Short post today

Had the usual morning coffee, and then Donna headed off to the truck company, she will have a long day as she does a shift at the restaurant tonight. Sam had his usual 3 month checkup, everything was fine and the doctor was pleased with all the numbers, so he is good for another 3000 miles or 3 months.

After putting it off for a long while we bit the bullet and decided to get a laptop, Sam went to a computer store near home and they had a low mileage Dell Latitude, with 1.6gig speed and 1 gig of ram and a 40 gig hard drive for the mere sum of $275.00US. Since it came with an XP operating system which is what we are both used to and we can transfer our programs right to it, it was decided to buy this now and then when the house is gone and we are set to hit the trail we will buy a new laptop with all the bells and whistles and this one will become the backup.

Sam is happy because he will take it with him on trips and when he has a stop at a motel without computers for guests he can still check his mail and update the blog and read blogs. It’s gonna take a week to wipe the smile off his face, even though he was 3 hours transferring the needed programs such as Office, Live Writer, Picasso, and a couple others that were deemed necessary for survival.

The weather is again gorgeous and is supposed to reach into the 80’s, today and be mild for the rest of the weekend. Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything or we’ll wake up with snow Easter morning.

Rigg’s is a happy camper as he has been getting to run outside with the nice days, When Adam gets home from school he will be even happier. That’s it for now, Be Safe out there. Sam & Donna.

PS. Tammy were supposed to have a nicer and warmer day here than in Gulfport, Hope it lasts.

Tuesday musings.

After a good nights sleep we were up at the usual 04:30am, had our coffee and Donna was off to the truck company, I went down to my office in the basement and found 5 days worth of e-mails and blogs waiting for me, I just browsed through yesterdays and a couple of earlier blogs but A lot goes on in 5 days so it always takes me awhile to get up to speed. I keep saying I will buy a laptop but never seem to get to it, Most motels have a computer terminal for their customers, but the last couple of 4 night trips I took I stayed in some that didn’t.

While checking my mail I got one from work with orders for a trip for Thursday and Friday, another college team I will pick up in Quincy Il and take to Ullin IL. a one nighter. I like these they are only 300-400 mile trip and you get back home fast.

Donna asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday when I got back yesterday. I told her I didn’t  much care maybe dinner out or something, well since my birthday is Thursday I know what I will be doing for my birthday and that is driving a bus down the highway.

Rigg”s is getting to know the routine, now when I bring my overnight bag into the kitchen to leave for a trip, he will get between it and the door and keep pushing it away, didn’t take him long to figure out when he see’s the bag I am leaving for awhile.

I never fail to be amazed the intelligence a pet has and the way they show love and affection. Not that he isn’t spoiled by his Dad.

Home at last

Sam got home at 02:30AM, drove straight through from Tuscaloosa AL. to Festus MO. where another driver relieved me and then I drove a small van home in about an hour.

The trip was a long but great trip, took the Track and Field team from Central Methodist College down to Alabama University for a big meet must have been 40 coaches from all over the Midwest and Southeast parked on the lot I was on.

Tuscaloosa is a really friendly and nice city. I discovered their War Memorial Park and had to take some pictures.

   

                            Picture of the picture taker

                US Navy A7-E Corsair Carrier based attack plane

          US Navy 5 inch 38cal Deck gun from USS Tuscaloosa WW2

                          US Army UH1-D Huey Slick

                                               USMC M60 Tank

 

                       Memorial to Veterans wounded in action

This park is located on MacFarlane Blvd right in front of a big Shopping Center, The citizens of Alabama can be rightly proud of this park as everything about it is immaculate,the displays, the grounds, and stones it is all first class.

Rigg’s was his usual all wound up when he saw his Dad come through the door, Mom said he was his old self and not to bad while I was gone,He got a bath Sunday, and I really noticed how shiny and fresh he looked, that will last till a sunny day when he is out rolling around in the grass and dirt.

Well I am still worn out from my trip so, Be Safe out there,Sam & Donna.

Friday in West Memphis

Well I took a car down from Kingdom City MO, yesterday to West Memphis Ar where I will wait for my bus to show up at 04:00am, I don't have much time as it is that time now, You should see the company car I have, a white Crown Vic that did duty as a police car, Wow, how mant miles I have behind the wheel of one of these babies in my life. Anyway I am off to Tuscaloosa Ms for a couple day. I'll say hi to MOM and Andy,Adam & Rigg's. Thats all the time I have.

Plans always change

Sam got a call last night and he is now leaving Thursday morning and driving a car from the terminal in Kingdom City MO to West Memphis AR. There he will get a room and wait till 04:00am-05:00am Friday for the bus to come down and then relieve the driver from MO and take the group the rest of the way to the Tuscaloosa AL area, it is a college sports team from Central Methodist College in Fayette MO. They are all good young people and Sam has taken teams from this school several times this winter. The process will be reversed on Sunday and Sam should be back either late Sunday or early Monday.

Hope the motels I am staying in have a computer so I can see what is going on in the world.

Anyway that’s about it if you are in the Tuscaloosa area and see a big Red, White and Blue Trailways coach with Huskey on the side parked at a motel you will know it is me. Be Safe out there. Sam & Donna

Here is a picture from last weeks trip to Kentucky, notice the seam of coal in the hillside behind the bus. The motel owner said they used to mine a lot of coal in this area. Reminds me of Pennsylvania.

More news

Wednesday started like most others up at 04:30am, coffee, say good bye to Donna as she leaves for the truck company, Go down to the computer and start reading what happened in other peoples lives that was more exciting than mine. Now it is waiting for Adam to get up so I can fix him breakfast and find out what he wants to do, The weather says Fair and 66 degrees today so I may suggest the train museum, all depends on how bad he wants to spend the day playing with his buddies behind us, They have a trampoline, and then there is always bike riding, and playing in the basement if its gets nasty. I’ll let him make the call.

My son Andy took Rigg’s for his one year old Vet appointment yesterday. Actually he is 1 year and three months, but this was the first chance to get him in since the weather started to warm up. The Vet said he is just beautiful, has excellent muscle and body development, She also said he will sire really good pups when he is another 6-8 months old. But the big news was since he is a large Lab he was able to get his 3 year rabies shot and his last puppy shots. So Rigg’s is now officially a big boy.

Boy was he ever proud of his new rabies tag, when he got home I took his new collar off and he really watched intently as I put the tag on the ring. He is really possessive of his collar and kept pushing my hands to put it back on, Then when I got it on he immediately ran through the house showing off his big boy tag.

I got a call from my boss telling me I had a trip on the bus to Alabama scheduled for this weekend. That’s all I know for now until he e-mails the orders, At least I am going south again hopefully away from any snow. Hey Tammy maybe next time it will be Mississippi.

Well that's about it for now ,Be safe out there. Sam & Donna.

                                  Our Big Boy Rigg’s

Tuesday Musings

Well, up at 04:30am had coffee with Donna, she is now off to the truck company. Adam’s Mom came by last night and wanted him to spend the night with her, so the house is quiet. Rigg’s got a big surprise when Mom came home from work last night, she bought him a new Doggie bed and it is large. Rigg’s always acts like he really knows when a present is for him and goes crazy like a little kid. It’s a really nice maroon and grey and it will fit nicely in the trailer when we start out adventure.
Yesterday turned out to be a gorgeous day again, Adam elected to play from 10:00AM till 06:00PM with the kids behind us on their trampoline and then bike riding. He also learned the clothespin and baseball card trick to make your bike sound like a motorcycle. That ended up putting the Train Museum trip on hold for another day.
Sam got a surprise yesterday too. I was going to sand some surface rust next to the step pads on my step rails and repaint them. When I took the rubber step pads off I found out that water had gotten under them and rotted them away. The drivers side might be able to be saved but the passenger side is a total loss. They are Dee-Zee brand and I put them on as soon as I bought the truck in 2004 so they are six years old. I will have to replace them. I am wondering now if a should have spent the extra money for chrome, instead of the black finish, At the time I didn’t want the shiny chrome and the black one were quite a bit cheaper.
Today I will have paint the drivers side and then hunt for some prices on a new set. If I buy the same brand I will pop the rubber off as soon as I install the and put a bead of sealer around the edge on the bottom to keep the moisture out.
Well everyone have a good day and be safe out there. Sam & Donna