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

DARELL

Sitting here at GARY, I was waitng for a new student. NEVER SHOWED. Called Greenbay to find out that he decided not to drive. While here, I ran into a friend and his wife Roberta, I spent time with them up in Wisconsin a few weeks back. Here is his PHOTO. Maybe I'll get to add her's later..

MORE OF THE PROCESS

Here are more fotos of the cotton gin process..It gets separated. scrubbed, bundled and shipped to the people who make our cloths, bedding etc., etc, etc.

Today I delivered the cotton seed to the co-op in bobduel, wi. dairy farmers will add it to their feed for it's high protien..

I'm now sitting in Green Bay, at the OC, waiting for a load, doing laundry, and sitting.

I released CHRIS yesterday at GARY. I hope he'll do well. He may be my last student for a while..Got word today that the company is hiring fewer inexperienced drivers. They say they have driver's waiting for trucks...While waiting, they're being paid a minimal amount as long as they remain available. I'm not sure we're getting sufficient loads as well