Profile For Joe P.

Thank you for the quick response Guyjax.

Yeah I'm really sweating the work history. My employment record was very good up until then. Most people don't realize that poker requires a lot of dedication and discipline. Hopefully I can convince a company of that. I will try my plan; be up-front and honest with the company, and hope they understand. If not then I will just have to pursue other dreams.

I know I'm the one responsible for my current predicament; I just hope that I haven't killed one of my dreams in the process.

As long as I can get my meds at a decent rate, I'm okay with co-pay. I just can't afford $1500 a month if they don't cover.

Thanks again,

Joe P.

I'm seriously considering becoming a trucker. I'm a forty-four yr old, single male, former military, I love to travel, and I love adventure. I do have a few issues though and I don't know if it will derail me before I start. I'm going to be completely honest and hope someone will let me know if this is just a pipe dream or if I should pursue it.

My partner died on 12 October 2008 after being together for twelve years; I was working for an internet provider in MD for four years and was finally let go in Jan 2009 because I was not ready to return to work. Anyone who does tech support knows how frustrating it can be dealing with angry customers all day.

I started my career as a professional poker player and did okay; but didn't make enough to cover my mortgage, cover my meds(more on that in a bit.), credit cards and student loans. I had to make about $3800 a month to cover everything at that time. So I lost my home and my credit was ruined. My mother in Texas was ill; so I went to live with her and help take care of her. She died in 2010 of brain cancer. I was stuck in East Texas and was broke so I got a job with my uncle for a couple of years doing logging(Skidder driver); Then went back to poker and helped a friend of mine with some seasonal work. I have been living in Vegas for the last seven months, but I have been just barely getting by and I am heading back to Texas on the 2nd of February. I get my HIV meds through the VA, but they only give me 30 days at a time (I hope I can change to a different type of med and see if I can get a 90 day supply) so this limits me a bit on travel. My CD4 count is good; my viral load is undetectable. Doc says that I should live for another 20+ years.

My question is; will my broken work history, HIV, and poor credit prevent me from getting a CDL through a company?

I do have a plan but I'm not certain that it is a good one. I plan on getting a job for a few months and put back a few thousand dollars. Then leave the job and have my uncle teach me all he can about his log trucks and practice my driving, parking and backing skills. I would go straight to him for a job but he's has too many people working for him now and it's hard for him to make ends meet. I plan on working for free and have him teach me in the evenings and weekends. I will be studying everything I can before entering school if that is an option. Part of what concerns me is that I will have a another short term job on my resume, but I don't want to show up with no cash in hand either.

Any Advice that you could give me would be greatly appreciated, even if it is to say; I need to find another passion.

Thanks in advance,

Ashke-bereft