The CES Trade show. This is usually how I see tradeshows. This came from my phone, it’s a little bigger than I usually post. But I’m still experimenting.

Last night while visiting at my brother and sister-in-laws home I watched the show " The Great American Race"  I think some of us are in a race of one kind or another.  I know with trucking
Wayne and I feel that we are racing against time with leaving LA on Friday evening and needing to be in Virginia Monday morning.  Stopping is limited to bathroom breaks and sleep.  Not much sleep or we would never be on time.  Then there’s the directions to the next stop, one person gave us directions not by street names but by the local bars.  What a mess that was but we did find it.  He told us to call him if we got lost on our way out of town.  Wayne and I looked at each other and smiled, both thinking " WHATEVER!!!"   Nice guy but may want to
look at the street signs in his town. 

I know when my children were young and I was working
full time.  It was a race to get them up and going in the morning and then to work, run errands
at lunch time and race home in the afternoons to cook dinner and get to soccer, baseball, football or whatever other sport was going on.  Yesterday was an exception to the normal race in life for me.  Wayne and I slept in and then treated ourselves to the "Kennedy Space Center" and then a wonderful meal at the "Cheesecake Factory" with my bother and sister-in-law.  It was so great not be in a hurry and just enjoy the day and the company.

On I-40 on the Arizona and New Mexico border there is an exit with a rest area, an Indian trading post and a small truck stop. This cliffs are above the trading post and they put all sorts of animal figures up on the cliff. It was kind of tourist but kind of neat too.
These are just some cool clouds, I believe on I-80 in Wyoming. Remember you can click on the pictures to make them full size.

We arrived in Reno, NV Monday afternoon to pick-up a load Tuesday morning and begin our trip to Atlantic City, NJ.  A few things have changed since then and so far all for the good.  We
are still in Reno waiting for the trailer to finish being loaded so we had some fun last night and went to Downtown Reno for dinner.  I requested Pizza since I can’t prepare that meal in the truck and Wayne agreed.  After dinner, I put two dollars in a slot machine and won $10 dollars so I took Wayne out for ice cream.  We walked a little and saw some of the lights in Reno.  It was a very nice evening.  Now to top that all off, we are going to Connecticut with a RETURN LOAD waiting at the same location we are delivering.  So we will be home in Las Vegas for Christmas.  Does it get any BETTER!!!

We are currently in Seattle, WA and looking to go south. The mountains were great and I even have some pictures of Wayne putting chains on the truck. In fact the driver ahead of us was also putting his chains on while posing at the same time. Wayne and I had a good laugh as we pulled up BEHIND this driver. Today we will drop all three loads we picked up from Phoenix and Albuquerque and be ready for a new trip. I will put my two cents in to our travel agent (dispatcher) about how I love the sun and warm weather they tend to have more of in the South. I am requesting an Orlando trip for Valentines Day to visit with friends and family, hope cupid is listening.

Wayne’s update:  Here’s crack and no crack while putting chains on. And notice who is inside taking pictures and who’s outside throwing chains on.

Here we are in Illinois and then Wisconsin by morning. We had a great Christmas and New Years with friends and family. A special " Thank you" to George Jr. in Henderson, NV for teaching me some helpful tips in playing pool. I have posted a picture of him as he took lessons on driving the truck. Wayne and I left in a rush after a call from the office for our first team load. Then another call for a team the next day. I am ready to slow down for the weekend and drive 300-400 per person a day instead of 600-700 miles per person non-stop except for fuel and bathroom privileges. I noticed today that the couples out here walking to and from the truck stop are holding hands and seem to be enjoying each others company. I very seldom saw that when having a so called "normal life style" with the office job and being off nights and weekends.

Follow this link to see pictures of Cindy’s grandkids while we were visiting in Minnesota over Thanksgiving.

1 Comments

• At December 18, 2004, Amy & Martijn wrote:

  Hi Aunt Cindy,

  Just wanted to let you know how fun it was to catch up on how big all your grandkids are becoming (my second-cousins, right?)! Looks like you all had fun over Thanksgiving.

  Amy

Click on image for a larger view. I’m not sure how often I’m going to upload a map. I thought I’d see how I could get it to work this time. We should be in LA sometime next week.

2 Comments

• At November 14, 2004, Amy & Martijn wrote:

  Hi there- That's really cool to see where you're headed this week. Have a nice and safe journey!

  Love,

  Amy

• At November 16, 2004, Linda wrote:

  I like the route idea. Gives me something to talk about with Ed's mom and soothes my curiosity. Be safe.

LA with a short stop in Vegas to pick up mail, to Salt Lake City with a final delivery in Muscatine, IA on Tuesday or Wednesday. Then to Minnesota for Thanksgiving weekend.

I’m looking forward to meeting the rest of Cindy’s family. I’ve already been warned to come hungry!!!

While we were waiting to get loaded in Van Nuys, CA we took a walk. Not expecting anything but an industrial area around the airport, we ran across The 94th Aero Squadron Headquarters. It was a restaurant made to look like an old french villa from WWI with biplanes and vehicles sitting outside. We went in for a drink and enjoyed the old pictures and memorabilia inside. With big band music playing we sat by the window watching airplanes take off and land while the sun was setting. Van Nuys is a small airport, but it had a lot of business jets, plus a couple of AT6 WWII planes were taking off and landing. It was very upscale inside with seating outside. After sunset the fire pits and candles on the outside tables were lit. The entire place was really cool. You would have never expected it in an industrial area at the end of a cul-de-sac.

UPDATE: Check out this link for more pictures.

1 Comments

• At December 14, 2004, Michelle Bay wrote:

  Oh my God! This is very cool. You better call me on your way back to Reno! You look like you are really having a good time. I want you to take me for a ride when you get here!

  Hugs & xxxx,

  Michelle