It's been an interesting week or so since I've last posted. I picked up an oversized load in Or, delivered it in MO, hung out for a couple of days there, and then took a load up to WI where I now sit after being rained on most of the day today.

After loading, securing, and tarping my next load (in the rain) I checked into the hotel here. I went over to the Applebee's next door for dinner and a few brewskies. As usual I was greated with many smiles and such from the folks who work there. I was a bit surprised to see that the young lady I wrote about in the past, who has the most beautiful smile I have ever seen, is now tending bar.

I have commented on her smile to her and have engaged in some very superficial chatter with her, but have never really engaged her in real conversation until tonight. She's a very engaging young lady and if I were 20 years younger I would actively go after being shot down by her.

I did finally, after a couple of years, ask her for her name. Until now I had just called her "smiley". Turns out her name is Allysa. One of my favorite female names (yeah I've had a thing for Allysa Milano for a long time).

Naturally I am just another customer to her, which is understandable as I am old enough to be her father. At least she knew my name. I have to say though that it is a real pleasure to chat with her as she is very bright and can carry on a conversation without sounding like just another stupid kid.

Back to reality. My bum hip is giving me some trouble tonight due to work stuff. I'm pretty much hobbling around like an old man. Ah well, perhaps I should admit that I am getting close to being an old man. Such is life, ya know.

I did have an enjoyable conversation with a fellow engineer while there. He's in town doing some work at a wind farm. I am an engineer by education, and worked in that field for over a decade before getting sick of it and going into trucking. I have to admit that it was fun talking with someone who actually speaks the same language as myself.

There are times that I do miss my old career, but then I remind myself why I left it.

I really hadn't planned on checking into the hotel tonight but after loading up at the yard and tarping a couple of the pieces I'm hailing, in the rain, I was tired, filthy, and soaking wet. I needed to get a room, hot shower, and some beer. At least tonight they are the three staples of life.

Tomorrow I am off on a somewhat difficult run. I have have to be in Raleigh, NC Monday morning, Garden City, GA Monday afternoon, Atlanta on Tuesday morning, Charleston, WV Wednesday morning, and back to Wisconsin by Friday morning. All of this is easily possible on paper, but if anything at all goes wrong I'll get thrown off and may not make it. Pretty mucb what we call a milk man run.

If I can haul ass tomorrow and make good time I should be able to do some laundry tomorrow night. That will be a good thing. I rarley wear shorts out here on the road as I consider that very unprofessional, but right now I am totally out of clean jeans and khakis, and have no choice but to wear shorts. I really do not like showing up at a customer's location in shorts. I just don't think it looks right. 

Besides, I hate wearing sneakers and boots just don't look right with shorts LOL.

As much as I hate doing laundry in a truck stop I am hoping I can do so tomorrow evening.

Life on the road is what it is, and goes on pretty mucb the same as always.