KEEP. /kēp/, verb.

 Keep your distance from other employees. 

Keep your mouth shut. 

Keep ignoring ignorant people. 

Keep opinions to myself. 

Keep opinions of co workers to myself. 

Keep smiling. 

Keep my thoughts and feelings private.  

Keep words to a minimum when communicating at work. One sentence is usually sufficient.  Don't repeat yourself. 

Keep from flirting with the lovely ladies ! Difficult !

Keep the employee mindset.  I'm not a supervisor,  im just another employee.  Don't make suggestions. 

Keep perspective.  It's a great winter job that might go further.  

Keep learning the tech side of job. 

Keep out of conversations.  Just cuz you're standing there doesn't mean you're included in the conversation.  

Keep in mind,  most people are fake. They smile and lie all day. They have practiced this for years in the workplace.  You are new at this . Put on a facade as they do.  

Keep in mind. this is a gravy job. 👌 

Van dwelling/New job.

New job is going well.  The early start time will keep me tuned up for next years crabbing season.  3:45 am.  

Had a tree limb  reak out a window a few weeks ago. One of the 3 roof windows.  I still haven't replaced it.  Lazy.  Duct tape for now. 

Bought a bunch of stuff from online estate auction.  Still listing and trying to sell.  

Thinking of setting out 4 hoop nets soon. Give them a 7 or 8 day soak and hopefully catch some catfish.  

Put my Mr. Buddy Heater in van today.  Will be needing it soon. 

Letters on a screen.  Words. Thoughts. Sentences.  

Thinking of video recording boat stuff. Crabbing,  eeling and setting hoop nets.  There's plenty of videos on trotlining but not much on running net rings or topless traps.  I'm figuring take the video as a "ride along " type .  Some pointers on using the gear and showing  the catch .  I posted a video showing one eel pot and the catch. It had 3, 2 lb eels in trap. YouTube posted it in shorts format and it got 2400 views overnight.  I have about 3 followers so this was a surprise amount of interest.  So  I got to thinking about a ride along type format. Every trip out, Crabbing,  eeling or hoops I'll just record as it happens and post up the highlights.  No editing or fancy stuff.  I need to find a head mount for phone. The one I bought from Amazon points the camera too high .  I see how many views these Crabbing and fishing  videos get and I'm surprised.  Eels, bushel of crabs, 60 net rings stacked in rubbermaid, for catching crabs, and dirty eel pots going back to get cleaned. 

A few weeks changes everything.

Nov. 5th 2023

 After my negative thoughts about job at laundromat post things changed.  The woman was in negotiations to sell the place same time I applied.  That's why she didn't respond to me. I actually talked with her in person the day of settlement.  She's a very nice lady and explained things to me. She passed my job application to new owner.  I also had mentioned nonchalantly to the owner of my.gym I was seeking a winter job.  So you guessed it. They both contacted me a day apart.  Originally I was going to take both jobs and juggle the shifts. After some thought I opted to pass on the laundromat job and take the position at the gym. 

The job is basic enough,  front desk clerk.  Check people in when they enter , update payments, wipe down cardio machines, etc.  I report at 0430  do the morning routine then open gym for business at 5am. Yeah, nice early hours just like commercial crabbing.  Wake up for me is 0345 . 

The sweet part is I get to parking lot early , have a coffee while waiting for 430 so I can enter. I have a code for front door but I don't want to enter any earlier then suppose to.  Once inside I have my very own bath room for morning routine.  As a vanner this is GOLDEN !!!!!  I do the assigned tasks pre opening.  Basic shit, check paper towels,  squirt cleaner into toilets, wipe mirror and sinks. Both male and female bathrooms 🚻.  10 mins. Turn on music for weight room, lights,  check towels and paper cups in weight room ✔️  . Upfront of gym, turn on the multiple TV sets, lights unlock front doors. BAM !  Ready for business 💪.  There's a few more chores throughout the 5 hour shift but again, very basic stuff. The rest of the time I'm forced to look at very attractive women whom are dressed in spandex .  😁

I'm also back in to the auction hustle. I just bid on and  won many nice items from an online estate auction.  👌.  I'm gonna post on Face Crook mkt. and sell along with word of mouth and of course direct contact with the lovely women I meet at my place of employment. 

  The buy and sell auction hustle is a lot easier these days with a smart phone in everyone's hand. I was buying and selling at flea market level before we had the giggle button . I kinda had to know the mkt. back then . Now I can see items that are interesting and just search online for price comps. BAM !!! Easy peasy. 

 I drive my van as a daily driver. I park at my gym when using the gym and have been since I bought my roadtrek. I don't live on the lot.  Before that I lived in my white Ford cargo van and parked that same place while using the gym.  I think a few people have figured out the van is my house.  I park out and away from gym front doors, mainly to keep cars from dinging me.  I really don't care who knows my deal but I don't advertise it.   Funny story,I was doing laundry 2 weeks ago . Lady who also was doing laundry   asked me point blank " do you live in your camper van " . I smiled and said Yes I do, for 13 years now. She's into the tiny house thing on TV.  

Years ago there was a guy in my gym who was a van dweller.  He parked his van behind a gas station a quarter mile from gym . Never moved it.  It was parked in plain sight on a very busy corner. No one ever noticed what he was up to. He had permission from gas station,  that's all he needed.  We'll my buddy knew Tom, I didn't. We all belonged to same gym. My buddy was telling many people about Tom's set up, unbeknownst to Tom . Remember this is before it hit YouTube and became trendy. Flip phones were still the thing.  Tom was a private kind of guy but friendly.  

I started considering doing the van house thing after I learned of Tom . I was a long haul trucker for 15 years. Before that I was an Army paratrooper in the infantry.  I was  made for van dwelling.   So I started researching on my old dial up desk top computer.  Wasn't much to read back then on van dwelling.  This was probably about 2004 .  I ran across a few cool blogs and started following them.  Hey Chris Harne 🖐  . Well back to my original thought.  Lots of people knew about Tom and his van set up.  He remarked to me " man I been doi g this shit for years and NOBODY knows . " I informed him I've known for a few years and lots of people know thanks to our friend Kenny.  He wasn't amused.  So I wonder how many people over on that side of town know my set up . 🫢 No worries 👍 

So this little job is made to order for me, and the auction hustle is also a worthwhile venture.  

 August of 2011 I started this van life. I do not want to own a house again.  I fell for that scheme once, that's enough. 💯 

 

Positive direction.

 Had productive days last week, 9/21, 9/22. Crabbed Thursday with very good results,  a bushel and half catch.  Had a Facebook contact about a hauling job. Originally booked for Friday 5pm.  Kinda shitty time but wasn't going to refuse.  I decided to jot crab on Friday since poor weather was forecast . So I messaged customer and got load time changed to Friday am. Perfect.  The job took about 30 minutes to load and was a 10 minute drive to county landfill. BAM ! My 1st paying hauling job in years. Made me happy to be hauling junk again. 

I have a regular crab customer that buys my jumbo size crabs, and I usually steam them for her. I did the hauling job and unloaded at landfill, parked truck in storage yard then steamed the dozen jumbo crabs.  Plan worked perfect.  While she, my lady customer was in local liquor store buying beer she calls me and says Hey, this guy working here wants crabs. I sold him 3 dozen of Ex large and larges. BAM AGAIN !  Sold that bushel toot sweet.   I had 2 dozen medium size left for sale so I posted them on Fakebook and 2 hours later BAM , sold.  Crabbed Thursday,  did hauling job and steaming  and selling out of crabs Friday.  

So now I've revised my post on Fakebook to include moving services.  I will use my enclosed trailer for this service.  I feel positive about the potential of the moving and delivery service.  I have a few more weeks of crabbing ahead but after October I'll rely on hauling and moving jobs, maybe a few days of commercial catfishing,  hahaha. Yeah, still holding onto that fantasy.  

I'm also considering advertising leaf removal and yard work, clean ups.  I'm very familiar with that already.  I know how to price the jobs I  could also install mulch , gutter cleaning etc. 

***The talk to much post was a saved draft that shows September 24th posting date. 

I talk too much.

Currently walking treadmill I'm gym, just did back rack workout.  270lb 30 reps.  5 rep sets. Started talking with a guy I know. Convo got on his son being married and active duty Marine on deployment.  I lived that, as an Army paratrooper,  infantry.  

Back in Business.

 I'm going back into the junk hauling business.  I'll offer mulch and gravel deliveries and installs, shed demo, garage clean outs etc.  I did it before and had plenty of work. I then made the transition into full-time lawn service.  I should have stayed with junk hauling.  I have a nice enclosed trailer. I'll get it cleaned out from MY junk collection and offer lite furniture moving , small moving service along with the junk hauling.  I'm looking forward to this new venture.  I can still keep my hands in the crabbing and fishing too.  So follow along my imaginary readers.  This will be fun. 

Gut Punched 👊

 That's the feeling I have. Picture this , an animated character getting punched in the gut, he bends backwards at the mid section,  upper body lurches forward, arms extended forward from the impact. Frozen in time, a caricature representing the sudden realization of one's situation.  Obviously it's my self perception and feelings.  People around me would never guess I currently this way.  I don't walk around projecting poor self esteem.   I don't have low self esteem....... or do I ?  Getting ignored when applying for low level jobs is not a way to build confidence,  I can assure you.  

I was thinking about the women that was eager for me to apply.  It's her words I listened to.  I do not know if the owner is hiring. So I had my self convinced this was a walk in and get hired situation.  Duh me.  I chuckle at myself.  How was I so gullible.  Probably because it's what I wanted to hear. I like easy no hassle results for my time and effort.  After all I spent 10 minutes filling out a paper, yes paper job application and drove another 10 minutes to deliver it and meet with an unknowing Stephanie. I guess I thought she was gonna praise me for saving her from certain bankruptcy and hire me on the spot.  Washing and folding clothes folks, that's the job I applied for.  Running a shift at a self service laundromat.  I'm already a humble person,  I didn't need being brought down a notch.   Enter Gut Punch 👊 

S.M.F.H.

 That about sums it up.  👌 

 Laundromat prospect.  I didnt get a good vibe from the short meeting I had with the owner lady.  She didn't expect me or know I was applying.  I'm not even sure she's hiring.  I was led to believe there's a job opening by a lady that works there.  But her version of things doesn't seem to match with the owners  behavior today.  I don't know.  I reminded the owner, Stephanie that we had spoken a few months ago and I jokingly said I'd like to come work there. We'll she nodded and said "yes, I remember "  in a matter of fact way.  She likes to look me up and down. I noticed this the other 2 times we've spoken. I present well in street clothes. I'm a weight lifter.  Some extra around the middle but also very muscular.  She's probably in her mid 30s, kinda doubtful she finds me attractive.   Me, a 60 year old that dresses in street bum fashion basically.  

She asked if I'm currently working.  I said yes. self employed commercial crabber.  The words self employed seem to mean something bad or negative  to a potential employer.  I'll make a post later what's involved in a typical day of self employed commercial crabbing.   I told her I wanted to put crabbing on the back burner and work a steady job and keep crabbing as a side hustle .  I told her I'm available to start after labor day weekend,  but if she's in a bind I can start sooner.  I told her I have other jobs pending, night work type and I'm really not wanting to do those as 1st choice.  Insert disgruntled grunt here.  Trying to communicate with a female in any social situation is challenging but to a  female potential employer it's especially weird.  I tend to be very direct .  I guess it can be off putting to some.  

I read tea leaves very well. I pay close attention to a person's body language.  Dogs do this on humans all the time. Dogs know your next move before you do.  I practice this on people in public. From a distance I watch there head and eye movement especially.  Stephanie wasn't giving me good body language this morning.  I held my hand out to shake hands as I started to leave , she is unfamiliar with this etiquette.  I remained in place arm extended until she responded in kind.  Most women I've dealt with in positions of authority are quick to shake hands with a man.  Not Stephanie.  Not to me anyway 🤷.  The point is dear imaginary readers, I'm skeptical about this job. 

So,  onto remaining self under employed.  I can post up on mkt. place and do dump runs for people, deliver mulch, gravel etc. Sell crabs of course, until end of September anyway.  I considered going to a temporary employment service for a winter job. That is a definite possibility.  

Cheers to you,  strike number TWO ! I raise my glass of Dollar Tree cranberry juice and salute you for never letting me have an easy way to go.  For being that dog on the side of the road and raising your back leg up extra high to take that piss all over my face during my 2nd attempt at employment.   Cheers Mate. 🍻 

You're gonna work where ?

 Yep, I applied for a job at the laundromat I frequent.  I been kidding around with the lady that works there mornings when I do my laundry.  I told her I need a day job, this commercial crabbing is taking me broke. She convinced me to take a paper job application "home" to fill out. Yeah, she has no clue Im a van dweller even though I park my bad ass Roadtrek in plain view on laundry days.  

I see it like this, it's regular work and pay, it's day shift, usually 2pm to 8pm which allows me time in mornings to crab and fish.  It beats the 3rd shift at Harris Teeter I applied for and haven't heard back yet, 5 days ago.  So it's stupid easy work, customers drop off laundry , it gets weighed then washed and folded.  I think I can handle it.  So I'll drop off application tomorrow,  Sunday am and talk lady that got me to apply. I sure can deal with some regular money coming in.  I met the owner lady a few months ago.  Her and her husband just recently bought the laundromat.  I was joking with her back then about coming to work for her. She seemed open to the idea.  Soooooo all my imaginary readers, that's the big news for today. 

Motivation needed.

 Let's get this shit moving already.  I applied 2 days ago. received the auto response that stated don't call us..... we'll call you. Muah ! You fuckers should be thanking your lucky stars such a decent man applied for your job.  I really don't expect a interview,  but part of me says with today's applicant pool and the shitty 3rd shift I might actually get an interview.  That's my method, apply for jobs with high turnover and my old ass has a chance.  Fuck you society

I'm telling  myself get back into the eeling game and knock on some  more doors. I was actually getting customers that way.  between selling crabs on a small scale and eels to select customers I could do better then the take home pay of 3rd shift stocker and not have to work nights.  I get a case of the ass when I crab and don't sell all my catch. It's a lot of work involved in crabbing.  So when I hit a slump I'm quick to justify finding a easier way to earn money.    Do I want  to be a robot and work in corporate grocery store for wages and have to play the bullshit games of rules and coded every night  ? I would lime that regular pay check for sure but the night work thing ain't easy. Been there and done that when I was young. it sucked back then so it will definitely suck now. 

I need to get my focus back on commercial crabbing and fishing.  Put catfish hoopnets back in water September,  re set eel pots ASAP,  crab 4 days a week . Maybe set the 2-- 200 hook each finfish trotlines I built. Been meaning to do that.  Catfish baby. Eat some ! 

Update On Job Application.

 Completed online employment application.  A few check ✔️ marks in certain boxes seem pretty important. #1, will you submit to drug test, #2 can you work overnights, #3 something else,  weekends and holidays maybe.  So if a person is ok with drug tests and  available at these unpreferred times maybe the chances of getting hired are improved.  That would be me. I don't do drugs so I'll be selling clean piss as a side hustle 💯 .  Days or nights in this case are just days to me. I have no preference on which nights I work.  I'm old. I don't need specific days to do specific things any more.  

I really like the idea of parking my big fat van on the front lot and working overnight.  Then taking my van across the road to bike trail and either napping or getting on my bike and rolling out. It's been a minute or 2 since I rode my bike. 

I envision this schedule of leave work at 7am, park at bike trail 7:05 am.  Now the next 15 hours are mine.  Sleep must happen, bike ride would be nice and of course lift some weights a few days a week.  Fuckin van life baby !!!!  Tell me again why more people aren't doing this ? 

Job Search at age 60

 Yep.  with almost no documented employment.  hustory.That's the side of being self employed that potential employers are weary of.  Employers are also cautious about hiring a self employed person because they tend to think for themselves and avoid being micro managed.  Managers like to manage, not have a self sufficient person making decisions without running to supervisor for everything . 

Yeah well, what's my point ?  Don't really have one. Just prepping myself for not being considered for employment.  The whole process is a shit show.  I went thru it last year when I applied at BJ'S Wholesale Club.  The assessments are cring at max level. What would I do if a co worker was depressed,  what about a mass shooter entering the building,  what about a co worker with mental issues, what about a co worker stealing,  and on and on.  Yo dude. I just wanna stock the shelves. not be a head shrink and give advice to fucked up people.  Maybe I'm the one that needs the advice.  

So now I've decided to apply for 3rd shift stock at Harris Teeter which is a 5 minute drive from my base camp. It's also right across highway from the bike trail and only minutes to my gym. I consider these things a win. I'm not looking for a career or to climb the corporate ladder. I'm looking for how this job fits in with my life . It is night work. Yeah, sucks. But the good side is I'll have days to do what I want.  I would work from 10pm to 7am.  Stay awake till around 2pm then sleep 7 hours and back to work at 10pm.  So an example day off On a Wednesday would be from 7am on a Tuesday to next report to work on Thursday 10pm.  Sounds like a long weekend almost.  I really would like a regular paycheck.  I'm helping my mom out and it's digging into my savings more then I like.  I could also still crab on a part time basis which is actually better then a full-time basis.  

I'm sitting here going thru the online application process and my shit looks weak.  I'd be real curious if I read my job application from someone else's perspective.  How does this guy exist without a documented income, not much work history for a 60 year old man 🤔.  Has he been in prison his whole life ? Is he a drug dealer perhaps.  We searched our data banks and did  sneaky background checks on him and NOTHING !  Very perplexing indeed.  No income tax records available either. Hmn ! Is this guy a secret spy from corporate? No....  they'd have a transparent background established to avoid suspicion.  This is strange...... let's get him in here and meet this guy.   

Oh well.  I can always run a post on market place and do dump runs , I have a truck and did just that many years ago.  Made damn good money,  that's how I started my landscape business.  Should have stayed in junk hauling. 

  I'll be typing more words later.  I got side tracked on the work history section of job application.  I collected unemployment for a while and can't show any employment while collecting benefits.  Keep those dates from crossing over. I'm absolutely certain the unemployment office would be on me like Hitlers SS on a Jewish family out in farm country circa 1939. 

Life is Funny. Now Im funny too.

 Crabbing is an expensive hobby. I need a steady income.  I stopped by the old Dollar store and told them I'm looking. We shall see. I told the merch manager Im probably on don't not hire list since it was a debacle how I was "fired".  

Left my number and he said he'll pass it to store manager.  He said , Oh you're Ray , I've heard a LOT about you. I replied that can't be good.  It really would suck if I can't even get rehired at a shit job such as Dollar Tree.  Hahaha. If this doesn't happen it off to Harris Teets for a online application as stocker.  would probably take the plunge and try for full-time nights.  It's gotta be a shit job since it open and continuous posting. 

Crabbing commercially is a great side hustle, I need to  keep it as just that.  

Peace out all my imaginary readers.  Hopefully I'll be back to putting boxes and cans on shelves and earning some money soon.