MichiganRocks
starting to spend too much on rocks
"I wasn't born to follow."
Member since April 2007
Posts: 154
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Post by MichiganRocks on Mar 24, 2006 16:38:49 GMT -5
Occupation? What's an "Occupation"?  I read this post and at first just blew it off cause I don't really like to talk about my past life. But then, as more people posted, I thought maybe, what the heck. I was a Manufacturing Engineer for GM. I worked on automatic transmissions since the move to front wheel drive in all the cars. I specialized in the manufacture of Torque Converters. I worked with design engineers on the product designs as well as the manufacture. By the time I was 47, I was a corporate engineer and was actually in a position to make a difference. Then one day I work up, and my body wasn't what it was when I went to bed, and the world changed. My career was over overnight. I've had to build a new life, and my rocks were a big part of that. Proabably that and my singing and carving were the changes that helped the most. My Jeep was the one holdover to my past life that I wouldn't let go of. Now I just try to keep my time, and my mind, occupied. Sorry to be such a downer.  Getting involved with this rock board, and the friends that I have made here, have done more to help me over some rough spots than you could imagine. Thank you all! Ron |
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chassroc
Cave Dweller 
Rocks are abundant when you have rocktumblinghobby pals
Member since January 2005
Posts: 3,586
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Post by chassroc on Mar 24, 2006 16:56:03 GMT -5
I work as a computer programmer in Boston for a firm that invests retirement money mainly for Govt and Commercial retirement/pension plans and endowments. It is a fun, fun job where you can use your creativity and solve/fix/(create?) problems/puzzles every day. I reinvent myself every couple of years to stave off unemployment and to prevent my job from migrating to other techie nations where the pay is lower...If the financial climate in the country ever really improves, I'll switch to contract programming so I can devote more time to finding rocks and making jewelry. Actually that's a copoutI just need the nerve to leave the corporate umbrella.
csroc
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Post by driftwood on Mar 24, 2006 17:22:58 GMT -5
I am a water treatment plant operator ( Drinking water plant ). I operate a 80 mgd plant in Los Gatos Ca. Its a fun job if your into analyzing lab samples all day and watching the charts spin !
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Post by krazydiamond on Mar 24, 2006 17:42:27 GMT -5
::)where to start with this one....? i guess i've always been a draftsman, person, drafter. started out doing technical illustration and patent drawings, exploded views of test equipment, this was all by hand and on paper until the early eighties when it all went Computer Aided Design and Drafting systems. i worked int he computer industry digitizing and eventually laying out Printed Circuit Boards and eventually managing the CAD department for a large computer manufacturer. then the bottom dropped out of the computer industry in the mid to late eighties and i totally jumped tracks and went into architecture (which is really what i went to school for in the first place). i worked for a number of architectural firms after that and even did a three year stint on "the dark side" working as a project manager for a General Contractor.  that was the hardest job i ever loved. my last real paying job was as a Senior Architectural Designer in a satelite office for a mainly Civil Engineering firm (dirt engineers). the stress finally got so bad i decided to chuck it or kill my boss and spend the rest of my life in prison.  luckily, i didn't kill the SOB >:(and i have been blissfully unemployed for the past few years. i am desperately trying to make the rock and jewelry thing pay, but, a new occupation may be in my future......who knows? "Don't Panic" , hubby told me, so i am currently Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds here at the house and work away at the rocks when i'm not plowing or mowing or doing all the other domestic engineering chores.... cool thread, folks, yet another dimension... KD |
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KG1960
has rocks in the head
Member since August 2008
Posts: 512
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Post by KG1960 on Mar 24, 2006 20:25:30 GMT -5
As far as a paying job goes: Chemical Engineer, P.E. with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Division of Air Pollution Control. My main duty is to do inspections at the various industries in my district. Also, I investigate complaints and investigate incidences. What I mean by an incidence is an occurrence where a company exceeds their allowable emission rates through accident, breakdown, malfunction, human error, etc.
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Post by Cher on Mar 24, 2006 20:35:09 GMT -5
Hey Cher, let's just make it April, then you're fired! YaY ... I'm fired in April, Yippeeeee WoooHoooo Thanks Ed, I don't think I've ever looked so forward to getting fired in my life. |
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Post by Original Admin on Mar 24, 2006 21:39:50 GMT -5
I am a total drifter. I mess around on the net.
I have no "occupation" - as that would imply Im stuck with it.
Mark
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Post by Original Admin on Mar 24, 2006 21:48:44 GMT -5
I still am a programmer though and one day (next september) im going on a plumbing course so that I can implement some hand skills instead of messing round on the net. My ultimate dream would be to make every member of RTH a millionaire. But thats quite difficult - however it isnt beyond me. Seriously. Mark |
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Post by stoner on Mar 24, 2006 21:49:10 GMT -5
I'm so glad you're getting fired in April Cher!!! Man, that's gotta be a great feeling.
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Post by Alice on Mar 24, 2006 21:52:49 GMT -5
That's fantastic news Cher!
Congrats on getting that pink slip!
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WyckedWyre
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since April 2007
Posts: 1,391
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Post by WyckedWyre on Mar 24, 2006 22:02:51 GMT -5
Mark, Nice dream. I'm in. Seriously. S |
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Post by xenaswolf on Mar 24, 2006 22:16:31 GMT -5
WHOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOO! Lets have a YOU'RE FIRED Party for Cher!
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thewiz
has rocks in the head
"What good is money if you don't spend it"
Member since January 2004
Posts: 735
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Post by thewiz on Mar 24, 2006 23:03:02 GMT -5
neat thread
carpenter - waiter - dish washer - gas pumper- stock boy-
chemical operator for sunoco - cement finisher - now site super for my brother's land development company.
was a stay at home dad for awhile "wife can't handle the kids" she likes to go to work better. has more power there, she's the boss. which lets me have the freedom to change jobs when ever i get bored.
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J9
having dreams about rocks
Never met a rock I didn't like
Member since October 2003
Posts: 66
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Post by J9 on Mar 25, 2006 1:54:59 GMT -5
Congratulations Cher, that's great news. Time flies, but this was probably the longest "job" you've ever had.
I am technically called an "Operations Specialist" for a large health care organization (I know, the bad guys). I get to stick my nose in everyone's business and tell them how to do their business better. Lots of process improvement stuff. Suits me perfectly....and it's only 10 minutes from home.
Janine
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Rockygibraltar
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2006
Posts: 1,404
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Post by Rockygibraltar on Mar 25, 2006 2:47:10 GMT -5
I'm a toolmaker and machinist. Currently I'm working at a company that makes machines that assemble and package syringes.
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deepsouth
fully equipped rock polisher
He who rocks last rocks best
Member since January 2004
Posts: 1,256
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Post by deepsouth on Mar 25, 2006 5:31:48 GMT -5
Congratulations all to a :""JOB"" well done.
As for myself...I have retired from active farming and enjoy the freedom of watching others work.
Went to New Zealand in 1969 shortly after getting married. Got into farming in this country as the opportunities were endless.
3 years as farmhand and half a year in a dairyfactory. Bought about 100 dairycows and started farming as a 50/50 sharemilker. Moved up the ladder after 2 years to a 120 cow job and 3 years later to a 160 cow job. Sold half our animals to be able to buy 100 acres where we milked 100 cows for 12 years. Loaded everything onto trucks and moved to a 200 cow farm across the island--east.
After 5 years we moved to the deepest south of NZ with lock stock and barrow and had a 350 cow operation. Grew after a year to 420 cows and this year we have just purchased some land next door so that we can grow to 600-650 cows. In april we will be able to start taking most of the fences apart and set that piece of land up for dairying. It was in sheep and deer.
It means that I will have less time for rocks for a while but I will keep my eyes to the ground in case something unusual turns up . You just never know where a good rock comes from
Oh yes, we also raised 6 children which have all grown up .
Jack
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thehawke
freely admits to licking rocks
My Lord and Master
Member since January 2006
Posts: 866
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Post by thehawke on Mar 25, 2006 12:23:59 GMT -5
Cher! Congrats! Glad to hear about your impending firedom.
And Mark, I want in on the millionaire thing too.
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Post by Cher on Mar 25, 2006 14:35:06 GMT -5
Whoa, sorry folks hold the congrats for a bit longer. So far, Ed's the only one who's fired me in April, have to wait until the 29th and hope the doctor does too. Guess I was just practicing, it felt good anyway.
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jlc0321
spending too much on rocks
Member since September 2005
Posts: 408
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Post by jlc0321 on Mar 25, 2006 18:09:26 GMT -5
Did just shy of 8 years in the Navy, repairing helicopters, while chasing Russian subs around the Atlantic. Came back to Michigan, started working for an
underground contractor in 90, made foreman about 4 years later, still pushing a crew 12 years later. I've got the perfect job for rock-hounding here in Michigan. Am constantly digging up rocks, from 2-3 feet down to 30-40
feet down. ;D
Now I just need to talk our owners into taking out of state work. ;D
Jeff
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Post by stoner on Mar 25, 2006 23:54:38 GMT -5
Wow Jeff, that is a rockhounders dream job.
And Cher, I put in some unkind words about you to your doc, so he will have more incentive to fire you!
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that was the hardest job i ever loved.
