10K

Yeah, and by the title, you thought I'd been exercising and entered and won a 10 kilometer run didn't you?! Waaa ha, ha, ha!

Actually - As of this week I've logged $10,042 worth of cash through WheresGeorge.

So here's the low-down, I first logged onto the sight and began logging bills in March (25) of 2002.

So in other words, it has taken me 4 years, 1 month, 3 days to reach that amount. That's 1,495 days. (By the way, I've enterted 1,352 bills in that time.) That's an average of $6 per day. So some days, I log in a buck, some days nothing at all and other days a little more. Interesting.

I can't believe it's taken me over 4 years to have a little over 10k worth of cash go through my hands.

Shows ya how much I don't have! :)

Still, it's a very, VERY cool milestone in my wheresgeorge.com hobby!

Here's to the next 10k, may it take considerably less time to filter through my fingers! :)

Monday - the New Sunday

Since taking this job, my Mondays are now my Sundays. Typically I have a trip that I run out Saturday night and don't get back until Sunday evening - then I have Monday off.

So we take Monday and do all the stuff we ususally would have done on Sunday.

Of course that throws the whole week off and some days it feels very weird - but it works, and it works pretty well!

Yesterday, I got the gutters all cleaned out, a bunch of bushes trimmed, a LOT of weeds pulled out of our walkway, a completely clogged downspout unjammed, gassed the pickup, did a little shopping, took a little nap, played with the girls, had some time with Doreen, watched a little TV. Oh yeah - it was a good day.

Today, I'm still home, so I'm gonna caulk the outside of the back door, prep the trim for paint, "fog" our bathroom window so we can take down the 'moldy' curtain and actually use the window and then go to the park to play! Should be a good day and tonight I find out about my next trip - probably - who knows, I might be home Wed too!

Have a great 'Monday' y'all! :)

Growing Gardeners

Slowly, but surely, we're getting our projects around this new house completed. They're getting done a LOT slower than I'd prefer - but oh well!!!

One thing we needed to do, because a friend brought us 4 tomato plants, we decided to add to 4 more barrols to our little grow-bed garden so we could plant those things and the cucumbers and green peppers we planted. We're hoping for a very, VERY large yield, we hope, this year!

Here's my lttle helper girls gettin stuff all watered down nicely!!!

Ain't they the cutest little gardners you ever saw??!! :)

5th Birthday (2 day event)

So yesterday, my oldest little girl, Joelle, had her 5th birthday. I can hardly believe she's been in our lives that long. It doesn't feel that long. (Of course some days it feels like 20 years! **grin**) I can't believe how much she's grown and learned and all that stuff. It is just amazing to me.

We had a little celebration yesterday. Doreen talked with her about it yesterday morning. I called on the phone while I was driving home from picking up in Jacksonville, FL and sang Happy Birthday to her. Then we went out to our local Mexican Restaurant, and she ordered her own meal and afterwards they sang to her and put a sombrero on her head and gave her this huge sopapilla. (You should have seen the extremely 'pleased' look on her face. We'd like to show you a picture of it but goofy us forgot to bring a camera. DOH!)

Then today, Doreen, Joelle and Natalie made the birthday cake and then we had a birthday lunch/party celebration. It was a blast and after the meal she got to open her presents and LOVED that!!!

It was a good day - overall! :)

Family Sport

After some stuff we got done today, I took the family in the afternoon to the local Bi-Lo grocery store where they had the car on display. It is cool man, COOL Man!

They all enjoyed looking at the professional race car up close and personal!

One SWEET Ride

Today we had our Spring Report. Basically the company was telling us how things are doing inside the corportation. It was good, very good. But of course before the meeting we all got to check out the race car on display. Most excellent dude!

They also started the thing up for us so we could take a listen to the engine. Super SWEET!

Man - it's been a great morning!

Latest Pet Peeve

What is the deal? I've taken three trips this week, two last and many other trips since starting my new job. One thing this job requires is the use of public toilets.

I had forgotten how so many people (read: guys - since the mens rooms are only ones I enter! **Grin**) lack a little courtesy.

I cannot believe how many toilet seats are - shall we say - soiled in a potential 'couple' of ways.

That is just flat out gross. It takes like 2 whole seconds to lift the lid with the one and dude, if you can't hit the 'huge' hole in the middle of these things with the other, you need to get some depends!!! Seriously.

What is wrong with you guys that first off, make the mess and secondly don't clean it up?

Frankly - I've got some good ideas on how we can make you clean it up so you'll never do that again, but I guess that'd be 'cruel & unusual' punishment. NOT!!

Thanks for letting me vent!

Sugar Bath...

We've had our little doggie, and we're thinking she's a Chiuauah/Dashaund (however the heck you spell those names *grin*) mix.

She got her first bath with us and did great. She was ready to be done - but stood still while Doreen and Joelle scrubbed her down!

Now she's all clean, soft and fluffy! :)

Investiture

Friday night, Joelle was promoted in our little Adventurers group (kinda like a co-ed Boy Scouts for pre schoolers.) This last year she was a Little Lamb and next year, she will be an Eager Beaver. Here - Joelle and her campmates were performing in front of the group. What an awesome job they did!

Joelle's getting congratulated for her achievement. It was a very cool service. Natalie can't wait to take part next year!!!

"On a Steek!"

On my trip out Saturday night, when I run out with this same partner, we have a schedule worked out that works great for us. So I typically take our portable DVD player and watch a movie or program or something.

One of my favorite comedians is Jeff Dunham. He's a ventriqulist and one of his characters is named "Peanut." Hilarious. He's got others, and they're funny, but Peanut is the best!!!

He finally came out with a DVD and I got it Friday, so I took it with me Saturday night. I had to hold my laughter - cuz I didn't want my partner to think that while I'm in the bunk that I'm a nut.

I laughed so hard and it was great. I needed a laugh like that!

Queen, the rock band - KJV style!

Tonight we were watching American Idol. (Yeah - I know - some of you are gonna comment about how Reality Shows bite, or just regular TV stinks. Got it! **grin**)

Anyway, the Idol wannabes were singing songs from the rock group Queen.

It made for a very interesting show because how eclectic the tastes of Queen were/are! (Two of the original 4 are still peforming around the world.)

Anyway, Doreen and I were talking, because one of the contestants were peforming this song, and Doreen mentioned the title of this particular song. I think it is one y'all probably know very well...

..."We Shall Rock You."

It took me a sec, then I started chuckling and then giving her a hard time about the King James Version of the lyrics for Queen's song "We Will Rock You!!" Maybe they ought to change it to "We Shall Rock Thee."

It just gets funnier and funnier every time I think about it - of course it's getting later and later...

...Waaaa ha, ha, ha, ha! :)

FREAKED OUT!!!

So this Saturday night, I was headed to Hagar Hill, KY for work. Didn't get a chance to call my 1st driver to find out who would be driving out from the bakery before leaving, so we decided it on the yard. I drove out. That was fine with me because I got a bit of a nap in the afternoon, just in case.

To east KY we go. Giddie yup! We chat for a while, then he streaches out on the bunk. I listen to my audio book as we go. (John Grisham's The Last Juror)

At about 2am I get to London, KY and need to streach my legs and get a bit of refreshment to assist in my staying awake while I drive. Very Important! :)

About 3am, I start to get sleepy. I'd been driving through a freezing fog. That and the time of day was just wearing me out. Finally about 3:30 am I pull over onto a wide spot in the road, pull the parking brake, lay the drivers seat back, set an alarm on my watch, and snooze for a few mintues. Just to take the sleepy edge off.

15 minutes later my alarm goes off, and I jerk awake, about 20 feet in front of me I see the yellow and black stripes of the edge of a guard rail, "Oh my goodness, I've fallen asleep driving," my mind instantly reacts. I step on the brakes, nothing, I yank on the trailer brake, nothing, I try to shift down, nothing, still 'heading' toward the edge of the road. So I start hollerin at my partner, worried we're gonna crash. My breathing is heavy, my heart is beating, I'm yanking at the steering wheel trying to turn back into the road, but it feels like it's bogged down in the mud. My partner pops out of the bunk, at the same time I look out the side window and see the rumble strips not moving - and realize that I woke up from a short nap, that I was actually parked on the edge of the road and that we were safe. It took me about 2 minutes to completely come around. Boy was I awake then! :)

So now I turn the lights on, release the brakes, and head to our first drop of the morning - glad to be safe and sound and I've re-learned a lesson.

When I take a quickie nap like that to either jump into the passenger seat or lay cross-wise across the two seats so as to avoid further episodes like this. That's 'tough' on the heart to 'freak out' like that! :)

Wheeeew!

Spiced Up - Sugared Family

We've added a 'Sugar' to our family. She's just the right amout of spice! :)



Here's the back-story. Joelle is a HUGE animal lover. She loves any creature, critter or crawly thing out there. EVERYTHING. She's been wanting a dog forever. We told her that we couldn't get a dog until we got into our own house. Then we move here and she mentions that - so we promise her a dog by her 6th birthday. We originally started looking for a Miniature Pincher - cuz those dogs are so smart and cute, but couldn't see spending $500+ on a dog.






So one day, our good friends call and tell us that a 1 year old Min Pin - Chichaua (however you spell that) mix has been abandoned at their animal, would we be interested. We saw this critter and just fell in love with her.

It's a typical trait in these particular dogs to be faithful to one owner or family, and so far, that's Doreen and Joelle - but Natalie and I are winning our way into her heart so she loves us all! :)

Y'all just warmly welcome Sugar into the clan! :)

Basket Building, Travels & Memories

Done a lot of traveling this past week. A LOT. A lot more than usual anyway. :) I actually drove right by this building in Newark, OH. It's the Longaberger Company and if you have to ask what they make - don't even bother!! :) It actually Shocked the socks off me when I first saw it. Cool though.


We had a pick-up in Lexington, KY and on the way back to the interstate to continue our trip west, we drove right by a dozen or so big beautiful horse farms. Gorgeous!!!

We also drove through this city, Louisville. It's got a beautiful riverfront and we were blessed to hit it about sunset. What an awesome view to enjoy while driving long hours.

In my previous job I took a business trip to Louisville, and I made some time to tour the Louisville Slugger plant. But we could still see the bat and outside of the building as we drove into the sunset.

This trip took us through the Gateway to America's west. This is a very, VERY neat site at night. I always get a little excited about seeing the Arch as I drive closer and closer to St Louis.

We also drove past Bush Stadium, the St Louis Cardnals Baseball team home venue. I don't know if they were playing that night, but it was lit up like a roman candle and awesome to see.

One other city I drove through was Fenton, MO - the HQ for United Van Lines is right next to the Interstate, so I got to see that again and be reminded - I've got a much better job. We enjoyed our time out there and did well financially, but it was tiring! :)

We zipped passed Six Flags over St Louis and it brought back memories of living in S Illinois and all the friends we made while living there. The most standout memory from visiting 6 Flags one summer was Jozsef P and Mo Mo in a 'drive 'em car' following Doreen and I. :)

While driving through the drops in OH, we also passed the amusement park, Kings Island - where I was finally tall enough to ride my first 'real' roller-coaster, "The Beast." It is wooden and fast. What a ride that was with my dad and I on it. Whoooo hoooo! It was even more the better because I remember a couple of Sundays having 'garage sales' to get rid of some of our junk and come up with enough money for a family of 5 to go!!!

Also, on this trip we got into Oklahoma and zipped right through the town of Muskogee, OK - a cursed town. My first year of college, the night before a big algebra final, a friend, Keith E came up to me with a request. He had loaned his car to a friend to go home for the weekend - and the friend came back without the car, so we both jump in my car and according to the 'friends' directions the car was sitting in a Burger King parking lot in Muskogee, OK. Well turns out that it was in McCalister, OK an hour south of Muskogee. So we spent HOURS searching for that dumb car, ended up giving up and came home. We had time to grab a quickie shower and get to the Algebra - which I promptly failed miserably.

He, he, he - it has been a good week. Lots of cool sites and locations and lots and LOTS of remembering!

"Here's to you family & friends!!!"

Waiting... Long Run

Hey - how are ya? Good I hope! :)

So this was my weekend to be on call in case of a driver calling in sick, or other situations that would keep him/her from making the run.

I was home Sat night, which was nice cuz we had some friends over and had a lovely evening playing games etc.

Well, during breakfast today, I got the call. And they're sending me on an enormous run. :)

I start in TN, go to OH, then back down to KY, over to AR, down to TX and back home to TN. That's almost 2200 miles. Wowwie!

I should be back home early, early Wed AM and be done with my week, unless they need some more help covering another load so I can make some extra cash!

Have a great week y'all!

Broken

This last few days has been interesting.

We've had 'connection' issues with our cable & high speed internet. For some reason, they keep phasing in and out, in and out, in and out, in and out, but mostly out, except when the technician shows up.

Well - they've tried a few things and fixed an amplifier or two on the pole, so hopefully it's been fixed. HOPEFULLY! :) Hate not being able to connect when I want to, or Doreen needs to download notes for class etc. Argh!

Fingers crossed.

So, Saturday night I left on a run for NE TN, VA and 6 miles into KY. When I hooked up, the truck acted a bit funny, but smoothed right out. Ok!

We leave the yard and head out. My partner, stops at the Shell on the corner to grab a drink or two, and just before he climbs out, all the indicator lights start flashing and the thing starts beeping at us. So we decided to hastily head back to the yard and hope to get there before the 'explosion.' :) About a third of the way down LD Parkway, he goes to shift and nothing. Couldn't get it into any gear. Then the thing just dies. So he pulls off and we call dispatch. So they bring us a different tractor. We pull the broken one out from under the trailer, hook the new one up and head off. (All told, this took about an hour.)

My first broken truck with this company. Hopefully - that experience is far and few apart!

They actually take care of their trucks very well. Every time one is returned from a trip, they run it through the Safety Lane for a very thorough inspection before the next trip out.

Hopefully no more brokenness!!! :)

Why do You blog?

So why do You blog?

It's kind of interesting to read blogs. Blogs of family, friends and those of the vast unknown worldwide population but are plugged into the internet - and type in english! :) (Tried reading some in Chinese and Turkish and failed miserably! He, he, he!)

I read people who blog for a creative outlet. Some, like me, blog to keep family located a great distance away, updated on what's happening. Some get up on soap boxes for political or religious reasons. Some need an outlet to vent and use the blog for that purpose. Some want to just talk about themselves. Others have one issue that is a sticking point with them and they just go with it, no matter what sense they make. Still others just like to write, so...

...Why do you take the time to blog.

I'm curious to know!

Blogging away!

3 Way

Man - ain't technology cool!!!

I just got off the phone with my sister-in-law and parents, at the same time. So we were connected here in Tennessee with my sister-in-law in Minnesota and my folks in Colorado.

Very, VERY cool!

100/60

We're all finally moved, FINALLY!!!

Today, 4 pickup loads moved all the rest of our stuff out of the old place and into the new.

FINALLY!!!

Now were 100% moved in and 60% settled. We've got boxes and stuff sitting everywhere. We've got one picture hung. Our garage is packed with stuff and none of the rooms are finished.

So - now we're stepped into the phase of getting settled!

I've gotta feeling that's gonna be months in happening!

At least were all in!

Thank the Lord!!!

Have a good weekend all!

Testing...

Doreen had spring break last week, and had plans to study for three tests coming up this week. Well - in the whole process of getting moved, she didn't any studying done. So she was extremely worried about her tests this week.

She took her first two tests on Tuesday and then one on Thursday.

Well, she got the results of one of her tests back on Thur and the teacher wrote in reponse to her answer on one of the essay questions. "It is rare that I get to read such fine work. Thank you!"

Most awesome.

By the way, Doreen hasn't gotten below a 98 on any of her tests since she's been back in school!

Am I a proud hubby or what??!! :)