I'M RICH!!!
I'm taking everyone who reads this post out to Hana Yori of Japan! It's all on me!
Wait, no, that was a joke. I got a raise but not that much of a raise.
I'm now earning at a rate higher than ever before. Since I just graduated from college, I have to be an actual college employee now. So, my professor gave me forms to fill out for pay-roll. Not only that, but he bumped my wage up. Why? Well, he said this,
"Mike, you were eligible for higher pay most of last year, but I forgot to actually implement it on the system. To make it up to you, I'll raise your pay even higher for the summer."
Fair enough for me. So, in conclusion, here are the pay-rates that led me up to today's Fortune 500 level pay (ha, ha).
Summer 1999 - Corn Detasstling - $3.75/hr*
Summer 2000 - Driver's Ed - $0.00/hr
Summer 2001 - Vacation in FL - $0.00/hr
Summer 2002 - Meijer: Bag-boy - $5.45/hr
Summer 2003 - Physical Plant: Goshen College - $6.50/hr
Summer 2004 - Maple Scholar Program: GC - $8.50/hr**
Fall 2004 - GC Research, frogs - $5.15/hr
Spring 2005 - Nothing - $0.00/hr
Summer 2005 - Maple Scholar Program: GC - $8.50/hr**
Fall 2005 - GC Research, frogs - $5.15/hr
Spring 2006 - GC Research, frogs - $5.40/hr
Spring 2006 - Prof. Aid, Microbiology - $5.15/hr
Summer 2006 - GC Research, frogs - $5.40/hr
Summer 2006 - ER Volunteering - $0.00/hr
Fall 2006 - GC Research, frogs - $5.40/hr
Fall 2006 - Prof. Aid, Microbiology - $5.15/hr
Spring 2007 - GC Research, frogs - $5.40/hr
Summer 2007 - GC Research/Dept. Work - $9.00/hr
*I think it may have been a bit more or less...but it was very low pay and I was only 14!
**It was a stipend, but the hourly rate came out to be around that
Now, the list above is simply some of the things I have done, distilled down to their monetary benefits. While some of the things (Meijer) have been just that, most of them (research, internships) have been far, far more than just a way to earn money. In fact, I would have gladly done most of this research and science work with much lower pay, or even no pay at all, as the "investment benefit" value of these projects is extremely high. Case in point, I'd rather do an internship that looks great on my application for post-graduate school than work somewhere for 10x the pay. It's an investment in your future; that simple.
But...distilled down to the brute pay, you can see that I have finally reached the big 9-dollar mark! Woo! That means big bucks...or just more money to literally burn on gasoline. Stupid fuel, stupid petroleum, stupid oil. Hybrids are just starting to come out onto the market, biodiesel is slowly making its way up, and hydrogen is still in the test-phase. But hey, prices are effectively ~$7.50 in Europe, so don't feel too bad.
I just...think of Barney out there in Chiba, Tokyo, and envy his complete immunity to gas prices. Gas could be $100/gal and he would just thumb his nose at every gas station! The train system out there is incredible...given a few months over there, I think I'd become used to it and toss my car keys forever. The system rocks, it goes everywhere you'd ever need, it is safe, and walking to/from the stations promotes exercise, longevity, and getting out into the sun! Man...I wish train systems were that practical in the states. Alas, gas and highways for me...
I almost forgot! I had the honor of hanging out with kitsunepixiemd last night and we made sushi! Then, we played cards at her friend's place and it was a card game called "Bang!" It was fun and addictive, especially after getting used to it; it really made you want to keep playing because the psychological/social aspect to it is hilarious!
Well, when you shoot someone (it is a Western-themed game) you play your "Bang!" card. Why didn't I think of this song from Kill Bill (link) while playing? The song is called more-or-less "Bang Bang" and is kind of like the card game.
The song that actually did go through my head was Group X's "Bang Bang Bang" as made popular on the internet here (link).
Wait, no, that was a joke. I got a raise but not that much of a raise.
I'm now earning at a rate higher than ever before. Since I just graduated from college, I have to be an actual college employee now. So, my professor gave me forms to fill out for pay-roll. Not only that, but he bumped my wage up. Why? Well, he said this,
"Mike, you were eligible for higher pay most of last year, but I forgot to actually implement it on the system. To make it up to you, I'll raise your pay even higher for the summer."
Fair enough for me. So, in conclusion, here are the pay-rates that led me up to today's Fortune 500 level pay (ha, ha).
Summer 1999 - Corn Detasstling - $3.75/hr*
Summer 2000 - Driver's Ed - $0.00/hr
Summer 2001 - Vacation in FL - $0.00/hr
Summer 2002 - Meijer: Bag-boy - $5.45/hr
Summer 2003 - Physical Plant: Goshen College - $6.50/hr
Summer 2004 - Maple Scholar Program: GC - $8.50/hr**
Fall 2004 - GC Research, frogs - $5.15/hr
Spring 2005 - Nothing - $0.00/hr
Summer 2005 - Maple Scholar Program: GC - $8.50/hr**
Fall 2005 - GC Research, frogs - $5.15/hr
Spring 2006 - GC Research, frogs - $5.40/hr
Spring 2006 - Prof. Aid, Microbiology - $5.15/hr
Summer 2006 - GC Research, frogs - $5.40/hr
Summer 2006 - ER Volunteering - $0.00/hr
Fall 2006 - GC Research, frogs - $5.40/hr
Fall 2006 - Prof. Aid, Microbiology - $5.15/hr
Spring 2007 - GC Research, frogs - $5.40/hr
Summer 2007 - GC Research/Dept. Work - $9.00/hr
*I think it may have been a bit more or less...but it was very low pay and I was only 14!
**It was a stipend, but the hourly rate came out to be around that
Now, the list above is simply some of the things I have done, distilled down to their monetary benefits. While some of the things (Meijer) have been just that, most of them (research, internships) have been far, far more than just a way to earn money. In fact, I would have gladly done most of this research and science work with much lower pay, or even no pay at all, as the "investment benefit" value of these projects is extremely high. Case in point, I'd rather do an internship that looks great on my application for post-graduate school than work somewhere for 10x the pay. It's an investment in your future; that simple.
But...distilled down to the brute pay, you can see that I have finally reached the big 9-dollar mark! Woo! That means big bucks...or just more money to literally burn on gasoline. Stupid fuel, stupid petroleum, stupid oil. Hybrids are just starting to come out onto the market, biodiesel is slowly making its way up, and hydrogen is still in the test-phase. But hey, prices are effectively ~$7.50 in Europe, so don't feel too bad.
I just...think of Barney out there in Chiba, Tokyo, and envy his complete immunity to gas prices. Gas could be $100/gal and he would just thumb his nose at every gas station! The train system out there is incredible...given a few months over there, I think I'd become used to it and toss my car keys forever. The system rocks, it goes everywhere you'd ever need, it is safe, and walking to/from the stations promotes exercise, longevity, and getting out into the sun! Man...I wish train systems were that practical in the states. Alas, gas and highways for me...
I almost forgot! I had the honor of hanging out with kitsunepixiemd last night and we made sushi! Then, we played cards at her friend's place and it was a card game called "Bang!" It was fun and addictive, especially after getting used to it; it really made you want to keep playing because the psychological/social aspect to it is hilarious!
Well, when you shoot someone (it is a Western-themed game) you play your "Bang!" card. Why didn't I think of this song from Kill Bill (link) while playing? The song is called more-or-less "Bang Bang" and is kind of like the card game.
The song that actually did go through my head was Group X's "Bang Bang Bang" as made popular on the internet here (link).