Low life

I was invited to the local garage's postponed Christmas party this year not just because I'd been a good customer. Perhaps more importantly I'd spent a good deal of time in the tiny office, leaning on the counter, chatting to Jim, the owner. It's warm in Jim's office if you keep the door shut, and his arthritic old lurcher, dozing fitfully in his basket, adds a homely touch.

Contact: Jon Spontarelli Phone: 330-655-6051 Email: jspontarellI@igpr.com"We're proud that Storm Shield is leading the way in garage door thresholds," said Marc Calcaterra, Vice President of Operations, Action Industries. "Action Industries offers a quality weatherseal at a great value, helping consumers save money on heating and cooling bills."Michael Schumacher's head mechanic's biography. Recently, he's embarked on a second, Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler. He ordered it after seeing it at the top of an online book - store's bestseller list.To make conversation, I asked him questions about his farm and about himself. He had 20 dairy cows and grew a bit of corn. Yes, he lived alone. And, no, he didn't go out much.Action Industries, Ltd. is a privately held designer, manufacturer and distributer of a wide range of products for the garage door industry including weatherseals and retainers, door hardware , accessories, fasteners, brushes, aluminum retainers, dock kits and cable products. The Company was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. For more information, visit www.action-ind.com .Add to Digg Bookmark with del.icio.us Add to NewsvineIf Jim thought that a self-employed magazine columnist might make a useful contribution to a mass brawl in a car park between a coachload of mechanics celebrating Christ - mas, and an invitation team of professional doormen standing on their honour, he didn't say. Perhaps he thought that if nothing else I could expend myself by flinging myself ran - domly on to the foe, thereby adding to the general momentum.Storm Shield is a revolutionary way to tightly seal off a garage from the outside. The exacting nature of the vinyl threshold forms a positive bond with the garage door's existing weather stripping . Storm Shield is easily mounted to a garage's foundation using the provided industrial-strength adhesive.So had he come for the fight?Every year Jim hires a coach and the Christ - mas celebration is held at a ten-pin bowling alley and amusement arcade. And every year, he says, there is an acrimonious dispute with the bouncers. The argument is always about closing time. Jim books the bowling lanes until midnight, and the bouncers always try to kick them out at half-past 11, when the coach hasn't even arrived to take them home. So they have to wait outside in the cold. Last year matters came to a head and there was a confrontation in the car park. Handbags were exchanged.Storm Shield is resistant to oil, gas, antifreeze and other common chemicals found in garages. Additionally, Storm Shield prevents infestation of most rodents, snakes and small pests. It will not crack, shatter or bulge with weather changes and remains flexible from -40 degrees to 150 degrees fahrenheit.WWW.GRACO.COMWe've been talking books, Jim and I. Jim has read only one book in his life, he says:

And after seeing that, and half a dozen Stellas, not only was I no longer worried at all, I'd begun to ask what we were all waiting for.

Author: Clarke, Jeremy