NationStates Jolt Archive

Yup, after three frickin' years of part-time, temporary contract gigs with no job security, no benefits, and a questionable future, I finally landed not only a full-time salaried position with a medical/dental/optical plan and a paid vacation, it's actually in my chosen field, using software I know like the back of my hand, and to make it ultra-sweet, it's just within comfortable walking distance from home.

Yippity-frickin'-doo-dah!!

Now I'll be able to re-ignite my passion for collecting Microman figurines from Japan, amongst a host of other things...

But this doesn't mean I'll be dropping off the face of NS, Heavens, no. See, I'm still currently obsessing over the animated Daleks I'm building, and one of the few things I can do while rendering is browse the web. NS is my friend.

And so are a lot of you.

Thanks to everyone who's kept me this side of life - to those who've helped me keep a relatively even keel when foolish choices have made themselves look attractive in my bleakest moments. In particular, I like to mention Sinuhue.

Sinuhue was there for me at a time when I felt so lost, so far from realizing my modest goals that ending it seemed like a viable option for a time. I felt forsaken by the Gods, cut off and adrift in a perilous sea. And thanks to her, I'm standing on dry land again.

So to the poster who poked fun at me on Remembrance Day by saying, 'Get a job, hippie' I say... 'Done it'. It's like in 'Desiderata', you know? The Universe is no doubt unfolding as it should. Much and all as I wish it could've unfolded three years ago - it's better late than never.

Well congratulations. I've had some dry spells myself.

I'm about to embark on yet another because my employer is an ignorant harebrained douchebag and my superintendent with whom I will be having a lengthy discussion tomorrow am will probably fire me after I'm done wiff him...no loss there.

Did I mention I work for an American company?

On the bright side, this time tomorrow I will be back in BC away from this fucking province.

Yes my fellow Canadians, Alberta is teh suck. :mad:

Congratulations to you. I have been without work a couple of different time, so I know the feeling very well. I hope you never have to go through again. I can't imagine what it would be like have no real hope for a decent job. Lots of people in that situation around here. Much of it brought on by poor choice of life style.

yay!

pot-smoking communists CAN work!

Fuck you, stereotyping bastards of the state

edit: and seriously, well done. Just remember not to trust your boss

Well congratulations. I've had some dry spells myself.

I'm about to embark on yet another because my employer is an ignorant harebrained douchebag and my superintendent with whom I will be having a lengthy discussion tomorrow am will probably fire me after I'm done wiff him...no loss there.

Did I mention I work for an American company?

On the bright side, this time tomorrow I will be back in BC away from this fucking province.

Yes my fellow Canadians, Alberta is teh suck. :mad:

I understand that Alberta is drowning in oil and natural gas money. I heard that everyone is being given hundreds of dollars. Everyone man, woman and child.

Just remember not to trust your boss
Don't worry. He's a stiff upper-crust WASP. Funny thing is, he doesn't realize I'm also from that sort of background (only less stiff). I know more about his psychological profile than he realizes.

I understand that Alberta is drowning in oil and natural gas money. I heard that everyone is being given hundreds of dollars. Everyone man, woman and child.

Oh yeah the $400 resource rebate. They gotta do something with that money before the feds take it. I suggest though they hold on to it because when oil prices plunge as they do regularly, Alberta will be fucked as bad as it was in the 80's.

Alberta is indeed drowning in oil and gas. The world's second largest proven oil (tar sands bitumen) reserve. The tar sands project is up by a place called Fort McMurray which is north of Edmonton. A decent one bedroom/bachelor apartment there will set you back minimum $1000 per month if you can even find one. I won't tell you waht food prices are like :eek: Alberta has a housing shortage and what there is of it at least as far as rentals go are sub standard and its lack of a sales tax means the base price on everything has been inflated 7%.

Yay Alberta...NOT!

Congrats Dobbs. Enjoy your new career. Welcome to the "wonderfull" world of work.

Grats man

Well done, Dobbsy. Benefits are great--I've even got a retirement plan now. Man, did signing up for that feel weird.

Congrats you dirty Hippie!

I'm happy to hear the good news!:fluffle:

nice one dude :)
hope things work out good for you there *raises beer*

Glad I don't know you, or this would be awkward.

*slaps your backside, cops a feel or two*

*slaps your backside, cops a feel or two*
*giggles girlishly and blushes*

Well done, Dobbs!

And a job you could potentially enjoy... the wonders never cease.
*applause and what-have-you.*

Yay Dobbs!

Sounds like everything is working out great! Good luck!

Say Dobbsworld! Now that you have that great new job maybe you could, ahh, ya know, ahh kinda umm, maybe loan me a couple of loonies. :D

Say Dobbsworld! Now that you have that great new job maybe you could, ahh, ya know, ahh kinda umm, maybe loan me a couple of loonies. :D
How about I see how many loonies I got left after I use my first paycheque to buy myself a functional winter coat?

I've been bundling myself in layered sweaters and a nasty (really nasty) old oilskin coat for the last three winters.

Thing is, I was chatting with my sister-in-law, who I bumped into on the way home. She asked me, 'Where the Hell have we gone wrong in the last fifteen years that when we hear about a friend getting a proper job, with salary and benefits and all, we all act as though they've won the lottery?' and I've kinda been meditating on that.

I've had employment over the last three years - sporadic, temporary, part-time, contractual employment, mind you - but just enough to keep a single meal on the table, the creditors at bay, the power and water running, and the landlord from getting uptight. But precious little beyond that. And I was far from alone in that regard... most of the people I knew or worked with, were in similar circumstances.

A lot of companies have chosen to go this skinflint route, outsourcing a lot of work, and succeeding at finding ways to pay people less while fattening their bottom lines. Yippee for bottom lines.

Anyway, nobody I knew was buying cars. Houses. Going on vacations. Breaking their banks for consumer items of any considerable value. In other words, their consumer confidence was effectively wiped out by the unpredictability of a job market they could do little or nothing to surmount.

How long can you sustain an economy wherein the people are too fearful of what tomorrow might bring to actually spend what they earn? We're not all of us CEOs and Entrepeneurs with unlimited lines of credit, after all.

How about I see how many loonies I got left after I use my first paycheque to buy myself a functional winter coat?

I've been bundling myself in layered sweaters and a nasty (really nasty) old oilskin coat for the last three winters.

Thing is, I was chatting with my sister-in-law, who I bumped into on the way home. She asked me, 'Where the Hell have we gone wrong in the last fifteen years that when we hear about a friend getting a proper job, with salary and benefits and all, we all act as though they've won the lottery?' and I've kinda been meditating on that.

I've had employment over the last three years - sporadic, temporary, part-time, contractual employment, mind you - but just enough to keep a single meal on the table, the creditors at bay, the power and water running, and the landlord from getting uptight. But precious little beyond that. And I was far from alone in that regard... most of the people I knew or worked with, were in similar circumstances.

A lot of companies have chosen to go this skinflint route, outsourcing a lot of work, and succeeding at finding ways to pay people less while fattening their bottom lines. Yippee for bottom lines.

Anyway, nobody I knew was buying cars. Houses. Going on vacations. Breaking their banks for consumer items of any considerable value. In other words, their consumer confidence was effectively wiped out by the unpredictability of a job market they could do little or nothing to surmount.

How long can you sustain an economy wherein the people are too fearful of what tomorrow might bring to actually spend what they earn? We're not all of us CEOs and Entrepeneurs with unlimited lines of credit, after all.
I know the feeling. Like I said, it felt really odd signing up for a retirement plan, as I'm 37 and have never had one before. And then there's things like insurance--being able to go to the doctor instead of hoping Robitussin will do the job, going to the dentist to get your teeth cleaned instead of just going because your mouth hurts unbearably, etc.

And I'm just a guy on a year-to-year teaching contract. Imagine how ecstatic I'd be if I got a tenure track job.

I know the feeling. Like I said, it felt really odd signing up for a retirement plan, as I'm 37 and have never had one before. And then there's things like insurance--being able to go to the doctor instead of hoping Robitussin will do the job, going to the dentist to get your teeth cleaned instead of just going because your mouth hurts unbearably, etc.

And I'm just a guy on a year-to-year teaching contract. Imagine how ecstatic I'd be if I got a tenure track job.
Sorry I didn't get back to you earlier. I had a chat with my financial advisor as well - I explained that before I come in for a meeting with him about my investment portfolio (yes, I was living dirt-poor with something in the region of 50K in investments sitting untouched... but understand, those are investments. Pretty much untouchable. My whole inherited fiscal worth, plus whatever I'd squirrelled away over a twelve-year period. Besides, if I liquidated that money, I'd be liable for paying tax on it, so... I just didn't think about it much.) that I'd kinda need to spend some money immediately upon earning it - credit debts, the proper winter coat, etc... But I know he's going to want to talk about retirement savings. I can just feel it. Well, I'll probably have to just knuckle down and do it, though I'll still need some cashola to collect my favourite toys in the world. (http://www.microforever.com/)

Silly, I know. But I could use a little more silliness and a little less angst in my life. Oh, and I've just turned 36, by the way, so I know what you're going through there Nazz.

Hey, you're talking to the guy who, throughout grad school, had a talking Master P doll in his office, just to weird out his students--I know all about frivolity. (All he said was "uhhh, na na na na." It was pretty sad.)

I understand that Alberta is drowning in oil and natural gas money. I heard that everyone is being given hundreds of dollars. Everyone man, woman and child.
Yes, it's true. Rather than invest in our future, Ralph is once again attempting to buy the vote. But that doesn't negate the fact that Alberta is a cesspool. A cesspool in which people starve to death on the streets, people who will NOT receive this money, because you have to file a tax return to get it, and who reap NO benefit from oil and natural gas.

And Dobbs....you absolutely deserve this. No question.

Thanks Sin. Sorry for the multi-part TG, btw - I guess I got carried away writing when I got home.

I am really looking forward to tomorrow, and that's gotta be a good sign.

Thanks Sin. Sorry for the multi-part TG, btw - I guess I got carried away writing when I got home.No way! That made great reading!

I am really looking forward to tomorrow, and that's gotta be a good sign.
*does the dance of joy, yet again*

Sinuhue, there is an email for you. Lo, behold the new messiah! He is named Mike...

*laughing*

Oops, I've got to go to bed soon...

Sinuhue, there is an email for you. Lo, behold the new messiah! He is named Mike...

*laughing*

Oops, I've got to go to bed soon...
Hmm, my email bounced. Alas. Tomorrow, maybe.

'Cause now, I gotta log off and get some bedtime.

Night all!

Dobbsy.

How about I see how many loonies I got left after I use my first paycheque to buy myself a functional winter coat?

I've been bundling myself in layered sweaters and a nasty (really nasty) old oilskin coat for the last three winters.

Thing is, I was chatting with my sister-in-law, who I bumped into on the way home. She asked me, 'Where the Hell have we gone wrong in the last fifteen years that when we hear about a friend getting a proper job, with salary and benefits and all, we all act as though they've won the lottery?' and I've kinda been meditating on that.

I've had employment over the last three years - sporadic, temporary, part-time, contractual employment, mind you - but just enough to keep a single meal on the table, the creditors at bay, the power and water running, and the landlord from getting uptight. But precious little beyond that. And I was far from alone in that regard... most of the people I knew or worked with, were in similar circumstances.

A lot of companies have chosen to go this skinflint route, outsourcing a lot of work, and succeeding at finding ways to pay people less while fattening their bottom lines. Yippee for bottom lines.

Anyway, nobody I knew was buying cars. Houses. Going on vacations. Breaking their banks for consumer items of any considerable value. In other words, their consumer confidence was effectively wiped out by the unpredictability of a job market they could do little or nothing to surmount.

How long can you sustain an economy wherein the people are too fearful of what tomorrow might bring to actually spend what they earn? We're not all of us CEOs and Entrepeneurs with unlimited lines of credit, after all.

Ya, I hear you loud and clear. Business has a need and right to make a profit, but it is getting a bit overdone. CEO's who make 50, 60 and more times what the lower paid employees make is excessive and unjust.

Yup, after three frickin' years of part-time, temporary contract gigs with no job security, no benefits, and a questionable future, I finally landed not only a full-time salaried position with a medical/dental/optical plan and a paid vacation, it's actually in my chosen field, using software I know like the back of my hand, and to make it ultra-sweet, it's just within comfortable walking distance from home.

Yippity-frickin'-doo-dah!!

Now I'll be able to re-ignite my passion for collecting Microman figurines from Japan, amongst a host of other things...

But this doesn't mean I'll be dropping off the face of NS, Heavens, no. See, I'm still currently obsessing over the animated Daleks I'm building, and one of the few things I can do while rendering is browse the web. NS is my friend.

And so are a lot of you.

Thanks to everyone who's kept me this side of life - to those who've helped me keep a relatively even keel when foolish choices have made themselves look attractive in my bleakest moments. In particular, I like to mention Sinuhue.

Sinuhue was there for me at a time when I felt so lost, so far from realizing my modest goals that ending it seemed like a viable option for a time. I felt forsaken by the Gods, cut off and adrift in a perilous sea. And thanks to her, I'm standing on dry land again.

So to the poster who poked fun at me on Remembrance Day by saying, 'Get a job, hippie' I say... 'Done it'. It's like in 'Desiderata', you know? The Universe is no doubt unfolding as it should. Much and all as I wish it could've unfolded three years ago - it's better late than never.
Congrats Dobbs!! I sure do hope that the universe keeps unfolding as it should for you!! :)

I thought I'd give this a bit of a bump. It's an incredibly important event in the life of an NSer. After THREE YEARS of going from contract to contract, Dobbs finally has something permanent, stable, in her field, well paid, and with good benefits! This kind of good fortune is definitely worth celebrating...hell, even I feel more positive because of it!!!!!!!

Sin- for the love of God- shut up.... you're gushing on my shoes-if I were wearing any.


Dobbs- Congratulations and best wishes. Job security in something you like is priceless.

Good morning campers - it's now my lunch hour and things seem to be proceeding well for me here. Had some teething troubles with the computer, with the network, with the fonts folder... actually, there's been less work and more talk so far today. But I've told the fellow I'm reporting to that I'm not leaving 'til I can at least have all the reference materials I'm working with mapped.

For the most part, what I'll be doing this week is to take an existing video project and use it as a template to produce four similar clips. Not at all difficult - assuming the machines and programs know where the relevant materials are located.

I'll log in later tonight and let y'all know how the day went. I definitely think this is the right fit for me, though. Thanks to all my fellow NSers who took the time for backslappin' action. And just to reiterate, I'm not going to be giving up NS.

You're all too much fun for that.

Later, folks.

Dobbsy.

Congratulations Dobbs! I knew you were having a rough patch and I'm truly glad you have a stable future in sight. Just goes to show you that there's a place for everyone...even us dirty ol hippies. Good!!

Well congratulations. I've had some dry spells myself.
I'm about to embark on yet another because my employer is an ignorant harebrained douchebag and my superintendent with whom I will be having a lengthy discussion tomorrow am will probably fire me after I'm done wiff him...no loss there.
Did I mention I work for an American company?
On the bright side, this time tomorrow I will be back in BC away from this fucking province.
Yes my fellow Canadians, Alberta is teh suck. :mad:

You just never cease to be a source of cheer and encouragement, do you? I'm sure you'll reap what you sow.

You just never cease to be a source of cheer and encouragement, do you? I'm sure you'll reap what you sow.

That's a bit harsh.

That's a bit harsh.

Probably. But she was on 2 or 3 of the last few threads I viewed with a similar negative and critical attitude. I'll keep my opinions open.

Meh....you're right. I have a sinus headache from hell and most everyone is irritating me right now. I'll log off and come back when I feel semi-human again. Apologies if I offended.

Gads!
Now I'll be the only unemployed non-student on here.
Dobbs, I'm so disappointed.
Congrats anyway.

Congratulations, Dobbs. Now if I could only get you to vote for lower taxes...:p

Probably. But she was on 2 or 3 of the last few threads I viewed with a similar negative and critical attitude. I'll keep my opinions open.

Oh, you won't see me loosing any sleep over New Fuglies' sentiments after what transpired yesterday in that other thread, but I just thought "Hmm, that's not like Zooke."

Meh....you're right. I have a sinus headache from hell and most everyone is irritating me right now. I'll log off and come back when I feel semi-human again. Apologies if I offended.

Krya på dig! :)

(Swedish for, umm, "Get well.")

Good morning campers - it's now my lunch hour and things seem to be proceeding well for me here. Had some teething troubles with the computer, with the network, with the fonts folder... actually, there's been less work and more talk so far today. But I've told the fellow I'm reporting to that I'm not leaving 'til I can at least have all the reference materials I'm working with mapped.

For the most part, what I'll be doing this week is to take an existing video project and use it as a template to produce four similar clips. Not at all difficult - assuming the machines and programs know where the relevant materials are located.

I'll log in later tonight and let y'all know how the day went. I definitely think this is the right fit for me, though. Thanks to all my fellow NSers who took the time for backslappin' action. And just to reiterate, I'm not going to be giving up NS.

You're all too much fun for that.

Later, folks.

Dobbsy.


Glad to hear things are going well after a few hours.

How about you work and not get busted on NS?
It would be nice to hear how well things went AFTER the work day is done. I dont want to hear that you were caught on NS and shown the door.
Good luck.

Glad to hear things are going well after a few hours.

How about you work and not get busted on NS?
It would be nice to hear how well things went AFTER the work day is done. I dont want to hear that you were caught on NS and shown the door.
Good luck.Oh now YOU shut it...she was on her lunch break you butthead!

Oh now YOU shut it...she was on her lunch break you butthead!


Just errring on the side of caution.

First NS, then porn on a company computer. I'd hate to see something she's happy with slip away.

And whats with the name calling? "Butthead"? Thats what you've got?
I expect way better from you, Madame Stinkfinger.

Just errring on the side of caution.

First NS, then porn on a company computer. I'd hate to see something she's happy with slip away.

And whats with the name calling? "Butthead"? Thats what you've got?
I expect way better from you, Madame Stinkfinger.
I had to soften the words I originally used so that someone wouldn't take it out of context and accuse me of flaming.

And ButterPecanfinger is more accurate.

I had to soften the words I originally used so that someone wouldn't take it out of context and accuse me of flaming.

And ButterPecanfinger is more accurate.


I know how you really feel when you use the diluted words.

And I woulda had you pinned for an almond ding finger.