About Me
- Shannon
- I'm a slightly mad pagan trucker with an unhealthy obsession with yarn.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Shannon's Rules For Winter Driving
8:21 PM | 
Posted by
Shannon
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.
Labels: crochet, yarn
Sunday, November 1, 2009
A visit from Bob
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.
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.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
OMG!!! I finally finished it.
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.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Where O' Where
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.
But until then I leave you with some sweet bebah kittehs & a bunnah.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
You don't have the right.......
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.
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.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
One of my favorite places
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.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Policing ourselves
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.
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.
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