Welcome to SkipPogue.com. My goal for this web site is to help you and I grow in all areas of our lives. My hope is that by sharing my journey that I might uplift and encourage you in your personal, spiritual or professional development. Some of this stuff will be funny and hopefully bring a smile to your face. Other items may be more serious and make you think. Still others may simply make you go hmmm … like they did me. No matter if you are 8 or 80 you can probably relate to some of the things I write about. I have two wishes for you. One is that you enjoy what you read here and come back often. The others is that you have a SUPER day each and every day of your life.   God bless!

Guns and Goals

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I have been shooting guns on and off since I was about 7 years old. Early in 2011 I decided I wanted to take it back up as a hobby. So, I bought a couple of pistols; a semi-automatic 9mm and a 22LR revolver. I also found a great place to shoot, an indoor climate controlled range that offers a maximum shooting distance of 25 yards. The target carriers are computer controlled and allow you to set your target at any distance from 1’ to 75’. After shooting there a few times, I decided that I liked it so much that I bought an annual membership. When I told one of my non-shooting friends about this he said that it sounded like I joined a “country club for rednecks”. I have to laugh every time I think of this; especially given the number of professional people I have met shooting at this range.

I got good at shooting my two guns. Now, as most of you know, and my wife Brenda can attest to, I read a lot. This is especially true when I get involved in something I like. So I started surfing the net reading about shooting and watching videos. I also started reading articles and reviews about different guns. In December of 2011 I decide that I wanted to buy a semi-automatic 22 caliber pistol. I settle on a Ruger 22/45 target pistol with a Propoint red dot scope on it. After getting my new pistol I go to the shooting range.  My plan was to sight it in using a bench rest with the target set at 30 feet. After shooting about an hour I can shoot 40 rounds in a 2 inch group or circle.

I am feeling good about my new gun and my ability to shoot it. I get another target out; this one has a 1 inch bullseye with 6 concentric rings evenly spaced around it. The largest ring has a diameter of 12 inches, a little bigger than a dinner plate.  I put it on the carrier, hit the computer controls and send it out to 75 feet.  I figure I can shoot a 3 inch group at that distance. I load 3 magazines with 10 rounds each. Take my shooting position and shoot 30 rounds at the target. I hit the home button to bring the target back. Sadly, I discover that I had hit once within the 6 inch circle and a total of four times within the 12 inch circle. The rest of the shots missed the target and hit somewhere on the backing board. To say I was disappointed is probably an understatement. I wanted to shoot a 3 inch group at 75 feet and I had failed miserably. I think about this for a bit. Just to relax and have fun I shoot my other guns, doing well with both of them. I decide to pack up and head home.

Once home, I start thinking about what I done at the range. I realize that I will need to do something if I truly want to shoot a 3 inch group at 75 feet. That something is to properly set my goal. I grab my trusty Droid. Go to a little app that I use all the time called ColorNote and write; Shoot a 3 inch group at 75 feet. I also add that I want to accomplish this within 3 months. I then review what I had done at the range and the results. As I am thinking about this a great quote from Zig Ziglar comes to mind; “How can you hit a target that you can’t see”. For me seeing the “bullseye” at 75 feet was a bit of an issue. I wear bifocals and when shooting have two choices. Just shoot with safety glasses or shoot with a pair of safety glasses over my regular glasses, either way my ability to see is impacted. So, I figure that the first thing I need to do is solve my vision problem. I believe doing this would make accomplishing my goal much easier.

Coincidently, I was scheduled for a visit with my eye doctor the following week. We talked about my shooting and the problem seeing the target at longer distances. He suggested that I order shooting safety glasses. I did just that and the day after getting them I head to the range. Once there I quickly realize that I can see things much better. I load up my pistol, attach a target and send it down range 75 feet. Shoot 30 rounds. All 30 of them hit the paper with most of them within the 12” circle. However, the results were still not what I had expected. Suddenly a light went off in my head and I knew what I had to do. I had set a big goal. Even though the timeframe was only 3 months I thought of it as a long term goal. When I wrote the original goal I knew it was something that was going to take me awhile and a lot of work to complete. At this moment I realized that I needed to break it down into smaller short term goals if I was going to be successful in reaching it.

Like I said, I have always been goal oriented. I have always said that “goals must be reasonable, practical and obtainable”. I knew that my goal of shooting a 3 inch group met those requirements.  I also realized that my short coming was my failure to set interim, short term goals that drive me toward my long term goal. The fact is that your short term goals support your big goals.  They also allow for positive reinforcement of your big goals by providing success checkpoints as you move forward. So, with that in mind I decided to take a little break. I get my Droid out of my bag. Go to my goal of shooting a 3 inch group at 75 feet and start to work.

I break down my goal into short range (no pun intended) goals. These are really enabling goals and are designed to provide that positive feedback and feeling of accomplishment that we need. As I am doing this, I realized something else. In my failure to not set the goal properly to begin with I had also failed to allow myself enough time to complete it. With a renewed sense of how hard this was really going to be I set the timeframe for the goal to one year. I guess the fact was that I now understood that if it was really that easy I would have done it the first time I tried. Anyway, I have now done it right and am ready to go shoot again.

I put a new target on the carrier and send it out to 20 feet. Shoot 30 rounds and they are all within the 4 inch ring. I load up 4 magazines the next time, 40 rounds. Put on a new target, set it at 20 feet. I then go through my mental checklist of things I know you must do to shoot well: concentration, breathing, sight alignment, grip, stance, and trigger pull. Forty rounds later I have shot a 3 inch group at 20 feet.  Put another new target out at 20 feet and do it again. On subsequent trips I move the target out in 5 foot increments just like my short term goals tell me to do. On my last trip to the range I got a bit carried away. I did set the target out 5 more feet. However, after shooting the first 40 rounds I was, as some might say, “in the zone”. When I stopped I had shot 100+ rounds in a 3” group at 45 feet.  Moving forward I will continue to increment the target 5 foot at a time until I reach my goal. The positive feedback and reinforcement that I get from completing each of my short term goals keeps me motivated to continue on to finishing my big goal. That is the reasons that setting these enabling goals is such an important part of goal setting process.

Ok, now it’s your turn. Set some big goals for yourself. One or several, it doesn’t matter. Personal or work related, it doesn’t matter. They should be things that you really want to do. Write them down. Next, break them down into as many short term goals as you need to accomplish each of your big goals. These can be “baby steps” or “big leaps”. Some may only take an hour or a day. Others may take a week or a month. You have to remember that these short term goals will be your enablers. They will provide you with the positive feedback and reinforcement that you need as you work towards you long term goals. They will help motivate you when you need motivation. They will provide you with a sense of accomplishment. They will allow you to see that by taking actions you are moving towards the completion of your big goals. Work at them. Hit your targets and you too will be hitting the “bullseye” over and over again. I know you can do it. I know you can be as successful as you want to be.

As always, I hope you have a SUPER Day!!!

 

It’s the “Little Things”

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A few years ago I had the opportunity to spend 12 weeks in our nation’s capital setting up a service desk for a major financial organization. During this period of time I stayed at the same hotel. This hotel was part of a large and respected chain.  It was located a couple of blocks from Dupont Circle and a little over a mile from my work location. Easy walk to some great restaurants and some cool sights. Easy cab ride to and from work.

I check-in on Monday morning of my first week around 11:00AM. No problems since I am an elite member of the hotels “frequent sleeper” program. Get everything put away. I decide that I would like a Diet Pepsi so I go looking for a vending machine. Find one on the floor I am on. The only problem is that it is out of service. I discover that these machines are located on every other floor. Take the elevator to the next floor. Guess what, that one is also out of service. I do this one more time before heading to the lobby. After a bit of a discussion I find that the hotel is having a problem with their vendor and are in the process of securing a new one. I was also informed that I could get a Diet Pepsi at the bar which was open. Go there and they only serve Diet Coke.  I get 2 at a cost of $5 and head back to the room. Put one in the refrigerator and drink the other one while checking email. I get dressed for work and head out.

That evening I walk down towards Dupont Circle and find an interesting place to eat. Food was great as was the service. As I am walking back I see a drug store and go in.  They have a 12 pack of diet Pepsi on sale for $2.79. I get one, take it to the hotel and put it in the refrigerator. Now I am set for the rest of the week.

Friday rolls around and it is time to check out and head back to Atlanta. While checking out the hotel manager walks up. Evidently he sees that I have reservations for several weeks and strikes up a conversation with me. He then ask the “customer service” question; “How was your stay with us”. I respond that it was “OK”. That evidently was not the answer that he expected and he asked why it was just OK. I told him the Pepsi story and he seemed to understand.  I went to work and from there to the airport.

Monday morning comes and I am on a Delta flight heading for DC. Arrive at the hotel and check in.

“Mr. Pogue, our manager wants to upgrade your room.”

“No problem, cool and thanks!”

Nice room, really nice view of DC. Now my Diet Pepsi quest starts again. Vending machines are still not working. Decide to just head to work and resolve this problem when I go to dinner. After another great dinner (DC does have some great places to eat) I stop by the drug store and buy a 12 pack of Diet Pepsi. Price is still $2.79.

Friday as I am checking out the manager shows up and we have another conversation. The customer service question is the same; “How was your stay”; same answer “OK”. We continue our conversation for a few minutes. My cab arrives so I head to work. From work I head to the airport for the flight home.

We repeat this for the next 10 weeks. During this time period I was upgraded to different type of rooms. One week I even got a suite. It was kind of cool. However, it was not really a big deal from my perspective since I was leaving for work at 7:00AM and arriving back at the hotel around 7:00PM. I would then go eat–so didn’t really get to spend much time in it other than doing email and sleeping. Each Monday also saw me stopping by the drug store on my way back to the hotel from dinner to get my 12 pack of Diet Pepsi, which remained at $2.79.  Then each Friday at check-out the manager and I had the same conversation with the same question and answer. This seemed to really weigh on him since he couldn’t move me off of my “OK” answer to his “customer service question”.

Thursday of my last week arrives. As I am coming back from work the manager is in the lobby. We strike up a conversation and after a bit we sit down.  Now what comes to light is the fact that he does not understand why I say my stays have only been “OK”. He talks about upgrading my room and I agree that was nice and thank him again for doing it. We talk a bit about this and that and then I tell him why I said thing were “OK”.

You see when we have expectations of a hotel, a restaurant, a company or an employee and they meet those expectations, they meet requirements, they are OK. Not a bad thing, but that is it, meets requirements. I explained to him that the reason that I stay at this particular hotel chain is that I expect certain things and they always provide them. Clean room, comfortable bed, clean bathroom, towels, free internet service; you get the picture. The hotel provided those things so they meet my expectations, they “meet requirements”, nothing more and nothing less. They did “OK”.

Then the “64 Thousand Dollar Question” comes out: “What could I have done differently or better to exceed your expectations?” Well, I told him that the answer is simple, do something that I didn’t expect. The answer is even simpler since you knew something about me, where to get it and how much it cost. He looked somewhat puzzled. I also told him that every week they always had my room ready when I checked in, which made the solution even simpler. Also, all the rooms that I was in had a refrigerator. The simple answer was; all you had to do to exceed my expectations was to put a 12 pack of Diet Pepsi in the refrigerator. Tell me about it when I checked; simple and easy. I did tell him that he would have probably wanted to keep doing it, but at $2.79 against what I was spending per week it would have been a great investment.  It is the little things that we do, that companies do that make the difference between an “OK” and a “SUPER” or “WOW” experience.

Think about this. If you are staying in a particular hotel you have expectations. If they only meet your expectations then they meet requirements. If it is a restaurant it is the same. When we eat at a particular restaurant we expect good service and good food. If they provide it they meet requirements. The same applies when it comes to customer service. Most of us buy products based on personal experience or reputation. We will even pay more for certain brands. However, in almost all cases the big differentiator is service, customer service.

You have a problem with something, how does the company resolve it. Most of the time they will resolve the problem but how the treat you while doing this is the most important factor, how they make you feel. I personally use LG monitors. I tried other brands. Shoot, I even went cheap a time or two. When they failed it was a hassle to get them to do anything. They would make me jump through all kinds of hoops and made me feel like it was something that I did. The first time I had an LG monitor fail I called them. The first thing that the service representative did was to apologize for my having a problem with my monitor. Not “turn it off and back on”, not “are you sure it is plugged in”, not “are you sure that there is power to it”, but simply “I am sorry that you are having a problem with your monitor”.  They then asked me a couple of questions to verify the problem. While doing this they verified that it was still under warranty.  Next question was about how I would like my replacement monitor shipped. The last thing that the service representative did was to ask me if I needed anything else and thank me for being a customer. I have been loyal to them ever since. I expected them to fix my problem one way or another. The loyalty comes from how I was treated.

There are other products and companies I am loyal to as well. Companies like Canon, Sony, Verizon, Ruger and Springfield just to name a few. When it comes to local businesses there is Lowes, 7 Tequilas Mexican Restaurant, AccuTemp Heating and Air and Publics. Each and every time I have dealt with one of these companies they have made me feel good about my decision to purchase their products or services.  More importantly, each and every time the differentiator has been customer service.

One more example and I will close. I had flip phones through AT&T. Now they advertised they were the company with the fewest dropped calls. Based on my experience I have to question that. Seems I could not get out of my subdivision without my call dropping. I could not drive home from work without my call dropping at least one time. Traveling around the country in my job, forget about it; I explained things to a dead line more times than I could count. Anyway, I decided to get a new phone and change companies. I went to Verizon and got 2 new Droid X2s (my wonderful wife also needed one). I signed up for a calling plan, a text plan and a data plan. Now I have been involved in technology and customer service for 25 plus years but this phone intimidated me. I had only used my other phone for phone calls so all of this other stuff was new to me. My son said to think of the Droid as a computer that happens to be able to make phone calls. That helped me some. Anyway by the fourth day with my new Droid I had added apps, sent a few text messages and was even able to do a bit of web surfing. I had pushed about every button, looked at ever setting and done about everything I could think of to it.

I was out and about running some errands and noticed that I had no 3G service and nothing seemed to be working except the phone service itself. I was close to the Verizon store where I had purchased it, so I stopped by to show them my problem. I held the phone up to the rep and told them what it was not doing. They then ask me for the phone and in 15 seconds handed it back to me working. Now, I felt pretty, let me see, how do I want to put this, eh, stupid. The fact being that I had obviously done something that took a knowledgeable person all of 15 seconds to fix. Ah, but this person was not done with me yet. After getting it working they apologized from my having the problem and showed me how to fix it myself, should it ever happened again. They then told me that stuff like that happens all the time with new users. Maybe it does, maybe it doesn’t, but I sure felt better after they said it. I thanked them and as I was about to leave the  they once again told me they were sorry that I had the problem and thanked me for being their customer.

Fixing the problem was important, fixing me was more important.

OK, think about this. It is the “little things” that make a big difference in our perception of a company. Think about the brands or services you are loyal too. Think about why you use them and give them your hard earned dollars. Think about why you tell your friends and family members to buy this or use that. I will bet that in almost all cases it boils down to the “little things” that they did. Remember that in these cases you are the customer. It is your decision to accept OK service or find those companies that provide “SUPER” or “WOW” experiences by doing the “little things” that go above and beyond your expectations.

I will leave you with a couple of things to think about. First, when people check out businesses on the internet most of the time they are looking for those that provide the best products and the best customer service. I can tell you that is 100% true in my case. I look for a product or service I look for the company that has the most positive customer service experiences. If I find a company that has a great price on a product or service, but has a low customer service rating, I will continue to look. I believe, that like myself, that most people are willing to pay a bit more knowing that if I do have a problem the company will be there to help. Think about my Verizon example. They were not the cheapest provider of the phone I got or the services I purchased, but they have been there every time that I needed help. In addition each and every time they have resolved the problem in addition to fixing me. I feel great about being their customer and I tell people they should buy Verizon products because of that.

Secondly, if your job involves providing some type of customer service you must remember that doing the “little things” will ultimately define how you and the company you represent will be viewed. You must understand that customers have a choice, just as you and I do. By you doing the “little things” and providing that “SUPER” or “WOW” customer experience you will drive the business forward and in the long run make it more successful.

As always, I hope you have a SUPER Day!!!

Jet Planes, Storms, Twin Falls and Delta

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This is a story from one of my past adventures that I thought you would enjoy.

OK, it is 9:30 AM and I just got off a conference call. I’m in Richmond, California and today is the day that I get to go home to my Wonderful Wife. I have a 1:00 PM flight out of the Oakland, California airport so . . . it is time to head that way. First, I check out of the hotel, “How was everything?”, “Nice, comfortable, enjoyed the visit to the Bay area. Hey, I even got to go to the world famous ‘Bubba Gump Shrimp Company’ at Pier 39″. It is a 20 or so mile drive to the airport. Now contrary to what you may have heard about California traffic, the trip is pretty much uneventful. I arrive and start following the signs to the rental car return. After a few zigs and zags due to construction I arrive at the proper place and check the car back in. Put the receipt in my computer bag and head to the terminal to check my luggage and go through what has now become the normal airport security screening. All goes well checking the luggage and going through screening only takes about 15 minutes. So I am off to the gate area with about an hour and a half to wait. Make a couple of calls, get a couple of calls and wow, it is time to start boarding.

I’m on a Delta Connection SkyWest flight to Salt Lake City, Utah. Flying on one of those great Canadair Regional Jets. The only problem with them is the overhead bins will only hold something about 8 inches high, which means that my computer bag will not fit. I flew from Salt Lake to Oakland on one going out and tried to put it under the “seat in front of you” as instructed and quickly discover that doing so didn’t leave much foot room. Having made that discovery, I pulled the computer out of the back of the bag and checked the bag at the end of the jet way. I knew I would get it back when we landed in Salt Lake. Based on experience I also knew that we would be getting off the plane on the tarmac and walking to the terminal so I would not have to worry about it getting misrouted.

It is now 1:00 PM and we are on our way to the out-bound runway. Nice takeoff, great climb-out, we are on our way to Salt Lake airport. Our estimated flying time is one hour and twenty-five minutes. About an hour and ten minutes into the flight we get the first hint that we might have a “slight” delay in our travel plans. Seems there are thunder storms in Salt Lake with 50 to 60 mile per hour winds, rain and lightning at the airport and we are now in one of those infamous “holding patterns”, you know where you make a 50 mile square 30,000 feet in the air. Right turn, right turn, right turn, right turn, things on the ground look the same again, right turn, right turn, right turn, you get the idea.

We make about four circuits around the square and the pilot comes back on the PA system to announce that we are getting a little low on fuel. Hey, “a little low” or low or whatever, 30,000 feet up is not where I want to run out of gas. He advised that we are going to divert to another airport, get some fuel, wait for the storms to clear and then head back to Salt Lake City. We are going to break formation and head there now so we can be the first in line to head back to Salt Lake. Sounds like a pretty good plan to me. So off we go to Twin Falls Idaho. Where? Twin Falls Idaho, I missed that one on Delta’s list of places they fly into, but whatever, if they have fuel, let’s go.

Twenty five minutes later we are on final approach to the Twin Falls – Sun Valley Regional Joslin Field. Now understand that this is not Twin Falls “International Airport”, it is a small regional airfield. The pilot makes a great landing, smooth as silk and as we taxi to the gate I see a fuel truck, so that is good. Seems that we can’t get off the plane, the airport only has two TSA security people and we are not the only plane diverted to this airport. There are 2 more already on the ground and then a good size Delta Jet pulls in beside us. Soon there are several jets and turbo-jets behind us. The pilot advised us, based on the airport layout and the fact that there only being 2 TSA people, that it would take more then an hour to get us through screening and back on the plane. He feels that if we stay on the plane that we won’t lose that hour. What a guy, looking out for us like that.

However, it seems that we have been a little bit misled. The pilot said we were going to get out of the pattern and head for Twin Falls earlier then the others so that we could get fuel and get back in line to be first to head back to Salt Lake. Well, now according to him, we cannot get fuel until the weather clears and we are released to go back to Salt Lake. An hour passes and still no word, another hour or so and finally, the weather has cleared and we can get our fuel. Anyone remember what FIFO means, in case you don’t it is “First In, First Out”, well that isn’t going to happen here. Remember we got here early to be the first in line. It seems that all those planes that arrived later and are parked behind and beside us now have us blocked in so we are told we are going to use the FILO procedure. That is “First In, Last Out”. One by one I watch the other planes get fuel and head out. Finally, finally it is our turn. They put 650 gallons of fuel on the plane. How do I know that? The fuel truck is on my side and I can see the meter as they add fuel. Anyway, that is just a little trivia for you. Now we have fuel and we are on our way. It is going on 7:00 PM and I had a 5:00 PM flight out of Salt Lake to Atlanta and my Wonderful Wife.

With all the activity, maybe, just maybe it was also delayed. We land in Salt Lake, not nearly as good a landing, but hey, we are all OK and we are now at the correct airport. We park at the E terminal gate 30 something. I get my computer bag and put my computer back in it (I knew that part would work). Once inside the terminal I check the boards to see what gate I need to go to now. Seems that my flight to Atlanta is going to be leaving from the D terminal so off I go. Oh, the boards also showed the flight as “Delayed” with no estimated departure time. Well, OK, I still have a chance of getting home at a reasonable hour.

Get to the gate and there isn’t even an aircraft there. Where is it? Seems the inbound flight was diverted to Boise Idaho and is on its way back. According to the gate agent, “It should be here in about 25 minutes; we will clean it up a little, gets some fuel and it should be ready to board around 8:00 PM”. Little did I know.

I call my Wonderful Wife to let her know that I am OK, that I have been stuck in Twin Falls Idaho, that I am finally in Salt Lake City, that the plane to Atlanta will be here shortly, that we are schedule to board at 8:00 PM (little did I know) and that I would see her in a little while. “Love you and will call if anything changes”. Not fifteen minutes later the airplane shows up at the gate. Delta is on it like a championship NASCAR pit crew. Luggage is going on, food is going on, fuel is getting added, and the people that clean the cabin are rushing to get on board to do their job. Wow, everyone is working as a team to turn this aircraft and get us headed to Atlanta (little did I know).

8:00 PM comes; the screens around the gate show the order of boarding. Everyone is ready. We are getting in line and waiting for the announcement and waiting for the announcement and waiting for the announcement. Finally, the gate agent gets on the PA system and says “there seems to be a slight problem with the aircraft, seems it was struck by lightning when it was in the Salt Lake City area during the storm and the maintenance crew is checking it out. Hey, did they not know that an hour ago. I walk over to the window and sure enough, there is a guy in a bucket-truck checking the horizontal rear tail section out. There is a guy standing beside me and we start talking as we watch this guy. Looks like he is taking pictures and then it appears that he sands on the damage a little. It appears that he has some duct tape in his hand and something else. Now I don’t have a problem with them using duct tape on a race car, but an airplane, that isn’t going to happen (I hope). I mean, it’s called 200 mile per hour tape, not 500 mile per hour tape. Based on this observation, I decide that the other item he is holding is bailing wire. Hey, this is not looking good as far as I am concerned.

OK, Delta makes a decision (a GREAT one in my view), the plane is not safe to fly and they are going to change equipment. Seems that they do have another Boeing 767 available, I mean doesn’t everyone have one of those just setting around. According to the agent they are going to board us at gate C04 shortly. So we all head that direction. Now, I have to stop by the men’s room (you do need to know that). When I come out the gate agent is running up the terminal trying to get everyone to stop. Seems that while he was talking that Delta put the aircraft at D03, right across the terminal from where we were. By now I should have known, but little did I know.

I am slowing discovering a couple of things about Delta and my getting to Atlanta. The first is that Delta does not want to tell us the truth about what is going on, second, that when they a forced to tell us something that they will only tell us as much as they want us to know.  Mind you, not all the facts, just those that they feel will protect their interest, not the ours. Additionally, they will make excuses and provide misinformation or misdirection that would make a magician proud. Anyway, several of us are standing talking and two stewardesses come up the ramp from the plane and walk past us. Now normally this would not be important. One of the guys asked, “Do you think that means anything?” I responded that at this point everything that Delta is doing is going to affect us and our ability to get to Atlanta in a negative way. Now, those that know me know that I am hardly every negative, but for some reason . . . anyway, “it didn’t take the “Physic Friends Network” to see what was coming next.

I watch the gate agent and can tell he does not want to talk to us, but that he has to. Sure enough, the PA system clicks to life and it seems “We are short two stewardesses for the flight to Atlanta”. Two walked by and now we are short two. He then states, “There are two on an inbound flight that will be here shortly”. By the way, I made another discovery about Delta, their favorite words of the day are “We apologize”, “We appreciate your patience” and “shortly”, seems everything is going to happen shortly. Anyway, one of the guys I was talking with goes to the gate agent to find out exactly why the two left and we are stuck waiting for two more. The answer, “If we could have left at 8:45 everything would have been fine, but since it is going to be after 9:30 they would have had to many hours in for the day.” I mean what does that mean, that Delta would have had to pay them some overtime or that they would have gotten in some kind of trouble or what. So it seems that they are willing to inconvenience 175 or so passenger to prevent whatever the problem with them working an additional 3 hours might be. Made me kind of worry about the pilot and the rest of the crew. I mean would they be the next to walk by.

It is now approaching 10:00 PM in Salt Lake. We just saw the two new stewardesses walk down the jet way. Click, the PA system comes to life, it is actually (really, really) time to board. We get on the plane and everyone gets buckled in and we are ready. We get pushed back from the gate and taxi out to the runway. Well, it seems we are number one for take-off, I mean WOW, we are finally going to get started to Atlanta. We roll down the runway picking up speed, the plane rotates upward and we are off. Nice climb out, get to 30,000 feet pretty quickly and we are cruising toward Atlanta.

Now, it seems that since we have been so “patient” and that they want to “apologize” for all the problems that we have had and that we will be in Atlanta “shortly” that we can watch the movie for free, wow, a free movie, no popcorn, just a movie. This normally cost $5.00, oh, Wow what a deal. I mean it is now after 12:00 midnight in Atlanta and I have been traveling for 12 hours and Delta is going to let me watch a movie free.

As I said earlier, “little did I know”. We are about an hour into the movie when it goes off. Seems that the pilot wants to know if there is a doctor on board, seems we now have a medical emergency. I can see several people around someone in the next cabin. A gentleman identifies himself as a doctor and they take him to the front. A few people come toward the back of the plane and settle into some available seats. The movie comes back on and nothing is said about what is wrong with the person up front. Anyway, it appears that whatever the problem that they are going to be OK.

It is now approaching 4:30 AM on Saturday (I left hotel at 9:30 AM of Friday) and it seems that we are in the process of landing in Atlanta. “Seat belts tight, tray table up, seat backs in the upright position” we are going to be landing “shortly”. Flaps down, wheels down, we are on final approach. We wiggle, we wobble, we bump a little, but we land OK. We taxi to the gate and start to make the turn to park and guess what. We stop. It seems that no one is at the gate to park the airplane. I mean, they have had better then 16 hours to get ready for us to arrive and no one is there. We sit and sit, finally someone shows up to park the airplane. Now one other thing, we have been trying to get here all day, as we taxied by the T-gates I noticed that almost all the gates were empty, but could we stop at one closer to the baggage claim area, no. We go to the last gate in the terminal building, as far as we can get from baggage claim. It just seems to me that they could have parked us closer and then moved the airplane if they had to, they do have equipment to do that.

Finally, in Atlanta. Go to baggage claim and wait for my luggage. As I expected it was almost the last bag off the plane, but I got it, so I’m on my way to the Parking Spot bus. Get to the bus and the guy takes me right to my truck, no waiting or anything. Guess my telling him that I had been waiting in airports and flying for better then 16 hours got to him and he wanted to help me get home. Get to the truck, load the luggage, start it up and I am on my way to my Wonderful Wife. Another 45 minutes or so and I’ll be home. Back in the garage, it is 5:30 AM on Saturday. Wake Wonderful Wife, hug and kiss, glad I’m home. Sun in just starting to peek over the horizon and I am going to bed.

As always, The Adventure Continues . . .

 

 

Alternate Times, Alternate Cities and Alternators

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This is a story from one of my past adventures that I thought you would enjoy. 

Well, I really don’t know where to start. Let’s see, I go to South Plainfield, New Jersey to hold a training class for our Service Delivery Managers, all goes well on the flight there. Delta was ready when I was and got me there on time. Three days of pretty intensive training, some meetings and a few meals and its time to head home. I head back to the Newark, New Jersey Airport.

At this point a little background information is necessary. On my way to Atlanta’s Hartsfield Airport the alternator light on my truck comes on. I don’t have a lot of choices, so I press on and get to the Parking Spot with no other problems. Rick, one of the Service Delivery Managers in the class lives in Atlanta and is a friend of mine. I knew I could count on him if I had a problem when I got home. I had scheduled a Delta flight that left at 8:30 PM figuring that I would have some clean-up to do in the classroom and I also needed to meet with one of our execs for an hour or so. I probably didn’t need the “Physic Friends Network” to see what was coming, but being a positive person I figured that everything would be fine. If not I had Rick to help.

As I said, class is over. Ends right on time, 3:00 PM. I was able to meet with Joe during a working lunch so that is done. Everyone kind of pitched in and help clean up the classroom before they left so here it is 3:30 and I’m ready to head back to the Newark Airport. No problems so far. I get the rental car returned and take the tram to the terminal. Now, the next thing that happens should have made me take notice. I go to the counter to check my luggage and the ticket agent advise me that she might be able to get me on an earlier flight. Great. That would be wonderful, but as she checks a frown crosses her face and she says “the next flight just closed full, so the flight you have is the only other one available”. Thinking positive, I thank her and tell her that is OK. I’ll just get something to eat and do a little work on my laptop.

I am off to the gate area. No problem going through security. Go back to the Delta area and get a bite to eat then go find a nice place to sit, work and wait. I look at the board behind the gate check-in area and it shows the flight is going to leave on-time, 8:30 PM. I had talked with Rick and ask him to wait at the Atlanta airport for me to get in, just in case. He agreed to do that so I felt like everything was going to be OK.

I’m working away, it’s about 7:30 and I happen to glance at the board. I notice that the time still says 8:30, and then as I am watching it changes to 9:30, no announcement, just changes. I close the laptop and go to the counter to see what is wrong. Well, I’m told that weather is bad in Atlanta and the flight has been delayed for an hour. I call Rick and leave him a message; we are going to be delayed and to give me a call when he gets this message.

I go back to working on some documents. About 30 minutes pass and then the gate agent ask for everyone’s attention. According to Delta: 1) The flight crew that is going to fly this plane to Atlanta is on the flight inbound from Atlanta. 2) The Newark Airport is closed to all inbound flights because of weather. 3) We are now scheduled to leave at 11:15 PM. Now, as for item 2, I can see that it is not raining and every other airline has planes landing and taking off. So it’s off to the counter to see what is really going on, well, according to the agent, that is Delta’s story and they are sticking to it.

Rick calls, we discuss what is going on and I tell him to go ahead and go home. If I have a problem I’ll give him a call. Looks like it is going to be around 2:15 when we get to Atlanta. I wait and wait and wait. Finally the airplane from Atlanta arrives with our flight crew. After some checking of the plane we get the call to board. At this point about 40 very bored, very tired, “just want to just get home” passengers board the direct flight to Atlanta (at least that is what we think). It is about 12:00 AM.

We leave the gate, taxi out to the runway and with little lost motion take to the friendly sky’s. The pilot comes on the PA system and tells us we will have about hour and forty-five minute flight to Atlanta and should be there at about 2:15 AM. Well, at least we are on our way. About an hour into the flight the PA system crackles to life again, it is the pilot. It seems that Delta has called and asks that we divert to Dulles in DC to pick up 125 or so stranded Delta passengers. Now remember that we are about 45 minutes from Atlanta in an airplane, never had this happen, run by Dulles. Hey, it’s an airplane; you don’t just run by places, do you?

According to the pilot and Delta there are no rooms available for the passengers and if we don’t go pick them up they are going to have to spend the night in the airport. What do they think we have been doing? I mean, come on, I have just spent the last 7 plus hours in the airport waiting on Delta. So anyway we make a hard left and it seems head for DC to pick up the stranded band of fellow travelers. The pilot comes on the intercom, now what? Prepare to land and pick up our ‘friends’. According to him we will only be on the ground for 15 or 20 minutes. They are not going to worry about assigning seats; just let them sit where they want.

We are at the gate and people are coming on board. They are really happy to see us and I must admit we feel pretty good about helping them out, although we didn’t really get to vote on the decision. Well, 20 minutes have passed and we are not moving. Seems Delta needs to do a couple of things. Get the new passengers luggage on our plane. Get more fuel and file a new flight plan to Atlanta (I hope). Finally we are off, hey, I not complaining, we are number one for takeoff. Anyway, at about 4:30 AM we finally make it to Atlanta.

Got my luggage, board the bus to the Parking Spot. Get in my truck. Wow, it starts with no problem. Things may be looking up. Alternator light is on and the battery gauge shows that the battery is discharging. Well, maybe, just maybe, I can make it home. I hit I-285 and it everything seems OK. I then notice that the battery gauge is dropping kind of fast, faster then I expected. Just as I get to the exit for I-20, the airbag light comes on, I know this indicates that there is not enough current to fire the airbags if I hit something. Not a problem, I don’t plan on hitting anything. Another mile and the Service Engine Soon light comes on, now this could be a problem, but the engine is still running and the lights are still on, haven’t even dimmed any. Another half mile and the dash lights go out, not a problem, except, except, so do all the rest of the lights. OK, it may be getting close to panic time; at least it is time to get off the Interstate. I am about a half mile from the Bankhead highway exit, make it to the ramp, to the top of the ramp, truck is starting to miss, across the highway into a Shell / Store service station parking lot. Pull up under a street light and the truck quits. Good timing at least. It is now around 5:00 AM and I am stuck.

I have one of those portable battery chargers so I get out, raise the hood and hook it up. Maybe I can charge the battery. Maybe not. A guy comes up, says he is a mechanic and asks me what the problem is, is my battery dead? Well, duh, yes it is. Do I need a battery? Well yes, he says that he just happens to have one at his shop. No need for it as I have one on the way. I called Rick when I first saw I wasn’t going to make it. Got him up and he is on his way. So, thanks, but no thanks. Probably doesn’t have a warranty on it anyway.

About the time we get done with out conversation my cell phone rings. It is Rick and he has to go to another Wal-Mart to find a battery. It’s on the way so he won’t be delayed long. So I wait, and another guy comes up offering to sell me a battery. No thanks, I have one on the way. Then three guys pull up in a car, they have a trunk full of batteries, do I need one. No, thanks, got one on the way. Phone rings, its Rick he is at the exit, needs to know exactly where I am. I tell him, the guys with a trunk full of batteries leave. Guess they are going to look for others in need of a battery. I didn’t know that there were so many battery salesmen in Atlanta. It appears that if you really need a battery at 5:00 AM in Atlanta and having a warranty in not a big issue, you can get one.

I change the battery; a NASCAR pit crew could have taken a lesson from me. I want to get home. Truck starts, I pull out and Rick follows me. Make it to the house with no other problems. Back in the garage and shut the motor off. It is now close to 7:30 AM. Hugs and kisses with Wonderful Wife.  Make some coffee, have a couple of cups. Decide to take the alternator off and go get a new one. NAPA tests it, it is bad, well, I kind of knew that. New alternator, new battery, $230 later and the truck is running again. Now, if I can get some rest. It is Thursday and my wife and I are leaving for Colorado on Sunday. Hope Delta is ready when we are. Hope that we don’t have to run by anyplace and pick up fellow travelers (although that was the right thing to do). Hope that the truck is really fixed.

The Adventure Continues . . .