Me? @ A Railroad???

this wednesday I made an hour trip down to Joliet, IL on the I-80. Why you ask? Because I was called for testing to possibly get a job with Elgin-Joliet Railroad. A mill job. The coveted job amongst people because of job security, pension, excellent competitive wages, benefits and perks with seniority. I applied (or I should say my uncle turned in my resume) back in December, and since I hadn’t heard anything for like two months, I assumed they weren’t hiring, or I just didn’t get a call. But on Monday when he called I almost hung up on him as if he were a bill collector. But I called back pretending to be someone else, got directions and saddled up to make my way to a 9A.M. testing. At first I thought I’d get lost, but the guy gave excellent directions and I made it there early AND I beat traffic on the I-80. He explained the good, the bad and the ugly of the job, with a little bit of the good. The good is basically the part that people think of when you hear someone has a union job, or a mill/industrial job. The ugly is that I will have NO freedom for the first 1-5 years of this job, unless I work my way up thru seniority. Then I will be able to work much more regular hours. Until then I am on call and on extraboard. So basically if someone with seniority can’t come in for their shift, whomever is next to be called upon on junior status HAS to come in. So sometimes you might have to work a 16 hour shift. I am no stranger to hard work, especially when the pay is good. But dayum!, that will be something new for me. But it’s something I’m willing to do. If the Lord blesses me with this I am going to work my butt off to put into my 401(k) and move up into the world of seniority. I know a lot of things will have to change, but my financial independence and being able to provide for my family comes first. They say in two weeks from the testing date we’ll here something back about a second interview. Help me pray ya’ll. If this job ain’t for me, I pray that I can get something that pays better than what I have now.

In other news…

I have kind of resigned to chilling without focusing too much energy on anything besides getting myself together. I’m single again, which if you know, being in a relationship with issues settle or blatant can make for a lot of strain in your life if your not careful. So I did what was best for me and ended it. I think he understands now and I hope that when he looks back and really sees what I was trying to do he’ll respect me that much more for it. We are still friends. I haven’t totally ruled out dating because you don’t know where God will lead you. Whether it is us back together, or someone else for whatever reason. My point is, I am trying not to step on God’s plans by making my own. All I can do is free my life from things that will lay heavy on my FOCUS and pray. In my heart I know that things will turn out as they are supposed to be because I am a willing and faithful participant in the belief that everything happens for a reason. It has to. I have met a couple of guys that I’m friendly with and one that sometimes rubs me the wrong way with things he says, but he’s brutally honest and kind, sometimes that’s what I need.

Finally, March 6th, my next oldest brother is going to Marines bootcamp. It’s bittersweet for me because I am scared that he won’t know how to handle it. But on the other hand I think that he might be able to and I will be all to glad to have his butt up out of here. Once again all I can do is pray that things will work out and stop the worry.

keep it breezy.

Taleia