Dang me...dang me...tie me to a rope and hang me...

*March 4th*
I'm sick of Texas. Seriously. I've been here for over a week and all I've done is drive back and forth from one location to another.  In trucking, that's known as a "dedicated run". Pretty sweet gig for the most part. Especially if you are home every night. Right now, I'm not at home and if I gotta be gone, I wanna see more of America. It's been interesting viewing the subculture of truckers. It really is. For many of these people, they live out here. Several I have talked to said they don't even have homes, they just drive all year around. Hardcore. Unlike me. Actually, today has been better. Got to utilize the face to face messenger thingy on my smart phone with my wife. That helped. It also helps keeping up with my friends.  Their messages and texts have been a real life line. I also have been keeping up with a few of my pals from the school I went to for my certification. They're also nervous, tired , and trying to put their arms around this. I think about them often. If anyone of them came walking into this lounge right now I'd be overjoyed. Anyway, off to the cab. Got a 6 hour drive to Houston at 11pm. Oh yeah.....truck stops have some of the best, cheesy, non-ironically hip shirts you can find.

*March 5th*
Not a bad day. Drove the usual route. Not exciting but it's getting my hours needed. Drove it pretty good. I really enjoy when we get hooked up and get out of the city. The interstate is enjoyable. Probably because it's easy..haha. Typical me. But I did drive in the rain through the busiest part of the day. So not just wasting my time. The city experience will help when I'm pulling into NYC or LA. And maybe....I think Steve is warming up to me. Maybe. Doesn't matter I guess.
   Another reason it's been good is because some vital contact back home. I have a great circle of loved ones. But mainly, I'm doing better dealing with being away from my wife, and our home, Ellie, and the 4 legged crew.
   "Cold Gin" by Kiss has been in my head all day.  I saw a clip of Gene Simmons and his solo band playing some songs at a comic book convention. It was actually pretty bad ass. Now, all I wanna do is hear that first Kiss record. On my turntable. In my office. As I make Mexican chicken for us, and my wife asking me if her avacado is too ripe or just right. That scenario is worth a million dollars to me right now.

*March 6th*
9:25 pm. Last minute 7 hour run from Houston to Palestine, pick up a load of raw chicken,  and then onto San Antonio.  Gotta be there by 6am. We'll get there with time to spare. Already made it to Palestine. Waiting to get loaded.  I wanna go get it done so I can get up in my bunk. Stay focused Jeff...there is a payoff. 

*March 7th*
So that ^^^ just happened. I wrote that about 12 hours ago. Brutal 7+ hour trip at the last minute with no warning and not the right amount of sleep. Also, navigator kept me on Texas state highways. And for those who might be curious, Texas doesn't give 2 shits as to whether or not their state highways are kept up to standard. Makes me appreciate NC's  addiction to orange highway barrels. I complained earlier about being tired on the easy route we had been on for half the week. Learned my lesson there..haha.
    I'm now thinking my partner/trainer Steve maybe isn't quite so warmed up to me after all. I'm also now thinking I don't give a shit. Maybe I should. After all, his disapproval of my performance could be a stumbling block. It's doubtful . I don't know what he thinks to be honest. All I know is this....I'm knocking this shit out of the park.  Yeah maybe I downshift to the wrong gear occasionally or eat the edge of the curb. Maybe I grind a gear here or there. But it's been almost 2 weeks since I've seen a friendly face, touched my wife, had a good meal, or had 7 consecutive hours of decent sleep in an environment cooler than 79 degrees. That last minute emergency 400 mile trip still happened. By me. Suck on that.
    Is anyone reading this shit?