trucker wife applause

I'd like to take this moment to congratulate a certain Lexus driver in Pennsylvania on still being alive today, after cutting off that fully-loaded flatbed truck my husband is driving on I-90.

Quite the daredevil you are, taking your life in your hands like that. And that joyfully random testing of the laws of physics - "how quickly CAN 80,000 pounds come to a stop?" - well, that's just a level of courage that one doesn't see every day. And you know, it's good for truckers to have terrifying moments like that - helps them keep perspective on what's REALLY important in life.

It's actually a public service you performed today, just floating out there in front of him, entirely oblivious to the world around you. You must be very proud.

By the way, some time you should check out that handy indicator that other people use to signal lane changes. And also, if you use your right foot to push down on the conveniently-placed pedal, you'll find the car accelerates to highway speed. It's all very exciting, so amazing what technology can do these days.

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In other news,

Spike​'s brakes and horn both performed admirably today.

As did his blood pressure.

And a platoon of guardian angels.

today, tomorrow, and the next day

Really, I'm just looking for a waytago or a high-five or whatever will get me through the next few days.

Monday:
4 AM Drive Spike to work (43 minutes each way)
6 AM Make coffee and breakfast; send out regular Monday email to my favourite church; blog (that's what you're reading now); answer a couple of high priority emails, then firmly CLOSE emails.
8 AM Start (and hopefully finish by around 4 PM) assignment that is due Wednesday night
Evening: Class

Tuesday:
9:45 AM to maybe 9 PM Various meetings in various places, pretty much straight through (and reading for Wednesday meetings, squished in between the Tuesday meetings)

Wednesday:
9 AM to 4 PM One straight-through meeting
Evening: Class - hand in assignment (and now you know why I really need to finish that assignment today!)

Am fully stocked on coffee. House is relatively clean. So is my office, for what that's worth to you.

Nothing can possibly go wrong.

Right? ... Right???!!

more signs

Spike is a flatbed trucker, as I believe I have mentioned. Last week, he couldn't get home until Saturday, despite the usual deal he and his dispatcher have to get him home Fridays.

(The deal usually works. Every now and then it doesn't. Sigh.)

So Friday night found Spike at this place, right near the Kentucky Speedway. 

Apparently it has great food. http://www.hogwildpigcrazybbq.com/

It also has interesting signs, this one with the salt and pepper packets. 

Reminded me of this one we saw when we visited Alaska, several years ago. (For Alaska, see here, here and right here, which is my favourite.)

I took it on the run, because I was afraid of the owner of the pick-up truck it was on, so it's a little blurry. Can you make it out?

"God, Guns & Guts made America. Let's keep all three."

*shakes head in mild bewilderment* 

two words

Spike is rarely short on words. He's a talker.

(He knows this. It's not news to anyone.)

But last week was looooong. Because of the weather, he went to work Sunday evening instead of early Monday morning. And then instead of getting home Friday evening like he usually does, it was about 2 PM Saturday when he rolled into town.

So Sunday morning he was still a little fried. For the most part he said two words.

First - after letting him sleep as long as possible, I snuck in to ever-so-nicely tell him it was time to get up. Before I managed to say a word, this plaintive, muffled voice came from under the pillow - "Nooooo."

Made me giggle.

And second - as we were almost out the door, running late. He glanced over at me, paused for a second, and then commented, "Smokin'."

Which is still making me smile today.

my kingdom for a mirror

Trucker-wife Tip of the Day: when you are packing before you leave for your trucking week, and a practical-sounding voice in your head says that an iphone will easily serve as a mirror - that voice lies. And then it laughs and laughs. Because you believed the lie.

Stupid voice.

Also, you know the Ron James bit where he waxes eloquent about a Tim Hortons appearing down the road in the darkness? I understood that sentiment this morning as we walked across two parking lots to its warm and friendly light.

Trucker Wife Bonus: There is never, ever a line-up for the women's washroom. You get the whole thing to yourself, almost every time.

Which is not a bad thing at all.

questions

Trucker wife tip of the day: 

Use washrooms as they are available. Even if they've seen better days.

Truck time equals thinking time. Which is a good thing. Even better if some of the thinking is thinking-out-loud time with Spike. Every now and then it's good to stop and ask the bigger questions. Like - "Who do I want to be?" and "How do I define success?" It's not that I haven't asked the questions before; it's just important to remember my answers from time to time. 

One more important question.

"Does anyone else know there's a baby bunny eating breakfast along the driveway of this aluminum company in Ohio?"