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Permalink Reply by sleepycarol on October 31, 2009 at 11:33am

The age limit I am not sure since hubby isn't here to ask.

I do know after a certain age school bus drivers have to pass a test yearly. We had a bus driver that was in his mid-70's with some serious health issues. I teach at a small rural school, difficult to find bus drivers as it is. He kept passing thetest and so they kept letting him drive. Yet one examples of a "minor" accident include: 8 years before retiring he took a group of kids to an old slave cemetery, while "parking" the bus he put it into gear and broke several of the headstones off. Since the cemetary is no longer in use and many of the headstones date to the early/middle of the 1800's the headstones were "glued" back together with adhesive. I was horrified (not my field trip). That is only one example of several incidents that took place. He finally had a major heart attack, thankfully not while driving, and he decided it was time to hang it up.

It is known that as we age our reflexes are not as acute and our timing is slowed down.

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Permalink Reply by birdshell on October 31, 2009 at 12:28pm

It might be worthwhile to discuss with your doctor the problems you are having sleeping. I personally think that there is something wrong when I cannot fall to sleep. For me, it can be as small as a very slight offset mask or a microleak. However, that is just me....

I do not know how truckers manage to do their job with all of the STUPID things that I see people doing on the road. It seems that folks should check existing traffic sooner when entering the freeway, thus being able to judge and adjust speed according to the truck traffic. This is actually a great idea for any vehicles, but is especially important for those rather large (and highly visible) multi-ton things that are driven by professionals, IMHO.

As a former teacher of over 30 years, I can attest to the shortage of bus drivers. It isn't easy to find people to do this job, but I am glad that someone wants to do it. (I feel the same way about police officers, btw. Our local police would come to our elementary school and say, "How do you do it? I couldn't be a teacher." )

Our bus drivers all bought jackets a few years ago, which tickled me...they were imprinted with a bus and "All of my problems are behind me." That said, they also raised funds for a few video cameras to be rotated among the fleet randomly and 'anonymously', recording any problem behavior from the students. We have actually had parents view the video of their child slashing a seat and denying that it is even POSSIBLY their child. And, I taught in a nice suburban district with generally a good community support system.

Dave, in my experience, you have a greater chance of finishing the dollhouse for your little cutie since you do not do so for a living.. He was a carpenter/contractor/construction worker, and he started building our (real) house when I was in kindergarten, about 6 years old. When I graduated from college, it still was not totally finished, and there are a couple of details that fell by the wayside. The professional painter's house in my hometown was the one that needed painting the worst, and the cobbler's children never seem to have shoes.

Thanks for sharing your pics. Your daughter seems to reveal a great deal of personality in them; and kudos to you for doing something so exciting WITH her. It really is one of the best ways to get to know your child, isn't it? She is also having fun, I'm sure, as are you. She is also being exposed to all different kinds of thinking and problem solving while you do this memorable project.

Enjoy!

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Permalink Reply by dave foster on November 1, 2009 at 4:59am

I don't know of ANY age restriction for HAZMAT or any other type of trucking; if you can pass the physical, you can drive. I've met some older drivers, both men and women, and they all were very concerned w safety on the road. Is this a scientific study? no, just some folks i've talked to doing the job. I would not be so quick to place blame on a drivers age for a hazardous fire or incedent. My last HAZMAT load [ive let my haz endosement go] the loaders placed plastic sheeting under, over and around the skids, INSIDE a sealed trailer. when i asked about this, the guy just said 'don't get it wet... at all' so i said 'whyyyy??!' . he said, 'because it will burst into flame when wet, and water WONT put it out'. 43,000 pounds of this stuff. lovely. btw, the guys loading the trailer were all in space suits, separate air supply, etc.. I had on a tee shirt jeans and a ballcap. This is why I don't haul HAZMAT anymore... one less thing to keep me up at night!!!

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Permalink Reply by dave foster on November 1, 2009 at 5:13am

As to bus drivers, hey my hat is off to you. I have enough trouble w freight that dosent talk. They haul our most precious cargo, that is, our childeren, and get paid s*** to do so. They have to take test w a state trooper [at least in my state] sitting behind them, for little more than minimum wage. GOD BLESS THEM. ... On a similar note, the NYC city bus drvers have earned my respect as well, driving a large vehicle under tough conditions, in the city, 8 to 10 hours a day... talk about stress! reminds me, my favorite view of NYC? in the rearview, getting smaller.

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Permalink Reply by sleepycarol on November 1, 2009 at 9:50am

Hubby was in New York awhile back. We live in a rural area and talk about stress!! He was with you, couldn't wait till he was head away from there.

I know I have always told our bus drivers at work -- your couldn't pay me enough to do their job!! At my school, bus drivers and aides start at minimum wage. Yet, they are dealing with some of the most stress situations in a school setting. When they talk about how poorly a teacher gets paid, a hard look needs to be taken at the pay support staff make. It is a shame that education is near the bottom of the barrel when it comes to wages.

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