First step. I have enacted an exercise program. Every day I try to walk two miles, bike 6 miles, and lift my one 25 pound kettle weight. I really needed to get my weight down. I have noticed some results. It's been slow going, but like my doctor told me, "If you lose one pound a week, by 20 weeks you'll have lost 20 pounds. You can't do it overnight."
Step two. I really need to find long term employment. The problem is what I have my education in doesn't translate well into jobs. I have a A.A. Lib Arts degree and a History B.A. degree. I haven't really done much with this. I have my luthier's certification. I should work in China, South Korea, or Indonesia if I wanted to build guitars. Namely, since that's where they are all made now.
I went to Roadmaster for truck driving school. Then I became a truck driver, and found out why they always claim to need truck drivers. Mainly, since they are paying them a lower wage now than in the 1980's. The other problem is that, I live in Florida. There's not much freight going in and out of Florida.
If I lived in Atlanta I would probably still be truck driving. I could pick up loads in the morning, deliver them, and be back home at night. But by being stuck in Florida I could only get over the road jobs. That got old really quickly. Now, with my health and medical conditions I know I couldn't be an over the road driver.
So that leads me to going back to school. This time Erwin Tech.
I decided I needed a job that would let me stay in the Tampa Bay area, and still make a decent wage. That job is HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning.)
It has been a bit of a whirlwind the last few days. I was supposed to enroll for the January 2017 class. However, two openings came open for the May 9, 2016 class. So I had to run like crazy to get my financial aid in place. I had to file for a Pell Grant, so I could get turned down. I was then able to have Hillsborough County to help me out. Next, I was able to take my school voucher to Erwin, and get registered.
Now comes the realization of what I have to do. I have to learn like crazy for 15 months. I have to keep my grades up to keep my grant from the county. I have to stay on top of my game. I feel I have to work harder since I am an old dog trying to learn a new trick.
One thing I have to deal with that I didn't expect was that Erwin has a dress code. I understand that I have to wear leather work boots, but I don't know why I have to a solid color shirt. Seriously, part of the dress code is that, I have to wear a solid color shirt. That means all my flannel shirts can not be worn. But that's okay, I have plenty of shirts, and have even bought a few more. I will be the best dressed student there. I have plenty of long sleeve, button up shirts in black, gray, and red. I also have a few polo shirts in various colors.
I will receive my books and tools on the first day of school. But I also need to buy school supplies. Namely, pens, paper, and a Trapper Keeper. That's right. I just went all 80's on myself. I used a Trapper Keeper from first grade all the way through college. It has always worked well for me.
Step three. So now that I have school, this puts a ding the job I now have. I will now have to find a new job. So, I decided that now was a good time for a respectable haircut. On a side note, I did donate my ponytail to "Locks of Love."
Maybe this will help me be able to land a job. I'm not sure what I will do as far as part time work, but I will do my best try to get something going.
So that's been my life changing/ growing up plan. 1. Exercise program. 2. Enroll and attend Erwin for HVAC. 3. Get a haircut to try and find a new job. It's not easy growing up, but we all need to do it sometime or another. I'm just a late bloomer.
