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...

May 10, 2010

May 10, 1990, 2010

FIRST FIRST YEARS:(Thursday- Anna, Texas)
I woke up at 3:55 AM CST as I looked at my bunk clock. Could not go back to sleep so I got up. Did my paperwork, vehicle inspection and a walk around the parking lot. Was heading south on Hwy 75 by 5 am CST.

By 6 AM CST I had found the receiving company, checked in and was backed up to the docks. They were slow getting me unloaded and so I didn't get unloaded until 10:15 AM CST. I called our Red Oak(Dallas, Texas area) dispatch and was told to go to our terminal.

I went to the terminal and talked with the other drivers(only 2) that were there and the dispatcher(no dispatch "window" at this terminal). At 2 PM CST a load came in that needed to go to Laredo(Texas) and neither the drivers-both ahead of me on the trucker's ready board-wanted it. I took it and was happy about it. I enjoyed talking with the guys at Red Oak alot but I am out here to go places...I mean "earn money".

I was on my way south on I-35E by 3 PM and heading for "going home" traffic problems. Waco(Texas) was the first sign of traffic but it wasn't too bad. Temple(Texas) had the most traffic for the days travels but it only required me to slow down a little. By the time I reached Austin, I just took the upper level of the "through town" interstate(I-35) and went right through the city with no problem.

Got to the San Antonio(Texas) truckstop that is our fuel stop("Just a Truckstop") and fueled(142 gallons). Got some munchies and a diet soda(soft drink in Canada) and headed for Laredo. Was in Laredo after the long stretch of I-35 around 10 PM CST. Just backed my truck into a parking space and went to sleep....
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