5:15.  Sadie is awake already.   Had a bad dream and can’t go back to sleep.   6 am.  Now Maddi is awake.   Mammie is so sleepy!   Doesn’t matter.  Lol.  “Let’s watch strawberry shortcake”.  Yay!    Up and dressed and ready for school.   Now we gotta wait for mom and dad to get up.  

7:30.  Dropped the kids off at school.  Now to get me to the airport.   Cutting it close.  

Made it In plenty of time.  They were just boarding.   Looks like I am sitting across from the same super star with the big Marshall ring on again.   He isn’t in a hoodie this time but sitting with his head down.   Really, does he get hounded that much?    

 DG: Got my baby back. And I don’t mean ribs. Plane was early. But we were there.  All is right with the world.  

So I’m looking at the possible ways they may get me to Jackson, MS next week.  

 Annie – Came home and took a three hour nap.  Guess I was more tired than I thought.   

Dinner at the Roadhouse, steak at last. All those trips through Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, etc. and not a steak place in site.  

Went over to the house. Going to have an estate sale ASAP and try to get rid of the rest of our stuff. And then start over. 

Here are some pictures I had forgot to post earlier. 

bakery case at Corner Bakery Union Station Chicago

railroad bridge

Barge on the Missouri

An escaped bull that got into Union Station and chased out by the station master.

Harry Truman during a campaign stop at Union Station Kansas City

Liberty Memorial and WWI museum

Bicycle rental station, Kansas City

Model train display in Union Station Kansas City

That’s all folks. Good night and God bless. 

Sunrise over the Ohio. Just outside of Portsmouth now. A beautiful morning.  

  
Bob Lucas has so graciously offered to pick me up at the train station.  I wish I had told him to wait for my call as the train is running a little behind. Nothing like adding inconvenience to someone doing you a favor. Sorry Bob. I will of course apologize in person in a bit. To compound matters we are now stopped and the conductor just told us they are trying to find out why as they generally don’t stop here. Just trying to make me anxious. Hang in there Bob.  

Train is moving again. We were stopped in Greenup. Before I realized that I asked the conductor where we were and he said, “This is nowhere”. I’m sure the proud citizenry of Greenup would disagree.  

Slowly we inch our way toward Ashland. Only because Someone is waiting on me. 

Arrived!  Good ‘ol Ashland, KY.  Man this town hangs in there.  Just when you think it’s done, a spark of life emerges.  So many businesses closed, but some new ones making a stand.  Hang in there Ashland.   

 Somebody was glad to see me.

A special Mother’s Day I get to spend with Gregory and my babies.   We have been playing Barbie, painting toenails and the kids swam a while.  Hot dogs on the grill later sounds great.    

Maddi is just chilling while the other two swim.    

They are such good swimmers.  So glad since they have the pool.  

Maddie is the queen of chill. Happy Mother’s Day Mammie. 

Well, I slept all day and am getting ready to go back to bed. I will leave you with a few travel pictures. 

Good night and God bless. 

The Corner Bakery in Chicago.   What a mean man you are to tease me like that.  Best cinnamon muffins ever! 

Well, two are down for the count but Maddi is coughing her little head off and can’t get settled.  Spring allergies.  Lovely.  

I’m turning in too.  School in the morning so kids are up at 6:45.  Then off to the airport.   Plane takes off at 9.  

What a wonderful weekend this has been.  Can’t wait to do it again.   

Goodnight y’all. 

Up at 5:45 CST.  Train leaves at 7:35.  Breakfast at the hotel then a short cab ride to Union Station.  Next stop Chicago. 

Ah the modern era. You can now text for a taxi. Text your address and here they come. I thought I would have time for breakfast but cabbie was right down the street. If they had had the breakfast ready when they said they would, 6:00 am I could have eaten more than a sausage link. No matter, had coffee and a muffin at the station. 

Train was an hour late but now at 9:00 am CST we are heading for Chicago.  

I was worried about not having a window seat but guess what, they have an observation car.  The whole thing’s a window.

  
So, why do people bring books and Kindles to the observation car?  Observation cars are for observing. And writing blogs. I see the irony. To be truthful, not much to observe at the moment. 

Annie – We went out to breakfast at Annie’s.  A good place to eat in Cape Coral.  Then we went bowling.  Bowling is not like it used to be.  You don’t pay by the game anymore but rent the lane at a whopping $21 an hour and shoes are $3.50 each on top of that.   Still had a nice time though.  Kids really enjoyed it.  Gregory not so much.  His wrist is still hurting so he didnt have as many strikes as he would have liked.   They put the bumpers up for Sadie but for Maddi they had a ramp.  

Now home and the kids are wanting to swim a while.  Too hot for me.  90 degrees.  I would fry!  So me and Maddi are playing Hi Ho Cherry-O in the shade.  

Love the hands on the hips. As if she was willing the ball to hit the pins.  

Such beautiful children.

Got to Chicago about an hour late, but that just means I didn’t have to wait 2 1/2 hours as originally scheduled.  And I am now old enough to board with the senior citizens.  I keep looking for someone to check my id because I don’t feel that I look like the rest of the old folk.  But, guests I do as nobody stopped me.  

Been on the train for about 15 minutes now. Still boarding. Looks like a full train.

12 hours to Ashland.  This will be interesting.

6:15 CST, pulling out.

  
I had half a sandwich left over from one I had started in terminal, so I thought I would finish it.  Just as I was brining it out of the bag this smell emirates from somewhere I know not where when next I notice that the gentleman sitting beside me has taken off his shoes.  Talk about an appetite suppressant.  I put my sandwich back in the bag and headed for another car with an empty seat.  About three cars back there is a whole section empty so I take a seat.  NoW to eat in peace.  

Just got messaged from my two little angels an my sweetie pie.  Love you all.

Going through Lansing, IL right now. Not much daylight left.  Will get what pictures I can.

Just what I wanted to see, a distribution center.

  
A nice park in a pretty suburb.

   
  
The burbs.

 A quaint little station.  Dyer, IN

Getting dark so I am going to call it an evening.  Good night and God bless.

Up at 4:30.  Final leg of last trip. 

It’s a beautiful Illinois morning.  Sunrise in my rear view mirrors.  Stopping for the coffee I didn’t get before starting out. 

We haven’t been adding names of trucking companies as it just seems there are so many of them we could fill the blog with all of the different names we see out here. But I did see one last night I wanted to mention.  It is probably the least imaginative name for a trucking company I’ve seen but it says it all in relation to the owner. “Andy Transport”. What else do you need?  Simple. I love it.  

 Annie – getting ready to go see my babies today!   Plane leaves at 11:55 and I should get in at 2 pm.   Gregory is picking me up when he gets off work so I’ll have to hang out at the airport a couple of hours but I don’t care!  Can’t wait!!! 

On plane and ready to go!   Easy on as Huntington always is.  Full plane which is surprising.   Flight is two hours so I’ll be there shortly!  At least I’m not sitting next to a big fat sweaty guy who is snoring!    DG: Is this a reference to anyone in particular?  Landed safe and sound.   Really bumpy ride most of the way but that was all.   

I must have been traveling with a celebrity of some sorts.   Kid in front of me sat with his hoodie on and hunkered in his seat most of the time and one time I saw him raise his hand and he had a huge emerald and diamond ring with a big M on it.  Must have been a basketball player.  Other guy with him had a hoodie on that said Military Bowl.  

Well. Gregory should be here soon and then I can go see my babies!! 

I didn’t have to wait long for Gregory.  He was able to get off a bit early!    Not a bad view when you get in to town is it? 

  
Got some errands to run before we get the babies.  

Gregory says hi!

DG:  Looking good Bro. Presently I am in a taxi looking for a room. Apparently the are a couple of big events in town this weekend. Train doesn’t leave until 7:35 in morning.  There’s a NASCAR race on Sunday but I will be in Ashland by then. 

Oh, got the truck turned in, lease terminated, contract terminated. Check’s in the mail. 

Had a real nice cab ride. Cabbie was an ex police officer, his dad and several uncles were truck drivers so we bonded on that level. Very friendly chap. He got on line checking for hotel rates and this being Friday of course rates are up. Will be nice to sleep in a full bed. 

Desk clerk tells me there are several barb-b-que places close by so guess I’ll go get me some Kansas City bbq.  

That’s all for now. Shower and a nap are in my near future.

While Greg is busy napping I am playing with my sweeties.   They swam a bit and now we are off to play in Barbies dream boat.   

    
Had a roast for dinner.  First red meat I have had in weeks.  It actually was good and stayed down.  Since going to the meat processing plants I have had an aversion to meat.  Finally able to keep it down today.   Yay!      DG: I had no problem keeping this down. 

  
This was at Two Jacks in Kansas City. Finally some great barbecue. That yellow stuff is cheesy corn. Kind of like Mac and cheese but with corn. Very tasty. And the other bowl is baked beans. Everything was delicious. Including desert. 

  
That’s bread pudding with vanilla bean sauce. So good. 

Annie – Getting the girls to sleep tonight took a while.  They are all wound up.   Maddi hasn’t let me get two feet away.   This is how she feel asleep tonight.   Finally!  

  
I don’t mind.  Such sweethearts.   Now if only I could get the other one to sleep then Mammie could go to sleep.  Going to give it another try.   Goodnight y’all. DG:  Looks like you are having a great time. Can’t wait till it’s my turn. Well, I have a train to catch in the morning so I will leave you with some pictures of Kansas City. 

Good night and God bless.    

Up at 6:00 having a sit down breakfast waiting to hear from dispatch regarding their plan to get me back to the terminal by morning.

Stopping short of my pickup. Called and the load is not quite ready. I’m about an hour out and it should be done by the time I get there. We shall see. And then. It’s on to Kansas. 

Waiting in my office. 

 
That’s me at the Armstrong flooring plant in Kankakee, IL waiting for a door into which I will park my truck and wait to be loaded. Silly me I thought this was a drop and hook. Fooled again. But this will be the last time. 

Somebody figure this out for me. I passed two signs on the way here, on a two lane country road, that pointed the directions to two different nudist colonies. In northern Illinois?  Must be a summertime only thing.  One was Sun Aura and I think the other was Paradise Colony. I think.  

 Annie – Wouldn’t be so bad if the nudist colonies were young people but the ones I saw when working in Florida were all old retired people.   Not a pretty site!  

Glad you are almost ready to head this way! 

I finally finished the taxes this afternoon!   Yay!   Jake came in from school and wanted to bake a cake so we made a confetti cake.   Waiting on it to cool.  

Otherwise not much going on here.  

DG: After checking in at 12:40 and told to park and someone would be out soon to get me. Well, two hours go by and I decide to call.  I think the message that I was waiting got mishandled because the guy I spoke to this time was unaware I was waiting, but he checked with somebody and assigned me a door. They should be done soon and I can be on my way. 

Annie – Had a nice evening with Abby, mom and Haruna.   Watched the first hobbit.  That movie never gets old.   Took them home and probably should get ready for bed.  Going to see my babies tomorrow!!   Can’t wait. 

Talk to you tomorrow.  Goodnight y’all. 

DG: Up at 4:30 am.  Last leg of last trip with Trans Am.  Looking forward to new beginning.  Kiss the grand kids for me sweetheart. I love you bunches. See you soon.

Good night and God bless. 

Driver Greg here.  All alone.  No navigator.  No sweetie.  I know, it’s sad.  I’m sad. But on we go. Freights gotta move.  Got parked early last night but DOT inspection was about to expire so thought I would get that done. Well they found a leaking brake canister so had to get that repaired in order to pass the inspection.  All thoughts of an early night went out the window, so after getting a shower and eating dinner which was interrupted with a call from the garage, finally got in the bed with alarm set for 3:00 am in hopes of getting at least six hours of sleep. No deal. Driver manager called at 2:45 wondering if I was ready to roll. Sure. Why not. So off I go. 

The shipper name didn’t ring a bell but as I got closer to my pick up I realized I had been here before. The “Hogwash” truck washing place across the street gave it away. 

Drop and hook, which is good but still taking an hour and I haven’t yet checked out. Then will have to weigh and hope the load is right. 

Load was right. 44000 pounds of ribs. I’m tempted to have a bbq.  Any takers?

Well, after much deliberation dispatch directed me to a Flying J just outside of Indianapolis where I swapped trailers with another driver.  I hope this is the last leg toward Kansas. 

Talking to the other driver it appears that Trans Am has had its share of troubles. There’s just something about this company I can’t put my finger on but know that i will be glad to move on. 

A couple of pictures. If you look back at some of our early pictures of the Mississippi you will see a big difference. 

It is up. 

I thought this was interesting.  It’s a movie theater surrounded by corn fields in the middle of nowhere.  

  
Weird huh?

And the biggest caterpillars I have ever seen. Don’t want to be around when they turn into butterflies.

  
Well, that’s all folks. Hope all are well. I miss you terrible my love. Can’t wait to get home. 

Good night and God bless.

Annie – Boy it really sounds like I need to get back in the truck!   

It’s been a pretty slow day around here.  I have been working on taxes again and will tomorrow too it looks like.  

Finally got to the grocery store for a few things though so that’s good.  I didn’t get the Loreal for my hair yet though.  Not sure what Sadie is going to say.   She doesn’t like it when my hair is gray.  Lol  

Well, turning in.  Missing my sweetie something awful!   Hope you are here soon!   

Goodnight, y’all! 

Slept until 8:30.  This could become a habit.  Lol 

Another day without my sweetheart.   Hope I don’t have too many more of these.  Miss you awful sweetie! 

Not too much going on on my end.  Going through receipts for the past few months and organizing them for taxes.      What fun!

Greg went through St.  Louis today and sent me a picture in case I forgot.   Not likely but thanks Honey!

Thought you might like that. I am in Kingdom City, Missouri. Waiting for the garage to call me and do my six month DOT inspection.  Not sure what all that entails as this  be my first. 

Weather is weird this evening. Sunshine then dark clouds and rain then sun again. Oh well, as long as I’m not getting wet. 

Probably get some dinner shortly. Being in central time zone throws off my hunger timing. Ah, who am I kidding. I can eat about any time of day in any time zone. Okay, that’s it. There’s a Buffett calling me. More later. 

Annie – I’ve been working on tax stuff most of the day and probably all day tomorrow.   Fun fun!   Come on fair tax!! 

Got to see my Abby girl for a while this evening which was nice.  

Maddi called tonight to FaceTime Papaw and she was disappointed when I answered.   She says “Hi Mammie!   Where’s Papaw?”   LOL.  Greg said when he finally got to FaceTime with her she kept kissing the iPad.   Is there anything better in the whole world?  I can’t think of anything. 

Well, turning in.   Can’t sleep without my snore machine beside me so I stay up late until I am really sleepy.   Yawn!  Getting that way so to bed I go.   

Goodnight, y’all. 

Boo Hoo.   My sweetie left this morning without me.   He is working his way back to Olathe to take the truck back.    I miss him already!!

Well, our renter has officially moved out.  Got some cleaning to do but otherwise the house looks good.   Hope it sells quickly.   I called this morning to get utilities put back in our name and got quite a shock.   The water was no big deal.  No deposit.   The electricity however was a different story.   They want an average electric bill for the last year as a deposit.  $800!!!   Goodness gracious.   What was he doing in that house that the electric bill was $800?   Wow.  Didn’t see that coming. 

DG:  I miss you too my love. It is lonely out on the road. I have the radio but it doesn’t listen when I talk. I talk to the voices in my head but they don’t listen either.  And once again I am waiting.  I don’t feel like a truck driver.  I am a waiter.  May I take your order please?  GPS struck again by misdirecting me past my stop. And the stop is one of those that is behind another business and the name on my information is not the name of the business now as they have changed their name. So after riding around for 30 minutes, calling the shipper who has an automated phone system so they do not have to talk to anyone, but they did have a recording of the directions so I listened to them as I retraced my steps and finally found the place just one and one half hours late which didn’t seem to matter in the whole scheme of things as the real issue is that my delivery contains three POs and whereas the standard bill of lading may contain only one, this has grown somewhat of a kink in things. So here I sit, two hours later and no one has even begun to load my trailer. 

Sometimes I get paranoid and think they are conspiring to keep me here as long as they can, but that only gives them an out for their disorganized operations.  Yea.  

Had a heck of a time backing in here too.  There’s not enough room to pull your truck up so you have to cut pretty hard and then wiggle a little to get back in the dock.  Another trucker knew I was going to have trouble so he spotted for me.  All in and nothing broke and nothing scratched.  

Annie – Not much going on today which is good every now and then.   Going to turn in.   Goodnight y’all.  

Wow!   Slept until 8:30 this morning.   I think I could still sleep but I don’t like to sleep late.   Abby and Lindsey are still asleep though.  No surprise there as they are teenagers and were probably up late.   

Happy Birthday Jake!   Can’t believe he is 10 years old!   Where does the time go.  

DG:  well I tried to add something last night but lost it when I went to save.  Just wanted to affirm Annie’s post.  New Avenger movie was great.  Excited to spend the weekend with our nieces.  

Getting the weekend off feels good.  Relaxing, getting caught up on some personal things.  

So not much to report. Looking forward to starting with a new company.  There’s a lot of talk coming from trucking companies about how important drivers are and how they respect drivers and offer the best deal, but the only way to find out is to try them.  So that’s what I’m going to do. This will be the third company I will have driven for in my short driving career.  

Here’s hoping all are well.  God bless you all.

Annie – Got the truck all dusted and vacuumed.  Greg will have to clean a bit when he drops the truck off but this should help quite a bit.   Excited to try new company.  Maybe see something different besides St. Louis and Nashville! 

Got my plane ticket this am.  Going to go see my babies next weekend for two days while Greg is in Mississippi for training.   Can’t wait.  Hopefully we will make more money with this new company and can get to see them more often.    

Went to the house on Southern Hills to check things out since our renter moved out.   House looks good.   The girls went with us and Lindsey fell in love with the drums so Tony came and got them for her.  It’s good they will be used again.  She is so talented she will be playing them pretty soon.  

Well my sweetie has to leave early in the morning so we better get some sleep.  Goodnight y’all. 

Got to sleep in until 7:30 this morning.  Yeah!  

Headed over and cleaned out most of truck.  Will finish up tomorrow.  I can’t believe how much stuff we had in there.  

Mom, Abby, Lindsey and I went to lunch and to hobby lobby.   Greg stayed home and watched the Kentucky Derby and did laundry. Isn’t he great!   Thanks honey! 

Now we are off to the movies to see The Avengers 3D!  

Wow!   What a great movie.  I could watch Thor all day!   Greg bought a souvenir cup for our drink and it had a 3 inch Scarlett Johansen figure sticking out on top.  You wouldn’t think it would be a big deal but every time I went to get a drink I kept putting her head in my mouth instead of the straw.  You had to drink sideways to keep from getting poked in the eye.  Not a very well thought out plan.  

It’s 12:30 so turning in.   Goodnight y’all.