Woburn, MA

I'm on my way to Woburn, MA for a del tomorrow morning. I stayed at a drop lot
in South Kearney, NJ last night. It was the highlight of my trip. (just kidding).
This morning I drove over the George Washington bridge into south Bronx and after
awhile past Port Chester where Neil grew up. I'm now in CT on I-95. I decided
to drive into RI and through Providence where Gene went to college (Brown U) and
then up toward Boston.

I travelled thru NJ for the first time yesterday and today will have Kara check
off CT, RI and MA. I just need ME, NH and VT and I have driven through every state
east of the Mississippi.

Yesterday I drove past Rhinebeck, NY at 4:45 pm. That's where Frank's graduation
was taking place beginning at 4:30 pm. So I was fashionably late. I honked 5 times
(3 short, 2 long) as I sped by.

Neil, besides living in Port Chester, went to college in Manhattan. Gene and Neil
were married in Westchester, NY, Gene got his MBA at Harvard in Cambridge, MA and
lived in NYC one year between Brown and Harvard. So, today, feels like their day.
Yesterday was Frank's and tomorrow will be Erika's. She went to Boston Univ
and also Harvard. I remember well her graduation from Harvard. Greta and Tristan
were also there, as well as, Frank and Melinda. That was in June of '98.

Well, I'll let you know tomorrow where I'm going next. Have a great day!
- James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

South Kearney, NJ

Good Morning! - I'm still in Canada. Napanee. I pick up a load of rolls of paper
(12) and now need to cross the border at Alexandria Bay, NY. I had to fax paperwork
to a broker who then sets it up so I can cross. They are having a problem locating
my fax so I'm delayed in crossing. I need to be in NJ tonighth by 8. I have
350 miles to drive, so I have plenty of time.

I will be driving by a town (Rhinebeck, NY) where Frank will be graduating this
afternoon at 4:30 pm from Jungian training. I might drive by at about the same time
as the graduation. Small world. If I dare, I might try to stop and attend. I'll
also call Jason and see if we can meet somewhere.

I hope you all have a nice weekend. I'll let you know where I'm headed next
as soon as I know. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Brampton, ON

I'm spending the night at the operating center in Green Bay. I was sent up here after unloading in Appleton. I picked up a load for Brampton, Ontario. They want me to deliver it by tomorrow night. I'll leave early in the morning. I almost thought I wouldn't have to because you either need a passport or Birth cert to cross the border. I don't currently have a passport and didn't have my birth cert with me. Fortunately, they had a copy of it here in Green Bay and they made a copy for me.

I had to take a nap this afternoon. These days off are taking a toll.

I'll cross the border in Detroit, I believe. I'll have to check that out in the morning.

Well, I'm going to get to sleep. I hope you all had a good day. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Appleton, WI

Well, I started out thru morning from Blaine, MN. I had to pick up an empty trailer
in Fridley and then drive to Becker, MN to pick up some paper. I'm here in Becker
now. I'll be taking this to Appleton, WI to unload this evening.

I had a busy few days off and am tired. Spent the weekend with Frank and Melinda
and Jason. Monday and yesterday I caught up with bill paying and spent time with
Greta and Tristan.

I'll be out until May 8 (Gene and Sydney's birthdays). Then I'll have
7 days off.

The truck I'm driving now isn't as nice as the one I had before, but it'll
do. It's clean. More miles (almost 500,000).

I'll have to rest up now for my next days off. I hope you all had a good weekend
and that this week is going well. I'll let you know soon where I'm going
next. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

The Trucker does (or goes to) NYC

Good Morning! I'm waiting at the airport in Mpls. I'm heading to NYC to
visit and help Frank work on a presentation he will give next weekend. I'm staying
with Jason at his apartment and will be returning Monday morning.

I'm looking forward to it. A nice change of pace.

I finished up in Des Moines Thursday afternoon. I had to rent a car, load it up
with all the stuff in the truck (I'm a pack rat), and then head to Red Wing.
I stopped in Dubuque Thursday evening and visited Kathy et al. Kathy was playing
in a 3 on 3 basketball tournament. She more than held her own with the girls from
Emmaus. I also had a nice chat with Jenna. We had breakfast Friday morning at IHOP
and then I drove up to Red Wing. I picked up Tristan at school and took him down
to meet his dad near Rochester.

I hope you all have a nice weekend! - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

New Brighton, MN

Sorry for the delay. My Blackberry was malfunctioning.

Since being in West Liberty, IA I've driven to the Des Moines operating center where I got a refresher course on safety, called Spring Training. I also had to do a test drive with a trainer which I passed. This morning I took a load of TV's (high value load) up to Best Buy in Bloomington, MN. I'm now at a Weyerhauser facility in New Brighton, MN. They have to load up the trailer with recycled paper and I'll then take that back to Des Moines. I should be back to DM by tomorrow morning sometime.

At that time I should be off. But we'll see.

I've noticed it is a lot easier to drive when I know where I'm going. The Twin Cities are a piece of cake to drive in. It's kind of nice.

If someone could email me letting me know when you received this, that would help. I sent myself an email at 8:43 this morning. It hasn't arrived yet at 11:30 am.

James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

West Liberty, IA

I'm now heading to Seymour, IN from Hopkinsville, KY. At noon I'm picking up pallets and will be taking them to West Liberty, IA. I need to be there by 7:00 am tomorrow morning. I'm Bobtailing now (no trailer). So, I'm zooming along.

Skies are clear and it's close to 60. Have a great day! - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

ps - I'm flying to see Frank in NYC this weekend. We're going to work on a Powerpoint presentation he's giving on 4/28.

Dalton, GA

I'm spending the night at a truck stop near Dalton, GA. I'm right off I-75 almost in TN.

This morning I drove from Augusta, GA to Dublin, GA (120 miles). It was a nice drive through the country on state highways.

Unloading the trailer in Dublin was quite an experience. I was carrying 20 tons of loose paper. I had to back the truck up a ramp onto a platform which was about 15' off the ground. I got out of the truck, fortunately and they started to lift one end of the ramp using hydraulics. Kind of like a lift bridge. They raised the ramp until it was at a 45 degree angle. The cab of the truck was about 85' in the air. The paper slid out of the trailer onto a conveyor belt. If the paper got stuck they would jerk the ramp a little bit and the truck would bounce and the paper would fall out. After it was empty they lowered the ramp. When I got into the truck most of my stuff was lying on the bunk. (if this is confusing, call Kathy or Kara. I explained it to them on the phone. Or, you can call me. )

One of the workers said that he and a buddy would hoist each other up on the ramp in the middle of the night when their bosses weren't around. He said they could are the town that was 10 miles away.

After that adventure, I was sent to Statesboro, GA to pick up a trailer at a Walmart Dist Center. I'm taking that to Hopkinsville, KY (southwestern KY). I'll be there late morning tomorrow. It's a high value load, but I don't know what I'm specifically carrying.

I hope you are all having a nice weekend. I'll let you know where I'm going next when I find out. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Dublin, GA

I'm heading south to Dublin, GA. It's about 500 miles from here. I should be there sometime tomorrow morning.

Another beautiful morning. 55 and sunny at 8:30. Richmond is also a nice place. I may need to get some sun tan lotion. (that's for you who live up north).

I saw the headquarters of Phillip Morris. I wonder what it's like working there.

Does anyone know what the capitol of the Confederacy was? Was it Richmond? Thee is a Jefferson Davis Hwy here.

Well, I hope you all have a nice day. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Wienermobile

I just passed the Oscar Meyer weinermobile. What a sight. If you don't know what it looks like ask someone a generation older than you. I do have to say the driver was a real hotdog.

I'll be in VA all day today. I'm picking up some rock in Austinville and I'll be dropping it off tomorrow morning in Richmond. I'll be driving thru Lynchburg again and Appomattox. This is really beautiful country.

It is 65 and sunny. I've got my shorts on and high top black boots. I look like a real goofball. But I'm comfortable.

Hope your having a nice day! - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Indianapolis, IN

I'm at the Indy operating center. My truck needs some work. I think the starter is going out. They are going to look at it ovenight and it will be ready at 9:00 am tomorrow. I'll be staying at a hotel tonight (Schneider pays). I'll need to drive 9 hours tomorrow to get to Lynchburg.

It's warmer here. 65. Much better than Red Wing. I was able to are Erika and the girls again last night. They met me at a truck stop near Madison. We went to McDonalds and Syd was running down the aisles and back again. She was having a great time. Elsa is almost walking. She'll be a handful when she does.

I'm waiting now for the airport shuttle. No two days are the same doing this job. I hope you are all doing well. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Lynchburg, VA

I'm heading to Lynchburg, VA. I need to be there by 5:00 pm on 4/11. I pick
up paper in Biron, WI, near Wisc Rapids. It's over 900 miles.

One of these days I'll head west. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Home Run Program

Things change quickly. I called my team leader this morning and he said I could start driving today. So I am.

I will also be changing team leaders today. I'll get one in Des Moines. I talk to him today. In addition I contacted my previous team leader about the Home Run program and said I wanted to apply for it. He transferred me to another person who coordinates that program and I found out that there will be an opening for another driver on April 25th. So, I will start in that program beginning on the 25th. That was much quicker than I thought. Again, with that program I'll be out driving for a full two weeks and then have a week off, and then repeat. There are 3 drivers that share 2 trucks. The group of 3 drivers form a 'pod'. (sounds like a horror film).

I'm going to drive now until later in the week next week and then take off until the 25th.

I still don't know where I'm headed today, but will let you know when I find out. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Red Wing, MN

I thought I was going to start again today at 1:00. I had the truck packed and was
waiting for my assignment. I didn't hear anything and finally decided to call
in. The person I talked to said my Team Leader had put into the computer that I
would be off until midnight Monday, April 9th. I was surprised, but not disappointed.
So it looks like I'll be taking off again Tues morning sometime.

I have decided that I'll pursue getting on the 'Home Run Program' where
I'll work for 2 weeks and get one week off. It may take awhile. They need to
find 2 other people who from this area who are wanting to do this.

I hope you are all having a good Easter. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Still Life w/ Addie - 1, 2 and 3

Tomah, WI

Good Morning! I'm at a truck stop on I-39 about 80 miles south of Rockford, IL. I have a trailer to dropoff at 5:00 pm today and then I'm guessing I'll be sent home.

I started out yesterday in Little Rock. By midmorning it was 85. When I got to St Louis it was 65 and stormy and when I stopped last night it was 50 overcast and very windy. When I got up this morning it was 29. The good ol' Upper Midwest.

I'll have Thur and Fri off and start around noon on Sat. I hope to visit Tristan at his dad's tomorrow (near Rochester) and do my taxes.

I hope you are all staying warm. I'm freezing. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Corsicana, TX - St. Louis, MO

I'm finally out of Dallas. I had a short delivery this morning to Roanoke, TX
and then I went back to the Schneider operating center dropped off one empty trailer
and picked up another and headed south to Corsicana on I-45. They are now loading
the trailer (1 hour) and then I head north to St Louis. I'll drop it at the
operating center in St Louis tomorrow sometime.

... The trailer is loaded and I'm now east of Dallas on I-30. I was going to
head north but ran into a major backup.

It is good to be rolling again. It feels like I'm getting somewhere. I'm
guessing I'll be home sometime on Wednesday. That means my days off will be
Thur and Fri.

So, who's going to win tonight? Ohio State or Florida. I'm for the Buckeyes,
which is probably the kiss of death for them.

I hope your day has gone well! - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Dallas, TX

I arrived in the Dallas area around 10:00 am. I needed to drop off the trailer in
Garland which isn't too far from where Kara lives now and Kathy and Jim used
to live. I then bobtailed to the Schneider operating center in the southern part
of Dallas. I'm taking a 34 hour break here to get my truck looked at, to visit
Kara and Hil, and to rest.

I'll have breakfast with Kara, Hil, Wayne and Addie tomorrow morning and hang
out with them during the morning. Kara said she would take me to a grocery store
so I could replenish my stocks.

It has been raining most of the evening with some heavy downpours. It is cleaning
the truck off nicely. I carried pollen dust on the truck all the way from Atlanta.

I just talked to Erika, Jason, Frank and Melinda. Erika was having dinner with them
at their place in NYC. She was there for a conference. They had a good meal, fine
wine and were in the midst of stimulating conversation.

Well, enjoy your weekend and I'll let you know where I'm headed next. -
James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Sunday morning I head out again, to where, I don't know.