News with an interesting number coincidence - thought I'd share.

So as a little background for the newbs..... I live in Flint and was in automotive design for about 13 years, then lost consecutive jobs within 3 years at the software company that I was working for as a "subject matter expert". My local gig went to Mexico, then I lost the last one in Detroit to India. Thank you NAFTA.

From there, fresh off of a near death experience, I decided that I wanted to be an RN. I busted my butt, got accepted into U of M's nursing program - then before the first semester was over I was screwed over by an instructor with the unchecked authority to do so - and found myself dismissed from their program and out on the street...... then I studied art - then figured out why artists starve.

Then through a seminar class I took, I got to be really great friends with a local guy who does really well for himself producing medical marijuana and I studied that business for a couple months from over his shoulder. He agreed to mentor me and I even got medically approved for my "420 card" which allows me to grow and posses. I was literally within 4-6 months of making $100k+ working completely legal, PART TIME AT HOME, by doing little more than keeping about 70 plants alive in the attic of my garage.

Then I decided it was in the best interest of my children and family not to produce weed for a living, and that my heart still belonged in nursing. So then I reached out to the local community college about their nursing program and learned what I'd have to do to get on their nursing program's waiting list. I actually walked acrossed their hallway and tested out of English Composition that I took in 1993 AND College Algebra that I took in 1994, proved that met the rest of the requirements and applied last August.

Now, instead of making $100k+ (mostly CASH btfw), I'm working 3rd shift restocking groceries at a local supermaket. To enter the medical field in some capacity while I wait for my nursing number to come up - I'm signed up for a class that starts in January that'll train me to work as a phlebotomist. It won't be a LOT better, but it lets me finally begin to build a medical based resume, make connections, and I'll like it better than unloading trucks, working wee morning hours inside of coolers, and restocking juices/butters/bagels/biscuits.

Anyway, now that I've overshared by a large order of magnitude - here's the irony.....


So chose family over money and abandoned the very lucrative career path of legally working with marijuana to work for minimum wage and wait several YEARS to RE-begin life as a nursing student. I got my acceptance letter in the mail today from the college, which also lets me know my position on that list.....

My current spot on that list? Would you believe .....420??!!!

On one hand I couldn't believe it - and on the other - I just chuckled and thought, "Of course. Out of them all, why WOULDN'T I be student #420?!"

Sorry about the lengthy overshare, but I wanted to share my "good news with the twist of irony", and without the back story - the whole irony part being #420 wouldn't have had any significance whatsoever.

Peace,
John

It's a sign!

I like bagels!
Jim

Amazing how careers work out. I worked in the automotive field for 8 years, loved it A LOT, but when Misty got pregnant I realized I needed "real" benefits and have been hawking Dell Computers for going on 10 years now.

I NEVER thought this is what I'd end up doing with my life...but you find something you can do and don't despise and then you do what you love when you're not at work....unless you're really lucky and can do both!

Just keep at it and something better will come along soon. Good luck!

-Mike

Very true Mike, and thanks.

Even when I worked in the nerdery - and people found out - I'd have to set them straight. "No, I'm not a geek, but I do work in a room full of them. It's what I do for a buck. It's not even close to who I am." etcetera.

Man, some story, you have my sympathy (FWIW)
Pete

Man I so hope they pass that law in FL, I could so use a 100+K cash biznez....I'd actually have time to work on my cars and be able to mod them appropriately.

Literally growing your own cash and having unlimited free time? Wow Jon, I hadn't thought of those benefits.

No worries Pete. It's only money.

I've been an Optician for over 40 years. I have no idea what I would do as an alternative to it.

Bewber wrote:

Literally growing your own cash and having unlimited free time? Wow Jon, I hadn't thought of those benefits.

I'm sure that you did and I do support you in your personal decision as I know you probably didn't make it lightly. It's easy to sit from afar and be quick to pass judgement on others, based on one's preconceived ideas, cultural upbringing, and the amount of media brainwashing one has succumbed too.

It's far more involved then deciding whether or not it would be good for you and your family, but the outside pressures from, friends, family, neighbors, et al, that would be polarized to support or reject such a profession.

There is a neighborhood by me, where an ex-porn star bought a home and when the local religious zealots found out she was there, they made her life a living hell until she sold the house and went elsewhere. That's total BS in my book, but having kiddies, they don't need that kind of drama in their lives...

lakeffect wrote:

I've been an Optician for over 40 years. I have no idea what I would do as an alternative to it.

That's very cool Dave. Count your blessings that you'll never have that worry.

Funny vision related deal from last night to reaffirm that I'm on the right path ... late in the evening as we were leaving a sportss banquet, Adria mentioned that she'd had a headache for a lot of the day. I asked, where does it hurt - and she said it was really weird because it was at the back of her head and not the front - and kind of lower too.

I looked over and noticed she was wearing glasses for the first time in weeks and replied - That's your occipital lobe. It's where your vision center lives and you don't usually wear glasses. Take them off and you'll be fine before we're home. She did and she was. I know that was a super minor example, but just knowing that info and being able to use it to help her be relieved of pain gave me a kind of intrinsic charge that I know money couldn't have bought.

Quote :

It's not ironic it's just coincidental!

Interesting though.

You're nuts, brah.

Way to man up and resist temptation though!

(So you done with that 420 card??? )

I'd be a little uncomfortable with a garage full of marijuana plants and the knowledge that the DEA doesn't care what the state law is . . . they'll still kick down your door and handcuff you in front of your kids.

The people who have that happen to them are definitely doing things illegally, or have something else highly illegal going on.