TUCKHANNAK 2 GARY

It's been a while since I upd8d this feature. RAY has been on my case for being lax. OK RAY. HERE IT IS.

Ran into RANDY, in the blue shirt, up at TANKHANUK, PA. The other foto s the AFTER at GARY on Saturday morning. We spent a day at Tuckhannak along with BRYAN waiting on our respective loads. We share venison sausage, gave advice to each other related to our loads. That got me in trouble in JERZY. went to bed in our respective trucks and then on our ways. While at Tuckhannak, I lost tracki0n with my bobtail in a muddy parking area, and Bryan (THE INTIMMIDATOR) had to pull me free.

Since then I was almost given a 25# load to I DON't REMEMBER WERE, USA. It was to have been 20000#+. SInce then JERZY was H___acious. I'm glad I'm out of there.

Between JERZY and home OC, I got to spend time with my friend CARL at UPPER SANDUSKY, OHIO (The OK HAND IT OVER state). I spent the tile with his son's family and a birthday party for his grandson.

Eventually I got to my delivery at MINOOKA, IL, spent time with my son and his family, my grandaughters REBECCA and NANCY, and hopefully, TODAY TO BE BORN, CULLEN RENEE.

Im at GARY waiting to pick up a load going up towards MINNESOTA to be delivered on monday.

OH RAY KTBC&PH

SANTA on LEAVE and more

Well it's been before CHRISTmas that I last upd8d the blog. having no students for the near future doesn't give for much subject matter.

Went home just prior to the holidays to spend time with my family, and then back on the road. While at DALLAS, I ran into this gentelman behind me in the FOTO.

SANTA is on his holiday at DALLAS, while his ELVES are busing making new NAUGHTY/NICE LISTS. He promised to see what he could do about keeping your names on the NICE list. YOU DO KNOW WHO YOU ARE!!!

While under load to GRAND RAPIDS, MI, I got a call from my brother that my MOM had PNEUMONIA, and at the time was in the hospital. I called SCHNEIDER (DAYNA), asked her if there was a chance to get a load south towards Shelbyville, KY. In about 10 minutes, she and my trip planner, MIKE worked out a load to MISSISSIPPI, whit time for me to layover and spend time with my mother. While at the house, she also fell and cut her head, needing a few stitches. SHE's FINE NOW!! THANK GOD!!

JOHNSON'S CORNERS

It's great to find a truckstop of this caliber in the middle of nowheres (LOVELAND, CO). Their employees (see foto attached) seem to go out of their ways to meet trucker's needs. Their food facilities are awesome, with gr8 food and large portions, at reasonable prices. I also appreciate that they allow for a TRUCKER's CHAPEL service, for those of us who need this inspiration while on the road away from home.

I had been here going on 2 days now, to deliver about 15 miles away at Greeley, CO on monday morning. I also met a couple of more local drivers like NORM aka MR PRESIDENT. (see FOTOs)

Sitting here in the COLORODO ROCKIES is also beautiful, with the snowcaped mountains. Temps have been gr8, cold at night but in the 30s and 40s during the day.

Here at the JOHNSONS CORNER, they have an awesome cinnamon roll, enough for 2 meals. All their food portions are large, and reasonable priced. I'd recomment this place to all travelers to the area.

ALMOST MEXICO

Am sitting in LAREDO, TX, waiting to deliver a load tomorrow morning. It will be relayed tomorrow night into MEXICO. I hope my trip planner can find me something quick out of here. There are about 30 other drivers waiting for loads. SEE few in FOTO.

I picked this load, 44000# of beer in Minnesota. about 11500 mile run. Not bad considering it follows a 1200 mile run from JERSEY. This run brought through RAIN,SNOW, SLEET ICE STORM, WINDS FROM MINNEAPOLIS TO SOUTH OF OKLAHOMA CITY. I feel like a mail man, without his pay.

Prior to this run, I dropped LEE at GARY on saturday. He called me today and said he got a 99% on the first part and 100% on the second pat of his SQT. Now he'll take his CDL tests on Thursday. He seems quite pleased with himself. He should be. He worked hard.

I go home in a week. that will be good time spent with my family before CHRISTmas and my birthday. Maybe even a little deer hunting.

IT, CAN WILL

IF it can it will!!

Just can off of TAH. Picked up a new student, LEE SPELLS. FOTO included. We were assigned a trailer out of CSX railyard at Bedford PArk, IL to pick up a SEARS load going to MEMPHIS from HAMMOND, IN. Sufficient to say, complications and time restraints determined tha we needed three tires on the trailer, along with being potentially late. We gave the load to another driver, to get a 2fer. two loads one to APPLETON, wisconsin, the other from Milwaukee, to Conway, AR.

We thought things weree looking up until we hit holiday traffic. Nearly 1.5 hours through CHICAGO to APppleton, and the on Tuesday, nearly 2 hours to do 27 miles from BELOIT, WI through ROCKFORD, IL. Well we have till tomorrow to get deliverd at CONWAY. Stayed last night at the TA in Bloomington, drove to our EDWARDSVILLE OC for showers and lunch, and later on towards Conway.

I got Leee working on another future project for now. until we go eat and leave for the road.

TAH

IT'S BEEN A COUPLE WEEKS SINCE I'D UPDATED THIS BLOG. HAVEN'T HAD A STUDENT IN THREE WEEKS.

I'm about to leave out on the road again in the morning (Tuesday). In spite of students being scarce, I was just assigned LEE SPELLs, from Chicago. He'll meet me at the truck in the morning.

Last month I spent most of my time on the East Coast. Places like NY STATE, Baltimore, MD, VIrginia, Pennsylvania, etc., etc.,... I did get a chance to spend a little time with my MOM and BROTHER in KY, between JERSY CITY, NJ and Mississippi. By the way, the colder weather brings out the best in me.. HAIR)!!

SCHNEIDER DENTAL

Well the past two weeks were interesting. Been to the Carolinas, the Virginias and Pennsylvania. Also through those states leading to WEST MEMPHIS. That's where the title comes in for this blog segment.

Delivered my last stop on a three stopper near Memphis. Decided to see if I could get some work done on my truck. It had an aggrevating Air Leak. Ran up my IDLE time. Now at West Memphis OC, Schneider started offering a DENTAL service, using A MOBILE DENTAL LAB. I decided to take advantage of it. It was surprising that the unit wasn't busier. Especially considering that the dental insurance picked up the bill. I was able to have exrays taken, along with a good cleaning.

Photos of the dental crew are included