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.

very true. i had just gotten comfortable in my own house and now i've been uprooted. I'm looking at this as a chance to get to do lots of stuff alone with Ellie.

I talked through the whole with joe this morning. he tells me i'm not crazy or selfish, so that makes me feel a bit better.

Stephanie, you've got to be exhausted. Everything grates on me when I'm exhausted.

Lilty, I am so sorry for your cousin's SIL and family. How awful. I hope her parents get home in time to say goodbye.

I was on the phone with my best friend the day of that accident. She was waiting to hear from her daughter who'd headed to Bar Harbor that morning, and hadn't yet. L is going away to college in a few weeks. She and her friends were taking a little trip together before they go their separate ways. L beeped in while were were on the phone, finally. It had taken them 11 hours to get there (I think it's like a 6 hour trip from here). They knew there was a terrible accident, because they were parked on the turnpike for hours.

Cindy, your new tagline made me laugh. Very funny in a twisted way.

Thanks. It is sick, but I need to laugh right now, even if it is a dark laugh.

DISCLAIMER: No baby seals were harmed in the making of this tag.