back from the dead... kinda · 1:05am Dec 21st, 2016
Hey y'all. How's it going?
Alright, you can breathe now. I seem to have returned to the land of the living.
Things have been interesting these past couple of years, and life has gotten in the way of many things, so I thought I'd give you guys a bit of an update.
Got out of the Marines back in May of 2015. Turns out, the pain in my leg was the result of spinal degeneration (aka too many ruck runs) and had resulted in a disc pressing against my Sciatic nerve. The injury happened about 6 months prior to my EAS, and in that time there was little improvement. I was unable to PT, stand in formation for extended periods, hell I could barely walk. So, I figured it was about time for me to leave before I did anything that might worsen the issue.
the issue finally seemed to go away about 4 months after I got out. I can walk normally again, and have some of my flexibility back, but I do get semi-regular flare ups, and my lower back is almost constantly tense.
I got a job working in a kitchen, and aparently the boss saw something he liked and offered to put me through Kitchen manager training, which was a year long course that taught you every aspect of managing and operating a kitchen, including product ordering, all aspects of food preparation, catering, personnel management, scheduling, inventory management... You get the idea.
I completed the training and thought I was going to be moving from the store I was at and going to get my own kitchen to operate... Nope... As soon as I had finished the training, the store director where I worked decided that I would be a good candidate to run this other food service department. One that I had never, under any circumstances, had any experience with.
I tried my damnedest, but after struggling to keep my head up, with no support from upper management, I caved. It wasn't worth putting in 65+ hours a week (15 of which were off the clock) to try to fix a sinking ship without being given any tools to do so. I stepped down from the manager position and am now doing boring, monotonous work in departments that I don't give two shits about.
Recently, I was able to get a second job as a bartender. I didn't really need the cash, but I wanted the experience and knowledge. With two jobs (1 full-time, the other part-time) time has been a bit tight. I still try to do the occasional project, but it's been pretty slow-going.
I'll try to get back to writing, I know I've been dissappointing a lot of you by not updating my story at all, and for that I apologize. Sometimes, life gets in the way.
If anyone is interested, here's something I just finished yesterday. I hope some of you might enjoy it
Stay awesome guys
Kitchen work is hell.
I speak from experience.
People gotta eat though and there is money to be made.
For an easy gig, get a job in a retirement home or assisted living with a dining cafeteria. Lower stress and steady pay. One of my best gigs was in a large retirement facility, but the hours were a bit tough. I worked from three in the afternoon until three in the morning five days a week. Made about 17 bucks an hour and this was back in the 90s.
It's hell on the body though, especially if you have a bad back. I miss working in the kitchen.
I approve of the reading. Well done, man! And Scar absolutely loves it. Not just the idea of it, but the reading itself.
~ Chapter: 13
first of all feel well, that is the most important part
it's not worth it to kill yourself for a job (more over in USA... health is expensive)
glad to see you back anyhow
amazed that you did bane
Good to hear from you again.
And don't worry, we understand. Life first, other stuff second.