What Do Folks Do in the Real World?

[gordi]

I was pondering the other day... Isn't modern life strange?

We "meet" more people than ever before, but the vast majority of them are "virtual" people... online acquaintances who we are unlikely to ever meet in person. It got me thinking that we rarely get the chance to really KNOW much about one another, so I though that I'd create a thread where we could (if we wanted to) share some little details about what we get up to when we're away from the online forums. What jobs do we do? What real-life hobbies do we enjoy? What do we LOVE? What do we HATE?

In Real Life, I run my own Sign-Making and Vinyl Graphics business.
I've been doing so for about 10 years now.
It was initially set up by myself in partnership with my long-time best buddy Mark S, but he has since left and I've been running the whole show for about 2 or 3 years now? It's hard to keep track!!

What does Vinyl Graphics / Sign-Making involve? I hear you ask... reluctantly! LOL

Well, usually my customer will ask me to make a sign or vinyl graphic for them.
I'll design it using the specialist sign-making software on my PC,



and when the design is finished, I'll send it to my vinyl cutting machine.



It's a bit like a plotter, but with a tiny sharp blade instead of a pen.
The vinyl comes in rolls, and you have to cut each single colour separately.
When the design has been cut, you remove the excess vinyl which surrounds your design



You next have to "weed out" the parts that you don't need, by using a sharp scalpel to lift and remove them.



Once all of the unwanted parts have been removed, you cover the design with a clear "application" layer which holds all of the parts together whilst you apply it to the object or sign board.

This particular item is a sign for for a local Saddlery business, I'll try and add a photo of the finished sign, once it has been installed.

It's quite an interesting job for me to have because it utilises both my boring/structured/technical/computer side AND my creative/artistic/design side, and every single job is a different challenge.

Here's a small selection of some graphics that I've created over the years...



Not many folks will know this, but before starting up the graphics & sign-making business, I spent 5 years as a stay-at-home dad for my eldest son!
My health hadn't been great, I was very stressed out at my job in IT support/IT Project management and my wife was doing great and enjoying her job, so when we decided to start a family, it just seemed like the right thing to do at the time!
The hardest part about being a Stay-At-Home Dad was the isolation and lack of adult company.
All of my own friends were working during the day, so I hardly ever had the chance to see them. I didn't know any other stay-at-home dads, and the parent & toddler groups back then were all aimed at women with kids.

Things changed for the better one day when I bumped into the local mum's & toddlers in the local park...
When I introduced myself, they asked why I hadn't come along to their group who meet once a week in the local school... I pointed out that it was because the group was called "The MOTHERS and TODDLERS Group". They looked a little bit embarrassed and insisted that I come along... they even changed the name immediately to "Parents and Toddlers group" which helped a lot!

Before that time, I worked in IT support. Initially in hardware support, then on the support desk, then 2nd line support and finally in IT project management. (Very Boring!)

Away from work, I love the great outdoors, camping, camper-vanning, wood-working, sports, travel, history, cryptozoology, UFO's, future-tech, music, food & drink and having fun!
I used to play drums in a rock band for many years, and latterly have been playing guitar and singing both on my own, in various duo's and bands.

LINK to some of Gordi's LIVE Music Sets on YT

and..... I think that'll do for now!!! LOL

I hope that you've enjoyed a wee peek into what I get up to away from Rogue Nation...
Now, what about YOU? (Don't be Shy!)

G

[Wallfire]

You have an interesting life G man 

[hutch622]

 I love the great outdoors, camping, camper-vanning, wood-working, sports, travel, history, cryptozoology, UFO's, future-tech, music, food & drink and having fun!

I was pondering the other day... Isn't modern life strange?

We "meet" more people than ever before, but the vast majority of them are "virtual" people... online acquaintances who we are unlikely to ever meet in person. It got me thinking that we rarely get the chance to really KNOW much about one another, so I though that I'd create a thread where we could (if we wanted to) share some little details about what we get up to when we're away from the online forums. What jobs do we do? What real-life hobbies do we enjoy? What do we LOVE? What do we HATE?

In Real Life, I run my own Sign-Making and Vinyl Graphics business.
I've been doing so for about 10 years now.
It was initially set up by myself in partnership with my long-time best buddy Mark S, but he has since left and I've been running the whole show for about 2 or 3 years now? It's hard to keep track!!

What does Vinyl Graphics / Sign-Making involve? I hear you ask... reluctantly! LOL

Well, usually my customer will ask me to make a sign or vinyl graphic for them.
I'll design it using the specialist sign-making software on my PC,



and when the design is finished, I'll send it to my vinyl cutting machine.



It's a bit like a plotter, but with a tiny sharp blade instead of a pen.
The vinyl comes in rolls, and you have to cut each single colour separately.
When the design has been cut, you remove the excess vinyl which surrounds your design



You next have to "weed out" the parts that you don't need, by using a sharp scalpel to lift and remove them.



Once all of the unwanted parts have been removed, you cover the design with a clear "application" layer which holds all of the parts together whilst you apply it to the object or sign board.

This particular item is a sign for for a local Saddlery business, I'll try and add a photo of the finished sign, once it has been installed.

It's quite an interesting job for me to have because it utilises both my boring/structured/technical/computer side AND my creative/artistic/design side, and every single job is a different challenge.

Here's a small selection of some graphics that I've created over the years...



Not many folks will know this, but before starting up the graphics & sign-making business, I spent 5 years as a stay-at-home dad for my eldest son!
My health hadn't been great, I was very stressed out at my job in IT support/IT Project management and my wife was doing great and enjoying her job, so when we decided to start a family, it just seemed like the right thing to do at the time!
The hardest part about being a Stay-At-Home Dad was the isolation and lack of adult company.
All of my own friends were working during the day, so I hardly ever had the chance to see them. I didn't know any other stay-at-home dads, and the parent & toddler groups back then were all aimed at women with kids.

Things changed for the better one day when I bumped into the local mum's & toddlers in the local park...
When I introduced myself, they asked why I hadn't come along to their group who meet once a week in the local school... I pointed out that it was because the group was called "The MOTHERS and TODDLERS Group". They looked a little bit embarrassed and insisted that I come along... they even changed the name immediately to "Parents and Toddlers group" which helped a lot!

Before that time, I worked in IT support. Initially in hardware support, then on the support desk, then 2nd line support and finally in IT project management. (Very Boring!)

Away from work, I love the great outdoors, camping, camper-vanning, wood-working, sports, travel, history, cryptozoology, UFO's, future-tech, music, food & drink and having fun!
I used to play drums in a rock band for many years, and latterly have been playing guitar and singing both on my own, in various duo's and bands.

LINK to some of Gordi's LIVE Music Sets on YT

and..... I think that'll do for now!!! LOL

I hope that you've enjoyed a wee peek into what I get up to away from Rogue Nation...
Now, what about YOU? (Don't be Shy!)

I think you  and me would get along just fine , add crabbing and bally would be there as well .

[Snarl]

Now, what about YOU? (Don't be Shy!)

I could tell ya, but then I'd haf'ta ... well, you know ...

I worked for (and around) the Army for something like 40 years.

Harry Chapin knew:
I've long since retired
My son's moved away
I called him up just the other day

[beez]

My official title is "Program Coordinator" for a large multinational company.

I oversee Clinical Engineering operations, contracts, state/local/federal compliances for 4 hospitals in the Pacific Northwest.


And I'm a part-time smartass online.

[drussell41]

IT, DOD, left on disability retirement because of transplant immunosuppression.   I was belted in jujitsu a lifetime ago.   I've TNR'd at least a dozen cats, including full vetting.   They either get adopted into my house, adopted into someone else's house, sent to a no-kill rescue or returned to their colony in place.  I've rescued a few dogs too, including one with my husband when he managed to get her out of Iraq.   She was so shell-shocked.

[F2d5thCav]

My official title is "Program Coordinator" for a large multinational company.

I oversee Clinical Engineering operations, contracts, state/local/federal compliances for 4 hospitals in the Pacific Northwest.


And I'm a part-time smartass online.

Sounds like that medical materiel troop at Landstuhl has come quite a way!  Well done, @Beez.

Cheers

[F2d5thCav]

@"Snarl" 

Can't you at least tell us what service was like when JC was a corporal ?  

Cheers

[beez]

My official title is "Program Coordinator" for a large multinational company.

I oversee Clinical Engineering operations, contracts, state/local/federal compliances for 4 hospitals in the Pacific Northwest.


And I'm a part-time smartass online.

Sounds like that medical materiel troop at Landstuhl has come quite a way!  Well done, @Beez.

Cheers

I was a "green to gold" troop back then, but thanks!

[F2d5thCav]

IT, DOD, left on disability retirement because of transplant immunosuppression.   I was belted in jujitsu a lifetime ago.   I've TNR'd at least a dozen cats, including full vetting.   They either get adopted into my house, adopted into someone else's house, sent to a no-kill rescue or returned to their colony in place.  I've rescued a few dogs too, including one with my husband when he managed to get her out of Iraq.   She was so shell-shocked.

@"drussell41" 

Very nice the dog got out of Iraq.  War is hard on people and animals alike.

Cats are phenomenal animals.  Well worth the effort.

Cheers

[Snarl]

@"Snarl" 

Can't you at least tell us what service was like when JC was a corporal ?  

Cheers

He was a CPT when I enlisted.  You'd have to ask @"727Sky" what he was like wearing chevrons.

[drussell41]

@"drussell41" 

Very nice the dog got out of Iraq.  War is hard on people and animals alike.

Cats are phenomenal animals.  Well worth the effort.

Cheers

Thank you so much.   Based on where he found her and the stories being passed around, we're pretty sure she was one of the Hussein dogs.   She was very sweet and not at all aggressive.   He actually carried her through a gunfight to get her into the Baghdad Zoo....otherwise, she would have missed her flight to Jordan. 

She had to go live with a vet student training under a University animal behaviorist.   I had tried to heal her with outpatient therapy.   What she really needed, however, was a stable, well-adjusted dog to show her that life was okay and safe.  The student had a fantastic golden retriever.   Nellie, the GSD, was able to relax and enjoy life in her last couple of years.   She died from cancer.   I think it may have been due to having to drink contaminated water during the war.  She wasn't that old.  I'm glad we could give her some extra life, happiness and safety.   She was beautiful inside and out.

[Snarl]

I had tried to heal her with outpatient therapy.   What she really needed, however, was a stable, well-adjusted dog to show her that life was okay and safe.  The student had a fantastic golden retriever.   Nellie, the GSD, was able to relax and enjoy life in her last couple of years.   She died from cancer.   I think it may have been due to having to drink contaminated water during the war.  She wasn't that old.  I'm glad we could give her some extra life, happiness and safety.   She was beautiful inside and out.

My buddy, Luke, is a puppy-mill rescue.  I think they left him outside to starve and die.  My wife couldn't let that happen to him.  He's incredibly shy and won't leave our side (which is pretty darn cool).

[LSU2018]

I share an office with the company attorney. I write contracts for inmate communications for prisons, I answer Request For Proposals, I'm responsible for ordering all replacement parts and plastic (filament) for 64 3D printers, I'm the liaison for our orders with China, and sometimes I'll go down to our commissary warehouse and help out there (that's why I didn't get online past 8:30am yesterday). But I'm hoping that at some point in the next 6 months, I can find a ranch or at least 400 acres for sale and build my own so me and my dad can work it. But we won't be very successful until America stops buying beef from Argentina and starts paying top dollar for domestic beef again.

[drussell41]

I had tried to heal her with outpatient therapy.   What she really needed, however, was a stable, well-adjusted dog to show her that life was okay and safe.  The student had a fantastic golden retriever.   Nellie, the GSD, was able to relax and enjoy life in her last couple of years.   She died from cancer.   I think it may have been due to having to drink contaminated water during the war.  She wasn't that old.  I'm glad we could give her some extra life, happiness and safety.   She was beautiful inside and out.

My buddy, Luke, is a puppy-mill rescue.  I think they left him outside to starve and die.  My wife couldn't let that happen to him.  He's incredibly shy and won't leave our side (which is pretty darn cool).

I am so happy you saved Luke!   He's beautiful. 

It's hard not to turn into a misanthropist when you work in animal rescue for very long.

My respect and appreciation to your wife.

[LSU2018]

My buddy, Luke, is a puppy-mill rescue.  I think they left him outside to starve and die.  My wife couldn't let that happen to him.  He's incredibly shy and won't leave our side (which is pretty darn cool).

Awe man, how sad that he was left that way, but how awesome that you and your wife took him in... Rescue pups are the most loyal you can find. I had one wander up in 2011 that was nothing but skin and bone. I fed her for about a week before she trusted me, then I picked about 100 ticks off of her and dropped them in an empty Coke bottle. She was so weak that she would sit down after about 15 steps, she had to catch her breath. I treated her for fleas and ticks and started feeding her. She fattened up, and got fatter and fatter and fatter. Little turd had gone out and got pregnant. After she had her puppies, I had her fixed. One of the best dogs I ever had. She was probably a couple years old when she wandered up, and I don't know what kind of dog she was, but she was black and tan and had the markings of a Rott, but definitely wasn't one.

[Snarl]

But I'm hoping that at some point in the next 6 months, I can find a ranch or at least 400 acres for sale and build my own so me and my dad can work it.

Best of luck.  You strike me as the type of person who could find a way ... and push yourself into success.  It takes a lot of hard work and constant commitment.  There's a Lot of profit right behind that ... and absolute independence once you've got your feet under you (better if they were on top of the tax man's face to boot).

[F2d5thCav]

I've seen a lot of mixed breeds with the black and tan color combination.

Animals are great company.  Ours consistently amuse me with how they observe EVERYTHING and plan courses of action based on the 'intel' they pick up.

Cheers

[Snarl]

Cheers

Hey, man, if you're gonna follow this thread ... you're gonna have to spill.  Been waiting to hear what you're up to 'over there'.

[F2d5thCav]

I was wondering if Top @"Snarl" was going to call me out LOL

Like you bro, the years of youth are behind me.

When you joined, was it still the five-event PT test ?  Loved those monkey bars (not).

I just observe these days.  Been retired (nice way to say out of work) for years now.  Met a nice European girl and we settled here.

Like you, I don't want to get too detailed about work experience.  It wasn't intel, but the culture had expectations of discretion.

But many years ago, there was something something about a staring contest across a military frontier with the Soviet Army.  Well . . . me, and about 150,000 other guys  

Was blessed in that period; no wars.

Good people, the best I ever knew.  The Lost World.  Elsewhen.

Cheers