Back Home, MN

I got home last night at 8:00 pm. It's been an eventful 3 days, and now I have 3 days off to recurrence.

From Ankeny, IA I went to Cedar Rapids, IA to pick up rolls of paper. Since I was close to Dubuque I decided to stop for the night near there and try to see Kathy et al. We were able to meet in Cascade, IA (20 mi from Dubuque). Jenna, the boys and a friend of theirs also came. Elias played in the truck and we went to Subway so I could get something to eat. It was a good time.

The next morning I drove to Red Wing to refuel. For the first time since driving trucks I went thru Decorah. At Red Wing I needed to have 2 new front tires put on, and put in 222 gallons of diesel fuel. At a truck stop that would have cost over $1,000. After that I drove to White Bear Lake, MN to drop off rolls of paper. I was then sent to Eagan to pick up a load of Coca-Cola products which I drove up to Virginia, MN in northern Minnesota. Once there I picked up an empty trailer which I needed to take to a paper mill in Cloquet, MN.

This is where it got interesting. I was close to being out of hours and needed to find a place to stop. I saw an abandoned truck stop in Canyon, MN and turned off the Hwy onto a frontage road. The turn however was quite sharp and I wasn't able to make it without taking out a sign. So I instead went into a business that had a large grassy area next to it's building. I attempted to turn the truck around, but in the process the front tires went into a soft spot and settled 8-9" into the turf. I was stuck. Embarrassed and a bit upset. I needed to find a way to get out. No one was around, but finally the owner of the business drove by. I was able to get a phone number for a wrecker. An hour later I was pulled free. It was an expensive mistake however. Wreckers are not cheap and I gave the owner some money to repair the area of grass where the truck was stuck. Besides that I was concerned that this incident might effect my employment. I am just a week away from the end of my 90 probationary period. I had visions of being fired or needing to start over with the probationary period. I didn't sleep well that night (Thur). Yesterday morning with trepidation I call Monson and spoke with the Safety person. I explained what happened and how I took care of it and asked if I needed to fill out an Accident Report. He said no. He thought I handled it well after getting stuck. I was extremely relieved as you can imagine.

After the call I drove from Cloquet, MN to a town in WI called Combined Locks. It's close to Appleton. It was a 6 hour drive. After unloading I went to Menasha, WI, 10 miles away and picked up another load of rolls of paper and was told to take that to the terminal in Red Wing. That took 4.5 hours.

For the week I drove 2700 miles. A good week.

Tristan spent the night with me and we watched the new 'National Treasure' movie just out on video.

I hope you are all doing well and are enjoying your weekend. I intend to take it easy and rest up. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Ankeny, IA

I'm laying down in the sleeper berth of my truck waiting for my trailer to be unloaded. It could take 3 to 4 hours. I'm in Ankeny, IA. I brought a load of Solo cups (light load).

It's been a strange couple of days. Monday afternoon I needed to drive from Chicago to Baraboo, WI which is an hour north of Madison and pick up a trailer at a Slumberland Dist Center. I then took it to Champaign, I'll for a 8:00 am delivering yeaterday. I was then sent upo to University Park, I'll just a bit south of Chicago to pick up the load of paper cups. I arrived there at 2:00 pm, but the load wasn't ready until Midnight. To make my hours work the best I didn't leave there until 4:00 am this morning and arrived in Ankeny at 10:30 am. So, I've been sitting around a lot taking naps, reading. books and watching DVD's.

I was able on Monday night to visit with Erika, Pat, Sydney Kate & Elsa in Madison. We went to a mall where the was a McDonalds. This time the girls each wanted their own milk shake. We also had to visit the Children's section of the neighboring bookstore. It is so much fun to see them looklng at books and stuffed animals, etc.
The weather has been great. Sunny and warm. I hope it lasts. This weekend I get an extra day off because of the Holiday. I think Tristan and I will hang out together. I also bought a WW II German Style motorcycle helmet (black) which I will be wearing when I put the top down on my PT 'Cruiser' Ragtop. I still need to get some goggles. I think I'll look pretty goofy. Tristan has threatenned not to ride with me if I wear it.

I hope you are all doing well. I'll let you know where I'm headed next. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Chicagoland, IL

Hello from Chicago. I'm currently at a 7 Eleven somewhere near O'Hare airport waiting for my next assignment. I've got my Cubs T-shirt on and my Bears cap, so I feel right at home. I had to make a delivery this morning at 9:00 am of paper products from Boise Cascade.

The last few weeks I've been entirely in the Upper Midwest crisscrossing the states of MN, WI, SD, ND and IA. I'm getting to know the secondary roads pretty well. I've been getting home on the weekends which has been what I've wanted. Monson is a good company. Being smaller it isn't so impersonal. Unlike Schneider where I was driver 49123, here I'm known as James.

I'll have been working for Monson 3 months the beginning of June and at that point will be out of a probationary period. Benefits will kick in, as well as getting a significant raise. I'm driving about 2500+ miles per week which is good.

I hope you are all doing well and are enjoying the Spring weather. Having left the Winter season we are now entering the season of Road Construction. Take care - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Park Falls, WI

It's been awhile since I last sent out an email. Last Thur I was sent to Sioux Falls, SD to pick up a load. My cousin Jeff lives there and just recently, his parents, Norman and Jan also moved there. I didn't have time to let Jeff know I was coming, but was planning on calling him when I got there. Well, it just so happened that as I was backing into the dock in Sioux Falls I received an email from him. I don't know if he had ever emailed before. I quickly called him and we were able to have lunch at a local truck stop.

By the way, Norman's 81st birthday is this coming Sunday, April 27th. Also on the birthday front, my brother-in-law, Jim, also known as Dr. Hall of Fame will turn 60 tomorrow. He's getting quite old.

Since my last email I have gone from WI to Huron, SD to Sioux Falls to Red Wing to Hoyt Lakes, MN to Cloquet, MN to Eau Claire, WI to Grand Forks, ND to Moorhead, MN to Duluth. Today I go back to Cloquet and then east to Park Falls, WI.

It is beautiful up here. In places there is still snow on the ground and many of the lakes are still parially ice covered. Spring is coming. Slowly.

I've been driving about 2200 miles a week the last 3 weeks. Mostly, I've transported paper products (scrap, pulp, rolls of paper). Last week I picked up a load of sugar at a warehouse in Mpls. A huge warehouse stacked high with bags and bags of sugar. And I thought to myself that this could be the birthplace of ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder).

Tristan has started baseball. He practices Tue, Thur and Sat each week. I hope he continues to enjoy the experience. I'll go with him as much as possible.

I hope you are all doing well. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Confrontation, MN

I had a confrontation today and I lost. Let me explain. The word 'confront' comes from the Latin words 'cum' or with and 'frons' or face. To confront is to do something 'with face'. Well today I literally confronted the side of my trailer and lost. I was trying to loosen a bolt and the wrench slipped and I went face first into the side of the trailer. My nose made contact first, then my mouth. I was bloodied a bit, but I survived. Don't try this at home. My nose is sore and my profile is a bit flatter.

This morning at 4:00 am I started out from Red Wing and took a trailer up to Baxter, MN (180 miles) and had it unloaded there. I then drove 4 miles to Brainerd and picked up a loaded trailer and took that back down to Red Wing. From there I picked up an empty trailer and drove to Minneapolis and picked up a load of scrap paper and will take that to Duluth and arrive tomorrow morning. I was able to get as far as Rush City, MN which is on I-35 about 40 miles north of Mpls-St Paul.

There was over a foot of snow on the ground in Brainerd. Pretty depressing. They had a storm this past weekend. I hope your weather has been better. Well, have a good week. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Detroit Lakes, MN

I started out from Red Wing last night at 9:00 pm. I had to take an empty trailer to Eau Claire (Menard's Distribution Center) drop it and pick up a loaded trailer by 11:00 pm. From there I was to take it to Detroit Lakes, MN for a 5:00 am delivery (290 miles).

Everything went smoothly until halfway through the drive to Detroit Lakes. First, I got really tired, so I stopped at a truck stop near Alexandria, MN. I heard there that I was driving into a snow storm. And sure enough I did. I also discovered that the interstate I was on (I-94) was closed north of Alexandria due to the snow and 3 semi's that had gone into a ditch. I had to pull off onto a exit ramp and wait 2 hours for the highway to reopen. I slept most of the time. When I got back on the road, it was snow packed and I could only drive 45 mph. I did that for about 100 miles. When I arrived at the Menards in Detroit Lakes their lot was full of snow so I had to wait over an hour for them to clear it out enough for me to back up to their dock.

When they are done unloading I'll need to take a 10 hour break, since I was on the road all night. I'll try to sleep for a few hours. I'll be able to start again at 6:00 pm this evening.

Fortunately, I didn't slip or slide at all while driving. I'm glad spring is starting to emerge up here in the 'Frozen Tundra'. I'm looking forward to driy roads and warmer temps.

I hope you all had a good weekend. Root for the Cubs! It's been 100 years since they've won anything. I think it is about time. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

St Peter, MN

I thought some of you would be interested in knowing that I drove through St Peter, MN yesterday afternoon. I honked as I drove by Gustavus. I also called grandma and grandpa to let them know and they were pleased.

For most of the week I've been driving around MN and WI, but yesterday I picked up a load of peanuts (44,000 lbs) north of St Peter. I drove it down to Decatur, IL and am now waiting to be unloaded. I imagine I'll get home sometime tomorrow.

I forgot to give you the results of the Trucker Quiz from last week. It was a trick question. There is both a Menomonie, WI and a Menominee, MI. 3 of you got it right. Tristan's dad and step-mom replied first. Kari was the second one to get it right, and my uncle Jim and aunt Carole were the third ones to respond correctly. They all will get Snickers bars.

If Memphis beats UCLA on Sat I think I will win the west coast Barth NCAA pool. So, root for Memphis. If UCLA wins, Neil will win the pool.

I hope you have had a good couple of weeks and that you will have a great weekend. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Duluth, MN

Since I last emailed these are the cities I've gone to. (Whiting, WI - Waseca,MN - Easgan, MN - Duluth, MN - Cloquet, MN - Brainerd, MN and St Cloud, MN. I'm in St Cloud now picking up some scrap paper which I'll take to Duluth. I'm getting the hang of it. Much shorter trips. I call in at least 2 or 3 times a day. Mostly paper or paper products, although yesterday I hauled Coca-Cola products.

I have not been back to Red Wing this week yet. The other drivers have been very helpful with directions to businesses and advice about procedures.

I figured something out this morning. When I ran back in the '80's I used to run the city streets of South Mpls. That was enjoyable, but what really fascinated me was running up and down the alleys. Observing the back side of the city. Driving a truck feels the same. I see the back side of the city a lot and it is fascinating. It is not as well kept, usually older and a bit out of the way. Maybe it has to do with seeing beyond the facade. It seems a bit more real. Anyway, I find it fascinating.

I'm hoping to be home on Friday, but probably won't know until Friday morning.

Happy Birthday, Grandpa! What's it like being 90? - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Appleton, WI

I had a busy weekend once again before heading out last night from Red Wing. I'm in the process of taking a load of rolls of paper to Appleton, WI. I'll be delivering it this morning at 10:00 am.

Last week I was done driving on Thursday morning which was much sooner than I thought it would be. But, it turned out to be fortunate for me. When I got home I checked my banking accts online and discovered that someone had withdrawn money from savings acct. I quickly called the bank and after an hour of talking to a variety of officials discovered that someone in CO had posed as me and had withdrawn the funds. For the next couple of days I took care of business (ie - closed the checking & savings accts and opened up new ones, notified places where there were automatic payments, changed passwords, etc.). I will recover the funds withdrawn. I'm glad I had the time to deal with this.

I also spent time with Tristan. We signed him up for baseball this spring and summer, and he spent 3 nights with me which was wonderful. We saw the movie 10,000 BC which was better than I thought it would be.

I also watched the MN Girls High School Basketball Tournament on TV. My former niece, Caroline Haik played guard on the team that won the Class AAA tournament. That was fun. She is a good player.

I'm hoping I'll drive more miles this week than last, but we'll see. I'll be figuring out my brackets for the NCAA Basketball Tournament in the next few days. I hope you all had a good weekend and that this week will also be good for you. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Red Wing, MN

I spent last night at home once again. Not bad. After delivering the load in Lincoln, NE yesterday morning I called in for my next assignment. The dispatcher said to call back in an hour. So I did that. They then told me to drive to Omaha and call in. So, I did that. They then told me to drive to Des Moines and call in. So, I did that. Once again, they told me to drive to Clear Lake, IA (100 miles) north of Des Moines. So, I did that. Finally, they said to drive back to Red Wing and call at 8:00 am this morning. I arrived in Red Wing at 7:00 pm and had a nice evening.

As I was traveling back, I believe they were looking for possible loads on my return trip (backhauls). I was paid for the miles I drove (over 400 miles) so I didn't lose out on anything.
The weather was nice, the temperature was mild, the roads were dry and it was a pleasant drive. I was surprised to get home once again this week. I expect to drive the next couple of days, but as of yet I haven't received my next assignment.

Kara and Ben both emailed with info on what the 5th season in Cedar Rapids is. It is a season of the 'mind' where one appreciates the other 4 seasons. They sent specific references in case you are interested.

Grandpa's birthday is coming up next Wednesday, March 19th. He will be 90. His sister, Marge, just turned 89 this past Thursday, March 6th. They are 'Irish' twins. They were born within a year of one another. Happy Birthday to both of them. Greta's husband, Tom had a birthday on the 6th also. I think he is 42. I believe Crish, my nephew, was also born in March, but I don't remember the date. (Crish, be sure to let me know).

I hope your week has been good. I'll let you know where I head next when I find out. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Lincoln, NE

I started out on my own Sunday night at 8:30 pm from Red Wing. I took a load down to Cedar Rapids to be delivered at 11:00 am Monday morning (216 mi). After that I was sent to another company in CR to pick up a load of paper rolls (7 @ 6,000 lbs each) and they had me take that back up to Red Wing and drop it at the terminal there. I arrived at 5:30 pm.

My next assignment was to pick up a load in Mpls at 7:00 am this morning, so since I was in Red Wing I headed home for the night. That was a pleasant surprise. I'm guessing it won't happen very often.

I've picked up the load and am now heading south on I-35. It's 395 miles to Lincoln, NE. I'll be there sometime later this afternoon.

Where as with Schneider everything was done on computer, here at Monson I need to make phone calls to Dispatch to get my load and other information. They usually only tell you one thing at a time. For example, they say go to this location and when you are loaded call. When you call again they tell you where to take the load and possibly to call back in a couple of hours for the delivery time.

My truck is nice. It has 9 speeds instead of 10. It has 675,000 miles on it. It is not as deep as the Schneider trucks. The bed is right behind the seat. There are places for storage above the bed at either end of it. I've got my XM radio setup, a couple of books and my computer. I don't need much else. Oh, I forgot, and my Blackberry.

I'm guessing they'll send me right back to MN after I deliver in Lincoln. It is strange to think I'll be home as soon as this Friday. So far, it is working out well.

I noticed in CR that they call themselves the City of 5 Seasons. I'm curious what the 5th Season is. Do they have two winters? Does anyone know?

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

Red Wing, MN

Well, I finished my 'Check' ride and my day of orientation. I got back to Red Wing last night and will find out Saturday afternoon when I'll need to make my first pickup/delivery.

I did well on my 'Check' ride. The trainer was used to drivers right out of a training program. My having a year of experience was very helpful.

I was assigned my own truck, #452. It's at the terminal in Red Wing. I'll put some of my stuff in it this weekend. I received my ID card which gets me into the terminal. They don't have T-shirts or sweat shirts with Monson on it, but I did get a cap.

I talked to some other truckers who were interested in why I was switching from Schneider to Monson. They also seemed impressed with my experience. It looks like a good company. Much, much smaller than Schneider, but well run. They primarily pickup up paper, pulp, scrap, etc. It looks like I'll be doing border crossings into Winnipeg and Ontario from northern MN at times.

I'm not used to driving with someone and carrying on a conversation for a period of time, so Tues and Wed were different. I wasn't able to send my allotment of emails or make any phone calls. Nor did I have the alone time I'm used to. I'll be looking forward to that.

Greta drove Tristan to my place last night and he was there when I got home. It was good to see him. He spent the night and I took him to school this morning.

I'll let you know where I'm headed when I get the news tomorrow. Hope you all have a good and satisfying weekend. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Mendota, IL

I started with a different trucking company this morning. (Monson). As I mentioned before, it has a terminal or operating center in Red Wing. I'm now in the process of a 2 day 'Check Ride'. I'm driving with a Monson driver who is checking out my driving skills and teaching me the procedures that Monson has and the paperwork that needs to be filled out. I met him at 8:00 am in Red Wing. We picked up an empty trailer at the terminal there and headed to Fridley, MN (an inner suburb of Mpls) and picked up a load of rolls of paper. We than left for Mendota, IL which is 40 miles south of Rockford. We arrived in Mendota at 8:00 pm this evening.

I drove the whole time and adjusted to the new truck quite quickly. It is an International. Schneider had Freightliners. Everything in the truck is a bit different. Gauges are in different places as well as switches. The clutch and brake have a different feel to them. I need to shift at different speeds and rpm's. The mirrors are different. The steering wheel is bigger. The seat doesn't have as much 'cush'.

I must say though that the driving is the same and many procedures with the truck are the same. (Hooking up to a trailer, backing up to the dock, moving the trailer tires forward or back. )

The man I'm driving with is 64 and has been driving for 11 years. He is very nice. He has 2 children and 5 grandchildren. He owns an Apple computer and listens to NPR so we have things in common. I'll drive with him again tomorrow.

After delivering in Mendota tomorrow at 6:00 am we then drive down to Normal, IL and picked up a load of scrap paper which we will take up to Duluth by tomorrow afternoon. I'll spend the night there and on thursday have a day of orientation and then return to Red Wing late thursday afternoon.

Tonight, Monson is putting me up at a motel which is nice. I'm on my computer now, but will fall asleep soon.

I hope you all are doing well. I'll let you know how this time of adjustment goes. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Menomonie, WI

This will be my last load for Schneider. I should have it delivered to Menomonie by 6:00 am tomorrow morning. Because of the limit of only driving 70 hours over a 7 day period, I only had 3.25 hours to drive today. Tomorrow I'll have plenty of hours to finish the run. Right now I'm about 2 miles from the junction of I-80 and I-39 in IL. I plan on leaving early tomorrow morning at 1:00 am and drive north to Menomonie.

I got up this morning at 4:30 am and drove from Dixon, IL to Joliet. I used I-88, I-355 and I-55. It was snowing and the going was slow in places. I arrived in Joliet a little after 7:00 to pick up the load.

I have the rest of the day to rest up, work on the computer and watch DVD's.

I'm pretty sure that I'll head to Blaine after dropping the load in Menomonie. All I have to do then is clean out the truck and head to Red Wing. So I'm about 24 hours away from concluding 1+ years of driving for Schneider. I'm guessing I drove about 120,000 miles in 44 states and 4 provinces in Canada.

I hope the day is going well for all of you. I'll let you know when I make it to Red Wing. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Dixon, IL

This morning I'm sitting in the Schneider Indianapolis operating center. I have a load I need to take to Dixon, IL by 5:00 pm this afternoon. I picked it up yesterday morning in Columbus, OH at an operating center there. It's a relay. Another driver had brought it from MD to Columbus. I'm taking it the rest of the way.

Over the last 3 days I've been checking to find an operating center that can replace the starter in my truck. The one in Seville, OH didn't have time until tomorrow. The one in Columbus wasn't open yesterday. This one in Indy couldn't get to it until tonight. Since the time it didn't start a few days ago it has been starting ok. However, you never know when it won't start and need to be replaced. I'm attempting preventive maintenance. The suggestion the mechanics have is to always keep the tractor running.

I rented the movie 'Michael Clayton' yesterday on iTunes and downloaded it to my computer. That's a good movie.

3 or 4 more days and I'll be done at Schneider. Next week on Tues I'll probably drive with a Monson driver for a couple of days and then have a day of orientation in Duluth. I think I'll actually start driving the following Monday. March 10th.

I hope you all had a good weekend. For some of you Spring is coming. For those of us in the Upper Midwest we still have 6-8 weeks left. Someone once said that the MN has 4 seasons. June, July, August and Winter. Another commented about MN's 2 seasons, Winter and Road Construction. I'll let you know how the next few days go. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Columbus, OH

I'm parked at a Wal Mart in Ogdenburg, NY and will start out soon. Ogdenburg is on the US/Canadian border. I picked up a load last night which I need to take to Columbus, OH by 8:00 am tomorrow morning.

Yesterday, once again, I drove all day. I started in Carlisle, PA, near Harrisburg and headed north on I-81 to Binghamton, NY and then took I-88 to near Albany. It was snowing the whole way. It wasn't heavy, thank goodness and the roads were never snowpacked, so I made good time. I was hearing weather reports of possible freezing rain later in the day in PA, so I was on a mission to get out of there.

After dropping off the load in Rotterdam, I pick up an empty there and heade to Syracuse and then north in I-81 to Ogdenburg. (220 miles).

Today, I'll just drive 8 hours and hopefully get a little south of Cleveland, OH. The weather looks much better this morning, so it should be a relaxing day.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. I'll continue to keep you informed. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Rotterdam, NY

Another long and interesting day. I left early this morning from Fairmont, WV and headed south. Drive thru light snow for a couple of hours, but then it cleared. I started out with temp around 20. Finished the day with temp at 66. I arrived later than I wanted in Jonesville, SC. And was then sent down to Beech Island, SC which is very close to Augusta, GA. I picked up a load for Kimberley-Clark which I now need to take 1,000 miles north to Rotterdam, NY which is close to Albany.

I was to pick up an empty in Beech Island and drop it at KC and then pickup a loaded trailer there. There were no empty trailers where they sent me and I was only 2 miles from KC so I tried my luck with bobtailing in. There was no problem. I was in and out within 20 minutes. Schneider did send a message and said they wanted me to bobtail 185 miles to pick up an empty trailer and then drive back the 185 miles to drop it at KC. I'm going to talk to them about it tomorrow morning.

This load I have now needs to be in Rotterdam by Friday which will mean 500 miles a day.

On the way down from Jonesville I drove by some large plantation homes. It felt like I was back 150 years. There were cotton fields on either side of the road. I think I drove through the town where Strom Thurmond was either born or went to school. (Johnston, SC).

Along the way I stopped for a short break and when I tried to start the truck nothing happened. I had experienced this in another truck so I had an idea of what to do. I lifted up the hood of the truck, got out my trusty hammer and rapped on the starter a few times. Got back in the truck and it started right up. It felt like magic, though I actually think I knocked some rust off some brushes.

It's nice to have warm weather even if it only will be for a day. I hope your day went well. I'll let you know how the trip goes. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Jonesville, SC

Finally, I'm heading south. After spending two days in Canada, I'm taking a load of sponges to a Family Dollar distribution center in Jonesville, SC. The load weighs only 3600 lbs.

And, unlike the previous 5 days where I drove an average of 4 hours per day, today I drive close to 11 hours. Presently, I'm in Fairmont, WV which is about 30 miles south of the PA/WV line.

It was quite a day. At 7:00 am I delivered a load in Brantford, ON. I then bob-tailed to Bamford, ON which is close to Toronto. (60 miles). I picked up an empty and drove that about 10 miles to North York and picked up the load of sponges. It took about 3 1/2 hours to go the 70 miles. The traffic was heavy. I decided after picking up the load that the best way to get to SC was to cross the US/CN border at Buffalo, NY. So I drove an hour and a half south and crossed there. It was the easiest crossing I've ever had. From there I drove south on I-90 along Lake Erie. Unfortunately, they were experiencing lake effect snow which made visibility difficult. I was going to drive down to Cleveland and take I-77 south, but decided to head south on I-79 out of Erie, PA. Within a few miles the snow stopped and I was able to cruise south toward Pittsburgh. Having a light load makes it easier to deal with the hills.

Tomorrow, I'll continue south through WV, VA, NC and then SC. It should only take 6 or 7 hours. Jonesville, SC is in northern SC not too far from Charlotte, NC. I hear it may get to 60 degrees down there. That would be nice.

I drove through Morgantown, WV and discovered that is where West Virginia Univ is located. I understand now why they called the football game between Pitt and WVU the 'Backyard Brawl'. They are only about 50 miles away from one another.

I hope your week is going well. There's another set of primaries to follow tonight (WI, WA, Hawaii). This sure has been a fascinating election year.

I'll let you know where I'm headed next. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Aberfoyle, ON

I'm at the Schneider operating center in Aberfoyle, ON. I entered Canada yesterday hoping to deliver the load I had for Brantford, ON this morning. The business was closed due to Family Day in Canada. So, I'm here for another day.

This has been a different trip. I've only had to drive 4 or 5 hours a day. I've had plenty of time in between. I've been watching movies I rent from iTunes and download on my computer. It's a great deal.

I've missed all of the bad weather, thankfully. I had no problems crossing the border, but did have to show my daily logs to an officer at a weigh station in Canada. Fortunately, they were mistake free. Truckers can be fined for not having correct or up-to-date logs.

I imagine I'll be heading back to the US tomorrow, but have no idea where I'll actually be headed.

I did give my two week notice to Schneider. I'll be starting at Monson Trucking two weeks from tomorrow. I'll be driving 5 days at a time and then having 2 days off. I'll have my own truck and will park it in Red Wing at an operating center they have there. The routes will be regional (upper Midwest area). I had a good experience with Schneider, but this will allow me to be home more frequently.

I hope you all had a good weekend. Only 2 more months of winter in MN if we are lucky. More and more I'm questioning my sanity for living in MN. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Brantford, ON

I started out once again this afternoon from Blaine, MN. This will probably be my last two week run with Schneider. I'm pretty sure I'll be driving for a company called Monson beginning in early March.

I picked up an empty trailer in Menomonie, WI and drove it down to Madison, WI. Tomorrow the trailer will be loaded and I'll be heading to Brantford, ON. (Another border crossing).

Tonight I had dinner with Erika and the girls once again. Elsa was wearing pants with hearts on them and a big heart on her shirt. Sydney had a special dress on. We had to eat at McDonalds and for sure had to get a shake. After that I bought them each a heart shaped balloon with a teddy bear tied to it. Erika and the girls also had their picture taken in one of those photo booths. Very cute. It was a wonderful way for me to spend Valentine's day.
I had a great week with Tristan and Greta. It was filled with Basketball. Tristan had a great time and also did really well.

Jenna had her baby, a boy, last Saturday. Zachary is home and doing well. He was in NICU for a couple of days. Kathy said he is growing. His brother Elias doesn't seem adversely effected by it all. Congrats Jenna and Ben!

I drove on some snow packed roads on the way down to Madison. Not my favorite. I have yet to slide or swerve, and have no need to experience it. I'm aware of how big the truck is and how much damage it could cause if I lost control. I'm hoping the weather is good during this two week period. I'll let you know how it goes.

I hope your week went well and that this coming weekend will be a good one for you. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Red Wing, MN

My apologies for the late post. I got home to Red Wing on Wednesday afternoon. I made it to Green Bay, WI Tuesday morning and got a new assignment to go up to Escanaba, MI and pickup a load of paper. I got that late Tues and then drove back to Blaine Wednesday morning. It seemed like a longer two weeks than usual. I think it had to do with driving out west.

Since Wed I've been taking Tristan to basketball events. Practice on Thur. A game on Friday. A tournament today. Tomorrow they get to play at the Target Center in downtown Mpls. That's where the Timberwolves play. They play at 9:30 in the morning. Tristan is excited about that.

I'm looking at two other trucking companies to work for. Both are much smaller than Schneider. Schneider has 13,000 drivers. These companies each have 250 drivers. The benefit to working for them is I could be home more frequently. For one company I'd be out 2 days and then home. Then got out the next day for 3 days and then home for 2 days. This company is based out of Rochester, though they have a terminal in Red Wing. For the other, I'd be based out of Red Wing. I'd drive for 5 days and be home for 2 days. I might make a decision in the next few days. I probably wouldn't start until the beginning of March if I did switch companies.

Jenna, Kathy's daughter just had a baby boy yesterday. She now has 2 boys. Elias and little Zachary. I was hoping they'd name him Alfonso Soriano Mathew after the Chicago Cubs player, but for some reason they decided not to. Can't figure it out.

Whether I switch jobs or not I'll be out again Thur. driving a Schneider truck for 2 weeks. I'll keep you informed. I hope you all have a good weekend. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Green Bay, WI

It's been a busy few days. The last time I wrote I was just about to have breakfast with Gene and Neil in CA near Stockton. They and Crish arrived early and got a chance to see the truck and a Schneider operating center. We did have breakfast and had a wonderful conversation. Gene gave me tips as to how to navigate LA which really came in handy.

I made it to my stop in LA 45 minutes early, dropped the trailer and quickly drove down to Fullerton to pick up a load that needed to be taken to Green Bay. I spent that night, Thur at an operating center in LA.

I decided to head back east on I-40 and as a result met Grandma and Grandpa in Holbrook, AZ Friday afternoon. They drove up to Holbrook from Sun City. It was a nice time. I had plenty to eat and was able to give them a ride in the truck, which I think they enjoyed. I left Holbrook and continued east on Sat and got as far as Amarillo, TX.

Sunday, I drove as far as Springfield, MO and yesterday drove to Madison, WI. Fortunately, I was able to have dinner with Erika and the girls and buy them some gifts. Elsa will be 2 this Sunday, Feb. 10th.

The weather was great from CA all the way to IL. The temps were in the 50's - 70's and the skies were clear. It was a nice reprieve from driving in the Pacific Northwest. Yesterday however was less ideal. From St Louis to Madison I drove through fog. Sometimes very dense. The traffic flowed nicely but I needed to be on my toes.

I arrived in Green Bay this morning at 8:30 am. I'm hoping after unloading to get a load that heads back to Mpls/St Paul, but we'll see.

I haven't driven anymore miles in the last 2 weeks than I usually do, but it seemed like it. This time I drove through MN, ND, MT, WA, OR, CA, AZ, NM, TX, OK, MO, IL and WI. Quite a circuit. I now have driven through all of the lower 48 states except NV, UT, CO and VT.

I hope your weekend went well. I was pleased the Giants won the Super Bowl. They are Jason's team. It will be interesting to follow the primaries today, Super Tuesday. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

French Camp, CA

The last three days have been quite a challenge, but I'm just off of I-5 just a bit south of Stockton, CA - home of University of the Pacific, Crish's alma mater - at a Schneider operating center in French Camp, CA. Tomorrow I drive the rest of the way to El Monte, CA. I'm hopting to be there by 4:00 pm pst.

Monday, before picking up my current load I was asked to pickup and deliver another in Seattle. That went well, but took up more time than I wanted. I did pickup the current load and got down to Portland in the early evening on Monday. I went to a Schneider operating center there and they needed to do a yearly inspection of the trailer I was hauling. What they found is that it wasn't safe to haul a load. They were afraid that the bottom might drop out of it. So, on ...

Tuesday, I needed to take the loaded trailer to another company and then bring an empty trailer there and they transloaded it (moved the load from one trailer to another). It took until 3 before I could get going again. In the meantime I had my notebook which was full of permits for traveling in different states looked at. Some of the permits had expired, in particular, the one for Oregon. They said if I was checked by the dept of trans I would have had to pay a fine of over $400. Well on my way south on I-5 I was checked and the new permit I was given was inaccurate. Forunately, I was able to call someone at the State of Oregon and get it straightened out. I drove until I was 150 miles from the CA state line.

Today, I started out later than I wanted to, but that was fortunate. If I would have started out earlier I would have needed to put chains on the tires at two separate locations in order to get over two high elevation mountain passes. As it turned out I didn't need the chains. It snowed from where I started out all the way to about 100 miles south of the state line. It was sloppy, slow and mountainous. I was relieved when I got to Redding, CA. The snow stopped, the road flattened out and I could see blue sky.

Tomorrow morning I'm planning on meeting Gene and Neil for breakfast. They live about an hour away and then leaving about 9:00 am.

After delivering in El Monte I may meet Grandma and Grandpa somewhere on I-10. It all depends on where I'll be sent next. If I'm sent back north they will drive to LA. If I'm sent east, I'll more than likely drive close by Phoenix and I can see them there. I'll figure all of that out tomorrow.

I hope you are all doing well. Jenna, Kathy's daughter, my favorite niece in Dubuque will be giving birth on Feb 12th, most likely. I was thinking if it is a boy they should name him Abraham Lincoln Mathew. Jenna wasn't to thrilled with that suggestion.

I'll keep in touch. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

El Monte, CA

It's been quite a trip so far. I made it to Arlington, WA on time, but had to drive through 200 miles of snow and snow-packed roads. Fortunately, I didn't have to use the chains. I wasn't traveling very fast in stretches (35 mph). One car spun out in front of me and almost got his car back under control, but finally landed in a ditch. Another car in Spokane pulled over in front of me after passing and his car stalled. I had to switch lanes quite quickly.

Now I head down to Kent, OR to pick up a load. Kent isn't too far from Seattle. I'll take that load to El Monte, CA, near LA. So, I'm heading south and I'll pick up yet another state. (CA). I need to be there on Wed 01/30 in the afternoon. They say it is about 1200 miles.

Tristan was in a BB tournament on Saturday. His 4th grade team played other schools. They won all their games and each member of the team received a medal. He was excited.

I'll let you know how the trip south goes. Hope you had a good weekend. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Livingston, MT

I spent the night in Livingston, MT just east of Bozeman. So far the driving has been good. However, today could be more challenging. I want to get as far as Spokane, WA. I'll be dealing with strong winds and wind gusts. And elevation. I'll be down shifting a lot because of how heavy I'm this time (78,000 lbs). There isn't supposed to be snow until tonight, so I might miss that.

The mountains remain impressive, looming on either side of me. The temps are quite mild compared to MN (in the 30's).

I hope you all will have a good weekend. I'll keep you informed about how it goes. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Arlington, WA

I'm just driving out of Blaine, MN and heading toward Arlington, WA (just north of Seattle). It is cold this morning (well below zero, possibly 15 below). The driver ahead of me plugged in the truck last night so it started right up. I guess the diesel fuel become like gel when the temp is below 15 degrees. Also if you aren't careful the tractor doesn't connect fully with the traiiler when it is cold. Some drivers have dropped the trailer as a result. I had to do some pounding with a hammer to fully connect the trailer I hooked up to.

If you hear of any bad weather in the northern plains or the Pacific Northwest in the next few days, be sure to let me know. I've got the chains for the tires in case I run into snow.

I'll be sure to let you know how it goes. I hope this past week was good for you. Mine was good and busy. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Indianapolis, IN

I'm currently in Indianapolis. I delivered a load of paper rolls here early this morning. I brought them down from Quinnesec, MI (Upper Peninsula) yesterday. I had to drive about 600 miles. Part of the way it was snowing. It is pretty up there. I drove through Norway, MI.

Now I'm doing a short run from Indy to Lebanon, IN and back to Indy. I only have 7 hours I can work today so I'll bei stopping soon. Hopefully, they'll send me back toward MN tomorrow.

I was 2 for 4 with my picks this past weekend. How did the rest of you do? My son-in-law, Pat is a Chargers fan and he was elated. He'll be wearing his Chargers jersey all day today. Jason, my nephew from NYC is a Giants fan and I imagine he is pleased with yesterdays games. My picks for next week are the underdogs again, the Chargers and the Giants. I'll be able to watch those in the comfort of my living room while eating pizza and having a couple of beers.

I hope your weekend went well. Did you know 1/7 of your life is spent on Monday? I used to dread Mondays when I was young. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Menomonee Falls, WI

Before I talk about driving, I need to mention one birthday that I forgot. Little Elias Mathew turned 1 on December 30, 2007. He is a cute little boy. I've been looking for steel-toed boots for him, 'cause all guys have a pair of steel-toed boots. But I haven't found any his size. A belated Happy Birthday, Elias.

I dropped off the load in La Vergne, TN at 6:00 pm last night and picked up a load at the same place which I need to deliver to a Kohls Distribution Center in Menomonee Falls, WI which is near Milwaukee. (about 600 miles)

I've been a bit under the weather the last couple of days. I have a sore throat and have lost my voice. I hope it comes back in the next couple of days.

Today I'm listenning to the Seahawks victory and the Jaguar victory on radio. I had been listenning to presidential politics, but I get weary listenning to the pundits put their spin on what's happenning. The media can really shape and sometimes distort what is happening in the world. Both by what they emphasize and by what they leave out. Anyway, it's football today.

I hope you have a wonderful winter weekend. I'll let you know where I'm heading next. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

La Vergne, TN

I'm currently waiting for a load in Romeoville, IL. This trip is different from the others. I have to pick up loads at 3 different locations near the Chicago area. They'll all fit in one trailer. I'll take them to La Vergne, TN. The first load I picked up was in Aurora. The second one is here and the third load I'll pick up in Monee, IL. That is just south of Chicago on I-57. I should be able to get to La Vergne by tomorrow afternoon sometime. It is close to Nashville.

I delivered my previous load this morning at 11:00 am. Crossing the border yesterday was pain free.

Driving from De Kalb into Chicago I noticed a sign for Blackberry Farm. I immediately thought of my Blackberry and wondered if that was where old Blackberry's went to die.

There are a lot of birthdays in Kathy's family this month. Below is a list of name date, and how they are related. I think it is interesting how many of them are gathered together. I believe Ben and Rachel were born in the same year as well as on the same date. Happy Birthday to all of you.

Wayne Denny 1/6 - Hilary's husband
Ben Mathew 1/14 - Jenna's husband
Rachel Van Dine 1/14 - Marc's wife
Kathy Van Dine 1/15 - The Matriarch
Marc Van Dine 1/18 - The only Son
Jenna Mathew 1/26 - the middle Daughter

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! My picks for the NFL games this weekend are the Chargers over the Colts, the Jaguars over the Patriots, the Giants over the Cowboys and the Seahawks over the Packers. I've picked the underdogs.

James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

DeKalb, IL

I'm sitting at a dock in Concord, ON waiting to be loaded. I'll be taking this load back to DeKalb, IL. It is due tomorrow sometime.

I made it through customs very easily this time. There weren't long lines and my shipment wasn't inspected. I didn't expect to deliver the load until this morning, but they asked if I could deliver it last night. I arrived in Etobicoke, ON about 8:00 pm.

The weather changed last night. It was warm and raining last night. Storms came thru with lots of rain, high winds and much lower temps. The truck was swaying as I was sleeping. The winds are still strong today.

I'll being going through customs again tonight. I'm going to try to make it 2 for 2.

I hope you are all having a good week. I'll keep you informed about where I'll be headed next. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Etobicoke, ON

I'll be heading into Canada next. I'll be delivering furs right in the Toronto area. I'll need to be there sometime Wednesday. It is 620 miles away. There are forms to fill out. Different than before. And, I'll have to go to 3 different offices before I'm given the ok to cross. I may not be able to cross at Detroit/Windsor. I may have to go up to Port Huron.

Currently, I'm in Janesville getting the trailer unloaded. I pick up the furs in Stoughton, WI which isn't too far away.

Erika and the girls drove down yesterday from Madison and met me in Janesville. We had a milk shake, and went to Target to pick up finger paints and water colors. They have a new easel. I can just imagine watching them do their thing. On their way back to Madison they were stopped for quite awhile on I-90. There was a series of accidents involving 100 cars and trucks. 2 people were killed. There was a dense bank of fog. Cars braked suddenly and it started a chain reaction. I'm glad Erika wasn't involved in it.

It remains warm and foggy here. I'm sure that'll change soon. I hope you are all doing well. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Janesville, WI

I think I'm experiencing a slight slowdown in the trucking industry. It may be due to the economy or just a holiday phenomenon. I delivered the load to Yoder, IN at 11:30 am, but waited in the truck until 4:30 pm for my next load. I picked up a trailer in Fort Wayne, IN and will be taking it to Janesville, WI. (260 miles). It doesn't need to be there however until Monday around noon. So, I'll have plenty of time between now and then.

I forgot to mention that I'm driving a different truck. It only has 400,000 miles on it instead of 600,000 miles. It practically brand new. I must say it looks the same as the other one. It does shift better than the previous one.

It was a dreary day in IN. Near 40, overcast and drizzling. But it is better than freezing rain, heavy snow, etc. It sounds difficult out west with all the rain, high winds and heavy snow in the mountains. Gene and Neil still have power at their home in Orinda, CA, but it sounds like a million customers nearby don't.

I hope your weekend is going well. I'll let you know where I'm heading next when I hear on Monday. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Yoder, IN

Finally, I'm back at it. I started again this morning and was sent from Blaine down to Eagan to pick up a load bound for Morris, IL. However, when I got there they had no record of a shipment going to Morris. After 2 hours of calling Schneider and talking to the Shipping people it was indeed determined that there was no load to ship.

So, I went to the nearest truck stop and waited for another assignment. I received one an hour later. I was to pickup a load in Glencoe, MN (west of the Cities) and take it to Yoder, IN. The pickup time is tomorrow morning and the delivery time is Sat morning. Having received this I settled in for the night.

At 8:00 pm I received a request to deliver a load to Bayport, MN (east of the Cities) by 11:30 pm tonight. I had to go to Blaine and pickup the load and take it to Bayport. I'm currently in Bayport with the new load waiting for it to be unloaded. I'll still head to Glencoe in the morning, but won't be able to get there as early.

I need to find a place to park for the night.

I had a long and busy Holiday break. From Sunday 12/23 thru 01/02. I spent time with Greta and her family, Erika and her family and I flew to NYC to spend time with brother Frank and his family. New Years Eve was spent with Tristan, as well as New Years Day. We went to a movie on the Eve and in the afternoon on New Years Day.

I hope your Holdays went well and that you haven't found it too difficult to get back to your normal routine. I should be driving until the 16th and will be sending updates on my travels. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )