Life Imitates Art

While in Columbus, Ohio, Ed and I visited The Topiary Park at the Old Deaf School Park

As we sat on one of the park benches, watching a married couple being photographed among the sculptures, I said to Ed, "You know, this looks just like that famous painting, the one with the people on the lawn, in old-fashioned clothing...I don't know the name, but I can see it in my mind."

Little did I know, but I was right.

The artist, a local guy names James Mason, crafted this topiary garden after Georges Seurat's most famous works, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.

Wow.  I just impressed myself. 

The park was nice, very small, but there were a few people about so we took some pictures and people watched for a little while before we moved on to our next stop, which was probably food related, but now I don't remember.

And, for a little more information on this famous painting, here are 15 Things You Might Not Know About "A Sunday on La Grande Jatte".



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2014: You Keep Us Dancing
2013: Make Life More Interesting
2012: Supply Meets Demand
2011: What Do You See?
2010: If No One Hears You Talking To Yourself, Are You Still Considered Crazy?
2009: It’s A Shame He’s Such A Crab
2008: I’m A Big Fan
2007: I’ve Been Everywhere Sunday Coming To An End
2006: And Everyone Thought It Was Dick Cheney
2005: But They’re Hard To Find!

Reflection In The Scioto

Columbus, Ohio skyline.

The tall Art Deco style building on the left is LeVeque Tower. 47 stories, it was the tallest building in Columbus from 1924 until 1974. When it was built in 1924, it was the tallest building between New York City and Chicago and the fifth tallest building in the world.

See ya, Columbus!  Thanks for the extra five pounds you gave me as a parting gift.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2014: Supersonic
2013: The Kiss
2012: Driving A Hard Bargain
2011: Making Places Beautiful With Sarah + Bessie
2010: High Class High
2009: Not Such A Bad Idea, This Man In Chains Thing
2008: Razz Ma Taaz Me!
2007: Casa De Cambio
2006: Eddie Birthday Suit Friday
2005: Goodbye Alaska

A Little Pizza Local Tastes

By the time we leave Ohio, I'm not going to be able to fit into any of my clothes, including my stretchy yoga lounge pants. Yesterday we discovered Harvest Pizzeria in the German Village.

It's a cute little place - tiny inside dining room with an open kitchen, abundant seating on the patio - simply decorated, with an organic feel to it. Our waitress was modern hippie, decked out in Harem pants, Converse sneakers, faded vintage tee-shirt, and a nose ring.  Even she looked organic - beautiful, creamy, flawless skin, long hair hanging in loose waves, crisp blue eyes, and long lashes that fluttered against her makeup-free cheeks. 

We ordered the Ricotta Gnocchi as an appetizer. The Ricotta Gnocchi, light in nature, were pan fried and served with French trumpet mushrooms, lemon, chive, asparagus, and Gremolata breadcrumbs.

Gremolata is a classic Italian condiment typically made with finely chopped garlic, lemon, and parsley and it's typically used to garnish Osso Buco.  But in this dish, tossed with the toasted breadcrumbs, you get the flavor of the lemon zest which adds a bright note and a little crunch to the dish. It was pretty amazing.

The pizza menu was pretty extensive and there were so many choices, I was stressing out having to choose just one. We decided, since the lunch special was a 9" pizza for $7.50 - and the waitress, who was a waif, said she could easily eat a 9" pizza by herself - to order 3 different pies so we could try out several flavors.

The first was the Almond Pesto Pizza, which had an almond pesto base, spinach, fresh mozzarella, and artichoke.  It was delicious. This was my choice.

The second pizza, which Ed and I decided on together, was the Pineapple. It had fresh sliced pineapple, mozzarella, provolone, Ohio "Canadian" bacon, and jalapeño. I've had pineapple and ham pizzas before, but never with jalapeño.  I'll be ordering it this way from now on because the spicy pepper against the sweet of the pineapple was great. We both liked this one.

The third pizza was all about Ed. Called the Spicy Yuma, it had a mix of Gouda and Havarti cheese, Chorizo sausage, jalapeño, corn, and roasted red peppers atop a chipotle-spiked tomato sauce. It was truly amazing.  We both loved it.

Look at the beautiful crusts on these pies! Brick oven cooked, their edges dusted with sea salt flakes, topped with ingredients from local farmers. They're beautiful and delicious. We each ate the equivalent of one pie (the waitress was right, it's easy to eat one yourself) and took the rest back to the hotel room.

The next time I dine here, I'm going to have the White Pizza (Black Peppercorn Ricotta, Smoked Gouda, Fresh Basil, Roasted Garlic Cloves, Herbs) and because I LOVE fennel, I must try the Piemonte (Gouda/Havarti Blend, Fra'mani Salumi, Roasted Fennel, and Picholine Olives).

And I'm going to make sure to save room for dessert because we skipped the Butterscotch Budino (Caramel Sauce, Creme Fraiche, Toasted Hazelnuts, Vanilla-Scented Maldon Sea Salt) and Affogato (Espresso, Vanilla Gelato, and Chocolate Hazelnut Pirouline) in favor of trying a favorite local ice cream shop called Jeni's.

Jeni's Splendid Ice Cream was suggested to us at two other places we dined, so we finally tried it, even though I read on their website that they had a listeria scare earlier this year.  We're crazy adventurous like that (and, they took care of it).

I had a scoop of their Darkest Chocolate and the Bourbon Salted Pecan, and Ed had the Darkest Chocolate and Root Beer.  Let me tell you - the Root Beer was amaaaaazing.  I've never seen root beer ice cream. Who knew?? And the other flavor I sampled, which I'd never had was Wildberry Lavender.  It tasted like lavender smells.  I'm not a fan of the scent of lavender, but this ice cream was actually pretty good. Very unique.

We won't be leaving the area for a few days, which means we still have a few restaurants to hit - Marlaina recommended Barcelona - but after that, I'm going to need a week of super-light eating. Not for weight loss, but just to feel normal again. I love eating out but I think I overdid it this week.

I need a nap.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2014: The Longest Shortcut 
2013: The Only Way To Enjoy Texas
2012: Bleu Evolution
2011: They May Look Pretty, But They’re A Bitch
2010: Food, Family, Fun, And Poker Winnings
2009: Ring Of Moving Fire
2008: Everything Is Weathered In Weatherford
2007: Eddie The Professional Tourist Friday
2006: East Coast Tag
2005: Float And Set

Buckeye Affluence

One of the things I like about exploring new places is being able to see homes in different neighborhoods around the country. And seeing neighborhoods with beautiful homes is at the top of my list. I love to drive (or bike) through a neighborhood that has me saying, "Look at that one!" to Ed as we pass house after house.

Upper Arlington, Ohio is one of those neighborhoods and houses like the one above dot the Historic District.  UA, as it's affectionately called, is on the National Register of Historic Places. Maps of the historic parts of Upper Arlington can be found on the UA Archives website.

It's an absolutely gorgeous neighborhood, with tree-lined streets, a few tiny parks throughout, and a private country club. The home styles were fairly similar, some in red brick, some Tudor style, but the majority seemed to feature the light-colored stone like the house in the photo. I wasn't sure what kind of stone it was and why it was so abundantly used, but after doing some research I found that the Marble Cliff Quarry was headquartered in Upper Arlington, and was the largest limestone quarry in the United States from the time it opened in the mid-19th century to it's closure in 1985. That explained the limestone homes.

The other thing I learned about Upper Arlington is that the developers included restrictive covenants preventing African-Americans and Jews from purchasing homes there, although the Wikipedia page states that the community now has representation from several nationalities. From the kids I saw playing in the streets, to the guy mowing his lawn - in a pink gingham long-sleeved button down, walking shorts, and loafers - who looked like a Ralph Lauren ad, to the 20-something I saw jogging, it doesn't seem as if it's transformed into a very diverse neighborhood. It still looked pretty white to me, and I've driven through it every day for the last three days.

That unpleasant little historical fact aside, it's truly a beautiful area. The Bush family even had ties to the area. The more we drove around, the more I felt like I was back in New York, in Westchester County or Coastal Long Island. Or even some of the gorgeous towns in Fairfield County, Connecticut (New Canaan, Darien, Westport, Greenwich). Central Ohio doesn't have a coastline like some of those areas do, but they certainly have the sprawling houses, lush lawns, and healthy green foliage.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2014: Snaking Through Idaho
2013: Fun Funky Freaky Friday The 13th
2012: Scooting Around Town
2011: Eureka! Sand For The Golden State
2010: Eddie Lounging In Black And White
2009: Not Quick Enough For A Sunset
2008: We’ve Got Onions, Cream Cheese, And Choppers!
2007: Just Steps Away From The River
2006: The Anything But Itty Bitty Co-Op City
2005: What The Hell Are You Looking At? 

The Haus Of Cream Puffs

At the end of a brick-paved street in the historic German Village neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio you will find a restaurant run by a family who's been in the sausage business for over 129 years. Schmidt's Sausage Haus opened in the 1960s, but they've been making sausage since 1886.

I had the Wiener Schnitzel und Gravy (Milk-fed veal cutlets, lightly coated with a crisp breading topped with fresh mushroom burgundy based gravy), a German tradition. It came with a side of German Red Cabbage, German Potato Salad, and a roll with butter.

I rarely have veal, and this was pretty delicious. The only complaint I have is that the veal should have been pounded much thinner than it was. But, it didn't take away from the flavor, so I guess it's not too much of a complaint is it?  

Ed had the German Autobahn Buffet, which allowed him to sample several of their most popular menu items. He tried the Bahama Mama, Bratwurst, German Knockwurst, German Potato Salad, German Red Cabbage, and more.

At the entry area of the restaurant is a take-out area where you can buy meats, sauerkraut, red cabbage, and desserts to go.

The meat case held bratwurst, garlic knockwurst, mild and regular Bahama Mama sausages, Bahama Mama "burgers", and side dishes packed to bring home.

The other case was full of dessert. German Chocolate Cake, Chocolate/Coconut/Banana Cream Pies, Apple Strudel, and the biggest Cream Puffs I've ever seen! We bought one to share, took it back to the hotel for our late night dessert and coffee ritual. 

I can't even express how amaaaazing it was! Light, airy cream inside the tasty Choux pastry puff. The pastry dough was pretty standard to me like a cream puff/profiterole should taste, but the cream was delicious. Not heavy like a custard you'll often find in a cream puff, but a whipped cream that clearly incorporated a lot of air.  Let's just say we should have bought two.

The German Village neighborhood that surrounds this restaurant is beautiful. Tree lined paved streets, beautiful homes, little shops. Definitely worth the visit.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2014: Five Guys Fries Cap Off The Week
2013: Give It A Try
2012: The House I Live In
2011: Through Chicago To Cheese Country
2010: Ghost Rider
2009: I Only Think I Know A Lot Of Things…Here Are Ten Of Them
2008: Texas Love Bugs And Hurricanes
2007: Pimping For Presidency
2006: Demographics Of A Lifetime
2005: Glacial Impact

A Community Of Makers

The Columbus Idea Foundry, a community workshop, learning center, and creative space. It's all good.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2014: He Can't Be Trusted Around Electronics
2013: Light As Air
2012: Remember The Living
2011: In The Pink While Manning The Wheel Of A Big Rig
2010: Still Standing
2009: Eddie Dumps It Friday
2008: Vicki Goes Hollywood
2007: Market Flora
2006: Now Where The Hell Did She Park My Truck???
2005: Channeling Angelina Jolie

Truck Repairs Don't Sound So Bad When Bullets Are The Alternative

Earlier this week while on our way to Shipshewana, Indiana, we passed through Columbus, Ohio, where we stopped to get my coveted cottage cheese.  The next morning when Ed popped the hood to do a little check underneath as part of his pre-trip inspection, he discovered oil in the air filter. He suspected it had to do with the turbo, so we took the truck to the shop and the mechanic confirmed that the turbo seals were shot. It needed to be replaced.

Ed likes to get as much life as possible out of the truck components and although we like to get the big things done at our shop at home, the mechanic strongly advised against driving the truck any further. The turbo has 780,000 miles on it, so it had a good run.

I got all our stuff together for a multi-day hotel stay, and we brought our bikes since we had no plans to rent a car. That changed this morning when the shop told us the truck wasn't going to be ready today as they had initially planned, but instead they would have it done by Tuesday. Ugh.

Now we have our bikes in the hotel room, most of the contents of our fridge, several days worth of clothes, and a bag of laundry - I love when hotels have guest laundries. The room is great - a Hilton property that was renovated just over a year ago - close to stores, restaurants, Starbucks, and a great mall.

Today we had Skyline Chili for lunch upon the recommendation from a friend. It was the first time for both of us.  Ed had a classic 3-Way (not as exciting as it sounds) and I had my 3-Way on a potato (also not as exciting as it sounds). We also both had a Cheese Coney, which were smaller than a regular hot dog, kinda like a baby-dog. It was good, but I wasn't sold. I did detect either nutmeg or cinnamon in the chili, which isn't uncommon, but it wasn't good enough for me to go back.

So we're going into our second week off and after the turbo is done, we'll be heading up to Shipshewana next week to get our air-conditioning fixed. I'm okay with all of this because I really don't mind time off.  Ed gets a little antsy, but he'll deal. And the weather here is pretty nice.  We went for a walk tonight to take some pictures of the city and I didn't get overheated once. Big plus.

And it could be worse.  We could be in Phoenix dodging bullets.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2014: Giant Three-Armed Spiny Monster
2013: Rollin', Rollin', Rollin'
2012: A Beautiful Iranian Mind
2011: Clowning Around
2010: Smolder
2009: Comrades In Driving
2008: Black, White, And Tan
2007: If Wishes Were Horses, Beggars Would Fart At The Speed Of Light
2006: Draped In Sarcasm
2005: Feast Your Eyes

Half The Size, Twice The Violence!

On Monday, in Columbus, Ohio, Ed came face to face with a midget.

Well, crotch to face.

We were at the light, behind a 15-passenger van pulling a large black utility trailer decked out in lime green letters, MCW.

Micro Championship Wrestling.

What?

Upon further inspection, I read The Greatest Little Show On Earth.

No way. Midget wrestling!!

We were thrilled when they pulled into the truck stop in front of us as now we'd be able to get a closer look.

When Ed went in to pay for the fuel, he came out and I saw him talking to one of the guys - a tall guy, the driver of their van. Then I saw the little people lining up in front of the van so some other people could take a picture.

Get a picture, Ed. Ask someone to take your picture! I was talking out loud, but to myself since I was sitting in the truck. I could see them from the truck and when they started to crowd around Ed, I was cracking up. As usual, Ed was smiling wide. When he got back to the truck with the picture, I saw that he had the midget wresting championship belt slung over one arm.

He also got a few bits of information - one guy's father was a truck driver, another guy had just graduated high school, they're based out of Miami but were on their way to Pennsylvania for a show, and they don't wrestle other teams, they wrestle each other, putting on a show as a group.

As outgoing as I am, I'm not as bold as Ed in this kind of situation. Ed has no fear when it comes to talking to strangers. He'll go up to anyone and ask questions.  I would have never felt comfortable approaching a group of midgets, but Ed did it easily. He said the guys were really nice, so willing to take pictures with the few people who asked, and didn't seem at all annoyed that they were approached. In fact, it was the driver who told Ed, "Just wait a few minutes - they'll all come out and you can take a picture with the whole group."

The post title, "Half The Size, Twice The Violence!" was taken from their business card.

Don't mess with the midgets.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2014: Wildly Fierce Candy Cactus
2013: How I Spent The Day
2012: From Farm To Table
2011: Ups And Downs
2010: Three Men, Two Generations, One Passion
2009: Miss Tooth Reigns Supreme
2008: And This Is Why She Will Always Be A Maid At A Hotel
2007: I’ve Been Everywhere Sunday
2006: Family Reunion Rules
2005: Chillin’ In Anchorage

This Is Not 100% Natural Spring Water

This is pee.

Urine, piss, number one, liquid waste, piddle, pee-pee, tinkle, shi-shi, wee, wee-wee, maker of yellow snow.

A gallon's worth.

I took this picture at a truck stop in Wytheville, Virginia. We backed into our spot and this gallon of pee was on the ground behind the trailer of the truck parked next to us. That doesn't mean it was his pee, but it was there.

It's disgusting. It was still there the next morning when I walked back to get this shot. The asphalt smelled like urine and I disinfected my flip-flops with Lysol before I got back into my truck.

I always wonder what kind of person leaves a pee bottle in a parking lot. Or, in this case, a pee gallon. I see bottles on the side of the road all the time.  Soda bottles, Gatorade bottles, full of yellow liquid, discarded in the grass on the side of the road. It's not even like these guys have a good aim, they can't even get the bottle in the woods, where it wouldn't be seen.

This is what makes truck drivers look like pigs. This is what makes the public think we're disgusting (well, not me, but the men). This is what gives the entire industry a bad name.

I saw this guy in Massachusetts peeing in the parking lot next to his truck. I didn't say anything - I should have - but what was most perplexing about his need to relieve himself, was that after he finished up, he walked right into the travel center.  He could have used the bathroom inside. But instead, he chose to pee between our trucks. He didn't even pretend like he wasn't doing it, like some guys do when the discreetly step between the truck and the trailer, pretending they're "checking" connections or something.  He just assumed a wide-legged stance, pulled out his junk, and drained his equipment.

Who does this? I mean, other than the guy in my photo, who was caught with his hand in the cookie jar. What goes through their heads when they're peeing in public, or leaving a gallon of pee in the parking lot?  Or on the back of another driver's trailer. 

These drivers are doing this to us. To their fellow drivers. To others in their industry. And I will bet you a dollar that these people are the first to lament the injustices they face in our industry. How they're not treated with respect. How they're not allowed to use the restroom at a shipper or receiver. How they're not allowed to sleep in a customer's parking lot. This is the reason why.

Unfortunately, this industry still attracts people who can't, don't, or won't ever project professional behavior.  The people who do things like this have the mindset of an individual who doesn't have values - probably a combination of upbringing, education, and life experiences since our parents and the social environment around us determine how our values are formed.

I know when people become adults, they do what they want. Just like I do. But I learned as a kid that it's not right to pee in public. That you should wash your hands after you use the bathroom. That you say please and thank you. That you open the door for others, especially the elderly. I know humans aren't perfect, but you don't have to be perfect to know that peeing in public, throwing pee bottles out the window, and leaving gallons of human waste in parking lots is wrong.

These people show no respect for their fellow drivera, for RVers who may be parking in the rest areas, for families traveling with children. No respect for others at all.

If you're one of these people, get your shit together and dispose of your garbage properly. And if you just can't bring yourself to not litter, at least pour your pee out in the bushes before you leave the gallon on the side of the road or the back of someone else's trailer.

And if I ever catch you, I'm not only going to say something, I'm going to blow the air horn until every head in the truck stop turns in your direction.

Think twice before you piss on my world.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2014: Rain Day Delay
2013: That Sunday, That Summer
2012: Heading To The Mountains
2011: End Of Summer Rainbow
2010: UGG, What A Surprise!
2009: Under The El
2008: We Escaped With Our Teeth Intact
2007: Praying In The Jewel Of The South For Over 250 Years
2006: Drive Time Champion
2005: Yukon Bet We’re Far Away

Happy Labor Day!

Hope wherever you are, you're doing a really good job of doing nothing.



~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2014: Teamwork
2013: Pecan Bacon Syrup. Need I Say More?
2012: That’s Right, The Entire Web
2011: And We Have A Winner!!
2010: So What’s Wrong With A Good Idea?
2009: Where Is A Palm Reader When I Need One?
2008: Fred’s Plan Appears To Have Backfired
2007: Eddie Plays A Round Friday
2006: Don’t Worry, Be Happy
2005: 50 Little Facts About Alaska

Even More Beauty Is On Its Way

This isn't a photograph of anything special - just a hillside of trees in Virginia - but it pleases me.  I love that I'm fortunate enough to see this kind of stuff every day, all over the United States.

When I think about it, I'm kinda in awe of my job. Not the bullshit parts of my job where I have to deal with the morons in my industry, but this part of my job, where I get to see awesomeness nearly every day. Regular ol' side of the road beauty.

My favorite season is approaching and I love watching the colors change as we travel through the country. Some of the trees along our route were already changing in color, and in the next two months, they'll be vibrant and beautiful.

I can't wait to see you, Fall.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2014: Light, Bright, And Airy
2013: How To Get Rid Of A Pain In The Ass
2012: Working Together, The Democratic Way
2011: Teams Take A Day Off
2010: The King And Queen Of Sun And Sand
2009: Popeye Would Love This Stuff
2008: From The Confines Of The Hampton Inn
2007: When I Grow Up, I Want To Be…
2006: Fire Water
2005: Ed Having Fun With Photoshop

The Glowing Red Triangle

So this isn't the best picture, but it happened today so I thought I'd use it for a post about the proper placement of warning devices.

Commercial vehicles are required to carry certain types of emergency equipment on their power unit. One of those items is reflective triangles.  We're required to have three bidirectional reflective triangles that conform to the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards and Regulations, Standard No. 125, 49 CFR 571.125.

In addition to what type of warning devices you must carry, there are rules for the placement of those devices.  Those rules can be found here.

We came upon this guy as we were getting off an exit ramp.  It was a short ramp that curved to the left and before you knew it, we were upon him.  Ed was driving and as he got closer noticed the guy was broken down, so he moved into the right lane.  I couldn't grab my camera fast enough to get a shot of the length of the exit ramp, but I was able to get this shot. Like I said, it's not the best as the sun was setting and the windows are dirty, but what I was trying to capture were the location of the triangles.

Do you see those three triangles?  Good.

The purpose of warning devices are to warn oncoming traffic of a breakdown or accident. You can be the safest driver on the road, operate equipment that's in tip-top shape, and still have to deal with a breakdown or accident.  This truck was not in an accident, but he was clearly having some issues preventing him from moving. When we passed by, we saw that he had a road service truck parked in front of him, helping him with whatever issues he was having.

But that wasn't his only issue. His other problem was the placement of his triangles. They're in the wrong spot.  Well, technically they're in the right spot, behind the vehicle, but they're not placed properly.

According to the FMCSA regulations, you're supposed to activate your four-way flashers and set out your warning devices within 10 minutes of stopping. His flashers were not activated, which may have something to do with the breakdown, so we can't fault him for that without having more information.  

But we can fault him for not putting his warning devices where they should be. I've seen this many times, where drivers place all three triangles directly behind their truck. My first thought is that they're too lazy to walk them out where they need to be. I get that, I'm not much of a walker myself, but I'll tell you what - I'd much rather march my ass a few hundred feet behind my vehicle than get hit by someone.

Determining where the warning devices go are based on what type of road you're on:

TWO-LANE ROAD
The first device should be placed on the traffic side of the vehicle 10 feet (4 paces) from the front or rear, depending on traffic direction. The second device should be placed 100 feet (40 paces) behind the vehicle, and a third device should be placed 100 feet (40 paces) ahead of the vehicle on the shoulder or in the lane where the vehicle is stopped.

ONE-WAY OR DIVIDED HIGHWAY
The devices should be placed 10, 100 and 200 feet from the rear of the vehicle, toward approaching traffic.

WITHIN 500 FEET OF A HILL, CURVE, OR OBSTRUCTION
A device should be placed 100 to 500 feet from the vehicle in the direction of the obstruction. The other two should be placed according to the rules for two-lane or divided highways.

If you look at the picture, you'll see that the driver placed all three triangles within the first maybe 30 feet. I'm estimating, of course, because I didn't get out and measure, but I have a pretty good eye.  We definitely know it isn't 100, 200, or 500 feet.  Because he's pulling a van trailer, whose standard measurement is 53 feet long, you can pretty much figure out that he didn't walk the 100 feet.

He really should have done a better job following the regulation for this situation.

Just remember - truckers, not other readers - it's important to make sure you adequately warn oncoming traffic of any kind of breakdown. It's a matter of safety - yours and the other drivers. You certainly don't want anyone to hit you and you definitely don't want to cause an accident because someone couldn't see you as they came around a curve or crested a hill.

And other readers - if you come upon a truck that's disabled on the side of the road, whether they have their triangles placed properly or not, please move to the far lane as you pass them.  If you see warning devices out please heed them as early as you can, slow down and maneuver safely around them.

We appreciate it.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2014: I Prefer IPY To DIY
2013: Heading To Primm
2012: Fashion (And Country) Forward
2011: Slowly Meandering Through Farm Country
2010: Long Beach Lights
2009: 4423 Humboldt Avenue
2008: Eddie Tourist Friday
2007: Ripe For A Dognapping
2006: What Lies Beneath
2005: Big Sky Country

Celebrating Labor Day By Not Laboring

We have been off since last Friday, done for the day after we delivered in coastal North Carolina. We haven't moved since.  It's been a slow week to say the least. We didn't get a load today either, which means we'll not only be off all weekend, but we'll also be off on Monday too, since nothing's moving on the holiday.

We mostly haul specialized freight not available to the entire fleet of owner-operators leased on to our company.  We have direct access to it via a computerized delivery system, in addition to getting calls directly from the agents who move this freight. But the phone isn't ringing. 

Well, except for one load to the Pacific Northwest that we didn't want to take, despite the generous rate it was paying. There's been absolutely nothing coming out of that area and I'd much rather stay on the east coast than go west and be stuck there for weeks.

Ed spoke to one of the agents we work with often and the agent said that this has been the slowest summer he's had in 14 years. Even the regular load board - which we occasionally use to  supplement our income - is dead.
There are no major truck stop chains down here so we went to a secret little spot we found a few months ago when we were here on another load. It's a giant empty lot, off the beaten path, with a few businesses in the area, and screaming fast internet.So, what do we do when we have this kind of down time?  Well, we explore, dine out, shop, do chores, make repairs. What we do often depends on where we are, and for me, what the weather is like, as I'm not too fond of venturing out in this kind of heat. This week, for example, I've hardly left the truck because the weather has been unbearable.

Sunday while I was doing laundry, Ed took his bike to Best Buy to get a new external hard drive. He felt taking the bike was easier than maneuvering the truck in the tight shopping plazas we were in. We went out to dinner a few times. Got groceries. Rented movies. And Ed did some work on the truck. He likes to stay on top of things by doing minor repairs and tweaks on the truck when he has time. He fixed a leaking wheel seal, removed a few zip-ties that were pulling the wires out of our trailer lights, adjusted and cleaned electrical connections in the headlights, fixed the door on the generator enclosure, and organized his side boxes.

It's now the end of the day.  We didn't get a load so we decided to deadhead 850 miles to get the air-conditioning unit on our sleeper fixed. The automatic thermostat has been tripping the breaker and I think Ed feels it's better to get it fixed before it completely goes out and I morph into something otherworldly because the temperature inside the sleeper has crept above 65 degrees.  On the outside I'll resemble his girlfriend, but on the inside my bodily fluids will be boiling, rendering me unrecognizable. It won't be pretty.

On the way north, the stream of traffic to the beaches was bumper-to-bumper, the headlights trailing on for miles. I'm sure many people are mourning the end of summer, taking one last trip to get in a few more memories before the kids head back to school. Labor Day barbecues will be swarming with family and friends, beaches will be full of frolicking kids eating hot dogs.

We'll stop in Ohio on the way north to pick up my cottage cheese and get some Labor Day treats for our own little end of summer celebration. Except I won't be mourning the loss of summer, I will be celebrating the upcoming arrival of Fall.  And when Wednesday rolls around, we'll get the truck stuff done and then be back to work by next Thursday or Friday.

Wherever you may be, laboring or not, have a great weekend!  And if you're on the road driving, please be safe.



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2014: A Taco Garage Worth Pulling Into
2013: Who?
2012: You Can’t Ask For A More Convenient Setup
2011: The Thoughts In My Mind About This Guy, Are Criminal
2010: The Queen Of High Society
2009: An Icy Glare For The Heat Miser
2008: Jazz Funeral On Decatur
2007: Keeping The Homeland Secure One Dog At A Time
2006: Reputation Is Everything
2005: ”_________________”

From Here To There

The water's edge in Southport, North Carolina.



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2014: Delicious Demolished Tamal
2013: Scenic Route?? Please.
2012: My Handsome Melon Headed Angel
2011: It’s My Turn
2010: Bird Traffic Waiting For The Light
2009: The Lady And The American Pro Driver
2008: The Signs Don’t Scare Me
2007: Pocket Full Of Min Pin
2006: Less Is More
2005: Sleep Deprived

The Best Snark On Screen

Whether Dame Maggie Smith is playing Muriel Donnelly in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel movies (one and two) or Violet Crawley, The Dowager Countess of Grantham on Downton Abbey, she still has - and delivers - the best lines on screen.



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2014: The Only One Working Today
2013: Only The Lonely
2012: Tunnel Of Love
2011: A Stinking Welcome
2010: The Star Of The Spinning Centerpiece
2009: My Nizzl Fa Shizzl
2008: When You’re Smiling
2007: I’ve Been Everywhere Sunday
2006: Decision Dilemma
2005: Alaska Later!

But I Love It

I wouldn't watch the MTV Awards if you paid me, but while flipping channels this weekend, I caught a few minutes of the replay of the show just as they were introducing this guy (The Weeknd), who sang his song, "Can't Feel My Face". It's fantastic (the song, not the video).

Get ready to move.


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2014: Imaginative Perspective
2013: Somewhere Out West
2012: All You Have To Do Is Feed Them
2011: Homeward Bound!
2010: Foreign Invasion
2009: Downtown Detroit: Occupied And Vacant
2008: Barracks And Decatur
2007: Dicks In Tennessee
2006: Canoe The Blue
2005: Minalicious