You Can't Get Anything at Alice's Restaurant
7 hours ago
Friday, July 27, 2012
The propane company, final chapter
Today the propane guy showed up at my door to let me know he was taking away the empty 250 pound propane cylinder. That should be the end of our dealings with that company.
They used to be a pretty decent company, as far as these things go. However, they grew too big too fast and then went bankrupt. Since then they’ve racked up an impressive record of environmental violations and non-payment of taxes.
My propane usage has steadily dropped over the years. The last fill up of the tank lasted over 3 years. My lovely wife and I were going to eliminate the last two items that used propane. We have a dryer and a 2 burner propane stove. We did not count on our daughter moving back in with us with our granddaughter. No way did my daughter want to do without that dryer.
When the big tank finally ran dry, I wasn’t going to fill it up again. Instead, I connected a 20 pound propane cylinder (like on a barbecue grill) onto the regulator and called it good. That handled our very limited propane usage.
Three weeks ago a worker from the propane company noticed my little tank and took some offense to it. Unfortunately, I was down to the lake and my lovely wife talked to him. He wanted that tank removed immediately. The guy told my wife that I’d better call him that afternoon. Nobody tells me what to do on my property.
I felt no need to talk to him. In my mind there was no problem. Things went merrily along until this morning when the guy showed up to remove the tank and regulator.
As soon as they were gone, I rummaged through my stuff. It just so happened that I just happened to have a regulator of my own, along with all the fittings and hose to connect my little 20 pound tank. All the connections were tested using soapy water. Nothing bubbled up so the job was safe and successful. Everything is running just as before.
Once my daughter is on her own again, I’ll be done completely with propane. In the mean time she’s happy to have it at her disposal.
-Sixbears
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The arrogance of the utilities may well be the catalyst that eventually causes many folks to go off-grid.
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to be able to tell them to stick it.
DeleteMy grand daughters are coming to visit next month, with their spouses. They are going to really hate those rough towels he he.
ReplyDeleteWe only have a 900 sq. ft. house...
They say they're going to camp out in the back yard with tents. In AUGUST...the kids are from the northwest...
Gramma and grandpa tent camp all the time, so we can do that too they say. Need I repeat that the kids are from the northwest...heh heh
I expect to see youngins spread all over my AC'd floor next month after bout one night in the tent.
The kids are going to melt.
DeleteIt should be a fun and educational visit.
Sometimes my daughter acts like living here is like Colonical Williamsburg.
My oldest daughter has been living with us since last july. I know she thinks we are very primitive lol. It's her daughters that are coming.
DeleteOh well it'll give me a chance to set up the wall tent and check out all the camping gear, cuz hunting season opens the following month.
My daughter just looks at the way we live and sighs. She's happy we took her in, but she really doesn't want to live the way we live. I feel for her. Things where different when I was younger. I could afford to live on my own at 19 and never looked back.
DeleteIt is funny how far a 20lb tank will go when its on your mind that its all you now have.I use one in my bbq trailer for beans and corn i think i last swapped tanks in march.A 20lb tank allows you more control over what you will spend the only draw back you need to be expecting is in cold weather it is slow to turn to gas likes to stay a liquid.
ReplyDeleteIn cold weather I'm using my wood cookstove. My lovely wife and I only really use propane in the summer -and we really don't have to use much of that.
DeleteNow that you mention it, my tank is down in the red, will have to call the propane company since we cook with it and heat our water with it.
ReplyDeleteGood to keep an eye on that stuff. Better get it now before the price goes up and you really need it.
DeleteI guess I can see where they'd take exception to using their regulator on your own bottle. But the guy didn't have to be a putz about it!
ReplyDeleteThe putz part is what I was objecting to.
ReplyDeleteGeorge would have done the same thing: installed his "own damn regulator!"
ReplyDeleteAs for your daughter. Maybe someday she'll thank her parents and herself for enduring her parents' lifestyle. I don't think the current generation is going to handle the next crash as well as folks like us. When more people are forced into living with less it may become more palatable. Let's hope so.
And, a cup or less of white vinegar in the rinse water eliminates the need for a dryer. Not that these modern day folks would believe it.
DeleteMy daughter tried to get away from living the way we do, but keeps ending up here. She has a degree, works full time, but has a hard time making ends meet.
DeleteI like feel of towels that are dried on the line.
Sadly, there are more and more people in your daughter's situation. Guy at our local Dollar General supports himself, wife, adult daughters, three grandkids and a brother in his two bedroom home. I asked how he does it. He said lots of humor and people agreeing to spread out through different rooms.
DeleteThe extended family is back.
Delete