What we do for a living

[CJ]

Hi all,

I was reading the replies in another section of the forum regarding what we do for a living. Someone mentioned that there seems to be a lot of people here who work in IT or other computer-related fields ("geeks," I guess).

Usually, one of the first things we do when getting acquainted with someone is exchange information with them about our occupations. I find it interesting that we don't seem to have done so here, on the board. Of course, the need to protect our privacy probably has a lot to do with that. I know what some of you do for a living, but by no means what all of you do. Not that I consider it important, as far as our being crossdressers goes, but it would be interesting to see if there's a pattern, nonetheless.

I know that this kind of topic was a huge smash on the CDDF some months ago; it generated dozens of responses. So, I figured maybe we can try it here and see what happens. Feel free to respond. Or not. Go with your own comfort levels, and don't feel pressured into revealing anything about yourself you don't wish to--this isn't the purpose of this topic. Oh, and, by all means, the SOs should also chime in on this one, if they want to.

I'll get the ball rolling, here:

I've done many things and worn many different hats in my life on the job market but, for the past five years or so, I've been working as a mobile, community-based mental health worker. I provide post-hospitalization community aftercare to adults suffering from various severe and chronic psychiatric disorders. It's a very rewarding and satisfying job; it's forced me to work on myself a lot.

Love,
CJ

[Myra]

I've been in the Information Technology field for the past 20+ years (believe it or not - with the same company).


Myra

[Carol Ann]

OK CJ I'm game ,
At present I am fully retired and much happyer . So much for the pun
anyway all my life I have been a lithographer starting at the bottem as a helper and working up to pressman. A long story short I have run large multi color printing presses most of my life. Now after I retired I worked part time on the river loading and unloading ships, now thats a job for a young strong person, but it payed very good. Now I till the land for fun and something to do, Carol Ann

[Kathy]

Myra, 20+ with the same company? That's almost unheard of these days.

I have, for the past three years, been living with and taking care of my elderly parents and their house full time.

Prior to that I spent 30+ years in the IT industry and I won't even begin to list the positions I have held in that field. Let's just say that I touched the old room filling "big iron" and tiny PDAs and, almost literally, everything in between.

[Jessie]

Well this is fun. I beleive I have mentioned that I work a Local TV station where I am a MCO ([Master Control Operator). I have been doing that for the last 6 years before that I was going to collage to work in television I am currently really happy with the way things are now though I got to say of everyone here I am guessing I work the oddest hours and I love it. (3:30am to 1:30pm) but that may change to (4am to 2pm) who knows yet.

Jessie

[Josey]

Hi Y'all,

Like Carol Ann, I am fully retired. It is by far the best position I have ever filled. Prior to that, I spent 30 years working for the same communications company! For most of that time, I was working with communications systems and design but the last few years, I worked in a small department with a large budget. We bought computers and related equipment for then entire large company. It was a great job and I loved it, but retirement is still much better.

[Tara]

Right now I'm working a part-time job in Landscaping while on summer break from college. I'm a journalism major with an art photography minor.

In my eight years in the workforce I've had a wide variety of jobs. I've worked at a railroad museum as a shop assitant/helper, A "housemaid" in a Motel 6, a tractor operator on a ranch, a clerk at a bookstore, a reporter and now as a landscaper.

The jobs on the ranch, on the railroad and as a reporter have been the most satisfying. The motel job and the bookstore gig were the least satisfying. The landscaping job is pretty good and I am content with it.



-Tara

[Myra]

Myra, 20+ with the same company? That's almost unheard of these days. >

I have, for the past three years, been living with and taking care of my elderly parents and their house full time.

Good for you. Has your new 'career' put you more in touch with your feminine side?

Myra

[Kathy]

Has your new 'career' put you more in touch with your feminine side?

In as much as it has alowed me to get in touch with me I would have to say yes. But that's another topic.

[Stef]

I work for a newspaper as their pressroom mgr. It's a fancy title for lead pressman. I am in charge of operating and maintaining a midsize newspaper press as well as doing maintenance and any repairs to most other machines in the building. I'm also responsible for ordering all supplies for my area as well as supervision of 4 employees immediately under me. Like Carol Ann, I started at the bottom and worked my way up.

Hugs,
Stef

[Loretta Ann]

Early retirement due to health,

I worked in the construction (building) industry for 30 years.

[Carolynn]

Hi. I have been a teacher/researcher in a major university for 33 years, and am still teaching three classes a year, researching and writing studies covering environmental and historic effecs of large scale, environment disrupting projects such as reservoirs, oil and gas pipelines, and federally funded and/or licensed projects. Funded through outright grants or contracts, the work entails a lot of travel throughout the state, and out of state as well, primarily to Oklahoma, Arkansas, sporadically Colorado and Kansas, and a bit of New Mexico. It also brings me in contact with a number of different people in construction and business as well as government. (I find I prefer the people on this forum, though once you get past the economic concerns of the "clients", who do all they can to weasle, twist, and turn, try to buy you off, or browbeat you to get their project approved, they are mostly OK, just really jerks on at least that subject.) I annually work with a couple of local, small historical and natural history museums preparing new exhibits, on a voluntary basis. I share the care of and some financial responsibility for an elderly mother, along with a sister and other family members, with my turn coming primarily on weekends. So, time is a precious commodity. I will likely retire in about three years.

[Virginia]

Had a job that I had to pinch myself every morning when I woke up and say "I can not believe they pay me to do this." After 25 years and some political upheaval they hired a new dept. diirector (who was totally incompetent) however his wife felt that some of the guys from the co. she was a secretary at could do a better job that our marketing dept. folks so they fired nine of us and six months later the company realized that this guy was really the jerk we said he was - but too late for 9 very compentent, loyal hard working folks. Bitter!!!??? Me? no (if only I could get my hands on that idiot!!) Any way I am now doing real estate investment ( I buy old houses fix them up and rent/sell them). Helps keep me in dresses anyway!
Love,
Deborah
PS: Sorry about my sob story!

[Asheley]

Currently I am retired! This is the best job jet

I retired from a very good Laboratory dedicated to the Aerospace Industry. I hold degrees in Electrical and Mechanical Engeneering
from a good University.
Currently ,you could say, I am selfe employed in the Realstate field.
Buy a home upgradei t, and resale it , very profitable!!
I do all the work myselfe.

[Carol Ann]

Hi Stef, One question. working on presses how do you manage to keep
your fingernails and hands clean I know what a huge problem that is for us girls. Carol Ann