What a fun weekend at home...

I spent about 8hrs shoveling out the driveway of 16+ inches of nice, heavy, wet snow. We lost our power around 7am Saturday, but was lucky enough for it to come back on around 4pm. The phone lines & internet went out around 7am Saturday as well and just came back on around 5pm this evening.

The wife and I had to go out today for a few minutes and it looks like a war zone around here. There are trees down everywhere, lines laying in the road, etc. Probably 50% of the local roads have yet to have a plow touch them. Tonight won't help matters either - it's supposed to drop to 6 degrees, so nothing is going to melt.

On top of that, there's another winter storm heading this way. It's supposed to start on late Monday/early Tuesday and last through Friday. Tuesday alone they're calling for another 6"+.

We never did lose cell phone service. I guess the backup generators on the towers did the trick. My boss tried calling me earlier today, but I ignored it. I guarantee that they've got drivers calling off and he wanted me to run. Not gonna happen until tomorrow at the earliest.

 

Well, I spent last week on my last (officially) run. Started with a delivery in Madison, WI, picked up in Little Chute, headed for Moonachie, NJ. The fun began on the way from there to Trappe, MD to pick up a 3 stop going to Jacksonville, Riviera Beach, and Pompano Beach.

I hit the snow about 10 miles north of the 50/301 split. That side of the Bay Bridge wasn't bad at all. From there back to Washington DC wasn't bad at all either. Got around the circle to 95 south without any problem too. But, from there on, traffic was moving about 25 mph. The roads were not THAT bad, but I take my hat off to the salt-shakers. They were out in droves, and doing their level best to keep up with it. And, the 4-wheelers were keeping a cooler head about it all than the folks in NJ the last time I hit a snowstorm there. I lost count of the vehicles that managed instant structural alterations between Trenton and the New York Line on 287. From the circle around DC, to exit 104 where I put it to bed, I only saw one 4-wheeler that spun out.

Logic would dictate that their insurance rates should be cheaper as a result of that, but trust the insurance companies to assess them higher rates to help pay for the damages in New Jersey.

Saturday morning, when I left Carmel Church, there was much less traffic on the road, and the roads were only wet when I got below Richmond. By the time I crossed into NC, my troubles should have been over, but they just started when I crossed into SC. Up until then, the truck ran like a trooper. Cross the line, and it decided to run like it had no boost pressure. Company said change the fuel filter, and so I did. Did not expect it to do any good, and it didn't. So, get it back to the yard and park it in front of the shop. And, I did.

But, 5 miles before the FL line, I thought I got rear-ended, and was getting pushed. With a top speed of 55 for about 300 miles, suddenly, I was picking up speed. Nothing behind me. Whatever decided to take a siesta in SC came back on line. Got close to home, and the air governor quit. Had just enough air to park it at the shop and clean my things out.

I am now, OFFICIALLY done. Last trip is over. And, I hit much worse conditions in PA a few years ago when most of the roads in eastern PA were closed. So, from now on, I have no new adventures to talk about.
That is... Unless anyone is interested in small engine repair...:smokin::thumbsup:

 

Gotta love the truck issues. Glad you made it without any major issues along the way. Enjoy being away from the rig.

 

Yay!!! Another winter storm is approaching my area. They're calling for 5-14" starting Tuesday morning through Wednesday evening...

 

14 more inches of global warming...er climate change...er cooling...on top of the 30" you already have?

Nice.

Anyway know what Gore's money making phrase is right now? Is it cooling or climate change? He changes so quickly, I forget. :roll:

 

:nixon:Went in to the yard this morning to turn in my keys and fuel cards... Truck cleaned out, and OFFICIALLY RETIRED... Guess what...

"YOUR NAME CAME UP FOR A RANDOM."
:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

Yeah, I'm laughing about it, but the truth is, while I may be retired, I did give my sample. For one, this is one test I have NEVER had to study for. And, whether I step back into a truck or not, I do not want to have anything on my record about not taking a drug test. Besides, we did agree that if they have a driver on vacation and have a load that they have to cover, I would be available. But, I did make it clear that I would not do so on a regular, weekly basis. There is life after driving.:thumbsup::lol2::clap::bow::rofl::rofl::na na:atriot::band:

 

I've only been called for a random test. It was the day I started driving at this company. I'd already taken my pre-employment screening 3 days prior. When they got the all clear from that one, I came in, got the truck and was getting ready to go pick up my first load. Just had to make a detour to the clinic first.

The bad part with this next snow is that the snow we already got is sticking to the trees. There's no way I could drive the truck home if I wanted (well, unless I wanted to make it a convertible). There's trees laying everywhere on the lines as it is. This next batch of crap is supposed to mix with sleet and freezing rain along with the snow...

 

I find it funny that all the experts that are claiming "global warming" tell us that all the heavy rains, storms, and snow are all the result of the global warming. How, we are approaching all the "super storms" on the horizon. Tornados that go well beyond "force-5", hurricanes that go over "catagory 5", and earthquakes that exceed "10 on the Ricter scale".

I have yet to have someone answer just one question for me. According to archeology, and geology, this earth has been visited by some 7 or 8 ice-ages in the past. What sort of industry or burning of fossil fuels caused the previous ones?

I would suggest that we presume a bit much if we think we can hold off a natural cycle. We might be far better off to keep in mind the fact that it could come at any time, and do what we can to prepare for the inevitable. Or is it like "the end of the world" that has been predicted some 237 times since 1950?

We talk about all the CO2 gases being greenhouse, and pass laws that are designed to reduce them. But, when Mt Saint Helens blew it's lid a few years ago, more of those greenhouse gasses were released than we produce in 10 years. What do we do about that? Put together a regiment of cement mixers to pour a cap on all the volcanos? I can see that. The earth farts, and we blow the moon out of orbit.

 

Just got my power back on this morning after it went out Saturday night(while I was in the middle of a shower no less) and another round of the same crap that knocked it out is now coming down, snow mixing with sleet and freezing rain turning back to snow then high winds. The electric company will be right back out turning all of our power back on a 2nd time within a week..........I pray the worst trees have already come down and the rest will stand tall on this one. I don't have enough dry firewood to keep the house warm for another few days of straight burning.

 

Time for a class action lawsuit against Al W H O R E, he promised me global warming and has failed to deliver on that promise.
Al should get prison time for the fraud he committed against the American people.