Sunday, December 16, 2007

Starting with LCT... and having "issues"

You know the saying... Nothing ever goes as you plan it... it is sooo true with this transition.

The flight went well. Arrived in Orlando, where the shuttle took about 1.5 hours to get us to the hotel. (we dropped off another lady at her house on the way.) Arrived at hotel about 8pm, checked in, went to sleep. The hotel is OK......?

Up early, breakfast, LCT shuttle van to terminal in OKAHUMPKA, FL.
(that's pronounced oka-hump-ka).... and smile when you say that. :)

The road tests went well, ... then we went to go see the Clinic Doc.

We had/have three "issues" going on: 1. doctor letter for Leroy regarding sleep apnea/CPAP machine, -- 2. missing boxes on Greyhound, and -- 3. verification of employment for two past jobs for Leroy.

Issue #1:
LCT sent us to a Clinic for the physical. We were seen by a Physician's Assistant.
I went thru with flying colors. Leroy had a little bit of high blood pressure, but they re-tested him and it turned out OK.

Then... they said they needed a letter (of release) from a doctor "releasing" Leroy to drive a semi tractor-trailer because of his sleep apnea and CPAP machine. (Leroy had already been cleared by another physician in Jan. 2007 and has a Medical Card, and has been driving for the past 9 months... but their (LCT) Clinic doctor had to see a letter.)

As it so happens, our regular physician (at Kaiser) had just left on a months vacation. (it figures.) So Leroy called the Neurologist (at Kaiser) that treated him about 5 years ago when he first got his machine. It was a long shot, but the Neurologist did issue a letter stating that he had treated Leroy with medication and a CPAP machine, and Leroy had no other complaints of sleepiness or anything, (but he didn't come right out and say that Leroy could drive). So we got that letter faxed to our hotel, and showed it to the Clinic doctor. Thank You Lord, they accepted that letter.

It was pretty nerve-racking, because if you don't pass the physical, you can't drive.... and each company sends you through "their" doctor/clinic.

All through this we were trying to go through orientation, while making calls on the breaks & lunch times, and dealing with the time difference between Florida & California, and trying to get ahold of ANYONE at Kaiser who we could ACTUALLY talk to... crazy.

AND.... our luggage got "lost" sort of...

Issue #2:
On Tuesday, I had called to find out what had happened to our boxes. Greyhound said they were in Orlando. The next day on Wednesday, we received two (of the four) boxes.... so we assumed that the other two would be sent to us the next day. (Boy, were we wrong.)

On Wednesday, we "graduated" from orientation and were "officially" hired!!! (on the condition that the verification of employment could be verified within 30 days).

We were assigned a truck and loaded it with what we had. Everyone else in our class were given assignments and sent out on the road.

We asked (and received) an additional night in the hotel to wait for our additional boxes.
This extra time was really a blessing. We got to spend extra time at the yard, get to know people, ask good questions, get shown around, and see a little better how things operate.

The bus from Orlando only arrives in this little town once a day at 1:20pm. When we checked in with Greyhound at 1:30pm and No Boxes, we thought they were still down in Orlando, and Greyhound just didn't have room on the bus for our big boxes. (People and their luggage come first.)

So we asked our dispatcher if we could go get the boxes in Orlando (about 45 mins away). At first he said NO. We said OK.
Then the HR department came over to the dispatcher and said that we need to be routed back to San Diego as fast as we can, so we can clear up the verification of employment issue.

Then.... the dispatcher (Ryan - who is very nice), says... OK - run down to Orlando, quick! & pick up your boxes, because I have a load of Flowers going to Riverside, CA. leaving tonight.... already pre-loaded for you. Woo-Hoo. (it is now 6pm on Thursday evening)

What craziness... we left to go to Orlando, without a map-(just very funky directions), in the dark, and trying to avoid the toll roads because we have no money.

We eventually get to the Greyhound terminal, and find out that our other two boxes NEVER even made it that far, AND they don't know where they are, AND they don't even know when they can expect them....
NEVER USE GREYHOUND PACKAGE EXPRESS.
IF YOU CAN, USE FED-EX GROUND!
I wish I had.

So we head back to the LCT terminal (called "the hump"), but we get LOST. (It's Night... with windy, curvy roads....)
After stopping several times to ask directions, we eventually find our way back. (Thank God we were in a bobtail) and get the load assigned to us. It was supposed to be delivered in Riverside, CA on Saturday (12/15) at 6pm, but we told them, there was NO way we could make that delivery time. The night dispatcher that gave it to us, said - just do our best. So we leave... it is now Friday at 1am.

We did pretty good. We got the our delivery on Sunday (12/16) at 11:30am. But Leroy lost one of the fuel caps along the way, (it did not have a chain & t-bar like it is suppose to). The company will replace it, but the only place to get one is at a Freightliner dealership (which are all closed on the weekends). bummer.

Right now we are waiting at the delivery point. The workers that are to unload us won't be here until 4pm.... so we wait.... and get caught up on all our paperwork, and banking, and blogging.

Issue #3: should be resolved as soon as we can get back to San Diego. We have to show a w-2 form or paycheck stubs, or get someone from those companies to call and verify the dates.

Even though there have been "issues", we can totally see God's hand it this. He has been with us through the whole thing. We are not upset or nervous. (Actually this has been a pretty good run.)

He has given us a Peace that passes all understanding. We know that God is in control and we are continually learning to trust Him more each day. Give God the Glory - Great Things He Has Done.... and continues to do.

Praise God, Amen.
Love you all, Laurie

Saturday, December 8, 2007

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas!

Well.... not really.... In San Diego, CA, all you get is rain in the winter, and cooler evening temperatures .... but it IS raining and it is getting cooler .... so I guess (in a San Diego fashion) ....It Is Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas. :)

The last two days on the road, Leroy got EXTREMELY SICK..... Both ends, all over the truck... not a pretty sight. So I had the job of driving to deliver our last load, and cleaning up after a sick husband... I was sooo tired, and I have Never seen him this sick in all our 8 1/2 years of marriage...poor baby... Wow!

We (finally) got home on Thursday (11/29), and turned the truck & keys and everything into Sam Kholi Enterprises on Friday. Our final day.

We purchased airline tickets to Orlando, Florida on Friday (11/30), which our new company LCT says that they will reimburse us for on our first paycheck, Yeah!

We spent the next several days recuperating from the dreaded "sickness", which then went through my whole local family. Mom, Dad, Daughter... not good. (We're soooo sorry.) We (collectively) think it was some kind of intestinal flu..... Glad THAT is over with.

The next Friday (12/7), we shipped 4 LARGE boxes to Florida via Greyhound Package Express. Hopefully the boxes will be there by Tuesday. We have orientation Monday - Wednesday (12/10-12/12), and are suppose to be assigned a truck on Wednesday. The boxes are what we usually LOAD into our truck for our "living" stuff.

On the airplane, we are taking all our clothes, our laptop computer, Leroy's CPAP machine, and our bedding. Everything else we shipped.

We are all praying for a smooth transition. That everything goes well, and that we pass all our tests.

The first day we have to pass all the physicals (no prob, hopefully) and a Road & Safety Test. (should be no prob, but we are still praying).

Today, Saturday, (12/8)... our final day in San Diego, we are doing laundry and packing. (What else..?)
We'll have dinner at the Chicken Pie Shop, Yum, then go to bed early. We have to be at the airport at 4:30am, because our flight leaves at 6:20am. We'll arrive in Orlando at 5:00pm (their time) Sunday, and will catch an airport shuttle van to the hotel (about an hour away), then probably go directly to bed because we have to be in the lobby of the hotel by 6:30am Monday, for the LCT shuttle to take us to orientation.
Then the whirlwind of paperwork begins.....

It's exciting... and a little scary. But...being based soo far from home... it's kind of like "moving" to Florida, in a way... I have never been away from home, like that.

Pray for me... and Leroy.
If you would like to leave comments and prayers, we can pray for you too.

I also have a page on Facebook.com, if you would like to see more pictures....

Merry Christmas!!!
and a Happy, Healthy New Year!
God Bless You Everyone!