I drove to Burlington, Vermont yesterday -- about two hours from here -- for vet appointments at our internal medicine specialist and for a run to Costco to stock up on supplies. Blind Widget was in for an abdominal ultrasound screening and echocardiogram, part of her routine check-up now that she's an older girl, and blind Avery was in for a second round of his heartworm treatment. While they were at the clinic, I headed over to Costco -- this is the nearest one to us, the next closest is three hours away in southern New Hampshire on the Massachusetts line.
On my list was, yes, the pallet of paper towels you see there in the back of the truck. We go through paper towels like crazy here, and the cheapest and most effective way to always have them on hand is to buy them by the pallet. After I took that photo, I threw a tarp over the stack and then tied the whole thing down with ratchet straps. When I get pallet loads of supplies like this, I purchase them first because we have to get them loaded at the receiving dock out back, so it's easier to get that done and out of the way before doing the rest of the shopping.
After tarping and securing the pallet, I went back inside for my next load -- 500 pounds of rice for the dogs' home-cooked meals. (I mentioned in an earlier post that our local supplier is out of potatoes, so until the next harvest comes in this fall, we've switched to rice.) The rice came in 50 pound bags, so that was one very, very heavy cart I pushed through the store and all the way out the parking lot to where the truck was. Believe it or not, all 500 pounds fit comfortably in the back seat of the truck, with room for Avery's crate, too.
Finally, truck packed, I started to pull out when I noticed this sign on the wall by the loading docks:
Okay, now you have to stop and think about that for a second. Apparently enough truck drivers were driving off with Costco forklift operators still inside their trucks that the company decided they needed to post a big sign like this. So either the truck drivers were a) closing the trailer door with the forklift operator still inside -- how do you miss someone on a forklift in the back of your truck? -- or, worse, b) driving off with the door still open and a forklift operator in the back of your truck. Either way, it makes you wonder, doesn't it?
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Hmmmm...I wonder if you could save some money on paper towels by buying a big supply of absorbent cloth diapers that you could wash and reuse. The idea comes to mind because my mother kept our cloth diapers after we grew past needing them and used them as clean-up rags for many years. But then, you surely have a lot more messes to clean up than she did!
-Mare in Mass
Posted by: Mare | June 16, 2011 at 05:01 PM
Maybe they had some forklift operators that took a little snooze inside of a truck. I could see that happening, & the driver of the truck not seeing anyone around the loading dock, thinking, ok, I'm outta here. I have seen people that can sleep anywhere and it always amazes me.
Hugs all around,
ginger, Tobias & Tlingit
Posted by: ginger & Tobias (the greythound) | June 16, 2011 at 03:51 PM
"Here's your sign!"
Posted by: Lisa K. - San Diego | June 16, 2011 at 11:59 AM
Evidently, the position of Forklift Operator entails some unexpected dangers! That sign certainly gives food for thought. That's some heavy shopping you did!
Posted by: Tonya Allen | June 15, 2011 at 04:11 PM
That fork lift issue boggles the mind. My dad is a terminal manager for Estes Freight. I'll have to talk to him about this "hazard of the job". It just goes to show that until you do something, you can't imagine what obstacles will come up!
Posted by: Kelly | June 15, 2011 at 12:05 PM
Wow. You've sure got your supply chain figured out, and more of that great exercise to unload at the farm.
The sign reminds me of a special feature an airline requested many years ago--- to add a switch INSIDE their cargo compartment for trapped personnel. ! Brrr. Makes you think there were some very interesting stories preceding that. Good luck to Ms. Widget!
Posted by: Margaret | June 15, 2011 at 11:31 AM
And I thought I went through alot of paper towels with one incontinent weenster! this brought a smile to my face... and thank goodness for paper towels, right? :)
Barbara Techel
Posted by: Barbara Techel | June 15, 2011 at 10:33 AM
Well, 2 hours to Costco & vet internest every once in a while is still better than an hour to any vet every time! I laughed when I read the sign, scratched my head and thought I am glad I dont drive a fork lift. Too funny.
Posted by: Anne in FL | June 15, 2011 at 08:32 AM
That sign gave me a good laugh. I guess anything can happen when we're not paying attention! LOL
I know you stock up since you don't make the trip too often and I sure hope your truck has a great set of shocks and real strong tires...between dogs and supplies, that's a lot of weight you're towing around!
Posted by: Ann | June 15, 2011 at 02:59 AM
They must have some pretty absent-minded drivers in Vermont...;-D
On a more serious note: how is Avery coping with his heartworm treatment?
Posted by: Carla Polastro-Nigro | June 15, 2011 at 02:55 AM
What a funny mental picture you drew of those poor forklift operators being shanghaied accidentally! Thanks for this one. It's great.
Posted by: Moon Rani | June 14, 2011 at 08:55 PM
Not sure about Costco, but when I managed a truck stop close to a Walmart/Sam's Club distribution center we had drivers coming in multiple times daily complaining about how they were treated and rushed through loading/unloading (and yes a few ended up with forklifts & drivers in the trailer still when they stopped for fuel)
Posted by: David | June 14, 2011 at 07:56 PM