So on August 31st, we closed down for the last time this year.  The last week we were open was, as usual, pretty boring.  It has a lot to do with the fact that our last stop of the year is one of the slowest spots we do all season.  It was not all bad, I did get a chance to get to know one of the new workers, a guy that goes by the nic Ares.  On Sunday, I got the honor of driving one of the bunkhouses from Trumansburg, NY to Middletown, CT.  This trip was pretty boring, fairly standard trip.  I got into the yard and dropped the bunkhouse where it should go.  Then I had to wait for the others to get there so that I could have one of them ride back with me in the day-cab.  Got to nap on the way back to Trumansburg.  Once there, I was told to pick up the bus with all the employees on it and drive it back to Middletown.  Fun Fun Fun…  Did that…no problems.

So now I am sitting in Middletown, CT waiting for the other guys to get in so that I can go back and pick up a 3rd load.  By the time everyone was in and we could leave it was around 4pm EST.  Got into Trumansburg around 9:30 pm.  Checked out my load…everything looked good.  The load was our ticket box trailer.  Not a heavy load, in fact it is light enough that the trailer they sit on only has one rear axle.  Was on the road around 10:30.  Stopped for something to eat and got back on the road.  Right around 11:30 I blew out both tires on the drivers side rear trailer axle.  Not good.  Sparks flying…I manage to get the truck pulled over onto the curb.  So now the problem is, there are no tires on the trailer, in fact there are also no rims either.  It all blew off.  I actually had the privilege of watching them roll away from the truck.  Talk about scare the crap out of me.  I am actually surprised I did not mess my pants.  Called the boss to let him know there was a problem and for him to call someone to come and check out the damage.

Help does show.  Unfortunately it is not really helpful.  All he could do was sit behind me with flashing lights until a state trouper came by and set up some flairs for me.  I spent the night of September 1st in the cab of a rig with no bed in it.  Not fun.  It seems that every time I managed to fall asleep, someone came by.  Not good for keeping a tired girl from getting too grumpy.  Of course, by now my cell phone is just about dead.  It is dawn and no one is going to be out to move me until at least noon.  Yippie, 12 hours or more sitting on the side of the highway.  On the side of the New York Expressway to be more precise.

Several people who saw what the trailer looked like and the two guys that were following me when the incident happened all said that they are surprised that the trailer did not flip.  Everyone is also surprised that I did not end up in the ravene that was on the passenger side of the road.  It dropped down around 1o or 15 feet.  I stopped the truck just above where the drop off was.

I know how it stayed upright, my guardian angel picked up the rear end and held it until I got it off of the road.  When we tried to move the truck later, it would not move.  The wheel was buried in the ground.

I ended up on the side of the road for right around 14 1/2 hours.  When we finally got the truck and trailer to the shop it was around 3 pm or so.  I get told that the truck would not be ready until the next day.  So now I get to go to a motel.  At least it gave me a hot shower and a fairly comfortable bed.  The truck was finally done around 3 pm the following day.  I did not get to leave the mechanics shop until almost 5 pm.  Now I have to drive the rest of the way to Middletown.  By the time I get in there it is around 8pm.  This ended up being the longest trip in recorded history.  54 hours on a trip that should have taken no more than 14 hours to do round trip.

Now it is payday.  I am hoping to get paid off and bonus’d out so that I can leave in the morning to head south.  Unfortunately, my bonus is not ready.  I am told that I will get it in the morning.  I finish loading my pickup up with my stuff.  In the morning I go and pick up a uhaul pull-a-long trailer since the pickup is way overloaded.  By the time I get back I still have to wait until almost noon before I finally get my bonus.

I get home safe and sound.  All is suppose to be good now right?  NOT.  While Alex is happy to see me, things are not good here.  He is spending all of his time either watching tv or he is playing a game either by himself or with his nephew.  When I have tried to say something to him about it, he informs me that he is a gamer, and his nephew is his life.  And apparently he is spending time with me.  I am sorry but sleeping next to me is not spending time with me.  It is sleeping.

I get more attention from talking to Ares on the phone, which I have been doing for just over a week now.  I have been out job hunting.  It looks like I am going to try and get back out on the road driving 18 wheeler if I can find a company that will take me right now.  If not, I have a lead on a job.  A company that I use to work for is willing to take me back.  Ares is suppose to call them on or around November 1st.  He and I are, maybe going to go down there and work this winter.  In the spring, we will most likely go back to Coleman Brothers Shows.  As a couple.  Who knows what will happen in the future.  Time will only tell.