Sorry I have not updated as often as I thought I would but there really is not much new to say. Yesterday the driver that I am going to be training with was in Colorado and dispatch is trying to get him a load this way. In theory, if he could get the perfect loads he would need right away, he could be here by Thursday but I am really doubting he will be here before Monday.
I drove one of my buddies trucks up to where he gets it serviced because a guy just quit and dropped it off. That was a very weird feeling but only took me about 30 seconds before I was doing things again without thinking about it. It felt weird and good at the same time being back in a big truck. It also amazed me at the way his trucks were maintained. The truck had 648,000 miles on it and drive like it was brand new. Even the transmission felt like it was brand new and the clutch was very tight. Going to be fun working out my calf muscles again trying to push in that clutch. I had forgotten just how much more strength it takes to push in a 18 wheeler clutch than a pick up truck.
On a side note, Heather had to be rushed to the Emergency Room last night. She was at a friends house doing some food tasting they were having and ate something that had a hot pepper in it without knowing it had anything in it. She grabbed the list of ingredients and ran out the door telling her mom to explain. She called me very scared and I talked her to the Emergency Room where they kept her until around midnight for observations. She was instructed to take 2 Benadryl every 4 hours for the next 24 hours because apparently if the Benadryl wears off, she can have another reaction because the peppers are still in her system. I have not heard from her today but she was much better on the way home last night and I felt if she took the Benadryl, she would be fine. I really pray she remembers to take her Epi Pen with her from now on and not just think she has it.
I sure pray God delivers her from that allergy some day because in the time I have known Heather, she has ate something like this at least 5 or 6 times and I really don’t want to be a widow at 35 due to a stupid pepper.
Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there.
I woke up and opened my Father’s Day presents earlier from Tiffany and heather. My cards were awesome and I am looking forward to watching the movies I was given as well. I nearly cried when I read heather’s message to me on FaceBook earlier today and I am such a lucky man to have such a wonderful family. They are the reason I am doing what I am doing and I can’t wait to see them again.
Today is very uneventful as we are watching NASCAR all afternoon. I am not really into NASCAR but my buddy is and so is his girlfriend. They plan to explain some of it to me so it won’t seem like all you watch for 5 hours is cars going in circles. They insist there is far more to it than that.
As I said in a comment response, I can’t post pictures of my buddy or his house because he doesn’t really want his employees to have a chance to see what he makes. I kinda understand that and will respect his wishes. If you know the Charlotte area, lets just say his house is in “The Point” and that the house a few houses down is for sale, asking price 1.5 million. We looked at a house the other day that the CEO of Lowes owns and it was 13,000 square feet. I really hope to post a picture of it because it is a very neat looking house. Found some very nice areas close to where my buddy lives that are just a little more than what we live in now which would make a nice location but I doubt heather and I really want to move anytime let alone to a place that is regularly in the 90’s.
It is very inspiring to know that my buddy went from 2 trucks last year and trying to file bankruptcy to what his business is now in just a little over a year. I am very excited to see what happens in a few years when I get started and things get going more. Money isn’t everything and certainly not a worthy motivation but it will be a great feeling when we can be debt free and not have to stress so much.
Wow, the past couple days are a blur and I am still not sure I am awake right now.
I am so dead tired I can’t even figure out what to type on here but I really do promise I will find time to update it tomorrow with the pictures I have taken while here.
What a long day today. I woke up with 15 minutes to spare before I would have missed the van to the Werner terminal. Got there and waited until nearly 11 before they gave me my ID then sent me on my way, well they did at least take me to the airport to get a rental car. I then called my friend Bill to arrange a rental to his house and sat waiting until around 3:30 PM.
I went back to the hotel and loaded the car with my things and hit the road. Traveled to Richmond VA and shut down in a RedRoof Inn for the night. The room was amazingly only $49.00 a night and it is very clean and there were police around the area so I feel safe. I went to the hotel across the street and next to this one and one wanted $168.00 a night and the other wanted $129.00 a night. I won’t name them because I do not feel blogging negative things about a company is productive or something God would want me to do but I sure am glad I decided to go across the street.
Going to get up in the morning and travel the rest of the way to Charlotte NC then my friend should meet me at the airport and take me to his house for a few days.
Miss my family tonight. Apparently Walter got into the bathroom and found a razor in the shower that he proceeded to eat. Heather said she heard him under the bed and he was chewing on something so she went to look and it looked like a crime scene. She finally determined he was just nicked many times with the razor and she did find the razor blade itself and got it taken care of. Walter is still resting and bandaged but doing well.
This was just another lesson in needing to “doggy proof” the house because if there is a way, Walter will find it.
Well I finished Orientation today but I still have to wait until the morning and speak to the Dr again so she can review medical paperwork my doctor had to send then I should be cleared and get into a rental car and head to see my buddy Bill in Moorseville NC. I am looking forward to seeing Bill because he and I have not seen one another in about 5 years. From there, I should be leaving with one of his trainer drivers to co-drive for 140 hours, which should take a few weeks, and then going to a terminal to test out and be a qualafied driver from there. I will then head back to Bill’s house and pick up my truck where I will go back out for 3 weeks and then go home to see my wife and daughter.
I am so excited at times for the new drivers that are fresh meat and at the same time so glad I am no longer in their position. I have spent the past 2 days trying to help everyone understand what to expect and telling them things I wish I had of known before I went out the first time.
I sure miss my wife and Tiffany and can’t wait to see them again. Heather seems to have had a difficult and busy day at work today and Tiffany had a blast at the beach with her friend. I hope to talk to them later and hear more about it but I barely have signal.
Well today was a very long and boring day as expected. Lots of paperwork and videos that had very little to do with what I am doing because I am not a new student. I also managed to take my physical and drug test. Just waiting on a fax from one of my doctors and I will have some more videos to watch tomorrow then I should be heading to Moorseville NC to hang out with Bill.
The weather here is very overcast and cloudy. I am guessing there is rain in the future again.
I hear Heather and Tiffany had a great time hanging at the beach today with a friend of Tiffany’s and her friend’s mother. I sure would love to have gone with them and can’t wait to see them again.
My final assignment is going well so far and I am just about to post what I have. May try to play some LOTRO tonight with heather and go to bed.
Hello everyone.
Today I left Delaware and took the family to AllenTown PA to check into my hotel for orientation. This was a very fun trip but lots of rain. I am still a bit excited about things but also missing my family as they drive home.
Tiffany seemed to be very upset when I was dropped off and we hugged for a while and took pictures that they have with them. Heather is also upset but seemingly excited for what this means for all of us. I already miss my wife and can’t believe that I will be away from her for so long before I can finally see her again.
I am a bit disappointed that I may have to stay longer than I thought for orientation. I should find out tomorrow but currently this could be at least 4 to 6 days long.
I don’t currently have any pictures to post and my signal is very weak here so not sure how easy it will be to do my school work this week.
More to come tomorrow.
Next update.
Apparently I may only be here for 2 days after all. The 4 day thing seems to be for new students who have to wait on a trainer. Since I am not going out with a trainer I should not have to wait that long. Also, the sprint card and Verizon 3G suck here but the hotel has an open WiFi that I can use that has broadband at least.
Well, it is nice to start to see days where temperatures reach the 60’s again. The snow has melted and we are looking forward to friends this weekend that are coming from New York and Pennsylvania. Just a few more weeks we are celebrating Easter and I am excited. We have friends from Connecticut coming down to visit and I get to go Trout fishing with a fly rod fir the first time ever!
Stay tuned for pictures of the trip and the garden as we re-plant this year.
Feb 6th 2010 a major snow storm blew through Delaware. We currently have around 3 feet of snow and are expecting more to come in a few days. The power ended up going out at the house at 2 AM and managed to come back on around 11 AM. Thank you anyone that was out during this storm and working hard to return power to everyone. Cable was out until Sunday AM.
The previous picture was before we dug some snow out so the dogs would have a place to go outside.
Then I checked the back door.
Well as you may know, the East Coast got hit with some snow over night.
What a pretty view of the street.
There is a road there somewhere right?
