The sky is blue and the snow is falling.
Okay, I suspect that's rare even in upstate New York. And sure enough it's slacking off. It wasn't heavy even when the clouds were thicker. But it makes for an interesting sight.
Cheerful surroundings will be a plus. I could be here a while. I'm at a plant that makes the compressed wood pellets they use in the fancy stoves nowadays. For some reason they're popular right now. I just delivered twenty-something tons of them to a store up here, and they promptly sent me here after twenty-something more for a store in New Hampshire. Odd. They don't sell like that in Georgia...
Got here last night and walked in to let them know I was here. The shipping office was on a wall in the loading area, about halfway down. Even in tennis shoes my footsteps echoed in the cavernous, empty space.
(Note the word "empty." It's important.)
The office was empty, too. This did not bode well.
But I was patient, and patience is sometimes rewarded. After a fashion. A fellow eventually crossed the echoing space to give me the news. The plant was shut down. Something about serious repairs. Hours before any product would be available.
Believe it or not, this was only mildly upsetting. For once, my delivery schedule wasn't terribly tight, and it was getting on for evening. So I moved down to a spot I'd seen coming in, parked, and settled in for the night.
This morning I came back, admiring the column of steam that marked a functioning plant. Sure enough, they told me they were back in business, and would load me as soon as they had enough product.
In about eight hours.
(postscript: When I informed my dispatcher of the good news, he said they were taking me off this load and would find me something that was ready to move.
We'll see.
Some people may have a harder time staying warm for a while, but I can at least say it wasn't my doing...)
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