Asphalt Window

Just a new place for an old idea.
I'm trying to keep from going crazy until I get back to work.

Maybe, just maybe reworking my website and getting more active there will help me
 stay sane.
 So, I present,  Asphalt Window  a collection of galleries from the road.
http://bit.ly/Aphalt

Enjoy

All we want to do is lick the plate.

Taken with picplz at House Of Woo in Hilltown, PA.

Nice effects. Okay, things to do, places to do and ice to slide on. Later

Taken with picplz at House Of Woo in Hilltown, PA.

Into Spring #VFTC

Playing with some graphics/photography tools.

A found memory and a dream of rolling north on US Rte 15 into spring.
Using tools to create a water color effect.

Used Paint Shop Pro ver 9.0
When PSP was still owned by
JASC software. 

Again just messing around while I heal. 

Thanks for all who've commented and posted
their thoughts and prayers.  I'm healing and going
through the things that we must do.

More to come.

Walt

Posted via email from heydriver's posterous

Assimilation

Find myself watching a classic Japanese animation tonight.
"Ghost in the Shell 2 Innocence"
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0347246/

And I got to thinking about what has just happened to me over the past few months.

I've had a heart murmur all of my life.  Anytime a Doctor, Medic or Nurse would listen
to my heart they'd always pause, look at me and ask, "you've got a heart murmur.  Did
you know that?" 
I'd tell them I knew and that it was never a problem.
It really wasn't.  I played a lot of sports as a kid and young adult.
Always running around.  Never turned down any outdoor game. 
Then after a "routine" physical 3 months ago I found out that my heart was about to
blow out and that it wasn't 5 to 10 years before I had to have it fixed.  It was ASAP.
Because no one wanted to guess just how much time I had left.  I was told that waiting much more then
a few months wouldn't be wise.

So, what does Ghost in the Shell and a St Jude aortic heart valve have in common. 
I've become part mechanical and in Ghost in the Shell cyborgs are the norm in society.

I'm not the first nor the last to have a mechanical body part put in and hopefully there will be more
advances in this field.  My wife needs her knees replaced and yet the mechanical knees out there
right now will not last long enough for her to have only one set replaced.

There are folks out there who are against prostheses.  And, yet the world is heading in that direction.
I'm sure that if I did not have the aortic valve replaced I'd be heading to a sudden and violent death.

Driving truck and having the left ventricle burst due to over pressure is not something to joke about.

Please, let's not stop research and development on mechanical body parts.  My new valve
will out last me. 

You know what is weird.  I was given a card with the serial and model number for my valve.
Heh, way cool.
Yeah, I know I've been tagged to a number now.  But, really folks, we all voluntarily
carry around identifiers right now.  Unless you're not using a cell phone, driving a car, watching
tv or on an electrical grid.  I can give more examples.

okay, I just found it weird that I had an urge to watch cyborg movies
shortly after I've been assimilated...lol

Resistance is  futile. 
;)
Walt  

Posted via email from heydriver's posterous

Somebody's been saying it all along.

Something my Dad told me once.  "Most of dealing with Life is just showing up."  aka..."Get of your ass. (GOYA)"
aka  "To change an attitude, move a muscle". 

When the young fail to listen to the elders, they're doomed to repeating the past. 

I've got to be paraphrasing someone. lol
Walt

Posted via email from heydriver's posterous

Good morning and a cup of coffee to go.

There comes a time in all men's lives when it just time
to pack it up and roll wheels.

Doc just gave me the okee dokee (official doctor talk))) for discharge.

One phase ends and another begins.  Life's like that.  It's a journey.
Not a destination.

It's about what I do today for today.
Having this valve replacement and seeing how y'all have responded in your ways
gives me great hope that things aren't all that bad.  We're till human and God is
still there.  He always was and still is.

God bless y'all...
Catch me if you can!!!

Next post from the house.
woot!

Walt.

Posted via email from heydriver's posterous

Breathe, TWiT, CES, @LeoLaporte

Today's status is keep breathing.

Well, I'm staying here one more night.  My
coumadin levels aren't as high as the Doctors would
like.  So, it's at least one more day in here.

That's not all bad though.  First,  CES is in Las Vegas this weekend
and @LeoLaporte and the TWiT crew are covering it live. 
Heh, no interuptions for chores today...I'll get to watch the whole show.
Actually, I've been watching a lot from bed.

Mr. Thomas Merritt and my breathing exercise machine grace
this post today.

Doing what the Docs' tell me to do.  Getting it right so
I can get outta here. 

Smiles from the land of slipper socks and johnnie gowns....

woot!

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Just me and my new buddy

One of the  best things you can do after open heart surgery is cough
and breath.  But, with a broken sternum coughing hurts.  It helps to have
a pillow to hold against your chest.

Update!  Hard to believe but there is a very good chance I'll be
heading home tomorrow.  If my coumadin levels come up I'll be ready to roll wheels to the house.

Then it's quite a few weeks of healing and therapy before I'm back in the rigs.  Thanks y'all for the post and comments.

Btw, it's me in my chair at the hospital pointing to where the valve in my chest is on my new pillow.

Love y'all.
Walt

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Not safe for lunch

A before and after shot of my heart.  The old valve is bad.  Supposed to be in three part, here it's only a bicuspid valve.  2nd pic is the new valve, nice shiny with green thread.  Up and walking today.  Maybe stairs tomorrow.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from heydriver's posterous

A Frosty Fender and bon voyage #VFTC

I've been driving professionally for well over 25 years or so.

I've driven taxi cab, cube van, straight truck and big rigs.
I've always humanized the vehicles I drove.  And, of course
Goldie is no exception.

I'm out of trucking for a few weeks or months with heart surgery
and that is a good thing.

Goldie is being put back into the stables as a back up ride for the interim.
She's a good girl and even though I haven't been the greatest caretaker, I'm pretty sure
that when I get back that will change.  She's the best ride I've ever had anywhere and anytime.

We're given tools for life right from the start.  I'm getting mine back.  Makes one consider
just what one does when we ignore our God given gifts and treat them like trash.  Weather it's a
mechanic that fixes the truck or the doctor that fixes the body....as I was told by my cardiologist,
"I'm trying to fix you and you're just tearing it down."
Got a gift going on here and I don't have to abuse it anymore.

Okay, that's it....I'll be posting here as I heal and then I'll be doing more pics from the road.
I think I'll post some oldies for y'all. 
Heavily photoshopped  lol.

God bless all y'all and God's Speed.....

Posted via email from heydriver's posterous

A new day on the Millard Tidings Bridge. #VFTC

Well, this sure has been an interesting week.

This will probably be the only picture I'll be posting from
Goldie this week. 

The Doctors have determined that I'm off for the rest of this week for
a femoral artery healing after a cardiac catherization.

The results are a mixed blessing.

Arteries, veins and the heart muscle are in top notch health.

However, we're checking out the valve and there looks like
repairs are on the way.

Given that, my picture posting will move away from trucks from time to time
and onto local subjects.  Maybe y'all could enjoy some pics from the
cab of my pickup truck.

A question for those who are from other countries. 

Here in the US and Canada we call a vehicle with a cab and a short bed (< 8 feet)
on a light weight frame (1 ton or less, US Measure)
a "Pickup Truck". 

What are these types of vehicles called in other countries? 

Thanks for viewing

Walt
aka Heydriver.

Posted via email from heydriver's posterous

Dang it! I missed #HineyHolidaze #VFTC

@TheNose100 and @Tachoblog

I let time get away from me and wow.
Here's my late entry into the #HineyHolidaze gallery
of trucking rear ends.

I'm making sure I get in early for #FrostyFenders

shamefully late and with much regret
Heydriver

Posted via email from heydriver's posterous

Good morning. Pulaski, VA. I-81 S. #VFTC

So near to Mom's house.  Let's
see if things work out and I get to
visit with Mom today. 

A prayer and God's speed will at least make me feel
better if things don't work out with the visit.

Enjoy today as best as you can.
This time of year can be rough on the driver with
youngsters.  Let's remember those at home who keep
the porch light lit and the kitchen warm.

Thanks
Walt.

Posted via email from heydriver's posterous

Oh! Yeah, it'll stop you.

Stopping in one of these is not a soft landing.

Not only will "escape ramps" break your truck, it'll
break your wallet too.

Fines and fees to reset the ramp are driver's responsibility.

Those slow speed limits on steep grades are for real.
Pay attention, don't be a jerk.

Play nice y'all.

Oh, this is the escape ramp at the 90 degree turn on
US Route 322 E coming off 7 Mountains near State College, PA.

Posted via email from heydriver's posterous

Sun cracks the Sky. #VFTC

Near Utica NY the Sun breaks
through on a fine Tuesday morning.

You just don't get views like this in a
9 to 5 grind.

Posted via email from heydriver's posterous

A virtual reality. US Route 17 N

Just playing on a Sunday morning.

Using an old photo editing program.
Paint Shop Pro ver 9.4

A before and after edit for you perusal.

Just messing around.
Enjoy.

Walt

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from heydriver's posterous

Ice fog and frost. #VFTC

A frosty morning in Olean, NY.

This is a little duck pond at Olean Wholesale
Grocers.  At this time the geese have moved in.
But, I've woken before the geese today.

I'm always trying to find something nice
to look at.  How about you?

Stay warm.
Be safe.
Enjoy the ride.

Posted via email from heydriver's posterous

Passing fair. North bound. #VFTC

North bound and rolling past.
Just a damn fine day on the road
to Buffalo.

US Route 15, near Steam Valley Pa. 

Just an old gal (Goldie) passing through.

Posted via email from heydriver's posterous

Danger! Little ones up ahead. #VFTC

A common sight along 2 lane roads are these little
"doll houses".  Be careful early in the morning.
There is a good chance that a child waiting for a school bus to arrive will come bolting out into your path.

Now that late fall is here winter isn't far behind.
Low temps, fallen leaves, running children and slow
school buses makes for an exciting time if you
come up on them too fast.

Enjoy the weekend and, "Hey, let's be careful out there."

Posted via email from heydriver's posterous