SHIP'S LOG:

Denali XV

Loretta Max 8/5/2026 9:34pm

Ol' Danny's always seeing things. Which is strange on account of as he has no eyes.

Instead of following his fancy, I dialed up the Zephyr Air job hotline. Hopefully I hadn't been blackballed following my recent insurance claim.

"Zephyr Air Job Hotline. How can I be of assistance?"

"Yeah this is Denali XV. Calling in for a regional procurement offering."

Don't know why they have such fancy names for just picking up a job.

"Denali XV please hold while I pull up your account."

Also don't know why they can't just use caller ID and have me pulled up right away. Zephyr Air doesn't always invest a whole lot on the delivery side. Also don't know why they can't afford more interesting hold music.

"Ah, yes Denali XV. Still there?"

"Roger that."

"Uh, Denali XV, we'll need you to come in for a checkup and mandatory competency screening."

Here it comes.

"Please proceed to the Regional Admin DC, code 9875 Spinster Charlie Bravo in your Look-em-up. They'll be expecting you in 6 hours. Please acknowledge."

And there it was. They were gonna run me up the flag pole.

"Roger that."

Ol Danny 4/8/2026 11:41pm

I've been with Ol' Loretta ever since she found me by the side of the road next to the shoestring factory. I already had a lot of miles on me, so spending my golden years riding the Denali is my reward, the way I see it.

And I see a lot, hanging from the rear view mirror, dangling in the sun.

Hey what's that sparkly flash on yonder mountain?

Loretta Max 12/7/2025 11:15pm

A lot of people have been writing in to ask if I get lonely out on the road by myself all the time, and why don't I have a partner or a companion at least on the long haul? Well, who says I don't?

Ol' Danny's made out of shoe leather and sits there real quiet, mostly, just enjoying the ride.

Loretta Max 8/12/2025 8:31pm

The giant silverware was a bit longer than they put in their job request. Had to let it hang out the back with a flag on it, and sure enough half way out of Old Forks they broke free and landed with an amazing clatter up and down Fourth street. Nobody was injured but it impaled a Honda pretty good. Of course Zephyr Air Transport has insurance, but my rating's going to take quite a hit.

Loretta Max 4/20/2025 6:34pm

The giant chickens did end up smelling things up, but as a bonus the giant chicken handlers left me three giant chicken eggs, which go for a pretty penny at the Omaha Mutation Invitational but I didn't feel like sticking around. Heading to North Forks for a big load of giant silverware and running with all the windows open to get the stink out.

Loretta Max 12/27/2024 9:47pm

You can check the archive logs for the run-of-the-mill pickup and dropoff jobs I've been having, but this time I've really got something of note--prize laying "chickens" on their way to the Omaha Mutation Invitational. Got their own staff of attendants to help out with the trip, which means no chicken-shit shoveling for me. And these monsters look like they can really put out a lot. Half the weight is just their bio-engineered feed, then some pounds for their staff. Big paycheck and I'll I've got to do is drive the blimp? Dream job!

Loretta Max 9/1/2024 3:58pm

Most of my work is pick up and drop off in the greater Tri-Cities region. It's the kind of gig work that allows me the freedom I want, in terms of setting my own schedule. But you're still really under the heel of living check to check. So what's the alternative? Spend a few decades on long haul, put enough away into a 401k to retire in down south somewhere? If there was some way to just bust out of the system entirely, believe you me I'd take it.

Loretta Max 5/12/2024 11:49pm

I really went all in on the Denali XV. She's got muscle, and I didn't skimp on the upholstery and brass accents or the underglow lights. So it made sense to use it for work, since I can write it all off as a business expense on my taxes.

Loretta Max 1/19/2024 11:51pm

I took a job delivering for Zephyr Air Transport because I liked the idea of being my own boss, and I needed an additional income stream to help with the upkeep of my airship.