Brother Trucker

 Did I ever mention my brother is a trucker? Yep.... he is..

 

I actually have 2 brothers, both older and I love them both very, very much but today is about my brother the trucker.

 

My brother and I are very close. Even as children, he was always my best friend. We would play cars together, (no wonder I got into cars..lol) and when I fell and hurt myself, he was always there to help me feel better.

 

Now, as adults, we still have so much in common. He's a trucker, and I work for a truck shop.

 

Over the years he has taught me a lot about sharing the road with a big rig and it's important stuff that I think everyone should think about on the road. Things like, not driving too close to the back of a rig. This should be common sense but pay attention next time you're on the highway - it happens a lot. A trucker can't see you when you're on his bumper. Good rule of thumb is, if you can't see his mirrors, he can't see you.

 

Also, don't cut a truck off. A loaded rig takes much longer to stop than a car. It would be like cutting off a train, it's so dangerous and most of the time an accident on the road gets blamed on the truck driver. There's only so much a rig can do to avoid you.

 

And, I know, its a bit of a pain but sometimes it's important to let a truck in..... My brother told me a story once about being stuck in the snow in the city and every time he had enough momentum to get going, a car would cut in front of him. He said it took almost 2 hours just to turn a corner. So let's cut those truckers some slack... lol

 

Below, I've included a link to my "soon to be sister-in law's" You Tube page. She made a great video of my brother trucker that I want to share....

 

Oh yeah, one more thing, (sorry guys) but ladies.... if you're wearing a low cut top and have an open sunroof, truckers can see right down your top.. lol. Just saying..

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/user/samualanta

 

 



Gizmo the Shih Tzu

Gizmo the Shih Tzu

Have you ever googled - Gizmo the Shih Tzu? I wish I had before I named my Shih Tzu Gizmo.. lol. I had no idea that 80% of the Shih Tzu's out there are named Gizmo.

I got my dog when he was 8 weeks old. I was told Shih Tzu's are the best. They're hypo-allergenic, small, and require very little exercise which was good for me because I wanted a lap dog not one that had to go for a "run" everyday. Don't get me wrong, I have a fully fenced backyard for the dog to run around in and I take him out back everyday but I don't have to walk him everyday, which is nice. 

What I didn't know at the time I got my dog was how high maintenance they are. They require grooming, ear cleaning, nail clipping, bathing, face cleaning and have delicate stomachs. In reality, I won't get another Shih Tzu but I have had Gizmo now for 4 years and would never give him up. Now I do all the maintenance because I love him - but if I had known......

Shih Tzu's are funny. They are the cutest ugly dogs out there.. lol. My Gizmo is so docile it is unbelievable and more loyal than any dog I've ever had, so the are some good qualities to Shih Tzu's. If you're retired and want a companion to take care of, the Shih Tzu is for you. For me, I work full time, work part time selling products online, I sell for Herbalife, I blog, I make music montage with Magix Movie Edit Pro and most importantly, I have 2 young children. My life is full but I love my Gizmo. I think one day I will have enough silly pictures of Gizmo to create a entire montage of him... One day...

If I had advice for people looking at Shih Tzu's? Love them no matter what and they will return the affection 10 fold, keep their ears clean and their face short (or in a pony tail)

The Truckmom??

Boy oh boy - What have I done?

 

I've been in automotive since I was a teenager. It wasn't until about 3 years ago that I stumbled onto a job that was both automotive and trucks - Hino trucks. Most people probably think of a cab over when they hear the word Hino but they make many conventional trucks too. It was very overwhelming at the start but over time, I picked it up just like everything else..... Funny thing is I won parts dept. of the year - first prize? An all expenses paid trip to Japan!

 

Probably one of the coolest things I have ever won in my life and possibly could only be topped by the lottery. I went to the top of Mt. Fuji, rode the Bullet Train, went to Toyko Tower, Hakone Mountains, even went to a Toyko Giants Baseball game. It was awesome. The culture is like night and day for what I'm used to but I have a whole new respect for Japanese people. Japan is a beautiful country and I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to go.

 

Anyway, getting off track here...

 

I think when you're good at what you and you treat people fairly and with respect, people remember you. As was the case with a shop that called me and offered me a job. He had heard about me through more than one person and after talking to him for an hour or so, he made me an offer.

 

Only one difference...

 

 

It's big rigs....

 

They do business with some smaller trucks but Western Star is a whole new world for me. I'm looking forward to this new venture in life and to expand my knowledge... Who knows how many more doors will open with this under my belt.

This company looks good. It's big and clean and it's an opportunity I just couldn't turn down. I hate to leave my job, I'm a bit of an expert and I'm passing on another opportunity to go back to Japan and re-visit the people I met there...... I just had to....

 

Stayed tuned - Updates to come