Comments on: Basic Training http://freerangelibrarian.com/2007/08/01/basic-training/ K.G. Schneider's blog on librarianship, writing, and everything else, since 2003. Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:50:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: kgs http://freerangelibrarian.com/2007/08/01/basic-training/#comment-28702 kgs Thu, 02 Aug 2007 17:02:23 +0000 http://freerangelibrarian.com/2007/08/01/basic-training/#comment-28702 Cindy, you make a crucial point. It reminds me of Chrystie Hill's observations elsewhere that 2.0 is about "connections." I do want that word-of-mouth referral. I wonder if it goes farther than the task (repairing a car) and is really about connecting more broadly with my new community. Sarah, thank you so much... I like to think of you and I having a mechanic in common! Cindy, you make a crucial point. It reminds me of Chrystie Hill’s observations elsewhere that 2.0 is about “connections.” I do want that word-of-mouth referral. I wonder if it goes farther than the task (repairing a car) and is really about connecting more broadly with my new community.

Sarah, thank you so much… I like to think of you and I having a mechanic in common!

]]> By: Cindy Judd http://freerangelibrarian.com/2007/08/01/basic-training/#comment-28694 Cindy Judd Thu, 02 Aug 2007 16:45:01 +0000 http://freerangelibrarian.com/2007/08/01/basic-training/#comment-28694 It's funny...my first thought after I read this was how much I miss my Florida sweet tea! Kentucky, though it seems "southern" in many ways, just doesn't have good sweet tea. :0( I guess growing up with it all my life, I have missed it since moving to KY almost 10 years ago. As for the reliable car mechanic, that is something that you just can't seem to find until you have somewhat established yourself, I think. You just find that person who has relied on Steve, John, Mark, ______ (fill in the blank) that has always been trustworthy and has done a good job on their car and has worked on their cars for years. BBB is certainly the more universal sort of place to look, but there is something about that word of mouth referral that makes you feel good about taking your car to that person to get it worked on. :0) It’s funny…my first thought after I read this was how much I miss my Florida sweet tea! Kentucky, though it seems “southern” in many ways, just doesn’t have good sweet tea. :0( I guess growing up with it all my life, I have missed it since moving to KY almost 10 years ago. As for the reliable car mechanic, that is something that you just can’t seem to find until you have somewhat established yourself, I think. You just find that person who has relied on Steve, John, Mark, ______ (fill in the blank) that has always been trustworthy and has done a good job on their car and has worked on their cars for years. BBB is certainly the more universal sort of place to look, but there is something about that word of mouth referral that makes you feel good about taking your car to that person to get it worked on. :0)

]]> By: David Fiander http://freerangelibrarian.com/2007/08/01/basic-training/#comment-28416 David Fiander Thu, 02 Aug 2007 01:35:58 +0000 http://freerangelibrarian.com/2007/08/01/basic-training/#comment-28416 It's not a Southern thing. I've seen the same thing up here in Canada. A friend used to do a comedy routine involving giving directions that included "Turn right where the Jaguar dealership used to be" and "Just past the third place where King crosses Weber" (which two streets were nominally parallel). It’s not a Southern thing. I’ve seen the same thing up here in Canada. A friend used to do a comedy routine involving giving directions that included “Turn right where the Jaguar dealership used to be” and “Just past the third place where King crosses Weber” (which two streets were nominally parallel).

]]> By: GraceAnne http://freerangelibrarian.com/2007/08/01/basic-training/#comment-28318 GraceAnne Wed, 01 Aug 2007 21:47:48 +0000 http://freerangelibrarian.com/2007/08/01/basic-training/#comment-28318 Do you have Angie's List, or something like that, in Florida? When we cannot get a personal recommendation, we have had good luck with them. Do you have Angie’s List, or something like that, in Florida? When we cannot get a personal recommendation, we have had good luck with them.

]]> By: kgs http://freerangelibrarian.com/2007/08/01/basic-training/#comment-28276 kgs Wed, 01 Aug 2007 18:45:20 +0000 http://freerangelibrarian.com/2007/08/01/basic-training/#comment-28276 Leslie, thanks. I can see why an old landmark is a truer bit of personal cartography... maybe it has to do with the age of the South. The West, for example, is very new. Leslie, thanks. I can see why an old landmark is a truer bit of personal cartography… maybe it has to do with the age of the South. The West, for example, is very new.

]]> By: kgs http://freerangelibrarian.com/2007/08/01/basic-training/#comment-28275 kgs Wed, 01 Aug 2007 18:43:15 +0000 http://freerangelibrarian.com/2007/08/01/basic-training/#comment-28275 Sarah, thanks! I know exactly where that is, too. Elizabeth, we found our chimney sweep through the BBB (not for this house, though we do have a chimney), but it's been uneven for other types of services. I really like personal referrals for mechanics (though, oddly, I've done fine with 1-800-DENTIST). Sarah, thanks! I know exactly where that is, too.

Elizabeth, we found our chimney sweep through the BBB (not for this house, though we do have a chimney), but it’s been uneven for other types of services. I really like personal referrals for mechanics (though, oddly, I’ve done fine with 1-800-DENTIST).

]]> By: LeslieJ http://freerangelibrarian.com/2007/08/01/basic-training/#comment-28274 LeslieJ Wed, 01 Aug 2007 18:41:46 +0000 http://freerangelibrarian.com/2007/08/01/basic-training/#comment-28274 I hear you. I've been in the south off an on since the early 90s. Last night I watched a new colleague (from way north) give directions to another colleague to the restaurant where we were meeting for dinner last night. "It's on x street, on the left side across from the x market." This elicited some confused discussion. Then I chimed it -- "It's where blah used to be." That was just what the person needed. I hear you. I’ve been in the south off an on since the early 90s. Last night I watched a new colleague (from way north) give directions to another colleague to the restaurant where we were meeting for dinner last night. “It’s on x street, on the left side across from the x market.” This elicited some confused discussion. Then I chimed it — “It’s where blah used to be.” That was just what the person needed.

]]> By: Bess Reynolds http://freerangelibrarian.com/2007/08/01/basic-training/#comment-28273 Bess Reynolds Wed, 01 Aug 2007 18:40:16 +0000 http://freerangelibrarian.com/2007/08/01/basic-training/#comment-28273 Why don't you try the CarTalk website? They have a feature to find a recommended mechanic, called the Mechanic Files. People write in to make personal recommendations. http://www.cartalk.com/ Oh the joy of living in the Big Apple with no car. Good luck! Bess Why don’t you try the CarTalk website? They have a feature to find a recommended mechanic, called the Mechanic Files. People write in to make personal recommendations.
http://www.cartalk.com/
Oh the joy of living in the Big Apple with no car.
Good luck!

Bess

]]> By: Sarah Cohen http://freerangelibrarian.com/2007/08/01/basic-training/#comment-28267 Sarah Cohen Wed, 01 Aug 2007 18:19:01 +0000 http://freerangelibrarian.com/2007/08/01/basic-training/#comment-28267 McKenzie's Automotive 244 E. Jennings Street (between Monroe and Meridian) 224-1722 We've used them for years and have found them to be honest, reliable, and competent. McKenzie’s Automotive
244 E. Jennings Street (between Monroe and Meridian)
224-1722

We’ve used them for years and have found them to be honest, reliable, and competent.

]]> By: Elizabeth http://freerangelibrarian.com/2007/08/01/basic-training/#comment-28263 Elizabeth Wed, 01 Aug 2007 17:52:32 +0000 http://freerangelibrarian.com/2007/08/01/basic-training/#comment-28263 Try researching in the Better Business Bureau online. It is just as easy to pick a place that no one has filed a complaint against in the past 3 years (and places that have been in business for 20, 30+ years) as it is to pick a place just on yokel advice. So far, I have not been burned by doing this for roofers, siding, tree cutters, auto body work, etc. I have gone to my mechanic for 15 years (not long after I started driving) and I frequently reassure new-comers sitting around in the waiting area that they have made a good choice. When you aren't in a crisis, you could stop by a few places you have narrowed down your search to and ask the customers. That's what we North Carolina Yokels do :)But you might want to do a Google map search to avoid my directions to you for how to get to my mechanic: just turn down the road by Best Diner, just after where the fast food Chinese restaurant burned down. Try researching in the Better Business Bureau online. It is just as easy to pick a place that no one has filed a complaint against in the past 3 years (and places that have been in business for 20, 30+ years) as it is to pick a place just on yokel advice. So far, I have not been burned by doing this for roofers, siding, tree cutters, auto body work, etc.

I have gone to my mechanic for 15 years (not long after I started driving) and I frequently reassure new-comers sitting around in the waiting area that they have made a good choice.

When you aren’t in a crisis, you could stop by a few places you have narrowed down your search to and ask the customers.

That’s what we North Carolina Yokels do :)But you might want to do a Google map search to avoid my directions to you for how to get to my mechanic: just turn down the road by Best Diner, just after where the fast food Chinese restaurant burned down.

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