Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Ripsnort on May 23, 2018, 07:02:52 PM
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I don't remember if I told this story how I got to Seattle, but here goes...
I came to Seattle (From Minnesota) age 18 on a one way Amtrak train ticket in 1979 with a little over $100 and a suit case full of clothes. A high school buddy (Same graduation year) came with me and we were homeless the 3 weeks after we arrived in Feb 1979. Kevin returned home and pursued his career closer to home... and I kept applying at Boeing, find warm comfortable places to bed down for the night. We both heard that Boeing was hiring, and I LOVED aerospace since a little kid.
By April 4th 1979, I had a job at the Boeing Company. I was down to $20 or so and eating Snicker bars, one in the morning, one in the evening, that was breakfast, lunch and dinner...before I got my first pay check which took essentially 3 weeks because of the twice- monthly pay checks.
One night while on lunch break (2nd shift) this old Marine Corp Guadacanal-experienced lead man looked at me at my bench, eating a Snickers bar. He said "NELSON! GET UP HERE" (everyone shook when Ernie called your name, he was close to retirement and intimidating even in old age!)
I walk up to Marine Corp Ernie and he says "Where's your lunch? I haven't seen you bring in a lunch for 2 weeks!" I explained to Ernie that I had very little money left and was trying to make it last. Snicker Bars really do kill the craving pains!
Ernie whips out $50 out of his wallet, slaps it on his podium over looking the shop floor and says 'Here, pay me back on payday godd*mmit'.
That night I went out to a restaurant that was on East Marginal Way near Boeing Field called "Denny's". I ordered two steaks, two pieces of pie, two baked potatoes....you get the idea...
Well, at 12:45am I walked out of that restaurant fat, happy and the fullest I'd been in a month....and puked it up all on the sidewalk! I was like an Auschwitz survivor! My stomach was in shock! LOL! I'll never forget that Guadacanal Marine Corp sergeant and I'm always thankful for his $50 which I *DID* pay back on pay day! If I didn't, he would of kicked my bellybutton even at his ripe old age of 64!
Just thought I'd share that being homeless once meant "Pursuing greener pastures".
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See Rule #4
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I don't remember if I told this story how I got to Seattle, but here goes...
Good story! Thanks.
- oldman
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Apologies on my spelling errors.
Marine CORPS.
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Great story Ripper. It sucks being homeless doesn't it? Been there, done that. Got the t-shirt.
What ever became of your Marine friend? Did he retire out shortly after?
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Yes, he retired shortly after that, about 6 months if I recall.
I did my 2 months as a bench mechanic apprentice and then moved to an overhead shaper operator (Machinist).
You didn't move "up" to a machinist unless Ernie gave you a good review!
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So today is the last day then? Any party planned at the office?
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Curval, the only reason I've been coming into the office these past few days is for free lunches from many teams I've worked with over the years.
:D
One final luncheon today with my current team. Then it's the dollar menu at McDonalds from here on out! :p :old:
Old Project Managers never die, they just slide the schedule to the right and add more resources. :neener:
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Nice!!
:banana:
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thank you for sharing. a good read.
:salute
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Curval, the only reason I've been coming into the office these past few days is for free lunches from many teams I've worked with over the years.
:D
One final luncheon today with my current team. Then it's the dollar menu at McDonalds from here on out! :p :old:
Old Project Managers never die, they just slide the schedule to the right and add more resources. :neener:
Those are the best kind of work days. Enjoy retirement!
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Those are the best kind of work days. Enjoy retirement!
...and the lack of sudden stress that you face without deadlines, chasing deliverables, or sending out project status reports. :D
and more time for ... :airplane:
Or :banana: :banana: with the missus
Or doing volunteer work :old:
Or to go completely banana's and building a fallout shelter :noid
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Nice read Rip! You paid your dues in full. Thank the good Lord for that Marine Sgt. Bet he's smiling down and saying "Hey! I know that kid!" Then he'd say"(good work son!)."
Next time ya see him Rip (and you will) offer him a Snickers Bar! I'd like to see the reaction.
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Nice read Rip! You paid your dues in full. Thank the good Lord for that Marine Sgt. Bet he's smiling down and saying "Hey! I know that kid!" Then he'd say"(good work son!)."
Next time ya see him Rip (and you will) offer him a Snickers Bar! I'd like to see the reaction.
:x
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Fork, you speak my language. Well, not my language anymore!
I still do have one MS Project schedule left to complete. Getting our home ready for market.
Start is now, finish is April 20th 2019. It is resource loaded (1) but I don't have to report to a director each week except to my wife who REALLY IS a director at a hospital. :)
The best part is, status is now over a beer / glass of wine. Perhaps some snuggling after report out. :banana:
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Rip, when you build your new home make sure the garage isn't next to the kitchen. If someone is having a bad day and you are tinkering in the garage, you will hear about it. (experience) :D
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Last day expectations. You looked forward to it for years. It arrives and you have butterflies but it still feels great. Then the time you walk out the door for the last time..... You feel as it the weight of the world lifts off your shoulders........ then afterwards you realize, all those folks you used to enjoy seeing and talking to are gone from your life. The page turns, the chapter closes and you fully realize just what the hell that actually means. Life goes on and you see it starting to pass you by. After a while retirement starts to become comfortable and you miss work less and less. Sounds silly I know but believe me it's true for those of us who were raised to a life of work.
Enjoy Rip. This won't come by again. :old:
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Fork, you speak my language. Well, not my language anymore!
I still do have one MS Project schedule left to complete. Getting our home ready for market.
Start is now, finish is April 20th 2019. It is resource loaded (1) but I don't have to report to a director each week except to my wife who REALLY IS a director at a hospital. :)
The best part is, status is now over a beer / glass of wine. Perhaps some snuggling after report out. :banana:
lol. Ahh the life of a project manager....
Having one project to manage is a whole lot easier to manage than 10. You're on Easy Street now... :cheers:
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Rip I don’t know you but great story. Funny how different the world is now from then. Just in my aspect. Do not know many that follow there desire like that or that would be homeless to get a job. And thank god for those angels that do not want to be seen in that light
Enjoy your days sir
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I came to Seattle (From Minnesota) age 18 on a one way Amtrak train ticket in 1979
Ripsnort, Enjoy you retirement !
I'm the same age as you, but still got 4 years to work before I retire. Planning to spend my winters in SE Asia, get away from the cold here in Sweden.
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Good to hear that you made it out alive. I got layed off from the Everett plant back in '92 and ended up in Ft Worth at Lockheed. If I had not been layed off, I would be at 21 years with Boeing instead of 16 at Lockheed. Enjoy your retirement. :rock
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-grin- .. great story Rip. Retirement is an adjustment. (way understatement)
My last 'gig' was 3d artist for 2XL games here in Phx, AZ. 2010.
Laid off after 6mo. due to their decision not to pursue flight sim genre after all (they hired me to do that)
Been -retired- since then. (ie: putting resume's out, no bites and finally filed for Social Security)
Wife and I did a 'Corvette Summer' ..cruised 4400mile road trip, visited Ratbo, a friend from USAF and one of Kathy's internet friends across the USA.
Was a great road trip.
Biggest change: reduced stress so much I only need 4hrs sleep a nite..plus usually take a nap in the afternoon and I am good.
Schedule is such that ..well .. I don't have one. Just as likely to be jamming in Final Fantasy 14 online at 4am as to be asleep at 6pm nappin hard.
Other changes: I can level a character in an MMO to max ..just for laffs ..in not much time at all :)
Can video game my brains out. (160+hrs in BattleTech, on Steam, f'rinstance (just came out, based on 3025 era..great to see the shapes again :)
Negatives: Weirdest things as system parameters are eroded away ..gait an balance impaired, vision nowhere what it used to be, some simple things are just beyond my capabilities. I do not believe I could do an Ironman AW/AH convention thing anymore (I would stay up for the entire Con, sleep on the way home :)
There are times when I miss the capability of being able to build a killer PC ..capabilities these days are mind boggling :)
Get a huge kick outta people askin how old I am when I am jamming in Final Fantasy :)
Will be 70 in two years. I remember when I thought that was really old.
I heard once you reach 70 life will be over as you knew it ..er ..heard that about every decade milestone along the way :)
There are days when I don't feel as young as I used to for sure .. delving into an awesome game helps immeasurably.
Right now I spend my time in Final Fantasy 14, BattleTech, Hearts of Iron IV, IL-2 Battle of Stalingrad, and War Thunder (not very often, just not enough time!) ..and Forza 7 on the PC. (awesome cars and tracks to run on)
Ya..your hobbies will take over and jamming with the family ..nothin else like it. Heck I am even havin fun makin home made chili an stuff :)
Enjoy the day dood :)
-Gray Eagle aka Frank
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Great post Greyeagle! I've known you for over a decade and I thought you were my age. :)
It's been 4 weeks since I posted my retirement and left the company.
I went crazy and got another job. :O
Okay, just kidding. I'm working for myself now.
After our vacation to MN (one way flight, drove a 5th wheel and truck back) I've been catching up with neglected things I need to get done as our house goes on the market April 15th.
I completely remodeled our laundry room, including tear out of the flooring. I haven't been on my knees that long since I asked my director for a raise a few years ago!
The yard is in outstanding condition now, just have a fence post or two to replace.
I am still waking up early and going to bed early, I have no choice, my colon wakes up before I do! :mad:
Life is good "on the outside". Best move I've ever made is retiring!
Completed and Remaining projects:
Month Year Activity Status
Mar 2017 New Spa Heater Completed
Nov 2017 Complete crawl space makeover Completed
Feb 2018 New furnace Completed
Feb 2018 New water heater Completed
Mar 2018 Window cleaning Completed
Mar 2018 Vent cleaning Completed
June 2018 Remodel Laundry Room Completed
June 2018 Trim 120 border hedges Completed
June 2018 Pressure Wash Gutters Completed
June 2018 15 yards landscape bark Completed
July 2018 Fence repair
Aug 2018 House Trim-security bulbs replacement-Security camera cleaning
Sep 2018 Pack Garage
Oct 2018 Refinish Hardwood floors
Sep 2018 Paint Interior
Jan 2019 "Re-tile Pantry
Steps in garage"
Feb 2019 Clean Carpets
Feb 2019 Window cleaning
March 2019 Clean/pack attached garage
March 2019 Pressure wash all concrete
April 2019 Garage Sale
May 1st 2019 Move
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Rip I understand your feeling of needing something to do. After 40 years of directing Iron Making Operations (Blast Furnaces) on a turn and steady daylight job filling in on the Superintendents, Area Operations Manager and such. When I retired I got a job hauling car parts on a part time basis. I'm a motorhead so this was right up my alley! One off day however I drove my Challenger up to Geneva on the Lake Ohio, right on Lake Erie. I have a friend there who I worked with who owns a Bar. I'm sitting under an umbrella sipping a Corona on a beautiful Sunny day. While making these observations to myself I asked myself "am I nuts?" I don't need a schedule, the good lord has provided for me. What the hell am I doing working???? Next scheduled day I went into work and informed them that at the end of the week I was quitting. Your need to be useful to no one other then to your family and close friends, your scheduled work life and loyalty to the company urge you to do something. Once you get settled, look around and notice the beautiful family you have, and everything you've earned for your endeavors. You will finally decide that your retirement was earned. Take advantage of your family, do what you want ON YOUR TIME and enjoy the leisure you've earned. I couldn't have made a better decision about quitting my part time job to keep busy. At some point you will do the same. I hope sooner then later. Now your schedule is dictated by what you want to do with the family. Just DO IT! I'm almost 69 and turned down many jobs in my field after retiring. Now I've been retired 6 years. I LOVE IT!!
Congrats Rip
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Rip I understand your feeling of needing something to do. After 40 years of directing Iron Making Operations (Blast Furnaces) on a turn and steady daylight job filling in on the Superintendents, Area Operations Manager and such. When I retired I got a job hauling car parts on a part time basis. I'm a motorhead so this was right up my alley! One off day however I drove my Challenger up to Geneva on the Lake Ohio, right on Lake Erie. I have a friend there who I worked with who owns a Bar. I'm sitting under an umbrella sipping a Corona on a beautiful Sunny day. While making these observations to myself I asked myself "am I nuts?" I don't need a schedule, the good lord has provided for me. What the hell am I doing working???? Next scheduled day I went into work and informed them that at the end of the week I was quitting. Your need to be useful to no one other then to your family and close friends, your scheduled work life and loyalty to the company urge you to do something. Once you get settled, look around and notice the beautiful family you have, and everything you've earned for your endeavors. You will finally decide that your retirement was earned. Take advantage of your family, do what you want ON YOUR TIME and enjoy the leisure you've earned. I couldn't have made a better decision about quitting my part time job to keep busy. At some point you will do the same. I hope sooner then later. Now your schedule is dictated by what you want to do with the family. Just DO IT! I'm almost 69 and turned down many jobs in my field after retiring. Now I've been retired 6 years. I LOVE IT!!
Congrats Rip
Thanks Hajo, and good advice!