Late nighters---unite!!!

[Catfish]

Greetings Nighters,

A few years ago I had a cat. He always followed me around like a dog. I miss the little critter, but he'll be my last pet.

Bill, are you a telephone retiree? I started my career with Ma Bell, went through Judge Green's divestiture ruling, employed by Illinois Bell, to Ameritech, then SBC as a systems technician. I retired Nov. 2002.

 

[consitter]

...And even harder to understand.

That depends on the situation...

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Greetings Nighters,

A few years ago I had a cat. He always followed me around like a dog. I miss the little critter, but he'll be my last pet.

Bill, are you a telephone retiree? I started my career with Ma Bell, went through Judge Green's divestiture ruling, employed by Illinois Bell, to Ameritech, then SBC as a systems technician. I retired Nov. 2002.

I've met several retirees from the local phone system. How you might ask?

They are the contract techs that show up whenever we have a problem with our phone. They tell me that they drive the same truck and use the same tools that they used when they worked as full-time employees. One told me that he actually works more hours now. And yes, he gets paid by the hour, not the service call!!

 

[BillR]

Greetings Nighters, A few years ago I had a cat. He always followed me around like a dog. I miss the little critter, but he'll be my last pet. Bill, are you a telephone retiree? I started my career with Ma Bell, went through Judge Green's divestiture ruling, employed by Illinois Bell, to Ameritech, then SBC as a systems technician. I retired Nov. 2002.

Our Mandy is 17 1/2 years old now, and slowing down a lot. It's gonna hurt when we loose her and I'm NOT going to go through this again with another pet, either.

I started with Contel in 1974 then we merged with GTE and they merged with Bell Atlantic to become Verizon. Retired in March '06, just hit the ten year mark.
I've been a Carrier tech, CO tech, NEMAC tech and CO Supv.

 

[Catfish]

Our Mandy is 17 1/2 years old now, and slowing down a lot. It's gonna hurt when we loose her and I'm NOT going to go through this again with another pet, either.

I started with Contel in 1974 then we merged with GTE and they merged with Bell Atlantic to become Verizon. Retired in March '06, just hit the ten year mark.
I've been a Carrier tech, CO tech, NEMAC tech and CO Supv.

Yeah, that is how I felt about my cat and dogs. Tough when you lose one and my cat was the last time, gone to often for a pet these days.

Toward the end of my career I mostly worked air pressure. Craftsman throughout and Union Steward. More than glad to be retired and not dealing with weather conditions.

 

[consitter]

Our Mandy is 17 1/2 years old now, and slowing down a lot. It's gonna hurt when we loose her and I'm NOT going to go through this again with another pet, either.

I started with Contel in 1974 then we merged with GTE and they merged with Bell Atlantic to become Verizon. Retired in March '06, just hit the ten year mark.
I've been a Carrier tech, CO tech, NEMAC tech and CO Supv.

We had our cat, Troubles, from January of '94 (which was actually a year and a half before I met my wife) until she passed in January of '13. She was at least 6 months old when I got her from the pound. It was extremely hard when she went. I felt like I had betrayed her because I had her put to sleep. It was the only option though. The morning it happened, she was just wandering aimlessly around the house meowing. She wanted outside badly, and she was never an outside cat. We knew she was looking for a place to die.

How much did we love her? We had her cremated and her ashes are in an urn on the top of the computer desk along with her picture and collar. Yeah, we're a little on the crazy side.

 

[Catfish]

That depends on the situation...

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I've met several retirees from the local phone system. How you might ask?

They are the contract techs that show up whenever we have a problem with our phone. They tell me that they drive the same truck and use the same tools that they used when they worked as full-time employees. One told me that he actually works more hours now. And yes, he gets paid by the hour, not the service call!!

When I retired at 53 from the phone bones, I started my own wiring service. The timing was pretty good, but it grew so fast that I was working full time again within several months. I thought it would be a part time thing, boy did I get surprised. Sold it within a year. Screw that..., been fully retired since.

 

[consitter]

When I retired at 53 from the phone bones, I started my own wiring service. The timing was pretty good, but it grew so fast that I was working full time again within several months. I thought it would be a part time thing, boy did I get surprised. Sold it within a year. Screw that..., been fully retired since.

A friend of mine that works in the IT field had his own business that got so busy, he couldn't keep up with. He ended up selling it, and working for the new owner. He's still just as busy, but he doesn't really have to work if he doesn't want to. If he decides he wants to take a couple of weeks off to go camping he does it. I asked him what the owner thinks about his wild hair trips, and he said "I don't care and he knows it. If he wants to keep me around (and he does), then he puts up with it."

 

[Catfish]

I was working 80-90 hour weeks and couldn't keep up. I simply burned out and had - had enough of customers immediacy as though I was at their beckon call. I had no overhead other than basic tools, wire, phone jacks, everything necessary on customer side of interface. I didn't want to hire employees, so I sold my customer base. I'm convinced it was the best for me or I would have had to grow the business beyond what I wanted. All worked out as desired and I'm grateful as a blind squirrel finding a nut.

 

[consitter]

I was working 80-90 hour weeks and couldn't keep up. I simply burned out and had - had enough of customers immediacy as though I was at their beckon call. I had no overhead other than basic tools, wire, phone jacks, everything necessary on customer side of interface. I didn't want to hire employees, so I sold my customer base. I'm convinced it was the best for me or I would have had to grow the business beyond what I wanted. All worked out as desired and I'm grateful as a blind squirrel finding a nut.

That's pretty much what happened to my friend. He was never home except to sleep. He 'only' works about 50-60 hours a week now, but if he decides to take time off, he does. Of course he's only 47. He tells me when he gets tired of it he'll quit. Until then, the money he makes is gravy. He did it as his own business for about 18 years, and as an employee for the last 5 or so. He says even as much as he liked being his own boss, he loves being an employee.

 

[Catfish]

I found out fairly quick that you are never your own boss, not even in retirement, but I'm down to one. I can deal with that pretty easily. :laugh:

Time to dash, latter Scott. :vxtyaq:

 

[consitter]

Looks like I'm alone for the night.

 

[1dn5up]

Wow, I gues you were

 

[consitter]

Wow, I gues you were

You're the first one around in awhile.

 

[1dn5up]

I see that, rain today and tomorrow . At least I got the lawn leveled out and most of the tree branches burned up. Good day to get cought up on some indoor stuff.<br />
I see your state got come crazy weather yesterday!

 

[consitter]

Depends on where in the state, I guess. Here is was overcast until evening, then we got some light rain. It's supposed to rain all day today too. Also tomorrow from the looks of things. :gah:

At least the temp is supposed to be in the 70s.

 

[1dn5up]

NE Texas got hit also. Severe T storms and hail. You can always spot a Texans car

 

[consitter]

I had hail damage to a car I had once. They wouldn't give me enough to fix it because it was worth less than the total cost. It was either total it and invest in a new car, or give me 66% of the NADA value, and lower the insurance to liability only.

I took the money, drove the car the way it was for another 5 years. That's before I got stupid and started buying new cars every year or two.

 

[1dn5up]

Fortunately we don't get it but in a blue moon. That's the only good thing about my area. The weather is all and all normal.

 

[consitter]

Fortunately we don't get it but in a blue moon. That's the only good thing about my area. The weather is all and all normal.

That hail storm about 20 years ago was called a 'hundred year event'. But we had one even worse than that last summer. Damaged roofs and broke house windows.

 

[Ret1SG]

Your in early tonight Scott. I saw some pretty bad hail storms when I was stationed in Tx and Ok. We had a pretty good one here a couple of weeks ago, about the size of large marbles.

 

[consitter]

I've been awake awhile...having to take care of a sick kid. Hoping to get back to bed in a few minutes. We just finished supper.

 

[consitter]

Well, yeah, I'm at work. And with no further sleep than what I had last post.:gah:

 

[rhino 2]

Sleep is over rated, I would recommend doing what i do after the Grandkids go home..
Take Power Naps.....[One to Two Hours each ]
It's Sought of like dyeing but without the lifetime commitment

 

[Ret1SG]

Well, I'm at home. slow night at work only 2 hot ranges, that makes for a long night. Hope your daughter is feeling better.

 

[consitter]

She is somewhat due to the steroids she is taking to clear her congestion. They also make her very mean. She tried to pull my hair and kick me several times when I was changing her into a nighttime diaper as I was putting her to bed. I had to get Bridget to hold her hands for me, so I could control the rest of her.

Sheesh!

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Well, I'm at home. slow night at work only 2 hot ranges, that makes for a long night. Hope your daughter is feeling better.

Are your ranges only for military personnel?

 

[Ret1SG]

Only military units and police organizations. But we can use them since we are employed there, mostly to just check out a new weapon or rifles before deer season.

 

[consitter]

We can't even use our own range as employees here anymore. As usual, a few made things bad for all. I hate that it happened, because we have a really nice range.

 

[consitter]

I don't know if anybody on here sips whiskey or not...but I sure do have a taste for some Knob Creek bourbon right now. Not that I could have any if I had it. :laugh:

Expensive, and worth every penny.

 

[consitter]

I figure Frank should be up about anytime. Maybe he'll check in here. Meanwhile, I'm going to lean back in my chair for a few minutes.

 

[1dn5up]

Don't fall backwards !<br />
Had a few Evan Williams Honeys last nite b4 turning in. Mmmmmmm