Alrighty fellow Lanys...

Please allow me to strut my stuff! Ya'll prob know this part, I am a mom of 3 boys, I worked a crappy ass job unloading trucks at Target for $8 an hour. Needless to say, we live paycheck to paycheck. My hubby picks up the slack, but it is still very tight. We make due. I use to make the money- but then he was layed off.

I tried going back to college, well you just can't do it when you have 3 little ones at home and are working 50+ a week. I didn't make it threw, felt like a failure- but then realized at this point in my life, my kids were #1. Got the crappo job, but in return I think I have brought up 3 very smart, very thoughtful, very decent young men. I've been there for drop offs, pick ups, and every game inbetween. For our family, thats what we needed to do.

Ok, now 7 months ago I applied at Mittal Steel. Each month I got false hope, go for this test, then nothing. Now this test, nothing. Now this interview, nothing, a physical, nothing. A drug test, nothing, more interviews, nothing. Talk about making a person crazy!

Well, it has paid off! This past monday I started my new life as a steelworker! I work at Arcelor Mittal steel in the Hot Strip Mill! WOOOOHOOOO.

This is beyond amazing. I could never of imagine this in my entire life. I have blown any salary I use to make out of the water! PLUS this company is giving me FREE health, dental and vision for my whole family. They have a huge incentive bonus (my mill ran at 35% this week, crap thats like another paycheck). They have pensions, 401k, the union, profit sharing, life insurance, shift difference. I cannot phathom what my first check will look like.

You gotta remember, my last paycheck that was for 2 weeks was under $400. Yeah, that small. This is absolutely HUGE for us!

I am not sure what I will do in the mill (still in training). I am leaning towards being a crane operator. Hell, I will shovel shit for this, so it really doesn't matter. I do know that my mill takes huge rectangular slabs of steel and runs them threw down to 1/2 inch diameter and coils them up. Ever see the trucks on the highway with the huge steel coils... we make those.

I also have been told I will be a blob of oil and grease when my shift is over. Also been told it is very dangerous work too. Saw it when we went threw the mill the other day, the steel going flying by and is bright red and the heat radiates from it. The saftey classes really enforce being safe and watching your ass.

Once I am done with training we work a 12 hour shift. 7am to 7pm for 4 days. 4 days off. 7pm to 7am then 4 days off, rotating threw the year. I get half the year off!

Sooooo, there ya have it! Took me 34 years, but finally I got the job I will have until I retire. Hot damn!! There ya have it- (can you tell I have a kool-aid smile going on?) Just wanted to share it with you all!

Hell yeah, in these trying economic times it's real nice to read a story like this. Congratz to you!

Congrulations. When I got my first "high-paying" job after workin bum jobs for 11$/12$ an hour for a few years, I was incredibly happy. Not having the worry of how I will afford healthcare for my family and pay my car payments and everything else that's required to live a normal decent life just makes you so much more positive and happy about life overall.

Living paycheck to paycheck can kill people. It's very sad that people are forced to subsist like that, esp. in America. I'm truly happy for you. Congratulations again.

PS: One more thing, I'd urge you not to let this job be the end of your educational pursuits. =)

That's great news! Congrats!

This is really good news, glad you got a break in life.

Shift work is supposed to be hell, but I have friends that do it, and those 4 days off are very nice.

Much better than my position in retail where I have to work 6-7 days a week and because things are slow you can't afford to higher extra staff. Plus no vacations, ever, bleh. =p

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Jake Rivers - Senex Legio
Get off my Lawn alliance

It's always good to hear that someone has gotten what they wanted, especially when it's someone who honestly deserves it. Congratulations, Carolsue!

That's wonderful Carolsue! Plus let's face it...that company is the one that really lucked out.

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Nice! I had Family with US Steel it had excellent benefits way back then as well.

The shift changing kind of sucks ass.. but otherwise woowoo..

WOO-HA! Congrats!

What are you doing to celebrate?

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Congrats!

Sarissa Candyangel

I was so excited abut moving to a large city that had so many jobs... LOL but now I'm starting add shit up and realizing that 22/hr job won't be much at all when rent is 30k a year... cost of living sucks ><

Gratz on the new job

I wondered about moving to San Fran for work Garborg. I honestly don't know how anyone makes it in the ridiculous cost of living areas.

Congrats on the new job Carolsue!

Commute.

I used to drive over an hour each way to work to save money.

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-Rileigh (aka Golliwog)

With gas prices being what they are, you probably didn't save as much as you thought you did.

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World of Warcraft: Kallaystra, Gweila, Steakumn, Tarathia [ Feathermoon/Horde ]

Especially now. I work in downtown Phoenix and drive 25 miles to work, and about 11 or so to school each way, so that's 125 miles just to go to school / work M-F. My car can do about 300 miles per tank, so...

I think your math is off.

25 miles one way? That's 50 miles a round trip... that's 250miles per week just for work, yo.

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World of Warcraft: Kallaystra, Gweila, Steakumn, Tarathia [ Feathermoon/Horde ]

This was a few years ago now when I was doing it. But it ended up being worth it. Was only paying 250$/mth for rent where I was living, would have been paying well over 500-600 or so in the city more then likely. It cost around 250 a month in gas. So it ended up being worth it when taking in to account all my friends etc lived outside the city and the fact that I really didn't want to go through the annoyance of moving.

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-Rileigh (aka Golliwog)

Yeah sorry I was thinking 50 + 50 + 11 + 11 instead of 25 + 25 + 11 + 11

Ha

Yeah, no joke. When I was living next to school and commuting a fair distance (~40 min) to work, I was spending $200 a month in gas. When I was looking for somewhere to live closer to work, I realized that the first $150 hike in rent was "for free" because of my reduced commute time/gas usage.

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Huge huge congrats Carolsue =)

Yup. I drive 60 miles a day for work. Costs me over 100 in gas a pay period not to mention the much more frequent oil changes..etc. Moving at the end of march to a place within walking distance from work.

I currently walk to work whenever it's not freezing outside, and I LOVE it! I fill my gas tank about once every 3 weeks for about $30.

That's all well and good when you don't live 30 miles from work

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World of Warcraft: Kallaystra, Gweila, Steakumn, Tarathia [ Feathermoon/Horde ]

That would be a shitload of walking there Friblet!

I love good news, congratulations! Sounds like a great job, and as Tarot said, with how excited you are to work there, they really are the lucky half of this equation.

Congrats! This absolutely made my day.

Out of college, I worked at a TV station for years, then switched to a radio station group for years. Always assumed I'd just retire from broadcasting. I'm now a coal miner, so go figure!

I live a block from work, and I drive.

Not because I am lazy, I do walk the odd time, but with a hardware store I end up delivering stuff to people and during store hours its quicker just to have the truck at the store.

On Saturdays when the town turns into a ghost town, I park right out front of the store so people know there is some life here.

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Jake Rivers - Senex Legio
Get off my Lawn alliance

Congratulations Carolsue! I hope it's just the beginning of better things for you. I'm glad you persevered through the more trying times.

Congratz Carol Sue!!!

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--Rosepedal

Congrats! Great news! YAY!!!!

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"Creating Havoc and Pie Since 2001!"
My Website: http://www.anthonyhays.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cakvala

Yay carol! Very happy for you

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Awesome Carolsue!! Congrats !!

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CONGRATS!

I'm contemplating a change in work right now...got offered another 6 grand a year to go to a different company. I don't know if 500 dollars a month is worth loosing almost 9 years with my current company ><. This environment is tough and there is very little loyalty in the work place these days.

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Iowa

Way late post but congrats darlin', keep an eye out for flying steel.

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Marauder Harabakc Goat

I like seeing good things happening to good people. Right on.

I to am late on the reply but I COMPLETELY appreciate what you've been through and are ready to tackle.

"keep an eye out for flying steel."

LOL I still remember grouping with C-Sue WAY Back when was a newbie and she had to go AFK due to an action figure hand shot by one of her boys hit her in the eye..... I asked what happend next, she told how well action figures fly.

Good luck C-Sue!!!!!!

I am really late on replying- but CONGRATS!