Browns Summit, NC

I spent the night in Crawfordsville, IN. I'm in the process of delivering a load to a Proctor & Gamble Distribution Ctr in Browns Summit, NC. I'll probably drop it off at about 7:00 pm tonight. I have about 600 miles to drive today.

Yesterday, I spent part of the morning getting additional training on 'Backing'. It was very helpful. I learned a lot of tricks and did quite well. Positioning the truck is critical. The trainer said most drivers make the mistake of thinking they are 'truck' drivers. Really, they are 'trailer' drivers. My tendency is to over steer. (turn the wheel too much).

I then was sent to Iowa City, IA to pick up a load. It is fairly light. 28,000 lbs. I left there at 2:30 pm and drove until 9:00 pm.

In case you weren't aware of it, the Cubs are in first place by 2 1/2 games. I probably jinxed them by mentioning this.

I've been watching episodes of 'Ice Road Truckers' on my computer. It's a TV series on the Discovery Channel about trucks that haul loads up into northern Canada over frozen lakes. The ice is only thick enough to drive on for 60 days. Some trucks have fallen thru the ice. Rarely, does the driver survive something like that. You can make in 2 months what other truckers make in a year. Temps can get as low as 50 below zero. It gives you a good idea of what it is like to drive.

It is, my daughter, Erika's birthday today. She is doing really well in life. She's raising two wonderful little girls, Sydney & Elsa, and working on a doctorate in Sociology. Just doing one of those is a full-time job. She is quite a remarkable woman. Happy Birthday, Erika!

I'll know tonight where I'm going next. I'll keep you informed. Have a great Labor Day Weekend! - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Des Moines, IA

I started again this afternoon at 1:00 pm in Blaine, MN. I picked up the tractor and empty trailer and headed to Rosemount, MN right where Hwy 52 and Hwy 55 split. I'm picking up a load of ingots. I'll be taking them to Des Moines this evening and dropping them at the operating center there. I don't know what I'll do after that.

Grandma and grandpa spent much of the weekend and the last two days in Red Wing. We went looking at Condos and one house. We saw a nice condo in the same area as my apt. I might make an offer on it.

Tristan and his step brother, Damian, spent the night last night at my apt. They have a lot of 'boy' energy. It was fun. We watched 'The Shooter'. They loved it.

I asked to go out west these 2 weeks, but I don't know. I'll find out soon.

I hope you all had a good week. I'll let you know where I'm headed next. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Escanaba, MI

I arrived in Wausau, WI yesterday at 9:00 am got unloaded and then was sent to Escanaba, MI to pick up another load of rolls of paper. Escanaba is in the U.P. Of Michigan right on the shores of Lake Michigan. It is quite a hall. I had to stop in Green Bay for fuel. That made it a but longer. The drive along Lake Michigan reminded me a lot of the North Shore of Lake Superior. Very nice. I picked up a loaded trailer around 3:30 pm and realized I didn't have any more hours to drive, so I got a motel room in Escanaba. There weren't any truck stops nearby. I watched the Bears-Colts game emailed Kathy on her new Blackberry.

This morning I'm heading back to the Twin Cities to drop off this load. I should be done with that about 2:00 pm. And then hopefully, I get to go home. I will have driven 6200 miles these past two weeks, which is about what I've been averaging.

On Sunday afternoon I met grandma and grandpa, Kathy and Jim in Mendota, IL and have them a ride around the truck stop. G/G were laying down for awhile in the back bunk. They also brought me treats (gatorade, protein shakes, cookies and last, but not least, 5 or 6 bags of Snickers bars. Life is good. We also went out to eat. It was the first time they were able to see the truck.

I hope you all had a good weekend and that this week is starting out well. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Wausau, WI

I'm in Morrilton, AR picking up large rolls of paper to take to Wausau, WI by Monday morning at 9:00 am. I've backed up to the dock, bought 2 Snickers from the Shipping clerk and now I'm waiting for them to start loading. After they load I'll have another hour and 15 minutes to drive before I have to stop for the night. Tomorrow I have 9 hours to drive and I'm trying to make it to Rockford, IL. Grandma and Grandpa, Kathy and Jim will meet me there.

I had quite a day. I drove from just east of Little Rock to Ochelatta, OK (300 miles). I dropped off a loaded trailer, picked up an empty and then drove almost all the way back to Little Rock (265 miles).

Tomorrow I figure I can drive 585 miles at the most. (9 x 65 mph). I may have to drive 40 or 50 miles past Little Rock before I stop tonight. That might give me a shot at Rockford. Most likely it'll be Rochelle, IL.

I stopped at a place last night where I could pump in cool air into the truck and hook up my computer to the internet. If I had a TV I also could have downloaded movies or got cable TV. It's quite a nice deal.

After I get to Wausau on Monday I'm not sure if they'll send me to the Cities or have me make more deliveries in WI.

I'll let you know if I meet up with Grandma and Grandpa tomorrow. They said they would being me some Snickers bars so I have some incentive.

I hope your weekend is going well. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Ochelata, OK

I had a short day today. I could only drive 5 hours before going over my 70 hours in 7 days. I started the morning a couple of hours east of Mobile, AL. I drove there and picked up a load at a Kimberley-Clark plant. I need to take it to Ochelata, OK and get it there Sat sometime. I drove another couple of hours out of Mobile and ended up in Biloxi, MS. Tomorrow I'll head up toward Memphis and then over on I-40 to OK. Ochelata is about 20 miles north of Tulsa.

It continues to be hot. Today it was in the upper 90's. I heard it was 77 in the Twin Cities today. That sounds wonderful.

The place in Mobile (K-C) that I made the pickup at is the same place that I made my very first run to, back in January. It brought back memories.

I'm hoping after OK that I'll be sent back up north somewhere close to Dubuque. Grandma and Grandpa just arrived there this afternoon and we're hoping they get a chance to see my truck.

Yesterday when I stopped I decided to stay at a motel. I took a shower and got all cleaned up, bought some beer and sandwiches and watched movies on TV. And of course, I also spent time on my computer. I got up late and left at 11:00 am. Not bad.

I hope you all had a good week and that you weekend will be enjoyable. I'll let you know where I'm heading after Ochelata. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Panama City, FL

Currently I'm at a truck stop in Birmingham, AL. I arrived here at 8:00 pm after driving 11 hours (650 miles) today. How did I get here?

Well, yesterday morning I dropped off a truck load of exercise equipment in Canton, OH. I was then sent to Shelby, OH north of Columbus to pick up a load of snow blowers to take to Memphis, TN. I thought that was a bit strange since it was 107 in Memphis today. It took 5 hours to get loaded in Shelby. I had to wait 3 hours to get to a dock. From Shelby I got as far as Louisville, KY last night. This morning I drove south on I-65 to I-40 to Memphis and arrived at 2:30 pm. I dropped off the trailer and immediately got another one which I need to take to Panama City, FL. It's called a 'JIT' load. 'Just in Time'. It has to be delivered by thur morning at 7:00 am or else. I'll have plenty of time. In fact, I'll be there around 1:00 pm tomorrow.

It was really nice this morning in Louisville. I would guess in the low 70's. But, as I mentioned, it was 107 in Memphis and around 90 when I arrived in Birmingham. The AC is working great so the heat hasn't bothered me.

I bought a small printer to use with my computer in the truck. I tried it out for the first time tonight. It works great. I have my own little travelling office. It's amazing what we can do now-a-days.

I hope you are all keeping cool. I'll keep you informed of my whereabouts. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Bucksnort, TN

Just passed Bucksnort, TN. Thought you'd like to know. I wonder how it got it's name. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Memphis, TN

Short note - I'm heading back down to Memphis, TN into the 100 degree heat. The AC is on. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Canton, OH

I spent the night in Canton, OH (Home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame). I have a delivery to make this morning at 8:00 am. A trailer load of exercise equipment. I don't know as of yet where I'll be going next.

Yesterday I drove from just south of Louisville to Lima, OH and dropped off a load of pallets (504 of them) and then drove north on I-75 to Findlay and picked up the exercise equipment. The pallets were dropped off at a large Proctor & Gamble Dist Ctr.

I've driven 1900 miles the first 4 days, so I'm on pace for 6,000 miles for these 2 weeks. I'm curious about where they will send me from here.

I've also been working on my computer. I installed something called 'Fusion' which allows me to run Microsoft Windows on my Mac. It is really quite good. I need to access Windows to be able to backup my Blackberry and to access Outlook.

Some of you know this already, but for the rest of you, Frank has started a Blog on www.facemask.biz entitled Monday Morning Quarterback. Each week he will offer some analysis of the football in general and the NY Jets in particular. You can find the Blog by clicking on 'Chalkboard' after entering the website. Take a look if you have time.

I'll let you know where I'm heading once I'm informed. Have a nice day! - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Lima, OH

I'm in Memphis, TN. I dropped off the trailer in Olive Branch, MS late this afternoon. It was 100 when I arrived. Tomorrow morning I pick up an empty trailer in Gallager, TN and drive down to Southhaven, MS and pick up a load of pallets. I'll then take that load to Lima, OH and hopefully drop it off sometime Sunday. I drove just under 600 miles today.

Yesterday, I was able to drive over to Eyota, MN near Rochester on my way down to MS and pick up Tristan at his Dad's and take him out to lunch at a convenience store. It was fun. It was the first time he had taken a ride in the truck. He also helped me check it over (checked the tires with a hammer). We also ate our lunch in the truck.

Then I drove across on I-90 which merges with I-94 and goes through Madison, WI. I stopped there and had dinner with Erika, Pat, Sydney & Elsa. That was also fun. Those two girls sure are cute. I feel pretty lucky that it all worked out.

I don't need to get the trailer loaded tomorrow until 11:00 am so I'll be able to sleep in. I made a discovery that I sleep better in the truck than I do at home. Pretty weird.

I hope you all had a good day and I hope your weekend is a good one. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Olive Branch, MS

Good Morning - I'm in Blaine, MN waiting to hear where I'll be headed. The guy before me got back yesterday late afternoon, so I didn't need to start yesterday. I was ok with that. These weeks off are pretty taxing and I appreciated another day to rest up.

I had a great time in SF visiting Gene, Neil, Josh and Crish. I flew out with Kathy and Jim. I spent 3+ days at their house on Stinson Beach. We had good conversations, good food. It's a very comfortable place to stay. We watched some Dvd's, ordered shoes from NikeID and saw the new Bourne movie 'The Bourne Ultimatum'.

On Monday, I took Tristan and his step brothers out for lunch and a movie and then took Tristan down to his Dad's.

I've got the truck loaded with my stuff, which takes about 30 minutes, but now I'm all set. It'll be interesting to see where I'll be headed.

Just found out I'll be heading to Olive Branch, MS which is just south of Memphis. I need to be there by noon tomorrow. It's about 900 miles from here. I'm delivering store merchandise. (20,000 lbs) I'll let you know how it goes. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Bridge Collapse

A bridge on I-35w near the Metrodome and the U of M collapsed this evening. Whole sections of the bridge fell into the river. Phone lines are jammed so it is hard to call in or out. Greta and family are fine and I was in Red Wing when it happened. I did drive over the bridge yesterday on the way to Blaine. The bridge carried 100,000 cars a day and was built in 1967. It is reported 6 people have died. Fyi. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )