One Hookers Ramblings

Heading up & moving out.

2011-11-07T16:02:00.001-05:00

I have decided it's time to move along. My new home will be My Flavor of Crazy. It's a mix of this blog and Just say no to crotchfruit. It is a work in progress so please forgive me if I manage to totally screw some shit up.

So you think you want to be a truck driver.

2011-11-05T23:36:00.001-04:00

Several weeks ago I was talking to the guy that washes our truck and he expressed some interest in becoming a truck driver and asked me what advice I might have to give. Shut up fuckers quit laughing, it really happened. I think my advice may not have been exactly what he was looking for but that wouldn't be the first time someone was disappointed by what came out of my mouth.

So I figured maybe write a little post or two about my advice for aspiring truck drivers. Are you ready? If you're looking for the candy coated version of trucking I suggest you go elsewhere because you sure as fuck won't find it here.

Still with me? Good.

My first bit of advice is, DON'T FUCKING DO IT! Seriously. Really. I mean it. If the only reason you want to become a truck driver is because you think it is neat or all you can see are dollar signs don't do it. Just stay at home and find another line of work.

Since you persist in not listening to me, I shall continue.

I know that sounds mean & bitchy but seriously, there are enough assholes out here already that thought that driving a truck would just be so neat & what a great way to see the country & get paid for it. It is. What some people don't realize is that all the great touristy type things that they think they will get to spend their free time doing, doesn't happen. Not because the free time isn't there, it's because there are usually 6000 other things that need to be done, like laundry, paperwork, grocery shopping or truck mantinence. When you do get laid over and have all the free time in the world, it is usually in the middle of BFE with nothing to do.

Another thing that a lot of people don't realize is the number of hours that really go into the job. Not just the hours of driving but the waiting. You wait to get the truck worked on. I'm waiting now on getting a whel seal replaced. YAY! You wait to get unloaded. You wait to get loaded. You wait sitting in traffic. You wait for hours on the side of the road broke down waiting on a repair truck to show up, only to arrive with the wrong part. You wait for your dispatcher to get his head out of his ass. You may be waiting a VERY long time on this last one. Trust me. Hurry up and wait is the name of the game in trucking.

You have the verbal abuse by customers. You show up too early they get pissed. You show up too late they get even more pissed. No matter that you arrive at the time you were told to be there or you broke down along the way. You just learn not to take it personally & nicely tell them to shove the fucking attitude up their ass sideways with no lube. :D

I would like to say as a female driver that in this day and age that the sexism in this industry doesn't exist. Unfortunately I can not. You will be put down for your choice of career because a lot of assholes think women should stay at home and have babies & fix them dinner when they come home.

Also, depending on the company you work for, they may treat you like shit. To a lot of companies a driver is just a piece of meat filling the seat & serving the hive.

Are you still there?

Even with all the bad shit that goes on in the day to day aspect of trucking, it does have its upside. There are days you get to do the touristy type shit, you get to see some wonderful fucking scenery, you get to meet some truly awesome people. Just the other day I met a fellow female driver who had been driving for almost 40 years. Deb is my new hero.

So, with all the heinous fuckery I have put forth, is this still the career for you? If so, stay tuned for the next instalment of So You Want to be A Truck Driver.

What makes me happy.

2011-09-25T23:42:00.001-04:00

As you know a couple of weeks ago I got to go on a surprise trip to Fort Worth & see Hank III. I am absolutely in love with his music. His set runs the gamut from classic country to hellbilly to full on heavy metal. How can you not love it? He has the only country album with a parental advisory sticker. Just thought I'd share a few of my favorites.

One off his new album.

This one makes my truck go fast. LOL

Trust me, this one picks up about 00:35. ;)

Some live Assjack.

This one has the best line in a country song. EVER.

I think this one is my fave off the new album. Hank III & Tom Waits.

This one gives me the shivers. Damn that voice.

Sometime it's not all about you.

2011-09-25T22:33:00.000-04:00

WARNING: The following post is a letter to a friend in which I reveal a lot about myself. I'm putting it here because if I call there will be more tears than there already has been and I'm not sure if an email will get read. Fuck, I'm crying now and haven't even gotten to the hard part yet. So if you would feel better about skipping this post, please do. If you feel the need to comment, please don't do it to put down the other person involved because that wasn't my intention by doing this. I promise to return to my regular fuckery soon.

To Whom it may concern,

I'm sorry you're sick. I'm sorry you're depressed. I'm sorry you feel you're "broken". I'm sorry that I yelled.

I first want you to listen to this song & know that this is how I feel about 50% of the time.

There are many days that the thought of getting out of bed & facing the world is just entirely way too much, but I do it. There are many days that I have to pull the truck over because I am crying so hard. I stop, have my cry and go on. Why don't I tell you these things when we talk? Not because I'm ashamed but because I don't want people feeling sorry for me. Some days I have called thinking maybe today I can tell her, but then there seems to be something going on in your life & you need a shoulder to cry on. Did you ever think that maybe I need a shoulder occasionally?

All the times I have listened to you talk about your ex and the things that he did, sometimes you act is if you're the only person to have ever dealt with an abusive ex. You know that I left WT because I wanted to get clean, but that's only part of the story. I have never told my mother or best friend of almost 25 years the whole story. The abuse didn't start until the last year of our relationship. The final straw came when he beat me so severely that I had a miscarriage. I never even knew I was pregnant. Of this I am ashamed. Not because he beat me but because I stayed. I have since vowed that it will NEVER happen again.

Yesterday when were talking & you told me exactly how many pills you had available, how was I supposed to feel? What was I supposed to say? You tell me things like this and I'm not sure what you want me to say or do. Do you want me to tell you about the time last June I sat in the middle of my bed, with my .44 in my mouth, with the hammer cocked & finger on the trigger? Do you want me to tell you that the only thing that stopped me from pulling the trigger was my niece walking through the front door & hollering, "Where are you Aunt Shanny"? Why haven't I told you about this? Is it because I am ashamed? No. I haven't talked about it because it's in the past. I put it behind me & I've moved on with my life.

A couple weeks ago when I went out with my skirt wearing friend, instead of being happy that I went out and had a great weekend, you made me feel shitty because I wasn't there to answer the phone to try & make you feel better. I know you jumped to the conclusion that we had sex but FYI, we've never slept together. Well we did share the same bed but that's as far as it ever has & ever will go. Why? Because he's gay. Although you may not have realized it you even made me feel bad for seeing my FWB in NC. Sometimes I don't tell you things because in some way you'll make me feel bad for trying to have a life.

Why don't I ever talk about these things? What good would it accomplish? I talk to my therapist two sometimes 3 times a month. Rehashing it with everyone is not something that I feel I need to do. It took me years to realize I can't deal with my bipolar issues without help. As much as I hate it, I am taking medication for it. Granted it's an extremely low dose but it works for me & doesn't make me feel like a zombie. My highs aren't too high & my lows aren't too low. I refuse to left my fucked up brain chemistry define who I am. Some days it feels like you let your illness & depression define who you are & run your life.

Some days, like yesterday, being physically drained & not really feeling all that great emotionally, I just couldn't deal with the whole woe is me thing. I'm sorry I yelled. I shouldn't have. Sometimes I feel as though you expect me to have some magic words to make everything better. I don't. If I did, I could fix us both. I don't know how much damage I've done to our friendship by posting this but no matter what I'm not saying these things to be mean. I just had some things to say. To use the old packing a suitcase analogy, I'd packed and packed till no more would fit in & it all came flying out in just a few words. Once again, I'm sorry.

Love,
Me

So maybe the skirt wearer isn't an asspickle after all.

2011-09-13T22:02:00.001-04:00

Just so you know, asspickle is my new favorite word. I'm not sure where the word originated but I'm giving @OrigCheese credit since she brought to my attention.

Ok, on to my regularly scheduled tale.

A couple weeks ago my favorite Scotsman let me know that he would be arriving last Friday and to pick him up at the airport. Luckily he actually gave me more than 30 minutes notice this time.

On Thursday I get an email telling me that I will have to surrender my phone at the airport, not to be returned until Monday. Then Friday morning I get another email telling me to pack a bag with an outfit appropriate for a nice dinner & an outfit suitable for going to a bar.

I'm not real big on surprises and was thinking I may have to kick some Scottish ass. But being the nice person I am (stop laughing fuckers) , I decided to play along.

Upon arrival at the airport I was told we were going to his brother's house. I'm thinking, "You wanted me to pack a bag so we could out with your brother and his shrew wife? You are such a dead man. " But it turned out we were only there to borrow his brother's plane. Not a fan of flying in general, I was sure we were going to die in this plane. I remember what it looked like when he bought and am still not thoroughly convinced on his brother's mechanical ability. But alas I survived to tell the tale.

First stop was St. Louis for dinner and refueling. We went to the Sidney Street Cafe. Two words, fucking awesome. That and I'm glad he was paying. ;)

Second stop was Fort Worth, where he totally made up for an asspickleishness by taking me to see Hank 3. Oh. Em. Gee. Unfortunately I have no pictures because the bastard wouldn't give me my phone back & I had no other camera. For this he must suffer.

All in all it was an awesome weekend. Even though he did tell me that used up my allotment of birthday and Christmas presents for the next 20 years. Yeah right.

In case you're wondering, yes I made him wear his skirt. If I had to wear one, so did he. ;)

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Me and my smart mouth.

2011-09-02T23:52:00.000-04:00

I think this may become a regular kinda thing. As many of you know, I'm a sarcastic, bitchy smart ass. My witticisms aren't limited to just my friends, I've been known to just let them fly. Lots of times at inappropriate times. I mean a lot. Maybe even alot.

This particular tale takes place about 2001 when I was just a mere greenhorn of a truck driver. I got pulled over for speeding & passing in the third lane, which in NC is a big no, no. After the inspection the officer & I were having a little chat.

Trooper: Do you have any explanation for why you were doing 75 in a 65 & in the 3rd lane?

Me: *scuffs ground* Well, actually I do.

Trooper: Oh really. I gotta hear this.

Me: Last week I was abducted by aliens & they implanted this thing in my brain & sometimes it malfunctions.

Trooper: *fighting the giggles* What causes it to malfunction?

Me: Lack of caffeine. Because you know even alien technology isn't perfect.

Trooper: *no longer trying to hold laughter in* You know, I've been a trooper for 10 years and I can honestly say that's the first time anyone has used alien abduction as an excuse for speeding. Today is your lucky day, you get points for creativity.

In the end all I got was a ticket for not wearing my seat belt. Mom always said my smart mouth would get me nowhere. She was wrong.

So stay tuned for further tales of Me & My Smart Mouth. :)

Random Shit.

2011-09-02T22:03:00.054-04:00

Just a few random pictures from the road.

The Atchafalya Basin. Basin Bridge I-10 in Louisiana.

This place was scary. I heard Dueling Banjos. Twice. The local beer, bait, hardware, grocery & feed store in Asscrack Nowhere, WV.

A Chester Fried escapee.

I'd do hood shots like Bethany over at One Girl Trucking but alas all I have is a crappy 387 Peterbilt instead of a 379. So all you fuckers get to see is my steering wheel.

This is where @Morticia626 and all the other goths live.

This is known as a big case of fuck my life.

Another big heaping, helping of fuck me.

Seriously it was over 75 outside. Why in the fuck is she wearing a long winter coat?

Taking pictures in the mirror is a lot harder than it appears.

Now is the time to crank some Motorhead & scream at people. ;)

Holy bat fuck that's a lot of snow. For reals that snow bank is taller than the truck. Winter 2010 in Wisconsin.

This will be fun with an empty trailer.

The biggest Sharpie of them all, & it is all mine. Stop staring & go get your own you weirdo.

This here is the endangered species known as tumbleweed.

Hey Terry, this is just a bunny NOT a jackalope.

High atop the hill on SR 2 in Georgia about 20 miles or so west of Ellijay. This is one of my favorite roads to drive. It is a curvy 2 lane mountain road with no shoulder or guard rail. Good times. Yes it is an illness.

Somewhere out west. Oh, I remember now. This was going up US 395 in California.

Pilot Knob in North Carolina. Heh heh I said knob heh heh heh

Off the beaten path.

2011-09-02T21:55:00.000-04:00

There are some drivers out there that get nervous if they have to venture more than 5 miles off the interstate, but I'm one that really enjoys a good stretch of two lane road. The less traffic the better in my opinion. I thought I would show some pictures of a recent trip to Ririe Dam in Ririe, ID. Unfortunately most of my pictures didn't turn out due to the cloudiness of the day & the rest have a reflection of my notebook in the windshield. Derp. But I did manage to pull a few good ones out of my ass.

This one here is coming up US 189.

Oh. Em. Gee. Real cows. With real cowboys. As I was passing the cows there was one cow that just turned and mooed at me with a look on her face like will you please keep that big blue thing on your side of the line please.

Coming across US 26 in Wyoming.

Sat here waiting on 1 lane bridge construction in Idaho. If I remember correctly that is the Snake River that crosses US 26.

Just another random shot of a mountain in Idaho. I know who'da thunk it. Mountains. In Idaho. Total novelty item.

A tale in which our intrepid girl trucker overshares.

2011-08-16T20:24:00.001-04:00

I've been going back and forth trying to decide how much to tell. I think I've finally made up my mind.

As some of you know, a couple weeks ago I was given a lecture by my maternal unit on the perils of sleeping with a married man, then proceeded to tell the family blabbermouth. So then it was a whole family affair. No pun intended. She does all this the day before the family reunion. I love my family, we don't do anything half assed.

I was able to stop and visit an old friend Jim (not his real name) on my way to SC recently. Him and his wife Jaime (not her real name either), after 7 years of marriage are seperated and getting divorced.

A little background. I've known Jim for over 9 years. We met when he was still driving a truck. We went from a one night stand to a friends with benefits situation, hooking up whenever. No strings attached. One summer I took my vacation in New England and Jim offered to let me stay, we hooked up again. After several long talks over that week, he was looking to take the relationship to the next level. At the tender age of 29, I was not. I was a mess because an ex decided to rear his ugly head and that dredged up a lot of shit. So we agreed to keep things the way they were.

Then he met Jaime. A year later they got married. We continued to get together, with Jaime's blessing. She believed what happened on the road stayed on the road. But by this time I had switched companies and wasn't running the east coast nearly as often. A couple years later they move to NC, and he comes off the road and opens a small engine repair shop. Our hooking up came to an end. We still talked frequently.

Then a few weeks ago I got a phone call from both Jim and Jaime telling me they were seperating. I did what any friend would do and listened and gave advice.

Entirely by coincidence the load to SC came up. Even if nothing had happened I would have taken the load, just because I hadn't seen them in almost 4 yrs. But it happened that Jaime had flown back north to visit her sister for the weekend. We even talked while I was there. The conversation went something like this.

*phone rings

*Jim banging around in garage -

Jim - *hollering* Will you awnser the phone?

Me - *sarcasticly* Yes dear.

Me - picks up phone & recognizes Jaime's cell - Jones residence, Jim's fuck puppet speaking, how may I help you?

Jaime - Hey Shannon, how's it going?

Me - Not bad.

*20 min of girl talk*

Jaime - By the way, you didn't fuck in my bed did you?

Me - Ewww no. But I would rethink eating at the dinner table, the kitchen counter, the couch, the washer.

Jaime - Ha. I'd like to see you get on top of the washer with the dryer there.

Me - The top of the dryer is REALLY clean.

We shoot the shit for a few more minutes then I give the phone to Jim. He gets off the phone and we continue with our plans for the rest of the day.

Early Monday morning I take off for SC. I make an innocuous comment on FB about how nice FWB's are, no names, nothing. My mother connects that with a post I'd made the week before about going to see a newly single old friend. Combine that with where my load was going and she managed to add it all together. I swear Sherlock Holmes has nothing on my mother.

So she proceeds with the lecture, the whole family finds out all the day before the reunion. My family falls into 2 categories, religious & judgmental and just plain self rightous & judgmental. It makes for interesting reunions if nothing else.

I head home totally prepared for the worst. On my way home I get a text from my cousin. The whole fam knows. Thanks for really fucking up. Now they won't be on me about the baby out of wedlock thing. Love, S

So I arrive, get my plate and large margarita and head for the corner with my cousin S. We start talking & whatnot, then after about 45 min my uncle comes and sits down.

Uncle - You know Shannon, if you could just see to find your back to the Church......

Me - *stands up* OK everyone, may I have your attention please, because I'm only going to say this once. No matter who I am fucking, married or not, is none of y'alls damn business.

Now just picture about 30 people sitting their with the look of 'oh my god I can't believe she said that'.

This is the point where me & my cousins S & H all go to the strip club and say fuck the family reunion.

So all in all it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. Our imaginations can be our own worst enemy in cases like this.

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Well Just Fucking Quit Already

2011-07-29T21:51:00.001-04:00

Earlier today I was listening to a driver bitch about how he would much rather be doing anything other than driving a truck for a living. To this I say, "Well fucking quit".

Every day I hear more and more drivers say that they don't like driving a truck. Then why the fuck are you out here? If you're out here not liking what you are doing, then quit and do something you enjoy. Because when you're out here in control of 80,000 lbs rolling down the highway at 60+ MPH, not liking what you do, you become a hazard. You start not caring about the little things, like the the way you present yourself to customers and cashiers. Then you start not caring about the bigger things like you're driving habits.

But you're thinking, well everyone has bad days and occasionally pulls a bonehead move. I agree and I'm no different. But I see WAY too many drivers not caring every day for everyone to be having a bad day. Let's face it, there are a lot of people that have no business behind the wheel of a truck. Some people just weren't meant to be truckers. It's not a job, it's a lifestyle and some people just can't cut the muster.

So if you're one of these people that aren't enjoying what you are doing or you just don't care about how you are perceived than do the rest of us a favor and JUST FUCKING QUIT ALREADY.

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Exercises In Stupidity

2011-02-07T11:46:00.001-05:00

It never ceases to amaze me at the lack of brain power by so called professional drivers. The other day while coming across Wyoming there seemed to be an over abundance of it.

For those that don't know the area between Cheyenne & Laramie is especially prone to high winds & blowing snow, the other day was no exception. Everything was moving along at a nice 45 MPH until we reached Happy Jack Road, where everyone seemed to suffer from severe & potentially life threatening cranial rectal inversions en masse. Everyone slowed down to a break neck speed of 15 MPH. Of course this means you now have a 5 mile long convoy of trucks going down a 5% grade so close to each other you couldn't fit a car in between them.

So I, realizing the stupidity of this jumped in the left lane to get as far away from the stupidity as possible because it must be catching. Because this is the only explanation I have for this kind of behavior. Not a mile into my attempt to escape, at an oh so speedy 30 MPH, a Prime truck jumps in the lane in front me at the slighty less stupid speed of 18 MPH. Seriously, what the holy ever loving fuck is wrong with drivers today?

Listening to the CB the whole time, I listened to drivers calling me reckless & stupid for passing on such bad roads going downhill. REALLY?!?!!!!eleventy!!1!!?11! No one said a word about the driver that jumped in front of me, going much slower than I & thus risking an accident but as soon as I said something to him for being a monumental idiot of gargantuan proportions, I was the bad person. OK, so maybe what I actually called him was a dumbass, inbred, cock sucking, steering wheel holder but you get the point. ;)

Whenever I see such dangerous & idiotic behavior by my fellow drivers it hurts my heart. (Yes fuckers I have one, contrary to popular belief.) It makes me wonder about the future of the industry I love. I see so many drivers that don't like what they are doing & don't seem to care about the image they portray to the public. Then on all to rare occasions I see someone that gives me hope & maybe this industry isn't totally doomed.

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How NOT To Park Your Truck

2011-02-04T12:53:00.001-05:00

Here are prime examples of how & where not to park your truck. Although sometimes convienient isn't always best. ;)

All of these were taken near Walcott, IA yesterday.

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Move along,

2011-02-02T19:03:00.001-05:00

Nothing to see here. Just testing blogger for android.

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Helping One of Own

2010-12-22T12:27:00.000-05:00

Recently a fellow truck driver suffered a horrible loss. On Dec. 16th @truckersteve lost his home & his son in a house fire. While nothing can ease the hurt of losing his son, with a little help we can help make it easier for them to resume everyday life.

You can go to brycewilliamadams.com to find drop off points for donations if you live in the Prescott Valley, AZ area. There is also a link for Paypal donations. You can also go to Road Safety Store & use promo code TV99. The customer receives 10% off while 30% of the net sale goes to help Steve & his family.

While I don't know Steve well, my heart goes out to him & his family. Please keep them in your thoughts as you celebrate the holidays with your families this year.

Send A Foreigner Home

2010-12-20T21:58:00.000-05:00

Ok. Due to popular request (ok actually only 1 request but whatever) I am going to try & make an effort to revive this blog. Now on with the regularly scheduled rambling.

The other evening on Twitter I had retweeted someone who had asked a question about why Europeans were so concerned over American politics. Not thinking much of it I continued enjoying my day off & woke up to one of my European followers (whom is currently living in the US) tweeting that it was because they enjoyed a good laugh. Well fuck you too. I made a few comments about if she didn't like it here, I would gladly eat Ramen noodles for the next 6 months to buy her a plane ticket home. To which she replied she didn't take charity. I told her not to think of it as charity but as a gift.

Later in the evening she posted

It's always great to read how hated LEGAL immigrants are...

.

I personally don't hate legal immigrants but I do hate their attitude of "well it's so much better where I come from". Why do you need to come here & tell us how great things are there? If it's so much better why are you here? Planes leave this country every day going to damn near every country out there.

Why do foreigners feel it's just fine and dandy to come to America & totally trash the way we do things, but if we were to go live in their home countries & talked smack about their governments & way of life it would be totally unacceptable? When did we become such a nation of namby pamby candy asses that can't stand up for our country? When did it become such a horrible thing to be an American? These countries look down their noses at us but yet when they get into trouble who are the first people they come running to?

All I have to say is if you don't like it, GET THE FUCK OUT!

So I'm proposing we start a fund to send these unhappy foreigners home. Who's with me?

Shannon's Rules For Winter Driving

2010-01-08T20:21:00.001-05:00

Well, it's that time of year again. The snow's a flying, the winds are blowing & the idiots are out in force. So I thought I would pass on a couple of tips for safe winter driving. Actually these can be applied all year round.

Tip #1 - Take your head out of your ass.

When I say take your head out of your ass, I mean take your head out of your ass. Not just part of the way or have that nifty new window installed in your stomach, but do a complete cranial rectal extraction. Pay attention to who & what is around you. Take your phone away from your ear & get your slow ass out of the middle lane. Stop digging around on the floor for that elusive Engelbert Humperdink CD & fucking pay attention.

Tip #2 - Don't drive skeered.

Now we all have had those white nuckle moments, that feeling of, "Oh SHIT!!". But the thing to remember is when your skeered you are more likely to make panicky, unsafe moves. This is not a good thing on an ice & snow covered road. I'm not saying don't respect Mother Nature & all her squirrelly wrath but if you're afraid to be on the road, do the rest of us a favor & park it.

Tip #3 - Get the fuck away from me.

No, seriously. GET. THE. FUCK. AWAY. I don't know what it is about some drivers but when the weather gets shitty they all want to ride in one big panicky group. Personally, I want as much space between me & your dumbass as possible. If you come flying up behind me, pass me. If I come up on you, don't jump out there & cut me off, because I'm liable to give you a good CB ass kicking for being an ignorant fucktard. So for your safety & my mental health, STAY AWAY.

So there you have it fuckeritos y fuckeritas (these are my new favorite words), 3 simple tips for safe winter driving. This probably isn't what you were expecting, but get over it already.

A visit from Bob

2009-11-01T14:04:00.004-05:00

I know some of you will probably think I've finally gone off the deep end after reading this but going with the spirit of the season, I thought I would share with you my own ghost story.

It all started about 8 years ago. I was doing the thing that all drivers hate, changing trucks. At first I just thought my CD player was being temperamental. It would play a few songs & then spit the CD out, & didn't think much about it.

After a couple days I noticed I was waking up to the same dream. I would dream that someone was knocking on the door of my truck & as I got up to see who it was, all I would see was an older man wearing overalls & a baseball cap walking away, giving me a backwards wave. Then I would wake up about 5 minutes before my alarm would go off. This went on for about a week until I got back to the yard. I had a conversation with the Rick, the shop foreman, that went something like this...

Me: "Hey Rick, did someone die in this truck I've got?"

Rick: *funny look* "Why, did someone say something to you?"

Me: "No. I've just been having a weird, recurring dream."

Rick: "Uhhhh, yeah. You're not the first one to mention that. Actually a driver did die in that truck about a year ago."

Me: "Was he an older guy that liked to wear bibbed overalls & baseball caps?"

Rick: *turns even whiter* "Uhhh, yeah. How did you know?"

Me: "Well, that's the guy I keep seeing in my dreams."

We talked for a bit more & he told me his name was Bob & that he had passed away from a heart attack. After I found out who he was he didn't visit quite as often but he would still make an appearance a couple of times a week. But when he did, I realized that he was the one responsible for my "malfunctioning" CD player. I had noticed that if it was country music or classic rock, all would be well but if I put in anything heavier, after about 3 songs it would eject.

After a few months I had to change trucks again. I was kind of sad to leave Bob behind but soon realized he was not. He still makes an appearance from time to time, letting me know he's still there keeping an eye on me. He still doesn't like heavy metal though & the occasional slap to the back of the head can be annoying at times (I get these when he thinks I've pushed myself too hard), it's nice to know that after all these years he still visits.

OMG!!! I finally finished it.

2009-09-23T17:00:00.005-04:00

Yay!!! I finally finished my Seraphina's shawl. I used a yummy purple varigated wool from Universal Yarn. Thanks to my Mom for being a sport & letting me post her ass on the interwebz. Sorry I have nothing other to report at this time, although I do have a few new posts rambling through my brain.

Where O' Where

2009-09-01T03:06:00.012-04:00

For the 1 person that probably reads this blog & doesn't follow me on Twitter, I'M ALIVE!! No, really I am. I swear it. I have just felt totally uninspired to write anything. Hopefully that will change shortly.

But until then I leave you with some sweet bebah kittehs & a bunnah.

You don't have the right.......

2009-06-11T19:38:00.010-04:00

The First Amendment of the United States Constitution states:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

That's right America. You don't have the right to not be offended by what someone says. They have a right to say it, no matter how tasteless, crude or socially unacceptable it may be. But you DO NOT have the right to not be offended.

Yes, I am defending David Letterman's right to say crude and tasteless things about Gov. Sarah Palin's daughter. I've been seeing people post on Twitter all day how about he should be fired & to contact the shows sponsors & let them know how upset you are by his statements. All I have to say to that is, great a freaking life already.

When did we become a nation of namby pamby whiners? I am so sick of these people that feel the need to turn this country into a nanny state. If you're offended, I have a novel idea, TURN THE EFFING CHANNEL.

Does it somehow make you feel better about yourself to want the man fired for a tasteless statement? Does it make you feel better to shove your morality down someone else's throat?

I am by no means condoning or agreeing with the statements he made. But as an American I will defend his right to say them.

One of my favorite places

2009-06-10T20:20:00.006-04:00

Today I thought I would share with you, one of my favorite places. It's just a little wide spot in the road on I-80 at mile marker 333, near Buford, WY.

The sign beside the tree reads as follows,

"This small pine tree that seems to be growing out of solid rock has fascinated travelers since the first train rolled past on the Union Pacific Railroad. It is said that the builders of the original railroad diverted the tracks slightly to pass by the tree as they laid rails across Sherman Mountain in 1867-69. It is also said that trains stopped here while locomotive firemen 'gave the tree a drink' from their water buckets. The railroad moved several miles to the south in 1901 and the abandoned grade became a wagon road.

"In 1913 the Lincoln Highway Association was formed 'To procure the establishment of a continuous improved highway from the Atlantic to the Pacific.' The Lincoln Highway was an instant success in a nation enamored with the newfangled automobiles and eager for a place to drive them. The Lincoln passed right by Tree Rock as did U. S. 30 in the 1920s and Interstate 80 in the 1960s. At this place the road was approaching the 8,835-foot Sherman Summit, the highest point on the Lincoln. The view of the surrounding mountains was like nothing that west-bound easterners had ever seen. Still, they noticed the little tree, which became the favored subject of many early postcards and photographs. It still is. "The tree is a somewhat stunted and twisted limber pine (Pinus flexilis), a type of tree commonly found in this area where ponderosa and limber pines dominate the landscape. The age of the tree is unknown, although limber pines can live as long as 2,000 years. The tree grows out of a crack in a boulder of Precambrian era pink Sherman granite formed more than 1-4 billion years ago." [Chuck Rhode, 07/12/2007] info came from here

This one little limber pine has been a source of inspiration for me since the first time I laid eyes on it 10 years ago. It showed me that if one lone tree can struggle its way through a crack in a chunk of granite, then surely I could persevere anything. I think we can all take something away from this little tree. Even though it gets battered by some of the roughest winds & blasted with snow & ice every winter it still stands tall. With a little effort & determination, we too can struggle through the cracks to stand tall in sun.

Policing ourselves

2009-05-21T23:05:00.009-04:00

Today I did something I've never done before. I called in on another driver. It was just the proverbial straw that broke the camels back. While sitting in a short backup coming into a construction zone, a driver came up the left lane, passing 2 cars trying to get in the right lane. He was still doing 55 & passed them by running onto the lefthand shoulder, just so he could get to the front of the line.

This is something that is seen on a daily basis. So called professional drivers, acting in an unprofessional & unsafe manor. But as drivers what do we do? Most of the time nothing is said, other than bitching on the radio. Then the driver that says something about it is told to "shut up & drive your truck & I'll drive mine." Yet more unprofessional behavior. So what options are left? One could call the cops, but unless it's a drunk driver they generally are not interested. So calling the company is the only 'option'. And yes, companies do take these calls seriously.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating calling in for a minor "oh crap, I had my head up my butt" moment. Because we all have those from time to time. But if someone is driving recklessly that is a different story. While this recklessness is in itself a serious issue the bigger problem are companies & driving schools. Companies are under pressure to keep a driver in the truck & driving schools are cranking out student drivers at an extremely high rate. While many of these drivers will mature into very good drivers, the ones that don't make the rest of us look bad. But most of these companies have no idea of the unsafe nature of their drivers. I know it seems as though most companies only want a warm body in the truck, but most of them want that warm body to do the job in a safe & professional manner. So if nobody is telling them, how are they going to know?

So unless we start policing ourselves, no one else is going to.

A letter to those who ask why............

2009-05-11T21:20:00.002-04:00

Dear Sir or Madam,

You have inquired as to why I would ever want to drive a truck. So let me ask you a few questions.

Have you ever chased a sunset across Montana??

Awoken on top of the hill at daybreak looking down on Albuquerque on the morning of the annual balloon festival??

Seen the sun rise off the Maine coast??

What about driving thru California farm country & seeing nothing but beautiful, fragrant roses as far as the eye can see?

There are many more breathtaking sights I have seen crossing this country & lots of others have seen these same things. But how many can say they got paid to see them?

Being a truck driver epitomizes the American spirit of freedom & independence. Yes, there are many things (the layovers, crummy truck stops, the impossible delivery schedules)that are not so glamorous about trucking. Many days it’s a dirty, thankless job. You may see a slow & lumbering truck as something of a nuisance, but please remember this, without trucks you wouldn’t have that nice car you’re driving or the clothes on your back. So next time you’re tempted to give one of us a wave, let us see all of your fingers & not just one.

Sincerely yours,

Gypsy

The Scathing Response

2009-05-05T21:01:00.010-04:00

@TruckerDesiree’s response is just……so……uh wow…………..

Seeing as how she won’t post anything in a public forum, I figured I would share her response with you all. The following was sent to me via direct message on Twitter. Complete with typos so that way she can’t say I misquoted her.

I only block people who make a career from me because they have no life of their own. I'm tired of giving them free material when they could be foing something useful like taking care of their kids. BTW did you ever see your new friends post about how she felt about Trucker who crochet & have you easy going manner? That's the funny part. You morons don't even know where all the previous posts are that make you look like total fools. Also "Women in Trucking" um.. well, I will let you find out for yourself. Its a suprise. If you guys only have 5 brain cells between you instead of ... oh brother...

Where oh where do I start????

Ok first of all, you block people who have don’t buy into your line of crap, plain & simple. FYI I’ve made driving my career & you are just a minor annoyance along the way. By the way I can still see everything you post. Just because you’re not in my tweet stream doesn’t mind I can’t see your inane babble.

Number 2. I don’t have kids. Love them, just don’t want them. So if you’re going to try & put me ‘in place’ with a statement like that, just maybe you should find out a bit more about me.

Number 3. I’m not sure which new friend you’re talking about. But if someone has a problem with me because I crochet & knit & drive a truck…..bring it on.

Number 4. Well since I’m such a fool, why don’t you show me these posts. But I would rather look like a fool, than a misinformed ass with a persecution complex.

Number 5. A ‘suprise’ ooooooo I like SURPRISES!!!! So what are you going to do??? Drag my name thru the mud & post horrible things about me online or are you going to call my mommy & tell her I’ve been a bad girl?? (actually she already knows, where do you think I learned all my evilness from??) So whatever you decide to do, all I have to say to that is, BRING IT BITCH!!!!!!(that one’s for you Terry *grin*)

Number 6. I had more brain cells but they committed suicide after reading your tweets. I know that wasn’t very nice. But I couldn’t help myself.

You probably think that I’m doing this out of jealousy or something like that, but really I’m not. Or because your ‘girly’ & ‘feminist’, & all I have to say to that is PUH-LEEZ. I’m sure it would probably be a great shock to know that I’m exactly those things that you claim to be. I wear skirts, get my nails done, crochet & knit, & have worked twice as hard as you’ll ever have to just so ‘women’ like you can even be given half a chance. I am by no means one of the true pioneers of women in trucking. Maybe you should check out Lillie Drennan or some of the women here.

It just sickens me to see someone, under the guise of being a trucker, make crackpot statements against other drivers & the industry in general. I know it might actually shock you to know that we do agree that there are changes that need to be made in the industry. So those of us who have been working ‘behind the scenes’ to make the industry better will continue to do so, without feeling the need to bask in a spotlight.

"Whatever women do they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily, this is not difficult." ~Charlotte Whitton

More Blog Fodder Inspired by @TruckerDesiree

2009-04-30T23:10:00.005-04:00

Ooooo! I’m on a roll this week….two, count ‘em two, @TruckerDesiree inspired posts & in two days no less. *grin* If she’s good for nothing else, she does give me great fodder for my blog.

This one dealing with the hauling of hazardous materials & ‘lack of’ safe parking.

I’m sure most people pay no attention to the various little placards that go on the sides of trailers marking it as a hazmat load. But those on point squares can tell you a lot about what is in that trailer. Sometimes it’s something as common as household cleaners & bleach. While these particular items can cause an environmental hazard are fairly innocuous in the grand scheme of things once packaged for consumer use. Now in tanker trucks you get everything from gasoline to sulphuric acid. Which would have significant environmental impact if spilled. Box trailers also haul these bulk chemicals but just in smaller containers.

But it seems as though Desiree’s problem is who should or should not haul these items. Which after 9/11 the rules on this changed. It used to be anyone that held a CDL could get a hazardous materials endorsement. Ohhh the horrors in that thought. *insert large amount of sarcasm* But in these enlightened times if one wishes to haul these items you have to have your fingerprints taken & a background check run. You can find out more about it here. There is also company training that one must take as well. This does vary from company to company & whether or not you are pulling a tanker or certain kinds of items…ex. Dynamite. (oh yeah, even dynamite is moved by truck) But there are certain people convicted of certain crimes that are not eligible to haul these items.

Desiree would like to add to this list student drivers. I’m not sure how much experience she thinks one should have before hauling such things. Actually to a point I agree with her. I would take little comfort in knowing that there was a student driver fresh out of school hauling 44,000 lbs. of dynamite across the Hoover Dam coming at me (which you can no longer take a truck over the Hoover Dam, thank you Mr. Bin Laden, but you get my point). But the stuff she & most of the drivers at the company where she works do not haul these ‘more’ hazardous items. So with training in proper loading & load securing these items shouldn’t present much of a challenge. But to listen to her tell it, it’s nothing short of being mentally tortured to haul a HazMat load.

Now onto the ‘lack of’ safe parking. I have been trying to figure out what exactly is ‘safe’ parking?? Is it a pay to park lot?? Which by the way are a complete joke. If you look at the little ticket they give you it says they are not responsible for your safety or the safety of your vehicle. Then what’s the point of having a ‘secure’ lot? A well lighted lot??

But if you look at where most truck stops are located, they are in the worst areas of town. So where exactly are ‘safe’ places for Desiree to park?? How about at where she delivers?? Oh right, she’s on Wal-Mart dedicated & they don’t allow truck parking at their distribution centers. Even the ones that deliver there. (Only one of the myriad of reasons not to shop at Wal-Mart)

Does she think that bad things don’t happen in safe areas?? If so then she is sadly mistaken. Bad things happen everywhere. And if a driver is ‘forced’ into parking somewhere ’unsafe’, then that is no ones fault but their own. A little thing called trip planning is a drivers best friend. They even have these nifty truck stop guides that let you know where even the smallest of truck stops are located. Even the ones in the middle of BFE. I do agree that in certain areas of the country there are less available parking areas, the north east being one. But once again with a little trip planning this can be remedied.

I know what I’m saying may not be the ‘popular’ thing to say but I really don’t care. One of her tweets stated that any publicity was good publicity & I hate to be the one to burst her bubble, but it’s really not. So hopefully she comes to her senses one day, but until then I won’t hold my breath.

Women in Trucking

2009-04-29T16:31:00.005-04:00

Another Twitter inspired post. This time my inspiration is @TruckerDesiree. I know I may get some flak from her supporters over this but I don’t give a fat rats ass. She gives feminists & women truckers both a bad name.

Let me start out by saying I love my job. It’s just the numerous whiners & complainers & people that don’t have the slightest clue that make rethink career choices. Some of those people that don’t have a clue, sad to say, are supposedly smart, intelligent women.

I understood that trucking is part of the ‘old boys club’, as far as professions go when I started 10 years ago. I also understood that I might not be accepted at places & subjected to some crappy, chauvinistic behavior. And I must say as far as that goes I’ve been treated very well for the most part. Actually most of the crap that I have gotten over the years wasn’t necessarily from the older drivers but ones that were in my age range. Yet I have managed to garner their respect, for the most part (some are just total assholes that can’t be dealt with on any level), by standing up for myself. If someone gets in my face, I give it right back. I have also busted my ass working twice as hard as most of the guys out here just to prove that I could do the job & to be taken seriously.

Over the last 10 years I have heard horror stories about what some women have had to go through during training & the way these complaints were dealt with by their respective companies. I have tales of how women were treated by their trainers & the unsafe things that their co-drivers have done. I’ve come to the conclusion that a lot of these women are part of the problem. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying anyone deserves to be treated the way any of these drivers have, but it’s obvious that complaining to the companies doesn’t work. Some women don’t even bother reporting these unsafe actions of other drivers. But yet these women continue to work for the same company that treated them so horribly. It’s as though the only empowerment these women get is through their victim status. If you won’t stand up for yourself, no one else will.

If things are so horrible where you’re working, why are you still there? There are thousands of other companies out there at which you could choose to work. But wait, if you did that you’d lose your victim status wouldn’t you?

Do you honestly think posting your “story” on a blog & saying that “nice” people would like to work in the industry but “nice” people won’t play the games required, is going to help your cause? Does calling drivers predators & equating the company you work for to terrorists, really help?

As far as students not being prepared for what to expect from the industry, as far as work hours & things expected from them that is nobodies fault but there own. Granted I had a bit of an advantage before I decided to jump into driving because my ex boyfriend was a driver. All they have to do is go to the closest truck stop & chat up a few drivers. Ask them about what they do & the hours they work. Because even though some people like to portray us as such we are not all psycho predators & will gladly answer a few questions. Never once have I been laughed at or made to feel stupid by asking another driver for advice or help.

So crawl out from under your blankie, put on your big girl panties & be part of the solution & not part of the problem.

Go Home & Have Babies Ya Dumb Broad!

2009-04-12T14:36:00.006-04:00

LOLOMGWTFBBQ!! Who said that?? I said & I meant it.

Actually after a twitter post by @vincereardon asking why women who tell other women to go home & have babies don't follow their own advice. And linking an article about Dr. Laura. Which I at first didn't see the link but answered him that a lot women without children are sick of mothers as using their child as an excuse for everything. (ie.....little Jimmy's sick, little Jimmy needs to go to the doctor, schools closed & I couldn't get a babysitter) You wanna have kids & a job?? Fine, but don't expect me to do your work & mine too because you decided to go forth & procreate. And we all know little Jimmy is just gonna grow into an obnoxious teenager that walks all over you because you're to busy trying to be his friend instead of his parent now. And why is it acceptable for all these moms to bring in crap that their kids are selling?? I'm sorry when I was a kid (and it hasn't been that long ago) that if you were selling something you went door to door. I know not everyone lives in a small town like I do. But what about going around the neighborhood or people you go to church with.

And I swear if I hear one more mom bitch about how she doesn't know how she's gonna find time to take little Susie to soccer practice, or little Mary to piano & dance, & fix dinner & get groceries & go to work, I may not resist the urge to smack them upside the head & say you should have thought of that before you had kids.

I also responded to @vincereardon with, "Some women are incapable of doing the job they have chosen & the only thing they are good for are spewing out obnoxious little bastard children". I didn't really fit all of that into my tweet but that was the gist of it. And I think that pisses me off even more. As a woman truck driver I have had to bust my ass twice as hard as any guy out here just to prove that I can do the job & to be taken remotely seriously. Then some dingy, goofball, hosebag that only became a truck driver to sleep her way across the country or to find herself a man comes along & makes me want to punch her in the face. And throws all my 'work' out the window. So if you can't do the job GO HOME!!! And fix your old man some dinner while you're at it.

OK, now that I have offended all 3 of my readers so I guess I'll just go back to my crochet & twiddle my thumbs now.

Babble

2009-04-05T15:20:00.010-04:00

Just a few random things.........

Not smoking update - almost 1.5 months and still going strong. Although some days I still have the urge to put make fake cigarette out in someones eye or knock someone down & steal their cigarettes. But so far I have been able to suppress these urges. Some days its been a close call though. Actually I had urges to put my cigarette out in peoples eyes & knock them down before I stopped smoking so maybe it's just my personality.

Lessons in knitting - I have made a sufficient amount of dishcloths that my mother won't have to buy any for at least 5 years. And she has know enlisted me to make her a scarf & hat. I finally bought a set of interchangeable circs yesterday so the hat making can commence. I also have bacon yarn that is just screaming to be made into a hat. Because who can resist a hat that looks like bacon?? I have also find a neato blog post that explains how to make a hat that fits. Crazy Aunt Purl's roll brim hat.

Crochet update - I am currently working on my own Seraphina's shawl. I am using a yummy variegated purple wool from Universal Yarn.

Letter to a lunatic

2009-03-02T01:25:00.006-05:00

I'm sure I probably won't win any points with this post but it's something that I need to get off my chest. But when someones psycho-ness interferes with my friendship that's when I have a problem. And since she was checking out my Twitter updates (which I've removed from my blog page, & made private), I'm sure she has found my blog page as well.

Carole,

Far be it from me to tell someone how to deal with their issues but this has just gotten entirely out of control. If I was dating someone who had a friend that I wasn't sure about, I'd at least make a phone call to introduce myself to the person and maybe find out a little about them. But noooo you'd rather just throw a fit and get all pissy with Rob about the time we spend on the phone. Trust me if I had been so inclined as to try and put the moves on Rob I would have done so long before you came into the picture. Heaven forbid two people of the opposite sex are friends. Perish the thought. So right now your problem is me, in 2 months who's it going to be then??, the waitress at dinner, the cashier at Walmart? So hopefully you get some help for these issues.

How would you feel if he got all upset and was snooping through your phone bill to see how much time you were spending on the phone with one of your friends?? I don't think I'd be going out on a limb by saying you wouldn't like it very much. So why do you feel its ok for you to feel this way about his friends?? Ohhh that's right, you're fucking mental.

I'm not sure which saddens me more. To see a grown woman with teenagers act this way for no reason. Or the fact that Rob is putting up with this. All I can say is, damn that must be some hella wicked pussy.

But like I said I hope you get help for your issues. Because if I continue on I'll just make an ass of myself on my own blog.

Have a nice life,
Shannon

My adventures in quitting smoking.

2009-02-25T08:18:00.006-05:00

I think like every smoker out there that has tried quitting, I too have tried just about everything under the sun. Patches(my dreams are screwy enough as it is) , gum(ewww that was gross), lozenges(way gross), antidepressants(I just hate taking pills every day & especially one like that) and even cold turkey(was sooooooo not a pretty sight).

The last couple of months I had been seeing these Njoy electronic cigarettes & finally decided to give one a try. And I must say despite the weird taste, it totally represses my urge to poke someone in the eye or bite their face. But the biggest thing is that it helps with the something to do with your hands while your trying to quit smoking, which I think has been my biggest problem. Especially sitting on my ass all day & driving. Because when I'd stop for the day I could always find something to do like crochet or read a book and I really wouldn't have the urge to smoke. But so far these really seem to work & I am now 46hrs without a cigarette. So cross your fingers & wish me luck.

An Epiphany?

2009-02-08T16:58:00.004-05:00

While talking to my BFF yesterday I came to what could be considered an epiphany. I think. But I have come to the conclusion the reason I am still single at 33 is due to my being a truck driver. And not for any of the obvious reasons like never being home or anything like that. It's just in the almost 10 years working in a male dominated profession I have seen more into the way the male mind works then any female really has a right to.

Most guys when they are around women they tend to act with a modicum of decency. Not that all truck drivers are neanderthals but a lot of them tend to act in ways towards women drivers that they would only act with their male friends. Again, I am NOT saying all, just a good portion of them act this way. I guess I should feel honored that I am now "one of the guys", but I'd rather not be. There are some things I just don't need to know or don't want to know.

I was tagged

2009-02-03T14:38:00.003-05:00

I was tagged on my facebook page so I figured I would post it here as well. For all of those that want to peek deep into the inner workings of my psyche.

1. I'm a recovering Baptist. I don't follow any particular pagan path. It's more of a broad polytheistic view.

2. I am an amateur radio operator. Currently Tech class but am studying for my General. Call sign KC8LMU

3. I love to read & will read just about anything. Or try to at least.

4. Still single & no kids, with neither in the near future.

5. I'm still trying to find that rich old man that's about ready to kick the bucket & gonna leave me all his money. But my luck if I did find him, he's leave all his money to his cat or something.

6. I taught myself to crochet about 2 years ago & am currently teaching myself to knit.

7. I'm addicted to my blackberry. And her name is BB McGee. Yes I know it's a sign of being crazy admitting this, but so be it. (you should meet the rest of the family......they make me look normal)

8. I have way more grey hair then any 33 year old should have.

9. I could easily seeing myself becoming a hermit.

10. I've been everywhere man, I've been everywhere......ok technically NOT everywhere but I have been to all of the lower 48, all of Canada except the NW Territory, Yukon Territory, PEI & Labrador. I have also been to Ciudad Juarez, Tijuana & Nuevo Laredo, MX & Jamaica mon.

11. I'm a serial killer.......it's just all in my head.

12. I would love to own my very own yarn shop. Somehow I don't see this helping my yarn addiction.

13. I love to listen to old timey radio shows.

14. All of my disillusionment issues stem from an incident in the fifth grade when I lost a naming contest for a math robot. I still think Sir Math-A-Lot is way better then Math Amigo.

15. I'm a button pusher.

16. I believe tattoos are like potato chips.......you can't have just one. That's why i have 10.

17. I am thinking coming up with 25 random things about me is a lot harder then I thought.

18. I lurv lol catz. Tehy r teh ishtz.

19. I have always wondered that if Canada would see it as an act of war if we gave them Michigan.

20. I am a true Gemini.......just ask my mom she had to live with the mood swings.

21. I brake for Starbucks.

22. Soooooooooooooooooooooooo not a morning person.

23. I still think fart jokes are funny.

24. I'm not as cranky & mean as a lot of people think. I've just had to stand up for myself to be taken even remotely serious as a female truck driver and I refuse to take any one's crap. And women that decide to become truck drivers but can only half assed do the job, do the rest of us a favor & go back home & have a couple of more kids or something.

25. I've been drug free for 9.5 years now. And I owe so much to my mom, because most parents would have given up, but she didn't.

Pagan Standard Time

2009-02-03T01:35:00.008-05:00

Why do people think that PST is acceptable? When did this become an acceptable practice? To me it means you are a pain in the ass who thinks the world revolves around you.

I have never been a stickler for things starting right on the dot but the idea of showing up 2 hours late, if you even bother to show, because it interferes with your natural flow is a total crock. What about everybody else's natural flow? I would so love a life and job that doesn't require the rigors of standard time, but unfortunately I live in the real world and not some fantasy land. Neither am independently wealthy to have such a laissez-faire attitude.

Some pagans wonder why a lot of people don't take them seriously and maybe the fact that you are habitually late could NEVER be a reason. There are quite a few others that I could think of but won't go into for the sake of my blood pressure. So maybe for the sake of your fellow pagans you can grace them with your appearance on time for a change.

I'm losing my sanity

2009-01-11T19:51:00.005-05:00

Ok actually I lost it a long time ago, but that's besides the point. Sorry to any that may have been reading or trying to read my blog whilst I was going thru the mental anguish of trying to decide on a new template. I think I've found one that I can live with for awhile.

Chistmas pics

2009-01-11T15:00:00.018-05:00

Christmas crochet has been completed & gifted. And as usual I have been slacking on my blogging. But the pictures are finally here. This is the pink camo afghan that I made for my youngest niece. It was originally supposed to be Tunisian lace, but do to time restraints & my tendinitis, it got frogged & turned into a peephole chevron. If you look beside my nephew you can see his camo scrap granny that I made. He was more interested in the other presents that needed opened. :)

And without further ado.......The Scarf That Ate Cleveland. It morphed into something about 10' long & reminiscent of a feather boa. It's a 3-2-1 pattern. It took almost 6 skeins of Yarn Bee Jewelsong. It's a good thing she loved it or I would have had to hurt her. ;P

And here is the Seraphinas shawl that I made for my mom. It was made using Lion Brands Wool Ease in wheat. The only gift that didn't get pictured was a granny rectangle that I made for my oldest niece.

Vanillalotus.etsy.com

2008-12-15T13:40:00.013-05:00

Stitch markers, I don't need no stinking stitch markers. At least that's the way I thought when I first started crocheting a couple years ago. I figured I could easily remember where rounds began. Well needless to say, I have since learned my lesson. Stitch markers are your friends. Now I have more then I know what to do with. (ok, not really......it's just turned into something else for me to collect)

One of my Twitter friends vanillalotushop was looking for people to review her stitch markers & I of course volunteered. And I must say her work is absolutely beautiful. I received 5 iridescent blue markers. I would post a pic BUT someone left her camera at home. The wire wrapping is top notch, nice and smooth so no snags on your work. I highly recommend stopping by and getting some. So stop on by Vanillalotus's Shop and tell Priscilla hello & pick up a few for your collection. And at $7 for a set of 5 they would make great last minute gift ideas for the crocheter or knitter in your life.

Just a few pics

2008-12-02T23:24:00.006-05:00

These a just a few pics I took this summer. They are all over exposed full moon shots, taken through a very bug splattered windshield at some random wide spot in the road on I-80 in WY. The shaky effect was caused by me holding the camera while placing my arm in the gear shifter of my truck while idling. The last one is my fave.

Are you a yarn snob??

2008-11-24T15:46:00.010-05:00

I know this is a subject that has been discussed ad nauseum by crocheters and knitters alike. But today was the first time I ever had anyone say anything to me about the fact that I was using "acrylic" yarn. *ohhhhh the horror* *faint* *swoon* Not that I give a fat rats ass about what anyone thinks. What the hell gives a person the right to try and make me like I'm somehow a lesser crafter then they are just because I choose to use acrylic yarn for a certain project. Were this person to come to my truck she would have seen the many nice yarns that I am using like Suri Elegance or Paca Peds from The Alpaca Yarn Co. (ok so I'm an alpaca slut ;), there are worse things in the world to be.)

Then she started in on the fact that I am a crocheter and not a knitter. While I admit that most of my fiber manipulating skills are in crocheting, I am capable of knitting. Albeit at a very basic level.

Why in this day and age should I have to stand up and verbally bitch slap someone just to defend crochet and my choice to use acrylic yarn?? When are people going to learn to just keep their fat traps shut because no one really gives two shits about what they think anyway?? People just totally piss me off sometimes.

McGee LIVES!!!!

2008-11-14T23:39:00.010-05:00

After totally bricking my blackberry trying to download OS 4.5, I am proud to announce that McGee is now resuscitated. I am so loving Kevin and all of his genius right now. Crackberry.com has saved my bacon. After getting the red flashy light of death, a near heart attack, and lots of swear words, my beloved blackberry is running once again.

I'm sure the 2 people that read my ramblings will probably have their worst fears confirmed after reading this and finding out that I have named my blackberry. Yes it's true, I'm mental. But for those of you that don't get it probably never will, but that's OK, I'll still be your friend. ;)

Christmas Crochet.......Oh My!!

2008-11-02T09:23:00.011-05:00

Today I started a Seraphina shawl for my Mom. A bat wing shawl for an Old Bat......it's perfect. ;) I'm using Lion Brand Wool Ease in wheat. After I get my Christmas gifts done I have a yummy purple variegated yarn from Universal Yarn that I want to use to make one for myself.

I swear every time I pick up this yarn I keep expecting it to smell like grape pop. But alas, it only smells like wool.

Also in the works, I have an Tunisian lace afghan made with Bernat Pink Camo & a green felted messenger bag for my nieces. And I also have a scarf yet to be made. I think I need a couple more hands, or more free time.

Is it over yet????

2008-10-30T00:01:00.004-04:00

Today has been one of those days. First the truck starts making a not so good noise. Turns out its a ruptured air to air hose. Yay!!! Then I get to my delivery and they refuse the entire load because of peelable upc stickers. After sitting all day still no word on whats going on with the load. Oh and did I mention that I'm in NJ. Double yay!!! NOT!!! So here I sit with 43,000 lbs. of sparkling grape juice and a truck that is fubar. Today is one of those days that I wish I had gone to nursing school like mom wanted, instead of truck driving school.

But on a positive side I did get the truck straightened up and got started on a cozy for my new laptop. The christmas crochet gifts are still no closer to completion. But I still have a month and a half. I better start shaking that crochet hook.

Oh yay!!

2008-10-27T22:27:00.001-04:00

Beware!!!!!! I am now loose on the interwebs to rant and rave like the slightly mad person that I am. I will try to limit my rants on my dispatcher and the various ways I have thought to make his life miserable. And try to entertain youse guys. That's if anyone ever decides to read the crap that spews forth.