Community News
Pshrusmp Valley Thursday, June 12, 1997 25
IIIIIII I II I
Just FedEx it
The cop shines his hyper-bright fight in my eyes and I snap
awake. The prowl car close on my rear bumper has its full rack
of lights flashing in my mirrors while another cop stands alertly
at the right rear of my car like a hunting dog with the scent of
ducks in his nose. It's 3 a.m. and rmparked away from other cars
under an overhead area light in the Wal-Mart lot in Barstow.
The cop at the window is not
impolite, but he wonders why I'm
sleeping in the Wal-Mart lot at 3
a.m. I understand his concern. I
set out to explain, remembering ,,
that cops have usually heard ev-
ery story there is. I suspect they haven't heard this one, and rm
not sure I even believe it. It all started with a brewery in England
anting to sell some beer...
i rd been talking to aproduction company in L.A. about doing
a commercial out here in our desert. I sent a few simple photos,
a brief resume, and the names of mutual acquaintances. Nothing
seemed to be happening. Monday afternoon, the phone explodes
offtbe desk. Flash! Quick! Hurry! Pictures am needed of thr
separate locations and they have to be in London yesterday.
Here's the FedEx number. The pix have to go to a Norwegian that
works for a French agency which is located in England. I'm given
a FedEx number and told to hurry.
I try to explain that FedEx doesn't pick up in the rural areas that
I cover, but rm told again to do the job and get it done quick. I
understand. I shut up. Bile case and career case are thrown into
the Trooper. Water and ice are loaded, and it's showtime.
The picture pezt is easy. Drive to tbe dry lake and shoot at each
end careful to include the mirage. Film the dunes and only get a
little stuck. Lens the top and bottom of the canyons near
Shoshone and the camera work is done before sundown. Now we
step into the Twilight Zone.
With a handful of quarters beside me, and the Pahrump phone
book that is always with me, I pull up a block of wood and sit
down at the pay phone in Shoshone to call FedEx. The 800
numbers help, but welcome to the ever-friendly customer service
world where each helpful clerk gives different information. If
you don't understand the following, well, neither do I.
Iask, what do I need to do to send three rolls of exposed filrn,
In The Thermometer's Shadow
by Mike Dougherly
two tourist brochures and a typed report to London, the very
fastest way possible.
I just can't drop the envelope in a FedEx box. I first need to
complete a commercial invoice. There are no commercial in-
voices in Shoshone. It is not known if I might find one in all of
Southern Nevada and California. They will, however, be glad to
fax me one. My fax machine is
i! 60 miles south, in Baker, but we
don't quibble. I ask them to fax
the commercial invoice. I return
to Baker.
An international lawyerprac-
tieing at The I-huge might be
able to fill out the commercial
invoice. It took me a while to
figure it out and a few more phone calls to the nice FedEx folks.
It is now 10 p,m. and there's another small problem.
Not only must three copies of the commercial invoice be sent,
but I must use an International Air Waybill. I call around and the
nice FedEx ladies tell me I'll probably fred the Waybill at the
FedEx box where I post the envelope. I asL are there any FedEx
offices open 24 hours in the Southwestern U.S.? Forget it. I head
the 65 miles south to Barstow where them am Fed boxes.
TI boxes have no International Air Waybills. It's now
midnight and things are not running too well. I can't call the
production company. They hire me for results, not excuses.
FedEx informs me I can find an Air Waybill at a FedEx agency,
but they don't open until 9 am.
I refuse to spend the bucks for a motel, rm not broke and the
company would reimburse, but I just can't get a room only to kill
a few hours. I decide to grab a nap in the car and, seeing as how
Wal-Mart is open 24 hours...
The cops helie:,e me. They wish me a goodaight and are on
their way. 9 a.m. finds me at the FedEx agtmcy and therds an
incredibly nice lady that helps me fill out the Intmmtional Air
Waybill and send off the package. I return the 65 miles to Baker,
call the production company and tell them it's done. How did a
simple country boy ever get involved in this high tech interna-
tional stuff?. I thought I was keeping life simple.
Oh, yeah. Got acallacouple
I v Ill I
of days later. The film was there on time and everybody says it
was a great job and the check's in the mail. Well, maybe life is
good after all.
And one little side note. I asked our postmaster--- the best one
in the whole world-- about using U.S. Express Mail foroverseas
delivery. She handed me the special bags, the simple custom
forms and a price list. However, the post office gives no
indication of how long delivery might take. FedEx takes two
days. That's as good as it gets, unless you buy a ticket on the
Concorde.
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Lic# 17562A & 17563A -. 727.5435
51 S. Boul Rd. P.O. Box 56, Pahrump, NV
AroundAmar.gosa with Andrea
by: Andrea Lynn
Everyone pitched in again, June 3 to help out
Sam and Diane Carey. Their house burned
down the previous Saturday and was a total
loss. There was a spaghetti dinner, raffle and
goody auction. Thanks for all the generosity.
Another group of volunteers got together
Saturday to work in the cemetery. Members of
the Cemetery Board, girl and Boy Scouts cleaned
up weeds and rocks. Trevor Dolby came down
and pulled out a dead tree. The VFW Ladies
Auxiliary provided hot dogs and soda after-
ward.
The Friends of the Library are holding a Past
Party, Saturday, June 14. This is the last year
that Penny McGhee will be involved with
the production of the Storytellers play.
The party begins at 2 p.m. and everyone is
invited to the community center to join in
thanking Penny for her years of help.
Happy Father's Day, dads!
The Amargosa Volunteer Fire De-
partment would like to thank the commu-
nity for all its help and support with the
Carey fire. Food, drinks, water and time
were donated to help make the job a little
easier. It's great to see everyone pull
together in a time of need. Thank you so
much.
!
00731ue 00iamonO 00_0000]urser00
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Open: 9 am - 5 pm Daily, Sun 10 am ~ 5 pm 12740 Blue Diamond Road
1/2 Mile off 160 W. on Blue Diamond Rd. (Hwy 159)
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Fax 1702) 875-1913 ' J
No
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Authorized 360" Communicah'ons Dealer
361 S. Frontage Road, No. 8 (Hollywood Plaza)
HOURS: Mon- Fn 8:30.5:30, Sat. 9 - 12 Fax: (702) 727-6759
