As long as everyone is "telling it like it is", here's my story. I was one of those high school grads that was 'MARKED FOR SUCCESS'. Never studied and got good grades, always tinkered with cars. I went to General Motors Ins***ute (engineering college), worked for GM a few years and NEVER felt fulfilled. Got married young, had two kids, and took on the task of being a "responsible person". One day while going into work I suddenly realized that I was one sheep in a big herd of sheep that answered to someone who didn't give a rats *** about me, just what I could do for him and the "corporation". That was my last day at work. The next morning the wife woke me to say I was late and better get to work. I told her I wasn't working there any more and turned over and went back to sleep. I woke refreshed a couple of hours later, went and got a job in construction paying 3 times what I was Making. That was the first of about 8-9 jobs I had before I realized that I wasn't going to be happy working for anyone else. I opened an auto repair shop and for the first time I was truly happy. I worked more hours for less pay than I ever had and loved every minute of it. Since then I've had 3 other businesses, the last being THE one. I was running my own High Performance engine shop when the opportunity to do fabrication work for the guy I was building oval track engines for came up. He told me he wasn't able to keep up with the roll cage and suspension fabrication work at his shop and offered me the chance to take on the work. I sold off the engine building machinery I had and equipted my shop with the basic fabrication tools needed and went to work. The next 14 years were the happiest of my life and things were humming right along when I was at the neighbors shop looking over some problems with his truck. I agreed to fix some things for him as he always liked the way I did his repair work when I still had my auto shop. I went over the next morning to get the truck and when I opened the overhead door all hell broke loose. The door collapsed on me, and life as I knew it was over. It's too long a story to relate here but the next 3 1/2 years were spent in the hospital, seven head surguries, 1 1/2 years learning how to walk, feed myself, get dressed, and generally relearning everything over again. They said I'd never drive a car again, I've had my license back for over 5 years and am once again able to enjoy that freedom I first experienced at 16 years old. That accident happened when I was 45 years old. I just turned 60, and can look back on a VERY happy life, good parents, the best wife anyone could ask for, two wonderful kids and seven grandchildren. If your still with me (its been too long) what I'm trying to say is when you look in the mirror while you are shaving, the person looking back at you is responsible for 95% of what happens in your life. Are you willing to let the 5% you can't control dictate your happiness. I hope you choose not to. Frank
WAY too much **** to read, but i did see that you broke up with your "girlfriend", SPENCE ...i liked him, he was a cool guy---uh, i mean "girlfriend!! you should'nt have any problem gettin another one as ***y as you are!!
You've asked some of the Big Questions. Maybe you'll soon answer them once and for all. Or maybe you'll wonder for the rest of your life. It's different for everybody, although I think they continue to plague most of us from time to time. Here's my nickel's worth of advice: (1) Sometimes doing stuff you love for a job takes the fun out of it. Work will always be work. Maybe that's not true for everybody, but I think a lot of times life is made better by keeping the two sides of your life separate -- satisfying work, p***ionate hobbies. (2) Life ISN'T short -- for most of us it's damned long. Take it easy, keep yourself happy as possible for now, and ride this bout of ****tiness out. This is an endurance event. (3) Being in your 20s ****s. It's highly overrated. When you get into your 30s, you still look about as good as you did in your 20s, but you're about ten times smarter. And that translates into confidence. And confidence usually draws babes. Mmmm. Not bad, eh? (Oh, and BTW, I'm 39.) Good luck! Dave
[ QUOTE ] when you look in the mirror while you are shaving, the person looking back at you is responsible for 95% of what happens in your life. Are you willing to let the 5% you can't control dictate your happiness. I hope you choose not to. Frank [/ QUOTE ] I don't remember ever reading better words in my life.
Wow.. amazing stuff guys.. scotch check yer PM's, Kustombuilder now that Spence is out of the picture, you and I can FINALLY be together. Who's gonna tell Cherryblossom? Fab32... your story is amazing.. one of those things that makes you really see what is important in life...
[ QUOTE ] Kustombuilder now that Spence is out of the picture, you and I can FINALLY be together. Who's gonna tell Cherryblossom? [/ QUOTE ] Honey, I'm a *** hag from way back...I don't think there will be any problems
[ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] Kustombuilder now that Spence is out of the picture, you and I can FINALLY be together. Who's gonna tell Cherryblossom? [/ QUOTE ] Honey, I'm a *** hag from way back...I don't think there will be any problems [/ QUOTE ] THAT explains A LOT! BTW Guys, Whenever Frank (Fab32) talks, I suggest you all listen closely. This guy is full of useful information and wisdom on MANY subjects! I wish I had more opportunities just to sit and chat with him... And Tiny E, if you ever want to come up to Flint, I can get you into all kinds of trouble that will release some agression!
Have another life one that is as good as the 1,000 marbles...which I keep in the kitchen and read nearly every morning. This one just came to me this morning and I thought I would share: The Importance of Time A young man learns what's most important in life from the guy next door. It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, girls, career, and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit of his dreams. There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son. He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him. Over the phone, his mother told him, "Mr.. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday." Memories flashed through his mind like an old news reel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days. "Jack, did you hear me?" "Oh sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It's been so long since I thought of him. I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago," Jack said. "Well, he didn't forget you. Every time I saw him he'd ask how you were doing. He'd reminisce about the many days you spent over 'his side of the fence' as he put it," Mom told him. "I loved that old house he lived in," Jack said. "You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man's influence in your life," she said. "He's the one who taught me carpentry," he said. "I wouldn't be in this business if it weren't for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important...Mom, I'll be there for the funeral," Jack said. As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown. Mr. Belser's funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had p***ed away. The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time. Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time. The house was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture....Jack stopped suddenly. "What's wrong, Jack?" his Mom asked. "The box is gone," he said. "What box?" Mom asked. "There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he'd ever tell me was 'the thing I value most, '" Jack said. It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it. "Now I'll never know what was so valuable to him," Jack said. "I better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom." It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died. Returning home from work one day Jack discovered a note in his mailbox. "Signature required on a package. No one at home. Please stop by the main post office within the next three days," the note read. Early the next day Jack retrieved the package. The small box was old and looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention. "Mr. Harold Belser" it read. Jack took the box out to his car and ripped open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope. Jack's hands shook as he read the note inside. "Upon my death, please forward this box and its contents to Jack Bennett. It's the thing I valued most in my life." A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, as tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch. Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover. Inside he found these words engraved: "Jack, Thanks for your time! -Harold Belser." "The thing he valued most...was...my time." Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days. "Why?" Janet, his ***istant asked. "I need some time to spend with my son," he said. "Oh, by the way, Janet...thanks for your time!"
'nother "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away," Think about this.You may not realize it, but it's 100% true. 1. At least 2 people in this world love you so much they would die for you. 2. At least 15 people in this world love you in some way. 3. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you. 4. Every night, SOMEONE thinks about you before they go to sleep. 5. You mean the world to someone. 6. If not for you, someone may not be living. 7. You are special and unique. 8. When you think you have no chance of getting what you want, you probably won't get it, but if you trust God to do what's best, and wait on His time, sooner or later, you will get it or something better. 9. When you make the biggest mistake ever, something good can still come from it. 10. When you think the world has turned its back on you, take a look: you most likely turned your back on the world. 11. Someone that you don't even know exists, loves you. 12. Always remember the compliments you received. Forget about the rude remarks. 13. Always tell someone how you feel about them; you will feel much better when they know and you'll both be happy.
Here's my take on it: I was engaged to what I thought at the time was the "one". She was still in college at that time, so we waited to get married. That went on for 3 years. The following year in which we were set to be married, she just got up and left. Too young, not ready, blah blah blah. That year I fell into a very bad depression. Work hours were cut down and bills stacked up. I put myself so far into debt that even today I'm still working to get out of it. One of the worse times of my life. I was in a downward spiral. And just like you I was looking for ways to get out but didnt know the direction to take. Unfortunitly I didn't take any direction and it just got worse. But there's a brighter side to this. The years following a met this wonder girl who brought light to my eyes when I wasn't even looking for it. She gave me a reason to bounce back. 2 years down the road we are happy as we ever could be. But money is still very tight and day by day we struggle to make it. But here at the end of this year to further my career and better my girlfriend's and I lives, I making a huge step and moving down to Florida to join a new engineering group down there. In my eyes, I don't care what I'm doing at work or how it effects me. As long as I can keep my family comfortabliy living and give them the things they deserve then that's what life is all about, your loved ones around you. Guess my point is that life will always give you a big pile of sh!t to deal with. And it will always try to run you over. How you stand back up, whether it be a new career, new love life, or just a new way of thinking, is what makes a man a man. Good luck in any decision you make.
Well Geiser brought this thread back from the dead and I actually read it before I realized it was old, all I want to know is .......what did tinyelvis do ??
What he did do is fall off the face of the earth cuz I haven't seen or heard from or about him in years.
PeteJoe. Wow what a great story. I'm sitting at my desk at work ....well just kinda stunned. It really made me think. If you ever get that guy on the radio again listen closely !!!
Good thread, my neighbor who is in his early fifties was just told that he has 6 months to live due to rapidly spreading cancer. It was a good wake up call for all of us around here, that the plug can be pulled at any time in our lives. Lucky both my wife and I enjoy our work, and we as a family spend a lot of time together, Now that time seems just a little more important than it use to.
All good reading. I am aproaching a crossroad myself and got some inspiration. Hope to find time to reply with a more detailed account but thats part of the crossroad, Time.
this thread may be old but a great kick in the ***. Im 23, graduated college last December and am extremely confused about where to start my life. Im already looking at going back to school for machining, autocad, and my welding ceritifications becasue the world i went to college for is not the world i want to rely on. I need to build and make something. Thank go for the wonderful woman in my life and the supportive members of my family. I have my whole life ahead of me and that makes it even more of a prime oppurtunity to change my direction. reading all of this, makes me realize than changing early is what i need to do.
Dang it - I was hoping it was an update too - was hoping he got over his gal, got his **** in gear and went on to bigger and better things and was here to brag about it ...
Wow, I don't know why this thread was brought back from the archives, but it is very timely for me personally. I am 39 years old, and have bounced from job to job for most of my life, never finding the thing that "stuck". So now, some 20 years after I first considered it, I am doing what I should have done in the first place. With the blessing and support of my family...I am leaving for Army boot camp in September and becoming an M.P. I will probably be entering jump school (as in jump out of airplane school) in time for my 40th birthday. Nothing like jumping into a midlife crisis with both feet...so to speak.
wow. I often think about starting my own firm or even changing careers completely, but TIME is something that my job affords me quite a bit of, it's the biggest reason I've stayed put. Great thread.
im sorry to report that elvis died in his bathroom. he had been on the toilet, but fell to the floor and died in a pool of his own vomit. upon autopsy, they found that not only was his career sputtering, but he also enjoyed painkillers Morphine, Demerol, Meperidine, Chloropheniramine, an antihistamine, the tranquilizers Placidyl and Vailum. He also had Codeine, Ethinamate, Quaaludes, Diazepam, Amytal, Nembutal, Carbrital, Sinutab, Elavil, Avental, Valmidand a barbituate, or depressant, that has never been identified, in his system as well. hope he's doing well in his afterlife :-D -scott noteboom
Tinyelvis hasn't been on here since halloween '06. I hope he didn't get a Snickers bar with razor blades in it. Sorry, but it was gonna be "Tinyelvis has left the building". Oh well, this is just to subscribe so I can read the marbles story later. Thanks, Kurt
Maybe he is on here under a different name nowadays? This thread is great. I just graduated High school last year and I have completed my first year of college. I went to a tech school for machining. I really liked it. I liked my teacher met new people and I ended up doing very well especially since the first day I came in there I didn't even know which handles did what on the mill. During high school I worked summer's at a local production shop. sweeping and cleaning ect. Since I started colledge they promoted me to The machine center. I have been working there all this summer and I think it is a huge disappointment. I don't exactly hate it but it totally ****s compared to school. It's boring and long and it wares me down every day. I only work 40 hrs now and full time is mandatory 50. I have no will power to do anything to my car after work. I am always tired and crabby. I get up the same time I do for school and I go to bed 2hrs earlier. It just ****s. I can't wate to go back to school. I am going to be graduating this year and I really don't know what to do. The company I work for now is close to home and the opposite direction of all the St.Louis traffic. It is also really lade back. My boss never yells at me when I screw up and I have never felt like anyone there would cuss me out for screwing something up. My biggest fear of getting a new job is that my boss will be a total *****. And city shops are always more "rushed". I am thinking about going for more school (Enganerring) But I don't want to waste money and i don't know what that would do for me either. Sometimes I find myself loathing the people on here that talk about sitting in there office all day browsing the HAMB wile doing work. But I could never see myself in a office either. Hopefully my mind will be clearer next April.
PeteJoe.. Being a hamradio operator and having a m***ive heart attack last june but surving and just comming in the computer/ radio room after sanding the frame for the 32 roadster you got me all choked up with that story.. N8DC Ill be qrt Dave
Weird, I just re-read my response to this thread from 2 1/2 years ago. At that time I needed a change. Since then I closed my restaurant, got a divorce, moved to Atlanta for a year and now back to Canada, changed jobs but not careers. Met a bunch of great folks along the way. The HAMB is one of the few constants in that timeframe (and the major reason I've met so many cool people). I'm still restless, but at least I stopped dreaming and got off my ***.
What degree will you get this year? I went back to school later in life and got a mechanical engineering degree. Getting an engineering degree is not easy. I got the exact job I wanted a few months later. I was there 3-1/2 years, and most of it ****ed because the company was run like ****, and they put all their faith in a "non-degreed experience engineer" that ****ed in many ways. Traffic ****ed every day. I want a job that I like what we're doing, and at a company that's run well. Most work is going to wear you out, and it is a definite possibility that you can go from the frying pan into the fire with bosses. Maybe it's a matter of learning to be "zen" (if you will) with your work, and all of your life, for that matter. Or, maybe there's a job out there that we'll love. Also, will the machine shop let you make personal projects? Thanks, Kurt
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