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