Day Job?

[le pire]

Re: Yeah but you did reply cos you're as stupid as I am.

Originally posted by jester
Yeah but you did reply cos you're as stupid as I am.

Not quite. I replied because I had something to say, I hestitated because I felt my words would fall upon deaf ears. And they did.

Originally posted by jester
Ettiene. Calm down.

I am calm, Jester. I don't read your posts, get all hopping mad and then pound away at the keyboard. I read what people write, think about it, think about replying or not (as in "do I really have anything to say here?" --you should try this) and if I do have something to say then I think about what I want to say and type it out. I then re-read it, and if I'm satisfied I'll hit "submit."

Originally posted by jester
The "extreme temperement" is my humour.

bullshit.

Originally posted by jester
I don't beleive you have ever really had to do a soul destroying job and seriously doubt you know what you are talking about here. I don't think the telemarketing industry needs you as it's champion.

Arrogance is when a little mummies boy, secure in the knowledge that he can afford to experiment and educate himself and will have a family behind him if he fails,

Wow. This goes right back to why I said you were arrogant in the first place. Your presumptiousness. You see everyone and every situation through "jonathan the jester" coloured lenses. You are completely unable to detach from yourself from yourself and simply think. You offer opinions, that are mostly reactionary and immediate. You often don't read correctly what was written by the person you are lashing out towards (for example: Evan was very clear from the beginning that he was not in SALES). Your opinions are often formed with HUGE presumption on your part. Just because you have an opinion, doesn't mean that there is a thought in your head.



To respond to your presumptions and then personal attacks toward me:

First, you don't know me, my family, my history, my achievements, my failures, my joys, my struggles or anything about my life in general. We have never met and yet you continue to make judgements about me, call me names and spit bile at me (yes, yes, this is your HUMOUR. hardy har har.) and it's all based on your blind and overwhelmingly arrogant presumptions. You think "yeah, I know this guy-- I know the type." Do you?

First, I have worked shit jobs, Jonathan. Many. INCLUDING telemarketing and tele-surveying, and I was lousy at both jobs. I was a telemarketer for "Natural Lawn" lawn care and would call people up at their dinner time and try to get them to buy lawn care. I was let go because I took "no" for an answer too often and didn't meet sales quotas.

I also worked for a polling company that would call people and ask their opinions on different politicians. The questions where vulgarly obvious (along the lines of "do you prefer candidate A who is in favour of revitalising parks and cleaning up the resevoir, or candidate B who wants to put a landfill next to an elementary school. Today they call this "push-polling). Three questions in, it was pretty easy to guess what the persons answers were going to be for the rest of the survey. I got fired because I would skip questions and just type the response that they would more than likely given anyway.

I was 16 when I had both of these jobs.

I'm not going to go on telling more about my childhood because frankly, that's none of the internet's business. I like my privacy, as I'm sure you like yours.

I would appreciate it if you would refrain from typing such bitter condemnations of me and my character, when it is in fact you, sir, that "don't know what you are talking about."


"Brick laying is for lesser people than myself, and frankly so is careers guidence. I am the beautiful one. I am more talented than you and there is nothing I can learn from someone who is unable to do anything other than teach."

That's not what I typed Jonathan, so don't put words in my fingers. I did not slag off brick layers, I slagged off an idiot posing as a guidance counsellor. I was 16, in honors academic and AP courses, was president of the computer club and performed in all the school theatre productions (I had just finished directing and performing in Romeo and Juliet) and the cousellor was advising me to take the vocational courses. I scoffed at the man's advice not because bricklaying was "beneath" me, but because it wasn't RIGHT for me.

Just because someone is a "qualified" career counsillor, does not necessarily mean they are a GOOD one. (yes, I mean you)





Anyway... you then go on about which professions you respect, which professions you tolerate, and which professions you abhore. Aside from how this lack of objectivity probably makes you a lousy councillor--

Who cares? No really, I'm asking the question:

who cares?

I don't want to speak for anyone else, but I know that I don't give a damn about your opinions and the judgements you place on other people and how they make their livings.

Originally posted by jester

Ettiene, I do like you.

Are you insane? You DON'T like me Jonathan and that is planely obvious. First, you name call, then you make wild, inaccurate and insulting presumptions about my character, my upbringing, and even my work history. Is this how you treat your friends? Better question: is this how your friends treat you?






etienne

[jester]

Actually

Actually Ettiene I love you.

A lot of your criticism of myself is very true - but it also applies to you.

Ettiene... I am a troll.. a wind up merchant.. and yes I do think about what I write, It doesn't take as long for me to think and the process isn't quite as slow as it is for you.

I love the fact that you are extreme too.

You give me a lot of pleasure because you are fierce and passionate and articulate and you fight back very well.

You are however, just as arrogant as I am. Sorry but it's true.

Oh, and you are easily baited. I think you tried to bait me a few days ago with a thread about the weather.

If you look back you will see that I conceded graciously to Evan several threads back but you had to dive in their and kick my ass.

Ettiene. You are out of your depth my friend. But please continue to practice on me. You really need the practice.

[le pire]

Re: Actually

Originally posted by jester
Actually Ettiene I love you.

Gross.

Originally posted by jester

A lot of your criticism of myself is very true - but it also applies to you.

Don't even try that old line, buddy.

Originally posted by jester

and yes I do think about what I write, It doesn't take as long for me to think and the process isn't quite as slow as it is for you.

uh-huh. Yep. oooooh, yessiree I can see that! You are the thinker, mister!

Originally posted by jester

and
I love the fact that you are extreme too.

You give me a lot of pleasure because you are fierce and passionate and articulate and you fight back very well.

You're REALLY creeping me out.

Originally posted by jester
Oh, and you are easily baited.

Really? Or are you trying to bait me now with kind, gentle, loving, compassionate Jester? Man, you're creepy.

Originally posted by jester

But please continue to practice on me. You really need the practice.

You are soooooooo friggin' creepy. I gotta get the hell outta here.

[jester]

Scared huh!

And I was naked but for the underpants on my head when I wrote that.....

[Magrat2005]

Originally posted by jester
Scared huh!

And I was naked but for the underpants on my head when I wrote that.....

no wonder he left, Ettiene, dont walk out...RUN!!!

[Lee Nelson]

why dont you both delete or ask jim to delete all of the stupid dribble you have both pumped out in the last two days and get a thread that was interesting back on line.
Im not even gonna say what i think about your collective arrogance because that wouldnt be talking about day jobs!!!

On that interesting subject.....i took one for shits and giggles a couple of years ago. Something i had always wanted to do and I found out I would have been just as happy had I chosen that route instead of performing which is a nice thought.
The job, sitting around all day in a second hand book store.
Awesome, as much cataloguing as you can handle.
Amazing, the wierd shit people ask for
Astounding, the books you start taking home with you.

it was a super cool experience and next time I get a chance im gonna do it again, in fact one day even opening up my own one remains a fluffy thought.

lee

[Mr.Taxi Trix]

Used Bookseller... sounds like the best day job ever. I know a woman who runs a small bookstore in Beacon, NY. She seems to be at peace, and the store is a rare find: cool books, unrefined prices. I can imagine it would be a decent enough gig, peddling that. I sold used books online out of my old church of a home a few years ago, and liked it well enough, except for the parts when I had to work even though I didn't feel like it.

[Frisbee]

Best Part time job I ever had...working for fedex...I worked I think like 25+/- hours a week, worked from 6:00 in the morning until 11:00...I did this for 2 years when I was starting out with performing and was afraid to take the plunge to full time performing.

with that 20 hours a week I worked hard...but I got free health insurance, free dental insurance, free vision coverage, tuition reimbursment for college classes and on top of that free air travel to where ever FedEx flys to on the jump seat program...so as long as a seat was a available on a plane I could fly anywhere in the country for a weekend.

wicked!

[jesus]

Fed-Ex not for me...

I would want to be a UPS man.
The UPS guy only brings things you want! Never bills or anything of the like. To be a UPS man would be like being Santa!
I belive everyone loves the UPS guy!
Of course I dont think the Fed-Ex dude ever brought me a bill either so may there is more than one Santa.

[Rachel Peters]

Dude. That sounds way better than my old Tim Hortons job.

Tidbit of information (or "timbit") : Hamilton Ontario. Home of hockey player, Tim Horton, and the very first of the coffee shop chain. Most Tim Hortons per capita. Most of Hamilton has a rough "2 block raduis rule", where you can step out of any Tim's, and walk for only 2 blocks in any given direction before you hit the next one. There are at least two places in the city (that I've found) where you can stand on the spot, rotate, and view three (almost 4) Timmy's.
I believe that to be a true Hamiltonian you MUST have been employed by either the steel mills or Tim Hortons at some point, to some capacity.

My first experience working the till at a drive-through Tim Hortons:
An old man pulled around to the window and I said, "That'll be $2.50"
He yelled, "BULL SHIT!!!" and refused to give me his fist full of change. Apparently he was joking and did this all the time. Another Tim Hortons girl came along and said, "oh, 'bull-shit' youself" and took the money from him. ...huh. funny.

During the last conversation I had with a Tim's girl, while she was pouring my coffee, she pointed out a sign that showed happy, laughing, hugging employees and said, "It's good when you know that the job is as good as the coffee." she, monotonely added, "...doesn't say much for the coffee."

I don't miss that job much, but it did have it's moments. I mean, nobody really expects smart ass comments to come from behind the till. It was fun to have an audience from time-to-time.

Another timbit of information: you get in trouble as a drive-through girl, if you greet your customer through the speaker with, "Welcome to Timmy Ho-ho's, how can I help you?" or "Hey... How's it hangin?"

[Rachel Peters]

hurry up and wait.

I'm working from home today, but my bosses told me that there's absolutely nothing I can do until our client gives us further information.
Sometimes I wait at the computer for instructions, and to just be available. I get overwelmed with guilt if I'm getting paid for slacking off. Today I needed to pack and put together promo stuff, so I sent them what I told them was a live webcam video of me at the computer. Whenever they look at the image they'll be seeing how hard I'm working at that very moment. Definately not eating, getting a coffee, packing, emboidering, playing guitar, or even blinking. That's just how dedicated I am.
Here's my live, webcam video:

I think they just might fall for it.

[jesus]

Wow!
What a diligent worker.
The concentration. Transfixed on the task at hand.
How on earth can she sit like that hour upon hour, mouth agape yet never drool?

[Rachel Peters]

I’ve had my saliva glands surgically removed for that very reason.
Along with my mucous glands, sweat glands, mammary glands and tear ducts.
I had just had too many embarrassing experiences while working.

[Rachel Peters]

day job mumbo jumbo.

Anyone got some extra adrenaline? I've lost all mine.

I can't handle unnecessary drama.

On friday I managed to get out of a 6 month contract I had signed, to animate on a flash cartoon series, that would have started next week.
I have a job right now, making commercials, and I really like where I am. But they keep me there on a week-to-week basis, since we never know what the next project will be, and commercial projects go by so fast. Every couple weeks my boss will ask me what I'm doing for the next couple weeks.
So, when I got an offer for a 6 month contract on a boring Flash job down the street... it was hard to turn down, for the security. But the closer it got to switching over, the more stressed out I was getting, because I reeeeaaally don't want to go back to working on a flash series, full time. Remember when I first came to Pnet? and how annoying I was?
("was", you say?? ...shut up)
At that time I hated my flash series job and was stuck in front of the computer all day, every day.
I don't want to be miserable like that again, on a daily basis. I may as well go back to Tim Hortons.
On Friday I told my producer that if she needed me for even ONE more WEEK, I'd stay. I've never just up and broken a contract before, but I really didn't care anymore. If I was already miserable just thinking about going to that place, there was really no hope that I'd cheer up once I got there.
I'd rather take my chances with the fun, unstable job. People laugh here. I'm not the weirdest one here. There's even another fire eater here. My odd qualities can actually be applied to the work I do here. I seem to fit, to a certain extent. (We just got a job to do a commercial incorporating talking, stop-motion human organs... I've been incorporating cartoon human organs into my work for YEARS. This couldn't be a better fit!)
So, as much as I need the money, I didn't need it badly enough to hate waking up in the morning.
My producer talked to the owner on Friday afternoon.
The conversation went something like,
"She wants to stay."
"I can't offer her a contract like the other place."
"She doesn't care."
"Ok then... Well... Let's try to keep her busy."

phew.

Next step was to call the flash place.

THAT conversation went something like,

them, "...Well, you did sign a contract with us."
me, ".....................yes. I realize that. ...that's why I'm calling."
them, "Well, it's just that... you.... sort of have a contract with us now."
me, "uhuh...... And I'm really sorry about the position I've..."
them, "put yourself in?"
me, "well, I was going ot say, 'put YOU in', but..."
them, "I mean... I talked to the producer and it's just that she says that you're under contract with US now."
me, ".......................yes... I realize."

They were going to hold me to it.
I started to cry (just a little bit) ...just getting choked up, really. I got extremely apologetic, and I had to literally "beg for mercy". Like, I actually said, "I have no excuses, and I suppose I'm just calling to beg for you mercy."

They know that the company I work for rocks. I mean, everyone does. I can't imagine them not understanding why I'd want to stay here.

The lady said she'd talk to some more people and call back.
She called back and said it was fine. I absolutely hate crying in front of people - HATE it - but I had to let it flow a little over the phone, so they could at least know I was in a personal pickle, and not just being an irresponsible ass. There aren't too many professional industries in which that would work. I'm grateful for the artist steriotype. "Don't squash her creative energy, man!" ...I wasn't faking it. But I could have held it back. I'm not dramatic.
I hung up and my director asked, "So... um, who were you begging for mercy on the phone just now?"
That's when the water works started. I bawled. ...I hate that stuff.
I was finished for the rest of the day. I just wanted to take a nap.

If it had come down to it, I can remember the clauses in the contract. One of them actually stated that the employee is allowed to terminate the contract with one month's notice. ...If it had come down to it, I would have reminded them that I could be within my rights to come for one month, give notice on the first day, get them to train me on the job, and then leave. The whole time, they'd know that I didn't want to be there. ...nobody wants that.
I'm sure they realized that.

It feels good now to look at my schedule of things to do and think, "wow. ...that so simple now."
I still work on a week-to-week basis, but I know now that I much prefer it. Luckily I save like a friggin squirrel -- intended for puppet investing and a house downpayment, but if it came down to it, it could be survival money.
If this department can keep me busy until Feb. the "character fab" department says they might very likely need me. My job would be to sew teeny outfits for stop-motion puppets. ...If only Zimmerman still read this forum. He'd be so proud of me, sewing costumes for puppets.

I'm spending the weekend relaxing with the old roommates in Hamilton, and I'm looking forward to going back to MY JOB tomorrow. phew.

...one of the girls here at the house just made pumpkin soup from a smashed jackolantern she stole from the park. ...and it's not horrible.

[jester]

Hi Rachel.


I once went through a similar experience to you with a company. I knew my rights and I knew how to negotiate, however I just wanted to be fair and honourable with them. I was giving them 10 weeks notice that I could not honour a contract.

They were unforgiving and leant on me very hard, used emotional blackmail and were very hard. I soon realised being nice wasn't going to do any good, but being nasty wasn't really going to make anybody feel better. I just wanted it to end where we both had our dignity.

So I reluctantly put my foot down and told them that I simply wasn't going to be there and decided that I wasn't going to get into that position with them again.

I know you were in a weaker position with short notice, but people do sometimes have to let other people down. It's just real life.

With 5 days notice a big star pulled out of a massive gig I was involved in once, so he could make a very important career appearence on TV. In truth, his TV appearence cost him about £18,000 in lost revenue and compensation. But everybody understood why he did it. The promoters cited the reason in the cancellation press release.

Your reason is just as valid. This is your long term future you are thinking about.

In the world of employment there is the law, and there is common sense.

The law is basicly there to protect the vulnerable from sharp practice and in theory it should protect a business as much as it protects the employee.

In reality however, most employers are business people and they are just too busy to go through all the hastle of holding people to contract.

I think that company were a little naughty making you squirm. Had they previously paid you sick pay and stood by you in times of need, then I could understand. You let them down, but it's not your fault that you were the only brilliant animator they could find.

I would simply send a "thank you" card and a bottle of something over to the decision maker and make her feel that it wasn't so much you not wanting to work for them, but that you simply had an irrisistable offer. Go for the EGO!

And then move on up. Your current employer wants to keep you busy. That is a good sign.

Jonathan