Our dirtiest and toughest jobs

[olds442jetaway]

We all hopefully play vp to relax and even win once in awhile. It is great stress relief and also unfortunately a great cause of stress sometimes. Over the years, many of us have had jobs that we hopefully will never have to repeat. What were yours?
     My two were a toss up. In my late teens, I had a summer and vacation job at a big razor company. During maintenance shutdown, I was lowered into a huge oil tank with a small hole on top. No mask, only hip boots and rain suit. My job was to scoop up the sludge from the bottom and pass up the bucket over and over again. Could only last about 15 minutes without passing out from fumes. That was 45 years ago.
     The other job I loved, but was even more dangerous. Right after graduating college there were no jobs kind of like today. I loved old cars, so I got a job in a local junkyard. Worked with lots of tough ex cons most of whom were fine and as long as you didn't hold yourself above them, you fit right into the crew. My job was to wade around in ankle deep oil sludge looking for parts for customers, then to remove or cut them out. Sometimes the piles of cars would shift almost crushing you. Learned a lot about mechanics and people there, but almost bought the farm a couple of times due to shifting cars or welding fires. We also siphoned out the gas from the wrecks by mouth to use in the crane as the owner was too cheap to buy gasoline.

[BillyJoe]

I have had several, some of which are still classified and I cannot mention (gosh - he is so mysterious).
 
My father, God rest his soul, started me off right on the work effect path. He dummied my SSA card at 15 years old, and got me a summer job in a railroad roundhouse, night shift, servicing diesel locomotives. I would stand ankle-deep in grease, in a pit, with the engines moving above me. Put your hand in the wrong place, and it was gone. I did learn how to drive a locomotive, though. We used to have drag races in the railroad yard when it was slow.  

[marie meijer]

Great scary/scarey (sic) story, olds. We are fortunate to still have you with us! Peeps crack up when I tell them about applying for one position. I have worked in education, journalism and social work. However, I impulsively picked up a chauffeurs license before applying for a position at a local funeral home. My motive: I really enjoy driving and a part time position would have been welcome. I was very enthusiastic and felt this was a text book perfect interview. Apparently, they wanted a much taller, larger, darker, stronger, another gender and probably older applicant and they should have advertised for same, IMHO! The interviewer warned that I might have to drive a hearse limo to the UP one day to deliver a body and then turn around to drive a body to NYC all night. He mentioned how heavy the caskets are. Then he apologetically explained there was a hydraulic hoist and I would not actually have to lift any one. Having a c. license and black suits that I wear for volunteer ushering were about the only qualifications I seemed to meet! WHEW! I dodged a bullet there!

[chattycattty]

I have worked all my life and have been in semi retired status for the last almost 6 years.  We owned our own business for the last 15 years and were fortunate enough to live well below our means during this time and save the majority of our money and retire comfortably at 49.
 
My hardest most thankless job was one of my first ones.  When I was 10 years old one of the jobs I had was mowing the yard for a widow lady down the street.  I mowed her yard year round for about 3 long years.  I received $3 per cut during that time.  In exchange I mowed (old fashioned push mower), raked, edged, and swept her driveway and sidewalk. 
 
Most of my friends at that time were getting allowances from their parents.  I on the other hand continued to work.  I learned the value of a dollar.  Not long afterward, a graduated to a paper route.  By the time I was 15 I was able to buy my own motorcycle and at 16 bought my first car ( 1971 Plymouth Barracuda ).  Still my favorite.
 
Continued to save.  Had over $30,000 in cash in the bank by the time I started college.  Paid my own way through earning a degree in accounting.  Unfortunately, joined a fraternity and started chasing girls and spent the majority of my money. 
 
For some reason when I reflect on the fortunate and successful life that I have led, I still remember mowing the yard for the widow lady.
 
 

[olds442jetaway]

These are great stories guys and gals. I think we should collect them all, put them into book form, and make the lecture circuit at high school graduations. Unfortunately, I think the youth of today with a few exceptions, would yawn and put their silver spoon back in their mouths. Keep them coming at any rate! Great reading and great for reflecting. By the way, the 71 cuda was a great car. At the time I had a 68 charger 383 and used to race my buddies cuda. It was usually a tie. And Billy Joe my former neighbor now long gone worked in the tire shop at the Railroad. Little did I know at the time until he told me that tires were not tires as we know them, but the huge steel wheels for the locomotives. Marie, I remember those hand mowers well, setting them up for sharpening was quite involved and precise.

[sam434343]

olds442jetaway, The dirtiest job I did and was kind of toughest (was not my line of business) but client(customer) called said he could not get plumber to come out to cottage/house on lake/pond. He said make it worth my time. I had a helper with me. Oh god we could smell the crap the second we took skirting off was crawl space about 2 maybe 2 1/2 feet high we had to find leak line, was on a elbow, used tarps to crawl through crap, only took us 1/2 hr to fix easy job, we spread some lime down after get rid smell. Let me tell you this will make you want to throw up!!!!(lol) This was about 12 or fourteen years ago, he gave $250 which I spilt with my helper. Talk about a crap(Dirty) job.(lol) Sam