what do you do for a living

[scottishshoemaker]

Have been working with the NHS for 19 years as orthopeadic shoemaker/orthotic technician, always loved the job that is until I joined a Jacobite historical group and started making my own gear, friends asked if I can make them the same. Its went a bit mad working 20 hours a day ;-). Just hoping to do it full time and give up working for somebody else. Interesting backgrounds everyone.

[Billy P]

I started working on my Uncle's father-in-laws farm at 11 years old for .25 an hr. The old man farmed tobacco, corn, soybeans, etc. After I got out of school, I went to work in the textile plants for 1.60 hr. I got tired of working for just about nothing, after taxes take home pay $48.00 a week for 40 hrs. I started working construction shutdowns in the 70's in Nuclear Power Plants, best work I ever had, when working for someone else. I did mostly that until 1996 when I went to work for A.O. Smith Water Products Co., which was the 2nd best working for the other guy job. Diabetes messed up my arteries and lungs in the late 90's and in 99 had 2 heart attacks, then the lungs damage caused me to have to go on oxygen in 2002, so they made me retire. I draw SS Disability and work on leather as a hobby. I don't sell anything as they won't allow me to make any money, but sometimes I do something for a donation, just to keep me in leather and tools, but ya'll know what I mean. I got interested in leather working in the mid 70's and have done it off and on since. Working with leather has to be the best hobby on the planet, I have never found anything else that gives as much fun and satisfaction as a piece of cowhide. When things are going bad get a piece of skirting and beat the living crap out of it, or take a piece and make a beautiful belt, wallet, etc. I still miss going to work at the Plant's and miss most of the people, but leatherworking helps keep me sane. Just a few thought from me, Billy P

[TwinOaks]

I'm a full time Father and Husband. I play with electricity to pay the bills, and leather to satisfy the addiction.

Other jobs include, plumber, roofer, carpenter, gardener, part time wrangler, mechanic, dishwasher, cook, and cheuffer. Basically I work 'cause I have to, tool leather 'cause I love it, and spend the rest of my spare time fixing everything broker than me.

When I'm in the mood for a good chuckle, I like to watch Survivorman and Man Vs. Wild. I can't get through an episode without busting a gut from laughing so hard.

Edited January 20, 2009 by TwinOaks

[jbird]

Mike I to watch those shows don't belive every thing you see.

Josh

There good for laugh for sure

[TrooperChuck]

Mike:

I teach wilderness survival to recruits at the Alaska State Trooper training academy, so, when those survival TV shows first appeared I was keen to see what they had to offer. I stopped watching after a couple episodes.

I'm not saying those guys don't know what they're doing. But, for me, it seems like a lot of fluff and "Gee-whiz-that's-kinda-cool" tricks. I have to keep reminding myself that those guys are in the business of making TV shows. Without their self-created drama their shows would be pretty boring and they'd be out of a job.

If you're interested in seeing what real survival instructors teach, you might keep an eye out for a program on the National Geographic Channel. One of their film crews came with us on our last trip, in November. The show is still in production, but I'm told it will air sometime this spring. I don't yet know what the title will be.

There's also a History Channel program called "Tougher in Alaska - Arctic Troopers" which shows our survival training. That show has already been on TV. It's a great show about Alaska State Troopers, unfortunately the segment on the survival training is only about 7 minutes long.

[Windy]

Mike:

I teach wilderness survival to recruits at the Alaska State Trooper training academy, so, when those survival TV shows first appeared I was keen to see what they had to offer. I stopped watching after a couple episodes.

I'm not saying those guys don't know what they're doing. But, for me, it seems like a lot of fluff and "Gee-whiz-that's-kinda-cool" tricks. I have to keep reminding myself that those guys are in the business of making TV shows. Without their self-created drama their shows would be pretty boring and they'd be out of a job.

If you're interested in seeing what real survival instructors teach, you might keep an eye out for a program on the National Geographic Channel. One of their film crews came with us on our last trip, in November. The show is still in production, but I'm told it will air sometime this spring. I don't yet know what the title will be.

There's also a History Channel program called "Tougher in Alaska - Arctic Troopers" which shows our survival training. That show has already been on TV. It's a great show about Alaska State Troopers, unfortunately the segment on the survival training is only about 7 minutes long.

TrooperChuck

What can I say , I like to see that guy pick up a pile of elephant dung

and squeeze the moisture out of it right into his mouth. I mean come on

now that is entertainment at its best. I bet the guy on Bizarre Foods

probably choked watching that scene.

WINDY

[TrooperChuck]

Windy:

Oh my gawd... I'm glad I missed that episode!

[tashabear]

And I'm looking for the recepy on a cake I tasted last time I was in the US, called "Oakey cake" or somthin' similar...??

What was it like? I've never heard of Oakey cake, but I'm willing to do some searches. I love baking.

[Dynamik1]

I grew up near a municipal airport in Michigan and dreamed of flying. In high school I dreamed of being an aeronautical engineer. Instead, since I was in the Motor City and not an aviation area, I ended up studying automotive design and engineering and manufacturing technology for a year or so. I quickly figured out that Math is not MY friend so my first degree ended up being in Pyschology! Go figure! It seems that there are many more pretty girls than guys in Psychology classes and if you take enough of them you end up with a degree! I worked as a teen counselor in a psychiatric hospital for a year or so and then as a drug/alcohol counselor for a year or so. After getting married a friend got me into computers and I didnt look back. I sold computers for a few years before I figured out that I enjoyed playing with them more. I got into desktop support then into network infrastructure support and finally IT Management.

Today I manage ERP software projects. God only knows what's next but at the moment He is whispering and I am hard of hearing! LOL! If I could figure out a way to combine cooking, shooting, Christian Praise music and leatherwork I might finally have one of those jobs where people say that they love what they do so much that its not work! :-)

[Rawhide]

If I could figure out a way to combine cooking, shooting, Christian Praise music and leatherwork I might finally have one of those jobs where people say that they love what they do so much that its not work! :-)

Well, you could raise cattle, shoot them when mature, skin and tan the hide and cook the meat while listening to Christian music, then pound on the leather when the tannage is complete!!! It sounds like a circle of life!!