Trucking

My online classes started today. Watched two lectures and took a quiz. Found out that one of the classes I’m taking for th A+ Certification is only half of the test prep. The certification includes both hardware and operating systems. I’m taking the hardware class. There’s another partner operating system class that uses the same book I already have. So, I sign up for another class. The schedule looks pretty easy. A chapter or two a week a small quiz with a mid-term and a final.

I’m not trucking till Thursday, so I might as well spend the next few days getting ahead of schedule. Shouldn’t be too hard. It’s mostly basic stuff. Read a chapter, take the practice quiz, watch a lecture which is the same as the chapter in the book, take a small quiz and repeat. If I fall behind, fall has a few holidays where I’m pretty sure I won’t be trucking much.

Got the truck out of the shop today. I’m really starting to hate trucking and everything associated with it.

I’ve been home for more than a week. Dropped the truck in the locked yard and forgot about it. I have an air leak that needs worked on and a few pads to fold still. I had a possible load for Thursday, so we went and got the truck on Wed to get the air leak fixed and the annual inspection done. We get to the yard and damn! No one burned the truck down! I guess I have to keep trucking. I go to a nearby truck stop with a shop for the air leak and the inspection and wait. I’m the next truck, but the truck in front of me is waiting for parts. Why they shut the shop down to wait for parts I don’t know. Finally I get in and they can’t fix the air leak I have to go to Volvo.

Since I waited, I had the trailer inspected and it passed, took the truck to the dealer and came back home. Turned down a team load to Manhatten. It paid really well, but I’m didn’t really feel like doing 2800 miles in two and a half days. The truth is I really don’t feel like driving around the block, let alone to NYC. I’m really getting sick of trucking. Especially now that we have a plan and I’ve actually started studying for a couple of computer certifications. After these two classes I’ll be able to test for the A+ and Network+ certifications. Won’t get me a job because everyone still wants experience on top of the certifications, but at least it’s a start, even an entry level computer tech job somewhere would help pay the bills so I can stay home and keep going to school. At least that’s the plan.

Until the plan is further along, I’ll keep driving. The driving part of trucking is still pretty great. I can deal with traffic and construction backups. Driving is only a small part of trucking, it’s all the other crap that I’m getting tired of. The lack of work, the waiting and the general bs at shippers and receivers, having to go where trucks shouldn’t be allowed to go in the first place and just the normal everyday crap.

I did the Blog Talk Radio show with Allen yesterday and it went pretty well. Was expecting a few idiots to call in and call me whatever because I didn’t agree on striking, but it didn’t happen. Here’s the link to go listen to the show. Blog Talk Radio or use the widget thing here -

Nope, Cindy’s already started and will be done middle of next year. I’m starting. Signed up for a computer class (what else?) at College of Southern Nevada. It’s no longer the community college because they have a few four year programs for nursing and a few others.

We went together to pickup our textbooks at the college bookstore. I love bookstores to begin with, I could have spent the day there was so much that looked interesting. Which has always been my problem with college, everything interested me when I was younger, I couldn’t decide what to do, I wanted to go to the classes I wanted and not the ones I had to take.

There are a lot of classes that are totally online from CSN. By the time Cindy finishes and is working full time in her field, I’ll be able to truck part time and if I have to actually take a class in a classroom, I’ll be able to.

CSN has a Computer & Information Technology, Networking Certificate (along with a user support version) which is a bunch of computer classes and a couple of general classes. I can get that which would hopefully make me somewhat employable, then continue on for the actual two year degree, then go to University of Phoenix to finish. The plan is to work part time and by then my domain empire should be making enough money to help out and Cindy working full time, sell the truck and have that money. Should work. We think it’s a decent plan and will keep me home and off the road so I can get back to a normal life.

A lot of the computer classes at CSN are more like prep classes for Microsoft, Cisco, Novell and other certifications. The first class I’m taking is a prep for the A+ Hardware certification, which is a real basic computer certification, the testing fees are included with the tuition, so that’s pretty cool. My first textbook, 1100 pages long. Makes me want to take another class, but as soon as I have something to do, trucking will pick up and I’ll be too busy and/or tired to do anything else. I should probably start with one and see how it goes.

I have completed my summer courses at CSN (College of Southern Nevada), History and Solutions in Stress and have a final at University of Phoenix on Thursday for Financial Analysis for Managers. I feel well prepared with the help of my father-in-law.

On August 14th, I begin a new class called, Advocacy and Mediation it will be very interesting and challenging at UOP and on August 25th, I will begin a music class and another counseling class in Marriage and Family. For now I am bored only working part-time at Macy’s so I am looking into obtaining another part-time position to help with my tuition cost.

Wayne has been home very little, 4 days in the past 8 weeks. He has been busy but with the fuel prices so high and the loads not paying very much, money is still tight. I miss trucking once in a while but not enough to go back on the road. I’m glad I had the opportunity to drive and see all 49 States over a three year period. It can be a rough life but we had some of the best times stopping and sight-seeing and visiting relatives around the greater United States.

I’ve been home a couple of days, had the truck worked on, that’s always fun! I had them check a status message that keeps coming up on the dash. Basically it’s like the Check Engine light. It could be important or not. They wanted $4250 to fix it. At first I thought they said $42.50 because it’s such a minor deal. But apparently not. A couple of valves they replaced in Feb ‘07 need to be replaced again. Nope, don’t think so. It’s running fine. Maybe a small loss of power, but I’m hauling very light loads, I only notice it going up a hill, I don’t run up a hill as fast as usual. I think I’ll wait and/or get a second opinion on this one. The fog/driving lights fixed and a belt replaced that was getting worn. Minor stuff this time.

Twitter is what updates the top of the right sidebar “Where Are We”. Twitter has become so popular lately they’ve been having trouble handling all the traffic. Kind of a cool idea, I don’t update a lot because I don’t want to bother people just to say I’m having a cup of coffee. The video explains it very well and it’s kind of cute and entertaining. If you already have Twitter or decide to sign up, I’m AdvTrucking if you want to follow me.

I actually did have something planned to send, but I couldn’t find what I was looking for and I couldn’t find an e-card I liked. Being on the road is too much of an excuse, but in reality, I’m such a slug and have no excuses for not even sending a e-card for Valentine’s Day, I hope this makes up for it, if only a little bit. Love you and miss you, baby.

I need to double-up on my classes as Math and English were not completed while I attended classes in Minnesota about 15 years ago. I took one Business Math class and received an A, however the Math classes I was familiar with are looking very different. Testing out didn’t look like an option, at least for me. English classes also need to be completed and I may have to enroll in them after the Math classes are done but for know I am self-teaching myself with the internet, study guides, and books from the Library.

Practice CLEP Tests

The class I am taking starting tonight is called “Human Lifespan Development”. The class description sounds very interesting; This course presents students with empirical research findings and theoretical frameworks to foster an understanding of the various stages and dimensions of human development across the lifespan. Emphasis is placed on biological, cognitive, emotional, and social development in a time frame extending from prenatal development through the elder years and on toward eventual end of life and bereavement processes.

Crime Scene Las Vegas
We woke up to this violent crime scene in our living room. Bear guts everywhere, his squeaker had been ripped out through his chest. We’re waiting for CSI to arrive.

Surveillance
A suspect is caught on tape.

Awaiting Bond

It’s Christmas
Willie was released on his own recognizance and given another chance with another Christmas present., originally uploaded by Adventures In Trucking.

Wayne and Willie came home on December 23rd and we let Willie open 2 gifts yesterday.  He loves shaking it and riping off the Christmas paper.  Wayne left the video camera in the truck but we may be able to show you some pictures.  It is so nice to have us together at Christmas!!  I have been studying College Math so I will be prepared for the test.  I may have to breakdown and just take the class as the test seems a little bit harder than I remembered.  If anyone is interested I will post a sample test exam for you to take.  I have a final on January 3rd on another class called “MANAGEMENT: THEORY,PRACTICE, APPLICATION” and one last presentation which I will get together with my group and prepare. 

Macy’s has kept me very busy with no days off until today.  I will work the rest of the week but I believe I have the weekend off unless I volunteer to do inventory prep.  I think spending time with Wayne and Willie is a lot more fun.  I hope we take Willie to the dog park soon so he can play and run.  He got a new coat, sweater and boots (yes, boots) for Christmas and we hope to get a picture of that too.  The sweater will be great in Las Vegas now,  but the coat and boots are for cold and snow up north and back east when he is back on the road. 

Hope everyone is as blessed as I am this Christmas and remember “Jesus is the reason for the Season”

Wayne and Willie were home for Thanksgiving. Wayne’s mother cooked and everything was great!!

Monday was our 2nd Anniversary and we had lunch out after I got off from Macy’s. When we returned home Wayne and Willie started packing and loading the truck. I fixed food for their next journey starting in San Diego and going to Seattle. When it was time to say our “Goodbye’s” I broke down crying for what seemed like hours. It was the first time since I stopped driving that I wanted to be with them on the truck. My life seemed empty and I just lost my two best friends. While I was picking-up Willie’s toys that were scattered around the house, I tried to focus on why I was home and the dream of finishing my degree and finding that hole in society where I can help others while making a decent living for myself and Wayne. Then it will be his turn, will he go to college and give-up trucking?? I don’t know that is up to him. I want him to have the opportunity to decide without having the pressures of supporting our family. Of course, staying home would be my choice for him, but its not always about me and he will need to make that decision on his own. I will support him (financially and emotionally) in whatever decision he makes. We both love to travel so we may need to get on the road now and then just because it is in our blood and America is beautiful when your not in a traffic jam.