Saturday, January 31, 2015

Clooney Was Not At The End Of The Pier

Pier from "The Descendants"
In Kauia we went on a movie location tour.  We saw locations from  The Descendants, Six Days and Seven Nights, Gilligan’s Island,  The Amazing RaceFantasy IslandBlue Hawaii and Pirates of the Caribbean, Jurassic Park and more.  Some of the locations are easily recognized, others it takes a clip of the movie to refresh your memory.  When we got back to the ship, they were playing Six Day and Seven Nights in the room and we watched it to see if there was anything we recognized.  We did, which made it that much more interesting.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2014: Where They Build Palaces Out Of Corn

2013: Modern Market Girl
2012: A Berry Good Time
2011: Traveling Through Mountain Ranch
2010: Backroads
2009: If Only I Could Fit All Of This Information On A Bumper Sticker…
2008: Gambling Haze
2007: Published
2006: Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Friday, January 30, 2015

The Valley Of The Temples

Yesterday we visited the Byodo-In Temple located in Kahaluu, on the island of O'ahu in Hawaii.  It was built in 1968 to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of the first Japanese immigrants to Hawaii.  It's a smaller-scale replica of the over 950-year-old Byodo-in Temple in Uji, Japan.

The temple is a non-practicing Buddhis temple but welcomes people of all faiths to worship.  The grounds are beautiful and serene, and among the lush greenery we found a black swan, hundreds of Koi - which were the biggest I've ever seen - and flocks of birds that will land on your hands if you extend your arm toward them.

I will have a picture of Eddie, The Bird Whisperer, at some point in the very near future.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2014: The Day The South Fell Apart...Again

2013: Island Graffiti
2012: Four Seasons Of Food To Conquer
2011: Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head
2010: As Seen On TV
2009: Eddie Polishing His Chrome Friday
2008: Traveling With Your Cat
2007: Getting Wet In The Next County
2006: Down With O.P.P.
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Thursday, January 29, 2015

North Shore Surfin'

We caught a few surfers on the North Shore today waiting for the perfect wave.  We were on a very regimented bus tour so could not stay to see if they actually caught one.

Aloha, wave riders!




~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2014: Calling It A Day

2013: Eight Ways To Take It Easy
2012: Dinner With Friends
2011: This Is What Sheer Joy Looks Like
2010: I’ll Have The Tootsie Rolls And The Butterfinger And The Lollipop And The Gummi Bears And The Hershey Kisses And The Snickers Bar And The M&M’s And…
2009: Meals On Wheels
2008: Mercury Dropping
2007: James Cameron For $79.99 A Night
2006: The Town That Big Tobacco Built
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Aloooooooha

One of the most shopped stores in Hawaii is probably Hilo Hattie's.  It's Hawaii's largest Hawaiian retailer and manufacturer of Hawaiian, resort and casual fashions.  And, to add to the history of the attraction, I think it helps to know that Hilo Hattie was an actual person.

 


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2014: Better Than No Touch Freight

2013: The First Step Is To Admit You Have A Problem
2012: The Top Five Sweet Scents In My World
2011: A Weekend Full Of Bright Stars And Not Much Else
2010: I’m Floored
2009: Two Worlds Collide
2008: Girl Crush
2007: Silly Boys
2006: It’s Nowhere Near Mexico, Y’all
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

The Mighty Mo

Today we visited Pearl Harbor and toured America's Battleship, the U.S.S. Missouri, also known as The Mighty Mo.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2014: We Work A Lot, We're Fat, And You Can't Get By Without Us

2013: Domestic Cat Life
2012: Being Appreciated
2011: Just A Phone Call Away
2010: A Practically Perfect Circle
2009: My Frozen Kentucky Home
2008: On Tour And Collecting Paper As We Go
2007: Finding Your Way
2006: Trivia From The First Tsar Of Russia
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Monday, January 26, 2015

Deck Walkers

At home, we have mall walkers.  Here, we have deck walkers.

Four laps around the Lower Promenade level equal one mile.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2014: The Land Of The Blue Angels

2013: Taking A KW For A Spin
2012: New York And Snow – My Two Favorite Things
2011: Doin’ The Math
2010: Well, Butter My Butt And Call Me A Biscuit
2009: I Even Have Time To Go On Strike
2008: Teaching Them Young
2007: You Gotta Be In It To Win It
2006: Cinema Stupido
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Sunday, January 25, 2015

Ed Humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa

Ed at the Ukelele class.  He looks like a natural, doesn't he?

And just in case you think I made up the word humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa, I did not.

It's a fish.  Seriously.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2014: NOT An Oasis

2013: Drop The Flag And Take Me Home
2012: Cottonwood Trading Company
2011: Service With A Smile
2010: Getting The Red Out, One Barn At A Time
2009: Obamaduck!
2008: How A Four Year Old Can Make You Feel Like Crap For Trying To Get Out Of Doing Yard Work
2007: Florida Fro
2006: Hail To The McGriddle Gods
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Saturday, January 24, 2015

Three Squares And A Midnight Snack

This is a table in the casual dining room.  They serve three meals a day and also open for an hour just in case you're in the mood for a late-night snack.

The dining rooms are situated on each side of the ship so you have a water view from any seat you choose.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2014: They Were Five

2013: Wake Of Imagination
2012: Woman With Cat
2011: From Blue Grass To Wine Country
2010: Plump With Fat Quarters
2009: Eddie Out With The Old, In With The New Friday
2008: You Can Get Them At Home Depot??
2007: There Are Never Enough Hours In The Day To Do Anything When You Have A Baby
2006: Tequila Sunrise
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Friday, January 23, 2015

King (And Queen) Of The World

We left San Diego in a flurry of excitement.  A 32-day cruise!  No driving of anything for over a month.  We walked the decks, taking pictures as we went, ending up on the very top deck accessible to us and looked down at the small boats assisting our departure from the channel, dropping us when we were able to go it on our own.  Well, not our own, the captain's own.

We were four-and-a-half hours into the Pacific, just finishing up dinner when the captain came on the P.A. system with a very important announcement.

Turns out there was a guest on board that had a medical emergency and needed to return to San Diego to receive immediate medical attention.  We were turning around and going back.

What???  Ed and I looked at each other with that, are you serious? look.  As we finished up dinner we debated about what the emergency was.  And when we got on deck, we ran into another guest and the three of us discussed what should be done, what might be done, what we would do.  Why would they send the ship back, considering we move at a crawl?  Why aren't they sending the Coast Guard?  Or a smaller boat that could reach us faster than we could get back.  What about a helicopter?  Don't they drop that metal basket, like in the movies, to retrieve people in emergencies?  And where's the turnaround cutoff point?  How far does a ship go before they decide they've passed the point of no return?

Regardless of what we thought, we were going back.

We were asleep when we hit San Diego harbor, dropped off the guest in need, and then turned around to head back out to sea.  I didn't hear or feel a thing.  We also learned that the passenger was going to be just fine and he was resting comfortably.

I knew it was a man.

I told Ed that I bet his wife said, "Honey, you don't look well.  Maybe we shouldn't go on the cruise.  We should go see a doctor."

He, of course, said, "I'm fine.  The damn trip is paid for and we're going."

Now he's in the hospital, and she's giving him the 'I told you so' eye.  Bu only after she regained her composure and knew he was going to be fine.

Because you can't tell a dying man that you could kill him for not listening to you if he's actually dying.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2014: Winding It Up Before Leaving Town

2013: Who Is A Bahamian?
2012: Pay No Attention To The Cat Behind The Curtain
2011: Papa Can You Hear Me?
2010: The Err Erudes Them
2009: Sorry, no post for this date.
2008: Addicted
2007: When You Just Can’t Decide Between Dinner And Breakfast
2006: Purple Industrial Skies
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Leaving San Diego In A Lavender Glow


So I guess it was wishful thinking to assume I'd be able to post daily from the cruise ship. Between my Verizon signal and their ship internet, I'd be lucky to get out an S.O.S. in time.  The connection, as one might imagine while at sea, is abysmal.


I'm having serious withdrawals from the great world wide web.  My world on the ship is not very wide, to say the least.

So you may notice batch postings.  Their will still be a post daily - 
à la The Daily Rant - but they will come in bunches, when I get internet.

I'll mostly be doing photos, but will include descriptions when time and internet permit. This first photo was taken as we pulled out of the San Diego harbor just before sunset.

Enjoy!


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2014: Thin And Crispy. Just How I Like 'Em

2013: Amber Jack
2012: Adding A Poodle To The Mix
2011: If…
2010: How The West Was Fun
2009: Pecking Order
2008: The Sympathy Train Stopped Dead In Its Tracks
2007: Shalom
2006: A.D.I.D.A.S.
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

We Are On The Biggest Boat In The Marina

This was the view just after eight this morning from the balcony of our hotel room in San Diego. There was still a little morning haze that dissipated once the sun came up.  We'll leave to board the ship just after noon.

Today is the first day of our 32-day cruise.  We leave for Hawaii late this afternoon.  We'll be at sea for five days before we hit our first island, Maui.  Then we'll spend five days in Hawaii visiting four of the eight islands.

Yesterday I posted the first photo in the Daily Rant Vacation Series of Instagram photos.  I will be posting a photo per day, and depending on the availability of internet, may also write a little blurb to go along with it.  If the internet is sketchy and I can't post, I'll make sure to have something up as soon as I hit an area with a better signal.  Please keep coming back to check.

You can follow me on Instagram and Twitter if you want to get the Instagram photo or the link to it through the tweet.

The cruise will be going to the following locations:
Maui (Lahaina)
Kauai  (Nawiliwili)
Oahu  (Honolulu)
Hawai'i - The Big Island (Kona, Hilo)

Mexico (Ensenada, Puerto Vallarta, Huatulco)
Guatemala (Puerto Quetzal)

Nicaragua (Corinto)
Costa Rica (Puerto Caldera)
Panama (Balboa, Cristobal)
Columbia (Cartagena)

If you have any suggestions for any of the cruise ports, please leave it in the comments section.

See you tomorrow!



 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2014: The Only Thing I Haven't Done

2013: United Tails
2012: I Grew Up In The O.C. Too
2011: Snowy Arrival
2010: Not A Pretty Sight
2009: Marking This Day In History With A Vibrant Spot Of Color
2008: Lighting To Do Laundry By
2007: The Benefits Of Dating A White Boy
2006: Shhhhhh, You’ll Wake The Driver
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Monday, January 19, 2015

Bon Voyage!

We're packed and ready for our trip.  The kitchen sink is in the duffle bag up front.

This photo is the first of an Instagram series I'll be doing during the cruise.  So keep coming back to check for new ones.  You can also follow me on Instagram and Twitter.


See you in a month!

Oh, and just to give you a little perspective, my friends are going to India for six weeks...

They're taking TWO bags.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2014: All This Entertainment For Less Than The Cost Of A Restaurant Entree

2013: Ten Things I Hate About Flying
2012: Teeth Or Another European Vacation? Ooooh, It’s A Real Toss Up.
2011: Not So Wacky After All
2010: Spreading The Word
2009: He Had A Dream. Tomorrow We See It Come True.
2008: Who Do You Know?
2007: South Beach Blue
2006: Jawl Spake Anglesh??
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!  

Sunday, January 18, 2015

The Nuts And Bolts Of It

My youngest nephew welded this sculpture with the help of my brother.  It now adorns my brother's garage/man cave.  Not bad for an eleven-year-old.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2014: Gorgeous, Rich, And Rugged. And That's Just The Bag.

2013: Back To Basics
2012: I Can Think Of Better Ways To Spend Hump Day
2011: Can I Appoint Myself The Baroness Of Cattle?
2010: This Time Losing The Wallet Really Means Losing The Wallet
2009: Marley & Me
2008: Eddie Gets Handy Friday
2007: The Perfect Neapolitan Slice
2006: The King Of The Flying Salmon
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Saturday, January 17, 2015

Ski Or Sun? Sun Won.

At the end of this two-mile hallway, is where they keep mall restrooms.
I have spent two full days in the mall.  I felt like Tom Hanks in that airport movie.  Even more so because the walk to the bathroom down this hallway felt like I was making a trip down a runway.  Why do they always put the bathrooms in a spot where when one has to pee, they have to make the longest trip of their lifetime to do it?  I hate shopping.

But it had to be done because we're going on a vacation and we needed new clothes.  

We had planned and booked a ski vacation to Whistler, British Columbia but after much consideration and 15 arguments about trying to decide exactly when we'd go, where we'd stay and what we'd do - and after I bought ski pants, everyday boots, outdoor boots, and three new jackets (two cheapie outdoor puffy types and one beautiful animal print overcoat) - we decided to scrap that whole idea.

Now we're going on a 32-night cruise through the Panama Canal.

So now I needed warm weather clothing.  It was time for me to get new stuff anyway, and what better reason to stock up on clothes than a vacation?  I bought tons, and I mean tons of new clothes.  Marlaina even convinced me to get these beautiful silk Eileen Fisher cropped pants.  I LOVE them.  They're so light, so comfortable, and I got them on sale.  I shopped for Ed too - black, beige, gray and navy slacks, shirts, ties, light sweaters for evening, casual shirts, shoes, and flip-flops.

We'll start out in San Diego, then go to four of the eight main Hawaiian islands - Maui, Kauai, the Big Island, and Oahu - where we'll visit the USS Arizona Memorial - then Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, and Columbia.  Needless to say, I'm pretty excited.

Hawaii is the only state Ed hasn't been to.  I visited Hawaii, and the USS Arizona, when I was a senior in high school but haven't been back to Hawaii since then.  We're going back to Maui in the Spring for ten days and were thinking about taking time to go to Honolulu, but now we don't have to because the cruise stops there for two days.  That'll give us enough time to see the memorial and visit the Waikiki area.

This is going to be a great trip.  If for nothing else, we don't have to worry about the truck - there's no chance of another Turks & Caicos disaster - because we have the truck parked at the house.  We've emptied the fridge, turned all the power off, and we have family staying at the house (with the truck key) in case anything happens or needs to be taken care of. The only thing better would be an armed guard.

Living in it.

Now it's time to pack.  Lord, help me.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2014:  All The Better To Cook With, My Dear
2013: I Fancy The Castle Life
2012: There Are No Prison Blues If You Have Naan
2011: Now I’m No Longer Alone
2010: Rings Of Spring
2009: Map Schmap
2008: A Willow Weeps In Arizona
2007: Double Team
2006: Turning One Million
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Friday, January 16, 2015

Still Life

A silhouette of prickly pear cactus in Saguaro National Park in Tucson. Arizona.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2014: Sunset Cycling

2013: Pit Stop At Home
2012: Adding A Few More Wheels To The Big Rig
2011: Again And Again And Again
2010: Hood Ornament
2009: Eddie Out Of Control Friday
2008: My Boyfriend Simon Is Back In Town
2007: A Little Taste Of Miami Beach
2006: Ooooohhhhhh, Jabra!
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Thursday, January 15, 2015

There's A Black Hole In The Desert (With Truck Parking)

Photo by MacGyver
Marlaina and MacGyver have been at our house, visiting, since January 6th.  We're still eating, shopping, sitting around, movie watching, errand running, and doing a little bit of load searching.  

Tucson is a black hole for freight.  It's a hard area of the country to get out of.  There's copper, but it's heavy and cheap.  Cheap cheap.  And unless you're doing aircraft parts, government freight, or some crazy team load that has to be delivered yesterday, no one is paying.  And to deadhead somewhere else - we typically look at a radius of 500 miles or more - and then have the load cancel?  That's very undesirable.  So we sit and wait.  And that's what the NYC Truckers have been doing.

Then today they got a load.

Kind of.  There was a waiting period for the agent to call back with the load confirmation and the details.  Hours passed.  Nails were being bitten.  Lunch was eaten.  They were in limbo until they got a solid confirmation.  I took my mother to the doctor and stopped at my brother's house and when I got back to our place they said the information had come in.  They were really leaving.

We said our goodbyes before I headed back to my brother's to bring Ed a computer part he needed.  Then I ran to the store.  And just as I was turning the corner in housewares, I got a text from Marlaina to come back to the house and pick them up.  They wanted to go see the garage/man cave my brother built.  I checked out and went back to get them.

When I got home I learned they weren't going anywhere just yet.  Because as they were juuuussst getting ready to pull out of the driveway, the agent called and changed the pick-up date.  Luckily they had only moved about eight feet.

The load was on hold.

So we get 'em for one more night.  Or maybe even the weekend.

The black hole is nobody's friend.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

2014: Strength In Numbers
2013: Woman Cannot Live On Bread Alone
2012: Why Milk Is ALWAYS At The Top Of My Shopping List
2011: Fun For Sale
2010: Dublin Is Incredibly Corny
2009: Welcome To Snowhio
2008: When Big Hair And Denim Were King
2007: Open 24 Hours
2006: Lucky One Eye
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Beer Run

So many names, so many colors, so many choices.  Ale, Hard Cider, Lager, Stout.  I have no idea what any of them are, so I just buy what I'm told.  


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2014: Field Two

2013: We Are A Very Rich, Blessed, Lucky, Fortunate Lot Aren't We?
2012: Passion Creates Pure Art
2011: Reflecting On The Day
2010: Crunching The Numbers
2009: Looking Grand At The Grand Canyon
2008: Overshadowing Government
2007: Miami International
2006: Did You Check The Solenoid?
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Monday, January 12, 2015

Tooling Around The Old Pueblo

Mural on East 6th Street at 4th Avenue
I've been poking around trying to find some information on Tucson to see if there's anything new out there to do with my guests.  We've hit a few restaurants  - they've already been to Frank's (twice), El Charro Café, Bobo's (my first time), and the new Whole Foods.  That wasn't very exciting since we've all been to Whole Foods before, but it's also the first time I've been in the store since it was recently built.

Here are a five websites you can use to find out what's happening in the Old Pueblo.

The Tucson Weekly:  This alternative newspaper has been a Tucson staple for 30 years.  It's the first and most important publication in the town if you want movie times, concert information, cultural events locations, restaurant reviews, local news (the stuff you don't find in the regular paper), etc. You can also order a hooker or buy a used baby crib.  It's very handy.

Tucson Foodie:  This is a beautiful website.  They have everything from reviews on restaurants, bakeries, and cafes to information on CSAs, gardening and farming, and the local food movement.

Tucson in Style:  See what the locals are wearing, shop where they're buying it, and find out what else is happening in the world of Julie and Michael, the site's writers.

The Tucson Murals Project:  This is an interesting one.  I've seen many of these murals around town and I like that Jerry Peek has taken the time to highlight interesting art that often gets overlooked.

Tucson Audubon Society:  If you're into birds, check out some of the cute ones in our area.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2014: Next Blog, Please

2013: My Mother Never Fried Chicken Like This
2012: Shocking
2011: Awesome All-Star
2010: Have Pots And Pans, Will Travel
2009: This One Contains A Young Rider
2008: When She’s Not Sleeping, She Tries To Look Purty
2007: Eddie McSteamy Friday
2006: Pepparkakor Cat
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Economic Stimulation

Marlaina and MacGyver have been spending the week with us.  They arrived on Tuesday and will be leaving sometime in the coming week.  It's been really great having them around - as we never have house guests for really any significant length of time - and it gives me the opportunity cook and entertain.

Yesterday we all went out for breakfast and then ran around town running errands.  We went to the post office, hit the bank, went to the pharmacy to pick up the vaccination medication M & M need for their upcoming trip to India - and then we bought a motorcycle.


And by "we", I mean Marlaina and MacGyver.  That's right.  We went out to mail a package and came home with a BMW touring bike.

This is what they bought.  But not just that - they added extras - plus the touring package, plus comfort, plus luxury.  Marlaina went in with specific needs and didn't leave without them.  She effectively stimulated our local economy.

They're leaving behind the iconic Italian wasp and moving to a Bavarian piece of machinery that embodies what the head of BMW Motorrad calls "sheer riding pleasure".    


Enjoy!



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2014:  The Ninety-Two Year Old Horseman

2013: Where They Store The Crop Goodies
2012: Inside The Trucker’s Studio
2011: The Next Project
2010: Why Would You Want To Be A Zero When Looking Like This Is Clearly A Plus?
2009: The Giant Dirty Bird Goes Sailing In The Four Corners
2008: Soft Core Porn
2007: Almost Fully Integrated
2006: Downtown Scenery And Deals
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Saturday, January 10, 2015

Making Friends And Dinner Plans

Yesterday we had another trucking education class.  This one happens every two years.  

We're required to take it, the company is required to teach it.  I actually learned a few new things today.  Things I should have been told two years ago, but better late than never, right?

There were forty drivers in the class, old and new, and I really enjoyed meeting some of the people I didn't know.  We sat next to a great couple - so much fun, very outgoing and down to earth - who live an hour from us.  By the end of the day, we were making plans to meet up for dinner.

Another couple who we'd met at another event - a team that has over 30 years of experience - sat a few tables ahead of us.  They live about 35 miles from us.  By the end of the day, we were also making plans to meet up in the future for dinner.

We talked with several other drivers and met some of the new teams taking the class. The meeting room wasn't the greatest - an old American Legion Hall, I was hoping for a nice hotel conference room - but the company was pretty decent.

The second half of the class took place today but since it was the business part of the class, we didn't have to attend since we recently completed that portion.

And just to give an example of how nice that veteran team is...

Tonight on our way to dinner, I got a call from the wife who wanted to know why we weren't in class today.  Not because she was being nosy, but because she missed us.

It was real nice to get a phone call like that.  Our dinner double-date is in the works, and the good 'ol Silver Saddle was mentioned as the dining option.

Ed will be there with bells on.  They serve steak.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2014: It's So EXHAUSTing Being Right All The Time
2013: A Marriage Of Two Loves
2012: I Love A Man Wearing A Damn Good Looking Workboot
2011: MMXI At Full Throttle
2010: Maybe There’s A Reason Ed Never Lets Me Out Of The Truck
2009: Napolitos
2008: Pull Up A Chair
2007: The Story Of The Uppity Barista: Otherwise Known As A Texan Gittin’ Above His Raisin’
2006: Rock, Paper, Eddie
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Friday, January 09, 2015

Worst Trucking Day Ever

I've never seen anything like this in person and hope I never do.

One of the trucks was carrying formic acid (not pleasant), another carrying fireworks. They both caught fire.

Bad all around.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2014: Books Are So Much More Interesting Than Guns
2013: Contemplating Broccoli Cheddar
2012: I’m Totally Contemplating Thievery
2011: Some People Are Just Fucking Nuts
2010: 7am In Beantown
2009: Eddie Taking A Moment To Enjoy Nature Friday
2008: Pull Up A Chair
2007: Brad Blows
2006: Expressly American
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!


Thursday, January 08, 2015

Smart And Talented

That famous Matt Damon smile.  Photo courtesy of Google Images.
I've been a fan of Matt Damon since I first saw him in Good Will Hunting, the movie that earned him an Oscar, with a screenplay he wrote while attending Harvard.  I don't think I noticed him before that, even though I saw some of the earlier movies he made appearances in.  Here are my ten favorite Matt Movies:

1.  The Bourne Ultimatum

2.  Ocean's Thirteen

3.  The Departed - probably my favorite since it had him, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Mark Wahlberg.

4.  Ocean's Twelve

5.  The Bourne Supremacy

6.  The Bourne Identity

7.  Ocean's Eleven

8.  The Legend of Bagger Vance - love this movie.

9.  The Talented Mr. Ripley

10.  Good Will Hunting

There really isn't a movie I haven't liked him in, these are the ones I find myself watching more often since they're always on TV.


There's a new Bourne movie coming out in 2016.  I'll be seeing that one too.  And I think I'm going to give All The Pretty Horses another chance.  I only saw it once, in the movies, and deemed it the worst piece of crap at the time I saw it.  Maybe it's not as bad as I remembered.

Anyone else a Matt Damon fan? 




~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2014: Who?
2013: Doing A Complete 180
2012: Apple Is My Life. I’m Living It To The Core.
2011: Men (And One Little Man) At Work
2010: Miss Me Like It’s Forever
2009: Speak Already!
2008: On The Hunt
2007: Cash For Life
2006: Nice Melons
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Wednesday, January 07, 2015

Cackling Is One Of The Rules

My mother and a group of her lady friends get together weekly to play Chickenfoot Dominoes.

They drink, eat, and play.


And cackle.

A lot.

I'm pretty sure if you were to look in the rule book, you'd find that cackling is required.

Because if it's not, then they're totally playing wrong.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2014: Ugatz
2013: All The Better To See You With My Dear 
2012: Gratuitous Cute Dog Photo
2011: How To Kill Bees
2010: A Mirage Of Sorts
2009: Clouds Aflame
2008: When You Get One Like This, Don’t Let Him Get Away
2007: A Good Tipper Can Always Get Away With Being A Little Bossy
2006: Like Day And Night In Utah
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Tuesday, January 06, 2015

Just A Pier

Southport, North Carolina pier jutting into the Cape Fear River.  I am having a busy week, so I've only got a picture for you.

Imagine yourself sitting on the pier, reading on your iPad, enjoying a really long blog post I wrote.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2014:  Third Time Is Not A Charm

2013: A Sure Sign You're In A Truck Stop
2012: Waiting For The Bell To Ring
2011: You Don’t Need I.D. To Buy Booze If You Have One Of These In Your Pocket
2010: The Pros Slip In And Out With Ease
2009: Mine. All Mine.
2008: No, You Can’t Fly It
2007: Flying Parasols
2006: Seattle In Motion
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Monday, January 05, 2015

Our House, In The Middle Of Our Street

Our friends from Life With No Fixed Address are joining us at home again.  They'll be here tomorrow.  I sent them the above photo with an enticing email that said,

Dear Guest,

We heard you may be returning!  We'd like to remind you of all Chez Toni has to offer:

• Complimentary WiFi
• Complimentary Parking
• Unlimited Bottled Water
• Breakfast (no voucher needed)
• Seamstress Services
• Complimentary Guest Laundry
• Dinner for Two
• Car Service for Local Errands
• Private Suite with a view of "The Mountain"

We hope your plans include another visit. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Hospitably Yours,
Ed & Salena


We really enjoy having them around and are thrilled to have met and kept such great trucking friends.  We have wined, dined, and even been on vacation together.  We are looking forward to our time together in 2015, some of which we've already started planning for.

This is going to be such a great week!


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2014: I'm Pretty Sure I Was Born With One
2013: Gettin' The Juice To Stay On The Move
2012: Light On My Feet. Literally.
2011: We Got Smashed
2010: One Provides Light, The Other Just Stands There
2009: Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are!
2008: C’Mon In
2007: Eddie Hits The Bricks Friday
2006: Take It As It Comes
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!