Welcome Facebook Friends :-) 248

Lately I've been trying to connect with more people on Facebook. This is the personal message (or one similar to it) I'm sending along with my friend requests:

I'm a 48 yr old female truck driver who's been driving for 12+ years now - mostly OTR in the US. I keep a little blog that feeds to my "Wall" and "Notes" pages here at Facebook. Quite frankly, I'm looking for people to follow the links to the original posts (at amx1047.blogspot.com ), and maybe read my posts. I try to make 50% of them interesting and informative, while the other 50% is simply my diary. Blogspot is a free Google service.

My ulterior motive is to get people to check out the Google AdSense Ads that appear on my blog. For those who don't know, AdSense is a free service offered by Google that allows people/companies/etc. to advertise on my blog, and I get to collect a tiny little fee for the space - for legitimate clicks, that it. I earn a fraction of a cent for every legitimate click. My little AdSense account is up to $3.98 now, and when I get to $100.00, Google will mail me a check.

I'm new to Facebook, but I love the way it operates! With one glance you can see what all your "friends" are doing. Very cool the way it's set up. I'm also addicted to Farmville, Farm Town, and YoVille. So I'd be grateful if you'd approve me as a friend - especially if you're familiar with trucking.

Thanks much,
Sherry Collum

P.S. I'm going down the list of suggested friends, so it's likely we're already a little familiar with each other from a mutual friend's wall :-)

McAdory HS '79
Bevill State Truck Driver Training '94

For those just tuning in, I've been off the road since 10/06/09 because, in a nutshell, the AMX company doctor, Dr. Flagman, wouldn't renew my medical certificate until I see a cardiologist. I have an appointment with a UAB cardiologist that Dr. Flagman knows on Nov 4th. The whole story of my heart condition (Angina) is HERE - it'll open in a new window if you're interested.

In the sidebar is a list of Characters, so if you're reading a post and don't know who I'm talking about, just glance to the the left. Next is the Table of Contents. And finally there's a section called "Tags I list under my posts in alfa order." All of those tags are links back to their respective posts, with an indication of how many times that tag is used in the blog. I try to include as many tags as possible with a post without them being trivial. I use the tags for reference just as you can.

And don't forget - Google ads are our friends!

Remington Model 870 Express Combo 247

Disabro and I went to Simmons Sporting Goods (Bessemer, AL) yesterday and bought a Remington Model 870 Express Compact 20 GA Shotgun for the house. We looked at bigger models, but "This affordable pump-action combo is a perfect fit for the smaller shooter. ...this quick-pointing 20-gauge provides rifle-like accuracy...."

It's light and short enough for Mother to fire if she has to. She can't get it up to her shoulder, but she looks pretty tough with it tucked in under her arm

Remington's website is right about "rifle-like accuracy". Disabro set up a target behind the house and we practiced shooting it for a while. Except for the spray pattern of the birdshot we practiced with, I can't tell much difference between this little shotgun and the 30-30 rifle I used to deer hunt with - when it comes to aiming and firing, that is. Absolutely no problem hitting the target, and very little recoil.

These videos show what the recoil felt like to me:







During the Pit Bull disaster, when that innocent old dog was killed, nobody attacked our physical, personal property - as bad at that situation was. Saturday night, for no apparent reason, we were personally attacked. I'd like to catch The Delinquent neighbor attacking us now!

However, it's my most sincere hope and prayer (I asked God last night) that the boy will straighten up and become a fine young man instead of rolling downhill "like a snowball headed for hell".

In other news: All of Mother's blood tests are back, and they were normal. All that's wrong with her now, as far as anybody knows, is her shoulder pain. It seems to ease up a little (not much) with Tylenol and the heating pad.

Remember More Money From Blue Cross?? They did reimburse me yet again - one big fat direct deposit this time. I've been able to afford things like the shotgun, etc., and I'm yearning to improve some other things around here.

Remember The Progression Of Anger - Battling A Demon - where I said

Mile after mile of being tossed around until I felt like throwing up. Where's our great black hope now? Come on, Obama. Why don't you take a ride with me down this highway? Never mind. You're too busy selling us to China, with no hope of ever being our own nation again. And Hillary. Once she was in China trying to promote women's rights - imposing our ideals on a foreign nation. Now she's there thanking them for buying our souls.

Porter forwarded a cute picture via email the other day:



What the sign doesn't say is that she owes that money to China. Seriously.

And finally, it's 8 days until my appointment with Dr. Misery, and maybe it won't be too long after that when I can get back to work.

Called Sheriff's Deputies Out This Morning 247

Subtitle: Someday The Delinquent Will Be Old Enough For Prison (then we won't have to worry about him for a while.)

Last night between 10:30 and 11:00pm, someone threw something against the side of the house. It made a very loud noise, startling Mother and myself. Mother was still up, and I had just gone to bed.

Mother called down the hall, "Honey?"

I said, "What was that!?"

Mother said, "I don't know. I'm afraid to open the door, but I'm going to anyway." She opened the door for a few seconds, didn't see anything, and closed it again.

I knew it was The Delinquent - the one who stole $18.00 from me. I told Mother if it happened again, I'd get up, look around outside, and call the Sheriff's department. It didn't happen again, but Mother double checked the locks on the doors.

As Buddy and I were coming in from our walk this morning I saw what he'd thrown and where it hit. If the egg had hit a foot to the left and up 3 inches, we'd be buying a new door this morning. It would have shattered the glass.

There was another broken egg on the front of the porch - we didn't hear that one. And a whole egg was laying on the ground in front of the porch.

Eggs are dangerous weapons when they're thrown with force - just as golf balls are.

I put Buddy inside, told Mother what he'd thrown, and went looking for proof. I walked up the road and found a trail of coins (quarters and dimes), and 3 small pieces of purple duct tape - the same kind I used to tape up my bedroom window on the outside. Then I called the Sheriff's department. They came out; saw what had been done; looked at what I'd collected; and wrote a report.

The Deputies know who did it as well as we do. They freely admit the boy has been arrested many times. And I assume that they, like me, will be glad to see the delinquent come of age. With all the evidence that mounts up over a period of time, it's just a question of when - not if - the boy winds up behind bars for good.

I am buying a shotgun next week - for the protection of my home and family.

What The Heck Does 'Percutaneous' Mean? 246

This morning I'm writing a letter/fax to my new Cardiologist,Dr.Goodheart, explaining the events which lead to my making an appointment to see him on November 4th - 14 days from now.

As I was copying the words of Dr. Feelgood's letter to "provide documentation regarding [my] medical condition for purposes of resuming [my] work as a truck driver," I came across this phrase:

She underwent cardiac catheritization with percutaneous coronary angioplasty and stenting and has done well clinically since that time.

and I wondered what the heck 'percutaneous' meant. Like a coffee pot, maybe? I looked it up.

From Wikipedia:

In surgery, percutaneous pertains to any medical procedure where access to inner organs or other tissue is done via needle-puncture of the skin, rather than by using an "open" approach where inner organs or tissue are exposed (typically with the use of a scalpel).

The percutaneous approach is commonly used in vascular procedures. This involves a needle catheter getting access to a blood vessel, followed by the introduction of a wire through the lumen of the needle. It is over this wire that other catheters can be placed into the blood vessel. This technique is known as the modified Seldinger technique.

More generally, "percutaneous" can mean 'through the skin'. An example would be percutaneous drug absorption from topical medications.

And remember the Xience Drug Eluting Stent the cardiologist put in my LAD(Left Anterior Descending) artery? The nurse didn't know what 'drug eluting' meant, and I joked that maybe it meant the thing wouldn't "rust in there".


Actually, from The American Heart Association's website (4th paragraph):

In the past few years, there have been dramatic advances in PCI techniques, devices, and medications. Drug-eluting stents are among the most notable. These stents not only prop open the artery, they also slowly release medication that prevents the overgrowth of scar tissue that can renarrow the artery and block blood flow to the heart, a complication known as restenosis.

(Some very cool graphics linked to that picture of a heart....)

In other news: Remember the neighbors who had the killer Pit Bull dog? The Sheriff's Department made them get rid of the dog and all her puppies. However, I'm fairly sure they kept one of the puppies - already a grown dog at the time of the killing. And they acquired more dogs (I think they have 4 now), but they seem like harmless mongrels - individually.

The other day (10/12, when the power was out for so long,) the Pit Bull mongrel and another one of their dogs came running around some bushes in our yard - running after Buddy as if someone had sicced (sicked) them on her. Buddy was in our yard minding her own business. When the mongrels saw me standing on the porch, they hit the brakes and ran back to their house. I couldn't believe it. Several minutes later I saw one of the owners walking across his yard.

Coincidence or not, I've been carrying the pellet gun on our walks since then. In a pack, those dogs could be dangerous. I shoot them before they even get close.

Not Much To Report.... 245

Not much has happened since the last time I posted. Mother's shoulders have been hurting her real bad for the last few days. Unrelated to her shoulders, I took her to her doctor's office this morning to give another blood sample. They took blood (for a detailed analysis) the last time she went to the doctor, oh, I guess 2 or 3 weeks ago. The results of that workup aren't back yet, so I'm not sure what today's sample was about. Mother probably told me; and I probably lost it somewhere between Noah and all the rain we've been having lately. (That's a joke. Ask Mother what time it is, and she'll tell you how to build a clock.)

While she was there, she made an appointment to see her doctor about her shoulders on Nov 4th. That's the earliest she could get in to see him. I wish I could be sure it was just arthritis....

I've been playing a lot of the games on Facebook. I hated all the requests for "neighbors" and "gifts" at first, but the more I get into it, the more addictive it gets. Here's a couple of screenshots of my farm and me standing in my little fields:





This is called "Farmville". You plant, grow, and harvest whatever you plant, and then sell it to earn more money. But you have to remember that seed and plowing costs money, so it's just like running a real farm. Well, kinda sorta. At any rate, it's a precious, very intricate, little game, and I'm becoming addicted to it.

There are other similar games on Facebook - all of which involve your "friends". It was good to see Porter join Facebook yesterday. I'm sure he's overwhelmed with all the requests I've sent him :-)

Lastly, I'll be glad to get back to work. Sitting around here so long just doesn't seem right.

More Money From Blue Cross? 244

If you're a regular reader, you know BlueCross BlueShield of Alabama recently reimbursed me $2075.00 (one big, fat check!) for their part of my prescription drugs thus far in 2009. That's just this year.

However, I can file up to 2 years worth of claims; so yesterday I picked up a prescription history (from CVS) for 2008. According to that report I spent $2971.82 last year. If BCBS pays 80% on all of them, I'll be reimbursed
$2377.45


In other news:



As I said on Facebook, I hope they throw the book at this guy and his wife. I hope they both have to get legitimate jobs and work for years to pay off the fines. But I also hope they don't break up the family. I feel sorry for the kids, especially little Falcon, but I think they are loved and taken care of - even if their parents are a little of their rockers.

But I could'ave been under the wrong impression, according to this from Associated Press:

Records show that police have responded to the house at least twice in the past year, including a possible domestic violence incident in February. No charges were filed.

Alderden said officials tried Saturday to persuade Mayumi Heene, 45, to go to a safe house, but she declined.

"We talked to her at length about domestic violence, about her safety, about her children's safety," the sheriff said. "We have a concern, but we didn't have enough that would allow us or child protective services to physically take the kids from that environment."

Alderden said the children were still with the parents Sunday morning, and child protective services had been contacted to investigate the children's well-being.

"Clearly, from all indications, Mr. Heene has somewhat of a temper," Alderden said.

The AP article says "The stunt was two weeks in the planning....", and "Documents show that a media outlet has agreed to pay money to the Heenes with regards to the balloon incident, Alderden said. He didn't name the media outlet, but said it was a show that blurs "the line between entertainment and news." It wasn't clear whether the deal was signed before or after the alleged hoax, or whether that media outlet was a possible conspirator."

Wow.

Last but not least, Chesty Puller came up to the house a little while ago. It was so good to finally meet him in person - I hugged him and shook his hand. He's a cute, tall, and extremely nice young man, with above average intelligence and maturity. I'm so proud we have people like him in our military.

Ballon Boy - "243

I feel sorry for these kids.

These videos say it all:



Watch the faces of the other two kids in the one below:



Everybody knows by now, but just for the blog record (From Entertainment Weekly online, EW.com):

"Perhaps it’s a coincidence that the Heenes, who previously caught a whiff of fame as a Wife Swap family, happened to find themselves wrapped up in this huge media spectacle. And perhaps it’s irrelevant that telegenic father Richard Heene drags his entire family, kids and all, with him on wild storm chases and has submitted “Mars Civilization Proof” conspiracy videos to CNN’s iReport. Perhaps."

Somebody ought to slap that man.

Myers Electric - Thumbs Up, 242

Aside from getting my car up here for Mother, I've been able to get some other stuff done around here during this break from work. Yesterday an electrician came out and fixed the light on the back porch and put up the new smoke detectors. The light was a dusk-to-dawn type fixture and the photocell had gone bad. No one knew it was supposed to tell daylight from dark, and I had no idea why it wouldn't turn on. But Mr. Myers and his son knew right away. Then they put up the smoke detectors, and they were gone inside of 20 minutes. He only charged me for a service call - $80.00, which I thought was fantastic! If anybody in the Bessemer/Birmingham AL area needs a good, honest electrician, Myers Electric is the place to call.

Incidentally, I found Myers Electric through ServiceMagic.com - kind of by accident. I'd heard about ServiceMagic on XM radio, so I checked it out. You have to put in a name, address, what kind of project you have, etc., and there's a place to chose "ready to hire" or "budget/planning". I was ready to hire. Boom! Two electricians called me within 5 minutes - one of them was Mr. Myers. The other one lived way out in Pinson, so he declined such a small project. After talking to Mr. Myers a few minutes, I knew there was no need to talk to anyone else.

It's rained so much around here lately that Myers got stuck in the drive across the street. Harmlessette and I have considered building another arc it's been raining so long. Anyway, Handyman came and gave them a tug with E.F. Hutton's tractor.

And by the way - E.F. Hutton's legs and feet were/are hurting so bad that he was using his walker yesterday. He's going to the doctor again today. He said he mentioned his pain the last time at the doctor's (a weeek or so ago) but it was lost in their concern for his blood sugar levels - he had to start injecting insulin. In fact, this visit today may be the scheduled visit to have is levels tested again.

Finally, I just saw (on his Facebook page) that Chesty Puller is on the way home.

Dancing Ducks For Molly McGee 241

This post is especially for my terminally ill sister, nicknamed Molly McGee. No one knows when she will pass on. I believe one doctor told her, "I wouldn't be surprised to hear it next week, and I wouldn't be surprised to hear it two years from now." She is in pain most of the time. I tried to explain some of her illness here, but got a lot of it wrong.

Anyway, in her comment on my last post she said, "You need to show me how to make those little dancing ducks so I could do a musical note or something. I just love those little characters."

Molly, I don't have the software/programs anymore, so I don't make the animations, smilies, or characters myself. Other very talented people across the internet make them, and I simply copy the script, or code that generates them. I have most of my 'cute' things stored in a photo album at Photobucket.com.

Here's how I use them:



If I put this script, or line of compter language on the writing area for my post (click to see it):

I get this:

(I had to turn the script itself into a picture, or we'd get the animation instead of the script, or code.)


equals this:


eguals this:

It's really hard to explain, but you could post the same script in the comments sections and get the same results - BUT this particular blog program won't allow script in the comments.

I know this doesn't help much, but it's the best way I know of to try and explain it. Sorry. Again, wish I knew of some way to ease your pain. Love you lots.

Power Outage For 15+ Hours 240

Our power went out around 2:30PM yesterday, and AL Power didn't get it back on until 5:30AM this morning. It took much longer than it should have. I plan to add more to this post later, but for now I just wanted to get the pics up.

A big hardwood tree had fallen on the line:







Addendum:


For years all of Lindsey Loop (to Shades Creek - about 1 mile) has periodically experienced power outages due to faulty, old, or worn out wiring somewhere on the Alabama Power (a Southern Company) circuit that delivers electricity to our homes. During just one day in the summer of '08 we lost power 4 different times. Sometimes it won't happen for weeks. There's no predicting when it'll happen, but we all know it's the same old problem when it does.

In years past AL Power would send a man out in a pickup truck. The man usually went to the same transformer/breaker/whatever, just north of where the star is, bring out a long pole, and appear to 'flip' something on the power line. Voila! We has power again. The man knew the community and was familiar with our power glitch.

In recent years, however, AL Power's been sending a man out (in a big cherry picker truck) who had no idea where to even start looking for the problem. The man will drive back and forth, up and down the road several times, and it'll be hours before our electricity is restored. That's because our problem isn't a 'normal' one. They don't train the new men to look for our particular glitch. (My opinion anyway.)

One night, in the pouring rain, I drove to where the truck/man was and tried to tell the guy where he might start looking - explaining, "...this has been happening for years." I felt sorry for that guy. He was so frustrated.... I took him a can of Coke just to hopefully lift his spirits a little.

In the situation yesterday, we lost power for about 40 minutes; it came back on for about 45 minutes; and then it was off for more than 15 hours. When I went to talk to the guy, he was in the right place, but something different was happening this time. He asked if the power came back on for a while. I said yes. Then he put a telescoping pole up to ... a breaker? near a transformer, and said, "I had this hot a while ago...." Obviously it wasn't 'hot' now. I told the guy "Good luck" and came back home.

It's always been frustrating that we could see lights over on Harper's Dairy Loop, and the people on Paradise Lane never lost theirs. But this time, the northern 1/2 of Lindsey Loop got their power back but we (about 20 houses) didn't! What the heck was going on???? We waited and waited. Finally I surmised the guy figured he had it fixed and was gone.

After nightfall Mother called Al Power and kept punching buttons until she finally talked to a real person. I think Abbie called too. But it was Disabro's call that made the difference. He informed them that there was an elderly person here who's oxygen machine wouldn't work without electricity, and that he required a CPAP to sleep. He demanded that a supervisor be sent out here.

I guess AL Power kinda panicked when they realized they had medical issues on their hands. There were 5 cherry pickers and 2 pickup trucks out here within 20 minutes of Disabro's call. Still we waited as the hours ticked by. Finally I went to find the trucks. They were at the first house on Paradise Lane. They said a big tree had fallen on a line, and they were waiting for the line to be grounded. I came home. Shortly after that, we could hear a chainsaw from the porch. They sawed on that tree for more than an hour. Then more hours ticked by.

Disabro was awake when the power was finally restored at 5:34AM this morning - he can't sleep without his CPAP machine.

After daylight, Buddy and I walked down to where the trucks had been. I wanted to see why it'd taken AL Power so long to get the problem fixed, and I took the above pictures. Granted, the pasture just before the tree line was just short of being a swamp and it was pitch dark, but does it look like fixing this one line would take more than 15 hours? I don't think so.

But what can we do - short of installing our own private generators at these 20 houses? I'd like to see Alabama Power take an interest in solving the basic problem and upgrade whatever it is that needs to be upgraded out here.

Seems Like Red Tape and Expense? 239

Whatagreatguy couldn't find a way to keep me in AMX's computer system as an active employee because this isn't a medical issue. It's a paperwork issue. That means I'll be classified as a 'rehire' when I go back to work, and I won't be eligible for company paid insurance for 90 days. I'm going to have to pay for my own insurance, through COBRA, beginning 11/1/09. It's going to cost $324.00 per month.

Thanks to a conscientious (contentious) admitting clerk and a reluctant Medical Examiner, I'm having to go through more hassle and expense that a driver who's had open heart surgery. If all this seems like a lot of red tape and money to y'all, that's because it is. Totally unnecessary - except for how it fits in with the way God is providing solutions to my problems. Therefore, since I believe this is God's will, I don't mind any of it.

I've just filled out the COBRA papers and wrote a check to BCBS. Can't let the health insurance lapse under any circumstances.

Chesty Puller - Everyone Needs A Hero 238

Preface: I nicknamed Harmlessette's son, a US Marine, after the most decorated Marine to date, Chesty Puller. Right now, 'our' Chesty is serving in Washington DC as part of the Marine Barracks Washington, also known as "8th & I," ... the oldest active post in the Marine Corps." But Chesty only has 4 more days to serve in Washington; then he'll be coming home for a few weeks; then to Camp Lejeune; and (I think) to Afghanistan.

I'm reprinting the following story about the real Chesty Puller (without permission) because I don't want to lose it. It was published on a Yahoo! Geocities web page by Alvin Rivera, USMC (Ret.), in Sept '98, and was last updated in April 2001. The story was written by Staff Sgt. Kurt M. Sutton, HQMC, Washington, and apparently published in Marine Magazine, August 1998.



Chesty Puller - Everyone Needs A Hero

Another fresh-faced kid entered the Virginia Military Institute in 1917. In August 1918, he dropped out and enlisted in the Marine Corps, hoping to join the fighting in Europe during the World War. He never saw combat. Instead he was appointed a Marine Reserve lieutenant, only to be placed on the inactive list 10 days later due to post-war drawdowns. Determined to be a Marine, he rejoined the Corps as an enlisted man, hoping this time to take part in the fighting in Haiti.

Born June 26, 1898, in West Point, Va., the young man grew up hunting and listening to tales of the Civil War told by his relatives. He also had a heavy appetite for reading, pouring through count-less books of military tales and history.

Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller would go on to earn five Navy Crosses, the nation’s second highest award for valor, and spend 37 years in the Corps, retiring at the rank of lieutenant general.

Jungle Combat

Puller’s service in Haiti allowed him to cut his "battle teeth," leading patrols and engaging the Caco rebels in more than 40 engagements. He witnessed Haitian discipline during drill and patrols, observations which no doubt influenced his own distinct style of leadership.

After Haiti, Puller was again commissioned a second lieutenant. In 1930, he and his Marines found new action patrolling the jungles of Nicaragua with Guardia Nacional troops against rebels led by Augusto Cesar Sandino. His actions there earned him his first Navy Cross.

Puller’s growing reputation gained him a seat at the Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, Ga. During one of his classes, which was peppered with future notable Army and Marine Corps generals, Puller engaged in a heated discussion on volumes of fire with the instructor. One of his most famous quotes came from that discussion, culminating with Puller yelling, "You can’t hurt ‘em if you can’t hit ‘em."

In July of 1932, Puller returned to Nicaragua, where the newspapers heralded his arrival with the headline: "Marines Bring Back the Tiger of Segovia to Fight Sandino." Sandino welcomed the news by putting a bounty of 5,000 pesos on Puller’s head. Puller earned his second Navy Cross during this tour in Nicaragua and was known thereafter as the "Tiger of the Mountains."

To say that "Chesty" was already a Marine Corps legend might be too strong. Certainly, he was very well known. A San Francisco newspaper dated Feb. 11, 1933, was headlined Most Decorated Marine Will Go to Shanghai."

In early 1933, Puller joined the China Marines at the American Legation in Peiping. He served mainly as the commander of the "Horse Marines," a unit of 50 men who rode magnificent Manchurian ponies on patrol and parade duties. While there, he had the opportunity to observe the Japanese infantry in training and to learn the sport of polo.

After several more tours, including sea duty, he was reassigned to China as commander of the 4th Marine Regiment until August 1942.

Another War

Returning to battle in October 1942, Puller, now a lieutenant colonel, commanded 1st Battalion, 7th Marines during the battle for Guadalcanal. Nearly 1,400 Japanese were killed and 17 truckloads of equipment taken while Puller’s battalion defended a mile-long front against an estimated 3,000 attackers. Puller was awarded his third Navy Cross.

During the fighting, Puller could often be seen at the front leading his Marines. He often disregarded enemy fire while others chose to duck and cover. At one point, a grenade landed within eight feet of Puller. While others hit the ground, Puller is alleged to have said, "Oh, that. It’s a dud."

Shortly after the battle for the ‘Canal,’ Puller became the executive officer of the 7th Marine Regiment. In January 1944, on the island of New Britian, he took command of two battalions whose commanding officers had been taken out of the fight, reorganized them while under heavy machine-gun and mortar fire, and led the Marines in an attack against the enemy’s heavily fortified position. These actions earned Puller a fourth Navy Cross.

As commander of the 1st Marine Regiment, he led his Marines in one of the bloodiest battles of the war on Peleliu during September and October 1944. King Ross remembers Puller vividly.

"I was a radio operator on Peleliu with the 3rd Battalion. During the battle, we’d captured a Japanese machine gun. He walked up to us and asked ‘What the hell is that?’ We told him, and he asked us if we could get him one," recalled the 71-year-old Ross. "Two days later we got him his machine gun.

"We had all heard that he had issued an order that all officers would eat after the enlisted. We got the idea that he never forgot that he was a sergeant. That’s why we all would have gone to hell with him if he’d asked us," said Ross, "and we just about did!"

In the battle for Peleliu, Puller’s regiment sustained a 56 percent casualty rate while going up against the toughest section of the island, a series of hills, caves, and jungle known as "Bloody Nose." Puller’s battered and bloodied 1st Marines had to be removed from the fight and replaced by the 7th Marines.

In his speech notes from 1978, retired Brig. Gen. Edwin Simmons, director emeritus, Marine Corps Historical Division, described seeing ‘Chesty’ for the first time when Puller came to talk to officers candidates at Quantico, Va., in 1942.

"This was the man we were going to hear speak ... not very tall, he stood with a kind of stiffness with his chest thrown out, hence his nickname ‘Chesty.’ His face was yellow-brown from the sun and atabrine, the anti-malaria drug that was used then. His face looked, as someone has said, as though it were carved out of teakwood. There was a lantern jaw, a mouth like the proverbial steel trap, and small, piercing eyes that drilled right through you and never seemed to blink."

Puller was then 44 years old. The four-time Navy Cross recipient would not see combat again during World War II; instead, he was assigned back to the United States in November 1944.

He was sent to Camp Pendleton, Calif., in August 1950 to take command of his old unit, the 1st Marines, which was gearing up for Korea.

Cold Hell

Puller landed with the 1st Marines at Inchon, Korea, in September 1950. Aboard his landing craft was Lt. Carl L. Sitter, who would earn the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest award for valor, for his actions during Nov. 29-30, 1950, at Hagaruri.

"I was on his landing craft that day. I’d been given responsibility for the headquarters section and later acted as liaison with the 5th Marine Regiment. Sometime after we were at Tent Camp 2, I had to go to his tent to talk to him. When I went inside, it was dark, and it took my eyes awhile to adjust. When they did, I noticed him sitting on the ground snapping in with his pistol; he was pointing it right at me.

"He was ramrod straight with a stubby pipe in his mouth all the time. He was approachable. He’d often say ‘Hello son, how are you doing?’ when he came across a Marine."

While "attacking in a different direction" at the Frozen Chosin Reservoir Dec. 5-10, 1950, Puller earned his fifth and final Navy Cross. Ten Chinese Divisions had been sent to annihilate them, but the Marines smashed seven of the divisions during their retrograde to the sea. Facing attack from all sides, including two massive enemy attacks on the rear guard, Puller’s direct leadership ensured all casualties were evacuated, all salvageable equipment was brought out, and ensured there was enough time for the column to reach its destination.

In addition to the Navy Cross for his actions during the breakout, he was awarded the Army’s equivalent — the Distinguished Service Cross. In January 1951, Puller was promoted to brigadier general and appointed as assistant commander of the 1st Marine Division.

Promoted to major general in September 1953, Puller assumed command of the 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune in July 1954. It was here he suffered what was originally described as a mild stroke. After many examinations, Puller was declared fit for duty by his military doctors aboard the base.

But Puller’s state of health remained a controversial subject and led to his forced retirement. Thwarting tradition, he had a sergeant major who had worked for him in more glorious days, pin on his third star before he retired Nov. 1, 1955.

His 14 personal decorations, excluding those from foreign governments, certainly are part of Puller’s enduring lore, but perhaps the stories of his leadership, courage, honor, and fighting ability are his most important legacy. They serve as reminders and inspiration to generations of Marines that leading by example is the most important trait we can possess.

Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller died Oct. 11, 1971, at the age of 73.

Hero Dog 237

UPDATE: Here's the written story on Sonny Radio. I've been reading Sony ....

One of my friends on Facebook posted this on her wall. It happened in Santiago Chile 12/04/08. I cried.



The narrator says the dog lived, but my research says the dog was dead by the time workers got there. The hero dog ran away and couldn't be found.

God Does Little Favors For Me 236

I will be off work at home (I'm here now) until after 11/04/09 because, in a nutshell, the AMX company doctor, Dr. Flagman, wouldn't renew my medical certificate until I see a cardiologist. I have an appointment with a UAB cardiologist that Dr. Flagman knows on Nov 4th.

This is a blessing in disguise for me because:

• I needed to get my Neon up here to Mother. This was a biggie for me. See Neon Troubles


• I just received a refund of $2075.19 from my insurance company that will 'tide me over' for a month. See Rich Icing


• Whatagreatguy has assured me I will get my job back, and 007 will have me back as one of her drivers.

______________________________________________
The reasons for the whole situation:

• 03/08/09 - I was off work with a shoulder injury when I decided to build a small chain link fence for Buddy - because I knew nobody around here would walk her once I went back to work. I started having chest pains. From Big Sigh Of Relief - Foot No Hurt Today


• 03/09/09 - ".... My chest started hurting again, but it was worse this time. It was a bad burning sensation in my breastbone, and I could almost feel a kind of tingle in my hands. I came inside and sat down. ... I'm an excellent candidate for heart trouble/disease. It's prevalent in my family; I smoke; I'm overweight; etc., etc., etc." From This Fence Is Killing Me! :-)


• 03/11/09 - The EKG was good - it showed no signs of heart attack. But Dr. Razoredge was concerned that I might have Angina, ... ordered a Lexiscan induced cardiac stress test for tomorrow over at the main hopsital across the street. From Had My Chest Pain Checked Out - Mother In Tow


• 03/12/09 - I had the stress test done. "...I don't expect to hear from Dr. Feelgood's nurse until sometime around Noon tomorrow...." From Lexiscan Cardiac Stress Test


• 03/13/09 - Cinderella called me around 12:30 this afternoon and told me I tested positive. For angina, I guess, since the EKG showed no heart problems. I don't remember all that was said, but the nutshell version is: I have an appointment with a Cardiologist for an angiogram next Thursday at Princeton Hospital. Depending on those results, they'll either put in a stent(s) or do the balloon deal the same day, i.e., Angioplasty. I am to go prepared to spend the night if necessary. From Cardiac Stress Test Results Not Good


• 03/16/09 - Nitroglycerin - Will I Blow Up?


• 03/17/09 - More Nitro Please


• 03/20/09 - I vaguely remember the doctor showing me the x-ray like picture where the blockage was, and telling me I was lucky. Next think I remember was being in the room where 3 younger imbeciles, including the one in red, worked on trying to get the artery in my leg to stop bleeding. They were like Larry, Curly, and Moe, and I told them they were going to let me bleed to death, or go into shock, if they didn't get somebody in there who knew what they were doing. I swore I'd never go back to this hospital or this doctor, Dr. Crowthong.From Princeton Was A Bad Expereince


• 03/21/09 - LAD = left anterior descending artery. The main artery to the heart. It was 99% blocked. At least Disabro and I think this is what Dr. Crowthong said. ... I found out later ... that Dr. Crowthong put a Xience V Drug Eluting Stent in the artery.... Started taking 325mg Asprin, 75mg Plavix, and 40mg (instead of 20mg) Crestor.From Angiogram Showed 99% Blockage In LAD


• 03/24/09 - I have an appointment with the Cardiologist, Dr. Crowthong, on April 8 at 8:45AM. He is supposed to release me back to work - the only reason I'm going to see him. No other doctor can give me the release. From Before I Forget....


• 04/09/09 - Dr. Crowthong, the Cardiologist, released me back to work today....If I'm conscious, I'll never set foot on Princeton's grounds again. I am so thankful it's over now. From Dr. Crowthong Released Me Back To Work Today


• 04/09/09 - Going Back To Work Monday

04/13/09 - Whatagreatguy wanted me to see the doctor AMX uses for all it's medical stuff. Kinda cool because Dr. Flagman is also Whatagreatguy's father. Dr. Flagman gave me a complete DOT physical (new medical certification) but it's only good for 3 months. Dr. Flagman wants a letter from Dr. Feelgood or my cardiologist stating that they were aware I drive an 18 wheeler for a living when they released me back to work. Dr. Flagman also recommended a cardiologist at UAB who "works magic". From 90 Day Medical Card

07/07/09 - The story of my 90 day medical card is here. It'll expire 7/13/09, so I've got to get back to Dothan to get a new one from Dr. Flagman. (He already has the letter from Dr. Feelgood stating it's ok for me to drive a big truck.) The next trip will get me through Dothan. From 90 Day Medical Card Expires Soon

07/09/09 - "I got to the terminal around 9:00AM this morning. I checked in with the Safety Dep't. and then went to see Dr. Flagman (in my 4wheeler) for my new Medical Card. As it turned out, I didn't even see the doctor. The receptionist at his office already had a new card made out, and all I had to do was sign it. On the original "long form" Medical Report, under "Comments", Dr. Flagman had written: "7-9-09 Reviewed letter from driver's doctor. Extended card to 6 months. Exp 10-13-09." He wants to be sure I keep a good check on my heart condition, so I'll have to get another letter from Dr. Feelgood around the first of October." From Medical Card Extended Another 90 Days

09/12/09 - Remember Medical Card Extended Another 90 Days from July 9th? This particular extension expires 10/13/09, so I called to make an appointment for another stress test yesterday. Cinderella called me back late in the afternoon and said there was some confusion as to why I needed one. I told her the AMX doctor, Dr. Flagman, had only extended my medical certificate for another 90 days after the last test/letter. So I have an appointment on October 5th at 7:00AM with the x-ray department at UAB West. Dr. Feelgood (or another doctor if he can't make it) will have to be there during the exercise part to make sure I don't croak. From 90 Day Medical Card Expires Soon - Again

09/23/09 - I know I'll be home October 5th. That's when I do another stress test so I can get my medical certification extended again. The current extension expires October 13th. (Hope I don't have to go through this every three months from now on.) From From Wildwood FL

10/05/09 - The outpatient admitting clerk at UAB West caused my stress test to be cancelled because she saw me with a can of Diet Dr. Pepper. The admitting clerk! I couldn't reschedule the stress test with Dr. Feelgood in time to meet the 10/13/09 expiration date, so I called and made an appointment with the cardiologist that Dr. Flagman knows at UAB Birmingham. I was counting on Dr. Flagman's understanding my situation, and giving me more time to get a letter for him. From Was She Conscientious Or Contentious?

10/06/09 - Dr. Flagman didn't understand, nor was he willing to extend my medical certification for a month - I couldn't see the UAB Birmingham cardiologist until 11/04/09. So I picked up a load of bricks in Moody AL, delivered them in Dothan the next day, and cleaned out my truck. Just as I was packing the last of my stuff in the Neon, Whatagreatguy came out to talk to me. He said Dr. Flagman had given me 30 days at the last minute - a kind of 'mercy' deal. I turned it down because I needed to get the Neon up here, and I already had all that stuff moved out....From Dr. Flagman Says NO

And that's why I'm going to off until after 11/04/09.

A Happy Little Story (Concerning Blue Cross) 235

TheFreeDictionary article on Qualcomm: "Qualcomm was founded in 1985 ... Qualcomm's first products and services included the OmniTRACS satellite locating and messaging service, used by long-haul trucking companies ...." You can think of Qualcomm messagaes as email (or instant messaging) between a driver and his/her company.

The following is a QualComm exchange between myself and Fillinguy, who was working the guard shack at AMX last night along with his golden retreiver, Brody:

Tuesday, 10/06/09
17:28 - ME: Wanna tell u this happy little story. I didn't know we had to file our own drug claims, so I've been spending $450+ every month for Plavix, Crestor, etc. and thinking our insurance didn't help much on prescriptions.

When I finally found out, I filed for everything since the beginning of the year. When I got home last time, I had a check from BCBS for $2075.00.

17:49 - Fillinguy: Man that is great news--let's go out tonight. Just kidding--that is good news.

17:51 - ME: Was gonna say I'll take Brody to Outback and let him order whatever he wants :-) What a great dog! Goodnight.

18:13 - Fillinguy: Ha Ha

So, following up Rich Icing, I did get what I expected from BCBS.

Dr. Flagman Says NO 234

Email conversation with Whatagreatguy:

Me:
It's me again, Margaret....
As I mentioned on your voice mail yesterday, I have an appointment with Dr. Goodheart, Cardiologist at UAB (Kirkland Clinic), on Nov 4th. (Really cool that the woman I talked to there ... her husband is a driver, and understood exactly where I was coming from.) I spent part of the day yesterday going around signing releases for my medical records to be sent to Dr. Goodheart's office. What I need to know now is: Is your dad willing to extend my certification for another month without verifying my cardiac condition - until I can establish myself with Dr. Goodheart? I hope you don't mind that I'm communicating with Dr. Flagman through you. This way keeps everybody informed with a written record of what's going on.

I appreciate you Whatagreatguy. Appreciate AMX and my wonderful health insurance. I even appreciate 007 :-) :-) :-)"

Whatagreatguy:
Unfortunately no he will not.
We should have had this done before the end of your 90 days. I think this was the 2nd 90 day card you were given?

Me:
He certified me the first time for 90 days - time to get a letter from my doctor.
He got the letter, but only recertified for 90 more days. I guess he intended to certify me for 90 days at a time from now on - no matter how healthy my other doctors say I am - and no matter what kind of proof he has. I don't know what to do now.

Whatagreatguy:
Problem is you are only allowed so many 90 cards. Have you called the clinic?

Me:
Dr. Flagman's clinic? No - I guess I should though. I know how busy he is, and hate to bother him, but this is my job we're talking about.... And I thought about getting another stress test done the day after he recertified the last time, but I wanted to wait as late as possible (a week before expiration) in order to give your dad the most accurate report on my health. I thought that was his purpose in doing this 90 day thing - to keep an eye on my health. I've got some scrambling to do now....

Whatagreatguy:
Call the clinic and ask for Christy (Dr. Flagman's nurse)

Me:
Not sure who I talked to, but I just hung up from the clinic. I told the girl the situation, and that there must be a miscommunication somewhere. She said Dr. Banner or his nurse would call me back sometime today - hopefully this morning.

Whatagreatguy:
Kung Fu needs you to pick up a load and bring it down to the yard (he will get someone to deliver it), then you can go to clinic in person.

Me:
Good deal. Load info is probably already on Qualcomm. Will leave the house within 45 minutes.
_________________________________________________________

Dr. Flagman was already gone by the time I got to his office at 4:15PM, so I came to the Flying J to spend the night. I will deliver this load of bricks in the morning, so back to the yard, and go back to Dr. Flagman's office to try to clear things up.

Like I told the girl in his office yesterday, there are drivers who've had open heart surgery that don't have to go through this.

Was She Conscientious Or Contentious? 233

Conscientious: 1. painstaking or thorough in one's work; 2. governed by conscience
Contentious: 1. causing disagreement; 2. tending to quarrel

This email to Whatagreatguy explains it all:

"To refresh your memory, my medical certificate expires next Monday/Tuesday/whenever, 10/13/09.

Your dad [Dr. Flagman] wants another letter (from a doctor familiar with my medical history) before he'll renew my certification.

My primary doctor, Dr. Feelgood, will write the letter (as he did three months ago) once he does another stress test.

The test was scheduled for this morning. As I was registering for the procedure at the hospital, the clerk observed me drinking a diet soda, and proceeded to have the test cancelled - I had forgotten I shouldn't consume caffeine prior to the test. (It seems like I had several cups of coffee before the last one, but that's another story, I guess.)

The clerk called me back to her desk with the message: "You need to call Dr. Feelgood's office. You'll have to make an appointment around HIS schedule," in response to my plea regarding the expiration of my medical certification next Monday.

I think Dr. Feelgood either regards this procedure as unnecessary or wishes I'd take my work related problems to somebody else. I say that because when Dr. Feelgood's nurse called me to schedule the test, she said, "...there's some misunderstanding as to why you need to have this done." (Feelgood's into a lot of stuff - he teaches Residency at Baptist Medical Center-Princeton, is the Medical Director for The Bessemer Clinic UAB West, etc, etc, etc. When I became is patient years ago, he wasn't half as busy as he is now.)

When I first came back to work after my shoulder injury and stent placement, your dad recommended a cardiologist, Dr. Goodheart, at UAB Birmingham. (Your dad and I agree that I need to have a regular cardiologist anyway.)

I've just called Dr. Goodheart's office to make an appointment, explaining why I need to see him - expiration on my medical certification. Someone is getting to work on it now, and will try to call me back this morning.

This is what I'm asking you: Could you explain my situation to your dad (or forward this email, or something) and ask him to extend my certification long enough for me to get in the door at Dr. Goodheart's? I figure you can verbalize the situation so much better than I could - and can get to your dad a lot faster than I can :-)

I 99.9% promise both of you that I'm not going to croak, or otherwise cause injury to AMX, etc., before I can obtain another letter of health. (I hope your are smiling....)

Please let me know what you think when you have time."

Neon Troubles 232

This is a continuation of Brad Pittrose And The Neon. It's been a week since Brad Pitt-rose said he'd go get my car in Dothan/Ashford and bring it back. Today I called him. He's having trouble finding somebody to go with him - nobody wants to ride that far only to turn around and drive back.

I don't know how it'll turn out, but it's possible that maybe he could ride down with me in the truck. Of course it would depend on when and where I'm dispatched next, but I've got to be down there next Monday regardless. My medical certificate expires then, and I'll have to go see Dr. Flagman (in Dothan) to get recertified.

It's a stretch, but it might work. We'll see.

In other news, I've got to be at the hospital at 7:00AM in the morning for another cardiac stress test. Dr. Flagman requires it before he'll renew my certification.

Rich Icing 231

I recently submitted around 37 prescription drug claims to BCBS of AL (online) because I didn't know I had to file my own claims. I've spent $3,046.25 on prescriptions thus far in 2009. Take a look at this:




I don't know for sure, but it looks to me like I'll be getting back $2075.19 (total) from BCBS. Can you imagine!? Heck, I was happy to know my insurance would cover my prescriptions from now on, so whatever I get reimbursed from months gone by is icing on the cake. Pretty rich icing, isn't it?



I should know in the next day or two.

New Safety Triangles 230

I took my load of Air Force lockers to AMX and dropped them on the yard at 8:30AM on 10/1 - Thursday. I went inside to take the bills (of lading) to 007 like she asked me to, and passed the Safety counter on the way. It was good to see Delta Dawn back at her desk. She'd been off for a while - some kind of surgery, I think. Anyway, she checked my permit book while I was there, to be sure the truck has all it's necessary papers/permits/registrations, etc.

While I was waiting to be dispatched I went to the shop for a new set of safety triangles:







They come 3 to a set, but mine only had 2 broken ones. They're part of the required DOT safety stuff we're supposed to have, so while I was at the yard .... Clintlock (not sure why the night guy was there) didn't have any, and had to get somebody to bring a set from Dothan. That took a while, so I was kinda glad I wasn't dispatched immediately.

The Pusher 229

Please note: The following isn't as localized as it appears, and isn't meant to be demeaning, derogatory, etc, etc. This is just the way it is in the trucking industry, no matter who the driver or dispatcher is. Until they come up with a way to move trucks by remote control, or find a way to turn us into robots, it'll always be this way. And it's important to note that most of my trips are event free and painless; however, it's hard for me to remember this in the heat of the moment.

From the Qualcomm:
Thurdsay, 10/1/09,
12:11 - ME: Going to wait at the Flying J - I'm out of cigs.

13:02 - 007: U have a load coming here to del in SC in the am.

13:04 - ME: Ok - get me back in time for stress test Monday AM. I can't miss it - my medical certificate expires 10/13.

13:08 - 007: Already worked out

13:08 - Me: Cool! Thx much.

13:38 - Me: Do you know when it'll be here? What truck? What Trlr?

13:48 - 007 Local bringing it in - not sure - sorry.

13:50 - me: Ok. Thx anyway.
(I'm thinking, "This is just great. I wish she'd told me earlier, so I could'ave been trying to sleep.")

14:02 - Me: One last question - where to in SC? So I can figure when I need to leave.

14:17 - 007: Rock Hill SC

14:24 - Me: Might as well say Charlotte - looks like the best way. 500 miles by the time it's said and done. 9 hours. Whatever. I'm going to bed.
(I was gonna have to drive all night. Why didn't she tell me earlier?)

14:28 - 007: 42 (Trucker slang for 10/4 or OK.)

14:29 - 007: Do you want me to call you when load gets here?

14:30 - me: No - I'll check with guard when I get up. Thanks anyway.

14:32 - Me: Time started at 3am today, so I'm taking 10 now. Is there some way the guard can dispatch me tonight? So qquam won't go off?

14:43 - 007: I'll tell him.

14:45 - me: Good deal. Thx

14:54 - 007: Bills are here now. Sending now. Bills will be with guard.
(She meant she was dispatching me now. I guess they can't dispatch somebody from the yard without the bills.)

14:55 - me: Ok.



When you're telling yourself, "I gotta get to sleep; I gotta get to sleep; I gotta get to sleep...." it's hard to get to sleep. So when 7:30PM rolled around, the time my 10 hours was up, I was already tired. I hooked to the trailer, picked up the bills at the guard shack, and headed towards Rock Hill SC.

BTW - LonnieMac told me the other day he was leaving AMX. I reckon he'll miss the golf cart ....

NEXT DAY

Friday, 10/2/09
00:38 - me: I hate doing an overnight trip after I've been up all day. I got to shut my eyes for a while.

It was for the record more than anything else because nobody was in the office. I made it to the Petro at Carnesville GA before I decided I was becoming a safety hazard. I set the Screaming Meanie for 3 hours. When it went off I got up and started driving again, but I was having to stomp my feet on the floor to stay awake. I was praying too. After the sun started coming up it got a little easier to keep my eyes open, and I delivered shortly after 8:00AM eastern. Only an hour or so late.

07:38 - 007: Load and take to Montgomery and drop it and get an empty trailer and go home.



Shipper and Consignee information was "TBA" (To be announced) - call broker. Another mystery load.

07:45 - me: Ok thx.

08:06 - me: Broker says it loads a 5pm, but they might have it ready early. If it's ok with y'all, it's ok with me. (All I knew at that point was that I was exhausted. I thought I could get some sleep in the meantime.)

08:11 - 007: 42

10:32 - 007: Driver will be in Montgomery 07:00 on AM to get this load.

10:34 - me: I'm pretty sure I won't be there.

10:45 - 007: No. I'm telling you you need to be there no reason not to be this load has to be delivered on time monday driver can not wait for you to get into montgomery late tomorrow you need to take your break now and when your load is ready you will have your full break behind you and drive it to montgomery.
(If I'd been sleepy at all, 007 just squashed it. Ever try to sleep when you're mad?)

10:51 - me: I'll do the best I can. That's all I'll commit to.

10:53 - 007: 430 miles is all it is so they will be expecting it there.


10:53 - me: Like I said, the only thing I'll promise is the best I can do. If I find myself nodding off tonight because I can't sleep now - you can bet I'm going to stop for a while.

11:11 - me: When y'all planned this, did y'all know it wouldn't load until 5PM? Because the load info says 7:00AM....

11:16 - 007: Load at five you would have full break. (What!!??)

11:22 - me: I logged off here at 10:15AM. Now I'm wide awake and couldn't sleep if I had a bottle full of sleeping pills. I was awake all day yesterday, did the run last night on 3 hours sleep, and you're telling me to do another overnight on no sleep? Like I said, I'll do the best I can. I'm not a machine.

11:24 - 007: We are doing this to get you home so lets not forget that.

11:27 - me: I knew something like this was going to happen. It always does. This is the last time I'll say it - I'll do the best I can do. The matter's closed as far as I'm concerned.

At that point I went ahead and called Whatagreatguy because 007 and Princess Leeya have gotten in the habit of telling me to call him when their plans fall through. I got his voice mail and left a message that (paraphrasing) I would probably he told to call him anyway, and I was just beating 007 to the punch. I told him the Qualcomm messages pretty much said it all; and that I hated to run it illegally; and that I didn't want to have a wreck because I was too tired to drive, etc.

I hoped the message made sense, because I could barely remember where I was. Almost immediately after I hung up, he sent the following:

11:50 - Whatagreatguy: 10/4 Best you can do. Whatagreatguy.

11:51 - me: I promise - it'll be my best. Thanks much.

Bless his heart, Whatagreatguy just get banged around in the middle of everybody's arguments.

NEXT DAY
Saturday, 10/3/09
03:50 - me: I'm afraid to drive any further until the sun comes up. Fog is so thick I can't see and I'm exhausted.

Again, it was for the record more than anything else. I was only 75 miles from Montgomery by this time, but the fog was messing up my perception of things around me - kind of like Black Dog hallucinations (from the movie Black Dog), or white line fever, maybe. It happens to drivers who are extremely fatigued. Anyway, I slept a couple of hours, and made it to the Montgomery yard around 8:30AM this morning:

08:32 - me: Where's the driver that wants this load so bad? I expected hin/her to be here with baited breath the way 007 pushed me to get here. What a crock...."

8:37 - me: I feel like throwing up I'm so exhausted, and the driver's not even here. I should'ave taken 10 when I needed to instead of when 007 wanted me to.

09:08 - me:...I'm taking 007 off my Christmas card list.
(And seriously thinking about changing her name to "Pusher".)