Goodbye, prepress

Started by gnubler, September 21, 2013, 02:56:28 PM

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t-pat

Before working in printing, I worked for several years as a courier, then a process server/private investigator.
I'd go back to it if things fell through for me in printing.
The courier thing sucked.
The process server thing was pretty damn dealable. Worked 4-6 hours a day, rarely 8. Went into the office maybe once or twice a day, sometimes not at all. Drove around delivering pieces of paper to people, and asking questions. Sometimes I'd get paid to stalk people and report on their activities. Pay was based on performance. If I served my papers and turned in my reports, nobody really cared how as long as I followed the law in doing so.

It did require a background check and fingerprints, but in Illinois it's the same exact check (and card you carry) as a locksmith and alarm tech.

edit: the woman who started the company was a 125# female also, and she LOVED going and doing field work, she was pretty bad ass.
vdp donkey
gmc inspire • sarcasm while you wait

Possum

Welding involves lugging around tanks full of flammable stuff, so that might be out.

Since you mentioned electrical work, how about working for an alarm company? They probably install electronic locks also. You'd have to deal with climbing through attics to thread wires around at times, but demand for the work can only go up. The worst thing would be dealing with a nervous housewife who wants to hover like a buzzard while you're working, but just give her the look you give a sausage, and that should fix things.

The medical field is iffy right now, as nobody knows how things will shake out after Obamacare goes into effect.
Tall tree, short ropes, fix stupid.

Joe

I still get pissed at times in prepress. One thing I don't get is stressed. It's not that I don't care. Just read the first paragraph of the serinity prayer:

QuoteGod, give me grace to accept with serenity

the things that cannot be changed,

Courage to change the things

which should be changed,

and the Wisdom to distinguish

the one from the other.

So I do only what I can. At the end of the day I forget about it all and go home. A lot of things can kill me but one of them isn't going to be stress.
Mac OS Sonoma 14.2.1 (c) | (retired)

The seven ages of man: spills, drills, thrills, bills, ills, pills and wills.

gnubler

I don't really get stressed out either...I keep telling Fbomb & Corn you can only do what you can do. It's just being around frenetic management/ownership that gets mentally exhausting, the constant pushing as they expect impossible miracles to come out of one person. So I'm just not going anymore.
Hicks • Cross • Carlin • Kinison • Parker • Stone •  Colbert • Hedberg • Stanhope • Burr

"As much as I'd like your guns I prefer your buns." - The G

Quote from: pspdfppdfx on December 06, 2012, 05:03:51 PM
So,  :drunk3: i send the job to the rip with live transparecy (v 1.7 or whatever) and it craps out with a memory error.

Member #14 • Size 5 • PH8 Unit 7 • Paranoid Misanthropic Doomsayer • Printing & Drinking Since 1998 • doomed ©2011 david

Farabomb

Yup, that's where I am at now. I'm punished for doing my job well. Everyone here can basically make their own hours. The boss has a bad habit of dicking around all day then wanting to talk about shit after 5. I do have a "life" outside of here. Well kinda. I can't help but shudder when the phone rings or I get a text. It usually means I have to remote in and do some shit. On average that takes at least 3 hours. Add up the 9 hours at the shop, a hour commute each way then another 3 to do a rush job is a 14 hour day. Since it doesn't happen all in a row, the boss does not consider that a 14 hr day.

I have not had a vacation since working here. I have been away but not once was I not bothered. Even when the partner was here and he was a "prepress specialist" he could never get a job out. I always had to remote in and do it. This week running the whole place and probably fucking up has nearly killed me. I stressed all weekend and it ruined my weekend. My stomach is fucked up from stress and my joints are killing me.

Main problem is I don't know if I have any viable skills. My body is falling apart so labor is out. I can cook but that's a young man's game. I'm pretty well fucked.
Speed doesn't kill, rapidly becoming stationary is the problem

I'd rather have stories told than be telling stories of what I could have done.

Quote from: Ear on April 06, 2016, 11:54:16 AM
Quote from: Farabomb on April 06, 2016, 11:39:41 AMIt's more like grip, grip, grip, noise, then spin and 2 feet in and feel shame.
I once knew a plus-sized girl and this pretty much describes teh secks. :rotf:
They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.
         —Benjamin Franklin

My other job

DigiCorn

Quote from: gnubler on September 23, 2013, 09:54:54 AMI don't really get stressed out either...I keep telling Fbomb & Corn you can only do what you can do. It's just being around frenetic management/ownership that gets mentally exhausting, the constant pushing as they expect impossible miracles to come out of one person. So I'm just not going anymore.

I am a passionate guy, so I get very involved in what I'm dealing with and on large projects I can disappear for hours at a time. People will be talking to me, and I get so overly focused I'm completely unaware and it requires a tap on the shoulder, which usually makes me jump. I have the radio on all day, but if you asked me what I was listening to, I couldn't tell you. I have a lot of pride, so while I basically hate what I do, it IS what I do, and I won't churn out crap when it can be done better; I accept it as a challenge.

I've always said if I had it all to do over again, I think I'd want to be a pharmacist. Seems fairly simple, I mean once you know all the chemistry involved. A good database would cross reference all your pills, so you shouldn't accidentally poison or kill anyone, and unless your shipment didn't come in, or you fucked up and gave someone the wrong pills, I can't imagine any stress or people yelling at you. Essentially, in the worst case scenarios you send them back to their doctor if they don't like your answers, so it's not on you. Most of your customers would be older, so they'd be docile and have manners (most of them). Not a lot of overtime (if any) and you have set hours. I think a lot of people would be happy to see you on a daily basis! Seems ideal.

I've also considered being some kind of hospital tech... X-Rays or such. You'd work behind the scenes, so you really wouldn't interact with the public much... people show up; you take their picture... off they go.

And finally, I'd like to work in some capacity in a brewery or booze dispensary, if for nothing else, the employee discount.
"There's been a lot of research recently on how hard it is to dislodge an impression once it's been implanted in someone's mind. (This is why political attack ads don't have to be true to be effective. The other side can point out their inaccuracies, but the voter's mind privileges the memory of the original accusation, which was juicier than any counterargument ever could be.)"
― Johnny Carson

"Selling my soul would be a lot easier if I could just find it."
– Nikki Sixx

"Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut."
― Ernest Hemingway

beck

I'm with Joe... don't get stressed out too much any more.  After being beaten down for over 30 years, it's getting easier to let the crap go that doesn't affect me directly.

Do my job to the best of my ability, and go home.

beck
Nevertheless....beck has hit the proverbial nail on the head.
Joe

Grimace

Quote from: DigiCorn on September 23, 2013, 10:19:33 AM
Quote from: gnubler on September 23, 2013, 09:54:54 AMI don't really get stressed out either...I keep telling Fbomb & Corn you can only do what you can do. It's just being around frenetic management/ownership that gets mentally exhausting, the constant pushing as they expect impossible miracles to come out of one person. So I'm just not going anymore.

I am a passionate guy, so I get very involved in what I'm dealing with and on large projects I can disappear for hours at a time. People will be talking to me, and I get so overly focused I'm completely unaware and it requires a tap on the shoulder, which usually makes me jump. I have the radio on all day, but if you asked me what I was listening to, I couldn't tell you. I have a lot of pride, so while I basically hate what I do, it IS what I do, and I won't churn out crap when it can be done better; I accept it as a challenge.

I've always said if I had it all to do over again, I think I'd want to be a pharmacist. Seems fairly simple, I mean once you know all the chemistry involved. A good database would cross reference all your pills, so you shouldn't accidentally poison or kill anyone, and unless your shipment didn't come in, or you fucked up and gave someone the wrong pills, I can't imagine any stress or people yelling at you. Essentially, in the worst case scenarios you send them back to their doctor if they don't like your answers, so it's not on you. Most of your customers would be older, so they'd be docile and have manners (most of them). Not a lot of overtime (if any) and you have set hours. I think a lot of people would be happy to see you on a daily basis! Seems ideal.

I've also considered being some kind of hospital tech... X-Rays or such. You'd work behind the scenes, so you really wouldn't interact with the public much... people show up; you take their picture... off they go.

And finally, I'd like to work in some capacity in a brewery or booze dispensary, if for nothing else, the employee discount.

My wife works in Pharmacy. While it should be how you describe, remember, these people are on medication and act accordingly; i.e. irate when they can't get their pills in 15 minutes. I hear a horror story every day about a meth head or an old bastard screaming over the phone or counter. You ain't missing anything. Except the money for a Pharmacist is crazy good. They do also have to do continuing education as drugs and interactions change all the time.

Working at a brewery could be fun, it is a booming business up here and I never thought it would get so big, yet every year there are more and more tasty beers being introduced. I love beer.

gnubler

I'm also thinking of getting into commercial beer brewing. In my region just in the past 3-4 years at least 10 new breweries have opened and all of them are doing well. Every brewpub I go to is packed, often to the point where I turn around and leave.
Hicks • Cross • Carlin • Kinison • Parker • Stone •  Colbert • Hedberg • Stanhope • Burr

"As much as I'd like your guns I prefer your buns." - The G

Quote from: pspdfppdfx on December 06, 2012, 05:03:51 PM
So,  :drunk3: i send the job to the rip with live transparecy (v 1.7 or whatever) and it craps out with a memory error.

Member #14 • Size 5 • PH8 Unit 7 • Paranoid Misanthropic Doomsayer • Printing & Drinking Since 1998 • doomed ©2011 david

Joe

I've seen pharmacists take plenty of heat from irate customers about their insurance company not covering the meds the prescription is for. I mean it isn't the fault of the pharmacist but they are the only ones there at the time the customer gets irate. And I've seen people bitch at them because of the price. And because of how long they've been waiting and why their prescription wasn't there waiting for them. Any profession dealing with the public is going to see conflict. From the guy working the window at McDonalds to the top brain surgeon at a prestigious hospital. Because people suck in general.
Mac OS Sonoma 14.2.1 (c) | (retired)

The seven ages of man: spills, drills, thrills, bills, ills, pills and wills.

Joe

Quote from: gnubler on September 23, 2013, 10:31:21 AMI'm also thinking of getting into commercial beer brewing. In my region just in the past 3-4 years at least 10 new breweries have opened and all of them are doing well. Every brewpub I go to is packed, often to the point where I turn around and leave.

It would be interesting how many little breweries fail compared to how many actually make it. I'll bet the numbers aren't in your favor. But they probably aren't in your favor in any new business. I read once just how many times Colonel Sanders failed before he came up with KFC. I don't remember how many times but it was quite a few.
Mac OS Sonoma 14.2.1 (c) | (retired)

The seven ages of man: spills, drills, thrills, bills, ills, pills and wills.

andyfest

Quote from: gnubler on September 23, 2013, 10:31:21 AMI'm also thinking of getting into commercial beer brewing. In my region just in the past 3-4 years at least 10 new breweries have opened and all of them are doing well. Every brewpub I go to is packed, often to the point where I turn around and leave.
Sounds like a great idea. A few years ago when my older brother was 53 he decided to go back to college and take a brewmaster course in the Niagara area. After graduation he was hired almost immediately at age 55. If I'm not mistaken the college hired him to help teach the course, which is booked out every semester. He also works at a microbrewery close to his home.  Absolutely loves his craft, makes a pretty good brew and brings in some good coin too. You can find out more about the course he took here:
http://www.niagaracollege.ca/content/Programs/FulltimeStudies/WineryViticultureandBreweryStudiesCFWI/BrewmasterandBreweryOperationsManagement.aspx
He also has a bit of a nerdy blog here but it might give you some insight into the trade:
http://studentofbeer.wordpress.com/tag/niagara-college/

Hope it helps. Beer is truly a glorious thing. :drunk3:
Retired - CS6 on my 2012 gen MacBook Pro

andyfest

"I'm a 125# female so I'm not going to pretend I can get a job at a construction site pushing wheelbarrows of bricks or running a jackhammer."

Whaaattt???
Retired - CS6 on my 2012 gen MacBook Pro

gnubler

Quote from: Joe on September 23, 2013, 10:37:16 AMIt would be interesting how many little breweries fail compared to how many actually make it. I'll bet the numbers aren't in your favor. But they probably aren't in your favor in any new business. I read once just how many times Colonel Sanders failed before he came up with KFC. I don't remember how many times but it was quite a few.

It's something to research, for sure. I know of one brewpub in my region that folded during the past 3 years, not sure why because it was busy every time I went. There's at least 6 new brewpubs that opened in the past 3 years. One of them (my favorite) is already looking for a new location because they can't meet demand and another just expanded into a neighboring suite (which was a Subway sandwich shop of all things) because they outgrew operations within 6 months. A lot of the brewpubs here have built pseudo-patios which is just a fenced off area spilling into the parking lot because it gets too crowded inside.

I've been homebrewing for about 7 years so I have at least a little knowledge to bring to the table (literally).

Beer is a glorious thing.
Hicks • Cross • Carlin • Kinison • Parker • Stone •  Colbert • Hedberg • Stanhope • Burr

"As much as I'd like your guns I prefer your buns." - The G

Quote from: pspdfppdfx on December 06, 2012, 05:03:51 PM
So,  :drunk3: i send the job to the rip with live transparecy (v 1.7 or whatever) and it craps out with a memory error.

Member #14 • Size 5 • PH8 Unit 7 • Paranoid Misanthropic Doomsayer • Printing & Drinking Since 1998 • doomed ©2011 david

gnubler

Quote from: andyfest on September 23, 2013, 10:56:32 AM"I'm a 125# female so I'm not going to pretend I can get a job at a construction site pushing wheelbarrows of bricks or running a jackhammer."

Whaaattt???

More like 126# now after downing two delicious bombers of beer over the weekend.  :embarrassed:
Hicks • Cross • Carlin • Kinison • Parker • Stone •  Colbert • Hedberg • Stanhope • Burr

"As much as I'd like your guns I prefer your buns." - The G

Quote from: pspdfppdfx on December 06, 2012, 05:03:51 PM
So,  :drunk3: i send the job to the rip with live transparecy (v 1.7 or whatever) and it craps out with a memory error.

Member #14 • Size 5 • PH8 Unit 7 • Paranoid Misanthropic Doomsayer • Printing & Drinking Since 1998 • doomed ©2011 david