Monday, January 26, 2009
Back On
Well my load is now back on, so off to Carlisle. It doesn't deliver until Tuesday at two so I will have plenty of time to get some laundry done while at home.
It is a Monday
I just got back into my hotel room from loading up the truck after my paid weekend of doing nothing in Allentown. After pretripping and starting up the truck the Qualcomm beeped with a message, my load for today is cancelled. All I can say to that is fantastic, at least I found out in time so I haven't checked out of the hotel room yet. So now I am just waiting to find out what they come up with for me now.
Last night I had dinner at the Red Robin that is next to the hotel. I had a really good burger, fries and two ice teas. Now for anyone that has eaten with me, the two ice teas is a sign, usually I will drink almost a pitcher at a meal in a restaurant. The sign is of poor service, it is rare that i don't tip, but the service this time around just did not warrant a tip. I don't know if he was just too busy, or new, or both, but I only saw him a total of three times. Someone else greeted me, took my order, and brought me my tea. He got me one refill, brought out my food, and dropped off the check. When he dropped off the check, he didn't ask if I wanted anything else, refill on my tea, more fries, or dessert (all of which I would have liked). So I just paid the bill and left, with a large line through the tip amount. I think that this was only the third time in my life that I have done that.
Well I think I will just lay back and doze a bit while i wait for them to figure out how to get me out of here. Probably a load straight into the ice storm that is coming.
Last night I had dinner at the Red Robin that is next to the hotel. I had a really good burger, fries and two ice teas. Now for anyone that has eaten with me, the two ice teas is a sign, usually I will drink almost a pitcher at a meal in a restaurant. The sign is of poor service, it is rare that i don't tip, but the service this time around just did not warrant a tip. I don't know if he was just too busy, or new, or both, but I only saw him a total of three times. Someone else greeted me, took my order, and brought me my tea. He got me one refill, brought out my food, and dropped off the check. When he dropped off the check, he didn't ask if I wanted anything else, refill on my tea, more fries, or dessert (all of which I would have liked). So I just paid the bill and left, with a large line through the tip amount. I think that this was only the third time in my life that I have done that.
Well I think I will just lay back and doze a bit while i wait for them to figure out how to get me out of here. Probably a load straight into the ice storm that is coming.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Taste of Italy Ristorante
I just ate at a fantastic Italian restaurant, Taste of Italy Ristorante (two websites), apparently a very popular one as well. I was in there at around three thirty and by the time I left at four fifteen the place was packed. I started with ice tea as usual, unfortunately it was the strongest tea I have ever had. It tasted like there were tea leaves still in it, and was just undrinkable. Switching to water was the best option there. The entree was chicken giardino, and it was delicious. I finished with a dish of tiramisu, again delicious. They have won several awards over the past few years and their menu makes it almost impossible to decide, it all looks so good. So if in the area, definitely plan on trying this place out, a little warning, it is a lot of food, and it is not inexpensive. Though there are lower priced items on the menu, most things start at around twenty dollars, at least the most interesting dishes that is.
Allentown, Pennsylvania: Red Roof Inn
And this is where I will be all weekend. I was unable to pick up my next load until Monday morning, so this weekend I am basically stuck not working. So three nights here in Allentown, but fortunately I am near a lot of things within walking distance, and even more when I drop my trailer. Usually I don't do that, but I refuse to be stuck in one spot if I don't have to be.
Today I have had a nice brunch, well lunch but it was 10:30 so brunch is more appropriate. It was at a Friendly's restaurant in front of the hotel. I got the special, mix and match meal that came with a sundae for $9.99. Which is a lot better value than getting something off the regular menu and adding a drink. I did add a cup of clam chowder to my ginger chicken salad, so it was a little more, but still good value. All of it was really good, but when one gets the ginger chicken salad, start with only half of the dressing, when you use the entire thing it gets way to gingery by the end of the salad.
I then dropped my trailer and headed to the Autozone that was down the street. I needed a new headlight and I had my best chance of picking up a sealed light there. They actually had three of them, all with a slightly different model number than what I was looking for, but the $8.99 one worked just fine. I can't figure out what made the $19.99 one so much better, but I am guessing it is one of the ones that has the blue tint to the light. Looking at their website, it appears that the twenty dollar light is worth it, but since I would have two different lights, it just doesn't seem worth it. When I have to replace the headlights in my car, I may upgrade to the Silverstar lights, but not for the truck. I do get reimbursed for buying the light, I don't get paid for replacing it, but not replacing it can cost me a nice amount of money in a ticket.
I did find a laundry mat down by the Autozone and may do some laundry tomorrow morning. I just don't feel like it today, that and I will need to locate a Huntington ATM soon to replenish my cash supply. I could always get a cash advance, but have never liked borrowing from future paychecks, that is how drivers get behind. Once you take a cash advance, a lot of times you will have to do it again to cover that money you took out of next weeks check.
The rest of today will be spent watching TV, reading, playing games on my computer, or watching TV on the computer. Basically wasting time, while getting paid a little bit to do it.
Today I have had a nice brunch, well lunch but it was 10:30 so brunch is more appropriate. It was at a Friendly's restaurant in front of the hotel. I got the special, mix and match meal that came with a sundae for $9.99. Which is a lot better value than getting something off the regular menu and adding a drink. I did add a cup of clam chowder to my ginger chicken salad, so it was a little more, but still good value. All of it was really good, but when one gets the ginger chicken salad, start with only half of the dressing, when you use the entire thing it gets way to gingery by the end of the salad.
I then dropped my trailer and headed to the Autozone that was down the street. I needed a new headlight and I had my best chance of picking up a sealed light there. They actually had three of them, all with a slightly different model number than what I was looking for, but the $8.99 one worked just fine. I can't figure out what made the $19.99 one so much better, but I am guessing it is one of the ones that has the blue tint to the light. Looking at their website, it appears that the twenty dollar light is worth it, but since I would have two different lights, it just doesn't seem worth it. When I have to replace the headlights in my car, I may upgrade to the Silverstar lights, but not for the truck. I do get reimbursed for buying the light, I don't get paid for replacing it, but not replacing it can cost me a nice amount of money in a ticket.
I did find a laundry mat down by the Autozone and may do some laundry tomorrow morning. I just don't feel like it today, that and I will need to locate a Huntington ATM soon to replenish my cash supply. I could always get a cash advance, but have never liked borrowing from future paychecks, that is how drivers get behind. Once you take a cash advance, a lot of times you will have to do it again to cover that money you took out of next weeks check.
The rest of today will be spent watching TV, reading, playing games on my computer, or watching TV on the computer. Basically wasting time, while getting paid a little bit to do it.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Still here
Still waiting, though I am finally in a dock, now it is just a matter of getting unloaded. I called to find out what my next load was, and the first surprise was that they had one. The second surprise was that it doesn't pick up until Monday morning, in Carlisle. So nothing to do for the next three nights but sit in a hotel, how thrilling.
The worst part is that I knew this was going to happen, and I have just about had it with going East and then sitting for a couple of days. I think I will either start splitting these loads off so I sit closer to home or just refuse them. Because now all I will do is sit and spend money to eat at a hotel. If I am lucky there will be something like an Applebees nearby, if not, fast food all weekend.
The worst part is that I knew this was going to happen, and I have just about had it with going East and then sitting for a couple of days. I think I will either start splitting these loads off so I sit closer to home or just refuse them. Because now all I will do is sit and spend money to eat at a hotel. If I am lucky there will be something like an Applebees nearby, if not, fast food all weekend.
Breinigsville, Pennsylvania
I made it here about when I planned to, unfortunately they are unable to take me until my appointment time. Which basically means that I am seven hours early. Fortunately I can check in a bit later to see it they can take me a bit earlier, thought at this point it may only be a few hours earlier.
From the size of the lot I seems that I could have come straight here and slept, but I don't think that would have gotten me in any sooner. So staying where I did and getting a good shower and decent breakfast seems worth while. The only good thing is that I have a decent signal, and a fast connection, so will be able to game or watch some video while waiting, rather than being stuck browsing news articles.
The late unload is bad in another way, it will make getting reloaded today a real difficulty. So we will just have to wait and see what the day brings.
From the size of the lot I seems that I could have come straight here and slept, but I don't think that would have gotten me in any sooner. So staying where I did and getting a good shower and decent breakfast seems worth while. The only good thing is that I have a decent signal, and a fast connection, so will be able to game or watch some video while waiting, rather than being stuck browsing news articles.
The late unload is bad in another way, it will make getting reloaded today a real difficulty. So we will just have to wait and see what the day brings.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: TA
I am about an hour away from where I deliver tomorrow, hopefully earlier than scheduled. The appointment time is for five in the afternoon, but then I was supposed to pick this load up at four today. Since the pick-up was flexible I am hoping to get rid of it early at the consignee. Then it will just be a matter of waiting to see what is next. They say I will have a load, I hope they are right. Otherwise it will be three nights in a hotel this weekend while I get paid for a layover.
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