Starting over---Careers

[dub]

Charles I have had more than one surgery at the VA in Houston and they have all been born in the USA. You get to see your doctor before surgery and if you don't like them you can walk away. I contacted my Congressman and never had to deal with the doctor I did not like again. My primary is alright but when I walked in they sent me to one I would not take my dog too. The next time I walked in they tried to send me to her. I told them I did not want to see her and the people at the counter told me that was the only one I could see or I could leave. I said good by and went down to consumer affairs in the basement. I saw another doctor. If you don't like your doctor you can get another one. There are also patient advocates at the hospital. Organizations like Disabled American Veterans DAV help too. When I am about to hurt someone I go get help. I have got one person fired because I don't take their cr@p. I am up there at the Houston VA a few times a month so if you need help just let me know and I will be happy to show you who to talk to.

[charles]

Charles I have had more than one surgery at the VA in Houston and they have all been born in the USA. You get to see your doctor before surgery and if you don't like them you can walk away. I contacted my Congressman and never had to deal with the doctor I did not like again. My primary is alright but when I walked in they sent me to one I would not take my dog too. The next time I walked in they tried to send me to her. I told them I did not want to see her and the people at the counter told me that was the only one I could see or I could leave. I said good by and went down to consumer affairs in the basement. I saw another doctor. If you don't like your doctor you can get another one. There are also patient advocates at the hospital. Organizations like Disabled American Veterans DAV help too. When I am about to hurt someone I go get help. I have got one person fired because I don't take their cr@p. I am up there at the Houston VA a few times a month so if you need help just let me know and I will be happy to show you who to talk to.

 the houston va wont help since i live with in 20 miles of a va hospital, the temple va. Im not saying houston will NOT provide health care, im saying its a long a$$ drive. I look at it like this. I shouldnt have to find another doc bc my government decides to give them my tax money and then tell to piss off when i go in for education and benifit assistance. If I cant see an US born american doctor and not some immigrated highly educated sack of horse crap, then they can get out of my country. we have our family and friends and family of our friends dieing for a bunch of human rejects and then we pay for them to come into ur country and slowly kill and passify us. I shouldnt have to go see a paitient advocate of seek assitant from our congressmen/women to get proper health care. I sought assitant from sen cornyn's office when the VA decided to change my direct deposit acc and then wouldnt let me change it bc i didnt know the acct number that they changed without my approval. then they STOPED my payments untill they could unscrew their screw up. by the time my so called elected official responded to me, i had already received my back pay and the current payment. they were a day late and dollar short. the tx vets commission, even though not suppose to, helped me out after i blew up and he said to stay where i was, bc he worked in the same building and wanted to be able to go hm safely. I am sick and tired of immigrants forced down our throats and all we as good ole americans can do is sit back and take it from behind.

[TexasLacy]

I am sick and tired of immigrants forced down our throats and all we as good ole americans can do is sit back and take it from behind.

X1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000

[mod93dirt]

Thanks for the advice and opinions from everyone.

Deep down, I know it is not the actual work that I can not stand anymore, but rather the effects on me that it will have on me and my body down the road that has me thinking the way that I am. I have worked at 4 shops in my 12 yrs of doing this line of work, and have worked with too many 50+yr old body men who are some of the most broke down, grumpiest, most bitter old men (both physically and mentally) you would ever care to meet.  I absolutely DO NOT want to be that person. Truth be told I still do enjoy and take pride in the fact that I work in a skilled trade that not anyone off the street could come in and do well.  Also, while working, I used to wake up every morining coughing and hacking for a few minutes every morning. In the time that I was off work, after a week or so, I didn't cough one time. Now, having been back to work for less than a week I have already started the coughing and hacking again when I wake up in the morning. Just goes to show how breathing in bondo dust and paint fumes isnt good for you. I just know that I still want to be able to get around good to be able to enjoy my children as they get older, and one day my grand children as well. I realize that we all have to get old at some point, but if I can do anything to prolong that process than I am all for it.

One of my biggest issues right now is that I really have no clue as to what the heck else I would like to do with my life. I worked a data entry job for about 6 months out of high school and that already convinced me that I am not going to be happy riding a desk job anywhere. I have already looked at going into the bodyshop estimator or insurance adjuster side line of work, as I would obviously have the skills for that. I actually had a job offer with an ins. company two years ago as an adjuster, but they started off paying 1/2 of what I made this last year, and that just wont cut it. I am going to look into more oppurtunities along those lines and see what I can come up with.I have had discussions with my mngmt about taking a front office estimating position where I am at now. And While I like the idea of that kind of work, I dont want to do it where I am at now. I like everyone I work with, but I work at a corporate dealership and there are too many office politics that go on in the front office side of my job. If I were to go into the shop estimating side of my business, I believe I would have to move on to another shop. And I told my boss this same thing yesterday. I told him within one year, that while I do not know what I will be doing, I know I will not be doing the same thing that I am now.

For the time being until I get it all figured out I guess I will just try and make the best of it and take the Dr's advice. Haha!!

[Melonhead]

I've been an auto tech for 14 years now, got hurt on the job almost 2 years ago, finally had shoulder surgery and got fired a month later. Worked for that company for almost 9 years.

Even though I lost my job and relized the people I surrounded my self with for that long were crap heads - I'm a happier man right now.
Almost have my strength back now - gonna work on cars on the side for myself, I don't ever want to work for someone else again. Thinking of starting a dog poop pick up and removal business, lol

[dub]

Charles I understand exactly what you are saying. But if you need surgery you should be able to get the help you need. Texas Veterans or any other service organization can help quicker. If you notice I did not say conatact a Senator. As far as I am concerned they both are not worth the time to contact and do not care about Veterans. I have had one person fired at my VA and working on another because both flat out did not care about vets. One an immagrant the other born here and they both should not be working at the VA.

But would you get the surgery at a hospital in Temple or somewhere else? The VA does not keep surgeons on full time staff. So the surgeon will be from a nearby hospital. If you would not go to the local hospital then don't go to the VA for sugery either. The VA's are not conected the way they should be. Each one keeps its own records. So just figure out what hospital you would go to and use the VA next to it.

[RL]

Mod93

It is seldom too late to have a do-over, or even to re-invent yourself.  Just figure you out and figure out what you think is your road to fulfillment and happiness.  I wish you luck in your search.

[RL]

Charles,

I find your post unneccessarily offensive.  I sympathize with your PTSD and hope you are seeking help.  Your posts reek of anger.

[charles]

Charles,

I find your post unneccessarily offensive.  I sympathize with your PTSD and hope you are seeking help.  Your posts reek of anger.

we are intitled to our own opinions. if your disability was suspended bc of no fault of your own, but at fault bc of somebody who fatfingered a key or what ever the reason. then you cant change your acct bc you dont know the acct # they changed with out your authorization and you dont get mad, then you must be a person of no emotions or care. i sacraficed to much to have a va rep screw up my household. i dont need help with my ptsd, i just dont like stupidity or people who could care less if you have an issue, as long as they are getting their paycheck. you can find it offensive all you want, but it aint gonna change my mind of feelings. in general and NOT!!!! pointing fingers at anyone, if you are part of the solution, then you are part of the problem and a colaberator.

DUB, i used cornyn before and had great results while a soldier, but now its who gives a dang about a vet as long as they get their electorial votes. we as americans that pay our taxes, pay their salaries and they are suppose to be our mouth piece for issues, but neglect their job discription. sure wish i knew how to work the system better and become an elcted official. I could do better or atleast make a better attempt till i get peered out by the other crooked officials

[dub]

Charles,

I find your post unneccessarily offensive.  I sympathize with your PTSD and hope you are seeking help.  Your posts reek of anger.

I would bet that you are not a disabled vet. I am sitting here in a VA hospital a benefit I earned the hard way. Being treated like crap by some $&*# that never served one day. I finally got someone that is a vet and got taken care of. So RL I hope you are offended.

[TexasLacy]

Charles,

I find your post unneccessarily offensive.  I sympathize with your PTSD and hope you are seeking help.  Your posts reek of anger.

I know I speak for myself, and I believe I speak for EVERY other vet on this forum, and in America when I say "you're welcome."  We have fought and bled, killed and died, gone without hot food, sleep, the love of a woman, and hot showers for you to have the right to sit on a cushion, in your air conditioner, on your computer, connected to the internet to post that you are "offended."  BUMP THAT.  I'm glad you are!  Keep right on being offended.  Enjoy your ability to be offended.  Relish in your offense.  Be an offend-able indiviual.  BUT DO NOT EVER FORGET THAT AMERICAN FIGHTING MEN AND WOMEN PROVIDE YOU THE RIGHT OF OFFENSE!

If you can ever do half of what we've done and not be angry, I'd be surprised.


"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." - George Orwell

[Dogojones]

The fact is 90% of people going to work don't like the job. Remember the saying find something you really like and will never have to go to work a day in your life. I'm sure you've heard a number of rag to riches story but 1 that come to mind is Myer -Robinson. The man started this company when he was 62 and was a millionare by 67. He used the  Ross Perot motto " find a void and fill it" I was in sales my entire career and I got tired of depending on the back office for support. I mean I could bring the business in but we would lose it out the backdoor. I decided to head into a entire diffrent industry "transportation" or some call logistics . They took a look at my resume and said I would be great at sales. I told them no more traveling, knocking on doors, cold calling what else do you have?   Dispatcher which pays 1/3 of what they were offering as a sales rmgr. I took the pay cut with 4 days on 3 off. Within six months 2 promotions and a nice raise. It was'nt all me I just happen to take a chance at the right time. Let me add you're still a young man with plenty of upside so take a chance and don't look back. My 2 Good Luck  

[Bigdog]

dub,texaslacy,charles.i cant think of no higher honor than to serve the usa,u have the right to speak ur mind more so than me or nebody who has not served.its guys like u that make this country free,if u call it free,sometimes i wonder.but think u for ur service,u guys r the real heros.good luck with ur back.

[TexasLacy]

dub,texaslacy,charles.i cant think of no higher honor than to serve the usa,u have the right to speak ur mind more so than me or nebody who has not served.its guys like u that make this country free,if u call it free,sometimes i wonder.but think u for ur service,u guys r the real heros.good luck with ur back.

I'll start by saying thank you.  But, I have done nothing more special than anyone, and I did not join for any other reason than my country needed our help, and I knew we could fight them there, or fight them here, and my family lives here.  If I had to name a reason for joining, I would have to say just that, to protect my family from being involved and keeping them safe.  It was not for anyone to say thank you or to hold me in some sort of higher regard.  I'm just a normal guy.

I will disagree with you on one thing though, we all have freedom of speech, no one has more, no one has less.  The only difference between a veteran and a civilian is that 9 times out of 10 the veteran knows the price of freedom and is grateful and appreciative of it and more often than not more respectful of other's rights than a civilian. 

I could tell you about many many instances of incredibly ungrateful civilians spitting, picketing, shouting, cursing, throwing things and doing several other generally hateful things to us at the base entrances.  It is nice to hear gratitude instead of hate.  So, let me say to you, "thank you for the welcome back."

[Amokabs]

I just saw where a company called PRECOAT is hiring. Not sure if its ONLY in the B'ham Al area, but they have a website.
Also, i thank all vets for their service and sacrifice for our country. I worked at a major teaching hospital in Birmingham and the VA decided to start their own open heart surgery program. The nursing was contracted out to my hospital and i basicly set up tye program at the VA. To say I was appalled at the attitude many, not all, but very many of the employees had towards vets burned my AZZ up!!!! And to boot, they absolutely could not be fired. I saw things i had never seen before or since, ,,, our vets should get the BEST, PREMIUM CARE AVAILABLE, not politicians