6AM comes awfully early...

Its one of those beautiful, snowy days in Central PA--the kind where I'm torn between playing in it, and peering out suspiciously from the comfort of a warm room. I'd have opted for the warm room, but there was this little Issue called Work. So at 6 AM I was enjoying the sight of large, crystalline flakes as I headed into, you guessed it, the DIY Emporium! Now that I've taken up with the 3:30-midnight crowd at the call center, I'm doing more 6AM shifts at the other job--the one that allows me to play and keep my sanity, and occasionally buy nice power tools. It was snowing enthusiastically a couple of hours later when the phone in my pocket rang and this voice says"could you guys take delivery of the stone truck if I bring it a day early? Hmmm, sounds like fun, and if I'm receiving a truck, I don't have to sit here taking any more tests...(That continuing certification thing). I asked my manager, who just happened to be standing there, ???

"As long as he gets here by noon..., OK." "Besides, BIG grin, its fun to drive the forklift in the snow! Let me know if you want help."

The truck shows up at 10:00, I grab the forklift, and the fun begins. There is a decent amount of snow at this point--not intimidating, because I've driven a LOT in snow, and of course, I know what I'm doing. Yeh, Right. I got the forklift stuck almost immediately. Those large, crystalline flakes?--slide under the wheels like I'm sitting in powdered Teflon. I'm having visions of how ignominious I'm going to look if I manage to tip the forklift with a pallet of stone on it. After a boost from the trucker, who is a really nice guy, I'm able to get myself and the pallet to a safe resting spot. The snow is still falling rapidly, I get done with all the "manageable" pallets, and try for one on the slope side of the truck. Here we go Again! DAMN!!! This is getting a little embarrassing. As a charter member of the local chapter of the Burly Women's club, I have a reputation to uphold after all. Donna asks,

"Do you want me to call Bobby? This is taking a long time."

Then I was Really embarrassed. At the same time, my hands were so cold inside my gloves that my fingernails were starting to hurt, so I agreed meekly that it would be very nice to have my managers help. He comes out dressed in jeans, a flannel shirt, and a watch cap.

"Yes, I would really appreciate your help, but will you be warm enough?"

"Yeah, we won't be out here that long."

I felt better when he got the forklift stuck--Repeatedly, and had to go in for his coat and gloves after only one pallet. Meanwhile the snow is getting deeper, fast. The trucker and I shoveled like mad, the salt guy came along, and my manager came back dressed in a parka and big gloves. The trucker meanwhile is chortling,

"Yeah, Oh Yeah, I'll be just Fine like this!"

I grinned at him,

"well I feel better now, He got it stuck too!"

I learned LOTS of new forklift tricks by the time the truck was unloaded, and I can hardly wait to try them out in the next good snow