A few of you have been asking how things are going, since we haven't posted here recently. The reason I haven't written in awhile is that this whole trucking thing is really hard!
It's hard physically: not always getting enough sleep and/or getting up really early, having to be really intentional about making time to eat, and trying really hard to find healthy food that I even want to eat, trying to drink enough to stay hydrated, but not so much that we have to stop every hour for a bathroom break, or I have to get up in the night and walk across the parking lot into the truck stop to pee.
It's hard mentally: there is so much information that a person needs to know to be a truck driver! Map reading, trip planning, company paper work, fueling, shifting, going down hills without loss of life :) and of course, building up the stamina to drive up to 10 hours a day.
And it's hard emotionally: being away from friends and family for such a long time, not having much free time to connect on the phone or internet, living with someone I don't know...for a whole month. I think I can speak for both of us when I say it's been a rough week. I have been just non-stop exhausted, and Ariel has been fighting a nasty cold.
However...
It's not all bad news, so all the moms can just stop the worrying (you know who you are). :) I personally, have been feeling better about things the past few days. I think it's a combination of getting to talk to my cousin on the phone a few times, and some serious intentionality in the food/eating department (I had 3 meals and 2 snacks both yesterday and today...first time since I left home). Apparently, eating food and having friends will do wonders for your life!
A few random thoughts:
-I drove 311 miles today. Not my longest ever, but more than yesterday, and I didn't feel like I was going to fall asleep the whole time, which is a serious improvement. Tomorrow: LA near the end of morning rush hour!
-So far I haven't had to drive in any rain or snow...and I've had sun every day. :)
-I made myself a huge veggie sandwich for lunch today with Dave's Killer Bread...so good!
-Today I saw a sign for "Zzyzx Rd." off of I-15 in California. I'd love to hear everyone's opinions on the proper pronunciation.
-So far I've hauled birdseed, insulation, capri-sun, and cat litter. I am probably not going to find a lot of deep fulfillment from this job. :)
-Today I had to hit my breaks hard and pull over to the side of the freeway, because there was a runaway cow trying to cross.
:) -Amanda
maybe it's pronounced, "zizicks"? that's my interpretation. Who named that road?
ReplyDeleteWhoa, a runaway cow? Now that's entertainment! Sounds like you're managing to have some fun even though it's mostly hard work. I'm prayin' for you gals! Strength and stamina!
Yeah, I second Melanie's attempt. "Zizicks" it is.
ReplyDeleteAre you hauling any refrigerated or frozen loads? Because I was thinking, if you hit a runaway cow at just the right speed and just the right spot, and assuming that you're not legally liable, and assuming that you were suddenly and inexplicably good at improvising a makeshift slaughterhouse, that'd be a lot of free meat!
(Oh, I forgot to assume that you'd find someone else to give the meat to. y'know, I'm beginning to think this isn't the smartest of ideas.)
It's official then, I drove past Zizicks the other day. I don't know why they don't just spell it like that! :)
ReplyDeleteJelani, you are hilarious! While I find your idea very resourceful, and brilliant actually, in real life the actual outcome of me hitting a cow would probably just be me barfing, and then going back to my vegetables. But I'll let you know if I hit a salad crossing the road. :)