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