"Have you ever been accosted/assaulted by a street person?" question I'd like to ask my boss
Yeah, working at night is different: there isn't as much traffic, which is a good thing, although you don't know about the people that are out there; what they've been doing, toxins they've been ingesting, etc., so in a way you need to be even more careful. I've seen some very peculiar behavior. Look, it's bad enough that we have to do this job at night, because you cannot get into these strip malls during the day, but then to have someone "fuck" with you, sometimes it's all I can do to not just lose it, ya know? Not only the vagrants, etc., I've also had to deal with cops, firefighters, garbage guys, you name it. And all I want to do is my friggin' job!
I guess the craziest thing I've seen happened on the road; I was coming back from Milwaukee
(I think) last summer and, heading southbound on the Dan Ryan, I was a mile or so from the I57 split. So I'm in the correct lane to stay on 94eastbound (Bishop Ford) when I see this black Caddy come flying past me in the far right lane, he lost control right under the overpass (95th
street?), scraped up against the wall, went flying out into traffic, hit at least one car, spun around, and bam! hit the same concrete wall he'd just scraped up against. I was about a quarter mile back, but I saw the whole thing happen right in front of me. Then, as if it wasn't weird enough, the guy jumps out of the car, doubled over in pain, and takes off running, up the embankment and into the night. As I passed by, I could not believe my eyes. I figured, yeah that car's stolen, and who knows what other kind of mischief the dude was wanted for.
Usually, though, you'll be doing your delivery, and someone will approach you begging for money. If I have an extra dollar I'll usually give it to them, saying "That's all I got, man."
I remember there was this guy on Leonard (?) St. in Grand Rapids, he'd show up every week
at the same time, always offering to help unload, then he'd hit you up. But this was no "spare change" guy, he'd ask for $5 or $10. I be like "What?" He'd say "Yeah, you truck drivers make a lot of money, right?" I'd give him a couple bucks and say "Now, get the fuck outta here!"
Then, he'd wave to me as I drove past on my way out of there.
Usually a dollar or a cigarette will satisfy the beggar; one guy wanted to "look at" my truck:
he said he used to be a driver, lost his license, etc. (violins). So, he walked slowly around the truck and trailer, as if he were doing a thorough pre-trip inspection - very strange. I had to keep my eye on him as I delivered, to make sure he didn't reach into the cab or something.
I've been propositioned a couple of times; once the woman just said "Would you like some company?" I said "Sorry, I'm working." Another one, a homely-ass broad, drove up in her car,
said she needed gas money, and offered to give me a blow job. "I swallow," she said. I thought "Yeah, good for you." Those three incidents happened in Rockford, in a seedier part of town.
I dunno, maybe I'm an easy touch, or look like one anyway. See, I rather be "flashed," which has never happened to me, than propositioned by a "crack-ho." Another point about street beggars:
I am always aware of the knife I keep in my left pants pocket (for cutting through shrink-wrap, etc.) just in case someone gets pushy, ya know? I mean, I have a lot more to lose than they do, but, if it comes down to it...
The cops have usually showed up when I've set alarms off; that's happend a couple times, no big deal. Sometimes they want your I.D., but I always cooperate. I learned long ago that it's not worth it to give the cops a hard time; they're just doing their job, too. There were a couple of instances, especially with this bagel company (which we no longer deal with) when we got complaints from the neighbors about noise. You know, the truck idling, the reefer raging, etc.
Of course, me cursing and swearing out loud (usually about the fucked-up job the warehouse guys do) didn't help. But they just gave you a warning: tone it down or you have to come back later in the day. "Yes sir!" is about all you can say at that point. I set a smoke alarm off once in
Kalamazoo, it was the strangest thing. I thought I'd set off the store alarm, but the fire dept.
showed up, not the cops. So, they checked the store out, but the manager had to be called, etc.
It was a big mess. I think what happened (shhhhh, don't tell anyone!) is that, as I entered the store, I had a cig in my mouth; I was only in there for a minute before getting rid of it, but that must have set off the smoke alarm - wierd.
And, of course, you have our friends the garbage guys. Talk about noise! Geesh! And smell!
Anyway, I haven't had any real run-ins with 'em. In fact, I'll go out of my way to cooperate with them (kinda like the cops). I figue the sooner they get in and out of the spot, the sooner I can get my job done. So, I'll move outta the way if they need me to. Sometimes it's a pain, especially if you already have your ramp set up and everything, but...Now I know to try and park so they
have access to the dumpsters without hitting me, or having to go through major changes. Hey, I know what it feels like to have obstacles thrown in your way, when, like I said, all you want to do is your friggin' job!
I'd say the "night" people are pretty much done, and the "morning" people are getting up, somewhere between 3 and 4 in the morning. I dunno, I haven't studied it that closely. I'm always grateful for the sunrise. Not only have the "vampires" gone away, but, since I've been busting my ass for several hours now, the daylight gives me that "second wind" I need to finish off my day.
More soon,
Steve
Monday, April 30, 2007
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Tidbits, pt. 2
"I don't know what it is you're doing, but it sure as hell AIN'T professional truck driving!" - me
There was a horrible accident two weeks ago (Fri., 4/6): A Wisconsin driver, coming up on 94 West through Chicago (by the way, we call it the Dan Ryan and Kennedy Expressways), got cut off by an SUV, hit a concrete pillar, rolled the truck, which burst into flames, killing the driver. It happened about 4:15 in the morning. I was in the city delivering at the time, so I didn't see the accident, but caught some of the aftermath while travelling eastbound around 7:30. I had a helper with me, and we were heading out to the far southern burbs to do our final delivery of the day. He quick turned on the radio, to get more details on the crash. All I could see, besides the bumper-to-bumper traffic in front of me, was the rolled-over trailer (yep, bright orange plate - WI). The truck was basically unrecognizable; we looked over in horror, at about 10mph, as crews cleaned up the scene. Needless to say, westbound traffic was backed up for miles. Traffic at that time on Friday morning is bad enough, and we were glad to make it through without too much trouble.
Now, let me just say that I'm sorry it happened - my sympathies go out to the driver's famly; however, these guys from Wisconsin (yes, Cheese-dicks) and points further north, wanting to avoid paying those "darn tolls" on 294 (the Tri-State), use the Ryan/Kennedy to come through the city. That's bad enough, ('cause, even at midnight, there's a bunch of 'em) but they drive "balls to the wall." They come flying through the Ryan construction zone (speed limit is 45) at
I dunno how fast. I mean, look, I'm not a prude; you don't HAVE to go 45 the whole time, but I just stay to the right and let 'em go. I'm sure the accident was the fault of the four-wheeler (I'm not sure of the percentage, but most accidents involving four-wheelers and trucks are the four-wheelers' fault), but I'm equally sure the truck was driving too fast. In fact, I'd bet money on it.
Here's a hint, all you Cheese-dicks out there: if you're tailgating a four-wheeler (and most of them fly!) you're driving too damn fast! It shouldn't take an accident for people to get the message, but you want to know the sad truth? Most of 'em won't. They'll just keep doing what they're doing, and forget about this driver, his family, even the driver of the four-wheeler (don't know what happenened to that person). How many more people will completely ignore the rules, and wind up crispy critters on the pavement? It's mind-boggling to me.
Anyway, that's my rant for the moment. By the way, I left the last post (Marissa) up for a couple weeks, because I wanted it to be viewed by as many as possible, maybe even her. Actually, I sent her a hard-copy in the mail, so maybe she'll actually read it, I dunno.
So, I've been going up to Cheeseland for the past couple of weeks (Green Bay- haven't run into Brett Favre, though, lol) It's a pretty nice drive, once you get past all the congestion in Milwaukee. Other drivers complain about Chicago, and how congested it is. I'm from there, so I actually have a clue as to how to get around. But places like Milwaukee (St. Louis is the worst I've run into) kind of piss me off. I was doing a route up there last summer, and I remember they closed the expressway down for several miles (how the fuck do you justify closing an interstate down?). Not only that, the detour was all fucked up; I couldn't, for the life of me, find my way back to the friggin' highway. I thought I'd never get out of Beerfart, er, Milwaukee.
And, like with most big cities now, they've got it under construction again. In Chicago, the saying used to be "We got two seasons here, winter and construction season," but now it seems like it's construction season all year round. Anyway, my route is pretty bearable; sometimes after my deliveries, I do a pickup or two, then head back home. Hell, now they're talking about sending me back out Marissa's way (Des Moines), which I obviously wouldn't mind one bit (wink!). In my line of work, nothing is constant but change. Speaking of pickups, I'm not the biggest fan of backhauls: I mean, I've busted my ass for two days, and now I have to clean out the trailer (dumping my shit into someone else's dumpsters - always had a problem with that), stack the pallets nice and neat, pre-cool the trailer, especially in summer, and do the damn pickup. Then, of course, you deal with the weight issues, because, in their sweet, backward fashion, Wisconsin doesn't use pre-pass, and I have not one, but two scales to deal with (Manitowoc and Racine).
Granted, my loads aren't usually that heavy, so I don't worry too much; I guess it's just the principle of the whole thing that bugs me. I'm doing not only my job (food service delivery), but
a trucker's job too (bumping docks, scaling, etc.). So we shall see how this pans out; whether I stay going up to Cheeseland or go back out to central Iowa - I will keep you all posted.
More soon,
Steve
There was a horrible accident two weeks ago (Fri., 4/6): A Wisconsin driver, coming up on 94 West through Chicago (by the way, we call it the Dan Ryan and Kennedy Expressways), got cut off by an SUV, hit a concrete pillar, rolled the truck, which burst into flames, killing the driver. It happened about 4:15 in the morning. I was in the city delivering at the time, so I didn't see the accident, but caught some of the aftermath while travelling eastbound around 7:30. I had a helper with me, and we were heading out to the far southern burbs to do our final delivery of the day. He quick turned on the radio, to get more details on the crash. All I could see, besides the bumper-to-bumper traffic in front of me, was the rolled-over trailer (yep, bright orange plate - WI). The truck was basically unrecognizable; we looked over in horror, at about 10mph, as crews cleaned up the scene. Needless to say, westbound traffic was backed up for miles. Traffic at that time on Friday morning is bad enough, and we were glad to make it through without too much trouble.
Now, let me just say that I'm sorry it happened - my sympathies go out to the driver's famly; however, these guys from Wisconsin (yes, Cheese-dicks) and points further north, wanting to avoid paying those "darn tolls" on 294 (the Tri-State), use the Ryan/Kennedy to come through the city. That's bad enough, ('cause, even at midnight, there's a bunch of 'em) but they drive "balls to the wall." They come flying through the Ryan construction zone (speed limit is 45) at
I dunno how fast. I mean, look, I'm not a prude; you don't HAVE to go 45 the whole time, but I just stay to the right and let 'em go. I'm sure the accident was the fault of the four-wheeler (I'm not sure of the percentage, but most accidents involving four-wheelers and trucks are the four-wheelers' fault), but I'm equally sure the truck was driving too fast. In fact, I'd bet money on it.
Here's a hint, all you Cheese-dicks out there: if you're tailgating a four-wheeler (and most of them fly!) you're driving too damn fast! It shouldn't take an accident for people to get the message, but you want to know the sad truth? Most of 'em won't. They'll just keep doing what they're doing, and forget about this driver, his family, even the driver of the four-wheeler (don't know what happenened to that person). How many more people will completely ignore the rules, and wind up crispy critters on the pavement? It's mind-boggling to me.
Anyway, that's my rant for the moment. By the way, I left the last post (Marissa) up for a couple weeks, because I wanted it to be viewed by as many as possible, maybe even her. Actually, I sent her a hard-copy in the mail, so maybe she'll actually read it, I dunno.
So, I've been going up to Cheeseland for the past couple of weeks (Green Bay- haven't run into Brett Favre, though, lol) It's a pretty nice drive, once you get past all the congestion in Milwaukee. Other drivers complain about Chicago, and how congested it is. I'm from there, so I actually have a clue as to how to get around. But places like Milwaukee (St. Louis is the worst I've run into) kind of piss me off. I was doing a route up there last summer, and I remember they closed the expressway down for several miles (how the fuck do you justify closing an interstate down?). Not only that, the detour was all fucked up; I couldn't, for the life of me, find my way back to the friggin' highway. I thought I'd never get out of Beerfart, er, Milwaukee.
And, like with most big cities now, they've got it under construction again. In Chicago, the saying used to be "We got two seasons here, winter and construction season," but now it seems like it's construction season all year round. Anyway, my route is pretty bearable; sometimes after my deliveries, I do a pickup or two, then head back home. Hell, now they're talking about sending me back out Marissa's way (Des Moines), which I obviously wouldn't mind one bit (wink!). In my line of work, nothing is constant but change. Speaking of pickups, I'm not the biggest fan of backhauls: I mean, I've busted my ass for two days, and now I have to clean out the trailer (dumping my shit into someone else's dumpsters - always had a problem with that), stack the pallets nice and neat, pre-cool the trailer, especially in summer, and do the damn pickup. Then, of course, you deal with the weight issues, because, in their sweet, backward fashion, Wisconsin doesn't use pre-pass, and I have not one, but two scales to deal with (Manitowoc and Racine).
Granted, my loads aren't usually that heavy, so I don't worry too much; I guess it's just the principle of the whole thing that bugs me. I'm doing not only my job (food service delivery), but
a trucker's job too (bumping docks, scaling, etc.). So we shall see how this pans out; whether I stay going up to Cheeseland or go back out to central Iowa - I will keep you all posted.
More soon,
Steve
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Lovely Marissa
"Once you seep in, under my skin, there's nothing in this world that could wash you away..."
Limp Bizkit "Eat you Alive"
Happy Easter, Everyone! This one is a bit difficult for me, because there are some emotions here that I'm still sorting through. What can I tell you about Marissa? Sounds like something from "The Sound of Music," doesn't it? All I'm going to say for now is that she works at a truckstop in Des Moines. I don't want her to catch too much hell for this. If you're a driver, and you visit the Des Moines area on a regular basis, you may have already run into her. See, I've seen my share of truckstop waitresses, and, with the exception of only a couple, they seem to be
middle-aged women, somewhat surly, most are not particularly attractive. Maybe they work because they have kids to support, maybe they're married, maybe not. And I'm sure they've
heard every "line" in the book from all you a-holes. Yeah, the first one I "noticed" was at the Worlds Largest Truckstop in Walcott, IA - I'll call her Susan. She was beautiful, friendly, very good waitress, and I would look foreward to seeing her every week (don't remember what day).
She must have been in her early 30's, with a couple of kids. Then one day I go in there and it's "She doesn't work here any more..." Oh shit! I didn't get a chance to...
Now comes Marissa (obviously not her real name). I first met her probably late spring/early summer of '06. You know how, when you see someone on a regular basis, but don't really "notice" them for several weeks, or even longer? That's the way it was with Marissa. I would go in there on Wednesdays, and yeah, she's beautiful and all, but I didn't really notice her until I started talking to her. See, there's where the problems started, I think, because I was immediately attracted to her. She is charming, clever, witty, great sense of humor, and sharp as a damn tack! She could match wits with me, line for line, and even make me look foolish - and I went to college, for Chrissakes! That really impressed me. Any questions I had about the place and their policies, she knew right off the top of her head. Those are the qualities that just knocked me out. I mean yeah, there was that killer smile, that jet black hair, her beautiful face. She has this accent, like Southern California, but I never got a chance to ask her if that's where she's from. I'd come in after a grueling trip out there, and I'd get a double shot: first the air conditioning would hit you, then that smile. It was like being shot with a laser. My old heart could barely stand it, lol.
Anyway, things went on like this for a while; I'd wake up Wednesday mornings in Rockford and think "Damn, today's the day I get to see Marissa (whooppeee!)" Hell, I'd bust my ass even
harder, so I could get my work done faster, so I could see her sooner. Is that insane, or what?
And it was sort of anti-climactic; I'd go in there, and she'd be so damn busy, I couldn't get but
30 seconds of her time ("sound bites," as I came to call them), and then my hour-long dinner would be over, and time to try and get some sleep. I'd try to eat slower and stuff, but you know, I still had to make it back to Chicago. Otherwise, I'd sit at the damn counter all night, just so I could watch her, ya know? The way she made those desserts, I'd think "Damn, I wish she'd pour chocolate on me like that!" (just kidding) And I'd walk in there and she'd say "Oh yeah, it's Wednesday..." like I became her personal calender or something. So I started falling for this young woman, and I mean hard. I pulled some really stupid moves, that, looking back, I don't know what the fuck I was thinking about. The first of these was over the holidays and, yep, you guessed it, I got her a Christmas present. It wasn't really that big or much, whatever, but that was probably the beginning of the end. See, I was trying to get close to her, establish some sort of a connection that could possibly lead to a friendship, but she would have none of it. The "chemistry"that I thought we shared was just in my mind, and it's a hard thing to accept now, because I could have sworn she felt it too, although she never let on. And it's not that I ever "wanted"anything, you know, physical, from her. I mean, I'm a married man, probably twice her age. Like Susan, she has many admirers, not that I ever felt "jealous" or in competition with any other truckers. I just wanted to talk with her, get to know her a little better; but to do that, I needed some of her time. That was the one commodity she absolutely would not share. In fact, she shared only what she wanted you to know about her, nothing more. I think part of that smile and attitude is from training, so they can get a bigger tip, I dunno. But I would always tip her more, just 'cause I liked her, and she really did do a wonderful job.
One time, I even offered to walk her to her car (how scary is that?) after she got off work. So, I'm standing outside, waiting for her to come out, and I'm thinking "Steve, what the FUCK are you doing?" And just then, I kid you not, a black cat walked past me. I was like "I gotta get outta here." That foolish and immature act, I think, is what turned her off to me for good. After that, even though I apologized, her smile didn't seem quite as dazzling. There were days when I'd go in, and she barely said "boo" to me. So I'm really kicking myself for that one. I don't know what the hell came over me.
So, now it's time to say goodbye. There were several weeks where I thought it was the end, when in fact, it wasn't. I'd say "Good luck, I'll miss you, have a nice life..." and she'd laugh and say "You make it sound as if you're dying." In a way, part of me was. Now it's over, and I have regrets, just like with Susan. I wish I'd had the chance to say some things, something that would maybe change her mind about me, but, I guess I'll never know. I gave her my number and everything, but she hasn't called, and now I realize that she never will. I mean, why would she?
What would she want with an old bastard like me? I'm just another trucker to her, just another customer, just another tip.
To Marissa: Hey, sweetie! I hope you get a chance to read this. Listen, I wanted to say "Thank you again for everything." You have been absolutely wonderful to me. I'm really sorry for behaving like a jerk in the past, and I hope you can forgive me. I never meant to make you uncomfortable. I sure wish I had had the chance to know you a little better. I think you are one of the most amazing people I've ever met in my life, and I know you'll succeed in whatever you decide to do. So good luck, have a nice life, and yes, I will miss you terribly. If it sounds as if I'm dying, it's because part of me is. If you ever have a change of heart (they say "absense makes the heart grow fonder") you know how to reach me. I will never forget you.
More soon,
Steve
Limp Bizkit "Eat you Alive"
Happy Easter, Everyone! This one is a bit difficult for me, because there are some emotions here that I'm still sorting through. What can I tell you about Marissa? Sounds like something from "The Sound of Music," doesn't it? All I'm going to say for now is that she works at a truckstop in Des Moines. I don't want her to catch too much hell for this. If you're a driver, and you visit the Des Moines area on a regular basis, you may have already run into her. See, I've seen my share of truckstop waitresses, and, with the exception of only a couple, they seem to be
middle-aged women, somewhat surly, most are not particularly attractive. Maybe they work because they have kids to support, maybe they're married, maybe not. And I'm sure they've
heard every "line" in the book from all you a-holes. Yeah, the first one I "noticed" was at the Worlds Largest Truckstop in Walcott, IA - I'll call her Susan. She was beautiful, friendly, very good waitress, and I would look foreward to seeing her every week (don't remember what day).
She must have been in her early 30's, with a couple of kids. Then one day I go in there and it's "She doesn't work here any more..." Oh shit! I didn't get a chance to...
Now comes Marissa (obviously not her real name). I first met her probably late spring/early summer of '06. You know how, when you see someone on a regular basis, but don't really "notice" them for several weeks, or even longer? That's the way it was with Marissa. I would go in there on Wednesdays, and yeah, she's beautiful and all, but I didn't really notice her until I started talking to her. See, there's where the problems started, I think, because I was immediately attracted to her. She is charming, clever, witty, great sense of humor, and sharp as a damn tack! She could match wits with me, line for line, and even make me look foolish - and I went to college, for Chrissakes! That really impressed me. Any questions I had about the place and their policies, she knew right off the top of her head. Those are the qualities that just knocked me out. I mean yeah, there was that killer smile, that jet black hair, her beautiful face. She has this accent, like Southern California, but I never got a chance to ask her if that's where she's from. I'd come in after a grueling trip out there, and I'd get a double shot: first the air conditioning would hit you, then that smile. It was like being shot with a laser. My old heart could barely stand it, lol.
Anyway, things went on like this for a while; I'd wake up Wednesday mornings in Rockford and think "Damn, today's the day I get to see Marissa (whooppeee!)" Hell, I'd bust my ass even
harder, so I could get my work done faster, so I could see her sooner. Is that insane, or what?
And it was sort of anti-climactic; I'd go in there, and she'd be so damn busy, I couldn't get but
30 seconds of her time ("sound bites," as I came to call them), and then my hour-long dinner would be over, and time to try and get some sleep. I'd try to eat slower and stuff, but you know, I still had to make it back to Chicago. Otherwise, I'd sit at the damn counter all night, just so I could watch her, ya know? The way she made those desserts, I'd think "Damn, I wish she'd pour chocolate on me like that!" (just kidding) And I'd walk in there and she'd say "Oh yeah, it's Wednesday..." like I became her personal calender or something. So I started falling for this young woman, and I mean hard. I pulled some really stupid moves, that, looking back, I don't know what the fuck I was thinking about. The first of these was over the holidays and, yep, you guessed it, I got her a Christmas present. It wasn't really that big or much, whatever, but that was probably the beginning of the end. See, I was trying to get close to her, establish some sort of a connection that could possibly lead to a friendship, but she would have none of it. The "chemistry"that I thought we shared was just in my mind, and it's a hard thing to accept now, because I could have sworn she felt it too, although she never let on. And it's not that I ever "wanted"anything, you know, physical, from her. I mean, I'm a married man, probably twice her age. Like Susan, she has many admirers, not that I ever felt "jealous" or in competition with any other truckers. I just wanted to talk with her, get to know her a little better; but to do that, I needed some of her time. That was the one commodity she absolutely would not share. In fact, she shared only what she wanted you to know about her, nothing more. I think part of that smile and attitude is from training, so they can get a bigger tip, I dunno. But I would always tip her more, just 'cause I liked her, and she really did do a wonderful job.
One time, I even offered to walk her to her car (how scary is that?) after she got off work. So, I'm standing outside, waiting for her to come out, and I'm thinking "Steve, what the FUCK are you doing?" And just then, I kid you not, a black cat walked past me. I was like "I gotta get outta here." That foolish and immature act, I think, is what turned her off to me for good. After that, even though I apologized, her smile didn't seem quite as dazzling. There were days when I'd go in, and she barely said "boo" to me. So I'm really kicking myself for that one. I don't know what the hell came over me.
So, now it's time to say goodbye. There were several weeks where I thought it was the end, when in fact, it wasn't. I'd say "Good luck, I'll miss you, have a nice life..." and she'd laugh and say "You make it sound as if you're dying." In a way, part of me was. Now it's over, and I have regrets, just like with Susan. I wish I'd had the chance to say some things, something that would maybe change her mind about me, but, I guess I'll never know. I gave her my number and everything, but she hasn't called, and now I realize that she never will. I mean, why would she?
What would she want with an old bastard like me? I'm just another trucker to her, just another customer, just another tip.
To Marissa: Hey, sweetie! I hope you get a chance to read this. Listen, I wanted to say "Thank you again for everything." You have been absolutely wonderful to me. I'm really sorry for behaving like a jerk in the past, and I hope you can forgive me. I never meant to make you uncomfortable. I sure wish I had had the chance to know you a little better. I think you are one of the most amazing people I've ever met in my life, and I know you'll succeed in whatever you decide to do. So good luck, have a nice life, and yes, I will miss you terribly. If it sounds as if I'm dying, it's because part of me is. If you ever have a change of heart (they say "absense makes the heart grow fonder") you know how to reach me. I will never forget you.
More soon,
Steve
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Iowa, pt. 2
"People on 'ludes should not drive, huhh, huhhhhhh...." Jeff Spiccoli (Sean Penn), in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High"
So, I've had my adventures out there in Iowa, but nothing really spectacular or out of the ordinary. Other than the "reefer" troubles I've mentioned before, the one that sticks out in my mind is the time I almost got caught in a blizzard. By the way, if you are from the State of Iowa, or have a particular affinity for that state, please don't be offended by my remarks here. I really have nothing against Iowa at all. In fact, they've treated me quite nicely out there, unlike other states (Michigan, et al). Yeah, so I have a special delivery up by Mason City (about an hour north of Des Moines on I35), and all goes pretty smoothly. This must be about January, and they're predicting some heavy weather, but it hasn't hit yet. I think "No big deal..." So I get done, and I'm running out of time. The only truckstop around was this dinky little place, but I have no choice, so I stop. They have a restaurant, and I eat, go into the berth, my regular routine. I wake up about 3 in the morning, and there's like 2 feet of snow on the ground. Great.
The bigger problem is the store doesn't open til 5 or something, and I'm Jonesing for coffee - I HAVE to have my coffee in the morning, no matter how bad it is. I remember I had to rock the truck just to get outta there, and I head south. I was lucky to even get back onto the highway, because they have these gates at the exit ramps, when they shut down the interstates. Maybe someone forgot, I dunno, or I just made it outta there, but it was blowing and drifting real good.
I remember passing a Flying J on the way, so I pull in there, 'cause I'm really hurting for coffee right now, find a hole, pull in (now I gotta back out), and go get my coffee. It was pretty harrowing, but you just keep your composure, take it easy, and it all works out in the end. By the time I got back to Des Moines, not a drop of snow on the ground. That was actually the worst experience I've had out there, and that wasn't too bad. I've heard of guys being stranded for hours, even days, when they close the roads. I'm talking Minnesota, Nebraska, etc. Those gates on the exit ramps really surprised me, though. I'd never seen that before.
So, here are my impressions of the towns of Iowa, at least those I've been to: Dubuque, nice, small city, right on the Mighty Miss., I'm not a big fan of hills, though, especially in winter, so I don't think I'd want to live on a "bluff". Very pretty, scenic, even. Waterloo, again, nice little city
I deliver to, I don't really go through the heart of the town, so I can't comment on the town as a whole, but it seems nice. Lots of college cuties from UNI (University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, "sister city"?). Anyway, there's a Ryder right there in Cedar Falls, and I used to deliver a couple of stores over there, so I kinda know my way around. See, my impression is that a lot of Iowa is pretty "white bread," (as most of the Midwest is) you know, a lot of white people, lots of farmers, not too much in the way of trouble, crime, etc. I may be wrong, and I'm sure there are trouble spots, especially in the bigger towns, but most of the places I've delivered to (malls and strip malls), I just keep the truck running, do my delivery, no problems. I mean, the biggest challenges I've faced out there are just dealing with other truck traffic. Shit, if that's the only problem I ever have, I'll be a happy man! Now Cedar Rapids ("Smelly Town," as I call it); I'm sure it has some nice ares, suburbs, whatever, but the smell! OMG! I think of that song by the Police ("Factories belching filth into the air...) I dunno what kind, I think there's at least one or two chemical plants, a food processing plant or two, maybe even paper mill, but God, I don't know how people can live there, honestly! It's that yeasty, sulphury smell that makes ya wanna hurl! I shouldn't complain too much, I only had to deliver there once every other week.
Des Moines, the largest city, and capitol, again very nice. I've had no problems there, either. There's traffic, but hell, there's traffic everywhere nowadays. People drive just about the same as they do in Chicago (badly!) Ya know, I think ,there's corn, then Des Moines, then corn. It does seem to be growing, judging by all the new construction, and probably a nice place to live. Anyway, the people I've met and dealt with have all been pretty terrific out in Iowa, so kudos to you! They're changing my route, so I won't be "penetrating" into the state westward as I've done. I'll just be going from Dubuque, down to the Quad Cities, then back to Chi-town (nobody ever calls it that, by the way). Then, in place of my local city route, they're sending me back up to Cheeseland! You know what state that is, don't you? Or do I have to spell it out? LOL
More soon,
Steve
So, I've had my adventures out there in Iowa, but nothing really spectacular or out of the ordinary. Other than the "reefer" troubles I've mentioned before, the one that sticks out in my mind is the time I almost got caught in a blizzard. By the way, if you are from the State of Iowa, or have a particular affinity for that state, please don't be offended by my remarks here. I really have nothing against Iowa at all. In fact, they've treated me quite nicely out there, unlike other states (Michigan, et al). Yeah, so I have a special delivery up by Mason City (about an hour north of Des Moines on I35), and all goes pretty smoothly. This must be about January, and they're predicting some heavy weather, but it hasn't hit yet. I think "No big deal..." So I get done, and I'm running out of time. The only truckstop around was this dinky little place, but I have no choice, so I stop. They have a restaurant, and I eat, go into the berth, my regular routine. I wake up about 3 in the morning, and there's like 2 feet of snow on the ground. Great.
The bigger problem is the store doesn't open til 5 or something, and I'm Jonesing for coffee - I HAVE to have my coffee in the morning, no matter how bad it is. I remember I had to rock the truck just to get outta there, and I head south. I was lucky to even get back onto the highway, because they have these gates at the exit ramps, when they shut down the interstates. Maybe someone forgot, I dunno, or I just made it outta there, but it was blowing and drifting real good.
I remember passing a Flying J on the way, so I pull in there, 'cause I'm really hurting for coffee right now, find a hole, pull in (now I gotta back out), and go get my coffee. It was pretty harrowing, but you just keep your composure, take it easy, and it all works out in the end. By the time I got back to Des Moines, not a drop of snow on the ground. That was actually the worst experience I've had out there, and that wasn't too bad. I've heard of guys being stranded for hours, even days, when they close the roads. I'm talking Minnesota, Nebraska, etc. Those gates on the exit ramps really surprised me, though. I'd never seen that before.
So, here are my impressions of the towns of Iowa, at least those I've been to: Dubuque, nice, small city, right on the Mighty Miss., I'm not a big fan of hills, though, especially in winter, so I don't think I'd want to live on a "bluff". Very pretty, scenic, even. Waterloo, again, nice little city
I deliver to, I don't really go through the heart of the town, so I can't comment on the town as a whole, but it seems nice. Lots of college cuties from UNI (University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, "sister city"?). Anyway, there's a Ryder right there in Cedar Falls, and I used to deliver a couple of stores over there, so I kinda know my way around. See, my impression is that a lot of Iowa is pretty "white bread," (as most of the Midwest is) you know, a lot of white people, lots of farmers, not too much in the way of trouble, crime, etc. I may be wrong, and I'm sure there are trouble spots, especially in the bigger towns, but most of the places I've delivered to (malls and strip malls), I just keep the truck running, do my delivery, no problems. I mean, the biggest challenges I've faced out there are just dealing with other truck traffic. Shit, if that's the only problem I ever have, I'll be a happy man! Now Cedar Rapids ("Smelly Town," as I call it); I'm sure it has some nice ares, suburbs, whatever, but the smell! OMG! I think of that song by the Police ("Factories belching filth into the air...) I dunno what kind, I think there's at least one or two chemical plants, a food processing plant or two, maybe even paper mill, but God, I don't know how people can live there, honestly! It's that yeasty, sulphury smell that makes ya wanna hurl! I shouldn't complain too much, I only had to deliver there once every other week.
Des Moines, the largest city, and capitol, again very nice. I've had no problems there, either. There's traffic, but hell, there's traffic everywhere nowadays. People drive just about the same as they do in Chicago (badly!) Ya know, I think ,there's corn, then Des Moines, then corn. It does seem to be growing, judging by all the new construction, and probably a nice place to live. Anyway, the people I've met and dealt with have all been pretty terrific out in Iowa, so kudos to you! They're changing my route, so I won't be "penetrating" into the state westward as I've done. I'll just be going from Dubuque, down to the Quad Cities, then back to Chi-town (nobody ever calls it that, by the way). Then, in place of my local city route, they're sending me back up to Cheeseland! You know what state that is, don't you? Or do I have to spell it out? LOL
More soon,
Steve
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