Surfs up

The holidays ( did I mention I HATE all holidays ) reek havoc on my schedule.

The boss called Friday morning ( I usually leave about noon) and said my run to Texarkana had been cancelled and told me just to "hang loose" and keep my cell phone near.

I was setting here "surfing" when he called about 1 pm and asked me to "hurry" in and run to Hot Springs by way of Malvern Wal-Mart. About 110 miles in all and not over 2 1/2 hours.

I didn't wait to "catch another wave", I just told Frankie and Fabian that I had to go "earn some bread", kissed Annette on the cheek, tossed my board in the woodie and split.

Upon arriving at work I find out my load will not be ready for 30 minutes. While I wait several more "hot shot" runs come in and I ended up not going to Hot Springs.

I finally left the dairy at 4 pm going to Malvern, Camden and El Dorado. A little over 250 miles and I came dragging in a little before midnight.

Those under 30 will probably not understand this post and the older ones will just think it "lame".

The Victory Garden

I love PBS and one of their best is the longest running gardening show on tv, "The Victory Garden". I'm sure everyone has seen it at some time.

Did you know "the victory garden" evolved from "the war garden" that was an actual government sponsored campaign during the first world war? At the time nearly all the worlds food was grown on small farms. With nearly all the able bodied men suddenly called to war, the world population was on the verge of starving.

Everyone was encouraged to grow what little food they could, no matter how small of a garden. Country folks had always had gardens to feed their families but city folks knew very little about gardens.

National War Garden Commission was formed and it sat out to educate everyone, publishing timely pamphlets as each phase of the season deemed it prudent.

Daylight Saving Time was enacted to add the time for people to tend their garden after work.


You can read all about it here.

The War Garden

Even if you are not interested in gardening, this is something I think everyone should read. It shows that our country used to have people that found a way " to get the job done".

For several generations the parents wanted better for their children than they had it. We have "bettered" our selves into a country that most have little knowledge of how to take care our own families.

Posting comments?

I am having problems posting "comments" to most of the blogs I read. Is it because I am using the "old blogger" and not "beta blogger"? If you can't "comment" on my blog, please e-mail me ...................sable@ipa.net

Field Trip

OK class, gather around and follow me down this 350 yard raised walkway. There will be placards to read as you walk.

No Annie, you can't take your camera. I will not have you handing out "cheat sheets" for the test at the end of the hike.

I will allow "click to enlarge".

New Ride

This is my new work truck. We have 2 identical trucks and this one is assigned to me. I don't know if it is because I go the farthest from the dairy or my nose is the brownest. Doesn't matter to me. I am just very proud of it.

It is a 2007 International 9200i Day Cab tractor. "Day Cab" means it does not have a sleeper. It is equipped with the new generation low emissions Cummins engine. 600 cubic inch engine and rated at 450 horsepower. The 600 c.i. is a little small but the horsepower is up there with the larger older engines. It is supposed to be cleaner burning and more fuel efficient.

This is a lot nicer truck than we currently operate.






It has electric adjustable mirrors on both sides and an electric passenger side window.





Step inside and have a seat. You will notice it has a "tilt and telescoping" steering wheel. It also has cruise control.





The woodgrain dash is well laid out with the usual gauges.






The switches,radio, and heater/ac controls are within easy reach. You can also see the control for the "Jake Brake".






Did I mention it has a 10 speed transmission?






As you entered you saw these buttons on the side of the seat. Please click to enlarge. The red button raises and lowers the air-ride seat. It has about 12 inches of up and down travel. The seat back has 3 air bladders and the grey buttons control those bladders. The seat can also oscillate front to rear. This 2 inches of travel really smooth out the ride or you can lock it in place.


I drove it on my second run today and know that I will enjoy driving it until my retirement. It is governed to run only 68mph but pulls strong until then. The cruise control will only set at 62mph or below. This is to achieve maximum fuel mileage.

It is nice to finally be owned by a company that knows how to spec out trucks.

Safety Meeting

Saturday we had our end of the year safety meeting for "the transportation department". We drive the big trucks as opposed to the "wholesale department" that drives the small milk trucks you see delivering to stores. These are 2 different departments entirely.

Our department has about 13 trucks and 17 drivers (some trucks are used by 2 different drivers). We do not drive the large number of miles that OTR drivers (over the road) drive but we still drive a large number of miles.

We had "zero" accidents this year while collectively driving between 600,000 and 700,00- miles. When most people think of accidents they think of "fender-benders" or worse. These are the most common for OTR drivers but in our case that is a small part of the "at risk" we find ourselves in every day. OTR drivers mostly travel interstate and major highways. We do the same plus city streets and in parking lots with lots of cars. We also "backup" (the most "at risk" driving one can do) more in a month than OTR drivers do in a year.

Contact with a building, parked car, pole, dumpster or any other object is considered an "accident". So "zero" accidents in a year is quite an accomplishment.

If one has an accident in the previous 12 months (ending in October every year), then he is not given an award for that year. All years worked without an accident are added together for your total.

The first accident free year you receive a jacket, five years and ten years you receive a plaque. Every year you receive a "safety hat-pin". A small monetary award is also given. Wal-Mart gift cards, starting at $10 and increases $5 a year until a maximum of $60 is reached.

We have our meeting at different restaurants where a nice meal is provided by the company.
This year is my 11th year with the company and this is a picture ( sorry for the quality) of my pin.

Worker

Today I took a load of cream to Fayetteville. We use plastic "totes" similar to the one pictured . The ones we use are insulated and made of plastic. The cream is placed in a large "bladder" inside.




Like this but only on a much larger scale. The totes are
reusable and the bladders are not. Each tote is about 3ft. X 4ft. and 4ft. tall. They will hold about 2000 pds. of cream.

I leave the full totes and pick up the empty ones so we will have them to fill when they want more.

The young man the was running the forklift was "handicapped". His right arm was a little smaller than his left, plus his forearm had no wrist or hand. Just a large smooth knot (almost like a smooth fist) with 2 deformed fingers. He handles the forklift very well as he seems to have complete control over his arm and elbow.

I admire him for working but I also admire PINNACLE FOODS for hiring him and finding a job that he can do. It is a great job for him with benefits and retirement plus the company has a loyal and productive worker.

One year = 54 weeks

You say as you are shaking your head side to side, "HOLD IT, HOLD IT ! Squire, seems your math skills are not any better than your spelling and communication skills."

Well I get paid every other week. 26 paychecks = 52 weeks.

We also get paid for the usual 6 holidays but only get Thanksgiving and Christmas off (most of the time). We have to work extra on those weeks to make up for being off. The other four holidays are regular work days unless they fall on your usual day off. Either way, you receive your normal pay plus the holiday pay. These 4 days plus the extra work amount to at least a weeks pay. Although it is payed out over the year. We will call this "Holiday Week Pay".

52 regular weeks + holiday week = 53 weeks in a year.

Now the next part is really interesting. We are given 5 "sick days" that we can take with pay in a year. If you take any of these days you will only receive 75% pay ( it may not seem fair but a lot of people don't even get that). For any "sick days" you have left November 30 (on December 1 you receive 5 new ones for the next 12 months), you will receive 100% pay in a check we like to think of as "Christmas money". Don't take off sick and you get a weeks pay the first week of December.

52 regular weeks
1 holiday week
1 sick day week
equals
54 weeks in a year.

While moving on to an intelligent blog, you roll your eyes into the back of your head and say, "Unbelievable, this guy is a moron".

Hamburg, Arkansas

I love small town America.

To me "Small town America" should have a "town square". Some town squares are occupied by a courthouse while others had schoolhouses and the list could go on and on.

Hamburg, Ar. located in the timber region of southeast Arkansas has an open "square". I don't know if a building was even located on it but my guess is there once was one.

This picture was taken from the southwest corner of the square.


This was from the southeast corner. The square has businesses on all four sides.


This lovely gazebo is in the center of the square. It is decorated with a Christmas tree and the usual trimmings.



This 4-sided clock is on the main drag side of the square. I think it gives the right look.


Naturally, small town America always has its share of wonderful old churches and this one is about a block from the square.

Every small town has at least one famous or infamous (or both) son and Hamburg, Arkansas lays claim to Scotty Pippen, of the Chicago Bulls Basketball star. He along with Michael Jordon won several world championships with the Bulls.

The Joy of it all

We all read blogs to be entertained. A good laugh picks up our spirits and a good cry is good for the soul.

I read one blog that does both. I laugh until I cry. Anyone that can laugh at ones self is special in my book.

The Joys

is written by a young mom that has been on a roll lately. From boobs to chicken to poop and back to boobs. Please take a look at the last week of November and the first part of December and as one commenter stated, "don't do it with a full bladder".

I am sure it will become one of you favorites.

December book review

"Three Weeks with My Brother", by Nicholas Sparks

OK, you have probably already read this one. Nicholas and his brother Micah take a three week trip around the world together. That part of the book was "alright", but what the book is really about is telling his life story in between the story about the trip. This is a very good book "by and about" one of America's favorite authors.

It is not right!

Over the weekend most of the parents traveling with children had movies playing in the car to keep the kids busy.

That is "not right". Parents should have to suffer with "Are we there yet?", as we older parents did.

Winter driving in a "big truck" can be a challenge with rainy, icy, and snowy roads,

but the real reason I am not fond of driving in the winter is the fact that the landscape is almost naked





and the women aren't.












For those interested I wrote in my "Life story" blog today. My nieces have asked for more.

Full Moon?

Because we will not work Thanksgiving, the normal "run" schedule does not apply this week.

I ran Monticello and Hamburg yesterday. Had to make unscheduled stops in Pine Bluff and Star City to drop off Buttermilk that we had run out of then those trailers were loaded and delivered. Buttermilk takes several hours to make, so when you are out, you will be out for awhile. No big deal, just get the job done.

Everything was going fine until I left Monticello. The speed limit is 45 mph thru town and after leaving city limits the road is uphill. I'm doing about 50 mph when a car at a stop sign on my right pulls out in front on me headed back to town. The driver was a young woman with kids in the car. She simply failed to see a "big 60' long truck". I had to brake sharply and she looked and I could see the terror in her eyes. It unnerved me as I thought about what could have happened.

About 2 miles down the road, a big truck blew out a left front tire and ended up across the road on my shoulder. I was never in any danger as it happened about a mile in front of me, but I could see it all as it happened.


5 miles further down the road, a deer hunter in a pickup with a 4 wheeler on a trailer ran a stop sign and was half way out in the road when I passed.

Some days just seem more dangerous than others.

Working stiff

One of the bloggers I read said, "I think I will take the day off." There was no reason, they just wanted the day off.

I'm just a working stiff and would never think about taking a day off , "just because". I have my faults (did I really say that), but being a slacker has never been one of them.

My take on employment goes like this; I was hired because they needed an employee to work. If they wanted a "part-time employee", I would have been hired as one.
I expect to be allowed to work when I am scheduled to work. So why should my employer not expect me to show for work when I am supposed to. I never turn down extra work because I would not be asked if I were not needed.

If you do not want to work, then do not take a job, period!

Camera

I want a small light weight "point and shoot" camera for my upcoming trip. We have a nice camera but it is just too big and heavy to have on your person all the time. After researching my options, I finally decided on the model I wanted.

Buying online is something that I am comfortable with, so I placed an order before their store opened. Basic camera, basic order, just ship it to me! Now is when the problem begins.

They call and want to sell their "camera accessory pack". I was not home and my wife would not authorize the addition and told them I would call them back.

I get the most over baring salesman I have ever encountered. I tell him I just want the "camera" and nothing else. He will not take NO for an answer. I then tell him to cancel my order. He says he will not do that until he tries to help me. Now I am getting more angry by the second. After I tell him I have 2 battery chargers and 16 rechargeable batteries and do not need his, he proceeds to tell me the camera has a cheap plastic case (it is metal!) and I need to upgrade to the metal case. Rather than call him the bold faced liar that he is, I just say that I ready don't care about it being plastic.

The whole time I have said "please cancel my order" several times. He changes his tactics by telling me the camera is imported (HELL, they are all imported) and the instructions are not in English and he can upgrade the software for only $25.

Now my blood is really boiling. If I could have reached through the phone this lying #*&%+ would be minus his teeth if not his life. We proceed to exchange pleasantries as we are now both angry. I finally call him just what he is and tell him he will cancel my order and I will dispute any charges to my credit card and hang up.

I call my credit card and tell them what is going on and when I go back to the camera store's website I see that my order has indeed been canceled. I printed it out for future reference.

All this to save $30. Sometimes it just does not pay to be a tightwad.

Grocery tax

Our governor-elect wants to eliminate the sales tax on groceries. Everyone pays the tax and poor people pay a disproportionate amount of their income on this tax, so it would seem a win-win for everyone.

Not so in my opinion. We know that the tax money will be made up from some other tax (even though our state has a large tax surplus). At least the grocery tax is charged to every one no matter their income.

The hotshots (did I misspell that by one letter) have various ways of not paying taxes, but not this one. Sure they can eat out often on their "expense accounts", but the groceries their wives buy for the house gets taxed.

Of course a 'fair' tax system isn't going to happen (ending corporate welfare/pork/political nepotism). That being said. Will the tax be eliminated or just the STATE portion of the tax? City and county taxes eat away at our income also.

Politics

Well, we survived another political season. Now we well see how the more important issue is handled. How soon do they take down all the signs?

Class of 66

It doesn't matter what year you graduated high school. Mine just happened to be 1966. Yes, 40 years ago. The Statler Brothers song of Class of 57 fits my class and your class.

CLASS OF '57 (Don & Harold Reid) The Statler Brothers - 1972

Tommy's sellin' used cars, Nancy's fixin' hair
Harvey runs a grocery store and Margaret doesn't care
Jerry drives a truck for Sears and Charlotte's on the make
And Paul sells life insurance and part time real estate
Helen is a hostess, Frank works at the mill
Jeanette teaches grade school and prob'ly always will
Bob works for the city and Jack's in lab research
And Peggy plays organ at the Presbiterian Church
And the class of '57 has dreams
We all thought we'd change the world with our great works and deeds
Or maybe we just thought the world would change to fit our needs
The class of '57 has dreams
Betty runs a trailer park, Jan sells Tupperware
Randy's on an insane ward and Mary's on welfare
Charlie took a job with Ford and Joe took Freddie's wife
Charlotte took a millionaire and Freddie took his life
John is big in cattle, Ray is deep in debt
Where Mavis finally wound up is anybody's bet
Linda married Sonny, Brenda married me
And the class of all of us is just part of history
And the class of '57 has dreams
But livin' life day to day is never like it seems
Things get complicated when you get past eighteen
But the class of '57 has dreams
Ah, the class of '57 has dreams


"We all thought we'd change the world with our great works and deeds. Or maybe we just thought the world would change to fit our needs." These are truly powerful word and I must say I have fallen down on my part. What about you?

Why!

Why do we let them be manufactured and sold, when the only the only reason to own one is to circumvent the law. They have been outlawed in "big trucks" for years (and rightly so), outlawed in some states, but for the life of me, I can't see why they are not forbidden all together.

I guess so idiots like the one that passed me last night doing what I estimate to have been at least 90mph can get away with it. Yes, there on his rear view mirror was the little tale-tale light of a radar detector.

If you are caught doing 20mph over the speed limit, I think you should have your vehicle impounded, you license taken away for a year, and spend at least 48 hours in jail.

If you are driving a big rig then your CDL should be pulled for 5 years. I have no tolerance for speeders ( my old classmates will get a kick out of that).

SPEED KILLS!!!!!

November Book Review

John Steinbeck is most remembered by my generation for two of his novels that were made into movies. The Grapes of Wrath, starring Henry Fonda and East of Eden, starring James Dean.

In 1962 Steinbeck was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature for his account of Travels with Charley.

In 1960, after suffering a small stroke, Steinbeck and his poodle, Charley, set out to see America in a pickup truck with a camper on back. It depicks life in the '60's.


He did not keep notes and wrote the book after the trip. It was actually written in Barbados and finished in New York. It became the largest commercial success of his career.