Bob Sleasman's Blog, March, 2008

Bob's Blog

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March 1-2, 2008. I rested my back as much as possible, we to see the movie, Vantage Point, and then went to dinner on Saturday. Donna left around noon to get close to her pickup in the morning, and to beat the traffic that is always a problem in NYC. Blog Author Top of Page Bottom of Page

Monday, March 3, 2008. Donna picked up the freight in Jamaica, the load was a straight through load, and she got uploaded as soon as she got to the delivery. Donna went to Winchester, VA., to layover. Blog Author Top of Page Bottom of Page

Tuesday, March 4, 2008. Donna was offered a nice TVAL load, it picked up tomorrow morning in Allentown PA., going to Boston, MA. It would have been a sweet load, but it load canceled at 1500.

Donna was offered another load picking up an Enviro-Tainer at JFK and delivering to Union, NJ, and then returning the container to JFK. Blog Author Top of Page Bottom of Page

Wednesday, March 5, 2008. Donna made her pickup and delivery, after which she deadheaded home. We have to be at FedEx CC in Green, Ohio on Friday for training.

After Donna arrived home we went out for dinner. We then packed for our trip to FedEx; we will be leaving tomorrow afternoon. Blog Author Top of Page Bottom of Page

Thursday, March 6, 2008. We have been talking to the Ford dealership we do business with on and off for the past few months. We want to buy a new Ford Expedition. Donna loves the one we have now, but the miles are starting to pile up on it. Dan, the salesman we do business with, called, he said he just got a new Funkmaster Flex, Limited Edition Expedition in. We just had to see it. We went up to Latham Ford, and there sitting out front was this beautiful Expedition. Donna and I looked at each other and smiled. We went inside, met Dan, and after a little negotiation, bought the thing. We arranged to pick it up on Saturday, afternoon.

We left for Green, OH. from Latham Ford. We arrived at the motel about 2000, we had dinner and went to bed early. Blog Author Top of Page Bottom of Page

Friday, March 7, 2008. We go up early, went to the FedEx CC building, and spent about eight hours training. The weather turned pretty bad during the day. It snowed all day and the wind picked up a bunch.

After our training session, we started home. We knew it would not be a fun ride. The snow was still coming down, and the winds had picked up some also. Donna looked up the weather on her Blackberry. It showed that if we could get to I-76 we should be able to duck under the worst of the weather. With that said we took I-80 to I-76. We did manage to get out of the weather after about 100 miles of our trip home. We took I-76, to I-81 to I-84, to I-87, to home. It took about 10 hours but the detour was worth it. Blog Author Top of Page Bottom of Page

Saturday, March 8, 2008. We picked up the Expedition around 1300, what a great car. It has every option available on it, and then some. Donna won't let me drive it. She says it’s hers and I would wreck it. So I did the only thing I could do, I begged her. It worked!

I have a 2004 Mustang GT, 40th Anniversary Edition, with 14,000 miles on it. Latham Ford offered me a good deal on it for a new F150 pickup truck. I told them I would think about it. Blog Author Top of Page Bottom of Page

Sunday, March 9, 2008. Donna went to the market to pick up something for dinner. She then decided she needed to cruise around in her new ride.

We had the dinner, and chilled out the rest of the night. Blog Author Top of Page Bottom of Page

Monday, March 10, 2008. Donna had to go down to the IRB with some paperwork to register the Western Star for 2008. I went to Latham Ford and made a deal on the F150. I'll be picking it up tomorrow. Blog Author Top of Page Bottom of Page

Tuesday, March 11, 2008. I picked up the new F150, and then went to the chiropractor. My back is improving, but it will be a couple of weeks before I will see any real improvement.

I'll be staying home and Donna will be going out solo. We decided that this is the best course of action to take. We can't risk any damage my back would incur if I go back on the road right now. Blog Author Top of Page Bottom of Page

March 12-25, 2008. It’s kind of depressing being home while Donna is on the road by herself. I worry about her, I know she is fine with it, she has done it for years before we met. I also feel like I'm not pulling my weight. We are partners in life, on and off the road, and right now I'm not holding up my end.

I've been going to the chiropractor every day. There is some improvement, but the going is slow.

Trace Adkins came to town for a show. Donna said it might lift my spirits if I went to see him. I ordered tickets. The show was very good; I wish Donna could have been with me.

Donna is doing well as a solo. She has been getting some good loads, staying mostly here in the Northeast.

The days are kind of melding together. I'm stuck in the same routine every day. The chiropractor says I can't lift anything at all for at least the next week.

Donna came home the Thursday before Easter. That made me happy, we will be together for Easter.

We had a nice ham dinner for Easter, my mother cooked it, yes I have a mother, aka, the old woman.

The Monday after Easter we brought the Western Star over to Northway Transport Refrigeration to have the cargo box repaired, from the accident we were involved in at the end January.

We are going to MATS. We plan to leave the morning of the 26th. We will be taking the Funkmaster Flex Expedition. Donna has fallen madly in love with the thing. I just might have to shoot the thing before it takes over my side of the bed. Blog Author Top of Page Bottom of Page

March 26, 2008. We are on our way to MATS, Donna and I loaded the SUV and hit the road by 0800. The ride was pretty good, but we both got tired and decided to stop for the night between Cincinnati and Louisville. We both figured it was a smart move, we could get a good night sleep, and be ready to hit MATS refreshed. Blog Author Top of Page Bottom of Page

March 27-28, 2008. We stopped at the motel we would be staying at before we went to the truck show, but the room wasn't read. We decided to continue on to the show and unpack when we returned later this evening.

We met Donnas’ cousin Dyche outside the convention center, as planned. He and a few friends, one with a motor home, had a place in the RV parking area; they were having a pretty good time when we arrived. We visited with them until it was time for the doors to the show to open, Donna and I went our own way when the show opened, we had a lot of things to see and do there. We were kind of on a mission; looking into some products we were interested in maybe purchasing to help increase our bottom line.

We had a great time at the show. There were some beautiful looking trucks there; all the truck manufacturers had great looking vehicles on display. The new International Lone Star was a beautiful looking rig. The crowds of people it drew was unbelievable, you could hardly get near enough to it to get a good look at it. It’s not a truck for everybody, but I sure liked it. The Western Star display also had some great looking trucks there, but then again I have always liked the look of them, that’s why I own one.

Anything you could want or need for your rig was there. I had to restrain myself from buying tons of chrome and lights; I should say Donna restrained me. We did buy a set of AirTabs, and I got a bunch of information on the Spinner II oil by-pass filter system. We stopped at the Detroit Diesel booth and talked to the people there about warranty issues if I added the Spinner II system. I was told that as long as I had it installed at an approved shop there wouldn't be a problem.

Donna and I made the rounds of all the booths, some several times, to pick up some of the free handouts, we got a bunch of pens, and some were pretty nice. We picked up rulers, note books, posters, calendars, T- shirts and most anything else we could get for free. I took a few pictures, some I will post here.

We had accomplished all we set out to do and had seen everything we wanted to see by the end of the second day of the show. Donna and I decided to skip the third day and leave for home instead. We have been to MATS several times, and every time we come the show is bigger and better than the last one. For those of you who have never gone to MATS, I strongly suggest you to attend the show, at least once. It’s an experience you won't soon forget. Blog Author Top of Page Bottom of Page

March 29-31, 2008. We returned home from the truck show around mid-morning on the 29th. We just kind of hung around for the weekend. We went through the bags of giveaway items we got at the truck show, and on Monday morning we picked up our truck at Northway Transport, it was fixed and looked as good as new. Blog Author Top of Page Bottom of Page