The White Collar Amongst The Blue.

Our latest slow down of posting isn't due to a lack of subject matter, just a general flurry of other activity, which I will attempt to summarize now for any interested parties.
As many of you know, I hold a position with one of the largest companies in the world. When I interviewed for that position, I had dollar signs in my eyes. My options went something like this: Puleo's Grille, waiting tables on non-prime hour shifts barely making it, or taking a lucrative sales position with a fortune 50 company. Placed in that context the decision was a fairly easy one. What my mind failed to consider was my lack of TRUE sales experience. I'm new to the expectation of meeting quotas (although I have always been a hard worker). To consistently meet these quotas, though no one would ever say so, requires one to put aside their innate care for the consumer(Some have less than others). The idea preached there is, keep the customer's needs in mind when positioning a package, but don't forget about your own needs when doing so. To compound the issue your friendly computer sales representative can see, plain as sunshine on a summer's day, how much money the company stands to make in dollars or as a percent of the total value of the package. I'm sure anyone can see the conflict of interest this situation creates. After 3 months in my position there, I had had enough. I am not a salesman, and will never be again, ever. I'd like to meet a person that can, with goodness and truth in their hearts, and a solid foundation to stand on, rationalize the necessity of the salesman. Wow, am I ranting mad, or what? Please pardon my rant, I digress...
I was jobless for all of 3 hours, I took a position as a customer service representative with Waste Management. Yes, I'm a garbageman. OK, not really. I work in a call center still, but instead of being in a position that is always taking, I am now in a position that is always giving, and I feel much happier. To boot, I make nearly the same as I did when I was evil, er...I mean 11% less. Well worth peace of mind.
During training I was afforded the opportunity to ride-along with a garbage driver. I was in a roll-off truck We drove all around Nashville during a 12 hour shift starting around 5AM. We picked up and emptied 8 - 20, 30 and 40 cubic yard dumpsters, or as they say in the industry, containers. I've a new found respect for all of those on the front lines of carrying away our waste. The service they provide is taken for granted by nearly everyone, myself included, yet it is so incredibly important to our constantly consuming lifestyles.
I've said much about jobs, and maybe more underneath about society, and my head hurts a bit from thinking about it all. I hope that the next post will be much more light-hearted.

P S <--This is what part of the alphabet would look like if "Q" and "R" were eliminated.

-M