Week 46 – The Truckstar

“On the Road with the original florida kid”Week 46

Hello again fellow truckstars! It’s Week 46 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’- Alright, alright, come on in, hang your coats up on the peg       there by the door, grab a chair and a cup of Grandma’s famous cowboy coffee…she put some extra ashtrays out this week…take a load off…let’s get this party started(or is it more like a funeral kind of thing?…..don’t know yet….)..whatever it is…we have a lot to talk about….

I may be losin’ one of my trucks if boat haulin’ doesn’t pick up or I can’t find some hot shottin’ work somewhere…anywhere….(I’d be happy to run pipe for the oil drillers..or yank trailers for FEMA)…..what work there is the boat haul brokers are low-ballin’ because they know we’ll take the run….yeah it’s easy to sit around talkin’ hard-ball politics but it ain’t easy wonderin’ if you’re going to be able to make your payments and pay the bills, let alone put food on the table……

…..what the hell man….

Barbie’s health may be takin’ a turn for the worse here again, she’s havin’ serious issues in her abdominal area….she’s got to go in for tests again….somethin’s goin’ on in there and it probably ain’t good…been prayin’ a lot for her lately…

First of all, we need to….I  need to…calm down and try to sort this all out…the election, I mean. Maybe this soon afterward isn’t the best time to talk about it, but, I’m in if you’re in…

I can’t get over this feeling of “doom” that came over me when Barbie told me that Obama got elected the next morning, not that it was a surprise or anything, it’s just that I felt like we were close to getting conservative focus back in this country and now it seems a million miles away…overnight…I wonder if he’s going to shelf the tax cut plan as soon as he takes office, like Clinton did…just wonderin’…

And, unless he has a serious policy change, over 5 million babies will be murdered in the womb during the next 4 years…(we’re at 50 million since Rowe v. Wade)…dear God….Grandma is just beside herself over this….”the babies…the babies…” she keeps cryin’….

(How could anyone possibly think that’s a good thing by calling the life and death of an un-born infant, a “choice”?….) There’s a huge difference between a decision or a choice, and a “right”….murder, and that’s what it is, is a decision, not a right….as a nation we keep cursing ourselves with our…uhh… “choices”……yeah we do…..

Conservative America….I’m not sure what happened here …I guess we’ll find out…I can tell you one thing though…the “real” battle isn’t over…it’s just begun…..again…..and we have 4 years to decide if, and how, we want to be heard next election. 4 years goes by quick….although somethin’ tells me this is going to be a long four, truckstars…..tellin’ ya……

Well – let’s not forget that these people are elected officials and WE still have a voice in government! Right? The economic situation in this country needs and demands our input to our government in an ongoing way….wha’cha think truckstars?….

I’m not going to bash Obama. Why? Because I still have respect for the office of the presidency, that’s why, so let’s just get past the honeymoon and the racial stuff here and get on with the business of runnin’ this country…if that’s what’s goin’ on here……

Am I upset? Hell yes I’m upset…like I said – conservative values just went into the toilet – unless we keep this liberal government in check……and that’s what I mean by “the battle isn’t over….it’s just begun”….otherwise we’ll reap the harvest along with the liberals promoting it….uhhh….WHAT?…..yeah…think about that one for a minute….when the party’s over and the smoke clears there’s still work to be done and

it ain’t gonna happen overnight either…..

Listen to me….I want just as bad as anyone for this to be the time in American history where the people’s voices are heard and the country becomes the place our founding fathers envisioned it to be, and listen , it’s not just a question of motivations – it’s a matter of values, and that’s the part that has me worried….I don’t want some rich guys money, whether he earned it the right way or the wrong way, that’s for the courts and God to decide, not me….and that doesn’t solve the day to day labor and job and career re-training issues in this country anyway, we’re just moving money around…even that costs money to do and guess who gets to pay for it……you guessed it…

“He” apparently hasn’t had much experience in trying to take money from rich people….yeah…this I gotta see….

Shifting gears here truckstars – I want to bring your attention again this week to Dan Little and the OOU, Owner Operators United. As drivers we still need that voice that will unite us, a voice that speaks for us and one that has us, as drivers, in mind, first and foremost and a voice that will tell us what’s going on in trucking, how issues and legislation will affect us and what we need to do, truthfully and “professionally”.

Please go up on the www.owneroperatorsunited.org and also check out http://oouinc.ning.com/

This second site is the “forum” site of the OOU, both sites will give you a good handle on what they’re all about, I think you’ll find that they really do have drivers in mind. I do a lot of research on organizations and issues in my job and I can tell you one thing truckstars, this guy is the real deal, Dan Little that is, he’s been on CNN and other major news shows, in the New York Times and written of in the Drudge Report, he’s on a first name basis with many of the politicians involved with, and supporting, us as drivers, he’s succeeded in putting a legitimate, respectable and professional “face” on trucking and truck drivers as a group and labor force….and I hope you take the time to go over there – get informed and get involved! One more voice, YOURS, is another piece of the foundation truck drivers need to build….you’ll also be hearing from Dan and other members of the OOU on Truckstar Radio. If Dan would’ve run for president I would’ve voted for him….there’d have been fists flyin’ and boots getting’ planted where the sun don’t shine up there on Capitol Hill, then the right things would’ve gotten done too…….maybe even a little talkin’ too….maybe….

WE HAVE TO BURY THIS MEXICAN TRUCKING PROGRAM ONCE AND FOR ALL!!

Get involved NOW!

 

TRUCKSTAR TECH- Mobile Internet connection speeds are getting faster and faster. AT&T, Sprint and the other major players have all launched faster connection plans for us as cell phone and laptop users and, in fact, laptops, the newer ones comin’ out, have the “modem” built into them. It’s called 3G and Gobi.  For me, the AT&T or Sprint’s or Verizon’s 3G speed is more than adequate for phone calls, movie downloads and viewing and whatever else I need to do while on the road, and for me, the versatility of a laptop, even a “mini” beats out any idea of paying far more a month for a “cell” phone (with much less day to day functional use), than $40 – $60 a month for a fully functional mobile web computer, for me anyway….and majors like HP are offering huge discounts on certain business laptop models if you sign up with them, Sony too I think… I would’ve signed up anyway and I’ll take the discount of up to $200 bucks…..cool…the new “minis” are looking better and better to me and they’re 3G capable too….cheap and they’ll do the job, you can always download movies to a flash drive usb and put that in to watch a movie, or just download from www.fancast.com or Netflix..….

Also, if you’re already an internet activated mobile laptop user and you want to host a show or just call in – let me know – Truckstar Radio’s 2 numbers(so far) are;

954-376-8452 and 954-603-7561 you can call with Skype( we can all conference if you are on Skype) or any cell/landline phone! I’m trying to crank it up to bein’ on the air 24/7 asap….I hope to hear from ya!

APU’s – it’s coming to the point truckstars when I think it’ll be mandatory nationwide for APU’s because of anti-idling laws, more and more I’m seeing different parts of the country outlawing idling…..I like the idea of the Cummings diesel powered models…here’s a link to get ya started –http://www.cumminsonan.com/apu/products/

You also need to support HR 139 – the bill for a 25% tax credit to drivers for buying a new APU!  I’ll let you know what else I can find that might help ya pay for one when I find it!  HR 139 is also called S. 894 and is in Committee on Finance so Please let your Rep’s and Senators know how you feel about it. I think the tax credit should be a lot higher, so let’s take that up with our legislators!

 

 

 

THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT- Since these are particularly stressful times it’s more important than ever to watch your fat and “chemical” intake….and to make sure you eat “smart”. A low-fat diet rich in fresh(not canned or frozen) leafy green vegetables and whole grain nutrients and roughage is the best way to help your body help you !

Look for the Met Rx Colossal Protein bars at Flying J Truck-stops, I think they’re getting’ the idea….soon I hope they’ll carry the Labrada, MetRx, and Muscle Milk Protein shakes standard procedure…. Better fuel means better performance truckstars…you’ll see…

By “chemical” I mean caffeine and additives in foods, artery clogging trans-fats too…I’m waitin’ to see which truck-stop chain decides to lead the way by changin’ the restaurant food format to better health menu’s from old style high fat cookin’ and fast foods….Don’t get me wrong I love an old fashioned home cooked meal….but years ago meats, veg’s and grains, even the oils they used were far more natural based…nowadays corporate greed has caused the food co’s to put any kind of chemical or whatever in the foods they make for a higher profit margin and longer shelf life, meanwhile the “natural” food stores and restaurants are all packed all the time….HelloooOOOooo….Pillsbury, Kraft, General Foods….anyone home?…

 

Don’t forget Truckstar Radio is “on the arrr – eveywarrr” so I hope you’ll tune in when ya can, we’d love to hear from ya!

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 menand 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 and Scott Getlin, 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…954-376-8452 or 954-603-7561

The links are on 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….trucker talk radio for YOU, by YOU, starring YOU !!

 

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 39

“On the Road

with the Original Florida Kid”

Grandma, Barbie, Pup the wonder dog and the whole gang here at the ranch(including Larry the pig) all want to give ya a big cowboy howdy “Hey!” shout out….

 

 

KITCHEN TABLE TALKIN’-

 

Alright, grab a chair and a cup of Grandma’s famous cowboy coffee, Tommy Boy got the ashtrays…….Okay – so I did it, I went and bought Barbie another car, or truck rather, if you consider the 2008 Ford Expedition a truck, I think it is one…….anyway I got her a really nice black one and as I expected she pitched a fit, mostly because(I guess…) it was a surprise….her 2004 Explorer had a lot of miles on it and her, Grandma, and our youngest, Leah, are now on their way to Michigan(I think she did manage to get the kitchen sink in there, since it’s gone….) to settle Grandma June’s affairs, following her death in a nursing home here in Florida a few months back. They are headed to southwest Michigan and should arrive there friday night. She sure was upset about the new truck, since the payment is a bit higher, she’s the worrier in the family(sometimes I think too much, but….) I knew if I asked her she would say NO, and still I felt it was what I needed to do….the Explorer had always had problems,the factory kind….so …..anyway, I feel really bad she was so upset but also her and Grandma have been on the edge of their nerves for a very long time over all this and the on-going legal business which seems never ever ending and expensive……I really believe Grandma Junes death put them in a kind of state of shock, one they are still in and also truly and genuinely broke their hearts…..It was an all girl family between Grandma June(Grandma’s Mom), Grandma and Barbie, even Barbie’s 2 sisters were alone for a long time by circumstance and as many of you truckstars, especially you Lady Truckstars, know there are a lot of women in this world who single handedly run families, work and raise kids too, for whatever reason(usually not good ones….), and I can tell you that Grandma June, Grandma and Barbie were as close as family can get. I have always been awestruck by women left alone to work and raise kids on their own….I was raised by one myself, so I know. My Dad’s Mom, or “Ma” to anyone who knew her was my Mom most of my life, from when I was 18 months old, and even though she passed over 20 years ago I still think sometimes I hear her voice and can see her face in my dreams….some things, I guess, us mere mortals never really get over, or leastways I can’t seem to…..that’s okay if the treasured memory of a loved one has to come with a little pain…..I can live with that……….How ’bout you truckstar?………..

 

I miss Barbie already and I’m just kind of moping around the house waitin’ on a run myself, maybe a run to the north so I can then meet up with them in Michigan….it’s been a little slow in the boat hauling world lately. I did a run to the Chicago area, to a place called North Point Marina on the lake, got back sunday night….nice place…..I will say this to anyone going up there, that both the 294 and the 94 are equally slow due to construction and the 294 tapers to 2 very narrow lanes for a long way and there are 5 toll booths to contend with so next time I’m just going to jump on the 94 up and back, and just deal with the city traffic as it comes…..I’m betting some of you truckstars out there know this area pretty well…..me, I’m just not a big city person so I’m always lookin’ to drop my load and get out of dodge as soon as possible….tired or not….I got myself back south on the southbound 65 on the bottom side of Indianapolis and shut er’ down at the Flying J there at exit 95….traffic tires me out worse than anything….trying to stay in my lane…you know the drill…..

The radio station is coming along, although, in my tireless search for knowledge I have found out what really goes on behind the scenes in the internet world when it comes to doing any kind of a broadcast whether it be just audio, like a radio show, or visual like, well, like a video stream. I’ve been dowloading software, configuring software, buying cords and headsets and all kind of electronics stuff….then I got to the point where my stream needed more bandwidth and upstream speed so I had to switch to cable for the upstream speeds and I still might need to have a T1 line installed since I want to do my own radio stream and be my own server and not have to pay a web hosting co. AND a server co. to distribute the audio stream…and I’m working on the back side of the learning curve there too…..I think my brain is going to explode……but I am determined to do my own radio station and video show online, it will most likely be both audio and live video too but the audio part is my main concern…..I’ll let you know….if money was no object it would already be up and running…….

Yeah and as it is I’m way overdue to hit the Nashville music scene and a writing session with some boys up there….been tryin’ to get myself together to finish the lyrics to a couple of songs, one of which I hope to get to Jason Aldean’s people….

…..this fuel thing has really slowed things down and made what’s left a lot more expensive to do….I sure could’ve used the extra money I would have had…..you too, I know…..guess that’s why she was so upset about the new truck…..aww man…….I hate this feelin’ like I spend waaaaaay too much time goin’ through the “mud of life”……..I wish I were better at lookin’ to the Lord and hearin’ Him….for sure I would’ve saved myself a whole lot of headaches and heartaches….gotta get me a set of those “Jesus Mud Tires”….I’ll be speakin’ with Him again tonight…..He’s ridin’ with Grandma, Barbie and Leah……

 

 

THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT-

 

Trans fats. We’ve all been hearing a lot about them lately and there’s a big move in the food industry to eliminate them from foods because it’s more than been proven that they cause a bunch of different health problems, including high blood prssure, high cholesterol and diabetes. Let’s get down to the nature of the problem….food co’s expose oils to hydrogen, that is, the kinds used in the making of processed food products like cookies, cakes, crackers and breads as well as the types of processed food ingredients used in restaurants, and deep frying cooking oils, (not just fast food joints either.) Now, there are 4 types of fats commonly found in the typical diet – mon and poly-unsaturated fats, or good fats, and saturated and trans-fats, or bad fats. So – they are taking an already bad fat and making it far worse by causing the properties within it to change, hydrogenation changes a natural balance from, what are termed, HDL’s,(which are good cholesterols that take fats from the blood to the liver for elimination from your body) and LDL’s, (or bad cholesterols which build up and clog arteries and veins) to be far more lethal in LDL’s or bad cholesterols. We all eat this stuff every day in toxic amounts, your kids do to in the junk foods they eat, thats why so many kids are overweight and already have health issues because of it.

Why do they partially hydrogenate oils?

So the products they are used in last longer on the shelf and in the deep fryers, it’s cheaper for the food co’s, and it makes the oils more solid so they are easier to work with….yeah, it’s that simple and gets back to greed….A very long list of interested health agencies and advocate groups including the U.S. government, the American Heart Assoc., the Harvard School of Medicine and the New England Journal of Medicine all have done and published studies on the health effects of partially hydrogenated trans fats, or trans fats, and they all agree that the health effects have already caused deaths in the hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions by some accounts, in this country from diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.

Bottom line? Read the labels on the stuff you buy at the grocery store!! Even if it says No Trans Fats on the package, check the ingredients panel and if it says “made with partially hydrogenated oils” DO NOT BUY IT AND DON’T EAT IT – EVER !!!!

I’m pissed because they turned Oreos into a death snack…….check the package you’ll see what I mean….

ask at the restaurants you eat at if they use cooking or deep fryer oils that are partially hydrogenated…

The health experts all scream in agreement that the single most serious dietary threat to Americans is trans fats….the evidence and body count is there truckstars…..so what’cha think?

Want to be a hero to some abused kid? You can, you know.

Check out http://www.uscattlehaulers.com and find the link to the OOU, it’s a new group who’s only agenda is the welfare of drivers and Dan Little, who by the way is a working driver, is probably our best hope as a leader and fighter for truckers across the board. It’s only $20 to join…..I’ve talked to Dan several times and I truly believe he’s the real deal….see for yourself……I’m in…….you?

Also, in case you feel like rattling someone’s cage –

To find your Representative – http://www.house.gov – ( just enter your zip)

To find your Senators – http://www.senate.gov – (scroll to your home state)

Write them often, tell your friends to write them often……when? Right NOW !!!!!

Before anything else happens I hope we can all get together on a National Truckers Prayer Day…..the bible says – “if God is for us – then who can be against us?”

Do you think for one second that God would be on the side of some mindlessly greedy, earth raping corporation? Do you?

I bet He’s wondering why 2 or more have not gathered in HIS name and asked for HIS intervention………

Tis’ the season for Chuck Wagon Cook-offs!! (http://www.chuckwagon.org/),check their site for the 08′ schedule, and truckstars if you only go to one event or take one vacation this year, and you’re a fan of the old west, then you have to go to the big National Cowboy Symposium in Lubbock, Texas – Sept. 4-7th(http://www.cowboy.org/ ) the Chuckwagon Cook-off Championship is held there!!

 

Take a minute and PRAY, with me, for our troops around the world – truckstars….whether you agree with the war or not – I think we can ALL agree that these are OUR men and women over there, our KIDS, and, the politics involved is way over my head, not to mention the idea that there’s probably a lot going on we DON’T know about, so……and let’s not forget about GOD in this equation….it’s HIS will I want done, not some profit crazed business man’s, not the government’s, and damn sure not my own, I’m just not capable…..how ’bout you?

Okay truckstars – I gotta go – I’m trying to find a haul and a back-haul….(truck payments….know what I mean vern?)

So until next week –

Remember – NO load and NO paycheck is worth dyin’ for !!!!!

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………..

Are you ready? Let’s roll……….

……you’re on the road with the original florida kid……………we gown……….