There are different types of gold at the end of the rainbow. Perhaps we have what you are looking for.

The world of building..

History repeats its self and not just in human actions, but in bulding supplies as well. Notably in the form of cement which has been fruit caking all over the planet since the begining of time or at least 6500 B.C. The Syrians used it to line fire pits and the like. Although it would apear that the Egyptians were some of the first profuse users of cement, and I can just about guaranty that the slaves who had to mix, pour and spread the stuff, hated it just as much as any builder of today does.

Although it was the Romans who saw the true protential for cements use and they went on to develope Roman concrete (also called Opus caementicium). It was the material used in construction during the whole history of the Roman Empire and many notible buildings are still standing today. Roman concrete was based on a hydraulic-setting cement with many material qualities similar to modern Portland cement. By the middle of the first century, the material was used frequently as brick-faced concrete, although variations in aggregate allowed different arrangements of materials. Further innovative developments in the material, coined the Concrete Revolution, contributed to structurally complicated forms, such as the Pantheon dome.

And just to the left there you can see and anciant Pro X store ------->

Most likely they're the ones that supplied the concrete for the building project.

So whether you are just planning a simple patio or a slightly more grandiose Roman style structure please remember that Pro X carries both Pre-mix concrete (80# bags, does 2/3rds of a cubic foot) and Portland (94#, does 1 cubic foot) and our yard guys just love loading it.

And yet again with the doors.

Door Gnome

Country of origin: Sweden, Poland, Germany, Finland.

Came over on the boat with other Europian immigrants

Job: Guardian of all things door.

In the old country known as a Tomte.

A brisk spring morning at the crack of dawn a sleepy door gnome stood up on his pins and began to expostulate on Plaspro/OrePac doors.

His audience looked like this....

...the coffee hadn't hit yet. ................................................................................

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However if the truth be told this meeting was just yet another attempt to get us girl gnomes....

....up and running on doors. And any guy attending the meeting was there almost entirely for the food.

Work

I have learned things since starting work at Pro X.

A: Guys do gossip, they just do it at the store while buying tools, or leaning against a truck.

B: If you sweep the store, for sure in two minutes a logger will come in with mud on his boots.

C: There are small yellow panic aliens that live in the YOX colorant, and they come out when things get rough.

D: At closing time someone will come in for either paint or plumbing.

E: I hate the screw and nail department, the most annoying things to look up in the computer.

F: You don't clean by "dusting" a hardware store, because that is just displacing it.

G: The overstocked plumbing parts get married and start having kids, if left alone in the back room.

H: Filing can be a soothing and comforting thing to do, it gives one a place to hide if one sold some guy the wrong things.

I: While waiting for the paint shaker to finish you can take a short nap or write a text.

J: The guys will grouch about cool coffee but not bad coffee....go figure.

Pass The Door Please?

What does one do when confronted by that question?

I laugh.

Not because it is funny, oh no. But because I'm thinking of my co-worker Larry (who is also the guy asking the question) he is trying his level best to train us girls in the way of the door. To get us to a point when we could confidently sell it to an unsuspecting customer with enough knowledge for it to be the correct door for them to purchase. However on the pop quiz tonight I promptly burst into laughter and the Door Sensei gave me an F on the class. Oh well, my long term goal was to be a bag lady anyway.

There is a list of questions that, if they are asked in the right manner and in the right order, apparently will open up the soul of buyer to you. Then acting rather like a psychologist gently nudging a patient towards a reconciliation with his mother, we ease them around to the perfect door. Always keeping in mind though they must think THEY are making the move, getting the bargain and are brilliant.

Catalogs are not the answer, that is as good as telling them to go some where else to buy the product.

Sell what you have.

Where are you going to use it Sir?

Do you want a window Sir?

Half lite or Half lite vented Sir?Metal clad Sir?

Hollow core Sir?

Interior or exterior Sir?

Shaker Sir?

Modern Sir?

Traditional Sir?

And that is just a few of the questions you might have to ask, we didn't even tread to far into the french doors, 2 panel 6 lite, 2 panel flat or fire rated. Already though things are a bit shaky a mist is coming up before my eyes, the world grows strange.... Ok perhaps this is just the need for sleep and really, this isn't that much information to memorize and regurgitate. I'll just be having a sales guy check any orders I make for the next year or so.

So you think you know 'em?

Three guys, three tidbits of information. How well do you know them? Can you match the faces to the story?

Larry

Danny

Troy

1: The tale goes ,one sultry summers day he was caught riding his Mom's goat down a hill. The goat survived (amazingly enough) and went on to live through a mountain lion attack. Apparently she was one tough nanny...Hint he hides small gummy-bears in his desk.

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2: Now this guy is an anomaly. You wouldn't think it to look at him but he is a star gazing aficionado. The sky is as an open book to one such as he, however, he seems to lack the ability to spot an enemy satelite (a VERY important skill) which is a bit worrisome....Hint he loves English Toffee.

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3:Now this is the one that will most likely unsettle you...this guy... is a troll! From under the bridge none the less. No, no don't try looking at him to figure out why he is a troll, that won't help you at all. You have to know where he comes from to know the secret of his trollness....Hint he drinks diet pop instead of coffee.

Pro X Home Center

In the farthest corner of Idaho (the most blessed of all states) near the Canadian border there resides a hardware store and lumber yard of prestigious character. Perhaps not as ponderously large as some competitors (naming no names but they dig the color orange) but at least we know where everything is and are prepared to help all comers. The by-word is cheerfulness and competence with just a dash of humor and I'm not kidding about the humor part.

Are you thinking of building, remodeling or just plain burning your home to the ground? Come in talk to the contractor guys (Danny, Troy or Larry) think up some building questions nay questional doozies in an attempt to stump them. They will be happy to assist you in anyway, order roofing, siding, lumber, decking or drywall and they'll whip through it like a small child on a greased slide. However if you are attempting to choose colors for your home these guys are NOT the ones to talk too. They are men. And ladies we all know how men react to colors...gray they see as white, light blue they see as white, a pale peach...they see as white. While totally confusing reds, purples and blues.

But there is hope for the home painter. With sensei Melody leading the way the paint department can fill all your needs, from helping you choose the proper tools for the job or explaining the intricacies of color we will do our best to make the job easy....or at least bearable. Just so you know with our computer program there is the possibility of creating colors from many different brands with the exact formula, so bring in those chips from Home Depot, Valspar or Behr.

Now that spring is here or at least pretends to be, the gardening side is in full swing with all kinds of seeds and potting soils to keep those grubby gardening hands busy for hours. We assure you our manure is the best, the fertilizer the most potent and the moisture control potting soil is the most controlled....Practically the bees knees.

At the very least there is always coffee on tap so stop in grab a cup and take a look around.