I started mowing yards when I was about 10 and worked in some of the nicer restaurants in Knoxville thru high school.
35 years ago this week I started welding school in NC for Daniels Construction and 8 weeks later certified as a TIG Pipewelder at a Nuke in SC.
30 years ago come January 09 I became a proud member of Knoxville Local #102 Plumbers and Steamfitters. I`ve been certified at different times in most types of pipewelding including TIG, MIG, Stick, Automatic Tube ,Numeric controlled Diametric Welding. Also Qualified as an AWS Certified Welding Inspector...toughest test I ever took. As a journeyman pipefitter my duties have included plumbing ,fitting .a little boilermaking and any other crappy task that had to be done to finish the job. Spent several years in Supervision on local Projects.
I`ve worked all over the country at more places than I can remember. ( I do have complete list somewhere for my Q-Clearance updates ). I`ve worked in Chem Plants,Breweries, food processing, Refineries, Schools, Nuke and Coal Fired Power Plants, Y-12 Bomb, X-10 lab ,SNS Neutron and am presently employed on a project at Alcoa Aluminum.
All in all I`ve enjoyed it for the most part. I`ve got one more year to hit the magic age of 55 and have my 30 years in to retire. I probably won`t be able to quit working but I think I may go do something else for a while and draw my pennies. Maybe a greeter at Wallyworld !!!.....and fish a little more !!