Monday, February 28, 2011

Eddie Is The King Of The Dome

We haven't had a lot of time to watch TV this past week because we've been on a team run, but even if we wanted to, we couldn't; for some reason, our satellite TV wasn't working.

Ed got up on the roof several times to try to fix it, but his magic wasn't working. It was dead. It wasn't tracking anything, let alone a satellite. So he ordered a new one from
King Dome.

On our way across the country, we had enough time to make a quick stop at home to pick up our mail and the new dome. Ed took it out of its giant box, along with the components, and put it on the floor inside our sleeper.

We finally got out of the cold weather and into Texas, where we had a bright, sunny day. Ed decided it was the perfect time to install the dome, so up on the roof he went. It only took him a few hours and we're back to tracking the big signal in the sky!

Hopefully I'll have some time this week to actually watch something.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1 YEAR AGO:
Do It For Half An Hour A Day
2 YEARS AGO:
Sipping In Nyack
3 YEARS AGO:
The Tink Tink Tinkle Of Recycling
4 YEARS AGO:
Ralph’s Service Station
5 YEARS AGO:
The Isle Of Capri

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Sunny Bright Yellow Moments Ahead

A little splash of Tennessee color to brighten up the mid-winter blahs. I post this for you, not me. I love the blah of winter.


Saturday, February 26, 2011

Boxed In By Hills

Today, on our way to El Cajon, we encountered the most unusual weather we've ever seen in this area. SNOW.

It usually looks like
this along Interstate 8, and as you go further west, it gets rocky and moutainous. That's where we were. But I've never seen snow, and neither has Ed. The elevation in the area this photo was taken (Pine Valley, CA) is around 4,000 feet. And obviously, with the right climate, snow is produced.

Traffic came to a dead stop, people were taking pictures out their windows, we saw two cars that slid off the road, and then we encountered an odd sight in Southern California; snow plows.

I am now sitting in El Cajon waiting to get loaded. The sun and rain are fighting each other here, battling as if they have no idea snow is just down the block. Sort of. Once we're loaded, we will be heading back the same way and I wonder if the landscape will still be snow-covered.

Note to self: Leave a little extra time for traveling!


Friday, February 25, 2011

It's A Serious Addiction

My last trip to Sur La Table ate up a good portion of my day. Everything I looked at, touched or walked past, I wanted. I don't have enough room in the truck for everything I laid eyes on, but I did buy a few things for myself. The bulk of the stuff I bought for my best friend Vicki. Shopping for others is more fun for me anyway.

She mentioned in passing that she was looking for salt and pepper grinders, so I got her these; they have six pre-set grind levels, from fine to coarse. Then I saw this, this and this that I couldn't pass up. The whisk (which I bought in lime green) felt so good in my hand, that I wanted to buy a dozen eggs on the way back to the truck, just so I'd have something to beat until stiff peaks formed.

Not only am I into stores that are, as Sur La Table puts it, "a culinary mecca; an exciting, interactive place to celebrate cooking", but I also have to fess up to my porn addiction. And by this point, you all know I'm just the kind of woman to admit it and just the kind of woman to tell you all about it.

I'm talking about Food Porn, people; the act of cooking food and presenting it beautifully. I'm totally into the presentation part. As a person who is easily visually stimulated,
THIS site knocks me on my ass. Oh. My. God. They're not kidding when they say, "click, drool, repeat". I'm embarrassed to tell you just how much time I spent clicking. They even have their own cookbook.

I whip up some pretty decent meals in the truck, but nothing close to what I see on food websites and in cookbooks. But that doesn't mean I'm not thinking, dreaming and fantasizing about how others do it.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1 YEAR AGO:
Why Play Fantasy Football When You Can Spend Your Time Making Lists For The Halle Experiment?
2 YEARS AGO:
I Hope There Isn’t Going To Be A Quiz
3 YEARS AGO:
Sunglasses Required
4 YEARS AGO:
Golden Eye
5 YEARS AGO:
Making A List And Checking It Twice

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Just What I Need

It's time to do laundry again. Oh, the joy. I've taken so many photographs of laundromats at this point, that I've given laundry its own category.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1 YEAR AGO:
Waterfront Dining
2 YEARS AGO:
The Best Is Yet To Come
3 YEARS AGO:
It’s Not Just A Medicinal Oil After All
4 YEARS AGO:
Tracy Hilltop
5 YEARS AGO:
Calming The Flatulent Tiger

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

The King Of Thrift

I found Elvis. He was in the building.

Saw this in a local Goodwill store and just had to buy it for an Elvis loving friend of mine. She loved it (how could she not, it's so original) and uses it as her daily office coffee mug.

I don't know if I'd trust bringing it to an office. For some, the temptation to take Elvis home might just be too overwhelming.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1 YEAR AGO:
Dances With Sheepskin
2 YEARS AGO:
The Seat You Offer To Your Arch Enemy
3 YEARS AGO:
The Man With The Silver Handbag
4 YEARS AGO:
Silver Snowscape
5 YEARS AGO:
Let Go Let Flow

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Homemade Dessert Is The Bombe

"Hey Ma, what are you doing?" I asked as soon as she answered the phone.

"I'm in Walmart." she said.

"What are you doing at Walmart, I thought you were just there yesterday?" I said.

"I was," she said. "But I had to come back, I don't have all the ingredients for the bomb."

"The what?" I said.

"The bomb. You know, I told you,
Ina Garten's bombe recipe," she said. "I'm making it for the birthday party."

"Oh, right. But Ma, you think that's something you should be saying over the phone in the middle of Walmart??" I was teasing, but I knew her Law & Order brain would kick in.

"Oh my Gaaahhd, you're so right. What if somebody heard me?" she whispered.

"Well, I guess they'd get out of your way and you'd get your shopping done pretty damn fast."


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1 YEAR AGO:
Olga and Eddie Travel The Country Viking Style
2 YEARS AGO:
They Say
3 YEARS AGO:
Eddie Lounges In Cozumel Friday
4 YEARS AGO:
I Think I’m Dating A Narcoleptic
5 YEARS AGO:
Groundhog Surprise

Monday, February 21, 2011

App-solutely Crazy

Boy, I thought having the iTouch was great. Owning an iPhone is even better! I can see why GiGi called hers "iPrecious". I seriously am considering an affair with this thing. Oh, wait...I think I'm already having an affair with it.

I don't think I can pick a favorite, but here are a list of apps that I have on my iPhone and iPod that I use all the time. These are ones I use on a regular basis:

Evernote: Better than a pad and paper. Note-taking has never been so much fun!

Units: Because I like to convert things. Although I am still working on how to turn leaves on trees into money. (Their blog says it's coming soon, but it's already there! And it's free.)

SoundHound: You can sing or hum a song into this thing and it (usually) comes up with the tune you were thinking of. No more racking your brain trying to figure it out on your own.

Free Translator: It has auto-detect and languages I know I'll never need, but for the ones I do use, this thing is spot on.

Dictionary.com: I use this often. It comes in handy when writing, doing crosswords or playing Scrabble.

Truckster: Tells me where the truckstops, rest areas and Walmarts are.

iExit: Tells me what's next and what's at each exit. I can even store favorites.

Rest Area Finder: For those times when we need to pull over for a nap or a snack and there's no truckstop in sight.

For fun, I dive into these:

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? and Trivial Pursuit: What? I like Trivia. Go ahead, ask me anything.

Scrabble: I need the practice so I can kick Ed's ass. I'm good, but he's GREAT.

Geared: Fun and challenging! I think I'm ready for that engineering degree now.

Angry Birds: Ninety-nine cents for hours of entertainment. You can't buy that kind of fun! OK, so you can. I did, and it's the best dollar I've ever spent. If I let him, Ed would play this for days on end without a break.

Blackjack: So I can practice for those Vegas runs.

And for when I have downtime...

iBooks and Kindle: This guarantees I'll have suitable reading material no matter where I may be.

TV Guide: So I know what's playing, when. Our satellite system works whether the truck is parked or rolling, so I need to know when my shows are on. This way I'll never miss Modern Family.

New York Times Crosswords and the USA Today Crossword: Always a great way to pass some time, and learn something.

What apps are your favorites? Please chime in and turn me on to some new ones. I have lots of room for those cute little icons. Bring 'em on!


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1 YEAR AGO:
NCIS Investigates The Kitchen Aftermath
2 YEARS AGO:
Sometimes There Are FOUR Sides To A Story
3 YEARS AGO:
Made With Pride
4 YEARS AGO:
Coke Crushes The Competition
5 YEARS AGO:
Tired And Mute

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Maybe You Left It On Mars


Last month, the handle on our toilet broke. We had been improvising for quite some time with a contraption Ed rigged to make it useable, because we had to wait for the part to come in. Well, the part finally came in and we picked it up last time we were home. Once in the truck, the part sat on our kitchen counter for at least a week. I finally told Ed he needed to get it off my counter and put it in the side box. I'm guessing he did it, because I never saw it again.

That was weeks ago. Yesterday, the makeshift handle, forgive the pun, crapped out. I had to grab the handle with a vice grip to turn it just so it would flush. It was time to break out the backup parts and fix it.

I told Ed, and he said, "Well, where's the part?" I told him it was in the side box. I didn't see him for the next twenty minutes. When he did come back in, he said, "It's not out there. It must be in the truck." Heeere we go.

I said, "It's not in the truck, it's in the side box."

"No it's not."

"Yes it is." I said.

"I already looked there. Twice. I went through everything." he said.

"You went through everything? EVERY bin? Every bag?"

"Yes." he said.

"Well then you missed it." I said. "I know it's out there. I will bet you a thousand dollars that it's in that side box."

"I already looked. I told you. TWICE. I know it isn't there. It's gotta be in here. I just know it's in here." he said.

"Ed. I know it's not in here. I KNOW that, because when you left it on the counter, I said, 'You need to put this in the side box.', to which you said, "OK."

Now that doesn't mean anything to me, of course, because I tell Ed to do shit all the time that doesn't get done, but when it disappeared from my kitchen counter, and didn't wind up anywhere in my kitchen drawers or cabinets, I suspected it made its way to the side box.

By this time it was pitch black outside. I said, "Look, let's just take the clamp light, take everything out of the side box and look again. I'll help you. I know how you look for things, and not to be a bitch or anything, but you've likely overlooked it. That happens a lot."

He said, "Let's look in here one more time."

So we looked through all the cabinets, drawers, nooks and crannies in the truck; in places I KNEW it wasn't and places I KNEW it could never be (my makeup bag? Helloooo, I use that bag every DAY, I think I would have noticed if the toilet handle was in it).

When he was done, I said "Ready?" and we went outside.

Light on. Side box doors open. Me crouching down in a semi-uncomfortable position to pull everything out of the aluminum storage boxes. I took four plastic bags out, one by one I look, I find nothing. I pulled the first bin out...electrical wire, extra flip-flops, a roll of duct tape...nope, not in there. I pulled the second bin out...looking...re-arranging....looking...opening bags...looking....and THERE it is.

From my crouched position, I looked up at Ed with raised eyebrows. He sheepishly smiles, lets out a nervous laugh and kisses me. "Thanks, Baby."

I said, "I'm going to gloat because well, I can. And you said you looked through everything? Twice?"

"I guess I didn't see it."

"But it's in a CLEAR plastic bag." I said.

More nervous laughter. "Yeah, I know." he said.

"OK, well, we found it," I said. "But I'm not putting any of this away. See you inside."

And off I went, less than five minutes later, to make dinner.

So I need to know two things. One, why don't you ever believe us when we tell you where something is? Like your socks, the checkbook, your hammer, or the shirt you need for that big meeting? And two, why are you unable to find things that a) you put away and b) that are right in front of you?? Is that the way they do things on Mars?

Or are you really all just conspiring to drive us crazy, one annoying "It's on the top shelf of the fridge, look again" at a time?


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1 YEAR AGO:
The Art Of A French Cooking Friend
2 YEARS AGO:
Eddie Supervises Friday
3 YEARS AGO:
Squeaky Clean
4 YEARS AGO:
Rushing No More
5 YEARS AGO:
My Constant Gardner

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Getting A Little Carried Away

I think the Italians in Florence got a little carried away with wanting you to know which streets you couldn't go down.


Friday, February 18, 2011

Thursday, February 17, 2011

And I Thought My Feet Were Big!

I took this picture of a statue in one of the cathedrals we went to. I can't remember which one; Siena? Florence?

I felt so dainty next to it. First time for everything, huh?


Wednesday, February 16, 2011

What's In A Name?

A lot, when it comes to pasta!

This picture was taken in this little market in Agerola, Italy. I was thrilled to see the shelves lined with Barilla and DeCecco pasta, the two brands I use!!

I guess I'm doing something right in my effort to keep a somewhat Italian kitchen!


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1 YEAR AGO:
Missing The Day
2 YEARS AGO:
Shameless Self Promotion
3 YEARS AGO:
Dwarfed By A Behemoth Of The Sea
4 YEARS AGO:
Ditched
5 YEARS AGO:
Hudson River Solitude

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

There Is Hope

I didn't watch the Grammy's this year, but I did hear the hubbub about Justin Bieber losing "Best New Artist" to Esperanza Spalding.

This should explain how she took down the Bieb:



Apparently, I'm not the only one who didn't know who Esperanza Spalding was, but I'm glad to have found her. I'm definitely adding her to my playlists.

Did you know that the name Esperanza means "hope" in Spanish? That's definitely a good sign, because we all know where hope gets us.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Monday, February 14, 2011

Powerful Stuff

I love this Subaru Forrester commercial.  Not because the guy is reminded of his first Subaru, but because the guy sees his first love.  That feeling that floods over you when you remember the person who made you feel that way. Whether it's a first love, a old crush or a current squeeze?  I love that.  (The video no longer available for some reason, so I've replaced it with a screen shot)
The song personifies that feeling. In fact, just the first few bars of the song gives me butterflies in my stomach, just like that feeling you get when you see that special someone you like/d or love/d.

It's definitely powerful stuff. To hear the entire song, click
here.

Happy Valentine's Day.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1 YEAR AGO:
Falling In Love With Ugly
2 YEARS AGO: A Love Like This Can Know No Death
3 YEARS AGO: Peace To This House
4 YEARS AGO: The Sultan Of Love
5 YEARS AGO: It’s Even Better Than Arbor Day

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Waiter! There's A Beer In My Soup!

Today as we drove through Buffalo, I remembered that there were a few Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives joints in the area. I went to Page Productions website and looked at the map of restaurants the show has been to and found out where the Buffalo area ones were.

The first place we chose, the
Lake Effect Diner, had no nearby parking. With the mounds of snow and the small parking lots, any magic maneuvering by Ed just wasn't going to happen, no matter how hard he tried. The second place on our list was just a few miles away, so we headed there; The Blackthorn Restaurant & Pub in South Buffalo.

We were quickly seated and greeted by Molly, our super-nice waitress. The first thing that caught my eye on the menu was the Stuffed Banana Peppers. Stuffed banana peppers? Yum. I have to say I was expecting something the size of a jalapeno, like the ones you get on your sandwich at Subway; small, sliced rings. These were no tiny peppers people, these were chili relleno sized peppers.
I guess I have no idea what a banana pepper is, and I've certainly never had it stuffed. I thought they were delicious, stuffed with herbs and four cheeses, baked and served over garlic toast rounds.

The only issue I had is that I thought there was too much stuffing. It was too cheesy. Very, very cheesy...definitely cream cheese, maybe goat cheese and two others I couldn't identify. I would have just filled the pepper, instead of heaping it. Apparently, according to Molly, these are pretty popular in this area; they must be a regional thing because I've never seen them anywhere else.

Along with our peppers, we each ordered a cup of Irish Beer Cheddar soup.

I wasn't in love with the soup. You'd think you couldn't go wrong with potatoes and cheddar cheese, but the beer taste was way too strong for me. It wasn't a "hint" as the menu suggested, it was more like "in your face". Too overpowering for me.

For our main meals, Ed ordered “Kev’s Favorite”, tender corned beef and roast turkey sautéed with red onion, and melted cheddar, served with Pub sauce on Rye. On the side were the pub's homemade cheddar and jalapeno tater tots. The tater tots were the size of golf balls, I've never seen such a thing. Ed shared a bite and I can say they were totally awesome. I don't think I'll ever be able to look at a regular tater tot the same way.

I had the Beef on Weck; certified Angus top round carefully roasted in their kitchen, sliced thin and piled high. Served on a kimmelweck roll. That's what the menu said. And when I read (on my new iPhone!) exactly what Weck was, I was excited to order it.

But whoa! It wasn't really as described. The beef was not rare, not thinly sliced and not hot. I hate food that's not hot. It was bad, it just wasn't what I expected. The roll was good, but the salted top a little too much for me and the fries were well, fries.

Honestly, I don't know how these places get on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. It just wasn't fabulous. Food that's on TV should be outrageous. It should make me want to eat there again and again. I wouldn't recommend it and I wouldn't go back.

I need to be blown away, and if your restaurant is on TV, you should be doing the blowing.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1 YEAR AGO:
I’d Rather Go Naked Than Wear Wolf
2 YEARS AGO:
Eddie Getting His Licks Friday
3 YEARS AGO:
The Place Is In Ruins
4 YEARS AGO:
Winter Shadows
5 YEARS AGO:
The Angels Of The New York D.O.T.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

I'm In Love And It's Not Even Valentine's Day Yet

Today we picked up a load in Syracuse, New York. After having been in sunny Florida, this was a pleasant change for me. I love winter weather. I like gloomy winter weather even more. In this photo, local firemen appeared to be digging out a fire hydrant; their truck was parked on the street and they were all standing around the hydrant, digging.

While here, I decided it was time to get my Verizon iPhone. I went online to order it on the third of the month when it was available to current customers, but because I didn't know where I was going to be, I didn't have a place for them to send it. Then, they sold out. First, we hit the local mall, but it was PACKED. I think everyone in town was in the mall parking lot. There was no place to park the truck and the traffic just to drive around the mall to get back out, kept us there for forty minutes.

I was desperate to get this phone, so I looked up another store and begged Ed to drive me over there. He was extremely resistant, afraid that there would be no parking, but I annoyed him so much with my begging that he finally gave in.

And I am so glad we did. When we got there, the store was emtpy. We were greeted by at least six salespeople, who were leaning on the counters watching the snow come down. It was the quickest visit to Verizon I've ever had; in and out in less than thirty minutes.

I walked out the door with my beautiful new gadget safely encased in a squishy purple cover. To make the day even more amazing, the sun came out as we drove away from the store, reflecting off the stark white banks of snow, making them appear as if they were sprinkled with diamonds.

New York was sparkling, I had my iPhone, and all was right in the world.


Friday, February 11, 2011

What A Croc

Our second visit to this shipper in West Palm Beach, FL and I'm still in shock when I see what's lurking in the water at the edge of their parking lot. Do you see it? Look close....sort of in the middle, near the reflection of the tree.

I didn't see it either. But Ed zoomed in and pointed this little guy out. The thing that gets me about this customer that we go to, is that this body of water butts right up against the parking lot. And there are NO signs that there are crocodiles/alligators lurking in the water. Nothing. Not one "Beware" or "Don't walk near the edge of the water". Nothing.
As he got closer, we drove the truck near the edge of the water so I could take a picture without getting out. I even threw a big hunk of Italian bread at him, but he didn't move. I waited to see if he would eat it, but apparently he's not into carbs. Even though it landed right near his nose, he didn't flinch. And I swear that eye was trained right on ME.
I'm always amazed at some of the wildlife that we get to see up close and personal as we travel around the country. We never really know what we're going to see. Or, what's going to see US.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1 YEAR AGO:
Flash Of Pole
2 YEARS AGO:
They Hire ‘Em Young These Days
3 YEARS AGO:
Setting Sail At Sunset
4 YEARS AGO:
Happy Bee
5 YEARS AGO:
It’s Not Unusual

Thursday, February 10, 2011

What Do You Get When The Daily Rant Meets The Plum Trucker? A Plum Crush!

Guess what WE did yesterday? It's so exciting, I can barely contain myself...we met the Plum Trucker and her handsome sidekick!!

That's right...we had lunch with Michelle and Kendall. FINALLY.

We happened to be at our main terminal in Jacksonville, FL when Michelle called to tell us they were on their way up I-95 and asked if we were still in the area? Hell yeah, we were. So after a little bit of giddy girly screeching (me, not her), we agreed to meet at the truck stop right off the exit, which was just a mile from where we sat. Yay! I spiffed up the truck a bit, decided on my cute new hoodie, and threw on some makeup. We arrived shortly after them and easily found their truck. We quickly exchanged hellos and hugs and decided to ditch the truckstop food and go to a real restaurant for lunch.

First of all, let me just tell you...she's the cutest thing EVER. Tiny, blond and peppy! Her voice is like that of a cheerleader, minus the annoying part. Kendall is handsome with his ice-blue eyes and little beard scruff. We headed over to 
Donovan’s Irish Pub for lunch, where we ate, talked, laughed, and hung out for a couple of hours.

After a while, I was getting nervous we might be holding them up because they had a load to pick up and we were essentially doing nothing for the day; my only plan was laundry and I was happy to scrap that to hang out with PT! So we wrapped up lunch in the restaurant and went back to the truck stop to hang out in our truck and talk a little more. Ed showed Kendall a few things on the computer and talked about trucking stuff and mind-numbing guy things while Michelle and I sat at the table and chatted.

Eventually, we made our way over to their rig to check out Kendall's handiwork at decorating. Not only do they have a brand NEW Kenworth, but they've certainly learned quickly how to make use of the space. They even have a Keurig, which I tried to get Ed to smuggle out, but Michelle's eagle eye was on him the whole time!

By the time they left, they had spent about seven hours with us. It went way too quickly and we were definitely sad to see them go. We vowed to try and hook up again in our travels. Ed and I talked about them for the rest of the night (all good things!) and agreed to make an effort to keep better track of them so we can plan another lunch or dinner together. I think I have a little crush on them. Teeny. OK, I may have sniffed Michelle's hair.

If we don't find them on the road, we know where they live and understand they have truck parking. In addition, I've heard from numerous sources that Kendall's parents are great cooks and his Dad has infinite knowledge about boats and all things marine. I can't think of anything Ed would like better than being fed and being able to "talk boat" at the same time.

Crystal River, here we come!


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1 YEAR AGO: Industrial Morning
2 YEARS AGO:
Sunset On Venice
3 YEARS AGO:
Knots And Nautical Miles
4 YEARS AGO:
What Is The World Coming To When The Girls Next Door Think They Are Fat??
5 YEARS AGO:
T.T.D.L.I.T.H.A.T.I.F

Wednesday, February 09, 2011

Getting Drunk On Summer Fun

Last month, I added a new category called "If". It consists of questions taken from the book If...(Questions for the Game of Life). Today's question is as follows:

If you had to repeat one alcohol or drug experience you've had, which one would you relive?

Well, this is an easy one for me to answer because I can count the number of times I've been drunk on one hand. As for the number of drug experiences I've had, that's also easy; the number is zero.

I'd have to say the one alcohol/drunken experience I'd live over and over again, would be the night that my best friend and I went for a drive after work and wound up at a little redneck bar in upstate New York called Michael's. It was Thursday, August 31, 1990.

We stopped there because we had been driving around for over an hour and we had to pee. Winding through the backroads, Vicki remembered something about a bar she had once been to and guided me, by memory, to where this place was supposed to be. Our bladders cheered when we finally came upon it.

We walked in and stopped dead in our tracks. Having come directly from work, we were both way overdressed for this little country bar. We looked around at a room filled predominantly with men. Clad in jeans and work shirts, hunting caps and plaid, they stared at us a little too long. It was like a movie; they watched us walk across the room, past the pool tables and straight into the door of the ladies room. I think I may have seen another woman there, but to this day I can't really be sure if it actually was a woman.

The bathroom was a teeny tiny two-stalled room that gave us barely enough space to turn around. As soon as Vicki was done, she left to make more room for me at the sink, since out of habit and vanity, I had to check my hair and make sure my lipgloss hadn't smeared.

When I left the bathroom, I briefly looked around for Vicki and found her standing at the bar. She had ordered two beers. Since I rarely if ever drank, I don't know what she was thinking. But as I got closer giving her the "what the hell are you doing?" look, she said "What? It's fifty cent Thursday." That was the first of many dollars that were spent on beer that night.

There were two guys sitting next to us at the bar that night. They challenged us to a game of pool; losers to buy the next round. Let's just say that for someone who rarely ever drank, I seemed to be keeping up with Vicki as we put away many, many little glasses of beer that night. And because we were so good at pool, our dollars weren't the ones being spent.

One of those guys is now Vicki's husband. He was almost my husband, but I made the mistake of pawning him off on Vicki in favor of talking to his friend Chuckie. A decision I regret to this day. In fact, Anthony and I often talk about how were we to have been the ones who got married, we'd be living it up Gotti style somewhere in Saddle River, NJ. It doesn't really matter though, because we're still thick as thieves, the three of us. I even have him listed as "Honey" in my cell phone.

That summer night is one of my best memories of all time. I'd live it over and over again just to experience the laughter, banter and feeling of pure joy I had in those few hours. Vicki and I talked about it then, all the way home, a slow and steady ride, in which each of us kept our eyes on our own side of the road since I was too impaired to watch the entire road myself; and we talk about it now, reliving some of the best times of our friendship together, often wishing we can go back to those very moments. They often trump what's happening in our daily lives today.

So even though I only have a few drunken experiences to choose from, at least there are some I actually wouldn't mind repeating. Which is more than I can say for the time I spent hours on the cold, tile floor of a ski lodge bathroom. Throwing up. By myself. (Although, Vicki was there for that one too!)

So what about you? What alcohol or drug experience would you relive?


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1 YEAR AGO:
How Is It That The Fish Don’t Freeze???
2 YEARS AGO:
A Meal Even 300 Year Old Monks Would Love
3 YEARS AGO:
Not A Knock Knock Joke
4 YEARS AGO:
Eddie Shades Friday
5 YEARS AGO:
The Idiot And The Box

Monday, February 07, 2011

We Got Fatter But We Lost Weight

How is it possible to be fatter yet weigh less, you ask? Well, if this were an application for humans that I invented, I'd be swaying in a hammock right now with a half-naked cabana boy refilling my iced latte while I count my money.

But since I'm not talking about humans and since I didn't invent it, I'll let you in on the secret.

Super singles.

We just installed
Michelin X One Tires on our truck and trailer. So technically, we're no longer an "18-wheeler", we're a "10-wheeler". The reason we "lost weight" is because the singles weigh less than the duals.

Not only have we shed hundreds of pounds, but we're also going to get better fuel mileage. And better fuel mileage means we will spend less money on fuel per year. How much, you ask? Well, Ed estimates that by having these tires, we'll save between $12,000.00 and $15,000 a year.

We may have lost a few wheels, but it looks like we've gained more vacation money! Although I'm not sure that's what Ed had in mind!


Sunday, February 06, 2011

Twisted Raoul

Today is Eddie's 36th birthday. Don't let those gray beard hairs fool you, he was all set to show everyone at the skateboard park the "Twisted Raoul", his own skateboard trick.

The details of which are an Eddie Spaghetti and Twisted Raoul trade secret!


Saturday, February 05, 2011

Aisles Filled With Q-Tips

Tuesday I took my step-father (the one in the red plaid shirt) grocery shopping. 10% Off Tuesday, they call it. That's where seniors get 10% off their entire purchase. The last time I ventured into the grocery store on 10% off Tuesday, I thought I was in another world.

The place was packed. Carts moving at a snail's pace. A sea of white hair; Q-tips, as Eddie calls them. Armed with coupons and the latest store flyer, we zipped around the store like shopping Ninja's and by the time we left, had saved $67.00. Some coupons were doubled, rendering our purchases FREE. Kleenex brand tissues cost me $ .80 a box. Holy crap, I've been getting robbed!

I might have to start clipping coupons and stop dying my five gray hairs to prepare for hitting senior shopping days all over the country. Think of the savings!

2011 vacation, here I come!


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1 YEAR AGO:
Lights, Camera, Action!
2 YEARS AGO:
Desktop Material
3 YEARS AGO:
C’mon In
4 YEARS AGO:
Eddie Hits The Bricks Friday
5 YEARS AGO:
Built With The Organization Gene

Friday, February 04, 2011

Spinning Our Wheels

After creeping through Texas last night, across ice as thick a plank of wood, we finally stopped for the night just east of Dallas. This morning, we got up bright and early to get a jump on the day. Well, one cup of coffee and one hour later, traffic came to a screeching halt on Interstate 20.

So screeching, that Ed had to skillfully stop in order not to run into the big orange pumpkin (Schneider) who abruptly stopped right in front of us. I actually don't know why this guy stopped so short, because as you can see there is nothing in front of him. Maybe he got scared.

Ahead of him, there were miles and miles of traffic with no end in sight, and no one on the CB seemed to know why everything was at a stand-still. Was it an accident? Was it icy road conditions? Chatter on the radio was producing no solid information. It didn't really matter, I guess, because we had bigger problems; we were now stuck in the shoulder snow. Since big orange stopped so abruptly, Ed moved a little to the left to be sure he wouldn't hit him were someone to slam into us. That's how quickly it all happened. But when Ed did that, he didn't realize that the tires on the left side of the tractor were a little off the pavement and quite a bit on the snow of the shoulder.

When Ed tried to move, everything just kept spinning. We weren't moving. He rocked the truck back and forth, trying to get us out, but nothing. Then some guys on the CB offered to help pull him back up onto the pavement, so he got out and three other truckers gathered around to put their heads together to find the best solution. They started by chaining us to the guy behind us and pulling us backwards.

It took a few tries for them to realize that wasn't going to work. The way our wheels were turned, we just couldn't get a good enough grasp on the roadway. So they dragged the chain to the front, hooked up to the guy in front of us, and tried again.

"Pull, pull, pull. Keep going. Go, go, go, go, go." I heard Ed saying over the CB, telling the guy who was doing the pulling not to stop. We were almost there. I felt traction. Then finally, the tires gripped and we were on pavement again. Whew! I think if we were heavier, we probably could have gotten out without the assistance, but we were only loaded with 2,000 pounds and that just wasn't enough to get us going. I'm really thankful these other truckers were so willing to help us out.

When we were finally back on the pavement, Ed told the guys if they were hungry to let us know, we had a full kitchen, he'd be happy to make them something. HE would be happy to make them something? Helloooooo. Turns out they didn't need anything, but really, if they did I would have been happy to oblige. They saved us a hefty tow bill by helping us out.

We wound up sitting on the interstate for over THREE hours. And when we did finally get going, not everyone could move. One guy was stuck spinning in the ice on the bridge in front of us, none of his tires grabbing. We tried to help him, but the surface was so icy, we couldn't even back up close enough to him to help tow him out. I felt bad just leaving him there, especially after someone helped us, but we didn't have a choice. Maybe someone else would come along and give him a hand so he too could avoid a hefty tow bill.

You always have to pay it forward, because you never know when the time will come again that you'll need someone's help. We were all in that jam together and our fellow drivers helped us out when we were in need. It felt like what I've heard the old days were like, where the brotherhood of truckers looked out for each other and helped each other without questions.

We need to keep that attitude front and center, helping out wherever and whenever we can, because you can't get anywhere in life if you're stuck spinning your wheels.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1 YEAR AGO:
It Takes Two
2 YEARS AGO:
Buona Sera King Louis
3 YEARS AGO:
The Newest B & B Trend Might Not Take Off As Expected
4 YEARS AGO:
Pirelli
5 YEARS AGO:
Classic Sal

Thursday, February 03, 2011

For The Crybabies

For all of you crying over the weather in other parts of the country, I wanted to show you the fountain in front of my brother's house in Tucson, AZ.

It's FROZEN.

So don't hate them for their 70 degree days. They get cold snaps too, you know!


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
1 YEAR AGO:
Chillin’ In Utah
2 YEARS AGO:
Taking The Peas For A Ride In A Cozy Little Shell
3 YEARS AGO:
Wyth Jane's Kin In Wytheville
4 YEARS AGO:
Color In Architecture
5 YEARS AGO:
Living On