Writing this on Tuesday, 2/10/09 12:30 central time, to be posted later.

This morning I went into Seattle to deliver my final generator and associated parts. I met the guy at about 20 past five and he guided me in to the jobsite. It was a high rise building right downtown and I had to park in an alley beside the building for the crane to unload me. Just getting in there was a bitch.

I was there about an hour before the crane was due to start, which was ok as it gave me time to pull the tarp, straps, and chains from the load. By the time the operator started his very long climb to the top of the monstrous high rise crane I was ready to go. It took him almost half an hour just to climb all the way up there.

As I sat in my truck I watched the rats scurry around in the alley. Lots of rats. While I was pulling off the straps I'd had to kick one of them out of my way as it refused to budge. One kick convinced it that it had business elsewhere.

The guy who led me in had told me that a lot of homeless types sleep in that alley at night so I'd best watch where I step as they also used it to relieve themselves. It smelled like it too. I wondered about the people sleeping there at night and the rats. I wondered how many were bitten during the night. Rough way of life. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't want to sleep among the rats.

Getting out of there at other end of that alley was even worse than going in. By the time I was ready to leave there were cars parked along the street which made it even more narrow that it already was, and I barely missed clipping the corner of the building with my trailer as I eased out swinging as wide as I possibly could in those narrow confines. But I managed it and went on my way.

I'm back at the truck stop now waiting for dispatch to set up my next load. He'd told me there were some trucks coming out of Portland heading for SC, but the order was for double drop trailers (low boys) as they have no dock to drive them onto a step deck. He was checking to see if he could locate someone who could load one of them onto my trailer. So far no call back so it would seem he's not having any luck so far.

It's been snowing a bit on and off but so far nothing major. Just some light snow. I've been keeping track of the conditions up on Snoqualmie Pass just in case they decide to head me East out of here instead of to Portland. So far they're just reporting a little snow and slush in spots at the summit but not requiring tire chains. I hope it stays that way just in case.

I wouldn't mind a run down to SC where it should be a lot warmer. I am sick of the cold and the snow. I'm ready for Summer. Only a few more weeks of Winter left and I am hoping it's a nice warm Spring coming soon. It would suit me just fine of the cold weather didn't linger around. I need warmth.

I would move my truck down the road and park next to the tavern again to get online, but this parking lot fills up so fast that I'd probably not be able to get another spot when I came back, and I really don't feel like parking there all night again tonight. I parked there last night so I could pick up their wifi signal, but when it came time for sleep it was just too noisy there. It was still fairly early in this time zone when it was time for bed to me.

Well, since I haven't yet received the call, I guess I'll wander inside the truck stop and see what movie they're showing in the tv lounge. Better than sitting here watching the trucks come and go.

Update: I finally got a call about a load. I have to pick up some machinery at the Tacoma port tomorrow and take it to IL. That's cool. I wandered down to the tavern and had a couple of cold ones and am now using their wifi signal. Is a good thing I'm not sitting for a day or two waiting for a load. That means things are getting back to normal and I should be making decent money once again.

Ok, time for bed, gonna upload and post this bit of drivel now.