I remember how tired I am at the end of a 12+ hour day. I'll have to build up my tolerance of this blog is going to have any value to anyone, including me.
But not tonight.
Monday, March 30, 2015
Saturday, March 28, 2015
3/27/2015: The waiting is tough
Just another day waiting for a trainer. However, because of the poor quality training done - there were far too many students and not nearly enough training devices - my confidence on the various loads is very, very low. I hope my trainer is a good teacher and we have enough variety of runs this week to give me some confidence. If not, I will ask for another week out and will continue doing so until I develop that confidence in my skills.
Thursday, March 26, 2015
3/26/2015: Training, done. Next step, waiting...!
Orientation and Load Securement classes behind me, I am now an official employee of Western Express Flatbed Division. This is going to be a very exciting new chapter in my life, one I hope will not be in the 'jump-off-a-cliff' category of exciting.
This has been an eventful couple of days. A tornado did damage near my former home near Moore, Oklahoma, and last night, my youngest daughter and grandson were hit by a drunk driver racing a pickup truck, rolled five times, and they somehow came out of it with bruises, a few minor cuts, a lost wedding ring, and no shoes.
As a former paramedic, I can tell you serious accidents like that rarely end up with no major injuries. In fact, very often death is a result. I am glad she wears her seatbelt each and every time she gets in a car and I am especially glad she properly attaches each and every buckle in my grandson's car seat. The ER doc told her if she hadn't fastened the chest strap, he would have been ejected and would not have survived.
Very sobering. And I can tell you I was one hot mess of worry last night, but NOTHING like the other driver. You see, my son-in-law, the former state prison correctional officer was directly behind my daughter's car and saw the whole thing. Bad news for the driver, and somehow, even though his car wasn't seriously damaged and he was not otherwise injured at all - that's the way it always is, right? - the driver's nose and facial bones were broken when his face slammed uncontrollably into my son-in-law's fist several times just after the collision.
Man, that physics is some science, isn't it?
This has been an eventful couple of days. A tornado did damage near my former home near Moore, Oklahoma, and last night, my youngest daughter and grandson were hit by a drunk driver racing a pickup truck, rolled five times, and they somehow came out of it with bruises, a few minor cuts, a lost wedding ring, and no shoes.
As a former paramedic, I can tell you serious accidents like that rarely end up with no major injuries. In fact, very often death is a result. I am glad she wears her seatbelt each and every time she gets in a car and I am especially glad she properly attaches each and every buckle in my grandson's car seat. The ER doc told her if she hadn't fastened the chest strap, he would have been ejected and would not have survived.
Very sobering. And I can tell you I was one hot mess of worry last night, but NOTHING like the other driver. You see, my son-in-law, the former state prison correctional officer was directly behind my daughter's car and saw the whole thing. Bad news for the driver, and somehow, even though his car wasn't seriously damaged and he was not otherwise injured at all - that's the way it always is, right? - the driver's nose and facial bones were broken when his face slammed uncontrollably into my son-in-law's fist several times just after the collision.
Man, that physics is some science, isn't it?
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 2015
You know there is something deeply Irish in you when your soul just smiles and quivers while watching a flashmob do an Irish dance in Sydney.
My very Irish grandfather, John Burke, and his mother, Great Gramma Bertha Julia Burke, would be pleased to know their offspring Jimmy acknowledges their and his own bloodline to the Old Country.
My very Irish grandfather, John Burke, and his mother, Great Gramma Bertha Julia Burke, would be pleased to know their offspring Jimmy acknowledges their and his own bloodline to the Old Country.
Sunday, March 8, 2015
3/8/2015: International Women's Day
This day has been celebrated by socialist groups and countries all over the world beginning in 1909 as a way to recognize the women in a workforce. Of course, it was more of a political or labor union event than it is now in the West. Here, it was first observed as a special day when in 1977, the United Nations General Assembly invited member states to proclaim March 8 as the UN Day for women's rights and world peace.
Since 1996, the UN has designated a theme for International Women's Day. The official theme this year is: Empowering Women, Empowering Humanity: Picture it!
Since 1996, the UN has designated a theme for International Women's Day. The official theme this year is: Empowering Women, Empowering Humanity: Picture it!
Ah, if only we men could empower the women in our lives. We and the world would be so much better off. apparently, we can neither picture it nor handle it.
Saturday, March 7, 2015
3/7/2015: Of the Iditarod and CDL
Big day today! A very big day.
Today is the start of the Iditarod Race, the last great race, pitting man and dog against the elements as they cross 1,000 miles or so across flatland, rivers, and mountain ranges, ending about two weeks from now in Nome, Alaska.
This year is a big change from years past. Because of the very light snow pack and warm weather Alaska has had this winter, the ceremonial start will be held in Anchorage, as always, using trucked-in snow to cover the downtown streets, but the official start will not be held in Willow, as it usually is.
Instead, the dog teams will relocate father into the Interior, to Fairbanks for the start. Even there, the route has changed because the ice on the river is not nearly thick enough or stable enough to support dog team weights.
And they say the climate hasn't changed. Heck, there was even talk about relocating the Iditarod to the East Coast, starting in Boston! After all, they have all the snow.
Oh. And my license suspension ends today. Good.
Today is the start of the Iditarod Race, the last great race, pitting man and dog against the elements as they cross 1,000 miles or so across flatland, rivers, and mountain ranges, ending about two weeks from now in Nome, Alaska.
This year is a big change from years past. Because of the very light snow pack and warm weather Alaska has had this winter, the ceremonial start will be held in Anchorage, as always, using trucked-in snow to cover the downtown streets, but the official start will not be held in Willow, as it usually is.
Instead, the dog teams will relocate father into the Interior, to Fairbanks for the start. Even there, the route has changed because the ice on the river is not nearly thick enough or stable enough to support dog team weights.
And they say the climate hasn't changed. Heck, there was even talk about relocating the Iditarod to the East Coast, starting in Boston! After all, they have all the snow.
Oh. And my license suspension ends today. Good.
Monday, March 2, 2015
3/2/2015: Baha'i Nineteen Day Fast, Day 1
I do not plan on making a daily entry about my experiences during this Fast, but anyone reading will understand that fasting is a religious experience, not just a physical refreshing of the physical body. Considering that my CDL suspension ends in less than one week - Saturday, March 7, to be exact - and I absolutely need to go back to work driving - my debtors have been very patient, but their patience is running a bit thin, and my available credit has now run out. I am hoping to attract spiritual bounties, at least in the form of a high-paying, stable job driving a truck again over the road.
If not...
Well, let's not go there. The purpose of the Fast is to cleanse the reed of my soul so beautiful sounds can come out.
If not...
Well, let's not go there. The purpose of the Fast is to cleanse the reed of my soul so beautiful sounds can come out.
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