" The name of the Blog says it all ! "

I recieved this in a email and could not just let it go. The first part is the email and the second part, well is me. I really hope I dont step on any of my friends feet by posting this but when I started my blog I wondered about a name. I came up with the one I have because it fits me. You read my blogs never knowing what might be there. I hope that you all will still keep reading them. So here is the email:


"
> SHALL WE HIRE A MONUMENT ENGRAVER TO GO TO ARLINGTON
> NATIONAL CEMETERY AND ADD THE MISSING WORDS ?
>
> A MESSAGE FROM AN APPALLED OBSERVER:
>
> Today I went to visit the new World War II Memorial in
> Washington , DC . I got an unexpected history lesson.
> Because I'm a baby boomer, I was one of the youngest in
> the crowd.. Most were the age of my parents, Veterans of
> 'the greatest war,' with their families. It was a
> beautiful day, and people were smiling and happy to be
> there. Hundreds of us milled around the memorial, reading
> the inspiring words of Eisenhower and Truman that are
> engraved there..
>
> On the Pacific side of the memorial, a group of us gathered
> to read the words President Roose velt used to announce the
> attack on Pearl Harbor:
>
> Yesterday, December 7, 1941-- a date which will live in
> infamy--the United States of America was suddenly and
> deliberately attacked.
>
> One elderly woman read the words aloud:
>
> 'With confidence in our armed forces, with the
> abounding determination of our people, we will gain the
> inevitable triumph.'
>
> But as she read, she was suddenly turned angry. 'Wait a
> minute,' she said, 'they left out the end of the
> quote.. They left out the most important part. Roosevelt
> ended the message with 'so help us God.'
>
> Her husband said, 'You are probably right. We're
> not supposed to say things like that now .'
>
> 'I know I'm right,' she insisted. 'I
> remember the speech.' The two looked dismayed,
> shook their heads sadly and walked away.
>
> Listening to their conversation, I thought to myself, Well,
> it has been over 50 years she's probably forgotten.'
>
>
> But she had not forgotten. She was right.
>
> I went home and pulled out the book my book club is reading
> --- 'Flags of Our Fathers' by James Bradley.
> It's all about the battle at Iwo Jima .

>
>
> I haven't gotten too far in the book. It's tough
> to read because it's a graphic description of the WWII
> battles in the Pacific..
>
> But right there it was on page 58. Roosevelt 's speech
> to the nation ends in 'so help us God.'
>
> The people who edited out that part of the speech when they
> engraved it on the memorial could have fooled me. I was born
> after the war.! But they couldn't fool the people who
> were there. Roosevelt 's words are engraved on their
> hearts.
>
> Now I ask: 'WHO GAVE THEM THE RIGHT TO CHANGE THE WORDS
> OF HISTORY?????????'
>
> Send this around to your friends. People need to know
> before everyone forgets.
>
> People today are trying to change the history of America by
> leaving God out of it, but the truth is, God has been a part
> of this nation, since the beginning. He still wants to
> be...and He always will be!
>
> If you agree, pass this on and God Bless YOU!
>
> If not, May God Forgive You!
> "


Now, here is my perspective of it:

"Before I forward this, I have to add a few things myself. If you get this from me then you know I cannot let things go and that I have my own agenda on this. To begin with, thanks a lot for electing the person you did, because I hate not knowing were we are going, but now I do....straight to the bottom. If you think that by leaving out a few words is why we are in the shape we are in then you may be right. Oh, we are told that we are free and that we are lucky and that we are this and we are that. But, in my view we are already the puppets of a mind control government. It is all right to say we are doing this in Gods name, Kill in Gods name, make war in Gods name control other people in Gods name, put Gods name on money, swear to God oaths you will do this job or that job. But put Gods name in school, use Gods name in prayer, write Gods name on memorials..oh no, that is Politically incorrect. Politically correct, that is nothing more then hiding what you mean. I refuse to hide behind some shallow statement. If I have something to say and it hurts your feelings then perhaps you had better take a better look at your self. I Praise GOD not Allah or any other false GOD. If you don't believe in my GOD then oh well. I don't care who you worship but leave my GOD out of it. This is a Christian country, ruled by atheist and well, those who have their own gods. We need to get back to basics and put a little religion in our schools and lives. And as far as you atheist, when you get in trouble or get hurt..stop asking for my GODS help."


I would like to see some comments on this with your views and ideas.



You all be safe................Later, Brad

" So, this is life "

“ How I Got Here “



Dad ………………………………………..Played by: Robert Sr. ( Brad )

Mom ................Played by: Bernadine ( Billie )

Brother………………………….Played by: Robert Jr. ( Brad)

Sister………………………………..Played by: Trudy ( Trudy )





And of course our cute, lovable, sometimes

mischievous star: Ralph…….Played by: Himself


Brought to you by ……….. “Politically Correct…..Not “

Story line…………….. “ H.I.G.H. “ Saga

Written, Produced and told by…R.L.Bradbury

aka… Ralph….aka….Brad





Well, if you recall the last thing that was going on in my new life was being informed of what I was going to be called....ugh....you know that there will be plenty of retaliation, extra dirty diapers, more crying for no reason at all, up most of the night and spitting up in the most in-optune times...giggle giggle goo goo coo...hey, they named me, this is the moronic communication they get. You should see the faces and noises they and all their other tribe members bring to my face. And what the hell is up with all that finger under my chin stuff? Do they think I am a finger puppet? Anyway, along with the constant line of friends and relatives making wired ass noises and the ever touchy touchy, life at my new home is just that so far...LIFE.

They make, did you hear what I said...MAKE my brother Bob hold me. It is like sitting in a icy steel claw that could squeeze me into a....well, embryo..again. He does not want me on his lap, I do not want to be on his lap and....I got an idea....pppppeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.....MOM. HE JUST WET ALL OVER ME........GET HIM OFF, GET HIM OFF, GET HIM OFF...............well, alrighty then, that works great, note to myself: Peeing gets results in your favor.

My brother and I now have an understanding, if he is forced to hold me for any reason at all then he will do it with as much love and passion that he can muster up or suffer the consequences from me.

In tales to come, you will see how this carved out our relationship.


Anyway, was just sitting around and thought I would give you a chuckle.




You all be safe.............Later, Brad

How I got here. (H.I.G.H. saga)

Since I do not always have a lot to say, I have decided to entertain you with the reasons why I am like the way I am by letting you see parts of my life that has brought me to this time and place were I am today. Oh lucky you. I am sure that at my expense you will find humor in my growing pains. These little nostalgic glimpses of my past will be brought to you during lulls of nothing else to talk about. I hope you will enjoy them.

It all started when I was at a very young age. I was in a place that was warm and secure and I felt very safe and comfortable. When all of a sudden someone yells "MY WATER BROKE" and things began to happen very quickLY after that. I am not a happy camper and I react in the only way I know, remember I am very young. I stretch, kick, pull and punch at my now collapsing surroundings. I notice a bright light and as I gaze towards it. there is a head at the opening looking in and shouting push push push and I am getting squeezed and being forced down the tunnel toward the light and again I grab and punch and kick to try and stop this maddening ride all the while this head is shouting push push push and a wailing banshee is screaming her head off and I am really getting freaked. The head is saying it sees a head and to push push push, I see a head and do the same, I push back toward where I came. But I am out numbered, the banshee is screaming and yelling and squeezing me out while the head, which now has hands is pulling my head, it is a damn good thing that I am very young and don't have teeth because the head would be with out hands if I did. Now I am in this big room and the banshee has stopped those god awful screams and the head is now holding me upside down by my feet. God, please let me pee on him. Its a boy the head says and I think well duh, I knew that. There is this other person standing by the head of the banshee saying we shall call him Ralph. RALPH?????? What the hell is RALPH??? You got the whole alphabet to use, even the letter R has many variations to choose from. RALPH???? Hell, Ridiculous starts with R, that is another form of the name Ralph. Ralph, for the love of god what have I gotten into?

Here I am, to where I have no clue other then being with what I assume is a variation of my species. I now have parents and a brother whom I do not know because like I said before, I am at a very young age. Oh, I will get to know him soon enough and this thing called life.

More to follow in the ever growing saga of H.I.G.H.


You all be safe..............Later, Brad

" Driving "

As I ride along these sometimes lonely highways_____
I think of all the things I see.
Into the night I drive ever long________
for tomorrow there is somewhere I have to be.

The cities and towns all lit up______
and families are gathered at home.
I get filled with envy of them______
for here I ever roam.

I see it all from my driver's seat_____
the beauty and the beast.
From the mountains to the oceans____
from who have most and who have least.

It is a life of traveling_____
never knowing whats around the next bend.
You drive both day and night_____
on a road that never really ends.

It is though I am a part of the roads___
that it flows through my veins.
It is a body of boats and airplanes____
trucks to trains.

Trucking is a way of life for many_____
to which my life I give.
Untill you touch, feel and see what I have____
perhaps you have not really lived.





You all be safe.............Later, Brad

" JUST SO YOU KNOW "

I really do read and or listen to Ruth Ann read me other peoples blogs. I laugh and enjoy them. You are all fantastic writers. I also read the comments that you leave on my so called writings and I want to thank each of you for taking the time to leave them. I have done funny blogs, telling blogs and personal blogs. I want you to know that I do take your sentiments to heart and I thank you for your inspiring words. Not everyday is a fun one nor a good one. It is hard to let things just slid off your shoulders and carry on as if nothing happened. In time, all things seem to endure and get better, but the little video or the recording in your heart and mind last for ever. So you go on with your life and try to look at it in a way that makes some sense to you. Each step seems to be a very big slow step and in a path of unsure footing. But you follow each step with another and another and pretty soon the past is just that. Yes, it is still a part of you but now you moved on. Everyone of us has laughed, cried, felt pain and suffered losses. We are never alone in that respect. So, I guess what I am trying to say is that I thank my loved ones, I thank my friends and I thank you who care and leave those inspiring words that help me get on with my getting on.


You all be safe............Later, Brad

" THE TRIP "

This is the load I most enjoyed. It started out at NAS North Island at San Diego,CA. For those of you who may not know what NAS means it stands for Naval Air Station. We have a military load. But it is not just any military load, it is a NAVY load. Why is this a big deal? DUHHH, I was in the NAVY!!! .So this is just way cool.

The load starts in San Diego,CA then to Crane, IN then to Sterling,VA then to Shelton,CT then to Merrimack, NH then to Kittery, ME. We were at the NAS, the Naval Surface Warfare Center, the Aircraft Prop Shop, the Sikorsky Helicopter Aircraft Company, the facility for Advanced Defense Early Warning Systems and last but not least the Portsmouth Naval Ship Yard where they build Submarines.


We were under a broker load, and believe it or not, it was a good experience. The lady that we worked with was very pleasant and knew what she was talking about. She sent us directions to each of our stops and everyone was right on. I did not know how to handle this. We hardly ever get good directions. Not only was her routing on the money but everyone that we dealt with from the guards to the military personnel to the civil servant workers to the civilian workers were friendly, polite and accommodating. OMG, I have died and went to Heaven. I did not get mad one time, Yea Navy. And then to top it all off, the Lady gave us a big pat on the back and a “Atta Boy” to us. Really? I am not dead? All this really did happen? Wow, and they said miracles ceased to exist.

It was a very fast four days of 3459 miles but it was really fun, We were even in the shop for a service in route and lost time there but still made every stop on time. When you are doing something that you enjoy, things seem to go so much better. Ruth Ann was able to get a lot of pictures and we were able to sleep a couple of times without the truck moving, that is ALWAYS a good thing. I hope that we will be able to get a similar load in the very near future.


You all be safe…………Later, Brad

" THE SHY IS FALLING THE SKY IS FALLING !!??!!?? "

Let me take you back in time to the days of "Yore"____you know, the era of "Your" laughing at me. If you recall, there was the day of scraps, bumps, bruises, blood, cussing, breaking of finger nails and oh yes, let us not forget the infamous screwing of the thumb with the electric drill. Oh, how I miss those days of great pain. Yeah, right. Everyone knows that I can not make it though one day without hurting myself in one way or another.

Anyway, back to the shelf. You would think that after all my aches, pain, sweat and blood it would be a shelf that would endure the ages. But ney I say to you, only about 200 miles. Alas, it decided to creak, rock, sway, groan and miss-quote Chicken Little.." THE SHELF IS FALLING THE SHELF IS FALLING !!!!! ". I swear I heard it laughing all the way down.

Now we have this pile of mangled wood amidst our clothes. If I thought I had a hard time getting it all in the truck before it was put togeather and without all of our clothing to deal with, well lets just say that was the easy part. Again, much pain, busted knuckles, scrapes, blood, broken finger nails, cussing and owing. So as in " When Days Were Old and Knights Were Bold" we left our load beside the road and drove away contented. Well, not really. We were at a rest area above West Memphis, Arkansas and Ruth Ann stacked the deceased ( Dead Wood ) remains of the shelf in a neat pile next to a trash barrel.

So, now we get home again and along with doing the tax's I plan a new shelf. A better shelf. A " SUPER SHELF ! "

Oh lame shelf take heed, the " NINJA SHELF " cometh. It is born of 1/2" Plywood, Metal Brackets, Washers, Lock Washers, Nuts, Bolts and Tie-down Straps. Unlike its weakling ancester with but only 2 levels, This mighy Beast is a 3 level Skysraper. I fret that if it should ever tumble it would surely take the truck with it.








So I plead with all of you to "Hail the Shelf" and wish "It" safe riding. For it looms over our heads and we give daily thank to "It" for storing our belongings so well. The beauty of
"It" is worth all the money and pain that was put into "Its" creation.


You all be safe. later...Brad

Need to get it off my chest

This will be a little, well a lot, different from any of my usual run of the mouth Blogs. I have a few things that I need to get fof my chest. I will not bore you with the complete story of my life to date, but I do want you to understand where I am coming from. My childhood was pretty much the same as everyone's. The things that helped hone my persona were formed at a very young age. My parents were good parents and I love and miss them, neither are here anymore. My Mother was the typical house wife of that era. Coffees, card parties, shopping, a little part time job sometimes and taking care of the kids. My Father was a working man and a good provider. Neither of them the "hands on " types of parents. They loved us and were there for us, but not the roll around on the floor or go fishing type of parents. My Dad was a big flirt and a hug and kiss type of guy. My Mom was a funny and loving person. Oh, by the way, I have an younger sister and my older brother is also no longer with us. You can see, I was the middle child. That is not a good position to be in. My Dad was very judgmental.

Enough said about my childhood. I have had many ups and many, many let downs. I have been hurt. I have learned that trust in general is no more than a word. So throughout the years I have put up walls to the point that I would not allow anyone to enter my little black world. No, I was not having a pity party, it was a place that was mine and mine alone and no one could destroy it. Foolish, perhaps.

I am very judgmental and I judge by first impressions. I know, that is wrong and I should always look for the good in people and things. Well, from my life experiences I do not look at the world in the same way most other people do.

I still have my little world, but now I fill it with people that are close to me. If you find yourself in it you should consider yourself privileged, not because I am special, it is because I find you extraordinary and very special. Not all are welcome inside, some are allowed at the gate where I am more than happy to be with there. But they cant come in.

You are asking yourself what the heck is he talking about. Stay with me please, I am getting to it I am trying really hard to type my words in a manner that will not be filled with anger.

The saying "Blood is thicker than water" is not so much the case with me. Oh, don't get me wrong, I love my family, but that does not mean the I like them. There are some that have used, lied and turned their backs on me. Each to their own, but not in my world. I have 6 children of my own and only one of them is part of my life. Not my choice, there's.

When I married Ruth Ann, she brought with her an amazing family. I was truly blessed. I love each and everyone of them and if anyone would hurt any of them I would defend them to the max.

There was one person in this configuration that I felt was a very unique individual. He was, for me, a hard person to figure out. But, there was something about him I really liked. As time went by the more I liked him and admired him. After years, we, I thought, became friends. Unlike me, I trusted this friendship and he was one of the few that I placed in my little world. It did not take long for the knife to be put in my back. While he was pretending to be the great father and terrific husband he was laughing and lying and cheating on the whole family. No, it is not about me I am not the most hurt one. What I am sayingis that no matter who you think someone is, perhaps you may want to take another look.

Are the gates to my world close, no. Will I still let people in, yes. Can I trust people...........I will always hope so, but because of this I once again raise the bar a little .

I hope you are in my world, it would be lonely without you.

You all be safe...........Later, Brad

" To Hat or Not To Hat...!!!! "

Anyone that knows me, or even if you have only seen pictures of me you know that I sometimes wear a Cowboy hat, not that I am one, and it is BLACK. It is what I call my attitude hat. It may represent me being happy, I do have those moments, or it could be because I am....well a little not so happy. But the main thing I am trying to impress upon you is that the Hat is BLACK !!

Now, I said all that because of my son Virgil. We were able to get with him and his lovely family during the Christmas holidays. We exchanged gifts and all were happy. It is so hard to buy for people when you don't get to see them for months at a time. During the visit and the many conversations that evolved so many topics as we have not seen them for over a year and there was a lot of catching up to do. Anyway, Virgil said something about a Duster, the coat not the car, that he got and I said that I had always wanted to get one but never really had the money for one when I was thinking of it. It was like Thomas Edison re-born, his face lit up as the light bulbs in his head came to life. Hey, Cattleya (his wife), guess what Dad likes? He said he always wanted a Duster like mine. She said "Great, now we know what we can get him"! My son, like myself, likes black.My son, not like myself, is pretty buff and a little taller and heavier than me. He likes black. Did I already say that? Well, I don't care because it is important to this story.

For my Birthday they bought me a Duster? Well, they thought they did. What came was a Waist Coat. A very nice one, and it was Large and it was Brown. Again, I am a medium and well I like BLACK !!!!!

I called him and he asked how I liked the coat and I said that it was a very nice coat and that it was Brown and that it was a Waist coat and that it was large and that I was very happy that he had bought it for me. He said "WHAT", it is not suppose to be a Waist coat it is suppose to be a Duster and that it is suppose to be Black.

I said...nope!! he said to send it back to the shipper and that they would have to exchange it because that was not what he ordered. I said..OK !! Oh, by the way, this coat is Large, it is kind of big. He said that they run big and did not know what size to get. I asked him what size he got, thinking that it would be large and he said a medium. A Medium? Virgil, you are bigger then I am what made you think that a large would fit me if it did not fit you....then there was a lot of good humor cutting each other down for a few minutes..I love that kid.

We called the shipper and was told to put it back in the bag it came in and to tape it up and send it back via UPS. We did as we were told and just like Elvis Presley's song "Return to sender" it came right back the very next day. UPS said that the package had been open, DUH, and that they could not return it to the shipper.

Ring Ring Ring, hello Virgil? Guess what, UPS won't take it. More phone calls to the shipper. Our sister leaves the package on the back porch, and in a day or two it is gone. Please God tell me UPS picked it up.

Ring Ring Ring, hello Virgil? The package has been picked up. They call the shipper and the shipper has the returned coat. They now have to reorder the coat, Duster----Medium----Black. Okay, got it, we will ship it to your Dad via U S Postal.

Excelsior, The package has come. It is a small box that looks like it may hold a shirt not a coat. But I open it and amazingly it is a Duster. I get it unfolded and it is a Medium and it fits, told you so Virgil. And it is B......rown. Crap. It is a very dark Brown and I grab my Hat because I am really hoping upon all hopes that perhaps it is really Black and not Brown. Hell no, it is sssooooooo Brown. Now I am beside myself on what to do. If I send it back then the kids will have to go through the re-ordering thing again, and I really don't want that. If I keep it, then I will have to buy another hat. Oh Me..Oh MY..!!!!!!

Well, I think that I am going to keep the Brown Duster, I am afraid that if I send it back I just may get a Pink TUTU instead of the Right Coat, the Right Size and the Right Color. So To Hat or Not to Hat was the question and I have answered it to the best of my knowledge and that is my final answer.

You all be safe. Later, Brad
'

Can you spell...D U M B ?

Well, I really don't know where to start. The stupidity never ceases to amaze me. It is like all the comedians say..."I CANT MAKE THIS STUFF UP". I loose it pretty much on a daily basis because of it. I know, it does not do any good to let it get to me, but for some reason I cannot help myself. I know not only because it wares me out but because my lovely wife Ruth Ann will in no uncertain terms tell me I am making an ass of myself. I really do owe my life to her...she has let me live.

To start with, I guess I will start with the fast food industry. I will not pick anyone in particular because they are all about the same. Almost the same menu, almost the same smells, almost the same taste and for certain the same type of employees. Where in the hell do these people come from? If you are lucky enough to find the order taker an English speaking person then at least you got that going for you. As you know, or if you have not read another bog or don't know us_____we are Brad, Ruth Ann and Baby Girl (our alternative child, our Min-Pin)____so when the order is placed it covers all three of us. Ruth Ann has the only normal order____ double cheese burger, fries and ranch dressing. Me, don't quite so normal but not hard____two cheese burgers with nothing on them and a _______here it comes, wait for it.........."WILL THAT BE TWO CHEESE BURGERS WITH NOTHING ON THEM? DO YOU WANT CHEESE ON THEM?......no, I want to pay extra for the hamburgers and just call them cheese burgers...dumb-ass....and give me a small fry. Then............"SO THAT IS TWO CHEESE BURGERS WITH NOTHING ON THEM EXCEPT THE CHEESE, RIGHT"? Right, now......"WILL THERE BE ANYTHING ELSE"?....Y---E----S, I also want two hamburgers with nothing on them, not even a bun, it is for our dog.."DO YOU WANT CHEESE ON THEM"?...I said nothing, no cheese, no ketchup, no mustard, no lettuce, no pickle and no bun. Put them in a little container or wrap them in paper I don't care just don't put anything on them, it is for the dog and the dog get pissed when it as to eat around all that crap. They read it back and after a few adjustments they place the order. During the time it is being prepared the order taker is telling the food builder ( I don't know what else to call the people behind the line, they are not cooks) how to fill my order, and then there is the food sliding down that metal troughs and being bagged by the order taker. I have to remind them to put the ranch dressing in the bag. I peer into the bag and count, people..you have to at least count to make sure the quantity is at least right.
There are enough packages and so off I go to deliver the feast to my awaiting family. We pull our bounty from the bags and unwrap our mundane super. Yea, Ruth Ann has a complete and right order. Next it is Baby Girl, they have put her food in a plastic covered bowl, oh how special she is. But alas, her dinner is right only in the part that there are two hamburger patties in the bowl. You ask, how could they mess this up...oh, please let me inform you. The two patties are resting on top of a leaf of lettuce,and did they leave them naked (with nothing on them)? NO!!!! They have decided to decorate them not with just ketchup but with added flair, mustard also. Baby Girl just looks at it and rolls her eyes then looks at me as if to say.."You know that I am going to eat your food, I don't care what you do with this crap"!!! I want to go back inside and wipe the condiments off on there counter and let them know who and what I think they are, but I don't..because I am such a people person. Ruth Ann reverses the problem with Baby Girls food by wiping off the goo on the burgers, throwing away the leafy green yuck and puts the bowl on the floor and Baby Girl looks up at her and I swear throws her a kiss and then inhales her food. I look at mine and am very surprised that they got it right. I take a bite and Baby Girl is barking and bouncing off my leg begging for my food.

Sooooooo, now let get to the jobby thingy. We have delivered in Aurora,IL and was then dispatched on a load picking up in the Chicago area at a UPS facility, we get to Willowbrook,IL and the load cancels. So we set there waiting to see what our wonderers travel planner is going to come up with next. Now, this is the 4th and we are suppose to be home on the 5th, 600 miles away. We are told to go to Palatine,IL and drop our empty trailer at a UPS facility. That load is going to York,PA. Nope, we are not going to take it, we are just going to give up our trailer and someone else will come and get the load. HHHMMMMMmmm..very, very astute. So we sit another couple of hours. Now they want us to go to Hodgkin,IL....you guessed it...to pick up an empty trailer...where you ask..why at an UPS facility. "ARE WE HAVING FUN YET??????" So off we go again. We get the empty trailer and they send us the load information. It is a Dial Tile load, heavy. It is going to Edgerton,MD....nope, not WV. And it does not pick-up till in the morning and then delivers on the 9th. We get the load and after weighing it three times to get the axles right we are off. We get to Perrysburg,OH. they tell us that they want us to take the load to Columbus,OH and drop it and pick-up a load going to VA, not WV. Needless to say, I have pretty much had enough of this BS and started to voice my views of it. We get abut 50 miles from the place they want us to drop the load and are told that they changed their minds. Now they want us to take it home and deliver it when we come back out from thee house. There is much discussion on the safety of the load while we are home. We live in a very small town and park right in front of the house. We are told that they will try to find another driver to pick-up the load and deliver it.

YEA, we are at home, late, but at home. The next day, I decide to do the taxes and have everything out and I am working on them. The telephone rings and it is dispatch telling us that there will be a driver picking up this load. Ruth Ann is tell dispatch on where the driver is to drop his empty till he comes up and picks up the load because there is no where to put two trailers in front of the house even long enough to switch out. All is good. Now the truck stop is in Jane Lew,WV and we live in Lost Creek,WV....5 miles apart. We are right alongside of I-79 and you can plainly see our house and the truck a trailer. I can stand on the front porch and throw a rock onto the highway, we are close to the highway. I told you all that so that you can have a better picture. Truck stop is at the 105 mile marker and we are at the 110 mile marker.

The driver calls, and it is like talking to one of the fast food order takers, and with deciphering what he is saying he may or may not be here till tomorrow. We don't care, whenever. He gets in about 8 PM and calls us from the truck stop. We say, great. Now drop your trailer and come to get this one and we will go back and get the empty after you leave with the loaded one because there is not enough room till you do. No, he says....dispatch said he cannot drop till we are there to pick-up the empty trailer. Well...I am just overly delighted with this and want to shout with joy.....who am I kidding, I shout alright...but not with joy. I am in
the middle of doing the taxes, and oh yeah....mid-afternoon there has been a truck wreck on the south bound side of I-79 around the 108 mile marker. Yep, in between us and the truck stop. Now, there is another way to the truck stop and that is by the old highway that runs right along side of I-79. I is a two lane twisty road. We take it all the time but the problem is that now there is traffic on it and the only way for me to get turned around and head back is to go to the next exit north of here. I take off and in no certain way am I a happy camper. I get up to the next exit and get turned back south. The traffic from the 110 to the 108 mile markers are at a dead stop and have been that way since the accident. I get to talking to another driver behind be and tell him that I am going to go around this and he can follow me if he wanted to. He says okay. I am about to get off at the 110 mile marker when I notice a pickup backing up the shoulder trying to get to that same exit. I have to slow down a little faster then I would have so that I am prepared for whatever little driving skill that the pickup may try. I warn the driver behind me of what is going on. The pickup is now in the wedge of the highway and exit ramp but stays put till we get by. Anyway, I make it down to the truck stop and the driver that was following me thanked me for leading him down that way. I change trailers with the driver that had been waiting for me and head home. Now it is very dark and there is little light when I get back to the house for me to see what I am doing. But, I get parked and as I walk up the drive-way I notice a pickup. I go inside and Ruth Ann introduces me to a woman she has known forever but had not seen in many years. We talk and after awhile the woman mentions that she was in that back up on the highway and had already gone by the 100 exit. You guessed it, she was the one I met at the ramp. Small world

So, here it is Saturday. The load is gone, we have an empty trailer. The taxes are done and the Fed. and State both owe us. Ruth Ann went to the eye doctor and got glasses. One of our sisters came by for a visit. I am sitting here at my bar and having a Martini. I am writing because I want to entertain all my friends.

You all be safe. Till later....Brad

Isn't trucking fun ??? !!!!!!

Once again the day drifts by as we set in the truck waiting to go pick-up another load. We made it to New York state but not with out our never ending miles of little horrors. When they decided to free us from Los Angeles, and oh yeah, we now have our IFTA sticker, and headed us to Mablevale, AR. It was cold and windy, but the roads were good. We got to Bushland, TX and we switched out driving. It was my turn. Ruth Ann went in to get a few things at the Love's Truck Stop and then when she came back she took Baby Girl out for her potty break, Baby Girls not Ruth Anns. I finished up my log and Ruth Ann and Baby Girl got back in and off we go. After about 40 miles Ruth Ann come to the realization that she no longer has her glasses. We pull over and search everywhere, and I mean everywhere from the top of the fuel tanks, to the bottom of the trash can. From under the seats and down Ruth Ann's blouse..hhhhhmmmmmm...better take another look down there to make sure....lol....but to our dismay, they are not to be found. Ruth Ann calls the truck stop and they said they would go look. We debate on going back but with reluctance we continue on with the trip. But both of us are not happy with that decision and decide to turn around and go back. We have now driven 50 miles from the truck stop. On the way back Ruth Ann call the truck stop again and they say that they looked but found no glasses. When we get there, there is a truck parked in the spot we was parked in. This did not set well in either of our minds. Ruth Ann goes to the passengers side of the truck and low and behold, there are her glasses, right where they fell off her blouses neck line as she put Baby Girl back in the truck. The only difference now is that they are in a handy dandy storable size. Yep, both lens in many pieces and the frames all bent. She picks up a few lens pieces and the frame and stores them in a sandwich bag for future whatever. Off we go again and we deliver in Mablevale,AR without anymore problems.

Our next pick-up is in St James, MO. about 300 miles north of us. Off we go on yet another fantastic journey. Ruth Ann is driving and she is on Hwy 63 in Missouri. I wake up and pull the curtains open only to find that perhaps I am blind because I can see nothing out the windshield. Oh, I forgot to put my glasses on. There, that should be better...nope....it only made it worst because now I can see that I cant see. Crap. The windshield is iced over and the wipers are caked with the stuff. We are only doing 15 mph and cant see were we are going. It is a two lane road and there is no shoulder and no where to pull off. And of course, we are the leader of the parade. There are a bunch cars and trucks behind us that can see where they are going and are getting rather upset with us...They should have left earlier. After what seemed like hours we come upon a gas station that has a couple of trucks in it. Ruth Ann, I want to make something very clear right now, has done a fantastic job getting us here, her only means of knowing that we was still on the highway was the center rumble strip and the birm rumble strip that we bounce back and forth off of. Anyway, we turned to pull into the gas station lot not really knowing where the drive was. As we pulled in, there was a Walmart truck that was going to come out but had already jacked-knifed and was stuck. We pulled down and onto the lot to only find out that we did not know how to get around the station to the back. At the same time we was wondering, another USXpress truck pulled down behind us and a CFI truck was ready to turn in behind him. The only thing that was missing was the Indians because we had the wagons circled. It was still snowing like crazy. I got out and walked almost knee deep in snow up the other drive way and made my way around back. I came back and with great..if you remember the last time I had to do this, displeasure drug out a couple of chains and got them on. I stopped and counted my fingers, felt my head for blood, and looked to make sure my feet were on the ground. Everything was alright and I had to ask myself WHY. Anyway, we tried to get going but to no avail. After many many many tries, I was able to get off the lot and then around back only to be blocked by 3 other trucks. The hell with it, we are spending the night. A tow truck came and got Walmart out, then the USXpress truck had to use him because now he was stuck. He got out and left. The trucks that were in front of us got out and left. We still had the chains on and decided to try and go. We were about 35 miles from Rolla, Mo where I-44 is and the highway we needed, So, off we went. When we got to Rolla, I pulled off on the on ramp and took the $$@@%%$#^ chains off and put them away. We made it to St James, MO. and got our load then drove a few miles to Cuba, MO. and spent the night as we were both exhausted from our fun filled day. So now here we are in Liverpool,NY picking up a Fed Ex load tonight going to Newark,NJ. Wow, a whole 242 miles. Boy, we are in the money now. We are suppose to be home on the 5th and OMG, I can hardly wait. You all be safe. Later, Brad