About three years ago our local oil delievery company, Johnson Dix, was sold to Irving Oil which was then a Canadian company and is now a HUGE Canadian Company. Johnson was an old family owned and run oil company, popular and large by Vermont standards that prided itself on customer service and was known as a great place to work. Irving on the other hand is so large that one must deal with call centers and voice mail menues to reach a contact and then everything is scheduled far in advance in an albeit polite but inpersonal distant way. The modern age. Life has gone on, oil is delievered in good weather and bad. But its not the same and everyone knows it.
This is background for my experience this morning.
Putting my winter boots on on our porch I saw a strange oil truck coming in our drive way. Dave, our normal driver, who has delivered our oil for as long as I can remember was not at the wheel. Also Dave has a huge beautifully maintained truck that is his home. He loves "his truck" and cares for absolutely everything. Its stunning to see and his attitudes in his work reflect his feelings about his truck. In a long conversation one Sunday morning during a delievery he confided that he had been on our route long before we bought Meadow. He does much of his work on weekends since he also works as a caretaker to several large homes North of us here in Vermont. His customers are in residence most weekends in the winter so his caretaking tasks mostly do not conflict with his oil delievery responibilities. While Dave is by no means a young man....I'd say in his mid 50's, he looks great, he is enthuised, energised, likes his job and you can tell is a guy who is just comfortable in his existance. I liked Dave. Any customer who met him had to. I'd not see him most times that he came ... but when I did we'd always exchange a few nice greetings.
As I said in the beginning....today's delievery was not being made by Dave...a strange truck was in the driveway.... and a stranger was dragging the hose to the oil pipes.
"Good Morning" says the middleaged thin crusty looking driver. He was bent over the oil pipes leading to the oil tank in the cellar by the time I got my boots on. "Good Morning" I replied. "What happened to Dave. He usually delievers my oil in his huge truck." "Oh, you must mean Dave Adams... he's delievering propane this year. He got upset when these new guys (a reference to the new oil company Irving) took his truck away from him. Sent the truck somewhere South to Massachussets. You know we don't have very many great tucks and Dave thought he'd be happier in a propane truck so he's got a new route and is doing that. Many of us are haveing difficulty adjusting to the new guys....it's much larger and not as personal as it used to be. You know once I had a business before I started this and I try to develope a relationship of sorts with the customers on my route but its hard today cause we don't always work the same route."
"That's interesting" I replied. By this time he was dragging the hose back to the truck and yelled back to me..."I'll bring you a ticket in a minute."
"Oh by the way" he exclaimed as he handed me the ticket "I put a new label on your pipe. We don't always work the same routes under our new systems so there is no telling who is going to make your delievery. They have us putting these new labels on all the tanks so its clearer for us to be sure we are at the tank we are supposed to be at. It's a big problem when we put oil in the wrong tank...for every one. Dave wouldn't have needed this in the old days. Why he could almost tell you the birthdays of the kids in the families he delieverd to. Nope...just not the same today. Got to run. Good seeing you."
I was sad about Dave. I hate hearing things like this. I walked over to the oil pipe to have a look at the new label. It was there. For some reason I reached out to see if the oil cap had been tightened. It hadn't been.
I don't have a name for this new driver. Guess I don't need one but that doesn't mean he didn't leave me with an impression of what it means to be one of the new guys.
December 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Email Notices
Peter - I believe I have added a feature that will provide you with an email notice of this and my future postings. Let me know if it works. When it does I will erase this posting. Thanks. Pop
Verizon Wireless Stores
Vermont doesn't have many. In fact until recently there were practically no Verizon stores.
This creates havoc for those of us who have committed ourselves to Verizon Wireless Phones and Blackberries when we need service or we have even the most routine problems. Nancy opened our Verizon account in Rutland about six years ago. Originally I was on an AT&T phone and encouraged Nancy to go with Verizon cause we were under the impression, correct at the time, that the Verizon coverage was better in VT. My AT&T systems died as we came thru Troy, NY. The Verizon service has been mostly good and improving.
The account has been a frustrating because they still insist on getting Nancy's approval for all modifications or changes since she opened the relationship. We've jumped thru hoops trying to get me to be a fully authorized person and still it doesn't always happen. The trick is to know the last 4 digits of Nancy's SSN and then to know the password on the account. Armed with that information I am usually able to get them to take my instructions and requests.
I share all of this with you because today I drove to Manchester twice to visit the new Verizon store. I am having trouble "tethering" with my Blackberry. I can use it as a broadband modem for my laptop when and if it works which is very helpful. In the past week or so I had been experiencing delays in getting the system to connect and last night it finally became totally unresponsive. So this morning I visited the new store (two months old) in Manchester and they were able to help me some during the first visit but I had to go back a second time with my laptop in hand so they could analyze the total issue. They did and it seems to works somewhat better tonight. They didn't require any proof of purchase or account verification for this oversight which was extremely helpful.
They did put me thru hoops when I asked how much additional it would cost us if I gave Nancy a blackberry to take the place of her cell phone. You would have thought the world had come to an end. When I went this afternoon I had here SSN with me and that with the password allowed them to access our account. As it turns out Nancy is eligible for a new phone. To upgrade would add about $35 a month and a purchase cost of $120 plus the cost of an auto charger and a protective case. That would be on top of her existing cell phone charges. Frankly, I feel we are already paying too much for our Verizon services. Around $170 a month for three lines, two cell only and mine which is cell, web and tethering. Some how it only makes sense if you use it a huge amount. Then it's great. But if you don't use it it becomes a damn expensive toy.
This creates havoc for those of us who have committed ourselves to Verizon Wireless Phones and Blackberries when we need service or we have even the most routine problems. Nancy opened our Verizon account in Rutland about six years ago. Originally I was on an AT&T phone and encouraged Nancy to go with Verizon cause we were under the impression, correct at the time, that the Verizon coverage was better in VT. My AT&T systems died as we came thru Troy, NY. The Verizon service has been mostly good and improving.
The account has been a frustrating because they still insist on getting Nancy's approval for all modifications or changes since she opened the relationship. We've jumped thru hoops trying to get me to be a fully authorized person and still it doesn't always happen. The trick is to know the last 4 digits of Nancy's SSN and then to know the password on the account. Armed with that information I am usually able to get them to take my instructions and requests.
I share all of this with you because today I drove to Manchester twice to visit the new Verizon store. I am having trouble "tethering" with my Blackberry. I can use it as a broadband modem for my laptop when and if it works which is very helpful. In the past week or so I had been experiencing delays in getting the system to connect and last night it finally became totally unresponsive. So this morning I visited the new store (two months old) in Manchester and they were able to help me some during the first visit but I had to go back a second time with my laptop in hand so they could analyze the total issue. They did and it seems to works somewhat better tonight. They didn't require any proof of purchase or account verification for this oversight which was extremely helpful.
They did put me thru hoops when I asked how much additional it would cost us if I gave Nancy a blackberry to take the place of her cell phone. You would have thought the world had come to an end. When I went this afternoon I had here SSN with me and that with the password allowed them to access our account. As it turns out Nancy is eligible for a new phone. To upgrade would add about $35 a month and a purchase cost of $120 plus the cost of an auto charger and a protective case. That would be on top of her existing cell phone charges. Frankly, I feel we are already paying too much for our Verizon services. Around $170 a month for three lines, two cell only and mine which is cell, web and tethering. Some how it only makes sense if you use it a huge amount. Then it's great. But if you don't use it it becomes a damn expensive toy.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Trailblazer Ski Club Parties
For many years we have belonged to the Stratton Trailblazer Ski Club. Its for the over 50 crowd that frequent Stratton Mtn in VT. When we first joined it was not very large, under 200 members. It was primarily a social club which afforded a group of similarly minded skiers who could join together and ski together with a few apres ski events or socials during the year. Since Nancy has always worked as a mountain guide at Stratton as well this pretty much rounds out the package. She can ski with her work buddies on working days and with the Trailblazers on the other days. For me its great cause I usually go to the Mtn and ski alone. I can buddy up with one of the trailblazers or I can sit with them on chocolate or coffee breaks. There is always someone to talk to. At least that's mostly what it was when it started out.
Today there are over 1,000 skiing members of the club. Everything is done over the Internet and while still being the social networking club it was it now offers lots of new benefits. Primarily discounts offered by the various Mtn stores etc. The social events have become mega events with three or four hundred sometimes attending. Even so there is a core group of members who still cling to the older smaller virtues of the club. The regulars if you will. People who ski during the week. Almost every day. Live somewhere on or near the Mtn during the season and who have over the years built a genuine friendship with many people. That's where we like to think we are. And that's where we were tonight/
Tonight was the season's opening party. It was billed as cocktails and dinner and held in the west wing of the base lodge at Stratton. This is the nest for the club as it is where everyone looks to join up when skiing. Stratton does a great job at transforming the lodge area into a dinner area for events like this and there is plenty of room. This year, because of the lack of snow and yet to start ski season, about a 150 attended. Last year and in recent years we have had well over 300 and we have had to use both the west and the east wings of the lodge to feed everyone.
The smaller crowd was great as many of the newer less frequent skiers just were not there. Tonight you had the old guard. Most everyone knew more people than not and those who they did not know by name were known by face. You'd be amazed how many people that can be after 12 or so years at the Mtn.
Mark Katzman is the current president of the club. He puts his heart into all that he does and works with an unmatched ernergy and commitment. Every club needs a Mark somewhere and we are blessed to have him. Arranging, planning, leading, directing holding things together. Seating, menu, wines, remarks, announcements, budget, planning, spokesperson, politicking. You name it Mark does it all.
And best of all....we had our first real ground covering snow fall this afternoon and into the late evening so when we ventured to the Mtn we could do more than just dream of snow. We still need lots more before they can open but at least it looks like mother nature is helping some.
It provided a fantastic backdrop for the evening.
Today there are over 1,000 skiing members of the club. Everything is done over the Internet and while still being the social networking club it was it now offers lots of new benefits. Primarily discounts offered by the various Mtn stores etc. The social events have become mega events with three or four hundred sometimes attending. Even so there is a core group of members who still cling to the older smaller virtues of the club. The regulars if you will. People who ski during the week. Almost every day. Live somewhere on or near the Mtn during the season and who have over the years built a genuine friendship with many people. That's where we like to think we are. And that's where we were tonight/
Tonight was the season's opening party. It was billed as cocktails and dinner and held in the west wing of the base lodge at Stratton. This is the nest for the club as it is where everyone looks to join up when skiing. Stratton does a great job at transforming the lodge area into a dinner area for events like this and there is plenty of room. This year, because of the lack of snow and yet to start ski season, about a 150 attended. Last year and in recent years we have had well over 300 and we have had to use both the west and the east wings of the lodge to feed everyone.
The smaller crowd was great as many of the newer less frequent skiers just were not there. Tonight you had the old guard. Most everyone knew more people than not and those who they did not know by name were known by face. You'd be amazed how many people that can be after 12 or so years at the Mtn.
Mark Katzman is the current president of the club. He puts his heart into all that he does and works with an unmatched ernergy and commitment. Every club needs a Mark somewhere and we are blessed to have him. Arranging, planning, leading, directing holding things together. Seating, menu, wines, remarks, announcements, budget, planning, spokesperson, politicking. You name it Mark does it all.
And best of all....we had our first real ground covering snow fall this afternoon and into the late evening so when we ventured to the Mtn we could do more than just dream of snow. We still need lots more before they can open but at least it looks like mother nature is helping some.
It provided a fantastic backdrop for the evening.
Christmas Tree Lights
Do they ever work? I mean will they ever work a second or third year when you take them out of their storage boxes? What do you mean there are no lights there? I know we wrapped them around old Sunday Newspaper Magazines and tossed them in the box when we packed up from last year! You think you tossed them!
Whatever the excuse - Christmas lights seem always to be a problem. This year was no exception. This morning I made a light run to the Londonderry Hardware Store and fortunately they had them. Going beyond Londonderry here in Vermont makes for long days. Later today Nancy and I will add them to our little tree on the porch and hopefully it will dress it up some. It sure needs help.
Whatever the excuse - Christmas lights seem always to be a problem. This year was no exception. This morning I made a light run to the Londonderry Hardware Store and fortunately they had them. Going beyond Londonderry here in Vermont makes for long days. Later today Nancy and I will add them to our little tree on the porch and hopefully it will dress it up some. It sure needs help.
Friday, December 4, 2009
DeCell's Christmas Tree Farm
De Cell's is just down the road from us. Nancy and I went there this afternoon and cut and purchased our Christmas tree. We do this every year.
Greg DeCell has been the farmer since we arrived in Weston. His father farmed before him but is now retired living over on the other side of Weston. Greg's probably just 50, married with two grown sons, neither work the farm as far as I know. Greg was a cross country skier when he was younger and is still a naturalist-environmentalist type. His wife works as the Town Clerk here in Weston. Greg splits his year between working the tree farm, working as a caretaker for Don Bardge (A neighbor who has a 50 acre or so horse farm a mile or so up Old Tavern Road and by working at Stratton Mtn, the ski area, managing and overseeing their Nordic activities, primarily cross country skiing. He can be difficult. When we first moved here I asked him if we could snow shoe on his property fully expecting an automatic yes. Instead I got, "I'd rather you don't." He was afraid I'd step on his special trees and he didn't want others to get the idea that visitors were welcome. I shouldn't have been upset - I later learned that he had had run ins with the Viking Ski Center and the damage that some of their skiers had and continued to inflict on his land more than justified his position. You see he owns most of Cobble Hill which is a lot.
In any event - Nancy and I picked out the dumbest smallest ugliest tree this year. Maybe it was the fact that it was warm instead of cold, snow less and much easier to get around this year and to select. God whatever it was we really blew it. We got it home okay and set it up in the stand as planned on the porch. When we stepped away and looked at what we had we were horrified. I said lights would help. Believe me they didn't. Maybe more. Nancy will make a light run to Manchester tomorrow.
It's not Greg's fault. His trees are in clear view and you can cut anyone you want for the same price. It just goes to show what can happen when customers are left to their own devices. Greg would never have sold this tree on his own.
At least we have given it a home for this year. I'm sure someone out there is watching and will give us points.
December 4, 2009 Birthday Morning for Pockets
Good Morning. I was awake early this morning, around 3:30 am, and in came an email Birthday Greeting from Mary Jane.
(Mary Jane Murphy was a long time associate at Chubb who worked for me for almost 20 years. She is now a VP at what was Merrill Lynch working in their stock plan sales area. She was a wonderful friend and over the years was very close to me and my family. I was sorry to see her leave...careerwise she has done extremely well. Her personal life has been saddened by the recent passing of her second other and her mother. I believe she is back at work and that she has made significant progress in putting her world back together. She and Gean had been together for years and she was as much a part of his dive shop in Flemmington as he was in her life. There has been way too much sadness surrounding death in our lives this past year. I guess we are just entering that level where death is not a stranger.)
It was great hearing from her. Today is my 66th birthday. It is supposed to be a quiet day. The only task anticipated is a visit to DeCell's Christmas Tree Farm, just down the road from us, to get our tree. Today is supposed to be clear and in the high 30's or low 40's so we should do it before the weekend and before winter sets in. So far we haven't had winter. I was up early and watched Good Morning America - first half hour or so. Not much - just more on Tiger Wood's untimely affair and more on the Washington couple who crashed Obama's recent State Dinner. Fixed myself some fried eggs with ham and a roll and have been reading a great biography of Ben Franklin,
Thursday, December 3, 2009
First Time
I never thought I'd see this. I've created my first Blog - Pocket's Meadow. Sort of pushed into it by my son Peter. He has a blog which he recently started using this site and I just couldn't let hime show me up. Now that I've done it I'm sort of a loss for anything meaningful as a first comment. All I know at this point is that my assumtion is that this blog will center on our activity in Vermont at our home in Weston. More to come.....
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