On the Road with the original florida kid-week21

"On the Road" with the original florida kid.
Hello again fellow truckstars! Week 21 is in the log books.....or not.....
and you're on the road with the original florida kid.....
Grandma and everyone here at the ranch say "Hey!"
Kitchen Table Talkin' -
We all know freight is still a bit slow still here going into the second half of January 08'. It's hard to believe it's the year 2008.....I was on the west coast a couple of weeks ago, we all know California doesn't miss too many opportunities to pat itself on the back, but I gotta tell you - the roads were just terrible(except for way north into the Cascades). I'm not sure I understand the politics and why some states have such bad roads but, seriously, they seems to be really enterprising and aggressive when it comes to taking in revenue, I having a hard time wondering why the roads are so bad and it takes them so long........
First up - I'd like to mention a few names that, according to Overdrive mag, from their list of monthly "best" driver picks - are what many folks think - among the best drivers out there. Terry Ringler, Carl Stephens, Bruce Bryant, and Curtis Anderson look to be Overdrives' top finalists for trucker of the year. The results, according to mag publisher Brad Holthaus, will be in the Feb. 08' issue. I like Overdrive magazine, you need to check out the Jan. 08' issue, I'm looking at it as I write this to you and it looks like Petro has been voted best overall truckstop - by drivers - again for food, repairs and safest parking. Personally - I wish there were more of em'.....
www.piblive.com - who's that? Partners in Business - you've seen them at truck shows doing workshops for owner op's looking to run more efficiently - I'm ordering the manual they offer....
Also in the Jan. 08 issue of Overdrive - check out the article on pg. 29 about being debt free. What? - you don't have a copy of Trucker Pages phone book?(www.truckerpages.com) pick on up at Petro, Pilot or Loves.
I want you to check out, also, a consumer mag/newsletter I read regularly - called Bottom Line(www.BottomLineSecrets.com).It's a pay to play subscription but well worth it. Also it's not some paranoid crackpot rag, it's advice collected from world class experts in every field you can think of....did you know amino acids, available from any health food store, work like Viagra? Without the potential side affects... I've been talking about this stuff for awhile......and stay away from those energy drinks!!! Get Muscle Milk protein drinks and try the MetRX Big 100 Colossal Protein bar.After much trial and error these are the best ones.....I buy em' at the grocery store, they cost around 2 bucks apiece but they are - what's called - a meal replacement bar, meaning they give you all, if not more,(especially if we're talking about eating on the road), of the nutrition you would get from a meal, and they taste pretty good. Keep your nutrition quality high and you won't need coffee and these other death drinks, yes they cost money but it's still cheaper than the crap with only benefits, no side effects.
While I'm on the subject here I also want to pound out another tirade about roughage....the lower intestine and the colon is where the body absorbs nutrition into the blood stream and then out into the various organs and body parts - NOT the stomach, the stomach is where it's broken down by the body's chemistry dept., now.....have you ever seen a clogged pipe? You know a pipe clogged with sludge? Well that's what most peoples lower intestine and colons look like, some worse, even people who think they are healthy. Beans, cucumbers, cabbage(not canned,frozen useless junk, instant mashed potatoes..... try to get steamed or raw is even better(yo - salad bar....) and I don't want to hear that old rebel yell that it's too expensive or you just don't have time - listen - I'm out here on the road day in and day out just like you and I'm no genius(ask Barbie.....) but I'm doing it.....what it's really about is - HABIT - you have to break old, bad habits. Isn't your health worth it? Please you guys - hear me on this one. When I finish my letters to you every week at the bottom I write "I love ya and I'm prayin' for ya" I really mean it and that's why I put this stuff out there so you will at least think about it........Me?? I have no health problems in any area including sex and I'm 52. Blood prssure is low, cholesterol low, I'm not losing much hair, it's half grey, I still have good muscle tone(No, I don't work out....) and I don't need to take naps....this stuff I'm telling you works, try it, stay with it. This isn't some bull crap diet I'm talking about, it's how we were intended to live.......
I'm joining the OOIDA this month. If nothing else, I know they are on the front line when it comes to fighting for truckers against the gov. and big business. I've read criticism from other writers on the web, mostly, about the OOIDA, but truckstars, we have to trust someone to be out there working for our best interests. Do you have time and money to go to your state capital or courtrooms across the country, file lawsuits against abusive business practices, and lobby state and federal officials? Do you? I don't, and I'm not fooling myself either about this - I'm not smart enough nor do I have the money,time or skills it takes to bang heads with business and political pros - they eat guys like me for lunch....with a smile......while you're at it - hug a tree hugger! What the hell am I talking about? The Sierra Club is a major player in the fight for truckers.....that's right, and these people are experts in this arena.....trust me......Check out Landline, the OOIDA mag.
I'm reading the paperback version of "The Alexandria Link" by Steve Berry - great book!!!
I got a new Cobra handheld cb, the 38WXST model..........I'll let you know.
Also Laptop magazine does it again, both the Dec. 07' and the latest issue - Jan. 08' -there's too much good stuff in them to mention it all but let me urge you to check out the magazine. The subscription is cheap and it's a top flight mag when it comes to mobile communications and laptop technology. I really believe, and I've said this before, the modern trucker, hell, even the modern soccer Mom, should have the latest in mobile computing and communications and if you're thinking it's out of you're price range you would be dead wrong on that one truckstars, that's why I'm pointing you to Laptop magazine......they are always and I mean always comparing products, reporting on the tech trendsand doing articles on Google and other online giants that and sometimes up and comers like facebook(okay...you got me.......Microsoft owns Facebook)......I hope to be interviewing some of the experts from the magazine including the Editor in Cheif - Mark Spoonauer, His Editor's Letter in the front of the magazine every issue always addresses what appears, his, and the magazines' expert team effort to stay on the front line and cutting edge of the tech wave. www.laptopmag.com - check out an issue you'll see what I mean...........
..............man, I wish I could afford one of the Alienware laptops(www.alienware.com). they were one of, if not the first ones, to have different colors with super sound and graphics cards, high ram gigs, and super screen quality.... awesome stuff......Those guys rule........no listen I mean they REALLY rule.......
The PBR is back in action - did you see Travis Briscoe's 95 point ride at the Worcester Classic this past sunday night?? Here's the link - http://www.youtube.com/pbrnow - or just check out www.pbrnow.com for all the latest in bull riding news - Man what a ride, I think when you look at kids like him, Brian Canter, Mighty Mike White and a couple of others your looking at the future of bull riding. Ross Coleman, Justin McBride and Mike Lee still rule the corral for now.......
Don't forget to make a good pit stop at etrucker.com - truckertotrucker.com and truck.net - these are good sites for drivers and everyone involved in the diesel culture we are proud members of..... with good people like Jim McCormack at truckertotrucker.com who will actually respond personally to you as will Brian Christman from Truck.net........also don't forget - Truckstar radio will soon be "on the arrr - everywharrr".......
I want to give a shout out to my younger brother David who is Mr. Hendrick's yacht captain(Nascar's Hendrick Motorsports), last I heard from him he was in the Bahamas getting ready to head up to Daytona......Yo Dave!!!
Remember - no paycheck and no load is worth dyin' for......
Don't forget about National Truckers Prayer Day -
contact Billy Mack on Bozo Radio, or the other radio trucking shows!
Billy Mack on(XMchannel171) Bozo radio's Open Road Phone Line,
12noon - 4:00pm, mon thru fri - call him at 817-451-6055
Well - that's it for this week truckstars! Pray for us all, our nation, the world and the lost..... and try not to worry!!
God hears prayers, trust me - I know......
As always - I want you to remember - I LOVE YA AND I'M PRAYIN' FOR YA!
Play nice, drive safe and pull it on home...........
you're on the road with the original florida kid...................we gawn..........