Sorry

There was a time I was daddy,
Now I'm just dad.

There was a time you smiled,
Now you're just there.

I call your phone,
No answer.

I text you,
No reply

I post to your wall,
No acknowledgement.

I reply to your post,
You know how the story goes.

I'm sorry baby girl.  I didn't try to become just your father.  I failed you.

Just know, I love you with everything I have and I'll always be ready to be daddy again.

[INSERT BLOG TITLE HERE]

I've been getting caught up on blogs that I read and thinking that maybe I should post. But what to say? I don't even know what to use for a title.

You know, I've renamed my blog site to do with the fact I'm a truck driver, but haven't really talked about it yet. Maybe I could start there. Let's see.....

I've been driving now for over 4 years, all for the same company. My company was strictly an auto shift fleet. That kind of bummed me out. I've wanted to drive truck since I was a little kid and always imagined shifting through all the gears. And then BAM!!! Auto shift.

Now, people that have never driven an auto shift truck probably imagine something along the lines of a car style auto. It's not. It's actually a manual shift transmission, but it is computer shifted. The downfall is that you don't get the true experience of driving a truck and your stuck going through every gear up and every gear down. On most auto shift trucks anyway. My first one was a Volvo with a 12 speed auto shift and it would actually skip gears according to how fast the RPM's went up.

But our Freightliners are 10 speed Ultra-Shift and go through every gear.

Then one day I hear this rumor about my company buying 185 manual shift trucks and only giving them to trainers. Hmmm, I'm a trainer.... Sure enough, I got the call to pick one up. YAY ME!!!

Now, I've been nearly 4 years driving an auto shift, but I know how to drive a manual from a previous job and I drove one in trucker school. But the job was a decade ago and school was only a couple of weeks. One week in the truck.

It was embarrassing LOL.

I figured I had better take a week off from training so that I could get used to the truck before I tried to show a student how to drive one.. I'm pretty good at it now. But I do have to say, when I'm in traffic, I kind of miss the auto shift LOL..

I'm sure those that have seen our trucks have also noticed that we were a 100% dry van company. Well now we are starting to dabble in reefer units. I quickly got under one. Longer miles and I get more places than we do with a dry van. Plus the trailers are assigned to us. No drop and hooks, but I always have the same trailer. I'll actually spend the extra cash to wash my trailer now.

The other plus is that my company just started putting new logos on the new equipment. So both my truck and trailer are 2010 models with matching logos. After being with the old logos for so long, I think the new ones look GREAT!!

With only 51 trailers and 186 trucks (one older truck and trailer was relabeled) out of 2,000 trucks and over 5,000 trailers, I feel kind of special...

I sure am rambling on for someone with no clue what to talk about today LOL.

But, on that note...

- Chip

Above The Mat

So, it's been awhile since I've been around here...

Good news!!! Brooklyn is one step closer to having her ring and getting Above The Mat Wrestling off the ground. I know she likes to says it's all of us, but it's not. This is her baby. Don't get me wrong, I will enjoy the ride.

I've never been a fan of main stream wrestling (WWE), but I love the indies. The guys that come out and put on a show for nothing more than gas money and comradeship. I've made a lot of friends in the Michigan Indies (because I am the most famous NON-wrestler in the Michigan indies!) and enjoy watching them in that square circle.

So, my baby, Above The Mat, is getting a new twist. The reins are being turned over to Brooklyn to breathe new life into ATM. Make it famous yet again.

I'm sure we will still do radio shows, but they will be far and few between with the crew being spread out so far now. But wrestling will always bring them all together. And from time to time, you will see a table set up in the corner with me doing my technical thang, running around like a chicken gettin' it's feathers plucked by a 2 year old. Then, the next thing you know, your hearing those words yet again....

"WELCOME!!!! To Above The Mat!!"

- Marshall

Work blows

It's 6am out here in the North West mountains. I'm waiting for the sun to come and warm up the day. My wife called and woke me up, but I haven't called back yet. Not sure why. It probably has to do with the nightmares I have. I worry that she might get too lonely at home without me there.

That's the part that sucks about my job. Not being home. I took my job for a couple of reasons. First, because in Michigan, there just aren't any jobs. But mostly because I've always wanted to drive truck across the country. I love seeing all the sights and when I have time, I take back roads to break up the everyday boring highways. I love to see the scenery.

Then there is child support. My job has kept me out of trouble with the Michigan child support office and I'm finally getting caught up.

But, the longer I stay, the better the pay, the harder it is to find a job that will get me home more often while at the same time making the money I make. I'm to a point now that I can pay all the bills on my own without my wife working. The nature of the beast might put me behind a little, but it's never more than a week or two at most.

In just a couple of months I'll be at a point that I could take an entire month off and get paid for it. This summer, I'll be able to take a week off, drive to my daughter's graduation, then a little over a month later, take two more weeks off for our annual July 4th family get together at my house. And still have yet another week of paid vacation to use whenever.

I've never had this before in a job. I've had jobs long enough to do it, but they were jobs that didn't offer these kind of benefits. So to find a suitable replacement will be tough.

I was going to stay out after I finish with this student to take on another one. But I think I'm going to just take a couple days off. I need it. If my company would get me by the house once in a while, I would probably be much happier. But they don't. It's almost as if they purposely avoid South Carolina.

I think I'm going to push the issue after this trip to the east to get me by the house. I miss my family and could really use a hug from my wife. The kind of hug that reassures me that she misses me just as much.

On a happier note, I met my aunt Sue and my cousin Kim in Tacoma, WA yesterday. Sue and I had a great time and did a LOT of talking about family and life in general. She took me to lunch and I think we spent more time talking than eating.

She is Bill's sister. Bill, if you don't know, is the guy listed on my birth certificate. Growing up, the family I met were a bunch of hoodlums. I mean, there is another aunt that was great to visit when I was a kid, but I haven't seen her in years. (Mental note, visit aunt Madeline next time I'm in Port Huron.) It was refreshing to meet a couple more members of my family that I'm glad to call family.

I was really nervous at first, but Sue was quick to make me feel at ease. I can't wait to come back and take a day off work and meet the rest of the family.

Well, time to get off here and go pick up my load so I can start heading to Pennsylvania. From there, hopefully south so I can take a day at home.

- Chip

It's early

So, I've been slowly working on our new Boston Terrier website. While working on it this morning, I got to thinking about a conversation with my wife yesterday.

She says that she seems to think that I'm more excited about our new adventure than she is. I don't seem to think so. I just want things done right if I'm going to be in agreement.

Jenny loves her Bostons. More than I do quite honestly. But they aren't bad dogs. And yes, I'll admit I was head over heals with our first one, Mater Bug. He was beautifully marked and loved to box. I think if he were here today, he would be in charge LOL...

Anyway, I want things done right with this new adventure. The problem is, things cost money. I want our dogs to all have a clean bill of health from our vet. I understand they were vet checked by their previous owners, but I want them checked out with our vet.

And my biggest worry is the smell in the house. I am in full agreement that the Bostons should be kept indoors and be pets rather than just animals that we own. I am NOT a fan of kennels. But I think I would be willing to go that route if my house starts to smell like one. There was a lot of money that has gone into remodeling our home.

I mean, it already needs carpets replaced because of two males (Rascal, our male Boston and Sarge, a mix) having pissing wars up until Sarge got fixed when Lily came into our home. And yes, that was a condition of mine also when it came to getting our first female... Sarge must loose his balls...

I just want things done right. I don't want to be considered a puppy mill. Our bitches will only be allowed to breed once a year. And unless previously agreed upon, all puppies MUST GO! Even if it means giving in on our price after a while. We have one right now that is lingering and I think Jenny is starting to get attached. It's time to start offering him at a lower price. Or maybe send him to my mom.... Her old dog is about to kick the bucket.

It kind of sucks being out here on the road and not at home where I could be getting the pen done outside and the doggy door put in so that the dogs can go out when they need or want to. But, I gotta pay the bills.

So, in conclusion... Am I more excited than her about our new adventure into breeding? I don't think so... But I do think I'm more concerned about the little things that need to be done to make sure it's done right.

And to be honest, I want to get into showing dogs too. Well, I want her to get into it. I'm a truck driver, no way I can do it. We have two bitches with championship bloodlines and looking at a new male that is sired and grandsired by champions.

If we are going to do this, we are going all the way. We will have a champion sire in our house within two years.

- Chip

-------------------

In Marshall news, Marshall has been thinking about coming back from the grave. His genius is needed for a little side project. That will be announced later. Besides, ATM Wrestling is getting closer to becoming reality. Brooklyn is slowly working on getting her ring paid for.

- Marshall

Dogs, dogs, and more dogs

So my wife and I decided to start breeding Boston Terriers. We both fell in love with the breed after getting our first one, Mater. I actually think I surprised her by supporting the idea. I kind of complain because we have quite a few dogs.

In our home, before a couple of days ago, we had 4 dogs. Mine, Zahara, a Lab/Chow mix. Then hers... Sarge, a pug, boston, and few other breeds mixed into one little dog... And there is Rascal and Lily, both CKC registered Bostons.

They just recently had their first litter of pups... All very healthy, playful, and sold LOL. You can follow one the little ones on his own blog by clicking here.

After recouping our cost for the vet care, both for Lily (prenatal care and after) and the puppies, we got to really checking into the Continental Kennel Club. Although respectful, they aren't much for shows. So we decided to take the rest of the money from the puppies and purchase TWO more dogs. Pebbles and Lady Bug (that makes 6).

Our intention was only one AKC female that we could breed. But they are sisters and we didn't want to split them up. Both have impressive pedigrees with many champion ancestors. Our intention is to breed them and keep one or two of the male pups to show.

We also decided that since we ended up with two more females, we will wait a year then breed Lily one more time. After that, she will be retired from breeding and just live out her life with us.

Pebbles and Lady Bug will become our breeders. With the pedigrees they have, we should have no problem keeping champions in the coming generations. They are both very well mannered dogs. But were both kept in outdoor kennels. I mean, they had a good life with their previous owners. A very large yard to run and comfy sleeping quarters at night. But now they are getting accustomed to becoming indoor dogs since we don't believe in outdoor pets.

They will be whelped in the house and never again kennel kept. I'm sure they will adjust just fine.

I posted a link to our website, but it's under construction. Keep checking back for updates.

Intro to me

Chip:

Loving husband, father of many, home owner, business owner, truck driver.

Marshall:

Online radio personality, hobby.

RudeDog:

Online gamer, fun.

It's been a while

It has been quite a while since I last used Blogger... But I've been here since before Google took it over..

My past blog post are from a troubled past. One that is exactly that, the past... Life is good for me now...

Anyway, I'm just updating and letting people know that I'm back...

I'll probably discuss trucking, my 3 personalities, and my views on the world....