THE YARDMAN

WE 'INHERITED' HIM FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNER OF OUR CONDO. BEING FIRST-TIME HOMEOWNERS, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYONE BETTER IN MIND. HE *NEVER* ANSWERS THE PHONE AND IF THERE'S A HEAVY STORM (LIKE WE HAD LAST WINTER) IT CAN TAKE HIM DAYS TO SHOW UP, ALL THE WHILE YOU'RE TOTALLY IN THE DARK ABOUT WHEN HE'S GOING TO SHOW. LAST WINTER (2005), WE HAD A TWO-FOOT DUMPING OF SNOW ON A SATURDAY EVENING/SUNDAY IN FEBRUARY. IT TOOK HIM FIVE DAYS TO ARRIVE (THURSDAY EVENING) AND HE NEVER RETURNED ANY OF OUR CALLS IN ALL THAT TIME. DURING THE LESS SEVERE STORMS, THERE WAS LESS OF DELAY, BUT ANY MORE THAN SIX INCHES AND WE WERE LEFT WAITING A DAY OR TWO. I KNOW THIS WORK IS HARD TO PREDICT, BUT IF YOU'RE OVERWHELMED, AT LEAST LET PEOPLE KNOW, SO THEY CAN GET SOMEONE ELSE. IT JUST SEEMS EASIER AND IN THE LONG RUN, LESS HASSLE AND LESS MONEY, TO HAVE THE CONDO BUY ITS OWN SNOW-BLOWER AND DO IT OURSELVES. FIVE DAYS IS TOO LONG TO WAIT FOR YOUR CAR TO BE DUG OUT, EVEN IF YOU ONLY USE IT ON THE WEEKEND.