I am a social worker and have been one for years, I mostly worked in the area's of HIV and AIDS and homelessness. Now I am a disable social worker that try to help as many people as possible and I just decided to go volunteer to do some work for a local AIDS service organization a couple of hours a week doing HIV testing and counseling. The brain needs stimulation and volunteering sounds good to me.

I work for a software company, we deal with a lot of fund offices and larger TPA's that handle benefits. I'm in the "contributions" module by title but I work more with our new java software installs and correspondence software. My title is Benefits Systems Consultant, we have this position for both support staff and project staff..I'm a projects girl. I travel to different customers and train on the new software after I have installed it. I recently worked on my first new customer implementation but had to bow out when I needed my back surgery. Which was a bummer because it meant summer in Chicago

I'm not sure I want to keep doing this job forever, though I find it interesting when things don't work as expected...I like the puzzle and making it fit for each individual customer. Before this position I worked for the same company as an administrative assistant, when I tried to leave for a job (similar to the one I have now) they offered me more money and the promotion to my current job! Since I didn't really want to leave to begin with it was a win/win situation for me.

Like the board name says, I'm a tankeryanker. I pull a 4 axle trailer behind a 4 axle truck loaded with that high priced gas or diesel that we all can't live without. A rolling bomb if you will with 11,600 gallons of gas. Oh & don't blame me for these high prices, for I'm not getting any richer.

I am a Business Analyst for a private Holdings Company. My department is responsible for invoicing and special reporting for 3 comapanies that provide housekeeping, security and aviation services to airports.

I am in the Air Force working as a Aircraft mechanic. Been doing it for over ten years now, never thought I'd hold a job this long. Now I'm just hoping that they don't make me train into a new job or kick me out because of my back.

Hank

I started in 1971 in the Wine Retail and Wholesale business.
Then in 1974 I joined IBM and I am still with them! I am a Software Engineer (really a programmer) and have been working on Main Frames and PC's and Networks for a LONG time.
I still am very involved in Wines. I run annual a Wine Dinner for about 100 people, we have several wine tastings at our house and I run wine tastings at a local wine shop.
I am beginning to wind down my career with IBM and am looking for my next adventure

doing what I love. I am a special education teacher. I have worked with Autistic children for over 20 years. Right now I have a class of k-2nd graders. Over the years I have taught autstic children from preschool level to middle school. I hope to be recovered in time to start the 2008-2009 school year....but because the kids I work with can be pretty physical. They tend to drop to the ground when your holding their hand, sometimes run from the room (although not often) and stuff like that....so who knows when I'll be released to go back.

Anna

This is an interesting thread. It makes us realize that our spiney friends have other lives.

Well, right now - besides of recuperating from three-level fusion surgery - I am doing what I like best. Everything I enjoy, as I am HAPPILY RETIRED!!!! WHOOOPYY!

Now before that I had to work to accrue a retirement income, so I was:

medical technologist
EKG tech

(after nine years of college):

survey analyst (HATED IT!!)
engineering research psychologist
(working at NASA employed by the ARMY)

Now I do as I dan well please!

Kin

This is an interesting thread. It makes us realize that our spiney friends have other lives.

Well, right now - besides of recuperating from three-level fusion surgery - I am doing what I like best. Everything I enjoy, as I am HAPPILY RETIRED!!!! WHOOOPYY!

Now before that I had to work to accrue a retirement income, so I was:

medical technologist
EKG tech

(after nine years of college):

survey analyst (HATED IT!!)
engineering research psychologist
(working at NASA employed by the ARMY)

Now I do as I da*n well pleased!

Kin

I retired from the classroom after 28 years of Special Ed teaching (did all grade levels), administrating Federal programs (guaranteed dead end job) and did waitressing, dorm director, secretary and sales clerk so I could afford to go to college.
Now "I am Ms. LAW and I run the Elkhart School Jail". My principals love me and what worries me is that so do the kids. I have had every grade from 1st up and every offense. Two of my 'repeat customers' are to come and water my plants for me (and hopefully, bring some of Mama's tamales).
The kids tell me the reason they keep coming back is 1. they can catch up on their work, 2.it's quiet and 3. they only deal with one teacher. At least I found out this past year that they have my back. In 6 years the first kid threatened me and feet hit the floor. As work spread the next day my "possee" grew to cover a great deal of the high school. And it came at a time I needed the good thoughts - back was beginning to talk real ugly.
Must got - one of my nursecats is telling me it is her time for loving - not the computer.

am a homemaker and it is the best job in the world....I also home school my kids so I get to spend all day with them....it is great (most of the time , lol).

Ok Miki, I know you a bit better. I do know that you stay at home, but you do so much with that:

- You are the home person - responsible for the house
- You are the Teacher, how many people could teach at home?
- You are the Peace maker - You help everyone
- You are a Moderator here - And you are the best.

And to top it all, there aren't many people finer than Miki!

I am with miki. Except I do not home school, as if I did I would be on news channels for homicide
I also have a St.Bernard, and 3 Bichone's. Mom,dad and baby.
Stay at home mom's are a dyeing breed.
j

I go to school online at kaplan. Going for IT and web developement. Want to learn more since me and my significant better half have a dance music website. www.osmuzik.com if you wanna check it out. There are free mixes you can listen or download or have sent to itunes (podcast subscription) My boyfriend is trance/ techno dj and producer. I sing and help keep up the website. we hope to have an internet radio station by this fall. It's quite an undertaking very nerve wrecking. Check out my myspace if you like www.myspace.com/stevie_osmuzik
or myspace.com/os_muzik or stevie.webonsites.com they all link to the main web site too. Thanks for the support if you're reading this. Good day all.

BTW, if you have never listened to trance music i would suggest giving it a try it can be very relaxing and calming.

I was an educator for 34 years. I taught high school English for 20 years, was an Assistant Principal for 11 years, and was a high school Principal my last 3 years. I retired last August due to my back. During my last two years, I was out more than I was in because of my back.

Dick

I was a offset printer,i have a degree in graphic arts and worked in the printing industry,i also worked at a mall,and at a airport as a ramp agent,which involed ground operations,i was injured from a fall,and from lifting garbage,and luggge,I havnt worked since 1996,i am disabled now....

Hey Erin,

Be proud of yourself and you daughter if you both graduate at the same time. I also went back to school after my second daughter was born and by the time I finished grad school my older daughter was just graduating from high school. It was a great day for both of us.

Good luck with your studies. It is not easy, but worth it!

Kin

I was a manager at BT and then a Business Studies tutor at the local college more recently I teach computing to primary school children at two schools, from Reception to Year 6 which is a unique position and one of the first independent one’s in the country.

I am the parent representative at the local hospital trust for regional limbless children, for those brave children.

One man support crew for my son, a Para-olympic S7 swimmer.

John

Hi all. I am a machine designer by trade. I currently use 3D solid modeling software to design equipment in the chemical process industry. Mainly piping design and equipment layouts. NOT, repeat NOT an engineer... they do all the thinking and I make their ideas come to life.

It's fun, creative and has very tangible results... I like that.

I work as a phone tech support rep for a large Cable Company. I have been there 6 years. I mainly do phone support for High Speed Internet Customers and digital phone customers.

Its not my favorite kind of work by any means. I am happiest when I'm in my own corner fixing a computer not dealing with people. I'm told I do excellent customer service though.

I'm 56 years old and look forward to retirement. We have two grandsons (James and Shane (5 yrs and almost 2 yrs old).

Ken GreyEagle

Right now my job is to stay home, and take care of my son. I try not to use the term "stay at home mom" because as some of you here know, that term carries a lot of the same stigma as taking meds for chronic pain. I'm not sure what it is about me staying home that just irritates people to no end. I am lucky enough to be in a situation, where we can get by with me at home, though we don't want to stay here forever, and as my son grows, this one bedroom apartment sure seems small.

When was working, I was the accounts manager at a major heating oil company here in town. I answered customer service/billing calls. Adjusted and billed accounts. And my favorite, was being personally responsible for all accounts which were on "fuel assistance" I was the go to person for people in financial need, and got them set up with the proper programs to help pay the bills and keep their homes warm. That kept me going back to that awful place day after day for four years.

Before working at the oil company, I was a cook at a nursing home in California. I loved what I did, but chose not to continue in that field when I moved to Massachusetts, simply because I am much too sensitive a person. I kept company and made friends with the residents, and it killed me to see the pain and suffering that comes with aging.

I certainly miss my clients... but am loving every minute staying home with my son. It hurts me to think that I will soon have a job away from home, and will be spending less time with him.

I am currently looking into work at home options, and I think I have found the opportunity I have been waiting for. I have done my research, and its a reputable place to work for. I would make my own hours, and work out of my home, answering calls for infomercials. Not the most glamorous job in the world, or even close to what I thought I would be doing at 27, but if it helps pay the bills and get us a new home, all while giving me the option to stay home with my son.... I'LL TAKE IT lol!!!

Yep, I have had the opportunity to try out so many different things in the past. I have worked retail, managed a ham store, a sub sandwich shop. I have done monogramming. Cleaned houses, did accounting for an HVAC company. Accounting and admin for a flooring company. Worked in tax and finance and insurance for Hendrick Automotive Group (that was an awesome job that I lost due to pregnancy and then back issues) Sold cemetary plots and instruction on living and other types of wills. I managed a fiber optics recertification for a major cable company (i knew nothing of the technical stuff when I started, I am *really* good at winging it!). I have done SO many diverse things.

For the last 6 years I have been in multi-family property management. I currently run a 460 unit community with over 800 residents in Charlotte, NC. It is a decent place with a pretty mixed demographic pool. It is very demanding position and I often have to remind myself why I do this job. One thing about property management is the stories. I will never run out of stories to tell about peoples lives. There are some really funny crazies at every community I have been at so far.

I am a pharmacy technician. I have worked for Walgreens for 10 years, since I was 17. I have worked in all positions in the store, even a district bookkeeping job (4 stores a day, 80+ miles a day - that one didn't last long). Now I am in the pharmacy. I really like it, but it is stressfull. I tried looking for other jobs after I graduated from college (in 2003), but I just couldn't find anything that paid any more with as good of benefits. I kind of feel like I'm stuck, but I can't afford to start over, especially because most place make you wait a certain period for health insurance. I also have 3 weeks of vacation plus plenty of sick days. Retail sucks, but now that I am certified, I could always look around at hospital pharmacy or maybe a smaller, privately-owned pharmacy that is not quite as busy. I've also heard that Kaiser pays their techncians very well, but I didn't have good experiences with them when I was a patient there, so I am not sure how I feel about working for them.

I am now 10 weeks post PLIF L3-S1 fusion. I have been on workers comp for the last 7 years (long, long, boring, really boring story).
Now I am getting better I know that the workers comp company will have me looking for work again.
As I am unable to go back to old job as an aromatherapist/massage therapist or as a nurse/ pathology collecor, I will have to find new employment.
I just dont know what to do.

I know I can stand more now(pre surgery was a 5 minute limit)and I can walk around quite a lot but sitting which used to be my mainstay is not as easy as it was. I need to have breaks and definitely need the right chair.
Also bending of course is out.

I am also the type of person who cant say "oh I cant do this -someone else will have to" It is just not in me to do that, especially if it is part of the job description.

So what type of job do you do and what does it involve.

I would also hope for part-time work.

thanks
Sara

Sara,

Congrats on doing so much better post op! That's awesome. One of the things that I am doing and have done in the past, is volunteer work. I'm not sure how things are set up in your community, but the Rec Cross is always looking for volunteers in local hospitals and clinics.

This gives you a chance to check out jobs or positions as a part time worker who can basically set their own hours. Plus when new jobs come open the volunteers tend to get considered first.

With your background, there are a ton of clinics (even veterinary) that could use a good practice manager or business advisor.

Just a thought anyway,

"C"

I am the Best Boy Rigging Grip on the Fox Television show "24" I have been with them as a Rigger for about 4 years, recently making promotion to Best Boy. Prior to that I was Best Boy Grip on The Shield a show on Efx channel. That was on production. I am also a Gaffer and Set Lighting technician ( called an electrician in the biz ) and have done many commercials and other TV shows like Lizzie McGuire, Brothers Garcia and some feature films as well.

Before that I was a motorcycle technician for about 23 years...partly out of the love of motorcycles and "the need for speed" but as time went on it became mainly to support my music........because over and above it all I am a musician...a guitar player since I was 7 and pursuing music is the reason I came to the USA in 1981....still pursuing LOL!! Music is my main thing...what I am.

Getting married and having a family 10 years ago sort of forced me to re-evaluate the music as career and that is why I got into film and television.

To offset the madness induced by not touring and playing live I have built a recording studio at my house and my goal now is to try and get my compositions placed in soundtracks for Film, TV shows and commercials. I guess I have realized that my crazy days in rock 'n roll are perhaps over LOL...but I did it for a long time and survived it and would not change any of it for anything.

Anyway....my partial movie resume can be found here http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0171126/ under "Additional Information-Other Works" are some of the the commercials and short films I have done. I do not know why 24 is not on the main index...it was...somehow got deleted. I have updated it and in about 10 days it will show up.

Musically I have my MySpace page ..... http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendi...

The music is just jam type stuff I did in my studio by myself....nothing serious...just noodling.

I had L4/5 ALIF and PLIF in June 2007and am fully fused... hardware has been approved to come out but I do not know if I will make the deadline for the approval, they only gave me one month to do it in and we are so stupidly busy at work. I have requested surgery in August...I am hoping that since I got the scheduling in within the aproval period that all will be good with the Insurance carrier. All I want is to get healed so I can drop the hammer at work again. We work long and hard hours. Very physical.

That's me.

Hey Lister I really enjoyed your music on my space. I liked the Improvisation for x the best. It kind of reminded me of a little bit of carlos santana.

My last job was as an audio editor for an esteemed audiobook company.Then back in 1999-2000, I was the head Audio Engineer/Techie for the Austin Music Network in that great Texas city.Worked for Dell(manufacturing),Microsoft(MSN internet tech support level 2 via a call center that was used exclusively by them, our training was very exceptional),Was a partner in an Audio Post Production studio in Burbank, CA.

In between basically some odd jobs here and there, depending on the times included computer repair/sales,pizza cook, A/V Tech for corporate events and Master Control Operator for the local Fox affiliate.Basically, anything to do with audio/computers/video were my forte.

to all who have managed to stay employed through all the "back crap".

I stayed out of this thread because i was not able to work and was jealous (how selfish of me). Yea, i know. But for a grown man (or woman) to get on the verge of not being able to support my 2 children was very depressing to say the least.

But I am back to being a productive member of society again!
Started back to work a couple of weeks ago in my chosen career path....agricultural mineral sales.

Congratulations Agriman! Must be such a relief, to be well enough again to provide for the family, not to mention to be productive again.

Keep up the good work,

kin

I don't do anything. I did work in Krispy Kreme for a year(yes yes I know, all those free doughnuts, lol) and then I worked in an electrical store, Comet. But now I'm waiting for september to start college. =] Hope to become a scrub nurse xx

LOL yeah I'm an RN. I was working on a Medical/Surgical/Oncology floor when and where I had my injury. They put me on "light duty" on and off for the last 14 months before my surgery, so I've floated through a bunch of different departments, and have been snagged by Infection Control most recently. If the position is still open when I get back to work, I'll probably go full time there. MRSA anyone??

you can keep ur MRSA along with the clos diff and all the other nasties.Im an acute support nurse on a medical/cardaic ward,or atleast i was ,ive been off for 10 months now after i injury my back with guess what,helping a patient,im off to see my manager in a couple of hours about getting a new position that will be lighter and i don t mind telling you all i feel sick just thinking about,but it l be over in a few hours

I'm a librarian for (according to last week's newspaper) the 8th busiest library in the U.S.

I work in the Children's department. Puppets, storytimes, laptimes ( http://LaptimeandStorytime.googlepages.com/ if you want to access my collection of storytime and laptime programs and ideas). I also work a lot with the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival http://www.timpfest.org/ - well not this year, Doc says no to even attending. It really sucks big time; don't think I'll be following dr.'s orders on that one.

I've been at the library doing book suggestions, tours, research, reference and such for over 13 years. Prior to that I was a Waldenbooks/Waldenkids Manager. SOOOO glad I am not in retail anymore. Now I can recommend an armload of books and it doesn't cost anything (well, if they get returned on time anyway).

My biggest kick comes from connecting the right kid with the perfect book, I'm all about turning reluctant readers into avid book hounds I want to make a difference.