Thursday, July 26, 2007
Another Fine Under-American
Can't seem to find underwear with that American Made tang? WWW.wickers.com they make 'em right here and I have had pairs of their underwear last 10 years. I said I would give ideas to those that want American Made products...well, here ya go.
Rain In Beloit
These are pictures of the fields surrounding the Ripley State Line Truck Stop. The bottom photo is of the vineyards in the area and the top is of a pumpkin patch that is directly behind the truck parking area. The truck stop is sort of dumpy but has a good restaurant. Well, well here I find myself at the Flying J in South Beloit, WI. Usually I am in a god awful hurry and have barely enough time to fuel much less look at the surroundings. There really isn't too much here that doesn't involve trucks, truck stops, and naturally, truckers. I prefer a bit of character for my surroundings thank you.
If it seems that I am a bit negative this morning it is because I am. It is raining. Rain can cleanse the soul. If I were in a grassy meadow with a stream and had a fishing pole in my hand there would be a different feeling associated with the rain. It is just very hard to get jazzed up over the rain in a truck stop with the puddles taking a brown hue from the motor oil and who knows what other substances.
I went in and had a cup of coffee with another Jim Palmer driver and had coffee and some buffet breakfast items. I really hate eating with other truck drivers. I mean, there is the way I have always learned to behave in most situations, which I feel, clearly represents the way I have been raised and what my mannerisms are. When I am with another person, I find myself a critic of their behaviour. What that person sees as a witty statement will embarrass the hell out of me. The other driver had to get going on to Delaware, OH which is where I just came out of.
After I dropped off at Kroger, I was sent to Fredonia, NY to pick up a load for Stevens Point, WI. This is a town that is home to the Point Brewery that makes Point Special Lager beer. One of my favorite beers to smuggle into North Dakota. I have a friend that lives in nearby Marshfield, WI and he can swallow 24 cans at a time. However, Customs has been noticing his rather bloated appearance. I think they are on to us. My wife thinks I am dating a fat, bloated Wisconsinite. It is just about the beer, I promise.
Anyway, I have until midnight to get to the Roundys warehouse. I think I will make it.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
The State Of The Union and My Computer
You will notice at times that there are gaps in my entries. Some days, I just don't have a thing to say. Other days, there just isn't enough time. Other days still, there is just no reception or access to the internet. I am one of those guys that has a wife (and therefore I suffer miserably) that can justify some expenses like, oh, I don't know, Food. And yet with all of her capricious expenses on food, bills, insurance and the like, will not allow me the necessary tax deductable and convenient expense for a Verizon card for my computer. Just think, I could make entries to this blog sickness every day and some days more than once. I can have absolutely nothing to say and yet just sign on and say it anyway. Better to have something to say and say it every few days rather than fill a page with nothing.
Not being on the computer every day...This is truly a blessing. I mean, don't get me wrong, I am not one of those guys that would consider using my computer as an extension of myself. That is, to say, being one of those people that cannot express himself without the aid of a keyboard, cellphone, PDA, Etc. I am a person with opinions, feelings, desires, and hobbies all on my own. I am not defined by the fact that there is technology that accents and makes certain parts of my life more convenient and enjoyable. I have a computer and that is as far as it goes much like the fact that I also have a Buick. I have no Buick tattoos and do not own a Buick T-shirt and I do not spend 3 grand annually on the Buick anal hoedown in some armpit in South Dakota where Buick enthusiast women prance about topless to show off their Buickness as it were.
I'm not smacking against the marketing juggernaut that Harley-Davidson has managed to pull off with their fine American-made motorcycles and the fine people that ride them. I am just saying that I am a person and there is nothing that I can surround myself with that will define me. If I am an ass, I am an ass that uses a computer. I am not a computer using ass. I know, I am losing you. What I am saying is that you should use this short life to do things and avoid being defined by the silly things that amount to nothing more than window dressing.
That having been said in the last paragraph. Have any of you ever given any thought to what you buy and what that says about you. Do you as Americans cast your vote whenever you buy something? I personally think that is a very important thing. Every time the cash register goes ding...think about it. That is one heck of a lot of voting that Americans do every day and you never get to register to vote. I feel that if there were a registration process to be a consumer, that people would consider their voting choices more carefully. When you register to vote you determine what party you lean towards and you can change your leanings when you vote, it just makes you think about which way you will vote. That is my impression anyway.
One look in your trash can will reveal alot about what you do, what you consume, what you read and even what you feel is unimportant and therefore throw away. When I was in the Navy, I had a neighbor that bought one heck of alot of porn. At least that was what I thought because on every trash day, I would haul my trash can to the curb and his can next door usually had 2 or 3 examples of porno video packaging visible in his trash. Based on that, I could have decided on the evidence provided that my neighbor was a porn freak. I could see him slinking down the aisles at the adult bookstore with his raincoat and galoshes and then slinking home to watch hideous displays of debauchery and rape. Really, I will never know. He and his wife sort of were snots and I never really socialized with them and never had chance to ask him about all the packaging. It just goes to show that what you buy will in some way represent what perhaps you stand for. What do you stand for?
The reason I ask that question is that there is a lot of talk about how Mexico is invading the United States. How China is removing the American worker from the work place by producing cheaper products with its slave labor. I really get a kick when I hear some moron on the Fox Network...remember, fair and balanced, blabber on about how nothing is made in America any more.
Nonsense! Fox and all the other networks are well paid for their advertizing by large corporate entities. Large corporate entities in turn are in the business of making money...profit. Nothing disonorable there. Large corporate entities also make more profit when they can circumvent the normal processes that produce products that generate profit. The largest cost in the production process besides material would be naturally, Labor. You cut out the Wages, Insurance, benefits, FICA deductions, Workmens Compensation premiums and even the cost of manufacturing facilities and I will tell you, that you have saved one hell of a lot of money in your manufacturing process. You give a Chinese company your manufacturing specs and they produce it for a fee. Nothing could be easier and the money will just roll in. And for quite a few of these companies, it has.
It would be easy to just jump on the bus and sit here and say that the Greed and lack of character of the American business executive is just terrible. It would also be easy to say that money talks. What every American needs is a big fat dope slap...think about it. Chinese labor would not be a factor if every American were to refuse to buy Chinese products. It is difficult I know because a diligent consumer must actually make an effort. Sometimes it is just a matter of asking the shopkeeper if there are any American Made products in a particular area and if they could be ordered. The internet is also really helpful. There are books on the subject, but they are really not necessary. All it takes is to read the labels of what you are buying and to put forth the effort. I think that America is worth my effort and therefore I buy American every chance I get. This is not the easiest pursuit as there are always detractors that get their information from the News Networks.
Here are a couple easy to find American Products: Give them a try.
American made shoes can be found at WWW.nbwebexpress.com click on the Made in USA section...American Made Jeans can be found at WWW.pointerbrand.com and they are forthright about whether or not you are buying made in USA. These products are not cheap. They are however, products that I have used for years and have found them to be of great quality and that makes all the difference in the world. I will list products that I use from time to time and see if I can make a difference. You will not find these two products at Wal-Mart. They cannot make cost consessions that will allow for 10 dollar jeans and shoes. They also are dedicated to their loyal employees that have produced great quality for years and years. Loyalty deserves to be rewarded.
End of Sermon, Dedication
Not being on the computer every day...This is truly a blessing. I mean, don't get me wrong, I am not one of those guys that would consider using my computer as an extension of myself. That is, to say, being one of those people that cannot express himself without the aid of a keyboard, cellphone, PDA, Etc. I am a person with opinions, feelings, desires, and hobbies all on my own. I am not defined by the fact that there is technology that accents and makes certain parts of my life more convenient and enjoyable. I have a computer and that is as far as it goes much like the fact that I also have a Buick. I have no Buick tattoos and do not own a Buick T-shirt and I do not spend 3 grand annually on the Buick anal hoedown in some armpit in South Dakota where Buick enthusiast women prance about topless to show off their Buickness as it were.
I'm not smacking against the marketing juggernaut that Harley-Davidson has managed to pull off with their fine American-made motorcycles and the fine people that ride them. I am just saying that I am a person and there is nothing that I can surround myself with that will define me. If I am an ass, I am an ass that uses a computer. I am not a computer using ass. I know, I am losing you. What I am saying is that you should use this short life to do things and avoid being defined by the silly things that amount to nothing more than window dressing.
That having been said in the last paragraph. Have any of you ever given any thought to what you buy and what that says about you. Do you as Americans cast your vote whenever you buy something? I personally think that is a very important thing. Every time the cash register goes ding...think about it. That is one heck of a lot of voting that Americans do every day and you never get to register to vote. I feel that if there were a registration process to be a consumer, that people would consider their voting choices more carefully. When you register to vote you determine what party you lean towards and you can change your leanings when you vote, it just makes you think about which way you will vote. That is my impression anyway.
One look in your trash can will reveal alot about what you do, what you consume, what you read and even what you feel is unimportant and therefore throw away. When I was in the Navy, I had a neighbor that bought one heck of alot of porn. At least that was what I thought because on every trash day, I would haul my trash can to the curb and his can next door usually had 2 or 3 examples of porno video packaging visible in his trash. Based on that, I could have decided on the evidence provided that my neighbor was a porn freak. I could see him slinking down the aisles at the adult bookstore with his raincoat and galoshes and then slinking home to watch hideous displays of debauchery and rape. Really, I will never know. He and his wife sort of were snots and I never really socialized with them and never had chance to ask him about all the packaging. It just goes to show that what you buy will in some way represent what perhaps you stand for. What do you stand for?
The reason I ask that question is that there is a lot of talk about how Mexico is invading the United States. How China is removing the American worker from the work place by producing cheaper products with its slave labor. I really get a kick when I hear some moron on the Fox Network...remember, fair and balanced, blabber on about how nothing is made in America any more.
Nonsense! Fox and all the other networks are well paid for their advertizing by large corporate entities. Large corporate entities in turn are in the business of making money...profit. Nothing disonorable there. Large corporate entities also make more profit when they can circumvent the normal processes that produce products that generate profit. The largest cost in the production process besides material would be naturally, Labor. You cut out the Wages, Insurance, benefits, FICA deductions, Workmens Compensation premiums and even the cost of manufacturing facilities and I will tell you, that you have saved one hell of a lot of money in your manufacturing process. You give a Chinese company your manufacturing specs and they produce it for a fee. Nothing could be easier and the money will just roll in. And for quite a few of these companies, it has.
It would be easy to just jump on the bus and sit here and say that the Greed and lack of character of the American business executive is just terrible. It would also be easy to say that money talks. What every American needs is a big fat dope slap...think about it. Chinese labor would not be a factor if every American were to refuse to buy Chinese products. It is difficult I know because a diligent consumer must actually make an effort. Sometimes it is just a matter of asking the shopkeeper if there are any American Made products in a particular area and if they could be ordered. The internet is also really helpful. There are books on the subject, but they are really not necessary. All it takes is to read the labels of what you are buying and to put forth the effort. I think that America is worth my effort and therefore I buy American every chance I get. This is not the easiest pursuit as there are always detractors that get their information from the News Networks.
Here are a couple easy to find American Products: Give them a try.
American made shoes can be found at WWW.nbwebexpress.com click on the Made in USA section...American Made Jeans can be found at WWW.pointerbrand.com and they are forthright about whether or not you are buying made in USA. These products are not cheap. They are however, products that I have used for years and have found them to be of great quality and that makes all the difference in the world. I will list products that I use from time to time and see if I can make a difference. You will not find these two products at Wal-Mart. They cannot make cost consessions that will allow for 10 dollar jeans and shoes. They also are dedicated to their loyal employees that have produced great quality for years and years. Loyalty deserves to be rewarded.
End of Sermon, Dedication
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Buggered By Cherries
On my last entry on July 18th, I was kind of miffed by the crappy scheduling that I had been subjected to in the last few days. That was nothing compared to my dealings with the idiots at Stemilt in Wenachee, Wa.
When I am given my load information, I head the 136 miles up from Grandview to Wenachee. I arrive at the Old Station plant and check in. I am told to wait and monitor channel 40. There are a lot of trucks but there are always a lot of trucks at this location. I wait, and wait. Finally, at 5 pm my dispatcher calls and lets me know that they will not be able to get to me at all on the 19th and that I should get to a truck stop and make myself comfortable. I am told that there is a truck stop next door. The happy little place, Wenachee Truck Stop. Wonderful place. First of all, these losers put a crummy convenience store on a dumpy dirt lot, sell the back row parking spaces to people who will rent them and leave approximately 11 spaces available for those of us that want to park by 9 am can take. The food is warmed over pre-made crap and the place and the bathrooms were filthy. Do I sound negative? Good, because the place should be used to test low megaton nuclear weapons and then fill in the hole. Oh, and the owner should have his feet beaten with ball peen hammers and then set on fire. Or something like that.
This is all bittersweet, because Wenachee is a rather scenic place with the cliffs and the rolling hills. I enjoyed the views but I am getting away from the story. The picture above shows the truck stop and an example of the looming hills above.
Anyway, I go back on the 20th and am told over and over that it will be a couple hours, just a couple hours. So I stay up all day waiting for this crap to end. The whole time I am watching the docks. Mexican drivers were hitting the docks at a rate of 6 to 1 of any other color. All the people in the shipping office that were working the window were Mexican. Coincidence? Who knows, but about that time someone said on channel 40 "Looks like some Mexicans have paid off the bitches at the shipping office." Next thing you know there is a bunch of yelling from a woman at the shipping office.
About 20 minutes later, I am called into the office and given directions to their Miller Street location and told that my cherries are being picked now and will be ready late tonight. I proceed to Miller Street where a dock worker comes up to me asking me for Jim Palmer hats to which I tell him I am fresh out. I mean that takes a lot of nerve. Leaving me stuck for 2 days with filthy bathrooms and crappy facilities for the driver and then I am expected to pony up for a hat to please someone. What nerve.
I go to bed at 1830 expecting to be woke up in the wee hours but it never happened. I woke up wide awake at 0230 and cleaned my truck, washed my hair, changed clothes and did anything else I could do because I couldn't sleep. I went and had breakfast at a Denny's style place. It was my first hot meal in 2 days. The place was full of drunks and tweakers. Not a normal person in sight. I ordered my food from a waitress who was rude and sizing me up in some way as if to say that she knew that I was not from there and not a member of her drunk, tweaker club. I looked to her as if to say: give me my god damn eggs you hag I just want to eat and get out of here. On the way back to the truck there was a car ahead of me with the door open. This guy was drunk as a skunk and throwing up. Marvelous. I walk by and he just kept puking. I started imitating his sounds and laughing. He starts yelling at me and even tried to get out of the car and chase me like some drunk zombie. It was hilarious, I just kept watching.
I finally got into the dock at 0930 on the 21st and was in the shipping office with a rather nice lady who felt the need to smooth the situation by talking a lot. No problem with me on that one. I asked her what the problem was with getting me my product and do they have any idea how inconsiderate it is to string a person along for 2 days with no shower, hot food or even Internet access. How would she like it if I locked her in a box and told her for the privilege of hauling my freight, she would have to eat cold food, not bathe, and only use this filthy bathroom for 2 days. She replied that there never was a true shortage that Stemilt had oversold their cherries to Export accounts which get the company 13 dollars per case as compared with Kroger whose contract calls for 9 dollars per case. It was a money decision and Truck drivers are stuck in the middle of it. Lousy business if you ask me. If you have any opinions on the treatment of truckers at Stemilt, their phone number is 800-665-8124. Tell them that we deserve better treatment and that we will not stand for this abuse. Dedication
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