Modern Buddy

I am a clinical social worker. Been in a field for many years and things have changed in medical field. A lot! Being in that 50's bracket is tough. I tried to get out of the field couple of years ago, leaving my job of 11 years. It was scary but had to be done: Things did not work out and I had to look for a job. That was very frightening. By the time I was done sending out resume's I had several job offers. I am not sure I made the wisest choice by accepting management position.The stress level is very high. I have learned a lot but there is little time to even use a very generous vacation package that came with the job. I cannot say I am happy, but I can pay the bills and can take care of my family and that makes things better. I can even afford to buy some bling for my scooter. And reading some of the responces on this thread only reinforces what I already know. Things are really tough everywhere for most people and I am fortunate to have a job period.

Mechanical engineer for a solar power systems company.

Well, a couple of weeks ago, after 45 months of looking, applying and rarely getting an interview, I was hired by Severn Trent Environmental Services. I work at a small municipal water treatment plant in their cross connection department. We inspect backflow devices to insure that the public water supply is not inadvertently contaminated by back-pressure or back-siphonage from businesses and from residential homes with pools, hot tubs, irrigation and water filtration systems.

On 5/11, I should have my first certification, and will be able to test these units in the field, unsupervised. It's interesting work... my first blue collar job after years of IT work. I like it, and am thrilled to be working with a very progressive company that treats its employees so well.
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jprestonian wrote:Well, a couple of weeks ago, after 45 months of looking, applying and rarely getting an interview, I was hired by Severn Trent Environmental Services. I work at a small municipal water treatment plant in their cross connection department. We inspect backflow devices to insure that the public water supply is not inadvertently contaminated by back-pressure or back-siphonage from businesses and from residential homes with pools, hot tubs, irrigation and water filtration systems.

On 5/11, I should have my first certification, and will be able to test these units in the field, unsupervised. It's interesting work... my first blue collar job after years of IT work. I like it, and am thrilled to be working with a very progressive company that treats its employees so well.
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Congrats man! It may be blue-collar but it sounds like a job with real and tangible benefits to your community and you get to spend time outside in the fresh air instead of a cubicle. I'd say that this is fantastic news.

chas wrote:Congrats man! It may be blue-collar but it sounds like a job with real and tangible benefits to your community and you get to spend time outside in the fresh air instead of a cubicle. I'd say that this is fantastic news.

Oh, yes -- I very much enjoy the work! In the first interview, I was asked why I wanted this job, what with my IT experience. I truthfully answered: "Safe, clean water is at the top of the list for having a civilization, and going to bed every night knowing that I helped keep 33,000 people from getting sick or dying beats the hell out of making pixels dance on a PC screen."

I like to think that was the right answer. ;)
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Congrats! I know you've been looking for a while, I'm glad you found something... and something you like, too!

LunaP wrote:Congrats! I know you've been looking for a while, I'm glad you found something... and something you like, too!

Thank you, dear. How's the recovery coming?
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In August I will be receiving a 125% raise!

I'm a teen librarian. It is pretty much my dream job, other than getting paid to travel and/or read.

Before I got my current position, I worked as a general library assistant in a public library while getting my MLS degree and at the EPA Library after that. But now I get paid to buy graphic novels, books, CD's and DVD's, play D&D, run an Anime Club, watch movies and generally have a great time coming up with creative programming for my teen patrons.

But shhhhh. I am still trying to keep the mystique that came with the position from all my other coworkers. Everyone told me "how brave" I was to want to work with teens. And I just say "I know, right?!"

jprestonian wrote:

chas wrote:Congrats man! It may be blue-collar but it sounds like a job with real and tangible benefits to your community and you get to spend time outside in the fresh air instead of a cubicle. I'd say that this is fantastic news.

Oh, yes -- I very much enjoy the work! In the first interview, I was asked why I wanted this job, what with my IT experience. I truthfully answered: "Safe, clean water is at the top of the list for having a civilization, and going to bed every night knowing that I helped keep 33,000 people from getting sick or dying beats the hell out of making pixels dance on a PC screen."

I like to think that was the right answer.
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Have you smoke tested for cross connections yet?

Nothing more fun than playing with smoke bombs and getting paid for it!

BuddyRaton wrote:Have you smoke tested for cross connections yet?

Nothing more fun than playing with smoke bombs and getting paid for it!

Not only have I not, I haven't even heard mention of this process. To the Google!
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Ah, now I see why. :)

We don't handle anything having to do with sewage or stormwater. Just the potable stuff. :)
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ericalm wrote:Art director, which is sort of a graphic designer, only with a bigger ego.

http://hoveringartdirectors.tumblr.com/

I'm a freelance Field Producer/Production Coordinator for video/film. That means I book crews, locations, equipment, etc. I conduct interviews and direct shoots to ensure we acquire all the production elements we need for a successful video. The last two years I've been working on a lot of FAA stuff, which means I got to get up close and personal with cool aircraft, runways, air shows, and aviation technology. I also dabble in editing when I have time.

Pro sample:
http://youtu.be/MJvQRWK5yog

Oshkosh Air Show with Planes, Peeps, Scoots:
http://youtu.be/CQAzvZ3Qxlk

2011 Reno Air Races (at the course pylons):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCJM4RRWv4A&feature=plcp

Dracolibris wrote:I get paid to buy graphic novels, books, CD's and DVD's, play D&D, run an Anime Club, watch movies and generally have a great time coming up with creative programming for my teen patrons.

uhhhh, AWESOME!!! welcome and great to have another anime lover here! what are you guys watching currently?

I am a loss-prevention detective for a major department store, an EMT, and a pretend Starship captain!

black sunshine wrote:

Dracolibris wrote:I get paid to buy graphic novels, books, CD's and DVD's, play D&D, run an Anime Club, watch movies and generally have a great time coming up with creative programming for my teen patrons.

uhhhh, AWESOME!!! welcome and great to have another anime lover here! what are you guys watching currently?

I'm a little limited in my choices because of the lower age range, and we only meet once a month for two hours, but in the last few months we have watched Vexille and Heroic Age. I loved Vexille!

Dracolibris wrote:

black sunshine wrote:

Dracolibris wrote:I get paid to buy graphic novels, books, CD's and DVD's, play D&D, run an Anime Club, watch movies and generally have a great time coming up with creative programming for my teen patrons.

uhhhh, AWESOME!!! welcome and great to have another anime lover here! what are you guys watching currently?

I'm a little limited in my choices because of the lower age range, and we only meet once a month for two hours, but in the last few months we have watched Vexille and Heroic Age. I loved Vexille!

looked up Vexille, that looks awesome! i'll check it out. i watched Heroic Age for a sec but then fell off. i'll have to pick that back up

right now all i'm watching is Brave 10 and (not anime but still awesome) the Legend of Korra.

black sunshine wrote:
looked up Vexille, that looks awesome! i'll check it out. i watched Heroic Age for a sec but then fell off. i'll have to pick that back up

right now all i'm watching is Brave 10 and (not anime but still awesome) the Legend of Korra.

I missed the beginning of the Legend of Korra, so I am kind of bummed about that. Figure I will probably wait until it is released on DVD.

I also just got Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit for the collection, so I want to give that a chance next month. It depends on who shows up- if it is all girls, we might end up watching Chobits.

Stormswift wrote:I am a clinical social worker.

I have a BSW, though aside from internships I've never worked in clinical practice. Even in school, my focus was macro social work, and I intended to get a graduate degree in public policy. That didn't happen. Life took some weird turns.

amy wrote:

ericalm wrote:Art director, which is sort of a graphic designer, only with a bigger ego.

http://hoveringartdirectors.tumblr.com/

Very familiar with this.

Although, until a couple years ago, most of my work was in editorial (remember magazines? newspapers?) so I usually had an editor or publisher hovering over me!

A thick-accented Malaysian art director I used to work with would actually throw things and wave people off by flailing his skinny arms to prevent what he called, "HOverrring." "Quit HOverrring! Go away! I'm not your pigs in a blanket!" (I never understood that last part.)

Dracolibris wrote:

black sunshine wrote:
looked up Vexille, that looks awesome! i'll check it out. i watched Heroic Age for a sec but then fell off. i'll have to pick that back up

right now all i'm watching is Brave 10 and (not anime but still awesome) the Legend of Korra.

I missed the beginning of the Legend of Korra, so I am kind of bummed about that. Figure I will probably wait until it is released on DVD.

Nickelodeon on demand has it!
I didn't watch the original series but have started watching it via Netflix streaming.

We could have a MB Manga/Comics/Anime/Animation club, but I'm hesitant to reveal just how much shojo, teen romance manhwa, etc. I read.

ericalm wrote:"I'm not your pigs in a blanket!"

That's Malay for "Why Red is Red?"

Syd wrote:

ericalm wrote:"I'm not your pigs in a blanket!"

That's Malay for "Why Red is Red?"

I think "Why Red is Red?" is actually Chinese for "IDK, WTF?"

I work for a scooter shop, but I'm a full time student pursuing my Business bachelor's in Operations Management Information Science's ( basically computer/business degree) I originally was going for computer science but got tired of being a programming robot, so I figured I would add business to the computer mix.

My dream job would be to open up a brewery. I homebrew beer as my other hobby and would love to open a commercial one. If you like craft beer check out my FB page and "like" it please
www.facebook.com/threesheetsbrewingcompany

ThreeSheets wrote:I work for a scooter shop, but I'm a full time student pursuing my Business bachelor's in Operations Management Information Science's ( basically computer/business degree) I originally was going for computer science but got tired of being a programming robot, so I figured I would add business to the computer mix.

My dream job would be to open up a brewery. I homebrew beer as my other hobby and would love to open a commercial one. If you like craft beer check out my FB page and "like" it please
www.facebook.com/threesheetsbrewingcompany

Which shop do you work for?

Hehe, I just found Animal Planet's "Monsters Inside Me" tv show clip about what I work with. I couldn't stop laughing. I'd say that the description is "high school level" appropriate, but as depicted in the video "middle school" level of accuracy.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4aVUrGO97Zg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Tanzania is eastern Africa...the dominant subspecies there causes the acute (very fast) infection. In most of Africa, it's a different subspecies that's a very chronic, long, difficult to diagnose version of sleeping sickness.

I'm amazed they called it "Trypanosoma." That'd be like showing a wolf and saying it's called "Canis" (Canis latrans is a coyote. Canis auereus is a jackal. Canis lupus familiaris is a dog. etc. .) For a show about monsters, it's a weird thing to do.


I want to start watching this show... I'm worried that I'd end up finding it funny though, and the intent of the show is scary <.<

I work for Allstate Insurance as a "Customer Relationship Specialist". Satisfying job knowing I'm protecting people from MAYHEM! haha. Just recently had a large fire here in Idaho about 4 miles from the office, destroyed 65 homes and burned 1,000 acres of one of my favorite riding areas. Feels good to be on the front line though for getting people back on there feet.

I am a certified nurse-midwife and I deliver babies, or teach other people like residents and medical students the fine art of baby delivery

I got tired of working over ten years ago when I got layed off for the 7th time. I like not working a whole lot better.