Post Gordon ~ Thoughts, Commentary & Reflections

St. Louis had me unloaded in 45 minutes, pallets to bring back and paperwork added some to that. Figured I'd be in by 7 pm. Engine light came on, as departed from last Illinois rest area (pee stop). 2nd fuel stop did not go well on northside Pilot in Brazil. All the islands were filled and no one, literally no one fueling. When the fool finally came out after a half hour, just pulled forward.

One small tank's not enough. Got 36 gal in Effingham, 40 in Brazil.

Otherwise not a bad day but darn chilly now. 464 miles.

Your directions (Wayne) once again were 'perfecto'.

 

Jitterbug's pretty similar to what I've been using, mostly LG's, on StraightTalk (Wal-Mart flavor of TracFone service that runs on Verizon, $30/month 1,000 minutes or $45/month unlimited, no contract) and have a few of those around here. No camera, altho think I have a nice Motorola flip somewhere with just an image camera. No video on that one, I think.

My iPad takes both images and videos but doesn't work well with TTR, so have to coordinate stop at a library with MSFT (Microsoft) Snipping Tool to upload. Have to run over to Ellettsville because local library PCs don't have Snipping Tool.Want to eliminate the inconvenient library stop yet do some videos.

Like capability to upload short clips, 30 seconds, 60 seconds. Thought the Nokia would do that and had not been having problems with Blue Parrot headset so not sure what's going on, headset or phone. They don't seem to like each other much. Work together one minute and not next.

May transfer the service back to a flip phone this morning... Dunno yet.

Biggest problem with the headset's my forgetting to bring the microphone down. "Vic, you're breaking up really bad... " Then realize still have the mic up by my ear and lower it down. 'How's that?'

"Hey, now I can hear you loud and clear, Vic... "

You (Bright One) do a great job inserting images. Using your phone for that??


//This morning's mouse won't have to worry about cold... quickly dead. Drops of fresh blood on porch deck. Not sure if boys fought or one hooked on something sharp out there accidentally. Can't tell which one yet either.

 

Truck's at a Premium Today...

Reed the Mechanic has plenty of customers today. Several lined up for him to look at last night. Boss said Reed got '21' started already (saw brake lights on last night and wouldn't start) and has to look at warning light issue on '75' that I drove yesterday. Apparently Terminal Boss will call when we have a truck lined up for me but he says does look like noon or there about start to KY.

Run wasn't loaded last night, I checked that.

Dogs are happy whatever we do. Go outside, they're eager and happy. Come back in after a bit, they're even happier. Radio says will get up to 19 degrees today, a lot higher than Accuweather shows. Car starts. That's good.

Gonna be a long, cold week...

 

Truck's Learning the Way...But Is the Honeymoon Over??

"What's the big [insert bad word here]-ing hurry???" I demanded of one of our drivers as he pulled his car door open. He had barreled by me on the right. I was doing 35 in a 35 mph. Surface street. There's about 1/8-inch of snow over Bloomington, the lane lines are obscured and it's slick enough to send you quickly to singing 'Hallelujah' with Jeff Buckley.

"What hurry?" he asks. "You passed me on the right." "So what??" said he. Rolled my passenger side window up in his face. Up until tonight, liked everyone I've met here...

Otherwise, good KY run today. Asked to take another tomorrow. Said, "No." 'No?' "No-o-o-o," said I, "I'm on my way to KY now." 'I know I've got another for you tomorrow, 10 am."

Huh-uh. Not happening.

Receiver was quick, less than an hour. Roads right up to the end of I-69 were clean and dry. Then it got a little more interesting. Pulled out of receiver at 6 pm, out of Pilot at 6:45 pm, went over the Ohio River bridge at 8:15 pm, crossed the I-69/I-64 (roughly half-way point) at 8:45 pm, reached the end of I-69 at 9:45 pm. 8 hours, 15 minutes of total drive time, KY and back.

Has taken about 44 minutes to run either from the yard to I-69 or vice versa. 38 miles. Took 46 minutes tonight. Instead of 53-mph on cruise, 35 mph free-footing. Easy. Safe. An extra 8 minutes. 14 degrees. Snowy and slick.

Works for me.