3/13/09

Why do I feel the need to move to Seattle and complain that nobody understands me? Oh, that's right. It was a dreary and depressing kind of day from start to finish. The grunge rockers would be in all their glory down here. I awoke before the sun came up. Then... the sun never did come up. Aside from a few stray snowflakes on the windshield here and there, it was just a tedious rainy chilly affair.

I logged onto my computer to check my board status after making my relay in Virginia. Per usual, I checked my email while I was at it. Okay, let's see...

Penis enlargement; Lose weight with Acai something or other, as seen on Oprah; Generic Viagra; Support the Democratic Party; Support the Republican Party; Make $10,000 a month from home; Mystery shoppers needed; Discount offer from Papa John's; Dish Network for $9.99 a month; 2 days left for 20% off hotels at Orbitz; Nancy has sent you a message...

Nancy? To quote Leon Phelps - "Ooh, it's a lady!"

Oh, nevermind. It's a fake lady.
Sorry about the strange message but you remind me of a friend from TAYLOR's high school.. Except your much cuter :) I saw your picture and read your profile your quite the interesting individual. Says your 32.. you look great! Im sorry to flatter you but id love to chat or even get to know you a bit more. Im single honest been cheated on before and know what I want. Have a steady job, car and pretty much bored on weekends. If youd like to talk or go for some drinks email me its on my profile. I dont get on myspace too often. Nancy

So I have that going for me, which is nice. Of course she doesn't really exist, but for an imaginary internet chick she ain't so bad. Probably better looking than any real women who might want to come around my way. Not quite as hot as the last two imaginary internet chicks who sent the same message though. Bummer. If any of you went to TAYLOR's high school, you might want to e-mail her. The address is, as she says, on her profile. Of course, there is more than one high school in Taylor but I'm sure you can sort that out amongst yourselves.

Anyhow, I was #1 on the board after my relay with some time left on today's clock. Time for a nap. That 4am shit is for the birds. And the head hits the pillow... and there's the beep from the magical satellite. Story of life.

The next assignment was an odd one. Deadhead to Maxton, North Carolina and get on the board. These random deadhead assignments aren't entirely unprecedented but they are unusual. More often than not, it's a way to get me moving toward a place where I'll be picking up, but before all of the details of the load have made their way into the computer system. I had roughly enough hours to get to Maxton, depending on the traffic, so I did what I do - drive the truck and let other people do the thinking. I caught a break as the road was more dry than not between Roanoke and the North Carolina line. That US-220 is a bit of a rollercoaster in Virginia. Then the rain resumed and never really stopped the rest of the way.

As I rolled southward, I expected a load assignment to come through. The assignment never did come through. Hmm. Maxton is a really off-the-wall place to go if the objective was really just to get me on the board. Whatever. A mile is a mile in my little world. They all pay the same. According to my truck stop directory there are two truck stops in Maxton, each with a small parking area. I took the NC-71 exit and hoped for the best. Right off the ramp there was a Hardee's with a big dirt lot behind it. No reason to go down to the Shell station then. You know, bird in the hand and whatnot.

So I'm #1 on the board with 2,379 miles plus a few dollars in northeast pay on the books. I'm inclined to think that I'll probably be picking up something nearby in the morning. Any kind of typical weekend run tomorrow will leave my week looking rather productive. Time will tell.