X-Ray Technician, X-tra in Movies, or just X ( #AtoZChallenge )

 

               X is the annoyance of any A to Z--or a time for creativity.  How to avoid the usual cliches of X?  Don't worry and just dive in.  

        X-ray technician or whatever seems like the natural place to go.  I've been x-rayed plenty of times in my life and operating a machine of this function seems like something I could do.  But I don't want to.  

        Considering where I live (Los Angeles area), being a movie-X-tra could be a real possibility for me. One of my daughters did it for a while and she seemed to have enjoyed doing it.  Since I worked in 1968 as a movie extra in a film shot in East Tennessee, I know a bit about doing this and it would be okay.

        Or I could just be "X"--another somewhat anonymous component of the urban sprawl in which I live. We all are statistics in one way or another.  Boxes checked to tell the Big Brain what we are, who we are, and where we are.  We all are X's in some kind of grid of information or designation.  And that's me: Mr. X from City X on Planet X.  That's me.

          What X jobs did I miss?   Do you feel like an "X" sometimes?   Are you a fan of statistics?   

Weeder, Warehouse Worker, Writer, Walker ( #AtoZChallenge )

 

        Weeder is not in my wheelhouse.  Been there and don't want to do it anymore.  At least not on any grand scale like I used to do for a while during my summer work interims between college quarters.  For a couple of summers I worked on a construction yard with a couple of other college guys picking up money during summer vacation.  Weeding was hot tiring work, but there were those times when it wasn't all that bad thanks to the banter among us college boys.  Then there were the times where I was left to my own thoughts as I hacked down those weeds with my scythe.  A tractor would have been better, but the company had us to do the work manually so there we were.  It was okay for a couple of summers in my youth, but not something I would have wanted to do for long.

      Warehouse worker became more my thing after a couple of weedy summers.  I found a summer job at a carnival supply warehouse in Knoxville TN and stayed on with them for a few years. It was great for me since the peak working period was during the summer months when I was off from school.  The rest of the year I would just come in when I could and the company was okay with that.  They liked me and I was a good worker for them.  I was hired on as an Assistant Manager (because I was in college), but I did plenty of hard work like loading and unloading trucks and stacking the incoming merchandise.  I came to love warehouses during those years and would come back to that scenario in a costume and Halloween supply company in my final working years before our warehouse closed and I was pushed into retirement.

        The thing that drew me to blogging after that retirement was my love of writing.  Since middle school I had begun dreaming of being a writer.  Over the years I've plied my writing skills mainly for my own amusement, but having a blog somehow gave my writing a place to be put on display for anyone to read.  Someday I'd like to go beyond my blog and actually publish something of substance. I love to write, but I think I would like it even more if I were paid to do it.  However that's on me.  I need to amp up my ambitions and do some serious writing.

        Or I could do some walking.  Years ago I started dreaming of walking across America and maybe beyond.  I actually started to do it a couple of times, but then I found an excuse to go back home to comfort.  I like to walk, but I also like being home.  Maybe I'll just be a walker who walks around my neighborhood or my house.  That seems like enough walking for me at my age.  But who knows--the dream of walking a long distance still remains in the back of my mind.  That's where that dream will likely stay.

       Do like the environment of a warehouse?   How is your writing career going?   What is the longest distance you've walked?  

Van Driver, Visitor Services, Videographer, Violinist (#AtoZChallenge)

 

             Van driver might be an appropriate job label for me these days since I have a van that I frequently use to transport my wife and I and other family members around.  In fact, the first vehicle I ever owned was a van and I've owned one ever since.  I've logged many miles in my vans so I think I could qualify as a professional van driver.  And when I worked for the airport shuttle service in Knoxville TN I was usually driving a van filled with paying passengers.  That is professional van driving for sure.

       We don't get many visitors at our house, but when we do I try to show them a good time.  I might be good at visitor services.  Maybe I could work at a hotel, tourist office, or some other location where travelers were seeking information and help getting around.  One in that position would probably meet some interesting people, though I'd rather be the one doing the visiting.

        My oldest daughter works as a videographer on occasion.  I suppose I might have influenced her since I used to take a lot of videos of the family.  Doing video work might be a lot of fun and very interesting depending on what type of video I was shooting.  I'd need some better video equipment if I were going to seriously pursue the career of a videographer.  I guess I'd need to work another job to make the money to buy the equipment.  Or maybe I could just not be a videographer.

        Violinist has been a big part of my identity since I was a child.  My playing ability has never achieved any high level of skill, but I've managed to use this job persona to make a living to a certain degree. I will never be mistaken for a virtuoso, but I can honestly say that I've worked as a violinist.

      Are there any talents that you acquired in childhood that have helped you earn a living in your adult life?   Do you enjoy taking home movies or videos?  What was your first vehicle?