JR+PR 4EVA

Received  a little package in the mail yesterday. A rubber wedding ring!!!

I havent worn my actual wedding ring in quite some time. Mainly because it no longer fits, and also for fear of getting it stuck or caught on something at work and ripping my finger off.

I know this bothers my wife, so when some seemingly random add popped up on Facebook for an "Outdoors" wedding ring, I took a look. This was the result.

It's from a company called QALO (qalo.com). I think it's pronounced Kway-Low, or maybe Kwah-Low... I'm not sure, maybe Kwah-Loo?  They look to sell some pretty neat stuff, and for a pretty cool reason. I'd suggest checking them out.

I'm going to try it out for awhile, it was a nice price, and at least I know what size ring to wear now. No more dinging my ring up at work either!

TOAST Pt. 2 - Basic Load out

Welcome to "Tools of a Service Technician" Part 2.

See what I did there? I shortened the title so I could make a catchy acronym.

Today we will look at what you could consider my basic "load out" or what I commonly grab when I get out of the truck for a regular service ticket.

In addition to the previously talked about screwdriver, the next most common tool would be what I call the meter key. Some call it a turn on wrench, or turn on key, but I'm sure it goes by many names. This is the tool I use to open or close the valve (curbstop) that turns on or off your water. These can be bought at most hardware stores, but generally are a little smaller and lest robust than the one shown.

This type of key comes with soft yellow padded handles, but I pull them off. Reason being is that they don't last that long, and... If you look next to the meter key, you'll notice a metal bar. I insert that metal bar through the handle sometimes, when extra leverage is needed. Some of the older curbstops (the on/off valve) are quite old, and need a little something extra to turn them.

Next up we have the pin lock, and the pin lock key. Again, I think these go by another name (barrel lock), but that's what we call them. This is what is used to lock a meter in the case of a nonpay violation, or other general reason. The key goes into the lock, and pulls two ball bearings in. When the key is removed, the bearings push back out, and the lock is set. The locks are somewhat easy to remove, of you give it a decent effort. That little red cap goes on the lock to keep dirt out of it.

Lastly, we have the Touch Reader. This small hand held device actually performs a couple different tasks, but the main one is to electronically read the meters. There is a wire attached to the meter that runs to an MXU (that's a topic for another day, but is basically a broadcasting device for the meter readings). You can pull reads off the meter my touching the reader to the plug at the end of the wire. Now I'm old school, and a good percentage of the meters I read, I read by hand, but the Touch Reader comes in handy for when meters are underwater, or four foot deep and covered in dirt.

So that's the basic tools I use day to day, running what we call a normal service run. More tools to follow!

NON PAY CUT OFF

It happens.

For one reason or another you didn't pay the water bill... and now your meter is off and locked.

     While there are many customers who dread "Cut Off" day, I can assure you, we utility workers, dread it just as much if not more. Non Pay Cut Offs are the most hated thing I do. I find it utterly depressing and would rather do just about anything else instead of them. When I show up in your front yard, I'm not there because I want to be. Trust me. 

     I think one of the reasons I loathe Non Pays, is the conflicting position it puts me in. On the one hand, I am (trying) to maintain a professional, polite attitude. On the other, I am weathering the verbal assault being hurled at me front behind the security of your front door. Now I am a pretty easy going guy, and for the most part these things just roll of my back. However, on occasion we have what I like to call a bad day. This is generally when customer after customer just so happens to be home, or out in their yard, and every single one of them want to express the thoughts about you and your company... in great detail. It's very hard to keep some sort of smile or at least neutral attitude when your being vebally attacked. At least for me.

     I wish you all would realize that I/we haven't singled you out, to turn off just your water. On average, I'd say you are one of 300-600 people getting shut off. On top of dealing with customers who are in waiting, there's dogs, other noisy neighbors defending their meters, that awkward feeling when a kid leaves the home you are about to shut off for school... etc. 

    I don't know what I'm trying to say here. I guess I'm just trying to tell you that your service techs are just doing their job, and its not always roses and sunshine for us. We don't enjoy turning your water off. 

Except for you Ned.... Pay your bill.

Now.

Tools of a Field Service Technician - pt. 1

The Screwdriver. The one tool I truly feel lost without.

This particular screwdriver is a Husky - 3/8 in. x 16 in. Square Shaft Standard Slotted Screwdriver with Butyrate Handle, readily available at Home depot.

The driver has many purposes, but its main use is to open meter box lids. Auxiliary tasks include positioning meters, prying things open, widening meter tail-to-meter gaps, canine defense, and intimidating customers. Others carry variations, but I prefer the feel and length of this particular driver. So much so, that I generally carry two on my truck.

I tend to lose them a lot ( I average two a month), so if you live in Clay County, and are a rate payer, keep an eye out for one of these poking up in your yard. You can keep it, consider it a gift from your local utility.

This is the first in a series of tools I use, that I will randomly stick in with my regular posts. Let me know if there is anything specific you would like to see!

Great Day in the Morning

And so starts another work week. Who knows what this week will bring.

Being an individual who is graced with a work truck, and a work load that keeps me driving, I have plenty of time to think. Sometimes I even get philosophical.

I consider it to be one of the perks to my job, as I am one who enjoys pondering different things, and mulling over old and new ideas a like.

I think we should all find a point sometime during the day, just to ourselves. It's good to take some time out to reflect upon where you are in life, and refocus you thoughts.

Third times a charm?

I just merged my old blog "Standard Grade" with this one, so some of the posts have showed up.


I need to blog more.