Here we go….”The Journey Begins”

So you’ve heard of the hit TV show the biggest loser. Well, I’m big but I’m done losing. I’m finished with the same old life and the same old routine. Today I proclaim that my life is going to change. Today is July 22, 2009. One year from today I will be exactly where I want to be. Today I weigh in at just over 280 lbs. One year from today I will be about 80 lbs lighter. Yes, 80 lbs. Today I smoke almost one pack per day. In a year from now….smoke free. Today I work as a truck driver. One year from now I’ll be working somewhere doing something I want to do. Today I might walk 4 or 5 blocks and then be tired. In just over a year from now, I will be walking with my wife in the Weekend To End Breast Cancer. 60 miles in three days. Today I don’t like the person I am…the way I look, the way I live, my job, my life in general. My wife and my daughter are my insperation. I want to be a success. A total success. So I hope you will for the next year follow along and watch the transformation. This is a promiss to my family and to myself…not for any other reason that I want to be happy.

For the majority of my life I’ve been the joke. The fat kid all throughout school. I was teased and picked on. Picked last for team sports and sometimes not picked at all.  I’ve never been comfortable at the beach or at the pool, finding excuses not to take off my shirt. I could have gone somewhere with football, I was quite good. But my last year I had a coach who saw nothing more than a lump on the bench. Our team made it all the way through the season undefeted and to the championship. The big game was played at BC PLACE, home of the 2010 winter olympics openning and closing ceremonies and home to the BC LIONS. It was awe inspiring and a total dream of mine. Well, the asshole benched me for no reason. All my friends and family were there to watch me sit on the fucking sidelines. I never played another game again. Like I said before…I’m done losing. There comes a time in everyones life when they have to look themselves in the mirror and seriously ask the question, “Am I Happy?” I haven’t done one thing in my life that I can truly say I’m proud of.  I’m proud of my family. I love my family. But that’s it.

Everything I’ve said in this post is just the tip of the iceberg. So today I begin my journey to a happier more enjoyable life. I hope you’ll join me.

Water….need water…..

It’s been quite the stretch of beautiful weather here in the Lower Mainland (Vancouver area). 34 degrees inland today. Even warmer by Sunday. Have I mentioned I am required to wear thick heavy coverals at work. So take the 34 degrees (About 95 if you’re American) and add another 10. Nice and toasty. I had a pretty easy day today…finished early and hardly broke a sweat. Then, I was told to take my truck in for service…which I did. It’s a “Quick Lube” place. You sit in your truck they do the work in about a half hour and you’re on your way. No such luck today. I pull up, wait about a half hour to get in, then once I’m in, the mechanics tell me I have to wait….”They’re going on lunch”!!!!! I’ve now waited an hour. Finally they get around to doing some work. I was in there for an hour and a half for a damn oil change. What a joke. No water, no AC and no way out. This is the way they treat their customers. Very unprofessional if you ask me. RIG MASTER in Delta BC…..Kiss my ass!

I’m Waiting……..

 For just over five years now, I’ve been working for an environmental company as a truck driver, collecting used oil, filters, antifreeze and plastic oil containers. I started as a bottle collector, throwing bags and diving head first into an oil covered truck. I’ll admit…it was fun. I slowly began to gain the respect and trust of my employer and my co workers. I moved up after 6 months, into the Drum Truck. Rolling drums of waste antifreeze, oil filters, fuel and other toxic chemicals. My arm strength increased quite quickly. These drums can weigh up to 700 lbs. I now drive the largest trucks in our fleet. Peterbilt is our truck of choice. I haul oil from all over the Vancouver area. It’s a pretty sweet job. On the road for 10 hours, no office, no one breathing down your neck. I get to see some pretty awesome things. We often get called out to movie sets. I’ve worked on sets such as Fantastic 4, X men and Final destination 3. My employer is like no other. Christmas party’s are nowhere near normal. Flat screen Tv’s, computers, trips, boxes of cash. A few years ago they took all the staff to Disneyland and Universal for three days. Fully catered camping trips in the summer…complete with private chef. They treat the employees very well. Probably why we’ve seen a 118% growth in the past 5 years. Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it? It was, until now.

I should mention that my direct supervisor, my boss, is my Uncle. He and the owner have been friends and have been working together for about 25 years.

A few years ago I had a conversation with the owner. I voice my desire to learn more. I wanted more responsibility. I wanted to play a bigger role within the company. At this point there isn’t a job I haven’t done and excelled at. I’ve taken three actual sick days in the past 5 years. I’m 99.9% on time everyday. Anyways… After I made him aware of my request, he told me to be patient and keep working hard and it will come to me. That was over two years ago. Last summer, my Uncle was on vacation, I was filling in as the driver supervisor/dispatch/manager. Again, I excelled at this position as I had at all the others. After he returned to work we talked about me moving into a more permanent role in the office. Things were looking up. Then, the owner bought a B-Train. (Two tanks A and B pulled by a truck) You need a class 1 licence for this. I only have a 3. So the brought back a driver who left the company 2 years previous. He was hired to drive this monster of a truck. Unfortunately the job he was hired for only gave him work for three days a week. So, they made him the Driver Supervisor/Dispatch. I was PISSED! I still am. I’ve done everything they have asked me too and then some. I’ve busted my ass for this company. I deserve that position. I want that position.

We’re now venturing into the NEW OIL market. We’ve bought a new truck and a whole new facillity. They’ve hired five more employees for the new oil, one in the front office, and the rest sales. I’m giving them til the end of this year to move me or I’ll move myself. I love my job and I’m good at it, but I don’t want a job….I want a career.

Funny Joke….unless you’re a Leafs fan.

This guy says to the bartender, “Can my dog and I watch the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey game here? My cable is out, and my dog and I always watch the game together.”

The bartender replies, “Normally, dogs wouldn’t be allowed in my bar, but it’s not very busy right now, so you and the dog can have a seat at the end of the bar. But, if there’s any trouble with you or the dog, I’ll have to ask you to leave.”

The guy agrees, and he and his dog start watching the game. Pretty soon, the Leafs manage to score a goal and the excited dog jumps up on the bar, barks loudly, does a back flip and runs over to the bartender and gives him a high-five.

The bartender says, “Wow, that’s pretty cool! What does he do when they win a game ?”

The guys answers, “No Idea, I’ve only had him for 3 years.”

Parenting 101

So, Sunday morning around 7am, my wife and I awoke to a loud “THUD” at the foot of our bed. Immediately we awoke to find that our 11 month old daughter had woken up and crawled off the end of the bed. She usually wakes up around 5am and we bring her to bed with us. If she wakes up she usually beats on us or makes noise. Not the case today. Thank god she’s ok. Nothing broken…just a bruise. Within seconds of falling she went from crying to laughing. Phew!! About an hour later…she finished breakfast and Courtney and I had stepped outside. I was smoking so we closed the door. Ana was playing just inside the door so we could see her every move. However… we did not see her lock the bottom lock of the sliding door. “Oh Shit!!! What the hell are we going to do?” Courtney asked. Iwasn’t really panicked. Fortunately the window to our bedroom was unlocked. Courtney climbed in and we were saved. What a morning. This is quite fitting though… I did the same thing to my mom. At the age of two, I locked her out. Laughing at her through the glass door I procceeded to roll out all the tin foil, wax paper and paper towel I could get my hands on. My mother, 8 months pregnant with my sister had no choice but to climb a ladder to the second story bedroom window. 

What goes around, sure does come around.

Here’s a tip….if you have children…don’t underestimate them. They are way smarter than we think they are.  If you bring your child to bed with you…don’t go to sleep. If you’re going to put you and your child on opposite sides of a door…make sure you’re in control of all locking mechanisms.

SO FUNNY!!!

The beat 94.5 fm morning show. Kid Carson is the man!
check this out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0IeqmBiqpc

WHAT THE %$#@ ????

MR PRESEIDENT!!!!

Feeling Really bad…..

I feel horrible. I’ve got a child on the way….I only get 4 or 5 hours sleep per night….I’ve gone back to working two jobs…..really long hours….I’m busting my fucking ass and it’s still not enough. What the hell am I supposed to do? Monday to Friday I’m a truck driver….7am to 5:30pm. Friday and Saturday nights, I manage a nightclub til 2 or 3am. Sundays are the only day I have to relax…and they’re usually spent getting things done around the house. Cleaning, laundry, whatever. Or, we’re out and about. Like I said…I’m busting my ass and have nothing to show for it. It’s so overwhelming. I feel like I’m failing as a husband and a soon to be father. On top of it all… I can’t get my wife anything for her birthday. Not even dinner. I’m an idiot.

Enough of my whining. Today I almost killed a man. Not intentionally. I was driving my work truck….about 60 km/ph, crossed over an intersection and there he was….not looking and talking on his cell. He pull out of a parking lot and right in front of my truck. I had to act fast….I pulled my air brakes and found out what “locking them up” means. Fucking crazy. I came within a foot of hitting him right on the drivers door. He was diving a Toyota Camry. Peterbilt Vs Toyota….I win. Point being….watch where you’re driving and get off your phone. I don’t want to be responsible for killing you. Remember… large trucks need more room to stop.

 

Quote of the day: They say hard work never hurts anybody, but why take the chance.

Will you be my friend?

We all go through life choosing different paths, different lifestyles and different friends. What is the definition of friendship? Well the dictionary says, “Friendship is a term used to denote co-operative and supportive behavior between two or more beings.” Ok…fair enough. My definition is as follows… Someone who will be there for you through thick and thin. Someone who’ll take the good with the bad and listen….just listen. Someone who will provide you with the feeling that you are important, cared about and will give advice when needed. A “wing man” if you will. That is my friend. Friends come and go all the time. But there is usually a sign things are going poorly or something really blows up…and you part ways. I had a friend once….a really good one….so I thought. He moved to the states to be with his pregnant girlfriend who was good friends with my girlfriend. I followed suit 3 months later. Neither of us could work yet….so we hung out every day while the girls were at work. Our days consisted of Slurpee’s and Play Station. My girlfriend and I, crossed the border one day to visit my family. We received a call from my friend back in the U.S. He was calling to tell me that he was getting married…..that evening and wanted me to come be his best man. I was shocked and very excited. We cut our visit with my family short and headed back to the states. About a year later my friend and his new wife and their daughter moved back to Canada….he asked if I would help him move. Of course I helped. Months went by….and it was my turn. I was getting married. I asked my friend to be my best man…the answer was yes. So, there I was in my suit, my Bride to be in her white dress, my family and hers had traveled to be there. The JP was there, the whole thing was set. But wait…where’s my best man? I called him that morning, he said he was coming…..what the hell? I finally heard from him 1 hour before the wedding….”Sorry dude, I can’t make it.” Nice. So, I had my uncle step in. Fucking bullshit! So much so that I’m still pissed about it 5 years later. I never had a stag party….never had a surprise birthday party….never had a threesome…(just saying)….and now…no best man. Fuck you Jeff. I’ve had many acquaintances through my 27 years….but no real true friends. So…..Will you be my friend?

 

Quote of the day: If everything seems to be going well, you have obviously overlooked something.

It’s Driving me Crazy!!!

You almost have to be a stunt man/woman to drive from point A to point B in the Lower Mainland. It’s crazy! I myself am a professional driver by trade… 11 years with no accidents found to be my fault. I’ve been in a few….rear enders and I’ve been T-boned….not fun. Anyways…. I get up at 6am everyday, get into my big 4×4 and head into Burnaby. It’s about a 20 minute commute to work, which includes a bridge and several construction zones. The Patullo Bridge…aka “Death bridge” is about 25 to 30 yards wide and is a four lane bridge. In the past 10 years there have been over 400 accidents and 14 deaths on the bridge. Narrow lanes big trucks and speed all play a roll in making it the most dangerous bridge in Canada. If you travel this bridge… SLOW THE FUCK DOWN!!!! I have a solution….since they wont tear it down and rebuild. Make it a three lane bridge with wider lanes and a counter-flow lane….and for god’s sake…. FINISH PAVING IT!!!

Street racing or Retard racing as I like to call it, has grown to be a major problem here. Although there is a drag race track 40 minutes away… young, usually Asian males with way too much drug money, are driving really fast expensive cars through traffic and family neighbourhoods. Last summer a young child was run down in front of his own home on a quiet Surrey street. Speed and alcohol were factors. No shit! Two weeks ago, on the way home from their child’s wedding rehearsal dinner, an older married couple was killed when some young asswipe decided he didn’t want to let another car pass him. Instead…he provoked a street race…forcing the car the married couple was ridding in, off the road and flipping upside down. If that were my parents….so help me…this fucker would be dead if found. No jail time….no 24 hour suspension….that all goes out the window when it’s family. I feel for the family of the couple….I really do.

At work, I drive a 38 foot Peterbilt Oil Tanker. When full, it can weigh as much as 50 tonnes. You would be surprised how often I get cut off. I’m driving into Vancouver at a speed of about 60 km/p. Mr speedy comes down my right side and cuts in front of me with only a few feet to spare. The light ahead was red and I needed about 150 feet to stop. I only had 100. Thankfully I wasn’t full. If you need to get in front of a large truck, please remember, they need more room to stop. Don’t change lanes right in front of them….give some space.

A friend of mine recently was the victim of extreme road rage. We were both on the same stretch of road heading to the same job, early in the morning. We had just crossed the bridge and I received a call from my friend who was about three car length behind me. He was being cut off repeatedly by the same car. He called to tell me this just as he was trying to pass the irate driver. It was then that rage kicked in. This cock sucker wouldn’t let him pass….he side swipped my friend. I pulled over and they followed. There was over $4000 damage to my friends car and only $900 to dick heads car. ICBC found them both at fault. I say to ICBC…. FUCK YOU! ICBC stands for Idiots Controlling British Columbia.

Speed limit signs are there for you to obey. Don’t be the one doing 30 in a 50 zone or the one doing 100 in a 30 zone. Obey the signs, don’t street race, give big trucks more room, alternate when merging into traffic, watch for motorcycles and don’t drive while intoxicated. Do your part and people live. 

These have been more random thoughts from my head.

Quote of the day: People who live in glass houses should buy stock in Windex.