Imponderables: Oh Baby... by nvghostrider

Late night

tired but can't sleep

Sprinkles on the back porch

still too hot in here

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The country is making a big mistake not teaching kids to cook and raise a garden and build fires.
-Loretta Lynn
Smarts are the brains that make America think.
-Will Sasso as Steven Segal, MadTV

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Tuesday, June 1, 2010 9:31 AM

Yeah I have a whole new respect for single moms..one weekend without NV and I was very near the raggety edge...
Right now we have one baby Nv's sister just gave birth to twins a week ago. His other sister has 3 under 6 years old, his brother has 3 with a 4th on the way due Dec 12...
My family one on the way due Dec 19th ( weird coincidence there) 2 five year olds, 1 three year old and another baby 3 months older than Johnny. Making a grand total of 7 siblings( counting us too) with a total of 14 kids under the age of 6 .... YIKES

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

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Tuesday, June 1, 2010 10:13 AM

FREELANCERTEX

My goodness, that's a lot of little rugrats in one family!! But I have to say having a big family, especially with little kids to make gatherings interesting, is loads of fun. :) I can't imagine what it would be like if I had a small family :(
(though I know mine is still probably small compared to some others)

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Tuesday, June 1, 2010 10:41 AM

Ok I finally broke down and got a 3G phone... mainly because of work. I am all over the place at a variety of schools and I need to be able to check email and send responses and files and I can't from my current phone. Plus at this point I juggle phone and palm pilot and it's getting on my nerves.... so Driod it is:)

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

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Tuesday, June 1, 2010 10:47 AM

yay MsA can post will driving now! It will never be quiet in here again.

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Tuesday, June 1, 2010 10:57 AM

Surely you jest... Nv would kill me, but I can post from meetings ( of which I seem to have 20 per day) so that will help keep me happy:)

Also I can have pics and video of Johnny ...YAY

Oh and I found a mug you really need
http://www.cafepress.com/+himym_awesome_mug,198731274

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

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Tuesday, June 1, 2010 11:11 AM

Nice! That is if I drank things that go in mugs.

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Tuesday, June 1, 2010 12:33 PM

I can't relate. Our family is small. The next generation of babies won't be until 10 or 15 years from now and I will be so old that remembering names their will be the least of my problems. My family got spread across the landscape long before I was born. The Depression and Dustbowl sent them off to find work and they now populate the west coast and the midwest. A few stayed in Nebraska. But even now the opportunities are small in that state. Only two small cities and the rest are farm towns. So each generation tends to leave for better opportunities.

http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=28764731
Traveler

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Tuesday, June 1, 2010 1:13 PM

SIMPLYAKY

Zeek- Well, can't all liquid things go in a mug?

About babies, I have a couple baby cousins, but I don't see that half of the family very often (well, I don't see any family other than the rents very often but that's not the point), so... yeah, I can't really relate with the baby craziness either

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Wednesday, June 2, 2010 8:30 AM

It's kind of like being surrounded by a sweet smelling ,laughing tornado that you totally can't take your eyes off ( not because it's captivating so much as because if you do something bad will happen)

HUGS Zeek- pretty sure you can put coke in a mug:)

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

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Wednesday, June 2, 2010 9:10 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by MsA:
HUGS Zeek- pretty sure you can put coke in a mug:)

But it already comes in a nice container all its own. If you pour it into something else then you have to wash that something else. What a pain!

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Wednesday, June 2, 2010 9:13 AM

LOL Zeek.. ok you have a point. cafe press also had an awesome Swarley shirt and one that has Barney on the front and Larney on the back....

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

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Wednesday, June 2, 2010 11:20 AM

So, here's a ponder. When does something become your own fault and when should the blame be passed around?

I saw this article on yahoo news this morning: http://finance.yahoo.com/college-education/article/109701/placing-the-
blame-as-students-are-buried-in-debt?mod=edu-collegeprep

It just seems silly to me that the whole point of the article is finding someone to place blame on. Why isn't the girl taking any of the blame? Sure she was young when she made the decisions but I wasn't a blithering imbecile when I was entering college. I'm pretty sure I could at least do some simple math of looking up starting salaries for my major and then figuring out how much debt I'd be in due to tuition.

I'm ok with them pointing out that her mom could have helped her more in making the decisions. I can see how a kid will take their parents word on a lot of these types of decisions.

Blaming the school and the bank? Why would either of them step in to tell someone not to give them business? "I don't think you can afford $200,000 in tuition over 4 years. Maybe you should give your money to one of our competitors." Not happening. They also point out that student loans are very difficult to default on. So, to the bank it's a pretty solid investment. I don't see them as doing anything wrong. They're just looking out for their own interests. They didn't force her into anything.

I just don't see the point of looking for someone else to blame in that situation. Does it do any good? Not really. It's still the girl's problem. She needs to figure out a plan to solve it. She also needs to move out of an expensive city and start lowering her monthly expenses if she ever wants to make any progress.

/rant

Am I alone in this thinking?

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Wednesday, June 2, 2010 11:59 AM

I am with you Zeek. I don't clean dishes. A Coke can works perdectly. Also the mug will be warm and coke should be served cold. Ice only waters down the Coke.

As for tuition. The tuition was probably not bad when she first enrolled, but they go up every year. You have one or two years in and now you are caught. You need to finish in a local school that will be less expensive.

http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=28764731
Traveler

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Wednesday, June 2, 2010 2:03 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Zeek:
So, here's a ponder. When does something become your own fault and when should the blame be passed around?

I saw this article on yahoo news this morning: http://finance.yahoo.com/college-education/article/109701/placing-the-
blame-as-students-are-buried-in-debt?mod=edu-collegeprep

It just seems silly to me that the whole point of the article is finding someone to place blame on. Why isn't the girl taking any of the blame? Sure she was young when she made the decisions but I wasn't a blithering imbecile when I was entering college. I'm pretty sure I could at least do some simple math of looking up starting salaries for my major and then figuring out how much debt I'd be in due to tuition.

I'm ok with them pointing out that her mom could have helped her more in making the decisions. I can see how a kid will take their parents word on a lot of these types of decisions.

Blaming the school and the bank? Why would either of them step in to tell someone not to give them business? "I don't think you can afford $200,000 in tuition over 4 years. Maybe you should give your money to one of our competitors." Not happening. They also point out that student loans are very difficult to default on. So, to the bank it's a pretty solid investment. I don't see them as doing anything wrong. They're just looking out for their own interests. They didn't force her into anything.

I just don't see the point of looking for someone else to blame in that situation. Does it do any good? Not really. It's still the girl's problem. She needs to figure out a plan to solve it. She also needs to move out of an expensive city and start lowering her monthly expenses if she ever wants to make any progress.

/rant

Am I alone in this thinking?

Zeek...it's too bad you aren't 10 years older. ;)

I totally agree with you. I recently listened to my landlord, who while "asset rich" is $$$ poor, tell me how his oldest of three wants to go to a private college. If she doesn't go there, she's going to stay home and go to a JC...she's got no second choice school. She's also being a terror in her later teens and he wants to give her the opportunity to go where she wants...AND wants her out of the house. But the debt load she'd take on for a career path as an overseas missionary (it's a private christian college). Yoinks. Not a great idea to borrow to make her dream come true. I'd be sitting the kid down and telling her that her career dreams are not going to happen via that route. State school, here she comes.

We've gotten to the point where a college education is expected. The sad thing is that it isn't often necessary and people are going into huge amounts of debt for something that they may never use. I could be doing my job without a degree...a lot of my co-workers are. I'm sorry, but religious/women's studies? What do you think you're going to be doing with that degree? If you're going to take on a huge debt load, the earning potential at the end better be significant.

I did learn a lot in college, but most of it wasn't in the classroom. I would've appreciated graduating without $50k in debt, especially since I've only used my college education for approximately 5 weeks... I wouldn't trade my time in college for anything, but that doesn't mean I would do it over again, especially when it is getting so expensive.

On a shallow side note: That girls debt troubles are catching up to her. She looks like she's about 40, rather than mid-twenties.

***************
"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it." - George Bernard Shaw

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Thursday, June 3, 2010 4:05 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by RugBug:
Zeek...it's too bad you aren't 10 years older. ;)

I totally agree with you. I recently listened to my landlord, who while "asset rich" is $$$ poor, tell me how his oldest of three wants to go to a private college. If she doesn't go there, she's going to stay home and go to a JC...she's got no second choice school. She's also being a terror in her later teens and he wants to give her the opportunity to go where she wants...AND wants her out of the house. But the debt load she'd take on for a career path as an overseas missionary (it's a private christian college). Yoinks. Not a great idea to borrow to make her dream come true. I'd be sitting the kid down and telling her that her career dreams are not going to happen via that route. State school, here she comes.

We've gotten to the point where a college education is expected. The sad thing is that it isn't often necessary and people are going into huge amounts of debt for something that they may never use. I could be doing my job without a degree...a lot of my co-workers are. I'm sorry, but religious/women's studies? What do you think you're going to be doing with that degree? If you're going to take on a huge debt load, the earning potential at the end better be significant.

I did learn a lot in college, but most of it wasn't in the classroom. I would've appreciated graduating without $50k in debt, especially since I've only used my college education for approximately 5 weeks... I wouldn't trade my time in college for anything, but that doesn't mean I would do it over again, especially when it is getting so expensive.

On a shallow side note: That girls debt troubles are catching up to her. She looks like she's about 40, rather than mid-twenties.

Yeah I agree with you about the cost of a college education. It's really getting ridiculous. I could go on a long rant about federal loans too. Basically if you save up for college they stiff you on federal loans. Does that seem right? Cause it sure seemed like a kick in the crotch to me. "oh you worked a ton in high school to save up. Well we're going to punish you now." wtf!?! Sorry I better just let that one go.

lol about her looking 40. That just shows that she is the one who has to deal with the problem now. No matter who they want to blame. To me placing blame like that is just a cop out. It doesn't seem healthy to me. Own the problem and work on a solution. Don't waste time or energy on blame.

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Thursday, June 3, 2010 5:22 AM

I have to say from experience that there is a ton of merit to education when hiring people. But after dealing with a boss who considered hiring people who looked good on paper, even before interviews, there is much more to be said for experienced and driven individuals. Someone willing to work hard for $8.50 an hour rather than being on public assistance is much more desirable (IMHO) than an "educated" person expecting three extra dollars an hour and resting on their education laurels. Strange how some people believe that the jobs they fall into (or are hiring for) are made so much easier with a degree or two rather than working in a related field and continuing their education.
How much of the American work force actually requires any amount of degrees? Sure is a good place to start. But (again IMHO) I strongly believe that people with a high school education and some college credit should be hired on with partial tuition payment as an incentive. When already working in a related field with the ability to advance in an already established workplace offers much more personal security than the systems used in most companies.
I know this might not work for many companies or businesses, but it sure would be worth looking into. After nearly ten years in an organization that expected all their employees to advance up the chain under the scrutiny of dismissal I can say that belief is detrimental to keeping a stable work force. If an employee decides to do the required amount of work with an occasional cost of living increase and the ability to secure raises based on merit, cool.
After watching people do their job well and with a smile for five to ten years only to be given the ultimatum of "Move up or move out", well, piss on that. Experienced are worth ten times the amount of new hires. Literally.

Crap. Ranting. Back to baby squeals and tiny teeth gnawing through a knuckle or two.

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The country is making a big mistake not teaching kids to cook and raise a garden and build fires.
-Loretta Lynn
Smarts are the brains that make America think.
-Will Sasso as Steven Segal, MadTV

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Thursday, June 3, 2010 6:23 AM

NVG, yeah I think work experience trumps education any day. The only useful thing about a degree is getting your first real job. Once you've got that the diploma might as well be toilet paper IMO.

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Thursday, June 3, 2010 8:57 AM

I have multiple degrees... I use almost nothing from any of them except while watching trivia game shows...experience trumps knowledge any time!!!

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

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Thursday, June 3, 2010 9:31 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Zeek:
To me placing blame like that is just a cop out. It doesn't seem healthy to me. Own the problem and work on a solution. Don't waste time or energy on blame.

Absolutely!

***************
"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it." - George Bernard Shaw

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Thursday, June 3, 2010 11:42 AM

Well at least I'm not alone in thinking like this. To me that article completely missed the mark. Assigning blame should not have been the focus. If anything it should have been a cautionary tale to parents and prospective college students about things to look out for.

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Thursday, June 3, 2010 4:11 PM

I see both sides of the story. I myself am angry at life because of my student loans too. I don't have experience because I was getting an education, but if I didn't get that education, you'd call me out on that.

I'm actually on my way to getting another degree, because I want to do something different in life. But the college is much cheaper, and I got a pretty good grant from them. So at the end it will only be a couple thousand more. It doesn't really make much of a difference when you're already 50K in the hole with student loans.

But also, it seems like she took out more money than she needed and didn't care. Also her being on her own probably doesn't help. Yeah it sucks to live with parents, but I know I can't afford to be on my own and pay bills, so I don't.

P.S. I hope loan stress didn't do that to me! She DOES look way older! :o/

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Friday, June 4, 2010 4:36 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by averyfinecompanion:
I see both sides of the story. I myself am angry at life because of my student loans too. I don't have experience because I was getting an education, but if I didn't get that education, you'd call me out on that.

I think the best career move I made in college was doing a work/study type program. After my sophomore year I worked for a company over the summer and straight through the fall semester. Then I was supposed to go back to school for a semester and then go back to school and basically go back and forth between work and school and take 5 years to graduate. Didn't work out that way as the tech bubble burst after that first work session. Still it got me a bunch of experience that helped me land another internship which led to a job offer after I graduated only one semester late.

So, basically it still came down to experience getting me a job. All the college did was hook me up with job fairs where I could land the work study job and the internship. Amazing how much I had to pay for so little.

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Friday, June 4, 2010 6:29 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by averyfinecompanion:

But also, it seems like she took out more money than she needed and didn't care. Also her being on her own probably doesn't help. Yeah it sucks to live with parents, but I know I can't afford to be on my own and pay bills, so I don't.

Yes...and she went to a school that she couldn't afford in the first place...with a course of study that didn't offer a high salary afterward. If you're going to rack up that much debt to go to a big name school, the degree you're getting better lead to a big job to pay off that debt. There was no way this woman was going to be making enough to pay her loans as a photographer.

***************
"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it." - George Bernard Shaw

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Friday, June 4, 2010 7:59 AM

True, I do blame myself a little. I have a degree that I don't want to work in anymore (criminology). But I was in my third year in school when I changed my mind, I wasn't about to start all over again. That's why I'm going back.

But yeah, if I were going to NYU, I'd def would have picked a more lucrative study.

Rugbug, I did a work study too, but it was really just for financial aid, it had nothing to do with my major. Though I LOVED working in the library.

If money were no object I think I'd go back for library science. The university here has a program for it but it's hella expensive. So I'm going for IT at one of the trade schools instead.

I do love working with computers.

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Friday, June 4, 2010 8:39 AM

Well you know avery you could always do what I did with my criminal psychology degrees ... be a special ed teacher.

Hey first post from new phone

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

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Friday, June 4, 2010 8:44 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by MsA:
Hey first post from new phone

While driving and putting on makeup?

5 seconds later:
youtube.com/v/tWk4MCQaHrc&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xd0d0d0&hl=en_US&fs=1

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Friday, June 4, 2010 9:21 AM

STINKINGROSE

Just to butt in on the conversation:

I guess it sort of depends on what you want to do once you're out of school.

After 5.5 years I finally paid off my community college nursing school loans. Now I'm going back to school to pick up science courses I never took when I got my BFA 17 years ago. (Decided to not do Theater during the last year, of course...)
I'm picking off some of the courses through an extension program this summer because the University wants over $17,000 for 12 credits. (One semester.)
I need to get the courses because they're prerequisites for medical school.
Talk about hella expensive? Yeah.
There is no financial aid for me in this state b/c I already have a bachelor's degree.
I can get federal loans if I matriculate, but not if I just want to take courses. (The bulk of this will be done at another local state college either way.)
Even at the in-state rate at the state college I want to attend for med school it's still crazy costly.
US med schools are jacking up the tuition yearly.
I'm probably looking at $150,000 to a quarter million in debt after medical school. (All together now: suck your eyeballs in through your ears!)
Luckily after I finish a residency (3-8 years) I'll be earning enough to actually pay off the loans eventually.
I literally cannot afford to fail once I've entered medical school.
I'm also considering some accredited schools in the Caribbean, which wouldn't cost quite as much, and looking wistfully at countries which don't make you pay for becoming a doctor. (If the government pays for healthcare it makes sense to encourage sufficient providers in the long run? College is just generally free in some places?)
Hopefully I'll be able to find some kind of grant or scholarship or something, but I've got a family in an established location and can't just uproot them while I go play doctor so to speak. I can't really pull a "Northern Exposure" and indenture myself in exchange for the cost of my education. Not that I wouldn't be willing.
Unfortunately I also can't really just say "hmm. Think I'll try a correspondence certificate course in doctifyin'!" and get away with it. For long.
Same goes for nursing, it's college level stuff which you use every day you work.
In terms of the education vs experience argument, no matter how long you work as a nurse you'll never be able to do what a doctor does without going to college.
I have met LPNs who've been nurses for ages who could run rings around me when I was a new grad RN. They still couldn't do some of the stuff I could and didn't have the in-depth understanding of some stuff, but they were damned good nurses. The only way to get experience is by doing the job. Every nurse with 15 years under her belt was once jelly-bellied on her first day of work ever.

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Friday, June 4, 2010 9:35 AM

My brother in law has just finished med school and is doing his residency. Yes he has more than $100,000 in loans, but to offset that after residency his salary is going to be gianormous and he can expect to pay them back within 5years.

So really if the college degree will get you a job that makes paying your loan back realatively easy and ups your earning potential ...go for it. Otherwise. Opt for experience and some college basic stuff:)

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

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Friday, June 4, 2010 10:04 AM

Yes, but whatever happens, you are going to be over your head in loans for a while, that's life. That's why God created deferments.

People weer being harsh, but I guess its a sore subject for me too.

Rosie, I know we discussed this before but I think you should reapply for aid. I have my bachelors and I was able to get aid when I went back. I don't know if its different for schools though. The worst case scenario is they say no, right?

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Friday, June 4, 2010 12:43 PM

I still say you rock and should join the dark side and be a special ed teacher

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

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Friday, June 4, 2010 1:21 PM

Ohhh I don't do kids. They are little people type things that other people can take care of.

Thank god I was never one.

P.S. John is an exception to this of course. Even real life friends had kids and I couldn't have cared less. But baby John makes me all squishy inside.

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Friday, June 4, 2010 3:56 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by averyfinecompanion:
People weer being harsh, but I guess its a sore subject for me too.

People were being harsh? Was I being harsh? See...this is why I get in trouble at work. What's conversation to me is harsh to someone else.

IMO $50k isn't a huge amount of loans...it's about what I came out with...and it's paid off. And I don't use the degree or credentials earned with that money. $200k to be a photographer? The numbers don't jive.

FWIW, I thought about going back to school at one point..library sciences was even at the top of my list...but I decided that I didn't want to go into more debt.

The real hot button issue here is trying to assign blame....not going into debt for school. Yes, you have to make wise choices...and they may not work out...but if you've been wise you can get yourself out of the situation. Go to the best school you can afford, get some work experience, and then go for it.

And Avery, I'm sure with a degree in criminolgy you could find a lot of different kinds of jobs. Sure, the higher paying (high 5 figures and up) probably need a specific degree and post graduate work, but there are plenty of well paying jobs that don't require a specific degree, just an intelligent hard working person. You may not want to do those jobs, but they are there.

BTW - I did work study all through college..sometimes a number of different jobs. Thankfully I only worked about 20 hours a week, but I was working. I came out of under grad wtih about $20k in loans. Added a huge chunk with the teaching credential...a time when couldn't work* due to a fulltimes schedule teaching.

*I say I couldn't work because I know many people who could've pulled it off. I'm not one. When my schedule gets too crammed, I shut down.

***************
"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it." - George Bernard Shaw

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Friday, June 4, 2010 4:19 PM

Well like I said, its a sensitive subject to me. I think I see it from a different perspective. So it may not have been harsh to you.

Learning you were able to pay off the loans made me feel a whole lot better though. I didn't think I would ever be able to. For real, I thought it was going to be a life long thing.

I know there are jobs out there for my degree, but like you said, I don't want to do them. That's why I'm going back. I've always loved computers, even when I was a kid. I know it will never change.

I did the work study job my whole way in college, and yes it did help a lot for well paying temp jobs. But I'm just sick of temping. They always say "temp to hire" But for the last 3 jobs I've been to the supervisor gets a different job, or they company gets bought out. So I get screwed.

...I'm beginning to think I'm bad luck for companies O_o

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Friday, June 4, 2010 6:54 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by averyfinecompanion:
Well like I said, its a sensitive subject to me. I think I see it from a different perspective. So it may not have been harsh to you.

Well, I apologize for being harsh. FWIW, it didn't sound to me like you were trying to place blame, just that you were angry. I get that. I'm angry that I spent $30k to get something I don't use at all. I'm also angry that I wasted all that time and money getting a teaching job, moving and then moving back to where I wanted to be, because if my job was going to suck, I'd rather do it in a place that didn't make me suicidal.

But that's life, IMO. Sometimes the things we choose to do bite us in the ass.

Quote:

Learning you were able to pay off the loans made me feel a whole lot better though. I didn't think I would ever be able to. For real, I thought it was going to be a life long thing.

It can happen. It's like buying a sort of expensive car...on a 120-month loan or so. And I will admit that I got some help when I inherited some money when my Grandmother passed away. FWIW, I've also paid off some significant credit card debt, bought a Jeep and paid it off early (my bank wouldn't give me a loan for it...my debt/income ratio was too risky), bought two horses, etc. And I don't have a "great" job...it's just a job. I did get very tired of being in debt, however and focused on paying things off. For awhile I was living on $40/week for food and entertainment, and the rest went to bills/savings. These days, I try to live credit card debt free...and most other debt free. I do have a car loan and that's it.

Quote:

I know there are jobs out there for my degree, but like you said, I don't want to do them. That's why I'm going back. I've always loved computers, even when I was a kid. I know it will never change.

I get that too. I could be doing any number of teaching or teaching related jobs. But I'd be miserable. I decided many years ago that I wasn't super picky about what I did, as long as I could support myself and still ride. I never thought I would be able to own a horse, let alone two. While I don't love my job, I appreciate it for that. It affords me the ability to pursue my passion. That's good enough for me. It might not be the same for you, but I think a lot more people make the "good enough" choice than not. It's surprisingly rare to be able to make a living at something you like/love. I would love to work with horses. It's never going to happen in a way that I could support myself, so I work in insurance. And I'm still happy and satisfied with my life.

Quote:

I did the work study job my whole way in college, and yes it did help a lot for well paying temp jobs. But I'm just sick of temping. They always say "temp to hire" But for the last 3 jobs I've been to the supervisor gets a different job, or they company gets bought out. So I get screwed.

...I'm beginning to think I'm bad luck for companies O_o

Ugh...you may be living my life from when I was in my 20s. :D I temped A LOT. I hated it. I've never been good at getting jobs, so temping was a foot in a door to prove that I was a good employee/worth the risk. I got a few opportunities to shine through temping but a lot of it was awful: I got the interview for my current job through the temp agency while I was on an horrible assigment as a cell phone company operator (

). That was a miserable month working with miserable people, answering phones of angry, angry customers.

Sadly, so much of getting a good job is who you know. I got lucky: I clicked with my boss during the interview process and the rest is history. I NEVER thought I would work in insurance. I was hired as an admin asst, was told I would never make more than $10/hour...even WITH my college degree. Heh. Once I was in the door, however, they realized I had something more to offer and I've been there 10+ years. I would say only half of our employees have college degrees. My manager doesn't have one...she worked her way up. It was fairly insulting to be offered $10/hour after promises of big money b/c I had a degree...but at that point, I just wanted a steady job. One of our newest employees has a Masters and was hired as admin support. She's making copies, faxing, etc. Sigh. (We do live in a tough area for employment...though).

Basically, that was a long-winded way of saying that you can get out of debt, you can find a job that is satisfying if not "fun" even if you never saw yourself doing it but it takes a lot of time. I think you're still pretty young. You'll probably be surprised where you are at in 15 years. I know I am.

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"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it." - George Bernard Shaw

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Friday, June 4, 2010 7:20 PM

Be stuck in these huge heavy shoes. (Literally and figuratively)

"Under educated, over qualified."

I regret not going to school the most after having been turned down for several jobs because of the above statement. On the other hand I get to live the dream, even if for a short span. Being with my son rather than having him in daycare is the greatest feeling in the world. Let's see if I can get my crap together quick enough for MSA to do the same for the next one.

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The country is making a big mistake not teaching kids to cook and raise a garden and build fires.
-Loretta Lynn
Smarts are the brains that make America think.
-Will Sasso as Steven Segal, MadTV

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Friday, June 4, 2010 9:21 PM

I'm sorry that I came off angry. It wasn't insane troll angry. Just like you said, paid money for this degree I'm not using.

Are you trying to tell me I'll have a normal life after this? A jeep and everything? That’s crazy talk right there!

Temping wasn’t so bad at the beginning. But I’m on my 4th year and its getting old. Granted the 4 years was only 4 assignments really. Starting next week I’ll be doing insurance too. I was there before for a previous temp job. It wasn’t great but it wasn’t horrible either. I got to wear jeans and I got along with the people I worked with. They do tuition assistance too. My former boss is getting her masters with their help. So my dream scenario is I work for them, get hired and eventually they help me get my IT degree. I had to take a break from school as of now due to family issues.

Not to sound corny, but thank you for all the info. I really do appreciate you telling me all that. It’s good to know I won’t be in this rut forever.

@NVG: That’s sucky, but I’m glad you get to stay home with John. I’m sure you’ll be able to find something soon. I’ll use my magical powers of “stuff-I-say-happens-and-its-really-sort-of-freaky-but–doesn’t-work-on-myself” for you. And ye shall get a fantastic job!

/weirdo-ness

...but its true. It works.

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Saturday, June 5, 2010 5:03 AM

We just need to hurry up with Browncoat Island. Not much of a water person myself, but there is always Independence Valley. It rests along I-80 between Elko, NV and SLC. It has utilities, high speed internets, within driving distance of a large Nevada town and a major city with airports, surrounded by mountains, mild winters and warm summers.

Just a thought.

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The country is making a big mistake not teaching kids to cook and raise a garden and build fires.
-Loretta Lynn
Smarts are the brains that make America think.
-Will Sasso as Steven Segal, MadTV

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Monday, June 7, 2010 6:32 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by averyfinecompanion:

Not to sound corny, but thank you for all the info. I really do appreciate you telling me all that. It’s good to know I won’t be in this rut forever.

Phew! I typed all that out and was like 'dude, stop being all "buck-up, little camper." I'm glad you took it in the way intended. When I was younger, I never thought I would be where I am today.

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"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it." - George Bernard Shaw

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Monday, June 7, 2010 6:35 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by RugBug:
Phew! I typed all that out and was like 'dude, stop being all "buck-up, little camper." I'm glad you took it in the way intended. When I was younger, I never thought I would be where I am today.

There's a good ponder. Where did you see your life going when you were around 18?

Mine is easy. The tech boom was on and I was on the road to get into that business. I thought I'd be making easy money and living it up in silicon valley. Stupid bubbles bursting.

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Monday, June 7, 2010 10:21 AM

I thought I would be an anthropologist or a drama teacher or a biochemistry... took me a while to pick a major

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

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Monday, June 7, 2010 12:03 PM

I had no clue. I wanted to be a horse trainer but knew that wasn't going to happen. Interior Designer was always high on the list.

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"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it." - George Bernard Shaw

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Monday, June 7, 2010 12:20 PM

I was sweating the draft. The Vietnam War was still very raging and I was A-1. I found a techincal school that would give me an education and a deferment. So my idea of future was in months and not years.

http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=28764731
Traveler

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Monday, June 7, 2010 12:54 PM

Gotta agree with Traveler on the "Months versus Years" thing. Never gave much thought to making it another five years but plenty time that have past and I feel a bit lost. Had no clue all that has happened ever would.

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The country is making a big mistake not teaching kids to cook and raise a garden and build fires.
-Loretta Lynn
Smarts are the brains that make America think.
-Will Sasso as Steven Segal, MadTV

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Monday, June 7, 2010 1:57 PM

Which is what makes life such a grand adventure. I

Also sleeping baby is the best smell ever. Kind of baby powder mixed with sugar and sun

To love someone is to see a miracle invisible to others.
--Francois Mauriac
It's fuzzy-minded liberal thinking like that that gets you eaten.

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Monday, June 7, 2010 2:19 PM

There are times I feel it would have been better to have gone to Vietnam. I would have been a grunt. My grades in highschool were very poor and I doubt I would have been given much of a chance to learn any trade in the service. I wanted to be a tool maker. But with the draft hanging over my head no one would hire me as an apprentice. I only had days to make choices back then. I had already passed my physical and was waiting to get called up.

What a joke. I am 5'-6" tall and weighed 125 pounds back then. Can you see me humping it through the jungle with half again my weight straped to my back.

http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=28764731
Traveler

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Tuesday, June 8, 2010 9:59 AM