STRAYCAT’S DOGGONE BLOG

Life Day 21186: New External CD Drive

As of today, the 14th, I am the proud owner of a Liton 16X External DVDR/DVDRW Drive for my computer. It cost me $118.00 including tax, but I’m back in the CD copying business again. I don’t know what it would have cost to repair the CD Drive in the computer, but when you consider the “down-time” and inconvenince into the equation (if it went into the repair shop, I would have been without my computer for from 2-4 weeks depending on the freight situaton), I think it’s a good deal. Surely, the cost to repair the drive in the computer couldn’t have been that much less expensive. The new drive is faser, smarter, and has more features than my original drive. As I am typing this, I am copying a CD to my hard-drive.
In other news, the MMM are ‘clean’ again. I bought the new drive at Circuit City while I was waiting for them to get their baths/trim.
On a sadder note, I’m currently without my XM radio. I think my FM Modulator went kaput. I may have to either buy a new one, or install one of my older radios with a cassette player in it from the vast collection I have in my storage shed so that I can use the cassete adapter.
Good News, after dismantling the dashboard of my truck I discovered that the problem is just a bad fuse; Bad News, it’s not a common fuse. I’m going to have to go “in search of” replacement fuse. I’m thinking that ‘good ole Fry’s’ will be a likely first stop.
More Bad News. The fuse wasn’t a cause of the problem, but a symptom of the problem, with the FM Modulater. I trekked to Fry’s and found, then bought, the correct replacement fuses (a package of 5). Unfortunately, they didn’t fix the problem. Every time I replaced a fuse it blew as soon as power was applied. I think the FM Modulator has an internal short. I’m going to have to replace it at a cost of about $50.00. Currently, I have disconnected the FM Modulater and am back to ‘airwave’ radio only. How common-place.

Life Day 21185: Happy Birthday To Me

Today is the 58th anniversary of the day of my birth. This BLOG is now 1 year old as well. Since it is 113 dergrees at 1145, I have few plans. The main “plan” is to find and devour a GOOD steak. The Silverton Casino across the street from my current location at the TA Truckstop has the Twin Creeks Steakhouse, as well as Bass Pro Shops. This comes highly recommended by my brother (Bass Pro Shops, not the Steakhouse). I’ve also heard good things about Billy Bob’s Steakhouse in, of all places, Sam’s Town Casino. Decisions, decisions!!
The CD drive in this computer is giving me fits. It works whenever it damned well pleases. It will not read some of my CD’s at all, and others only after 3 or 4 attempts. This is not good since I’m in the process of copying my CD library onto my hard-drive. If I had any hair left, I would be pulling it out. In lieu of the afore mentioned method of venting frustration, I may pay a visit to Fry’s Electronics and purchase an external CD Drive. If I am prudent, I will ensure that any purchase of such a devise will be compatable with Windows 98 as well so that I can also use it with my Sony VAIO desktop. I have already had to replace that CD drive once. I think that this would certainly save time over taking my computer to the repair shop to have the internal CD drive repaired or replaced, and possibly even save some $$$ as well. Time and computer availability are definitely factors in any decision I make concerning these matters. Since I do not watch Television anymore, my computer is my main source of entertainment in my leisure hours. At any rate, this is something to be dealt with tomorrow.
After lounging most of the day here @ the TA, waiting to no avail for the temperature to drop below 110 degrees, I decided to walk over to the Silverton Casino and Lodge at about 1900 PDT. It was still 112 degrees. When I entered the Casino, they were just feeding the fish in the 80,000 gallon salt water aquarium. It’s a kind of show with one person talking to the crowd outside the tank while another is inside the tank in S.C.U.B.A. gear actually feeding the fish. The water was murky because, according to the person doing the talking, it’s a natural process of the method they use to clean a tank that size. It takes about 3 days for everything to settle back down to the bottom of the tank. They do this thrice yearly. The diver actually had to put food into the mouth of the Sting-Rays because their eyes are on top of their body while their mouth is on the bottom. They can’t see the food which the diver is offering them. In their natural environment, they are lawyers, oops, I mean bottom feeders :>} and do not need to see the food they consume.
After that, I went into Bass Pro Shops. This is an interesting place, reminiscent of Cabela’s, with everything outdoors available. Specialized clothing, boats, fishing and hunting accoutrements, de-hydrated foods for camping and hiking excursions; if you can use it outdoors, they have it here. I bought a nice light-weight shirt with a special pocket for glasses and a few snacks.
I then went to Twin Creeks Steakhouse. I had no reservation, so I was told that I would have to wait for over an hour if I wanted a table in the smoking section. Just after I had opted to sit in non-smoking (they had tables available immediately there), a table opened up in the ’smoking’ section (as it should be on my Birthday) and I got it after a 3 minute wait for them to clean it and set it up. I ordered a 14oz New York steak. It came with 2 side dishes (un-like Ruth’s Chris Steak House for instance where everything is al a carte). I selected Yukon Gold steak fries and steamed asparagus. The meal also included a “bottomless” salad with a dandy Balsamic Vinagetette dressing ( the only dressing available) and some delicious rolls. In addition, I rounded out my meal with iced tea (surprise, surprise) to drink. After my salad, I decided to go “whole hog” and order a glass of wine as well. With the aid of my server (an affable gentleman approximately my age), I selected a pleasant, yet rambunctious, cabernet. (I’m actually a functional illiterate when it comes to selecting a wine, so I’m faking the ‘wine-snob’ terminology). The meal was excellent. My steak was actually medium-well, as ordered.There were only 6 steak fries (wedges), but if you were to assemble them, it would be a whole baking-size potato. The asparagus was al dente and tender (not ‘woody’) and delicious. At some point during the meal, I must have casually mentioned to my server that it was my Birthday, because just as I was trying to locate him so he could bring the desert -cart over to my table, he showed up with a huge piece of Raspberry Cheese Cake, complete with 1 candle, and sang “Happy Birthday” to me. I wasn’t going to order Cheese Cake (I was leaning toward a Berry Compote), but what the heck. The Cheese cake was complimentary, so the total damage to my wallet was $45.00 including tax and a generous tip. I’ll rate the meal as a whole as very, very good. The fact that there was only one salad dressing available, and that there was no soup option instead, and the butter for the rolls was straight out of the refrigerator and therefore un-spreadable prevents it from getting an excellent rating from me. I give it a 4.5 out of 5.
After the meal, I meandered around the Casino for a while. All of the gaming tables had a $5.00 minimum bet with the exception of Craps and Roulette and they were $3.00 minimum, even during mid-week, but that is pretty much the norm here in Las Vegas now. The waitress uniforms were fetching (as were most of the girls in them). They have a Sports Bar, the Shady Grove Lounge, with a pool table that had the most hideous ‘felt’ I’ve ever seen (a Hootie and the Blowfish album cover???). In addition, they had a 1/2 scale ‘mini’ bowling alley (2 lanes, housed in an older type Airstream trailer). The balls (sans holes) and pins are 1/2 size and the length of the ‘alleys’ was 1/2 scale as well. The bar also features tables which offer a close-up view of the aquarium.
I returned to my truck about 2215 PDT and was exuberantly greeted by the MMM (probably because of the left-overs I brought them). The temperature had plummeted to a paltry 102 degrees. Despite the agonizing heat (the high was in the neighborhood of 118 degrees), I have to rate this a good day. I did absolutely nothing that could even remotely be construed as work (apropos on this most exalted day). I went to bed just before midnight PDT.

Life Day 21184: Las Vegas Levity

On the 11th, I arose at 0730. I was already at the Consignee because I drove directly here after leaving Barstow last evening. After I arrived, I remembered that I had been to this customer about 3 years ago. Only the name had been changed (to protect the innocent). There was a place to park directly across the street. After the morning MMM frolic, I checked in with the Recieving clerk for a door assignment. I was pleased to discover that this was now a drop/hook customer. I was in and out in 15 minutes. In the interum, the Planner had offered me a load which picked up in Oxnard, CA and delivered in Las Vegas, NV (93 miles empty and 327 miles loaded), with an additional stop for delivery, also in Las Vegas. After accepting it, while waiting for the Dispatch, I availed myself of their facilities for my AM toilette, and made a couple of P.B.J. sandwiches. I wanted to kill some time to let traffic subside. At 0930 I departed for Oxnard. Traffic was moderately heavy, but flowing smoothly except for the junctures with major freeways (ie: Ca-91 & I-5, I-5 & I-605, et al). The Shipper was a drop/hook as well. All went smoothly. They even had a place for the MMM to briefly play off-leash. I departed at 1230 and drove to Hesparia, CA (the junction of I-15 and US-395). I stopped here for lunch and, of course, a MMM break. Once again, the traffic co-operated. I left Hesparia at 1545 and drove to Las Vegas. I arrived at the Wild, Wild, West at 1930. After another MMM walk, I decided to go check my mail. It was still ‘blistering’ hot, so I decided to let the MMM stay in the truck while I got into the Jeep, and stalwartly braved the elements ‘mano e mano’. Upon my return, I went inside for dinner. After that, I decided to drive to the 1st Consignee to ‘jump-start’ my delivery in the AM (anything to alleviate part of the HORRIBLE morning commute). Serendipity intervened. As I was entering the parking lot, ( it was under construction, and a ‘bear’ to navigate), another truck was just leaving. I drove around to the recieving area and parked. Just as I was preparing for bed to await my 0800 delivery appointment, they came out and asked if I wanted to unload now. I jumped at the chance and backed into the assigned door. (Now, I’ll be able to avoid 100% of the morning commuter traffic, because I’ll already be at my final delivery location in the AM). I left at 0100 and drove to the 2nd Consignee. From the 1st to the 2nd customer was 10 miles (all surface streets) and the drive would have been HELL in the AM ‘rush’. I arrived at 0130 and went to bed. I worked 8.5 hours and drove 415 miles in 8 hours.
Today, the 12th, I arose at 0600. I wanted to see if the luck which I had last night was still holding (they begin recieving at 0600). I checked in with the reciever, but she said that it would be a while, as they had to first clear their recieving dock of the remnants of yesterday’s goods, and to allow those with appointments prior to mine to show up, so I guess not. At 0800, they said that they were ready for me (still 2 hours ahead of my 1000 appointment time). I backed into the door, brought my Log Book up to date (quite a feat considering the early delivery of Stop 1 last night), and cleared up some “odds ‘n ends” like calling the TA Truckstop headquarters to find out why a transaction that I made on the 5th (fuel in Lamar, PA) had not been credited to my account. I’m a member of the Road King Club (a frequent fuel program), and am supposed to recieve a 1 cent per gallon credit to my account every time I fuel, and a free shower credit if the transaction exccced 50 gallons. I can then use the accumulated credits (in $5.00 increments) to make purchases in the store or restaurant by using the Road King kiosk in any TA and printing out a coupon. Anyway, I digress. I was unloaded in 20 minutes. I left at 0900 and drove to the TA Truckstop. Ahh, home-time!! Now I can plan what I’m going to do until Friday at 0800. That’s when I set my PTA (projected time available). Doggie baths and trims, laundry, computer time, errands (like getting my *%#@ CD drive working and finding a WiFi card for my (Windows 98) Sony VAIO desktop, and oh yes, CELEBRATING MY BIRTHDAY!!

Life Day 21182: Barstow Blather

The 9th was another leisurely day. I left Albuquerque at 1215 and drove to Winslow, AZ. I had lunch and walked the MMM and left there at 1800. I drove to Kingman, AZ where I stopped for the night. I arrived at 2115. Nothing untoward or unusual happened. BORING. I did notice for the 1st time, a Deer Park just west of Flagstaff that may be worth a visit. I left it for another time. Then there’s the Dinosaur Driving Tour just east of Holbrook. I worked 7.75 hours and drove 445 miles in 7.5 hours.
The 10th is so far proving to be equally as boring as yesterday. I left Kingman at 1345 and drove here to Barstow. I arrived at 1730, walked the MMM, then took a shower. This is the last feasible WiFi hotspot before I get to the LA area, so I’m bringing the BLOG up to date before I leave. There are a couple of TA Truckstops in Ontario, but they are ALWAYS crowded, and they charge a $12.00 Parking Fee unless you purchase 50+ gallons of fuel or $25.00 worth of store merchendise. The first 2 hours are Free, but you can easily spend 1/4 of that time just finding a parking place. By the time you eat and, in my case walk the MMM, you’ve used up your Free 2 hours. Therefore, I just avoid them unless it’s ABSOLUTELY imperative to go there. We have a Terminal in Fontana, so I usually just hang-out there if I have to kill time in the LA area.

Sign Of The Times

You can find anything these days, even Ho’s!!

This is a photograph of a billboard located on I-81 at exit 319 in Gibson, PA. I wonder if it is a subsidiary of WalMart or Kmart?