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.