A Year

The Archway to the West

It has been a year since my last post and a lot has happened. New job, two new places to live and of course, a new city.

Let me start with the positive. Hager Companies is a fantastic company to work for. I had a very good distributor / manufacturer relationship for many years but sometimes going to work for said manufacturer becomes a disappointment. So happy that the positive experience, being an employee with Hager, continues. My boss, his boss and the Hager family are truly fantastic. Reasons why will become apparent as I relay the less that positive experiences that have happened since I moved.  I am having fun educating my co-workers and especially our sales representatives on why social media matters and how it can help spread brand recognition.  More importantly how we can use Social Media to educate others out the life and fire safety aspects of our industry.  A few reps have even signed up with Twitter! My first year review is coming up next month so I hope Hager Co. experience with me has been equally affirmative.

When I was considering moving to St. Louis I wanted to try a more urban living experience.  I rented the 2nd floor of a duplex that had just been renovated. The house was over 100 years old. Unfortunately it was site unseen through Craig's List. That was my first mistake - not negotiating for temporary housing.

The landlord promised the key would be under the flower pot. It wasn't. Visions of a scam swam in my head but thankfully that was not the case. After a phone call the landlord delivered the key in about 20 mins. We were two very hot and exhausted adults along with the two stressed out dogs. We couldn't wait to get into a cool apartment, take a shower and eat. That didn't happen either. The landlord did not turn the a/c on ahead of time

After a two day drive with 2 dogs, a packed car and a very dear friend who volunteered to help me with the trip we arrived in STL around 3 pm.even though I had transferred the electricity to my name that day and asked him too.  After hauling everything that had been packed in the car upstairs and making a Target run my friend decided to take a shower. I had brought towels so all was good. Until I hear her yelling asking if the water heater was gas or electric. She wasn't getting any hot water. Another call to the landlord. He never had the gas turned on and he forgot to mention they never showed up for the appointment I had scheduled to have the gas transferred into my name. Ok so no hot water. Oh and no hot food either because the range was gas.  Hmmm this wasn't a good start.

We arrived in St. Louis on a Saturday and my friend stayed until Tuesday. We had no furniture, except for the two inflatable beds I had
packed in the car, as the

Our "TV"

moving company wasn't scheduled to arrive until later in the week. Another trip to Target to buy two lawn chairs, to be used temporarily inside. Two dogs, two adults and two non-folding lawn chairs in a Jeep Liberty. Have I mentioned my friend was (and is) such a trooper!

The gas company finally showed up late Monday evening, after tweeting them my situation. The gas company technician had a few issues so though he turned the gas on I wasn't left with a very secure feeling it wouldn't blow up.  I had never used gas before and I can say now, I am still not a fan. Hot showers was a yay! The burners on the range worked but the oven...not so much. It was an old range and I would have to light the pilot if I wanted to use the oven. That wasn't happening so no oven.

My friend left - and I was in St. Louis, by myself, with two very confused and freaked out dogs. I couldn't leave them in the apartment by themselves without them trying to tear down the door. I was scheduled to start work the following Monday, July 29th so I really needed my belongings to be delivered by the moving company to start getting settled. Unfortunately they were delayed and it was Saturday before I was able to start unpacking and getting a home organized.

Once I had "my stuff" and I started the new job life started to get settled. Sure it was annoying to have to walk down two flights of stairs to do laundry in the basement and find a place to park on the street, but that was all part of the urban experience. And so what if I could see the 1st floor apartment through some not great wood floor workmanship. After all the landlords were still working on the first floor and assured me once they put the insulation and ceiling in I wouldn't be feeling all that heat..and cold it turned out.

 Next up - Fall and Winter in St. Louis

A Teachable Moment

I had an incident happen last night that could have turned very ugly.  Even though I wasn’t one of the two parties involved or was even a witness to the event I was the common denominator.

I offered to help a friend move the files from the old desktop to the new laptop.  I had done it a couple of years ago so felt reasonably confident I could handle it.  Well I couldn’t even get her monitor to turn on.  The green light would be lit for just an instant no matter what I did.  So I texted a person, whom I have known for 10 years and is an IT guru.  I explained the issue and he offered a few different suggestions than I had found online but none of them worked.  IT guru then offered to come out for an incredibly reasonable fee to look at it.  Well it turned out the hard drive wouldn’t even turn on.  The desktop was at least 6 years old and had been sitting on the floor.  It had a lot of dust inside and as my brother constantly tells me dust is the death of an electronic device.  IT guru offered to take the hard drive to his work to see if he could retrieve the information.  At this point I was feeling pretty bad because what was supposed to be a simple job was turning into a lot of hours for all involved.  

During IT guru’s time in desktop friend’s house her dog had given him a sniff and I watched her nip him.  I naturally took the dog away from where IT guru was working.  The dog loves to herd and had on a few past occasions herded some other guests.  The dog wasn’t being aggressive nor did her nip break the skin.  However IT guru shared he had been bitted a few times in the past and wasn’t very comfortable with dogs any longer.

After a few hours IT guru called and said a deep scan seemed to be recovering some of the files but it would need to run for several more hours.  We all were tired and had things to do on Saturday evening.  I was heading about 20 minutes north to enjoy game night at some friend’s home whom had stopped by during the day and was privy to the whole desktop hard drive issue.  IT guru naturally wanted to get paid and I had the money so we arranged to meet at the northern friend’s house because it was on his way home.  I should mention that he was riding a motorcycle with full gear and helmet as was his wife. 

It was dark at this point and my dear northern friends live in a rural area and on a private road.  I had been on the lookout for the motorcycles and when I saw one drive past I immediately headed outside.  I thought I must have been wrong because the 2 motorcycles were down at the end of the cul-de-sac for several minutes but I stayed outside looking at the beautiful moon and getting a lesson in planting pineapples from my friend, the owner of the house.  The two motorcycles head back out and one sees me and stops – it was my IT guru and his wife.  The wife was upset and said a homeowner at the end of the cul-de-sac had threatened to call the police.  The IT guru pulled up and then explained that the homeowner’s dog and come up to him growling and he was very nervous.  Here is where the teachable moment comes in.  He told the homeowner that she should be more careful with her dog and he had a concealed weapons permit.  I paid him and they left quickly.  As my friend and I were walking back toward her house I commented that bringing up even a hint of a gun isn’t a very good idea it will always escalate a situation.  Before we reached the front door the homeowner at the end of the street hailed us.  I wasn’t going to let my friend deal with this alone so we headed down the street.

The homeowner was furious and afraid.  I told her I knew the people on the motorcycles and to please vent to me, not my friend and her neighbor.   What she heard from the IT guru was “I am going to shoot your dog” and I perfectly understood that.  I let her vent through me for several minutes until she calmed down.  I apologized many times.  She ended up hugging me and apologizing for taking her anger at the situation out on me and I told her I was glad she did.  I didn’t want her to have this experience in her head all night long.  When I finally got back into the house I had a phone call from the IT guru apologizing also.

I understand both sides of this situation.  Dog owners forget sometimes that not everyone is a dog lover.  Some people have a real fear of dogs and when a strange dog approaches they do not see it as a cute let me sniff you event.  They think of it as a threat.  I also understand that if a stranger, in front of my house, in full motorcycle gear told me he had a concealed weapons permit I would take it as a threat.  I would have probably tried to clarify the intent before getting that upset but still I get it. 

People are extra stressed these days.  Sometimes they over react to a situation and in my opinion anytime a gun is mentioned the situation has just gotten out of control.  Yes there are some crazy people out there ready to do you harm.  However if someone is overreacting toward you take a breath before you respond.  It might save a life.

My Oasis (written on August 20th at 2:30pm)

George

I am currently sitting in a house of some dear friends.  I am here because when they go away I am sometimes lucky enough to watch their cat.  I love my dogs but sometimes a cat to curl up on your lap is nice too.  Unfortunately this cat doesn’t do that but he is great fun and sometimes allows me to pet him.

I take pet watching very seriously as I know how much of a relief it is when I know my dogs are taken care of while I am away from home.  Each pet owner has their own level of comfort and I try to make sure I do whatever is necessary for my friends to feel at ease. 

This couch beckons

There is a more selfish reason I like to watch their cat though.  Their house is my oasis.  Yes it’s true.  When I am here I don’t see any chores that may need to be done.  The house is spotless and typically a lovely spot of food is left for me.  Always yummy but made more so because of the thoughtfulness behind it.  The living room is a cool relaxing place where I can get away from the heat of the day.  Their sunroom (my favorite) is where I typically set up camp with laptop or book, settle into the easy chair and watch the squirrels and birds on the large oak trees outside. 

My favorite spot

There is a peace here created by two loving people that must touch all who enter.  I can’t explain it but I feel it.  It makes my shoulders ease up, my breathing slow and frees my mind.  So I stay a few hours, talk to the cat, and write or draw or nap even. 

I know my friends think I am the one doing them the favor but really it is the other way around.  This is my moment of peace and I am grateful.

Let’s Blog Off – Summertime blues

Every two weeks Bloggers unite for a day to write about a communal topic.  This week LetsBlogOff asks the question:  How do you relax and recharge?

Summer in Florida is hot, humid and buggy.  For my business it is also the busiest so I have learned not to vacation during the summer.  A week at the beach would be quite lovely as would a week in Italy but alas I am a true American and don’t do a good job at making it a priority.  I do have a vacation in the mountains scheduled for October though.

In the meantime I settle for yappy hours, lots and lots of ‘em!  Yappy hour is when my friends and their dogs come over; we break out food and beverages and chat while the dogs play.  Similar to children’s play dates only we aren’t changing diapers.

Laughter and hilarity ensue while the dogs run to and fro, makes for tired dogs and very happy adults.  I would share more but what happens during yappy hour stays in yappy hour ;)

Throughout the day the list of participants will magically grow, please check back often for your reading pleasure.