and she still has not killed me.  Two years ago tomorrow we got on the bus headed for Irving Texas and US Xpress Orientation.  Cannot believe what the last two years have delivered to us.  We have had a lot of fun and a lot of frustration but it has been awesome in whole.  We have had a great time home for Christmas and New Years but just like two years ago, we need to be on the road New Years Day.  Just got a Pre-assign to pick up Wednesday morning South of Kansas City headed to Michigan.

Three of our kids where in town for Christmas and it was just a perfect holiday.  Also, Anne’s oldest, Tyler, just graduated from Cal State Northridge so this gave us an opportunity to celebrate that accomplishment.  So we had a wonderful family dinner at The Melting Pot.  Perfect evening.

Christmas Eve we had my traditional Baby Back Ribs (you should have been there) and then we had a very beautiful Christmas morning.  The day after Christmas we we out to the grasslands to go shooting with the kids.  What a blast.

This weekend we also got the chance to get Tyler up to the New Belgium Brewery for the tour and a boat load of free beer.  A great time.  We are now packing up and sorting out what is going back with us.

As we start 2013 I thought I would share a couple of truths I have learned in the last two years.

• People are generally awesome and want to be appreciated (I already knew this but it is true)
• The ones who are not awesome are to be pitied
• As a team, you generally only communicate when one of you just worked 12 hours and the other just woke up.  Patience is a virtue (one I am really working on)
• Every opportunity to get out of the truck and enjoy life needs to be grabbed
• You need to roll with the punches in this business.  Lots of frustrations and you never get away from the job.  In a regular job, if you have a bad day, you go home, have a beer and talk to your wife about your crappy day.  The next morning, even if nothing has changed, you have had a break and blown off steam.  That does not happen in trucking so the frustrations tend to build out of proportions.  Take deep breaths and do NOT make hasty decisions.  I have known a number of drivers who have quit after a few bad days.  Not too smart.
• Find a great partner.  My wife makes life fun.

Well, back on the road.  2013 is going to be a great year.