A Confession . . .

I seem to have lost my blogging mojo.

I thought I could recover, but I haven't.

We have been to Canada,

looped around the US a couple of times

and

now we are now snowshoeing our way across Iowa and Illinois.

I'm sorry I can't get back into this,

BUT

I've got other things on my mind . . .

I'm going to be getting off the truck right after the first of the year

AND

Urban Homesteading in Joplin

If you know anything about me, you know this has completely absorbed me for awhile. We talked it over and decided to just jump in.

I'll start building gardens and chicken coops to get them ready for Spring.

So . . . I may or may not post here again.

AND

I may or may not put up a link to a Urban Homesteading sort of blog.

I can't decide whether I want my primitive and naive efforts to be public.

They will be fun though . . . .

Looking for my MoJo . . .

Yes, we left on Monday as scheduled.

All 3 of us.

It is taking a while to get back into our routine.

We went to Denver

Nogales

Detroit

Toronto

and now we are sitting outside Erie, PA on the lip of Lake Erie

waiting to pick up a load on Monday

taking it down to Calexico.

Nice long dispatch

I'll try to get my mojo back on the way down and start posting again.

Really

Buckle Up . . . Buttercup

Driving solo was no fun.

Not Any

None

It is over.

Tony was released by his surgeon today.

He has to pass a simple skills test that involves such difficult tasks as

entering and exiting the cab

entering and exiting the trailer

pulling the damn fifth wheel release without falling down

I am assuming he will pass this tomorrow and we will be set.

In the meantime, we are nesting in our new place in Joplin.

If you listen, you should hear

the sound of twigs being arranged

feathers being fluffed

treasures being found and placed carefully.

We are getting back on the truck on Monday.

BUYHANDMADE.ORG

Slide your eyes over there to the right.

See that new badge thingy on top of my profile info.

Yeah . . . that big green one.

I have always been one of those people who makes gifts.

Not always, but whenever possible. I enjoy the entire process involved - planning, making and giving.

Since we have been in the truck, I have had to rely on others to make most of my gifts.

Etsy.com is where I do most of my gift shopping now. I am a HUGE fan.

Whenever I have idle internet time, I like to peruse their main page. It is like peeking into a wonderful store window. I mark items as favorites to return to later when I have a gift giving occasion.

When I purchase an item from a seller on Etsy, I often communicate with them about gift packaging. They always do a special job for me and I greatly appreciate it.

(This is the shop of one of my blogger buddies - check out her wonderful jewelry)

In this year of stressful economic times, it is more important than ever to think about putting our gift giving dollars into the hands of artisans and craftspeople.

Won't you follow me in taking the Buy Hand Made pledge?

Stylin'

For some reason - it is almost impossible to find Trucker Type gloves for women. I look at virtually every truck stop I/we stop in.

There will be a nice display of gloves - 10 to 20 different types and kinds of gloves . . . all for men.

None for women.

What, we don't drive too?

If anything, we need gloves more than men - who wants to ruin a beautiful manicure on some greasy old truck?

But no,

no gloves for us.

Usually . . .

I found these beauties at The 49'er in Sacramento.

They were the only pair. . .

AND

they are leather

AND

they are lined.

Who's stylin' now?

Arch

My friend, Laura, caught this great shot of the Gateway Arch in St. Louis. She managed to snap this as we crossed the Mississippi on our way in from Illinois. Considering how bumpy most bridges are, I am amazed that she got anything that wasn't blurry.

Guest in the Truck

Having a guest on the truck has been fun for us both. I have certainly enjoyed the company and Laura has gotten to see some "slices of life" outside her norm. Mostly truck stops and dingy back loading docks

but also some more fun stuff.

I took her to Waffle House for her maiden visit.

Can you tell we had fun?

Joplin Orange

My new favorite color is one I'm going to call "Joplin Orange" in honor of our new base here in Joplin. Every corner you turn has a new opportunity for you to

suck in your breath

put a hand to your chest

exclaim, "Ohhhhhhhh"

or

"Ahhhhhhhh"

followed by something like,

"This one is the best . . . "

until you turn the next corner.

Now though, it is time to leave. Laura and I got a sweet dispatch from Joplin out to Sacramento.

And the icing on the cake is that I get to show my guest the features of my favorite Interstate

I-40

We'll keep you posted.

Sunday Smile

My mom sent me this video and it languished in my inbox for far too long.

Circling The Center

We slid down to Atlanta

dropped into Birmingham

snaked our way up through Tennessee

Kentucky

Illinois

and

Missouri

to finally

land in St. Louis

dropped automobile tires there and headed over to the Anheiser-Busch Brewery to take on a load of beer destined for the Razorbacks in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Laura had never seen the Gateway Arch in St. Louis.

She got to see it twice that day and actually up close as the brewery is right on the river downtown.

I didn't get any pictures since I was crazy busy driving and cussing and wishing I was anywhere but St. Louis on a busy weekday.

You will just have to imagine it on your own.

We are in Joplin visiting Tony and shopping and just relaxing.

We will head back out on Sunday and I will try to post on a more regular schedule.

Solo driving is still making me crazy, but I am determined to regain my schedule.

We'll see . . .

Mmmmm

While we were in Nashville, we found Mike's Ice Cream. Nice little shop with wonderful homemade ice cream. We tasted several - the Red Velvet Cake tasted just like old fashioned Red Velvet cake. Laura and I both ended up with Pumpkin Pie. Never thought I would like that flavor, but it was yummy . . . especially when I had them add caramel to make it a sundae.

And there were 2 great outside sundaes to admire as the night fell and lights came on.

Sunday Smile

This Sunday Smile is really something special and I am just tickled pink to be allowed to present it here to you.

A friend sent me a Youtube clip of a woman singing the delightful song "Do You Terlingua?". I didn't immediately go look at it - my life is a bit of a muddle these days. When I finally got around to it,

I was blown away.

Even now, I am still feeling such emotions about Terlingua and home and friends and leaving and looking forward to returning and loves and losses that it is hard for me to write this without gushing. This song really captures so much of what Terlingua is about.

Kelli King must have really "gotten" what Terlingua is all about, because she has only been there 3 times.

This song is not yet available for purchase on iTunes, but some of Kelli's other music is. She is in a collaboration called The Fritters and they can be accessed here: www.thefritters.com. In addition, Kelli has her own website: www.kelliking.com.

I would strongly urge anyone who would like to purchase "Do You Terlingua?" to leave a comment here asking Kelli to make it available either on iTunes or some other "for purchase" venue, cuz I know everyone who has ever been touched by Terlingua will want a copy of this song.

Guest in the Truck

Sometimes all the right pieces in the Universal Puzzle line up just right and wonderful things are possible.

This is often true after a period of trial or trouble.

Almost like a prize for sticking with it.

My prize is a guest on the truck.

Laura and I have been best friends since 1971 (9th grade) and she is riding with me for awhile. I picked her up in San Antonio and headed to Laredo.

We left there headed for Henderson, Kentucky. Did that drop and picked up 22 tons of Hungry Jack Pancake Syrup in Louisville and are taking it to Atlanta.

Nashville is on the way.

We have an entire weekend to goof off, cuz our unload is at 6:30 pm on Monday.

Today was a wonderfully lazy morning and we spent the late afternoon in Nashville checking out the fun downtown scene there.

Drive Through Color

I am heading South from Dallas on my way to Laredo. I will be driving through Austin and that reminded me of this great photo I took when we were there in August.

This is the ceiling at Threadgills on Lamar.

Friday Night Light

I was sitting in Gas City, Indiana a couple of weeks ago and after I parked and finished logging, I looked up and realized that I was in the gas station that all of the classic cars were fueling at before heading out for their Friday Night Cruise up and down their Drag.

As I was editing the photo for inclusion here on the blog, I accidently hit the wrong action button and came up with this lovely shot.

Totally captured the feel of the last warm Friday night of summer in Indiana.

Sunday Smile

This week's Sunday Smile requires you to click a link and go to another blog.

This is the blog of one of my Internet Friends and Fabulous Etsy Artist, Ellie.

Please make the effort -

I know it is Sunday and you are tired from your grueling week and it might seem like too much effort . . .

but trust me here.

One Crafty Mother

Did you smile?

I wish I could have dropped in for lunch.

Figuring it Out

Today is a beautiful sunny day in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The last time I was here it was raining and I was exhausted and just beginning this journey of solo driving.

This time around, I have figured out a few tricks that are helping me keep my sanity a bit more intact. It is still difficult and I am counting the days until Tony and Leo get back on the truck and we resume our sweet life as Team Drivers. But now I know that I will survive and not just collapse into a sobbing heap of frustration and weariness.

It is interesting how adversities and hardship also open doors and provide opportunities for growth and enrichment. I am so much surer of myself as a truck driver. I was confident before, but it was absolutely the confidence that comes with the knowledge that someone is there at your back to step in and help when you really get in a jam.

This new confidence is born out of having to do it all alone. Having to make hard decisions and then deal with the consequences.

I turned a corner in a receiver's lot and found myself confronted with a dead end alley and no place to turn around. Nothing to do but back around the corner. It took me 30 minutes and a whole lot of getting out and looking and climbing back in and inching forward and getting out and looking and climbing back in and backing up and getting out and looking . . .

But I did it.

By myself.

And I didn't cry in frustration or get all balled up in a mess of stress and pain.

I just did it.

So that is what is going on with me right now

I

am

just

doing

it.

I'm back on the road again after spending 3 days in Joplin with Tony.

Still dislike the life of the solo truck driver, but it looks like I'll be at it for another month.

I'm heading to Pennsylvania and then on to New Jersey.

If I come out alive, I'll post about the East Coast big rig scene later in the week.

Until then . . .

I'll leave you with this beauty that we found in a pasture not far from our company headquarters in Joplin, Missouri.

Sunday Smile

This was taken when we lived out at Castelon in Big Bend National Park.

These sweet children are all over 20 now.

Cloth diapers and cowboy boots . . .

New Feature - Quick Look

Since I have readers coming in from many different places now, I have decided to add a new feature that gives a good quick overview of our world.

It is located over there on the right hand side of the page.

See it . . . the new section titled "Start Here for A Quick Look At Our World".

Let me know if any other previous posts have struck your fancy and I'll put them there as well.

In the meantime, I am parked for the weekend at a truckstop in Normal, IL.

So far, it seems pretty . . . normal.

Autumn Whizzing By

This is what the Autumn leaves looked like for me as I drove through Maryland and Pennsylvania.

Fading . . .

I am having a hard time out on the road without Tony and Leo.

This last purple flower of the fading summer is a good indicator of how I am feeling these days.

Still trying to fluff up my petals, but not doing such a good job . . .

Posts will be sporadic until we are all back in the truck and life makes me smile again.

American Gold

When you stay in one place most of the time, it is sometimes difficult to detect the changing of the seasons.

Traveling around the country, it is easier to see.

Autumn came to America this past weekend.

The countryside is turning gold.

Not the dry, used up gold of dead stalks . . .

no

this is the vibrant gold of harvest .

I believe this is a field of soybeans.

As I drive through the center of the country, I am passing field after field of deep green turning to this deep vibrant gold. Since they are interspersed with corn, I can only think it is soybeans. Whatever it is, it is just stunningly beautiful.

Roadside Whimsy - Missouri

I was sitting alongside a rail line early the other morning in Carthage, Missouri to pick up furniture wire headed for Canada.

There was some really interesting graffiti on the cars.

These two guys were my favorite.

I really liked their whiskers and sprouts of hair.

I have been collecting pictures of good graffiti for some time.

Some is whimsical,

some is scary

and

some is just dumb.

Roadside Whimsy - Indiana

When we turn north out of Indianapolis and head up through the heart of Indiana, we always see this . . .

Today, I got to stop and get a quick photo of it.

Isn't this great?

I love American Folk Art.

I did not get sent in to Canada to delivery the furniture wire.

Who knows where I'll turn up next.

Confession

I have a confession to make.

I know I'll feel better after I do

I am so ashamed.

Here goes . . .

I almost threw money away because it was dirty and I was tired.

A quarter

A dime

Three pennies

They were sticky and nasty and stuck to the bottom of the tote bag I was emptying out.

I peeled them out and actually threw them into my trash bag along with the paper towel used to retrieve them.

Then I realized what I had just done

and was horrified.

I blinked and swallowed and got them back out

and washed

and dried

each

one.

There have been times in my life when 38 cents (we don't even have that symbol on keyboards any more) was just about all the money I had in this world.

Seriously

I have been more broke - more times than anyone really knows.

The realization that we might consider coins as expendable appalls me.

I will never do that again.

I hope you don't either.

If it is too dirty to wash off - put it somewhere where someone who needs it will find it.

They will wash it off.

On My Way to Canada

I have been in Joplin for the weekend.

Enjoyed being with my sweetie - hardware and all.

I loved it that I was able to catch up on my sleep and get back into a regular sleep pattern.

Got my dispatch for early Monday morning - picking up close- by and heading up to our terminal in the Detroit area. I'll pickup paperwork and head on into Canada. Delivering near Toronto and then usually head out through Buffalo, New York. This is usually a fairly good run and often we get a load in the Buffalo area heading to California.

Sunday Smile

This little video is instructional and then at the end I bet you will be smiling.

Check this out:

Who knew?

Did you?

I love it that he did this in his jammies.

I will never struggle with a damn banana again!

Yipppppeeeeee

Tony's Arm

Here are the pictures of Tony's new hardware.

I don't think he will be riding along with me on the truck.

There are just too may things sticking out of him waiting to catch on something.

Nope

Not gonna be on the truck any time soon . . . 

Again

Again with the rain and too many little cars.  

Damn.

Sitting in Tulsa in a mall parking being unloaded at a Sears dock.  The people watching has been fun, but the worry over how I'm going to get out of here is overshadowing everything else.  

I

HATE

BUSY

PARKING LOTS

Austin Color

I drove by this great outdoor color in Austin a bunch of times.  

I eagerly anticipated it coming into view each and every time. 

I never got tired of it.

I love it.

Ruins

I have always been fascinated by ruins.  Especially modern ruins.  We have passed this ruin many times and each time Tony says, "I'd love to stop and explore that.  I wonder what it was?"

I got to stop the other day as I went by and do some photos.  Doesn't this look like a ruin in some exotic land?  I'm going to post a couple more photos from it before I tell where it is.  If you think you know, comment and we'll see if you are right.

Okay, here's a hint . . . it is in West Texas.

Zebra Stripes in the Rain

Sitting in Eloy, Arizona the other night, I happened across this lovely view out my side window.  I don't care much for driving in the rain, but I enjoy being parked when it rains.  

The truck next to me was of Hispanic origin.  

I love the Mexican color combos . . . pink and yellow zebra stripes offset with black and white ones. 

I also love playing with my camera.

Sunday Smile

I didn't intend to do another video this week, but this one was just too sweet to pass up.

Enjoy

Time for a Break

I am tired.

When I can think clearly, I'll post again.

Until then I'll leave you with the beginning lyrics to a great song . . . 

"Looking out at the road rushing under my wheels

I don't know how to tell you all just how crazy this life feels . . ." 

Do you know who / what ?

What Day is It?

With Tony off the truck and me driving solo, my orderly world has gone haywire.

We keep such a nice schedule - I always know that I will be awake and on duty from 3 in the afternoon until 3 in the morning.  

Then I lie down and go to sleep.  

Sweet

As a solo, there is NO schedule and TOO MANY rules about hours of service.  Without going into the details, here is the short story . . . it is a bit past Noon and I haven't slept in just over 24 hours 

and 

 I have gone through so many ups and downs and sleepys and awakes that I don't know if I can go to sleep now that I am supposed to.  

THEN 

I have to get up at 10:00 tonight and drive for 11 more hours and 

THEN 

stop and sleep

THEN

THEN

THEN

 

Once I get into that routine, I will drop this load in Calexico, California and a new dispatch will turn everything upside down again.

I don't want to be a solo driver.

So I'll leave you with the only thing that makes sense right now . . .  

a sweet baby foot.

Possibly one of the cutest things in the Universe.