tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60270975139704347652024-02-19T04:04:20.565-05:00all things bradburyall things bradburyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706594376429745858noreply@blogger.comBlogger73125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6027097513970434765.post-74118106549506777272011-11-10T12:57:00.003-05:002011-11-10T13:50:23.749-05:00hopefully it was the onions.......i laid for several minutes in a state of confusion....i had just woken up pretty much in a cold sweat and felt scared and anxious and then it hit me that i was safely ensconced in my truck bunk and i had only been dreaming.......the feeling of uneasiness wouldn't loosen it's grip on me tho......i don't think i dream very often.....well, unless you include the recurring one where i become a size 8 overnite and hit the lottery the next day and have to get a restraining order against sean connery, because he is stalking me............<br /><br />i don't think i'm given to fits of panic and undo bouts of paranoia, and i wish i could remember all the details of my dream.....but i'm going to try to share it with you.....because i'd rather seem to be an alarmist than to wish i'd spoken up after something happpens......and i know there a whole lot of people much smarter and more well informed than me who watch these things, and i thank God daily for them and their diligence......<br /><br />in my dream, it was already tomorrow....veteran's day...11/11/11.....and all across the country parades were rolling down main streets and flags were being waved and speeches were being given.....it was almost like i had a panoramic view of the entire United States......my heart was swelling with pride at the patriotism of our country and the honoring of all those who serve it, both those who have gone before and those active now.......but as i stood there taking in the grandness of it all, all across the country small explosions started to rise up.....i could hear the calls of panic....sirens....screams....and as soon as one started, another would follow.....all in different areas of the country.....all in smaller to medium cities across our land.....until i could see fires and smoke coming up from the horizons in all directions......my mind was racing....trying to figure out what to do....how to help......and then it hit me.......there were 11 attacks taking place....i don't think that any of them were on the scale of evilness that took place on 9/11,....they all seemed to be smaller but still, of devastating porportions and armed with the intentions of letting us know that we were not safe in our small towns.....that they had no respect for our heros and traditions .......and then i woke up.......<br /><br />i don't know....i want to write it off to just being a combination of the giant cheeseburger with the works i had for supper last nite and being bounced and blown across the state of wyoming as i was trying to sleep.....along with the all the sentiments and gravity of the day that we celebrate tomorrow going thru my mind.....and that i renewed my company hazmat online training yesterday..........believe me, i hesitated for along time before writing this, not wanting to be called crazy or teased about becoming paranoid.....but i just couldn't shake the feeling of needing to speak up......<br /><br />brad and i belong to a trucker's group of first observers.....we try to exercise extra vigilence in keeping alert for anything suspicious on the highways, at our ports.....especially when carrying a hazardous materials load or a high value load that terrorists could use or sell to finance their plots....it's something we all need to work on.....if something troubles you about a situation....if it makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up....don't hesitate to talk to someone in authority about it.......<br /><br />a sincere thank you to each one of the heroic people who work hard every day to keep my dream from becoming a reality....to those who have served, to those serving now....even to those thinking about signing up.....all things bradburyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706594376429745858noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6027097513970434765.post-19670478572178160282011-06-21T11:22:00.002-04:002011-06-21T11:30:14.663-04:00missing milk day.....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2spkrKSj-8WLSgMNvhZlOON_-UiPEdSp_HrhsSLD_zVoY2nFB-gKkWOX_pjT3o5lftdReVyJOFELNL7fHFQVOxIfszhxusdg_zZWVelH2csatsFFgGyCloWFinb-3V5rORtizuaaWoU4/s1600/cows+harvard+il.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 223px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5620694235783985346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje2spkrKSj-8WLSgMNvhZlOON_-UiPEdSp_HrhsSLD_zVoY2nFB-gKkWOX_pjT3o5lftdReVyJOFELNL7fHFQVOxIfszhxusdg_zZWVelH2csatsFFgGyCloWFinb-3V5rORtizuaaWoU4/s400/cows+harvard+il.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>yesterday we ran down us14 out of wisconsin to the chicago area.....it's a beautiful stretch of highway that takes you thru amazing farmland and some really quaint towns in both states....as we came into harvard, illinois we were greeted by these beautiful cows.....too bad tho, we missed milk day by a couple of weeks.......</div>all things bradburyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706594376429745858noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6027097513970434765.post-3547933948447229362011-06-13T16:51:00.003-04:002011-06-13T18:28:36.647-04:00a little soap box twittering......i've got family and friends that i just have to shake my head over sometimes and wonder......i'll be the first person in line to let you know that i'm a dyed-in-the-wool democrat.....a liberal, and proud of it.......democrat......cradle to the grave.......and i make no apologies for either of those labels.........my daddy always said that a workin man that voted republican was like a chicken votin for colonel sanders......if you know me, or have read my blog very long, i'm sure you've heard that before, because i love repeatin it....simply because it's true.........i've tried especially hard to stay quiet lately, coz, simply, i've had a hard time workin my way out from under the mound of frustration i've been under since the last election.....in all my years of voting, this was the first time i had no dog in the fight.....my girl didn't make it past the primaries.....<br /><br />i also work fairly hard at not inflicting my views on others.....family, friend or foe.....i figure everybody's got a right to think the way they think....feel the way they feel.... i read, and take all the glen-beck loving-obama-hating-global-warming-denying-praises-for-not-aborting-a-downs-syndrome-child facebook posts and emails that my misguided friends to the right put out there.......but every-once-in-a-while the bs level rises so high that i just have to pull out the soap box and spout off.........this just happens to be one of those times.......<br /><br />i read today that the media had gone over the 24,000 pages of emails from sarah palin's abandoned governorship and hadn't been able to find anything off-color or detrimental to harrass her with.........hmmmmm.....well, good for her......i have a little trouble thinking that even she is so dim-witted that after all the time it took her office to hand them over that there wasn't a little "editing" done......but, nevermind......what bothers me is that sarah palin is a twit.....i didn't need 24,ooo pages of emails to confirm or deny that fact......it hit me square between the eyes the first time john mccain put her on tv and it's reinforced everytime i hear her still today.......it also bothers me that republicans thought women were stupid enough to accept her as a representative for them and it majorly bothers me that there are some women so embroiled in twittidome that they do......i'd really like to think that the gender that has to think with their big head because they don't have a little one to do it for them, was above it.....but the reality of it is that so many are so willing to just blindly accept anything that right wing politicians can successfully package in a "family-values" wrapper........<br /><br />a few other things that bother me:<br />1. that liberal has become a word thrown at someone when the pitcher's intention is to discredit.....that it's become a bad thing to worry more about the guy on the welfare line than the bottom line.....<br />2. that the media gets blamed for doing their job......did they make palin be stupid???, did they make clinton get a little somethin-somethin on the side.....did they make gingrich cheat on his wife while wasting our money tryin to crucify clinton for the little sumthin-sumthin???.....geesh, i'd even feel safe in saying no member of the media held a gun to weiner's head and made him sext his pic to that woman in washington state.....<br />3.that holier-than-thou, right wing fanatics, who blame everything they see as bad on those " pagan, unconcientionable, hedonistic liberals" just don't get it.....it has baffled me since the days of ronald reagan how much they just don't get it.........the "it" they don't get?????........well, even tho i am a self proclaimed liberal.....i'm also a spiritual person....a christian.....a believer in God almighty and his son, Jesus Christ.....i believe that Jesus died on the cross for me.....i believe every single word written in the Bible....even the ones i can't pronounce......i believe in creation, and the story of jonah in the belly of the whale.....and the resurection and everything in between......i believe that God has always had a plan for the world he created....yes, he gave us free will to decide how we would live our lives and what beliefs we would follow, but his plan is in place......it just never fails to amaze me that those on the right....those given to excessive thumping of the good book when they want to tell you how wrong you are, seem to be the very ones that overlook God's plan.....that they seem to think that God can't carry it off without them .....that they make a mockery of that plan, even a mockery of Jesus dying on the cross for our sins, by believeing that they somehow have to do something additional in order to make it work......the very ones who boast of being such biblical scholars don't step back and realize that God has a plan.....one that will come to fruition regardless of who's in office....in any country......regardless of whether gays marry......regardless of planned parenthood.......regardless of global warming......even regardless of whether sarah palin really is a twit or just seems that way......<br /><br />ok, i've vented now....i'm better....i love my crazy right wingers as much as i ever did....i hope they still love me.........all things bradburyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706594376429745858noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6027097513970434765.post-90828933844985263242011-03-28T17:59:00.003-04:002011-03-28T18:31:43.259-04:00bon...or is that bone apetite??????????????<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">i'd</span> have to live to be 687 years old to ever have the chance to cook and bake all the recipes <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">i'd</span> like to try.....i read <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">alot</span> of magazines while on the road and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">i'm</span> always saving new recipes that look like something we'd enjoy, not to mention the thousands of ideas from all the blogs i read and all the websites......it's mind-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">boggling</span>, really.......and then it always seems that when we are home and i have the chance to do some cooking that we stick to the same tried and true staples that we miss while we're away....<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">coz</span>, well, we miss them......... having said all that, i ran across a recipe the other day that has me both scared and in anticipation.......scared because most of my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">adolescent</span> and adult life i have heard crude men refer to a certain part of their anatomy as this.......in anticipation <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">coz,</span> face it girls, there can't be one of us who hasn't wanted to chop the dang thing off and roast it at some point in our lives........so imagine my surprise when flipping <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">thru</span> the march issue of better homes and gardens, here was this offering...... <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Sg2ej-8YFdY07QU_aaTFD9GfoupRZh0uwdGZ1FVcRmnZpPVjyOgn71CdgZEuJLAMqxxwWVoyzOaYm55uKLdJYIJOWJpDoTHyTGEonR3shSbhfHitOsTSwYBZJOnA-V0ELYwMOoE9-e1y/s1600/tube+steak+recipe1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589255100255448514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Sg2ej-8YFdY07QU_aaTFD9GfoupRZh0uwdGZ1FVcRmnZpPVjyOgn71CdgZEuJLAMqxxwWVoyzOaYm55uKLdJYIJOWJpDoTHyTGEonR3shSbhfHitOsTSwYBZJOnA-V0ELYwMOoE9-e1y/s400/tube+steak+recipe1.jpg" /></a> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Bon</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">apatite</span>!!! <br /><div></div>all things bradburyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706594376429745858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6027097513970434765.post-44985792231336152612011-03-24T12:29:00.005-04:002011-03-24T13:10:41.603-04:00bathed in comfort in barkeyville, but no king!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid8x1ZeO4ET-f3hczQ4VGSS9DaqhnNLsvZb1xkJJnlZ0VaM5zCLgowykKTGuD_gZQszL_FReiJylWCfzX-NwQLHZdp_WteZgrb9VoxEZKa4JGKldO2q_I6mxJWdbIw8CfDnmQ6FrtTW5PA/s1600/bradinbarkeyville.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 181px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587694106131287186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid8x1ZeO4ET-f3hczQ4VGSS9DaqhnNLsvZb1xkJJnlZ0VaM5zCLgowykKTGuD_gZQszL_FReiJylWCfzX-NwQLHZdp_WteZgrb9VoxEZKa4JGKldO2q_I6mxJWdbIw8CfDnmQ6FrtTW5PA/s320/bradinbarkeyville.jpg" /></a><br /><div>we had this sweet run from longview, washington to edison, new jersey over last weekend.....the only bad thing about it was that the load was those tall rolls of paper and very, very heavy....but we had plenty of time to take it easy in the mountains and curves, so inspite of the weight and possible squirrelyness..(pretty sure that's not even a word, but my fellow drivers will certainly recognize and understand it....)......we were enjoying the run........well, until late sunday nite...actually monday morning around 0200.......lizzie belle....our truck, decided that enough was enough and she shut down on us just east of grove city, pa....where i80 and i79 intersect.....brad managed to limp us up to a rest area and we called breakdown........after much "hmmmmming" about her symptoms, it was decided we would take her to the freightliner shop in barkeyville..............they ran some diagnostics....took some parts off....scratched their heads alot......decided she'd blown her turbo....and sent us to the comfort inn........and we're still at the motel.....tho they finally did get the turbo in this morning and think they might have it installed later today......yeah!!!.....lol....i guess............beside the motel is a kings restaurant.....they have alot of locations in this state and we pass them and i always thought it would be a good place to eat......not so much.....when we pick up fast food out of a truck stop i always check the bag to make sure our order is right....i guess you need to do that in king's restaurant too.....nite before last we called in an order and brad went over to pick it up, so that we could just eat in our room while watching a movie.....they left out his coleslaw.....too far to walk back in the rain for it, he just let it go......so then last nite we decided we'd order again....when i called it in, i mentioned the forgotten slaw......you'd think they'd offer to include it in the new order.....nope.....and then when he got back to the room, they'd forgotten my broccoli.....geesh!!!...come on people...it's not rocket science!!!....check the bag against the order!!!!......i mean, after all....i'm a growing girl....i need my veggies..........i called the kings back to let them know and the girl just (literally) laughed....never apologized....just said to come back over and they'd give me some broccoli.....yeah, i could see a hike back over there in the freezing rain just for broccoli......anyway, i'm thinking that any restaurant with so little regard to detail twice in a row.....well, what else do they scrimp at?????besides...who could be so cruel as to tear brad away from his ncis marathon just for broccoli????</div>all things bradburyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706594376429745858noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6027097513970434765.post-60444081798335277232011-03-14T09:18:00.003-04:002011-03-14T10:01:34.925-04:00in the land of plum......<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdTN3HkliYSYNDGev9mx7WEIrY6ibV-NYRelu6_JkopTZrvSSCyvEbooIwHBQMNpHzVxJs1C4cozcsNB-ZAWyZA3IC6Abz_aD3DR42gcXVauFydii1tmSRjMA9QZWZ8QznEmKgMfCMojiI/s1600/bridge.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 181px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583926445264338114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdTN3HkliYSYNDGev9mx7WEIrY6ibV-NYRelu6_JkopTZrvSSCyvEbooIwHBQMNpHzVxJs1C4cozcsNB-ZAWyZA3IC6Abz_aD3DR42gcXVauFydii1tmSRjMA9QZWZ8QznEmKgMfCMojiI/s320/bridge.jpg" /></a><br /><div><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">i've</span> mentioned before that <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">i'm</span> a big fan of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">janet</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">evanovich's</span> books....her main character in the "plum" series, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">stephanie</span>, is sort of my hero and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">anti</span>-hero, all rolled up in one.....<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">i'm</span> not the only one, my friend <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">michelle</span> over at "plum trucker" is one too....hence the moniker for her blog....so, basically, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">michelle</span>, this bud, er, post, is for you!</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHVOy2YKwBXYKmpqpqxAe2PHdB0YO3bPGeSm_X-QPXXVdPaTG6GAd-HzVhvW0LH7YUrAiWabS7xrgv7UAeb9trYJZBw7vpqLDrRtJ-k6JI1yNgaK-jpcxtQa0XS7d5-hK36JeRfwzDcr5w/s1600/trenton+dmv.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 181px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583926443366925682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHVOy2YKwBXYKmpqpqxAe2PHdB0YO3bPGeSm_X-QPXXVdPaTG6GAd-HzVhvW0LH7YUrAiWabS7xrgv7UAeb9trYJZBw7vpqLDrRtJ-k6JI1yNgaK-jpcxtQa0XS7d5-hK36JeRfwzDcr5w/s320/trenton+dmv.jpg" /></a> this is the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">trenton</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">dmv</span> where <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">stephanie</span> spends countless hours registering her many, many <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">vehichles</span>, or "<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">pos's</span>" as we know them.....a bounty hunter who's claim to fame is blowing up at least one car in each episode, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">stephanie</span> surely spends a good chunk of time on line here waiting to change registrations and order new plates......thank goodness super-hot ranger, her mentor, loans her <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-error">alot</span> of cars or she'd never get out of this building.....<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeo-hdT6K7GWCFdJe8IySxe3oH2kvZzeRWr3BpnwQp2htUqIsgmkfTHpwDXh988smnS7ijEl05cQpFmMHArJ-H2Ba7vOPcKOmzjpNkv9FMlS5yevpCTS5RiNG_MdfXMQixb4wnXGcPYFu6/s1600/burg+street.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 181px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583926435552988770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeo-hdT6K7GWCFdJe8IySxe3oH2kvZzeRWr3BpnwQp2htUqIsgmkfTHpwDXh988smnS7ijEl05cQpFmMHArJ-H2Ba7vOPcKOmzjpNkv9FMlS5yevpCTS5RiNG_MdfXMQixb4wnXGcPYFu6/s320/burg+street.jpg" /></a> a quick view up a "burg" street in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error">trenton</span>.....<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-error">i'm</span> thinking middle-middle-class....not quite as nice as where <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-error">steph's</span> parents and grandma <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" class="blsp-spelling-error">mazur</span> live, but not stark street either.......<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCF71b4wu7aSt4a0vHFkjCg6PILDWmdlzMnbkRor90TkIdE0tNJgD4vBbbUP38pGMXWRLCTK2bKwt5O86x8fsQnvGhxrrYO-N09GYmhXyov4YNVyp-K5US4ThN6iQM8UENVX3CsfGeNrcl/s1600/2011-03-09_14-54-37_905.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 181px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583926429903624994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCF71b4wu7aSt4a0vHFkjCg6PILDWmdlzMnbkRor90TkIdE0tNJgD4vBbbUP38pGMXWRLCTK2bKwt5O86x8fsQnvGhxrrYO-N09GYmhXyov4YNVyp-K5US4ThN6iQM8UENVX3CsfGeNrcl/s320/2011-03-09_14-54-37_905.jpg" /></a> one of many vacant factory properties you see as you pass <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_20" class="blsp-spelling-error">thru</span>......chances are there is a chop shop, dead body, money laundering operation, dead body, flame-thrower-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_21" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">wielding</span> psycho, dead body, transvestite lurking behind any one of those windows just waiting for <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_22" class="blsp-spelling-error">stephanie</span> to stumble onto/into it......<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVMQ8nA-NDH9UxDvj7usB2Dtzmwbdd7nxHVyqNJ2ZlpYY8ZT3z11f6ud43s_Yb9gciVzDYdk7gShYOlJvcbmcVpaxNtWsNGWbBQQr769Aao_lFMMom6GaGGwWobrhvnkF4_5dJfQjGg9Z/s1600/2011-03-09_14-56-14_436.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 181px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583926423193793362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdVMQ8nA-NDH9UxDvj7usB2Dtzmwbdd7nxHVyqNJ2ZlpYY8ZT3z11f6ud43s_Yb9gciVzDYdk7gShYOlJvcbmcVpaxNtWsNGWbBQQr769Aao_lFMMom6GaGGwWobrhvnkF4_5dJfQjGg9Z/s320/2011-03-09_14-56-14_436.jpg" /></a> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_23" class="blsp-spelling-error">hamilton</span> avenue......i just know that had trucks been allowed and we'd have made the turn, i could have surely caught a glimpse of steph....lula.....morelli.....maybe even ranger!!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>all things bradburyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706594376429745858noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6027097513970434765.post-38503943488897986822011-02-24T20:56:00.003-05:002011-02-24T23:01:32.070-05:00cadillac forklift......i've always wanted to run the forklift.....thru the years i've become convinced that trucking isn't really about the movement of goods across the country.....around the world, even......what's it's really all about is creating a playing field for the millions of operators who spend an eight hour shift shuttling stuff from warehouse shelving to trailers that move it on so the next person can play......<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjV4ULYmomV6pqIaihF1xHrSAusJDsF1yqKcqGdd0MQnZlYKN4DmGbBlAAq5UzYz3TXSbyElNE3Dlm0MqpKw7UH6EaFwo2MDzRMcp7YZnenkmEmTLy7OAhyphenhyphenGxyVGhPrHa7BUzGqHEeQJFD/s1600/cadillac+forklift1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 114px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577442509739820866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjV4ULYmomV6pqIaihF1xHrSAusJDsF1yqKcqGdd0MQnZlYKN4DmGbBlAAq5UzYz3TXSbyElNE3Dlm0MqpKw7UH6EaFwo2MDzRMcp7YZnenkmEmTLy7OAhyphenhyphenGxyVGhPrHa7BUzGqHEeQJFD/s200/cadillac+forklift1.jpg" /></a> it did nothing to help my "forklift wanderlust" to spot this little beauty yesterday in fremont, california.........now this area has reasonable mild weather year round but being california, they do have winds....and rains.....and winds......and i think this guy took all that into account with his design....he shrink-wrapped over the cardboard cab!!.......<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXdhFMqaZP-thmUPNffSuSZVUWKBzzLHvpQxUkCfAnekfKhUna9tgI_-PBLByvrtihM5uPl6sbFLUJ7yvIfAYkzg1zwmpH9EHsesVcIGrqugz-FXacb-v5AgYquV3Q-IA-QWFDoHg-8vbv/s1600/cadillac+forklift.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 114px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577442506435124482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXdhFMqaZP-thmUPNffSuSZVUWKBzzLHvpQxUkCfAnekfKhUna9tgI_-PBLByvrtihM5uPl6sbFLUJ7yvIfAYkzg1zwmpH9EHsesVcIGrqugz-FXacb-v5AgYquV3Q-IA-QWFDoHg-8vbv/s200/cadillac+forklift.jpg" /></a> i was really impressed with his efforts.....how meticulously he cut out for the windows and lights.....how neat everything fit together......i think he's onto something here.....he could market this design......this cadillac of forklifts!all things bradburyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706594376429745858noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6027097513970434765.post-83677678539655271162011-02-22T12:25:00.001-05:002011-02-22T12:29:18.890-05:00hole in the rock.....<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 114px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576344577494319010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5YfT0zNiqO_jltOycGjIzGbCls1vslXd7dyeBEZg9ksW07qmivGQJixaqk4HnKq8d7-3AdDKPCEXEX3sKx9aoA-QJ3N24H3L9lquR6kCDqnCE8jY2V-ZgjmM4HQdxi0b5x1JDw0yh8_NM/s200/2011-02-13_13-47-04_245.jpg" /><br /><br />yesterday i showed you a little bit of the scenery from our run up <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">thru</span></span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">colorado</span></span> and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">utah</span></span> on us 491 and us 191......it's a gorgeous drive, and what would any self-respecting gorgeous drive be without a few tourist traps along the way?????there are more than a few along the ride up this way.....mostly native <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">american's</span></span> selling blankets, and pottery, and jewelry,....the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">turquoise</span> selection alone is worth the drive <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">thru</span></span> here.....one of the largest and possibly best known tho, is the "hole in the rock"........just below <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">moab</span></span>, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">utah</span></span>.......<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 113px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576347877258706850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGhsXu7ALk7WlNOg85NxGVTurYfeZ0ULO-Q1kWre-jFSW4Jy8hdZOsfmVgxycg5fA9XvSNmBsnG8b8xwTgD9Ri-X49r0EJZ7bl-ULX4cWql5JXkCuNso3vgKCBNEd2Iz_a_ZhC23Kat562/s200/2011-02-13_13-55-44_50.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br />pretty much the first thing you see when you enter is this jeep....the body of the jeep is covered with license plates from all the states.....and everything else is welded tools and hardware.....i cannot begin to imagine how long it took the artist to even collect the materials for this project, let along the hours welding it all together......(<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">babygirl</span></span> didn't give a rat's derriere about the work involved, she just tried to figure our how to get that bone on top from the jeep to our truck!)<br /><br /><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 113px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576347885435565906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiltjRBOY2e848PyfR_rdXW3LL2BQ0ozgRg0OlKAS_LQXSf6A-I-F9_741LnJPnGAochC-K6zXtG0uBJgHFvjaEibQUzbPleLrrvqcQB9WD3ezWc0GSjPHLtW32UeEmaXqhBavp2EpranQS/s200/2011-02-13_13-56-33_284.jpg" /><br /><br />the seats of the jeep are also made of tools and hardware.......<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 113px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576347889391311634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVXji7yJwzI9EqtF0d_Lcht-W7i-qcj9oirhelPYuGmQ2l86x4qIGatrSYVkqmMdzkiAkkZWcu6ZZa7jHTM7kROlizMcLsAXO3RWWPbCBOGvkIQgt1q0plU7vOTs_XJWic4HBeeR2WBlM/s200/2011-02-13_13-58-32_4.jpg" /><br /><br />and this is a closeup of the "tires".......talk about a "rough ride".....<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6NjhqReXLXZpyJca8j7bUclcu4_D0fjRgdQ2icta1Q_U64pcndjGHqBP-Dmn9ntnlwROjsbU8PehBmpO_Ax-IWTPePbBsYPjA8A-Fqxmf2taxR4pZJqxayWhtHCnrwzB_jFwaXa7VPWT3/s1600/2011-02-13_14-20-15_343.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 113px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576347900499903666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6NjhqReXLXZpyJca8j7bUclcu4_D0fjRgdQ2icta1Q_U64pcndjGHqBP-Dmn9ntnlwROjsbU8PehBmpO_Ax-IWTPePbBsYPjA8A-Fqxmf2taxR4pZJqxayWhtHCnrwzB_jFwaXa7VPWT3/s200/2011-02-13_14-20-15_343.jpg" /></a> and this is brad with a bull by the same artist......<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgZex0hcbwgJRN8gz0uhgLFG5-SRU67XiECWQmfjmGOA7FO23XlglYw7zTs3uhKH_HO-gGKaLAsyDaDW2Vmu50dkYafoDw7ozRsXyN12kPhuM4__isz1HuY-P7ka6uCERIqBqofD7t24_/s1600/2011-02-13_14-00-01_313.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 113px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576347895799495298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgZex0hcbwgJRN8gz0uhgLFG5-SRU67XiECWQmfjmGOA7FO23XlglYw7zTs3uhKH_HO-gGKaLAsyDaDW2Vmu50dkYafoDw7ozRsXyN12kPhuM4__isz1HuY-P7ka6uCERIqBqofD7t24_/s200/2011-02-13_14-00-01_313.jpg" /></a> and a golfer made entirely of clubs........<br /><br /><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9smfBAuRyrSG21zNpllde3LbSpsLKn_dob9YTdY6gTAPh7PH4eQ4f86pZfxXuzfZJ57rFEhsIpGUAEBEPvuyMlR-7inO3HFq7J2eHQYWj8QeMBMyS73-iqtrw46sJAj1_JwJpmbdVV8D/s1600/2011-02-13_14-01-33_553.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 113px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576344580010164210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9smfBAuRyrSG21zNpllde3LbSpsLKn_dob9YTdY6gTAPh7PH4eQ4f86pZfxXuzfZJ57rFEhsIpGUAEBEPvuyMlR-7inO3HFq7J2eHQYWj8QeMBMyS73-iqtrw46sJAj1_JwJpmbdVV8D/s200/2011-02-13_14-01-33_553.jpg" /></a> a cute little tow truck that should have had a bit part in the movie, "cars"......<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYck6uN0-iLTRGdgbZ8jzb_IO8qXCDlbgOvPaSx9QRjeGfMHYEpTwraoM_u30kkWXREL00to61qXWMBGhaW0-CW-CVG_Iu3JrZRtmuNuyvPDhN7Dl9zSomm2FilB-ztIpQlfEnSC5l7kDI/s1600/2011-02-13_14-09-18_618.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 112px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576344569159245026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYck6uN0-iLTRGdgbZ8jzb_IO8qXCDlbgOvPaSx9QRjeGfMHYEpTwraoM_u30kkWXREL00to61qXWMBGhaW0-CW-CVG_Iu3JrZRtmuNuyvPDhN7Dl9zSomm2FilB-ztIpQlfEnSC5l7kDI/s200/2011-02-13_14-09-18_618.jpg" /></a> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">fdr</span></span>.....<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXljo9pf1rDTtcSjIp65KVf8PeAU6cg58dVCQl3-W5S3N3JQdqGW1FzxJK0qRKfPJ_vKLcR1noVONIuDmkmrrp_cIuRoAvqGT5YKq9jrxJ3KXjac3iBacxwbL6queAmrC_xxeEiv9a_vbk/s1600/2011-02-13_14-07-58_49.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 113px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576344564307933266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXljo9pf1rDTtcSjIp65KVf8PeAU6cg58dVCQl3-W5S3N3JQdqGW1FzxJK0qRKfPJ_vKLcR1noVONIuDmkmrrp_cIuRoAvqGT5YKq9jrxJ3KXjac3iBacxwbL6queAmrC_xxeEiv9a_vbk/s200/2011-02-13_14-07-58_49.jpg" /></a> i loved this.....notice the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">pantaloons</span> showing at the bottom of the top door and the men's boots and trousers at the bottom door????.....who <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">says</span></span> it's a man's world????.....<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJMFsWNboNyj6e9wATApyOMRoyGBtvW9-mHzd-DUsyk366AMxOHXEnnLEFW0lJv6SYBMO0L5KLpJvM-o0jAX8QFjHeN_kophPf9sb-kVXqpwZ8q-kOT6QpBqS5K0sZ9VIkdjS01-HU6gA/s1600/2011-02-13_14-33-16_847.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 113px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576344562257786290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJMFsWNboNyj6e9wATApyOMRoyGBtvW9-mHzd-DUsyk366AMxOHXEnnLEFW0lJv6SYBMO0L5KLpJvM-o0jAX8QFjHeN_kophPf9sb-kVXqpwZ8q-kOT6QpBqS5K0sZ9VIkdjS01-HU6gA/s200/2011-02-13_14-33-16_847.jpg" /></a> if you find yourself out this way, be sure to stop......in addition to all this art, there is a tour of the house built back into the rock...a gift shop and a general store....and a sighting of big foot!....you just never know what you're gonna find along the road.<br /></div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>all things bradburyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706594376429745858noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6027097513970434765.post-57869479107074903402011-02-21T20:50:00.004-05:002011-02-21T21:42:05.749-05:00rock on.....last week we came up from gallop, new mexico on us 491.......crossing thru the southwestern corner of colorado and then into utah and going north on us 191 ......we were headed to portland, oregon....by way of the "backroads"......lol......i probably took a thousand pictures.....the scenery is just amazing......wide flat valleys, ensconced on both sides by volumous mountains....the snow-covered western slope of the rockies to the east and the la sal range to the west....i'd have to blog at least 10 times to show you all the beauty along this drive....so i picked out a few of my favorites to share.....<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjon5PRYyjtAPdIzQSkHILpra3pAb-sP2bBZHqmyWgKRKaSFlmaVhict_MMEA1Z3gav4CkVfi5u6lGdZmU-WeLFr2rCd6niXfo4Oo1jXD_azRMgIZu7MECJa0D46IoFiohDfOFJDvbbg4FI/s1600/2011-02-13_15-05-03_631.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 113px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576329567649477602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjon5PRYyjtAPdIzQSkHILpra3pAb-sP2bBZHqmyWgKRKaSFlmaVhict_MMEA1Z3gav4CkVfi5u6lGdZmU-WeLFr2rCd6niXfo4Oo1jXD_azRMgIZu7MECJa0D46IoFiohDfOFJDvbbg4FI/s200/2011-02-13_15-05-03_631.jpg" /></a> crossing the colorado river just above moab, utah.....<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_tpSCo4orHGJKVxBu-Iclais2vmZ7GKSjwoB8pSzfcQOtQAP1onqDQncWWyCxpv6UHPBoIPb-Fj2BkWTmLUqNR1X72B8DXFsyxRyDsnVPXaABFFvZw15JsRRpzzp2Bm_UymF3G6zcoZi/s1600/2011-02-13_17-06-41_645.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 112px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576327343512850306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_tpSCo4orHGJKVxBu-Iclais2vmZ7GKSjwoB8pSzfcQOtQAP1onqDQncWWyCxpv6UHPBoIPb-Fj2BkWTmLUqNR1X72B8DXFsyxRyDsnVPXaABFFvZw15JsRRpzzp2Bm_UymF3G6zcoZi/s200/2011-02-13_17-06-41_645.jpg" /></a> balancing rock........there's even a motel named for it at the base of this mountain......i'm not sure i'd get a good nite's sleep there, as i tend to "unbalance" things at times.....<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0JjLHNiy5KnQ9hkJEP3nOLP41AwQtl7kbGvtdinq3Jzh6Qh7VFRAy-vhp9WMtGZ41kY7l2f5mKmAQAt-npmJyj0S03Ig6JVPuNZBpuF3o6TDQwFE9wCp9ONgG9VLIOXjEwHJUaZ_SAwb/s1600/2011-02-13_13-21-25_397.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 114px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576327337020572882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0JjLHNiy5KnQ9hkJEP3nOLP41AwQtl7kbGvtdinq3Jzh6Qh7VFRAy-vhp9WMtGZ41kY7l2f5mKmAQAt-npmJyj0S03Ig6JVPuNZBpuF3o6TDQwFE9wCp9ONgG9VLIOXjEwHJUaZ_SAwb/s200/2011-02-13_13-21-25_397.jpg" /></a> brad and babygirl in the wilson arch....brad is a lover of all things rocky.....he loves to climb and babygirl's always ready for an adventure with dad......<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHyndfV4W9OjWHmmEKlOdNRCdHlAUl6G-nkNsNa1Zp80buPaawYXfKpPRKte_r7Tg3s8I1c9-vscekz9oW8LgoYB6ghdpeg2F5sLoRKZOJ7Dcy9KXvM0RvjExQvSAno2OJ0Hn2mxws2RCq/s1600/2011-02-13_13-13-55_104.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 113px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576327333957363906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHyndfV4W9OjWHmmEKlOdNRCdHlAUl6G-nkNsNa1Zp80buPaawYXfKpPRKte_r7Tg3s8I1c9-vscekz9oW8LgoYB6ghdpeg2F5sLoRKZOJ7Dcy9KXvM0RvjExQvSAno2OJ0Hn2mxws2RCq/s200/2011-02-13_13-13-55_104.jpg" /></a> wilson arch.....named after joe wilson, a pioneer who had a cabin nearby....this formation is known as entrada sandstone.....over time, the superficial cracks, joints and folds of these layers were saturated with water....ice formed in the fissures, then melted in the extreme desert heat and winds cleaned out the loose particles......over the years many have crumbled, but some, such as the wilson arch, seen here, hardened and survived.....i didn't make this up, there's a sign at the base of the arch.......<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfamvRMk5_TWuem1E59jglhUCZzwDqm2PItlaLzKQaPsRXRDS60dCZM5tOBKIXQw6j3qUH7mLgC6Nh0XCsLr04RxPcMp1vEuiifd4YSp4j88PAVJj99cTqvNWSwEJhyphenhyphenaK87B2ULKXJwoFh/s1600/2011-02-13_12-50-16_765.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 114px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576327328595857474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfamvRMk5_TWuem1E59jglhUCZzwDqm2PItlaLzKQaPsRXRDS60dCZM5tOBKIXQw6j3qUH7mLgC6Nh0XCsLr04RxPcMp1vEuiifd4YSp4j88PAVJj99cTqvNWSwEJhyphenhyphenaK87B2ULKXJwoFh/s200/2011-02-13_12-50-16_765.jpg" /></a> this is just one of my other favorites.......i don't know what this one is named.....it sits near the highway in a long sweeping valley, majestically overseeing the area.......beaten by the wind and rain over the years, it's almost impossible to think it wasn't sculpted.....if you look closely at the southern base, there appears to be an opening into the bottom of it.......hmmmmm......<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>all things bradburyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706594376429745858noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6027097513970434765.post-83612262048171464972011-01-30T21:17:00.005-05:002011-01-30T21:41:12.663-05:00oh lord, won't ya buy me a new western star......<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07k8WUhOmhkxB7Xd0J1x2XHy_oT3SxQ3zvfq6zd0r4MTvIHWfMTcye_mhgQa96Gg5XKUqu2WeYOmrEr2qDszHEWBszwRKeCPjQQXz2x2yByC2W9knb4h16scx8mQ_BtynxYNRdBJfhsHn/s1600/LongHaul14-ex82S.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 152px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568173892990414946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07k8WUhOmhkxB7Xd0J1x2XHy_oT3SxQ3zvfq6zd0r4MTvIHWfMTcye_mhgQa96Gg5XKUqu2WeYOmrEr2qDszHEWBszwRKeCPjQQXz2x2yByC2W9knb4h16scx8mQ_BtynxYNRdBJfhsHn/s200/LongHaul14-ex82S.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>a couple of friends on facebook are always posting first lines or verses to songs on their status and most of the time, other friends will fill in the rest of the tune.....some of them are fresh and modern....others take you on a trip down memory lane........tonite my friend, jody's status was the janis joplin hit.....oh lord, won't you buy me a mercedez benz........took me straight back to the mid america truck show in louisville, ky......1999, i think....or maybe 98.......</div><br /><br /><div>western star's booth was doing a promotion and giving away free prizes and perhaps even a chance to be featured in an ad campaign....and all you had to do was get up on stage and give them a slogan idea, sing a song or act something out...........</div><br /><br /><div>well, always having prided myself on being a quick thinker on my feet.....and never having been particularily shy.....and aided by enormous prodding, coaching and even a little double-dog-daring from the bunch i was with.....i found myself on stage......and this was my contribution.....</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div>oh lord, won't ya buy me a new western star</div><br /><div>my friends all drive volvo's</div><br /><div>i need a new large car</div><br /><div>worked hard all my lifetime</div><br /><div>drove near and drove far</div><br /><div>oh lord, won't you buy me</div><br /><div>a new western star.......</div><br /><br /><div>well, i did get a hat...a couple of them....and a t-shirt.....but no recording contract....not even a discount on a new star.........</div>all things bradburyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706594376429745858noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6027097513970434765.post-37377881475180350832011-01-29T18:40:00.002-05:002011-01-30T22:20:54.744-05:00get up! ethel, you ain't gonna believe this.......<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje8Nbp8N2Hz-me_Bq1_X1QW1Ob1rq-IE8MvxjyYzfIztUkWTDJobjac6MdlAbvsDCUy7bSg-C2j_1NH57xlJsAvDCc4yIeLLPxpn2OO_KYO9W127PJaX3bqmetqN4K1nw9WBxB645EEvxM/s1600/100_1186.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565024797945355138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje8Nbp8N2Hz-me_Bq1_X1QW1Ob1rq-IE8MvxjyYzfIztUkWTDJobjac6MdlAbvsDCUy7bSg-C2j_1NH57xlJsAvDCc4yIeLLPxpn2OO_KYO9W127PJaX3bqmetqN4K1nw9WBxB645EEvxM/s200/100_1186.JPG" /></a> coming <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">thru</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">amarillo</span> on i-40 we found ourselves in a big ole backup that took forever to get <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">thru</span>......even tho <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">truckdrivers</span> are <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">alot</span> like <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">nascar</span> drivers and don't like to think about someone <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">else's</span> wreck and how it could happen to them, they also can be as bad as four-wheel drivers when it come to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">slowin</span> things down to do some rubber-<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">neckin</span>......you can enlarge the photos and get a better look....please note that we're headed east.....and the trailer is across the west-bound lanes.......<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD6uial5eyklvtgaFfm6pzKmhte4W7yPrqC_AvuM87fg98X7Fj5a16CeAUhj-gB8X4D3vpjZ1hiCsW70gk3x0GC3vSVyGi1rHYz6mrIpo9ZxSgqFqEnDfZPiM9hfAtWBJV_9hiiGl670wD/s1600/100_1187.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565024793431592994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD6uial5eyklvtgaFfm6pzKmhte4W7yPrqC_AvuM87fg98X7Fj5a16CeAUhj-gB8X4D3vpjZ1hiCsW70gk3x0GC3vSVyGi1rHYz6mrIpo9ZxSgqFqEnDfZPiM9hfAtWBJV_9hiiGl670wD/s200/100_1187.JPG" /></a> at first i thought the tractor was hidden behind the firetruck or the tow truck.....but i was wrong....<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuP7Ink2eMpGXW8mlucGGFhdcFsuCB8e5iWGQLBaesvC88NPyjhvDLZkMeWmtIU-LYEu6SqhH7Ia4-DsNqyV6oHgaWUNjITCjlVbn1iWfPVTawUQMwGDGWfDfj-YyDSUFs_7cMTf-wPNhI/s1600/100_1189.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565024786058699506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuP7Ink2eMpGXW8mlucGGFhdcFsuCB8e5iWGQLBaesvC88NPyjhvDLZkMeWmtIU-LYEu6SqhH7Ia4-DsNqyV6oHgaWUNjITCjlVbn1iWfPVTawUQMwGDGWfDfj-YyDSUFs_7cMTf-wPNhI/s200/100_1189.JPG" /></a> as i got closer, there was the tractor in the far left lane of the east bound side......he'd obviously jumped the jersey barrier .........as we passed, it was set upright, but from the looks of it, it wasn't always that way......it's hard to see them in the pictures, but there were a couple of cars involved too.....cars on the east bound side......cars that probably never expected that big blue truck to jump the concrete wall and tangle with them......any <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">ambulances</span> that had been there were long gone and we never had any information about injuries......just goes to show ya, nothin is set in stone....not even when there's a four foot wall of stone between ya......be safe out there!<br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>all things bradburyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706594376429745858noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6027097513970434765.post-53870976351957636442011-01-28T10:29:00.000-05:002011-01-28T14:50:09.259-05:00not all cleavage is created equal<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp_O3ufSIs5SHMqc9jMA-nC45PnAr2lP5e25DHGDW57Vl-QxQ5OT8G0hv2cPvUQN7c9VsqWBTJrHTSt74vRsMvD7DuBSe-r5oB7QFqdN1Qrrtb6NA1Q1M6O8QLDcAzgyawVJaVx_YfN7Zh/s1600/100_1176.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 149px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565034138781496098" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp_O3ufSIs5SHMqc9jMA-nC45PnAr2lP5e25DHGDW57Vl-QxQ5OT8G0hv2cPvUQN7c9VsqWBTJrHTSt74vRsMvD7DuBSe-r5oB7QFqdN1Qrrtb6NA1Q1M6O8QLDcAzgyawVJaVx_YfN7Zh/s200/100_1176.JPG" /></a>brad and i stopped in oregon to empty our porta potty at the rv station in the rest area.....i couldn't help but notice the person working on their camper a couple of lanes over from us.....i think it was that massive expanse of white that drew my attention.....you know how it is.....you see a butt crack.....you don't wanna look......you even find it distasteful.......and yet, in just the same way you can't keep your fingers off a pimple on your face, you just can't seem to divert your eyes entirely from the cleavage before you.......you find youself wondering why alot of men can't seem to get a pair of jeans that simply "fits" them.......and then the guy stands up and turns around and........it's a woman!......<br /><br /><br /><div></div></div>all things bradburyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706594376429745858noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6027097513970434765.post-35978834120075997722011-01-22T11:14:00.002-05:002011-01-22T11:33:51.404-05:00bg and the horses<div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565046227566531554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-3fapt2c8viLrFr2XaGz-3rtpIXoFoSpwxVbXk8Q19T8ZxiKy1nK8rc6xu_xED9awJqP_hpgfbi_6iYiQinK_aswBo80Y_JoGs80Wx0xoYx51LI4YMH4WDc24q0gxYgCex1zDEvEhts8V/s200/100_1245.JPG" />we have about 12 acres of unused pasture & a barn at the house and so we let a guy from down the road board a few of his horses there......they're always happy to see us come home and always head straight for the fence, hoping for some petting and a treat or two......they just can't decide what to think about babygirl tho.......she goes flyin at them all barky and puffed up like she's gonna ride herd and just about the time she has them a little skitterish.......<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565046233292742562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4TZHM347qNsKIfyEm6pdOc3ViFaLwDsrNl6omarcEvt_f1VUpLRV7wlBF9QgTI1_NXMMUl0C1BLf_NcsyDgl6fFKENVvIrgiPvbf7GPtnHyr4IHIpa7STLm8Zm90OpXx0uJcKAYOXj3nz/s200/100_1243.JPG" />she stops short and turns to her dad and says "dad, those are the biggest freakin dogs i have ever seen!"<br /><br /><div></div></div>all things bradburyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706594376429745858noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6027097513970434765.post-19904293501023644472011-01-22T10:41:00.002-05:002011-01-25T17:36:09.936-05:00tomato soup<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinBVlpZsVMZ3ayEqk5iVw6pFX2vVjbUyokgL7vStZBfOZaMd0cJbMIF-uBj_VXTdKRuJGbbCbgjMPA2jLsFG7z0JXFvmHB_L2o0W08dF_4BD8z2gpUk4gMinXFEPlWyREZjb5I6reNGMFW/s1600/100_1019.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565037503631303330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinBVlpZsVMZ3ayEqk5iVw6pFX2vVjbUyokgL7vStZBfOZaMd0cJbMIF-uBj_VXTdKRuJGbbCbgjMPA2jLsFG7z0JXFvmHB_L2o0W08dF_4BD8z2gpUk4gMinXFEPlWyREZjb5I6reNGMFW/s200/100_1019.JPG" /></a> i'm still wondering how big the grilled cheese sandwich has to be to go along with this soup?????????????<br /><br /><div></div>all things bradburyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706594376429745858noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6027097513970434765.post-91115156308943021372011-01-17T10:20:00.004-05:002011-01-19T18:16:06.174-05:00more goodies for us!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih32Fjp4mRY8Rotx_vWQx90gb-m4N060tXbXHVk1dIaotndjhgqcnXYGzEwynLomzlFRMTBTMEiZ9P-L6T2h4kRuWP563wnJy1ccvU94uXYkFmFWUcCTjwt8f38LQCjasD7gxL6q2oVXhY/s1600/newpilotcarda.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 112px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563190618299550146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih32Fjp4mRY8Rotx_vWQx90gb-m4N060tXbXHVk1dIaotndjhgqcnXYGzEwynLomzlFRMTBTMEiZ9P-L6T2h4kRuWP563wnJy1ccvU94uXYkFmFWUcCTjwt8f38LQCjasD7gxL6q2oVXhY/s200/newpilotcarda.jpg" /></a><br />if you don't already have one of these, then you need to take a couple of minutes (really, that's all it takes) to pick up one and activate it the next time you're stopped at a pilot or flyin j truckstop.....just ask the cashier for a new card and then you can activate it at the kiosk in a flash.....if you take in your old card, you can also transfer all your points and showers onto the new card.....all the instructions are on the back of the card and also on the kiosk screen so it's hard for even a technologically- challenged driver like me to mess it up.......you can register it online also, but if you're there, it's really easy just to swipe it thru the kiosk.....and the very best thing about registering????.....200 bonus points!!!.....i don't know about you, but we use those points....not as much for buying supper but we let them build and then buy or replace gadgets for the truck......new coolers, new ovens, cb mikes, log book covers.....it's like christmas!!...<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 112px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563186692308792242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3x4F54uadGYjdKSs6ROhQbbAdM5j9RGTZaLn06rdnAGMriblRzFoKSePL0Qnvfs1HRo052BzZ_IdOeI_Om47LEOHumxK5_KPjcy3bycungIjoscDoUyvCZJJCkrH7AhLl2UOWAoxYbB6t/s200/newpilotcard1a.jpg" /><br /><br /><br /><br />it's still a point for every gallon of diesel you purchase over 50 gallons, but some of the added features include a half-shower point for diesel purchases between 14 and 49 gallons....which, if you're like us, especially in the winter months, you top off those tanks more frequently, and those half-points add up quickly........and, for those of you wondering, yes, i did have to explain to brad that this didn't mean you could only shower half your body at a time.........and for those of you out there running hard, there are longer expiration times on your shower points .....<br /><br />it's nice to see that pilot/flyn j continues to look out for drivers with clean showers and restrooms and hazelnut coffee......and now it's even easier to cash in on your points with the new frequent fueler advantage card.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /></div>all things bradburyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706594376429745858noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6027097513970434765.post-86998325492264896492011-01-10T16:53:00.001-05:002011-01-10T17:08:11.824-05:00finally!....a sign i can agree with!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb9_YVgalf4A8mzcwZ7zSjUmPCxwO2eVrcBp9F7W_PVfSS5fGZk8fNrXz_QMWo7GCk1bIudE_82kPWKuiPSieacXhjj3pERT_ax7bm75mDweU-WozXzTcle-w9yjOKXYlfbyaBkIGjR68m/s1600/100_0704.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5560679228237744546" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb9_YVgalf4A8mzcwZ7zSjUmPCxwO2eVrcBp9F7W_PVfSS5fGZk8fNrXz_QMWo7GCk1bIudE_82kPWKuiPSieacXhjj3pERT_ax7bm75mDweU-WozXzTcle-w9yjOKXYlfbyaBkIGjR68m/s200/100_0704.JPG" /></a><br /><br />there's so many special signs on the highways pertaining to trucks....but finally, there's one i can agree with!<br /><br /><div></div>all things bradburyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706594376429745858noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6027097513970434765.post-66186510923601664082011-01-10T15:04:00.003-05:002011-01-10T15:55:49.459-05:00happy new 2011!!you might have noticed that i hadn't done much blogging in the latter part of 2010......<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">i'm</span> not completely sure why, except that it seemed like <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">everytime</span> i went to write something, it came out sounding angry and bitter.... and i wasn't liking that, not even a little bit.....<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">i've</span> always considered myself a glass-half-full kinda gal, and the fact that i was having trouble even finding anything in the glass was very <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">troubling</span> to me........even worse was the fact that i couldn't really name or define any particular reason for feeling this way.......oh, sure, the usual tribulations of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">truckdriving</span> were applied.....bad weather, not enough time at home, the holidays coming and no time to get ready, frustrating fleet managers, rough roads that made for little or no sleep <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">some days</span>.........<br /><br /><br /><br />we were, of course, late getting home for our <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">christmas</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">hometime</span>, but that blow was lightened by the fact that my <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">niece</span> and her kids (thanks, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">joyce</span>, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">cj</span> and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">cayla</span>!!) had cleaned the house and put our tree up for us and had done our grocery shopping.......it was so nice to come home to a well stocked <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">refrigerator</span>!<br /><br /><br /><br />we managed to get to stay home <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">thru</span> new year's day which was just what i think i needed.....not that i couldn't have used a few more days.....and not that i really got anything that sounds substantial done around the house, but the boost to my morale was immeasurable.....we just enjoyed time with family and friends, time spent just enjoying the lights on the tree......time looking out at new snow......time planning future home times and home projects.....<br /><br /><br /><br />as of yesterday, we've been back on the road a full week.....my mood is lighter and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">i'm</span> back in the groove and hoping to be a little better about posting here.....i was gonna say that i was making it a new year's resolution to post everyday but i know me and i know that would achieve nothing except to jinx the whole idea, so here's to 2011......let's see how it goes!!all things bradburyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706594376429745858noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6027097513970434765.post-44049358140770901322010-11-06T12:28:00.001-04:002010-11-06T19:35:20.395-04:00some days i feel like i've lost all my stuffin.....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6Bv04K3-Fj7Wznp1sBDkQZ2I3TWuxXrfULEjOZO5kNuHt0gMXvuAe2iJnoWlebF-w4DeXSrAG165h9D7IAyEf47UOs6ncgdcGm3OH5bkvo53k78ijhv3CB9EPXMJ2SpJQM7x50DFKxGB/s1600/100_0267.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529098972767887890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik6Bv04K3-Fj7Wznp1sBDkQZ2I3TWuxXrfULEjOZO5kNuHt0gMXvuAe2iJnoWlebF-w4DeXSrAG165h9D7IAyEf47UOs6ncgdcGm3OH5bkvo53k78ijhv3CB9EPXMJ2SpJQM7x50DFKxGB/s200/100_0267.JPG" /></a> babygirl sure gives her toys a rough go sometimes......there are times i feel like life treats me the same......i guess you just have to poke your stuffin back inside and keep playin!<br /><br />i know we've only been back on the road 5 days, but it's been hectic and rushed and i keep lookin at the calendar counting down the days till we're off for thanksgiving!....<br /><br /><div></div>all things bradburyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706594376429745858noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6027097513970434765.post-11515025126898364582010-10-25T14:21:00.002-04:002010-10-25T14:29:03.850-04:00only in new york.......<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq_0u4BAth9xXxrQaLVWqz2xaW8kKg98y8xB8yvxou-vDmJzLB8K9sTmp9n5fnSDUa9A6dUthl7JJwW2diECNtY51W3LjKud7nX6r3TudYs4m5ieGEKRts0JuUPxoZKLj9vBQBQWiuQFGC/s1600/100_0299.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529240134907124450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq_0u4BAth9xXxrQaLVWqz2xaW8kKg98y8xB8yvxou-vDmJzLB8K9sTmp9n5fnSDUa9A6dUthl7JJwW2diECNtY51W3LjKud7nX6r3TudYs4m5ieGEKRts0JuUPxoZKLj9vBQBQWiuQFGC/s200/100_0299.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 202px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 182px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529240124673609602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMpwb3kSASSxIbNV-G5iBWPIkUnHlGsMea4NehsqIOJDngwXGUS4hDN_6eIrP42J_IiCtSguvKkGvCMkWXYatmxDAL8A8fDF2wwoe_Pu6T5Lx_T2pqvRFeDfj8-CJnYzbGUp85v8T_8BxA/s200/100_0298.JPG" /><br /><br /><br /><div>now, don't get me wrong....i love new york.....as i've told you before, i'm one of the extremely few truckdrivers who still get excited everytime i cross the george washington.....or staten island.......but i gotta tell ya, there is a reason that new yorkers have the reputation they have.......case in point......a couple of weeks ago we headed over into brooklyn by way of the verrazano bridge to pickup a load at the old navy docks.....after getting off of i-287 and making our way almost to the docks on typical, overcrowded, narrow, paralell-parking-on-both-sides-of-the-street surface streets, we were one left turn away from our destination when we can to a sudden stop.......a roadway driver in a 10-wheel straight truck.....what???,about half the length of our truck???? rammed in to side of a small compact car driven by a young man who was attempting to pull out of a parallel parking spot on the right....thus tying up traffic on the street while both parties exchanged blame and other choice words and then got on their respective cell phones to contact a. police, and b. insurance agents and c. at least one good buddy each who they surprised with the words "dude, you're not gonna believe what just happened"........we sat at a stop right behind the roadway truck because we needed to make a left hand turn just past that building on the left in the top picture.......cars from behind us started coming around us, which literally made the oncoming traffic have to come to stop, except for a few adventuresome souls who sucked in their breath till they'd fit and created a lane where there was none........all of this was accompanied by the usual honking and hand gestures that make new york new york......and then the epitome of new york thinking kicked in in the form of the roadway driver coming back and telling brad to go around him.......brad told him that he had to make the left turn and that there wasn't room to get snaked around him and clear the intersection......and his reply???? "whatdayamean( yes, that's all spoken as one word!) ya can't make the turn??? wheredidya (also condensed to one word) learn how to drive????"</div>ummmmmm.....dude, excuse me, but we're not the one's sittin in the street with a four-wheeler attached to our bumper.........<br /><br /><br /><div></div></div>all things bradburyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706594376429745858noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6027097513970434765.post-46521763833566846952010-10-19T18:45:00.001-04:002010-10-19T18:46:32.230-04:00another mouth to feed........one of the perks of being a team of company drivers is that we get a brand new truck every year......we put around 250,000 to 300,000 miles on a truck and then trade it in and start all over.....for about 3 years now, we've been burning ultra-low <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">sulfur</span> fuel in the trucks ....a design effort to reduce emissions and comply with <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">epa</span> standards, especially <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">california</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">epa</span> standards.....at first it was a hassle as not all <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">truckstops</span> were carrying the ultra-low <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">sulphur</span> fuel and we were constantly having to track down a place that had it, but then as there became more and more demand for it (all trucks with engines 2007 and newer require it), more and more places carried it........<br /><br /><br /><br />about the same time we started using the ultra-low <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">sulphur</span> fuel, we also got a handy little feature on our engines called "regeneration"........this meant that while going down the road, our truck would <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">occasionally</span> go <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">thru</span> the "<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">regen</span>" process where internal temperatures could reach as much as 1500 degrees and would burn off any carbon buildup......<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">occasionally</span> you would also have to "<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">regen</span>" manually if you had been idling for long periods of time....when you have to manually "<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">regen</span>" you have to make sure you're not sitting on grass and/or near any paper or <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">combustible</span> materials........<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">i've</span> gotta tell ya, it took quite awhile to get over <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-error">feelin</span> anxious <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error">every time</span> we were in "<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-error">regen</span>" mode......with all the little silly things we've had mechanics miss on our trucks over the years, it's a little hard to trust that truck builders always do everything right to keep you safe from those kind of temperatures under your butt........<br /><br /><br /><br />last month we got our 2011 <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-error">freightliner</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" class="blsp-spelling-error">cascadia</span>.....it has a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_20" class="blsp-spelling-error">detroit</span> motor in it.......<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_21" class="blsp-spelling-error">detroit</span>, in their <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_22" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">infinite</span> wisdom, designed an engine that not only has all the features <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_23" class="blsp-spelling-error">i've</span> already mentioned, but it also has this handy little <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_24" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">receptacle</span> that you have to keep filled, in addition to the fuel tanks........<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Da1VdwsEJqQPZYJsZqu1ekaDJZ7lyzUv5XqBE-capyD5zZXa7mpLdY5NYsycJIIlEFdGNTWomPM9zHwG7-owtnoAzpRqvulAjSfFEUi8NnLSkNDyYgpa-2tNe9Vt_lHxwVtsspo9fkin/s1600/100_0284.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529201262597239938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Da1VdwsEJqQPZYJsZqu1ekaDJZ7lyzUv5XqBE-capyD5zZXa7mpLdY5NYsycJIIlEFdGNTWomPM9zHwG7-owtnoAzpRqvulAjSfFEUi8NnLSkNDyYgpa-2tNe9Vt_lHxwVtsspo9fkin/s200/100_0284.JPG" /></a> this extra tank holds a product called d.e.f......which stands for diesel exhaust fluid....an additive that makes the "<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_25" class="blsp-spelling-error">regen</span>" process burn cleaner and supposedly more effectively.....<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg54nk_yrE8gCw12VgPzEnyenE21Y8RAnCi8iDce7KLyxYktAfAcgaQr_P91L20dLAb46L-YutXauN5Rxn3xKyTnkAYfSl8r6ehsGhkvD2wdFdw8xQ_jjnOoQo8Mvb_jqPNxpUk1zfKxVQh/s1600/100_0415.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529180377063447170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg54nk_yrE8gCw12VgPzEnyenE21Y8RAnCi8iDce7KLyxYktAfAcgaQr_P91L20dLAb46L-YutXauN5Rxn3xKyTnkAYfSl8r6ehsGhkvD2wdFdw8xQ_jjnOoQo8Mvb_jqPNxpUk1zfKxVQh/s200/100_0415.JPG" /></a> you have the above pictured <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_26" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">gauge</span>(the row of green lights) on your dash to let you know when you need to add def.....and you're warned to keep a close eye on this <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_27" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">gauge</span> as running out of def will shut your motor down............we've been told that eventually most truck stops will also have a pump on the fuel islands for def, but so far, in three trips from coast to coast, we've only found one <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_28" class="blsp-spelling-error">truckstop</span> in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_29" class="blsp-spelling-error">washington</span> state with it and they only had one pump on one fuel island for it.......the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_30" class="blsp-spelling-error">truckstops</span> who do carry def stock it in the packaging you see below......2 and a half gallon plastic jugs with foot long nozzles that come packaged in cardboard cartons.........it causes me some concern that the same people who came up with this wonderful idea, are the same people who couldn't figure that the packaging should include a vent in the plastic jug so that the fluid would <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_31" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">actually</span> go into the tank with out you having to pull out your trusty pocket knife and punch a hole in the jug.............it also causes me concern that even tho <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_32" class="blsp-spelling-error">i'm</span> not picking up the tab on the def, it's $14 for one of these jugs and we have yet to determine how many jugs it actually takes to fill the tank up......ours was on half full and we put in 6 jugs and think we could have easily added two more.......let's see....that's $84 and two days later we had to fill it again.......<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_33" class="blsp-spelling-error">i'm</span> all for saving the planet, i just want to be able to afford to live on it while <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_34" class="blsp-spelling-error">i'm</span> keeping it green........<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6by3nsPp5AezSAhGO6NJH_Q5dTDgu62CFfSgNDtmPA9O1oBUpVZMJR3Be3RckpbAFJJQ14Yyf5WwQG5TI06LgN7yhPcK13WEtwUbwYs200n_EF2moTIDDo_IuMz46GN51cImWtVYpO57L/s1600/100_0411.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529180372319838802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6by3nsPp5AezSAhGO6NJH_Q5dTDgu62CFfSgNDtmPA9O1oBUpVZMJR3Be3RckpbAFJJQ14Yyf5WwQG5TI06LgN7yhPcK13WEtwUbwYs200n_EF2moTIDDo_IuMz46GN51cImWtVYpO57L/s200/100_0411.JPG" /></a> so now we leave this nice mess on the fuel islands.........<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnGP5VUjLfTj5cDiUKEHhcyd6JsAOmm1DcHRfEhC38bPKSBtA8uROfsnWraRi7OR8q-KrOdXmxG6cRJGg0BivNvLAYYvFFuEURo_OVXnKm4euSjccC1k-81siUAl3uSaiOrkP8BkmPY-eJ/s1600/100_0409.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529180367769325362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnGP5VUjLfTj5cDiUKEHhcyd6JsAOmm1DcHRfEhC38bPKSBtA8uROfsnWraRi7OR8q-KrOdXmxG6cRJGg0BivNvLAYYvFFuEURo_OVXnKm4euSjccC1k-81siUAl3uSaiOrkP8BkmPY-eJ/s200/100_0409.JPG" /></a><br />and this mess down the side of our truck, because the way the tank opening is situated and the way the jug nozzle is made, it's impossible to keep it from dripping......<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBtYaBeYMnnxTR8S1V4s4KondRt1Om9orJ_ZSrd6OfimmqNqEHLn_oZsR-IYCiYrAjsa-cAsiidrLELXtRod2G5zBhK1Mo_Vobefoil7ix4W3XolM33a15BoD6SfK0_UBaDFw7YR9DT0Lw/s1600/100_0407.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529180359745651666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBtYaBeYMnnxTR8S1V4s4KondRt1Om9orJ_ZSrd6OfimmqNqEHLn_oZsR-IYCiYrAjsa-cAsiidrLELXtRod2G5zBhK1Mo_Vobefoil7ix4W3XolM33a15BoD6SfK0_UBaDFw7YR9DT0Lw/s200/100_0407.JPG" /></a> not to mention that on the stops where you have to add the def, it adds at least another 15 minutes to an already tight schedule.........but hey!.....who gives a rat's <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_35" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">derriere</span> if we're overloading the landfills with plastic and cardboard as long as we're keeping the air cleaner in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_36" class="blsp-spelling-error">california</span>?????<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>all things bradburyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706594376429745858noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6027097513970434765.post-76244741151646919892010-10-17T16:45:00.005-04:002010-10-18T01:15:15.283-04:00my little black bagi'm not much for carrying a purse on the truck......for one thing, life in the truck is hard on them....they get kicked around on the floor, rub up against stuff and ruin the leather as we roll down the road....about the only time i feel the need for one is if we are taking time off somewhere other than home and i know i'll be going out shopping or to dinner....or when we stop at walmart.........back in my solo-driver days i had the whole dash to hold all my "essentials" while i was driving......but in the years since i became a team driver, it seems like either the dash is getting smaller and smaller, they're putting more and more space-sucking gadgets on the dash or else brad is just getting more and more stuff of his own, because it doesn't seem like i can find a place for my stuff up there anymore!.....but a couple of months ago while in walmart i was cruising the craft supply isle and found this little jewel......it's got sturdy sides and has kept it's shape.....it has loads of various sized individual pockets that make almost custom-crafted homes for all my goodies and it wipes clean with a damp cloth!!.....<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYzd7GhGHMNVxtu8bHEY1KpcfthCI2XetN0j07W8sFvgN8_uaIPJIIbj88KqJ_MVY8Th9Sm2PaoAF-Oqda5OM5ETA8bg4oXLbBXupAtDKyuXIJQVXRNiifsD4BQKq10pVMu6mTNXZ7IZg0/s1600/100_0278.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529126924519008226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYzd7GhGHMNVxtu8bHEY1KpcfthCI2XetN0j07W8sFvgN8_uaIPJIIbj88KqJ_MVY8Th9Sm2PaoAF-Oqda5OM5ETA8bg4oXLbBXupAtDKyuXIJQVXRNiifsD4BQKq10pVMu6mTNXZ7IZg0/s200/100_0278.JPG" /></a> outside pockets hold my eye-glass cleaner and cloth, hand sanitizer and a small bottle of a great little cucumber pick-me-up-spray, pens, post-its, and a comb........<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7PYsC2GaUDoY-rxS0FnKkq55eVVis3g_qFqRRXuQIYl5vOTAerrsnJJ72QyIzSbcssv5m1Ty2dhJPK3NhC7930-CJq-52_P_zmzsuPse2raK3wRvAYsG_1PTBQfL9rDEHpYTMQCO1d_R/s1600/100_0277.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529126910725291874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7PYsC2GaUDoY-rxS0FnKkq55eVVis3g_qFqRRXuQIYl5vOTAerrsnJJ72QyIzSbcssv5m1Ty2dhJPK3NhC7930-CJq-52_P_zmzsuPse2raK3wRvAYsG_1PTBQfL9rDEHpYTMQCO1d_R/s200/100_0277.JPG" /></a> an interior row of pockets are sized just right for my sunglasses, tissues, ipod, phone and headset.....and the huge inside pocket holds whatever audio-book i'm listening to at the time and keeps my wallet in handy reach!<br /><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLwXI7Wp7leoOVmmqIyLcbq97RMxZTDXZinBWp6QbKnipvDtpoHmfdHrzZDTEREvQ4ZRb9wF-OKXG4avgHddsxFPUXdGLoyjnnKHwV9lxUMoK8sNQYFzZNq6ylldX3MDDKe-6C07dj2CaU/s1600/100_0274.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529126892251390434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLwXI7Wp7leoOVmmqIyLcbq97RMxZTDXZinBWp6QbKnipvDtpoHmfdHrzZDTEREvQ4ZRb9wF-OKXG4avgHddsxFPUXdGLoyjnnKHwV9lxUMoK8sNQYFzZNq6ylldX3MDDKe-6C07dj2CaU/s200/100_0274.JPG" /></a> i'm not embarrassed to tell ya that i'm just a little bit in-love with this handy little bag!....i set it on the floor beside my seat when i'm driving and everything i might need while driving is within handy reach......i've not yet given up my cupholder space for my coffee, water, tea or whatever tho...although the designers seem to keep making these smaller and shallower all the time, so it may not be long before i have to add a bottle holder to this little number!....and when we switch out and brad drives, all i have to do is pick it up and set it back on the bunk or a shelf and it's out of his way.....and he thinks that's pretty sweet!<br /><br /><div></div></div></div>all things bradburyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706594376429745858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6027097513970434765.post-26210075521963256612010-10-17T15:41:00.003-04:002010-10-21T17:56:55.641-04:00council bluffs, iowai take alot of pleasure from simple things in life......one of them is watching all the new decorative bridge railings and intersection landscaping that so many cities across the country are installing as they upgrade and expand the infrastructure.....pennsicola, florida has the blue angels navy show squadron on their overpass abuttments.....seattle has fish and waves and mountains......las vegas has fighter jets from nellis airforce base.......albuquerque has huge mosaic pots and a giant cactus that changes colors at night......salt lake city and ogden have beautiful tin sculptures of ranchers, cattle, horses, and miners and skiers.............recently, while coming thru council bluffs, iowa for the first time in awhile we were greeted by this............we looked.......we looked again......we picked our jaws up off the truck floor and looked again.......we looked at each other and then at it again.......whaaaaattttttt??????????........<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8P0yKnAfLX7Uf9N3MZYsPPRnuOL-M5NgTxDqNy9vxCYGQQ-kazbwnhQbelrckcLw30m87HTo7fdk5WfWxEdHOkh2ucQmmlnDMITLhXJowe6fLHtXMFmO9Ua1kJXp28Rp7DTbCkjZlg2TV/s1600/100_0265.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529108229800600242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8P0yKnAfLX7Uf9N3MZYsPPRnuOL-M5NgTxDqNy9vxCYGQQ-kazbwnhQbelrckcLw30m87HTo7fdk5WfWxEdHOkh2ucQmmlnDMITLhXJowe6fLHtXMFmO9Ua1kJXp28Rp7DTbCkjZlg2TV/s200/100_0265.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>i'm pretty certain they paid alot of money for this "art".....upon a little closer inspection it looks like parts of tractors and farming implements welded together in some grotesque and eerie fashion.......perhaps inspired by a transformer movie or even edward scissorhands.......<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAC5_mRDR6c115xLdQ3qTQofOiiy4-86ueeTiJIFje82VB3lNU2xGB5w83RqFHylf6DvrDK9pIpDrTz0TBLdGbxj2jyGIrGC1GTG4HYn4JibPQgYg54_fH8MKJbTRIMrLGo_fLgUHdESt/s1600/100_0264.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529108215786609986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAC5_mRDR6c115xLdQ3qTQofOiiy4-86ueeTiJIFje82VB3lNU2xGB5w83RqFHylf6DvrDK9pIpDrTz0TBLdGbxj2jyGIrGC1GTG4HYn4JibPQgYg54_fH8MKJbTRIMrLGo_fLgUHdESt/s200/100_0264.JPG" /></a> i guess i'm just missing something here.......i've seen the remains of a three-car pileup loaded on a rollback that made more sense than these do.......</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>on another recent trip thru council bluffs at night, we did at least find something good to say about the sculptures........"at least they're not lit up after dark!"<br /><br /><div></div></div>all things bradburyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706594376429745858noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6027097513970434765.post-48541228982348995522010-08-06T16:12:00.002-04:002010-08-06T16:51:55.607-04:00sittin & waitin......most people think all truck drivers do is run down the highways of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">america</span> taking things from one place to another......and that is a good part of our job.....it's the part that usually makes sense and earns us a paycheck......but it surely isn't all that we do.......on some loads, just the paperwork involved, alone, could send the hardiest of pencil pushers into a frenzy.....and then there's the driver's who load and unload their own freight......we try to avoid those kinds of loads.....<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">occasionally</span> we'll get stuck with one and i always argue with them over it since i have a strong <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">aversion</span> to touching freight.....it's not that <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">i'm</span> lazy....well, not entirely that <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">i'm</span> lazy, it's just that while i drove 500 miles <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">thru</span> the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">nite</span> hauling said freight, i never once looked over and seen a shipper or <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">receiver</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">sittin</span> in the passenger seat telling me funny stories to help keep me awake.......they never fuel, they have never once come out and cleaned my mirrors.....nothin........so i take great offense when they think i should work on their dock......just doesn't happen very often and i can assure you, NEVER without protest!!.....<br /><br />anyway, the other big part of truck driving is the sitting-and-waiting........the past couple of weeks we've been doing <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">alot</span> of that.....first off because our load got picked up by another truck....then an entire week in a hotel with our truck in the shop.......then another day & a half waiting on a shipper to rework a load that was too heavy on the front....TWICE.....they reworked it and still couldn't get it right.......i mean, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">jeesh</span>, it's not like they load trailers everyday..(insert sarcastic eye roll here)...........we didn't sit & wait much for the next few days, as we came down from <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">seattle</span> to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">los</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">angeles</span>, delivered, picked up another load and headed to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">baltimore</span>......three days <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-error">comin</span> across the country meant three days that they had to get everything worked out on this load......three days till our 0700 delivery appointment this morning that i got up at 0300 in order to make on time......just to be turned away from the port gates because someone had not bothered to register this truck at the port for the past three days.......hmmmmmm.....can we say "incompetence"???????.......<br /><br />so now it's 1645 eastern time and <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error">i'm</span> still hooked to the same load and still waiting for them to tell us where to take it.......we are supposed to be headed home as soon as we do drop it.......i can assure you i won't be <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-error">sittin</span> & waiting for them to tell me to go!all things bradburyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706594376429745858noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6027097513970434765.post-85072764000068588502010-07-27T18:48:00.005-04:002010-07-27T19:26:39.287-04:00theives among us!everybody has fears.....we all are afraid of something.....for truck drivers, it's usually nasty winter road conditions, drive tire blowouts or that mini-van loaded with kids that pulls out in front of you........for <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">alot</span> of us it's knowing that things "back home" are safe and secure while you're out here earning a living........today we know how that feels......we're in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">portland</span>, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">oregon</span> in a hotel while our truck is in the shop........brad and i, while spiritual people, are not church-goers, so we don't tithe, but are thinking maybe we should start after these past few days......it all started last <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">friday</span>.....we delivered here in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">portland</span> and were dispatched to pick up a load here later that evening going to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">sacramento</span>, but when we went to pickup, it had already been gotten by another truck....evidently the load was double-dispatched, which i never understand how that happens, but it <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">occasionally</span> does.......so we headed over to the truck stop and called it a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">nite</span>.....then on <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">saturday</span> evening we were again dispatched on a load going, this time, to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">los</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">angeles</span>,but it didn't pick up till <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">monday</span> morning.....that meant we had all day <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">sunday</span> off.....we are never ones to mind an <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">occasional</span> day of sitting idle because even tho you're not making any money, you do get a chance to catch up on sleep, laundry, truck chores and, let's be honest, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">facebook</span>!!......we walked over to a really nice little restaurant for supper <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-error">sunday</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error">nite</span> and had <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-error">marion</span> berry pie for dessert!....if you haven't had <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-error">marion</span> berry pie then you need to add that to your bucket list......<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" class="blsp-spelling-error">alot</span> like blackberries, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_20" class="blsp-spelling-error">marion</span> berries are <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_21" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">indigenous</span> to this area and very very tasty.....i wish <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_22" class="blsp-spelling-error">i'd</span> remembered my camera, just so that i could make your mouth water, but you'll just have to take my word for it......yummo!!.......anyway, we returned to the truck, watched a little <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_23" class="blsp-spelling-error">tv</span> and settled in for the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_24" class="blsp-spelling-error">nite</span>......all was going well till about 0300 local time when we were awakened by what we thought must surely be the second coming....light on the dash blinking, buzzers going off....and a truck full of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_25" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">exhaust</span> fumes!!!!!......we quickly got up, got the truck shut off and opened up and brad got under the hood to see what was going on......we ended up taking the truck to another <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_26" class="blsp-spelling-error">truckstop</span> shop where the mechanic found a break in the exhaust line just under the bunk......he couldn't fix it, so we took it to the international dealer's shop where they found a host of troubles in addition to the exhaust leak......seeing that some of the parts needed had to come to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_27" class="blsp-spelling-error">portland</span> from the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_28" class="blsp-spelling-error">chicago</span> area, they found us a nice hotel room....and we settled in again and ordered pizza, since after spending all day in their lovely, but hardly air conditioned driver's lounge, neither one of us were interested in leaving the a/c of our nice room......this morning brad called to check on the truck and was told that it wouldn't be ready today either.....frustrating, but doable....it's just part of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_29" class="blsp-spelling-error">truckdriving</span>........a little later in the morning tho was when insult was added to injury......we got a call from the guy who looks after things for us while we're gone......he'd gone by our house this morning and found that sometime in the past few days it had been broken into!!!!.......in all the years we've been on the road, we've always worried about this happening, but have never had anything bothered.....it probably took me a good ten minutes of the call to comprehend that he wasn't <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_30" class="blsp-spelling-error">bs'n</span> me and that someone had actually been in our home.........i still don't think it became totally real to me till he put the state trooper on the line to talk to me......hearing news like that is just surreal........it appears they'd entered <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_31" class="blsp-spelling-error">thru</span> a window.....they must have spent a little time there, because every drawer had been opened and gone <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_32" class="blsp-spelling-error">thru</span>......they took some change we had in plastic jars where we empty our pockets on the truck and hadn't gotten taken to the bank yet....the took some of brad's <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_33" class="blsp-spelling-error">marilyn</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_34" class="blsp-spelling-error">monroe</span> wines.....they took some jewelry .....these are the things we know of so far....we won't really know what's missing until we can get home and look for ourselves.........the biggest thing is that they took any peace of mind that we had, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_35" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">naively</span> or otherwise, about the house and they put a large crimp in any thread of belief in human decency......no one should ever have to worry about the safety of the things they've worked hard to provide for, but today is totally about us.....so <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_36" class="blsp-spelling-error">i'm</span> saying that <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_37" class="blsp-spelling-error">truckdrivers</span> should never have to worry that, while they're working to bring the stuff you want to you, that their stuff is being pilfered out the back door!all things bradburyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706594376429745858noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6027097513970434765.post-72607403161306626722010-07-19T13:11:00.002-04:002010-07-19T13:32:35.649-04:00sh*t our load planner comes up with!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMw3-zmN37Oe3xEr-k4-B_YZbS5uBBdBHR1QNV52Fnv2eEVIlJC3R3LsXU2ywi5siCbjo5Jk0FMWmRYpFkYawJFwZ4-4g3TunUkC7TrUCuuXSzsCEd-wgrqOcja3_fQGz8reI_KjxLwOYN/s1600/101_0058.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495666470733570530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMw3-zmN37Oe3xEr-k4-B_YZbS5uBBdBHR1QNV52Fnv2eEVIlJC3R3LsXU2ywi5siCbjo5Jk0FMWmRYpFkYawJFwZ4-4g3TunUkC7TrUCuuXSzsCEd-wgrqOcja3_fQGz8reI_KjxLwOYN/s200/101_0058.JPG" /></a> i know that some of you just shake your head when you read some of my blogs where i complain about the folks we work for.......i know you think i should just suck it up and get on with it.....pull up my big girl panties and deal.......well, most of the time i do.......i'm a dealer-with-er-kind of person, always preferring to see the glass as half-full............it's just that sometimes it harder than others to believe there's any substance in the glass at all......<br /><br />take last nite for example.....we delivered our load in salt lake city yesterday morning and then headed over to the truck stop, caught up a little on sleep, got a nice shower, some supper.....spent the evening watching tv and catching up on facebook till the driver-tech beeped with our assisgnment and this is what we found.........take a close look......deadheading 647 miles from salt lake to our company yard in colton, california, just to run a load over to ontario, ca....a whopping 21 miles away!!!!.......it doesn't take an mba to calculate the business stupidity of this logic........and if you notice that the load needed to deliver by 0900 local time the next morning.....now what you can't see in the picture is that this pre-assignment didn't even come to us till midnite!......we've been doing alot of loads lately that have high dead-head miles on them....this doesn't usually matter to us since we get paid by the mile loaded or empty....but sometimes ya just gotta go "whoooaaaaaa!!!".......anyway....brad called our fleet manager, explained that there was no way we could make it on time, the fleet manager, surprisingly, agreed how ridiculous this load was when there were surely any number of drivers in the local california area who could take it and he had it taken off of us..........as it stands now, we are picking up a load right here in salt lake in a couple of hours and heading to portland, oregon....makes much more sense to me.....with over 6000 trucks in the fleet there is hardly any area of the country that there aren't some of our trucks in at any given time.....why would you not utilize the closest truck????.....i've been reading a hilarious non-fiction book by justin halpern entitiled "sh*t my dad says"......i think i may have to plagerize his title and start a blog, "sh*t my load planner comes up with!"all things bradburyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07706594376429745858noreply@blogger.com1