What is your profession / trade ?

[dentarthurdent]

I'll jump in...

I design and write web-based use interfaces for Tivoli (part of IBM Software Group). I work from home (or anywhere I can get a decent internet connection). That, combined with home-schooling our kids has me really looking forward to getting our bus converted.

 

[Roasting8]

Now, my turn.

I'm an electronics tech, maintaining mail processing machines.

I've had many jobs, but find that working as a technician rewarding to me .

The company I work for is Bowe Bell and Howell.

Robert

 

[the_experience03]

Hmmm...well...I've done many things.

I had attended college for 3.5 years pursuing a mechanical engineering degree, but soon found myself not enjoying it. I loved the design portion of things. I love working with materials. I even love analyzing stuff. What I do not enjoy is being a CAD monkey or doing marketing and unfortunately that is where a lot of the market is in what I wanted to specialize in (machine component/powertrain design).

I had a bit of a crisis of sorts. It was time to decide what I needed to do. I looked at many career options. Many of them appealed to me. Many of them did not. You see...I'm perfectly content working blue collar stuff, but I would feel as though I wasn't fully working to my personal capabilities and that would keep me from being happy.

Fast forward a little...I'm now in school for automotive technology and just completed my first semester with a 4.0. It's amazing how well you can do at something if it is truly what you enjoy and are passionate about. If I can turn a hobby into a career....

So what do I currently do? I sling parts at a local Auto Value parts store about 25 hours per week. I also moonlight for a local sleazership on weeknights after school anywhere from 5-15 hours per week.

My dream job? Well...I'd like to take my A.A.S. in engineering along with my diploma in automotive tech and work for one of the big companies. Toyota has many offerings doing R&D on new products ranging from maintenance procedure stuff to hand building, dyno testing, and tearing down engines. That's the kind of stuff I would enjoy. It's a cross between mechanics and engineering. If the need arose I would return to school on the engineering side, hopefully on their meal ticket.

And yes...eventually I would like to have my own shop (atleast part time) that does custom fab and engineering work for vehicles, especially wheeling rigs.

 

[SD26]

I teach motorcycle racing and track riding schools. Still race motorcycles also. I offer some motorsports consulting services too.

 

[timbuk]

wow who ever thuoght that a bunch of skoolies would be so resourceful up here in canada i am a sheet metal jman have been for near 20 years i work in pulp mills and saw mills flashing cladding venting and fabbing i ran a shet metal shop for a roofing company for 10 years then left that a year ago to work at the fab shop where i work now less stress and i get time off in the summer now so that is where the bus comes in handy there is a wealth of knowledge in the skoolie forum! tim

 

[bus-bro]

Ferryboat engineer here. Know how to run diesels (change L.O. and fuel filters). Ironically, my bus is four miles away, but since they decided to scrap my beloved ferryboat it's now 90 miles & 2 ferries. Drove my bus yesterday, a 3208 Cat. 70 MpH on the flats, drives like a VW Vanagon.

 

[lapeer20m]

paramedic firefighter

 

[Buster-SKO]

My turn,
I am an ee and manage "critical power" for one of if not the largest data farm in the world. Part time wanna be bus mechanic.
Dave

 

[reprobate]

Carpenter- framing, trim and cabinets. Been self-employed for 25 yrs. Lately been masquerading as a biologist working for an environmental consulting firm on a contract basis on short term projects. That's why I love this forum, everyone is way more mechanically talented than I, so I have a great rescource for info when I need it. Not to mention, just a friendly bunch. That said, thanks to all and a happy new year!

 

[KC10Chief]

I just hit my 10 year mark in the Air Force this past Saturday. I started out as a heavy aircraft mechanic. I worked on KC-10's and the E-3 AWACS. Then I cross trained and now I'm a flight engineer on the AWACS. I sit right behind the co-pilot and have a huge panel that I run during flight. I manage the engines, hydraulics, fuel, aircraft pressurization, electric power, and handle in flight emergencies. I also pre-flight the aircraft, and plan the flight such as the best altitude to fly at for the conditions. It's a pretty intense job, but I really love it. The AWACS is a pretty interesting plane. The crew consists of 23 people. Two pilots, a navigator and a flight engineer up front, and 19 people in the back that do various jobs like directing fighters and watching their backs for enemy aircraft, missiles, etc. We also do a lot of counter drug operations in South America.

 

[pete c-SKO]

Electronics tech/grease monkey working on mail inserting machines like somebody else here already mentioned. Infact, worked for the same company, bowe bell and howell until the site I work at took over their own maintenance. Now I work for them.

 

[Roasting8]

Electronics tech/grease monkey working on mail inserting machines like somebody else here already mentioned. Infact, worked for the same company, bowe bell and howell until the site I work at took over their own maintenance. Now I work for them.

Damn, I thought I was the only inserter tech crazy enough to take on a bus.

Nice meeting you pete.

Robert

 

[Buster-SKO]

My turn,
I am an ee and manage "critical power" for one of if not the largest data farm in the world. Part time wanna be bus mechanic.
Dave

I forgot to mention that I own and operate a recording studio on the side, we produce for local talent and have worked for some folks that have done pretty well in the business. and if any of my skoolie family would have a use for such a facility, a large discount could be yours for the asking. I have been a musician all of my life and have had the good fortune work with some real professionals.
Dave

 

[Buster-SKO]

My turn,
I am an ee and manage "critical power" for one of if not the largest data farm in the world. Part time wanna be bus mechanic.
Dave

I forgot to mention that I own and operate a recording studio on the side, we produce for local talent and have worked for some folks that have done pretty well in the business. and if any of my skoolie family would have a use for such a facility, a large discount could be yours for the asking. I have been a musician all of my life and have had the good fortune to work with some real professionals.
Dave

 

[Buster-SKO]

Sorry about the double post. "Damned Blackberry"
Dave

 

[pete c-SKO]

Electronics tech/grease monkey working on mail inserting machines like somebody else here already mentioned. Infact, worked for the same company, bowe bell and howell until the site I work at took over their own maintenance. Now I work for them.

Damn, I thought I was the only inserter tech crazy enough to take on a bus.

Nice meeting you pete.

Robert

You just might be, Robert.

I'm a wannabe busnut. Maybe someday I will grow a pair of nuts and tell the wife I'm getting one. I had best make it livable quick as she will probably throw me out!!

So are you an on site guy or field tech?

Doesn't SBC have a big site there where they do all their billing? If so, it's the place that put me out of a real cushy yob. We did the SNET billing. I was the onsite guy for 2 machines. Man, that was sweet....til one broke.

 

[Roasting8]

[quote="pete c":26thjxhz]Electronics tech/grease monkey working on mail inserting machines like somebody else here already mentioned. Infact, worked for the same company, bowe bell and howell until the site I work at took over their own maintenance. Now I work for them.

Damn, I thought I was the only inserter tech crazy enough to take on a bus.

Nice meeting you pete.

Robert

You just might be, Robert.

I'm a wannabe busnut. Maybe someday I will grow a pair of nuts and tell the wife I'm getting one. I had best make it livable quick as she will probably throw me out!!

So are you an on site guy or field tech?

Doesn't SBC have a big site there where they do all their billing? If so, it's the place that put me out of a real cushy yob. We did the SNET billing. I was the onsite guy for 2 machines. Man, that was sweet....til one broke.[/quote:26thjxhz]

Well Pete, I'm an onsite guy working at ATT, formerly SBC (same place, different name ). I've been working for BBH (old BH type) for about 8 years and started in Phoenix, working at ATT, Mesa site.

The way I got around the wife problem was I got the bus, without her permission. When she said it's either the bus or her, I took the bus

Actually, got rid of the wife, then I got the bus.

What's really funny was, getting a bus, was about the only thing the ex and I agreed on. The thought of travel, not to mention, me being busy all of the time, appealed to my ex.

Robert

BTW Pete, check your private messages. I'll be sending you one soon.

 

[reprobate]

Buster, you had better be at the gathering if we ever set a date. A real musician in our midst. Nice!!!! I wish i had talent, musical or other...sigh....

 

[Elliot Naess]

...a recording studio... ...musician... Dave

And you live where?


All right, I'll fess up.
I started out as an automobile mechanic and somehow wound up as a truck driver. (Not sure what happened -- something about a nasty labor strike and also my divorce. ) Been pushing 18-wheelers for 26 years on and off, but I only do it part time now.
On the side I write magazine articles for a car magazine in Norway (where I was born). Been doing that for a dozen or more years. Much more fun than driving truck!

 

[bbkid]

i'm a professionally hated man as well as a student (IT, getting my associates and a+ cert. hopefully MCSE too), but my main occupation is as a slacker/procrastinator (my girlfriend hates my job, lol) in all seriousness i work for the largest outsource customer service firm in the country under contract to the most evil financial giant i know of (BofA) i'm a senior specialist in their northwest market of customer service and support. i know WAYYYYY too much about checking and savings accounts, and how you can either get screwed on fees or know the loopholes and how to use them. i can't wait to get out of it, but it does look good on my resume.