Meeting People

[TheCableVine]

I went to a locate the other day where I ended up talking to the HO for a while. When I was getting ready to go I told her to call in another locate so I could come back and see her pond. She asked for my number and told me that she would invite me back to have supper with her and her husband.

I thought this was very cool. I'm looking forward to spending an evening with them just relaxing. They had a nice place.

Has anyone ever gone to a locate and ended up making friends with the HO's to the point where you became a part of their life?

[Goldenboy]

I think I can speak for most of us that work for SM&P here. We barely have time for a bathroom break let alone time to talk to homeowners. I actually cringe when I see a homeowner outside when I'm there to do a locate because I know their questions will slow me down.

I don't want to sound like I don't want to talk to people. It's just we are pushed so hard to get tickets done and all our projects that we just really don't have time to talk to people.

But to answer your question, no I haven't really met or became friends with any homeowners. But as far as other utility workers in my area that's a different story. I've worked in the same city for years and have became good friends with alot of the other utility workers and locators in my area.

[big boots mcghee]

Of all people my mom got me into this business. She's a real chatter box. She'd constantly have homeowners inviting her over for meals or to swim in the pool or to come check out their landscaping after it was done, blah, blah, blah. Me, I'm not quite the chatterbox. I'll talk if someone wants to chit chat, but otherwise I just like get in and out.

[underground quester]

I do not usually have too much time to stop and chat but will do so on occasion to not be rude.

If it is the end of the day, then I don't mind. Had a locate last year where the lady was tearing up all her flower beds. My wife is a gardener and has been trying for years to grow California poppies. Well, this lady had a flower bed full of them.
Asked her what she was doing with them and she said digging them up, and asked if I would like some. She must have given me a dozen pots full of california poppies.

Now we have them at home and at our little cottage at the lake.

[USIC1]

Not trying to take the pessimistic side...


But I think it may have been a courtesy gesture...


:confused:

[USIC1]

I do not usually have too much time to stop and chat but will do so on occasion to not be rude.

If it is the end of the day, then I don't mind. Had a locate last year where the lady was tearing up all her flower beds. My wife is a gardener and has been trying for years to grow California poppies. Well, this lady had a flower bed full of them.
Asked her what she was doing with them and she said digging them up, and asked if I would like some. She must have given me a dozen pots full of california poppies.

Now we have them at home and at our little cottage at the lake.


Have you any peyote in the garden also pray tell???


:yikes:

[underground quester]

Have you any peyote in the garden also pray tell???


:yikes:


Well, there is an area of town that I occasionally get to that can be quite suspect.

Have not come across any of those delightful little cacti to date but should I do a locate at a home of a "child from the sixties" I'll maybe ask!

Peace and love brother!

[TBONE]

Never have with a homeowner have had a few after hour encounters though :ylsuper: :cool2: :escape:

[TheCableVine]

Never have with a homeowner have had a few after hour encounters though :ylsuper: :cool2: :escape:
Do tell, T.

[USIC1]

Yes Do...

[Wingfoot]

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff124/wingfootsmp/HempUSA-Header2.jpg (http://hempusa.org/images/HempUSAWebPrices.pdf)

[yahoo]

when i want to talk no one is out ...........when i don't have time to talk every person that called a ticket for that day is home and has a million questions to ask ............while i m trying to mark.....that is my story just about every day...... i love meeting new people.....

[underground quester]

when i want to talk no one is out ...........when i don't have time to talk every person that called a ticket for that day is home and has a million questions to ask ............while i m trying to mark.....that is my story just about every day...... i love meeting new people.....


It sure seems that way some days.

I guess at times I am guilty of taking my locating equipment and perhaps my job for granted. From a homeowners point of view seeing it for the first time it must seem pretty advanced technically, which gives rise to questions.

Some questions I am sure seem pretty "obvious" to us who work it every day but not so obvious to the average homeowner.

Especially perhaps to seniors whose glory days were a selectric typewriter, a fax machine or maybe a phone they didn't have to crank first! And it's damned hard to remember that when you have a ton of tickets onboard.

[gypsygirl]

It sure seems that way some days.

I guess at times I am guilty of taking my locating equipment and perhaps my job for granted. From a homeowners point of view seeing it for the first time it must seem pretty advanced technically, which gives rise to questions.

Some questions I am sure seem pretty "obvious" to us who work it every day but not so obvious to the average homeowner.

Especially perhaps to seniors whose glory days were a selectric typewriter, a fax machine or maybe a phone they didn't have to crank first! And it's damned hard to remember that when you have a ton of tickets onboard.

Oh.. the same here... They come out and stand there and stare... then... "That is really cool."... "I would love to do that job... are you guys hiring?"... or ... "Don't you get sick of hearing that thing all day?" I don't mind talking to a homeowner occassionally, but I have one ho at a new subdivision going up nearby, that everytime I am there he comes out and chats. It has gotten better now, but that first day he came over to my truck (I was getting ready to leave) and stood there leaning on my door! How do you tell an 80 yr old man to go away? I think he finally got the message when I was putting my truck into gear. He was nice and all but, I really didn't have the time to visit with him. It wasn't that long but you know 5 - 10 minutes can really eat up your day. Fortunately I was able to load pictures, pull up prints for next locate... rearrange my route and still not come across rude to him. So I guess my time wasn't "wasted". But why can't they come out when I don't have a lot going on...

Yahoo, it is definitely the rule of locating in this department... not much going on... no one wants to talk... running behind and/or a ton of tickets... EVERYONE wants to talk!:yikes::ecomcity:

[sprayandpray]

Remember Guys(and Gals) we are the only contact that the public has with our respective companies. Also, I can't wait to retire and then just look for locators to pester now and then:blahblah:

[locomike]

I cant stand when homeowners come out they have all stupid question like whats this mark mean can i dig ontop of it, how deep is it, blah blah blah!!! I had 2 locates down 1 street i completed the one at the end of the street and go to the other one this lady follows me and says come here, what are u getting ready to dig up in my yard? i dont understand what all that paint n flags are doing in my yard? sh...it like that really chaps my rd! i would rather do my jobs talk to fellow locators n no homeowners than deal with sh...t like your not painting my yard!!

[underground quester]

Oh.. the same here... They come out and stand there and stare... then... "That is really cool."... "I would love to do that job... are you guys hiring?"... or ... "Don't you get sick of hearing that thing all day?" I don't mind talking to a homeowner occassionally, but I have one ho at a new subdivision going up nearby, that everytime I am there he comes out and chats. It has gotten better now, but that first day he came over to my truck (I was getting ready to leave) and stood there leaning on my door! How do you tell an 80 yr old man to go away? I think he finally got the message when I was putting my truck into gear. He was nice and all but, I really didn't have the time to visit with him. It wasn't that long but you know 5 - 10 minutes can really eat up your day. Fortunately I was able to load pictures, pull up prints for next locate... rearrange my route and still not come across rude to him. So I guess my time wasn't "wasted". But why can't they come out when I don't have a lot going on...

Yahoo, it is definitely the rule of locating in this department... not much going on... no one wants to talk... running behind and/or a ton of tickets... EVERYONE wants to talk!:yikes::ecomcity:


Re-reading my text and Gypsygirls made me think of the song "Cats in the Cradle" then I read sprays message and that cracked me up.

Sometimes, this forum is a laugh a minute!

[Wingfoot]

I appreciate meeting homeowners who will talk about their unusual/rare automobiles in their garage.

Met a guy with a black 1964 Corvette ragtop that he restored himself in his garage. Everything was new and looked factory fresh. He also had a 1970 Corvette ragtop. He was proud of it because it was a rare red exterior, red interior and a factory red ragtop. It was too much red for me. And the neat car was the 1970 Chevelle 2 door SS454 survivor. Black exterior, black interior and the factory black vinyl top. I'm gonna ride with him someday in the Chevelle.

Met a grandpa with a 1956 Chevy 2 door hardtop V8 survivor car his wife bought new in 1956 for a Canadian vacation. It had 56,000 original miles. It was in the garage, front frame rails on jack stands, front tires off and the hood was w/o paint. He said his grandson started to restore the car and then lost interest. He was not interested in selling the car.

Met a nice homeowner who buys, restores to factory fresh condition and then sells 1964 1/2 through 1966 Mustangs. His backyard was privacy fenced in, entirely concreted around the 2-car garage and very tidy. He shared some 'good deals' and some 'shafting' he got though the years buying Mustangs. He said he was real skeptical of the 'Bama, Arkansas and Louisiana sellers..........

Met a super nice guy with a winged 383 1970 Plymouth Roadrunner. He fired it up and let it rap a few times just for me so I could listen to the exhaust. It still gives me goose bumps. (I know, I'm a weirdo!)

Met a guy with 5 1969 Camaro hardtops in a row outside his garage with the paint fading and the interiors rotting more each day. None for sale.

Met a guy with 2 1968 Barracuda fastbacks and a 1968 Barracuda hardtop rotting next to the detached garage. None for sale.

Talked to a lady about her 1979 Ford Futura daily driver. It was used up but had potential. (Both the car and the owner) Again, not for sale.

Met a guy with a restored 1973 Plymouth GTX 440 automatic. It was bright red with black interior. I wasn't aware Plymouth made a GTX in 1973. What a SWEET car.......

Met a guy with a 1965 original Lotus in his garage. It wasn't a 289 or 427 Shelby but still a neat car.

There are many more instances, but that's enough for now.