It was late in the afternoon on a Friday.  The food-coma from a company luncheon was finally wearing off and I needed a rally to help bolster the research before the day was over.  The goal was to find Plant/Site Managers at sawmills or paper product producers in northwestern United States.  After a few hours had been spent on this project we were running short on places to research.  Obviously there are only so many sawmills within any given geography.  By searching the depths of the internet I found an article posted on the website of a local association for sawmills and other related businesses.  Doug Fir from ABC Paper & Wood Products received an award from this association for a reason I can’t recall.  It was perfect; ABC Paper & Wood had not been targeted yet…   
 
“ABC Paper & Wood, how can I help you?” a friendly sounding receptionist greeted.
“Hi, I’m looking to get in contact with Douglas Fir please.” I said.

“Hmmmm… Douglas Fir, Douglas Fir” she replied as if she was thinking.  “OH OK!” the lady said as she began to laugh into the phone.  To avoid an awkward moment of silence, and in an effort to seem friendly I began to giggle.  In reality I was actually rather confused.  The laughter quickly subsided.  After a brief moment of silence she asked, “Who else can I put you in touch with?”

“Well, just Doug would be fine for now, if he feels there is someone better for me to speak with then I’ll just call back,”  I replied cluelessly.  I remember thinking “what is with this lady and what the hell is so funny?” 

“He doesn’t take calls sir” she said in a giggly tone.

“OK – Is he out in the field or something?”  I responded skeptically.

“Yeah, he’s in the field alright” The lady said again as her laughter was building.

“Does he have an assistant?” I asked as I was still totally confused.  At this point I figured she was maybe laughing at a co-worker or there was something distracting her.

“Nope, no assistant” The lady said, only this time she was basically hysterical with laughter.  My eyebrows began to tense as I was too confused to even speak.  I waited in silence for her to finish laughing.  The laugher quickly subsided and she said, “Do you seriously need to speak with someone, or did you just call for that?”

“Ma’am, I have no idea what you are talking about and I’m a little confused.” I told her.  “Is there a Doug Fir there or not?” I said in a tone that probably hinted at my frustration.   

“Yeah there is a Doug Fir back there; in fact there is a bunch of Doug Fir back there.”  She said as she again began to laugh.  “We sell it too – It’s a type of wood.”

Ever wonder why archaeologists (Definition: The systematic study of past human life and culture by the recovery and examination of remaining material evidence, such as graves, buildings, tools, and pottery) and paleontologists (Definition – The study of the forms of life existing in prehistoric or geologic times, as represented by the fossils of plants, animals, and other organisms) keep digging in the dirt, studying all the fragments they find?

Because surprises never cease, because there’s always more to be found and the puzzle is never done. Simply put, many fragments make a whole picture. We want to know our past, so we can understand our present and build for our future generations.
As an online sourcer I have this innate curiosity to see what else is out there when I am on a search. Oh wait, here’s one more place to look, one more hyperlink to click on, just in case I can pick up a new clue.  It’s pretty exhausting and tedious when you try to be meticulous and detailed, (talk about stiff necks, aching backs & cramped fingers because I don’t like to stop in the middle of the digging) but it’s priceless when you collect all the pieces and can present that final picture to your client – in house or external.

Did you know the internet is like an iceberg? 

(more…)