Punching the Clock: This job happens

SHERBURNE – Randy Hill says telling jokes is a big part of his job.

He’s not a stand-up comedian. But Randy says he’s got to have a few laughs if he’s going to pump out septic tanks every day.

And when inspiration like this comes by the gallon, the disgusting and painfully obvious one-liners come by the thousands.

“I’ve heard them all,” the eight-year pumper man from Adsit’s Septic and Grading claims. “I’ve made up half of them myself.”

After sucking and back-flowing my first residential septic system, I too welcomed the healing power of comic relief.

But in all seriousness, Randy thinks laughter might be the difference between success and failure in this business.

“You’ve got to have fun,” Randy said. “Otherwise, it might be too hard sometimes to be out here doing this.”

But being the septic guy isn’t so tough, he admits. For starters, being on his own all day – because no one else really wants to be his work partner for more than a few hours – is pretty sweet. Plus the Smyrna resident claims he’s got a great boss in owner Robert Adsit (you owe me for that, Randy). It doesn’t hurt that he likes his job, too.

“Everyone has their niche,” Randy said. “I guess this is mine.”

It wasn’t always. Randy used to drive truck across the country, but says that took its toll on his family and his well-being. Eventually, it came time for a change.

“But trust me, I never thought I’d be the @#&$ man,” he said.

I spent an afternoon riding around with him in the Adsit’s 3,000 gallon septic truck (what Randy’s family calls the “Honey Wagon”), and I have to agree with him; it wasn’t so bad.