Enjoying North America while earning a living...

I kept a day by day journal the first 5 years I was enjoying North America. While earning a living,I kept track of where I went, often what I did, feelings I had and various other details. I am writing this blog day by day as I lived it. The month/day I lived it is the same as the month/day I write about it. The years are obviously different...thus the days title: ie: August 30, 1989, 2009.

About Me

My photo
Starting as a preschooler, I remember my Grandfather bringing me rocks from his trips he took after he retired. Each rock had a story to tell. In the sixth grade, I watched a freeway be built and then wondered where all the trucks would go. I remember in high school looking at the mountains and wanting to travel. I did many jobs BEFORE trucking but I always wondered what driving would by like. I really wanted to see things and drive a big truck. So after almost finishing nursing school, a divorce and three cute little kids, I became a truck driver. While earning a living, I found myself enjoying North America and seeing the land and people. NO ONE ENJOYED TRAVELING MORE THAN ME. There are two things I have enjoyed in this life and they are traveling and writing. I use to call myself "Protourist" but my Mother-in-law and Wife would become upset with me as they know I really love THE "travel" and not THE stopping to see things. I now call myself "protraveller"(I like it with a double "L") and my Mother-in-law and Wife are now happy!!! I love to write and this blog gives me the opportunity to share my past and thoughts with the public.

About this blog's layout...BLOG UPDATED ONCE PER DAY...

I follow my journal daily by writing under the daily title, "FIRST 5 YEARS:" The first five years will strictly follow my 5 year journal. If I find the day I am writing about to be boring, I will either write about thoughts I remember(placed under the title of "SECOND 5 YEARS"), write a trucker tale(placed under "A Trucker's Tale"), give a helpful trucker hint, ask a "student driver" question or do something.....When a location appears after the day of the week after "FIRST 5 YEARS:", it is where I am at the start of that day((IE: FIRST 5 YEARS: (Sunday-Kansas City, Missouri))..... I would encourage those that find themselves enjoying North America to follow me day by day.....REMEMBER: THIS IS A BLOG ABOUT WHAT LIFE IS LIKE FOR A TRUCKER THAT DOES NOT HAVE A DAILY ROUTINE ROUTE(called a "dedicated" route). THERE WILL BE MANY TIMES WHEN THE ROUTING, SCENERY AND DAY'S ACTIVITIES WILL BE SIMILAR(boring???) TO PREVIOUS DAYS; THAT'S TRUCKING! THERE WILL BE DAYS WHEN THE ROUTING, SCENERY AND DAY'S ACTIVITIES WILL BE TOTALLY NEW; THAT'S TRUCKING. Frustrations? I mention the frustrations I had as a driver. I loved my job while earning a living and realized that all jobs have frustrations; truck driving is, and was, no different..... Many pictures on this blog can be left-clicked and made larger.....Questions?...Please E-mail PT at fabalt2000@centurylink.net


Blog Dictionaries...

The Trucking Dictionary...words in this dictionary will many times appear highlighted. If a word isn't highlighted or in the blog dictionary and sounds "different", check it out in this dictionary. Please note: Many times when clicking on these dictionaries anywhere in the blog, the first thing that comes up is an advertisement which I have no control over.
The Blog Dictionary...This dictionary contains words I use that aren't "trucker" words and thus not in the "trucking dictionary". I separate them--the dictionaries--in case someone wants to copy the trucking dictionary for personal use. This dictionary also contains names of people(not real names) that I dealt with many times through my trucking career. Blog word found in this dictionary often will be licked to it.
DAILY UPDATES SHOULD BE UP BY NOON CST...

September 1, 2009

September 1, 1989, 2009

FIRST 5 YEAR: (Friday)
The trucking seminar that started yesterday here in Kansas City, Missouri continues....After the seminar, I should have got 3 "snore" points for boredom. I got a load of salad dressing to Cleveland but I can't get it until Sunday afternoon. Slept in truck tonight...Boring!!!

SECOND 5 YEARS: (Lost in New Jersey with a shoe load)
I had a trailer load of shoes going to a warehouse in South Brunswick, New Jersey. I got on the New Jersey turnpike heading north from Interstate 276 around Philadelphia. Headed to Exit 8A where I was to exit the turnpike to the right. I got the instructions mixed up and turned left. Following what I thought was correct, I ended up in "I Don't Know". I came to that township. At the first light-a busy intersection-I decided I had to turn around. I decided to pull a "U" turn when my light turned green. The light turned and I moved forward angling my unit for a "U" turn. Started the turn and couldn't make it without a short backup. I made the short backup and completed the turn. As I cleared the intersection, I noticed a police car behind me . The officer turned his antlers(lights on car top) on and I pulled over. We both got out and walked toward each other. He asked for my license and told me he had me for four violations(turning left on a NO LEFT TURN, "U" turn on a NO "U" TURN, backing up in an intersection and holding up the flow of traffic). He was nice: he asked if I had seen the no "U" turn signs and I said no. He then pointed to four signs all reading "no U turn". I told him that I was nervous as I was lost and didn't know where I was. I told him the name of the warehouse and he told me where it was. Then he handed back my license and told me to be careful. I found the warehouse and checked in. Was unloaded just after another truck from my company drove in. After we were both were unloaded, we found a spot to park our trucks in the warehouse parking lot. Did a check call and were told we would be there that night.
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