The Beauty of Modern Technology

As I mentioned in my last posting there were a few glitches in the new truck, most of them involved electronics.  Now, I'm not totally illiterate in the field but I am in no way an expert either.  While we were able to get answers from the manufacturer concerning the major stuff, we were not able to get the TV nor the dvd player to work.  The dvd player kind of worked:  all movies were in black & white and there was NO volume.  We had to wait until we had a few days down time so be able to talk to someone and have them walk us through it.  I called the company that built the BlueRay/DVD player and the tech walked me through.  As it turned out, the installers used the wrong type of cable from the player to the TV and had it plugged in wrong.  We could use the wrong cable but to then watch the TV we would have to change cables from the player to the satellite and back again.  DUMB !!!  So we bought the correct cable and from that point we had DVD ability.  Yay!   After that I tried to pair our Directv box to our satellite.  I discovered the change I needed to make but could not get access.  By this time it was late and we decided to just watch a movie.

It's the next morning now.  After breakfast I called Directv and explained to the person what I needed help with.  She couldn't help but said she would transfer me to someone that could.  Ok.  The next voice I heard was the voice of the automated system.  Doesn't it just figure?  I had to go through the system and do her suggestions.  When she finally asked if this helped with my problem I said "NO" very emphatically.  I was immediately transferred to a real person.  This man was so polite and explained what I would need to do.  The screen was frozen and took about 10 minutes to clear.  We had a nice chat while he waited on the phone with me.  He promised not to hang up until I was completely happy with the results.  Amazing!  He explained that in order to pair the two things I had to put the first setting on something obscure, go to the second setting and set it according to directions for the satellite, and then go back to the first setting and reset it to the needed setting.  And now for the test ride!  Hallelujah, it all works!  We finally have TV & movies on January 18.  Now I am a happy camper!! 

We're heading for Colorado for delivery tomorrow and then Wednesday we head to Washington D.C.
I may not be able to blog for a few days but I will be back.  Until next time . . . . . . . .

And The New Year Begins

Let me start by telling you about our Christmas vacation.  We took our daughter, Robyn, and our grandson, Caleb, to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee for a very "down-home" country Christmas in a log cabin in the Smokies.  Ron's sister, Donna, joined us from Holiday, Florida.  We had a wonderful, joyous, wet time.  It rained every day and was damp and cold.  But we had the best time.  Donna is already planning for next Christmas.  We visited Dollywood on the only day that didn't rain.  It was very chilly but no wind or rain while we were there.  What a blessing to get away for a while to celebrate Christ's birth and spend a week with family.

Now, on to the new year.  We started by having Directv installed in our home so that we could have the satellite tv in our truck.  On January 3 we drove to Mansfield to pick up our brand new 2013 truck from the owner.  While we were in Ohio we took the truck to have the Quallcomm installed.  This is a computer that FedEx uses for our communications while on the road.  It also is our electronic log so we no longer have to fill out paper log books.  The next morning it had to be taken for installation of the Ameriscanner.  This is the recording device for our temperature-controlled loads (pharmaceuticals, art loads, etc.).  This took longer than anticipated and resulted in a later appointment for the branding.  After the installation was completed the truck had to be taken to Akron for branding-the FedEx lettering on the doors and box.  While Ron took the truck to Akron I took the car and headed back home.  Ron arrived @ 3:30 a.m. on Saturday the 5th.  We had a marathon packing time and headed back to Green, Ohio on Sunday afternoon.  Monday noon on January 7 we were at the FedEx main office lot for a 2 1/2 day testing of the reefer to make sure it is able to maintain different temperature settings.  After this was finished on Wednesday we had to do a dry run for at least 8 hrs.  We were finally finished with all the testing by 10 p.m. Wednesday and able to start running again on Thursday morning.  During this first week in the new truck we drove almost until we dropped.  We went from Ohio to New Jersey to Pennsylvania to California to Texas and back to Arizona.  At this point I was almost out of driveable hours and we had to spend a couple days outside of Phoenix.  During all this time we had no TV, no dvd's, just radio.  But I'm saving that story for my next blog.   So, until next time . . . . . . . . .

Life on the Road

I'm sorry that it has taken me more than two weeks to post this.  Ron and I have been driving our little heads off.  We have been all up and down the east coast from Massachusetts to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida to West Virginia to California to Las Vegas, back to California and now we're sitting in Buffalo, New York.  There were several small runs in between some of these runs also.  But a vast majority of them were loads that we had to baby-sit and had just enough time to deliver.  On a lot of these back-to-back runs our poor truck never stopped except to fill up with more fuel--24/7.  This doesn't leave too much time for anything.  Including getting sick.

We have learned one thing in all of this---it's NO fun getting sick in 100 inches of space.  Ron got the flu one day and about 36 hrs. later I came down with it.  It took the wind out of all our sails and  required 4-5 days of recovery each.  I'd hate to think what would have happened if we hadn't had our flu shots!   Hopefully we're recovered but are trying to ward off colds and other seasonal bugs.

We want to take this time to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.  It's Saturday evening as I write this and we are hoping to be home by Wednesday evening.  We will be going into a new (2013) truck the first of the year and must return this one to its owner on Thursday, which means cleaning out to the barest as soon as we get home.  Shopping for each other, packing, and stocking supplies for our trip come Friday & Saturday.  Robyn and Caleb will be spending the night Saturday night with us and 4:00a..m. Sunday we will be leaving for a week in the Smoky Mountains of Pigeon Forge.  We've rented a cabin for the week and Ron's sister is joining us from Florida.  We will be going to the United Methodist church nearby for Christmas Eve service @ 11p.m., having an old fashioned family Christmas day, and going to Dollywood the day after.  How's that for a down-home Smoky Mountain Christmas?  We are all so excited!  Poor Caleb thought time was moving too slow (he lost a week in his counting) and I think Donna (Ron's sister) has gone way overboard.  Probably because we are the only family she has left and it is our first Christmas all together.  I'm just looking forward to some much-needed rest and relaxation.  Then on Saturday, the 29th we pack everything up and head back to our respective homes.  We'll be back in our own place in time to usher in the New Year.  We may be leaving again on the 1st if we have to take the new truck to the FedEx main office in Ohio for testing that must be done before we can take it on the road.  At this moment the owner isn't sure if he is doing it or wants us to.  And I'm not going to worry about it until after Dec. 30!  

We wish you the best and may God shine His blessings on each one.   Until next time . . . . . . . .

HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone from the outskirts of Rochester, New York.  The weather is really great-sunshine but cool and a bit windy.  This is the third Thanksgiving day in a row that we have been on the road and unable to go home.  Fed Ex does a fine job of letting us celebrate in different parts of the country. 

The first year we were in LaVergne, Tennessee and fairly new to this business of over-the-road trucking, having only been doing it for about 3 months.  We used our GPS to see what kind of places were in the area.  We were fortunate enough to find a Cracker Barrel nearby.  It was a little difficult finding a place to park our truck because the lot was already full when we got there.  Luckily the restaurant is next to a warehouse type business that was closed for the holiday and we parked there along with some overflow customers.  The meal was wonderful!  Turkey, ham, stuffing, gravy, sweet potatoes, cranberry relish, green beans, biscuits or cornbread, drink, and dessert for under $9.  And absolutely delicious. 

The second year we were in Elkton, Maryland and, again, found a close Cracker Barrel.  Complete with the same traditional meal and at the same great price.  Another terrific meal to complete our day.  On that Sunday we worshipped at the Elkton United Methodist Church and were told that the church does a community-wide Thanksgiving Day dinner each year.  If we had only known!

This year we're in Rochester and again dined at Cracker Barrel for our Thanksgiving dinner.  And can you believe it--the same traditional food we've enjoyed for 3 years now at the same price.  For the second year in a tow we had to bring our Pecan Streusel Pumpkin Pie home in containers because we were too full.  Two and a half hours and we're still too full.  I've heard from family all across the country today and learned they're all doing well.  A great thing to be thankful for!

We were able to visit with my niece and her family in Houston last weekend.  We had a wonderful time at McDonald's with them.  Jessica, age 8, and Joshua, age 4, have grown so much and are doing so well.  They are such fun to watch and play with.  I wish we could get to Texas to see them more often.  I wish we could get to all the places we have relatives but only time will tell how soon we can visit anyone.

Today I'm thankful for the freedom we have in this country, the blessings provided by our loving God, for my wonderful husband and great family and for more things than I have room for in this blog.  I hope every one of you has a time of reflection and relaxation this weekend and is not overwhelmed by Black Friday shopping.  Until next time . . . . . .

Soooo. . . Here We Sit

We were having a good run until Friday morning.  About 7a.m. the water pump on the truck went out stranding us in the Poconos of Pennsylvania.  We had to wait about 4 hours for a tow truck to come get us.  That's when the fun really started!  FedEx didn't want to transfer our freight for a number of reasons so the tow truck had to tow us 60 miles to our delivery, back us to the dock to unload, and then tow us to a TA truckstop in Bloomsbury, New Jersey for repairs.  During all this towing I rode in the sleeper on the bunk with a rather large black dog named Rocky.  I don't know what there is but most dogs love me.  Must be my animal magnetism, I guess!  Rocky proceeded to wrap himself bodily around me and go sound asleep for much of the ride.  The rest of the time he was letting me know just how much he loved me.  Finally we arrived at the TA.  Good-bye, Rocky.

Our owner had made repair arrangements for us and he was told that the part was here.  WRONG!!!
Ron checked us in and was told we would have to wait about 3 hours before they would be ready for us and they still had to check inventory to see if they had the water pump.  In the meantime we went in for some dinner.  The garage called us to say they would have to go out to get the pump and we had to wait until Saturday to get it since they were already closed.  Wonderful!  So we spent a night in a parking space with no TV- the satellite dome couldn't get a signal.  That's ok, we watched a DVD and called it an early night due to stress.  In the morning we checked with the garage again, someone was on the way with the part so we'd get a call when it came in.  Meanwhile Ron discovered an oil leak.  It seems that there is a hairline crack in the oil pan and when the engine warms up the oil runs out.  When it rains, it pours and this must be monsoon season!  The TA is able to fix the water pump but not the oil pan.  While repairing the pump it was determined that the thermostats also must be changed to avoid further complications, but they have to order them and can't get them until Monday.  In the interim, our truck is torn apart in the garage and this is where we're sleeping.  The garage is open for repairs 24 hrs. a day.  It doesn't bother me too much but Ron is a light sleeper. 
This just keeps getting better and better! 

When the thermostats arrive on Monday morning we should be able to get out of the garage by mid-afternoon.  TA is going to try to find a way to stall the oil flow because we will have to drive about 40 miles to a Freightliner dealer to get the oil pan replaced.  Who knows how long we'll have to wait before getting into the garage there.  Nor do we know how long it will take to fix it once we're in.  So Monday is pretty much a bust as well!  I think I wish we were still back home.  It's taking me some time to get acclimated to being back on the road without all of this ga-ga going on.   Oh, well, I suppose this, too, shall pass.  I'll keep you posted.   Until next time . . . . . . .

ON THE COLD ROAD AGAIN !!!

I'm baaccckkkk!   After having been off work for almost 4 months I have found my way back to blogging.  It has taken this week to get back in the swing of things and trying to remember what to do in all the paperwork.  UGH !!  I've had a taste of what retirement might be like and have decided that I'm not quite ready for that just yet.  Of course having eye problems didn't help the situation.  That is all taken care of now and life is almost back to normal.  YAY!  I read 6 books in the first 4 weeks after the second cataract surgery. 

We left home Wednesday noon, picked up a load that took us to New Jersey for Thursday morning.  Just where we wanted to go, especially after the storm.  We saw some of the damage, a lot of power outages and business closings.  The gas stations that were opened had lines miles long waiting for fuel.  You'd think they were giving the gas for free.

After that delivery we went to Pennsylvania for a load going to Central Ohio.  We had a conflict at the shipper and by the time we got it resolved they went to lunch.  Of all the nerve!  So, there we sit for over 2 hours, start to finish, before leaving.  When we finally arrived at our delivery we had another wait.  When Ron checked in they couldn't give us a time for unloading.  After a 2 hour nap we checked back.  I think they forgot we were sitting there because I noticed that a couple of trucks that came in after us were gone.  By the time we got the freight off we had been there 3 hours.  Time now is 1:55 a.m.   We have another load pick up in just 6 hours with a 2 hour driving time to get there.  So much for a good night's sleep!

We got to our Friday pick up, loaded and were on our way in less than an hour.  Hooray!  We left central Ohio for Niagara Falls, NY.  So far all the weather has been fair to chilly & damp.  On our way to the Falls we received a load for Monday picking up only 21 miles away and heading to Mississippi.  Halleluia, hopefully warmer weather.  A most welcome relief since I woke up to snow falling rather steadily this morning.  Thank goodness it didn't stick.  After a breakfast of hot oatmeal, toast and 3 cups of decaf I'm still trying to warm up.

We have a hearty chicken casserole/soup in the crock pot for tonight.  I hope it does the trick.  Until next time . . . . . . .

Independence Day Across the Country

We did it!  We drove straight through Independence Day as we traveled across this great land of ours.  It all began Wednesday, June 27 in Memphis, Tennessee.  From there we moved to Houston, Texas to Fairfield, Alabama to Atlanta, Georgia to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to West Deptford, New Jersey to Cody, Wyoming; arriving there on July 4  (all in one week).  We delivered on the 5th.  The scenery was beautiful with breathtaking sunrises and sunsets.  I am always impressed with how awesomely generous God is to us.

After delivery the real fun began.  The "powers that be" in the FedEx dispatch office deemed it necessary for us to deadhead empty to Las Vegas, a mere 866 miles away, to layover while we wait for our next load.  It seems they had NO other trucks our size in the area and needed ours.  It was a 17 hour drive through some very pretty mountains.  Beautiful but not without drawbacks-road construction.  Lanes closed, roads torn up but not a soul was working anywhere in the several states we traveled.  I guess a Wednesday holiday allows for an entire week off.  We could use an employer like that.  Ours begs everyone to stay out for all holidays. 

We arrived in Vegas at 5:30 this morning eastern time.  After a few short hours of sleep Ron decided to have our truck inspected at the truckstop, since our inspection was due by the 12th.  While there the mechanics doing the DOT inspection checked the registration and asked where the license plate was located.  We've has some mounted in back and some mounted in front.  Ron told them it was in the back.  They couldn't find it so he went back to show them where:  IT  WAS  GONE!!  At one point in the mountains and construction we came across an incident where a truck had lost part of his load of inflated inner tubes, about a dozen in all.  There was no where else for a truck to go and traffic was building up behind me since it was rush hour so I straddled 2 of them and was able to maneuver around the rest.  We decided we had made it through safely and continued on our way.  A few miles down the road we heard a pop and decided we had been dragging one of them until it popped.  We figure that's when we lost our license plate. Our owner had to fax us a temporary plate good for 45 days until we can get back to Ohio and pick up the real thing.

Ah, the adventures of traveling the roads.  What an adventure!  Until next time . . . . . . . .