I know many of you work, so tell us about your job. I think this would be useful to young people and others who want to know what kinds of jobs are out there. Describe your job, what you like/don't like, and if you would have done anything differntly in your career. If you are retired, tell us what you did.

I prepare income taxes (during tax season). I like doing this for several resons: I stay home and people come to me, I love to dive into those bags of receipts! I enjoy helping people with their finances, I don't charge much, so it helps people who are low-income. (I am actually thinking of not charging anyone this year and just letting them pay me whatever they want! My husband thinks this would be a great idea!!)

I have been doing this for 7 years, and only advertised the first year, word of mouth has increased my business greatly. The worst parts are wading through all the IRS mumbo-jumbo! Some of those people need lessons in writing CLEARLY!

-- Melissa (cmnorris@1st.net), November 01, 2001

Answers

Lets see, currently I am a stay at home mom, and love every minute of my job. I get to watch my children grow and learn right before my eyes and know that I had a hand in it. There is nothing better.

Prior to parenthood, I worked as a Special Deputy Sheriff and EMT in my hometown. My "beat" was an explosives mfg. plant, so I got plenty of excitemnt from things going boom in the night. Basically the job was a lot of walking, checking buildings, and staying prepared for the odd arrest or injury. Our department also doubled as the plants fire response team, confined space rescue team, and first response medical team. It was a very exciting, challenging job for me, which I thoroughly enjoyed!

Take care!

-- Judy L (quiltjude@iwon.com), November 01, 2001.

I was an LPN and worked at a large hospital for 25 years. I had to retire early 3 years ago because of scoliosis and osteoporosis which give me lots of pain. I loved my work, although management was a hassel at times. I highly recommend the medical field for anyone who loves people and loves helping people. You can almost always find a job!

-- Barb in Ky. (bjconthefarm@yahoo.com), November 01, 2001.

I am the receptionist at the Indiana State Museum. It is a good and extremely easy job so far, I say that because after the first of the year I will be doing nothing but packing, as we are moving to the white river state park. A building four times the size we're in now. I have learned so much being here, you would be surprised at how many frozen birds I have had shipped all over the country and Canada.

-- mindy (speciallady@countrylife.net), November 01, 2001.

I have a Bachelors degree in Medical Technology and almost have a Masters degree in Immunology and Molecular Biology (I dropped out of school for financial reasons after my divorce and just never went back). I have worked in medical laboratories finding blood for people with rare blood types, doing tissue matching for heart transplants, and testing blood samples in clinical trials for new AIDS and hepatitis drugs. The company that makes the kits I used to do the AIDS testing was impressed with my work and hired me to teach other customers how to use the tests. Now I'm completely out of the laboratory, I work for the same company doing regulatory submissions. When the company wants to market a new test or make changes to an old test I coordinate all of the scientific information and send it into the FDA for approval. My jobs have been very interesting, but they also have been very stressful. I have to carry a pager and be on-call during nights and weekends. It is a good career for someone who is interested in science and medicine and likes to solve mysteries. There usually isn't much patient contact when you work in the hospital laboratory so it's good for someone who doesn't want as much face-to-face interaction as in nursing but still wants to help people.

I finally got burned out from all the stress and disenchanted with working for a gigantic medical manufacturing company. I have been interested in holistic health for quite some time, so I am now attending massage therapy school on the weekends and studying to be an herbalist. I hope to be able to "retire" from the corporate world in 3-4 years and start my own healing practice.

-- Sherri C (CeltiaSkye@aol.com), November 01, 2001.

I'm so blessed to be a stay-at-home homeschooling Mom of two precious girls. Before that, I worked for Sprint in Business Customer Service, dealing with large businesses in Las Vegas, Nevada. That was interesting, to say the least! I don't miss it a bit! Before that, I was a personal assistant to a motivational speaker/author in Austin, TX. And during my life, I've had jobs ranging from working in my mother's gift shop in the Oklahoma City Capitol Building, to being a dog groomer, to working in a Wal-Mart cash office (mainly counting money for 8 hours!) to being an event secretary at a convention center, etc. I think I've done it all, but what I'm doing NOW is far more rewarding!

My hubby is a truck driving computer tech. He couldn't make enough money as a computer tech, so he does it at home in his spare time (as if there were any!) and drives a truck to pay the bills.

-- Cheryl in KS (cherylmccoy@rocketmail.com), November 01, 2001.

I "retired" from the land title industry when I married hubby. I'm also a stay-at-home mom, homeschooling five children(with a sixth off to BYU this year). Between tending and teaching children, and keeping the animals and gardens, I stay plenty busy;)

-- mary (marylgarcia@aol.com), November 01, 2001.

Forgot to put my husbands. He works in construction. Normally he works on highway construction, or at the Wright Patterson Air Force Base, repairing run-ways (cutting out old concrete and re-pouring) Hruns the big 2000 lb saws. Some of them have 48 inch blade! He also finishes concrete. They also repair/build bridges, and repair concrete roads. However due to some budget(state-wide) cut-backs their company didn't get much work this year.

So he has been working locally doing construction work (concrete sidewalks and patios, remodeled an office complex,excavating, and many other little jobs). He loves to build anything and is pretty good at it. He is in excellent physical condition from working so hard. He hasn't gained one pound since I met him when he was 22. That is the benefit. But this summer he was working some 60 hour weeks, so he was tired a good bit. Now however things are really slowing down.

-- Melissa (me@home.net), November 01, 2001.

Let's see , where to start? First off I went to school to be an elementry school teacher. At the time I subed. and taught at a small christian school. When I had my son I wanted more time, so I opened a beauty shop in my home(I had previous training!). Then about a year ago several of my friends could not find quality daycare. At the same time my dad got laid off for the 15 or 17th time(can't remember) in a 20 year period. So in the interest of everyone I sold everything and moved to the farm to help. I also opened a small daycare. I love staying home. I do wish I didn't have to watch 6 children, but until I meet Mr.Right, I will be content to do this and homeschool my son.I have learned that if you don't like your job, you will never be happy. I hope everyone can have the oppertunity to find something they like and do it. God Bless.

-- Micheale from SE Kansas (mbfrye@totelcsi.net), November 01, 2001.

Hello Melissa, I am a self-employed handyman. Most of the work I get is carpentry (my speciality). I also care take a couple of properities in the area. I plant trees and do landscaping. I cook, (seasonal). I sell my hand made doll furniture on Ebay along with various yard sale finds. I flea market a couple of times a year. I sell some of the produce that I raise in my gardens. (Just sold 120 pounds of black walnuts). Also, I recycle discarded materials and sell them to a nearby salvage yard. Sincerely, Ernest

-- http://communities.msn.com/livingoffthelandintheozarks (espresso42@hotmail.com), November 01, 2001.

I am an architectural draftsman. When people ask me what it is like, I ask them if they ever built model planes - boats - cars - etc., when they were younger. If they respond with a yes, I tell them I write model instructions. "Okay, Mr. Contractor, I want you to build me a building. Using these dimensions, and materials shown. I want these materials fastened just like this." That is the short answer.

Drafting is what I have done since I was in high school (part time), then after I dropped out of college (couldn't find anything interesting there), I continued with the profession. My wife still can't believe that I look forward to coming back to work. I just like the challenges and results. My architect boss gets the picture in the paper with the shovel and meets / greets the owners; I get most of the fun!

-- j.r. guerra (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), November 01, 2001.

I am currently a stay-at-home homeschooling mom of two boys who tries desperately to keep my exec husbands life together! Prior to our recent move to Alberta, DH and I ran our own ecommerce development business. Prior to that I worked as the office manager for a provincial cattlemen's association/beef marketing office.

-- Tracy (trimmer31@hotmail.com), November 01, 2001.

Currently I'm a SAHM homeschooling 2 teenage girls. I make/repair horse tackwhen I can get the work. I have previously worked for a veterinarian and groomed dogs. Looks like I may soon be learning the fine art of running chicken houses for Perdue. Gloria

-- Gloria (mullinaxclan@webtv.net), November 01, 2001.

Hi Gloria,the above post,she is my friend. Alright you guys will know i'm old when you see all the jobs I've done. Before I start,I tell my young friends to do different jobs nver know in life how that job will help get another job. Experience look good on a resume. I started out at 11 years old babysitting, then selling Avon,drug store(where I helped in cosmetics) Sear's PBX the old phone system, managing apartments,day care, clean churches, banquet server,work on a farm taking care of cattle, house cleaning business,cleaning and decorating furniture store. Husband is retired Military and has did some of these different jobs with me. He now works at college as a equipment manager,he had done sports things when he was in the military,so this help get him with this wonderful job. We have a small farm and raise beef,we sell some to pay for expenses. In Dec. 1993 a virus went into my spine and killed some of the nerves.I had to learn how to walk again. I still have to use a cane or walker when going outside,but I thank the Lord for all my healing,I get stronger every year. Instead of working out of the home,I now see how many ways to save; I garden and freeze the extras,cook meals,crochet and sew. We travel but take our trailer instead of fancy motels. I cut my husband and my hair. I love to decorate and help others when they get a new house. Learn everything you can and don't let people say you can't do it. When we build our house, I say we had the book in one hand and the tools in the other.

-- Jo (farmerjo@kalley.com), November 01, 2001.

We own a family buisness my Dh puts in about 60hrs a week I work about 35-40hrs my 14yr and 12 yr old boys work during the summers. Our store is a convenience/gas/deli/food market. We live about 6 miles from the store.We make all kinds of food like fried chicken,pizza, sub sandwiches etc. I do a lot of the cooking. We have 5 employees.Owning a small buisness is very time consuming and everyone thinks you've got it made but it is very very hard!!! Unfortunatly this is all we know how to do. My husbands family has always worked for themselves he's never not been the boss! I love this forum and hope it's OK I jumped in.

-- Nancy in N.C. (graf_nan@hotmail.com), November 01, 2001.

I started out as a Registered Nurse in 1970 and then went back to school in 1974 to be a Nurse Practitioner. Nowdays, NPs are RNs with Master's degrees in Nursing..back in the day, the nursing schools were not interested in NPs so all the programs were run by Medical schools instead. In order to get in you had to be "supernurse" (in my case, I always thought it was a computer error LOL). The programs were two years in length..we took classes alongside the residents..2 weeks off at Christmas and two weeks off the first Summer. It was HARD! Anyway, glad I did it because I had a wonderful career. I loved working with the "sub-cultures" of America. I have had practices with prostitutes and drug addicts, inmates and foster children, homeless folks and Amish..what a riot career! Once I worked for awhile in a suburban office and it drove me batty..all the mommies so obsessed with little susie's runny nose and wanting antibiotics for everything..it was not a good match! I did research in neonatology in St. Louis, and taught at the local medical school for four years. That was fun! The last day I worked at the maximum-security prison was like something out of a movie. I will never forget it as long as I live. The Warden had given me permission to treat inmates up on the blocks because too many of them were not being seen for their illnesses and the regular docs would not go. So, for three years I would go right into the cell blocks without an escort of any kind. I didn't need one because the inmates were so grateful, they protected me form any of the really bad guys. On the last day, I went from block to block to say good-bye. There were over 2,000 men and each one of them gave me a standing ovation. It made me cry to think that by simply extending myself to meet their healthcare needs I had touched so many hearts. It was wonderful. Being a NP allows you to both treat and teach each patient. Nobody ever left my office without knowing what was wrong (or right), why I was going to treat them with a med (or not), what to look out for and when to call me. 31 years in healthcare and I do not regret a single moment. My husband was a Manufacturing expert for his 32 years of working..he started in the warehouse and ended up President of the company. Never missed one single day of work in all those years...not ONE! When there was a blizzard, I would beg him to stay home and he would tell me "No, if I don't show up, what will the men think?" What a guy! His career ended when a drunk driver rear-ended him while doing 65 MPH. My husband was stopped at a red light at the time. Bad head and back injuries from all of that...you cannot run a business after a head injury..the good thing about us both being at home now is all of that wonderful time we have to be with each other! too cool.

-- lesley (martchas@bellsouth.net), November 01, 2001.

After working since 14 and putting myself through school, I am taking a break to be a SAHM. We are beginning homesteaders and I spend most of my time tending to kids, gardening, canning and learning about raising food (veggies and meat).

I don't miss the corporate life as a professional (business consultant) one bit (ok, sometimes the money). Finally we are at the point and place (!) where we can afford (with frugality) for me to be home. Well, I was always home but doing daycare and rental management and consulting so it was really hectic.

Hubby is now devoting himself to a new career and I am supporting him totally by relieving him of many of the chores he had to do when I worked part time (taking kids to school, doctor, sports). I do all the cooking, cleaning and laundry to make that possible. And I would prefer it this way.

When we get situated, I'll probably look for part time work that allows me to have the kids' hours. We've raised one to adulthood already and see the benefits of that.

I truly enjoyed reading the thoroughly inspirational things above. Lesley--I hope you would think of speaking on the subject of your job in the peniteniary

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), November 02, 2001.

I am a stay at home mom and a consultant for a company called PARTYLITE. I go out 2 nights a week and hold candle partys. I love doing this and make great money. If anyone likes candles , let me know. kellie

-- Kellie (candlemoms40@aol.com), November 02, 2001.

I work at a vegetable/nursery/apple farm three seasons and am currently considering what to do for the 4th! I am considering several different options. I may just try to get a job working retail locally (which I could do quite well but wouldn't necessarily enjoy or learn from). I may set up a partnership with one of the girls I work with offering educational programs for schools linking local agriculture and nutrition (which may be viable for next year but I don't think we'll be able to get it together quickly enough for this year). I would like to learn how to tune pianos. In the past I have worked on a variety of farms, worked in hospitality, retail, a vet's office, an extension office, and a hot tub rental place. I have owned/operated 2 businesses, one quite successful, and one marginally so.

-- Sheryl in ME (radams@sacoriver.net), November 03, 2001.

I babysit for my cousin in my home. I'm currently doing crochet work and trying to get some orders, I crochet doilies,baby afghans,regular afghans you name it. My husband and I do woodworking also.

-- kay (kay@arn.net), December 12, 2001.

I'm a creative. What's that? I can't put my heart into anything but creative advertising. I've done a variety of things, but I've spent the last five years in TV News. I almost became one of them, but I came to and I've been running ever since. So I'm on the run....I started to feel like the guy in 1984, but I'm in the woods now and it feels great. Only one problem. Someone needs to pay me to be origional and witty. So here's my plan. I'm going to grow a beard, let my hair grow long, and tell my fiance to chill as long as it takes to convince people I'm a creative. Call me if you want to see my portfolio. I've got a stack of napkins on my dresser you wouldn't believe.

-- Chad Parker (cparker@cuxi.com), January 02, 2002.

Oh man I hate it when I spend so much time typing and I get bumped. I sure hope that someday that stops!

Well, I'm going to summerize my story that I had almost done before I got bumped.

Worked on our farm. Worked for other farmers also, picking squash,potatoes (PresqueIsle Maine) shoveled snow,and any other odd job for some change. Mom ask me to quit high school and get a job at a consrtuction site. I did and hated it but stuck it out. I also went to night school and got my G.E.D. but not the same as graduating:-(

Moved to Florida in 1978 with siblings and mother(parents divorced when I was six) Did the dishwashing jobs. My family moved back to Maine in 1979 but, I wanted an adventure so I hoped on a Greyhound bus with $135.00 and a trash bag with a few clothes. I went to Miami. Everyone who knew me thought I was nuts and looking back I must have been. I had no job,no place to live,had never been to Miami,knew no one in Miami and had never been out on my own.

I got yet another job washing dishes (day I arrived in Miami) years later saw most of the kids who arrived in Miami at the same time I did selling themselves for a burger. I knew I would have to work and thank God things worked out for me. I was 18 and very,very shy.

Two weeks of being in Miami I met a terrific lady and her husband who took me to their shop for a tour. While there they had a call needed horse collars (They propvided the airlines with equipment to ship livestock by air). They ask me if I could help make horse collars for 1/2 hour? Seven years later when they sold their business because they wanted to retire I went to work for a resort condo where the rich and famous live and hang out. I started as security (all 5'5" and 115#'s of me) A year later they needed someone to show the units to clients, they said I had the personnality for it so was promoted. I loved it and was able to show lots of famous people around the place and had a great time. However, crime became so bad that I finally made up my mind to move to a more peaceful place (Yeah right!) So, I left Miami in 1988 and moved to Daytona Beach where I worked at a motel. I enjoyed that but my boss was the worst ever! After 7 years of that I got the chance to move to New Hampshire and did and I am glad I did. I got animals right away.

I now am assistant manager of a plating shop. The general manager are now in the process of starting our own shop. We have people who are willing to help us get started (financially) but we are not to sure about doing it this way as most of the offers come from customers. We'll see what happens in the future. We are looking at buildings and we have a man who wants to invest (he used to own the place that we work at now) I really don't know what route we'll take. My life seems to take unexspected twist which has made it very interesting and I like it like that. George

-- george (bngcrview@aol.com), January 03, 2002.

I love my work. I am a freelance writer. I write and copyedit for textbook series, magazines, newspapers, etc. I also do occasional residencies in schools with kids. And I'm _always_ doing my creative writing; so far, nine short stories, one novel that's about to be sent out to publishers, a second novel in progress, and various other creative pieces. I'm always in the process of submitting my creative fiction stuff, but as you might know, getting fiction published is tough. I have published lots of nonfiction stuff.

I began writing seriously when we moved to the country. There weren't a whole lot of jobs around and I was sure I didn't want to work for anyone else again. I taught piano and voice for awhile too, and directed a choir in town, but I enjoy writing more.

I also get involved in trying to bring writers and listeners together and organize readings.

It's the beginning of the year and once again, I need to reassess. 2000 was a very good year...2001 was very lean! I feel like it was preparing me for the "recession" that finally hit the news!

-- Cat (catcrazy@somewhere.com), January 04, 2002.