The Chit Chat Chit Chat Thread

[JenniferS]

The simple fact is, not everyone can be the star, not everyone can be the boss, not everyone can do the job of their (at the moment early post-pubescent) dreams, and not everyone wants to.

Why there is the push to have your plumber grossly aware of the nuances of Shakespeare, when all he really wants to do is show up, do his job, go home and spend time with the family, is beyond me. Wouldn't you want him to be the most skilled in his trade, instead of the most worldly?

Or would you rather he be able to tell you about some paper he crammed out on an overnight session of red bull trying to get over a hangover his sophomore year that explained disparity in income between women and men to appease his professor...

Ouch. But generally I agree.
Today's job market is not the same as it was 10 years ago.

I may have shared this before, but I went to University (big diff between universities and colleges up here) on a full scholarship. Four months into it, I realized that my limited course stream would lead into little other than teaching. I did NOT want to become a teacher.
So, I dropped out.

Within a month, I had enrolled in a 5-week college course to obtain my real estate licence.
I was a licenced realtor at the age of 18. I worked partners with my mother on and off for the next three years, before being hired by my current employer. 25+ years later, I regret nothing.

I am strongly encouraging Son #1 to go to College next year, although I have no idea what the heck he'll be when he's done. He's learning towards journalism, which is another dying trade up here.
He is not trade school material however, as he is astonishingly lazy.

Son #2 dropped out of school because he is not a "butt in the school desk" learner. He earned the sum total of zero credits last year, out of a possible eight; despite actually attending school on a regular basis.
He is currently working on his welding tickets, and will be set for life.
Yeah, he'll work hard, in the heat, in the cold; he'll come home filthy, and will never truly have clean fingernails ever again - but he will always have work. Except for the weed thing, I worry far less about him than his older brother.

Different course streams work better than others, depending on the student. For this reason, I am grateful that multiple options exist.

FWIW - Hubby did graduate from college; never worked a day in his chosen career field, and now works for the same company I do, where he is the frickin' "Golden Child". He is actively being headhunted by the competition on a weekly basis. Go figure.

 

[donaldtoo]

Same here. 16 inches between us.

For years, all I ever wore to bed were his t-shirts.
Bonus - they smell like him, even after washing.

Yep, my DWifey is same. If I'm not here she sleeps on my side of the bed on my pillows.

 

[JenniferS]

Yep, my DWifey is same. If I'm not here she sleeps on my side of the bed on my pillows.

Awwww - true love.
Ain't it grand?

 

[Gabe1]

Yep, my DWifey is same. If I'm not here she sleeps on my side of the bed on my pillows.

Awwww - true love.
Ain't it grand?

Awe. Mine, he is always here. But he does nap on my side of the bed. But I will likely be up for awhile, the noise is loud right now coming from the other side of the bed.

 

[JenniferS]

Awe. Mine, he is always here. But he does nap on my side of the bed. But I will likely be up for awhile, the noise is loud right now coming from the other side of the bed.

The simple fact that I have not yet smothered dear Hubby is proof positive of how much I love him.
Plus, you know, I can't actually see anyone else putting up with my ship.

 

[englanddg]

Ouch. But generally I agree.
Today's job market is not the same as it was 10 years ago.

I may have shared this before, but I went to University (big diff between universities and colleges up here) on a full scholarship. Four months into it, I realized that my limited course stream would lead into little other than teaching. I did NOT want to become a teacher.
So, I dropped out.

Within a month, I had enrolled in a 5-week college course to obtain my real estate licence.
I was a licenced realtor at the age of 18. I worked partners with my mother on and off for the next three years, before being hired by my current employer. 25+ years later, I regret nothing.

I am strongly encouraging Son #1 to go to College next year, although I have no idea what the heck he'll be when he's done. He's learning towards journalism, which is another dying trade up here.
He is not trade school material however, as he is astonishingly lazy.

Son #2 dropped out of school because he is not a "butt in the school desk" learner. He earned the sum total of zero credits last year, out of a possible eight; despite actually attending school on a regular basis.
He is currently working on his welding tickets, and will be set for life.
Yeah, he'll work hard, in the heat, in the cold; he'll come home filthy, and will never truly have clean fingernails ever again - but he will always have work. Except for the weed thing, I worry far less about him than his older brother.

Different course streams work better than others, depending on the student. For this reason, I am grateful that multiple options exist.

FWIW - Hubby did graduate from college; never worked a day in his chosen career field, and now works for the same company I do, where he is the frickin' "Golden Child". He is actively being headhunted by the competition on a weekly basis. Go figure.

And all that is exactly my point.

To try and shove everyone into a certain "career path" that they need to "be the leader" or without "certain lambskins" they won't ever succeed is just ignorance.

I don't a lambskin, and have, for most of my professional life, made more than my mother who has a Masters.

There is a trade off, and that is job security and stability. If you are interested in a do nothing job that produces nothing and judges you more by your "qualifications" rather than your output, then it's enticing.

And it's quite true that as you get older, you really care less to output more.

But, it doesn't mean it's not achievable. And it doesn't mean that it's not right. And it also doesn't mean (as people get dumber and dumber in the US about basic things) that it's not profitable. And the latter is wholly due to this concept that everything is "lesser", unless you go to college.

No need to learn to cook, because only "lesser" people do that. No need to learn to sew, that's what I pay the asian people who run the dry cleaner to do. No need to learn to clean or live clean, I can afford a maid. No need to learn any life lessons, I took out a huge loan and got a degree in Political Science or Business, so I'm smurt. You should hire me to run your business, even though I have no idea what you do, cause, well, I have a degree and stuff. (typos very much intended)

 

[donaldtoo]

I agree, we are the same age and there was more wiggle room. My kids were going to college, it was beat into their heads from birth. They could do what every they wanted after, I don't care but by golly they were going to be educated. I look at it as it is something that can't hurt them in the future. So far so good.

But if you had to start out in your field today don't you have to have certain credentials or can anyone walk in and open an architectural firm? I know teachers use to go to teacher colleges usually for 2 years, nurses were 2 year degrees, now you need 2 years to be an aide. I know my SIL a hygienist was trained on the job decades ago but most go for a certification these days as insurance companies generally require that for reimbursement. Real estate was another one that didn't need a licence years ago either. Our sheriff's department only takes 4 year degree recruits now too, before it was 2 years and before that high school, the old school guys can't move up the ranks unless they return to school which many in their 40s and 50s don't want to do so they are kinda stuck.

Times they are a changing.

Of course "anyone" can't just walk in and open an architectural firm. Whether you have a degree, or a license, or not, you better know your stuff. But, I've also never wanted to own my own firm. Too complicated and too much overhead. I'm fine just bein' paid to crank out design.
The two guys I mentioned from my old drafting class, that own their own firm, last I heard anyway, retain a licensed architect to stamp/seal their work.
And, of course, a college degree is not gonna' hurt anyone, per se, but, If I had a dollar for every fresh-outta'-college, full of nothin' but theory, Frank Lloyd Wright Jr. I've seen come and go over the years, I'd be a permanent resident of Bora Bora. There's definitely somethin' to be said for real world experience vs. a bunch of theory. It can actually be quite entertaining at times when the 2X4 of what REALLY happens is broken across their face.
Also, design is really an innate thing. Some have it, and some don't. Those that don't can really only be taught so much, and then they pretty much plateau. Just like you can teach some people only so much about painting art, if it's not innate in them, and they progress not much further. I work with so many college graduate architects, and soon to be architects, that couldn't design their way through a wet, generic, Disney Parks napkin on their best day, and most of them will admit it. They are best a producing construction documents and project management. And, if you could see the stress these folks are going through to study for all the various parts of the exam to become an architect, and all the talk of failing portions of the exams, that they probably won't remember most of, it would make you shake.
Our oldest DD also has a friend that said if she knew then what she knew now, she would have gone to the local community college to get her degree in nursing for about a third of the price and half the time, 'cause her coworkers that did were making the same money.
I think it's sad the way vocational education seems to have some kinda' stigma these days. It just doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

 

[JenniferS]

Oh wow! That is warm for November. When we did Thanksgiving it was jeans everyday, short sleeves and jacket at night.

I think I mentioned earlier, it was the hottest day. By far.
The day, of course, we finally made it to DAK.

If you look at my pics, we are wearing hoodies and/or jackets in the majority of them.
There were record-breaking cold temps (for that date) our first two days. My teeth were chattering.

Our entire trip, we never touched the thermostat in our room even once. After the second night, we did use the ceiling fan at night for sleeping.
Me, I slept with the extra blanket every night. Hubby slept on top of the covers. Same as at home.

 

[englanddg]

Times are not changing, not at all.

People are waking up that higher education does not necessarily mean (in and of itself) that you have a clue what you are talking about.

Especially when it comes to the heartbeat of our economy, trades. You know, people who actually produce results, rather than write about them or philosophize.

 

[JenniferS]

Of course "anyone" can't just walk in and open an architectural firm. Whether you have a degree, or a license, or not, you better know your stuff.
The two guys I mentioned from my old drafting class, that own their own firm, last I heard anyway, retain a licensed architect to stamp/seal their work.
And, of course, a college degree is not gonna' hurt anyone, per se, but, If I had a dollar for every fresh-outta'-college, full of nothin' but theory, Frank Lloyd Wright Jr. I've seen come and go over the years, I'd be a permanent resident of Bora Bora. There's definitely somethin' to be said for real world experience vs. a bunch of theory. It can actually be quite entertaining at times when the 2X4 of what REALLY happens is broken across their face.
Also, design is really an innate thing. Some have it, and some don't. Those that don't can really only be taught so much, and then they pretty much plateau. Just like you can teach some people only so much about painting art, if it's not innate in them, and they progress not much further. I work with so many college graduate architects, and soon to be architects, that couldn't design their way through a wet, generic, Disney Parks napkin on their best day, and most of them will admit it. They are best a producing construction documents and project management. And, if you could see the stress these folks are going through to study for all the various parts of the exam to become an architect, and all the talk of failing portions of the exams, that they probably won't remember most of, it would make you shake.
Our oldest DD also has a friend that said if she knew then what she knew now, she would have gone to the local community college to get her degree in nursing for about a third of the price and half the time, 'cause her coworkers that did were making the same money.
I think it's sad the way vocational education seems to have some kinda' stigma these days. It just doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

Sales is the same. You either have it, or you do not.

And for the record, vocational school is not stigmatized here. In fact, dozens of students from my sons' high school took courses at the "Technical" school nearby, as they had the superior facilities - especially for small appliance repair and automotive.

 

[englanddg]

Someone who works a normal work week but makes $200 a visit, will make half a million+ a year. Is that ideal? No, but it works. If you do one visit a day, at $200, and one hour, you'll make 73k a year.

After taxes (if you work them right) you'll keep a lot of it.

There are issues in our labor community, and the constant diatribe that you are "stupid" or "unworthy" unless you have a worthless 4 year degree (as it relates to you) is part of it and a ton of early life debt.

 

[JenniferS]

Ugh - when I finally rule this country, I am going to enact a mandatory class each year that teaches people (men especially, no offense) how to put the plastic splatter lid BACK in the microwave, rather than leaving it on the stove top - EVERY SINGLE TIME !

 

[donaldtoo]

I hold my breath when I go past Abercrombie & Fitch and outdoor porta-potties.
That's about it.

To me anyway, A&F smells worse than any porta-potty. That place just always smells like hell.

 

[JenniferS]

Why Kellogg's, why you gotta mess around with my Special K? It was perfect the way it was.


And the French side, 'cause y'all find that amusing.


Anyways, the bigger flakes get soggier faster, ergo I had to scarf it down faster, and did not fully enjoy it. The French side is correct - the new flakes are "plus gros".
Doesn't mean I won't continue to eat them though.

 

[donaldtoo]

Awe. Mine, he is always here. But he does nap on my side of the bed. But I will likely be up for awhile, the noise is loud right now coming from the other side of the bed.

She doesn't hafta' open the store 'til 10a, I'm in at 8a-ish. She rolls over to my side when I leave for the office.

 

[englanddg]

Why Kellogg's, why you gotta mess around with my Special K? It was perfect the way it was.
View attachment 73783

And the French side, 'cause y'all find that amusing.
View attachment 73784

Anyways, the bigger flakes get soggier faster, ergo I had to scarf it down faster, and did not fully enjoy it. The French side is correct - the new flakes are "plus gros".
Doesn't mean I won't continue to eat them though.

 

[JenniferS]

Someone who works a normal work week but makes $200 a visit, will make half a million+ a year. Is that ideal? No, but it works. If you do one visit a day, at $200, and one hour, you'll make 73k a year.

Sorry, I'm lost.
What's a "visit"?

 

[JenniferS]

Dude on the right looks a little like the Biebs.
Sounds like him too.

 

[donaldtoo]

I think I mentioned earlier, it was the hottest day. By far.
The day, of course, we finally made it to DAK.

If you look at my pics, we are wearing hoodies and/or jackets in the majority of them.
There were record-breaking cold temps (for that date) our first two days. My teeth were chattering.

Our entire trip, we never touched the thermostat in our room even once. After the second night, we did use the ceiling fan at night for sleeping.
Me, I slept with the extra blanket every night. Hubby slept on top of the covers. Same as at home.[/QUOTE]

This part always cracks me up, 'cause it's so exactly the same here...!!!

 

[JenniferS]

Beddy-bye time.
Later Peeps.