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 12, 2010

September 12, 1990, 2010

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Wednesday-traveling)
Passed Clarksville, Arkansas as my new day started. After entering Oklahoma, I was on I-40 for only about 45 miles when I took the Muskogee Turnpike(toll road) north to Tulsa. The directions were good that I had and I got right to the warehouse I was looking for on the northside at 3 AM CST. Went to sleep only to be woken up at 5 AM CST for unloading. I backed up to the dock and they started unloading me. I slept while they unloaded me. After they got done at 7:30 AM CST, I drove to the Tulsa terminal and called my regular dispatcher. I wanted to take a break but I was given a load that had to get going. It was going to Cincinnati, Ohio. I was feeling OK so I hooked up to the trailer, did my vehicle inspection, paperwork and headed northeast on I-44 at 9:30 AM CST.

About fifty miles from Tulsa, I pulled into the big rest area on the turnpike as I was a little tired. The town this rest area(pickle park) is closest to apparently is Vinita, Oklahoma so I am told. I met another driver from my company and we got talking. I told him that I was on my way to Cincinnati, Ohio and he said that he wished he had my load. His was to the auto assembly plant in east Oklahoma City. He asked if we could trade and I told that I would if he did the trade through his dispatcher. He did, we switched trailers and I was off to Oklahoma City at 11:30 AM CST.

This auto parts load I got was to be delivered as soon as possible and so I did. I had it dropped by 3 PM CST. I called dispatch with was told to call back in the morning. I drove to the "Just a Truckstop" and went to sleep.
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