When I looked through my archives of Tuesday's Questions this morning to make sure I didn't repeat a question, I noticed that a lot of my regular post titles are questions- I guess because I'm so inquisitive, (which is something you probably didn't already know about me.) Anyway, I thought I asked this question before but I haven't- what I did was write a post entitled My First Job At Chicken Coop, although it wasn't my worst job... and I never asked either question. So this week for Tuesday's Question you get to pick which one you would prefer to answer.
So you can tell us about your worst or first job experience, but remember I will post your comment tomorrow with a link back to your blog, so it will be published for the world to read. (Smile) Also tell your readers that you answered Tuesday's Question, and maybe they can meet a few more bloggers while they're reading your comment and vice versa. Also if you prefer I can link back to the post of your choice instead of your landing page- so please leave the url in my comments and I will be happy to post another link instead. Maybe you have a favorite post in archives that some of your readers missed or your new readers haven't read yet?
Tuesday's Question is my way of connecting and giving thanks to all of the great bloggers who have supported this weekly post and read A Nice Place In The Sun period! I want to say thank you, introduce you to each other, and let you get to know me better!
So I'm going to share one pretty funny post link about my first job at Chicken Coop, and another funny now - sometimes funny then- post about my worst job that I wrote today.
I couldn't stand many jobs over the years when I was a single parent which I'll touch on briefly, then it's your turn! Have fun-
The years after my divorce taking care of my son on my own were the best and hardest years of my life... My main objective everyday was how to manage keeping our heads above water, so you name the job, and I've done it, well...just about everything...
I did write but a writing career was out of the question in those days, with the exception of writing and selling ads for magazines; therefore I was a bartender, a waitress, a deputy, a public relations manager, a sheet rock hanger, a painter, and I even cleaned a few houses....but the absolute worst job of all was driving a meat truck.
At first, I thought the job was perfect, because I could pick my son up from school in the afternoon and continue working- although I didn't expect him to hide in the school bathroom due to his embarrassment of the truck, so that I had to get the janitor to go in the boys bathroom and drag him out while my refrigerator was running in the truck...nor did I plan on having to deal with his adamant refusal to sit on the seat where anyone could see him, preferring instead to sit below the seat where he could view the road fly by from a crack in the floorboard.
The truck was refrigerated so I had to keep it running so the meat wouldn't spoil, hence it ran in our driveway, in front of my son's school, while I went to teacher/ parent conferences and in the grocery store on my way home. My products only amenity was the fact that the meat was vacuum packed, although most of my customers bought some from me anyway either to get me off of their driveway or because they could see my son sitting on the floorboard doing his homework.
Oh how I hated that job, the only one I hated worse was the one I had next, which was selling potato chips on one of those giant potato chip trucks. Except I didn't last long on that one, not after I got the truck stuck in front of a local supermarket all day until it was too late to set up my "chip stand" a part of the job in which I will spare you the details. But, I still believe all work is honorable, and it fed, clothed and put a roof over my son's head- and also a floorboard under his feet- and a refrigerator truck full of meat...in fact come to think of it he would love that truck today...well no, on second thought he wouldn't, but we do laugh about it all the time...
O.K. Your turn~
14 comments:
Hi Ann,
Wow I didn't think I would make it in today.
We had some really bad stoprms move through and I had to shut down.
Well I have certainly had some doozies in job force that's for sure.
But, my very worst by far was when we first arrived in Maine.
I went to work for a very brief time as a telemarketer. And the sub-contractor I worked for had no ethics whatsoever.
All was fine the first thirty days while training at minimum wage.
But, then they transferred me over to pay based on the number of people I could talk into signing up for something that in the long run would only add to their phone bill and not save money.
The very first day I was transferred was the day I quit. The owner of this company had tons of people's personal information. This information was supplied to them by one of the world's largest telephone companies.
And, she would take this information and call into the phone company pretending to be the actual person so she could get their latest account information.
By having the person's latest account info. was most definitely a plus if you were going to sale them this plan.
Well, I absolutely refused to do this. Not only was it unethical, but, it is also a federal offense.
I may be blond, and a little numb sometimes but even I know that you don't mess around with the FCC.
So I simply got up and walked out.
The whole experience truly was a nightmare from the start. Telemarketing is a nightmare job and I simply am not tough skinned enough, or, unethical enough to ever have been successful.
That's it...not very funny I'm afraid. But, it is very true.
Hugs,
Jackie:)
Jackie, I'm so glad that you are alright. Those storms sound really awful, please be careful. And I know what you mean about telemarketer jobs. It's weird that you brought a job like that up because my son just got a college job that is soliciting by phone and I have a feeling he may be in for something horrific. It is on campus, but like you said you never know. This is a great comment and I wasn't expecting funny so much on this question, my first job post is definitely funnier than the worst one, as probably everyones will be. But, like you said it's the truth, and horrible jobs are sometimes funny in retrospect and sometimes they are just plan horrific. Thank you for sharing, and I hope the weather gets better~ Plus, thanks for reminding me to fuel your blog today~ :))
Hugs~ Ann
We truck drivers have a hard row to hoe...:)))..mine was a bricklayers helper..I carried bricks up that ladder so many times I was pooped by lunch..not one brick at a time either slats of them 12 to a slat..
First real job with a paycheck and w2's...the Boy Scout shop. My first and only experience in retail. At least the store was usually very empty leaving plenty of time to play hide the shirt clip thingies. And by shirt clip thingies those little plastic clips that were on the folded shirts. They had to be removed before hanging the shirts. I had a collection of arround 5 lbs of the little buggers and decided to start hiding them through out the store. I heard a few years after I left that they were still finding them.
Great question Ann. I love your stories. You and I seem to have led really interesting lives. :-)
The worst job I ever had was a temporary position as a giant Twinkie. I had to wear the Twinkie the Kid costume (complete with cowboy hat that seemed to be about ten feet high) and do promotional stuff at grocery stores. Kids punched me, Japanese tourists wanted their picture taken with me, and it was hot and stuffy.
Once, I ran into my best friends dad while wearing the big suit. The "mouth" portion of the costume was somewhere around my neck/chest area so I couldn't talk. I saw my friends Dad and started to move towards him waving my arms and shouting "Hey Mike!" He was horrified and ran ff. Later when he found out it had been me, he said he heard muffled scary sounds coming out of this giant Twinkie "guy" w who was moving erratically towards him. Needless to say, we had a big laugh.
I had forgotten about my first job. This was fun. Thanks.
http://www.chatbugkaren.com/2008/02/05/my-first-job/
You and I had like jobs. I too was a waitress, bartender and deputy. I also raised my son for the most part alone. I'm proud of it too. Worst job. I really didn't have a worst job. I truly can say that I didn't hate one job that I have had. So, I'll narrow it down to not my favorite.
Working graveyard (11P - 7A) anywhere is not great fun. I've worked graves as a waitress and as a deputy/sergeant.
As a waitress you always got to deal with the drunks at two the in the morning. Of course I was sober and it really gave you a good look at how stupid and rude people could be. I didn't care for that much. Then an hour or two before your shift would end, all the morning people show up all wide awake and ready for their day. That really made me tired.
When you work in jails all the inmates are sleeping and it's tough to stay awake. There are also less staff during this shift which even makes it worse. Our bodies really don't like to be awake at night. Well, mine never did.
The toughest time about working graves is about four in the morning on. The sun is going to come up and you are even going to feel more tired. The winters were the worst. You went to work in the dark and came home in the dark. There just wasn't any day at all.
My son is now 37 years old and I'm retired with a very nice retirement. I wouldn't change a thing even if I could. Whatever I did kept a roof over our heads and food on the table. I'm very proud of that. :)
Hello again Ann,
May I introduce you to a new game?
It's called tag and run for the hills:):):)LOL!!! I'm running now!!!
http://shinade.blogspot.com/2008/02/smiling-through-tough-meme.html
hi Ann
the first job of mine was worstest experience coz i didnt know any thing about the concept of the job. i join as a telecaller in a logistic compay(freight forwarding and custom clearences) where i called the exporter and importer of the city n ask him , Do they intrested in our servicees. but when they ask me about the rate ,flight ,or collect or paid shipment criteria i m unable to tell them coz i m new n short of knowledge. the thing i feel embraced when i called a importer n said "do u intrested in our services" and he replied , "mam first tell me who r u, ur company name n detail about ur company profile after that i sould tell u, oh!that moment..........
Oh Sandee,
I have to agree with you about working the graveyard shift.
I too did that as a waitress and the drunks were always such a drag!!
I can't even begin to imagine working as a deputy and dealing with them!!
Ann... my worst job is the one I'd like to forget! I try not to think about it. My sister Ann and I had just moved and we needed jobs desperately and took the first available positions we could find... at a dry cleaners. Ann was told she would be working at the front counter and I was brought to the back of the building. It was like a sweat shop and I was given the job of washing the greasy coveralls belonging to the local garages. I couldn't believe it but decided to stick it out until I could find something better. The heat was unbearable and I worked alone with no one to talk to. After about a week I put in my notice and the owner wanted to know why I was quitting.. so I told him if I could work on the front counter in the AIR CONDITIONING I might stay.... HIS REPLY.... No your sister is PRETTIER THAN YOU!
Hello Everyone! It is Wednesday -noon my time- and my Flippedy gibbit self is running late, all of your comments are wonderful and will be posted as soon as I can get what looks to be another wonderful post written and published. I'm working on it right now. I'm sorry I haven't replied, as I usually reply to each of you before posting your comments, just been one of those weeks and I plan on responding after I get the post up.
:)))))
Love to all of you great bloggers and bloggets!
Ann
I know I am late here .. but I had a BUNCH of memories flood my mind from this question.
The summer of 1980, when I was 14 ... I think that math is correct, I started my first job. It was a product of a summer jobs program offered by the county / businesses in my area.
I saw that there was a 6 week opening at the courthouse, where my father worked. Of course, I apllied for "it", and was accepted. Another one of life's pivotal moments, this was a summer that molded future thoughts and realizations of a young learning boy.
The best part of this, was that I went to work each morning with pops. First hand, I witnessed the efforts that put food on the table.
"It did not just magically appear there...". With this I found a new respect and also a comradery with dad.
Because my shift was over before my father, we brought my bike along straped the back of his old Plymouth. I had a 15 mile ride home, but LOVED this, because at 14 I wanted to win the Tour de` France. (REALLY!) Each ride home was a time trial. Fastest?? 27 minutes. This was with a tail wind that had me really cruising. I was jumping up and down with my new found record, and thought for sure that my biking prowess would make me famous :)
At the end of this jobs term, I had 500 some dollars, and wanted to by a motorcycle. My DREAM as a teenager in the rural countryside.
I found one that I really liked, but was just a bit short. My dad paid the difference, explaining to me that it was not just a gift. He said that he was proud of me, and felt that I had earned it.
Powerful.
I carry this life lesson from my father with me forever. The feelings of of a boy that felt his father approved of his endevors, are exponentially greater than one of a child "given" something for nothing.
When looking back to the greatest memories of my entire life ... I think of the wind blowing through my hair down the many trails riding my first motorbike. I always had a smile on my face, and a great lesson learned on my mind.
... just back to subscribe to comments. Hoping to hear what you thought of my little story :)
See you next week Ann
Eric
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