Location: A simple man leading a complicated life....
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FurnaceFace
This whole thread is bringing back memories of my 4 years at Safeway in high school and university. Smoking was a big thing at Safeway back then. The lunch room would be unheard of today. There were two tables. The front table close to the door was the “nonsmoking’” table and the back one the smoking table. Somehow that foot between tables was supposed to make a difference?
As a former Safeway employee I can remember our janitor one day cleaning the ceiling that was yellow in color and all that came off was this black tar crap. By the time he was done the bucket of water was almost black. Plus nobody respected the non smoking section.
I took the bus from Edmonton to Hinton in March, 1970. One of the passengers was travelling to Jasper from Quebec. He kept up a steady monologue loudly proclaiming how much better Quebec was than anywhere else in Canada. We voted him off the bus at Nojack and the driver agreed. The rest of the ride was nice.
Justin was pretty young then. Thankfully he found his way home, and his way in life.
This whole thread is bringing back memories of my 4 years at Safeway in high school and university. Smoking was a big thing at Safeway back then. The lunch room would be unheard of today. There were two tables. The front table close to the door was the “nonsmoking’” table and the back one the smoking table. Somehow that foot between tables was supposed to make a difference?
Smoking was great back in the day, because in addition to the lung and throat cancer, it was also a "boss shield" and would earn you your break time.
Basically, if you are working a menial job, and are sitting around out back with a dart in your hand, you can count on 5 min to be left the f--k alone.
If you're just sitting there without a tar bar, some jackhole is certain to show up and tell you to get back to work.
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Smoking was great back in the day, because in addition to the lung and throat cancer, it was also a "boss shield" and would earn you your break time.
Basically, if you are working a menial job, and are sitting around out back with a dart in your hand, you can count on 5 min to be left the f--k alone.
If you're just sitting there without a tar bar, some jackhole is certain to show up and tell you to get back to work.
Different job, but you're absolutely right.
When I was working at Greyhound or in a Kitchen smoking was the only thing that got you a break.
My Dad used to buy me a pack every week (He smoked, I didn't) just so I could go out back of the Restaurant or the Lanes and light up.
I didn't even inhale it, just light it up and hold it. But it was the only way to get a break.
Otherwise you're doing twice the work while everyone else is lounging around.
I don't even care about the smoking! The 'Break Policy' just needed to be fair but it just isn't.
If you need a Puff everyone just shrugs their shoulders and thinks "he worked hard, he just needs a smoke break."
If you just want to sit down for a few minutes you're a useless and lazy POS.
Cigarettes man, they were a way of life.
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As a former Safeway employee I can remember our janitor one day cleaning the ceiling that was yellow in color and all that came off was this black tar crap. By the time he was done the bucket of water was almost black. Plus nobody respected the non smoking section.
Oh, a memory. One summer at university (Regina) I didn’t get a Coop job right away but knew the student union president so he hired a couple of us to do some work. Back then the bar and SU was in this older shack like building. The Lazy Owl had a drop ceiling in the bar and it was decided it needed to be cleaned. We took down the ceiling frames, dropped them into a bucket of “chemicals” to do its magic. The bucket wasn’t tall enough for the entire section so you’d pull out this piece of aluminum that was now half gleaming white and half black lung from the nicotine. I think most smokers if they had to do that cleanup would have quit immediately. Probably the dirtiest job I’ve ever done. I feel like I ended up getting a real summer job before we entirely finished. That job was much more glamorous, rewiring all the wiring closets in the Sask Highways head office.
Smoking was great back in the day, because in addition to the lung and throat cancer, it was also a "boss shield" and would earn you your break time.
Basically, if you are working a menial job, and are sitting around out back with a dart in your hand, you can count on 5 min to be left the f--k alone.
If you're just sitting there without a tar bar, some jackhole is certain to show up and tell you to get back to work.
At some places of work I have gotten up from my desk at 4:30, 4:45 and said to my coworkers “well, I’m going to take all my smoke breaks at once and go home.” I figured if they got to take a 5 minute break every hour, I should get a perk too. :-)
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Oh, a memory. One summer at university (Regina) I didn’t get a Coop job right away but knew the student union president so he hired a couple of us to do some work. Back then the bar and SU was in this older shack like building. The Lazy Owl had a drop ceiling in the bar and it was decided it needed to be cleaned. We took down the ceiling frames, dropped them into a bucket of “chemicals” to do its magic. The bucket wasn’t tall enough for the entire section so you’d pull out this piece of aluminum that was now half gleaming white and half black lung from the nicotine. I think most smokers if they had to do that cleanup would have quit immediately. Probably the dirtiest job I’ve ever done. I feel like I ended up getting a real summer job before we entirely finished. That job was much more glamorous, rewiring all the wiring closets in the Sask Highways head office.
I dont know what it was about Greyhound, but man they smoked like Demons.
I genuinely wonder if it was because our mouths and nostrils were coated in Diesel fumes that we simply lost all sense of scent or flavour.
The guys that would smoke or chew? "Naw man...its all gone, all I taste is Diesel."
You ever see those guys walking around and they're just spitting on the ground and think to yourself "Thats disgusting!"?
I used to be one of those guys.
Because no matter what I did, I couldnt get the slimy, greasy 'Eau of Diesel' out of my mouth.
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So I'll re-tell this one because it was originally told in another thread.
But once upon a time in a Magical Land of Diesel fumes and cigarette smoke there lived a humble University Student who became solemn and jaded with the fortunes of life and school while having to load the Local North Greyhound Bus that stopped at every podunk little town.
But then one day a miracle was brought upon him! It was a giant Orange bag guarded only by the merest of luggage-locks!
So that gallant and steadfast student used a butter-knife forged from Mjolnir to open that lock and fulfill his DESTINY!
Yes! Thats right! He was going to load his Bus (as well as unload others) dressed in the A&W Bear costume.
Jesus that was hot...that thing was brutal. That costume is like being in an Iron Maiden inside of a Sauna.
So yeah, if you were at Greyhound in the mid-2000s and the A&W Bear loaded your bus? That wasn't a planned publicity stunt. That was just me screwing around because I was bored.
Now. Its important to note, and keep this in mind...,the 'ass-wiggle' is built into the suit. There is literally nothing you can do about it. That ass is going to wiggle.
I say this because...if you're not a Professional Mascot, you need to know these things. Especially if small children are around.
I am not saying that I smoked a small child in the mind with the A&W Bear's ass but I am legally obligated to state that I cannot state that I did not crank a small child in the mind with the A&W Bear's ass.
Albeit accidentally. I didn't mean to, but sometimes life throws you curveballs and you gotta keep your head up! Alright. I think we're legally kosher now.
I didn't build in that ass-wiggle! It was not my fault!
So while it looked like I was jauntily loading the Bus and having a grand old time, that was not the truth!
That suit is hot, miserable...you can barely see out of it and quite frankly the entire experience was pretty much a nightmare.
However! Who is to blame for that? Nobody made me do it, I just thought it would be funny.
It was probably the best part of the trip for the kids, and there were a few (Minus 1) that actually loved it! The rest of that trip was probably a horrendous slog unless they purloined some KFC.
Oh. And Greyhound got sued for that little stunt. The first of 2 A&W stunts I pulled.
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This Post Has Been Distilled for the Eradication of Seemingly Incurable Sadness.
The World Ends when you're dead. Until then, you've got more punishment in store. - Flames Fans
If you thought this season would have a happy ending, you haven't been paying attention.
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FILE PHOTO: Passengers board a Megabus bus in New York City
Dietrich Knauth
Wed, June 12, 2024 at 9:22 a.m. MDT
By Dietrich Knauth
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Coach USA, the operator of Megabus and other commuter bus lines in the U.S. and Canada, filed for bankruptcy protection in Delaware late Tuesday, seeking to sell its assets and shed debt incurred in an ill-timed 2019 private equity buyout.
Coach, the largest privately-owned bus company in the U.S., was acquired by private equity firm Variant Equity Advisors for $270 million, mostly using debt that is still on the company's books.
Coach quickly ran into trouble servicing its debt, as the COVID-19 pandemic caused bus ridership to decline by 90% from 2019 to 2020, according to documents filed in Wilmington, Delaware bankruptcy court.
While ridership levels have rebounded somewhat since the lows of 2020, they were still only 45% of pre-pandemic levels in 2023
You've worked construction, too!?!? In addition to working as an accountant, a forest ranger and at the Greyhound bus depot? I've figured it out, you're really Mike Rowe, aren't you?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Locke
You forgot Dishwasher, Line Cook, Canadian Tire Auto Parts...and I havent even told you guys about the Leisure Centers...I've had a lot of jobs in my life.
I even worked as a Lineman for the County fixing cell phone towers. Though that didn't last long.
I've had lots of jobs.
It builds character.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Locke
Oh man...my years in construction during Calgary's boom years in the mid 2000s? The insane crap I could tell you about would astonish you.
That was a wild time.
"Sir...where is your hard hat and fall protection??"
- Do you want this deck built or not?
"Carry on....I saw nothing."
Quote:
Originally Posted by Locke
And then there was my...less than successful stint as a (thoroughly unqualified) pool lifeguard.
Ugh. That did not go well. That did not go well at all. Welp, thats what you get when you're desperate for employees though.
2000s Calgary was a wild time to be alive. Work was everywhere!!
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Originally Posted by D as in David
Canadian Tire Auto Parts? Oh man, you're giving me nightmare flashbacks. As a 17-year-old I got a job at Canadian Tire and they put me in auto parts - despite knowing nothing about auto parts - because I aced the "IQ test" portion of the job application process. Trying to find parts that you've never heard of and had no idea where they were located on a vehicle and I somehow had to find the correct micro-fiche slide that had the part for their particular vehicle. One of my worst jobs ever.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Locke
Oh that job sucked ASS.
First of all...nobody knew what they were talking about. I at least had built a race car. I'd built a motor, I'd done vehicular work fine, but I'm no mechanic.
"Hey how do I rebuild my transmission?"
Uh...by paying someone who knows WTF they're doing?
But everyone...every single person who came to the counter starts at what I called 'Stage 10 Pissed.'
Because their car is broken and its going to cost them money and this idiot kid behind the counter doesnt know what he's talking about BECAUSE HE'S NOT A GODDAMNED MECHANIC!
"Tell me what I need to fix my car and how to do it because I'm going to buy the parts and do it myself regardless of the fact that I have no idea what I'm doing."
- Are you fooling with me right now? You dont fix those brakes properly and somebody's gonna have a bad day....do you even know how to bleed a brake line?
God that job sucked.
The mechanics were ass holes, the managers were idiots its was just a complete clownshow from start to finish.
I remember my last day and they were sad to see me go because I was one of their 'best employees' and I thought...I dont care about this place at all. If I'm one your best employees who genuinely couldnt care less about this place...you got problems.
Oh! And one of my favourites?
"The cardboard compacter is jammed, climb in there and jump around to break it all up!"
- Are you funnin' me son? Hell to the f'in NO. You jump into the giant goddamned compactor and break it up yourself. Or let Evel Knievel do it. I dont make enough money to climb into a cardboard compactor. So....no.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Locke
Naw thats BS.
You know what she did? I guarantee that she was picking up random plants in the Garden Centre and got sprayed by the automated misters. Because she was probably an idiot.
I had so many encounters like that.
"These brake pads are wrong! Take them back!"
- No. These brake pads are your old ones, you just put them in the boxes for your new ones and tried to return them. Nice try but go pound sand.
God that job sucked.
I didn't even care, but if you're trying to screw us over at least put in some effort.
"I replaced all my spark-plugs and my car still wont start!!"
- I see. Well. You bought new spark plugs yes? Okay. But your spark plug wires are here in this box. What are your spark plugs getting power from? Oh? Nothing? Well I think I see the problem here. Go away.
I hated that job.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jayswin
Wasn't there a thread created for your stories, or am I misremembering?
So I'm gong to bring these back in here so as to stop de-railing the arena thread.
As you can tell, I have worked a great many jobs in my time but no, I am not Mike Rowe, I just grew up in Calgary at a time when jobs were very plentiful.
So I'll tell a Canadian Tire Auto Parts story just for new content.
I was considered an 'Expert' (Narrator: He was not) but I'm also not an idiot.
So as an arbitrarily deemed 'Expert' one of my jobs was to help Customer Service on Returns.
Now, this customer wanted to return, of all things, Motor Oil.
The box was open and all of the sealing rings were cracked and, generally, rarely is Motor Oil 'defective.'
Customer states: "Its not the right Oil for my car."
Uh huh. Then why are the seals cracked on every single bottle? Here. Lets see.
So I grab a styrofoam coffee cup and pour some in. Yeah. He's poured his old oil into the bottles to try and get his money back.
Not very slick sir. I mean...you had to fool me, who genuinely couldnt care less and a 16 year old cashier who also doesnt care and wouldn't know and you still couldnt' manage it. A mensa candidate you are not.
And then later I'll tell you about having to work New Year's day.
I booked that day off though!
Manager: "Sorry but I need you here!"
- Okay. I'll be here. But you're not going to like it.
Was I found passed out in an aisle the next morning? Stay tuned to find out!
Also...guess what happens when someone takes a bunch of oil dipsticks and uses them to bridge battery terminals together! The truth might surprise you!
(if you know anything about batteries or electricity the truth really shall not surprise you)
__________________ The Beatings Shall Continue Until Morale Improves!
This Post Has Been Distilled for the Eradication of Seemingly Incurable Sadness.
The World Ends when you're dead. Until then, you've got more punishment in store. - Flames Fans
If you thought this season would have a happy ending, you haven't been paying attention.
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And then later I'll tell you about having to work New Year's day.
I booked that day off though!
Manager: "Sorry but I need you here!"
- Okay. I'll be here. But you're not going to like it.
Was I found passed out in an aisle the next morning? Stay tuned to find out!
That's the manly man way to do it Go out, do drugs, get drunk, get f-ed up... but you still show up the next day. You got responsibles! Brain full of chemicals or not!
It’s summer, and the middle of the quarter. There is no counting to account for right now. Now, if he was doing this in March, then that would be impressive.
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