In a recent blog post concerning a trade show in Virginia I happened to mention my customer by name. I didn't think anything of it at the time but as this customer is a defense contractor they have computer people scouring the web for any sort of references to their company.
News to me, but it really shouldn't have been as I as an old computer geek myself.
I got a call from the head of dispatch about an email the company had received from the customer concerning my blog post. I was somewhat flabbergasted. He forwarded the email to me.
It basically contained email exchanges between several of the upper management regarding my post and my mentioning them by name. Now, I should say here that I hadn't said anything negative about them at all, but did describe some detail about picking up certain vehicles from a certain show, and how things had gone there.
Among the comments in the email were how I seemed to be a fan of their company, which I am, and that I have always provided them with great service, which I try to do, and that the article was well written, but the general tone was one of corporate security and that they weren't entirely happy with being mentioned by name in a blog.
I can understand their feelings on this and once it was brought to my attention I immediately deleted the blog article.
I was told that I would be hearing from the boss about this in the immediate future. He had called to give me a "heads up" about the impending butt chewing.
Well, today "the boss" didn't call me, but his father did. His father is the one who originally hired me at the company but who has since semi-retied. He still keeps a hand in though.
He asked me if I had heard from the boss about this issue. I told him that I hadn't but his other son, the head of dispatch, and I had discussed it, I had read the email, and understood their concerns. I also told him that I had deleted the article and "it will never happen again".
He said "You're a good man. Have a safe trip, drive carefully, and try to stop and get lucky somewhere along the way".
LOL
He's that sort of fellow.
Such was my "butt chewing".
Tonight I am in Cartersville, GA. After parking my rig for the night I took a walk to stretch my legs. About a half a mile from the truck stop I accidentally walked into a sports bar and to my amazement I had been there before.
I had a few beers, some really good garlic parmesan chicken wings, and even some interesting conversation to go with a couple of bowls of respectable tobacco (Peterson's Old Dublin).
The owner of the place, a black fellow named Ed, remembered me from previous visits and we had a good conversation. He introduced me to a few of the regulars who were there and they immediately accepted me into their fold upon his proclamation that I was "a good guy".
I had a couple of people ask about the pipe and I was more than happy to pontificate upon the joys of smoking a pipe as well as the obvious superiority of pipe over cigarette smoking, and in general had a pretty good time.
I had one young guy try to give me a hard time there, basically because I was the only white guy there and he didn't think I belonged in the place, but Ed set him straight pretty quick. Nothing came of it and the guy apologized to me before I left.
I am now back in my truck. I am going to fill the gigantic bowl of my newly acquired Preben Holm with some Bishop's Move and watch my also newly acquired copy of Iron Man 2.
The pipe:
Tomorrow I'll make my way down towards Jacksonville, FL to deliver my load and then go see about renewing my driver's license as it expires in ten days. I am not looking forward to dealing with the DMV as it is always a tedious experience.