Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge What Does Everyone Do For a Living

Sorry Wendell, you Flyboy guys got it all wrong!! The NAVY does it the right way, we ALL stay the hell out of harms way and send our "greeting cards" the old fashioned way, from about 25-50 miles out from unknown and almost unlocatable locations! Now THAT is the smart way to do things. Then you have your junior officers around to buy the beer for YOU!!

State wide Law Enforcement......24/7 coverage. Before that was an U.S. Army Explosive Ordanace Tech. (Bomb Tech for short). Worked on everything from fire crackers to nuke weapons and every type home made bomb in between.

Dwight,
No politics in this, unless you include ALL administrations for more than 2 decades and could probably extend that back most of 50+ years. The latest was a little-known 1998 law with the delightful acronym FAIR (the Federal Activities Inventory Reform Act) opens the door to wholesale outsourcing of Forest Service personnel. Under FAIR, each federal agency must classify its employee positions as either “inherently governmental” or “commercial” in nature.

That is about all I am going to inject myself into that part of it.

Most of the outsourcing goes to medium and large US companies. They have to be large enough to take over the entire Forest Service department they are bidding for – it is up to us to show we can do the job "cheaper" or our jobs are inherently government (inherently government is very hard case to make). From what I have seen first hand, if outsourced, it starts out being cost effective, but within a very short time ends up costing much more than having left it alone. Time will tell, some have gotten through the evaluations and stayed, others have not made it. IT and auto/equipment repair shops did not make it. I know there are some more, but can not think of them off hand.

I,m retired for the last 4 years, I was in the canadian army. I,m only 44 years old so I got lot a free time to ride my Triumph.

well, ive got all you lads and lassies beat lawyer NO brainsurgeon NO aircraft engineer NO systems analyst NO banker NO (i said banker you dyslexic tit) i,m wots known in the trade as a DITCHDIGGER a plane old labourer, for a waterworks dept of a local municipality. yes thats right im the lazy fat btasrad who closes your roads down to one lane (during rush hour, )and stands (leaning on a shovel)looking into a hole with three other guys . im married (to the ol )have three kids (one of each). a dog a cat a rabbit and a rhino called percy. actually ive got 2 kids a 20 yo( ma wee lassie) and 17 yo (ma big laddie )we also look after two downsyndrome lads , who are great fun . the ol is my highschool sweet heart 28yrs together 21 married. ride the bike every chance i get ,hunt twice a year and fish every other chance i get. and well truth be told we put down percy cause he liked to use the cats litter box unfortunatley while the cat was using it .

I am a Senior Customer Quality Engineer- when people screw up on their jobs, I get to explain why.

manage a team of software engineers for a law firm.

Jack,

Thanks for the explaination. I hope that whatever you decide to do next, you'll be happy and it will be profitable for you.

But, I still don't quite get that Forestry Service/Private Enterprise thing. We're talking parts of our country that the collective citizenry have interests in. I don't know...but I think Teddy Roosevelt could just be doing a good whirl, six feet under, right about now.

Cheers,
Dwight

Spent the first 16 working years doing too many odd jobs to list. Had lots of fun along the way since I wasn't loyal to any of them. (my record was 8 W2's in one year)

Got married at 30 and had to try and grow up. Tried my own business, too much work. Settled into chemical tech with landscape industry, blasting the environment with chemicals to make your plants prettier. Did that for 14 years.

Currently work for United Way, officially as a reports person, doing all kinds of statistical reports, slicing and dicing numbers. Unofficially, job has evolved into applications development, using VBA to make nifty little apps for our staff so they can spend more time out getting your money, err, donations. [Y'all need to step it up -- I haven't had a raise since the stock market dropped and y'all started holding on to your money.]

Married 20 years to a teacher, 3rd grade, who likes to hop on the bike for short jaunts. Last few trips to dealer she has been eyeing the bikes like she wants her own. [Y'all need to step it up.... <g>] One daughter, fun age of 15, color guard in HS, who wants her own bike. When she and her friends talk about driving and what cars they want she tells them she wants a Tiger. Life is great!

I work for the Department of Veterans Affairs in the Information Resources Deaprtment, Networking, switches, hubs, that kind of thing.

Married 27 years next week, 2 boys, grown and gone from home, I love the empty nest!

I'm a union sheetmetal worker, been doing that since '89. After my apprenticeship I went back and got my sketchers stamp. The last few years I've been doing alot of welding so I decided to get my certs. I currently am certified to weld galvanized and stainless with the mig and stainless with the tig. I have been a uion trustee for just over a year. I am also the cubmaster for our cub scout pack (been doing that for 6 yrs now- 2 more to go).

I'm married to a great woman (she puts up with me).This summer will be our 13th anniv. She went through the safety course and got her license a couple of years ago. She still doesn't have her own bike yet . We have 2 wonderful boys who are active with scouts. The oldest is striving for Eagle (he'll be Star rank soon). The youngest will be a Webelos scout in a couple of months.

Been riding on and off since a kid. I currently have 2 bikes, A '02 BA and a '69 TR6R(that I'm rebuilding).

Yet another Airline mechanic....US Army from 1981 to 1987 fixing small turboprops (U-21/Mohawk), Hangar One, Atlanta (FTY), General Aviation, ended up at Valu-Jet in 1995 here in Atlanta taping up ex-Delta DC-9's. V-Jet grew into AirTran Airways, and we now have 140 or so Boeing 717.s and will receive our 24th and 25th new 737-700's next week from Seattle. Been with the Airline since 12-95, Union represented Supervisor/lead mechanic (?!?!). I pretty much hang out under concourse "c" here at Hartsfield waiting on mechanics that can't figure out problems on the planes. More boredom than anything...Pity anyone contemplating an aviation maintenance career, as market is flooded with A&P mechsnics...
I am married (2nd) for 14 years in April, 4 kids (2 from each), 2 grandkids. Looking forward to the fishing season, and love modifying chainsaw/leafblower engines and mounting them on 1/4 scale R/C airplanes. Nothing like a 20 pound 81 inch wingspan plane flying by (inverted) 3 feet off the ground with that distinctive 2 stroke "chainsaw" sound at about 60 mph!!!
Looking forward to Ga Rally in May, gonna take 4 days off, and sleep under the stars.....

Wow, this is like the longest thread on this site that doesn't suck.

I do international development work for institutions like the World bank, USAID, UN Development Programme etc. Mostly accountability, anti-corruption, that kind of thing. Over the last few years I've had projects in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Lao, Phillipines and Ethiopia. I get some interesting opportunities, for example I took my fiance on a trip through the Khyber Pass to Afghanistan last May.

You can bet the US Border people take more than a second look when I take my bike over the border for road trips into the US from Canada and they see all the Pakistan visas in my passport.

All the time overseas doesn't give me much time for riding, let alone fettling, but my bikes give me something to day dream about when I'm stuck in airport lounges or in really boring meetings.

From sunny Port of Spain,

Chris

Hey Tinman, you have the exact same bikes as I do. 69 TR6R, and 02 BA. Your 02 is even red as mine is. What color is your 69? Or what color will it be? Red is my color, My 69 is a little darker red than my 02. I am also currently restoring my 69, I was diligently doing so until I seen an 02 BA on E-bay and had to have one. I bought my BA August of 2002 and put the 69 on the back burner for a while but I am starting to get back to restoring her. I will have to try to get some of my old pics converted to digital and get them posted. I have owned my 69 since 1982 rode her for 3 or 4 months got in a little trouble with the law (DWI) and figured I would tear her all down and redo it so I did and it turned out looking great I got many good years of riding out of her and then the wiring started giving me problems (old and brittle, cracking) so I figured I would replace the wiring harness and as I was tearing it down I thought well maybe I will redo this and then that and the next thing I new I had a bare frame. So I am about mid way on my restore job and now I want to finish her up. Well hey I just thought it was cool to see someone else with the exact same bikes as I have and also in the middle of a restoration on the 69 as well. Take care and good luck on the restore. Ron

Cool thread. Been here reading, posting on occasion for a long time, but its nice to get to know everyone. Anyway, thought I'd participate. So, heres my work history:

Lived in Upstate New York, about 30 miles NE of Albany through high school, where I learned to work with metal. Followed the parents to Florida after High School graduation and continued with the steel work. Press Brake, shear, punches, bridgeports, lathes, etc. Upon college, learned to weld, mostly tig, but some stick as well. Never did much Mig. Lots of stainless, some aluminum, some mild steel. Really miss some of that work, but it was rough on the body. We were being paid piece rate, and I was killing myself trying to make enough money to survive. Moved from that to pouring concrete for about two years. Pretty rough in the Florida heat.

Graduated college after 6 years (University of Central Florida...go Knights!) with my Computer Engineering degree. Worked the same job ever since, on various projects and having various titles. Business card says Electrical Engineer. I mostly write software now. Currently working with the Marines on their next generation test system. Occasionally get to go out in the field, as it is a portable tester, and hang with the guys from ELMACO (Electronics Maintenance Company). Earned my private pilot license about 2 years ago, but its been a year since I've flown. Planning on getting back to that. Motorcycles have been part of my life since early on, about 9 years old. Dirt bikes are my first love. Bought the Triumph because I saw one in the hangar where I was flying out of, and I liked it alot. It was a newer Bonneville, and seemed to fit me pretty well. I also didn't want a super fast bike, as my need for excitement leads me to perform extreme acts of foolishness on occasion, though I am slowly outgrowing that. Loved the Speedy when I saw it at the showroom, and the rest.....is history.

Life is good.

I'm impressed by a lot of the posts in this thread! I've been a teacher for the last 25 years. The last twenty of them have been nothing byt cut-downs and fewer adults in our schools. And then they (politicians in this the People's Republic Of Sweden) scratch their heads and wonder why results have dropped??? What keeps me still doing this are the kids and OK, the hours and holidays too...

Taxpayer

Pat here has just won the "Funniest AND Man Of Few Words Award" in one fell swoop!!!!

CONTRATULATION, you d*mn New Yorker, you!

Cheers,
Dwight
(Lord knows I'LL NEVER even BE in the RUNNING for it)

Hey Radiator, what town upstate? 30 miles NE of Albany sounds like Granville...

I think I replied allready, but I am a stunt dubble for the porn industry... No wait that was my dream, Iam a flight medic

What's a "dubble?"

Sorry, felt a little wordy, was sitting at work just before a flight and didn't proof it, so I deleted it.

Flight Medic past 9 years, 30 years a Paramedic come April. Navy Corpsman, SWAT Team, Overseas missions to North Vietnam, Russia 7 times, Haiti and Mexico.

Married 25 years wonderful wife I chose better than she did! Four great kids who love riding Trials and are resonably good at it.

I feel like we can all make a diference in this world when we try, highly motivates me to keep pressing on into new things. I fall down, I get back up again.

Wouldn't it be nice if everyone had that kind of atitude? The world would be such a better place! Oh wait, then we couldn't bash Harley riders

Eddy, Paid any visits to the "Geedunk" lately? Just had to throw that in there.

Hello all,

I am a first timer writing for this thing. I have been reading this thing sice last year when I bought my 04 TBA after returning from Afghanistan. You guys have all, unknowingly, talked me through removing my AI, modifying my stock pipes, removing my snorkels and most recently, installing the FREAK. I was very nervous with my carbs in pieces in my garage but Pat's instructions really saved the day. All of your input has really made a difference with my bike and she runs incredibly well. As for me, I am an Army Officer in Special Forces and most importantly, a new father. My son turns 2 in a few weeks and I'll finally be around for a special occasion. Thanks again for all your help! Joe

I work in a windshield factory. We make aftermarket windshields from Winnebago, Volvo, Mack, you name it we probally make it. I do alot of production reporting to make my boss look good. I also have associates degree in accounting. Not as exciting as some of the jobs posted but it pays the bills.

Quote:

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Next stop, East Side Access.

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Mark, as in Penn Station to Grand Central?

mert(shari)

Gina,

In the US we are Conductors, Assistant Conductors, and Brakemen; of which I am one.

I work for the 2nd largest commuter railroad in the United States. Most of the time I work outside--right of way protection, yard switchers, work trains, etc. Unfortunately, I am currently stuck in passenger service and deal with the same BS, "you've got to be kidding me" nonsense as you.

it is a crazy crazy life.

Amazing that in such a male dominated field we (you and me)find ourselves here in yet another male dominated environment



mert(shari)

Consultant Archaeologist, just applied for a steady job with the local council doing heritage research and regulation(the other side of the coin), supplement income with Air Force reserve work. Soon to branch into Intelligence work with RAAF.
Father, cook , cleaner. Was a rail guard for 10 years. I enjoyed the travel till the job changed. Then one day I followed this cute blonde into the defence recruiting centre. She went Navy I went Air Force. Here I am 20 years later.

John -
NO THANKS!!!!!!!
B

Lyle -
Glad someone does it - worked for a firm before law school that was worker's comp and PI - hated the PI part - takes too long to settle a case - I get bored easily - so with criminal there is always something new!
B

Dwight -
You forgot the plastic surgeons CPA (tax types), and developers (as in land and houses).

B

I work as a scientific glassblower at UCONN fabricating
specialized glassware for research in Chemistry ,Physics and the like.