I tend to shut salespeople down in ways that make people laugh. Like the newspaper person that desperately wanted me to pay for a subscription. I just as desperately did not want to. I told him no. He asked me why. So I told him I was fighting against literacy. Or the person wanting to sell me cable. "I don't have any TVs." They told me I was unserviceable at that time. That was sorta the point.
I worked with a woman (who happens to be the sister of a very successful cartoonist….small world) who thought it was so strange that I didn’t remember my hire date. I told her that was like remembering the date I bought the ketchup in my fridge.
Winds up she had been with the company for nearly 30 years, so relating that it was a less significant event in my life was a challenge.
A neighbor, a mom of a girl in my daughter’s class, sold re-baths at a home improvement store. We ran into her all the time. She also lobbied hard for play dates. I gave in on a Saturday one time, and she tried to convince me to make it a standing date every Saturday. I said no. Your comics make me laugh because they remind me of true stuff.
Actually, people in the C-suite move jobs constantly. They are always looking for a better compensation package. And people are always looking to poach them.
At a high school reunion there was a prize for who had the most jobs. I stopped counting at 24. In my defense I had my first job at 15, several during college and 2 that I had for 20 years each.
I cooked at maybe a dozen places in Seattle, including 3 of the top 10 restaurants. Hard hot crappy usually. Some nice gigs. Went back to school, became teacher. Doubled!! My income year 1. Long since retired, but love to cook. (my retirement from all restaurants is exactly zero 🙁)
Dates of hire can be crucial for seniority. Mine is 4APR69. The seat you get to sit in the pointy end of airplanes depends on your seniority number. Incidentally, the other important dates in my life are 30SEP38 and 3JUL65. FYI.
Unfortunately in 2025 there’s no such thing as “too old to punch”, you just look like a more attractive target. Don’t be that guy. It’s even worse for women, especially from other women.
I tend to shut salespeople down in ways that make people laugh. Like the newspaper person that desperately wanted me to pay for a subscription. I just as desperately did not want to. I told him no. He asked me why. So I told him I was fighting against literacy. Or the person wanting to sell me cable. "I don't have any TVs." They told me I was unserviceable at that time. That was sorta the point.
I love that. Sure, if you want to get into character, you could go into TV signals being sent by aliens, but I don’t have the energy for that.
I look forward to this column as refuge from the political shitshow. Thanks😁✌🏻
That’s part of my goal, so thank you very much!
I don’t remember how many jobs I’ve had and I’m old enough that that is a good enough answer.
I'm so old that if I hadn't had 10-20 jobs by now, everyone would wonder what was wrong with me.
I worked with a woman (who happens to be the sister of a very successful cartoonist….small world) who thought it was so strange that I didn’t remember my hire date. I told her that was like remembering the date I bought the ketchup in my fridge.
Winds up she had been with the company for nearly 30 years, so relating that it was a less significant event in my life was a challenge.
BS"D
I wonder if her brother used your reply in his comic strip!
I’m guessing you’ve moved on and she hasn’t.
A neighbor, a mom of a girl in my daughter’s class, sold re-baths at a home improvement store. We ran into her all the time. She also lobbied hard for play dates. I gave in on a Saturday one time, and she tried to convince me to make it a standing date every Saturday. I said no. Your comics make me laugh because they remind me of true stuff.
Thank you. Some of those sales people make it a lifestyle and the employees take it home with them and attempt to sell in their off hours.
Actually, people in the C-suite move jobs constantly. They are always looking for a better compensation package. And people are always looking to poach them.
I had a series of graphic jobs that were outsourced. It was like hopping from one sinking ship to another there for awhile.
And maybe they too get easily bored.
Heh. The one cartoon, I misread “art form” as “ant farm” and it still worked.
BS"D
Another LOL with "good at shutting up after I've said the wrong thing." It wasn't in the strip, but it rates.
At a high school reunion there was a prize for who had the most jobs. I stopped counting at 24. In my defense I had my first job at 15, several during college and 2 that I had for 20 years each.
That’s me. I doubt I could remember every job. Maybe under hypnosis.
I’ve worked for 3 companies. The number of jobs within those companies is much, much higher.
I cooked at maybe a dozen places in Seattle, including 3 of the top 10 restaurants. Hard hot crappy usually. Some nice gigs. Went back to school, became teacher. Doubled!! My income year 1. Long since retired, but love to cook. (my retirement from all restaurants is exactly zero 🙁)
Teachers are sacred!
Like Mike Meyers said on Wayne's World. "I have an extensive set of hairnets and id tags. For me, it's uniforms and name tags."
Dates of hire can be crucial for seniority. Mine is 4APR69. The seat you get to sit in the pointy end of airplanes depends on your seniority number. Incidentally, the other important dates in my life are 30SEP38 and 3JUL65. FYI.
I was the same as you. Now I’m rusty, but in a retired way. Changed jobs like my u trouse.
I had so many jobs I had to find something to do in self-employment. I call myself “chronically unemployable.”
Unfortunately in 2025 there’s no such thing as “too old to punch”, you just look like a more attractive target. Don’t be that guy. It’s even worse for women, especially from other women.