I am still hanging around in WI. Thursday I ran some local loads using one of our spare trucks while mine was in the shop for repairs. While it was brutally cold outside I would have rather done that as to just sit around the shop doing nothing.

Yesterday I ran a crash truck chassis and engine from Oshkosh to Appleton where the body and pumps will be installed. It was a whole 21 miles LOL. It took far longer for the loading and unloading than it did the actual driving.

During the unloading, which involves detaching the RGN so the chassis could be rolled off the trailer, I manamged to smash my righ index finger. I was doing the re-attach and as I was swinging one of the heavy steel plates that supports the lower section of the trailer back into place it slipped out of my hand (thanks to my hands being numb from the cold) and my poor finger was smashed between the plate and the large pin upon which it sits when in place.

Ouch! Had I not been wearing heavy insulated gloves I am certain my finger would have been broken, if not severed. As it was the pain was made even worse by the fact that my fingers were quite cold. One would think that their being numbed by the cold would have reduced the pain, but believe me that isn't the case at all.

After swearing for a bit I managed to complete my task despite everything made my finger hurt. Oh well, shit happens. I then went back to Oshkosh and picked up a M-ATV, which is a sort of military utility truck, which is heading for a trade show in Carson City, NV. I don't know yet if I'll be hauling it there or not.

I am not a person who bruises easily. It takes quite a lot to cause me a bruise. My finger in no exception to this. Despite the heavy blow it took there is only a slight discoloration to the end of my finger and under the nail. Not even noticeable unless you're looking for it. It's quite stiff and sore this morning but will heal up in no time, I am sure.

When I returned to the yard yesterday afternoon "R" had not had a chance to plan out my load as he had been tied up all afternoon in a meeting with one of our large customers. He said to just hang out for the night and we'd figure out what I will be doing on Saturday.

As I was cold, tired, and sore, that was just fine with me. I checked into the hotel, grabbed a nice hot shower, and hit Applebee's for dinner and drinks.

As is normal for the type of business, they had some new employees there again, including a new bartender. The manager intruduced me to her and visa versa, and let her know that I was an "irregular regular" and gave her the usual instructions regarding my particular quirks with regard to service.

My bar quirks aren't anything major, mostly I just like to have the napkin salted before the glass is set down on it. That keeps the napkin from sticking to the glass which really annoys me. I've trained many bartenders over the years to salt napkins, and many of them develop the habit of doing so for every customer. Some just do it for me.

Applebee's was very busy last night and had a large dinner crowd. People came and went at the bar as they waited for an available tablle. One very eldery coupple sat down to my right while waiting. He ordered coffee and she ordered hot tea. Before she was able to select her tea from the variety presented in a nice wooden box their pager went off informing them their table was ready.

The poor woman was so burdend by trying to handle her heavy coat as well as the pager, tea cup, and hot water, that she dropped the pager on the floor. The old man was of no help at all. I picked up the pager for her just about the time she knocked over her tea cup, spilling hot water all over the bar.

I gave her the pager and grabbbed her cup and hot water and carried them up to the hostess station for her and instructed the server to carry the items to their table for her. The poor old woman was quite flustered by the whole experience. She mentioned to me that this was their first visit to an Applebee's and they seemed quite confused by the whole thing.

I had a pleasant evening there sipping beer after my dinner. I chatted a bit with the new bartender once things slowed down. Her name is Stevie. She said her father named her after Stevie Nicks as he's a fan of hers. I told her if that was the case he should have named her Stephanie as that is the woman's real name. She hadn't known that before then.

The only down side to my visit there was that I wasn't able to smoke a pipe. I have an understanding with the management there. I can smoke my pipe as long as they aren't busy and no-one complains about it. When busy or there is someone who dislikes the smell of a pipe (I can't even imagine that!) I have to smoke cigarettes, which I think smell far, far worse.

Other than that small annoyance it was a pleasant evening. This morning I am just loafing in the hotel until I hear from "R" in dispatch. On Saturday he usually comes into the office sometime between 9:00 and 11:00 depending on how early he goes to the gym for his weight lifting workout, so I expect to be hearing from him before too long.

I am hoping I get to go someplace warm, which is what I suggested to him yesterday.