STRAYCAT’S DOGGONE BLOG

MY PROFILE

July 13, 2004 on 5:21 pm | In On The Road |

I am an ‘over-the-road’ truckdriver who travels with 2 adorable Canine Companions. I’m pretty much a “free spirit”. I tend not to let the “little things” bother me. I relish the solitude and independance my occupation affords me, but am not anti-social. Politically, I am a Free Thinking, Liberally Conservative Independant. I believe in “Small Unobtrusive Government”, but am not a Libertarian. I believe in the Constitution as written, not as “interpreted” by some un-elected politically activist Judges. I deplore Extremists from all sides of the “Political Spectrum”. (Does that make me an Extremist)?
I was raised in a rural environment near Bakersfield, CA with my formative years being the 1950’s and 1960’s. I was physically active, but not a “jock”. I enjoyed playing “sand lot” sports with my friends, but not “organized” sports (like on a School Team). I was an above average Baseball/Softball player (the one sport in which a guy of my diminutive size at the time could excel) and continued with this sport well into my Military career as well playing on Squadron level teams almost until my retirement at age 40. I attended Fruitvale Elementry School through 8th grade. It was a small rural school with an immense “tax base”due to industry and agriculture. It was one of the “richest” School Districts in the County at the time. Therefore, the school had good teachers (at least in my opinion). I was a ’slightly above average’ student academically. I could have done better had I applied myself. I attended Bakersfield High School (in town). It was a large school by the standards of the time (my graduating class was almost 1400 students). Here again, I did well in Physical Education, but was only a mediocre student academically. After graduation, I attended Bakersfield Junior College for 2 years but did not graduate. In my final semester, I joined the A.S.A.F. on the Delayed Enlistment Program and dropped all but 2 classes.
My 20+ year Military Career began on July 10th, 1967. I won’t bore you with every duty assignment I had, but some of note were: Edwards AFB, CA (November 1967 to March, 1969). Edwards is the closest Military Base to Bakersfield (about 85 miles), so I went home almost every weekend; Ramstein AFB, Germany (August, 1969 to July, 1971). This assignment kept me out of that ‘pesky little Police Action’ in Viet Nam; Udorn, AFB, Thailand (March, 1972 to March, 1973). By this time the “war” was ebbing so I was able to actually enjoy this assignment; Osan AFB, Korea (September, 1975 to May, 1976 and March 1779 to March 1980). I enjoyed both of my ‘tours’ here. The later tour in 1979/80 was my last overseas assignment; Hill AFB, UT (April, 1980 to April, 1984). I met my one and only ex-wife here; George AFB, CA (May 1984 to July, 1987). I ended my U.S.A.F. career here. All in all, I don’t regret making the Military a career. It brings in a (meager) stipend every month.
My driving Career began in October, 1987 with Ryder Freight Systems. I worked there until May of 1988 (Ryder phased out all of their west coast operations, and I didn’t want to move back east. They eventually went bancrupt). Yes, it’s the same Ryder as the Truck Rental company. It was just their ‘over-the-road operation that went defunct. After parting ways with Ryder, I went to work briefly for Neil’s Auto Transport. This was an unprofessional ‘fly-by-night’ company and I hated it there. I stayed only until I could secure another position elswhere, which I did with Swift Transportation in December of 1988. I have been with Swift in one capacity or another ever since. I started out with them as a Company driver. In 1993, due to some personal and medical problems, I went to work at their Repair Facility in Salt Lake City, UT from where I’m based. I worked in this capacity for 3 years, but eventually, for monetary reasons, went back to driving in 1996, again as a Company driver. In 1998, I became an Owner Operator. This affords me a little more freedom of choice. As long as I make enough to cover my payments, I am not obligated to take a load. I seldom exercise this option however. The object is, after all, to make enough $$$$$ to support my lifestyle. In October, 2002, I re-located to Las Vegas, NV (I’m still ‘based’ out of the Salt Lake City Terminal, as we have none in Vegas). Originally, this was for work-related reasons. I had secured a ‘dedicated’ run from Los Angeles, CA to Mesquite, NV and back 5 day a week. The $$$$$ was good, but the hours were arduous. Eventually, they started ‘turning’ me in Las Vegas rather than Mesquite 4 days a week. This soon began to take it’s toll financially (I was losing 150 paid miles every day or 600 per week). That was going a little too far into my wallet (about $500.00 per week gross), so in April, 2004, I went back “over-the road”. I am for now, content. I enjoy seeing the country and always being surprised about where I’ll be going next.

VITAL STATISTICS:
BORN: July 13, 1947 in Bakersfield, CA.
LIVED: America, Germany, Thailand, Korea.
DIED: Not yet, (I don’t think).
OCCUPATION: Over-the-Road Truck Driver.
INTERESTS: Pleasure Driving/Travel (duh), Pampering my Pooches, Cooking, Playing Pool, Computers (novice), Photography, Dining Out at good Restaurants.
FAVORITE QUOTE: “Life is Terminal: No one gets out alive”
FAVORITE THINGS: Sunrises/Sunsets, Flora, Fauna