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...

November 23, 2011

November 23, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Saturday-Laredo, Texas)
Was in Laredo all day.  Met my friend Sundance and we got a motel room as both would be here at least until tomorrow.  After we got a room, I went over to Arlena's place and spent the rest of the day with her and her kids...
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November 22, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Friday-Fort Stockton, Texas)
I started my day by getting to the truckstop in Fort Stockton while I was driving to Laredo with two other drivers from our company.

We didn't stay at the truckstop long and by 12:30 AM CST we were headed southeast on Hwy 285. It was close to 2 AM CST when we got to Sanderson, Texas and I decided to stop for some sleep.  The other two drivers continued on toward Laredo.  I found a parking spot by a closed down convienence store having a phone on a post and parked there.  I slept well and undistributed waking up at 10 AM CST.  I called into dispatch and reported my position(a da requirement).  Continued down Hwy 90, passed the museum for Judge Roy Bean, the Hanging Judge and onto Del Rio(Texas).

In Del Rio, I stopped and bought a bucket of chicken at "KFC"s and then headed for Eagle Pass(Texas) down Hwy 277...while eating my chicken. Time was 12:45 PM CST went I left Del Rio.

At Carriizo Springs(Texas)--a "pretty" little town--I took Hwy 83 to I-35 and then ended up in Laredo.  It was 4:15 PM CST when I got to our Laredo terminal and I checked with dispatch.  They told me to just turn my paperwork over to them and drop my trailer in the yard...that I did. 
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