Umm... Hi there!

Long time no see. Boy has this past week been a blur!

First off, my dad came to visit me for my birthday. Happy Birthday to me! And I am so excited because he got me a webcam for my birthday and now he and the girls can skype! It's so much fun!

Second thing, I had a comment game on facebook the same day that my dad got here so I was busy filling orders all weekend long. YAY for business!

I looked on my memory card last night to see if I had a picture or something I could post, only to find out, I haven't taken any!! Nothing, in almost a week! Well I did take pictures of some new products but that was it.

Aren't these so cute!

It's been raining for a week solid and it's just too dark without the sunlight to get really nice pictures inside.

Third and last thing, Caitlin hurt her foot on Monday at school. She bent down to put something in her backpack and this girl and her friend kicked her foot. She had been telling me all week that it hurt but I told her to suck it up. It will get better. Well today she called me from school to tell me she could hardly walk on it. This was 2 pm mind you and I hadn't even taken a shower. What? I'm a stay at home mother... I don't have to shower every. single. day. Right?

I went to get her around 3:30 from school and we went straight to the urgent care. Went right in but were told their x-ray machine was not working and that we would have to go to the other one on our side of town. No biggie. We were told we would just go straight back to have the x-ray done and be out in no time.

HA!

2 hours later... Oh they lost our paperwork that was faxed over from the other office AND forgot about us. It's now 7pm. FINALLY we go back to get it done. 10 mins later she's done and we wait for the Dr. ... and we wait... and we wait... for 45 more mins! I had just opened the door to leave when the Dr. was pulling her chart from the door. Guess what... she told us that no one told her we were there....

8:30pm we left that place. We got there at 5pm. 

Guess who's NEVER going back to *that* urgent care?

We still don't know what is wrong. The radiologist will have to take a look at her x-rays tomorrow. I being the medical professional that I am think she may have fractured it. Although she very well may have just pull some ligaments in her foot. Which I personally know is very painful.

So that's my week in a nutshell. Busy, no time for anything. Hope to be back on a regular schedule soon. :)

What's with all the inefficiency?

This is a truckers wife rant, if you don't want to hear it, feel free to hit the back button.

Today was just one of those days. Those days that I absolutely hate my husbands job.

He has been gone for a week and a half now. He was stuck in TN for a few days and then sent on a wild goose chase to find his new truck. The truck was in NC, over 6 hours away.

Luckily his new partner had his car with him so they were able to drive to the truck instead of taking a bus. They get to the truck and it obviously has been in some sort of wreck. Now they have to drive the truck somewhere to get it fixed before they can even accept a load. Not to mention they have an expired IFTA sticker. That means when his company finds out, they will have him drive all the way back to the terminal and pick up the stickers and paperwork. More wasted time

I will never understand how an industry that deals with time sensitive deliveries, has no concern for a drivers time. One department doesn't have a clue what the other department is doing. They have trucks and trailers just scattered around and don't have a clue where they are.

One department told Chris the truck was good to go, meaning everything was in order and once they get to the truck, they would be ready to roll. Another department said they had the truck flagged as needing work done before it could be put back into the fleet. Still another department said that the truck just had maintenance done but that it was still flagged for some reason as needing maintenance.

Why do they not have a program that allows them to bring up all the info needed on a particular truck. Why does one department say one thing and others say something completely different? Why is an industry that prides itself on being efficient when getting you your product, so inefficient in the way they keep track of their business?

I know I haven't been around the business long enough to know the in and outs of it, but I will tell you this. I worked in the mortgage business for over 5 years as a loan processor. The largest pipeline I ever had was somewhere close to 250 mortgages. That's 250 mortgages that I was responsible for at any one time. I ran a tight ship and knew EXACTLY where a piece of paper was in a file that was as thick as a phone book. I was efficient.

I had to be!!

Being inefficient wasn't an option. I have to wonder, is every trucking company like this? Do they not know what is going on between departments? How can a company survive with such inefficiency?

See, told you this was a rant. But I sure feel better after getting all that out.

The honeymoon is over...

I should really stop saying nice things about who my husband works for. It bit me in the rear last year and it's about to do it again!

Let me just tell you about this.

Right before Chris came home at Thanksgiving he got a message over his Qualcomm letting drivers know about a bonus they were giving. The bonus was for anyone wanting to stay out on the roads over the Christmas holidays in exchange for $$. I knew we would be driving to my dads house and knew he wouldn't really want to spend his home time driving, so I said go for it!

He would be home for New Years and we get some extra cash! Yes please!

Well, now this is where is gets aggravating. Apparently while Chris was home in November, a message was sent out that the cutoff to get your name on the list for the bonus was December 1st. Since he was at home, he didn't get that message. When he contacted his dispatcher to change his home time, the guy made NO mention that it was past the cutoff time.

Chris stayed out at Christmas. Sat for nearly 3 days. For those of you that aren't truckers, when your truck is stopped, you don't make money. He doesn't get paid by the hour. There is no pay. Period.

Fast forward to last week. Chris called payroll to check on the Christmas bonus we thought he was getting. Payroll informed him that the bonus would be paid this coming week but that he should have gotten an authorization number from his dispatcher.

UGH.

Of course his dispatcher is playing dumb to the whole thing.

What is most upsetting to me is that not that the money, but rather that he missed Christmas with his kids. We celebrated when he got home of course, but it just wasn't the same. We made a sacrifice thinking it would be best for the family, but it feels like a big ol' slap in the face to me.

And because if you got to the end of this post without dying from boredom, you deserve a prize!

  

Yes I know this isn't a REAL prize. It's a store. But I thought it fit right into this post.

Back to the grind

I fully intended to have a blog post ready to publish while Chris was home but once again, my intentions were better than my actions. I get so wrapped up on when he will be home that my mind just kinda goes to mush about a week before he actually gets home.

He was scheduled to be home the Wednesday before New Years. He got home New Years Eve. That was cutting it close.

It's so nice to have him home. Everything just flows better. He is so even tempered and well... I'm not.

I know for certain I am a much better parent when he is around.

He was scheduled to go back out on Wednesday but on Tuesday he got a text message from his co-driver saying that his license was suspended. What's more is that it had been since the 15th of December! Oh my word.

Chris has been wanting a new co-driver for a while. The guy he is with should NOT be driving a truck. This bit of information was perfect! Surely he would be fired if the company found out his license was suspended. Not to mention he had just gotten into an incident at a truck stop where he hit another driver's trailer and ripped the hinges off the doors.

Yeah he shouldn't be driving.

So as of this moment, Chris is sitting in the safety department of his carrier explaining to them why he needs another co-driver. 

Happy New Year!

New year, new beginnings.

Isn't that great? We get to start over. We get to do things this year that we didn't have time for last year.

I am resolving this year to be a better parent.

I tend to get into a funk right after Chris leaves to go back on the road. I cry and whine and act like a baby. I want to lay in bed and just forget that I won't see the father of my children for at least 5 weeks.

It's depressing, and not just for me. For my kids too.

I don't want to do that this year.

On another note... what is up with Twitter lately.

There have been such harsh words written towards people recently. Have people become so out of touch with reality that they forget that there really is another human being on the other side of the monitor?

I'm not pointing fingers because I am not perfect. But I do know that what you put online for the world to see, will in fact be seen. Good or bad. And I also know that what a person types in 140 characters or less can have a profound effect on the way they are perceived by others.

The last few days have made me reconsider even having a twitter account that has anything to do with trucking. Not only have I been offended by some of the things said, my heart hurts for those people making the ugly comments.

We as Christians are blessed by the Fruit of the Holy Spirit.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

– Galatians 5:22-23, KJV

What we as Christians say does leave a lasting impression on others, whether they are Christian or not. Shouldn't we, at all times, be trying to show others what it's like to be a Christian?

Today was that day

Today was one of those days where I wished I had another set of hands and eyes around.

One of those days I wished my husband wasn't an OTR truck driver.

I had some errands to run and one of them was going to the bank. But not just to the bank. Oh no, I had to go IN to the bank. Normally it wouldn't be a big deal. But remember, my 2 little kids, ages 3 and 4 are with me at all times. I'm talking 24/7/365 y'all.

I avoid going IN anywhere like the plague. It's one of the reasons when I go grocery shopping, I GO grocery shopping. That way I don't have to go for 2 or 3 more weeks. It's what works for me.

Anyway...

I love my bank. I really do. But I didn't love it today. I needed to get a certified check. The lady had me swipe my debit card and enter my PIN. Done. Next, fill out a check for the amount you need plus $10. 10 bucks? Just so they can print out a check. Rediculous. Fine. Here ya go.

I'm sorry Mrs. Sanchez but your signature doesn't match. Can you please re-sign the check with your signature. Um. OK? Sure.

Nope still not a match. She's looking, looking, looking to see if she can find my signature on another check that I have written. I write ONE check a month. My rent check.

By this time my kids are entertaining everyone in line. A line growing by the second.

She calls over the manager. She wants to see my drivers license. I hand it over. So now they have my debit card and PIN, my check and my drivers license and they STILL aren't sure if I am who I say I am.

They assure me it is for my own protection.I assure them if any of my information had been compromised, they would be the first to hear about it.

Let me just tell you this. Every time I swipe my debit card and sign for a purchase, my signature is written. They sure don't have a problem knowing it's me then!

I'm not kidding you when I say it took over 30 minutes in there. I threatened to withdraw all my money and switch banks by this time. The manager then told me she just wanted me to have "a little patience".

I don't know about you, but when the next thing I can give them is a blood sample or my first born before they believe me when I say I am who I am, my patience is wearing pretty thin.

Thankfully my little one's were so well behaved in there. I didn't even crack a sweat!

But it would have been so much easier if I had an extra set of hands and eyes with me.

It's that time again...

... Home time!!

I love home time.

Love it.

But...

it always takes some adjusting on our part at home. Like big adjustments.

Just about the time I get into a good routine and get the kids on a good schedule that works for everyone, it's home time again.

Now don't get me wrong. I love my husband and I love having him around, I just don't love having to adjust.

I'm lazy.

Whatever.

Really, I just don't like to be bothered with it.

I'm not a fan of change.

Why change something that works? Right? RIGHT???

On the other hand, I love my husband very much and want him to be as happy at home as possible. So, we change things up a little.

You know, being a truckers wife really is like leading two separate lives. For approximately 9 months, I have been a single parent. The other 2 I have been a parenting team with Chris. It's hard enough on me, I can't imagine what a pain in the rear it must be for the kids.

I really wish there was somewhere online that allowed me to meet up with other truckers' wives. Just to see if they go through the same thing as us. I'm sure they do, but it sure would be nice to actually hear someone say it that has been or is going through it.

(I know there are places online to meet truckers' wives. I used to be a part of them. I don't want to sound mean or conceited, but a lot of them were just as foul mouthed and raunchy acting as some truckers. Is that normal?)

Anyway, I am getting way off topic which was..... home time! I nearly forgot.

Home time is next week. My house is a wreck and I need to do some bulk cooking. I have laundry to do and dishes to wash. You'd think I'd get off my behind and do some work.... Sheesh... don't I get some time off?

Back on the road

Home time came and went.

All in all it was nice, but by the 3rd day I was ready for him to be back on the road.

When the time came for him to go back on the road, I wanted him to quit.

It's a vicious cycle I tell ya.

I was a little annoyed that we didn't really do anything while he was here. Our alternator went out 2 weeks earlier and by the time we got it fixed, I had been without a car for nearly 3 weeks. He got home on a Saturday, the car didn't fixed until Friday. One whole week of nothing. Wasted.

On the bright side, I didn't have to play hostess to any strangers.

I don't know if it's just us or if other trucking families have the same problem, but we like to talk big. We talk about all the stuff we are gonna do when he gets home. The places we are gonna take the kids. The improvements we need to make to the inside of the house. (read: de-clutter)

And guess what??

NOTHING gets done.

WTH. It is seriously the MOST annoying thing ever.

He suggested that he take the kids for an afternoon so I could have a few hours of alone time. Did he do it? No. Annoying? Absolutely.

He asked me to wait to take the kids to the zoo until he got home. Did we go? No. Annoying? You know it.

He promised to take our oldest fishing. Did he take her? No. Annoying? You betcha.

He told me we would clear the clutter from the closets so we can actually use them for all things... clothes. Did we? No. Annoying? Of course.

He did of course play his facebook games. *insert eye roll here* Annoying? To the max.

See the pattern? Yeah. Not too difficult to see.

He wants to relax. I get it. I really do. But we are a family and the kids want to do stuff with their dad when he gets home. they are completely tired of being around me. Actually I am pretty sure they are disgusted by the very thought of having to spend one more minute with me.

This year has been THE most trying year of our marriage. I really don't see how people can do this their whole lives. He has been in this for 10 months now and I am ready for him to throw in the towel. Chalk it up as a loss and move on.

How selfish is that of me to even think that? Extremely.

Annoying? The most.

Precious hometime

I was just informed last night by my husband that his biological father wants to come visit him when he is home next.

I told Chris I didn't like that idea to which he replied by saying I was cold-hearted and then hung up on me.

Ugh.

First off I am not cold-hearted. I know he wants to spend time with his dad. I mean he hasn't spent any real time with him since he was like 5 years old. I get it. I really do. I just don't think the time to "find your father - son relationship" should be the first time you are home after being gone for 8 weeks.

This next hometime should be spent with us, his wife and his children. Is that so wrong of me to want?

I don't think it is. I think he owes it to us. To me. I know that makes me sound like a whiny little brat, but my job is difficult too. I deserve a break when he gets home. I shouldn't have to play hostess to someone I don't even know. That HE doesn't even really know.

The {short} time that he is home is precious to us and when we have to share that time with others... well... let's just say I don't do so well with sharing my time with him, with others.

While he has been gone this year he has missed my birthday, our anniversary, Mothers' Day, Fathers' Day, all 3 kids birthdays and numerous milestones with the little kids. We have some ground to make up while he is here!

So it's not that I am being cold-hearted. I just don't think that NOW is the time to host a long lost family member.

Am I overreacting?

Long time no see

My poor neglected truckers wife blog...

I try to write on here, I really, REALLY do. But I will let you in on a little secret. I don't have time to blog!!

It is so very annoying. No time to just sit around on my butt all day typing or surfing the web. No time to prop my feet up and eat Bon-Bons either.

Seriously, the reason I don't post more is:

1. I hate my husbands job


2. I have 3 kids at home 24/7


3. I hate my husbands job


4. I was homeschooling my oldest up until I had a nervous breakdown because...


5. I hate my husbands job

So as you can see I am not very fond of him being away cause get this... I actually LIKE being around my husband. *GASP*

I know... hard to believe in this day and age but I do. I really do like being around him. Not only do I like him, I love him. More than anything. And that makes me miss him more that you will know. More than he will ever know.

This last time when he left has been the hardest on me. I'm not sure why but I think it's because he was home for about a month while he was job hunting. I got used to having him around. The kids got used to him being around. And we LIKED it!

I am so ready for him to be home again. He has been gone since the 7th of August and I don't expect him back before the 22nd of September. After that he will have to find a partner unless his company finds him one.

Have a mentioned I hate his job? Lord I hope this gets better.

Well it was fun while it lasted... not.

He's done. He made a mistake and it was a bad one according to his company. Not sure if he will be driving anymore for a while so not really sure what to do about this blog.

Sacrifices.

Maybe I'm bitter. Maybe I just know what I am talking about. Maybe I don't have a clue.

You make the decision.

I am 100% certain that most people don't have a clue about what sacrifices are and how to go about them.

I am 100% certain that giving up satellite radio for a month does NOT constitute as a sacrifice.

I am 100% that if you can't make ends meet with 2 adults working at home and no daycare expenses for your 2 children because your mom watches them for you while you work and whenever you want just so you can go out to dinner and drinks with friends every other weekend and any other time you just want "alone" time, you don't have a freaking CLUE about making sacrifices.

OK so maybe I sound a little bitter. Maybe I am a little bitter. But when someone tells me they are having a hard time making ends meet and I know there are things that can be cut out of their budget, it makes me cringe.

Have some compassion

When did being a Christian become so… hurtful. Insulting. Hateful.

I use Twitter for networking. I have met some amazing new friends on there and I really enjoy learning about the trucking industry from the pros out there.

What I don’t like are the “Christian” truckers out there spreading their hate of certain types of people through their updates.

I am a born again, God fearing Christian and have been for most of my life. I was raised in a loving Christian home with 2 of the best parents in the world. They taught me what it was like to be a Christian. And I have tried to live my life they way I was taught.

Am I perfect?

Um. Not even close.

Do I care?

Not in the least.

Perfection is something that can never EVER be achieved. All I can do is try to be a more perfect me. A better person. A better Christian.

I don’t understand it when people talk the talk but then don’t walk the walk. I can sit here all day and tell you I am a Christian, but if my actions or words tell you something different, what good does that do.

Have some compassion people!! Put yourself in someone else’s shoes that is less fortunate than yourself. Even if it’s only for a minute. You will quickly realize how blessed you are and how tiny and insignificant your problems truly are.

Psalm 145:8 (King James Version)

⁸The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.

Truckers and smoking

**Please note this does not apply to ALL truckers. Y'all know who you are... and so do we. **

Why is it when you hear the word trucker a dirty, smelly, cigarette smoking, pot bellied, flannel wearing redneck comes to mind??

Or is it just my mind?

I love truckers (obviously) but come on guys!! *and some girls* there is really no reason to be grungy and nasty. And don’t even get me started on the cigarette smoking!

Y’all… that’s nasty. As in disgusting. Y’all know that it is and you still do it. Why??? WHHHHHHHY??

Why is it that my husband, who happens to drive teams, can’t even find one driver available that doesn’t smoke.

I know how much the drivers at his company make and I can tell ya right now, they aren’t making enough to support a smoking habit. They are probably barely making enough to support their families.

Quit smoking already. It’s really NOT that hard. I use to smoke. I smoked for nearly 15 years before I quit cold turkey when I found out I was pregnant almost 5 years ago.

Yes I had headaches, yes I gained some weight, yes I had withdrawals, but so what. You knew when you started smoking that it wasn’t good for you and don’t try to tell me otherwise. I knew it at 15 and there wasn’t anything anyone could say to me to change my mind.

And please, for the love of Christ, take a freakin’ shower. If you are so tight on your time that you can’t take a shower at least every other day, you aren’t planning correctly.

Even if you don’t have time to go to the truck stops and wash your whole body, go to a dang rest stop and wash your arm pits and face. Or buy yourself some baby wipes and give yourself a good wipe down. You would be surprised how much better you would feel. And brush your teeth. Please.

You are on the road representing your company! Look good for them even if you aren’t happy with them. This is your job and in this economy, you are lucky to have one.

Take pride in it and wear the title of “trucker” with that same pride. You are after all, what keeps this nation moving. Keep on truckin’!