Topic: Family

Family centric items – trips, things for families to do

So, Let’s consider: You Start Dying Slowly 0

Posted by on in Family, Life, Living, Point(s) To Ponder



So, Let’s consider: You Start Dying Slowly

You Start Dying Slowly

You start dying slowly
if you do not travel,
if you do not read,
If you do not listen to the sounds of life,
If you do not appreciate yourself.

You start dying slowly
When you kill your self-esteem;
When you do not let others help you.

You start dying slowly
If you become a slave of your habits,
Walking everyday on the same paths…
If you do not change your routine,
If you do not wear different colours
Or you do not speak to those you don’t know.

You start dying slowly
If you avoid to feel passion
And their turbulent emotions;
Those which make your eyes glisten
And your heart beat fast.

You start dying slowly
If you do not change your life when you are not satisfied with your job, or with your love,
If you do not risk what is safe for the uncertain,
If you do not go after a dream,
If you do not allow yourself,

At least once in your lifetime,

To run away from sensible advice…
So start living….my dear.

Start living.

–Martha Medeiros (in “A Morte Devagar”)

I’m Don Rima and that’s the view From Where I Stand.

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So, Let’s consider: We see things differently… 0

Posted by on in Election, Elections, Family, Immigratoin, Inside The Beltway, Law Enforcement, Let's Consider..., Making Life Better, Media, Press, Self Improvement, Self Respect, Socialism, Washington Politics



So, Let’s consider: We see things differently…

I still love my democrat friends and family but, you see it your way and I’ll see it my way!

You see Trump’s arrogance, I see Trump’s confidence.

You see Trump’s nationalism, I see Trump’s patriotism.

You hear Trump’s unsophisticated words, I hear Trump’s honesty.

You see Trump’s racism, I see Trump’s words being misconstrued and twisted by the biased media daily to fit their narrative.

You see Trump as a Republican, I see Trump as a Patriot.

You see Trump as a dictator, I see Trump as a leader.

You see Trump as an Authoritarian, I see Trump as the only one willing to fight for our freedoms.

You see Trump as childish, I see Trump as a fighter, unwilling to cave in to the lies.

You see Trump as an unpolished politician, I see Trump as a breath of fresh air.

You think Trump hates immigrants, I know Trump is married to an immigrant.

You see Trump putting an end to immigration in America, I see Trump welcoming immigrants to America, BUT LEGALLY.

You see cages at the border, I ses cages Obama built at the border.

You see Trump with a struggling economy, I see Trump with an amazing economy until the Democrats shut it down.

You see the violence in the streets and call it “Trump’s America”, I see the violence in the streets of Democratic run cities who are refusing Trump’s help and call it “Liberal America” or “Progressive America.”

You want someone more Presidential, I’m happy we have someone who finally doesn’t just talk the talk but actually walks the walk.

You and I? We see things very differently… But, that difference is part of the STRENGTH that makes America Great.

Let us try to find strength in our differences and strive to continue to make our constitutional republic the best country on earth.

I’m Don Rima and that’s the view From Where I Stand.

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So, Let’s consider: Xmas shopping in the land of covid 0

Posted by on in Business 101, Christmas, Covid-19, Family, Let's Consider..., Restaurants and Eating Establishments, Thanksgiving, Walmart, Winter Solstice



So, Let’s consider: Xmas shopping in the land of covid

Well, it’s the first week of October! You know what that means, right? Yup, it’s time to start shopping for Christmas!

Frankly, I think all these stores bringing out all their xmas trinkets at the end of July is more than a bit overboard, overpowering, over uncalled for and in general over annoying. When I walk into a place like Walmart this morning and see rows and rows stacked full to the top with all kinds of xmas BS, I’m wondering why someone hasn’t done a terrorist act on the place for over merchandising the Winter Solstice. Frankly, it was a serious temptation.

This year brings with it the added concerns of how local, perhaps smaller, businesses are going to survive it to Thanksgiving, let alone the Winter Solstice celebration. And, I find myself asking: “What’s more important, making Jeff Bezos richer by shopping on Amazon or the Walmart family by shopping at Walmart stores…or is it more important to do what I can to help the local businesses through their covid struggles to survive?” I think the answer is simple: The locals win.

So, this year is going to be a bit different. Look to your local businesses for gift certificates. You may even have to ask for them as this may be a new product line that they’ve not thought of before. Look for your local bookstores, eating or drinking establishments, specialty stores, corner grocers, theaters, art stores, hobby and craft stores, even your local mechanic! Hey, everyone’s going to need an oil change SOMETIME next year! Get creative.

If you’re a small merchant, business, eating establishment, or whatever, be thinking about how you can market gift certificates for people to use your establishment creatively and in a means that would make for an acceptable and welcomed gift for them to give to someone else to have.

Now, I’ll also expand this to small business that may not be in your neighborhood. Personally I’ve dealt with a family owned and run bakery in Baltimore for years. Every year I call Maria Voccaro at Voccaro’s bakery for my panetone’s and cookies. They’re a family run group in Baltimore that I’ve dealt with for over 30 years and I’m not going to stop now. I use them as an example but all of us know of a small, local or not so local, that we can send our business to in this time of mutual need. We need our small businesses to survive. Small business is by far the largest portion of employment our country has. And, they need us as much as we need them.

Perhaps with our help this year, they’ll still be around next.

I’m Don Rima and that’s the view From Where I Stand.

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So, Let's consider: America Needs You, Harry Truman… 0

Posted by on in Family, Home, Hope, Immigratoin, Inside The Beltway, Law, Law Enforcement, Let's Consider..., Media, violence, Washington Politics





So, Let’s consider: America Needs You, Harry Truman…

So I’m once again reading about a weekend in Chicago and a record number of murders and high crime in that once great city and the old Chicago group song “America Needs You, Harry Truman” just pops into the mind. If you need a refresh, here’s the youtube link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QC6z0nz03JI).
This may open up a ton of outraged comments by some. Many who will argue how “wrong” this post is. My suggestion, save your time and effort! You’re not changing the reality of what we are living by trying to somehow justify this insanity!
Nevertheless, I couldn’t resist because we are becoming the Twilight Zone, at warp speed and it would appear with all the help of the socialist media.
We have become a nation that has lost its collective mind! And, a lot more!
If a dude pretends to be a woman, you are required to pretend with him.
Somehow it’s un-American for the census to count how many AMERICANS are in America.
Russians influencing our elections are bad, but illegals voting in our elections are good…and the socialists want them now to just mail in their votes!
It was cool for Joe Biden to “blackmail” the President of Ukraine, but it’s an impeachable offense if Donald Trump inquires about it.
If was cool for Obama to spend MILLION$ to interfere with Israel’s elections, but don’t let any Republicans think about it or the socialist press goes nuts.
Twenty is too young to drink a beer, but eighteen is old enough to vote…and some would like to go even younger…probably to swing the liberal minds of kids before they get their first doses of reality and discover that “liberalism” is a fallacy when it comes to reality.
People who have never owned slaves should pay slavery reparations to people who have never been slaves. And totally forget the bigger pictures of slavery…things like the Barbary Slaves (N.Africa raiding S.Europe), Irish slaves, etc….
Men are being allowed to compete in women’s sports, just because of what they think they “identify” as?? Now, just how really fair is that and what happened to the concept of a “level playing field”??? Oh, the liberals and socialists just ignore that…not to mention the idiots in the judicial system.
Inflammatory rhetoric is outrageous, but harassing people in restaurants is virtuous. Provided that it’s liberal speech.
People who have never been to college should pay the debts of college students who took out huge loans for their degrees. And forget about the total stupidity of degree choices of many who chose degrees that have next to no demand in the real world market, then try to blame the government for not being able to find real work… It’s called thinking and planning – but then, that’s a concept that’s being discouraged by current liberal agendas.
Immigrants with tuberculosis, polio and any other infectious disease are welcome, but you’d better be able to prove your dog is vaccinated. And if you come here illegally we’re supposed to pay for all your healthcare, housing, education, food, etc… Really? Ever try doing that in China? Mexico?
Irish doctors and German engineers who want to immigrate must go through a rigorous vetting process, but any illiterate gang-bangers who jump the southern fence are welcome. Not to mention harbored and protected by some mindless “sanctuary city” scheme, while they continue to murder and raise other mayhem…unchecked…
$5 billion for border security is too expensive, but $1.5 trillion for “free” health care is not. Frankly people, if you don’t have secure borders, you don’t have a country! WTFU!
If you cheat to get into college you go to prison, but if you cheat to get into the country you go to college for free. Not to mention all the other goodies you get… And then there’s that BS “catch and release”… Can it get any more stupid than that? Well, they’re trying every day!
People who say there is no such thing as gender are demanding a female President. Frankly, I have no issues with a female president. But please, give us a Maggy Thatcher…and not a drunk Pelosi…
We see other countries going Socialist and collapsing, but it seems like a great plan for us…it just amazes me how people that think they would be our leaders just refuse to learn from the mistakes of other countries! Like many leaders in the past have observed, socialism WILL fail – you eventually run out of
other people’s money to spend!
Some people are held responsible for things that happened before they were born, and other people are not held responsible for what they are doing right now. The concept of taking responsibility or just being held responsible for your actions is not being taught in what’s being pawned off as the current education system. And, if you don’t manage yourself, someone else will.
Criminals are catch-and-released to hurt more people, but stopping them is bad because it’s a violation of THEIR rights. Face it, we’ve long ago become a society where the victim is the one punished. The liberal system won’t let you protect your property, you’re supposed to call the police…who arrive long after the criminal has left and the damage is done…
And pointing out all this hypocrisy somehow makes us “racists”?! And, how many really understand that “racist” started back with Trotsky in the times of the Russian revolution when he didn’t have anything concrete to blame people with? Can’t think of a concrete argument to use against anyone? Hell, call them “racist” and see what happens…
Depending on who’s statistics you want to believe, over 60,000 die every year from the common flu virus, but let a novel one come in and the world goes nuts!
And, people that have been desensitized by watching too move evening TV think that all the world’s problems can be solved in the span of 60 minutes, including 22 minutes of mind numbing ads? Really? Uh, people, when you’re hit with a totally new pathogen/disease, it can take months to years to get it all sorted out…and if you believe story lines with idiots like House solving a major crisis in one show, well, you’re just a special kind of stupid!
I think it was Franklin that once said, “If you would give up freedom for security, you deserve neither freedom nor security…”. Yet, just look what’s happened in the last couple of months! Geezuz! How much have we just given up and how fast for what?
When I look at the mortality rates of millions of people dying every year from disease and abortion and then watch the liberal media go nuts over a virus, I just don’t understand.
And to top it off, it would appear that the lives of good people murdered on an average weekend don’t seem to matter, but let a man with multiple major felony convictions get stoned off his ass, resist arrest and unfortunately die at the hands of arresting officers and the socialist media goes nuts! And he gets a funeral the likes of that for a deity! Just where are our priorities? Why don’t ALL LIVES MATTER? Whatever happened to “We hold these rights to be self evident that….” ????
Our country and it’s would be leaders have lost all civility, values, morals and dignity. Our congressional leadership would as eagerly kowtow to the latest politically correctism as they would drink a glass of scotch. Nobody has any strength of character any more…nor any backbone. Our would be
leaders are to busy fighting the “other party” to deal with the fight FOR AMERICA. This has to stop. I’m seriously concerned that if we were to get invaded as a country that some of the so called “leaders” in congress would help the invaders lead their charge!
I believe it was long ago and respected journalist, Edwin R. Murrow, that once said “News is facts minus opinion”. Given that equation, we’ve not seen any real serious “news” from contemporary news outlets for a very long time. The evening “That’s the way it is…” has been long supplanted with “That’s
the way we want it to be and the way we want you to think…”… And unfortunately too many people are buying that crap. Alas, for many, mainstream news media has well deservedly lost all credibility. It wasn’t that long ago when you heard “good night, Chet…” and you had a fairly decent comfort level that
you had just seen 30 minutes of what was really happening, not what someone was filtering and editing to make you think.
Harry, won’t you please come home?

I’m Don Rima and that’s the view From Where I Stand.

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So, Let's consider: Some thoughts on planning your move…. 0

Posted by on in Family, Home, Making Life Better, Moving





So, Let’s consider: Some thoughts on planning your move….

I’ve moved more than enough times in my life and I gave up count after the number hit 25. You don’t have to have moved over 25 times to know that any move is a royal pain in the ass. So, here’s a few thoughts that may help make your next (or perhaps current) move a little easier…

Talk with your insurance agent about your move.

I’m putting this at the top of to-do’s intentionally. It’s an item that is very frequently overlooked or just ignored…until something goes wrong and you find out you’re not covered. A quick call to your insurance agent telling them that you’re moving, where from, to, how and a quick review of your move’s plans can save you a lot of potential pain and loss later. Make sure where you’re going is covered properly as well as your goods in transit and any intermediary storage facilities and processes. Caveat: CYA is the order of the day.

Plan, plan and plan some more…

There are times when your moving time window is lengthy and there are times when you gotta move next week. In either case, it’s well worth the time to just sit down with pad and pen and do a little thinking on paper. Write down things like: Where am I going from and to? How do I plan to get from here to there? How much stuff am I taking? Where am I going to put it when I get there? Do I need a hotel, etc., while there and moving in? Do I need any help and if so who and what?

Plan how to handle your stuff.

Walk through your current abode with your pad and pen. Make a notation of what you have and how you think you should pack it. Does something need special packaging, handling or treatment? Is it something that is fragile or valuable to the point you want to move it yourself vs the movers?

Don’t feel you have to BUY boxes.

A little simple planning and a few drives past your local liquor stores when they have their empty boxes outside or just call them and you’ll have more boxes than you’ll need and they’re happy to get rid of them. If you keep the subdividers in them they’ll also work for things like vases, etc., provided you don’t play soccor with the boxes while moving. And, saving a couple weeks newspapers for packing $ave$ on padding expenses as well…
LABEL your boxes as to what’s in them and where they should end up at in the target venue. This will help you, your movers and save you alot of “where the heck is that box with the…” frustrations. I’m not talking detailed inventory, per se. Just grab a black sharpie and make notes on the outside of the box. I would also suggest that if you have boxes of valueables that you NOT write things like “gold bricks” or “firearms” on the outside. Rather use a codeword that works for you: “Wally’s rock collection” or “Special plumbing parts” should work. You’ll know what’s inside and nobody else needs to… And, PLEASE UNLOAD ALL FIREARMS BEFORE YOU PACK THEM.

Access to your stuff during transition and after landing.

There’s going to be stuff that you’re going to need during the move and immediately after the move. Identifying these items should also be part of your pen and pad walk around planning. Label these items clearly during packing and perhaps place them in a special and different area for special handling versus the bigger piles. Also, think about what you will need during the transition: PC, laptop, small table(s), chair(s), cooking items, items/toys for kids, etc…

What’s hanging on your walls…

The old addage of “what goes up, must come down…” applies to anything you’ve put on your walls. Pictures, posters, etc., need to be part of your packing and planning process as they may require special handing and packing.

Change of address notifications.

Frankly this is a very simple but important function of your move. The poney express office has a simple form for you to fill out for their forwarding purposes and you can write a simple “effective today, my new address is: xxxxx” letter to drop off at your bank, put in your credit card payments, etc. Frankly, I prefer getting a post office box as it makes my relocation easier and my mail delivery smoother and more secure. Further, if I take a weekend away, nobody knows it from the pile of junk that is cluttering my mailbox on the street or in the apartment complex.
Finally, good luck with your move. Keep some non-alcoholic drinks handy during the process and be safe.

I’m Don Rima and that’s the view From Where I Stand.

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So, Let's consider: What makes a Movie or TV Show MUST SEE…and why? 0

Posted by on in Family, Health, Movie Reviews





So, Let’s consider: What makes a Movie or TV Show MUST SEE…and why?

OK, so I’m sitting in my mechanic’s waiting room and flip open the paper to occupy some time. The first thing that hits me on the entertainment section is some article about how a movie is “Must See”. Really? Who says it’s “must see”? Why? I read the article further and it delved into show’s plotline a bit, and how it was a MUST SEE.
Really? Frankly, it sounded just like the rest of the mindless schlock that Hollywood keeps cranking out in the hopes that I’ll spend my well earned money and time on. And, frankly, other than it was the author’s opinion that I must see this thing, I was really hard pressed to come up with any reasons why it warranted spending any time and money on! Considering that I have to get a second mortgage to go to a movie any more and the cost of popcorn and a coke is close to a house payment I’ve found myself being alot more selective on what I actually go see!
Marketing takes many forms. From would be “critics” that seem to always have a “thumbs up” positive must see/read spin on everything they’re paid to write about, to what can only be called “infomercial” articles in the papers or on the web that we can’t seem to get away from we seem to be more inundated with positive spin on things that someone wants us to spend money on. And, you have to keep in mind that they have to be politically correct and put a positive spin on almost everything…or they’d lose business from advertisers. After all, who’s going to support a newspaper that says their product sucks…even if it is the truth?
Think about it a minute…just when was that last time you read anything that said “this movie sucks! Avoid it!”??? It doesn’t happen and it never will! The presenters in the media depend on advertisement revenue for their profits and imagine how many people wouldn’t be advertising in their product(s) if we were actually told something like “this is a total waste of your time. You’d be better off watching championship sock matching!”???? Stuff that’s really bad just tends to always die a silent death…after being mega-hyped and taking a bundle of your time and money!
Considering that the average one hour TV show is about 38 minutes of show and 22 minutes of really expensive ads, it’s in their best interest to put a positive spin on everything they’re being paid, in one form or another, to present! After all, they want your face in front of that screen to see those ads! And considering how expensive movies are to get into nowadays, they want to put your butts in the seats…regardless of the quality of the movie! Just think, how many people actually depand their money back after sitting through a movie that really sucks? Face it, they’ve got your money and they’re on their way to the bank with it.
So, what to do? For starters, THINK. Is that latest must see about some chick on a cable channel that’s just become an empty nester and now is out to explore her long lost sexuality really the best use of your time? Or is it just more banal over hyped media designed to bring more soft porn to your living room? Is the time you’re spending on must see crap really the best use of your time? Most likely the answer to that is a resounding “HELL NO!”. Is being a couch potato in front of some mindless schlock in the best interest of your life, state of mind, family? I’ve yet to see any “must see” anything that would create a “yes” answer to that question.
Think. You have a life. Control it by the choices you make about what you feed your mind and how you use your time. I always hear “I just don’t have time to do…” from people that spend hours oogling some “must see” crap and sacrifice their time and resources to someone else’s agenda and totally lose control of their own life. It’s your life, take control of it, establish your own priorities and management to YOUR best interest.
If you don’t control your own life’s goals, desires and directions then you sacrifice them to someone else’s control and they may not have your best interests in mind… If someone has to tell you that something is “must see” that you wouldn’t watch on your own, then chances are it’s not a “must” anything, much less something that’s worth your time and money. Think what’s in your best interest first.

I’m Don Rima and that’s the view From Where I Stand.

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So, Let's consider: Family connections during the holidays. 0

Posted by on in Christmas, Family, Friends, Holidays, Let's Consider...





So, Let’s consider: Family connections during the holidays.

Folks, I urge you to view this powerful video. It says more than I ever could about family and the holidays.

I’m Don Rima and that’s the view From Where I Stand.

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So, Let's Consider: Walmart's latest bout with mental disorders 0

Posted by on in About As Dumb As It Gets, Family, guns, Let's Consider..., Life, Walmart





So, Let’s Consider: Walmart’s latest bout with mental disorders

In case you’ve been under a rock today, the great minds of yogurt at Walmart have once again capitulated and kowtowed to the liberal sychophantic and psyhopathic minds of the liberal media and every other political cause by deciding to not sell any firearms ammo any more. According to them, for some deranged reason, they think this will in some way reduce gun violence in America. Let’s take a look at a few things.
In 2018, according to the Gun Violence Archives, 340 deaths were due to mass shooting. Oh, by the way, ALSO during 2018, according to MADD, 10,874 people were killed by drunk drivers.
So, in support of the liberal anti-gun movement, they think that removing all ammo will reduce shooting deaths. I really have to wonder how that’s going to sell in Chicago…
What’s interesting and totally counter to their new corporate policy is that they’re still insisting on selling as much beer and wine as they can in clear SUPPORT of the 10,874 drunk driving deaths. So, just what and where are their real priorities? Reality or kowtowing to political correctness in the media? Is anyone at Walmart REALLY THINKING???
Does anyone at Walmart have a spine?
The next thing I expect them to do is stop selling auto parts to help reduce highway deaths….
Let’s think further: in a drunk driving event: the drunk driver is blamed – NOT THE BEER; in a boating accident the boat captain is blamed – NOT THE BOAT; etc…. The only exception to this is firearms… MAYBE society needs to wake up and put blame where it REALLY belongs…on the heads of the criminals!

I’m Don Rima and that’s the view From Where I Stand.



So, Let's consider – Interviewing yourself 0

Posted by on in Career, Family, Friends, Life, Making Life Better, Self Improvement





So, Let’s consider – Interviewing yourself

Of all the stuff I read and have to read, I find that a good interview is amongst the most interesting, enjoyable and enlightening types of articles. I read interviews in things as diverse as Parade, business and trade journals, food and social journals and there’s always the gold standard of interviews – Playboy.
Now interviews can vary in terms of focus from a profiling, business centric, solution centric and may other ways that the author/interviewer is attempting to skew the direction of the article. The ones I enjoy the most are the ones that profile a person and tell me about them, their history, likes, dislikes, priorities, goals, etc. They can also make one think about their own directions, values, history, decisions, etc.
Now chances are, very few of us are ever going to be interviewed for a magazine article, but I was wondering what it would be like to interview my self and how I might answer the questions I see being asked others a lot. Frankly, I’m going to cheat a bit, I’m only going to ask the questions and let you answer the questions for yourself, as if you were being interviewed. If you like this idea and some of the questions, you may find this concept useful at a party or as an ice breaker for a social event.
So here goes and I hope you come up with the right answers:
How did you end up in the occupation or line of work that you’re doing?
What skill sets would you like to acquire or improve on?
What’s your favorite part of the day?
What is the largest lesson you’ve learned in your life?
The game I still play is?
The best gift I ever recieved was?
What one thing can you not live without?
Who has had the greatest impact(s) on your life and the decisions you’ve made?
What would you be doing if you weren’t in your current occupation? Why aren’t you doing it?
What would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
What trends are most impacting your life?
What is your most favorite word?
What is your least favorite word?
What is your favorite curse word?
What’s the first thing you do when you get home each day?
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
What profession would you not like to do?
What’s the first thing you do when you get to the office or work place each day?
What do you like to hear? What’s your favorite sound?
What is your idea of earthly happiness?
To what faults do you feel most indulgent?
Who are your favorite fictional heroes?
Who are your favorite characters in history?
Who are your favorite heroines in real life?
Who are your favorite fictional heroines?
Who is your favorite painter?
Who is your favorite musician?
What quality do you most admire in a man?
What quality do you most admire in a woman?
What is your favorite virtue?
What is your favorite occupation?
Who would you have liked to be?
What’s the one thing that most people don’t know about you?
What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given? Did you follow it? Did it work?
If you had infinite money, what would you buy? Why?
Who’s your favorite composer or musical artist?
The last movie you saw was?
What was the Best movie you’ve ever seen?
What’s the best book you’ve ever read?
Where would you like to live?
What’s your guilty secret pleasure?
If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
If you were stuck on a desert island, what three items would you want?
What’s the nerdiest thing you’ve ever done?
What do you value most in your friends?
The biggest trend affecting what I do is?
What are the biggest challenges that you are facing?
What accomplishment are you the most proud of?
Who are your favorite fictional heros?
What do you like to do in your spare time?
What natural gift would you most like to possess?
What’s your favorite part of the day? Why?
Where do you see your life going?
What will be your next “big thing”?
What historical figures do you most despise?
What event in military history do you most admire?
What was the best decision you ever made?
What was the worst decision you ever made?
What is your favorite color?
What is your favorite flower?
What is your favorite bird?
What decision in your past would you like to have a “do over” on?
What place would you like to visit and haven’t?
What do you like on your pizza?
Boxers or briefs?
Favorite ice cream? Least favorite ice cream?
What person in history would you like to have lunch with? Why?
How would you like to die?
How would you like to be thought of?
Where would you like to be buried?
What should they write on your gravestone?
Think of a few I missed? I’m sure there’s many. Add them to your list and see where the answers take you.
I’m Don Rima and that’s the view From Where I Stand.


So, Let's consider: the right career or trade for you 0

Posted by on in Career, Family, Trades, work





So, Let’s consider: the right career or trade for you

OK, so I’ve been doing the same gig I’ve been doing for most all my life. I’ve done a little university teaching as well and frankly I wish there were more of it out there as I kinda like it more than the normal gig. But then, this week I needed a plumber. I can’t believe how much those guys get an hour! I’m talking quotes of $150/hr and more! That’s a lot of green stuff! An then there’s electricians, carpenters, masons, etc! Did I make the right job decision back years ago?
More frequently the decision of going to college to get your degree and then find work is being called into question by the trades. And offering shop class in high school is DEFINATELY being called into question as to why it was removed from availability in the first place! It’s a given that we need workers that know the trades and frankly if I had any idea these guys were going to be making that kinda of money and not have to wear a tie all day I would have given it serious thought long ago!
With this column I’m going to try to concentrate specifically on trade vocations, but, you can extrapolate much of what I’m talking about and use it in your searchings for what you want to do in and with your life.
So, chances are your parents did some kind of work. You may have helped them at their jobs. Did you like it? Maybe you were lucky enough to take shop in the few high schools left that offer it. Was there something you enjoyed? Carpentry? Masonry? Welding? Or maybe they did office/business work and you just really hate the idea of being stuck in an office! So, let’s look at what things you may be looking seriousely at.
What about this kind of work interests you?
Trust me, if you have a line of work that pays good cash, that’s nice. It’s A LOT NICER if you enjoy what you do. So take some time to think and answer: What is is about this gig that I like? Would I enjoy doing this for a long time? Do I know someone else doing the same gig? Would I want to be like them? Are they making the kind of money that I think I should be making?
With trades, as in any line of work, the earlier you get into the one you like and develop your expertise base in it, the better you are going to be and the more in demand your skill sets will be.
What are your interests and what’s important to you?
Here again, you need to take some self inventory time. If you don’t like working with sewer pipes, then chances are plumbing may not be for you. If you have a fear of getting shocked, either grow out of it (easy to do) or remove electrician from consideration.
Are there any global causes that you find of interest? SPCA for instance is in regular need of people that like to care for animals. The park service likes people that enjoy working the outdoors and natural preservation. Trades extend into health care, veterinary, horticulture, agriculture and the list goes on…
What skill sets and experience do you offer?
Make a checklist of what skills and experience you bring to the table. This is important. And keep it updated.
Many trades have apprenticeship programs that will help you develop these skill sets. Many of these are offered through the trade unions. Most of groups are looking to develop a skill set that you have already developed some form of aptitude for or have a special interest in. Classes in high school, trade school, community colleges, etc., offer great cirriculums as well in getting the book knowledge, but more importantly the hands on experience, that you will need as your career develops.
Explore, play and learn while you decide
An old baseball pro once said “you can see a lot just by watching…” So, go watch. If you’re thinking something in the line of construction, find a foreman that will let you watch what’s going on at a construction site. Same thing goes for working at a nursery, animal shelter or vet office, etc. If you haven’t already had exposure to what you may think you’ll like, go get some. Ask questions. Find out how they learned what they did, who taught them, how, when, where… Go talk to your local trade schools, vocational schools, even perhaps high school career counselors and shop teachers. Learn how to strike an arc and burn a bead…frankly, welders are making a heckuva lot more nowadays than bean counters are!
Am I saying that time spent in college is wasted? Well, it depends. If you’re sitting in classes that are any of the many esoteric liberal arts classes that basically only your teacher and a handful of others have ever heard of the subject matter, then, yeah, there may be reason for question. But, if you’re looking to build your future by understanding how to run a business, communicate with future clients, understand their businesses, or build your knowledge of your trade then taking that class might be a good idea.
The world has enough people that can quote Shakespeare…and frankly his quotes are about as dead as he is. We are in need of people that know how to keep our houses and businesses together and build infrastructure. Chaucer and Shakespeare, well, not so much. We also need people that know how to care for plants and provide food, as well as those we can go to when we need some medical help, build things and many more of the more skilled based hands-on types of work. We call these the trades.
All the best as you think and explore where you want to be in your life.
I’m Don Rima and that’s the view From Where I Stand.