What does everyone do for a living??

[Chief's Mom]

I'm a civil engineer at a very family friendly office. We do consulting design for Wal-mart, Lowe's, and other retail, municipal, and private developers. Although I do seem to work a lot of hours, they are extremely understanding when I have to miss for something family related. My husband is also home all the time right now with a broken leg, so the birds pretty much always have attention. I have a feeling it's going to be a pretty rough transition when he finally goes back to work though. He's been home since April and we got Chief in August, so I think it's going to be tough for him. He's already stuck to me like glue when I get home from work! Anyways, I do feel bad a lot when I have to work late, but I think as long as you spend quality time with them when you are home, it all works out

[catschair]

I have done grad school and the postdoc (25 hr a day), then went out into the real world to get a job. Fortunately, I love what I do -- help develop drugs for people with cancer. I have been in the pharmaceutical industry for almost 20 years. I have often worked 18 hr days ("normal" is ten to twelve), sometimes from the office, sometimes from the house, but it is all worthwhile when you talk to someone who was alive to walk their daughter down the aisle or hold their first grandchild because of a drug that you had a small part in bringing to the patient.

And yes, the birds and cats have adapted very well.... but I don't have dogs or "big" birds because of my crazy schedule.

[Xray Susie]

I spent 20 years with my ex-husband running a commercial fishing business. He was a commercial fisherman (still is). After we divorced, I spent 2 years as a secretary, then decided that wasn't challenging enough.

I went to school, and now I'm a Radiologic Technologist (X-ray technologist). I work for a hospital, but at one of their outpatient sites. I love it.

I've been with my fiance for 3 1/2 years now, and life is good. We have Abby, an 11 year old Rottie; Jagger is our 11 month old Great Dane puppy, and Sydney is 8 months old, a CAG.

We also have 4 daughters between us, but they are all out of the house.

[straightdope]

i am an midnight emergency dispatcher & part time Bed & Breakfast owner.

i say part time cause we are seasonal.. Summers only.

[aportinen]

I work for the Minnesota Department of Revenue, yes as a tax collector. I no longer do the nasty deed but make my employees do it! I have worked here for 13 years. I previously work for one year at the International Wolf Center but it was not challenging at all. I also had a 10 year stint at a local phone company Contel now known as Frontier. Not only do I work full time, I am a mother for 2 children, Melissa 25 and Brian 17, and a beautiful grand daughter Aiden age 3.. My husband use to own a Autobody repair shop but being self employeed is not a treat at all! He now works for a local furnace repair business. Living in Northern Minnesota, the furnace runs non stop!

I rescued a Vos Ekkie in October from a feed store that had no idea what they were doing. I will be getting my baby CAG in 2 weeks! I had previously rescued a U2, TAG, Scarlet and B&G. I was able to socialize them and found great homes for them. When my husband owned his business, the money was not there to keep the birds. When I rescued, I would pay for the birds to pull them from the homes and then would found good homes for them and only charged a minimal ($400) for the birds and cages. I also own a 10 year old Teneesee Walker horse and she is my first love. About 6 years ago, I was in a really bad accident and had a horse rear up and over on me. He shattered my pelvic ring and broke my hip. I spent 28 days in the hospital and have had too many surgeries since then to count. I currently own 4 dogs, 2 Australian Shepards and 2 Collies. I also have a foster collie in my home right now as I also help with the Minnesota Wisconsin Collie Rescue group.

Boy, writting this all down makes me wonder how I do it all! I guess my husband must really love me!

Oh yeah, I also have a salt water tank set up.

Whew............

[finkypooh]

Wow you guys so sound busy and accomplished!! I guess I my life is just fine then... it is just hard making such major adjustments! New Job, new town, new apartment.. whew! I do want to get more birds though. Maybe another cockatiel???

[Oscars Mom]

The first year out of college is a HUGE adjustment for everyone.

[Abyssinian1]

Ah, I remember the first year out of college... and having to make the choice between purchasing art materials for a customer's project and groceries.

I will say, I lost weight that month and found some interesting new ways to enjoy ramen noodles. Its what happens sometimes when you decide to be an art major. Heh.

Currently, I am a graphic designer for a phone book company which shall remain nameless. It keeps food on the table and for now, the benefits are good. I also freelance, do web design and corporate identity and go to school in the evenings in an attempt to earn an MBA in marketing. I also consult. I have about 20 years experience as a designer for small businesses, so if I ever have to leave the day job, I can hit the ground running as a full time graphics consultant and illustrator.

The great thing about what I do is that I can do it with a parrot on my shoulder. Ira doesn't really care what I do, as long as there is a perch nearby (usually the top of my head). He also likes attacking my computer keyboard, which makes working on the laptop mighty interesting. Bob will sit in my lap and take swipes at my forearms, though his favorite perch is on the back of my chair. Apparently he thinks he's in a supervisory role. Lord knows the hairless land ape in the chair needs some motivation occasionally in the form of a nip to the back of the head. Corina simply hangs out on the perch (or on Dave if he's home) and pretends I'm not there. Much like management.

It can be overwhelming, but trust me, you'll get the hang of it over time.

[Chico's Mom]

I'm an RN also, I work an hour away from home. I start at 5 am so I'm up at 3 am every day, Mon thru Fri. I'm on call a week at a time, then it's 7 days, 10 to 12 hour days. Sometimes don't see birds or fish tanks for 2 days at a time when I'm on call. Really hate being away from home so much, but 6 years away from retirement, so I'm hanging in.

I'm an endoscopy nurse, so you all get your colonoscopies now, y'hear?? LOL

Interested to hear why you said going into long term care was the best job decision...don't remember which one of you said that, but if you read this and care to PM me, feel free. I am getting burned out, but need the $$ and the insurance, also paying off equity line and putting my daughter through college.

[Murphy]

I'm Assistant Accountant for a large Mining Equipment Engineering firm in NSW, Australia.

I generally don't mind my job (gets a bit monotonous), and my hours are reasonable 8:30-4:30, unless it's end of month, end of year or anything else hits the fan! .

Pretty relaxed environment and pays okay so that i can keep on top of the bills and spoil my two "kids" (labrador & Conure) as well as the Fiance. Fiance is a warehouse co-ordinator for one of the warehouses in the largest fruit and veg market in Australia and works horrible horrible shiftwork hours...eg. starts at 3am finishes at 1pm.

I've been in the finance industry for around 12years now...eek it's scarey it's been that long!

Don't have any human kids of my own, but have a lovely stepdaughter (fiance's daughter), but who knows??? I'm not too old to have kids of my own yet.