What a great day out today--60 degrees or so and blue sky with traces of clouds floating around the mountain peaks--beautiful.
Today I was able to do a lot of maintenance things to the web blog as well as to some of my other web sites.
Today also marked the first day an individual has posted a comment (other than myself) to the iTrucker.net web blog. Cool! She had some good comments regarding the Wi-Fi comments I've been posting recently (by the way Linda, thanks for the post!)
This truck stop has been interesting from the standpoint of who's approached me while parked in the truck lot. Last night a lot lizard (truck stop prostitute) solicited me while I was talking to my wife on the cell phone (yes--I declined her "business proposition" by waving her off and yes--I told my wife about the incident). Soon afterwards I closed my curtains in my truck windows to prevent her from coming back (usually they don't bother knocking if you've got your curtains up since that probably means you're sleeping).
Shortly after she showed up, a guy showed up trying to sell me a Trucker's atlas--the kind I could buy in the truck stop. I waved him off too (I was on the same call to my wife). After the call, I promptly shut the truck's curtains!
This morning, a guy showed up with a carton of cigarettes. I waved him off as well (I'm getting into a habit of waving off everyone who comes within 10-feet of my truck!)
Later on this afternoon, a car of ladies pull up. One of them jumps out and approaches me with two cassette tapes in her hands (at least it's not a solicitation of another type). She asked me to listen to these tapes as they will help me get closer with God. I mentioned that I know God and love Him. She hesitated a bit, and then went on with her spiel. Oh well I thought, I might as well take them to see what this is all about. She handed the tapes to me and bid me adieu. And back in the car she went and off they went in search for another victim...er...individual to hand tapes to. I looked at the tapes. Groan--I should have known. Jehovah Witnesses (JWs). Even before they had moved the car to go elsewhere, I had dumped the tapes into the waste basket. The JWs are a cult. In other words they teach you need them (their prophetical sayings) and Jesus Christ to obtain a right relationship with God. Funny thing though--the Bible (God's Word)--doesn't mention one iota about the JWs in regards to a right relationship with him (of course they will argue all night and all day with you that you're wrong. They--the gals in the car--should really study God's Word for themselves instead of depending upon someone in their organization to explain the spiritual garbage they are to believe hook, line, and sinker. I know for sure they would come up with a lot of questions about the theology they are being taught and drive the leader of their local organization nuts.)
Well, I can hardly wait to see who will approach me next!
Towards evening the family called and I wished my son and daughter a happy new year (as well as my wife). I miss being there for the start of the new year. However, they seem happy and content and that brings a smile to my face. I'll see them all again soon enough.
Well off to bed for tomorrow I drive to California.
miles driven = 0
PostScript: I had some trouble logging in wirelessly at the TA truckstop this evening. That's odd because I had no problems last evening or today. I called customer service (and they answered on New Year's Day...er...Night!) and the service started suddenly started working again while I was talking to them. The gentleman I spoke with was very knowledgeable and understanding and did all he could to console me during this time of inconvenience. For my troubles, I even received a couple of free days in January. I tell ya what--I'm beginning to like TA's wireless network services more and more. When you can't connect, customer service does everything they can to help you connect. Looks like they'll get my business (along with the additional spending I do when I'm at a truck stop) for the foreseeable future. Oh...one tip the technician suggested was to buy a wireless card with an amplifier in it. That way you've got a much better chance at connecting to the Wi-Fi signal at a truck stop location. If you haven't yet bought a wireless card adaptor, I'd echo his suggestion and buy one with a built-in amplifier--especially if you plan on accessing the Internet from your truck.
PostScript 2: Well at 2:15 AM in the morning I was woken up out of a sound sleep by a lot lizard knocking persistently on the door. I didn't get up so she stopped knocking. I didn't get back to sleep right away. Me thinks I will be a wee bit tired tomorrow (me thought correct). Me also thinks that I'll be thinking twice about returning to this particular truck stop in the future.
3:58:59 PM
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