Sunday, February 10, 2013

Don't Call Me 'Dog'. Just Call Me.

It's been a long time coming, really.
Manufacturing is a largely contracting sector of our economy. It's getting more difficult for the blue collar people to make a living. I see it every day in my own job.
Very few home owners left among the crew, nobody buys a new car anymore, everybody begging for whatever over time they can get (not much, actually).

I saw the writing on the wall about three years ago.
After 30yrs in this sector, the last twenty in the same job, I realized that I would have to figure something else out.
I wasn't making it any more, barely hanging on, and slipping further with every pay period.
The price of everything keeps going up and the pay does not.
It will not be getting better.
I had to make a change, but didn't know what change to make, or where to look.

Several months ago, one of my cousins was telling me about this lucrative new enterprise he was getting into and offered me a job working for him.

Yesterday morning I took and passed the state exam and I am now licensed to write bail bonds and bounty hunt in the State of California.

Not so sure I want much part in bounty hunting, but my cousin is going all in and insists that I can be of service in that aspect, too. I'm like... yeah, yer 6'4" and 300lbs. Me? not so much. But I can do surveillance from a distance if you need that.
Since I like to hunt, he thinks I should 'up my game' a bit, and get paid hunting bail skips.
I'm gonna leave that part open for now.
I'm all for taking part in hunting 'skips', but leave me out of the rough stuff. God created an entire race of people for that. They're called 'Samoans'. Let's use them.

"But we have Tasers!"
"I'll call them out, attempt to cuff them, and when they resist, you appear from around the corner and Tase them. It's legal."
Hmmm...
It's sounding better.
It will also qualify me for a Concealed Carry Permit, should I want one. (I do, and just because... Having one extra liberty at my disposal is never a bad thing should I choose to excercise it.)

My cousin has spent twenty years as his own boss.
He's a businessman in heart and mind, and he's successful. This not some fly-by-night enterprise. He's done his homework, the networking, the planning.
He knows what he is doing.
I'm in good hands here, and I will NOT let him down.
I may not know much, but I do know how to work hard...how to put in the hours... Look for shortcuts... Increase production... 'Smarter, Not Harder'... all of that.

He speaks constantly of 'Us/We'. What we can accomplish... and kick ass in doing so.
My mind is stuck on 'I'.
What can 'I' do...
'I' cannot succeed unless 'Us' succeeds.
So, yeah... I'm all about the 'Us'.

'We/Us' are going all out.
'I' am all in.

For the time being, I will be staying on the job at the mill while we build the Bail Bond biz. Something about a guaranteed paycheck... I KNOW that I will get paid something every two weeks. With medical benefits, too.

With my issues, and a wife with issues of her own, medical benefits are uber important.
But, I'm really looking forward to rejecting Over Time some day real soon.

('You wanna come in early tomorrow?' Fuck You!)
Yeah, so looking forward to that...


If this Bail/Bounty thing happens according to plan, in 3-4 years, I wont be clocking in at the mill anymore.

18 comments:

Foxfier said...

I'm all for taking part in hunting 'skips', but leave me out of the rough stuff. God created an entire race of people for that. They're called 'Samoans'. Let's use them.

Alright, I really laughed at that point.

Otherwise:
break their leg!

W.B. Picklesworth said...

A guy's gotta find a way to live and you could do worse than working with a competent relative. Personally it would freak me out, but that's why God made Samoans and Gino.

Bike Bubba said...

Good luck, Gino. And if you're working with Samoans, watch out for gay Mormon love texts. :^)

Seriously, in a city with 30% fewer police per capita than Chicago or New York City, I'd have to guess that locating bail jumpers would be good business.

Anonymous said...

The real money will kick in once the reality show hits the airwaves. Maybe Olive Garden will sponsor you. KD

Gino said...

Foxfier: the Samoans will break their leg for me. and yeah... Cousin tells me that he does have two samoan friends he's intending to work with.
good. i'll sit and the car and watch... works for me!

WB: Gino may have a 'tude, but not enuf to match a Samoan. i'm all about the $$$ end. leaving the ruf stuff for others....

Bubba: I'm informed that hunting skips is lucrative as well as fun. i'll look into that, but not now.
maybe when i can go full time... til then, its all about finding the cash.

KD: no reality show here as i'm not that photogenic.

Mr. D said...

I think it's great, Gino. I suspect you'll be great at this, too. And it seems like the right time to get into this business, especially in California.

Around our house if you say "Samoan" someone will try to sell you a box of Girl Scout Cookies, by the way.

Foxfier said...

Gino may have a 'tude, but not enuf to match a Samoan. i'm all about the $$$ end. leaving the ruf stuff for others....

I can't say that I've noticed any attitude issues in the roughly 30% of our parish up here that is Samoan; I just know you don't want to mess with a guy who seems to be wearing a small dinningroom table cloth as a kilt. (Well, and that the 9 year old girls in the crying room are as big as I am....)

Bike Bubba said...

Isn't the cry room supposed to be for nursing moms and babies, Foxfier? Or does it have a different meaning in the great NW?

Foxfier said...

The theory is that small, fussy babies and nursing mothers go there; about a quarter of the time I find it's got a teenager with an electronic device instead....

About half the time the 9 year olds are with their little sisters. (I'd guess it's because the rest of the family is serving, one way or another.)

John said...

Good luck, and best wishes on this new adventure.

kr said...

Hey, wow, awesome :). Congratulations :)! Good luck making all the pieces fit while you transition :).

Bike Bubba said...

Oh, and by the way; congratulations on needing to use the cry room, Foxfier!

Foxfier said...

*laughs* Thanks! Number three coming up after Easter, too. ^.^

Gino said...

what? #3? how did i miss that one????

mucho congrats, Foxfier!
may you bear as many as you can handle.
you have all my prayer and respect.

Foxfier said...

I haven't exactly been blogging as much in the last year, a lot of folks haven't heard about it.... *grin* Thank you.

Gino said...

if it is a small fraction of adorable as the first two (you posted pics)... then you'll have another winner on yer hands.

awesome.
pure awesome, wrapped in chocolate...

VLW said...

Hunting skips is the freaking best! I loved it, and it has come in handy in the real world. You'll love it!

lumberjack said...

Dawg.