They May Be Turkeys, But Their Goose Is Definitely Cooked

Every time I see a truck transporting animals - usually chickens (or in this case, I think they were turkeys) or pigs - for a split second, I get all giddy like a kid.  "Look!  Chickens!" and "How cuuute.  Piggies!!"

Then reality sets in and I realize they're headed to their demise.  

"Over the river and through the woods to the slaughterhouse we go..."  I'm not an animal activist or anything like that, and wouldn't give up bacon (or God, pork loin)  if you put a gun to my head, but it is kinda sad to see them like this.  Especially since I regularly eat poultry and see these bird cage trucks on the road all the time - it's a constant reminder.

It's not so bad when you see the pigs, because they seem to have a little more room to roam around when being transported, even when you know where they're headed.  But the birds?  They're just jammed into the cages, with no room to move around.  Feathers were flying behind the truck as it went down the road, and when you think about how many birds are in each cage, giving a rough count, it really is pretty inhumane.

I saw one bird whose leg was poking through the grate, and I could tell he was stuck there in that position.  The childlike wonder wears off pretty instantaneously.  

Many years ago I dated a guy whose parents raised chickens.  He took me into the long barns they keep the chickens in, and I got to see them midway through their 6-week lifespan.  There were thousands of them.  And they gathered all around.  They make a lot of noise.  He even showed me a little trick - he stood there and said, "Shhhh" out loud.  And every bird went silent.  It was pretty amazing.

He told me the best time was when they were first delivered, as teeny little chicks.  That you could sit on the floor and they'd climb all over you, their yellow downy fur caressing your skin.  And they peep.  A LOT.  Peep peep peep peep peep peep.  Thousands of peeps.

He said they would go from chicks to six-pound birds in six weeks.  They were fed some kind of super-feed to make them grow fast.  And if there were any sickly ones, they would cull them so they wouldn't eat the feed that would be better used by other birds.  I remember him saying his mom was in charge of doing that - with a stick.  Hard to imagine that sweet lady beating a bird to death, but she did it.     

So this was a pleasant Christmas season post, wasn't it?  Sorry to be so depressing, but the activities on the road are light this week.  Not much to write about.  But hey - it's trucking, right?  And it's true.  But maybe this isn't a post to share with the kids just yet.

Like me, they can still go on believing their poultry comes from the grocery store.  Or better yet, in a bucket, or in the shape of a nugget, or pounded thin and sauteed with white wine and lemon.  

Yeah, that last one.  SO yum.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: Just In Case You've Run Out Of Ideas
2011: Getting Stoned In New York*
2010: I Used To Care But Now I Take A Pill For That
2009: Wet And Woodsy
2008: Bite Sized Yummy Goodness
2007: There’s A Time For Everything
2006: Colors Of The Barrio
2005: Puss In Breasts

Christmas Cheer Comes With Antlers

This year I used most of the decorations from last year since I didn't make time to do a lot of shopping - the same "Let it Snow" sticker and the same snowmen.

 

I did get new wrapping paper for the tissue boxes and the books on my shelves.  And I do have a teeny tiny silver tree in the window and there are lights around the window, which weren't on when this pictures was taken.

I also added a new silver tree decal for the bed/table area.

But my favorite addition is my welcome mat - this adorable reindeer.  He looks very excited to welcome people into our rolling Christmas extravaganza and he adds such cheer to the truck!

Christmas is almost here!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: Think About It
2011: She Strikes Again

2010: The Frozen Tundra
2009: Your Tax Dollars Hard At Work
2008: What’s Next, Reporting Your Maid In The Middle Of Her Dusting The Living Room Tsochkes?
2007: Fashion Forwards
2006: Swimming Po
2005: Just Call Me Rosa

One Very Happy Sloth

Today was the. most. unproductive. day. I've had all week.

I got up late.  Ate breakfast well after noon.  Didn't shower.  Didn't even get out of my pajamas.  But I did fix my hair, because you never know who you might meet.  

Then I watched a Friday Night Lights marathon - where have I been??  It's such a good show.  Now I'll have to waste even more time in the new year catching up on all five seasons.

Then I got caught up in watching Christmas themed movies.  On the Hallmark channel.  I laughed and cried through all of them.

First was Let It Snow.

Then, A Christmas Kiss.

After that, a real tearjerker, Christmas in Conway.

All I Want For Christmas.

And to wrap it all up, Holiday Road Trip.

I am surprised at the actors that were in many of these movies - from big stars to people that made us (yes, us, as Ed was a captive viewer) say, "Hey - I haven't seen him in forever."  or "Didn't we just see her in..."

People like Alan Thicke, Candace Cameron Bure,  Elisabeth Röhm, Jerrika Hinton (one of my least favorite Grey's Anatomy cast members), Tom Arnold, Stuart Pankin, Patrick Muldoon, George Hamilton, Shelley Long, Wink Martindale (game show host!), Cheri Oteri, Mary-Louise Parker, Mandy Moore, and Andy Garcia - with a southern accent.

So yeah, add up all the flicks.  Lots of hours of sitting today.  Lots of TV.  But I laughed and I cried, and I felt nostalgic, and I'm excited for Christmas, and I'm looking forward to seeing my family and friends, and I can't wait to make more memories.

Now it's time to get back to my Christmas menu planning.  I can multi-task, you know.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: Overnight In Ohio
2011: If It Ain’t Sweet, It Ain’t Southern Made
2010: Portland Bound
2009: Dear Blog Santa
2008: The Trees Help Guide The Way
2007: Just In Time For The Holidays
2006: Eddie Leans On A Barrio Door Friday
2005: Glowing Reminders

My Memory Goes Way Way Back

Last night we rented The Way Way Back.

When I looked up the filming locations and saw that Water Wizz - the water park in the movie - was located in East Wareham, Massachusetts, a bell went off in my head.  It just sounded familiar and I knew we'd been there.  We delivered there.  Slept in the parking lot next to a Chinese restaurant.  I was sure of it.  

So I looked it up and I was right!  In November of 2012, we picked up water park equipment from a park that was being dismantled in Mackinaw City, Michigan and delivered it to the Water Wizz park.

OK, exciting trucking-job-connection-to-Hollywood moment now over.
 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: Remember One, Remember All
2011: History Still Standing
2010: Stay Home: TV And Hot Chocolate Is The Only Way To Make It Through
2009: A Rainy Rainbow
2008: Be Wary Of Women Wearing Skull Panties
2007: Holiday Sparkle
2006: Arizona Sunset
2005: Before And After The Chops

The End Of WiFi???

That's what I thought this sign said when I first saw it.  I was like, What??  What does that mean?  Why didn't they finish the sign?  Why would they spell WiFi with a big W and a big I and then two little letters?

I just didn't get it.  I couldn't "see" what it was saying.

Good thing I don't drink.

Because it said END DWI - Ed pointed it out, seeing it right away - by meshing the D of each word together.

I think I actually need a drink.

And those glasses.
  

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: Through A Canopy Of Oaks
2011: Clap Your Hands
2010: Wishing For A Blizzard But Will Settle For Flakes
2009: A Hideous Thief Exposed
2008: Southwest Sunset
2007: Subtlety Is SO Not His Middle Name
2006: Bridging Chicago
2005: Oxymoronic Holiday

Oh No You Didn't

A while back, we were transporting extremely flammable freight - one of those categories that drivers need a HazMat endorsement for.  We've hauled dangerous chemicals in the past - like the load I dubbed "Hellfire and Brimstone" - but some of this stuff are the big kahunas of Things That Go Boom and they're divided into six divisions.  Division 1.1 is the most dangerous.

To give you an idea exactly how dangerous, and how explosive they are, here's a very brief definition:

Division 1.1:  Consists of explosives that have a mass explosion hazard. A mass explosion is one which affects almost the entire load instantaneously.  

When hauling certain division categories, there are very strict federal rules that must be followed by the driver.  Things like:  you can't park 300 feet from a place where people work, congregate or assemble; you must always being in control of the fueling process at the point where the fuel tank is filled (which means always keeping your hand on the hose - try doing that when you're getting 220 gallons at at time); you have to check your tires every time you stop; and, the motor vehicle must be attended at all times by its driver or a qualified representative - meaning the load is never left alone.

But to me, the scariest aspect of hauling extremely flammable freight is fire.  Why? Because the potential hazard of some of this freight is the fact that it "may explode and throw fragments one mile or more if fire reaches the cargo".  I don't even want to park next to those guys.

ONE MILE OR MORE.  Whadya think the chances of outrunning that are?

The Emergency Response Guidebook even tells you what a driver is supposed to do in the event of fire:

"DO NOT fight fire when fire reaches cargo!  Cargo may EXPLODE!"  (Written with exclamation points and all.  As if.)

"Move people out of line of sight of the scene and away from windows."

"Isolate spill or leak area immediately for at least 1/3 mile in all directions."  (I can see it now - me running down the interstate in my martini glass pajama bottoms trying to get traffic to stay away.)

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) even has a regulation that covers what one might think of as an innocuous fiery item, being near the load.

According to Part 397, Subpart A, Regulation 397.13:

"No person may smoke or carry a lighted cigarette, cigar, or pipe on or within 25 feet of a motor vehicle which contains Class 1 materials."

So when we pulled into a truck stop to refuel and I saw this guy in the fuel island, I flipped out.

He was sitting in his truck, one space over from us, smoking a cigarette. 

IN THE FUEL ISLAND.

He wasn't even getting fuel.  

He was just sitting there with the door open, foot propped up, talking on the phone and flicking ashes on the ground.  I watched him the entire time - because, you  know, no one is supposed to be smoking within 25 feet of us - and I had a feeling he was going to flick that cigarette onto the ground.  He just looked like the type who would.

And I was right.

Sitting in the front seat of my truck, my eyes trained on this guy, I was waiting.  Then I saw him FLICK THE CIGARETTE ON THE GROUND.  A glowing, lit cigarette.

So I rolled down my window and yelled at him.  Just like anyone would do, right?

"Hey!" I shouted.  "HEY!!!!"  He looked over at me perplexed. 

I pointed to the ground and yelled, "Pick that up!!!" 

He looked back at me and said, "It's out."  

I yelled, "Get out and stomp it out!"  

"It's out." He said again. 

"GET OUT AND STOMP IT OUT!! Right now.  You're in a fuel island!  And I'm hauling flammable freight. Get out of that truck RIGHT THIS MINUTE and put that cigarette out!!"  I yelled at him. Really loud. Like an angry drill sergeant.  I was PISSED.
 

So he got out of his truck, picked up the cigarette, showed it to me and said, "It's out."

Yet I still saw smoke trailing from it.

"It's NOT out."  I said.  "I can still see smoke.  Put it out."  

He shook his head, and with the cigarette in hand, got in his truck and drove away.

I had the name of his company from the door of his truck, along with his DOT number, and looked it up on FMCSA's SAFER system. It's a one truck/driver operation.  He was probably the owner.  These are my colleagues, people. 

When we left and I told Ed what happened, all he said was, "Oh.  I wondered what all that yelling was."  He must have known I was doing fine, because he didn't intervene.  

I don't know what someone else might have done, but I'm not taking any chances with "mass explosion" freight that can blow me a mile from my truck because of some asshole in a truck stop.

Especially if I'm wearing martini glass pajama bottoms.  

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: Nothing Is More Memorable Than A Day At The Lake
2011: The Champion Of Our Cause, The Protector Of Our Dreams
2010: Shuttin’ Down The Operation
2009: Rolling Out The Holiday Films
2008: No Rig Too Big
2007: Go Dasher, Go Dancer, Go Prancer, Go Vixen
2006: Untitled
2005: Unawarrior

Team Daily Rant Makes A Pitstop In Florida

I arrived at Sebring International Raceway late at night, having driven through dense fog and bouts of rain.  Through the pitch-black woods of Central Florida, two lanes, no lights.  I couldn't find any suitable place to park when I got there, so I parked right in front of the main gate.  We woke at sunrise to meet our contact.

This sign listing Sebring Champions was directly to the right of the main gate.  In 61 years of racing here at Sebring, the Germans came out far ahead of everyone else, winning 31 races.  The Italians came in second, taking 14, the UK and Japan won 6 races each, France and the US tied at 2.    

Crossing the bridge to the paddock area, we could see part of the track.  It has seventeen turns - high and low speed - chicanes, a hairpin, and a little camber on the surface.  Oh, and it's a weird alligator-mouth shape.  Seriously.  See it here.  

When we were first called about the load, picking up at JFK Airport in New York, we were told it was going to be a race car.  We were totally psyched.  We texted our friends Marlaina and MacGyver immediately, since he's such a fan of racing.  Turns out, they were also called about the load but didn't actually get to talk to the agent, so he left them a message and called us.  We were all going to be in the same area, and they needed a team.

We told Marlaina that if they really wanted the load, we'd wait and get something else, knowing MacGyver would find it more exciting than us.  It wasn't "our load" to give away, but since the agent hadn't confirmed all the information yet, it was still up in the air.  Unfortunately, their schedule didn't allow for them to take it, so we headed to the airport to wait for the freight to clear Customs.  It took hours and hours and hours for that to happen, but we finally got loaded and headed south.

Stretching out in front of us is the pit area where they planned to unload us.  I told Ed to hit it on this stretch but he didn't go for it.

The track was on the other side of the fence to the left.  Test Corvettes were whizzing by as we drove, passing in a high pitched whoosh as Ed positioned the truck to be unloaded.

Turns out we didn't actually get a race car - I know, what were we thinking??  We got race car parts.  Part of me was thinking, they're shipping a race car in a crate through JFK?  But what do I know about racing?  Maybe that's how they do it - the stuff was coming from the Kingdom of Bahrain by way of Stuttgart, Germany.  It could've been the real deal.

At least they were Porsche parts for the winningest team - the Germans, of Team Manthey.  Looked like a bunch of junk to me - a bumper, disc brakes, fenders - certainly not as exciting as a race car.

We did sort of have our own "pit crew" though, since all the Porsche guys were swarming around the truck on foot and with a forklift to quickly take everything to their setup area.  Ed was told they weren't racing, they were just doing testing of cars.  He also said he heard a lot of German being bandied about.

The guys in the picture below were cleaning this car like they were going to wear it to the prom.  I've never seen so many guys working so hard to get something clean.  If only they could apply these skills to the bathroom.  And the dishes they leave on the counter.  And the fingerprints they leave on the refrigerator door.  

At eight in the morning, the humidity was oppressive.  Oddly, I prefer a little humidity in the air since it makes my skin glisten and my hair curl a little, but I wasn't expecting it to be that warm.  I could just imagine how this guy must have felt in this outfit.  I couldn't even stand looking at him in that suit.  And that balaclava?!   Ugh.  I took my photos and made my way back to the icy confines of my sleeper.

Ed finished unloading.  Once again, he commented on how much he loves this trailer.  We've had it on the road for about ten days now and have done three loads with it.  

Look at how cool the sliding accordion-like feature is.   Getting this trailer was a great move.  If only for the fact that Ed now doesn't have to spend hours in the cold weather - or worse in my mind, the hot weather - climbing all over the trailer, throwing tarps weighing hundreds of pounds, getting dirty (although Ed always stays inexplicably clean) and then walking around hanging bungees everywhere.  And the tarp matches the truck.  

Hello, Pretty Lady!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: An Apple A Day
2011: California Sunshine
2010: A Star (Or Two) Is Born
2009: Modern Road Warriors And Their Weapons 
2008: Holsteins On Display
2007: Listening And LOVING
2006: Unfortunately Synonymous
2005: The Gays Are The Ritziest

I Found A Few Gifts To Flip For

I'm thinking someone was drinking a whole lotta milk to get this project off its feet.  The end result is worth it though.

And if you want to add even more color to your life, take a trip to one of these cities.  We've been to St. John's, Newfoundland and saw the beautiful houses that line the sea.

Do you have a few minutes of your life to lose?  If so, watch this.

And while on the subject of cats....having one in your pocket?  Close to your heart?  Genius!

I only have two initials (thanks, Mom!) but at different points in my life, I wish I had three.  Just so I could have something monogrammed.

And you wonder what eagles do all day.

This is a wonderful gift idea.  If I weren't so behind on my Christmas shopping, everyone would be getting one.  Maybe I'll buy them for Valentine's Day.  Or Easter.

For all the Airstream aficionados out there.  My brother said, "Very cool.  A little too much wood grain.  Sort of a wood milkshake vomit explosion."  I'm thinking he's not so much of an Airstream aficionado.

Need a holiday recipe?  How can one go wrong with fried chicken?  And this recipe looks like it'd be a crowd pleaser.  It'll be one of the first meals I make when I get back to the house.

Another wonderful gift idea for those of you with extra time on your hands.  You have two weeks.  How hard can it be to put together a gift in a jar??

And this little beauty I'm definitely putting on my list.  It doesn't even have to be a Christmas gift.  It can be an anytime gift.  Like now.  Or January.  Or you know, Valentine's Day...



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: Barely Surviving
2011: In And Out In A Peachy Keen Flash
2010: Yo, I’m All Over The Place!
2009: Morning On The Willamette
2008: Stupidity Threat Level: Orange*
2007: It’s Like Playing A Record Backwards To Hear The “Real” Meaning
2006: In The Desert, The Clouds Look Like Cotton Candy
2005: Chinky By The Ramada

ALL Weather Is Tarping Weather Now

A shot of the new curtainside trailer among the palm trees in Cape Canaveral, Florida.  We went from 40 degrees to 83 back to 40.  Ed is very happy that he didn't have to tarp...just slide open....then slide closed.

He's loving this trailer a little too much - the way he talks about how great it is, I should probably be jealous.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012:  132" Of Christmas

2011: Breakdown = Extra Nap Time
2010: Dr. Lettera Said The Very Same Thing, She Just Wasn’t Qualified To Write The Prescription
2009: The First Snow I’ve Seen This Season
2008: Not That There’s Any Reason To Park Here
2007: A Game You Wouldn’t Want To Play If You Were Say, IN The Witness Protection Program
2006: Companionship Is Just A Phone Call Away. Beauty Is Another Story.
2005: Who Stole My Cheese?

Me And My Shadow

The tallest and skinniest I will ever be.  I look like an old-fashioned wooden clothespin.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012:  Weekend Update
2011: Midway To A Haven Of Triple X Activity
2010: The Cowboy And I
2009: Christmas In OKC
2008: Ain’t Nuthin’ But A Lizard Pimp
2007: After The Storm
2006: Border Town
2005: Easily Amused

Getting Robbed On The Way OUT Of New York

We were in the wrong lane.

And it cost us $27.48.

On the way out of the JFK, we took the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, over Staten Island, to eventually meet up with I-95 South to take us to Florida.

With the traffic, we got squeezed over to the wrong lane.  Apparently, the CASH ONLY lane.  When the girl in the booth said, "Cash only," Ed asked her how much it was.

"Eighty dollars."

"EIGHTY DOLLARS??" We said in unison.

"Eighty dollars."  Deadpan.

"Eighty dollars??" Ed asked again.  "For the toll?  Eighty?"

"Yep."

I was pissed.  Of course you're not allowed to, but I was telling him, "Back up.  The other lane is open."  If you'll notice, the sign in front of Booth 21 states "Do Not Pack Up".  Packing up gets you a 2-point summons.  

There was some sort of transit cop in the booth with her.  There was no getting out of it.

We use the E-ZPass program but the girl in the booth wouldn't honor it.  Even with the device in hand, even when offering our E-ZPass account number.

Ed asked how much it was with E-ZPass.  She said, "Fifty-two dollars."  I looked it up - it's actually $52.52.

So in order to get out of that booth, we had to pay.  But I am calling them on Monday, and you'd better believe I'm going to get that $27.48 back.

We also won't be making that mistake again.  

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: Not Everyone Learns In The Same Manner
2011: Just Another Day In New York
2010: Practicing For The Retirement Home
2009: United Parcel Servant
2008: Whizzing Through Dallas
2007: Eddie With The Luscious Kisser Friday
2006: ’Tis The Season To Be Tweety
2005: Cat Fiiiiiight!!!

My Boy And I Love Us Some Cheese

Ed discovered a place in the Milford Travel Plaza on I-95 in Connecticut, that serves grilled cheese sandwiches to go.  Cheeseboy, a new franchise currently found in only five northeastern states, has several types of sandwiches available, in addition to the regular 'ol grilled cheese sandwich we knew and loved as children.

We tried the Roast Chief - Italian bread, provolone cheese, premium roast beef, sliced tomato, red onions & creamy horseradish sauce - with a small side of creamy tomato soup.  I thought it was pretty tasty.  And packed individually in heavy duty cardboard boxes, even when Ed got back to the truck with it, the sandwich was still hot and the bread evenly crisped.

I was told by Ed - since he watched the girl make the sandwiches - that the use of an industrial panini press equipped with flat grills, and a double pressing, was the reason they came out so perfectly.

I need one of those things for the truck.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: A Visit To The Island Plantation of Hibernia
2011: Now They Are Heard And Not Just Seen
2010: By Request
2009: The Reason My Ass Is Not Getting Any Smaller
2008: Out Of This World Outport Life
2007: Max Says To Go Placidly, As It Is Still A Beautiful World
2006: Dangerous Beauty
2005: Big Bad Cherry Peppers

Easy Money

Ed pulling away minutes after be picked up our new trailer - a flatbed with a rolling tarp system.  Now he'll never have to climb up on loads - often 13' 6" tall - or throw tarps that weigh hundreds of pounds, or spend valuable time securing the tarps using bungee after bungee.

With the flick of a few levers, this tarp just rolls along a track and can be opened in either direction.  This is the first photo we have, but more will follow.

I think I'm going to name the trailer Easy Money.  The trucking life gets a little bit better every day!



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: Keeping Tabs On The Industry
2011: Trucker Love Notes
2010: We Need A Little Christmas Right This Very Minute
2009: Sorting Out The Details
2008: Eddie On A Cliff Friday
2007: Christmas Meme!
2006: ”O” My God
2005: Five Already???

Beaver Exploitation In Texas

Showclub in Amarillo, Texas.  Near a truck stop, of course.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: Perfected And Built By Italians
2011: So THIS Is What We Look Like!
2010: Just Because
2009: Plastic Is A Sure Thing
2008: The All Purpose Swab
2007: Jump The Weeds
2006: Forty Dollars A Gallon
2005: Off With Their Heads!

Approaching Flag

Through the windshield - snow on the mountain in Flagstaff, Arizona.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: He Didn't Even Need Duct Tape
2011: The Epitome Of Desolation
2010: Eddie Lobster On The Brain, Listening Skills Disengaged Friday
2009: Privacy Issues
2008: It’s Crazy That I’m Crazy For Keanu
2007: Gifts That Keep On Giving
2006: Classic Las Vegas
2005: Off With Their Heads!

Bidding Adieu

My mother, at the window, a tear in her eye, waving goodbye to us on the night we left.

Don't you just love her light display?  It's got a certain five-year-old-did-the-decorating look to it, doesn't it?


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: Rushing To The Mine
2011: Ari-Snowna
2010: It’s In The Air
2009: Wish List
2008: He Must Have Learned It From TV
2007: When Pizza Is Involved, Jesus Is Always In Charge
2006: Sexier Than The Rockettes
2005: $3.99 A Minute

Leaving The Blue Skies Behind

We've been home for quite some time, even managing to fit in Thanksgiving with the family (I cooked for twelve people!), but now it's time to get back on the road.  We bought a new trailer while we were home - pictures hopefully to follow - and we have a new rack for our bikes.  The old box we had built is staying on our other trailer.  It's a sweet setup and even though it's winter, there will still be places that have bike weather. 

This trip we're heading East (yay!).  Definitely into some cold, and hopefully hitting some snow.  Safe snow.  Not treacherous road snow, of course.

We had a great visit at home.  The weather was perfect - sunny, but not blazing hot - and we got to visit quite a bit with family and friends.  Ed's parents even joined us for Thanksgiving, driving their RV out from New Mexico to camp out in our driveway.  On Friday, Ed took his father for a round of golf at the Ritz-Carlton Resort at Dove Mountain.  Fancy Schmancy.

Now it's time to gear up for Christmas - it's only 24 days away.  I've got to get shopping!  I swear, this is the year I do it all online (I always say that and it never happens).

I'll also be decorating the truck this week - lights and garland and snowmen and candy canes and cheer!


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2012: One Special Request
2011: Body Language
2010: Move Along, Not Much To Read Here
2009: My Favorite Geek Scores Two Bargains In One Day
2008: Your Beating Heart
2007: All I Want For Christmas Are My Two Front Teeth
2006: Eddie Opens An Eye In Vegas Friday
2005: You’re Giving Me Agida