Life as Jaybee

[jaybee]

Hey all, I haven't checked in here in a while and it occurs that at least someone might wonder how it came to be that I went from a daily participant to a ghost. The story is a series of life lessons, which we all know go on way later in life than we ever expect.

Life lesson #1 was when I returned to a place where I'd been downsized once, a company owned by a Wall Street venture capital firm, just because they threw some money at me. 15 months later and I was downsized again. This is a company with a history of aggressively expanding and collapsing their business based on decisions made far from the front line...I should have known better.

Life lesson #2 was going to work as on site management at a UPS customer. I discovered their culture is literally to never stop working. 70 hour, 7 day weeks--no exaggeration, I worked 320 consecutive days with my longest day being 37 hours and I exhausted the batteries on my laptop AND Blackberry on a day at Iowa Speedway when I'd planned to be off work. Time to find another job..never go to work for UPS.

Since early last November I've been working for another big company, but one that values quality of life. The price to pay for that is that the job is 2 hours from my home in Des Moines, up in northeast Iowa. I stay 4 nights/week in an efficiency apartment near work, so money is tight and I have no time to spend in the garage, but even at that my quality of life is better than before I changed jobs.

So long story short, I'm still out here, unfortunately the "car part of my life" is pretty much on hold for now. As Spring unfolds I'd like to find something car-related in the Cedar Falls/Waterloo area that I could become involved in, and hopefully within he next year I'll be able to get my home relocated to NE Iowa. Meanwhile I'll just remember the words of someone very wise..."Patience young Skywalker."

[kb426]

Welcome back at whatever level you can do. 320 days in a row sounds like farming/cattle. I don't do either of those anymore.

[purplepickup]

The hands we're dealt in life definitely take priority over everything else.  I'm a believer that most everything has a good side, as hard as it is to see sometimes.  I don't know you personally but you've shown solid moral and ethical values that didn't just happen.  You earned them by dealing with life's trials in ways you believe are right and honest.  You certainly can't say you haven't given a good days work for your pay lately.   Your stick-to-it-ivness is commendable.  It sounds like your current employer appreciates those qualities and I doubt that you will let them down.  

There's so many whiners around nowadays that think they are owed something for doing as little as possible.  It's refreshing to see someone with a positive attitude stay employed when it isn't easy.   If everything was easy in life we'd never feel the sense of accomplishment when we make things work out for us would we?

It's good to hear from you.

[phat46]

Good to have you back. As you have found out sometimes it costs too much to make money.

[Bruce Dorsi]

Thanks for dropping by, and the update on your life, John.

I've often wondered where you have been.

Hope all is well with your kids!

[jaybee]

I appreciate the good words guys, thanks for that. One of the little things I'll file away file away as a point of pride is the pep talk I got from my former customer. He, a man who lived most of his life in the hard nation of South Africa and went from beach bum to owner of one of that country's largest bakeries before coming to the USA told me "I have never in my life seen anyone work so hard as you. Anything that went wrong did so because your company gives you no support." I suppose there are people in this day and age who aren't proud of being willing to work hard...they're going to be disappointed. Still, there are limits. Sometimes it DOES cost too much to make money.

My current employer consistently tells me that they are investing in me, and that's a great feeling. I like my customer, they're demanding but not unreasonable, unrealistic, or insane. My family appreciates the change in me and the ability I now have to be present for them as well.  That's the pay off. That's the important stuff right there.

My boys are doing great. #1 son now works for a company that does SEC and other financial regulatory filings electronically for corporate customers. He's also self-producing electronic music on the internet and getting good reviews. He has a fantastic girlfriend and we see them pretty often. She's a great kid and when they make that decision we'll welcome a fantastic new daughter to our family.

#2 son is teaching English in China. Thanks to Skype we get to communicate with him regularly and he loves what he's doing. His goal is to become qualified to be an interpreter at any level of private or government usage.

I raised 2 young men of whom I can be really proud. They're strong, confident people who are totally self sufficient but enjoy time spent with their parents as well. That means more than anything.

Maybe it's taking longer to build the car than I hoped. The sacrifices I've made there are for things I find more important. I'm good with that.

I'm still going to get a chance to enjoy that first fire, that first test ride, and that first road trip.

[enjenjo]

I'm happy you have a new job you like, and more importantly you are getting what you want out of it.

[40]

Hey John.....Good to hear from you and I'm glad things are working out for the better.Haven't had the chance to catch up with you at the Goodguys event in Des Moines the last couple of years.......perhaps this year!Good to hear your sons are doing well......seems like just yesterday they were tagging along with Dad at the car show!

[UGLY OLDS]

Hi John ... Good to see that you are back..  Looking forward to seeing you at Des Moines again this year....




Bob....

[rumrumm]

Good  to hear from you. And glad to hear the new job is going well. I have a daughter that lives and works in Miami, so  we use skype a lot with her as well. It's a great way to stay in touch, especially when she cannot be home for Christmas.

[Crosley.In.AZ]

hi, good to see you.