Odd Jobs

Yes, I know that it sounds like some show that you would watch on TV, but odd jobs are something that my wife and I come across every once in a while. So let me describe one of my latest odd jobs, which took place today.

About two months ago, Carrie came across this company that delivers bulk foods to various areas of the United States and all the food is fresh and free of additives and hormones. The first one that she found involved 30 pounds of bacon, which cost us just about $2.50/pound. If you go to the grocery store and look at the cost of bacon, you'll realize that this was a really great deal. So the day came for us to receive our bacon.

The delivery took place on a Thursday afternoon. Here's how it went down. There was a truck in the parking lot of one of the local exercise places. They had reserved part of the lot, where the truck parked in the parking spots, which allowed people to pick up their boxes of bacon without having to get out of their car. You simply drove up, drive through style, and they would check your confirmation number, and then grab the box for you, bring it to your car, and put it in the trunk for you. That's how I picked up our box of bacon, and how we came into possession of a great deal of bacon. (Sometime in the future, I'll have to blog to let you know a few of the ways we've been using these 30 pounds of bacon!)

About two weeks later, Carrie noticed that the same company had another deal. This one was 40 pounds of butterflied chicken breasts for $59.60. Forty pounds of really good, organic chicken breasts. So once again, at the designated time, I drove up, got in line, gave my name, and they hand delivered the forty pounds of chicken into my trunk. (The Chik-Fil-A cows must really like us now!)

About two days before that delivery, the company sent out an email to their recipients in the area. It seems like they "hire on" a person or two to assist with the delivery. They pay you for the time spent bringing the boxes to people's cars. I indicated an interest in helping out, but they were filled up by the time I got in touch with them. But I indicated that they could contact me if they needed help in the future.

So yesterday, one of the company's representatives gave me a call. I said that I was interested and available, and so I was lined up to help out with today's chicken delivery. Once again, 40 pound boxes of chickens, hand delivered to people's cars, and this time, I was the muscle!

Delivery was scheduled between 3:30 and 4:30, so the driver had asked if I would be there to help set up at 2:45. I was there, even though he didn't actually arrive until 3:00, having driven up from another delivery earlier in the day. So I set up the signs, got some bags lined up to put under the boxes, and then started moving 40 pound boxes of chicken to the door so I could grab them quickly.

When the time arrived for people to pick up their chicken, I was amazed at how quickly the line formed. I even counted 10 cars in line at one point, patiently waiting to come have their box of chicken put in their trunk or backseat, or wherever they wanted it. I had to climb a couple of steps up the ladder, grab a box, and then bring it to the car and put it inside. That was the pattern we would follow.

Today, we were scheduled to give out 80 boxes of chicken. That meant 80 trips carrying 40 pound boxes to people's cars. Good thing I'm in pretty good shape! But I was also amazed at how much chicken some people wanted. We had two cars that had ordered 8 boxes (320 pounds of chicken!), and a couple that had ordered 5! The majority, however, only ordered one box, which was really easy to deliver.

In just over an hour, we were done with all the deliveries. So I helped take down the signs and load up the truck. In return, the driver paid me $35. Two hours of work, $35, and another great adventure as I worked at one of my newer "odd jobs!"