We went into the restaurant tonite to eat. I didn't want to spend much money. I'm a cheapskate and chinch to rival the best of them.
Anywho, the waitress said they don't have a plain dinner salad. We'd have to order the soup and salad bar for $6.99. I didn't want the whole thing but hubby insisted. All the waitress did was to bring our drinks.
So, I'm ticked off I 'have' to buy something I don't want (the soup) for more money than I want to spend, then...get this...hubby leaves her a tip! All she did was bring us our drinks. That was it. No refill or anything. He. Leaves. Her. A. Tip. A tip for doing nothing?? Oh, hell, no.
Hubby did hear about it ALL the way to the truck, believe you me!! I don't think he'll do THAT again!!
Monday, May 31, 2010
I Blind-Side Backed Into A Parking Spot
Yep, I sure did. A little help from my hubby and, voila! I was in.
The other drivers thought I couldn't do it.
I did. hehehe....
The other drivers thought I couldn't do it.
I did. hehehe....
Wait To Be Invited, Already!!
I'm telling you, some of these new drivers are getting on my nerves, big time.
They will pass you and instead of waiting for you to flick your lights to let them know they are clear, they just move right on over. Some cut it pretty damn short too!!
Aren't the trucking schools supposed to teach this stuff to the students?? At least the trainers should know to tell the student. Well, maybe the trainer isn't much farther along in driving than the student, so they don't know either.
It's especially bad in SoCal too. Guys needing to get to Long Beach or whereever will almost knock you off the road. Lord help you if you get hit, you'd never find the clown responsible to make him pay for the damages.
So, for the newbie drivers reading this...when you pass another big rig, wait till the passed rig driver either flicks their lights or hi-beams you to move over. If you are the passed driver, NEVER hi-beam another driver at night, you'll knock out the passing drivers night vision, so settle for flicking your lights.
They will pass you and instead of waiting for you to flick your lights to let them know they are clear, they just move right on over. Some cut it pretty damn short too!!
Aren't the trucking schools supposed to teach this stuff to the students?? At least the trainers should know to tell the student. Well, maybe the trainer isn't much farther along in driving than the student, so they don't know either.
It's especially bad in SoCal too. Guys needing to get to Long Beach or whereever will almost knock you off the road. Lord help you if you get hit, you'd never find the clown responsible to make him pay for the damages.
So, for the newbie drivers reading this...when you pass another big rig, wait till the passed rig driver either flicks their lights or hi-beams you to move over. If you are the passed driver, NEVER hi-beam another driver at night, you'll knock out the passing drivers night vision, so settle for flicking your lights.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Called 911 For Help With Tracheotomy Lady, No Kidding...
You have to read this to believe it, even then, you might not.
Last night we parked at a cardlock truckstop. Hubby got out to go to the bathroom. I was sitting in the driver's seat because I had backed in while hubby has spotted. I saw something out of the corner of my eye. When I really looked, here came this apparition in white tee-shirt, stringy hair and a shoulder bag.
Hubby walked out to see what she wanted, we'd figured that one out (no bra), and upon gazing closer at her, it appeared she had a TRACHEOTOMY thingy in her throat!! She was wheezing that she wanted us to call her husband, that the hospital had called a cab for her and cab driver/he'd dumped her when he found she couldn't pay!!
I didn't know what to do. In addition to all of this, she was drunk too! So, I called 911 and told them to come pick her up to help her. The deputy showed up, talked to her and put her in his car, backseat of course. Then he took off with her to parts unknown.
I truly hope she got help and think it's awful that a hospital would dump a patient but those are times we live in. So sad.
Last night we parked at a cardlock truckstop. Hubby got out to go to the bathroom. I was sitting in the driver's seat because I had backed in while hubby has spotted. I saw something out of the corner of my eye. When I really looked, here came this apparition in white tee-shirt, stringy hair and a shoulder bag.
Hubby walked out to see what she wanted, we'd figured that one out (no bra), and upon gazing closer at her, it appeared she had a TRACHEOTOMY thingy in her throat!! She was wheezing that she wanted us to call her husband, that the hospital had called a cab for her and cab driver/he'd dumped her when he found she couldn't pay!!
I didn't know what to do. In addition to all of this, she was drunk too! So, I called 911 and told them to come pick her up to help her. The deputy showed up, talked to her and put her in his car, backseat of course. Then he took off with her to parts unknown.
I truly hope she got help and think it's awful that a hospital would dump a patient but those are times we live in. So sad.
Been Gone Awhile
I've been moving out of our house. We decided to live in our truck for a little bit to save money. We have a new spot but want it paid for quickly, ergo, we moved out of our old house and am now, um, 'homeless'.
However, the upshot will be worth it and it feels pretty damn good. Will keep you updated.
However, the upshot will be worth it and it feels pretty damn good. Will keep you updated.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Yep, A Freakin' Refer Parked Beside Us
He had the whole damn parking lot and picked the space beside us to park...
My rig is a magnet for refers. Just had to be, eh?
My rig is a magnet for refers. Just had to be, eh?
Friday, May 14, 2010
All My Pick-Ups Went Superbly Today, Oh Yeah....
I am ever so surprised, too!!
Nothing went wrong, not one bit. I found all the places on my first try. All directions were good. The customers were all happy people, not one crabby one in the bunch. Traffic was good, people were actually paying attention to driving laws. Got a great shower in a great truckstop. Had a wonderful dinner in the restaurant. (Here's one you won't believe...) People actually smiled at us and spoke nicely...I know, I know...we're in a parallel universe.
Wonder when I'm going to pay for all this, huh?? Makes me very suspicious! Still, all in all, a very good day!
Nothing went wrong, not one bit. I found all the places on my first try. All directions were good. The customers were all happy people, not one crabby one in the bunch. Traffic was good, people were actually paying attention to driving laws. Got a great shower in a great truckstop. Had a wonderful dinner in the restaurant. (Here's one you won't believe...) People actually smiled at us and spoke nicely...I know, I know...we're in a parallel universe.
Wonder when I'm going to pay for all this, huh?? Makes me very suspicious! Still, all in all, a very good day!
Why Do Bobtails Park In Regular Spaces??
Someone answer me that!! I'm so irritated about that. Doesn't do any good, just lets me be irritated.
The bobtails need to park in short spaces or even in 4 wheeler parking, not in the big rig parking spaces.
Okay, rant over.
The bobtails need to park in short spaces or even in 4 wheeler parking, not in the big rig parking spaces.
Okay, rant over.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Best Dam Post Ever
This was on a horse board I frequent. So funny and not so funny when you consider our guv'mint. Read and enjoy!!
http://www.welcomehomeveteran.org/DamBeavers.html
http://www.welcomehomeveteran.org/DamBeavers.html
Gotta Get An Aircard
Gonna have to spring for one of those puppies, I guess.
I am at a truckstop on MO and waiting to hop into KC to unload in the morning. The 'net doesn't go out into the parking lot so I had to come into the truckers' lounge to use the net. This is fine and good but there are a couple of truckers in here complaining about their employer and being loud about it. It's okay to grouse about your employer (Lord knows I do at times) but they could be quieter, not where they can be heard in downtown KC, alright???!!
Usually, I sit in my truck but can't get a signal out there. Right now, it sure seems worth the $60 a month for an aircard...I can barely hear myself think....
I am at a truckstop on MO and waiting to hop into KC to unload in the morning. The 'net doesn't go out into the parking lot so I had to come into the truckers' lounge to use the net. This is fine and good but there are a couple of truckers in here complaining about their employer and being loud about it. It's okay to grouse about your employer (Lord knows I do at times) but they could be quieter, not where they can be heard in downtown KC, alright???!!
Usually, I sit in my truck but can't get a signal out there. Right now, it sure seems worth the $60 a month for an aircard...I can barely hear myself think....
Roadside Checkpoints, Coming In June
I read on one of my personal blog-thingy's that sometime around the first of June, like 7-8-9, I think, that DOT is doing the roadside checkpoints. I may have the dates wrong but the point is, the DOT is doing this and for the driver to be prepared.
So, have your logs in order and your big rig in good shape. Drive safely and really pay extra attention to the road, don't bring attention to yourself. Revenues are down all over the country and so Smokey is looking to make up the shortfall. Don't help them out!! My logs are in great shape and my truck is well taken care of, so I don't think I'll have any problems. *fingers crossed*
Personally, I think I'm going home for those days and skip the fun. Hehehe....
So, have your logs in order and your big rig in good shape. Drive safely and really pay extra attention to the road, don't bring attention to yourself. Revenues are down all over the country and so Smokey is looking to make up the shortfall. Don't help them out!! My logs are in great shape and my truck is well taken care of, so I don't think I'll have any problems. *fingers crossed*
Personally, I think I'm going home for those days and skip the fun. Hehehe....
Union Shops, The Death Of America
When we take a load, if I suspect it's a union shop, I try to get out of taking the load. Most times I have to take the load anyway but I'd rather not.
To load or unload takes forever. You have to deal with breaks, lunches and just flat obstinate idiots who know they hold the power in their grubby hands and are going to make you wait.
The worst, IMHO, is Boeing in Seattle. Once I had to unload there and it was a 20 minute unload, simple and easy. It took them a whopping three hours to unload!! Of course, I made the forklift guy mad and I'm pretty sure he took his sweet time.
Another one is a shop in Louisville and I had to wait till the next day to get loaded and it took them about 5 hours to load some steel. With all the breaks and shift changes, I thought we'd might as well move in and take up residence.
Another one, I went to some place out in the middle of nowhere where they were building a power plant of some sort. A bunch of guys were sitting off to the side, doing nothing. The guardshack lady told me that they came to work every day and sat around all day, doing nothing, and then went home and did the same the next day. I was appalled. As usual, it took forever to get unloaded.
What is with this?? I can do without unions for the loading and unloading. I will avoid union places to the best of my ability. They take too long and it messes with my logbook. "Change your logbook" they tell me. Um, oh, hell no!! The DOT can do more to me than a union shop can and with the way the DOT is getting more power, I'm not messing with them!!
America was built with blood, sweat and tears, not sitting on your butt and collecting big bucks for nothing. I guess, if I were smart, I'd join a union and do the same but something in me wants to work honestly for my money and be proud I did a good job. I can't do nothing and then get compensated for same and feel good about myself. Just can't do it.
Unions can go the way of the Do-Do bird and it wouldn't bother me a bit. Have I made myself clear??
To load or unload takes forever. You have to deal with breaks, lunches and just flat obstinate idiots who know they hold the power in their grubby hands and are going to make you wait.
The worst, IMHO, is Boeing in Seattle. Once I had to unload there and it was a 20 minute unload, simple and easy. It took them a whopping three hours to unload!! Of course, I made the forklift guy mad and I'm pretty sure he took his sweet time.
Another one is a shop in Louisville and I had to wait till the next day to get loaded and it took them about 5 hours to load some steel. With all the breaks and shift changes, I thought we'd might as well move in and take up residence.
Another one, I went to some place out in the middle of nowhere where they were building a power plant of some sort. A bunch of guys were sitting off to the side, doing nothing. The guardshack lady told me that they came to work every day and sat around all day, doing nothing, and then went home and did the same the next day. I was appalled. As usual, it took forever to get unloaded.
What is with this?? I can do without unions for the loading and unloading. I will avoid union places to the best of my ability. They take too long and it messes with my logbook. "Change your logbook" they tell me. Um, oh, hell no!! The DOT can do more to me than a union shop can and with the way the DOT is getting more power, I'm not messing with them!!
America was built with blood, sweat and tears, not sitting on your butt and collecting big bucks for nothing. I guess, if I were smart, I'd join a union and do the same but something in me wants to work honestly for my money and be proud I did a good job. I can't do nothing and then get compensated for same and feel good about myself. Just can't do it.
Unions can go the way of the Do-Do bird and it wouldn't bother me a bit. Have I made myself clear??
A Reminder To Male Truckers
Never, never, never, ever, ever, ever stand in the way of a female trucker and the bathroom.
You've been warned before and here's another one. Read it and remember it.
You've been warned before and here's another one. Read it and remember it.
The Keystone Kops...A Loading Story....
Swear to God, you would have had to have been there to believe this loading story.
Hubby and I went to this teensy little town in the middle of Ohio to pick up a load. I backed our rig in and then we set back and watched the loading.
Suffice it to say, it was pretty damn entertaining!
First off, the guys kind of ran around like the old cartoon Keystone Cops of yore, know what I mean?? If not, I mean they were all over the place and no rhyme or reason to anything they did. It had to be a union shop because there were too many of them for the job (more on Union shops later or in the next post). No one seemed to be a leader, well, there was one guy with a huge, walrus mustashe (sp??) but even he seemed to just roll around, no pun intended.
Due to deck space on my flatbed, they had to reconfigure the load to make it fit. Alright, simple enough it would seem. Someone had put together the load in such a way and strapped with the metal strapping that it wouldn't fit. So, walrus-guy decides to change it around. While he's moving the whole shebang with the forkllift, the load falls off the prongs. Instead of stopping and picking things up, he continues shoving it down the way. Nothing happens to the load, other than a torn box (of which I made them sign that it wasn't my fault the box was torn, oh yes, I've learned to do THAT).
Okay, then the other 'helpers' toddle over and they pick boxes up and restrap, but again, no rhyme or reason. Just a wad here and a wad there. Then they put cull pieces on the tops and bottoms (cull pieces are pieces of wood or whatever that will be thrown away at the end of the journey, they aren't any good) and start loading. Except that the load is lopsided this way and that. Ended up, the back of the load looked like one of those Tetris games when you're almost out of room. Yep, that's how bad it was.
Hubby and I are sitting on the sidelines watching in amazement. What we saw were a bunch of grown men roaming around and putting things here and there and tripping over each other and redoing the load numerous times and....get what I'm saying?? Another guy who works there happened by while on his break, noticed the commotion and said, sotto voce, "Tweedledum and Tweedledees" and continued walking like he hadn't said a word.
No kidding.
I finally piped up and said this thing can't go 'there' and that thing needs to go 'here'. In general, I made myslef really, really popular with them. Hubby got up to help them with the plastic sheeting that was required and it was all he could do to keep from strangling one or all of them. Hubby doesn't get excited about much and is a calm guy but theses clowns about caused him to lose it.
Honestly, while sitting and watching, the whole scene looked like the Keystone Cops movie, just a bag or human-worms wiggling around and not getting anything done.
I was going to end here but I have to tell my faithful readers, when we got to the other end of the trip (we did end up legal, which is the only way I haul anyway), the customer wanted to know whatinthehell had happened to his load. I started to 'splain about the Keystone boys but he stopped me and said that almost every load they get out of there looks like that. This one just happened to be particularly bad. At any rate, the freight got there safely and in one piece, sort of, and everyone was happy.
Hubby and I went to this teensy little town in the middle of Ohio to pick up a load. I backed our rig in and then we set back and watched the loading.
Suffice it to say, it was pretty damn entertaining!
First off, the guys kind of ran around like the old cartoon Keystone Cops of yore, know what I mean?? If not, I mean they were all over the place and no rhyme or reason to anything they did. It had to be a union shop because there were too many of them for the job (more on Union shops later or in the next post). No one seemed to be a leader, well, there was one guy with a huge, walrus mustashe (sp??) but even he seemed to just roll around, no pun intended.
Due to deck space on my flatbed, they had to reconfigure the load to make it fit. Alright, simple enough it would seem. Someone had put together the load in such a way and strapped with the metal strapping that it wouldn't fit. So, walrus-guy decides to change it around. While he's moving the whole shebang with the forkllift, the load falls off the prongs. Instead of stopping and picking things up, he continues shoving it down the way. Nothing happens to the load, other than a torn box (of which I made them sign that it wasn't my fault the box was torn, oh yes, I've learned to do THAT).
Okay, then the other 'helpers' toddle over and they pick boxes up and restrap, but again, no rhyme or reason. Just a wad here and a wad there. Then they put cull pieces on the tops and bottoms (cull pieces are pieces of wood or whatever that will be thrown away at the end of the journey, they aren't any good) and start loading. Except that the load is lopsided this way and that. Ended up, the back of the load looked like one of those Tetris games when you're almost out of room. Yep, that's how bad it was.
Hubby and I are sitting on the sidelines watching in amazement. What we saw were a bunch of grown men roaming around and putting things here and there and tripping over each other and redoing the load numerous times and....get what I'm saying?? Another guy who works there happened by while on his break, noticed the commotion and said, sotto voce, "Tweedledum and Tweedledees" and continued walking like he hadn't said a word.
No kidding.
I finally piped up and said this thing can't go 'there' and that thing needs to go 'here'. In general, I made myslef really, really popular with them. Hubby got up to help them with the plastic sheeting that was required and it was all he could do to keep from strangling one or all of them. Hubby doesn't get excited about much and is a calm guy but theses clowns about caused him to lose it.
Honestly, while sitting and watching, the whole scene looked like the Keystone Cops movie, just a bag or human-worms wiggling around and not getting anything done.
I was going to end here but I have to tell my faithful readers, when we got to the other end of the trip (we did end up legal, which is the only way I haul anyway), the customer wanted to know whatinthehell had happened to his load. I started to 'splain about the Keystone boys but he stopped me and said that almost every load they get out of there looks like that. This one just happened to be particularly bad. At any rate, the freight got there safely and in one piece, sort of, and everyone was happy.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
I Gotta Start Writing My Ideas Down
So many things happen on the road and I think of putting them in this blog and then when I'm on the 'net at a truckstop, I forget just about everything that has happened!!
So, I'm really gonna try to write my ideas down right after something really good happens, good, bad or ugly and then I can relay it on to my faithful readers!!
Please bear with me on this, I'll get things right!!
So, I'm really gonna try to write my ideas down right after something really good happens, good, bad or ugly and then I can relay it on to my faithful readers!!
Please bear with me on this, I'll get things right!!
Told A Male Trucker To Move His Rig. Yep, I'm Still Alive To Tell The Tale
Good Lord, what is with some people??
Hubby was driving and we pulled into a Pilot and there were a lot of rigs waiting to fuel, so Hubs picks a line and pops the brakes. We sit and sit and sit some more. The rig in front in the fuel island isn't moving. The trucks to the side, are. We don't move. Hubby looks out and sees the guy in front finally put the spout in his tanks. Then he pulls up a bit to do his refer tank and for some odd bodkin reason, BACKS UP and pulls his brakes.
Now, we're getting ticked. All we wanted was to stop in and grab some sandwiches and get back on the road. But, nooooo, this clown is taking his sweet time.
Finally, he pulls up but not far enough for us if we were to fuel. Remember, we have a long wheel base KW and the tanks are towards the back, not under the doors.
Patience not being one of my many virtues, I jump out of the truck before Hubs can stop me (I wonder if he even tried....hmmmm...) and I walked towards the front of his truck but he was already heading into the Pilot. I followed him and caught up with him whilst he was in line. So, in front of God and everyone, I said..."How much longer are you going to be in line?? We're behind you and it's been 30 minutes." I forgot to mention, I had my fists on my hips and a direct way of standing.
He was so taken aback that he just stuttered, "I'm getting my ticket and be right out." I turned and walked out of the door with a 'thank you' thrown over my shoulder. He kind of pulled himself together and talked to the others in line about how he was trying to hurry and there was a problem with his card (of course there was!!).
At any rate, it was extremely satisfying to let loose on a nitwit who thinks the world is his oyster and it doesn't matter whom else he inconveniences! I'll just betcha he hasn't had ANYone to speak to him in such a way in years, especially a female driver!!
Yep, felt pretty good!!
Hubby was driving and we pulled into a Pilot and there were a lot of rigs waiting to fuel, so Hubs picks a line and pops the brakes. We sit and sit and sit some more. The rig in front in the fuel island isn't moving. The trucks to the side, are. We don't move. Hubby looks out and sees the guy in front finally put the spout in his tanks. Then he pulls up a bit to do his refer tank and for some odd bodkin reason, BACKS UP and pulls his brakes.
Now, we're getting ticked. All we wanted was to stop in and grab some sandwiches and get back on the road. But, nooooo, this clown is taking his sweet time.
Finally, he pulls up but not far enough for us if we were to fuel. Remember, we have a long wheel base KW and the tanks are towards the back, not under the doors.
Patience not being one of my many virtues, I jump out of the truck before Hubs can stop me (I wonder if he even tried....hmmmm...) and I walked towards the front of his truck but he was already heading into the Pilot. I followed him and caught up with him whilst he was in line. So, in front of God and everyone, I said..."How much longer are you going to be in line?? We're behind you and it's been 30 minutes." I forgot to mention, I had my fists on my hips and a direct way of standing.
He was so taken aback that he just stuttered, "I'm getting my ticket and be right out." I turned and walked out of the door with a 'thank you' thrown over my shoulder. He kind of pulled himself together and talked to the others in line about how he was trying to hurry and there was a problem with his card (of course there was!!).
At any rate, it was extremely satisfying to let loose on a nitwit who thinks the world is his oyster and it doesn't matter whom else he inconveniences! I'll just betcha he hasn't had ANYone to speak to him in such a way in years, especially a female driver!!
Yep, felt pretty good!!
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Sooo Tired....
I had a lot of things to post about but I'm whooped and going to bed. Will post the next time I'm on the net, just not right now. A girl has to get her sleep!! 'Night to all for the time being.
How Can You Be A Flatbedder And....
Be able to park in the handicapped spaces at truckstops?? Inquiring minds want to know.
I don't have anything against handicapped spaces (except when I can't find a freakin' space and that's the only ones open) but yesterday we saw an empty flatbed in one.
Just one of those things you have to mull about.
I don't have anything against handicapped spaces (except when I can't find a freakin' space and that's the only ones open) but yesterday we saw an empty flatbed in one.
Just one of those things you have to mull about.
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