Randy Ingle

Where have all of the public notice bulletin boards gone?

Randy — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 19:59:47 +0000

My sister asked me to take a lot of her “now hiring” posters with me as I travel around town to tack up on all of the public bulletin boards that I come across. I told her “sure, no problem” because I could remember seeing a lot of them everywhere I go. I took about forty of them, and a tin full of push-pins and I put them in a bag to keep in the truck. Amazingly enough, every time I go into a public place now, I look around and don’t see any of those bulletin boards anywhere! What’s up with that? Where are they hiding them all? What has happened to the sense of community that this place used to have?

If local businesses want to support the community, and have the community support it by shopping at their stores, I would think that they would show some support to the community by having bulletin boards like that somewhere in the store. They could have a few simple rules, like everyone needs to put the posting date on what they are hanging up so that the store employees can remove anything more than a month old. In this struggling economy, this is one simple method of co-operation that wouldn’t hurt a soul, and build up some good will. What are your thoughts on this?

Cold snap

Randy — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:04:10 +0000

Well the batteries are having a hard time starting up the cars and trucks this week! Below zero temperatures, no one wants to go out! I don’t blame them at all! This is a good time to “batten down the hatches” and stay indoors if you can. I’ve been running a long corded-shop light out to the truck and turning it on under the hood at night to keep the battery and engine warm enough to start if I have to go out! Works like a charm! I sure feel sorry for the people who have to drive vehicles with poor heaters!

It’s going to be a long winter

Randy — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:22:59 +0000

It seems that every other day it is either freezing rain or snowing out! I’ve been keeping very busy plowing and sanding. Not getting enough sleep at night, but manage to catch a few cat naps in my truck from time to time. Thank goodness for coffee! I have a few business clients that are mom and pop variety stores and the let me come in and fill my thermos for free. They are nice people and show their appreciation every time I show up. They know that I’m usually in a hurry to go take care of other clients lots and dooryards so when they see me out there plowing and sanding they come out to the truck and take my thermos from me into the store and fix my coffee for me and bring it back out to me before I’m ready to leave. They know that when I have time I’ll stop by and chat when the weather is better and that I’ll be in there ordering food and buying lottery tickets.

Sunny two days in a row!

Randy — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 23:14:57 +0000

We have had a lot of snow this winter – an unusual amount! It seems like it snows for three or four or even five days, then we have two days of sun, then snow again. This winter is making up for the mild winters of recent years past! The snowplow guys are sure making money this year – but they must be exhausted! We had a little bit of warmer weather and some rain on Monday, which made for a real mess when it froze up again overnight! I don’t know anyone around here that will be sad to see the end of this winter!

Lakes not frozen solid enough yet

Randy — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 20:34:56 +0000

My friends and I tested the lake yesterday to see if it was frozen enough to put our ice fishing shack out on the ice. We’re looking forward to snowmobiling and ice fishing!

The lake isn’t quite frozen enough yet; we don’t dare drive our trucks out on the ice to place the shack in its customary spot. Oh well. The camp roads are good enough for some snowmobiling though, so we’ll have to keep ourselves happy with snowmobiling for the time being. This is actually a good time for that – the temperatures aren’t too bitter cold yet, so we can have a good time without getting too cold.

New Year’s resolutions

Randy — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 02:23:58 +0000

My New Year’s resolution this year is to take a little bit more time to spend with my friends and family. I think I’ve been spending too much time at work. I know I need to make a living, but I also have to have a life! So, I’m starting out by spending extra time with my nieces and nephews outside giving them rides on my snowmobile this holiday week since they don’t have school. We have plenty of snow, so we’ll be making snowmen and going sledding as well. I’ve always liked playing in the snow, and I’m going to take some time to do it!

Don’t kiss me like THAT!

Randy — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 17:39:43 +0000

I was reading an article on Time.com about how a disgruntled reporter in Iraq threw two shoes at President Bush three years ago during a press conference, exclaiming “This is a farewell kiss you dog!” Wow! I understand that is just about the worst insult you can utter in that culture over there! I read that the reporter has been retained by police. I wonder what will ultimately end up happening to him, I wonder if he will get jail time or just a fine. I watched a video of the shoe-throwing and I saw that Bush avoided being hit by the shoes. I was surprised that he wasn’t behind some kind of bullet-proof glass! It seems to me that almost everywhere I see him out in public he is behind bullet-proof glass! Very strange! Anyway, if YOU are ever planning to kiss ME, please don’t kiss me like THAT!

Worked through my Christmas

Randy — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 02:19:34 +0000

I hope everyone had a good Christmas. Mine was a busy one, I ended up spending a lot of time plowing and sanding my customers. They were all anxious about their guests and customers being able to get in and out of their driveways. I told them before the season started that if I had to plow or sand driveways on Christmas that I was going to charge double time, and that they would have to call me to get me to come out; that I was not going to “assume” they needed me.

Well, the phone started ringing at 4am! I didn’t get to stop plowing or sanding until about 6pm, which is when I went home and had Christmas with my family. So it was a busy one, I hope that everyone pays their bill when they get it!

Christmas guests

Randy — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 23:50:47 +0000

My sister arrived today, along with her hubby and kids. I haven’t seen them in a few months, they’ve been so busy moving into their new home that they haven’t had much time to come by and visit. They brought their dog with them, a lovable old keeshond that just loves everyone. They’re planning on spending the night and tomorrow here with me to have an old fashioned family Christmas together. I’m really glad to see them, and glad they came here instead of me going to their place. Their place isn’t set up enough yet to have a family Christmas. It should be fun having them here! They helped me to decorate the tree, and we played Christmas music and drank hot apple cider and hot chocolate while we decorated. We had a great time!

Merry Christmas to all of you!

Winter weather

Randy — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 16:44:48 +0000

I hear that winter weather is moving in on us later today. Everyone is running to the stores to stock up on their batteries, milk, and other basic survival needs.

I’m glad I’m already all stocked up! I hear there is a run on generators, which is not a big surprise; that happens quite frequently. I’m sure glad I already have mine, all set up and ready to go at a moment’s notice!

To live in this area, you need a four wheel-drive vehicle (preferably with studded snow tires) a generator, boots and a good chain saw! I put my snow tires on my truck two weeks ago, to beat the crazy rush of people who wait until snow is actually in the forecast to do it.

I expect we will have a major power outage and treacherous traveling by tomorrow! Next thing you know, my customers will be calling me at all hours begging for help with plowing and sanding their driveways.