Kids are cute...

So last week I was on my own a fair bit. And if you are in the service industry and do the "in-home" type of services, then I think you'll know where I'm going to go with this. Kids are cute... no matter the age... well... the younger ones that is...lol They are quite innocent and very chatty...lol
I had the pleasure to work a Saturday last weekend to make some time up and one of my last calls had a family that included 2 little girls. I had to change a bellows (the rubber connection between the front of a front load washer and the spin tub) because it was leaking. As I was working, I had constant visits from 2 little girls who would ask my name, where I was from, how old I was and that type of thing. You can't ignore them at all... not one bit. They are curious to know who you are and what your doing (doesn't have to be girls, it's boys as well). I get a kick out of it and, as I would like to be a father one day, enjoy having the youngin's coming in and chatting.
It's cute, and I smile as mom/dad usher them away saying "don't bother that man, let him do his job and fix it" type of thing. I smile and then utter a curse under my breath as I can't get a retaining spring back on...lol I'm fascinated by how fascinated they can be, curious, just wanting to look, to maybe help you, ask you what your doing and see what's going on. It's funnier when you see the boys who help their dad in their shop, come and grab tools out of my bag and start to play with them...lol Dad/Mom gets embarrassed, puts the tools back in my bag and ushers the kids out as they start to protest and cry... Again, I smile... not because of any wrong doing, but because I hope to one day have kids that will have that trait, to help "dad" when ever he needs help, to ask questions, to be "daddy's little helper." Because, lets be honest here... that only lasts a few short years and then you ask them for help and you get anything but...lol I remember being there, most of you should...lol
Getting back to my job on Saturday, what made me smile was, I had finally finished the job, no leaks or other problems and I get the home owner to sign the finished work order. I get upstairs and one of the little girls asks... "can you stay for supper??" I replied with a "I would love to, but I don't think I can... but thank you for the offer" As dad laughs a touch embarrassed....lol Ahhhhh kids... :) I can't wait to have my own for my own experiences like this...

Driving driving driving....

So, today was a good day today. Working in the rural landscape, we do a LOT of driving. Today, 7 to 8 calls, and drove 260km's today AND didn't get home until 6:30pm. We're booked right up, and man, it's going to be busy through the end of September.

If you've been reading, our coverage area is HUGE!! Tomorrow, is going to be another driving day. 4 calls, and most of it is driving... It's one of those days where it's odd-ball calls where they're just all over the place... If you've looked at a map of Central Alberta, my calls are starting at Sundre, then Caroline, then Penhold and Three Hills. All easier calls, but just ALL driving. I'm getting to know my way around the area, that's for sure.

Everyday I learn something new, I learn a new technique... it's great. I'm also learning so much, personal thoughts that I won't divulge, on what I look for, in what I want and what I require for an appliance (fridge, stove, washer/dryer, dishwasher). Because our company services every manufacturer, AND because I'm using a real public forum here, I can't have a biased opinion on one versus another. Kinda like a reporter for a TV news station... can't show bias for one political party versus another.... that kind of thing. I digress...

I can't wait to go to school, to put whatever skills my boss has given me, to more practical uses and to actually learn the problem solving skills that my boss always says "do you know how I got to that conclusion??" or "did you see what I saw there?" As always, it's... yes... I do know HOW you did it, but to put some of those skills to practical use, will be difficult for me. I have to get into a dryer and just start using my multi-meter and "play."

Anyway, I hope I have an interesting story to tell tomorrow... Since today wasn't all that interesting... just the driving around... Crossing fingers, there will be something interesting. If not tomorrow... another day...

Later, Y'all...

I'm still new at this.....

Yesterday wasn't one of my better days. UGH!! Had to rebuild a washer yesterday and it literally kicked my ass!! It's a style of washer that I don't particularly like to work on but, it's what I get paid to do. I figured that it wouldn't take me very long because it would have been the 4th, going on 5th washer to rebuild. I CANNOT get myself past 4 hours on that rebuild!! Grrr!!! I did jinx myself though for my last one.... "Bah.... THOSE are easy... won't take me very long..." I fought that washer for 4.5 hours... I think karma is coming back 10 fold on that one.

Damn thing made me pretty close an hour and a half late, then get my orders in my book mixed up and drove into Sundre, twice.... when I should have been else where. Man... what a day yesterday... It can only get better, right???...lol Ah well, like I said, I'm still new at this and I stressed a little about being late... and it was my first one with 2 calls past my washer rebuild, so I was a little stressed about that to. Oh, I didn't have any crazy glue on me so I had to leave the job and buy some... then I ruined a $5 bottle of crazy glue 'cause I was in a hurry.... Ah well... today's a new day!

Only in Three Hills...

So... I'm starting this Blog off with something quite unique. As my description states, I'm just 2 months into a 3 year apprenticeship. This space is just for the unique days, the unique happenings, and maybe even a few cool pictures that I may have come across in my travels. Today... was a day in Three Hills. Before I continue, I'm going to say that I work in central Alberta Canada, running a HUGE territory with my boss covering (if you look at a map) the west country from Caroline, south to Water Valley, east across Hiway 2 to Irricana and north to Huxley and we're based out of Olds.

Back to Three Hills. Today we had a Sears call, and if you've worked with Sears as a contractor, you'll get faxed calls. Well, today was faxed and the 8 looked like a 3. We were in a total different part of town trying to find this certain address. We came across a "detour" sign, then another and lost the detour when we made a right. Now... see the pictures below and tell me... WHERE you would have turned................

There is the first detour sign, here is the next one.... NOW where would you assume to turn?

RRIIGGHHTT.... If you guessed...................

Yup... on the gggrrraaassss... through a park. Here's the other detour sign:

And this last one is us going back through the "detour"...

To me and my boss, we laughed... we had to. We couldn't believe what we had to do (btw, we did find that address, but it wasn't anywhere where we had to take this detour). We must have laughed all afternoon about this.

Anyway, that's it for today... stay tuned for more funny stories.