I'm baaaaaack!!!!!!!!

Okay friends, lurkers (I know you're there), people who are just looking for Phredd (he retired), and other folks:

Agree or not for your own reasons, we aren't going to a smaller company unless we lease, which isn't going to happen, unless it does (which it won't). Right now my issues with Gordon are more or less resolved since the dirt bag who was messing with me was found and executed. In the street. With a Chihuahua launcher.

The Hot Chick has made a case for me to return to Celadon. The details are largely unimportant here except that she would like to eventually return to school and finish her bachelor's degree and she would rather do that in at UNC Greensboro and not on line and Celadon has a major presence in that area so she knows I would be able to get through the house regularly. Plus the insurance/health package is better than anything we've looked at (by a wide wide margin, including here at Gordon), and now that's a major consideration. Also, she would like a Chihuahua named Godzilla. Or Aristotle. She says she doesn't want to go back to school or leave the truck for at least another year but feels that would be easier from NC. Her total case (not published here) is actually quite cogent. And I find myself unable to counter it effectively as I was generally happy with Celadon myself except for the pay.

At the same time, we both have found Gordon a vastly better place since the crap has been eliminated. It says a lot that they ferreted out and eliminated a major negative influence on my life without really needing to. I was miserable yesterday with the chaining but it wasn't their fault I got caught in the middle of a mountain pass. Their medical benefits are decent and the equipment ain't bad (although not nearly as nice as Celadon provides). I haven't had to worry about my pay once; in fact, twice I have received accessory pay that I didn't put in for (dispatcher saw I qualified for it and put in for it on my behalf). They have demonstrated a willingness to keep us both happy and that they want this to be a long term relationship.

So did Celadon, except for a few mess ups (the Great Texas Health Crisis was a major one, although at that time I was leasing, not a company driver). Celadon has addressed my issues with pay (Wage Lock) and admittedly the new pet policy is a major attraction.

I'm either gonna stay here or move to Celadon, and when I fish or cut bait it will be long term. So I'm not making this decision lightly or in anger--done too much of that. In fact the only reason I'm even thinking about moving is for The Hot Chick (although she has stated that she is perfectly happy staying here for the next 10 years).

The only way I will go to a smaller company is if I lease again, a move I'm not prepared to make (staying a company driver for the foreseeable future).

I know I'm not publishing all the factors, but I will welcome any input from you folks (I know it won't work, but I'm asking the trolls to stay on the negative forums please). I'm caught between a rock and a hard place (or maybe a pillow and a comfy place as both my choices are positive to me) and we are both debating what we will do.

Whatever we do we will do by the end of January (I know you've heard that before but I was angry at the time and the problem has been fixed so it doesn't count). She wants to wait at least another year before going back to school if she goes, and if I move back to Celadon I want to have a little tenure and already be relocated/settled back to NC before she does her thing.

So...comments, questions, criticisms, any input from outside sources? We've talked this subject to death for several weeks and aren't really getting anywhere. It's a stupid conundrum as there isn't really a problem right now, I know. We neither of us can make up our minds though.

Breakfast is over--back to the salt mines!!

 

Thanks Joseph. See you 'round the forum, feel free to drop by here any time.

Peace!

 

1230: Lunch at TA, chicken and dumplings.

1300: On toilet at TA, aack.

Doubt they're related that close together though.

 

New delivery appointment tomorrow 0700, spending night at yard 40 mi from rec. Shopping and possibly a movie tonight. We'll see. Hot Chick wants some leisure time.

 

Slowed by heavy fog and snow plus patches of ice and mostly by mouth breathers dicing around in the fog and snow over patches of ice. 2030 and we're just now getting to yard. 8 hrs then finishing run to Orem Costco. Then back to Ogden picking up a load of things and stuff going to Modesto CA. Planning on stopping in Reno and winning 25 million dollars with one pull at the slots (it could happen). Will trade the Blue Wonder for a new Stingray and see the country on my terms. Might still blog here. Maybe. Probably not.

 

No shopping or movie tonight. Hot Chick crawled straight into her bunk and is doing a passable impression of a breathing sack of turnips.