St. Louis, MO

I'm in LaCrosse, WI picking up a load of beer, and boy, is it cold (14 degrees). It also snowed here last night. Not much, but enough for it to feel like Xmas. I'll be taking this to the operating center in St Louis and need to be there tomorrow morning.

There is supposed to be a snowstorm in MN and WI tomorrow. Maybe as much as 8" of snow. Good thing I'll be down in MO.

I'll be able to stop tonight in Madison and see Erika and the girls. That will be fun.

To backtrack a bit, I dropped off the load in Tomah this morning at 8:00 am. Right on schedule. After a year, I think I'm getting pretty good at this.

It was one year ago today that I drove from Red Wing to Green Bay to begin my training at Schneider. I remember that day well. I was more excited than anxious and not quite sure what it would be like. I must say the training for the most part was challenging and fun.

I hope your coming weekend is good. I'll let you know where I'm headed when I hear tomorrow. Also a Happy Birthday to my nephew, Josh, who turns 40 today. I remember his birth well. I'm proud to say that I'm his godfather. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Tomah, WI

This has been an interesting day. I left Houston at a little before 6:00 am and drove non-stop to Jenks (south of Tulsa). I arrived at 2:30 pm and dropped off the load.

I pick up my next load at the same place, but not until 2:00pm tomorrow afternoon. So I had 24 hours to blow. I decided to get a motel room nearby and take it easy.

The load I pick up I will take to Tomah, WI which is about 1 1/2 hours north of Madison. I need to have it there by Friday. So if I play my cards right I'll be able to see Erika Thursday evening.

The reason for the delay is that I was running short of hours to drive. This will all work out great. Now I'll shower, get something to eat, work on the computer and sleep.

I hope your week is going well. I'll get back to you sometime Thur. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Jenks, OK

I just stopped for the day at a truck stop outside of Houston. I had a long one. I got up at 3:30 am and started driving at 4:30 am from Anna, TX which is about 40 miles north of Dallas. I made it down to Sealy at 10:00 am and then was sent to Port Arthur, TX to pick up a load of pulp. Port Arthur is about 150 miles from Sealy on the other side of Houston. I arrived there about 1:30 pm and was loaded up by 4:00 pm. Port Arthur is on the gulf coast and is filled with oil refineries. I had to drive into the port of Port Arthur, where ships dock and unload. There were also railroad tracks running every which way. Quite a convergence of shipping, rail and truck traffic. The load I picked up I'll need to drive up to Jenks, OK by early afternoon tomorrow (500 miles). Jenks is just south of Tulsa.

Last night I was fortunate enough to have dinner with Kara (my niece). She met me at one of the truck stops in Anna. It was great to see her. My good fortune continues with regard to seeing relatives.

I hope you all watched the Bears game yesterday afternoon. I wasn't able to watch, but followed along on my Blackberry. I prefer that. I get too anxious otherwise.

The Holiday season is upon us. I suppose I could decorate the inside of my truck, but I think I'll fore go that pleasure. I let you know where I'm headed when I find out tomorrow. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Sealy, TX

I'm heading south and it's time to break out the shorts. I made it to Effingham
this morning at 11:00 am and had the trailer unloaded. I was then sent back up north
to Spring Valley, IL, which is close to the intersection of I-80 and I-39. There
I picked up a load at a WalMart Dist. Ctr. I'm to take that to Sealy, Tx which
is down by Houston (1100 miles). I need to get there by mid-morning Monday. I drove
until 9:00 pm this evening and made it to an Schneider Operating Center near St
Louis. Tomorrow I hope to drive 11 hours or 700 miles and get pretty close to my
destination.

Again today the driving was easy. The weather cooperated and the traffic was light.

I listened to ESPN radio all day following college football. Tomorrow I'll listen
to ESPN following the NFL games. The Bears are really terrible this year, which
has taken some of the fun out of the season. I'm hoping Kansas wins tonight
over Missouri, but it really doesn't look good.

I hope your weekend is going well. One more day left in this long Holiday. I'll
let you know how it goes and where I'll be going next when I find out. - James
(Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Effingham, IL

Next stop, Effingham, IL. I dropped off the load in Wisconsin Rapids this morning and picked up another one there. This one has 24 rolls of paper (44,000 lbs). I have an appt to del it at 11:00 am tomorrow. I drove as far as Gilmore, IL this evening (exit 183 on I-57).

Again, it was a nice day. (20's and 30's) Driving has been easy. Not too many cars or trucks on the road. I drove through Chicago and only once needed to slow down.

Tonight, I'm going to watch movies. The first one will be `Live Free or Die Hard` with Bruce Willis, and if I'm not too tired I'll watch `Amazing Grace`, which is about the man who brought about the abolition of slavery in England in the early 1800's.

Living in a truck is pretty comfortable for me. I find I'm in more contact with people than when I'm home. I'm surprised by that, but also pleased. I celebrated Thanksgiving yesterday with many phone calls to family, and with a turkey sandwich which I bought at a truck stop. For once, I didn't overeat.

I hope yesterday was good and that the weekend is continuing as you hoped it would. I'll keep in touch. Maybe I'll head down south where it is warm. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Wisconsin Rapids, WI

I started out again this morning at 9:00 am. I had a great week and it was hard getting back to the truck, but once here, it is ok. They have sent me north to Duluth, MN to pick up a load of paper which eventually will be taken to Oklahoma City, OK. I only have to take it to Wisconsin Rapids. Someone else will take it from there.

Duluth sure has a nice view of Lake Superior. Quite awe inspiring. It is clear and in the 20's.

It will take them an hour to load the trailer.

I was able to move everything from my apt to the condo I purchased. Much of it however is in the garage. The next time I'm home I'll tackle that job. Tristan has been over almost everyday. We've setup a train in one of the bedrooms and as usual, we've been watching war movies. It's wonderful to have him around. Greta has been a big help with moving, as well as Tom and his boys. I only had to move less than a block. I put my books in plastic target bags (8-10 books per bag). I bet there are about 100 or more bags. It took 2 or 3 pickup loads to get them all over to the condo. A trucker with books.

I hope you are all having a nice Thanksgiving - eating a lot and watching football on TV, or whatever. I'll keep you informed of my travels. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Red Wing, MN

I'm finally almost home. I should arrive in Red Wing about 2:00 am. I left from Gary yesterday in the afternoon around 4:00 pm. The load I was to pick up didn't arrive until then. I drove straight to Shakopee with only one brief stop and made it in 7 1/2 hours. I then drove to Blaine 40 miles north, unloaded the truck and headed south to Red Wing.

Last night I spent from midnight to 3:00 getting unloaded in Oconomowoc and then drove 2 1/2 hours to Gary, arriving at 6:00 am. I slept on and off throughout the morning, and waited for my next load.

I've had strange hours the last couple of days.

Now I begin moving from my apt to my new condo. I have 7 days, so there is no big hurry. I hope the remainder of your week goes well. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Shakopee, MN

I'm just about ready to drive 40 miles to Oconomowoc. I stopped this afternoon in Madison to take my 10 hour break. I needed to do that so that after dropping off this load I can drive for 10 more hours. I will next drive to the Gary operating center and pick up another load which I will then take to Shakopee, MN and after that head home. If all goes well I will be done by 2:00 pm. If not it may be closer to midnight tomorrow.

I again was able to have dinner with Erika and the girls. We went to a mall and walked through a book store. Each of the girls got a stuffed Minnie Mouse, a book and a small toy. Elsa got a rubber Ducky, Sydney got 3 little Thomas the Tank engines. Erika got two books. It was fine watching them walk around. They are very, very cute.

Wish me luck tonight! Driving through the night is not my favorite. I hope you are all doing well - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Fenton, MO / Oconomowoc, WI

A two-parter - After making a delivery in Sterling Heights I was sent into Detroit to pick up some automotive parts to be taken to Fenton, MO some 550 miles away. This is a JIT load (Just in Time). I'm delivering it to a Chrysler Motors Plant. I guess they need the parts. I'll get there tomorrow at 6:00 am. I stopped for the night in Edwardsville, IL at a Schneider Operating Center near St. Louis.

Then after dropping that off I travel to Granite City to pick up a load at a Proctor and Gamble plant which I need to take up to Oconomowoc, WI and deliver at midnight. That trip will be about 400 miles. If I play my cards right I should get close by about 1:00 pm. I'll take my 10 hour break and get to Oconomowoc by 12:00 am.

Hopefully, they'll send me home after that and I can arrive sometime Wednesday. I'll have to check it out with them tomorrow during the day.

My delivery this morning was to the Detroit newspaper plant. I was delivering pallets with newspaper inserts. It was fascinating to watch the unloading. They used forklifts to get the pallets out of the truck and then they placed them on a conveyor belt which took them to robotic carts which picked them up and took them into the plant. Empty robotic carts would come out and line up for the next pallet. There was no track they followed that I could see. It was strange seeing them move around on the floor, taking right and left turns, backing up and moving forward. It was a pretty efficient operation.

I hope your week is starting out well. I'll keep you informed as to my progress tomorrow. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Sterling Heights, MI

My good fortune continues. I was able to have lunch with Erika and the girls once again in Madison. Erika met me at the usual truck stop and we went to a mall in search of a battery for my Blackberry. (No luck). We did however find a McDonalds and had our traditional meal with Milk Shake. The girls each were given a balloon which were tied around their wrists. They were thrilled. I was able to spend 2 hours with them.

I arrived in Beaver Dam around 3:30 pm and then went further north and east to Lomira, WI to pick up another load. This one I'll be taking to a suburb of Detroit, Sterling Heights. I need to be there by 6:30 am Monday morning (500 miles). Hopefully, after that they will send me back toward MN.

I'm getting excited about my upcoming move into my new condo. I've got Greta, Tom and the boys lined up to help me. With their help it shouldn't be too bad.

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

Beaver Dam, WI

Well, I got back to work this morning. I had a wonderful day and a half in NYC. I was sent this morning to Jersey City to pick up a load which I need to take to a Walmart Dist Ctr in Beaver Dam, WI (1,000 miles). I need to get it there by tomorrow early afternoon.

Currently, I'm in eastern PA. I'll try to get well into OH and even possibly into IN befor I stop for the day.

I was able to spend 4 hours yesterday talking with Frank, Gene, Neil and Crish. I also worked with Frank on the Facemask website a little. It was a day of great conversations. I took a cab later in the evening back to my truck in Kearny, NJ. It took 2 hours to get to the truck and I needed to guide the driver to the area where the truck was.

So now, it's back to driving. I wonder who'll I'll meet next on the road. I hope your week is going well and that you have a wonderful weekend! I'll let you know tomorrow sometime where I'm headed next. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

34 hr Break, NY

Tonight I'm right outside of NYC in NJ. Early tomorrow morning I'll drive
into Brooklyn and drop off this load. At that point I'll only have a few hours
left to drive. I talked to my supervisor today and arranged to take a 34 hour break
in NYC. So I won't have to start driving again until Thur night or Fri morning.

Frank will be driving out to where I park my truck to pick me up and take me to
his place on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. I'll also be able to see Gene,
Neil and Crish on Thur morning. Quite amazing.

Today I drove all the way on I-95 right through Washington, DC and Baltimore, by
Philadelphia and straight up to Newark. I never experienced a slow down in traffic.
I didn't expect that.

If you need anything from NYC, let me know. I'll have some time and a big truck
to being it back in. I hope your day went well. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Jacksonville, FL

Get out your shorts and suntan lotion, I'm heading south to Jacksonville.

I arrived this morning in Clarksville, TN and was then sent back up north to Owensboro,
KY to pick up a load of paper. (they aren't rolls this time, but rather 40,000
lbs of packaged reams of paper / 840 cartons). I need to get that to Jacksonville
by 11:00 am on Monday. (750 miles). I got as far as Christiana, TN before I stopped
for the night. Christiana is about 40 miles south of Nashville on I-24.

Tomorrow I should be able to get all the way to Jacksonville if I choose. I might
not push it however. Somewhere in GA would be ok.

Tonight I'm going to watch Spiderman 3. I didn't get to see it in the theaters
this summer. I also splurged and bought a meal at McDonalds. Usually I eat something
I brought from home. They had a special deal. Two chicken sandwiches, a large fries,
a large pop and two apple ours for $5.50. It was called a 'Trucker's Special'.

I don't have to worry about the Bears losing tomorrow. They don't play.
What a relief.

I hope your weekend is going well so far. Enjoy your day tomorrow. I'll let
you know where I'm heading after Jacksonville when I find out. - James (Jibs
- Dad/Papa )

Clarksville, TN

I'm heading south to Clarksville, TN, which isn't too far from Nashville.
I'll be dropping off a load which another driver will be taking to Birmingham,
AL. I drove today from Madison, WI through Chicago to Fort Wayne, IN. As usual,
it was slow going around Chicago, so it took me longer than I had hoped. I dropped
off a load in Fort Wayne and then drove down to Decatur, IN and picked up my current
load.

I was able to have dinner with Erika, Sydney & Elsa last night at our favorite
McDonalds in Madison. Erika picked me up at a truck stop and both girls were sleeping
when she arrived. The night before they had gone trick or treating in their neighborhood.
Sydney was a firefighter and Elsa was a baby chick.

I was tired driving today. I imagine I'm recovering from my week off. It takes
me a few days to get back in the swing of things. I hope I'll be sent to NY
tomorrow after dropping off the load in Clarksville. Gene and Neil will be having
dinner with Frank and Melinda on Sunday and I thought it would be fun to drop in.
The chances of that happening though are slim to none.

I hope you all have a great weekend. I'll let you know if I'm sent to NY.
- James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Yoder, IN

I'm back on the road. I was sent down to Faribault to pick up a load of food
which I will take to General Mills in Yoder, IN, which is close to Fort Wayne. It's
only about 600 miles, so I'll get there tomorrow sometime.

I had to get a DOT (Dept of Transportation) physical this morning. The doctor was
a chatty sort. I got there at 8:00 but didn't get out until 9:30 am. We were
talking about therapeutic techniques. I mentioned to him that I was once a counselor.
It was interesting.

I closed on my condo yesterday. That went very smoothly and then I took Tristan
trick or treating. He was a Civil War Union Soldier. We had a good time. I had brought
him a hat and tshirt from Gettysburg which he wore. We stopped at a house where
the couple there participates in Civil War re-enactments. Tristan was talking to
them about the battle at Gettysburg.

The trip to Gettysburg with grandma and grandpa this past weekend went very smoothly.
We saw a lot of relatives and visited the battlefield at Gettysburg. Brother, Frank,
went to the seminary there, so he was able to show us around.

I hope you all had a good week. I'll let you know how this trip goes and where
they send me next. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )