I made a promise that I would be more sociable, and yet it’s the last week of February, and the isolation still exists. I keep wishing to just use the Driver’s Blog for just leisure, and still I keep adding more and more “How To” concepts, than a more relaxed theme of what I saw, and what is still to be seen. It truly has been a long process to adjust to. So, I think I need to start moving articles to other locations and make this my “Down-Time” blog, with pictures and stories to simply pass the time. Even now, I feel so compelled to rehash the last few years. I guess it is more of a self “sole search” to figure how far I have come.

      It is February 26th, a Sunday, and a beautiful day in Denton, Texas. Of course, I still have my own chores to do, such as laundry, records keeping, and backups (I guess some things just won’t change), but to just take a look around, and notice the area I have come to stay, this should start a new outreach to the Driver’s blog theme. Typically, when I know I’ll be “planted” in one spot for a thirty four hour period or more, I try to think of what I need to get done and be ready to roll again. This time it was laundry. Not all truck stops have everything a driver needs, but there are so many stops along the way, that in some cases, you can park at one, and walk across the way to another, just to get everything done.

      The life on the road took some time to get used to, and carrying around a notebook everywhere I go was an image thing to consider and overcome. In fact, I started out feeling like a transient, with all these expensive stuff, awaiting for it to be snatched away. But, over time, and awkward approach to the daily life of truck driving, I was able to get my mind focused on why I was carrying this machine to everywhere but the shower.  For me, the computer holds every aspect of my daily routine, from the daily driver’s log, to every load, fuel stop, expense purchase, and even income expectation. From the time I start my day, until I shut down, everything is recorded, and in various forms and styles that keep information in their separate intention instead of building a complex line of the whole record. Now, I sit in a laundry room, sitting on the floor, while two other people ahead of me pass the time in conversation. Eventually, I would get called into the conversation, and the article would have to be finished later.

      We did of course talked about the computer, and I told them my intentions on my future business. The conversation covered children, pets, pan-handlers, scams, and finally interrupted by someone singing. The laundry room was located in between shower areas, and yes, some guy sung loud and strong. No one complained though…he was really good. There is much amusement at truck stops, and why not? These are places where people come from all walks of life, different states and different backgrounds. You eventually find something to talk about, and if not at the time, then by the time you leave.

As you can see, I have a long way to go to just enjoying my time of leisure.

      So, it really became a blessing to have such a mild winter, and much of the load planning has kept me from the worst weather as it pass through certain regions.  I am back in the truck, with the shades open in the sleeper birth area, quietly typing away again. The sun is just warming the inside of the cab, as the winds cross the open space of the Lone Star state. I checked the weather this morning, and it does look like another storm front is rolling through Minnesota, and will trek eastward throughout the week. The weather channel mentioned that Spring is three weeks away. I really experienced a pleasant winter season, with only leaving Chicago, and a morning snow on Friday. I am still what is known as forced dispatching and so much of the credit goes to the Fleet manager, and the available loads. But I think this will be the way to run in the future and through the winter seasons for the next few years.

      With the laundry finished, and a second return to the truck (with one pretzel, one soda, and my large coffee), I settled in my favorite personal spot…the top bunk of the sleeper birth. “Downstairs (bottom bunk)“ is my supplies, clothes and work related items. Up here is where I sleep, watch television, and play (rarely) on the computer. Of course, the DTV doesn’t always get a signal, so a quiet day inside, with only the rumblings of a truck running not to far in the row of giants. I have movies, and there is always the radio,   even through the internet. It makes me wonder what it was like for the older drivers decades ago, only to realize that you make do with the time you are in, and how could they know what was missed. I guess much of the same probably went on, except things were written on paper (not typed), and mailed out (not uploaded). Laundry is laundry; that won’t change. Still, there has to be someone out there who simply needs to be entertained…so they must be bored. It won’t be long before I return to backing up files, and scanning. It is nice to have a morning filled with entertainment. And, for a breather, I’ll probably go inside, and watch television in the movie room. I will return though, and it took a long time to pass, but it will be to focus on the self made projects, my future goals, and preparing for another day. After all, work is  24/7/365. I am finding time to balance in leisure, and my goal, to socialize.

      It is my hopes that this year brings more organizing, better planning, and time to explore and have fun. I already created categories for future projects on this blog, with another I’ll call “Down Time”, and if I can work my time right, my final goal, called “Sight Seeing”, just to explore the places I stop, and the chances to see different arts, activities, and cultures as they occur. Not many see this further than professional driving, and for good reason. It takes so much time to develop an attitude, a plan, and the ability to keep up with all the work one can create for themselves. Professional Driving is a lifestyle and a challenge all in itself. Typically, a driver just wants to rest, and be entertained, when it comes to stopping for a break or a re-start period. Driving does take a lot out of a person, especially when it is nonstop and always rolling. Leave it to a computer geek, who so happens to have a CDL to place himself into a leased contract to have the incentive; to build the endurance to become…a one man show.

      Well, I think I’ll stop here for now. I still have to go online and upload this article, change a few settings, and add that Down Time category. It has been a great morning, and with the first three hours of the afternoon now gone, my agenda is calling me. I had fun exploring this Live writer program, and to see if the pictures go in place with the article. I really do think I have a new tool to use. I hope everyone has a good weekend, and rests up to do the whole thing again for Monday.