Quick question; what do you do (or did you do) for a career?

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You're going to hate me, Chef. In addition to being a diehard Boston Bruins fan, I was a newspaper reporter for a long time. I now work in the corporate world as an editor, but I'll always be a reporter in my mind. It runs in my family and was a labor of love. Had to get out about 10 years ago once we had kids. The money blows.
I can forgive you for being a reporter (I am actually PRO newsreleases/transparency and telling the public as much as possible) but I CAN'T forgive you for being a Bruins fan!!!!! lol I do get along quite well with the media. I seriously believe transparency is key to good relations.
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Retired for 8 years now. Previously School district administrator before that 28 years teaching, skirted mobile homes, apprentice bricklayer, laborer, bodega stock boy.
 
After High School worked for small local tree service for 2 years,Carpenters Union for 4 years after that,Laborer's Union for 23 years since.Hope to be able to take early retirement when I'm 55-57 if possible,do something less strenous on the ol' body until 62 comes around......
Trained in all phases of carpentry from light/heavy framing,concrete forms to finish work,furniture/cabinet making.Operating all kinds of power tools both hand held & stationary that are found on building site or inside cabinet/millwork factory.

Working as a laborer/tender on a few jobs tending plasterers & stone masons,I learned quite a lot besides mixing the mud,building/tearing down the scaffolding,cleaning/working on the pumps,sprayers,mixers & other equipment.Been working with my hands since first taking cabinetmaking,machine shop,hot metal/forging & a small engine course in Junior/Senior High.Had no idea it would be a 'career',just looked like an interesting class or two to take.
 
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RCMP? I thought Quebec was it's own country.
Quebec is a province. And likely will always remain part of Canada no matter what the vocal minority asks for. The RCMP has the mandate in every province except Ontario and Quebec to apply provincial regulations and are therefore the provincial police. Why? Ontario and Quebec already had their own police when the RCMP was created
:)
 
From my avatar I'll let you take a guess. I started by visiting a family friends bakery on Friday nights when in order to reach the table top I had to stand on a bucket to fill the jellyballs. Eventually I'd fall asleep on the front floor of the bakery, covered myself with some coats and fell asleep listening to the bakers in the back talking BS. Little did I know it would turn into a career. I've worked several different bakeries until after I was married I decided I needed a better education so packed all I could in a Ford Tempo, stored what I could in parents upstairs and sold everything else and moved to Kansas to attend the American Institute of Baking. After graduation I had some offers to work back closer to home. I worked a place in Ann Arbor Mich, a big wholesale bakery in Navarre Ohio back to Toledo to work a multi unit retailer and finally came into the family bakery after my father bought a neighborhood bakery. Been there for over 20 years now. Recently decided to also spread myself out a little more and use my experience and take up sales and service/advice with a flavor manufacturer, International Bakers Services. The next 20 years should be interesting. I don't think I ever want to retire. :)
 
In high school and college I was a bouncer, worked in a paper factory, did construction, hung awnings, delivered appliances and furniture, sold shoes, and worked at the college field station at Lake Raystown, Huntingdon County, PA. I also used to do yardwork for Mrs. Sheetz. Her husband owned the Sheetz convenience store chain.

Now I'm a Podiatrist (foot surgeon) and I do writing for Catholic periodicals on the side.
 
Sorry guys didn't mean to turn this into a "woe is me" thread ;em Thanks for the comments though, some days it's kinda depressing thinking about it and it really does help to have people that truly are concerned.

I'll get a bit of $$ each month from VA disability. Not enough to live off of, but every bit helps. Right now plans are to use a VA Voc Rehab program to go back to school. For what... honestly I'm not sure yet.


DH has had herniated discs since a work injury about 15/18 years ago. Worker's comp is a joke. VESID is a joke. He was back at work, but is now back out and doing his best at being self employed via taking over a business I started. He ended up with herniated discs in his neck as well, which cause migraines. And disability laughed at him, basically, so he didn't have much choice, he hasn't been able to find another job. I started the business he is now involved with to get out of an office job, because I get chronic migraines (since I was a kid) and it's pretty difficult sometimes to be nice to co workers, lol.

so, yeah, I have a boring office job. Nothing special, no skilz required.

My "second" job is still the business I started and DH is now involved in. I design greeting cards and t-shirts. We were doing more but the economy sucks and we closed up the branches that involved inventory. We're back to working with fulfilment companies. I hate the lack of control, especially over quality, but it's nice to just design, upload (tag, name, etc) and wait on a check (well, it's not THAT easy, but compared to actually producing things, shipping, and dealing with customers, some of whom didn't have a great grasp on English, it SEEMS that easy). It all started with my DSLR and a photo I took of our old Baja slingin mud. Never would have thought that the one saying I came up with while staring at it would end up all over the freaking web (if only we'd have had the $$ to TM it!!). So yeah, if you're into off roading and have heard the phrase "If the mud ain't flyin, you ain't tryin"-that was me, back in 2005 or so. I have the pic somewhere still, it's from a seasonal use highway out here.

I'd be in heaven if we could make that and rehabbing older homes/cottages (think Rehab Addict) our sole means of income. But that is as likely to happen as winning the mega millions. Actually, I think we'd need to win the mega to have the capitol to do it, lol.

Swedishchef...we've actually talked about moving to Canada, especially coastal or cottage country areas. Looks like you need to prove you'd be an "asset" to the country to get a visa though, and DH is afraid he wouldn't be considered one, all things considered.
 
First worked in a Chrysler dealership during the muscle car era. Ah the road tests. Then moved to an import dealership, was a Land Rover master tech. 20+ years. Then moved on to be a tech support person for a Land Rover parts house. Now fix trucks on the phone and on the internet. Here 10 + years. Oh yeah was mister mom for a few years in the middle of it all.
 
In high school and college I was a bouncer, worked in a paper factory, did construction, hung awnings, delivered appliances and furniture, sold shoes, and worked at the college field station at Lake Raystown, Huntingdon County, PA. I also used to do yardwork for Mrs. Sheetz. Her husband owned the Sheetz convenience store chain.

Now I'm a Podiatrist (foot surgeon) and I do writing for Catholic periodicals on the side.
I love it. From bouncer to foot surgeon. Very nice!!!! How long did the schooling take?

Andrew
 
DH has had herniated discs since a work injury about 15/18 years ago. Worker's comp is a joke. VESID is a joke. He was back at work, but is now back out and doing his best at being self employed via taking over a business I started. He ended up with herniated discs in his neck as well, which cause migraines. And disability laughed at him, basically, so he didn't have much choice, he hasn't been able to find another job. I started the business he is now involved with to get out of an office job, because I get chronic migraines (since I was a kid) and it's pretty difficult sometimes to be nice to co workers, lol.

so, yeah, I have a boring office job. Nothing special, no skilz required.

My "second" job is still the business I started and DH is now involved in. I design greeting cards and t-shirts. We were doing more but the economy sucks and we closed up the branches that involved inventory. We're back to working with fulfilment companies. I hate the lack of control, especially over quality, but it's nice to just design, upload (tag, name, etc) and wait on a check (well, it's not THAT easy, but compared to actually producing things, shipping, and dealing with customers, some of whom didn't have a great grasp on English, it SEEMS that easy). It all started with my DSLR and a photo I took of our old Baja slingin mud. Never would have thought that the one saying I came up with while staring at it would end up all over the freaking web (if only we'd have had the $$ to TM it!!). So yeah, if you're into off roading and have heard the phrase "If the mud ain't flyin, you ain't tryin"-that was me, back in 2005 or so. I have the pic somewhere still, it's from a seasonal use highway out here.

I'd be in heaven if we could make that and rehabbing older homes/cottages (think Rehab Addict) our sole means of income. But that is as likely to happen as winning the mega millions. Actually, I think we'd need to win the mega to have the capitol to do it, lol.

Swedishchef...we've actually talked about moving to Canada, especially coastal or cottage country areas. Looks like you need to prove you'd be an "asset" to the country to get a visa though, and DH is afraid he wouldn't be considered one, all things considered.

Hrmm. I am certain you could move here and get the green cards require. They simply don't want someone to arrive here and become a parasite (we already have enough of them..) of our social systems (and I certainly don't think you would!). Especially if you brought your business with you, there are tons of grants for businesses to develop/expand and grow.

You have the drive of a God. Incredibly touching story. Move to Canada, we have tons of land for sale ;)
 
First worked in a Chrysler dealership during the muscle car era. Ah the road tests. Then moved to an import dealership, was a Land Rover master tech. 20+ years. Then moved on to be a tech support person for a Land Rover parts house. Now fix trucks on the phone and on the internet. Here 10 + years. Oh yeah was mister mom for a few years in the middle of it all.
Land Rover? Very nice. DId you have the chance to own one?
 
I love it. From bouncer to foot surgeon. Very nice!!!! How long did the schooling take?

Andrew
Four years of undergrad, BS in biology/pre-med, 4 years at Podiatry school, two years of surgical residency.

I often wish I had followed in my family's footsteps instead. My grandfather was a welder in the PA railroad shops in Altoona, my dad was a plumber/mechanical contractor, one brother is an electrician and another a plumber. My direct ancestors made PA longrifles. If I had it to do over again, I wouldn't be in medicine.
 
Interesting comment Brian. I have never met anyone who regrets a field such as medicine. It's a long road to get to where you are, you didn't change your mind during your studies?
 
I love it. From bouncer to foot surgeon. Very nice!!!! How long did the schooling take?

Andrew
funny....spent years stickin' his foot up peoples arse (that deserved it), and now fixes the foot
 
Four years of undergrad, BS in biology/pre-med, 4 years at Podiatry school, two years of surgical residency.

I often wish I had followed in my family's footsteps instead. My grandfather was a welder in the PA railroad shops in Altoona, my dad was a plumber/mechanical contractor, one brother is an electrician and another a plumber. My direct ancestors made PA longrifles. If I had it to do over again, I wouldn't be in medicine.

Granted my wife never put in the same amount of training or education . . . but she says the same thing about her work as a nurse. The "bad" stories and stress far outweigh those days when she comes home and feels as though she has made a real difference -- these days if the day was uneventul for her I count it as a great day.
 
At Work: Official Title Team Lead Level 4, sub-titles Programmer Analyst, Team Lead, Systems Analyst, Technical Analyst, Contract programmer.
Mainly working in Insurance using Legacy Mainframe Technology.

At Home: Cook, wood processor, house cleaner, etc...
 
Interesting comment Brian. I have never met anyone who regrets a field such as medicine. It's a long road to get to where you are, you didn't change your mind during your studies?

Actually, I really like what I do. People come to me in pain and leave with relief. Its a humble but rewarding profession.

On the other hand, with the constant threat of frivolous lawsuits, frivolous insurance audits, byzantine government regulations, and now socialized medicine, its just not worth it. I WILL NOT work under socialized medicine, and I will not share my patients' private medical information with a malignant Big Brother. I'm working on getting out of my field of practice. I'll still be in medicine, but in an administrative role.
 
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for "professional" jobs....technical illustator, hair stylist, now stove guy....still have dreams of becoming a Jedi Knight though, or Llama/Alpaca Herdsman.
 
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clearly Jags is a samurai/ninja/wushu master with a penchant for the dramatic.....who else would warn you of your impending doom with an exclamation like WASABI!?? Unless he's a sushi chef and its more like a question than a statement.....WASABI!??
 
I'm a School Psychologist. Just to be clear (because it comes up a lot), this is NOT the same as a School Counselor, not even close.

I come from a long line of farmers. I wasn't allowed to have a "job" in HS, my "job" was to work on the farm. I decided then that I would not be a farmer. I should explain: I come from a long line of the hardest working farmers you've ever seen. I'm so extremely proud of my father and what he does, he is the ruler that people use to measure their success around here. I knew I'd never be able to do anything close to what he does, so I opted out and went in a completely different direction.

When I graduated from HS I went to college to get a degree in Computer Science. Around the second year I decided I didn't like it as much as I thought, and changed to Psychology. Did so at just the perfect time that my coursework gave me a minor in computer science without wasting any credits. As graduation came closer I realized that I couldn't do anything worthwhile with a BS in Psych, so went on to grad school in School Psychology. It's the perfect blend of helping kids with learning disabilities, giving mental health support to kids, and working with a LOT of statistics and numbers.

I've held a number of jobs in college and since. I was a ski instructor, I worked at a body shop detailing cars, I was a ski-lift operator, I worked at Walmart, a video store, worked in the computer labs in undergrad and graduate school, worked the campus computer help desk, was a statistics tutor in grad school, I worked in county mental health when they were short one summer, and I've been a track & field coach.

I really just want to be retired. I enjoy my hobbies more than any job I've ever had. Stupid hobbies tend to cost me $$ though, so there's that.
 
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