TLMitchell
is dazed & confused
For the first time since I was 14 I find myself jobless. Not as dire as it might sound...in their infinite wisdom the major domestic government that has employed me slaving over a hot radar scope for close to a quarter century has put me out to pasture at the ripe age of 56. Public Law forces Air Traffic Controllers to retire no later than the last day of the month of their 56th birthday. That was yesterday. Which makes today Saturday. As well as tomorrow and the day after that and the day after that.... lather, rinse, repeat. EDIS! (Every Day Is Saturday)
Many ask what I'm going to do? Gonna go back to pushing airplanes through the sky? Gonna look for a job? I've had jobs, I didn't like them much. One of the goals of submitting to the lunacy of working at Club Fed was earlier-than-normal retirement. Despite the fallacies the Speaker of the House has been slinging about "generous Federal retirement benefits", don't believe him. Compared to the corporates that've been cutting their employees throats by drying up pension plans I'm still more fortunate than many with a pension, Social Security and 401k. Do I have to work? Nope. But I get to pick and choose those things that I want to do for a buck or two.
My first job at 14 was at Willie's Supersonic Car Wash.... a cut above a swirl-o-matic. I've been doing some detailing jobs the last few years that interest me but turning down more opportunities than I take. Looks like things have come full circle... start my work life washing cars and I'll end up washing cars til the end in some fashion.
In between waiting for checks at the 1st of the month and occasionally polishing paint I intend to canvas as many North American two-lanes on two wheels as possible. There's hidden gems and interesting characters everywhere just waiting to be discovered. In the past 12 years I've stumbled across hundreds of people from all over the country.... actually, all over the world.. that get on their bikes and travel extensively to put faces to names they've encountered via Usenet and Forums. Most have become lifelong friends staying in each others homes when traveling, attending weddings, births and funerals. The Internet has truly made the world a smaller and closer place in many instances, despite all the mayhem it's also enabled. So don't be surprised if some day you get an e-mail, text or phone call or a saddletramp shows up at your shop just to say Hi because he was in the neighborhood.
And I'll see some of you at Detail Fest next March. It's close to the top of the dance card. :yay
See you down the road,
TL
Many ask what I'm going to do? Gonna go back to pushing airplanes through the sky? Gonna look for a job? I've had jobs, I didn't like them much. One of the goals of submitting to the lunacy of working at Club Fed was earlier-than-normal retirement. Despite the fallacies the Speaker of the House has been slinging about "generous Federal retirement benefits", don't believe him. Compared to the corporates that've been cutting their employees throats by drying up pension plans I'm still more fortunate than many with a pension, Social Security and 401k. Do I have to work? Nope. But I get to pick and choose those things that I want to do for a buck or two.
My first job at 14 was at Willie's Supersonic Car Wash.... a cut above a swirl-o-matic. I've been doing some detailing jobs the last few years that interest me but turning down more opportunities than I take. Looks like things have come full circle... start my work life washing cars and I'll end up washing cars til the end in some fashion.
In between waiting for checks at the 1st of the month and occasionally polishing paint I intend to canvas as many North American two-lanes on two wheels as possible. There's hidden gems and interesting characters everywhere just waiting to be discovered. In the past 12 years I've stumbled across hundreds of people from all over the country.... actually, all over the world.. that get on their bikes and travel extensively to put faces to names they've encountered via Usenet and Forums. Most have become lifelong friends staying in each others homes when traveling, attending weddings, births and funerals. The Internet has truly made the world a smaller and closer place in many instances, despite all the mayhem it's also enabled. So don't be surprised if some day you get an e-mail, text or phone call or a saddletramp shows up at your shop just to say Hi because he was in the neighborhood.
And I'll see some of you at Detail Fest next March. It's close to the top of the dance card. :yay
See you down the road,
TL
