I got to the "City Of Industry", CA.

GSF are the opposite of Budweiser......they unloaded a full trailer in 15 minutes. And another 15 minutes to sort and count all the cases. I was out of there in 30 minutes. That's the fastest I EVER got out of a customer since I joined this company. I would deliver to them any day. The only problem I have with them is....well, they pretty much deliver food to all the McD's in this area. And GSF also takes care of allot of other places in the west coast. Including the old McD's I used to work at years ago. So I felt weird sitting in their yard, looking at all those familiar McD trailers. Knowing the are unloading the same crappy design boxes that apparently have not changed in design since I last worked for McD's. I delivered a trailer full of Pork Sausage patties. So now I know what that part of the shipment comes from.......wow.

I thought it was cool that from Oklahoma City to here, that most of I-40 was old US-66...or Route 66. Hehehehe.....what a fucked up route. WHY do people love to remember a shitty route? I looked at the map and key points on the way where old 66 would merge off of I-40 and go elsewhere on the map. I mean, it literally was a crooked joke. I guess for those who love to get lost, there's your route. It made some sense from Chicago to St. Louis. Not sure what highways and interstates take up old 66. But once you get on I-44 from St.Louis to Oklahoma City. Your pretty much on old 66. It's not till you get into New Mexico that it starts to looked really fucked up if you where to follow old 66.


OH well, now here I am in Ontario California again, sitting at this TA...again. But at least I got a load that will be ready for pick up tonight in Carson. From there, heading to Utah. I guess my company are finally going to have me work slowly home....instead of working in the northeast, then rush me on a super long run back home. I could use the extra miles for money. But I'll count my blessings. This is the first month I have NOT gone to Pennsylvania. Let alone anywhere past eastern Indianapolis.

Happy, Happy.


Joy, Joy.....

I don't know where to begin, nor care. I am going to sleep...been up too long. I'll just say its amazing that I was just in Indianapolis till Tuesday morning. And I just got to Barstow, CA a couple of hours ago. Oh well, I sleep...

Not much since I left Indianapolis.

I got a load to Fort Smith, Arkansas. The from there drove here to pick up a load that is due in Ontario, California. Funny, I am heading back there........what happened to PA?

Funny, I wanted to avoid PA. But now that I want to go there so I can hopefully get a good long run back to Seattle to help with my funds for the operation.....seems to not going to happen. I guess I am both happy and the same time upset. Like, why am I there when I don't want to be. Yet when I am fine with it, I am far from it. So I'll count my blessings. Fuck PA. :-D California, whee.

About it....now to sleep.....and hope the nice people in Wisconsin will reschedule my appointment time or get some one to take this load half way for on time delivery. IF I was here in town with my clock reset and in the morning. I'll make it on time for 9 AM Friday. BUT, since I had to drive from Joplin, Missouri to Fort Smith, Arkansas. Sat there for nearly 4 hours, then drove from there to here....which was 3 hours. So by the time I got loaded, its 5 PM, 45 minutes left for my work day. And I'll need at least two days worth of driving. In other words, to be very fair, 9 AM Saturday. Oh well, usually I say I can't do a load and they'll give it to some one else. But they where really desperate since they can't find anyone available in the area. Funny. Oh well.

Hoosiers are......

Aww fuck these politicians with their fucking lingo that seems to bring out the "pride" in locals of what ever town you may be in.

I hate watching news sometimes. Especially the news on Fox 59, Indianapolis. MORE Drama than than actual drama shows.

Well, most of my weekend been a very nice time of relaxing and goofing off. Even a BBQ here with my cousin.

Then today (Sunday), we went to the Indianapolis 500 to watch the qualification runs........fun. Well, okay, it was interesting. But not something I would have paid to just sit and watch. But we got it free from other "relatives" to go and watch. Oh well, it was interesting.

And now....just watching TV. Simpson's are a dead horse that won't stop kicking. Family Guy some how still makes me laugh. And American Dad should have been shot and burned before the first season even ended.

About it. Tomorrow I'll be going back to work....I don't wanna.

What's nice?

I don't know.

Well, I have an idea. But I won't get into it.

And I really don't want to go onto a rant or a ramble or something. But I will admit.....I should not try since I have no idea on the subject matter to begin with. So I guess I'll just say I am pathetic. And I'll leave it as that.



Anyway, nothing new since I got here in Indianapolis. Just chilling, helping out with some of the improvements needed to be done in this house. And later on I'll be tearing two pc's appart and building one good pc out of one. My brother in-law wants a media PC. Oh well, I have no problem with that. Though I wish he would make up his mind with just making it a media pc....or a file server.....bah he confuses me sometimes. But I am just going to do the media pc. Cause I already made the file server and he no longer wants to use that. So media pc is it...if he likes it or not.


About it for now......

Ooookay, this is just wrong.....but I laughed, so here. Forgot who I got the link from. But its funny...to me. Not work safe.

http://www.superdeluxe.com/sd/conte.....257AFCFFB5A808

I got here last night. In Indianapolis.

I really don't know what to say other than I am glad to be off the truck and get a chance to unwind. With how things where going earlier on in the week and last part of last week. I really need time to just chill.

I'll just say that my day in Chicago was HELL. I would like to visit there one of these days to look around. But dang, 2 hours just to get from west to east Chicago's metro area.....dang. Oh well, at least the wind kept it cool. Then again, it is called "The Windy City".

Oh well, about it.

Oh......after dealing with few Kraft places through the years. The last craft place I dealt with in Chicago have finally made me decide to boycott them. Which sucks, cause I like their mustard, A-1 sauce, and Kraft Macaroni and cheese. OH well......

Oh, and thank you everyone who greeted me happy b-day. :-D

And my sis and her husband gave me a surprise cake and ice cream after we got home last night. That was nice. I was so out of it, yet happy to be off the truck that I forgot it was my birthday.....even though I was reminded here and there during the day.

Well, lately I been reminded and told that I should join the protest against gas prices by not buying gas.

Okay, no problem there. :-P

BUT, I guess what sorta shoots my ego is....and it don't normally happen since I usually shrug it off and move on. And that is, the 15th is my birthday. One thing is to be forgotten cause everyones too busy with everyday life. That I expect and accept.

But to get calls, text messages, e-mails, and what ever saying something major is going to happen on my birthday.....without a single good wish or tidings for my completion of one year and starting of a new year in my life......really makes me feel....well...smaller than normal.

As for me, I'll be working, like everyone else.

I am on my way in a bit to St.Johns, MI. Then to Grand Rapids, MI. Only to camp out for a day in Chicago, IL. Well, I finally reached my luck. I been trying to avoid that place.....delivering and picking up that is. Nothing makes me feel comfortable than going to a customer that is usually drop and hook with other locations, have a special note for us saying, "NO DROP AND HOOK HERE. Other carriers have had their trailers stolen. Please call up customer to make sure it is a live unload." Whee, makes me feel comfortable, morning of my birthday. Oh well, what ever, I guess. Since I am so close to Indianapolis, they really CAN'T screw up getting me in to Indianapolis for the 17th......could they?

Well, after I picked up the load this morning in....oh...I forgot already. Somewhere northwest of Iowa city. Anyway, I came back here and swapped the load with the driver who I was supposed to swap with. Did I mention he showed up LAST NIGHT and woke me up, not realizing I was not loaded. Then gave me a hard time about not needing proof of citizen ship, cause they never asked him to show it, and he's been doing this for the last 20 years.

Uh, key word here, 20, count that, 20 fucking years fucking with the Windsor/Detroit border crossing. I don't want to get into it. I am just super angry and grouchy at the moment. Besides, he did not now I was not loaded it. The idiots in main office NEVER sent us our load informations. So of course we both where in the dark about what the hell we where about to put on our trucks back.

Once we swapped trailers.....I find out my load is going to somewhere in the middle of Michigan. Due 10 PM, Sunday. GREAT, now where am I going to park later, smarty, smart, smart.......sorry, trying to think of something other than nut fuck retards.....not working. Either way, I'll be spending most of the night after the delivery, looking for a place to park.

And to make matters more annoying, they gave me a pre-assign for a load coming out of some town west Michigan, heading to Chatanooga, TN. Yeah.....due....11 PM, Monday. Uh, I need exactly 11 hours to drive from that customer's lot to the delivery point. And I'll already use up at least 4 hours from the previous customer, then driving to the next customer. Uh......brain farts?

So I told them no. So far no argument.

I could leave now and stop in Garry, Indiana for the shutdown place....but why the hell I want to do that? I don't have a death wish. That, and I don't want to put up with Chicago traffic. So I'll head out after the sun gone down. I been through Chicago through the middle of the night a few times, and they are pretty much the best times to go through there......despite construction. And I'll have the hours by the to by pass Garry totally.

Oh well, I am going to bed, later.

I don't know where it went, I have no clue. I hope to God I find it.

But guess what, I don't know where it went, and I leave my birth certificate locked up at home in Washington. So I told them. They tried to tell me I would be fine. Only to have me tell them that I go to Canada allot, and they want either one of the two items to prove citizenship. And if Canada don't ask, our boys WILL. So I got off the load. I feel both relieved at the same time stupid. I just did my laundry earlier.....so time to find the damn thing.....I hope no decided to keep it.......

What I mean by that is, main office did everything they could to find an excuse to send me to Toronto.


Well, I am supposed to pick up a load from Davenport....pretty much from the customer I just delivered too, later on in the afternoon. BUT, instead, I get a call from some dispatcher I don't know, asking me to do this Canadian run. Apparently me saying, "So you really can't find anyone else to do this load?" Is equal to, "Yes." Therefore I get thanked for helping out and I get sent the load info super quick. I asked the guy on the phone, "So what happened to my last load, cause I already made an expense and got a PO under the load info for a trailer washout. He says, "Well, we don't see you on the load, even though you sent a mac 32 (generic message for load acknowledgment), saying you can do the load. So your actually not under a load." So that have not clicked yet till now. But.......so it don't matter if I sent a acknowledgment message, its treated more as, "Yeah, I know that load exist, I want it.....but I know I won't get it?" I am very angry right now, and I am not answering his messages for me to send that mac 32. Fuck him. If he's going to over step my dispatcher and pull that office politics bull shit. As far as I am concerned, he's made me believe that sending a mac 32 don't mean shit. So WHY should I? Really, I don't care if I lose this load. And him waking me up to pull this shit have left me very grumpy. And I meant to wake up later and just call up some people to talk. But I couldn't, cause all I wanted to do was rant about it. But I just did not want to do that at all to people who have no idea about it.

Anyways, so I instead of picking up a load here to go to Allentown PA......I now got a load picking up WAY out of town (fuck, the load I lost was next door) to some fuck off town, I have no damn clue, to Marshaltown, IA. And its heading to Brampton, Ontario. GAH, I do NOT want to put up with border control. And it did not faze him when I told him I got a hard time getting back into the US than going into Canada. You know, I WANT my border guards right now to reject me from entering my own country. Just to stick it in his fucking face that when I say I have a hard time, I mean it. And I do, I usually get searches, if not, interrogated more than just, "Hi, US, good, have a nice day." And I have to PAY to get back into MY OWN, God Damned, COUNTRY. Free trade my ass. I got to go through fucking Detroit, woopy fucky dooh, dooh.

GAH, I am just ticked off right now. And that part of Ontario....especially Toronto, keeps changing every 4 to 6 months. So the maps I have of it in early 2005 is not going to be helpful in that area.

Really, if it was not for the damn border politics and me having to spend MY own money to come back into MY own country. Let alone getting hassles coming back home cause I apparently don't look "white" enough is really, REALLY not worth my time and mental stress. I hate to say this, but I rather go to Allentown then to put up with that bullshit.

Nothing against the people here. I just hate this town mainly cause one of the big names in this town is Werner....my last employer....or slave master. Well, may as well call them slave master, expect me to be happy that my good week's rage is up to par with a kid working at McD's. And I should be okay with a 2 to 3 week of nothing. It's really hard to resist flipping off their terminal that is NOT shy off of junction I-80 and NE-50. But...well, here I am in their town. Just 8 miles away from the place I called hell.


Anyways, took Kentworth in Denver all day to just repair my steering and adjust.....EVERYTHING. Apperently they felt that the rear axels on my truck was out of alignment. Well, I had our shop in Mondovi fix it......though I never noticed a difference before. BUT, after I finally got my truck back, took a nap, then went to pick up my load. I DO notice the difference. One of them is, the truck no longer feels like its fighting to go any direction but straight. Amazing how aligning the axles would help.

Anyways, close to midnight, I went back up to Greeley, CO to pick up my load.......full of.....BEEF SKINS. Guess where they are going? To some place in Iowa.....Oscar Myeher. Wow, NOTHING is waisted my friends. I don't know exactly what they are used for. But I had to call the customer to set up an appointment time myself (that's a first). And through the conversation, she did not say exactly, but she was rambling, "Oh, this particular load you don't need us to give you a clearance number. Just come on in at your scheduled time. They are just cooking skins anyways. They get cooked up and chopped, and who knows what else." I did my best not to ask her to explain it. I am probably best not knowing.

But I am in Omaha, NE now. And later on close to midnight, I'll make my way to Davenport, Iowa. :-D I am getting so close to Indiana. And I still got till the 17th that I scheduled myself to go visit there.

Oh well..about it. Now to sleep.






Just rambling down here..............

Is it bad for me to maybe once and awhile say, "I am lonely"? I have no idea why I find that hard to say, let alone, "Love you." And it don't have to be in a romantic sense either. I have a hard time saying that to my own parents. I just feel like....a sap. I don't know why. Sometimes I feel that maybe part of the reason why I don't find a date is not only cause I don't feel ready, there for I just don't go out and look. But also, I just feel embarrassed to show any signs of affection. Even though I am fine with showing all my other moods and sides of me. Like my anger, happy, silly, you know, the normal stuff that would make me seem out going. Hell, I'll even say things that should never be said in public, let alone to anyone. But when it comes to showing affection....or even WANTING affection. I just chicken out and mentally shut down. I have a few ideas why, but no ones a shrink. :-/

I woke up this morning and headed north to Greenely, CO. On my way up, I get this weird shaking all the way through the trip. Apparently I DID mess up my alignment yesterday. Though I ignored it, got the load delivered, then came back down to Denver to start the tedious process of getting that fixed.

Even though I told my dispatcher I DO NOT have the hours to do a decent run...let alone a local run. He gives me a load heading towards Chicago, due in Forest Park, 2359 Friday night. That's right, its midnight. BUT, not only do I not have enough to do the load.....smoothly. But it picks up in Dodge City, KANSAS. I am supped to drive SEVEN HOURS to pick up a load. And EXPECTED to some how make the load on time. We argued allot, then told me to call Saftey for my logs. SO I did, and the guy was very nice and helpful. ON A GOOD DAY, I"ll MAKE IT. BUT, knowing my fucking luck, NO.

Long story short, after an hour, and me telling him I don't like planning on best case scenarios. Then me having to remind him about my Reading PA to Champaign IL load where we did the best case scenario plan.....then ROYALLY fucked up and had to do a quick swap to save it for on time....without me getting a chance to LEAVE PA. He gives up and says, "Okay, okay, you got me. Don't take the load." SO I didn't. And told him I'll be ready close to midnight, Wensday. SO in other words, I'll be ready Thursday with a full 70 hours to work again.


Oh well, about it. After I got here in Denver, CO. I end up going through ALLOT of hoops, just to finally get scheduled at the Kenworth here just down the road for a alignemt to be done. The company literally wanted me to sign in at the TA here just to have them say, "YEP, its FUCKED." Then they let me go to Kenworth to get it worked on. Only to find out Kenworth won't have an opening till at least 8 PM. If not, midnight. SO after trying to talk to the "nice" lady (well, she is...just too busy putting words in my mouth instead of listening to me.....therefor annoying) tells me to head there at 8 PM. I called Kenworth back and told them I'll be in 6 AM. They are actually very happy with that plan. SO am I.


Anyways, I hope things will get back in order and maybe, IF they have another good run, I'll take it....once I get my 70 back. I mean, damn, from here to Dodge City is 400 miles. Then from there to Tomha, WI, then Tomah to Chicago, IL. Heh, that's 1100 miles. And since this company pays me the same for loaded and mt (which is NICE), would have made 1500 miles to add onto the 2500 miles I got since I got back to work. :-D Oh well.


Here I sit in Denver again, came to ...uh...yeah.

Well, I left Ontario California Saturday night. Got my load in Carson....I some how was able to avoid the LA traffic....considering how super close I was to it. And I missed it on my way out.

Los Vegas gambles 24/7. I can not believe that EVERYONE was playing chicken with me when they where trying to merge onto the freeway. Stupid, stupid people. Your family may be able to sue me for killing you....but here's the key word to the FAILURE of your logic. YOUR DEATH. Me in jail and owing your family money cause THEY sued me don't mean you'll get to enjoy it. It don't mean shit when YOUR DEAD. Crossing a street when my light is green....especially a busy intersection with high speeds is not safe. And the law don't mean shit WHEN YOUR HIT AND DEAD. Why does everyone want to play chicken with semi's....let alone with everything around them?

Oh well, I stopped some weird, nowhere place in Utah.


But damn it sure felt good to make my first delivery on time and with enough time to spare for the second delivery.

Problem.....that's for the GOOD scenario.

Instead, I got the bad scenario. And that is.....

I show up after driving since sun fall out in some unknown town in the middle of Utah. I get to Denver, show up 15 minutes early. That's GOOD. BUT, instead, I get told to park outside with the rest of the others and wait to be called. Uh....okay, if this was "first come first served", why the hell you guys wanted me to be EXACTLY ON TIME? Usually when I am ON TIME. I get docked to the assigned dock door. Cause if I showed up an hour LATE. Then that dock door have SOME ONE ELSE. And I need to RESCHEDULE. What ever, I did not want to fight. So I turned around, and parked out side...only to get my front right tire in the ditch. Whee. I am not sure what is sad. The guards just looking at me like "Wow, another one." (there are signs on the ground that I am not the only one who slipped off the corner and got stuck.) For the fact they all looked shocked that I got myself out of it without having to call a tow truck. Granted my front right steer is pure mud....even after I left the place. But I got out with surprisingly no damage. I was lucky, I could have shot my alignment to hell.

Anyways, I sit there for half an hour, then get called over the CB to dock myself to the number they gave me. No big deal, it was easy (thankfully). Once docked, I walked in.......fucking guy in Receiving ignore me and two other guys for THIRTY MINUTES. There is NO walls between him and us. We where actually standing OVER HIM. Well, okay, by the time he noticed us, we where. I think one guy was foaming.....kidding....but I know I was about to. I mean, what better way to get me out of my shy shell....than to have me super hyped up and pissed off (not drunk). He then out of the blue, talks and takes my papers. Then tells me to go talk to the lumpers (unloaders....or what ever you want to call them.....why are they called lumpers by us anyways?) Not so bad with those guys at least.....well, okay, ALL of them speaks NO English except the ones with the fuzzy caps. Odd, I think they just don't want to talk....

Anyways, I go sit in my truck and wait....wait....sit...wait....sleep...wait. Till 2 hours later I decide to check on them. They where STILL unloading my trailer. And actually are counting every single box on each pallet. In other words.....this is the worst case scenario. FUCK 2nd Deliver. So I told my dispatch that. Thankfully he did not argue with me and changed my delivery date for tomorrow. I had only 15 minutes to find a truck stop when I finally got out of the customer. 15 freaking minutes before I was out of hours and illegally driving. Now this was a horrid day. If things went like they usually do...not always, but usually. I get in, get docked (since I have an appointment time for a dock), get unloaded between 30 to 1 hour, then I leave. I would have made it to my second delivery, then drive to a nearest truck stop and shut down, done for awhile. Nope, not the case.


Sad part is, the next customer is only going to get ONE PALLET. I have a 53 foot trailer.....WITH 1 PALLET. If I broke that down, it would fit in a trunk, and the back seat of a car. I kid you not.

Cool, my main dispatcher during the week calls me up from his home in Indianapolis, reminding me I need to send my macros (set messages) for the load I got for tomorrow. He then tells me the guys and gals up in Wisconsin have been advised by him to find me something better. Though don't get my hopes up. So I have not.

Just when I started to have a short chat with a friend, I get a message from another dispatcher off my board, asking me if I would be interested to drop my load for tomorrow for a load tonight. Sent me the info. It picks up at 9 PM in Carson, CA, and I head to Denver, Colorado. Well, I wanted to make sure it was not a super complicated load. So I went ahead and did allot of research for directions they gave me, the directions I get on Mapquest. Then I even google Earth the places to make sure I have a clue on what to see. Hehehe, Google earth is so useful, I actually used it to help me find my last customer while I was sitting in Sacramento. Unfortunately, most wireless won't let me use it cause of the huge bandwidth. Except idle air, since its a device that sticks in my passenger window to give me temperature controlled air, also gives me a network jack. So its nice.

Anyways, I guess I'll get to leave here tonight, on my way to Colorado. Muhahahaha, I sure hope the roads are clear. That's my only worry. Though I hope I have enough hours to by pass Las Vegas......that's another hell hole I don't want to stop in for the night. Matter of fact, depending on how busy it is there, parking can go VERY high for a night.

Anyways, fun, fun, fun. I been up since 12....so I guess I'll have to get some coffee later.

I knew there was a high chance that IF I don't get a load Friday night, I'll be sitting here till Sunday night. It usually happens during the weekend. Either you have a weekend load.....or you don't. And my load I got for 2300 in LA for tomorrow night is only going to go 400 miles. I am not sure where yet.....I have not looked at the directions to figure out where. But I am not happy about it at all. But what I am REALLY not happy about is, I am sitting in an unsafe area, with parking that is coming out of my pocket.

Oh well, maybe I'll grab a cab later and go to a Poncho Villa. I love the food there, and its apparently a California thing. That, and where else to get very good, actual Mexican food.....than places that are very close to the Mexican border. :-D

Knowing myself and how my funds are lacking since I made a major pay out for bills. Maybe I'll skip that. Though there is a place off of Sierra Ave in Fontana that I could sneak over with truck and trailer, park across the Golds Gym, and just eat next door at the Poncho. BUT, its a pain in the ass to go to WITH a trailer. And those who have done it.......well, they gain my respect. That, and IF they pass the turn, they'll be illegally driving down a street. I forgot which direction. But going in a certain direction is illegal for semi-trucks to be on. I don't know why, but it is. I met a couple people who got tickets doing it.

Oh well, I will make the best of this some how.

I am in Ontario, California.

This place just scares me. Usually I go hide at Werner's secured terminal in Fontana. BUT, since I no longer work for them, and my current company's terminal is a total joke (tiny and wide open). I decided to park at the West TA in Ontario. BOTH TA's on both sides of the street have secured, paid parking (this is NOT free). Plus IDLE AIR, which I use allot. BUT, it still does not stop the weirdos from coming in. Everyone from peddlers, to people who want to steal everything you got..including your truck. And around here they are very BRASH. I mean, I literally had two hookers come up to me speaking VERY loudly to get my attention. I am sorry, but if, if, IF I wanted some "service", I would be very quiet and discrete. Not loud to the point that both security and cops will come down on me.....let alone you.

Either way, I ate, and used the bathroom as best as I could. Once the sun goes down, it will be like when I was New Orleans last year......except the truck stop will still be open. I'll be hiding in here, till the sun comes up.

real quick......














3604205092

despite the annoying steep up and down grades, I was able to make it here with 30 minutes to spare. I am currently in Sacramento, CA. Free internet at this truck stop. Though knowing my luck, I'll lose the signal once this place fills up. But I can enjoy it till then.


OH well, about it so far, I got my dispatcher to get me rescheduled with the deliver for tomorrow in Ontario, CA. So I'll show up there 1pm instead of 8am. Whee, so I get to chill a little tonight. Dispatcher actually said don't get to comfortable, since we are dealing with the LA metro area. But some extra time should make up for my "HAIL" problem yesturday. OH, I should post that entry I put up in LJ.

Oh well, about it. Going to grab some food. Then sleep. 49'er Truck stop....:-P


Yesturday

Litterally, what the hail?

I got up midnight, got my truck at 1 am, left the storage place with my truck at 2 am. Get to the drop yard at 3:30 am. Get assigned a trailer and headed to customer at 4:30 am. I get to the customer ar 5:30....this is where things go downhill. I get told I am not scheduled for a 6 am pickup.....I am scheduled for 8 am. Wonderful, but at least they let me park in the super cramp parking lot. So I napped till it was time. Once everything was loaded around 9 am. I left Woodenville....to a trip of hail. Well, first hell, then hail. :-P

Granted, traffic on I-405 during that time of morning is horrendious. Even though "supposedly" it should have died down. But it have not. I reached WA-167, south, thinking this would be a good freeway to take to by-pass I-5 through Tacoma. WTF? I was stuck behind major morning CONSTRUCTION. Our state do our road constructions....at NIGHT. Only when I finally got close, they packed up for the day and re-opened all the lanes. Wonderfull.....only to reach WA-512 west, that freeway was stopped for a slow crawl due to an ACCIDENT. Once I passed that, I got to I-5 and headed south....to ANOTHER stop and go due to ACCIDENTS. Did I mention it was on and off on pour of rain and little hail? It gets better. Once I pass the accident, I decided to stop for a short bit at a truck stop to eat. Once done, got on and headed south. Did not take me long to reach Vancouver, WA. EVERYONE's slows down due to major HAIL. Granted, I did too. Got on I-205 and just took it slow till I reached in East side of Portland, OR. Once the hail stopped....once again I was stuck in traffic due to ANOTHER freaking ACCIDENT. For a fucking HOUR to move FIVE MILES.

Gah, needless to say, I may be late for Friday morning appointment time in Ontario, CA. If NOTHING went wrong, I should have been at least in Eugene awhile ago. If not, further. Gah.

That, and you know you need to stop when you decided to push a sports car forward with your truck cause you got pissed off that they passed you on THE SHOULDER, just so they can BE IN FRONT OF YOU. Fucking bitch with her stupid "A-1 Cleaning". With her lisesne place frame saying, "Mother". Well bitch, your children will be mother less if you keep that up, stupid, stupid....bah. A-1 cleaning, more like A-1 sauce.....once I am done pancaking you. I am sure the crows would love that.

Can you tell I was just about to snap today?

Other than that, I am fine. Just chilling for now, then going to sleep.

My first load out of my house is NOT a Pennsylvania load. Whoo-hoo. Unfortunately it will be an LA, California load. Boooh. But, well, besides to hard to go over hills in souther Oregon and northern CA on I-5, along with CA's fucked up DOT. The only place I'll have to really be careful for insane everything is pretty much LA itself. I am heading to Ontario, CA anyways. And I am familar with the area. Granted I am not surer good with the area and last time I was there was in April, 2006. BUT, at least this customer I am going too is not to far from a place I used to pick up loads allot from when I was in Werner, so at least its an easy drop.

I can't say the same for the pickup in Woodinville. I actually drove in my car yesterday to find the place.....lucky I did. If I missed the place.....which it's real easy to do, I would have NO place to turn around. And WA-202 is a crappy highway. Apperently there's allot of branch offs for that highway. And its not a truck route for very damn good reasons......it goes through allot of neighborhoods....and like I said, it's not straight and branches off allot of directions. I been to one light where I could have turned left....OR right to stay on WA-202. I am sure the signs are wrong. But knowing this state, it's highly possible to work like a farm access road in Texas. Where the state highways there usually do a loop. But then again, they don't split in two directions either....unless its named with "east/west" or "North/South" on it.

Oh well, I better run. Take care all.

Allot going on, but its okay.

Tuesday, get back, sleep.

Wensday, sleep, go to the mall. Get a stupid toy.

Thursday, sleep...get dragged to Cingular to get a new phone. This is the first time since I been under my steps Dad family plan that I got a new phone FIRST. Usually I don't even get a new phone. They get a new phone, and I get one of the old ones. Which was fine by me by the way. But oh well, I feel special that he wanted to give me a new phone.

Friday, meet up with a friend of mine in Renton. It was fun, though I really did not have much planned. But it still worked out. I had fun. Hehehehe, mainly just walked a little in Fry's, then sad for an hour or so at Ivars by the water. It was nice. Then.....wonder around South Center mall. Hehehe, after that, I went home.

Saturday, finally found Nick and hanged out with him along with Robbie in Everett. Found out that yes, his Mother is for sure going to lose the house. There is no date for the move, but they have been told to start packing. Well, they already have the last couple of months. So all they are doing now is moving the stuff to a storage unit.....where I happen to park my tractor at. Heh, but still, it sucks. It's been 10 years since they moved in. And now.....its gone. Sad really. But at least he's got plans and a job who's desperate to hire him. So I hope that works out for him.

Sunday, got to hang out with friends from Everett in Marysville. Some old car show. It was interesting.

And that's it so far.


Edit :

I forgot to mention that Thursday I saw my Doctor for my keloid....tumor thing. Hehehehe, we are currently waiting for the insurance info. But once the insurance guys gives him the okay, I'll hopefully be scheduled in by the end of May.

Really, I am. Though I want to make this clear some how. And I really don't want to be rude, and make it sound like I am the worlds biggest bigot.


But please understand, I have no art talent. Art work that I pose in both my scraps and galleries are commissioned pieces. I appreciate all the pieces I have been given to me (gift or bought). But sadly, they are not my art work. And most of the pieces I share I don't even have links to send you too. BUT, the name of the artist who did them are right after the name of the piece I give it. If anyone would love to try to get a hold of whomever have done those pieces. I would do my best to direct you to them. Though I won't guarantee they'll answer quickly...unless they happen to be on here.



I also want to make a shout out to "thechristianvet". I know I seen your name before, I am having a hard time finding you on FA, but I know your on here. But I want to apologize for not answering for a long time when you sent me an instant message. I was on the phone, and usually I remember to either shut it down when I am away, or set myself on "away". But I forgot. That, and I am usually never on IM's anyways.....mainly cause of my job.

But to answer your question....sorry, but know. I am honored you took the time to try to chat with me and ask for an art trade. But sorry, I have no art skills to think of. And like I said, I am so very sorry for the late reply.



But really, I hope I won't disapoint anymore people....and I have mentioned in my "Artist Profile" that I don't have art talent worth speaking of. Hell, my writing sucks.


Thanks

NEXT time you have an accident on I-15, for the love of God, please redirect traffic.....other than direct traffic off the freeway.....and that's it. Really, nothing sucks than having me and an army of Semi's trying to figure out where to go to get back on I-15 past the crash site.....with NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE AREA. I swear, there where 5 in front of me....3 went down the road ahead of us that says, "NO THROUGH TRAFFIC for I-15". Other choices was turn left or turn right. Uh.....where to go. All we knew was it was 24th street. Some say go to 21st.....but up ahead says no through traffic. Which, of course is a high chance that there's going to be no room for semi trucks to go through there. Lucky for me....at least....and the car hauler in front of me to notice the nice dirt lot on the corner there and we turned around. This was the first time I EVER used a CB for help for directions. Eventually I made it back on I-15, but still. What the fuck Utah?

Also, I want to complain about how Utah loves to put construction cones......in the lane that is OPEN. Cars can move around it just fine. But there's no reason why I should be hugging the shoulder, just so I can avoid hitting the cones with my trailer.....or hugging the cones to avoid getting my trailer off of the side of the road.

And was I-15 in the Northern Salt Lake area was under construction for the last couple of years? Please tell me I am wrong...cause I have a feeling I been seeing this shit last two times I went through there....in February.....and a year prior to that.


Okay, about it. As for what I did. In quick sumary. I was in Indianapolis that last part of last week. Had fun....and drove all over the damn place. I'll explain more later. But I am back in Seattle for a short bit for some rest.....and I may as well do so so when I am on later I won't be in a foul mood. :-D

I get bitched at left and right by anyone and everything today for just doing what I normally do. I mean, I even get a message saying, "We want you to be comfortable, but we want you to shut your truck off if you don't need it for heating or cooling." I responded hours later when I woke up, "That's exactly what I am doing, so bugger off." SO okay, I am in a bad mood too.

Not to mention they keep telling me its over due for an oil change, but they are not helping with getting me scheduled for one at the terminals. So I try....and get told they are booked, try later. I been here in our Mondovi, WI main terminal, and I was so pissed with their attitudes that I started to throw shit back at them. What I mean is, they tell me how I should take care of my truck (like not idling it). Then I throw it back at them with, "Well, if you guys ever put me in the shop when I request it...cause you guys are demanding me to, you may then tell me how to take care of my truck." I got the shop foreman avoiding me today.

Oh well, whatever, I am next door to a nice Mom and Pop's restaurant. They serve super juicy good steaks. And great spegehti....for an only in town restaurant. Heh, I finally caught the road sign for its population.....1001. Smaller than my old town of Stanwood, WA. And unlike Stanwood where during the day the population triples due to students ALONE. Mondovi......may increase by 10.....half of it is due to us drivers stopping here for the time being at this terminal. Its a true small country town. I mean, shit, I got a view of a butcher shop........disturbing to see two cattle get herded into the tiny place......never to be seen alive again. I have no doubt that the stead I just had may have been one of those cows. The restaurant does advertise fresh meats and veggies from the local area.


Also, I check my old Yahoo account, and I had job offers and request for freelance work in both Seattle and Indianapolis. WTF, thank you.......but I am stuck on a semi. Why must life mock me at times? And for once all these offers are up my ally where I feel comfortable in taking a chance in. Most of them are just managing small networks while the freelance stuff is just me replacing old PC's with new PC's, and setting them up. GAH!

Other than that, I am fine.

Well, this week in PA sucks.

I did deliver my load from Lyden, WA ontime. Though, Malvern, PA is HELL. Its on the outskirts of Philly. And if Malvern is that bad, I would HATE to go into Philly itself. I mean, US-202 is supposed to be a North and South route....yet on the map, its' going east and west. West being South, East being North. And all the routes through the area is just like that....though not in that order. I mean, PA-29 northbound was going litterally, east, north, west, north, west, south.... Long story short, the directions I got to the first customer was correct. But I had no directions leaving. I saw a sign on the road I came one saying, "Trucks, turn left for PA-40x/US-202" Okay....so I did. I reach PA-40x (i can't remember the last digit). Well, I opened my map up (middle of the night, so no one was on the roads to piss off having me just sit there in my lane), I DO NOT SEE THIS ROUTE ON MY MAP. OOooookay, and there is no sign telling me where to go to get back to US-202. Blah, so I head straight, thinking maybe I'll head straight to it. After awhile of the roads getting smaller and more houses are showing up and the roads are showing no wear of big trucks going through there....I panic. Don't help that when I started to panic, I pass a light, heading towards a bridge with no clearance sign. Its a hill, so one side I have HUGE room. But then I go up steep and I litterally stopped myself before I thought I would hit it. I put my flashers on and just got out and walked up the hill, trying to figure out if I would make it out or not. It was VERY close. Too close to call. Just then a local drives up behind my trailer, stops. Then slowly moves by and actually stops to ask me if I am okay. This is the first time I local actually stopped to see if I need help....instead of the usual I get from PA locals. Scoot by me and floor it while they stare at me with this scared look....I am amazed they did not run off the road watching me. Anyways, he ask me if I was lost, then comments that I must be lost since I am out there. I told him I was looking for US-202. He tells me that it's actually up ahead....but the road T's up ahead to US-30. I could take US-30 east or west and both will take me to US-202 (like I said, the area is fucked up). But he recommended West, since it will take me to US-202 in less than a block, and the turn would be easier for me than going east. I then ask him about the bridge, he tells me he sees rigs go through there all that time....but not one of my size. He then says he'll pull ahead so he won't block traffic. He'll wait for me at the gass station up ahead. If he don't see me in 5 minutes, he'll call for help. So he left as I got in my truck, trying to gain my nerves. Once I got it, I slowly, barely going one mile an hour, went foward. I think I scratched the top of the trailer a little, but I made it through. Once through, I went ahead, and sure enough, there was the T, US-30, and the man sitting at the corner of the Gas station, watching for me. Once he saw me, he pointed to the direction he mentioned earlier, which I took. Then waved later as he went back in his van.

Once I got on US-202, the signs getting me back on the PA-Turnpike (I-76) where abundant.......and hidden behind bridges. I nearly missed every lane I needed to be in. But once on the PA-Turnpike, I headed west to Reading. Once up in Reading, I took a 2 lane highway, US-422 to some town west of Reading. Holy shit, its a truck route, but there's no room for me to go by cars parked on the side....and to stay in my lane. WTF? Long story short, once I was done with the customer, instead of taking it the rest of the way west towards Harrisburg. I just went back to reading, took PA-61 North, 4 lane highway, then went west on I-78 instead. Long way around, but at that point, I was done with Highways for now.

I later go back and get my load from Herhsy's in Reading, PA....again. Once again, I went through the heart of Reading. Though this time it was during lunch hour instead of 11 PM at night. I swear, people where getting in their cars as I PASS them. I took up 2 lanes, not only for turns, but to just avoid this idiots. ONe ways streets with a semi is NO fun.

Ah, Friday, I find out I planned my week badly. Original plan was I take this load to Indianapolis, drop it for the next driver. Get my truck tuned up, and reset my 70 there. Hang out with Gin and Chris, and say Happy B-day (which I did do over the phone instead). Everything was perfect except one small detail that I missed that totally ruined. I gain hours back on the 8th day of work, true. BUT, I gain them back at MIDNIGHT of the 8th day. Hence, I'll actually have extra hours on the "9th" day. Whoooopppps. So I end up driving a couple hours to our fuel stop in Bentleyville, PA, at the Pilot there (grrr). I swap trailers, got this empty one. Then proceeded to waste more than a day at the worst truck stops, in my opinion. They are only good to get fuel, and shower. That's it. Not good for a nights rest. Not good for a 70 reset....which I must sit for 34 hours. If I had to sit for 34 hours, I usuallly try to park at a truck stop where I'll get at least some wireless internet. And they'll be a TV room where most of the drivers could sit to watch movies. Something to help pass the time. OH well.

I am now some where in Ohio, I have no clue, north of Datona, south of Toledo. Heading to Lima, OH. I actually drove empty all the way from PA to here to pick up a load to St.Paul, MN. I tried to schedule for my truck to be serviced in Mondovi, WI. But they told me they are booked and try another terminal. You know, for a company who wants to keep their trucks in tip top shape and would throw a fit if I don't give it the due oil change, sure likes to blow me off. I was blew off for the Indy shop by the shop personal there earlier. SO even if I did made it to Indy, I would not have the truck serviced anyways. WTF?

Either way, I took I-70 west to I-75 north. More miles than I should have made. BUT, after that shit in PA, I just gave up and did not want to try. I could have took I-70 to.....well, eventually US-30 west to reach where I am sitting at right now. But I just wanted nothing to do with PA anymore, nor any more 2 lane highway driving. Even though US-30 does go mostly 4 lane highways in Ohio, even a little freeway action in Ohio. I was just burnt out. I just wanted something that was a no brainer.....much.

Oh well, abut it.