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Friday, June 10, 2011

Gotta Take The Good With The Bad

Life is definitely an adventure and you never know what is going to be served up on the dish of life.  We gotta take the good with the bad, and the last couple of weeks have been pretty rough.  It started with an overnight hospital stay for me - gall bladder infection aggravated by heartburn and acid reflux.  Tons of antibiotics, 14 days of Prilosec and we're back to being in good health.  Of course though, this was just the beginning of 2 weeks from HELL!  Now, mind you, though I have complained vehemently about those 2 weeks, I have also kept in mind and expressed as well that though our problems seem abundant, we are still more forutnate than so many, and for that we are thankful. 

So, I get out of the hospital, go back to our hotel, eat a bowl of chicken noodle soup and slept for 21 hours!  You all know that you get NO sleep whatsoever at a hospital and added to the fact that the nurses wake you every 4 hours, we had a tornado warning and sat out in the hall for about 3 hours.  No sleeping there for fear that your gown will gape open and scare the other patients to death!

After my much needed "nap", we had a nice evening, just me, hubby and the pups.  The next day was dedicated to truck errands (fixing a light, new tire, and a few other minor issues).  Well, the new tire quickly became 4 new tires and all the other issues were resolved with no incidents.  Another good night sleep and we go pick up our load headed for Salt Lake City, UT.  Life is good . . . WRONG!  Middle of no-where Wyoming and our truck makes a horrid sound and shuts down.  Thankfully we were going down hill or we would not have made it to the shoulder.  After a little investigation, we discovered that the strap holding our spare tire on the back of the truck had come loose, wrapped around the drive train and in spinning, grabbed hold of every piece of wiring and yanked it all out.  We had a few pieces as evidence, but most was scattered down I80.  Tow bill = $614.00 and that was just the beginning!  Main wiring harness for engine computer no where to be found in North America, YES, that's right - not a single one in the US, Canada or Mexico!  I think Freightliner could put some unemployed folks to work and stock up their warehouses - I'm just saying!  Five days later, harness comes in.  Two more days for repairs to include all the re-wiring of the truck, U Joints, 2 new batteries and a drive shaft bearing.  Total for this week long fiasco to include revenue paid to have load repowered and delivered  = $9,000+!!!  This doesn't include the hotel and eating out.

All is well with the Universe and we are back on the road.  Drove to SLC to pick up empty trailer, back to KS to pick up our loaded trailer and headed back to SLC . . . lights go out, truck starts beeping and we're loosing power . . . ARGH!  Alternator gone bad = $390 (no labor on this as hubby installed it).  Next day 2 blown tires on the trailer and at this point I am ready to scream!  However, keeping in mind that we are still more fortunate than so many, I keep smiling and chanting - "it will get better, it will get better, it will get better".

We have now been a week with no issues.  Work has been busy and good paying.  We are planning to be home by next Thursday or Friday and are packing the camper and boat and heading to Lotterdale Cove on beautiful Lake Tellico/Ft. Loudon for 8 days of good food, good friends, good times with a group of simply amazing people.

In spite of it all . . . LIFE IS GOOD!