It Started Here

The People lived in a river valley somewhere on Earth, where they had remained for three generations.

Before they had settled, they had moved from place to place, as food in one area became depleted, and greener pastures forever beckoned.

They had been able to settle here after they had begun raising their own animals, and learned how to cultivate their own crops.  There had been division about this.

The People had long since adopted wolves, who helped them hunt and guarded the camp and children, so the idea of raising other animals was nothing new.  But some had resisted the changes, and left the People to continue traveling with the herds.

Now, fewer children had died in infancy, and there was sufficient food, so the People had grown in number, and were strong.  Others had come, to kill the People's animals or steal their food, but the People were strong and had driven them away.

Still others had come to trade, and the People had welcomed and befriended them.  Not only goods were exchanged, but ideas, and the People had learned.

And the People were strong not only because they could now use the land to make their own food, and had learned to preserve it.  They were also frightening warriors.

Halos was one of the older ones among those who had first settled here at the Parting.  He was a quiet, thoughtful one; a thinker who some saw as useless.

Korbos had noticed how a thin branch would spring back when bent.  He had placed a small stone in the fork of a branch, then bent and released it, and seen how far the stone flew.

The People were already using levers and fulcrums to move large stones out of fields, so Halos partly understood the great potential here, and resolved to see if he could use it to throw a spear harder and farther.

He had invented the spear thrower.  It was simply a length of wood about a little shorter than his arm, with a sort of curved cup at the end.  The end of the spear was carved to fit this in a certain way.  The spear was made lighter and shorter, (and could be better described as a dart), and Halos amazed the People as he demonstrated it.  He threw spears three times as far as the strongest hunter, and was just as accurate.  The new spear could penetrate the thickest hides.

Soon, all the hunters had spear-throwers and carried more than one spear.  They competed with eachother to become more accurate and throw farther, and became the most formidable group known.

But the People were peaceful, and had enough land, and only killed to defend their property, or when threatened.  Others who crossed their path grew to become good friends.  Those who traveled would save extra hides and collect the types of stones the people wanted so that they could trade with them as they passed.

Now that the People had the time, some were able to be like Korbos, and think of new things to make life better.    Some developed skills which others could not match.

Sabos, the grandson of Korbos, made the first bow and arrow, and also made a three-wheeled cart, with one wheel that turned.  The first, he made for his grandmother to sit in, for she could not walk.

Sabos was creative, but Sieka was much more skilled with woodworking.  She had a strange sense for the properties of different types of wood, and tried using layers of different types.  Sabos helped her by experimenting with tree saps and other materials to make glues and coatings.

Some of the People called her a magician.  She took Sabos's ideas and began making truly excellent bows, arrows, and carts.

Everyone wanted these things from her, and offered things in trade.  Sieka was only one person.  She was teaching Korbos to help her, and sharing with him, but no one else could match her skill, and the two of them couldn't keep up with the demand.

This is how it began...

Getting up Again

Korena left our carrier for a new one two weeks ago, and I went with her.

I completed my last load in El Paso and hit an International dealer to take care of a slipping clutch and get a DOT inspection for the new carrier...which will pay me 87% rather than 75%.

ELEVEN DAYS later, I had replaced the clutch, the rear main seal, mounting brackets, pilot...I had to cough up six thousand six hundred bucks. This brought my total in repairs for the last 3 months to over twenty thousand bucks, and my total money to under one thousand bucks--with bills rolling in.

They did a TEXAS STATE inspection, so I still need the DOT, and now I had a check engine light on, which is a DOT issue. The truck ran fine and all fluids and charges were normal. I couldn't hang around any longer. I spent much of what was left of my money on fuel.

I bobtailed to Ohio, where I had to get license plates, pay my delinquent 556 dollar road tax bill, and file with Ohio IFTA for my own stickers. I will now be an independant contractor, of sorts--responsible for my own licensing and fuel taxes. (IFTA collects fuel taxes. If I get cheaper fuel in other states, they gouge me for the difference).

The new company sent me to a Freightliner dealer for my DOT inspection. I failed due to the engine light, a cracked brake cylinder, a frozen slack adjuster, and some other stuff.

After some negotiation, the new company actually fronted me money for the 1,490.oo plates (due for renewal in November...I'll guess near 3 grand for the year), the road use tax, and some fuel to get out here to Thomaston, CT where they have their own small shop.

From here, I faxed my IFTA application to Ohio IFTA. Ohio IFTA called me back and said that I had failed to file or pay for one quarter in 2009.

I was driving for Jamestown Transportation at that time. Per the lease agreement, they were responsible for filing and paying. So now, along with not paying me 5 grand they owed me and putting me out of business--breaking me (again) after six weeks downtime--now I'm supposed to provide intimate details on how many miles per state I drove, and exactly how many gallons I bought in each state, for one quarter of 2009.

I saw the form they faxed me and was horrified. Bad enough that that now I have to keep these detailed records and file quarterly, but I have no CLUE about what I did three years ago!

I called them back and cried, begged, and pleaded. They'll get back to me. I might still have to pay them something since I no longer even have Jamestwon's lease agreement to prove who was responsible...

It just never stops. It just keeps getting better. I'm not even allowed to save money by fueling in states with lower fuel taxes now!

My appointment for the repairs is tomorrow, but I got here last night. I'm working on the IFTA thing, and already made a chart that I'll use to track fuel purchases and approximate mileage--what a PAIN IN THE ASS they just never stop piling this crap on you know?

I surrendered my title to the new company pending repayment of the 3 grand they've already fronted me, and I presume some charges for these repairs. I asked them to leave me 700/week so I could FIX the bastard like I usually do, and take the rest.

Oh--does that sound like a lot? Why am I whining? Because I'm BROKE again!!!

3 grand a year for the license, 556 road use taxes, IFTA, and repairs--I'm an ATM for my truck!

Glass half full: I'll net a little more with this carrier, I'm getting fixed, they loaned me money and there's no legal lien on my truck, and I've now replaced everything except the drive shaft, engine, and tranny at least once. All but one of my $400-600.00 tires are in good shape, I got Korena, and should finally be rolling again in a few days.

They mail their checks. I have to Fedex my paperwork to Korena so she gets it by monday, then they pay friday. I called ATT and asked me to delay my next charge so I shouldn't get an NSF this month.

While I'm here I'll try to get them to fix my a/c and re-align my springs, which are screwing up my one 600.oo drive tire and probably costing me .1 cents per gallon.

I'm not beaten, or depressed. I'm just pissed off. I'm a real american...with a "c".