Winnsboro to Lubbock on Saturday.
Lubbock to Sulphur Springs on Sunday.
A night at the house.
Winnsboro to Lubbock on Monday. Back to Sulphur Springs.
(Wondering if this is going to be a "new route" for Rick? Sigh.)

Sunday afternoon as we were coming thru Greenville - we saw The Banana Car! :-) Made us smile :-) ... You just never know what you will see on the roads! LOL

I have been having some problems with my lower legs - weeping edema. They got better. But then, I fell out of the truck (actually did the splits with one foot on the ground and the other on the top step still). Scraped the front of my leg - not much, but just enough to start the problem all over again.
I began using hydrogen peroxide on them, and calamine lotion. Then putting a bandage on them.
They got worse.
Joshua took a look at them last weekend and said that they looked just like "proud flesh" that happens to their horses when the horses get a sore that won't heal.
He said to try what they do - use the peroxide, but as soon as it quits foaming, wash it off with cool water. Barely pat the skin dry - leaving it damp. Put an awful lot of black pepper on it - just regular table black pepper. A gauze pad. Then, wrap the leg with a stick to itself bandage.
Rick and I decided it was worth a try. Nothing else was working.
Left the first try on there for almost 24 hours. Then took a hot shower. Let them air dry for about 36 hours.
They sure look BETTER!!!
The pain is still there - feels like what it might if someone were standing behind me drawing the front of my legs thru a small opening in the back of my legs. Ouch!
We are going to do another round of the black pepper today.
Thank you Joshua and Dessie :-)! Love ya'll!!!

Lord, you are God and I am not.
Help me to just take a deep breath - trust you.
Surrender all to you.
Trust you.

Rick was off on Monday - we spent part of the day driving in from West Texas, part of the day buying groceries, and part of the day getting the truck with Ballard ready to work.
Spent the evening just resting and watching some movies.

Rick left the house early Tuesday morning, went to the shop. Dispatch sent him to Winnsboro to pick up a load of buttermilk going to Duncanville.
Due to him having to wait all day to be loaded, dispatch told him to just drop the load on the yard. But then to take an empty trailer and go to Dublin, pick up a full trailer and come back to Winnsboro.
Rick called me and asked if I wanted to ride along. Sure.
(Little did I know that it would riding with the period from HELL!!! Sigh.)

We got to Dublin around 10:30 p.m. No load on the yard for Rick. He called back to the shop - the load had been cancelled at 7 p.m.!!! Arghhhhhhhhh!!! No phone call to him about this.
We spent the night at the Allsup's in Dublin.

<<Side note ... I don't think I ever realized how deeply Dublin and Stephenville had gotten into my heart while we lived there ... nor how crushing the sadness and pain of not being there now would be. I loved our church - Double N Cowboy Church - and I miss Bro. Jimmy and Miss Tracey ... I miss Damon and Marjorie ... Sue ... David and Rose ... Teresa ... Dianna ... all my "kids" ... just everything about the church.
And I miss the shopping, the places to eat, the houses to see, the parades, Cowboy Gatherings, Flea Market, sigh ... I miss so much about Stephenville and Dublin!!!>>

Next morning, Rick called dispatch. Go to Lubbock and pick up a load of milk for Morningstar in Sulphur Springs.
Dublin to Lubbock. Load picked up. Spend the night at the Flying J. Leave out and drive into Sulphur Springs. Park at Morningstar, waiting to have a sample taken.
No offense to those that work at Morningstar ... BUT ... goodness! Does it really take all this time to just pull a sample? 14 hours later, still no sample pulled.
But, Ballard did allow for a day cab to be put under Rick's trailer so that he could leave.

We spent the day yesterday working around the house. Just trying to go thru stuff, organize, and make a little more sense out of the mess it has become with this life. Sigh.

Supper with Jimmy and Mary Lou after they got back from their week at the lake cabin.

Rick called dispatch to see what to do for today ...
Lubbock to Morningstar.
So, we are on the road again ... picking up an empty trailer in Winnsboro now ... si

Job change ...

Time with the kids and grandkids ...

And now --
Facing this old house and the "disaster" it is! Oh my ...
For the last year I have been more with Rick than at the house. And when we were at the house, it was more for a few hours rest than for anything else. So ... my house is HORRIBLE!!!
In desperate need of cleaning!!!
I realize that it is beyond what I can do in one day ... probably more than I can get done in one week. But, I also realize that if I don't start, I will never finish! So, little by little ... here I go.
Rick has promised to help me as much as he can be here.

I am going to be going thru stuff ... it is time to let some things go. We need some room to move and breathe!
For the first time in a long time - SPRING CLEANING begins!!!

***
I don't know how much I will be with Rick on the truck now. Ballard has a "don't ask, don't tell" policy about riders.
And some of Rick's runs are what is called "day-runs" ... meaning that he is home before or by bedtime. So, some of those days I won't be going. I will use those "day-run" days to get things done here at the house.
I am not supposed to talk about the times I go with Rick - but after the 14 months before and how very miserable I was, Rick has told me that if I go and I want to talk about it - then do so. We are not going to lie and hide ... aren't going to be brazen about it either. But ...

***
Rick is due for blood work and doctor's check-ups. We are going to try and get it all scheduled and done before the end of this month.
Praying for good numbers ... and good reports. Needing a word of encouragement and strength.
Lord, help us please!!!

***
I am also going to be working on this website ... and pictures ... these next few days. Jsut

After 2 months of living on the road with Rick while he worked for Indian River and not seeing the kids and grandkids ... I was in desperate need of some Momma and Grannee time!!!

Thank you God!!!
Mandy called just a few minutes after we got to the house on Friday afternoon. Said that if we were at home, they were going to come out and see us. :-) .
Before they got here, Jimmy and Mary Lou had walked down to see us a few minutes. When I told her that Chris and Mandy and the kids were coming out - she suggested supper all together.
So, very quickly we put together a hot dog supper outside under the carport - complete with a fire in the firepit. Chairs were gathered and sat around. A table brought out. Food "appeared". We cooked hot dogs over the fire, sat and ate ... talked and laughed.
Momma and Grannee got hugs and hugs and more hugs!
We listened to the rain on the roof, smelled the wood smoke. 
A good and awesome evening!

Saturday morning we finished unloading the truck. Drove out to Clovis. Turned the truck in at the shop. Got a motel room down the street. Showers and bed time.

Up early Sunday morning. Rick finished up his paperwork with Indian River. We got coffee. And left Clovis, NM.

Around 1:30 p.m. we got to Joshua's. :-)
They weren't home, I called Dessie. They were in town, headed for home. So, Rick and I waited a little while.
Soon, we heard the truck coming down the ranch road.
Since Christmas we have only been with these kids and grandkids about 6 hours!
Joshua was first out of the truck, came straight to me - and gathered me in his arms! Held me, kissed me on the forehead and said, "Happy Mother's Day"!!! Oh how I have missed my son!!!
Then, comes the hugs and laughter and love in the eyes of my grandchildren!
We were able to stay thru the afternoon and until bedtime. :-)
We ate sandwiches ... talked ... laughed ... loved ... watched a school video ... and watched a movie.
A good afternoon and evening!

Work ...
...Dispatch did not give Rick a run into the Pacific Northwest. Instead, gave him a load of orange juice to take to Coca Cola in Waco, TX.
Made it safely to Waco ... pulled up to gate, Rick talked to another driver for a minute. Other driver told him "good luck with the load" ??? Seems that it is a nightmare to be dispatched to Coca Cola. It is a "drop and hook" location - which can be good. Except there! Dropping just takes a few minutes. Hooking - well, that is the story! Other driver said that the one truck just coming out on Thursday had been sitting since Monday waiting on a trailer. He said that he had been there for 2 days, and the driver in front of him had been there for 3.
Rick dropped his trailer. We went to the Flying J in Waco. He called dispatch. Was told to WAIT ... call back.
So, we ate ... took showers ... straightened the truck some ... watched some TV ... waited ... he called back - "call me in the morning. if I don't have you a trailer by 10 a.m., then we will just dispatch you home for some home-time."
Spend the night ... next morning - no trailer. Bob-tail to the house.

Rick has reached his limit with Indian River. While at the house, we completely unload the truck. He goes in to talk with Ballard. Is hired back with Ballard. We leave early Sunday - driving bob-tailed to Clovis, NM to leave the truck at the shop and pick up the car.

I can understand Rick's frustrations with Indian River. We were told many "good" things about the company. But little to none had panned out. Most were empty claims and promises ... all making Rick feel lied to. cheated. taken advantage of.

I can't say that I completely understand nor agree with his decision to go back to work for Ballard. There were definite issues when he worked the 14 months for them before.
So, there are definite questions in my mind now.
But, he has made the decision ... and so, here we are -
Rick is working for Ballard ... and it is a "don't ask, don't tell" policy for me to ride with him. sigh

We finally made it from Tempe, AZ to Haines City, FL. Maybe I am just tired of the truck and the road - but goodness! That was a LONG trip!!! And with only 48,000 pounds of lemon juice in this large tanker, it sloshed and slammed so hard all the way! I told my cousin that I hoped he enjoyed his lemonade this summer cause this certainly beat us to Hell and back!!! LOL (I think it made him feel guilty for just a moment! Sorry, but misery loves company! LOL)
We were glad to get unhooked from the trailer I can say that!

Rick and I spit spatted around yesterday evening, last night and most of today. Tired and weary. Stressed.
And at the shop in Florida ... no shower ... no breakfast ... no coffee. Truck in the shop. He had been told what they were going to work on and fix ... then, when the truck actually got in the shop, it was decided (with no input from Rick) to not do about 1/2 of what they had told him on the phone. Sigh. Not a good thing with him ... and of course - I am his "safe place" ... he can't rant and rave at the service guys ... and me without coffee? Well, let's just say that we did survive! <Shaking my head ...>

Coffee at noon ... brunch followed ... truck back together ... and a long, hot shower! I feel almost human once again! LOL

Now waiting for 11 p.m. - will wake Rick up. Dispatch gave him a load to pick up at 1 a.m. just a few miles from the yard. It goes to Ontario, but since Rick is not "certified" for Canada, he will just bring the load back here.
He is to go over a few things with the office staff in the morning. And we should find out where dispatch is sending him afterwards.
Dispatch told him today that most of the time out of here are runs up the East Coast. No offense to that part of America - but I am not crazy about that. Don't like the bigger cities ... not comfortable there. Oh, ok - I am a big coward when it comes to the bigger cities! Sigh. But, we will go where dispatched.

***
Rick and I talked about the kids and grandkids. I think he is beginning to realize that I need some Momma and Grannee time!!! I hope so!!!
We are attempting to plan some time with them all in June ... just hard to wait till then.
Sigh.
I miss them so much!

***
My cousin called late yesterday. Another cousin's oldest son drowned yesterday at Bonham Lake, Bonham, TX. If you read this - please remember the Spradling family in your thoughts and prayers.

***
I am still looking for the "best" photo site - one that will allow for quick and easy uploads. And that will allow an easy access to the pictures after upload. I want to make some digital photo albums - and share :-) ...

***
God is great ... so we are good ...
   ...even when it doesn't feel like it!

Sigh. 2 weeks later and here I am - once again trying to catch up ...
We have been on the road, and I have fallen behind. I have excuses, maybe even justifiable reasons - but ...

Work -- trip from Winnsboro to Clovis ... Clovis to McAllen, TX to pick up a tanker of orange juice. Deliver to Tempe, AZ - delayed at the plant, finally got unloaded, tank washed and reloaded with lemon juice. Going to Haines City, FL for delivery.
Flat tire in Lordsburg, NM a few days ago ...
2 bad batteries (near explosion) in San Antonio ... got them replaced early one morning ...
Yep - been a TRIP so far!!!
Which is why today we stopped in Eloy AZ for showers and a still/quiet afternoon.
Back on the road early tomorrow morning.

Kids and grandkids -- missing them ... loving them ... missing them. It's getting harder and harder and harder! Momma and Grannee needs some TIME for hugs and sugars and love and laughter.
Hopefully that time will come SOON!!!
In hearing from them thru Facebook, texts, and phone conversations - all are good. Grandkids looking forward to summer break ... course, not so sure daddy and momma's are! LOL

Rick -- other than "regular" aches and pains, he seems to be doing good. We are looking at the calendar trying to figure out the best time to have blood drawn, labs run and doctors' checkups.

Me -- "regular" aches and pains here too. Having a struggle with my lower legs. I fell out of the truck a couple of weeks ago - one foot on the top step, and the other foot on the ground. Basically did the splits. Problem was in scraping my lower legs on the steps. Now, having a hard time getting them healed  up. They are "weeping" once again.
Then, a few days after doing the splits - I stepped out of the cab, and due to a problem the truck is having with the exhaust on the truck which is making the steps too hot to touch at times, I touched the frame of the door with the back of my lower leg and it burned a high 2nd degree burn. So, dealing with that too.
And of course - still dealing with the "change" ... oh how much I will be glad to be a CRONE!!!

***
I have been taking a LOT of pictures while on the road ... hopefully I will be able to get them uploaded and an album put together to share. :-)

One thing that we are doing while on these long trips, is I look up the history of the areas/towns ... finding some interesting things. Looking forward to sharing that, too.

***
Well, once again - I "commit" to do better at this! We shall see ... sigh.

P.S. - I did "buy" the website - www.kamelotrose.com - so I am working to get it all "together" ...