Post Gordon ~ Thoughts, Commentary & Reflections

Boss says tomorrow's light, maybe bobtail north of Indy a ways for a load but won't know until tomorrow. I'd be fine with tomorrow off, have plenty to do here. In fact, can probably make one errand to Ellettsville that would have had to wait until Wednesday.

Finally the neighbor's dog came outside on his own this morning. Have had to carry him and he's only pooped once as far as I've seen. Maybe there's doo-doo in the basement. Dunno. Neighbor'll be back tonight.

Had mine on the back deck while I set up the wire dog crate for the 10 new Golden Comet chicks. For their first 10 days they need to be at 95 degrees and then drop 5 degrees/week until reach 70 degrees at 6-weeks-old. You can tell at a glance if too hot, cold because if 'just right' they're busy eating, drinking water and scurrying about.

If huddling, they're cold. If avoiding the heat lamp, too hot. Can't seem to get the heat lamp adjusted, seems too little or too much. When I trigger the infrared temp gun, they're already wired to chase the red dot, thinking it's a bug of some sort. Um-m-m, a bug!! Eat it now, quick!!

They're wary of predators, too. When I brought the dogs in to feed yesterday, suddenly all 10 froze in just that instant, became 10 little un-moving furry, fuzzy miniature statues and stayed that way until I put my hand in the cage with them. Then they loosened up and got to feeding again.

 

What kind of Doc are you going to?

The reason I ask is that your typical GP (general practitioner), MD has a limited bag of tricks, usually muscle relaxant and pain killer. Won't take you very far.

 

Growing Faster than Weeds...

Just wrapped up the evening ritual.

The new, heavy old hens park themselves on top of the doghouse-turned-chicken/duck-coop so I have to go out and drag them off, put them in with the duck, who sidles right up to one of the hens she especially likes for a quick welcome cuddle, as I close them in for the night.

Necessary? Maybe, not. I'm not in an especially predator-rich spot, although large hawks and owls, coyotes and raccoons and opossums ply the nights around here. Been pretty good so far, lost one hen to a blockage and one chick to a nuthatch. Got a raccoon cage/trap and not even baiting it. They like dog food, by the way. I have that. Lost a good cat to a predator a while back.

Well, it's not bad, considering.

The mortality among new chicks is sometimes high, which is why I agreed to take 10 rather than, say, 5 or 6. They seem pretty vigorous. I know from Rural King that from one week to the next is like a light year.

Wow! How chicks grow!

Yesterday these had finger-like feathers at the end of their wings. Today it's all feathers HALF way up the wing to the shoulder. In ONE day, mind you.

Guess I've got a front row seat on these kids!

 

Trucking Dividends

Trucking pays dividends. Oh well, to drivers too, I suppose. Here's a piece that compares JB Hunt, Ryder, Con-way, Knight, Heartland/GTI and Werner from the standpoint of dividend payout.

http://seekingalpha.com/article/2878986-rolling-down-the-dividend-highway

Says that the trucking produces 5% of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) with annual revenues of $650 billion.

Also says that trucking comprises 84% of all transport and dwarfs rail, at only 6%. Claims we burn through 52 billion gallons of diesel.

Hmph!! It's about all I can do to count 10 fast-moving Golden Comet chicks (to make sure none squeezed out of the crate... )

THAT takes more than 10 seconds right there!!

 

Fuel Surcharge

FSC plays a BIG role in the financials of mega carriers, so much so that typically they list it separately, just like tires, which are listed as prepaid assets (tires in stock or paid for on a roadside maintenance agreement) and depreciated over 2 years (mounted on trucks and rolling down the road).

Example: HTLD shows over $10 million in prepaid tires on current 8-K (press release). http://secfilings.nasdaq.com/filing...PRESS+INC&FormType=8-K&RcvdDate=2/4/2015&pdf=

Bright One, do you have a link on FSC?

 

Tuesday Night Weigh-In--Promising!!

Did well on the weigh-in tonight, missed last week as had KY runs Monday and Tuesday when the Challengers (Spencer Y, 'Get Fit Challenge') meet for a one-hour presentation and weigh-in. I'm 2 pounds away from my original goal to drop 15 pounds from where I was when left on Trip West.

Had gained 15 pounds over summer doing Prairie turns when my part-time gig turned into the equivalent of full-time plus. It's really difficult to lose weight when you're tired, putting in long hours. Today also did 2 sets of 5x up-and-down trail out back, which is a 2 mile total and it's a good regimen without being overly taxing. From top to bottom the trail drops a good 40 feet, and has curves and unevenness that provides a good, yet easy enough workout.

In fact, there's a 5K coming up in late April, sponsored in part by the Spencer Y, and I'm thinking about it. 5K is only a little over 3 miles and it's a Walk/Run event, so even at a fast walk would be done in less than an hour or so. Definitely thinking about it.

Right now I'm doing 5x up-and-down trail out back, then some shovel/wheelbarrow work on the bottom part of the trail. On second 5x set, did cut my shovel work down to half. I'm planning to get another good wheelbarrow and shovel, so have one at top, one at bottom.

Sunday Driver called me yesterday when he saw me stopped on the side of the highway, wondered, wanted to know if I needed any help. That was nice, but no, just stopped to get phone number off service truck for a fencing installer!! Anyway, he mentioned that last year at this time we were busy at first of month and around 15th; first week busy, 2nd week slow, 3rd week busy again, 4th slow. Frankly, that would work just fine for me.

That way, I'd get lots of rest, exercise and lots of time to get stuff done.

It's all good.