Watkins Shepard, Here I Come

I had a massive meltdown tonight. Last night, the van got really cold and /damp/. The damp was the bad. I finally got up and idled the engine for a while, until the heater did a good number on the van. Then I stumbled back into bed.

Guess 4 hours of sleep weren't quite enough. I managed to drag myself up a little after seven, run in for the bathroom time, and then be on the road by 7:10. I was a couple of minutes late to class (stupid Riverside traffic/construction), but they were doing HazMat first and I'm not getting that endorsement (yet) 'cause Joe doesn't have it and it costs more. I took the practice tests anyway and passed. (thankyou, thankyouverymuch)

After HazMat, we had one guy getting a passenger endorsement, so I dozed a bit through that. Then more paperwork and pre-trip practice. Finally, they sent us over for our physicals and drug test.

I had forgotten to change my contacts for new ones before I went in and only got 20/30 on both eyes (20/40 needed to pass). I also weighed a bit more than I thought. I was sure the "starving student" diet would have made a dent in that by now. Or maybe it has and it used to be even worse...

The hearing test was weird... and it's very hard to hear quiet little beeps when someone is talking right outside the box. I think I did fine, but not sure what the ratings mean.

The one really blah thing (other than the weight ) was that my urine tested positive for high white blood cells, which could mean a bladder infection. *sighs* I don't have time for one of those.

Tonight I totally had a meltdown. I fell asleep for a few hours, then went off the deep end. I'm just tired and stressed, but poor Joe had to talk me down from some really bad thoughts. Seriously, most days, I have no idea why he puts up with me.

Anyway, we're supposed to go in to test for our permits tomorrow and I'm sleepless again, so I thought I'd come in and try to decompress for a little bit before I try to sleep again. At least tomorrow night I drive to my parents' house for a long shower and sleeping a real bed-- er, couch.

 

I have my permit! We got to class, did review tests, went to the DMV... and it was, overall, really easy, except for the four or five questions we had not at all covered in class (or the DMV handbook, that I can remember). I missed 0 on one test, 1 on two tests, 2 on one test and *cough* 3 on darn air brakes. I get air brakes, so I'm not sure how I missed three, but at least I passed on the first go-'round.

I had to take a new picture, which looks disturbingly like a mugshot, and I got a copy of my 10 year history and it's all sparkly clean.

Then I drove home and took a hot shower, had a hot meal, and spent time with my parents.

I'm not going to think about truck driving or pre-trips or anything else for one night and go to bed early on my comfy bed (couch).

Tomorrow night I'll go back to thinking trucking. Right now, I'm on HOMETIME.

 

Good luck to you and thanks!

By the way, should've mentioned that the truck I saw on I-210 W was a daycab, but all the others were sleepers. All were dry vans, too. I never get to see the flatbeds unless I'm picking Joe up.

 

Time to go to bed so I can get up at 4:30 am and get on the road to school. Three nights in a bed and three showers... life is good.

 

You're going a month before I'm slated to go... good luck to you and hope to see you on the road sometime!