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Posted Friday, February 2, 2007 @ 1:23 PM
When I heard the jackhammer at 8:00 AM this morning I thought they were working on Walnut St. as I had seen some blue paint marking the water main over there and I live on Metcalf St. Now, I had a tough time sleeping after attending the MGNA meeting
the night before and I had planned on sleeping late.
As I started to wake up I realized that they were on my street and in front of my house. I couldn't believe that they were digging up the patch of asphalt over MY water main.
I went outside and asked one of the guys from C. J.
Doherty Construction Co. what they were doing and the guy told me that they were changing the lead (pronounced led as in what causes brain damage) feed into my house. I told him that the feed was changed recently and it was copper.
He showed me the list including the next stop on Bristol St. and that although he had noticed the new shutoff valve on the sidewalk, he said that they were obligated to open it up and take a look.
When he got down eight or ten feet and saw that it was copper he filled it up and left. Let me tell you, this crew worked hard, was extremely efficient and they were fast. They only took 45 minutes from start to finish. I wonder if they do driveways? Even the cop on detail had noticed the new valve and patch. I started wondering what the total cost of this mistake was going to be.
Still half asleep, I called the School Department by accident to find out what's going on. The operator laughed and said that she was getting a lot of calls for the water department and that she would connect me...cool.
Someone there asked me how I knew what they were doing and I said I asked them. Was it supposed to be a secret? She needed to transfer me "upstairs" so as that extension rang, I waited and waited and waited. As they say in the navy, Frigate.
Shortly later another crew comes in and paves the whole thing over. They were real fast too and I started to think this was a dream but the cold winds assured me otherwise.
This cop was from Somerville and he was quite a character. I asked him to watch my back over at the Good Time Emporium in Somerville if he ever sees me shooting pool over there.
He said he would as he shoots over there too! Ya' know...we are not allowed to shoot pool in Medford. I guess it draws too many unsavory types. I'd never go to a pool room that allows someone like me in there!
You know the type I'm talking about....people like Bobby Stag, Andy Castignetti, Jamie (Harry the Hat) Harrison, Paul (the Snake) Sylvestri...the old Joe Zag crowd!
So anyhow, I decided to write this story and take a photo and send it to EVERYONE including Bobby Maiocco because I have to tell him I met a nurse yesterday who went to school with us. Brigitte Vitale says Hi. Now remember, these two kids are a year older than me!
Bobby, maybe we can pass a resolution that says, "If you are going to check a feed pipe, and the shutoff valve is brand new and there is a fresh patch of asphalt over the water main, ring the bell and see if there's a grumpy homeowner who can save the city some money to help reduce the $3.2 million Water-Sewer deficit."
Only in Medford.
JimmyMorse.com
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