So, what does everyone do for a living?

[cpatow]

Everyone here is so interesting and we all have such diverse backgrounds. I thought it would be fun to see what we all do for a living (only if you feel comfortable replying, of course). I know we have some stay-at-home moms, a few teachers (meli, right?, shesherm?), a web developer (vsentz), working at a quarry (brown eyed, right?). How cool is it that we are all brought together here with so many diverse backgrounds and we wind up with one of the most important things in life in common....the (hopeful) conception and birth of a child.

I'll start:

I've been in the computer industry since '94 working mostly as a marketing manager for memory module and semiconductor-related companies. Exciting stuff (woohoo) and i fell into it somewhat accidentally and ended up liking my first company so much I stayed with them for 12 years, went away for a bit and went back to them before I had to quit for good when we moved out to the east coast. During my time away from my "first" company I went to a big processor / semiconductor company (not allowed to mention their name in forums...silly) but their "little i" logo is on gazillions of computers everywhere. And now I'm contracting for them again and am actually learning how to build websites (writing HTML and everything...so vsentz you can teach me things). Learning web programming is actually pretty fun and I get to do it from home, so that's even better.

A few years ago when my son was born, my "first company" let me go part-time and during that p/t stint I decided what my passion in life was was to care for people so I went back to school to become a nurse. I finished all the pre-requisites w/ a 4.0 and was ready to go into the nurisng program but then my DH and I made the tough painful decision that we could not be wihtout my salary for 2-4 years in So Cal while I entered the program so I had to abandon that dream. Now that we're in GA. I might go back and complete the program after the baby is born, but we're just going to wait, pray and see where life takes us.

So that's me :0)

[Sahuaro87]

Hi all I've been away for a while....DH and I are still TTC. Anyhew, I'm an Executive contractor for a National health plan in South Florida. (I set the rates physicians are paid for the services they provide in their offices for my company).  DH is active duty Navy, he is getting ready to retire in 1 1/2 years.

[Nickey1]

WOW you all have really interesting careers............I'm a computer programmer, working on a PH.D in information technology, though I'm taking a break after this semester (yippee horaay)........I'd LOVE to be a SAHM, but unfortunately, we can't afford it ............I'm with the other poster, come on lottery............I've even started playing the mega million on Tuesdays and Fridays, but o course no luck yet, LOL!!!!!!!!!!...........I'm grateful, but I HATE working, sad, BUT it's the truth

[pertykitty]

wow what a interesting group of women!  i am a sahm since addison was born in november and i couldnt love anything more.  i was a registered dental assistant for 16 yrs and a massage therapist for 4.  i still think i might do massage in the near future for a few of my old clients but really i start to panic when i think of leaving her.  i plan on going back to school eventually.  id like to work a few years and invest all the money i make for retirement :)  or shop hahahahaha!!!!!  i have a son who will be 10 in july and a daughter that is 19 weeks.  i was married before and my sons father .... enough said lol.  my husband is in the navy and is out to sea right now, but will be home in a few months and retire the end of the year.  he has no idea where or what he is going to do, he would like to be independantly wealthy haha.

[twokids19]

What a beatiful family!!!  Never take away from yourself what you do for a living. Where would we all be if we didn't have people to check out our groceries?  LOL  Lots of luck to you & yours.  

[adgal]

I was a sales manager for an advertising firm for many years, and now am a sales rep for a small company that builds large 3d sculptures for museums, retail enviroments etc.  I now work from home and do not miss the 70 hour stress filled work weeks I had before at all.  After we fulfill our dream of becoming parents, I will work part time from home and have someone come in to help me during the "work hours".  I would love to be a full time stay at home, but it would be tough for us financially, so this way I feel kind of like I am getting the best of both worlds.

You all have such interesting lives and backgrounds, I really enjoyed reading this thread.

Amanda

[montie2]

I worked in banking for 10 years and got really sick of it, then I took a job in gthe financial aid office for our local community college. I decided to go back to school on the side since I was now in the setting and everyone around me either hraad degrees or was working on one.  I am the associate director of the financial aid office and just completed my Masters degree in Administration last May.  (Surprise, found out I was pregnant 3 months later!)  Even though I am officially on maternity leave right ow, I am still on call and working from home and sneaking into the office some due to being seriously short handed in my office and knowing that if **** goes wrong while I'm off it will come back on me.  Now, with this new, precious baby, I would love nothing more than to stay home and raise him and forget the career.  I have about 8 more weeks to stay home.

[mrs5077]

Girl, I know what you mean. I am 35 now and feel too old. I feel like I am a lifetime student. I sit in those classrooms with all the youngsters with no responsibilities taking full loads and don't have a care in the world. I'm working F/T, taking a class when I can fit it around my work schedule, my kids schedule, and DH schedule. It's been a long road, but I am so close I can touch it. It's my dream and I will not give up til it comes true. It is not too late and with your GPA you are sure to get in. If you want it, go for it.

Inga

[melimeli]

stay at home mom is the best occupation.. and the most bennificial for our community... I am a teacher... I admire and ENVY all of you who stay at home...

[shesherm]

I am a 2nd grade teacher  for 4 years now and before that I worked years as a Manager in a few different retail stores.  I took a pay cut to move Up LOL to teaching but I LOVE WHAT I DO.  DH is a firefighter

[precious03]

I run my own in home daycare.  I love it!!  I get to stay home with my kids, but have a fun and rewarding job all at the same time.

[jennyb473]

I'm a retirement plan administrator - I play with other people's money!  I do recordkeeping and compliance reporting for 401k and profit sharing plans.  I really like what I do, but would love to be a SAHM someday!  Come on lottery!!  For now, though, I can work from home at least part of the time and will once DD arrives hopefully thru the end of the year.  

DH owns his own fitness equipment service company so I do his books too.  Hopefully someday we will be able to buy his parent's equipment store from them and run both sales and service but they aren't selling just yet!

[cpatow]

We're in same boat w/ RN program...SO want to go back but just not sure. I started at 35 then had to back out b/c of finances. Now I'm 40 and feel too old to finish!

[Atlanta Girl]

I'm a geologist/geophysicist. Got my MS in Missouri and my BS in Italy.  DH is a geologist/geophysicist too, we met while getting our MS. We both work for the same environmental, engineering consulting company.  I started working from home last week, not bad at all!  I plan on going back part-time in 4 to 6 months, my boss said to bring a pack and play in the office (he actually got me one) and to come with the baby.  He doesn't believe in daycares...

[mrs5077]

WOW, everyone seems so established. I am kinda ashamed to say what I do, but it pays the bills.

I am a grocery checker for a major supermarket (11 years, but out on disability due to pg) and finishing my pre-reqs for the RN Nursing program. I was so close to applying and then found out I was pg. Being "High Risk" I had to withdraw and will have to complete my last Bio A&P next spring and will apply in the fall 09' semester. Man that seems so far and the program is so impacted and competitive, I hope I get in my first try. My DH works for the local electric company and does well, so I am hoping I can work P/T or qiut ( I'm keeping my fingers crossed)  after baby and really focus on school. I can't wait to be doing something I love.

Inga (19wks 2morrow)

[melimeli]

what ever happened with you and b/f are you guys working things out?  living together yet?

[guatmommy]

What a cool idea:

I was a Vocational Counselor for at risk youth for 10 years.  I worked with disadvantaged and disabled teenagers and adults in job training, job placement, follow up, counseling, etc.  When my daughter came home in 2005 (she is from Guatemala) I became a stay at home mom!  I was a stay athome until this past May.  NOW- I work for a Student Exchange organization as a Student Services Facilitator.  Basically I am in charge of 5 Regions (all over USA) and about 1200 exchange students from all over the world.  I have 5 managers that answer to me and basically I am the intermediary between the American and the foreign side.  Very interesting job.  Different than dealing directly with the student.  (I still do from time to time).  I have been out of work on bed rest and iss working so much (ok- I miss my paycheck)!!!  

[40smama]

I was a music teacher for nearly 20 years (I have just aged myself  - LOL).  Dh's a pharmacist & now I just do part-time stuff for our pharmacy like bill paying, etc.  I also manage our rental business.  You guys have such cool jobs!!  I miss working full-time sometimes.

Jen (35w4d)

[nwmom]

I have been a SAHM for the last 3 years when my dd was born.  I was a flight attendant for almost 10 years before that.  I miss traveling all over and working with all different types of people.  Somedays I miss flying but can't imagine leaving my little girl with the crazy schedule that I used to have!  

[lissamjr]

i have been a SAHM for the past 7 years since ds was born. before that worked many years as office manager for car dealerships. dh is a pipe foreman building power plants, so we move usually once a year on average. get to see the country, but for now stuck in nowhere, lousiana and so waiting for the next job, hopefully in Utah!

Lissa (31 weeks 3 days)

[marie1210]

I am a 10th grade English teacher.  Working with 15 and 16 year old kids is definitely a challenge but it's awesome!  When my baby is born, however, I will be joining the SAHM company.  I plan to stay home for the first year with my little one.  I am looking forward to it.  I will be going back to teaching in the future.  Thirty-eight weeks tomorrow!!!

[Lexima]

Oh wow everyone's backgrounds are so interesting.

I'm a Technical Project manager, working in a financial company in NY.  I started here a a Business Ananlys then got promoted to a Sr. BA not I'm a PM.  I've been here for 7 years, started in 2001 just 5 months before 9/11.  My company was located in WTC Tower 2 on the 97th floor.  Thank God I was not in the building at the moment, but saw it all happening from across the stree.  Now we're located in Rockefeller Center, which is a pretty exciting are, but could very crazy especially during Holiday Season.

I like my job, and plan to return after giving birth.  My twins are due on 10/26, but probably will arrive sooner.  I haven't decided how long I'll stay home, have to analyze all maternaty and additional disability options my company has to offer.

Milana (10 weeks)

[poupoune26]

My god..all of you have such good jobs compared to me!  ;) LOL

I'm a bartender in a nightclub. That's where I met dh. He works there 1 night/week as a bouncer..that's aside from his real job. I've been doing that for about 8-9 years, it's really good money for sooo lil' hours, that's why I'm having a hard time moving on to a more ''important'' job/career. I've stopped working about 2 months ago because I couldn't hide my belly anymore!  I guess I'll go back a few months after the baby is born for 1 night only.  I can bring in the salary of a whole week in just one night so I'll be able to stay home with my baby boy..yay! Eventually though, I'll start thinking about going back to the goverment (I worked for Health Canada for 2 years as an assistant) for more security..

So, in a nutshell, that's me!

Melanie 30w2d

[momof16]

Please don't be too impressed!  I've been where you are many times and was so exhausted and crazy, I had to make it minute by minute.  On top of the usual toddler stuff, I dealt with babies who travelled home from the other side of the world, were completely lost, sick and didn't understand a word I said.  They were emotionally a basket case, sensory overloaded, very delayed, starving and fragile.  Most were about 12 lbs at a year.  Our youngest was 16 lbs at 2 1/2 years.  I was so exhausted pushed to my absolute limits. Having said that, I wouldn't trade those experiences for anything.  It made me a much stronger person both physically and in my faith.  As hard as it was to have so many babies and toddlers at the same time, adopting teenagers was so much harder for me.  I would like to say that all turned out great for them, but it hasn't.  Just too many hurts to heal from so far.  So I feel that having a newborn at 51 will be a "piece of cake"!  

[vsentz]

hehehehe girl! be sure you won't be the only one! it's so amazing how you are learning cold turkey to hard-core code by hand! I still need to use dreamweaver (or frontpage...) to 'view' where im at first! =S
I just took over the web developer position in a newspaper company that has a TOTAL MESS of a website!!!! (www.carrollcountytimes.com).... im still trying to figure out how this thing is set up... they have it set up thru a couple of servers and companies (CMS's) and they code BY HAND completely! I'm learning at a fast speed (i think?? lol) but i still need to get my feet wet on CSS and Java....
I cheat on my end, and instead of open the files to see the 'includes' in a text processor, i use my beloved dreamweaver.... hehehe

There's this website that is super good! has tutorials with video and guide you step by step!!! it's called lynda_dot.....com.... and you pay like 20 bucks a month, but  you can take any courses you want and learn easier than books! (i tried books before and ended up commiting serial book massacres afterwards!! lol ;)