Utah Utah Utah

So it was a nice long trip, but here I am! Outside of Pepperidge Farms here in Logan, Utah. I enjoy trips like this somewhat, because since it was a 2,200 mile trip, literally I just drove and drove. Most of it was on Interstate 80, which was cool. I stopped near Council Bluffs on my 2nd driving shift because while I was a little ways from there, I got curious about how close I was going to be getting to where my good friend James lives. I thought he was in Sioux City, but apparently he is in Omaha, and when I was like "i'm curious, how close to interstate 80 are ya?" He was like "like, 20 minutes I think." Then I was like "ah, cool, looks like I will be coming right by you then." Next thing I know, my phone is ringing and it's james. He was like "what do you mean coming right by me?" I was like "well, I have this load from philly to Utah, and I'm on 80 right now currently in Iowa, not far from Council Bluffs and will be on 80 all the way through nebraska, and Wyoming before I get to Utah." He was like "really? Well Damn we haven't seen eachother in 8 years. Where are ya stopping?" I was like "well, how close to council bluffs are ya?" He was like "within a half hour or less." I was like "ok, I can stop in council bluffs at a truck stop for the night and we can meet up. What do you think?" He was like "sounds great! Let me know where you stop and I will drive over and we can take my car."

So I ended up finding this Pilot that had a decent amount of parking available. Not too surprising since it was about 6PM. James was still going to be about 40 minutes or so because he hadn't left yet, so I went in and paid to use the showers to get cleaned up. I wasn't like stinking or anything, but it had been about 2 days (not that i had been doing a lot). Mostly what I enjoyed it for was being able to shave and stuff. By the time I got done, I had a message from James saying "i'm here! I'm in the game room." I was like "i'll be out in a few." So we went to find a place to eat first (since most driving shifts, I might not get much to eat until I stop and so then I'm usually really hungry). So I was like "i thought I saw a kracker barrel not far from here. He had his gps and keyed the name in and it found it, and I was right, only like 2 miles away. He had never eaten at Kracker Barrel. Normally when I go there (which is a long time between visits lately), I usually get their chicken and dumplings and it comes with 3 sides, so I get 2 sides of fried okra, and one of something else. Usually if I've eaten normally during the day, that meal leaves me stuffed. That night though, I finished the whole plate, passed on desert, but actually was still hungry a little bit, but I wasn't worried since when I talked to james on the phone, he was like "i'll take ya out to see avengers! My treat!" I was like "i'm not going to say no!"

So we got to the theater and I was like "you wanna just split a large popcorn?" They had these package deals like large popcorn and 2 drinks and a candy for $20 or medium popcorn and 2 drinks and candy for $17. So of course, we went with the large. Avengers was BAD ASS! There were parts of that movie that were funnier than any movie I've seen! I wont go into detail so I don't spoil it for you, but you gotta see it!

So when we got out of the movie, it was around midnight and I had to get up around 7ish, so james was like "i have an extra bed at my place if you wanna crash there." I was like "i would, but I've got a load and shouldn't leave it unattended for very long. Now that I know where you are, and since I know I'll come by on 80 again, I will make it a point to stop and get together with ya!" I invited him in so he could see what the inside of a semi looks like, since like most, i figured he had never seen inside one. We sat around for probably a good half hour just chatting, and we were both yawning, so he was like "i'm gonna hafta take off. Im falling asleep!" I was like "i hear ya." So the next morning, I got up and was on the road about 8AM. Got to my next stop which was in Wyoming at a Pilot by about 5PM that night. With one more drive shift to go, and me not being due here in Utah till 10PM tonight, I literally just layed in bed a few hours last night watching episodes of "Heros" on netflix, and I would have gotten online, but I hadn't gotten much sleep the previous two nights, so I just crashed. it was 8PM when I went to sleep, and I didn't get up till about 9 this morning, watched another two episodes on netflix and ran inside to use the restroom really quick, and took off about 11:15. Got here to the customer around 7pm. They literally do not even "open" until 10PM tonight, so I parked and got online to do my assignment that is due tonight for my class, and then come on here to blog, and pretty soon I will log off and just continue waiting. It's not long now. It's almost 9:30, so I will be able to get checked in soon. I still keep telling myself "i need to resume writing my book". I really do. I want to get it written completely so I can work on getting it published and maybe have another source of income, then in addition to that, I wasnt to find out how I might be able to get my guacamole recipe in stores as well because that will help us out too. Funds are a bit tight currently, and stress levels are high. I literally am in a love hate relationship with my job. Yes I love what I do, and I have come a long way and gotten very used to how to do it, and I do enjoy it...but..........I hate it at the same time. I'm alone 99% of the time, I miss my family, and it's just, that really drags me down. I try my best to just take the bad with the good and do the best that I can. It's hard to do. Please keep me in your prayers everybody! Financially as well as spiritually! Thanks. Talk to you all again soon!

C