The Parking Problems For A Big Rig Never End

I'd love to write a respectable journalist style post about this, but I don't have it in me.  I'd rather just bitch.

If you're a truck driver, you know how limited parking can be.  And when you're part of the problem, it makes it hard to get anything changed.

The parking situation is worse in some states than others - many of them are closing rest areas and others I suspect the real estate is non-existent or just too expensive.  In some places, you're lucky to even find a truck stop within fifty miles of where you pick-up or deliver.

This weekend when we arrived at the truck stop we chose to park at, around 1am local time, the parking was very limited.  That's usually the case at this time of night but we always seem to get lucky.  There were a few open spots that Ed tried - there are always open spots that other drivers attempt but can't back into, spots that always work for us because of Ed's superb backing skills - but this lot was so tight, each one he tried just didn't work.

What pissed me off, were all the bobtails that were taking up full spots.  I counted at least six.  For those who don't know, we call a truck without a trailer a bobtail.  And often, like at this location, bobtails have their own parking area.

But they weren't using it.

I've used red arrows on the photo above to show you what it looks like when spots are being occupied by tractors only.  Now if the lot was empty, like it is in the photo, it's not a problem.  But when you're driving around looking for a spot and the other person in the truck keeps exclaiming, "Ooh, there's one!" and then you get to it and you see a bobtail snuggled far back into the spot, you start to get a little frustrated.

In addition to the ones who park all the way in the spot, taking up a third of the space allotted, there are many who park like the trucks in the photo, with their nose lined up with the others.  I think that annoys me even more, because you pass by and think it's a real truck and then you see that they don't have a trailer.  They're just trying to fake you out.  Bastards!

I think the truck stop should bear some responsibility regarding the parking situation - nothing good can come of one driver knocking on the door of another in the middle of the night to ask him to move.  They never will, but I think they should.  

Oddly, they don't mind charging us for reserving a parking space - which supposedly came about via drivers' requests for it - but it's happening in too many places for my liking.  Last week we arrived at another location very late at night, and although there were a few spots left, the reserved parking spots were as empty as a piñata at a fat kid's birthday party.

I left a message on the company's Facebook page regarding this incident and I think I'm going to do that more often.  Other drivers can see it, a few have already added their own comments, and maybe if we tell them what we'd like, they'll listen.

Even if it doesn't make them any money.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2013: Need I Say More?
2012: Despite The Name, This Might Not Be Your Place If You’re Truly Bashful
2011: Then Someone Lit The Flame And Plain Rode Away On Lion’s Mane
2010: It Once Had A Life
2009: Life’s A Planet Beach
2008: I Wasn’t Even Fishing, But I Certainly Got A Great Catch
2007: Royal Air Force Typhoon Blows Into Nellis
2006: This Dandelion Needs Rogaine
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Living The Examined Life

I saw this online this week and wanted to share it here.  How many of you think you're highly creative?

18 Things Highly Creative People Do Differently

Creativity works in mysterious and often paradoxical ways. Creative thinking is a stable, defining characteristic in some personalities, but it may also change based on situation and context. Inspiration and ideas often arise seemingly out of nowhere and then fail to show up when we most need them, and creative thinking requires complex cognition yet is completely distinct from the thinking process.

Neuroscience paints a complicated picture of creativity. As scientists now understand it, creativity is far more complex than the right-left brain distinction would have us think (the theory being that left brain = rational and analytical, right brain = creative and emotional). In fact, creativity is thought to involve a number of cognitive processes, neural pathways and emotions, and we still don't have the full picture of how the imaginative mind works.

And psychologically speaking, creative personality types are difficult to pin down, largely because they're complex, paradoxical and tend to avoid habit or routine. And it's not just a stereotype of the "tortured artist" -- artists really may be more complicated people. Research has suggested that creativity involves the coming together of a multitude of traits, behaviors and social influences in a single person.

"It's actually hard for creative people to know themselves because the creative self is more complex than the non-creative self," Scott Barry Kaufman, a psychologist at New York University who has spent years researching creativity, told The Huffington Post. "The things that stand out the most are the paradoxes of the creative self ... Imaginative people have messier minds."

While there's no "typical" creative type, there are some tell-tale characteristics and behaviors of highly creative people. Here are 18 things they do differently.

They daydream.
Creative types know, despite what their third-grade teachers may have said, that daydreaming is anything but a waste of time.  According to Kaufman and psychologist Rebecca L. McMillan, who co-authored a paper titled "Ode To Positive Constructive Daydreaming," mind-wandering can aid in the process of "creative incubation." And of course, many of us know from experience that our best ideas come seemingly out of the blue when our minds are elsewhere.

Although daydreaming may seem mindless, a 2012 study suggested it could actually involve a highly engaged brain state -- daydreaming can lead to sudden connections and insights because it's related to our ability to recall information in the face of distractions. Neuroscientists have also found that daydreaming involves the same brain processes associated with imagination and creativity.

They observe everything.
The world is a creative person's oyster -- they see possibilities everywhere and are constantly taking in information that becomes fodder for creative expression. As Henry James is widely quoted, a writer is someone on whom "nothing is lost."

The writer Joan Didion kept a notebook with her at all times, and said that she wrote down observations about people and events as, ultimately, a way to better understand the complexities and contradictions of her own mind:

"However dutifully we record what we see around us, the common denominator of all we see is always, transparently, shamelessly, the implacable 'I,'" Didion wrote in her essay On Keeping A Notebook. "We are talking about something private, about bits of the mind’s string too short to use, an indiscriminate and erratic assemblage with meaning only for its marker."

They work the hours that work for them.
Many great artists have said that they do their best work either very early in the morning or late at night. Vladimir Nabokov started writing immediately after he woke up at 6 or 7 a.m., and Frank Lloyd Wright made a practice of waking up at 3 or 4 a.m. and working for several hours before heading back to bed. No matter when it is, individuals with high creative output will often figure out what time it is that their minds start firing up, and structure their days accordingly.

They take time for solitude.
"In order to be open to creativity, one must have the capacity for constructive use of solitude. One must overcome the fear of being alone," wrote the American existential psychologist Rollo May.

Artists and creatives are often stereotyped as being loners, and while this may not actually be the case, solitude can be the key to producing their best work. For Kaufman, this links back to daydreaming -- we need to give ourselves the time alone to simply allow our minds to wander.

"You need to get in touch with that inner monologue to be able to express it," he says. "It's hard to find that inner creative voice if you're ... not getting in touch with yourself and reflecting on yourself."

They turn life's obstacles around.
Many of the most iconic stories and songs of all time have been inspired by gut-wrenching pain and heartbreak -- and the silver lining of these challenges is that they may have been the catalyst to create great art. An emerging field of psychology called post-traumatic growth is suggesting that many people are able to use their hardships and early-life trauma for substantial creative growth. Specifically, researchers have found that trauma can help people to grow in the areas of interpersonal relationships, spirituality, appreciation of life, personal strength, and -- most importantly for creativity -- seeing new possibilities in life.

"A lot of people are able to use that as the fuel they need to come up with a different perspective on reality," says Kaufman. "What's happened is that their view of the world as a safe place, or as a certain type of place, has been shattered at some point in their life, causing them to go on the periphery and see things in a new, fresh light, and that's very conducive to creativity."

They seek out new experiences.
Creative people love to expose themselves to new experiences, sensations and states of mind -- and this openness is a significant predictor of creative output.

"Openness to experience is consistently the strongest predictor of creative achievement," says Kaufman. "This consists of lots of different facets, but they're all related to each other: Intellectual curiosity, thrill seeking, openness to your emotions, openness to fantasy. The thing that brings them all together is a drive for cognitive and behavioral exploration of the world, your inner world and your outer world."

They "fail up."
Resilience is practically a prerequisite for creative success, says Kaufman. Doing creative work is often described as a process of failing repeatedly until you find something that sticks, and creatives -- at least the successful ones -- learn not to take failure so personally.

"Creatives fail and the really good ones fail often," Forbes contributor Steven Kotler wrote in a piece on Einstein's creative genius.

They ask the big questions.
Creative people are insatiably curious -- they generally opt to live the examined life, and even as they get older, maintain a sense of curiosity about life. Whether through intense conversation or solitary mind-wandering, creatives look at the world around them and want to know why, and how, it is the way it is.

They people-watch.
Observant by nature and curious about the lives of others, creative types often love to people-watch -- and they may generate some of their best ideas from it.

"[Marcel] Proust spent almost his whole life people-watching, and he wrote down his observations, and it eventually came out in his books," says Kaufman. "For a lot of writers, people-watching is very important ... They're keen observers of human nature."

They take risks.
Part of doing creative work is taking risks, and many creative types thrive off of taking risks in various aspects of their lives.

"There is a deep and meaningful connection between risk taking and creativity and it's one that's often overlooked," contributor Steven Kotler wrote in Forbes. "Creativity is the act of making something from nothing. It requires making public those bets first placed by imagination. This is not a job for the timid. Time wasted, reputation tarnished, money not well spent -- these are all by-products of creativity gone awry."

They view all of life as an opportunity for self-expression.
Nietzsche believed that one's life and the world should be viewed as a work of art. Creative types may be more likely to see the world this way, and to constantly seek opportunities for self-expression in everyday life.

"Creative expression is self-expression," says Kaufman. "Creativity is nothing more than an individual expression of your needs, desires and uniqueness."

They follow their true passions.
Creative people tend to be intrinsically motivated -- meaning that they're motivated to act from some internal desire, rather than a desire for external reward or recognition. Psychologists have shown that creative people are energized by challenging activities, a sign of intrinsic motivation, and the research suggests that simply thinking of intrinsic reasons to perform an activity may be enough to boost creativity.

"Eminent creators choose and become passionately involved in challenging, risky problems that provide a powerful sense of power from the ability to use their talents," write M.A. Collins and T.M. Amabile in The Handbook of Creativity.

They get out of their own heads.
Kaufman argues that another purpose of daydreaming is to help us to get out of our own limited perspective and explore other ways of thinking, which can be an important asset to creative work.

"Daydreaming has evolved to allow us to let go of the present," says Kaufman. "The same brain network associated with daydreaming is the brain network associated with theory of mind -- I like calling it the 'imagination brain network' -- it allows you to imagine your future self, but it also allows you to imagine what someone else is thinking."

Research has also suggested that inducing "psychological distance" -- that is, taking another person's perspective or thinking about a question as if it was unreal or unfamiliar -- can boost creative thinking.

They lose track of the time.
Creative types may find that when they're writing, dancing, painting or expressing themselves in another way, they get "in the zone," or what's known as a flow state, which can help them to create at their highest level. Flow is a mental state when an individual transcends conscious thought to reach a heightened state of effortless concentration and calmness. When someone is in this state, they're practically immune to any internal or external pressures and distractions that could hinder their performance.

You get into the flow state when you're performing an activity you enjoy that you're good at, but that also challenges you -- as any good creative project does.

"[Creative people] have found the thing they love, but they've also built up the skill in it to be able to get into the flow state," says Kaufman. "The flow state requires a match between your skill set and the task or activity you're engaging in."

They surround themselves with beauty.
Creatives tend to have excellent taste, and as a result, they enjoy being surrounded by beauty.

A study recently published in the journal Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts showed that musicians -- including orchestra musicians, music teachers, and soloists -- exhibit a high sensitivity and responsiveness to artistic beauty.

They connect the dots.
If there's one thing that distinguishes highly creative people from others, it's the ability to see possibilities where other don't -- or, in other words, vision. Many great artists and writers have said that creativity is simply the ability to connect the dots that others might never think to connect.

In the words of Steve Jobs:
"Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn't really do it, they just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while. That's because they were able to connect experiences they've had and synthesize new things."

They constantly shake things up.
Diversity of experience, more than anything else, is critical to creativity, says Kaufman. Creatives like to shake things up, experience new things, and avoid anything that makes life more monotonous or mundane.

"Creative people have more diversity of experiences, and habit is the killer of diversity of experience," says Kaufman.

They make time for mindfulness.
Creative types understand the value of a clear and focused mind -- because their work depends on it. Many artists, entrepreneurs, writers and other creative workers, such as David Lynch, have turned to meditation as a tool for tapping into their most creative state of mind.

And science backs up the idea that mindfulness really can boost your brain power in a number of ways. A 2012 Dutch study suggested that certain meditation techniques can promote creative thinking. And mindfulness practices have been linked with improved memory and focus, better emotional well-being, reduced stress and anxiety, and improved mental clarity -- all of which can lead to better creative thought.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2013: Trucking Like We're On Fire

2012: Looking For A Coffee Fix
2011: Container Port, You Are No Friend Of Mine
2010: Encased In Plastic
2009: No Lifeguard On Duty
2008: Palm Sketches
2007: You Know Who You Are
2006: I Fear The Family
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Thumbs Up For A Real Bronx Tale

While in the Bronx we went to Borgatti's, a pasta shop that's been around for almost 80 years.  I'm pretty sure if someone has been making pasta since 1935 (and before, since they were making it for themselves before they opened a shop to sell it), I'm going to want to eat it.  

When we walked in, Chris Borgatti was feeding pasta dough through a pasta machine similar to the one his father and grandfather used.  In fact, the photo on the wall behind him depicts his father standing in the very same spot he's standing, doing the very same thing.

I didn't ask who the older woman behind the counter was, but I'm pretty sure she was probably family.  She's the one who sold me my box of cheese ravioli.  Which I'm savoring.  Just knowing I have an emergency supply of ravioli in the freezer makes me squeal inside with delight.

I love all these little stores.  And I wonder what it would have been like growing up in a neighborhood like this, where you go see Mr. Borgatti to get fresh pasta.  Whenever you want.

I was born three miles from this section of the Bronx but moved to "the country" (the Catskill Mountain area) before I was five years old.  My family still lived in the Bronx, and they talked about this area and shopped here often, but this was my first visit.  Even my family upstate would make food pilgrimages to the city for items they couldn't get in the sticks.  My step-father would talk about the Italian bread from the Bronx in such a way, you'd think they baked gold nuggets inside the loaves.

From what my Aunt and Uncle said, the area has changed a bit in its appearance and the makeup of the neighborhood residents, but the shop owners still speak to you and each other in Italian and give advice and suggestions on items you're planning to buy.  The neighborhood is even still dotted with Italian social clubs, where men go to drink coffee, smoke cigars and bullshit with their friends.

What a nice life.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2013: A Mountain City Fit For A Queen
2012: Sprinkle Of Seaweed, Anyone?
2011: Shopping To The Maxx
2010: Ed Unloads An Oil Platform
2009: You Never Know When You Might Need It
2008: Eddie Climbs A Wall Friday
2007: What Showing Off For Your Kids Looks Like
2006: What’s It All About?
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

A Spontaneous Slumber Party And An Italian Feast To Go

Last night we took my Aunt and Uncle out for dinner for my Uncle's 65th birthday, which is today.

He put up a fight - no self-respecting Italian man lets someone else "treat" them to dinner - but we finally wrestled the bill from his hands.  It was easy to do once we threatened that we'd embarrass him in front of the other people in the restaurant if he didn't let us pay.  He broke out into a sweat, but he finally acquiesced.

Before dinner we stopped at the truck to pack a bag to sleep over, so once our bellies were full we headed back to put our pajamas on and spend a few hours talking over coffee.

This morning, my Aunt put out a breakfast spread worthy of Hilton HHonors Diamond Status (shout out to M and MacG!) - and even made Ed eggs and pancakes! - then this afternoon, took us to Arthur Avenue in the Bronx.  We went a little crazy shopping at all the little Italian grocery stores and the open area market.

We bought prosciutto bread and several loaves of Italian bread and a big chunk of provolone and hard salame and mixed olives...

And dark chocolate covered figs and sfogliatelle and palmiers and cannoli and coffee...oh, my god, so much awesome stuff.

After we shopped, we did what any good Italian would do - we went to eat.  Antipasto, a great veal parmigiana, gnocchi, more bread, and tiramisu and coffee to wrap it all up.  They treated us to this meal.  I knew we wouldn't get away without them paying for something.  Dammit, they're so tricky.

It was the.  best.  day.  I felt like it was my birthday.

Can't wait to come back!  We're going to need to restock the truck at some point.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2013:  Bright Spot On The Mountain
2012: Thinking About Adding A Few More Wheels To The Rig
2011: Cooled By The Ocean
2010: Oh, Mother!
2009: Eddie Adds Culture To His Day
2008: One Armed Bandit
2007: 614
2006: Having A Good Reason
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Beauty And The Bleak

A reader recently commented on the bleak winter landscape of Nebraska.  It's bleak in other parts of the country too.

Here's a black and white landscape shot (through the window, with an iPhone, in a moving truck) from somewhere in Virginia.

I think it's beautiful.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2013: Don't Even Ask
2012: Click Mouse, Make Money
2011: Buttons Beware. There’s Someone Cuter In Town!
2010: Eddie Dials Up The Lunch Order
2009: Trucking Superhere And Sidekick
2008: I’m Just A Goy In Love With A Boy
2007: When Pork Goes Pornographic
2006: Now Where Did I Put Those Underwear??
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Dreaming Of Blue Skies And Swaying Palms

This photo of Florida palms is for my Aunt and Uncle who are toughing out the winter in New York while dreaming of moving south.  In due time, as my grandfather would say.  In due time.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2013:  They Never Ask If You Have Invisible Ink
2012: I Didn’t Break A Leg, So I Guess I Can’t Regret Doing It
2011: Why Couldn’t It Have Been The Canola??
2010: I Like To Call Him The Kite Master
2009: Talk About Making Good Use Of Your Time
2008: Don’t Three Feet Equal One Yard?
2007: New And Improved
2006: Maybe I Don’t Need To Know Everything
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Eastern Influence In A Southern State

A beautiful mural by artist Juan Salgado gracing one of the walls in the Wynwood Arts District of Miami, Florida.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2013: The Wegmans Cheese Tour
2012: Balls In The Air
2011: Branded
2010: Don’t Lose The Fun
2009: I’ll Get To It As Soon As I’m Done Churning The Butter, Dear.
2008: Trees At Sunset
2007: Giving Directions To This Place Is Easy
2006: A Cloud Of Words
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Award Winning Plan

My plan for the day:

Sleep.

Eat.

Watch The Oscars.

I haven't seen all the movies, so I'll be guessing who I think will win.  The movies I have seen are Captain Phillips, Dallas Buyers Club and Gravity.  I'd like to say that I feel fairly confident that Gravity will win nothing.  If they do, I'll be in shock.  And I'm also pretty confident Jared Leto will win Best Supporting Actor - he was very good.  The rest are up in the air.

BEST PICTURE
American Hustle
Captain Phillips
Dallas Buyers Club
Gravity
Her
Nebraska
Philomena
12 Years a Slave
The Wolf of Wall Street

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Christian Bale (American Hustle)
Bruce Dern (Nebraska)
Leonardo DiCaprio (The Wolf of Wall Street)
Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave)
Matthew McConaughey (Dallas Buyers Club)

BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

Amy Adams (American Hustle)

Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine)

Sandra Bullock (Gravity)

Judi Dench (Philomena)

Meryl Streep (August: Osage County)

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Barkhad Abdi (Captain Phillips)
Bradley Cooper (American Hustle)
Michael Fassbender (12 Years a Slave)
Jonah Hill (The Wolf of Wall Street)
Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club)

BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Sally Hawkins (Blue Jasmine)

Jennifer Lawrence (American Hustle)

Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years a Slave)

Julia Roberts (August: Osage County)

June Squibb (Nebraska)

See the nominees in other categories here.  

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2013: Watch Closely Now
2012: Mission Of The Sacred Heart
2011: Vintage Photo And Clothing
2010: Just How I Like It…Cold And Colder
2009: Snagged
2008: The Writing Is On The Wall
2007: Eddie Waits For A Ride
2006: Truckers And Travelers Know Good Food
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Into The Mouth Of A Lion

You'd never know it from this picture of the rising sun somewhere in Texas - who ever really knows where they are in Texas, it all looks the same - but March is going to be coming in like a lion this year, with winter storms from west to east.

We are heading into an east coast snowstorm and I couldn't be happier.  Reports say anywhere from 3" to 12" are expected.  Woo hoo!!

I prefer a sunrise over a sunset, but as always, I'm happy to leave the west behind me.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2013:  A Barn Serving Steak Good Enough To Eat
2012: A Quick Update
2011: It Takes Nothing To Win A Contest
2010: Sorry, no post for this day.
2009: The Hags Hit The Big Time
2008: One Thing At A Time
2007: Snaking Across Broadway
2006: Psssst! Wanna Buy A Hot Dog Truck?
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

I Like Big Boteros And I Cannot Lie

A Botero sculpture at the Gary Nader Gallery in the Wynwood Arts District of Miami, Florida.

As soon as I saw the sculptures out front, I shouted "A Botero!"

Ed said, "A what?"

"A Botero.  The sculptor who did that piece - his name is Botero."

It's probably the only sculpture I can look at and identify the artist.  The other is Jeffrey Koons, but I don't like his stuff, I was much happier seeing a Botero.

Fernando Botero has been called "one of the most successful artists alive" - successful painting and sculpting fat people.  Maybe that's why I like him.

When asked why he paints fat people he said, "I fatten my characters to give them sensuality. I’m not interested in fat people for the sake of fat people."  That's okay with me.  He still puts fat people - really round, really fat, really plush people - on display for the whole world to see.  And the world loves it.

You can read a little more about the artist and see more of his work in this blog post I found, written by a 14-year-old who travels the world with his mom.  Pretty cool stuff.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2013: The Young Never Have Trouble Screwing
2012: Making Tracks Across The Country
2011: Eddie Is The King Of The Dome
2010: Do It For Half An Hour A Day
2009: Sipping In Nyack
2008: The Tink Tink Tinkle Of Recycling
2007: Ralph’s Service Station
2006: The Isle Of Capri
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Some Links Are Sexier Than Others

Another great collection of links from FlipBoard.  Have a gander...

How many of these places have you been to?

I sent this recipe to my best friend, she made it, and she confirmed its deliciousness.  She's making this one next.  

I'm all about being lazy, but this is taking it a bit too far.  Why rent a bike?  Why not just get a cab?

Even I don't have time to look up this much shit.  And I've got a lot of time.

Faahhh-reaky.

Ever wonder what goes on in a pig pen when you're not around?  

Holy mother of God.  Can Beyonce be any sexier?  I think right about now I'd crown her the sexiest thing on earth.  

I have friends who've actually been here.  Not above the clouds, but still.  

Lego photographers?  When I was a kid, Legos were just blocks, not people.  

I know my "slope hitting" has only consisted of snow tubing - and I even got hurt doing that - but I don't need to ski to stay in one of these places.  


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2013: Who Says I'm Spoiled?
2012: So That’s How It’s Done
2011: Sunny Bright Yellow Moments Ahead
2010: Loaded
2009: C’mon, Just Do It Already!
2008: Counterproductive
2007: If You Need A Reason To Cook More Often, I Think I Have One
2006: Warning: May Contain Traces Of Nuts
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

¡Bienvenido!

Wall mural in Little Havana - Miami, Florida.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2013: We Couldn't Catch Him
2012: It’s Vital For My Existence
2011: Boxed In By Hills
2010: Ask A Trucker
2009: Getting Our Truck Tweaked While Making New Friends And Enjoying A Free Lunch Pie*
2008: Sunglasses Also Required Here
2007: Windows Vista, Trucker Style
2006: Being A Girl Again
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

The Higher The Hair, The Closer To God

I saw this lady in the Little Havana section of Miami, walking across a parking lot.  I nudged Ed and said, "Hurry up, I want to catch up with her and get a picture."

We were on the way to a shop Ed wanted to look at and she was headed in the same direction - so I could snap a few pictures of her as we turned the corner.  I loved that everything she had on was chartreuse - shoes, purse, pants, blouse - topped with HUGE blond hair.  And she was walking fast, with purpose.

And then, just before we got to the store Ed wanted to check out, she ducked into a beauty parlor.

I suspect she was going to have her huge hair made even bigger.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2013: My Two Cents On Oscar Fashion
2012: A Little Nip Of A Love Affair
2011: It’s A Serious Addiction
2010: Why Play Fantasy Football When You Can Spend Your Time Making Lists For The Halle Experiment?
2009: I Hope There Isn’t Going To Be A Quiz
2008: Sunglasses Required
2007: Golden Eye
2006: Making A List And Checking It Twice
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

Dinner And A Show

After we delivered in Miami last week, we spent two days getting the radiator on the truck replaced.  They finished on Friday - I was shocked, counting on Monday instead - so we headed a few hours up the coast to visit with our best trucking buds for the weekend.

In exchange for doing three loads of laundry at their place, I cooked dinner.  I would have cooked a feast if it meant I didn't have to spend two hours in a hot laundromat in Miami.  It was quite the deal for me.  And the key lime pie Marlaina got for dessert topped off the night.

Last night we all went out for dinner - there were five of us since Marlaina's longtime friend was also coming - at a place named Jetty's, a waterfront restaurant situated on the Loxahatchee River in Jupiter, Florida.  The outside dining area had a view of pelicans, passing boats, and the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse.  

The place was pretty popular and even though we were there early, the wait for a table was an hour.  Usually, I dislike waiting more than 10-15 minutes for a table in any restaurant, but the time flew by as we sat with drinks, chatting away and watching the snowy egrets plunge their thin orange beaks into the water to catch their meals.  It gave me time to think about what I was going to eat for mine.

We were seated at a table on the outside patio which was really nice and not at all hot or humid, a big plus for me.  Everyone seemed to enjoy their meals, I know I liked mine - a broiled seafood platter with stuffed shrimp, scallops, and an incredibly delicious lobster tail.  I haven't had one that good in a while.

Today we got the truck washed and was planning to have an error code on the generator looked at, but a juicy load popped up and Ed jumped on it.

So the fun is over for a few days while we get back to work.  After a quick stop at home at the end of the week, we'll be heading back to the east coast.

I hope they save some snow for me.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2013:  Everything You Need To Live A Bountiful Life Is Inside Of You
2012: From A Bodyguard, To Men Of Honor, To Good Deeds
2011: Just What I Need
2010: Waterfront Dining
2009: The Best Is Yet To Come
2008: It’s Not Just A Medicinal Oil After All
2007: Tracy Hilltop
2006: Calming The Flatulent Tiger
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

La Ventanita

Billed as "the world's most famous Cuban Restaurant", Versailles has been serving locals and tourists for over 40 years.  La Ventanita - the little window - is where most of the action is, as with many of the Cuban food places in Miami.  It reminded me of the coffee bars in Italy.  They seem to be the only place you'll find a group of men comfortable sipping from a delicate demitasse cup.

Their website states that after opening, it quickly became the gathering place for Miami's Cuban exiles.  The restaurant has seen the likes of everyone from celebrities to Presidential candidates.  And the media considers the place to be so important, that the major networks have already secured a spot to report from when Castro dies (if, as my friends pointed out, he isn't already secretly dead).  

We each had a Cuban Sampler platter.  Ed had The Classic - White rice, Black beans, "Picadillo" Ground Beef, Roast Pork, Sweet Plantains, Ham Croquette, Cuban Tamale, and Cassava with Cuban Mojo.  I had The Criollo - Yellow Rice, Black Beans, "Ropa Vieja" Shredded Beef in Tomato Sauce, Fried Pork Chunks, Ham Croquette, Sweet Plantains, Cuban Tamale, and Cassava with Cuban Mojo.  The food was okay, but not as good as Little Havana.

We completed our meal with cortadito which was deeeeeelicious (and very tiny), and brought home a few pastries from the bakery.


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2013: Big Fat Proof Of Your Weight
2012: This Could Be Very Confusing For Men
2011: The King Of Thrift
2010: Dances With Sheepskin
2009: The Seat You Offer Your Arch Enemy
2008: The Man With The Silver Handbag
2007: Silver Snowscape
2006: Let Go Let Flow
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!