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

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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...

December 15, 2009

December 15, 1989, 2009

FIRST 5 YEARS: (Friday-Fort Worth, Texas)
Just a I was awaking, the night guard walked out and told me to back up to dock W7. He signed for my seal(verification the load hadn't been played with) and I opened the doors and backed into the assigned dock. I was met at the dock by Donna and Mary who were there to help me unload. Donna helped in the trailer while Mary did the pallets, forklift and counting. We had a whole bunch of pallets sitting around after we got the trailer empty. Everything was there that was suppose to be so she signed the paperwork and I was done there. I called Dallas dispatch(office in Red Oak, Texas) and was told to go to Carrollton(Texas) and exchange my trailer for a loaded trailer. I was told to bring the loaded trailer to Red Oak(Texas) and switch it for a Utah load of tires. I did it and got hooked up to my Utah load. I got my logbook caught up and did a complete vehicle inspection and found everything in good shape. I went in and talked to dispatch for awhile....After a lot of chit-chat, I went to my tractor and looked at the routing. I decided to go through Amarillo and Albuquerque again. I left Red Oak(Texas) around 1 PM and headed for Amarillo(Texas). I got on I-35E going north to I-20 going west. Just about to Fort Worth I caught Hwy 287 north through downtown Fort Worth and onto Amarillo(Texas). Got up through Wichita Falls before I was feeling the need for a short break. I did not take a break; I kept going until I reached Childress, Texas about 6:30 PM. Pulled into the small truckstop and took about 30 minutes. After logbook updating and a trailer walk around, I headed on. Finally got to my goal for the night, "Just A Truckstop" in Amarillo, Texas. Called it "quits" for the night. Went into the truckstop and had the buffet. I went to the movie room but didn't see anything I was interested in. Went to my truck and went to sleep.
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