On the Road with the original floirda kid Week 45

"On the Road with the original florida kid" Week 45

Hello again fellow truckstars! It's Week 45 and....you're on the road with the original florida kid.....

Grandma, Barbie, Pup the Wonder Dog and the whole gang here at the ranch say a big cowboy howdy "HEY"...

KITCHEN TABLE TALKIN'- yeah buddy....it's gettin' cold outside...so hang your coats on the peg by the door, come on in and grab a cup of Grandma's famous, and hot, cowboy coffee. Good thing I cut a bunch of firewood this past summer. We had to clear back quite a few trees that grew in over the gravel road goin' up the hill to 2 of the pastures up there because the shade was keepin' it too wet and slippery....even the horses were doin' the slip and slide, we have to walk them up that part of the dirt road...so...at least we got firewood out of the deal...dry too now…..looks like we'll need it.
Ol' Pup the Wonder dog is gettin' up a little bit slower these days...Barbie says he's got arthritis.....poor ol' boy, he's gettin' up there...sometimes he sits it out when we go up in the hills, not always but sometimes....guess we're all gettin' old....dammit….
JT might just make it...we’ll see…we don't know yet but he found a new load broker...one that actually passes on the fuel surcharges to him...yeah well, like I said, we'll see.....(call me crazy but isn't stealin' money against the law?....I don't know I thought I heard that somewhere...)
I hope everyone caught last week's blog - Week 44 - where I listed the legislation that's
on the table up on capitol hill in several important areas, ones that affect us as drivers I mean....I also listed most if not all of the politicians involved so you can contact them and give them support. If your rep's and senators aren't there you may want to contact them and ask them....WHY ?....
Here's the starting point if you're in the mood....( if you’re not, now would be a good time to get in the mood….wha’d ya say?)
www.house.gov - to find your representative enter your zip code
www.senate.gov – (scroll to your home state)
Don't think for a second that ONE voice doesn't matter....Have you ever been to a professional football or baseball game at a stadium? One guy starts yellin' and the next thing ya know 60,000 people are yellin' too...the players will tell you it can definitely affect the outcome of a game, not to mention the fact that it can be deafening........get the point?.....
Your voice DOES matter! It matters to, and for, all of us....are ya with me truckstars ?

I'm readin' the trucking news headlines this morning...not that I need anyone to tell me that freight is still going down and the price of everything else is goin' up...or that the economy worldwide is feelin' the crunch....and suddenly - I realize that I'm damn sick and tired of feelin' helpless and scared...and I'm also sick and damn tired of seeing and hearing about good and decent people losing everything...homes, cars, kids in college comin' home, businesses....And while I'm at it here a little word to the critics of the common man out there....they can kiss my ass and go to…....you heard me right....I’m sorry truckstars but there are even many in the trucking industry who think it’s a good thing the ranks are getting’ thinned out, that we’re going under because we can’t run a business or a truck…..
What - I need to be a business expert to survive in America now? Since when? And don't talk down to me while you've got your hand in my pocket either.....
Yeah well it looks like the business experts need to go back to school too.......
No, I mean it....I'm a man's man, not afraid of anything...but the past year or two has been like a really really bad movie....with the keystone cops runnin' around in Washington bumpin' into each other....only it's not funny and I'm not laughin'.....
What the hell man....
I ran a few small boats down to the boat-show settin' up in Ft. Lauderdale monday and tues. and I ran into a veteran boat hauler I know from the west coast, an older guy been doin' it for 35 years, a pro's pro, this guy...well he pulls me off to the side and tells me it's been so slow that he might not be able to make his insurance payments much longer and he may be done for....already sold everything that wasn't nailed down...spare trailers and what not...the ones that haven't been stolen, that is...it was hard to watch this guy's face...the look on his face just broke my damn heart truckstars....it really did....I'm walking away thinkin' to myself, man, if this guy's goin' under.... and right then it felt like an ice cold wind just blew right through me..........tellin' ya.....
The rail and ocean going shipping industries are way down too....worldwide...
Where's it going to end?
Don't know truckstars....don't think anyone but God knows................wonder what He has to say about all this.
I wish I would have asked Him AND gotten more involved in government……sooner..... ……….well...I AM NOW........you?

THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT- I want to make a comment about all these "weight loss" pills, drinks and powders...DON'T TAKE THEM! Why? Because most of them are newer forms of "speed" or enhanced acid based caffeine drugs designed to artificially raise your metabolism and heart-rate in order to burn more calories. Anything with a "drine" at the end of it is basically a synthetic type of stimulant, and there are others that use sugars and caffeine mixtures ALL of which are not, and never will be, good for you. Protein shakes, or drinks, like MetRx or Muscle Milk or Labrada Protein Drinks( http://www.labrada.com/ ), I think the Labrada is the best because they are really high in good protein and also vitamins and minerals(I know I’ve misspelled the name in past blogs…should’ve stayed in school longer…)but Muscle Milk is easier to find, then the MetRx, this is the same co. that makes the best protein bars on the market like the one I eat - MetRx Colossal. Flying J now carries em’. It’s cheaper to get a case of drinks and bring a few out on the road with, that’s what I do.
If you find yourself overweight, with a higher than healthy cholesterol level or even high blood pressure, or feeling sluggish and low energy in general you first need to take a look, a really good hard look, at your diet, that’s where you’ll find the problems..
Now, for starters these so called weight loss potions do not discharge the fats and toxins in your body they raise your "burn" level to cause your body to try to metabolize fats and toxins out of your system, but they don't, they just burn low levels of carbs and some or part of the fats, and make you NOT feel like eating meanwhile they acidify the nutrients in your blood, that's why it still takes someone 6 months to lose just a few pounds when they take this stuff. The power drinks don't do anything but amp you out, fake energy with a nasty downside.
Most health issues originate in or with the diet you eat. Fact. And for you vitamin skeptics out there, vitamins are not drugs - they're food derivatives - big difference. I always talk about "whole food organic" vitamins because they're drawn from organic foods and are in fact food themselves, just concentrated and made for people that can't, won't or don't have a way to eat an ideal diet rich in lean proteins and fruit, vegetable or grain based vitamins and minerals. Make sure you read the labels on whatever vitamins you're taking to see if the source of the nutrient is synthetic or natural or organic based, organic being best. Synthetic based vitamins are useless. You can't run on "fake" fuel, just like you can't be healthy on fake food....Okay?

TRUCKSTAR TECH- I got a new "free" upgrade phone when I renewed my cell phone contract with AT&T last week, got a cool new Razr 3, internet enabled...cool right?
Uh… well….yes and no....
Yes, because I can check my Comcast e-mail and look up "some" stuff on the web, but, no, because I still need G3 or higher speeds to watch movies and the better graphics, and some of the streaming radio, no, most of the streaming "anything" I want to do requires it, not to mention the fact that I also need to get the "unlimited internet plan" to go with it, and, a higher minute plan or the "all in one" unlimited plan for around a hundred bucks a month....and that's not even close to what I really wanted, which was a "smart phone", which is a kind of a - phone/wanna-be computer thing. So...after 2 days of research on the web I came to the conclusion that I'm bagging the cool phone thing and going with a "super" laptop that will do everything including : making phone calls to any computer or cell or landline anywhere in the world, HD or Blue-Ray film watching(on DVD or Flashdrive or download like Netflix), e-mail of course, storing files, map programs, writing work, business software, photos, and well, anything else I will need or can think of, plus I can web surf at very high speeds all for about $60 bucks a month. That's it.
When I save the money for the laptop I need then this phone is going into my outdated cell phone collection and I'm switching my monthly plan to an internet plan. End of conversation. When I want to call Barbie, or anyone else, I have the option of seeing them while I'm speaking with them for pennies.
I'm still looking at the new "mini" laptops, so far the new SONY Z series is the best, they already have the best "after sale service". HP has a deal where you get $200 off the price of the laptop if you go with AT&T on select models...hmmm.....HP's are getting raves in the tech mags too for the new laptops....I'll be taking a look at them too you can bet...I'll let you know, and if you're in the market for a laptop I would wait till the last minute the experts say the prices will be falling......a lot....really soon.....

I want to give a big cowboy howdy shout out to Dan Little from the OOU.com(you need to join up truckstars...seriously...) and my main man in Kentucky - Big Jack Knife aka Harold, he’s a 2 million miler who's laid up at the moment sufferin' from a little bit of "father time".....
So - hats off and heads up - "HEY BOYS !"

Well truckstars, I could ramble on all day here but I better shut er' down for this week and get back to puttin' the line-up for Truckstar Radio together. Technically we're on the air but I'm still lookin' for men and women drivers to host their own shows with lots of call-in options, and also, some of the good folks from all our favorite trucking websites. We'll also be hearing music and on the road interviews from some of country music's up and coming stars, like Stephen Wild, PBR bull riders and a whole bunch of other great people….but mostly it’s all of you together talkin’, screamin’, laughin’ and cryin’ together….I look forward to Kitchen Table Talkin' with all of you around the country here on Truckstar Radio. If you're needin' help just call-in to the station for specific weather, truckstop locations, road service help…whatever you need…I’m here for YOU…
The links are on http://www.thetruckstar.com/, just bookmark em’ or list Truckstar Radio in your player list(RealPlayer or Windows Media Player, Quicktime or the iTunes/Winamp Player for you Mac users out there.)
And remember, you can always listen to Truckstar Radio in the background while spending time on your favorite trucking site, like this one, you read my blog here already anyway…so….

Don’t forget about abused kids…..they really need heroes…. If you’re a prayin’ person, Please pray for our nation, the world and the lost…..
I was once lost but now am found because someone prayed for me.......
REMEMBER – No load and NO paycheck is worth dyin’ for…..
Don’t ever forget – I love ya…and I’m prayin’ for ya !
So play nice, drive safe and pull it on home………

Saddle up truckstars…..let’s ride……
……you’re on the road with the original florida kid…we gown…..

"On the Road with the original florida kid"Week 42

"On the Road with the original florida kid" Week 42
Hello again fellow truckstars! It's Week 42 and...
....you're on the road with the original florida kid....

Grandma, Barbie, Pup the wonder dog and the whole gang here at the ranch want to say a big cowboy howdy "HEY!"

KITCHEN TABLE TALKIN'- Alright, you know the drill...grab an ashtray, a cup of Grandma's famous cowboy coffee and pull up a chair, there's more on the front porch by the door. Seems every week more and more people come over to sit around the table and talk about stuff goin' on, but that's okay that's what we're here for..
Well, I've been sittin' here on my butt for 4 weeks now waitin' on boat freight to pick up, but....and it's not just the price of fuel going up and down like it's on a pogo stick either...(yeah and that's another thing...).. fuel prices jumping up and down like they're on a pogo stick(yeah and that's another thing....), the economy in general is what I guess we're talkin' about here.
Like you, truckstars, I'm no economist but I can read and I have ears, so when I read about how, and hear about why the economy is in the shape it's in, I too believe that the problems go back a ways, even before the Bush people got in there. Now before everyone starts pointin' fingers and sayin' this and sayin' that, I'm going to tell you....I'm not playin' it like that. Why? Because I don't want to act and sound like the jokers runnin' the show on both sides of the isle acting like teenagers playin' stab tag every day over stupid stuff, with my future and the American future in their hands...I'm not doin' it...we don't have time to figure it out and I don't know if at this point it matters, other than figuring out what NOT to do over again....WHAT MATTERS...is that we, as Americans take responsibility for the direction and future of this nation and move forward with a better sense of our moral compass(if we still have one, you watch the tv and you wonder....) and more hands on involvement.....much more
Barbie's got that strained nervous look in her eyes, I can see it when she looks at me. Grandma was lookin' out the kitchen window the other day, the way she does when I know she's thinkin' about Grandpa, and the tears were streamin' down her face....then, mine too...
I know it wasn't just for us either, lots of folks we know have hit hard times...people - good, everyday decent working people losin' homes, businesses, cars, land, and havin' to give up things they love just to try to pay bills and put food on the table...seems like we hear of someone every day losin' their rig or home.........even the third world knows you can't keep sending jobs out of the country and hope the economy will survive!
We may be next, I don't know..GOD HELP US....GOD HELP US ALL...PLEASE
This mortgage thing, the AIG bailout, all this business crisis stuff isn't killin' the economy, they're signs of an economy in serious trouble, and I know you don't need me to tell you that, but, I am sayin' that I truly believe we, as a people and as a nation, we need to take more responsibility for our government and economy. I can't tell you how sick and tired I am watching the politicians on tv fighting and mudslingin' like little kids... meanwhile the country is being ransacked by big business and anyone else who can afford to own their own politician.....we must look like idiots to the rest of the world...seriously... There isn't even anyone left for the corporations in this country to screw(except themselves but they're too smart for that, and besides, it hurts...)...man, I'm in the wrong business...how cool is it to run a multi-billion dollar company into the ground screwin' millions of people into the poor house and then gettin' bailed out so they can do it all over again....(do ya think the CEO of AIG has missed a paycheck?....I never got roses, a phone call, hell, he even skipped the foreplay)....what the hell man???
And where does the government get off tellin' me...not askin'...but tellin' me that I'm payin' for it! WHAT??? (tell me - who works for who.....again?)
Meanwhile, I'm sittin' here lookin' at a pile of bills, (including my 8 days over due truck payment), that I can't pay because freight's low, fuel's high and no one's movin' boats...and I know I'm not the only one...I hear from a lot of drivers who are in the same boat...(the one that's sinking, that is....) and if I read one more trucking blogger say that everything is fine and we should quit complaining and it's just a temporary slump, we've had them before, it'll level off, watch your expenses.....and all that bullcrap, I'm going to rip my hair out(after it grows in.....again).

Those of you who've raised teenagers know, most of em', most of the time, you can't trust...as kids I mean....you want to but you know you can't...you only hope they don't burn the damn house down while you're on a run....it's kind of the same thing when you talk about our so called leaders...you want to trust em', but you know ya can't....and this time.....
.....the house IS on fire.......hellOOOooo...

I bet the CEO of AIG gets a paycheck this week, the President of the U.S., the Rep's and Senators, they're all gettin' paid this week...I'm not...are you ?
If someone works for you, and ruins your business...aren't you supposed to fire them?? Voting is how we do that…….
And here's another thought: Why don't we ever boycott the products of companies that have moved out of the country putting thousands of people out of work just to increase their profits...Wal-Mart spends 18-20 billion a year in China...Levi's, the jeans co. fired 7,000 people a few years ago and moved just over the mexican border, like Ralph Lauren and dozens of other co's....Ford and GM are closing plant after plant...textiles - are there any made here still?...
There has to come a point when you realize you're cutting your own throat....why can't our leaders and big business figure that out? Even the greediest thievin' person or company has to come to their senses sooner or later....right?
Truckstars, I don't have the answers....I wish I did...but I can tell you one thing...you can't run a business, or anything for that matter, and not ever show up to the office, especially when the people we've hired can't do it....we're going to have to figure out how to get more involved....not in politics....but in government....
...remember the phrase - "by the people and for the people"...?
Now you know what it really means....I do....now.....
What'cha think truckstar?

Contact your elected officials TODAY! -
www.house.gov - to find your representative enter your zip code
www.senate.gov - scroll to your home state

We know your support and participation had an effect on this mexican trucking thing...the President might veto the House's vote to cut off money but they say they'll fight it.....so let em' know how you feel......
I registered to vote today....you have a few more days maybe 10 or so before the 29 day cut off...just Google, enter your home state name before the 2 words "voter registration" and it'll tell you where you can register in your area, or offer an online option where you enter the info and it makes up an appl. for you then you print it, sign it and mail it or take it to the supervisor of elections office near where you live.

TRUCKSTAR TECH- Check out CNN.comLive and also www.google.com/mobile/gmm - this is a Google program you can load into your phone to give you a gps and a map and direction program, for you techies out there you can also side load it in directly from your computer. Google's new Android phone is cool and most of the cell phone experts like it but it doesn't do nearly enough for me and I'm not payin' for a cell phone AND mobile internet....if I have to choose it'll be mobile internet......where I go my laptop goes......
I'm still trying to fall in love with the new breed of mini-laptops, like the new Acer Aspire One, or the much anticipated Dell Inspiron 10", but I really haven't seen one yet that has the juice I need while I'm on the road, and be careful the smaller ones have screen size adjustment issues, get at least a 10" screen.
Skype, Windows Live and Yahoo Live all have free pc to pc calling phone programs now and all 3 have video too if your laptop has a webcam - you can talk to and see your family at home( or anyone else...) for free! It only takes a minute to load in your pc or laptop. I like the new swivel screen laptops with lots of usb ports, the new air cards for mobile internet come in usb modem, they look kind of like a usb flash drive, and also a 4 or more gig ram dual core, HD or Blue-Ray screen, built in web cam and mic( and make sure they have their own controls...), although a headset is cheap, (they even make bluetooth headsets with a usb plug for handsfree driving while talking). Asus, Sony, Dell, Hp...everyone seems to be making a good laptop just get one with the features you want or need. I'll probably end up with AT&T for my mobile web co, they have the new usb air cards and good connection nationwide, but I'll probably get a new laptop with embedded 3G broadband so I won't even need an air card. Also check out this website - www.fancast.com - for tv shows and movies you can watch for free.....
I need a 10 pixel digital camera with a 200-400 wide zoom lens for photos.
I'm also sticking with XP for now too....
Keep in mind that Sony and Apple have the highest rated customer support, Sony's best help is their phone support, Toshiba is also not bad with customer phone support. Gateway is terrible and they want you to pay by the minute for help, it's a ripoff. Getting some of the new app's to work is tough even for experts and Customer Support should be a factor in deciding which brand and model you buy.

THE HEALTH DEPT- This week’s Health Dept. is going to be short because I want you to get a book called “The Bible Diet” written by a doctor named Richard H. Mays, M.D. Dr. Mays has written another “bible diet book” like “The Makers Diet” by Jordan Rubin but I believe this one is a good buy and filled with the info I want you to have for everyday food buying and eating habits and why…..you can buy it online from Alibris Books for a discounted price, here’s the link, just enter The Bible Diet in the search line:
http://www.alibris.com/

Remember truckstars the condition of your body is a direct result of what you eat, the better you eat the healthier you’ll be. Don’t be discouraged by the endless stream of info on diets and what to eat, what not to eat. Arm yourself with a good foundational knowledge of food and diet throughout human history and it’ll give you a fix on where we are now and how you too can eat well and be healthy. You don’t have to be a believer to read and learn what’s in the “Bible Diet” books, but don’t discount it either if you haven’t read one of them…Okay? Don’t forget to think about whole grains and raw veg’s in your diet!

Don’t forget about abused kids…..

That’s it for this week truckstars!
If you’re a prayin’ person, Please pray for our nation, the world and the lost…
REMEMBER – No load and NO paycheck is worth dyin’ for…..
Don’t forget! I love ya and I’m prayin’ for ya!
So play nice, drive safe and pull it on home………

Saddle up…..let’s ride!
……you’re on the road with the original florida kid…we gown…..