I'm still in Texas, but only just...

 Hauling Boat Stuff to Arkansas to marry it up with my old house stuff in storage.

I got a Uhaul truck and car hauling trailer this morning down in Kemah and drove up to Texarkana.  Technically I'm still in Texas, but I'm close enough to 'call the hogs.'  I'm so tired though that I'll just brush my teeth and get some sleep.

My day started at 7am with the alarm clock and packing the car at Craig and Angela's house in League City.  (thanks again for the great hospitality) First stop Uhaul for the truck and then the storage unit to get all the boat stuff loaded.  Next step is to drive back to the Uhaul place to get my car and load it onto the silly hauler.  (note: Uhaul does "not load cars, but will share a You Tube video for the customer to do it themselves.")  *that news alarmed me!  Turns out Uhaul does not want the liability of YOUR car falling off and sliding down the road to kill someone!  The more i drive the little trailer the more i realize it's a piece of shit...  (pardon my French)  The Uhaul lady, Christine, told me, "check the tie down straps every time you stop."  I think she should have told me, 'pull over OFTEN and check the shitty straps.'  I stopped for lunch and noticed the car was kind of "sideways."  Turns out the left strap had worked loose and the car slid on the carrier.  I spent an hour in the hot sun, on my back, in a parking lot removing the car and then putting it all back on STRAIGHT.  Now my new routine is set and alarm and pull over every hour to check the straps.

I got my new shirt oily and dirty crawling on the ground attaching safety chains under the car frame.  My new bright yellow shirt.  I cussed.  Then when i got back into the truck feeling proud and very sweaty and hot I found an email from Citibank Mastercard.  Fraud Alert.  "we noticed suspicious activity..."  But there's no contact info to find out what it's about.  Just two boxes;  YES  or NO.  Do you recognize the charge?  I clicked no and drove on.  Stopped 2 hours later for gas and my CARD, my Citibank Mastercard would no longer work.  (I'm sure you have already guessed the punchline) I am now driving down some back roads in East Texas on Hwy59, using my knee to steer while I try to read microscopic numbers on the back of my card...  Short version: they cancelled my card.  Slightly longer version: i spoke with some guy in India, then after being unable to understand ANYTHING he said, i hung up and tried again.  I got Maine next.  "like the state" she said.  I cussed and she repeated the same mantra, "there's nothing we can do.  We will send you a letter in 5-7 days to verify your address."  (a letter to Florida?)  I admit it was innappropriate to scream at her.  Sorry.  Next call was with Mary.  Same song and dance.  same script, same list of questions.  the only difference is Mary was with the fraud department.  She suggested she could 'send me a letter in 5 days to Florida to verify my address.'  (i apologize for cussing her too)  I was able to squeeze another phone number out of Mary and got George on the phone.  He was also with the fraud dept.  He was very helpful and courteous.  he appologized for both, well for everyone at Citibank.  Then he informed me, "we are cancelling your card and sending you a new one.  To your address in Florida."  (i also apologize for yelling at George)  

Some day I'll have a new Mastercard and then I'll have to change all my banking info.  Change all my direct pays.  I apologize in advance If / when you hear me cussing in that future!

Tomorrow I'll drive up to Searcy and unload the truck.  Aint life fun!

tired truck driver, Skip