What can I say? I’m a renaissance man and have embraced a number of challenges in my lifetime, and I’m far from being finished.
Saw what it was like to be a DJ… so, I became a DJ
Wanted to see the world… so, I earned my master’s and have taught in four different countries, so far
Felt the struggle of homelessness… so, I entered the logistics industry as a truck driver and got back on my feet
Yearned for what I used to do… so now, I am learning how to code (once again)
Dust Yourself Off and Try Again
There must be a number of my friends throughout this past decade who have seen me twist, writhe, and bellow at the notion of getting back into computer programming. Like an eager pup running to the edge of the pool, I stumble to stop just before taking the leap. Sometimes, I even manage to get my paws wet, or accidentally slip into the shallow end. Still, I keep teasing myself by saying, “I’m gonna do it this time! I’m not going to forget!” Then, something distracts me and I witness another year slip by.
Not this time, I can’t afford to. More importantly, I have a number of things in place which remove my typical excuses to place this on the back burner. I am financially stable; I have the [computing] tools necessary; and, most importantly, I have spare time. If this pandemic has done anything positive, at all, it has forced me to remove many of my regular distractions. In the past, I could easily find ways to waste time, elsewhere. Now, I prefer to sit at home so, time to make the most of it and get something out of my extra free time.
The past few months, ever since I moved back to the Phoenix valley, have been a bit tumultuous as I’ve been settling back in. Expectations at work left me fumbling around with an unpredictable schedule and, initially, I was working what’s called Local P&D (pick-up and delivery). I thought my hours were going to primarily be from early morning to late afternoon. I quickly found out, that wasn’t the case. And, being low guy on the totem pole, I got the shaft with the schedule.
I expected it, though. I knew I would need to put in my time; and, I’m not the type to sit idly by and let things play out. I’m an influencer and try to command my own destiny. I did what was asked of me, and went above and beyond when possible. I also kept hinting at what I would “prefer” to management, which ultimately has led me to what recently transpired.
A Silver Lining Emerges
As I mentioned, I was working Local P&D when I first arrived in Phoenix. It took a few months for me to transfer back to Line Haul (what I used to drive back in Toledo, Ohio), which is what I prefer. I should mention, when I was getting my transfer from Ohio to Arizona processed, I was asked which driving position I would prefer. I said, “Whatever it takes to get me back to the Valley.” So, that should clarify why I was on Local and not Line Haul.
Back to what happened just last week: so, around two months ago, we had what is called, “Bids”. This is familiar for anyone who works in the industry but, for those who aren’t, it’s simple: all drivers bid on available Lines to drive on a weekly basis. Some were a Monday-Friday schedule, and others Tuesday-Saturday. Some were 400 miles, others could go up to 600 miles (each day). Again, low guy on the totem pole, I took whatever was available. Sadly, nothing was, as two other Local drivers were ahead of me on the “wait list” to transfer to Line Haul.
Well, there was just one Line none of the senior drivers seemed to want. It was a 600 mile run to California and back, starting at 11:59pm M-F. Seems like a great run with lots of miles, yeah? There’s just one major catch: it never runs. The terminal it connects with perpetually cancels their end of the run, so it never, ever runs. Ever.
So, what happened with those two other drivers ahead of me? Well, the first one refused to take it after he heard the details I just mentioned. The second one gave it a go for about a week and tossed in the towel. This was my shot. I could finally transfer back to Line Haul and work my way up through seniority to get a better run, later. The good news is, I didn’t give up and it has paid off.
During these past two months, since my “run” never actually runs, I’ve been filling in for other drivers who take vacation time, are sick, or just call off. This left me with a horribly unpredictable schedule, and it wore me down. Still, I had an end-goal in mind and refused to get derailed. Then, just this last week, my big break came. Another driver who had a dedicated run decided to leave the company. This left his Line open, and, from what I could gather, management saw how I was willing to take whatever run they threw at me. So, they rewarded my efforts and gave me the dedicated run…
Finally! A Consistent Schedule!
Now, there was a bunch of other stuff going on that I don’t feel like discussing on this blog. However, if you ask me in person, I will most likely be happy to tell you the full story. That aside, this opened up a big door for me. One that has allowed me to properly plan and secure a regular weekly schedule. This is important because, for someone like myself, consistency is super important! Especially when learning – or, relearning – something new.
This blog post has already gone on for quite a bit, so let me cut to the chase and I can go into details in my next blog. Suffice it to say, I have now setup a regular schedule to study how to code. I have invested into a program which, so far, has illuminated answers to many questions I have had for years. My optimism and enthusiasm is akin to when I became a DJ and earned my master’s. I am very confident that, in about 3 months, I will have another notched etched on my belt of professional skills.
I know that actually being successful in programming is a long, long journey. However, it is one that I started decades ago, and never saw it through… Until now. Shoot for the stars, aim for the moon!
