It's not uncommon for me to run into the employees of other utility companies out on job sites.?ÿ Being, at times, extremely rural with no one else around we usually jaw for a minute or two and then go about our business.
This morning I was out in between two lonely places, Tabler and Brushy Chapel.?ÿ Someone was building a new?ÿresidence a quarter mile or so off the section line.?ÿ The new road to the site?ÿwas blocked at the section line with a locked gate.?ÿ?ÿThe contact number on the work order rolled to voice-mail.?ÿ I hate climbing fences so I had one more ace-in-the-hole to play.?ÿ
I have a life-long collection of keys I keep in the truck with me.?ÿ They're on a keychain that could very well be used as a boat anchor.?ÿ I have them organized as to the type of padlock with a number of heavy equipment keys at the end.?ÿ If you need a JD track hoe moved, or various Caterpillars, they're no problem.?ÿ My keychain has come in handy several times over the years. I found a Master?ÿpadlock on the gate.?ÿ After about 5 tries I found one that worked.?ÿ After I was inside I "dummy-locked" the gate to just appear locked so I could make it back out without too much trouble.
I had been in there bout a half hour, nearly done, when an AT&T truck pulled up the trail. He had noticed the gate was dummy locked and let himself in.?ÿ We exchanged pleasantries and talked weather.?ÿ But when the AT&T dude saw the words "CONTRACTOR" on the side of my truck beneath the name on the magnetic rural electric coop sign, his disposition turned nasty.
He railed on utility company "contract employees" that had ruined "the business" over the years.?ÿ They don't do this and they don't do that and they charge too much and the company gets by without providing insurance and benefits.?ÿ His exact quote was something like "It's a gawdam shame".?ÿ According to him his personal income had suffered because contract lineman and installers charge so much.?ÿ He ranted on and on.
I didn't take it too personal but he persisted and I had finally had enough.?ÿ I was done with what I needed to do.?ÿ I packed?ÿup my base and told him to "have a good'n" and he just grunted in reply.
I got back to the section line and let myself out.?ÿ As I swung the gate closed I noticed the gate was out of sight from where we both had been.?ÿ I smiled a little when I closed the gate and snapped the padlock down hard to the locked position.
The way I see it, he made his point and then I made mine.?ÿ I hope he had a good time trying to get that gate unlocked.?ÿ He might still be in there even as I type this... ??ÿ
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Simply mentioning AT&T would bring most anyone to have a thought of reprisal.
unfortunately the public agencies, and mega utilities have too much "protocol". He is probably still inside
That was good.?ÿ I have to admit that I would have done that too and have in the past.?ÿ But don't have the ring of keys.?ÿ Just a big set of cutters and repair links.?ÿ
While doing reconnaissance for GPS in its early days (1980-ish) I accidently locked a?ÿutility worker inside a mountaintop facility when I left.
His supervisor had to come and get him because he had the only key.
They charged the city I worked for the supervisor's wages and the utility worker's overtime.?ÿ The city paid.
I, too, have a ring of keys left over from my reconnaissance days.
I, too, have a ring of keys left over from my reconnaissance days.
I started mine probably 40 years ago.?ÿ?ÿBack in the "chain and transit" days it?ÿwas common on construction jobsites to find something parked on line.?ÿ Most of?ÿthe keys in my early collection were?ÿignition keys for equipment.?ÿ Then I somehow came up with an old worn-out Master Lock key that?ÿfit a surprising number of padlocks.?ÿ I think I still have it.
When I worked for the highway department we had access to?ÿkeys for the locks on utility gates in the fencing around urban bridges.?ÿ I somehow kept one?ÿfor my collection.?ÿ When I started doing utility work I came into possession of keys to get into transmission line gates and maybe a substation or two.?ÿ I think I still have a couple of keys to get into some of the City's sanitary sewer lift stations.?ÿ I have kept the mess on several "key chains".?ÿ When a key chain gets overloaded it usually breaks and I replace it.?ÿ Surprisingly enough the "key chain" that has lasted the longest is a homemade wrapped up mess of what's left of the shafts from two pin flags.
I'm thinking my last will and testament will be to have my keys auctioned to the highest bidder and the proceeds given to the ASPCA. ??ÿ
Well I see we are about to add Kidnapping and False Imprisonment to our "rap sheet" err.. resume.?ÿ ? ?ÿ
Well I see we are about to add Kidnapping and False Imprisonment to our "rap sheet" err.. resume.?ÿ ? ?ÿ
Flattery will get you nowhere!
I just got tired of someone with all those full company bennies and paid holidays moaning and groaning about how I make my living.?ÿ I hope he had some water with him, it was an awfully hot day...
Added to the Memoir...Thanks
Added to the Memoir...Thanks
Thank YOU.
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And I thank you for that !!
Seems like bad karma. Never know when you might run into him again.
When I was a responsible adult I held similar sentiment, but I'm so much younger than that now.?ÿ But karma can only do so much.?ÿ Sometimes it needs us poor mortals to help things along down here.?ÿ I'll happily oblige. ?ÿ?
And I look forward to seeing him again. I know I will.?ÿ?ÿBy then he will have probably forgotten what a dumass he?ÿwas.?ÿ?ÿI'll take?ÿour next encounter as an opportunity to remind him.?ÿ It will be fun.?ÿ Maybe I?ÿcan get an AT&T employee to punch me in the nose while he's on the clock.?ÿ Then his employer will know what a dumass he is!?ÿ
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A cousin of mine years ago worked for a radiator shop.?ÿ At the time, he was pretty much an alcoholic.?ÿ One day he was requested to spend all day on a site because they were catching corn, and they wanted someone on standby in case the combine broke down to weld it back together.?ÿ Well, my cousin showed up just like he was supposed to, and he didn't feel good because he was pretty well hung over.?ÿ The farmer saw this and kept griping about it.?ÿ I'm not sure how long it was, but my cousin finally had his fill and left.?ÿ However, on his way out he made sure he stopped and welded every gate closed.
A cousin of mine years ago?ÿ.... However, on his way out he made sure he stopped and welded every gate closed.
I believe we may be kin...sounds like something a Cash boy would do!
I remember when I was young Pops told me to never carry a knife.?ÿ When I asked him 'why?' he simply replied, "To keep yourself from cutting off your nose to spite your face".?ÿ
Took me years to understand what he was talking about.
I?ÿbelieve we may be kin.
I'd say there's a fair to middling chance of it.?ÿ You'd written one time on a post of mine about how some of your ancestors were in a particular geographic area.?ÿ I've got some from there too, plus, I had a few relatives went off to Oklahoma around the turn of the century.?ÿ You ain't got any Huffines, Solomons, Scotts, Youngs or Harbours hiding in your tree do you?
I?ÿbelieve we may be kin.
I'd say there's a fair to middling chance of it.?ÿ You'd written one time on a post of mine about how some of your ancestors were in a particular geographic area.?ÿ I've got some from there too, plus, I had a few relatives went off to Oklahoma around the turn of the century.?ÿ You ain't got any Huffines, Solomons, Scotts, Youngs or Harbours hiding in your tree do you?
None of those ring a bell, but who knows??ÿ The family tree is full of Edgemon, Wallace, Shelby, Thomasson and Browder folk from Meigs, Co., TN around a spot called "Ten Mile".?ÿ The Edgemon family cemetery is there at the intersection of county roads 532, 522 and 510.?ÿ There's a clan gathering there every August that has been going on since before my time.?ÿ I haven't been since my mother passed away.
Hallowed Ground.?ÿ The cradle of Modern Human Rebellionism.?ÿ ??ÿ
The Real Cash Clan family tree.?ÿ
Paden and Holden preparing for family BBQ.?ÿ
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