I was in Air Force boot camp with a guy who had a bullet in his back from several months earlier. Real big, strong, muscular, intimidating-looking dude, but actually the nicest guy. We called him Tiny. Apparently someone got pissed off at him, he (Tiny) ran and the other guy pulled out his piece and shot him in the back. Tiny went to the hospital, where they said that it would likely kill him if they removed the bullet. Well, he joined the Air Force, didn’t tell them about the episode, and the bullet started causing problems during pushups and the like. He got discharged and I have no idea what’s happened to him since.
True story. I took an international shipping class as a gen-ed, where we learned how to calculate all the different costs and determine what goes where and how. Very interesting stuff.
How does this, well, work? How did you get the job, if you don’t mind me asking? What kind of qualifications are involved? What exactly do you do? Is it kind of like the SDSAB?
I like cleaning artifacts. It’s slow, detailed work that would probably drive most people mad from the tedium, but I love it. I love seeing something beautiful emerge from centuries of grime, and I always have a tiny thrill of pride that my tender care will help ensure this object’s preservation into the future. I get a sense of awe knowing that mine might be the first hands to have touched the surface of that item or seen its true colors in a hundred or more years.
People come up to me and ask what I’ve read that I really really liked. We walk around, I suggest several titles and then they buy one – or sometimes all the stuff I’ve recommended. While we’re meandering around the store, we chat about books.
It isn’t human disassembly, but then really, what else is?
L&D RN agrees
It’s all about the babies. Helping a new life arrive and get off to a good start. Detecting a problem before it gets bad. Knowing normal so well that any slight abnormal sets off alarms. Newborns with a bit of personality, seemingly patient or pissed. Vibrant and alive. Every one potentially magnificent --who are they going to be?
I own my own business, and like panache love the flexibility.
I also work part time at a local greyhound rescue, and it rocks to go to “work” and get kisses and snuggles from these furry little wiggleworms. It’s especially rewarding to see sick dogs get better, broken legs straightened and strengthened, shy dogs blooming into rub-hungry affection-monkeys.
My interaction with adults is limited; I much prefer 12 year olds. I have an entire room all to myself with a giant window that lets in lots of sunlight. No one micromanages me, so I can do things as I think best for my students. My co-workers are decent human beings. I have tenure, so I have job security for life if I want it. I make up my own teaching materials. School will start at 9:10 next year.
The classroom give-and-take. Usually it’s me doing/saying something that prompts that lightbulb-going-on moment in a student. Better yet are those times when a student says something that makes say “Hmmm… I hadn’t thought of it that way before.”
For me, my job is dead easy. I’ve been training for it since I was 13. I’m not micromanaged, in fact the management is fairly invisible - it seems to be a totally “hands off” style. This is nice, but it also has drawbacks, which they never see coming until it’s a problem. I haven’t had any benefits or a vacation in 5 years. But hey, I have lots of free time, I don’t punch a clock, I don’t get dirty, and everybody likes my work.
My only job right now is volunteering at the SPCA, although Im starting an internsip on tuesday.
My favorite part of the job? Despite having to deal with puppy poop, annoying adopters, and the occasional skeevy adopter I just want to chase out of the place with a wet mop, I can play with all the puppies I want. Plus, since I don’t shirk at actually helping to clean cages and deal with people, the salaried employees don’t care if I “borrow” a puppy every once in a while and play with it in the back room/walk around with a goofy ‘puppy love’ smile on my face.
**The present project we are on, is rebuilding an old barn which was originally built in 1512, it gives you great satisfaction when you get the job completed. If you have to work it helps if you enjoy the job, and you can have a laugh as you go along, makes for a great life…
I have plenty of time during the work day to read and reply to the SDMB. Unfortunately this will be coming to an end soon. I have to help setup and install a network appliance that will build logs of Internet use and allow reports to be generated. It will show what users are browsing and when.
I know what your real job is, but that post sounded pretty creepy.
