Clint and I jumped in our Big Ol’ Dodge pick-up and drove to Tunica, MS this past weekend to attend the 1st Annual Truck Driver Social Media Convention. This is my serious post about that convention. I want to get this out of the way so that I can post from the housewife side later! LOL

So, first off let me say that I take the trucking industry very seriously. I take all industry seriously because I see our government getting bigger and bigger and taking my freedoms away slowly but surely and I do believe there has to be a way to wake up the public and get them moving. I commend any person or organization that is trying to make that happen. I’ve been a part of the trucking industry for over 10 years and I’ve heard drivers from every walk of life ask the same questions and complain about the same issues over and over again. So while Clint kept asking me, “now why are we going to this social thing?”, I remained positive that something was going to come of this. (I’m mis-quoting my BigRigHero to make my own points here, so don’t go giving him a hard time)

The most important thing I learned this weekend is a part of my favorite quote from the convention:

there are 13 million CDL holders; what if we said it 13 million times

Richard Wilson said that. He is the Safety and Regulatory Manager, Regulatory Consultant and Trainer with Trans Products & Tran Services. Social media needs to be used to “unite” drivers and help them become one voice that can affect what is happening regarding the rules and regulations on the trucking industry. This was the message I felt was most important in the convention. We need to let all drivers know that there are thirteen million of them; 13,000,000 of them; 13 with six zeros behind it… that’s a lot of drivers. Can you imagine if 13 million CDL holders showed up at a public meeting in Washington, DC? It would make the Million Man March look like a cake walk (no offense to that organization intended whatsoever!!!).

James McCormack, with Trucking Careers of America spoke about new drivers and I have to admit, at first I didn’t see how his presentation had anything to do with uniting drivers and using social media to affect change. However, companies are now discouraging their new drivers from turning on and using the CB radio, so that line of communication is dwindling, but those new drivers sure do tweet! I feel like the experienced drivers can use social media as a new means of communicating with those still wet behind the wheels… err… ears!!

Eddie Gichuhi from Trip Sheet Central also spoke of the importance of using social media to unite drivers and become one voice, 13 million strong, to affect change in the industry.

Paul Taylor of Trucker’s Justice Center talked about how he uses social media not only for clients, but to get witnesses and even experts. He is an expert that would be nice to have on your side, so find him and be nice!! If he can use it successfully, so can drivers!

Landon Middleton is an internet marketing guru with Austin Walsh. His presentation was more for business trying to market to drivers who use social media. However, he introduced a concept that we in the trucking industry need to remember:

social media is a 2-way communication; it’s social, not personal

I believe we can use that concept to “unite” drivers, keep the conversations fresh and relevant, and get our government and the public to listen!

By the way, as a trucker’s wife, I make the voice 13million and ONE… I hope you’ll join the conversation!!

VeryBestBaking.com is one of my favorite web sites for desserts, cookies, breads, etc. The link takes you to one of my favorite recipes, Pumpkin Apple Streusel Muffins. Yes, tons of ingredients, but a simple recipe that just comes out perfect every time, no matter how I try to screw it up!

The ingredients list on the site calls for vegetable oil, but I didn’t want to use any. I used apple cider instead. I have it in my fridge and I need to use it up. I also used it in the Harvest Pumpkin Apple Bread but didn’t take pictures of that one. I’m in a pumpkin mood and bought more on my grocery trip yesterday!

So, back to the muffins. I used the same amount of cider that it called for in oil. The wet ingredients are very wet because of that! No taste was harmed in the making of these, though!

As usual, I used wheat flour instead of bleached, all-purpose flour. We looked at the ingredients of a couple of flours at the store yesterday, and wheat flour is 100% wheat flour. The others had preservatives in them. We bought more wheat flour. I think it adds a tiny bit of a different flavor to everything, but Clint says that’s a good thing even though he doesn’t taste any difference.

Here I combined the wet and dry ingredients and mixed them by hand. I’m not sure why I did that, except that I’m still having mixer issues and just didn’t feel like dealing with it! I folded in the apples and forgot to take a picture, too.

I also forgot to take a picture of the “streusel topping”. All I can say is, all hail The Pioneer Woman!!! It’s her fault I decided to add pictures to my cooking, but I sure haven’t mastered things the way she does!

Here are the finished muffins. They’re messy and sticky but oh so good! And they’re even good for you. Who would think a Fat and Happy Housewife would care about that?

Ah, yes, another fall classic! I love soups because they’re really easy! But even more, you can add whatever you want and like and it will still taste great! My kids love my potato soup, but there is no recipe and they will tell you, “Mom never makes it the same way twice.” A recipe is a guideline, so please find a potato soup recipe you like and play with it until you can make it in your sleep, then play with it some more! This is one of those soups I’ve made for the family for almost 14 years now, and I’m not kidding when I say, I’ve never made it the same way twice. So, here’s how I made it this time:

I saute the veggies, so I start with melted butter in a dutch oven or large soup pan.

I threw in a diced onion and some celery and let them saute about 5 minutes or so. I will often throw in baby carrots if I have a package handy. I just cut them into slices and add to the pan. I added some dried, minced garlic just before adding the bouillon and water.

I add bouillon cubes to the mix…

Then add the water and turn the heat up. I want it to be close to boiling when I add the potatoes.

I add as many potatoes as I feel like. Usually I have the soup heating up and add potatoes until the broth is just over the top. I’m pretty quick at peeling and cutting after all these years, so it doesn’t take me long to get them into the pot.

Once it comes to a boil, I turn the heat back down to just below medium and let the soup simmer for about 45 minutes to an hour. I want the potatoes to melt in your mouth! I also check the taste to see if I need to add any seasonings. The bouillon usually adds enough salt, but sometimes it needs a little extra celery taste, so I’ll add celery seed.

I used a masher to make the chunks smaller and thicken it all up this time. Sometimes I add milk, this time I didn’t.

Then I serve it up with grated cheese, sour cream, crackers, green onions, croutons, garlic bread on the side, what ever is handy and tasty.

I tried to find some decent recipes online and here’s what I would make myself:

Cooks.com Old Fashioned Potato Soup

Food.com Simple Potato Soup

eHow.com Basic Potato Soup