Turn the page.

Wine always brings out the writer in me (in my mind anyway).Whether I am pissed at life or feeling amorous I always feel like blogging. So here I go:

I have heard over the years that if you live in the past you are suffering depression; in the future you are prone to anxiety. So in an effort to be normal I have chosen to embrace today.

Some may see changes in my interactions others may not. No matter, I have enjoyed getting to know a number of individuals and have forged friendships based upon commonality. As I grow through life I will forge new friendships and some will fall off the radar…so to speak.

I have spent a lifetime trying to find the right fit. I believe I have found it in a new company and a new outlook that I will speak of in future blog. In that blog I will discuss the HR experience but do not expect me to speak ill of the company.

So stay tuned,

Shit, BTW Happy Birthday Susanne!!!!

Later

Never too old to learn something new.

Been a while but here goes.

Life has been run of the mill for the past while, Olympics have come and gone and now I can get back to regular life. We did manage to take in some of the events and pavilions. Vancouver absolutely rocked.

During the past month my run has been uneventful except for one particular evening. I did my drop in Kamloops and then shot down to Kelowna for my second drop. The road down is a bit bendy and although you can fly down it you really should not.

When I arrived at my drop I asked the receiver if I could drop the trailer and he said so long as the product is still upright it would not be a problem. I, in amazement asked, "really, how does someone actually have the load move around on them?" He said it happens from time to time.

I opened my back doors to hit the dock and to my surprise my load had shifted. For the next three hours I had to re stack 1000 cases of pop, you know the fridge size. That is right five skids, 200 cases per skid at about 10 lbs per case. In all about 10000 pounds of pop.

I was choked. Do you think anyone would help me....no. I muttered and cursed but in the end I only had myself to blame. Why should they help me....they are the client...I messed up. So the lesson I learned was to slow the F*** down. If the sign indicates 60K in a curve and you are blasting across some uneven train tracks, do less than it indicates. What is it going to cost you in the long run.

So I continue to learn and had a great high rep low weight work out.....oh the muscle tone.

Later.

A new year, a new run and Damn BC Held held devices law.

Where has the time gone.

Recently I have changed my run from running the rock 4 times a week to 10 times a week….not sure what I was thinking. Actually it allows me to be home daily and ultimately that is what I was after all along. So I go out each evening and home each morning.

One thing I can truly say about my employer, H and R, is that they have done everything within their power to make certain I was happy and that my family was front and center. I guess it boils down to the fact that I do as I am asked….with some grumbling….but it gets done just the same. In appreciation they take good care of me. I am currently looking for a way to get back to the city and have submitted my name for a city job with HR.

2009 was a decent year, many experiences….some scary but mostly awe inspiring. I have uploaded some images from last year to close out my entry for today.

Speaking of pics, damn BC laws regarding hand held devices and driving…..sheesh how is a guy suppose to snap decent pics, surf the web, send texts home and update Facebook these days….thank Christ our trucks are 12 speed automatic.

Tire change, or Tyre change anyone....now is the time.

You make friends after days and days....this is Willie the Golden Brake Check Fox.

Doh!!!Oh but for the grace of God I go.

Home Sweet Home....Why do I love it here so much?

Anyhoo….more updates in the days ahead.

Later.

Whoa, February 6th already. My New Year Resolutions are:

I can't believe that I have not updated this in two months.

Either I am too busy to afford the time or life is mundane and I choose not to bore you with it.

Where to start?

Happy New Year. Let's discuss resolutions. I always resolve to be a better man but I am afraid I am who I am and a work in progress....I will keep at it. I have made some resolutions, however.

I have embraced Facebook and all the evils that come with it.....the reason being is that it has enabled me to reach out and get in touch with individuals, friends and relatives that I grew up with and catch up, so to speak. So I resolve to continue to reach out to my past....you are richer than you think.

I met a man last summer, a neighbor. You would think you would know your neighbors but we are who we are. I had noted to him that he had a large dent in the hood of his Honda Civic...he began to regal me with the story and how it had come to be.

He said "you see, I don't see as well as I used to because I am blind in one eye". Being curious I asked how he lost his vision and he stated that a couple of years ago he was in Antarctica and slipped on a glacier hitting his eye and surrounding orbital bone etc. "The Russian troller", he stated, "being used as a base camp only had eye drops so medical treatment was weak at best".

Starting to do the math I asked how old he was and he told me 90 years old. So in my head I am thinking that when he was 88 he was having such and adventure that most would only dream of.

This drives two resolutions: firstly, get active now....don't wait till it is too late and secondly stop dreaming and do.

So those are my three resolutions.

Promise to post soon.

Later

Mnemonics

Main Entry: mne·mon·ics

Pronunciation: \ni-ˈmä-niks\

Function: noun plural but singular in construction

Date: circa 1721

: a technique of improving the memory

I have used mnemonics for years as my memory is not always at it's best.

Over the years I have used it to remember everything from IEEE 802.xx standards to the OSI model for protocol stacks to the order you should circle check your vehicle. What ever. I came up with a new one this week. BRAG...

I have a habit of blaming when something goes wrong. Even if it is my fault I always have assigned blame to someone other than me. It is comforting to know that even at the age of 52 I am still growing personally.

This week I hooked a load in Calgary, did a proper check of the trailer and headed to the Road Ranger truck stop for a cup of coffee. When I arrived back at my truck I could hear an air leak...yes again....an air leak. I did a quick check and noted the that airbag for my cab suspension had a small hole worn in the side of it.

I proceeded back to the yard and dropped my trailer and headed to Penske for repair. Lost only and hour or so but it was snowing bad so headed to bed. When I awoke I headed over to grab my load...hooked and off I went. It wasn't until 500 miles later that I realized I had the wrong trailer.....doh!!!

I had grabbed an empty trailer by accident....my load was also very light so I did not notice the difference. I proceeded, once I spoke to dispatch, to lay blame on everything from night time to snowy to sore back to tired. It cost me my trip pay but could have been much worse.

So BRAG, Blame whatever or whoever, Reassess the situation, Accept it is YOU that messed up and Get on with your day. I was very upset and unloaded on dispatch....why I don't know but by end of day I was able to joke about it. I guess my reasoning skills are slow to develop.

All in all it was a decent week. Weather was great, good moon, dry roads...I am easy to please believe me.

So now the joke is that all trailers in the Calgary yard must be washed so I can see the number....ha ha, also that Penske trucks as so low powered that we are only assigned empties....ha ha they are endless. I guess my point to all this rant is that look in the mirror before you lay blame...odds are if you step back and look...you are the culprit.

Later

Bless me Father......

It has been two weeks since my last blog entry.

Kidding aside there is not much to report other than Snow. Not complaining, snow has it's place....just somewhere else.

I have been driving semi off and on since about 1978 and every year it is like being a rookie when the snow arrives. They always say adjust for the conditions but until you scare yourself a couple of times you really brush it off.

I had a couple of instances this year that really makes you stop and wonder why you never listen to "They" who ever that is. For me the worst fear is traction breaks. Whether it is climbing to a peak or rounding a corner it is always a bad feeling for me when the tandems begin to spin or slide out from under you.

A couple of times this year that feeling of impending doom has begun to creep in and you just hold on, no throttle, no brakes.....just keep it steady and wish you had listened to "They". Then once you have gotten below the snow line and are feeling fat you dismiss what "They" said and thank Christ you are a wicked driver.

I actually never think that and continue to respect the rocks for all their splendor and treachery.

This week we got over 40 cm of snow over the Coquihalla and at that elevation it tends to build on the road. For the most part all went well but I have added more grey to my poor balding head (already bald). It is not so much that I am not careful, it is that sometimes others spin out ahead of you or worse opt to stop in your lane.....some things are just out of your control.

I have added some pics as sometimes you feel like the tail and others the dog. Although the elements ultimately rule, at times, you get to enjoy them...all in all if you are still able to dump in your blog....you have had a decent week.

Only had one breakdown in the last two weeks and after moaning and groaning about how bad I have it you reassess and realize that items that fail are often items that are time expired. For example:

Driver who read this: Always do your brake/air checks especially in BC. If I did not subscribe to this rule my week may have been much worse.

I found a small hole in my rear left brake pod (maxi), the hole was large enough to lose air but small enough to keep the spring brake from engaging. If I had not found this and in the rocks my spring brake engaged on that wheel it may have been enough of an incident to kick my back end out from under me.

So again.....do the brake checks and listen often. Perhaps now I am one of "They".

So off for the weekend and back out on Sunday.

Later

Decent Week

After a few weeks of pain, last week renewed my passion for the rocks. Great roads, great full moon and a tractor that was humming along as good as it ever has.

Did my 2500 miles and home in no time. The moon was so bright that I was able to snap a couple of pics passing through Rogers Pass with my phone at night....a bit blurry but I thought it was cool.

Although beautiful the passes can bite you pretty quick if not careful....the cold comes on quick and can make the roads pretty slick. Fog begins to ice quickly as a one driver found out this week. When I passed the scene his trailer was keeping him from going down a steep cliff by one axle....not fun in my books.

What I do enjoy is coming home to this every week. Even after a decent week in the rocks. Simple pleasure like feeding the ducks on the bay....although overtaken by seagulls was great therapy.

We also took the time to get some pumpkin carving done....somewhat less that other years but Jess, our daughter, keeps the spirit alive and well.

Even ran with a couple of Brits this week one I had never met and one that was an old acquaintance. Had great discussion with both and started to gain a bit of an understanding where some of the other blogs are speaking from. I can't relate to the issues and will leave it at that.

So not much to report. Off again tomorrow probably Red Deer AB.

Later.