February 2, 2010
It has been awhile since I have posted anything.
We have been extremely busy driving this semi up and down the road, and that usually means if you aren’t driving, you better be sleeping.
This means, to me, that the economy is picking up. Manufacturers are shipping more product. Which means, again to me, that people are buying again.
Lumber has really picked up. Must be lots of remodeling going on or, can we hope, new construction.
Because of our busy schedule this hasn’t left me much time for creating new and exciting pieces of jewelry out here. But, summer is coming, and that is really when I get to do my creating. I just love to get down into my studio, crank up the tunes, and let the metal show me where to go.
Also tagged create, creativity, design, economy, handcrafted, handcrafted jewelry, lumber, new construction, remodeling, truck driving, trucking –
October 26, 2009
I thought that I would post about where I get some of my design ideas.
If you have been following my posts, you know that I am a truckdriver by trade, metalsmith by heart. So, this means that I have my eyes constantly aware of my surroundings.
Yesterday, I saw the coolest graffiti on the side of a rail car. I am definitely going to be using this design. The other day, I was loading at a steel mill, and on the ground was the coolest shape of heavy wire. I am thinking that this shape would make a fantastic focal point of a bracelet. I am always looking at women on television and in magazines are wearing. This tells me what is going on in the fashion world.
I came up with one of my signature bracelets as a mistake. I was creating a chain necklace and didn’t like the shapes, but thought it would look fantastic for a bracelet.
Sometimes, I do wonder when I am creating a new design, had I seen this design, or something, before from some other metalsmith. I would never intentionally copy someone else’s designs, but I can’t obsess about if someone else had something similar or if someone is copying my designs.
Also tagged create, creativity, design, drawing, fashion, handcrafted, handcrafted jewelry, jewelry, magazines, rail car, television, train, truck driving, trucking –
October 11, 2009
I wonder if I will ever learn not to question why things happen. Usually, there is a reason. Right?
We managed to miss a major snowstorm, because of not getting loaded before the weekend arrived. So, instead of getting stuck, or heaven forbid a horrible accident, in nowhere Wyoming, we were off duty all weekend in Denver, CO. Denver is a much better place to get stuck. Cheyenne, WY got around 17″ of snow. And we all know, that the wind does really blow in that state. So, I am sure that white out conditions were prime. Interstate 25 north of Denver into Wyoming was closed for quite some time.
I actually had thoughts of going to a Rockies play off game, but no tickets available. Plus, it is pretty darn cold outside.
So, today, I am thankful for my truck angels keeping me safe and out of extremely foul weather this weekend.
October 8, 2009
What is it in the world today? If you have been following my blog, you will know that I am an over-the-road truckdriver. Just getting back to work after taking some much needed time off, during the summer months. It seems that freight rates have reverted back to 20 years ago, when fuel was well under a dollar a gallon. Which is under a dollar a mile, all in. And, to top that off, people are hauling this low paying freight If, a driver figures out exactly what he needs to break even, he or she wouldn’t be hauling this cheap freight. We are not like most people, we don’t owe anyone a dime. We don’t have to borrow to pay our taxes, and believe me we pay dearly. How do the drivers, who have truck payments, trailer payments, car payments, house payments/or/rent, kids in school, insurance payments, I could go on and on, make any money hauling this extremely cheap freight. I realize that our economy is hurting, but are we helping it out by allowing shippers get their products hauled for nothing. Maybe, when these drivers go bankrupt, the drivers, like us, who are out here to make a decent living go about our business. And, if you figure out what we make hourly, it is less than minimum wage. Just a thought for all you drivers out there, it doesn’t help out the industry any by losing money just to go do
September 20, 2009
It was inevitable, summer is over, and we are back to work. It is such a sad affair.
We are enroute to Channahon, IL, just south of Joliet, IL. It was an easy trip, and we definitely needed it to break in. Seems like some maintenance issues didn’t get resolved over the summer, and we had a few things to repair. But, we are running strong now.
I didn’t bring any jewelry making supplies in the truck for the initial trip. I am probably going to regret it. I did bring some knitting and some books, that I have been anxious to read. I guess, I just needed a break from creating earrings, bracelets, etc. I need to just clear the brain and get back to the basics of creation. Yesterday, going down the road, I thought of a couple of design ideas, so I am going to try to draw these ideas out, and hope that the creative juices will start flowing again.
April 17, 2009
It was a real quick trip out to Tennessee, and then we reloaded again to go back to Montana. The weather is beautiful. About a week or two and we turn off the key and get on solid ground for four months. I can’t wait to get down into my studio and start to fabricate some jewelry. I have so many designs drawn out, that I want to try.
April 9, 2009
Standoff ended peacefully,
The standoff in California ended peacefully.
The guy was a convicted felon, his bail had been revoked, and he took his wife and three children and fled. After about 5 hours, he let his family go and then the standoff continued. He finally gave himself up. I was so frightened for his family. Those poor children are going to be carrying this memory around with them for the rest of their lives.
We got unloaded this morning and now hopefully we will get reloaded today. Tomorrow is Good Friday, so don’t know how abundant freight is going to be.
If we don’t reload, I have a new design for earrings that I am working on. I think that they are going to turn out really cool. I usually do fabricating in my jewelry designs, but I have taken up wire wrapping, out here on the road. This is such a different process, and it is challenging my mind, which is a good thing.
Happy Easter everyone, kiss your family today.
April 8, 2009
I see alot of things out here on the road, but today has taken me into a huge depression.
We are on Donner Pass here in California and the road is shut down because of a hostage situation. A father has his children held in a car in a rest area and there is a huge standoff.
Please pray for these innocent children. I just cannot imagine how scarred they are going to be from this situation.
April 5, 2009
Been awhile since I have posted. No excuses, just lazy time.
We were stuck in Laramie, WY for 1 1/2 days because of road closures. Those spring snow showers can be monsterous. During the down time, I did manage to make a bracelet, will have to get pictures taken, and watched a whole bunch of movies. What else do you do, when there is no where to go?
I should have gotten out of the truck and taken a picture of the truckstop we were stuck in. You couldn’t go anywhere if you wanted. There were trucks parked any which way and it took about 2 hours just to get rolling, when they did open the interstate.
Three more weeks and we turn the key off for four months. I cannot wait. It seems like it has been a long running year. Maybe because the freight has been so slow and we have done more sitting than normal.
March 22, 2009
If you have been following my posts, by now you know that I am an over the road truckdriver. I have noticed a huge amount of drivers, both in cars and big trucks, talking on the cell phone with no handsfree operations. I, too, have been guilty of this on many occasions and really have made an effort to use handsfree when I do use the phone and drive. I do not talk on the phone when I am in alot of traffic, cities, bad weather conditions. I only wish others would be more aware of driving conditions before they get on the phone. When my husband is driving, and I am bored, I will count the number of vehicles that the drivers are either talking on the phone, texting, reading papers. It astounds me each and every time. I realize that it makes the drive go by faster if you have someone to talk to, but if you are in a congested area, think before you dial that number, please.
