As I have been asked by numerous people what my book is about, due to time constraints and some modesty on my part, I felt it more appropriate to direct all of you inquisitive people to my blog site so that you can read a brief synopsis of my book. As for the publishing date, that is still uncertain, but I’ve sold my Drifter as commitment on my part to hasten its publication. If the book intrigues you, you can always write/post a comment on my site. Thanks for visiting.

Alfy

Synopsis

ABAJAM CHRONICLES

of

Two Families and One Alien Encounter c

(or Two families Lost in Time c)

The story begins with an angry ALBERT MEISNER and a large bottle of premium Scotch whiskey.  He finds himself completely overwhelmed by the recent disaster and events that have befallen him and his family, their friends, as well as some unintentional guests.  Thirteen people in all, not counting pets and one of those people is in critical condition.

For all intent and purpose, everything within his properties compound, all 6.5 acres, would appear normal to any of his neighbours who might drop in for a visit…if there were any neighbours to be found!  Beyond the immediate safety and sanctuary of his property, the world around all of them has been dramatically changed, all in a flash and explosion from what initially appeared to be a simple lightning strike.  But was it a simple lightning strike?

Their location, southern Ontario, Lake Erie and other geographic landmarks such as nearby Long Point peninsula etc. all appear to be the same, albeit with some minor yet significant ‘incongruities’!  There are now no other houses, no buildings and most importantly no hospitals nearby. As well, there are no longer any roads, no towns, no generating station with power lines, nor any other symbols or accoutrements normally associated with ‘civilization’.

They no longer have TV, radio or phone service and definitely no internet whatsoever.  His youngest daughter is extremely distraught that she can no longer text anyone, especially the new neighbours.

As they will eventually discover, the ‘new’ neighbours they do have weren’t exactly the kind you’d want dropping in on you, especially unexpected or unannounced.  For what it’s worth, they may be still in their original location but they are definitely lost in some other time, not their own.

Albert determines to piece together the ‘chronological’ events of the past twelve years that probably contributed to their current dilemma in a desperate attempt to try and make some sense of it all.  He’s also holding out some faint hope of possibly reversing the disastrous outcome that has befallen them, but only if he can determine and perhaps replicate the exact sequence of events that up-heaved them into this strange place.

As the book (first one in a series) progresses, Albert discovers he can relive the past with uncanny clarity due to the effects of his exposure and close ‘relationship’ with a couple of alien artifacts that he had ‘salvaged’ (his wife Bernie insists he ‘stole’ them) from the wreckage of an alien spaceship he ‘stumbled’ upon 12 years earlier while on a trip to northern Ontario.  The one perilous caveat of his special gift is that he becomes ‘trapped’ in those very ’reenactments’ when he becomes over anxious or careless not to ensure he’s aroused out of them by someone else.

Albert also discovers in the course of his reflections, especially when interviewing some of the other members that he, his son and son’s best friend are developing an unexpected, unique and what may become a very handy ‘super power’.  It is the ability of telepathy between the three of them as well as what Albert decides to coin tele-empathy, that of being able to actually ‘see’ and discern the thoughts of the others within his small group.  Sorta like becoming a human cell phone (with a very limited directory) and a lie detector (all inclusive), all rolled into one ‘package’! And no texting required.

Just when the circumstances of their situation start gaining some clarity, a couple of shovels and a pick go missing, fear begins to grip many of the members within the group and Albert finds himself reliving the exact moments of the cataclysm.  It was as if he were trapped in an ever repeating loop of that terrifying event.

This is the first volume of what will hopefully be a series of 4-5 more books in the ABAJAM CHRONICLES collection.  The second book is already ¾ completed and the third book is almost completely developed in my mind…and a mind is such a terrible thing to waste!

This is a sample of the script I wrote for my March 6th discussion on Trucker Radio with Stan and Tim…not that we stick to it. It’s kinda loosey goosey but you get the idea, I hope!

Physical Fitness and Mental Health

Theme: ‘What’s it all about…ALFY?’

1) Did you guys know that back in February, Bell and various broadcasters dedicated time and money to the topic of MENTAL ILLNESS and recognizing some of signs and how it affects all of us.

2) February and March are also a pivotal months when the debilitating effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD plays a major role in the lives of about 25% of North Americans.

3) Isn’t it commonly known as February blues, cabin fever and the winter blahs!

 4) That’s right. Its distinguishing characteristics range from mild depression and lethargy, to severe or manic depression and even thoughts of suicide!

5) I’ve read some studies have demonstrated a direct correlation between obesity and depression.  As to which condition contributed to the other still remains uncertain. ‘You’re so depressed, you eat ‘comfort or junk food’ gaining excessive weight, or is it because you’re overweight, you tend to get severely depressed? I personally think it’s a lot of both.

6) Well for me, I personally battled both severe depression as well as obesity for 10 years. My condition was attributable to the onset of Seasonal Affective Disorder. At the time, I was in excellent physical condition, but my ‘illness’ got so bad, not only did I eventually gain almost 50 lbs. but I also had to sell all my firearms. I came to that conclusion while chewing on the blued steel barrel of one of my rifles.

7) Now to be fair Alf, I’ve known many reasonably well adjusted and well ‘rounded’ fat people. I just won’t identify them for fear of my life. LOL

8) Putting all joking aside, most doctors, fitness trainers and me of course, all agree that a good workout will make you ‘feel marvelous’ and eventually will make you ‘look marvelous’  This feeling of euphoria you get after a workout, can last from hours to upwards of a day or two.

9) And did you know a medical study done last year discovered that a good workout can deliver the exact same therapeutic or medicinal effect as many of the pharmaceutical drugs used to battle depression?

10) Well I can sure see the advantages that exercise has over drugs. Unfortunately they’re far too numerous to discuss on this show.

11) I’ll admit taking pills and eating junk food is way easier than working out. But here’s the real bonus of exercising? When that naked image of you in the bathroom mirror exclaims…’saludos, you look marvelous darling!’ (Consider using Billy Crystal’s ‘saludos, you look marvelous’ shtick).

13) Well, that’s it for today. Next month, I’m thinking of discussing the topic of ‘Exercise for the Brain, Food for Thought.’ Doing these things can not only reduce your susceptibility to brain diseases like dementia and Alzheimer’s, but can also prevent you from becoming a ‘fat head!’

I’ll let you or Tim remind the audience to check out my exercise video and to look for me at Truck World this April at the OBAC booth.

Alfy, ‘the fitness guru’.

This week I had the good fortune to pass through Tennessee and stop at a rest area. While there I happened to notice a poster announcing a contest for songwriters. I thought about entering but unfortunately they want the music and lyrics performed by the contestant. As I don’t play an instrument or write sheet music I realized I wasn’t eligible to enter. All the songs I write do have melodies but unfortunately they’re in my head. Now some of my songs are recorded on cassette tape (a musical friend helped me transpose the music/melody onto tape), but that’s as far as they’ve gotten. A C&W radio station in Sudbury did once play some of my songs from a sample cassette I submitted (they also interviewed me on that occasion). At the time, the ‘DJ’ expressed in his opinion they were the best songs to come this way in some time. And that was the end of that.

Now I say all this because I don’t want my readers to think I’m a ‘one trick pony’ only writing about health and fitness. So for a break from my routine I thought I’d include the lyrics to some of my songs from time  to time.

This first song is called Wasting Years and was inspired by an actual prisoner I befriended at Collins Bay Penitentiary while doing some volunteer chaplaincy work.

Wasting Years

It gets so lonely here,

Oh I sure could use my wife.

The guards won’t let her near,

Cause I’m servin’ double life.

I pray to be sent home,

But I can’t undo my crime.

To see how my son’s grown,

But I’m made to serve my time by…

CHORUS:

Wasting years

Starin’ at walls they’ve painted grey!

Wastin’ tears,

Won’t shorten the time I’ve gotta stay!

Wastin’ years n’

Wastin tears.

I’m wastin’ away….

I wish that I were free,

To be with my wife and son.

But greed got hold of me,

So I took along my gun.

I planned to double cross,

Then to damn those pusher men. *(or, Then to damn those highway men)

Their death was no great loss, *(or, It was me who really lost)

But I’m sentenced to this pen… *(or, Cause I’m stuck here in this pen…)

CHORUS repeat:

I’m told God forgave me,

For the crimes that I have done.

But will society?

Will my wife and will my son?

I guess I’ll never know,

Cause my sentence fits my crime.

You reap the seeds you sow,

And you end up spending time…

CHORUS repeat:

Recently, I spent a full weekend at the T/A in Troutdale, OR. As it rained much of the time, I had an excellent opportunity to catch up on some reading, and watch one of my favourite TV shows on DVD.

It also gave me a chance to reflect on the state of truck stops everywhere. (Yeah, I actually do stuff like that when I’m idle. It keeps me out of trouble!)

Comparing the truck stops I’d recently visited, I began to compile a list of good and bad points to help me design the ideal truck stop. For the record, my idea of a good truck stop is one with lots of parking, large clean washrooms, and plenty of well-maintained showers. It should also have a restaurant, some fast food franchises (when you just need to keep on rolling) and a well stocked C-Store.

Amenities such as TV rooms, theatres, barbershops, and laundry rooms are always greatly appreciated. Regrettably, only a handful of truck stops have a respectable bar/lounge or sports tavern – and even fewer have an adequate gym (if they have one at all!). Only one truck stop comes to mind that has accrued all the above amenities and it also has a large outdoor pool. That’s the Little America truck stop and hotel in Wyoming. Not only that, but over half a dozen of their 17 marbled shower rooms come equipped with a bathtub!

Now unlike many of my peers, I actually make use of all the above facilities when I stop at Little America. That’s right, I swim in their pool in season (it’s heated) and luxuriate in a hot bath after a gruelling workout in their gym. Yes, men can luxuriate in a tub as well as any woman. Just don’t use scented bath salts or read a romance novel while you’re doing it if you want to maintain any semblance of manhood! Scented candles are definitely a no-no!

Which brings me back to the T/A in Troutdale and what I perceive as being the trouble with truck stops. There was simply no facility or place for drivers to exercise – a fact that is directly related to the unhealthy state of drivers in our industry. As it so happened, on that particular weekend, the T/A was in the process of dismantling their network of Idle Aire towers. Much pavement was broken up and many premium parking spots had been sacrificed by the construction upheaval. There was opportunity here to establish a designated area where drivers could work out. But no thought seemed to be spared in this direction.

We get plenty of conveniences like restaurants, TV rooms, and arcades, but rarely the opportunity to avoid becoming indolent and slovenly (fancy talk for lazy and unkempt). Drivers tend to use the excuse that they don’t have the time or a suitable place to exercise. Well, the time factor is something they’ll have to fix themselves, but getting suitable places for proper physical fitness will come when we start demanding it. Forget the common CB refrain of ‘shut up stupid.’ If we’re ever going to effect change in our industry, we have to ‘speak up stupid!’

Regrettably, far too few drivers ever speak up. Call it apathy, indifference or timidity, they just accept things as they are, rather than fight for the way they should be. If only they realized that according to marketing wisdom, a single customer complaint actually represents the views of 10 customers. A single letter of complaint represents about 100.

So where’s your voice?

Many truck stops could spare one or two full parking spots to serve as a partially enclosed workout station. Shielded from all but the harshest of inclement weather, and featuring basic gym equipment, I believe it would be a popular place to work out.

Will any truck stops step up to the plate? Will they provide drivers with facilities that are not only popular but desperately needed in the industry? I think they will if we speak up, and show that the equipment is appreciated.

Most of us truly appreciate everything else the truck stops provide for us. What we really need is a place where we can casually work out and exercise without the smell of urine, strewn-about garbage, and dangers of being run over by unobservant drivers.

If you think this is a reasonable idea, write to the head office of your favourite truck stop, or send them this column. You’ll be doing all of us a favour! .

May 2011 highwaySTAR

Trucking’s health crisis

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2010-04-01

Most knowledgeable and informed members of the trucking industry will candidly admit there is a serious health crisis amongst truckers. Sure, it’s easy to identify the most obvious contributing factors to our condition: a sedentary lifestyle, smoking, poor eating habits, irregular sleep patterns, obesity, stress…the list can go on. The apparent remedy seems simple enough, exercise, quit smoking, eat and sleep better. But it’s not so simple. Beyond blaming the trucking industry for our condition, what is the real basis or cause for drivers to disregard their health, their hygiene, their appearance?

What I’ve come to realize is the problem is psychological, rooted in environmental circumstances. I’ve been trucking for over 30 years, I’m physically fit, I have a positive attitude, and I’m very conscientious of my appearance, both on-and off duty.

On the other hand one fellow driver confided to me while waiting for inspection clearance that he no longer had ‘the will to live!’ On further discussion, he told me he no longer had friends, merely acquaintances, was having marital problems, and no real desire to get into shape.

Yet he seemed to be reasonably, outwardly happy and successful in his chosen profession.

I once met a man who had been a member of the special forces in the military who, as he put it ‘was a lean, mean, killing machine.’ Yet after leaving the forces and becoming a trucker, he had gained over 100 lbs in just over a year and a half.

And what of the drivers I’ve stood behind in a line at some truck stops who have clearly not showered or washed their clothes for several days or longer?

The fact that we are engaged in a service industry should impress upon these men and women that their appearance and presentation is important to the customers they serve. Yet even the companies they work for seem disinterested in their drivers’ appearance or their overall well-being. This pervasive attitude within the industry speaks volumes as to why there is such a malaise amongst its drivers.

Many drivers I’ve spoken to express the feeling that they are merely indentured servants, feeling little or no pride or dignity in their jobs. Their families and friendships are suffering from their long absences as they try to meet the industry’s demands and expectations.

So what can be done aside from an overhauling of the whole industry? Perhaps by considering the physical needs of the drivers and working with both them and the customer, a viable solution can be developed.

Management should genuinely express concern and interest in their drivers’ families and social well-being and even encourage drivers to take the occasional mental health time off. Perhaps bring in speakers or organize periodic health/exercise/ therapy events. Provide incentives like rewards for weight loss, simple fitness equipment (resistance bands, workout CDs, portable steppers, etc.) and even provide subsidized gym memberships.

Dispatchers need to be educated on the proper handling of company drivers. Instruct them that home/family time is sacrosanct and they shouldn’t harass a driver to come in early because there’s a load that just has to go. Dispatchers need to book loads so the driver has sufficient time to deliver it without having to sacrifice his/her sleep or off-duty time.

It might be nice if they showed some interest in the drivers’ progress if they’re trying to quit smoking, lose weight or get involved in certain activities. Remember, it’s lonely out there and a friendly familiar voice of encouragement can motivate a driver to put in a little extra effort for his/her dispatcher.

When I joined the company I currently work for as an O/O eight years ago, I was barely treading water financially and emotionally. It wasn’t too long afterwards that working here put the ‘joy of trucking’ back into vogue for me.

The original owners of this company live and work by the ‘Golden Rule’ -treat other people as you would like them to treat you. They don’t exploit or take unfair advantage of their drivers.

I’ve found all reasonable requests for time off is approved without debate. A number of our dispatchers have family who are drivers, so they tend to treat us as they’d like their family to be treated, with respect and consideration.

The drivers are generally supported by management who are willing to consider their suggestions, concerns and even protests. They even support us financially should we O/Os be encumbered with a large repair bill on the road. We are paid for all the work we do -no freebies! This includes sweeping out a trailer, our pre-trips, all pick-ups and deliveries, border crossings, etc. Company drivers are even paid overtime!!

Our company maintains its equipment to excellent standards. This takes much of the anxiety away from a driver when it comes to travelling safely down the road or crossing a scale. They encourage and maintain an exceptional safety record. This too diminishes our anxiety when dealing with various enforcement agencies. Drivers are even given the responsibility of determining if road and weather conditions are conducive to safe driving.

This company actively participates in a wellness/fitness program put on by a community hospital.

I could go on, but suffice it to say, these are some factors that will contribute to a more positive driving environment and improved productivity. Most importantly, our drivers are less stressed and are generally in better condition, psychologically if not physically than many of their truck stop peers and acquaintances. I know this for a fact because many of our customers tell us so!

So how are your drivers doing?