A good reason for some downtime...

l-r: Meghan, Shawn, Lucero, Robert, Sam, Jess

For those who don't know me very well, I come from a large, extended family. My Dad had 9 brothers and sisters, so there was usually some kind of celebration to attend. Birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, or just Friday Night. My entire life, before my enlistment, I knew if there was nothing else going on, we would go "Up Home" and gather with all the other family members who had nothing else to do on a Friday Night. The women would gather in the kitchen, while Grandma would fix something to eat: homemade pizza, hot tuna bread, Tom's Tacos were regular offerings. Grandpa and all the guys would either circle up at the dining table to play poker or euchre, or they would congregate in the garage, usually looking at someone's new vehicle. The kids would be all over the place (I had 20 first cousins on Dad's side), running around outside if the weather was good, or the older ones would be hanging out in the living room, while the younger ones would be in the back room watching TV (especially The Dukes of Hazzard). 

 When I was little, those were my family get-togethers. Now, they look a little different, but feel just as special. 

We were home in early August to go to the in-service class so we can be eligible to drive bus for the school. We went back on the road 3 days before my son, Robert's, birthday, so we arranged to go to dinner at a place of his choosing (Buffalo Wild Wings) on Saturday. Cake at the house for anyone who wasn't too stuffed with Bdubs! (Thanks, Sam.) 

The time at home wasn't all Norman Rockwell...

We got home Tuesday, went to the class Wednesday, but before Thursday even had a chance to start, one of our neighbors called the cops because the APU (generator) on our truck was running and it was too loud. The cop came out at midnight, apologized, but said commercial vehicles were only supposed to be parked on the street for less than 4 hours. He said I could park it at Walmart or somewhere, but it couldn't stay there. So off to Wally World I went. Then Thursday we went to the fairgrounds in Plain City, to see if we could camp. Fortunately, someone had just cancelled, so he had ONE spot for the weekend. And they have an RV dump! (When you have to haul a toilet with you, finding decent places to empty it is REALLY important!) 

And, weirdly enough, I was REALLY missing being able to make a quilt. I love touching the fabrics and putting the colors together in whatever shapes. Making them with a specific little human in mind, it just gives me joy. I got some fabric before I found out that BOTH of my Oncoming Storms are going to be boys, beautiful fairy fabric with  pink, blue, yellow, & orange butterflies. Ideal for a little girl (and anyone else who likes butterflies or fairies) so I held onto it until I found out that my BEAUTIFUL friend's daughter just had a LOVELY little girl. So I cut fabrics apart, so I could stitch it back together for her. It felt wonderful getting back to the sewing machine!

So, we found out we still have at least one grumpy neighbor left who would rather talk to the cops than us, did our laundry, had a wonderful time with the kids, and did some work other than the truck. Then Monday came and we hit the ground running... and that's the next blog!

The Fairy Quilt

So, who is herding this hog, anyway?

Well, OBVIOUSLY, it's the girls! We have had our doubts about everyone else! Me? I set my phone & smart watch to Eastern Time so I could keep track of when loads need picked up or dropped off. (Panther keeps track of everything on Eastern Time because they are based in Medina, Ohio.) It makes it easier to keep track of timing for loads, but if not for Google, I'd NEVER know what local time is in most of these places! Nick? As Nick told me from the beginning of this adventure, this is my dream, and he will let me do what I need to do. So he is willing to drive when and where he needs to, but he's happy to ride shotgun. Our Mentors? They have TONS of experience, and they could absolutely tell us what to do. That just isn't the way the Mentor Program at Hyfield Trucking works. Hyfield put us in a great truck, they pay for fuel and maintenance, Panther sets us up with loads going all over the place, which we don't have to take if we don't want to go to that geographical location or if we need to take time off for some reason. Our mentors are a phone call away, whenever we have questions or problems. Those phone calls are almost constant at the start, but as you repeat things a few times, you start to have a whisper of a hope that maybe you DO know what you are doing! Panther? Just today, they authorized us to move from City A to City B because B has more loads per day, on average. We got half way to City B, when they sent us a load offer to go back to City A, get a load and take it to City B. They may have the loads and channel the money, but they are DEFINITELY not herding THIS hog! So, I guess that leaves 2 choices: 1.) Esme, the Expediting Freightliner, is guiding herself, and we are holding on and enjoying the ride, OR 2.) It really is the girls, controlling us, so we take them wherever they want to go. If you have ever been on the receiving end of Gem's side-eye, you know it is a very viable possibility.

OMG! What a week! ....... or two.

 

Hyfield Pups!

Last thing I remember, we were running back and forth along the Rio Grande, sweating our butts off, and BAM!! It's almost Wednesday, again, TWO WEEKS LATER!!

So, let me recap: We had a training class in Medina, OH on July 12, so Panther got us loads that would get us closer for it. We picked up in Del Rio, TX, and delivered near Nashville, TN. Picked up in Gallatin, TN and delivered on Lake Erie. Had our class at Panther that was really helpful for us, then we went home to check on the kids and drop off the dogs. We went up to Fort Wayne, IN to go to the Expedite Expo and met SO MANY of our fellow Hyfield Family members, IT WAS AWESOME!

We got to spend more time with our mentors, Dana & Debb, met up with Vince & Mel again, and got to finally meet Kelly & Delenna, the Expedite Chics. We were introduced to so many Hyfield people: George & Teresa, Tony & Morgan, Paula & Jason,  Jaime & Patrick, Jackie &  Michael, Jim & Julie, Helder & Sharon, Patrick Lee, Eric Hyfield, Donnie Lee, Frank & Stephanie...,. And so many more! 

And even better than ALL of that, we reconnected with a couple we met last year, David & Dorothy, who we were able to introduce to our mentors. Hopefully, next year, they'll be coming to the Expo with more stories than questions! 

Coming home after Expo, we had a cookout with the offspring, even the GrandGirl! We did laundry, cleaned the truck, took out stuff we didn't need, replaced things we used up,  and had lunch with Chris & Mike, my sister & brother-in-law. 

So Monday evening, we were rearranging the truck, when the call came and we were back on the road again. And that is the continuing story, of a wonderful guy who humors his wife by letting her play trucker

¡Vive mi Estrella!

 

It's been a really interesting couple of weeks since we started this new adventure. Driving the big old truck has basically been a matter of getting used to a slightly bigger vehicle than the school bus, on roads that are usually wider and definitely longer than my bus route, among other drivers who are definitely not as considerate or sympathetic as many people are to school bus drivers. I expected to find it difficult to live in a tiny world with another fully opinionated person and 120 pounds of dog, but surprisingly, with the addition and proper maintenance of a Porta-Potti, this hasn't been the most challenging part of the adventure. The biggest challenge is probably figuring out how to do the paperwork. BUT as of this morning, I think all of our loads (which were delivered on time!) had their accompanying paperwork accepted, so we eventually expect to get paid! 

Part of driving (anywhere) is the billboards.  Alabama, Arizona, California, Kentucky, Louisiana,  Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico, Tennessee, & Texas are no different to Ohio in that regard. So, seeing a name you call every day (but most people have difficulty pronouncing) on a billboard like it's as common a word as "Star", you take a picture of it! 

Speaking of Estrella, she is doing really well with this nomadic lifestyle. It may be my vanity, but I enjoy that if I'm up front, she lays between the seats. If I go back in the sleeper, she'll lay with me either on her bed or ours. Gem adores Nick, but she's happy to lay on the bed while we're driving or she'll split her time sitting up front and laying with whomever is sleeping. And she does SIT. The side-eye we get when we kick her out of the navigator's seat is always entertaining to us. 

We spent the 4th of July in El Paso. Once upon a time, we celebrated the 4th in all the common ways, parades, cookouts, fireworks, etc. Then we had Beau (Robert), who loved SEEING the fireworks, but dreaded the BOOMS. Then we were blessed to get Sam back from Iraq, but we realized at the next 4th of July that all the sparkle fizzled when it put a deathly fear in his eyes. And now we have the girls to consider. The truck stop where we spent the weekend had a fireworks stand not far behind it, and every night they had a small display. We usually caught the start of it when we were walking the girls before dark. Gem was kind of tough about it, but Stray just freaked out at the first boom. Once in the truck, with the APU (generator) and AC on, we could barely hear them, but she could. And Monday night, I guess they shot off what they hadn't sold by then. It was the longest fireworks display that I never watched. 

We spent Tuesday waiting for a load that didn't come, typical after a holiday weekend. This morning when a load came and went (canceled for whatever reason), our mentors recommended a change of scenery, with company blessing so they will pay for the fuel to get to a better location. Now we are headed east, getting ready for our next load. 

That was a HECK of a start!

 Well, we got on the road... hope that doesn't spoil anything for you!  It took us until Wednesday, June 22nd, to get everything together and loaded in the truck. We went to Bellefontaine to fuel up, fill up water tanks and get our weight. From there we went to Detroit and on to Montgomery,  AL. 

We were almost delivered, when Panther called wanting us to deadhead (drive empty) to Dallas and deliver in California. So here we are in Arizona, hoping Gem & Stray can learn how to cat in a giant litter box! 

Since we made it to the weekend and had a few days until we deliver, we stayed over at a Love's truck stop so we had parking, access to bathroom and showers, and plenty of time to organize our stuff. We are also able to top off all the tanks, before we head out. 

We are a little spoiled by all the accommodations in the truck. We can eat or drink what we have with us, watch movies, play games and chill with the dogs. We are also able to get whatever snacks strike our fancy from Love's. It's going to be a challenge to avoid gluttony. 

On the positive side, Nick & I have probably talked as much in the last week as we did in the entire last year he worked at Abrasive. We drove I-20 from Monroe, LA to Marshall, TX in the middle of the night, and being back on familiar territory, seeing all the familiar names and roads and towns, brought back a LOT of memories and thoughts of people we used to know. 

This brings us back to Monday, a week after we got the truck. First delivery done, the second followed right behind it. We got almost all the way north and south, then almost all the way east and west. Not a bad week. Not too bad at all. 

We're excited, but REALLY nervous!

 It's Sunday night, the day before move-in day, and we aren't completely sure we have everything we need for the truck, but we think we can wing it with what we have.....I hope. 

With the Spotted Dogs, Stray & Gem, being 80 & 40 pounds respectively, this old couple ordered a set of steps from www.PetLoader.com to get them in to & out of the truck. We went last Monday (6/13/22) to see if the steps would fit in the doorway of the truck, and if there was a good spot to keep them stored while driving. We were expecting a "same as" truck, but our truck was there so we got to see it. Beau even got to sit in it. I think we got his seal of approval. 

My main concern when driving long distances, for work or personal trips, is being stuck somewhere with no bathroom. The bigger, better trucks have more kitchen facilities and some even have a full bathroom with toilet AND shower. As we are brand, stinking new, we don't have a bathroom, so we got on Amazon and got us a Porta-Potti. I'm ready for ALMOST anything now! 

We are organizing everything we've been told we need, plus everything the dogs need, plus things we THINK we might need or will at least appreciate having on hand. Stuff for a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, office, living room AND the truck! The fleet owner is providing everything we have to have in the truck to do deliveries, so we don't have to stress over that, thank goodness! 

I'm hoping once we can start putting this stuff INTO the truck I won't be so worried about setting something down, putting something else on top of it, and then losing it FOREVER...

TOMORROW: we get the keys of a 2019 Freightliner

TUESDAY, June 21st: we will go

The school year is over....

 

....and I must move on. We cleaned out our busses, turned in our keys, and sent in our resignations. It is officially over, we aren't backing out now. It was so hard watching our boss stress over getting new drivers, so when she got more good applicants than she needed, I was happy for her. The fact that I had to watch everyone else get ready for summer school and next school year, and I couldn't jump in and volunteer to drive MY bus and haul MY kids was an expected twinge, but that didn't make it feel any better. I tried to let all of my kids know I wouldn't be back next year, and gave their parents the web address to this blog if they wanted it, but that still won't replace seeing them everyday, and being an integral part of their school day. I am so excited to be able to go and see and experience what comes with my absolute favorite person in the world, but I will miss my friends from Bus 37.   K

 

Gem & Stray, Spotted Dogs Extraordinaire

UNDER CONSTRUCTION! 

EXPECTED LAUNCH DATE

MAY 25, 2022!