Career change time!

[Tikker]

for the past few years I've been working in the IP Core area of my company

Essentially managing the internet connections, (BGP stuff) interconnects with Peers (how the internet traverses this part of the world) as well as supporting all the large companies (everything from 5m DSL type circuits, up to 10GB connections)

It's been incredibly stressful, unfun, high workload, low reward etc etc

in short, I've come to really dislike the job, the volume of paperwork/documentation required by it etc etc and I've been casually looking for a change of pace for a while

This past week I had my interview for the replacement job, and just need to pass the Work Simulation/physical and it's mine

I'm going from sitting at desk, controlling the network from the city, to moving out to a small city(big town really) and being the Districtman out there. I'll be back to installing telephones, data circuits, climbing poles, etc etc

moving from the capitol of the province(250k+ population) to the smallest city in the province (just under 6k people)

it'll be a better place to raise my kid, and compared to what I'm doing now, way less stressful

career/technology wise it's a big step backwards, but I'm not looking to climb the ivory tower, and the pay is equivalent

[/blog]

[Drem]

great job

[Jay]

Grats on the career move man. In the end the money isn't as much a factor as whether or not you wake up happy to go to work.

[Drem]

agree 100%

[Harrison]

Grats on the career move man. In the end the money isn't as much a factor as whether or not you wake up happy to go to work.

I've been telling the less intelligent of my friends this for years.

[Gidan]

I have to agree, enjoying your job is farm more important then money. I could be making double what I make now I would be willing to work for SBC but I just cant bring my self to do it, I love my job and dont intend to leave it any time in the near future.

Best of luck with the new job, hope you enjoy it.

[Hylissa]

Oh my ... where are you moving?

[Tikker]

Oh my ... where are you moving?

the metropolis of Humboldt

[Hylissa]

haha, metropolis indeed!

[Narrock]

It's really cool that you're looking out for the best interest of your son. Good luck with your new career choice.

[Jay]

You should givve Hylissa 1 last bedroom romp before you go.

[Hylissa]

[Tikker]

This past week I had my interview for the replacement job, and just need to pass the Work Simulation/physical and it's mine

[/blog]

just got back from the physical

Passed with flying colours

I was shocked how tough it was tho

Had to go up to top of the pole in a bucket truck, then with a rope, dead lift the Lasher to the bucket (lasher is a thing that travels along the messenger (the wire that connects 2 poles) and wraps wire around the telephone cable and the messenger)

the lasher weighs 50 lbs empty, and 75 lbs when loaded
this one weighed just over 70lbs

so haul it up hand over hand 25ish feet in the air

attach it to messenger
take bucket down, drive truck ahead 50 feet, go back up in bucket, pull lasher to me, then take it off, and lower it to the ground

then put a ladder up, climb ladder, get to top, and haul the lasher up again, stick it on messenger, etc etc
climb down, move ladder to next pole, go up, take lasher apart, and lower it down

for last one, have to go up pole on spurs
haul lasher up, then lower it down
then haul lasher up again, but on opposite side of body, and back down again

then when you're done all that, you get to haul off 3 man hole covers
these suckers were 300ish lbs

my arms are all noodly
it's been a long time since I've had to do more than help wrestle a router into position

[Harrison]

My friend is an apprentice lineman, he does that shit and tells me how ridiculous it is.

[Narrock]

How much does a lineman make nowadays?

[Tikker]

So I've now completed the first week at the new job


the house we'd had an offer on ended up selling to someone else (bastards)

Man, talk about culture change

I'm moving from the company's head office, from the core of the technology, out to the slow paced district work. Spent more time driving around, looking at stuff and just getting to know people again

it was great

[Drem]

good for you man

we opened our restaurant last wednesday to pretty good reviews and a lot of community support and involvement. booked bands, have a coffee shop attached to the side of the restaurant, having advertising done soon through a local firm, and we're selling it all on the back of a simple menu of american comfort food (literally about 25 items). and i'm the breakfast chef. hard work being back on the line again and i kinda forgot how to make more than like four decent soups and bake a couple types of bread so i'm kinda useless as i get back into the swing of things but it's been a lot of fun

woot for new work

[Jay]

With Tikker's computer knowledge going into such a backwater area I'm sure his new neighbors think he's from the future.

[Arlos]

Kinda like if I ever went to West Virginia. I think I'd be treated like the monkeys treat that black obelisk in 2001.

-Arlos

[Gidan]

Are you going to impart some of your vast knowledge to them too!!

[Arlos]

Naw, cause that would actually require me, you know, GOING to West Virginia.

-Arlos

[Gidan]

Cant blame you there

[Dimuza]

Grats on the new work.....glad you're liking it.

& cong to Arlos for making me

[Savanna]

grats on the new job always a plus to find something that makes you happy and sounds like a great place for the family!