Holiday Update...............

I’ve been out here now for approximately 37 days.  I need to complete 275 hours of driving time to continue to the next step of getting my own truck.  I have 79.25 hours to go.  If I’m lucky, should have them completed by December 6^th.  Then I will have to test out, hopefully not more than a couple of days, be issued my truck, and complete my first week alone.  That will earn me my bonus pay and I should be able to be home for Christmas.  Seems like I have been out here a lot longer!

My new Trainer (Tiny) has been great.  He’s an owner operator and likes to run his truck hard and be home every other weekend.  I have met his family and spent the Thanksgiving Holiday with them.  We relaxed, ate Turkey, played Texas Hold’em, and watched Dallas Cowboys pull out a sqeaker.  Tiny has taught me a lot and given me great information.  He seems to think I’m doing pretty good, although he cringes every time I miss a gear.  However, I will blame a portion of that on him, because he wants me to float the gears, which is shifting without utilizing the clutch.  Not an easy task!

I try to speak with Valerie (Wife) …………… (My Wife) …………. as often as possible.  Sometimes just listen to her mumble as she is doing her business, but it makes me feel connected to her and the family.  We are checking into a good Truck GPS system to assist me in finding my way around, so if anyone has some information that will help us, pass it on soon.  If my memory serves me, the one were looking at is a 5 inch “Garmin” with lifetime updates of traffic and maps for $288.00.  Also looking at a T-Mobile Springboard Pad or Galaxy Tab Pad, both with unlimited mobile internet.

Well, first paragraph update, 11/26/2011, they gave our load away to someone else 5 minutes before we got there and yes we were on time.  Sat there for 3½ hours, then went back to Tiny’s house for the night, spent the evening helping them set up their Christmas decorations in the front yard.  It was the coldest night of the year with high winds and I’m pretty sure my “A**” froze.  Sunday 11/27/2011, we have a load but it won’t be ready until 6:00 pm.  So I was able to finish my blog update!!!!  This however sets my finish training date forward until about Dec 8^th, 9^th, 10^th, 11^th……………!  Oh well!  Love and miss everyone especially my bed ………….. My wife was a given.   Happy Holidays and wish me luck.  Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Lost My Trainer after just 2 weeks...................

No!  I didn't run over him ................... although there were times ................ he hadn't been home for a few months, so was taking some time off to be with his wife, children, friends and beer.  He did act a bit friendlier the last couple of days and tried to give me as much information as he could.  So he dropped me at the terminal in Phoenix, AZ, they put me up in a hotel (La Quinta) while they figure out who will be my next trainer.  Went to bed early, and spent the next day checking out Phoenix, utilizing the bus system and my own two legs, walked about 7 miles total.  Looked for a game pad for my laptop, so I could do some gaming while sitting on my laurels.  Found a decent one and started looking for a game to play, selected "Duke Nukem" and "Prince of Persia Forever".  What I found out was that I need a new laptop if I want to do any gaming on the road.  So all you rich readers out there, Christmas is just around the corner and computer gaming requires, fast processing speeds and high capacity memory video cards.  I'll probably just get my other Playstation2 from home and bring it on the road, besides I already have lots of games for it.  Or maybe my Game Cube which nobody uses.  Better yet both.  Yaaaaaaa BOTH!

So the next day, Friday 11/04/2011 10:00 am, thought I was going to have another day to explore and return the items that I no longer require.  However, got a phone call, seemed urgent, said, pack, get down to the lobby, check out, sending terminal van to pick you up immediately ..................... I thought "ALRIGHT THE PRESIDENT WANTS TO SEE ME" ....................... My skills and expertise are needed "NOW"!  In record speed, threw everthing in a bag or trash can, checked out, ready, there's the van, in I go.  Arrive at the terminal, circle around to the back, what "No Air Force One".  Pull up to 2 Impala XLT's with a group of 6 men of varing sizes and backgrounds.  Their putting together another "A Team", coming back to reality after my previous disappointment I figured I should wait and find out exactly what's going on.  Approached the group, as one asked "You David?", yes, put your stuff in the back seat of that car and get in the back seat of the other.  Stowed my stuff and climbed in the back seat and buckled up.  Big guy, 6'1" 400 lbs, approached the drivers side and began moving the automatic seat back, when it got to my knees, I said "that's it!", he bent down and with a slight grin, said "sorry", and kept moving the seat back, finally my knees popped apart as the seat moved back until it got within 4 inches of my seat.  Two of the other guys got into the passenger side and the big guy squeezed into the drivers seat.  Trying to be positive, I asked "Anybody know where were going?", Yaaaa ...................... Dallas, TX, should be there in about 17 hours.  Again I won't go into the very boring details of the trip, these few words should describe it appropriately - Cramped, Long, Trying to Sleep, Cussing, Stinky and Crying!  Lots of Crying!