Two of My Least Favorite Things are About to Happen...At the Same Time!

As time grows near for us, and the 912 Truck, to go back to work, I sit here loathing the idea of A.) Vacation Ending and B.)Winter Beginning.

I must say, Winter, on the road, has to be my least favorite season of the year. Traffic is worse during the Spring and Summer, Fall is just bad because you know Winter is on the way, there is "Construction" season, but that goes on year round in some parts of the country, The Holidays, Christmas, Thanksgiving, 4th of July, Memorial Day, Labor Day etc., are all bad but I have gotten used to and actually find enjoyment in being the road, with my fantastic wife, during those times, but Winter is just miserable.

Let's start with colds and the flu. While always less than fun, on the road you just never have a real chance to get rid of them. Nasty truck stops, filthy public restrooms, a hygienically challenged public, you get the picture. Fortunately, we have it better than most drivers because of the amenities inside our truck, never the less, a cold or the flu, on the road, bites.

Then there is the weather. Snow, rain, freezing rain, sleet, whatever, the weather is bad at some point during the winter, in most parts of the country, save Central to Southern Florida and Southern California. Now don't get me wrong, I like the snow as long as I can be inside, looking out the window at the beautiful white landscape. Otherwise, not so much.

The salt and liquid, calcium chloride or potassium acetate, used to melt the snow and ice in many parts of the country is corrosive to metals, damaging to wiring connections, hard on paint and undercarriages, and gets in every nook and cranny while driving. The only way to combat this problem is to stay home during this season. Rinsing off the salt and liquids helps but you can never get all of it and seldom is there a self serve truck wash in the area where you need one. The best thing to happen, again, short of staying home, is a torrential downpour or rain in a warmer climate after traveling in one of these area, but again, that never happens at the right time.

Chain regulations, always harder on big trucks than on cars. Not because we are worse drivers but because it gives the appearance that safety matters. While it does matter to most drivers, it matters not to State Road Officials, D.O.T officers, or Highway Patrol Officers. Chains and the installation, or not, of them, is merely a source of revenue when not installed or even carried in some parts of the country or if improperly installed(according to the enforcement individual). Personally, I don't install chains. I believe that if it is dangerous enough for me to lay on the frozen ground, under a truck, along the highway, with automobiles cruising by at 55+ mph and risk my life to install a set of chains, then it is probably safer, for me and everyone else on the road to restrict movement on that roadway to snow removal equipment. Again, the safety of the truck driver is of NO concern at all, merely the appearance of safety to others is the concern to the lawmakers and a revenue source to the state.

Now, in some parts of the country, our industrious lawmakers have made it mandatory for the driver of a big truck to climb atop his truck and trailer, and see to it that all snow is removed from the tops of both, before starting a trip. There is an exclusion for snow accumulated during a trip though. How kind of the derelicts to think of this exclusion, huh. So, again, let's recap this brainstorm. They, the states involved, want me to carry a ladder, tall enough to climb onto a 13'6" tractor trailer, place that ladder on a snowy, icy, slick parking lot or roadside, climb atop my 102" wide by 53" long, snow and ice covered, truck and trailer with a broom or a shovel and proceed to remove the snow and ice from said truck and trailer, ALL IN THE NAME OF SAFETY? Really? I think not. I don't stop while there is snow falling or a chance of snow in that part of the country. Safer? Well, for the driver, it is most certainly safer.

Let me not be mistaken here, I realize it takes all four seasons to make ecology work according to God's plan. I would just rather not partake in snowy winters on the road. We grew up in Southern Illinois but I haven't lived there, for more than a week at a time in the winter, for over 20 years. I moved to California in '87 then to Florida in '98. I don't see me ever leaving Florida, other than for work, during the winter months. A summer place in North or South Dakota or even Minnesota or Montana would be nice but you'll not catch me there after September 30th for anything other than necessary, money induced, work.

All that being said, winters comes and goes, as do vacations. We have another planned for the last week of December and the first two weeks of January 2010 for Christmas with the families for the first time in 3 years, another few days of around the 20th to the 27th of February, for the 912 candidate convention to which the 912 truck has been invited, then in May for Tina's nephew's graduation from high school and a short 3 day cruise to the Bahamas, and finally, as far as "planned time off" we are planning a tour of the country, in "Tea Party Express Style" during last week of August and the first two weeks of September next year and plan to end up in D.C. on the 12th of September again.

We are, looking forward to getting back to work on the road with the 912 Truck. We are hoping and praying that people will be as receptive or more so, for the next 12 months, as they have been in the last 3 months. Tina stated the other day that she feels something big is about to happen. She said she wasn't sure what it was or even what it had to do with but that it would be big. I feel like it is probably the awakening of the greatest giant in the world...WE THE PEOPLE!! I guess I have never felt as optimistic about our country as I feel right now. After attending the 912 D.C. event, talking with so many Patriots, and reading and watching all that is happening in America, I feel re-energized for another 3 months on the road, even if they will be during the Winter months.

We have launched into a couple of apparel stores so that all can show their support of our mission, and the 912 Project. Click here to show your support, or go to www.printfection.com/912truck. For those of you that would rather have a hat or mug you we have another outlet at cafepress.com/912 Truck
Thanks for your support.


In God I Trust
Have a Great Day and a Better Tomorrow
ADW