Hi all. Sorry I’ve been out of touch for a bit. Life working Intermodal is tough. I can honestly say that I haven’t worked this hard since I did drywall work back in the 90’s.

Life is good living in Chicago and I’m pretty happy overall. One of the problems with keeping up this blog is that I kinda do the same thing day in/day out now. While I’m still navagating the concrete seas, there is only so much I can write about the 200 miles of the same highway I travel each day.

Sure, I could wax poetically about the traffic in the greater Chicagoland area and how much it sucks (OMG IT SUCKS SO BAD) but really if you’ve ever driven in Chicago or any major metropolitan area you already know what I’m talking about.

My life now is so much different than it was a year ago. I sleep in my bed (not in my truck) almost every night. I no longer have to wait in line for a shower or wear shower shoes. I can make plans with friends and family members on a regular basis. Overall I kinda have the best of both worlds.

On the downside, I do work 6 days a week and having a 12-14 hour day isn’t an anomaly but rather a regular occurrence. Because I’m pretty much driving the same route day in and day out, it’s pretty boring (again, this is why I haven’t updated).

What I can talk about are personal matters. Things like Carlene! My new snazzy car that I love. With winter in the Midwest, her heated seats and steering wheel make a world of difference.

I will always love Large Marge, but for zooming around the city, this baby is pretty sweet.

I can always tell you about my new tattoos…

I could tell you about my change of hair because I’m no longer Purple but Teal.

Most importantly, I have the closest thing to a home that I’ve had the last few (9ish) years. I have fully reintegrated back into Chicago life and being home is the best feeling in the world.

I’ve had my ups and downs, including spending a few days in the hospital due to a domestic cat bite. Hint, if you’re bitten by a cat and they break the skin, go get on antibiotics. Cat bites can quickly turn into cellulitis or become septic and hearing them discuss posible surgical intervention wasn’t fun.. I’ll spare you from the pictures because they are bloody and rather gross.

As for driving, I drive the same roads almost every day. In Chicago it’s 90/94, 55, 290, and 294, out of the city proper it’s 80. From there I hit 65 and head down to Indiana and then 69. If I’m lucky I head to Ohio and hit 70 then 270. That’s pretty much it. I go to the same 4-6 shipper/receivers. My job has become boring and predictable. Where last year the passing of the seasons seemed to happen over night as I spent several weeks in the south while the north was changing and shedding it’s leaves, this year I’ve been able to slowly watch the progression. Where I used to have to keep both summer and winter clothes available because who knows when I’m going to be in South Florida and then sent up to Calgary in December, now I can safely put up my summer clothes for the next few months.

My life is markedly different and there are trade offs. I don’t make the money I used to being over the road, but I also get to sleep in my own bed almost every night. I still have an over night about once a week, but I’m home relatively early the next day. I don’t get to see different cities and states, or the mountains anymore, but I get to see my friends and family more often.

The biggest change and the thing that makes me happy that my life has changed is having a kitchen again. I’ve been making soups and broths and all of it makes me happy. That’s what I do when I’m stressed or have too much on my mind; I cook. It keeps me from acting out on my feelings. I don’t eat my feelings anymore but I sure as shit cook for them.

Anyway, I just renewed the lease on this blog so I’ll still be around but I’ll really only be sharing things when things happen…and things don’t really seem to be happening all that often.

I am heading to Mexico City in about a week so expect a post on that shortly.

Love you my lovelies.