Animal News: The Chronicles of Newman and other Stories
Guard Goat
12 March , 2004
Having service people come to your house takes on a whole different cast when there is a goat on the premises.
My termite station inpsector has told her company she won't come unless I'm home, and the electricity company no longer comes to read my meter. The fuel guys don't seem to care (but anyhow their truck is too big for Newman to try to carjack), and UPS generally knows better than to unchain that gate! But today I had a problem with my phone and Verizon had to come out.
Out where I am we all have chronic phone problems - bad, old wiring down to the main box that goes bad whenever it rains or the moon is full. A lot of the techs have been to my place so they know about Newman, but just in case I wrote a note to Verizon to not leave their car door open etc etc.
Well, I got a PANIC STRICKEN phone call on my cell from a guy who kept saying "big horns, those are big horns, man". He said "I had to call my supervisor to find out if goats bite!" (Just by the way, goats don't bite - they don't have upper teeth. They do, however, nibble esp. on clothing which can be unnerving to the unititiated). He asked me about 3 times whether the goat attacks... He said Newman was circling the vehicle evidently trying the doors. Once I reassured him that all Newman wanted was a proper greeting he pretended to be cool about it. But truth be told, it appears that this time my phone problem was due to Newman pulling out the wires from a switchbox - the whole thing needs to be rewired. I doubted that this fellow really wanted to stick around to do that.
Nice to know I have someone patrolling the property for me when I'm not home! Of course, I still don't have phone service but it's a small price to pay. Right?
Until next time,
Farmer Anne
Star Gazing Farm
http://www.stargazingfarm.org
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