On my way!

6 seconds...

My entire life hung in the balance for 6 seconds.

In poker, there's a term called "all in" where you bet everything you have, on the cards you've been dealt.

This is exactly what I did, by coming down here to Texas. I had essentially no money (except for that which my Dad stopped by and gave me, the morning of the trip to the Greyhound--money I know he can't afford), I had to voluntarily separate from my job (even though I was only working 4 days a month, it was something) which of course, caused me to lose the unemployment money I was receiving to supplement my lack of hours (which I can't recover, because I voluntarily left), and I'm still behind on my rent! I need to start earning, and soon!

So it was all on the line, with this med hold. I simply can't afford to get sent home.

For 6 seconds I stood before the Doc, waiting for his determination...

"Well you have some high frequency hearing loss in your left ear..."

Uh-oh...

"But it's at an acceptable level, so you're fine."

::does mental cartwheels:: (for lack of room in that hallway)

I'd been holding my breath since I first knew I had a problem back on Monday and I can't tell you what a relief it was! I was walking around with a big smile the rest of the day, saying "I don't care how long the rest of this takes, I'm not going home!"

All I had left to do is two more skills and my road evaluation. I knocked out the skills today (again, my 45 wasn't pretty, but I got it in there) and I'll do the road eval right after roll call in the morning. Unfortunately, this does mean another night at America's Worst, and I don't even care!

You'll have to excuse me while I go outside and do a proper cartwheel!

 

So now I'm back at the motel, my road evaluation completed...

Funny thing about perceptions...There is this one instructor I've seen a few times up on the hill, that I figured for some grumpy, crotchety old man...

I couldn't have been more mistaken! Don't get me wrong, I accidentally walked into the red shirts' office (instructors) while he was chewing out another guy for his road performance, so I know he's "no nonsense" but when I ended up going out on the road with him, he was the coolest guy! He was really calm, explained everything to me, he kept me from getting nervous, and for my part, I just did whatever he told me to, when he told me to (learned a couple more good driving tips too!)

There was also another (Instructor-in-training?) with us and at one point, the red shirt turns to the new guy and says "I almost hate to send him out with a trainer and have him pick up all those bad habits!"

It took me a while to realise he was talking about me!

For my part, I knew my driving was successful when I came back and the small-of-my-back area of my t-shirt was still mostly dry!

Thank you to Lou (formerly of Progressive TDS) and John, of Stevens Transport, for making me a lot more calm driver!

Now, back here to the hotel...I'll be getting on some "special" shuttle in the morning and going to Loves Airport, just to fly down to Houston (must be a timing issue--wouldn't want Randell's job), where I'll catch a cab (company paid for) to meet my trainer at the Truck Stop, and I'll truly be On My Way!

 

It's always best to read a thread from the beginning, but I'm with Stevens.

 

[FONT=&amp]I received a phone call last night which I ignored, since I didn’t know the number (too many bill collectors) When the same number called back I thought it was unusual...[/FONT]

[FONT=&amp]So when I got the indication of a voicemail, I checked it out...It was the lady who runs the shuttle company I would be taking. She said that, although I had a 0630 pick up time, she had another Stevens guy, with a 0600 time and would I mind coming down early...[/FONT]

[FONT=&amp]I told her it wouldn’t be a problem and that was that. Getting out of the room this morning was more problematic since I didn’t want to wake my (yet newer) roomie. I was operating solely by the light from the bathroom (with the door mostly shut) as I made sure I had everything packed/lined up and then I headed downstairs.[/FONT]

[FONT=&amp]On any other day, during the week, it probably would have been different, but on this Saturday morning, this early-morning trip through Dallas was wonderful.[/FONT]

[FONT=&amp]There’s just something I love, about the big city (be it Chicago or Dallas) in the early morning hours, when all is quiet and at rest. Although I can still feel the underlying power of this steel and glass beast, its concrete skin mottled with pigeon droppings, I know, for the moment, that the beast still sleeps.[/FONT]

[FONT=&amp]Of course, it was great seeing all the towering skyscrapers, if I dare call them that, as what I saw (from whatever highway we were on) wasn’t nearly as majestic as it is in Chicago, but they were a sight to see nonetheless. Many of the buildings had external lighting giving hint at their shape or design, effectively outlining them. I even saw what I believe may have been a water tower, the bulbous top of which was covered in multi-coloured lights synchronized to emulate an American flag, waving in the breeze![/FONT]

[FONT=&amp]Considering that I have not flown on an airplane since 1997, when the TSA hadn’t even existed, getting through security was surprisingly quick and painless. They had this machine, like an oval phone booth on steroids that I had to stand in and raise my hands over my head. The long, vertical, scanner bar whisked by and then I was told to exit and retrieve my possessions![/FONT]

[FONT=&amp]I’m sitting at my gate right now (@ 0714) awaiting my 0900 flight to Houston.[/FONT]
[FONT=&amp]I’m going to finish this now and shut down and hope that once I get with my trainer, we can find a WalMart that has a power cord for my lappy.[/FONT]

[FONT=&amp]Pack in the dark indeed...[/FONT]
[FONT=&amp]0720-20120901[/FONT]


[FONT=&amp]Well I got down to Houston well enough, as it was only about an hour’s flight. I come out of the airport after getting my bag and the lady controlling the cab stand looks at me and says “Loves Truck Stop?” I said yes. She tells the cabbie in front the info and I got packed in and we were on our way.[/FONT]

[FONT=&amp]I’m going to have to buy a lottery ticket because I lucked out and got the one cabbie who doesn’t know where a major landmark is, on his own home turf! I had to get him there, and I’ve never been here before!
[/FONT]
[FONT=&amp]On the way, I called my trainer and found out that he wasn’t going to be there because he was in [unintelligible] and was shut down for his 10.[/FONT]

[FONT=&amp]Put in a call to the planner, who transferred me to a counselor who approved some money for me to grab another (good luck still holding—the other cabbie had left!) cab and get a hotel room and meal for tonight.[/FONT]

[FONT=&amp]So I ask him “What hotel?”[/FONT]

[FONT=&amp]“I don’t know, find one...” he tells me.[/FONT]

[FONT=&amp]I decided to use the best resource I had...I started talking to other truckers (bro, you’d be proud, you know how I hate talking to strangers) and found a nearby hotel that not only had a trucker’s rate, but also a free shuttle![/FONT]

[FONT=&amp]Yay! This place (Day’s Inn on I-10 if you’re in the area) is a heck of a lot nicer that the AmWorst in Mesquite, and although I’ll have to wait a little longer to be in a position to get a new power cord, I still want to chronicle all this...[/FONT]
[FONT=&amp]1204-20120901[/FONT]