Shit I've done in my life.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

I've never quite decided if my life has been unfocused or if I just have a wide range of life experience.

Some of the things I've done since school- I've been a DJ, a farm worker, a hydraulic press operator, an optical lens grinder, a cannery worker, a machine shop assistant, a steel worker, a welder, an assembly line worker, a forklift driver, a warehouse stockman, a paint mixer, a weed eater and grass cutter, a landscaper, a medical transcriptionist, a biker, a dump truck operator (they used to call me the double-clutch King), an irrigation system designer/installer/troubleshooter, and a computer troubleshooter. I've been in the Air Force. I've been a union rep. I've been a volunteer factory fireman. I've studied karate. I've studied zen. I'm a published poet. I've been a librarian. I've been a draftsman. I've been a tire changer. I've been a computer graphics artist. And I've been a photographer.

And that covers just about thirty five years- I'm sure I've forgotten a thing or two. My average job has lasted from two to four years- the longest I stayed at any one company is fourteen years. I've been fired twice.

I've lived in six states and in two countries.

And I'll tell ya one thing- I've had one hell of a lot of fun doing all that stuff. And not to brag, but I've been pretty good at it all.

So how's YOUR life going, and what have YOU been up to lately?

[lildreamer316]

1. COOL! btw:

are you a Leo, perchance? Just wondering.
Have a girl friend like that. My husband is a tad that way too. He's been so many places; had so many different jobs and experiences. Not quite as many as you...

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

2. I'm a Gemini.

True story- I was a twin, except my other half was stillborn. I've often thought he simply decided to ride along with me instead. I've often felt another person inside me, and I suspect it is probably him.

[lildreamer316]

8. Now that's really interesting.

I can understand that. Must be fun to live with...
Hey..look at it this way: you are having a life for two! That's why you have done so many things, maybe.
I like Geminis - except the one guy friend I had that was, flaked on me a bit. Eh, I love him anyway.

Anyway, the stories you can tell! I admire people who try a lot of different things. One never really knows what any job is about until you DO it. Lots of different slices of life.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. My dear Prisoner_Number_Six!

Wow! You have been around the block, and numerous times, too!

I'm glad you've had fun!

There's a lot of material for any sort of writing that you might want to do, as well!

My life is going well, thank you...

I'm becoming a poet, as you know...

Last night, I was inspired to write a couple of poems...

I'm considering taking another class, if my teacher has something at a reasonable day/time...

Thanks for asking!

:hug:

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

6. You always WERE a poet.

You're just now waking up to that fact.

[Droopy]

4. I'm a trucker and I'm cool with that

I've been doing that for the last 11 years. Before that I was a dish washer, a pizza maker, a printer, and a machine operator. I've been all over America and Canada, but I will always be an Ohio boy and that's where I'll live for the rest of my life.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

5. I lived in Ohio for many years.

Needless to say those were my drunken years... :rofl:

[Droopy]

17. That wasn't Ohio's fault

[From The Ashes]

7. You sure have done a lot...

me, on the other hand...
I've worked retail, in a pizza joint, more retail (I hate working retail) worked as an internet tech support person and now as a CATV tech support person.

I've raised two boys to young men, Married young and divorced late. Discovered along the way that I can take care of myself, to my ex-husband's probable disgust.

Oh, and I make a kick ass meatloaf. :9

On edit: packed most of my life in 2 suitcases and moved to Texas.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

9. I packed my stuff onto the back of a motorcycle

and moved to Orlando.

On the day I got my first paycheck from the first job I found, I had exactly forty two cents left in my pocket.

That was CLOSE.

[Skittles]

10. you know what, PN6

you sound like you've been successful where a lot of people have failed - people who feel the need to jump around usually seem to end up miserable but you sound like you just savor it.

I'm moving by the way, and by my count, including my years as an Air Force brat and Air Force soldier, it will be around my 30th move. :o

[Richard Steele]

11. I still haven't ever ground an optical lens, so I'm jealous of that.

But I've done alot of things myself. I think it's good
to be well-rounded.

[Oeditpus Rex]

12. DJ and draftsman

Crossings in mist.

I shoulda stuck with drafting instead of following the stench of printer's ink. I'd probably be happier now.

DJing was just for fun.

Mostly, I've been a flawed human. And that's okay.

[MilesColtrane]

13. The list...

Busboy
Oyster shucker
Dish washer
Fry cook
House painter
Warehouse schlepper
Sand blaster
Assembly line worker
Machine shop worker
Assistant manager of a bookstore

Finally, I've had the good fortune of being a full time musician for the last 20+ years, so it's a happy ending.

[Callalily]

14. Congrats!

You've certainly lived an interesting and fulfilling life!

[trof]

15. Sounds like fun. OK, in more-or-less chronological order:

In my teens:
Grocery bagger/stock boy/ass't. produce manager.
Landscape specialist (mowed lawns).
Factory assembly work.
Trampoline 'instructor'. Trampoline Centers were approx. a one-summer fad.
Part-time minder for elderly stroke victim.
Artists' model.
Advertising agency gofer.
Newspaper advertising dept. gofer.

20s:
Hardware warehouse worker.
Hardware co. purchasing agent.
Lifeguard (Myrtle Beach)
ANG recon/fighter pilot.
Bartender/short order cook.
Newspaper photographer and ad sales.
Editor of newspaper business page.
Advertising manager at office furniture manufacturer.
Instructor pilot.
30s:
Airline pilot.
Newspaper ad sales.
Airline pilot.
Realtor.
Airline pilot.
Real estate appraiser.
Airline Pilot.
(3 layoffs during airline career)
Retired.

And then...for about 3 weeks...after 2 days OJT with ZERO prior experience...Field Supervisor (WOOHOO) for FEMA contractor in post Hurricane Ivan clean up of our town.
And that temp job was even nuttier than the trampoline gig.

5 states, 3 countries.

[Sugar Smack]

16. You are awesome.

I think maybe I've been waiting for a thread like this, so I don't feel alone with my many jobs:

I'm a writer, cartoonist, have done radio news, studied at the Sorbonne for one summer. I have been a cake decorator, worked in bookstores, work in a clothes store now, driven a van as a courier, printed business cards, was a receptionist at a standardized-testing place, worked on a converted Norwegian whaler for radical environmentalists, worked in a galley cooking, worked in a fishing lodge in Alaska, was a graphic designer, and done community service at the ArtsCenter. ;-)

I forgot "waitress". The worst waitress I think I've ever met.;) ;)

[Richardo]

28. .

Fred Flintstone fingers... :blush:

[Richardo]

29. Great resume...

...you're hired! :loveya:

[Sugar Smack]

30. WOW!Thank you for that!

WOW!Thank you for that!

:loveya: :yourock: :rofl:

Don't EVER change, my friend.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

32. Worked on a WHALER!!!!!

Now THAT is cool. :toast:

[Sugar Smack]

33. The ship had been confiscated by local authorities for illegal whaling

and the group I was with appropriated it!! I still miss the smell of diesel fumes, believe it or not, and I miss the feeling of having "sea legs" once I got back on land.

:bounce: :toast: Cheers to you!

[1gobluedem]

18. What an interesting life

I really admire people who have the courage to pursue a variety of interests through work or otherwise.

Since graduating from college I've managed a retail store, worked as an office manager at an embroidery company, done public relations for a major corporation, sold newspaper and radio advertising, then settled into my current public radio development director job sixteen years ago. Along the way I saw a six year relationship fizzle, built a new lasting relationship that's forever whether we decide to get married or not, adjusted to life after brain surgery, learned to accept the loss of hearing in one ear and a balance disorder as the result of that surgery, and learned to deal with with the disappearance of a dear childhood friend who is presumed murdered. In all, I've been pretty darn lucky; wish I could say the same for my friend.

[LaraMN]

19. I think that is a great way to gain perspective about a lot of things,

and if you enjoyed it, all the better.

I start my first *real* professional-like job next week.
I may vomit with apprehension.

:scared:

[underpants]

20. Under achieving student, went to 5 universities, 3 years in the Army

(in Germany-got to go to lots of places), shot big wooden targets with a 25mm Bradley chain gun (never missed), went back to school and got my degree, forklift operator/lumberyard/cook/waiter/9 W-2's in 1989/...., saw lots of coolass concerts,met my wife, had the best little girl ever, ran a marathon, cahnged jobs rather ubruptly this year

Yeah it's been pretty cool so far

[mzteris]

21. just out of curiousity -

what kind of student were you in school?

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

23. Mediocre.

I stopped doing my homework in the fourth grade. To this day I cannot tell you how the hell I managed to graduate on time from high school. The only higher education I pursued was some night school for my computer certs.

[mzteris]

24. were you bored?

Bright but unchallenged?

Disorganized?

Any diagnosed or suspected-but-undiagnosed learning differences/disabilities?

did you do well on tests, but couldn't get your assignments in?

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

26. Supposedly somewhat bright. Extremely bored.

Absolutely disorganized.

I recall doing all my assignments while riding on the bus to school- I was out in the country, and the bus ride lasted over an hour. Plenty of time to fill in the blanks.

I found out much later that they had recommended I be set ahead a year, but my parents didn't do it. The reason? I had a big sister the next grade up, and they didn't want us together. They didn't want me to embarrass my big sister by doing better than her. I never forgave them for it.

[mzteris]

34. yup -

you fit the profile. Just checking. :D

At least your life has been interesting, and that's a lot more than most people can say!

[Fox Mulder]

22. I'm sure you have many great stories.

I hope I can have a lot of great stories someday as well.

I'm in my mid 20s so I haven't done much:
Teens:
-Janitor assistant at my local high school
-Groundskeeping crew at the nursing home
-worked as a dietary aide in the same nursing home's kitchen
-installed computers at local high school

20s:
-Worked as a circulation assistant at my college library
-retail
-retail (two different summers)
-half-assed my way as a college student
-retail
-now I work at a printing press

Future:
-finish college

[Ellen Forradalom]

25. Going well

I'm also A Magnificent Human Being Without Focus or Direction.

These days I'm a swimmer, a runner, a Perl hacker, a French speaker, a mother, a friend, a lover and a dog person.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

27. Sounds great.

My sister has a chocolate Lab that has a psychic link with me. When I call my sister on the cell phone, Lady knows it's me even before my sister picks up. Lady starts wagging, and she runs to the door hoping I'm going to come take her for walkies. Works every time!

[kwassa]

31. Art student, motion picture production, steel worker, dog catcher, cab driver

news cameraman, assembly-line worker, insurance adjuster, computer company accounting, social service case worker with refugees, visual display for department stores, editorial cartoonist, illustrator, teacher.

and some other things I can't remember.

[KG]

35. oh, yeah

assembled trophies
carpenter
sold vacuum cleaners
owned small trophy shop
fast food mgt
rent-to-own mgt
electronics assembly (boy did i suck at that!)
pizza delivery
convenience store hell
retail hell
call center hell
tire store hell
various sales hell (i suck at commission sales)
and probably missed some along the way
been an AutoCAD drafter for past 10 years.

[Sugar Smack]

37. I must have blocked it out. I've done convenience store hell twice.

:grouphug:

[KG]

39. bijou! only took one time looking down barrel of a gun.

the next week i was signing up to go back to school.

which is something i did twice. :hi:

[Writer]

36. You're the kind of guy that... in a parallel universe...

I'd tag along with, have five kids, write my stories, and experience the world. I think the "shit" you've done is pretty damn cool in my book. :thumbsup:

[applegrove]

38. I've had alot of different jobs. The ones I had in my twenties focussed

on social justice. The ones since then have focussed on hard work that is easy since I have PTSD.