So sorry to hear about your cousin's SIL, Lilty.

Oh Lilty, that's horrible. I live in fear of big-rig drivers (even being related to some). Even when not arrest-warranted, they are usually driving on too little sleep.

I never once had menstrual cramps ever. I was actually concerned I wouldn't recognize my contractions when they started, as everyone said "Oh, they feel just like cramps!" Now that my period's started again, though, I've had cramps every time. Yet another way pregnancy wasn't kind to my body.

Crap, I'm coming down with a cold. ION, can't sleep (again).

I never had bad cramps, ever. But what I did have was backache and terrible awful aches down the backs of my legs. I could hardly walk.

My neighbor drove semis most of his life, and he was from the old school; the time when if your car broke down you prayed for a trucker to stop and help, because they were the ones who usually did. Most car drivers don't take into account the mass and inertia of a semi. They cut in front of them, they pass unsafely, they don't give the semi driver enough warning or reaction time. F had two really bad wrecks, and several minor ones. The minor ones were either equipment failure or some other driver being stupid, and F managed to avoid mashing him and his vehicle by putting his truck, his load, and his life at risk.

I am intimidated by semis on the road, mostly because I know that these days they have unrealistic schedules like the rest of us, and are scrambling for the money. Owner-operators' expenses are unbelieveably high, and they have to keep the trucks running 24/7 to keep the bank from taking the rig, so lots of times it's brothers or husband and wife teams taking turns driving, and yes, lots of times they're driving tired and doped.

But I have an enormous amount of respect for truckers, because most of them are hard-working, conscientious and considerate people, who have a very good grasp of just how big and powerful a vehicle they're driving, and the mayhem it can cause.

Lilty, I'm so sorry about your cousin's SIL. Peace and strength to her family.

My sister's FIL ran his own trucking company, and I spent a lot of my childhood riding in the sleeping compartent of a semi that she and her husband were driving. It was actually from them I learned to fear the semi driver, and respect the mass and inertia of the big rig.

That being said, I've taken some dumb risks. I once drove from LA to SF on the 5 in my Miata about 5 feet behind a semi, because it was pouring rain and the only way I could stay clear was to be in his wake. I have no idea why I'm not dead. (But that goes for a lot of things I've done).

Anyone awake out there?

I skipped a bunch, but on my drive to my brother's house today (600 miles) our car top carrier flew open but we didn't notice. A trucker actually stopped and told us. I was so greatful because it was all Ellie's baby clothes that had fallen on the side of the road.

I'm awake, as I have an ingrown toenail that's killing me. (And this with at least a month with no pressure on my toes, so I know it's just that the nail is hosed from when I overclipped it in March.)

Lilty, I'm so sorry.

I fear big rigs for a number of reasons. My uncle was a truck driver. He died before I was born when something on his truck failed and it was either him or the other cars. (This is before run out roads were common.) (Is that what they're called? I forget, now.)

The other, larger reason is that the truck Paul used to drive for work was just a hair under the legal weight that would require a CDL, and I know how heavy and hard to deal with the thing was.

Stephanie, I'm glad you don't have to deal with a naked baby.

Lilty, I'm sorry to hear that. That's awful.

Stephanie, I'm glad you don't have to deal with a naked baby.

Thanks. I was irrationally upset about the idea of losing her clothes.

Families are so weird. normally i get along well with mine but this trip is grating so far.

Families are so weird. normally i get along well with mine but this trip is grating so far.

Makes sense, though. You have a new-ish baby, just got done with taking the bar, and are probably closer to needing to just hermit up and decompress than to make with the family visiting stuff.