The weather report called for “H-O-T”! I called to make it a blogging work day, to keep up with the countdown, and the Driver’s Blog. From 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 PM, a successful day of blogging, and even the start of some raw video. It did get hot, and for  me, it remained a day of “business as usual” as my day was focused on the past days blogging. With it all now caught up (with the conclusion of this blog), it would be now time to catch up with me, my laundry, and maybe…a downtime blog, to be found on the originating Driver’s Blog. There is a shower planned after night falls too.

It took seven hours to work with the blogs of the last four days. A starting point completed, but a progression to improving the routine to achieve. For many, this appears to have no value, but for me, it holds everything that has been in the works for the last six years. I started out with Blogs, through associated Content, and Blogger.com, and made my first three part “how To” video for purchase. It was a disaster. The worst part was not having a direction, and trying to keep the videos general to apply for everything. The confidence was the worst part.

Getting involved in Professional driving was a whim, and I still had my thoughts back in my workshop in Vandling, Pennsylvania. It would take many months before I realized I now had a chance to develop materials that could be used in classes and videos to help understand the importance of computers, especially in Trucking, and to the individual driver. I still think general though. I do not wish to specialize everything around transportation. But, from mapping to scheduling and communication, the “real time uses” of a personal computer grew into calling what I use the machine for as my mobile office.

From Spreadsheets that started out recording my loads and gradually worked into a detailed workbook of spreadsheets covering every aspect of fueling, expenses, mileage, and maintenance. Advancing to using the mapping program not only to plot my destinations, but actually record the daily events of the trucks movement, all for the sake of having real material to build the concept of “how to” do whatever the individuals’ intention is to be. Video recording my “downtime” lead to Velcro and mini camcorder to run while I drive was a bonus too. The camcorders got lighter, and the idea of just recording a four hour run, and saving the file became routine.

Even backing up my records became routine, and although still not done on DVD monthly, the tasks of weekly and daily backup happen without feeling the effort, rather the need. The whole purpose of getting involved in a contract was to keep me from quitting so much, and developing the role of actively running my truck as a business. Now extending to blogging (like a ledger and diary) as the next activity brings me almost full circle to where I started. Everything mentioned took time, and like I stated in the beginning, it started six years ago. It won’t be home until I am back at that workshop though. If I was to extend anyone else to try what I did, I would applaud their motives, and let them know that through their future experiences, nothing will come easy at first, it will always take time to develop self discipline, with the intention of always improving. If nothing else, I can say that it can be done.

And now, to finish this blog like it started…I am concluding this blog (one of many today), my blog day will be over. Time to reflect on Memorial day, my family who have served, with a few still serving. To be thankful for knowing that it is a country worth fighting for, and knowing it comes with a price. To thank those who served before and after me, and others who serve now, thank you! Thoughts and prayers of gratefulness goes to those who sacrificed their lives in the hopes that each one has made a difference. They did, and continue to today. I get to do what I do, knowing I have this chance and opportunity, because they made sure that these opportunities afforded to me would be protected. And, like them, tomorrow, I march on.

Thank a Veteran. Thank a service member serving now. Remember the fallen. And, know that this is our way of life.