For the last three years I have had issues making the blog a priority. It can be hard when you have not developed something that is geared to making some kind of a profit down the road. But, the purpose of goals should be more valuable than currency. It is a form of expression, sharing thoughts, and communication.

The First week of April

My home time scheduled for the last week of March ran right into the first few days of April. The second day of home time involved getting the mail and paying bills (the first day is typically spent cleaning and prepping the truck for the next time out…I get four days off, for every 28 days). This is also time to see my brother and other family, and simply go shopping or drink. Still, the work I do for myself follows me home.

I am attempting to change my routine around, and do almost all the work I save for Home Time in the truck. That includes bills, taxes, records keeping, and back ups. This is a struggle to build, since I can drive up to eleven hours and work fourteen hours on any given day. I have attempted to at least setup the computer to backup on DVD, maybe just one a night. But, by the time the truck shuts down, it seems that I start to shut down too. I’m tired, and the pillow seems to be such a seductive demon of sorts.

The goals and objectives are important. I spend so much time scanning, records building, and downloads, that space on any given machine can quickly be filled. One process that is space consuming is the Dash Cam recorder. The way I configured one can create video files that are in the gigabytes. Still, I do plan on yet another routine that has me review these and find other uses for the archived records.

Anyway…home time. I was able to get some new stuff, and even pay bills. But ten days later, I still needed to review some bills, while forgetting if I had paid others. Now those last few nights with my fluffy goddess (sleep)has made me concerned of what was done, and what still needed attention. So, that brings me here…today, April 10, 2015. My concern started the day before…and so, trying to manage my time, I drove ten and a half hours (with breaks and a fill up), to have time today to review my bills.

For me, there are two main types of backups, Scanning and File backups. By scanning my papers and mail, I am able to also review those bills. The DVD concept has to wait, and backups on yet another external had drive will happen later. Scanning the paperwork also does one more thing…it makes the pile of papers shrink. And, with more than one computer on board, I am able to use one for scanning, while using the other for phone call and online bill paying. For me, it is important to have more than one computer in a truck; the rough environment makes it a real problem that a computer will break, and having a second one onboard is that backup operation all in itself.

So, here I go…like a journal of sort, and a place to took about pillows of the Gods, my attempt to keep an agenda of things that got done, and not done, while in the working world.

April 1, 2015 – Home Time

It was April fools day, so many things were not sent by mail (or email), to assure it was not misunderstood as a joke. So, I went through some of  my gear for the truck, went shopping (I’m a computer geek, so that means Staples and Best Buy), and back home. Some time on Facebook, and writing some checks for April second.

April 2, 2015 – Home Time

A quick run back to work, and load up the truck with my next months journey. While there, I was able to update the permits, and make sure all my records for trip planning, fueling, recaps, etc., were all up to date. Then, to the Post Office to mail out the bills, and then home. From there, I was able to do some online banking.

April 3, 2015 – Back in the truck

It takes a days work to get everything set back up. I use two dash cams to catch views of the road, from two perspectives; two dash cams are redundancy, should one stop working. Last thing I resent is losing an opportunity! Most of my new records keeping (since August 2014) is now on my Access Database, and replicates the process I did in spreadsheets. From time to time, I making an improvement or two, on the spot, and while using that form or report.  Some resolutions have been how the forms appear, while the reports are in what order should it appear.

April 4, 2015

I went on Facebook, and found out that a cousin had died…

…I spent the day working, rolling, and keeping up with the conversation on Facebook when the truck was stopped.

April 5, 2015

Just kept rolling and stayed focused on the loads at hand. All three of my netbooks were now back in operation, like when I was an Independent Contractor. The HP Pavilion is used for that database, I named the Driver’s database, while the second HP was being used for trip planning (maps), and the Driver’s Daily Log. The E machine was put back into service to do all the mapping and plans, and leaving the second machine to just the Driver’s Daily Logs. This second netbook will eventually become the local webserver for simple webpages and downloads. It also was the original “office”, so it still will be used for tax purposes. The files that were removed from the machine will be put back, the 2014 taxes will be done, printed, and mailed, and then all files will again be removed from the machine…for security reasons.

April 6, 2015

More loads and work, and the occasional repair of another trailer light, and alike…I have a record form for all repairs on the truck and trailers too. A Uniden Wi-Fi camera was put into service3 for night time use and security. Its personal purpose is to view the outside world, when I first wake up, to see what is going on beyond the curtains that keep me out of sight.

April 7, 2015

Back into the swing of things…I am still not making DVD backups in the truck a routine, so much of the video backups are copied to an external hard drive. Completed loads’ paperwork are scanned for my personal records, and then sent through Transflo Express [Pegasus trademark], so I can get credit for delivery. Oh, and yes, I have a database form to record what was sent (and its confirmation number), and I have an unbroken routine for also downloading an offline copy of the confirmation website through Transflo Express.

Another load, and I am rolling.

April 8, 2015

I am back to reviewing the weather online as a morning routine. I saw the news, and they already had mentioned the first tornado of the season…I think it was in Oklahoma…again. Knowing the weather is a tool concept I’ll keep pushing in some blogs….especially after 2011, when I learned of tornados that were behind me…after the fact. So, knowing the weather before you go will help plan for a safer delivery. OK, done.  

By the way, I saw a rain storm with electrical activity coming my way, from Illinois. It caught up with me that night…in Ohio. Heavy rain and lightening. I sat it out, before picking up my next load.

April 9, 2015

I awoke to more rain and lightening, and was ready to roll. My goal was to get ahead of the band of rain proceeding eastward. It took more than two hours to get to the other side, and even see a little sunshine…traffic stop on the Interstate…construction. I was able to fuel up, and take a thirty minute mandatory break…as that storm rolled right over me. Here we go again.

It would be night fall before I found myself right at the beginning of the storm. By this time I was nearing the Pennsylvania-New York State line. Fog was thickening….and the temperature dropped to 34 degrees. I need to get ahead of this! I finally stopped in Montgomery Township, New York for the night. 10 1/2 hours of driving with two breaks, on for filling the truck.

April 10, 2015

Now, I have time for the Bills….much to my relief, I had paid the ones I was concerned about online. Scanning, scanning, scanning, for about two hours. That paper pile was quite smaller. I also had time to blog one, and submit a second found blog. Time for laundry, and a third blog…this one.

OK, I am now caught up with something that looks like a short summary, or diary. Laundry should almost be done. I still have to check the weather, PreTrip the truck, and roll to the destination…Cheshire, Connecticut. It is about two hours away….should be less, but there will be the tail end of rush hour, and….construction.