I couldn’t agree with you more, Dave. I do not feel that what my work is defines who I am. I want who I am, to define what my work is. I know I have many skills, talents, and abilities, that are not being utilized productively as I would like them to be. Unfortunately, some of them are not being used at all. That is why I am sufferring in this job. That is why I mentioned I need to get back to writing, get back to drawing, do whatever I can to create and develop. That is why I love coming to the SDMB so much. I can use my mind here. I can express things here, that I have no way to express anywhere else. I can also just come here and have a good laugh and maybe chat with some very interesting and intellectually stimulating people. I have met many such people through here. Thank you, SDMB.
MSK,
I actually have done that very same job. Course I was in high school at the time. Look, hold on to this gig (money is money) but be actively looking for another job. You are far too smart to make this a career. We are blessed with a good economy. I am sure you can find better work, with better pay. You are, after all, a Doper. Chin up mate.
- NM
I just have a little to share with you MSK, but I did want to say that I’ve read all you’ve written and sympathize with you. I think you need to get out of that situation. Surely there’s similar paying jobs where you won’t be forced to work with assholes. And better hours!
Here’s a thought for you. There are probably some independent filmmakers lurking about Indiana. There are here in Kentucky, and movies get made, though not very frequently. They rely on grants and volunteers; this is where you come in. Find out who the indies around there are (Indies in Indy! I kill myself) and see if you can help them out. They’ll appreciate it and you’ll get to work on a Real Live Movie, and even have a little experience to put on a resume if you can indeed turn your life in that direction. Check the colleges and universities for names.
Good luck. And I hope you can further your education. 
Thanks for the encouragement, Ellen, and everyone else who has done the same. The only real things holding me at this yucky job are: lack of finances and my car has been the shop for a long time. I need to stick it out long enough to cover the differnce I will owe in repair costs, and re-activate my auto insurance. That comes to about four weeks pay at this job. I can’t afford to open a gap in my income-flow. As soon as I have the financial backing to move on to a better job I will. I am looking in the paper for anything that may sound appealing. I found something just today that may be what I am looking for, delivery driver for a local bedding company. BTW, My previous job was delivering bottled water for water coolers. I loved that job. I lost it though, and not by my own accord. 
That’s a whole different thread though.
Things seem to be “calming down” at work. One of the “punk” guys may be leaving for good, the other is on vacation this week.
Mike has seemed to have eased off of me, for the time being. Thank God!
OTOH… I almost passed out last night while working. I don’t know why. I have been getting adequate sleep and nourishment. My body may be trying to adjust/reject to the reversal of natural order of living. Who knows. It didn’t feel good though, and somewhat frightened me. It only happened once so far. I have never fainted once in my life, so something is definitely happening to me. 
Mike surprised the hell out of me last at work, but in a good way. Apparently, some of the guys had told me to do something, as part of the job, that did not need to be done, as a joke. I didn’t even know that anything fishy was going on. Mike apologized to me for their prank. Then later on, the store manager himself apologized for the same thing. Sounds like some people are going to get chewed out, and I didn’t even know anything was wrong to begin with! Maybe Mike has a few redeeming qualities after all. I never would have imagined Mike doing anything polite. :eek: