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.. the trip continues from
HERE
220815 MN DOT
Load
board US - 131 IA - 14/13 MN - 1
Interesting day.
I
start out by calling my DOT physical clinic. They had offered to set up the
appointments last Wednesday but I wanted to make sure my BP was down before
starting to test. But the person I talk to today says 'no can do.'
So I
call my usual clinic, but things have changed. I just can not walk in and see a
nurse anymore, it has to be an appointment and they do not have any today. They
offer to set one up somewhere else but if it is somewhere else, I want it
closer to me. They can not do that, so they transfer me to 'another
division.'
I end up being on the phone for an hour setting up appoints.
At one point they tell me that I already have an appointment set up at my usual
clinic for tomorrow but I let it slide.
... the appointment for today is
35 minutes away and I have 30 minutes to get there ... and they say '... arrive
15 minutes early ...' Then I need to get off the phone.
Not sure how my
BP is going to be down if I have to get ready in 5 minutes and get out the
door.
I decide to let BB drive ... that is never relaxing for me
:)
Today, someone decides to pull back into traffic from the side of the
road, just as we get there. At 20 mph. BB tries to get over in the other lane
but there are no openings. What she doesn't realize is that the car ahead of us
is not speeding up so she ends up slamming on the breaks. No issues, just
likely created a backup.
When I get to the clinic a couple of minutes
late, I walk in and when I say 'BP ....," they point me to the lab. "No," I say
and explain. Or try to. They look me up and ... after spending an hour on the
phone finding somewhere, anywhere, to get these appointments they are all for
labs/blood draws ... not BP checks.
The receptionist wants me to double
check with the lab, but I know what I need.
Back at the car, we find one
clinic that has an opening today. 4 PM in SLP.
Just before I get to the
clinic at 4 PM I get a phone call but let it go to voicemail because I am
driving. ... I pass ...
Then I listen to the message, call my main
clinic. I try but calls won't through. Finally I head that way, we are only 10
minutes away.
Calls still are not going through as we travel so I walk
in and talk to the receptionist. There is a line of people waiting behind me
and only two receptionists and one of them walks to talk to the Dr. They are
gone about 10 minutes and come back clueless. I have to play the message for
them before anything clicks.
That call was, or should have been, made
last Friday ... but I got it today at 3:45. It was from my Dr and would have
explained why there were meds for me on Saturday when we stopped by at the
pharmacy.
As I am researching, I see that I was very close to NEVER
being able to get a 1 year DOT physical again. And if that had happened I could
never drive for my two companies again and maybe anyone else either. I would be
legal but insurance has different requirements.
BB cancel's the lab
appointments, or tries to. Later I get a check in notice so BB tries again to
cancel.
220816 MN DOT
Load board US - 160 IA -
31 MN - 7
Today is OK, I pass again ... :)
I do see the
receptionist who helped me yesterday who gave me the 'thumbs up,' or something
close.
I get another message about lab work appt for today, this time it
seems have cleared them from my computer.
Then later I get a call from
tomorrows appointment. That was somehow entered wrong? Maybe on their end? But
that needs to be re-scheduled, no issue. Just more time spent.
Still
later I get another call making sure I want that appointment as I just had an
appointment today. ... yes, I need three appointments in a row.
And I
get a text message from my local company saying my DOT has
expired.
220817 MN DOT
Load board US - 209 IA -
41/39 MN - 9
I PASSED :)
... and then I call the Dr back
:(
This location will only accept the info from them, on the day of the
test. Not sure how I have been able to do it the other way for the last few
years but not here.
So now I have another complete physical set for
Monday. More $$$.
It is nearing the end of the quarter for some so the
work load is going up but we now have plans for next week. Monday, physical.
Thursday, State Fair. Saturday, Grandchild birthday party.
End of day
there were trash trucks going to Fargo, KC and WI. Plus an RV going to
Davenport. BB could do the RV but now she is worried about my BP getting too
low before my body adjusts ... ( or she is in no rush to go back to
work)
220819 MN DOT
Load board (Thursday) US -
194 IA - 49/47 MN - 9
Load board (Friday) US - 176 IA -
69/66 MN - 2
Load board (weekend) US - 197 IA - 70/67 MN -
9
Load board (Monday) US - 235 IA - 72/70 MN - 3
Load
board (Tuesday US - 283 IA - 98 MN - 3
Likely heading out
on Sunday. We will either be able to pick a trip on Friday or
Sat.
220825 MN DOT
Load board (Wednesday) US -
303 IA - 129/128 MN - 2
Load board (Thursday) US - 413 IA -
153
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