Friday, June 14, 2013

What I Do (did) for a Living

Today's LBC topic comes to us from the Old Fossil - Conrad.  Since retirement is not in the cards for me the choice is What I Do for a Living.

I trust the irony will not be lost on you when I say that I make a living as a copywriter/content specialist for the company from whence my nickname - shackman - comes from - RadioShack.  My handiwork - such as it is - is on display for all to see at  RadioShack.com  Irony you may say? Well - I am simply the worst typist in the world. Words don't bother me - typing is another story.

I've been with the Shack for over 28 years off and on.  It's where Fos and I first met and struck up the recently rekindled friendship we now share. At that time Fos was a teacher in our classroom and I was a peddler of computer equipment.  I was pretty good at it too but I hated it.  The selling part - although it had it's brighter points. I once sold a full computer system to a gent named Ralph "Sonny" Barger. Sonny is rather infamous in this country as the former president of The Hell's Angels Motorcycle Club. It was a rather large sale, paid in cash and when I called our local delivery service to set up the delivery of the goods, the owner/operator went nearly apoplectic and I had to talk like the proverbial Russian racehorse to get him to make the delivery.  This all came about because as a store manager in Oakland I had cultivated a friendlty relationship with a gent namd Cisco - the VP of the club.  Cisco used to come into my store and buy parts for various projects and we talked electronics.  His day job about six months a year was as a lighting guy in the movies. He was an interesting guy. Ironic though - I played flag football for the Oakland PD one year - LOL.  Now that made things interesting as there were often cops coming by to visit.

My life at the Shack has included managing several stores (Manhattan Beach, Oakland Fruitvale, Oakland Telegraph, San Lorenzo), a computer center (Fremont) and a computer training and support operation (in Honolulu). Now that was fun. I spent 6 months in Hawaii sans wife & kids because Lynn chose not to come along.  Me and my Suzuki 550 had way more fun than we should have.  Every time the Mastercard bill hit home I'd get a phone call and a serious interrogation. I have no idea why - I mean the Banyan Gardens was just a place with a big tree in it and the Pearl City Tavern was - well - OK - a bar.  Ahem. But it had a huge glassed in place behind the bar with a bunch if monkeys in it and a great Bonsai display upstairs,  so who could blame me for soaking in as much local color as I could.  And I lived with a HS pal and his wife - Rick was the Chief Ranger on the Arizona Memorial.  That'd be Rick Smith - a real Ranger Rick. 
I also aquired a love for Hawaiian music while there.  Give this song a listen - you don't need to understand the lyrics to appreciate the melody and performance.


 I did pennance for years.  The photo is of my mom on a visit to Honolulu.  I always say the easiest way to make a Suzuki 550 look like a Honda 50 is  to put me on it.  I left the Shack shortly after my return (Xmas Eve 1986) and worked as a programmer at an Ins Agency and did some contract programming until the economy flopped in the early nineties.  I rejoined the Shack and moved to Texas and have been here since May of 1994. I have yet to aquire a love of the Dallas Cowboys or country music.

In the 19 years I've been here I've done computer technical support, Xenix/Unix support, consumer product support, been a supervisor in customer relations and for the last 7 years I've been what is called an Omnichannel Data Specialist.  In English, that's copywriter/content speialist. For the last 2+ years I've worked from home - the Shack has been very good to me that way and very understanding about my situation with Lynn.

So that's what I do.  Not terribly exciting but it's a living.  Check out the other members ofthe LBC - they're listed overthere --------->

12 comments:

  1. I am delighted to learn that you too come from a stable of salesmen! And, I know exactly why you hated it too. And, my comment on the fact that you continue to work - Way to go friend.

    The Hawaiian music is a treat to the ears. Thank you.

    Did you know that I was a biker too and my son has taken to biking in a big way and goes on long trips on a 500 CC Royal Enfield? I can't ride anymore with my bust hips but I do ride a scooter now and then.

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    1. I loved having that bike in Hawaii Rummy - I'd stop at a red light and just look around and think I'm in Honolulu. It was especially fun near Christmas when I'd cruise around looking at the Christmas lights on the houses wearing shorts, an aloha shirt and flip-flops but the best day was in the fall when the big waves started. To this day I rememberthe ride through the pineapple fields, stopping at Matsumoto's http://www.matsumotoshaveice.com/ for a shave ice and then going to Hanama Bay to watch the big waves. And they were really big - LOL

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  2. Who'd have thought it, Shackman:

    The guy you sold to, Sonny, a player in "Sons of Anarchy". A series my son introduced me to (last year) and I sat through faithfully and spell bound; sometimes he'd screen three instalments in a row - till I was emotionally so exhausted I needed a break. Slightly veering off the subject: What fascinated me that occasionally the Angel would stop the dvd mid stream because he knew (how?) that I'd lost the plot so he explained it to me before continuing. Amazing the intuition some people have.

    Should you ever need a typist: My fingers fly like the wind. I enjoy typing. And not many people can - honestly - say that.

    I admire salesmanship. I tried it (briefly - financial services, tied to one company's products rather than a broker). After the usual breathtaking beginner's luck had worn off I just hated it. Hated it hated it hated it. Why? In order to sell I need a product I really do believe in. Which marks me as the layman I am from the professional salesperson who'll sell ice to Eskimos.

    You say 'not very exciting but it's a living'. Never shall 'making a living' be underestimated.

    U







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    1. U - I saw Sonny in Sons of Anarchy - that's a fascinating show I typically watch in 5-6 episode bursts on Netflix. And, although I could sell ice to Eskimos I hated it partially for the reason you cited and because I disliked the games and manipulation involved. Your lay person vs professional rings very true to me. I just loved the computers and sharing them with others.

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  3. Each week you peel back another layer for us. I love that. I am always fascinated how a piece of music can bring us right back to a mood, a place, a time or a person. The closest I ever go to Hawaii was with McGarrett, "Danno", Chin Ho & Kono Kalakaua – yeah, you guessed it Hawaii five 0.

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  4. Marie a friend I made in Hawaii - Moe Keale - was a character in the original Hawaii 5 O - he played a character called Truck Kealoha. Moe was a great fellow and had a gorgeous singing voice - he passed away a few years ago but was a true son of Hawaii and the uncle of the late, great Isral Kamakawiiole (more commonly referred to as Iz)

    Moe - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6B34PKhBWw

    Iz - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1bFr2SWP1I note the 83 million views - I met him in Hawaii as well

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  5. Thanks to Conrad I get to know about you! Till now all I saw was a bearded smiling face! Bless you and may thr words flow non-stop.

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  6. Imagine - the Shack ha given you many things - including your name! It's amazing the way your job has grown along with you.

    I'm fond of country music myself. Depends on the mood of course. I could be a blues fan another day.

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  7. Great picture of you and your mom.
    Do you miss those "Aloha Days" now that you are in Texas?

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    1. Patty I started missing those days the moment I stepped onto the Continental DC10 the morning of Christmas Eve 1986 when I flew back home. I loved it there.

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  8. Chuck, when you get back here, we need to get our first scotch at the Hollow Leg! Just for old times sake. Man you brought back some great memories. And did you know that those boys of Sonny's used to program in Assembly Language? That's insane!

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    1. Well they were certainly not dummies - Cisco was/is a very bright guy - and just think - I didn't even touch on our ever job-seeking disciple of Bagwan Shree Rajneesh - who BTW apparently drew his last breath in Pune, India (the Bagwan - Mike lives on a houseboat last I heard), Of course there was also Lou Bangert, The Jefe - Jim and Mark Stout. Fun times for sure.

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