it home. Or if the damn snow would thaw so I could get the hell out of Denver.
As I tend to do when I have a moment, I reflect on the past trip and all that I have seen over the past nearly two months. I remember playing Ring Around The Blizzard on my first trip, spending Christmas Day at the only truck stop in Rhode Island, my layover in Houston, the traffic jam from Hell in Virginia that made me go from having three hours to spare on my delivery to being a half hour late, seeing Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, returning to San Diego, and wishing I had enough time to go pet ostriches and see what the big deal was about The Thing.
I am grateful that they allowed me to bring the load I had back to the truck yard, although I think that, when they saw my trip plan and knew I was going to be super-early, that they could have made that decision sooner. I guess they had hope that I could deliver early, although with the runaround I got I had a feeling they were going to make me wait it out for the three days and deliver when I was scheduled.
Once again, I will make the most of the time I have at home, and once again, I will dread the moment when I have to return to the truck and set off on yet another two-month tour. I dread it because I know it will be more of the same: more trying to work my remaining hours of service so I can make the near-impossible delivery times they set for me; more repowers in the middle of the afternoon that have to deliver early in the morning, meaning I won't get enough sleep but have no choice but to deliver anyway; more aggravation at trying to get hold of someone in the office to answer a question, only to have to sit on hold for close to three hours; and just the feeling of being totally alone and missing home and all that goes with it.
Tomorrow I will do my laundry (along with Ms. Darkstar's), and for the rest of the week we will eat wonderful dinners that I will prepare, eating as if each one is our last. Only because come Wednesday, it will be. And then it will be so long home, and hello once again to my tiny rolling office/apartment.
I'm hoping for an out before that day comes.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Old (Near) Home Week(end)
Wow ... that was a fun trip. I picked up a load in Arkansas, bound for Massachusetts. After breaking down in Tennessee, I finally made it to Connecticut, where I was able to find a wifi signal and get some stuff updated, like this blog. I know you all missed me. Go ahead, admit it.
I'm about an hour and a half from anything resembling where I used to live, but it's still weird to be here. I was born in this state, I lived here for most of my life, I've driven from one end to the other, and yet, being here today, I feel like a tourist. I still recognize various things, and I can pretty much tell where I am by what exits I pass on I-95. It's still pretty cool to pass the WWE headquarters in Stamford (between exits 9 and 10, you can see it from the highway), and it'll be interesting to pass through New Haven and Hartford on my way north.
But, I still feel like I really don't belong here.
In a way, I really have no life here anymore. My life is in Dallas, as is my home and all that I hold dear. I still have family here, but we were never all that close. For all that I may want to come back for a vacation and spend some time here just looking around, I couldn't fathom living here again. Never mind the whole "winter" thing, it just doesn't feel like a place I would want to spend the rest of my life. About seven years ago, it looked like I might do just that, until events sent me out to the Frozen Tundra, and then down to the south.
Still, it's just for tonight, and tomorrow I'll be on my way back to Massachusetts. Then, I'll get another load to who-knows-where, and the cycle will continue. I'm going to see about a shower, and I need to get sleep because tomorrow I start early, if for no other reason than to beat the traffic I remember all too well around Hartford and New Haven.
Some things never change. Unfortunately.
I'm about an hour and a half from anything resembling where I used to live, but it's still weird to be here. I was born in this state, I lived here for most of my life, I've driven from one end to the other, and yet, being here today, I feel like a tourist. I still recognize various things, and I can pretty much tell where I am by what exits I pass on I-95. It's still pretty cool to pass the WWE headquarters in Stamford (between exits 9 and 10, you can see it from the highway), and it'll be interesting to pass through New Haven and Hartford on my way north.
But, I still feel like I really don't belong here.
In a way, I really have no life here anymore. My life is in Dallas, as is my home and all that I hold dear. I still have family here, but we were never all that close. For all that I may want to come back for a vacation and spend some time here just looking around, I couldn't fathom living here again. Never mind the whole "winter" thing, it just doesn't feel like a place I would want to spend the rest of my life. About seven years ago, it looked like I might do just that, until events sent me out to the Frozen Tundra, and then down to the south.
Still, it's just for tonight, and tomorrow I'll be on my way back to Massachusetts. Then, I'll get another load to who-knows-where, and the cycle will continue. I'm going to see about a shower, and I need to get sleep because tomorrow I start early, if for no other reason than to beat the traffic I remember all too well around Hartford and New Haven.
Some things never change. Unfortunately.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Riding Solo
Well, apparently I made it through the training and orientation processes without any major hiccups, and as of Friday I will be in a truck of my very own, heading out solo over the highways and byways of this great land of ours.
Events on the home front, however, have me questioning if this is going to work out. At the moment, I will continue as normal and do the best I can under the circumstances, while at any free moment I will be exploring other options. There was an option that popped up this morning and I figured it wouldn't hurt to throw my name in the mix and see what happens. I know nothing's gonna happen by Friday but I figured I'd give it a shot.
The heading out and staying out for weeks at a time, while still somewhat difficult, has gotten better and the overwhelming sense of loneliness and isolation didn't hit me as bad on the last trip I took. With Christmas coming up in a week and a half, and knowing I'll be on the road for that time, we'll see how things go this time around.
Anyway, there's preparations that need to be made and things that need to be done before I set off once again, so the next time I update I'll be somewhere other than home.
Events on the home front, however, have me questioning if this is going to work out. At the moment, I will continue as normal and do the best I can under the circumstances, while at any free moment I will be exploring other options. There was an option that popped up this morning and I figured it wouldn't hurt to throw my name in the mix and see what happens. I know nothing's gonna happen by Friday but I figured I'd give it a shot.
The heading out and staying out for weeks at a time, while still somewhat difficult, has gotten better and the overwhelming sense of loneliness and isolation didn't hit me as bad on the last trip I took. With Christmas coming up in a week and a half, and knowing I'll be on the road for that time, we'll see how things go this time around.
Anyway, there's preparations that need to be made and things that need to be done before I set off once again, so the next time I update I'll be somewhere other than home.
Monday, November 21, 2011
On The Road: Thanks for ... ??
Phase Two of my training has begun, and I am currently sitting in a truck stop just west of Flagstaff, Arizona. Although I don't remember packing them, my usual assortment of doubts has crept in, leaving me to wonder what I got myself in to, and more importantly, if there is indeed a way out this time. Naturally, as is the custom and as it's always been since I first started the training school, information has been flung at me hard and fast, and time will only tell how much of it has managed to stick to the walls of my brain, such as it is. If I knew at the onset that things would be this weird, and after talking to drivers for this company, knew that this is de rigeur and part of the status quo, I would have never come here.
Too little, too late.
Thanksgiving is this Thursday. I'm many miles from those that I consider family, and while this isn't by any stretch the first Thanksgiving I've had to work over my years, it will be the first one where, at the end of the work day, I will not be able to go home when the work is finished. This, like most things I've experienced, will be a big first for me. No, I'm not handling this well, thanks for asking. The gentleman at the Subway where I had lunch remarked on the "slow end to the workday," and all I could think to myself was: Dude, at least your day has an end.
I still look at things differently than I used to, and of all the things I took for granted, going home at the end of the work day is one of the things I miss most.
My luck continues, unfortunately. Not counting the general screw-ups (because I am technically still learning), I find myself thoroughly disenchanted with the company I work for. We have a load that is supposed to be delivering at it's first offload point at 2 am tomorrow morning about 650 miles from where I am. We (my co-driver and I) told the company several times, going through the phone system and a flurry of satellite messages, that there was no way we would be able to make the delivery time because, thanks to having to log all of last week's classroom time as on-duty time, we would not have enough hours to make the trip. We told the dispatchers, we told the department who's responsibility it is for this type of load, and we told our driver manager. All of whom sent their reassurances that they would work on getting someone else who had the time to get the load where it had to go.
Which is why we are currently sitting in the middle of nowhere, with nothing around us but the rugged Arizona hills, with absolutely no hours left on our clocks, unable to move the truck even if we had to. I've not heard a word from anyone at the company since I spoke to them before we rolled out earlier this morning.
Thanksgiving time, so they say, is a time to reflect on your blessings and the things you're thankful for over the year. As it stands now, I can honestly say, with all conviction and truth, I have absolutely nothing to be thankful for, nor do I feel particularly blessed in any aspect of my life. I'm not all that optimistic about the next year, or the ones after that, either.
And don't get me started on Christmas. That's a rant left best for another time. Maybe next month.
Too little, too late.
Thanksgiving is this Thursday. I'm many miles from those that I consider family, and while this isn't by any stretch the first Thanksgiving I've had to work over my years, it will be the first one where, at the end of the work day, I will not be able to go home when the work is finished. This, like most things I've experienced, will be a big first for me. No, I'm not handling this well, thanks for asking. The gentleman at the Subway where I had lunch remarked on the "slow end to the workday," and all I could think to myself was: Dude, at least your day has an end.
I still look at things differently than I used to, and of all the things I took for granted, going home at the end of the work day is one of the things I miss most.
My luck continues, unfortunately. Not counting the general screw-ups (because I am technically still learning), I find myself thoroughly disenchanted with the company I work for. We have a load that is supposed to be delivering at it's first offload point at 2 am tomorrow morning about 650 miles from where I am. We (my co-driver and I) told the company several times, going through the phone system and a flurry of satellite messages, that there was no way we would be able to make the delivery time because, thanks to having to log all of last week's classroom time as on-duty time, we would not have enough hours to make the trip. We told the dispatchers, we told the department who's responsibility it is for this type of load, and we told our driver manager. All of whom sent their reassurances that they would work on getting someone else who had the time to get the load where it had to go.
Which is why we are currently sitting in the middle of nowhere, with nothing around us but the rugged Arizona hills, with absolutely no hours left on our clocks, unable to move the truck even if we had to. I've not heard a word from anyone at the company since I spoke to them before we rolled out earlier this morning.
Thanksgiving time, so they say, is a time to reflect on your blessings and the things you're thankful for over the year. As it stands now, I can honestly say, with all conviction and truth, I have absolutely nothing to be thankful for, nor do I feel particularly blessed in any aspect of my life. I'm not all that optimistic about the next year, or the ones after that, either.
And don't get me started on Christmas. That's a rant left best for another time. Maybe next month.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Show me the way
Looking back over my last entry, reading it over and looking at it from a fresh perspective, I admit it does seem pretty melancholy. Partly, because it is, and that was my frame of mind when I wrote it. And partly because I've been told that no matter what I do, or where I go, I will probably never be happy.
I don't know if it's so much not being happy as not finding my focus, or knowing if I am indeed heading in the right direction, in my life. When I think about all of the times I was asked, "What do you want to do/be when you grow up?" the only honest answer I could give was, "I don't know." There was never any real push to seek a skill and for many years most of what I did was what I though I would enjoy or felt that, at the time at least, I really wanted to do. I was told to develop a core set of skills so you could have something to fall back on should an option not work out as planned. The only problem with that is in doing so, there's no real opportunity to develop proficiency to a level that makes you desirable or employable.
I've looked back at all the jobs I've ever held. Yes, there's a lot of them, and in varying fields based on what I was doing at the time. I've analyzed the best and worst traits of each, and there are a couple of common threads. Of all the jobs, I liked the driving part of them the best. It was nice to be out and away from any type of office politics, be somewhat on your own, knowing what you had to do and getting it done with little or no real direct supervision. The parts I thought were the worst were the periods away from home for long periods of time, with no real decompression time and very little time off.
I am now locked into a job that combines the best and worst in one tidy package.
In a few short days I will have to be ready to hit the road yet again and complete training. This time out is supposed to be shorter, with less home time following, after which I could either be granted the opportunity to head out on my own or told I won't make it. I have no reason to intentionally torpedo my chances so I will give it my best shot and let the chips fall where they may -- if I fail, it won't be for lack of effort on my part.
The hard truth of the matter is I don't want to go. An even harder truth is that I have to. This is the conflict I will be wrestling with and trying to contain as I put on a brave face and soldier on as I am supposed to.
I've looked at local want-ads and I don't think I'm going to do that any more while I'm home. All the jobs in my field require at least a year of experience, and at my age it's way too late to change careers and start fresh. I wouldn't even know where to start.
And that's where things stand. I will continue to do my best and I can only hope it's good enough. It doesn't mean I'm going to be happy about it, but for now it's all I have.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Big changes on the job front
Many of you may already know that for the past year and a half or so, I was working at a job that, quite frankly, I despised. Money was tight and our situation was growing grim, so when the opportunity came along I took the job with the following caveat: I would only work there until I was able to find something else, and then it would be over. A year and a half went by, with application after application, and not so much as a callback for an interview. The ones that did call me back never so much as sent a "no thank you" letter.
I knew that one way to improve my worth was to get my class A license (essentially, a license to drive a tractor-trailer), and there was only one way to do that in my case. It would require me going over the road for at least a year to not only get the experience most employers are looking for, but to enable me to pay off the school loan at a reduced rate. I waffled over this decision for a long time, and in August, after another in a string of hellish days at the old job, took the plunge and made the call.
Three weeks of training to get the license and operate the trucks, and I now have a class A CDL. I am awaiting assignment to a trainer to spend the next five weeks on the road. I am nervous and excited, and I am ready to start a new chapter in my life. Given that I just turned 44 on Friday, I don't think I have a lot of pages left, and should get to continuing the story as best as I can.
At some point this week, I'll be setting off across the United States, driving hither and yon and learning about my new trade. I'll update when I can.
I knew that one way to improve my worth was to get my class A license (essentially, a license to drive a tractor-trailer), and there was only one way to do that in my case. It would require me going over the road for at least a year to not only get the experience most employers are looking for, but to enable me to pay off the school loan at a reduced rate. I waffled over this decision for a long time, and in August, after another in a string of hellish days at the old job, took the plunge and made the call.
Three weeks of training to get the license and operate the trucks, and I now have a class A CDL. I am awaiting assignment to a trainer to spend the next five weeks on the road. I am nervous and excited, and I am ready to start a new chapter in my life. Given that I just turned 44 on Friday, I don't think I have a lot of pages left, and should get to continuing the story as best as I can.
At some point this week, I'll be setting off across the United States, driving hither and yon and learning about my new trade. I'll update when I can.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Lazy days
Today is my lazy day, of a type I very rarely get to experience anymore. It's not often that I get a day to do hardly anything, what with getting caught up on things I couldn't do during the week and general household things that need doing, so I'm making the most of this. I have stew in the crock pot for dinner, later on I'll make a batch of biscuits, maybe watch a video or two, and get myself all relaxed for back to work tomorrow.
When I was younger, we lived in a fairly rural area and on weekends I would take the opportunity to just head off into the woods, or explore a field nearby the house, or just plunk down under a tree and watch the sky for a while. Being isolated from everyone and everything, for however brief a time as it was, helped me recharge a bit and get in touch with me, which made it a lot easier to deal with things throughout the rest of the week.
I know that, realistically, I'm not able to do that anymore. It is nice to just be free from responsibility for a bit, let things go and relax, and not have to be doing things that others are demanding I do. I can set my own pace, my own schedule, and do what I want. And, if what I want to do is nothing, even better.
I've been going through some things here that will factor in when I do future posts. I'm hoping these will serve as a bit of a snapshot as to what I was exposed to when I was growing up and maybe provide a glimpse into the not-so-distant past. I may work on that a little bit later, or perhaps I'll set it aside for another time.
After all, today's a lazy day.
When I was younger, we lived in a fairly rural area and on weekends I would take the opportunity to just head off into the woods, or explore a field nearby the house, or just plunk down under a tree and watch the sky for a while. Being isolated from everyone and everything, for however brief a time as it was, helped me recharge a bit and get in touch with me, which made it a lot easier to deal with things throughout the rest of the week.
I know that, realistically, I'm not able to do that anymore. It is nice to just be free from responsibility for a bit, let things go and relax, and not have to be doing things that others are demanding I do. I can set my own pace, my own schedule, and do what I want. And, if what I want to do is nothing, even better.
I've been going through some things here that will factor in when I do future posts. I'm hoping these will serve as a bit of a snapshot as to what I was exposed to when I was growing up and maybe provide a glimpse into the not-so-distant past. I may work on that a little bit later, or perhaps I'll set it aside for another time.
After all, today's a lazy day.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)