My princess says hi, also, through her shiny, superglossed lips. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Amazing about the food, and the ways God cares about the details of our lives. He knew how much we would enjoy the fellowship with each other.

In case I don't have time to continue too much, the adventure isn't quite over yet. Tomorrow (it was going to be tonight, but I want one more night in my own bed), I am going solo up to WA to drop off these giant rolls of brown paper. Neaksis is coming with me. *happy dance*

So there will be even more interesting stories, since we are taking her 2 kids and the Dervish.

When we get back, I am going to wallow in home-ness for a while. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Think about this one while you drive -

What do you call a camel with no humps?

SS

I know the answer I know the answer!! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

but I'm not tellin' or it will spoil Neaks fun <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

My 10 yr old niece got me on this one ! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

A giraffe?

I'll think about it. We are just leaving now.

Go ahead and tell AW, lets share the fun.

SS

Neak's lack of communication could be fixed with the purchase of a cord...mine requires the locating of a modem.....where did I had that thing. Sneaking a few minutes from work.

I would call that camel physically challenged.

How come your modem got disconnected?

Oh, it could be you take it with you sometimes?

I suspect it's an off time for AW, so I'll tell you.

You call a camel with no hump...... Humphrey.

I have one for T&L too - I should go type it out.

SS

I started to say "Humphrey" but I thought no one would get it.

Hmm, if I were a naughty girl, I'd say you call that camel FRUSTRATED
<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />

SS - yeah, I removed the modem on purpose to keep son off. I should know better. I think I need to get another plan.

But since you are a nice girl, you won't say it, right?

SS - yeah, I removed the modem on purpose to keep son off. I should know better. I think I need to get another plan.

That can be a tough one. Sometimes the kids can figure out ways to get around almost any controls.

I usually hide things in a place I'll be sure and remember. Then I forget by the next morning. Surely you don't do that too?

SS

Tuesday ~ started just as Monday ended, since I was still at the wheel. Which was unusual, since I usually try to stick AJ with the late shift.

Wisps of fog drifted silently across the face of the moon, adding their glow to the brilliant midnight countryside. Lights gleamed in the distance, growing ever nearer, winding their way through the wild Smoky Mountains.

Which is a fancy way of saying, it was hot and humid like you wouldn't believe, the full moon lit up everything for miles, and there was lots and lots and lots of traffic on the twisty, windy roads. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I really wanted to make it into NC while I was still driving, but unfortunately had to go to the bathroom at last. AJ always wakes up when I stop, so there went that idea.

He woke me up a few very short hours later to help him watch and make sure he didn't go over the edge right in front of the dock. This place in Charleston was so tight that he could'nt back in like normal - had to kind of angle in because there wasn't room to even park straight, never mind back in straight.

The kind ladies let us use the bathroom. Any time a loading/unloading place has a bathroom they will let the kids use, it is a real write-on-the-calendar kind of moment.

From there it wasn't too far to get to Fayetteville, and I got another nap, woohoo! A few more minutes there, and we were all empty. We had a faint hope of making Doswell, VA before they closed at 5pm EST, but all that pretty much disappeared the first time we had to stop at a rest area and um, rest.

We actually ended up staying there a while, since AJ was tired, too, so the kids went stir crazy for a little while we snoozed.

A fast-moving thunderstorm hit. One minute it was nice, well, hot and humid but not too bad, the next we were under a giant upended bucket of water. It didn't last long, and was quickly sunny again.

The Princess, used to CA weather, put on a sweater, against my gentle recommendation. She kept it on for at least 3.7 seconds after exiting the vehicle. Swaths of mist rose from the ground, and it was sweltering besides. We felt very Frances Marionish as we waded through the sudden swamp on our way to the facility.

After a while, I decided to sneak along farther, and managed to take off without waking AJ - quite an accomplishment! And yet again we drove past a stunning array of fascinating exits...scores of battlefields, Roanoke, historic districts, and lots of signs telling us just how far ahead we could find Washington, D.C. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" /> Very tantalizing.

It was still early when we found a nice rest area about an hour away from Doswell where we could cook our supper and get a good night's sleep. Zzzzzzzzzzz.

<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Neak,
May I ask you a couple of questions? My Husband is an OTR driver...I get very lonely while he is away and I am still concerned about the OW. What can I do to soothe my mind and help make the time that we are apart less lonely?

A couple of things are helpful, but first let me say that I have been trying to get all my little pictures off the memory thingy, but so far no luck...I still have a couple more days left on the trip, which I may have a chance to share soon, now that the Dervish is starting to get better. Just in time, while I still had a small portion of hair that had not fallen out in clumps.

Ok, tips for being married to an OTR driver and still being happy, safe, etc.

1. If a WS or FWS is a one night stand kinda person, either the OTR driving or the marriage has to go, no safety is possible. IMO, for the others it is not ideal, but can be done.

2. Behavior is a big key, no matter what the R circumstances are. In one way a false recovery or two can be helpful, because you quickly become able to recognize the difference between your DH and a brain-scrambled alien. And as long as there are no aliens around, you can feel fairly safe.

3. At least for me, it was important that we were well along in R before he went OTR. I don't know if I could have rebuilt our trust if he had been gone overnight any sooner. Hard question. AJ didn't go out until July of last year, more than a year of NC.

4. At first I felt anxiety not being able to see for myself what he was doing, but with the OW so close (and no truck parking for miles around her house), any time I felt the need it was very simple to make sure she was there, and thus could not be with him. It doesn't guarantee they are not talking, but that harks back to the behavior again.

5. Do you have kids? Some days I crave loneliness, lol. If you are lonely, I have a Dervish to sell, real cheap. Seriously though, there are still things you can do. It is well worth the investment to get a cellular plan that allows you as many minutes as you can possibly use. AJ & I talk for hours a day while he is gone, sometimes actually talking, and sometimes just sitting quietly, but together.

6. We no longer have Nextel, but while we did, it was very handy that if you get the deluxe text messaging service, you can read all his text messages, sent and received both, online 24/7. This is good even if your WS/FWS is not an OTR driver, especially if they don't know you can do that. Many phones also have a GPS service where you can view the phone's physical location online.

7. Mom, close your eyes lalalalalalala. It is even possible to get creative for meeting, um, important marital needs as often as either or both of you would like. (Remember, you have lots of minutes.)

8. Find plenty of ways to fill your time with good things. I don't have to do this, because things to do find me, and not always good things, either. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" /> But stay busy.

9. Did I mention I have a Dervish for sale?

<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

10. And how could I forget? Go with him as often as possible. We just got done spending almost all summer together, and it was wonderful!

I do have children and they do occupy a lot of my time. (Not looking to purchase a dervish...I have one of my own. I've often said that if he had been born first, he would have been an only child.)

My husband and I both have Sprint phones and we do spend several hours on the phone each day. But it's those times that we aren't on the phone that concern me. We also run our of things to talk about. Like you, we sometimes just stay on the phone with each other in quiet.

Unfortunately he doesn't very often care to have his or my marital needs met in that way, but it does happen on occasion.

I did just spend a few weeks with him in the truck w/o the children. I had a sitter for them. I also go out and meet him when he is coming in close but can't make it home. But money for gas for the car is starting to be an issue for that. We have been managing to spend a couple of days a week in average together though.

I have plenty to keep me busy but I do have trouble concentrating on any given task. I worry about what will happen between us and I worry about the OW. I don't believe he has seen her in the past 2 months and things have been wonderful between us.

((Did I mention I have a Dervish for sale?))

Keep the Dervish, when it comes right down to it...you probably would want to much for him and i'm not sure the psyche ward at the local mental health facility would have an open bed for me.

btw...I've enjoyed your stories about being on the road. I'm still impressed that you and AJ were able to handle being in such a confined space with 3 children. I am a bit curious as to how you handled getting certain needs met though. We would like to take my 2 youngest along with us sometime but that need is big for both of us.

Well, that explains what happened to the bathroom sink! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />

<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

t&l

****** SNORT *******

<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

My net goes down so I can't even defend myself against all this talk of sinks......sigh.

It is crowded in the truck, that's for sure. There is not much opportunity for getting, um, certain needs met on the road. It is usually one of 3 things. 1. Too tired most of the time anyway (since I drive too, we often run pretty long hours) 2. In the middle of the night 3. Getting verra verra creative <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />