As I suppose it is with most writers, even those wannabe writers like myself, I have to be in the mood to write something. Usually that mood comes after some happening that sparks emotion like anger or pleasure. Sometimes however, it comes after you have a friend that pushes you to write something because he is tired of going to this blog and seeing nothing new. I guess I should be grateful that I actually have a friend that reads this blog and Timm has indeed become a good friend. I jest about his being pushy, even though he was, because it was in good humor. But, he is correct. I often need to be ‘pushed’ to get something done.

With my new career as a truck driver I have many hours, mile after mile, to think. Most of the this driving time I listen to Audio Books. They really passes the time nicely. Often though, I just drive along thinking. As many in my family know I have a fertile mind and i like to think about or question things that go beyond our daily lives. Things like, what is the universe really all about? Or, is this life truly reality or is it a dream? If it is a dream, is it my dream? Stuff like that. I am not sure if I am ready at this time to launch into something that deep so I will keep it light. I’ll talk a little about the truck driving world. Or at least my part of it.

I must admit that I do enjoy driving. I enjoy seeing this wonderful country. I would like see much more if it. So far I have been confined to the western eleven states. If you were to draw a line down from the eastern border of Montana and Wyoming straight south to New Mexico, then I would be in all those west of that line. Beautiful states but I want more.

I was born in Sault Ste. Marie, MI and growing up, I lived mainly in the Midwest. I have family in Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee that I would love to see. I constantly ask my fleet manager for a load going east. In contrast my friend Timm, who I went to truck driving school with, did not want to go east just yet. So as it is with my luck, he gets a load going to North Carolina and I get one to Seattle. I had to call him and tell him how displeased I am with this turn of events. Timm and I went to driving school with nine others. One in our class barely passed by the skin of his teeth. This person was able to later complain to the COO of our trucking company about his lack of miles and the fact that he doesn’t get to go east. Now, according to what I have been told, he gets loads east frequently and gets some 3000+ miles a week. All while the rest of us get 2000 - 2500 and for me… no load east. I have never been known as a big complainer but maybe I should. I mean how can this guy get all he wants and more by bitching and I get less by just trying to be a good driver. Ok, now I am bitching but do I have a reason too? Maybe I need to send this COO an email of my own.

To top things off my fleet manager, who is new on the job, is leaving. Tomorrow being his last day. I will be getting a new fleet manager who is new to dispatching. Oh the joy of breaking in a new person again. They need to become more familiar with each driver so they understand how that driver wants to run. Some of us run hard while others like only getting 1500 miles a week. They also need to understand how long each driver likes to stay out on the road. The winter months I don’t mind being out a month at a time but come late spring and summer, I want to be home more frequently so I can enjoy the nicer weather. The last two dispatchers I had did not seem to care to much about the drivers and I have my reservations about this new person. I have half a mind to ask to be transfered over to Timm’s fleet manager. But, as we all know, even though the grass looks greener on the other side of the proverbial fence, it rarely is. I guess for now I’ll just wait and see.

For those of you reading this that live east of the Mississippi river, I hope to be out your way soon. Darn Timm anyway for getting the load that should have been mine!!