#truck driver exercise

[artisticdivasworld]

Managing Stress on the Road: A Guide for New Truck Drivers

If you bought it, a trucker hauled it. As we celebrate National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, it’s important to not only acknowledge the hard work and dedication of drivers but also to address the challenges they face on the road—especially the stress that comes with the job. For new drivers, adjusting to long hours, unpredictable schedules, and the isolation that comes with being on the road…

[manicpixietrashbag]

The right of way isn’t something you have it’s something you give other ppl. Also, the mail truck always has right of way.

you. american adult with a drivers license. can you tell me who has the right of way at a 4 way stop

[mother-trucker-yoga]

The Importance of a Truck Driver Workout Routine

Truck drivers often lead sedentary lifestyles, spending long hours behind the wheel with limited opportunities for physical activity. This can lead to a range of health issues, including obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and musculoskeletal problems. Incorporating a regular truck driver workout routine is essential for maintaining physical health, mental well-being, and overall quality of life. This guide outlines effective exercises and tips for truck drivers to stay fit.

Benefits of Workout for Truck Drivers

Improved Cardiovascular Health: Regular aerobic exercise helps maintain a healthy heart and reduces the risk of heart disease, which is crucial for truck drivers who often have higher-than-average risk factors.

Weight Management: Exercise aids in burning calories and maintaining a healthy weight, counteracting the sedentary nature of the job.

Enhanced Mental Health: Physical activity releases endorphins, reducing stress and anxiety, and improving overall mood and mental clarity.

Increased Energy Levels: Regular exercise boosts energy and reduces fatigue, helping drivers stay alert and focused on the road.

Reduced Musculoskeletal Pain: Strengthening and stretching exercises can alleviate back, neck, and shoulder pain, common among truck drivers due to prolonged sitting.

Effective Truck Driver Workout

1. Stretching Routine:

Neck Stretches: Gently tilt your head towards each shoulder, holding for 15-20 seconds on each side. This helps relieve tension in the neck and shoulders.

Shoulder Rolls: Roll your shoulders forward and backward in a circular motion to loosen up tight muscles.

Hamstring Stretch: Place one foot on a raised surface and lean forward, keeping your back straight, to stretch the back of your thigh.

2. Cardiovascular Exercises:

Walking/Jogging: Whenever you stop at a rest area or truck stop, take a brisk walk or jog for 10-15 minutes. This helps get your heart rate up and improves circulation.

Jumping Jacks: Perform jumping jacks for a quick burst of cardio. Aim for sets of 30 seconds to a minute.

Skipping Rope: A jump rope is easy to carry and provides an excellent cardiovascular workout. Skipping for a few minutes each day can significantly improve cardiovascular fitness.

3. Strength Training:

o Bodyweight Exercises:

Push-Ups: Perform push-ups on a flat surface to strengthen your chest, shoulders, and arms. Start with sets of 10 and gradually increase.

Squats: Squats are great for building leg strength. Ensure you maintain proper form by keeping your back straight and knees aligned with your toes.

Lunges: Perform lunges to target your thighs, hips, and glutes. Alternate legs and aim for sets of 10-15 reps per leg.

o Resistance Bands:

Bicep Curls: Stand on the band and curl your arms up to work your biceps.

Shoulder Press: Hold the bands at shoulder height and push them upwards to strengthen your shoulders.

Leg Presses: Loop the band around your feet and push out to work your legs.

4. Core Exercises:

Planks: Hold a plank position with your forearms on the ground and your body in a straight line. Start with 20-30 seconds and increase over time.

Leg Raises: Lie on your back and lift your legs to work your lower abs. Keep your legs straight and avoid using momentum.

5.     Flexibility and Mobility:

Yoga: Incorporate basic yoga poses into your routine to improve flexibility and reduce stress. Poses like the downward dog, child’s pose, and seated forward bend are particularly beneficial.

Foam Rolling: Use a foam roller to massage tight muscles and improve blood flow. Focus on areas like your back, thighs, and calves.

Tips for Staying Motivated

Set Realistic Goals: Start with small, achievable goals and gradually increase the intensity and duration of your truck driver workouts.

Schedule Workouts: Plan your workouts into your daily schedule, just like any other important task. Consistency is key to seeing results.

Track Progress: Keep a journal or use a fitness app to track your truck driver workouts and progress. This can help you stay motivated and see how far you’ve come.

Find a Workout Buddy: If possible, find another truck driver who is interested in staying fit and work out together. Having a partner can keep you accountable and make exercise more enjoyable.

Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day to stay hydrated, especially during workouts.

Overcoming Common Challenges

Limited Space: Use exercises that require minimal space, such as bodyweight exercises, resistance bands, and skipping rope.

Time Constraints: Opt for high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts that can be completed in a short amount of time but still provide significant benefits.

Weather Conditions: Prepare for various weather conditions by having both indoor and outdoor workout options. When the weather is unfavorable, focus on exercises that can be done inside your truck cab or at a rest stop.

Conclusion

Maintaining a regular truck driver workout routine is crucial for truck drivers to combat the negative effects of a sedentary lifestyle. By incorporating a mix of stretching, cardiovascular, strength, and core exercises, drivers can significantly improve their physical and mental health. Setting realistic goals, staying consistent, and overcoming common challenges will help truck drivers stay fit, healthy, and ready to handle the demands of the road. With dedication and the right approach, staying fit on the road is not only possible but also incredibly rewarding.

[red-archivist]

TMAGP 23 SPOILERS!

i heard those lines and was immediately inspired to make something sad lol

~

Twenty years ago, Jonathan Sims quits smoking.

Twenty years ago, Martin Blackwood’s mother survives her second stroke.

Twenty years ago, Jonathan Sims quits smoking.

It’s not enough to just stop, the shakes and the headaches nip at him constantly, and he reluctantly concludes that bad habits need to replaced by better ones.

That’s where the cycling comes in, to start with.

It’s exercise, it’s eco-friendly, and he can pretend he is literally leaving his cravings behind him as he pushes hard on the pedals.

He does his homework first, researching what is the best option for city cycling, for his budget, for someone that hasn’t ridden a bike since they were nine.

He plots out his paths to the office, the shops, and the nearest puncture repair centre, just in case. He even makes a spreadsheet to keep track of them.

He is sure Tim would poke fun at him for it, if they were still talking, but the organisation keeps his twitching fingers busy and his roaming mind away from the half-finished box of cigarettes in his desk drawer that he promises he will throw away any day now.

What all that planning fails to account for, as soon as he actually gets onto the road, is the rest of the world moving around him.

Every stereotype he has heard about antagonistic drivers is proven ten-fold as he dodges swerving cars and gets sworn at for whizzing past stalled traffic. He soon learns to sneer through tinted windows.

Pedestrians are almost worse. They seem blind to him, stepping out directly in front of his wheels and making him wobble as he overcorrects. As if a bike can’t still do some damage if he were to actually hit someone. Once, he clips the edge of a pram and stops in the street to shout some sense into the careless father pushing it.

He bitches openly about this during his lunches and his coworkers only roll their eyes at him sometimes.

The cycling becomes a bit of running joke in the office when they spot him coming in with his bike shorts and change of outfit, but he ignores them. The shorts are practical. For some reason, telling them that only makes them laugh harder.

He takes the fastest route into the office and a scenic one home. It winds through quiet well-off estates, before opening out to one of the less well-known urban parks. It’s calming, almost meditative, to roll through the cool shade the cluttered trees offer after another meaningless day of data entry.

In those times, he doesn’t think of his empty flat or his dead-end job, he forgets his sniggering coworkers and his ever-dwindling contact list. It’s just him and the wind.

The only thing that could make those moments better, he admits to himself, is a smoke.

The problem with this particular path is how hard it is to see around corners in the park. There is some national re-wilding initiative in the works and the foliage looms over the roads in a way that block his line of sight.

He checks every turn, even though it is rare to encounter a car in this area. Better safe than sorry.

The night he dies is warm but overcast.

He follows his usual route and cranes his neck to see around the overgrown corner he is approaching. A drooping branch grazes his head and something falls from the tree onto his neck.

It could be a leaf, or a twig, or a ladybird, but Jon feels the whisper-touch of something small at his throat and his only thought is: spider.

He has been afraid of them since he was very young and terrified instinct immediately beats any reason. One hand flies up from the handlebars to bat away at his collar. He swerves. Fear makes him pedal faster and the bike speeds onto the junction.

He is so scared of the potential at his throat that he never even sees the delivery truck.

The bike is sent flying from the impact, Jon falls under the wheels.

The driver, to his credit, calls emergency services immediately, distraught.

The ambulance is there within five minutes, but they needn’t have bothered. Jon is declared dead at the scene with a broken neck.

What few friends he has left comfort each other with that fact.

At least it was quick.

~

Twenty years ago, Martin Blackwood’s mother survives her second stroke.

This is a good thing, Martin reminds himself, more than once. It is Good that his mother is alive.

It doesn’t matter that the nurses need to attend to her around-the-clock now. It doesn’t matter that the care home bills have skyrocketed. He is grateful that she is still with him.

He starts looking for a third job. The admin work during the day and the shelf-stocking at night barely covered his previous bills. He’ll have to look for some flexible positions to cram into his schedule.

In the meantime, he cuts back. Eats cheaply, eats less. Cancels overdue check-ups and doesn’t touch the heating.

His days are a current of constant worry, occasionally breached by a wave of panic that he tries to quell by hiding in the office bathroom and digging his nails into his legs.

Panic won’t pay the rent or keep the lights on or remember to call Mum every Sunday. He smothers it deep in his chest and ignores the spasm of pain he gets whenever he forces it down.

He has been getting those more often; sharp, sudden chest pains, numb fingers, dizzy spells, an aching back, shortness of breath.

He had been going to ask the doctor about it all before he cancelled the appointment but. Well. Needs must.

He has his first heart attack on the evening shift.

Pulling a box of washing up tablets from the top shelf in Aisle 4 causes such a rush of agony in his chest that he dares to ask the manager to take his 15-minute break early.

He doesn’t make it to the back room before he collapses.

In the hospital, after he wakes, the doctors ask if there is a family history of heart problems.

If he didn’t feel so weak he would laugh.

He has more in common with his mother then he likes to admit. Of course they share a bad heart.

Or maybe it came from his father. Mum always said he was heartless. Maybe there’s a hole where Dad’s DNA should be.

When the medical team leaves him to rest, all he can think is how much this will cost him.

The NHS is no charity no matter what their marketing says, not to mention how much money he will lose by recovering. He can’t afford six weeks of not working. His first job doesn’t have that much sick leave and his second doesn’t have any.

He runs the numbers in his head, tries to find what else he can hack out of his life to keep his head above water. Occasionally his thoughts swerve, self-recriminating and barbed. He is so stupid for letting this happen at all.

It’s all his fault.

Mum is going to be so angry with him.

His heart pulses in keen pain, bitter and broken.

Somehow, he drifts off, counting figures instead of sheep.

The second heart attack kills him in his sleep.

~

They die on the same day, at nearly the same time (Jon rushes ahead, always too eager, Martin follows inevitably after him).

Their death certificates are filed away alphabetically by a bored clerk in the dusty management system of the General Register Office.

Twenty years later, Samama Khalid exhumes them and examines them, with more curiosity than sense, only to be disappointed by the mundanity of their ends.

He returns them together, heedless of any organisation.

Jon and Martin meet, in the quiet and the dark.

The filing cabinet is a shared headstone, their names rest side-by-side.

~

Also on AO3

[the-garbanzo-annex-jr]

Hamas terrorists were captured on video taking control of 47 of 100 aid trucks entering the Gaza Strip on Tuesday.

“It’s no secret that Hamas takes control of humanitarian aid. We’ve already published here tapes of Hamas, in which you hear them say themselves they have no more room in their warehouses,” Channel 12‘s Almog Boker reported on Wednesday evening.

“But this evening we also bring special documentation of what it looks like from inside, with cameras that are tracking it in real time,” he said.

5Hamas terrorists were captured on video taking control of 47 of 100 aid trucks entering the Gaza Strip on Tuesday.

The footage shows Hamas first taking over the trucks, including attacking the drivers. Then the trucks are driven through Rafah with armed terrorists riding on them. If any citizen approaches the trucks, they are immediately fired upon, Almog reported. Gunshots can be heard in the background of the footage.

Humanitarian aid, meant to prevent starvation among Gazans, has instead become a lifeline for Hamas and its continued control of the Strip.

“Control over humanitarian aid is control over the citizens. Hamas and [its leader Yahya] Sinwar exercise almost absolute control over what happens with humanitarian aid, and this is how they control the population,” Boker reported.

He noted the IDF on Tuesday killed a handful of terrorists trying to take control of some aid, but said that the army’s efforts haven’t been enough.

[bullet-prooflove]

4500 Follower Celebration Bingo - The Vet: Rip Wheeler x Reader

Tagging: @readmetosleep @kierawashere01 @Hangmanscoming @1-fuzzy-squirrels @nerdypinupcrystal

Prequel to upcoming September piece Broken - Travis Wheatley

Thrill of the Chase (NSFW) - Rip has always loved the thrill of the chase.

 If You Want Me, You Can Have Me - They say that Rip Wheeler doesn't have a heart.

Stay Tonight - Rip asks to stay the night.

Use Your Words (NSFW) - Rip teases you.

Clover - Rip comforts you.

Rip’s at the Foreman’s House when he hears the gunshots echo over the pasture in the darkness. He’s just uncorked that bottle of that red you like from the winery in town because it’s been over a year since you stole this old cowboy’s heart and he wants to do something special to mark the occasion.

“I’m on my way.” You had promised him only a few minutes earlier when you’d called him. “I just need to check in Artemis.”

Gina’s horse had injured it’s leg during a barrel racing exercise a week ago and you’d been treating her since. Her cottage is less than a mile down the lane from Rip’s residence so he knows it won’t take long for you to arrive.

The instant he hears the two gunshots, something twists in his chest because they’re close, too fucking close. Both his home and Gina’s are on the Dutton’s land so he knows no one would dare go hunting in these fields. He tucks his own gun into the waistband of his jeans before he snatches up the keys to the truck and hurtles out the door.

Gina’s driveway is unusually busy when he pulls up outside her residence. There’s a black SUV he doesn’t recognise parked alongside the stables and your pickup blocks his path, the engine still running, the driver’s door thrown open.

Already he can hear the sounds of scuffle coming from the stable, shadows flicker against the warm illumination as a man curses and wood creaks.

“Touch that fucking horse and I will fucking kill you.” He hears you spit as he swings into the stables, his own gun drawn.

The scene before him is far from the one he expected.

Teal Beck is sagged against the door of Artemis’s stall, cradling his right arm close to his chest as blood jets from his badly broken nose. Dislocated shoulder, Rip assumes as Artemis paces her stall, tossing her head and grinding her teeth.

You’re standing with a Glock clasped in both your hands, finger on the trigger, weapon trained on Beck. There isn’t a single waver in you, your feet are spread apart, shoulders aligned just like they taught you when you signed up for a career in the Army as a miliary veterinarian. You’d done three tours before you resigned your commission and returned to Montana to take over your daddy’s practice.

“He was coming in here to kill the horse.” You tell Rip with a tone that could freeze the rivers of hell.

Of course, you’d go this crazy over a fucking horse. You leave and breathe for the animals under your care, every charge takes a tiny piece of your heart and you’d protect them with your life.

“You need to check on Gina.” You tell him, inclining your head slightly as you keep your eyes Teal. “Where there’s one Beck brother…”

There’s usually another.

Malcolm Beck’s been making his displeasure about his ex-wife known ever since that rodeo journalist had published the article about her come back. They’d all thought she was down and out after being kicked to the curb by him but now she’s back on the circuit, winning for the Yellowstone. She’s been spotted in the company of the rodeo king himself, Travis Wheatley.

It must have pushed every single one of that SOB’s buttons to see she was succeeding without him.

“Go.” You say again, this time more urgently. “I can take care of Teal, but Gina needs help.”

Rip’s already in motion, rushing from the stable as you keep the gun fixed on younger Beck brother.

“You better fucking hope he hasn’t laid a hand on her.” You say to Teal, your finger tightening on the trigger. “Otherwise you won’t live to see another sunrise.”

Teal smiles at you through bloody teeth.

“If that girl ain’t dead yet, she’s gonna wish she was by the time my brother’s finished with her.”

Love Rip? Don’t miss any of his stories by joining the taglist here.

Like My Work? - Why Not Buy Me A Coffee

[leatherthorn]

TKDB - Can they drive?

I had been thinking about this earlier, but this like from the newest chapter made me think about it more.

So without further ado, here is whether I think the TKDB boys can drive or not.

Jin: Probably can, but doesn’t. That is what Tohma is for.

Tohma: Absolutely. That guy could probably drive a space shuttle if he was prevaricated upon to do so.

Kaito: Too much of a nervous disaster to get behind the wheel. Would 100% slam the accelerator while in reverse while parallel parking.

Luca: Doubtful. I imagine he probably will learn to drive someday, but he strikes me as the kind of guy who won’t learn until after school, since he doesn’t need to right now, and he’s got a lot going on right now, you know?

Alan: We already know he does. He’s quite skilled at all kinds of driving. Probably the kind of guy who can get someone an hour way ij 30 minutes.

Leo: Huh? Gross. That’s what Sho’s supposed to do.

Sho: A responsible motorcyclist. Will probably have to learn to drive a car/box truck for convenience sake in the future.

Haru: He definitely drives a micro truck illegally. How else is he going to carry heavy feed all over the olace? No one bats an eye because he’s doing it on private property technically so he doesn’t need a license. Also, is a Capybus a motor vehicle for the purposes of this thought exercise? It’s an open question. He probably also drives that illegally, regardless. Calm down, Ritsu.

Towa: No way in hell is anyone letting him drive the micro truck again after what happened the last time.

Ren: He strikes me as the kind of guy who was forced to learn, but never got to drive anywhere fun. He is probably just working for his family business.

Taiga: Laws are for suckers.

Romeo: He is probably the one that actually drives during missions, if it’s necessary. Generally doesn’t drive if he can avoid it, but has absolutely driven the Passo dello Stelvio at least once.

Ritsu: Has his drivers license and is an absolute menace on the road. No one is getting anywhere efficiently because he’s too busy impeding traffic with his strict adherence to the rules. This is why Romeo drives.

Subaru: Absolutely not. While certainly capable of learning, he’s far too nervous to effectively drive.

Haku: also no, but more from a matter of convenience, rather than some sort of anxiety.

Zenji: Same for Zenji. I don’t see him learning how, even though he would happily extol the virtues of a country drive.

Ed: He could drive a carriage. Does that count?

Rui: has a license and no car. Being a surfer would require some ability to bring boards around to the beach, but I can’t imagine that he drives enough to justify owning a car.

Lyca: When would he have had time to learn, between living in the wilderness and in anomaly jail? He’d probably be good at it if he was given the chance, though. At the same time, I think he might also be prone to road rage, so… no different than your average American driver…

Yuri: He would also be a menace behind the wheel, but because he would be too busy having Big Brain thoughts to remember to put the car in park before getting out of it.

Jiro: Also a menace, but because he would let people keep going ahead of him at the first stop sign he came across.

[growingstories]

Truck driver

Once upon a time in the beautiful Midwestern city of Springfield, there lived a handsome young man named Jack. Jack was the epitome of Midwestern charm with his friendly smile and muscular physique. He was a star college athlete, playing as a quarterback for his university's football team.

One fateful day, after a heated argument with his coach over game strategy, Jack's anger got the best of him. In the heat of the moment, he threw a punch at his coach, an act that not only cost him his college career but also left him feeling lost and disheartened. With dreams shattered and a tarnished reputation, Jack was forced to forge a new path for himself.

With limited options, Jack found solace in the open road. He landed a job as a truck driver, which took him on a journey through every state. The long days of driving and the monotony of the road began to take a toll on him. To cope with the loneliness, Jack turned to food as a source of comfort.

As he feasted on trucker meals at rest stops and indulged in greasy fast food, his once defined six-pack abs slowly disappeared under layers of fat. The lack of time and opportunity for exercise meant his physique suffered.

One sunny afternoon, at a gas station in a small town in Nebraska, Jack's eyes met those of a petite, beautiful girl named Lily. She worked at the shop and had a radiant smile that captivated him instantly Jack and. Lily's encounters became frequent, and enough soon, a connection blossomed between them.

Lily noticed Jack's growing waistline and decided to join his journey. Whenever he made a stop at the gas station, she would lovingly pack him her homemade nutritious lunches, replacing the trucker's meals he had grown accustomed to. The hearty meals nourished Jack's body and soul, providing him with both sustenance and the love he craved.

As time passed, Jack's newfound love for Lily and her cooking combined with his old love for indulgent trucker meals led to a significant weight gain. His once-toned physique had transformed into a big, round gut that almost struggled to fit into his truck's seat. To Jack's surprise, Lily loved his bigger frame and encouraged him to embrace his new size.

Eventually, a career opportunity closer to home opened up for Jack. With the new position, he was able to spend more nights at his own bed, near Lily. The gas shop girl, now his girlfriend, continued to shower him with affection and meals. The convenience of being at home allowed Jack to truly embrace his newfound love for food, and he happily indulged in Lily's delicious cooking.

Days turned into months, and Jack's appetite continued to grow. The combination of Lily's tasty meals and his love for craft beers at motels led to him expanding further. His large gut now overtook his entire abdomen, making everyday activities a bit more challenging than before.

Despite the physical toll it took on him, Jack was content with his life. He cherished the love he shared with Lily and reveled in the joy of good food and good company. He had found happiness amidst the open road and the delicious meals that awaited him along the journey.

And so, Jack continued to drive his truck through the beautiful landscapes of the Midwest. His once fit and muscular physique may have faded away, but his spirits soared as he embraced his larger, fuller self alongside the woman who loved him for who he was. After, all his love for food and companionship were what truly filled his heart.

[jdorian]

Just curious because I'm always wondering about that.. If you think tommy picked up on their crazy close dynamic in such a short time, do you think the others have too? Or is that just buckandeddie to them and they don't think anything of it? Hen's "about time" comment made me wonder what she thinks, if she had eddie-suspicions over the years or if she just picked up on a general vibe from buck

I think it's a bit of both actually. because Buck and Eddie? they are absolutely cuckoo insane about each other, like genuinely not-normal.

it becomes the most obvious when other members of the team are in danger; Buck stays relatively calm no matter how worried he is, he makes a plan and tries to scheme to save them.

like in the crossover episode, he waited for hours and then tried to steal a truck when everyone was out or sleeping, even though Hen could've been long dead. and Buck loves Hen, like a lot, a lot, they are family!! and when the Jonah thing went down?? with Hen and Chim? he was on the tailend of it, worried and upset and when Albert got hurt in that car accident? when Bobby was trapped inside a burning building with an active shooter and Athena went in there after him?? these are all people Buck undoubtedly loves like family.

he was worried, but he kept it together every time.

when the well collapsed on top of Eddie, he tried to dig through 45 feet of loose mud to get to him by hand. when Eddie got shot and was in the hospital, Buck flipped out and broke down more than once, but most notably when telling Christopher about it after finding out that Eddie's gonna be okay.

similarly when the lightning hit Buck, Eddie ran up the ladder without a safety line and tried to pull him up by hand; Buck weighs like 200+ lbs plus the gear, there was no chance in hell he could've done that and Eddie isn't stupid, he knows that too. Bobby had to banish him to the driver's seat to make sure he wouldn't be in the way, then Eddie barely parked the ambulance when he was already on top of Buck, taking over CPR, then proceeded to spend the next couple of days by haunting the hospital's walls like a grieving widow.

when the truck fell on Buck's leg, Eddie wouldn't let go of his hand and when he coughed up blood, he looked more than just concerned for that split second we saw him. when he spotted Buck after the tsunami and thought that he lost Christopher? there wasn't an ounce of blame on his face.

in conclusion, they have been always just very unhinged about each other, but I think because they all work in close proximity with each other day in and day out, it's harder to differentiate these things because even in real life, firefighters are like a family; they eat, sleep and exercise together, their blood family is just as involved with each other as they are, because that's just how close you get when you have to put your life into each other's hands all the time.

but Eddie and Buck (as pointed out above) are just taking it to a whole new level when you consider all the family stuff they do together and the will... I think at this point it's sort of a "well this is just Buck and Eddie, they might as well be married" thing for the 118.

I don't think it's something they actively consider to have romantic/sexual undertones, but they all understand that their bond is extremely strong, so they wouldn't be surprised if the relationship progressed into that direction.

in Buck's case specifically, I think Hen saw the signs before Eddie even joined the 118. especially since Buck admitted that he always checked out hot guys — I don't suppose that goes unnoticed when you spend half your life with the same group of people.

[trivialbob]

Three times this week I rode my bike downtown to work.

In a lifetime of bicycling I've run 8,412 stop signs and 1,204 red lights, as of last night. But never do I blow through an intersection expecting cross traffic to yield to me. I have seen some bicyclists and skateboarders do that but haven't seen one turned into road jelly. Yet. If I don't stop or slow down I at least make sure I don't affect someone else. FAFO isn't something I want to try.

Occasionally drivers approaching me see that I want to make a left turn (because I entered a left turn lane, stopped for oncoming traffic, and signaled my intention). Though they arrived first at the intersections they waived for me to go first. Play nicely, get treated nicely, I guess.

Yesterday on the way home I stopped at the brewery and met Sheila. The food truck was a pizza place we don't care for. The pizzas have an outrageously bad crust to toppings ratio. Unsurprisingly, our dogs love this pizza truck because they get a ton of crusts that Sheila and I won't eat.

Knowing I'd be hungry for something else, Sheila packed her lunch box for me. Honeycrisp (my favorite) apple slices, string cheese, slices of summer sausage, cherry tomatoes and crackers. It was a nice little charcuterie board at the bar.

After riding home I'm in a good mood. And not even because I stopped for beer. I love riding through the city, seeing everything and getting exercise.

I've been thinking about the benefits and costs of bike commuting.

Getting exercise is good. Not paying for gasoline or parking saves money. I feel smug pedaling down a bike lane, passing cars stopped in afternoon traffic or construction.

But when I ride I take two showers a day, one at the office before work and second one when I get home. Biking clothes in the morning and daytime work clothes will need laundering. If it's one of these cold in the morning and hot in the afternoon days, like today, There's even more laundry. I don't wear my work clothes in the evening so there's yet another outfit. My water and Tide pod usage goes way up compared to when I work at home.

[artisticdivasworld]

Staying Healthy as a Long-Haul Truck Driver: Straight Talk

Hitting the open road as a long-haul truck driver isn’t just a job; it’s a lifestyle. And let’s be real, it’s one that comes with its fair share of health challenges. With the long hours and endless miles, staying healthy might seem like a battle. But with a bit of know-how and discipline, you can keep yourself in top shape. We talked about this before here, but feel it bears repeating because…

[jeridandridge]

hi!! i'd love to request mel x reader where reader experiences chronic pain and mel supports. maybe in a series of little ways (pep talks, driving to appts, yelling at doctors) or in a sweet massage scene. can be fluffy, angsty, or smutty--wherever the spirit takes ya! thanks in advance for considering!!

Thank you so much for this request! 🩷 nothing crazy in here: doctors visit/mention of blood tests.

Wonder Woman Socks

It started the day you took the kids to the Franklin institute. You figured you were sore and exhausted from running around with the kids and sleeping on the floor. Hell, Melissa even agreed saying she was sore too. You brushed it off.

Then going up the stairs to your classroom had become too much. When you got up the staircase and into your classroom you’d have to sit at your desk for a few minutes drinking your coffee in order to be fully awake again.

Now, months later you fidget nervously with your ring while Melissa drives you to the doctor.

“It’s gonna be fine, Tesoro. They can do their tests and we can go from there.” The red head gives you a soft smile from the drivers seat. You hated this. You felt like a scared child on the way to the doctors office and your only saving grace was Melissa. The sweet woman that made you coffee every morning to keep you going, the woman that would give you a massage every night when you came home from work because standing on your feet all day had become too much.

“What if I’m dying?” You think aloud, the thought terrifying you. You were generally healthy, you worked out, ate right thanks to Melissa’s cooking, and you definitely hydrated throughout the day.

“You’re not dying.” Melissa says firmly with a shake of her head. “There’s something makin you tired, that’s all it is.”

You don’t hear any fear or fake bravado in her voice. She means what she’s saying and you hope she’s right. When you get called into the office you give Melissa a look as you stand up that leaves no room for her to question if she should come back with you or not.

In the room after the nurse takes your vitals you’re left to change into one of the scratchy paper gowns. You huff as you strip down to your underwear until a hand lands right on your ass. You look over your shoulder to see your girlfriend smirking.

“Did you- even right this second in my underwear and Wonder Woman socks you still find me attractive?” You ask, not expecting that at all.

“yeah. You’re tired, it doesn’t mean you look bad.” She chuckles.

You shake your head with an adoring smile as you pull on the paper gown. When you sit back on the table the doctor knocks on the door coming in.

“Hello, hello,” he nods to you both. “y/n, how are you?”

“Tired,” you chuckle, “how are you?”

“I see that in my notes here,” he says flipping through the paperwork you filled out. “What sort of tiredness do you feel when this happens?”

“I feel like I got hit by a truck. Some days are better than others, but even at work just going up stairs is difficult.” You explain.

The doctor nods and makes notes and washing his hands. “Alright, well we’re gonna do a few tests with blood samples, then we’ll see if we have to do anything from there but with what you’re describing it sounds like chronic fatigue syndrome. It’s much more common in women.” He explains.

You let out a sigh of relief reaching for Melissa’s hand. “Take all the blood you need, I just wanna feel better.”

Putting the stethoscope in his ears he places it on your back. “Deep breath in for me.”

You do this a few times, looking at him nervously when he puts the instrument back around hie neck.

“Everything sounds good, We’ll run these tests then depending on the results we’ll figure out a treatment plan that’ll consist of most likely an anti depressant. If you keep exercising and being healthy and your partner here supports you,” he gestures to Melissa, “this should be under control within two months I’d say.” He smiles. “I’ll leave you to get dressed, the nurse will be in for the blood samples shortly.”

When the older man leaves you squeeze Melissa’s hand pulling her out of the chair in the corner to you.

“See?” She smiles handing you your tshirt and jeans. “I thought the guy was gonna be more difficult than that.”

“When Janine recommended this place I expected nothing less.” You chuckle getting dressed.

You squeeze Melissa’s hand when the nurse draws your blood and a few minutes later you’re walking out to the car.

“I feel a bit better mentally now.” You tell her.

“Now that we have an idea what it is I can look up recipes and other natural things that’ll help.” She smiles.

Getting in the passenger seat you smile at your girlfriend adoringly.

“You’re the best, you know that?”

“Yeah I’m pretty great.” She agrees jokingly. “I like taking care of you when you need me.”

“When we get home I require an afternoon on the couch doing absolutely nothing.” You tell her.

Melissa chuckles reaching over for your hand bringing the back of it to her lips. “I can make that happen.”

[kuruk]

a short time after my mom had my dad bail her boyfriend out of jail, her boyfriend got this bail bond scam call who he fought with and the guy gave typical scammer threats like whatever man... so my mom got super paranoid and had me bring berserker over here and made me sleep in the living room to watch my little sister, because she thinks it's someone local instead of a random scammer, and she suspected her creepy lyft driver who drove her to the jail or whatever to pick her boyfriend up. because of the specific information he knew about her, she didn't know how he could get that online like which car in the driveway was hers because it's not under her name or whatever and the scammer named it and said it was hers...

and I was like sigh she's always so paranoid freaking me out for nothing god 😑 I'm sure there's probably a normal way to get that information online if scamming is like your job... I'm like it's literally not your lyft driver help what an insane connection to make... she said because her lyft driver was creepy and gave a tour only of weird things all like "that's where the crackheads hang out in the morning 🙄" and he talked a lot without caring about a response and the scammer on the phone kept mentioning meth lol. and I was like so what if he tells you too clearly the directions inside the building to bail someone out... it's friendly and showing nonjudgement or whatever he was just relating with you and helping because his son was also just in jail...

but an hour or so after my mom left for work yesterday evening, this skinny older white guy parked in the street in front of the house and came out of his truck and walked around circling the driveway, and left when the dogs barked. and the same guy came back again tonight around like 7:40pm wearing the same clothes and I was like um wait eek.. I felt silly thinking too much over it yesterday like well a man can walk a bit. although odd that he parked got out and did that and then left but maybe he needed to exercise his legs real quick or something... but well doing that twice two days in a row is a bit odd help. this morning my mom showed me a picture of the lyft driver and he looked a lot like him actually the same older white guy.

yesterday he left after the dogs barked and he only did one or two slow laps walking in the driveway, but today he circled the driveway and then walked even closer to the door and instead of leaving when the dogs barked, he just walked slower and weirdly with bigger steps and he was carrying a plastic bag full of something.. my mom did tell that driver she works hospital night shifts. well whatever... it's kind of silly like sounds obviously overly paranoid but whatevevr same guy two nights in a row only getting out of his truck to walk around the driveway and up to the door a bunch jusr stop ut....

[possibilistfanfiction]

Prompt for your little Hallmark AU: Christmas market (You know, those markets where there are booths who sell Glühwein and Punsch, Im not sure how to correctly translate it in English in Austria we call it Christkindlmarkt)

it’s grey outside, the clouds heavy but not quite snowing yet; it’s warmer than it’s been on clearer days, still cold but almost pleasant, and quiet.

you make sure to give yourself extra time to do your stretches in the morning after you go to camila’s to get breakfast. the atmospheric pressure of the incoming storm is, unsurprisingly, causing your back to ache, but that’s not new and it doesn’t really faze you at this point. if things get bad enough — and they do, sometimes — you just reschedule your plans and take pain meds and muscle relaxers from dr salvius after you do your physical therapy exercises. but your hands don’t ache and you don’t have any numbness in your feet, your temperature is normal, and so you go through your routine and feel better by the end of it.

beatrice picks you up at eleven on the dot, as she confirmed twice over text the evening before with perfect punctuation that made you feel a little bit like you were in trouble but was charming anyway. 

‘hey stranger,’ you say when she knocks on your door, and she blushes and smiles and you’re delighted by the effect you have on her, almost immediately — this exceedingly smart and competent person stumbling over herself the second you smile. it makes you feel powerful and it also makes you want to treat her kindly, to make her laugh.

‘good morning, ava.’ she fidgets, for a moment, and you’re curious why you’re not just going to her truck, but then she takes a hand out of the pocket of her peacoat and opens her palm. ‘i, uh, i noticed your cane was getting stuck in the snow.’

‘oh.’ your first instinct is to be embarrassed, eleven years of abuse rearing its ugly, awful head, but then you look at what she’s actually holding.

‘i already had it,’ she explains, slightly rushed like she’s trying to make sure you’re not upset, like it was just a thoughtful aside of hers. ‘i tore my acl a few years ago and used both on my crutches, and so, i just figured, well… if it doesn’t work, that’s fine, but maybe worth a try?’

you take the winter cane tip attachment from her outstretched hand and it really does feel like some kind of offering for a moment. it’s nice, the crampon itself retractable, and easy enough to put on your cane. when you try it outside the door on the way to her truck, you can’t help but smile, remember a little bit of the joy that first came with movement as you started receiving proper care and accessibility and mobility aids. you don’t take healing for granted, even now. ’thank you,’ you tell her as she unlocks her truck and goes around to the driver’s side. 

she nods. ‘like i said, i already had it sitting around. not a problem at all.’

‘still,’ you say, climbing up and twisting around to greet a suddenly very excited theo in her kennel strapped into the backseat. ‘not many people have been particularly thoughtful in my life, especially not at this.’

she frowns at your admission, her jaw clenching, her face stormy. she’s handsome in her rich maroon scarf and camel wool coat, careful hands on the wheel.

‘anyway,’ you say, a little overcome, ‘how’d you tear your acl?’

she immediately reddens, pulling out of the driveway and trying to act like she’s concentrating very hard on her turn signal to merge onto the completely empty road. 

‘bea, please.’

she sighs, refusing to look at you even at the red light. ‘i was training with theo,’ she says.

‘that’s not horribly embarrassing on its own.’ you grin. ‘there’s got to be more to it.’

‘fine,’ she says, mostly just to humor you, you’re pretty sure. ‘she was small, and we were both learning how to herd. i, well — i tripped over one of the sheep.’

you wait a beat to picture it and then laugh, not unkindly but without any remorse. ‘thank you truly so much for telling me.’

she rolls her eyes. ‘you’re so welcome,’ she says flatly, and you laugh again.

/

you’re confused if your little outing to the christmas market is a date or not for the two minutes it takes for beatrice to park the car, get the small pack holding treats that she carries around for theo buckled around her waist — a little nerdy and totally adorable — and then letting theo out of the kennel. she’s in a little green coat, the same as the other day, and it kind of makes you feel like you’re going to scream, she’s so cute. she greets you fully now, with happy little wiggles, and then situates herself at beatrice’s side. she has a leash connected to her harness, the other half slung over beatrice’s shoulder and across her chest so her hands are free; you think theo doesn’t need it at all, but beatrice explains, ‘in crowded public access areas, it’s appropriate.’ theo, for her part, is busy sniffing a few treats beatrice scattered around her feet in the snow, and then she smiles at you and gestures to head inside.

you’re confused no longer when you see camila’s booth, advertising hot chocolate, apple cider, and egg nog, and she whistles. ‘beatrice, you look so nice with your fancy jacket.’

beatrice glares. 

camila turns to face you fully, a smirk on her face. ‘she never wears that unless it’s a special occasion.’

you can’t help yourself: ‘well, i am a special occasion, if i do say so myself.’

’no one else is saying it,’ lilith grumbles from her seat behind camila, and beatrice fights a laugh while you pout.

‘you look nice too, ava,’ camila says, keeping the peace as you’ve quickly figured out she always does. 

you preen a little, just for the fun of it. ‘why thank you. i love your sweater.’

camila looks down at her jesus was palestinian sweater. ‘’tis the season and all that.’ she beams at you, then beatrice. ‘well, what can i get you both on this romantic outing?’

beatrice sighs in defeat but you grin and look at the menu. ‘well, i’m on vacation and bea picked me up—‘ camila perks up even more at this— ‘so i’m going to do your bailey’s hot chocolate.’

‘i’ll have a cider,’ bea says, and you shoo away her attempt to pay for things, which brings a blush back to her cheeks when you tap your card with a pointed flourish. 

you go through the market with your warm drinks, your cane not sinking into the snow as it had been the past few days, making everything easier, simpler, less nervous with every step. once you have half of your hot chocolate, you lean into beatrice with a smile, and she offers her arm, all clove and pine and her soft scarf. there are booths with ornaments, knitted coasters; you convince her to buy a pretty wreath for the front door of her cabin, which you kind of hope she’ll invite you to see.

it starts to snow when you’re about to leave, the sky darkening early, and she feed theo a few treats before she situates her in the kennel. 

it’s quiet when she starts the truck, and she seems nervous, her hands white knuckled around the steering wheel. ‘i apologize if i was presumptuous.’

you soften. ‘that was a really wonderful date, bea. you can be as presumptuous as you want.’

her smile is shy, bathed in the waning light. ‘well, in that case, would you like to come to my house for dinner?’

‘yes, obviously.’

 she laughs. ‘alright then.’

[featherlumina]

What’s your favorite quirk/habit you give the cc cast when you write them?

(Glad you’re back in this mess :D, also yes everything behind gen SHOULD be on fire)

Thank you so much for the ask! :D I'm going to stick to who I've written so far, but that's still quite a few to think about! I hope you enjoy my silly/angsty/cute snippets. :3 Genesis He annotates the crap out of any book he owns. Don't get me wrong, he's got pristine copies of all editions of LOVELESS reserved for viewing only, but he's also got versions exclusively for scribbling notes and interpretations in the margins. In one particular copy, though, the notes start to get choppier, rougher, more...unhinged, as the degradation drags from months into years and his desperation for a cure deepens, particularly after the Nibelheim incident. Angeal This man can take a nap anywhere. Up a tree, in a rock crevice, in a military truck that's careening into every pothole by a careless driver... Angeal is the king of shuteye in unlikely places. It's very handy on rough missions. Sephiroth Likes to exercise his authority as a First to refuse any SOLDIER missions that even vaguely assist Hojo's research out of sheer spite. Genesis is incredibly proud of him. Zack This guy is a chaos cook, and by that I mean he just throws whatever crap he has available into a pan and just vibes. The 'throw anything together' habit he picked up from Angeal, yes, but he missed the 'think about sensible flavour combinations' part. Cloud He's a nervous fidgeter and has a lot of anxious energy that needs to escape. Drumming his fingers, leg bouncing, fiddling with his earring, picking skin, you name it. This behaviour is more prominent in his infantry days, too. Cissnei She's a collector, and by that I mean a collector of small keepsakes and trinkets found on missions around the world. Being raised in a orphanage meant that she barely had any possessions growing up, so she treasured anything that was hers and hers alone. Sometimes it's silly things from gift shops, or interesting rocks, feathers, scales, etc.

(She definitely kept a feather from that Genesis copy in Sector 8, for example.) Lazard You think this bloke only started embezzling money from ShinRa when Genesis defected? Not a chance. A lot of it gets funnelled to his non-ShinRa relatives, but also gets channelled into charitable projects around Midgar supporting people of the slums.

[cancerian-woman]

#7 "I almost lost you" + Bamon

this seemed too perfect for them...

Ahh! Thank you! I had fun with this: prompt list a little twist on this scene:

“So which way do you wanna go?” Bonnie asked, looking around. “Turn around, go straight..”

Damon watched as Bonnie’s pretty lips moved, her eyes squinting and her nose crinkling in annoyance at his silence. The purpose of this vacation was to help both Alaric and him heal from their recent losses and discover a new strength. Damon would openly admit to anyone who asked that Bonnie possessed a strength that neither he nor Stefan could ever match: the ability to move forward through adversity, no matter the cost. They would brood and get drunk until the bitter end.

Bonnie was still offering suggestions on directions and her ideas for the next travel destination. She couldn’t see the white truck coming towards her and the asshole behind the wheel didn’t care to slow down. The car inched closer and closer to the witch. Damon imagined how rewarding it would be to see Elena’s brown eyes on his, hear her laugh and offer hope for their future but there was a but.

He chose Bonnie for a reason.

Damon’s life would feel meaningless without Bonnie. Who else is going to fling spells at him when he’s being an ass? Provide the comforting scent of lavender that radiates from her skin, and remind him that she hates his cooking skills. Bonnie fits easily in his arms, even if she has to stand on her toes to wrap her arms around him. Bonnie will never know how grateful he is to hear her snoring when she sleeps, and her heartbeat increasing when she exercises too loudly in the morning.

“DAMON!” Bonnie yelled, snapping her fingers. “You’re not listening,”

Damon's blue eyes widen at the scene before him as he hears the driver repeatedly cursing about his inability to slow down the car. He blinks, trying to shake off the haunting image of Bonnie's red shirt and wavy brunette hair stained with her magical blood. She can't die, and he won't allow it. She's too young and inexperienced to have such a short life.

Damon utilized his vampiric speed to grab Bonnie and push her into the crowd. The last thing he saw was Bonnie being assisted to her feet by random bystanders, just before he felt the aching impact of the white truck colliding with his side.

Damon’s eyes flickered as he reopened them. White room, stiff mattress and dimmed lights and before he could move Bonnie was glued to his side checking his lower abdomen for bruises.

“You know you didn’t have to bring me here? I heal just fine.”

Bonnie punches Damon’s shoulder. “You were hit by a car, in front of people. I had no choice.”

Bonnie moves closer to Damon giving him a long hug, as she sits next to him. “I could’ve died, but you saved me. Thank you.”

“I almost lost you, and I never want to be in that position again.”

Bonnie smiles gently at his confession, choosing to set aside her urge to ask about the truck and why he hadn’t been listening for now. Instead, she leans in and kisses his forehead tenderly, feeling a wave of affection. She then decides to curl up beside him, offering her quiet support and understanding.