...last. My job offer just came in via email 10 minutes ago. Mrs. Totem is coming home right now from work to discuss whether or not we will accept the position.
Wootily woot woot woot woot wootles!
/happy dance
Tell me, does my butt look fat in this job?
/pirouettes
Totem
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Africa: At long...Follow
Grats, Totem. Good luck!!
Don't leave.
Don't leave.
What's bred in the bone will not out of the flesh.
Congratulations Totem, I've had my fingers crossed for you! It's been so long now that they're cramped, deformed, hideous memorials to their former glory, but I'm super happy it came around for you in the end!
Nexa
Nexa
“It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes. But a half-wit remains a half-wit, and the emperor remains an emperor.â€
― Neil Gaiman, The Sandman, Vol. 9: The Kindly Ones
― Neil Gaiman, The Sandman, Vol. 9: The Kindly Ones
Congratulations, Totem!
/whew
I was truly despairing that it would drag on and on leaving us hanging. We've had a cruise on hold for over half a year because of this since we couldn't pinpoint what week to go since I could be overseas, but now-- assuming we accept this --we can finally move on with our lives, plans, and decisions.
I'll keep you guys appraised of our decision. Thanks, everyone!
Totem
I was truly despairing that it would drag on and on leaving us hanging. We've had a cruise on hold for over half a year because of this since we couldn't pinpoint what week to go since I could be overseas, but now-- assuming we accept this --we can finally move on with our lives, plans, and decisions.
I'll keep you guys appraised of our decision. Thanks, everyone!
Totem
Mrs Totem is coming home to give you a congratulatory bounce from all of us.
In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.
Congratulations, Totem! 
Congratulations! I hope that the lions stay out of your helicopter.
Edit: A letter went MIA
Edited, Oct 23rd 2008 4:07pm by PunkFloyd
Edit: A letter went MIA
Edited, Oct 23rd 2008 4:07pm by PunkFloyd
Love,
PunkFloyd
PunkFloyd
Katanga!!!
Gratz heli-boi
Gratz heli-boi
"I started out with nothin' and I still got most of it left" - Seasick Steve
Grats Totem!!!
Proud citizen of Miranda.
-Currently on Pochacco Server of Hello Kitty Online.
-Currently on Pochacco Server of Hello Kitty Online.
Gratz:)
Alma wrote:
I lost my post
Totem wrote:
/whew
I was truly despairing that it would drag on and on leaving us hanging. We've had a cruise on hold for over half a year because of this since we couldn't pinpoint what week to go since I could be overseas, but now-- assuming we accept this --we can finally move on with our lives, plans, and decisions.
I'll keep you guys appraised of our decision. Thanks, everyone!
Totem
I was truly despairing that it would drag on and on leaving us hanging. We've had a cruise on hold for over half a year because of this since we couldn't pinpoint what week to go since I could be overseas, but now-- assuming we accept this --we can finally move on with our lives, plans, and decisions.
I'll keep you guys appraised of our decision. Thanks, everyone!
Totem
Well? I think I speak for all of us when I say that you've spent *quite* enough time making personal life choices with members of your actual family and it's time that you share with those of us who avoid facing our own lives by delving into the personal struggles of others!
Nexa
“It has always been the prerogative of children and half-wits to point out that the emperor has no clothes. But a half-wit remains a half-wit, and the emperor remains an emperor.â€
― Neil Gaiman, The Sandman, Vol. 9: The Kindly Ones
― Neil Gaiman, The Sandman, Vol. 9: The Kindly Ones
Congrats, Totem.
Just as Planned.
Alrighty, Africa update time.
I wrote a response to the chief pilot and accepted the job offer last night and had Mrs. Totem press the Submit button just to make certain she was on board with this. She cheerfully is sending me away for a month at a time. Ok, that bit is a lie. We deliberated extensively about whether the lengthy separation is something we wished to subject ourselves to; and in the end concluded it is best to set our own agenda job-wise rather than coming to work one day and discovering they are closing the base due to poor financial management.
Long story short: Our sister base has been unstaffed for more than 50% of the past year due to nurse and pilot shortages. In addition, we do a brisk business but pick up largely uninsured drunks, so my base's financials are questionable as well. Thirdly, due to what I am certain is a fluke our area cost of living was tied to San Francisco four years ago during the labor negotiations, the contract from which is set to expire in January. I'm virtually positive that with the poor performance of these bases some beancounter in St. Louis is itching to cut both the payroll and utilize the aircraft in a more profitable location. Trying to sell our house in this market, as nice as it is, would be a terrible experience. Besides, the company's previous methodology when closing a base is to let you come in to work and meet you at the door to escort you into the office whereupon they inform you you have two weeks to find another base within the company who'll take you and then they escort you off the premises to ensure you don't steal anything. This has been some of the motivation behind the desire for a job change.
So. Because the African mentality is to get-'round-to-it, Chevron puts the pilots on the payroll and then emails you when all the paperwork is in order. If luck holds, I'll score two or three free months of salary without actually working there, at the same time I continue working here as an EMS pilot. that'd be worth about $25 grrr, not including my vacation payout when I leave this company. A tidy nest egg if things were to go sour for any reason.
This week while at work I'll continue to collect the paperwork needed and hopefully send it off around Tuesday-ish. I've been informed it may be a good idea to get a second passport to have since the Angolan government has a bad tendency to lose the ones you must surrender to customs upon entry into the country. Those to whom it has happened have stayed there for up to three months while the snafu gets sorted out.
I was also told to sign up with Luftansa's Red Carpet service since layovers in Frankfurt are common. The booze is free, they feed you, and showers are available for the weary traveler.
The flying I'd be doing is just like Gulf of Mexico stuff I've done, but just off the African coast instead. The living conditions are far better-- especially when compared to Fourchon or Intracoastal City, LA --and they treat pilots like we are airline captains for some reason. Heh, if they only knew what knuckledraggers we really are...
I'll add other details as they come available, or if you have burning questions you'd like to ask about the mysterious and secretive world of whirlybird pilotry, I'll try to apply answers to them.
:D
Totem
I wrote a response to the chief pilot and accepted the job offer last night and had Mrs. Totem press the Submit button just to make certain she was on board with this. She cheerfully is sending me away for a month at a time. Ok, that bit is a lie. We deliberated extensively about whether the lengthy separation is something we wished to subject ourselves to; and in the end concluded it is best to set our own agenda job-wise rather than coming to work one day and discovering they are closing the base due to poor financial management.
Long story short: Our sister base has been unstaffed for more than 50% of the past year due to nurse and pilot shortages. In addition, we do a brisk business but pick up largely uninsured drunks, so my base's financials are questionable as well. Thirdly, due to what I am certain is a fluke our area cost of living was tied to San Francisco four years ago during the labor negotiations, the contract from which is set to expire in January. I'm virtually positive that with the poor performance of these bases some beancounter in St. Louis is itching to cut both the payroll and utilize the aircraft in a more profitable location. Trying to sell our house in this market, as nice as it is, would be a terrible experience. Besides, the company's previous methodology when closing a base is to let you come in to work and meet you at the door to escort you into the office whereupon they inform you you have two weeks to find another base within the company who'll take you and then they escort you off the premises to ensure you don't steal anything. This has been some of the motivation behind the desire for a job change.
So. Because the African mentality is to get-'round-to-it, Chevron puts the pilots on the payroll and then emails you when all the paperwork is in order. If luck holds, I'll score two or three free months of salary without actually working there, at the same time I continue working here as an EMS pilot. that'd be worth about $25 grrr, not including my vacation payout when I leave this company. A tidy nest egg if things were to go sour for any reason.
This week while at work I'll continue to collect the paperwork needed and hopefully send it off around Tuesday-ish. I've been informed it may be a good idea to get a second passport to have since the Angolan government has a bad tendency to lose the ones you must surrender to customs upon entry into the country. Those to whom it has happened have stayed there for up to three months while the snafu gets sorted out.
I was also told to sign up with Luftansa's Red Carpet service since layovers in Frankfurt are common. The booze is free, they feed you, and showers are available for the weary traveler.
The flying I'd be doing is just like Gulf of Mexico stuff I've done, but just off the African coast instead. The living conditions are far better-- especially when compared to Fourchon or Intracoastal City, LA --and they treat pilots like we are airline captains for some reason. Heh, if they only knew what knuckledraggers we really are...
I'll add other details as they come available, or if you have burning questions you'd like to ask about the mysterious and secretive world of whirlybird pilotry, I'll try to apply answers to them.
:D
Totem
I wish you the best. Hope the armed compound doesnt get to you.
Good luck. It sounds like the opportunity of the life time. What an adventure!
Turin wrote:
Seriously, what the f*ck nature?
Totem wrote:
This week while at work I'll continue to collect the paperwork needed and hopefully send it off around Tuesday-ish. I've been informed it may be a good idea to get a second passport to have since the Angolan government has a bad tendency to lose the ones you must surrender to customs upon entry into the country. Those to whom it has happened have stayed there for up to three months while the snafu gets sorted out.
I was also told to sign up with Luftansa's Red Carpet service since layovers in Frankfurt are common. The booze is free, they feed you, and showers are available for the weary traveler.
I was also told to sign up with Luftansa's Red Carpet service since layovers in Frankfurt are common. The booze is free, they feed you, and showers are available for the weary traveler.
Now that I have done quite a bit of travel arrangements for certain people in my area, I can't stress enough how important it is to get the duplicate passport. And yes, get the Red Carpet service for Frankfurt. The connection flights to Nigeria/Angola from Frankfurt can get jacked up and you really want the amenities if a hotel stay is not an option.
And, I'm not kidding, check to see if your company has any coverage for payment of kidnapping/terrorist insurance. For some of the parts in Africa that you may be in, seriously, it's something that you may want to have.
Hmmm. Nope, just death, dismemberment, and loss of license insurance. Maybe they are telling me something?
Totem
Totem
Totem wrote:
Hmmm. Nope, just death, dismemberment, and loss of license insurance. Maybe they are telling me something?
Totem
Totem
Be sure to read your riders then. Death, dismemberment and other injuries due to a kidnapping/terrorist action may not be covered because of the area you are in. So make sure that you are covered for every angle.
My company learned this the hard way when one of our workers was staring down the wrong end of a grenade launcher held by a 14 year old boy.
O.O
Death by RPG? I think I'll choose bunga-bunga instead. Oh ****.
Seriously, thanks for the tip. I'll talk to my provider.
Totem
Death by RPG? I think I'll choose bunga-bunga instead. Oh ****.
Seriously, thanks for the tip. I'll talk to my provider.
Totem
there is a God.
all your harping on the brothers, and where does your job offer take you? the mother land.
the irony.
congrats and good luck. i hope it opens your mind a little more.
all your harping on the brothers, and where does your job offer take you? the mother land.
the irony.
congrats and good luck. i hope it opens your mind a little more.
:D
All in good fun, my curmudgeonly air traffic controlling friend. All in good fun.
Totem
All in good fun, my curmudgeonly air traffic controlling friend. All in good fun.
Totem
Congrats Totem 
Best use a very fine tooth comb, while reading the fine print.
Best use a very fine tooth comb, while reading the fine print.
In the place of a Dark Lord you would have a Queen! Not dark but beautiful and terrible as the Morn! Treacherous as the Seas! Stronger than the foundations of the Earth! All shall love me and despair! -ElneClare
This Post is written in Elnese, If it was an actual Post, it would make sense.
This Post is written in Elnese, If it was an actual Post, it would make sense.
Time to change your posting name to Toto Mr. Africa man.
Grats on your new digs. Now you get to go back to the motherland!
Grats on your new digs. Now you get to go back to the motherland!
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