Comments:
What a long strange trip its been!
Been to 6 different colleges, not counting US Navy Nuclear Power School where a 2.5 GPA was failing out, and accumulated ~150 hours w/ 3.79 GPA but only got an AA in Business Admin. I think diversity may have been bad in this endeavor.
As far as career goes, the proper question would be what haven't I done? I started at PGI doing file work and then was in the accounting department. Then I was in wholesale furniture sales. Then retail furniture and flooring sales. Next was journey beneath the waves in the US Navy. I went thru the Nuclear Field Program and then served on the Ballistic Missile submarine USS Tecumseh. After the Navy, I worked for Home Depot in three different departments. Then I worked for Sears selling small appliances. For a little change, I decided that assembling mobile homes might be interesting. After three different positions, I decided it definately was not my bag. Then I was a rod man on a survey crew for a short time. Then I had a blast working with explosives. I was a blasting apprentice where I actually got to light off some pretty big shots. My largest was 16 times as much explosives as was used in the Oklahoma City bombing. Next was my crash course in the automotive industry. I first tried selling cars at John Crump Toyota GMC and Hummer. This was when they were real Hummers that would climb over a 30" concrete step-wall. At the same dealership, I then worked as a mechanic, and then I was an Assistant Service Manager. During my time at the dealership I got into circle track racing. I raced in the Super Pony division. This was the second biggest natural high of my life.
After that, life got interesting. I met a wealthy individual who needed someone to help manage his day to day affairs, maintain his vehicles and property, and basically help him spend his money. So I said "HELL YEAH!". My job involved captaining and maintaining the 83' houseboat which he called "EVE". The stable of vehicles I had to maintain and usually drive him around in included a 98 Mercedes SL500, a 95 Hummer 4dr Hardtop, a 98 GMC 1-ton king-cab duelie, and a 98 Corvette convertible. Can you say "OH HELL YEAH"? And going to rallies in Tennessee where there were 90 or so Hummers being beaten the way they were meant to be, or going to a rally out in Telluride, CO where the beauty surrounding you is almost spiritual, those were just some of the perks. I got the biggest natural high in my life when I jumped out of an airplane from 10,000 feet over Sugarloaf Key. That was an incredible feeling.
I then left the easy life, armed with 1600 shares of Exxon stock, and decided that day-trading sounded like a good idea. Well, in 1998 and 99, a monkey could have made money in the market and I surely did. 90K turned into 375K in a matter of about 14 months. Anyone betting that I lost it all would be todays winner. Yep. $375,000 would be gone in less than seven months. This may have been a direct cause, or just a convenient excuse, for my next "profession" which lets say involved testing, acquiring, and getting rid of various drugs not normally prescribed by medical professionals. Like I said, what a trip!
The last leg of this journey started in the dance club scene. I began working with the sound system and then lighting systems. I worked with and learned from DJs from Birmingham, Atlanta, New Orleans, Boston, New York, Palm Springs CA, Miami, and Fort Lauderdale. There is no better feeling than looking out on the dancefloor and seeing this collective of altered souls and realizing you have them by the short-hairs. But all good things must come to an end.
So now, currently, I use all I have learned and enjoy life doing my own thing. I do a little buying and selling on eBay, and thru some other outlets. I do construction jobs mostly, some automobile buying and selling, and have a couple investment properties. My life has definitely been a most excellent adventure.
