mind ramblings of a squid

2008-10-31T07:38:00.000-07:00

I Wrote This . . .

Suspended firmly between before beginning and
after end I sway gently between what was, what is, and
what might have been.

What might have been -
calling me back to centuries gone by,
to dusty memories and personalities peeking out from
dead documents and books on shelves, whispering
you were here, you belong to us.

What was -
running through years in exclamation points!
always marching to the different drummer, out of step,
rebel, black sheep.
Marriage! Seven painful; joyful labors!
Incest! Divorce!
therapy
seven black sheep spirits looking for a parent
800 pounds of potatoes in one year
spaghetti on the ceiling
table on the floor making bread.
And more joy
called “The Rejects from Sesame Street Basketball Team” when all seven are together;
Five Amazonian Women putting shoulders together to erase scars to our home.
Missions: Korea, Brazil, Mexico, Germany, New York.
Dr. Amy has cancer
Business BS: Penny marries an Alaskan
Aaron computer nerd, marries a Mexican who won’t speak English, or
says she can’t learn.
Unspeakable closeness to the next generation!
and

What is -
a tree trunk, scarred, damaged, but thriving - roots planted deep,
allowing branches to grow, sway, bend and feel the nurturing of the whole.

to the world, Invisible, content neutral, so after contact they can say
“I did it myself!”

Brain craving new learning, heart yearning for serving,
emotion sealed deep within, hidden!
only leaking forth at times of measured exuberance:
joy in another’s epiphany, vicarious fulfillment.

Empty waiting to be filled, filled waiting to be emptied.
Waiting -
for the after end
and home.

God Bless us Everyone!

2008-10-21T11:57:00.000-07:00

ENDORPHINS . . . . You don't know how good they are until you miss them. Or Saga of the Broken Treadmill

No! Endorphins may sound fishy, but they are not. After eons of having a working treadmill, and establishing a walking habit this last Spring, and then being joined in walking by Dave, the treadmill "bogged down".

Sears Repair Men after we waited three hours, called and said it was undoubtedly really broken and could not be fixed without spending $400 to $800 so shopping we went for the next couple of days. No one knows very much about treadmills, even those who sell them.

Tired and discouraged I came home and surfed, finding the TreadMillDr and his troubleshooting link. The top four causes of a "bogged down" treadmill are . . . . none of which cost a lot of money to fix.

So tinkering, with tongue in cheek, we fiddled, and fixed the treadmill.

While we were without I fussed around the house trying to figure out where my joy went.

Why couldn't I just maintain positiveism? What was wrong?

Yesterday I walked and the positiveism and endorphins came back and there joy was hiding in my feet, or treadmill or hanging around just above it.

What you don't notice, while you have it, can be extremely important.

2008-06-16T09:31:00.000-07:00

POTPOURRI

I love words. The way they roll around your tongue and screw up your mouth and spit and gurgle. Pot pour e is one of them and this post is too.

DAVE

Admitted to UVSC and jumped through all the hoops, and watched small miracles rain on his desired actions for fall. Even in Dillingham he is making adjustments that will help him accomplish the things he wants to do. The adjustment from driving solitary and working on land with co-workers has been an interesting one. He is getting his land legs back, has lost twenty pounds, and is getting attention from the girls - who told Jeannea they won't share him. Way to go in the self esteem area, Dave.

MAY 30th at 3:51 pm

I became a grandmother, Aaron and Mari became father and mother, 6 kidlets became aunts and an uncle, and a Great Aunt and a Great-Grandmother. Who ever thought there could be so many changes by one birth. I could hardly believe the difference it made in me. Maybe something about roots and branches. With mom and dad gone, things have not seemed complete until I held little Amy. I wonder if there is a three generation balance that makes us comfortable. Now I feel things are complete. My children are finished, but I can nurture and care for lil Amy sometimes, it gives me purpose again. Mothering at a distance.

My visit with Aaron was a mixed bag, mostly good. It is very hard to communicate with Mari, she doesn't speak English, and the cultural differences in our personalities are stark. Genealogy saved my mouth from eating foot. But I know I frustrated Aaron by taking over his computer. I remembered a lot of mothering skills from twenty-six years ago; like holding a baby on my chest and stroking and breathing with her, and getting her to sleep. I also seem to remember a lot of burps, farts and tummy aches with the 7 plagges. Just like LilAmy.

Great Aunt Anna and Greg were radiant. We asked them to be godparents. None of us know what godparents do, but they were honored and accepted. Anna was in the delivery room and she cried when the baby was born, "you don't understand," she told me, "this is the first time I have ever seen anything like this." Aaron said he felt the spirit strongly when she was born. I love his spirituality. Anna also revealed that, try as she could, she didn't like to hold, or fuss over children - even the ones she considers her neices and nephews; until that is, lilAmy was born. Watching her you can tell how much she loves this little girl.

Aaron

At church several people told me what a great man he is. I watched him with Mari; he is quiet and gentle, never raises his voice, he was so intune with Mari that he heard her summon him when I heard nothing; but he jumped and ran to meet her need without anger or impatience. No he is not perfect. But, remembering the story his elementary grade school teacher told me; how when a classmate was mean to him, he removed himself from the situation "until she felt better. Or in the D&C like Edward Partridge or Nathaniel of old, in whom there is no guile. A couple of times I thought I saw, years from now what a peaceful home he would have.

He was cogitating (one of those words) about some pretty heavy stuff and Mari and he don't seem to be able to do significant brainstorming very well. 1) we will have to move when the lease is up, either into a two bedroom apartment here or closer to Anna. 2) with the gas prices the way they are and campus near the apartment and work near Anna, shouldn't we either move toward the job and change campuses or find another job near this campus and where we live. All the possibilities! I think we talked for two days.

And then the miracles began. Little ones. Answers.

Greg and Anna strongly counseled not to leave GoDaddy, which is a Fortune 100 company and can give Aaron more money, promotions and great security. It is amazing, Greg said, that Aaron got on in the first place.

Next we looked at Bachelor degrees. Comparing the two: simulations and programming. Anna counseled that Aaron do what he is passionate about. Both degrees are the same length, almost. It looks like the general education for both programs is the same and there is a possibility that Aaron can complete those courses, near GoDaddy, near Anna and at the Mesa campus. Then he would finish the degree at the Phoenix campus and the driving would be the same as it is now, only different.

While nothing really changed, Aaron said it was good to think it all through, and that he felt good with the plan. We made arrangements for them to come to Provo for the Kuzins Kampout, and bless the baby in Aspen 10th Ward. Grandma wants to bragg. We talked about them coming again in December for Christmas with everyone here, even Penny and Greg. I want it of course so I can hold my granddaughter again. I want the whole family to hold her and get to know the new treasure that bonds us as a family.

2008-05-13T12:37:00.000-07:00

KANGEN Miracle WATER or Devistation.

Water will have to wait. I had planned to tell the whole story, but got to work this morning and found an e-mail waiting that informed me that a cousin, Dave Partridge [ we used to play ball with them when we lived in West Jordan, remember the picnics and the . . .] 's daughter and her daughter ( his 10 year old grand daughter) were found murdered last night. Dave's daughter married had two girls 10 years and 7 years and then divorced the father. A year ago she began living with a man who had custody of his 1 year old daughter. He was violent and threatened. He killed her, the 10 year old (Dave convinced the 7 year old to come and stay with him), his baby and himself. Evidently it happened Saturday night and they just found them Tuesday night. Dave, and family are devistated.

How lucky we are, inspite of cancer and miscarriages and diabetes, to not have this kind of horror in our lives. I will be saving a news clipping in the family history program and going to the funeral, of course.

This family has had such trauma. The father was sexually abusive to his daughter. One child became a lesbian and then changed back. One went to prison for manslaughter. One was addicted to drugs and recovered. A brother died last year - was riding his ATV and somehow it flipped on top of him, another brother died of an illness, etc. Strength of family is the most precious attitribe when it comes to surviving.

2008-04-09T08:39:00.001-07:00

WHAT's UP NOW

They found out who the identity theft was - a window washer who has since gone to Las Vegas, with my $600. But they swore out a warrant for his arrest and according to the detective, "We'll get him."

Lowrey Garage Doors is having an "Ugly Garage Door" contest. We're entering, cross your fingers for me.

Class is almost over. I think maybe I am too old to take classes for credit. It's been fun but I am feeling the same stress I felt when I was really in school at the end of a semester. A collegue told me about some course CDs they have in the library. I could listen to them while I am doing family history and learn something. A bright idea! Yet, I have already signed up for a summer class on the weekend. 8-12 Saturdays for 8 weeks. "Learning, Cognition and Memory" Boy, books are expensive.

I found a well-researched document of 458 pages on one of the Plagge lines. I just have to transcribe the information we need now to add. What an exciting thing! If I keep finding things God will probably never let me die. Sheri is on her way to Seattle this weekend so I will be all alone. Hummmm. Is that good or not. ;) ;(

So, other than a final this Thursday, a presentation next Thursday, all is well. Tra la la la la.

2008-04-01T12:48:00.000-07:00

In case you didn't know, the Mount Olympus Stake - the building you used to walk through grandpa's back yard to get to - the one we have a time lapse video of being built - is having a 30 year celebration on April 26th, 2008.

Well, they invited all the family. Aunts, uncles, kuzins, etc. Somehow the only address they had was Krystal's and therefore Carol's. Carol sent an email telling everyone to plan for it. About the later part of March we get an email from Bill asking why he was not informed, didn't they want members of his family to attend? - I sent an email telling him to quit whining.

The individual letters came just a week ago, one to Bill, Dianne, Carol and me. The last paragraph stated that they would like to have a member of the family speak for 5-7 minutes telling about dad's accomplishments when he was stake president. Dianne said Bill should be the family representative. I said Carol should. I should have kept my mouth shut.
Emails between Bill and Carol and Dianne went totally misunderstood. Carol didn't want to be told she had to do it - as she is suffering from a giant laundry list of physical, emotional and psychological problems. Bill called Carol and said he didn't want to get up there and make a fool of himself, indicating Carol could make a fool of herself. Dianne suggested that they team -talk- together and Bill hated the idea. Neither one of them understood what the other was saying. Carol said she wanted to crawl through the phone and strangle Bill. Dianne was being bombarded with mistatements from both of them and feeling strangled. Carol said if Bill and Dianne and I and she couldn't get along she wished we would just stay home and she and her kids would be the representatives. At this point, I think I would like to stay home.

Personality theory suggests, according to several theorists, that until people reach their best self, they are still not grown up. In looking at Bill and Carol, I don't believe they have become their ultimate, grown up self. But, then I fall short of mine. It is a constant struggle to keep emotion from destroying the moment and hurting someone. However, it amazes me how petty they can be. Not excusing the other for miscommunicated or misunderstood statements. It makes being together with them a distasteful experience. I don't particularly want to attend the program on the 26th or the kuzins kampout - But maturity said I should remember that they are still in many ways small children striking out at each other, and I should be older than what they are.

In trying to fix my anger at stupid students, I found that too often I react in response to their anger, instead of being in control of the situation and being full of love, patient and soothing toward them. I also find that I have more difficulty when I am tired, ill, hungry or otherwise emotionally unhealthy. Wish I could be emotionally and physicall well all the time. None of us are.

If you understand that I am often tired, achy, and basically crabby and thus emotional, and that when I am this way I am trying very hard NOT to be like my mother or my siblings, then maybe you will forgive me for being reclusive. And, I will try to communicate more in a manner that is safe for me -- this one.

I am so grateful that those people who shared their first twenty plus years with me do not have the problems my brother and sisters do. It is a pleasure to share space occasionally with each of them.

2008-04-01T12:23:00.000-07:00

So I don't blog enough; so you want to know more; well, I have to admit I love reading what you have written so maybe I'll try this more - then again, since I am old enough to wear red - maybe, I'll forget.

April just blew in - 3-4 inches of snow on the 31st of March. We've had a busy three plus months. Jeannea has been down to clean three times and I spent a week in Washington. Sara left for Seattle and then Anchorage this month. Dave is making plans to attend Utah Valley University this fall for a technical degree in drafting.

I decided to take classes since they only cost me pennies, and this semester it is Personality Theory. Summer Saturdays for 8 weeks will be Learning, Cognition and Memory. It has been fun razzing the teacher, making my mind write papers and learning. I conned the teacher into letting me write an extra credit paper about the most correct personality theory - mine.

I was put on notice with my yearly evaluation that I needed to be nicer to students again. I am really looking forward to retiring. Just can't decide on the day: my 65th birthday or . . . .

Met with Tash and Dianne yesterday to get Tash comfortable with UVU - which happens on the 1st of July. I hope just because they renamed the school, they won't forget my raise, if I get one.

Oh yea, you should know that I experienced a taste of identity invasion. Someone, Brokk Margtts got a hold of a check of mine, wrote a check for $600. and went to the American Fork Branch of Family First Credit Union and cashed it. What a shock!! Hoops to jump through, provisionary funds in my bank. What a weird week, and tiring too.

2007-08-30T10:18:00.000-07:00

The Lost Summer

This summer because without changing eating habits I gained 30 lbs in one month. I gave in to doctor recommendations. 1) "They" put me on insulin - shots for diabetes depending on the level of my blood sugar. I have to prick and record daily how high it is. I can’t keep it low no matter how little I eat. Shots aren’t fun. I have (re) lost the 30 pounds.

2) "They" decided I should do a sleep test, finger first, and found that at night at times I only get 50% of the oxygen my body needs thus causing, startled wake ups multiple times during the night, night sweats, headaches in the morning. A "sleep study" and results and "they" recommend a chin strap to keep my mouth shut, and a CPAP that makes me look like Darth Vader at night but keeps me breathing at recommended levels.

Trying to do better, be better and get better, I purchased expensive compression hose to keep the water from collecting in my legs and help me treat the constant pain on the bottom of my right foot that moves from side to side and top to bottom without the covering or creams.
The above events coupled with skin cancer at the right eye resulting in bills, after insurance I must pay eating up my small savings, or the insulin, affected my depression medication. Tears and anger struggling to be constantly pleasant and positive and keep my emotions under wraps has made me tired. "They" gave me a new anti-depressant but it takes a while to work effectively.

When Sheri purchased a truck from Brent Brown, the bend over backwards guy, I got to be co-signer. I never trust a salesman. This one was particularly smooth. Things went wrong and on Tuesday afternoon in good form, I bantered with her salesman, his comment with pouty face, "I feel like I am being attacked, I think I will step out" sent me over the edge. I got up and walked out. True to form I chatted with any other anonymous salesman outside where I was seated. One said something about excellent service, and I said "that more than we are getting"
Wednesday Sheri was told that they would no longer do business with her because her mother was badmouthing a salesman, unless her mother would write a letter of apology. Depression in full swing I pounded out a weepy, apology and cried all the way home.

Now it is the day after, there are a few tears, nausea, headache, but I went to three movies with Jeannea yesterday and it is almost noon. September is knocking and fall wants in. May it be more gentle than summer.

2007-07-11T13:19:00.000-07:00

Just Thinking About Kids

When dave was 2 he climbed up on the cupboard and got out the dishes he thought he needed, eggs and milk from the frig and "mixed" pancakes. My girls cut each other's hair. Dave got out of the bath one day when my back was turned, went out naked and was almost all the way to the firestation before neighbors brought him back. It finally got so that I simply prayed him back home and made him feel guilty because I was scared and worried about him.

All of us have stories. The kind we chuckle over now that scared us half to death when they happened. So with limited experience I might suggest that she is bored. She is not being challenged by what she does or plays with, is it possible she is gifted or the things you think she can do are too easy for her. Begin increasing her responsibility. An ancient article from the Reader's Digest I read said by increasing responsibility for a child before they are ready you give them safe power. Just make sure you are'nt really worried about how clean the floor, bathroom, dishes are, or go and reclean what needs to be done when they are not looking.

I found found that children love to think they are the saving - service person for mom. Let her help deliver your newspapers, vacuum the floor, empty the dish washer a couple of years before you would normally think of doing it. Children are coming so much smarter, so much more active, at times I don't think we give them credit for the advanced spirits they have. I had to find things my children could do to stretch them so they stayed out of trouble: Dave got cub scouts and Penny was jealous, I bought a $600. piano and gave her piano lessons. Amy was ADHD so we got her into a theater production when she was your daughter's age and with rehersals, and performances she was settled for about three months after the play was over. Then we had to find something else, sewing lessons, brownies, girl scouts, 4 H are just some of the things including all the instrument music lessons, monthly payments, flute, violin, cello, trumpet, trombone, and tuba. And none of them kept with it long enough to play well.

I think mothers should get merit badges for just keeping up with the Saturday's Warriors we are trying to raise until they can go out and beat the fuzz out of the unsuspecting world.

2007-06-21T08:15:00.000-07:00

Dilute, Dilute, Dilute

People are telling me the drink is powdery, it is too strong, when used according to the instructions on the package. You're right. So have I ever followed directions or listened to anyone else when it comes to what I put in my mouth or how it tastes.

If I don't like it, I experiment with how to mix it until I do like it, if I want to continue eating, drinking it. If something is too rich, ya just don't eat is all. If it is too strong DILUTE it.

This wonderful ACT stuff or pink water I call it, can be diluted til it is 98% water, and still work depending on your individual metabolism. I NEVER drink 1/2 a packet in 4 oz of water or juice in a small glass all at once. I put one packet or one scoop in a 20 oz to 1 litre bottle, fill it 2/3 with water, shake the daylights out of it and throw it in the freezer til morning and suck on it til it is gone. Sometimes, I refill the bottle with water.

As someone who doesn't do caffeine, or energy drinks, this is something I had to get used to. Now as my body is using the ingredients of A.C.T. to help different parts of my body I continually increase or decrease the amount I am drinking, according to how I am feeling.

2007-06-18T09:37:00.000-07:00

ACT Blogger is Back

Some are having trouble with taste. Bill puts it in a breakfast drink and says it tasts like a shake. Some say it is too strong in 8 oz. In the beginning I put 1 packet in a 20 -30 oz bottle of water. You can dilute it even more than that. Now I put two packets in my litre bottle and suck on it til afternoon.

I am liking it stronger and stronger all the time, and wonder of wonders, I am now sleeping better than I ever have and still waking up refreshed. It only makes sense that as you begin to use the ingredients to regenerate your body, you use the drink more efficently and get a greater benefit out of it.

I have a brochure with all ingredients and testimonials that will soon be available.

Send me your comments and success stories, questions and complaints.

2007-06-12T07:19:00.000-07:00

News Flash!!

I walked downstairs twice yesterday and my knees don't hurt at all. What is this stuff - A.C.T., how does it work?
Frankly I don't care, it is making me better able to move. I am seriously thinking about walking on the treadmill 3 times a week.

On a lighter note:

My computer broke yesterday, or started beeping, even after I turned it off and restarted it. I called a supervisor and she couldn't figure it out, so she called computer services.
They came up and quickly diagnosed the problem, the key board was tucked under the edge of the monitor holding down the escape key ;)

2007-06-11T09:53:00.000-07:00

A.C.T. or Advanced Cell Therapy

Was introduced to me, well . . . by a guy who is the Captain of Multi-level Schemes and chases fortune by having others . . . .well, he is still at it. But this time he introduced me to the A.C.T. energy drink.

I'm hooked, I'm sold. It is the third leg of my "happily ever after" diet plan, i.e. things my body needs I will never make them go without: Soy breakfast substitute drink, Zeta Cap - two before meals fills my stomach with fiber and keeps me from eating too much, and ACT drink once in the morning - for me - in a litre bottle, until it is drained and then only water, or I don't get much sleep, my system is really sensitive to caffiene. However, there is no caffiene in this thing, decaffienated green tea, and guarana, but it provides a "slow, steady, feel good" feeling, even without the sleep I thought I should get, I wake up bright, positive and ready to go.

I tried it first on a Friday and not Saturday, and really felt the difference. I have been on it 8 days now and really like the changes. The pills I was taking for pain in the knees, I no longer need to take - not prescription - it is easier to climb and descend stairs. My inability to control sugar cravings is gone. I am seeking out and craving protein and vegetables. I feel like I am going to lose weight faster than I ever have been able and feel good doing it. I even want to walk on the treadmill, get up early and study and, wear bright colors and use brighter language.

2007-05-08T08:42:00.000-07:00

Weight Diary of a Fat Lady

Sometimes life gets in the way. I've missed a week. Thursday because there was a swim competition. Monday when I went to a hot dog, baseball game, and ate things I haven't eaten for years like snow cones, cotton candy and apple turnovers. I did a lot of walking and got my exercise - same amount I think. But still went home feeling guilty because I ate and envious because one co-worker had GIB and is really skinny and running around. HE ate an apple turnover.

There is so much I am learning about movement and exercise. It eliviates guilt. I no longer have to be ashamed because I can't get to it. It allows emotion. Jumping jacks in the water, dancing in the water, being down right angry because I am fat and being able to express it in and under the water by movement.

And going is getting easier, except when life gets in the way.

2007-04-06T08:53:00.000-07:00

So many things have happened. So long a time.

I started walking in water, really feel like a squid some times. My body regrets it when I don't go regularly, so I guess I am doing something good. I started February and made a goal to go 4 times a month. Soon, however, I wanted to go twice a week. Right off, I got the common sickness that was going around, so I missed a week. Then winter came back for a visit and I missed a week.

Working at the Family History Center on Tuesdays and walking for an hour afterwards makes too long a day so I am changing to Mondays and Thursdays. I hope to get it up to three hours a week. I am already needing to walk longer to get as tired as I did the first time. And, I have more energy and positiveness when I keep to the schedule.

I bought water weights, swim clothes and am working on a few more accessories. I am already getting bored with walking and want to swim. Will have to learn how again though. Goggles are next. Water and family history should keep me up and running.

Last night I did an hour and 45 minutes, with weights walking and watched the bubbles on the water and the way the light glistened on the pool. Interesting how you can be all alone with a bunch of other people. But around 8:30 too many came so I went. I bought a pair of water shoes but they are too small. And I need to find another bottom. Men's trunks are not built for large women.

2006-08-31T07:13:00.000-07:00

LONG TIME NO HERE

August is the month all #@$$$ breaks loose. Students wait until the last moment to get their act together to come back to school. Even trying to register the week after school begins.

But I have news. I sold my house in Idaho. After countless tears over no communication and delays, and mislaid or misfiled documents, I signed yesterday at 4:15 and felt a wave of relief. I no longer have responsibility for that house.

Barbara Plagge, grandma, called this week to tell me they had found boxes of family history information in a shed and had sent it to me. WOW!! So exited I am I think I could dance on the ceiling. Well, maybe not.

And I had a dream, a good dream, that I was on a journey with my children, ALL SEVEN of them. And we were actually going somewhere. There were others with us. Different at times than at others, sometimes I was driving - no vehicle, but I guided us around scary corners, sometimes different children were driving. We never arrived but it was good being together. Penny was there, which for some reason I didn't expect, but I woke comforted, knowing we were ALL together. Happy day to all

2006-07-14T18:35:00.000-07:00

The Biz

Anyone who has taken training to be a professional driver is assumed to be at fault, regardless on what happens.

When a load is delivered, it is supposed be on time and exactly when the recipient wants it, without regard to weather, truck problems etc. At the same time, the recipient may take all the time it wants to unload, so the driver may wait for hours while to be unloaded, many times making them late for any additional appointment.

For example: Dave was supposed to be at a pickup point at 9 am to load fish for the return trip. They called at 6am asking if he were ready to load. "I thought it was scheduled for 9 am." "Well, we're ready now, come on over." So we washed our faces, shook the sleepy's from our eyes and drove over to the pick up point where we waited for three hours to get loaded and leave the dock. The professional truck driver often feels he is the invisible worker. Everyone expects him to do his job on time, at someone else's convenience, without accident and without appreciation. The truck driver has not had a cost of living wage increase for15 to 20 years, yet the majority of our food and supplies come by truck.

Then there are the laws meant to protect drivers, that change from place to place. For example: In Washington drivers can drive for 11 hours, but must be out of the truck for10. When he drives in to British Columbia it changes to 13 hours driving and 8 hrs out of the truck. When he drives into Yukon the law changes again and he can drive for 15 and sleep for 8.5 hours. Back in Alaska it is drive for 15 hours and sleep for 10. What happens when you drive from Washington, through British Columbia, Yukon, to Alaska in 3-4 days.

Drivers are required by law to keep log books. They have to stop at weigh stations, and if their weights are in error, or if the weigh station operator has had a bad day, they are required to bring in "all their papers". Fines can range from a few hundred dollars to a thousands. And the driver is required to pay them.

Another problem drivers have is their weight load. Acceptable weights change from place to place like the driving, out of the truck times do. For example: In Washington each axel is within regulations at 20,000 pounds. Moving into Canada it is 13,000 for the drivers or front axel and37,500 for the tandem or rear axels. Washington and Alaska allow splitting the two axels in the back in order to balance the weight and be in compliance, Canada does not. In Alaska it is 12,000 pounds on the driver axel and 38,000 on the tandem. In winter time Alaska has weight restrictions for their roads, requiring the trucking industry to carry less weight. There are also bridge laws, and truckers must not exceed the weights or they will be fined. One driver was finded $8,000 for driving on a road he was not supposed to.

Trucks, trailers and wheels weigh about 40,000. Fully loaded it is not uncommon for a truck to weight approximately 85,000 pounds. It is extremely hard to stop anything weighing that much. Four-wheelers or passenger cars often put themselves in danger by squeezing in between trucks or not allowing enough room.

The driver must stop at open weigh stations. As he drives across the scale, he stops on each axel. If his weight is in compliance he is waved through, if it is not, his books, and often his truck are examined for any infraction - sleeping, out of the truck, if he has dirt on the landing gear, etc.
These operators can actually measure the width of the tires and determine how much weight they should carry per tire. Logs are legal documents since a driver has to sign them. In order to make sure that everything is what it needs to be legally, the driver often has to "Cook the books." Which means in order to be in compliance for each different area, where he spends three hours unloading, he may need to only record 15 minutes.

2006-07-14T15:53:00.000-07:00

The Laws of Hard Marshmallows

1. There is no candy like a really hard marshmallow. To bite and hear the crack is near unto heaven.
2. Marshmallows do not get hard in a swamp cooler environment.
3. They do get hard when placed in a collander and left on the kitchen cabinet and left to very dry air in a desert environment, but they vary in hardness and do not harden at the same time or the same hardness. Hardness even varies within a single miniture marshmallow, with one side being crunchie and the other side somewhat soft.
4. Even stone hard marshmallows will soften if held in a regular closed hand.
5. It is wise unless you are in a humid area, like Seattle or South Carolina, to find a box, buy several bags of miniture marshmallows, dump the marshmallows out of the bags into the box and close the box. Since the cardboard in porous, the marshmallows will harden at a fairly adequate rate and be available for consumption when you most desire them. However, it is prudent to remember what you have done or you may find you have several boxes hardening marshmallows and forget where you put them.

2006-07-11T09:05:00.000-07:00

We have a water cooler at work, with those five gallon bottles that seek to get people wet when the empty is replaced with a full one. To decrease the amount of water we have found that an X cut in the top releases less water when the bottle is changed.

I call the replacement "making water" . I have a knife that facilitates the process, but uncomfortable with asking me for the knife when I am working with a student, a co-worker came in and asked for "the water maker".

2006-07-06T08:48:00.000-07:00

Neat Experience

Just talked to a mother who was trying to register her son for classes. He is in South America she works at Weber State College. Oh, the turmoil of long distance details. His transcript arrived but wasn't posted yet. Overrides were needed to get him in to this courses, and then there was the time constraint. She would be leaving shortly to teach at a college in Turkey, and her husband was on his way to Afgahnistan, two sons were out of the country on missions, and her baby grandaughter said, "But, grandma, it's so far away."

Me, I was excited. What an opportunity. What memories they would have as a family. How exciting, I bubbled and then felt bad because I was intruding my feelings on her experience. But, she welcomed them. She was sooo glad to hear my affirmations that she should go, that trusting in the Lord, with faith and prayers, everything would be all right. Then I restated the, should you labor all the days of your life and bring . . . I told her about my father's philosophy that God needed "shock troups" that He could send wherever He needed them to touch lives that were ready to hear. I felt the spirit so strongly. She was grateful that we had talked.

And I, once more, followed the prompting and could get fired because I talked about religious things.

2006-07-05T11:01:00.000-07:00

The Trucking Community

Is amazing, normal people like you and I, who do the 8-5 or all in one place kind of job just can't understand this moving, dynamic from one nation through another and back kind of community, at least I couldn't.

First of all the drivers who truck for the same company become buddies, if you see a truck going the other direction that has the same insignia you do, you grab the mike and chat. How's the weather, what about road delays, any cops, and then the more normal topics that you and I do in email or phone or lunch meetings, such as "how are you feeling", "did your get that we talked about last time", and other friendly chatter. Then there are the places you stop to fill up or get a bite or, like Sallie's. It was strange to have a clerk at the local convenience stop say to another, "O, she's with Dave." And the same chatter or familiarity was there.

Other neighbors include the broker who lines up the load to be picked up. He brought us breakfast while we waited to be loaded. Or the fish company, who regularly sees this driver or that one for a load of fish, it becomes "first name basis" Or there is the comraderie with the other guy who is also waiting to be unloaded, or staying around after you are unloaded, to help a driver back into a tight space, or swapping out (dropping your load and switching with another driver and returning back where you just came from) with another driver so he can make a family reunion.

2006-07-05T10:59:00.000-07:00

My new daughter-in-law, bless her heart, donated my only can opener to the girl's camp, and I had to by a new one. As the kids say, go fig!

2006-06-29T14:22:00.000-07:00

Michael Cunningham

Came to see me yesterday. He just returned from filming a wedding and making a wedding video, and next week is flying to Seattle to edit a documentary. Then this fall he is flying, all expense paid, plus salary, to Africa to film a documentary. I asked him if he was the next Steven Spielberg, and he said, "I sure hope so."

I told him we needed to do a documentary/friendly film on truck drivers and he said that if I would write the script, he would make the film. Now how do I learn how to write a script.

2006-06-29T08:36:00.000-07:00

There are no bathrooms in a big rig

which means you don't find many women truck drivers. Yes, there are some, but Dave says not many, and he's been driving the big ones for over seven years. Well, I just got through spending ten days in his truck, and boy, let me tell you it was quite an experience.

I keep telling people about bathrooms. Mostly they aren't, or they are an uncovered hole in the ground with a ring to sit on.

Dave told me at one stop about the trucker that stopped to relieve himself and upon sitting down, heard something and, upon rising, a raccoon bolted from the hole. Holding up his pants the man ran from the clapboard privy and has refused to stop there since.

Different bladders have different timetables, mine likes to be emptied frequently and when this does not happen, well, it has a tendency to complain. Let's just say I didn' t pack enough pairs of pants. Showers are also scarce. Unless you rent a motel room, stop at a truckstop that has showers for a fee or we found one who offers free hot showers, with fluffy towels and a bath mat for free if you fill up the truck. But, one shower in 8 days is uncomfortable at least for some.

Beds on the other hand are very comfortable. Heavy vinyl padded curtains block out all light and noise. After driving 12-16 hours, a bed in the back, air conditioned, darkness is welcome, even if it is in the middle of the day.

We ate in the truck mostly, cereal for morning, sandwiches at lunch, wholesome snacks. Everyone knows that where all the trucks stop is good eats. And that held true on this trip. Toward the end of the run, one day from Anchorage, we stopped at Sallie's. No it is not run by Sallie, but by Eldon and Rosemarie. And they cater to truckers.

Their shop sits next to a closed weigh station(where trucks have to stop to make sure their weight it destributed correctly. Eldon has an apron of a voluptuous nearly unclad woman. He wears it occasionally. In fact, if any trucker will put it on and have a picture taken, he receives a free meal. At any rate, Sallie is Eldon's name when he wears the apron. One day a group wanted to have access to all the tables in the place. Somewhat indignantly, Rosemarie said, "No don't you understand we reserve one table for truck drivers all the time. They bring all the produce people can't get here from Washington. We serve them too."

Edon and Rosemarie have a wall half covered in pictures of all the truck drivers who have eaten there. They have a shelf of miniture trucks the guys have brought them. One is upside down, but that is another story. They are friendly mom and pop people who stop and chat, customers willing, when a batch of truckers stop by. Home away from home for a few minutes after many hours of driving.

vocabulary
getting out of the truck
In General