I used to work as a pastry chef at a restaurant downtown. However, a few months ago I left that behind because I couldn't manage to work at that job and go to University. I also needed benefits that I couldn't get working there so I went somewhere that I get benefits for a part-part time job: UPS.
Being a thrower at UPS doesn't give me the same satisfaction as my old job at the restaurant did, but it's nice to get a s***load of benefits for a 20-25 hours a week job. I get all the benefits that a person with a full time office job would get: Health care, dental plan, paid holidays, 2 weeks paid vacation, paid sick days, paid funeral days, optical plan, 2 pension funds (one from the union and one from the corporation), 401 K, and stock options. But most importantly out of all my benefits, I get tuition reimbursement. I'm essentially going to school for free now which leaves me to do with my inheritance whatever I want -that is, once I can touch it; it's in a trust right now.
We have a saying out there in the hub: "It's not just work, it's a workout." And that is a truth. I feel pity for those morons who pay a monthly premium for the honor of crowding themselves in a gym so they can look the way Calvin Klien thinks they should. Don't waste your money with that; just get a job like like mine and get paid to work out. In a typical shift I might move between 10,000 to 20,000 pounds.
What? You don't believe me? I s*** you not! Just last night I loaded 1,700 packages into three trailers and saying as the average package is ten pounds that's 17,000 pounds. I used to be big boned with little muscle, but now...people who haven't seen me in a while are stunned at how large I've become. I used to have trouble loading the 60 pounders, but now, I can toss a 120 pounder with ease. I'm still short of the max 150 pounder, but in a few months...
It's a dangerous job though. You've got catwalks two or three stories off the ground that you have to work on, hundreds of tractor trailers driving around, trains coming in and out, all manner of lifting and falling hazards, plenty of hazardous materials packages, conveyors to fall on, electric motors to gnaw up your arm, etc. Everyday I come home with new bruises. The only serious injury I've had so far is one where I fell through the gap between the truck and the building.
It's definitely not what I want to spend the rest of my life doing, but as an undergrad trying to put himself through college alone, it's not a bad job at all. When I finish up my degree I'll definitely go back to being a chef or baker. I'm just delaying that for now.
It's kinda funny, I've just realized that I have never had a
day job. The first job I ever had was as a baker at a national bagel chain and I was working from 3am to 12 noon. Then I was a baker at a private local bakery where I was working 1am-9am. After that I was working as a prep chef from 5-am to 12 noon, then I was a pastry chef working from 6pm to 3am and now I'm a thrower (heh heh, I wonder where we get that name
) at UPS working 10pm-3am.
so that's about me
And also same in that fr my email add, you'll know what org I work for. So I keep it hidden. 
Accidental Death & Dismemberment my ass. 
