Dangerous Jobs

Maybe 2 years back,I was watching this program on some channel listing the top 10 difficult jobs in the world and was surprised to see that one of them was my hubby's profession as well.Even though my husband did tell me often how tough it could get and all,explained his stuff,I didnt give it much thought but when I saw it on Tv,I felt stupid coz i didnt understand it,proud that he excelled in something this difficult.

I have seen a man's face split open when a disc cutting metal flew off and buried into his face,I have seen shards of metal burn through uniforms,safety shoes,socks and embed within skin.I have seen it pulled out from his face.I have seen uniforms burn out and destroyed due to welding and what not....I have patches of salt so thick,due tp excessive sweating,you could scrape it off the uniform.I have seen him crawl into such tight spaces where you can expand just ur lungs in order to get to that vital part of wiring of the ship,trawlers,speedboats,etc...so that the boat would not have to be split wide open.I have seen arms cut off,I have seen legs cut off.I have seen him open a bolt which took an entire hour.

I have a total different respect for them and for all other jobs,thanks to discovery channels and what not,that give us an idea how certain jobs are done.

Dangerous Jobs 

• No. 1 :  Thats the job of fishermen,the seamen...the ones who fish out crabs and tuna.They battle through the most extremes of weather and are on sea for 2 months at a time with no sleep,temperatures sometimes below -40 celsius.

•No. 2: The Timber Industry includes loggers, lumberjacks, and helpers. It held the Number One spot for many years with 92.4 deaths per 100,000 workers in 2006 - a decrease from 118 in 2002. In 2008, fatalities increased to 116 Deaths per 100,000 workers.

One of my pain-management patients was a timber cutter that had been sucked into a buzz saw. He was cut diagonally through the upper body from shoulder to hip and survived, in great pain, living on disability income. Others are hurt and killed by falls, trees falling on them, vehicular accidents, and in other ways.

•No. 3: The occupation of Farmer or Rancher became more deadily and dangerous in 2008.

•No. 4: Structural Iron and Steel Industry workers , with a slight decrease to 46/100,000 deaths. (In 2007, it was 76 deaths per 100,000 emplyees).

•No. 5 : Sanitation Workers or Garbage Collectors -- and Recyclers with 37 deaths/100,000 workers. Garbage Collectors and Professional Recyclers were not even in the Top 10 for 2002. These jobs have increased in numbers and have become more dangerous jobs.

•No. 2 : Aircraft work-related fatalities increased significantly in 2006, bringing Aircraft Pilots (82.2 deaths per 100,000) This number decreased to 72/100,000 in 2008 and Aircaft Pilots dropped to its current Number Six spot.

THE SECOND TOP 10 -- Numbers 11 to 20 in 2008

•Power Line Installer - 30/100,000

•Police Officer - 16/100,000

•Fireman(woman) - 7/100,000

•Oil and Gas Crew - 24 deaths/only 1 inujury/100,000

•Cement Makers - 13 deaths/3 injuries//100,00

•Taxi Drivers and Chauffeurs fell in the Top 20 Most Dangerous Jobs in 2007 to Number Sixteen in 2008 at 21 Deaths/1 injury//100,000.

•Nearly 50% of all work-related injuries happen amongTruck Drivers or Material Movers -truckers, step-van deliveries, forklifts, trash collectors, recyclers, cabbies, movers ("Two Men and a Truck"), chauffeurs. 22 deaths and 0.4 injuries//100,000 in 2008. This is a reduction out of the Top 10 for 2007.

•Constructor Equipment Operators - 16/100,000.

•Slaughterhouse - 2 deaths and 0.4 injury per 100,000. Read fast food antion for an eye-opening account in one chapter of the repeated injour and exploitation of one such worker.

•Security Guards - Increasing in danger at 8/100,000; more dangerous statistically than Police Officers


America Worst Jobs
If you think your job is bad, think twice... unless you've got one of the "worst" jobs in America today. It isn't much of a surprise that many of these low-rated jobs overlap with the most dangerous jobs. What's more, none have an annual salary above $40,000. JobsRated.com has released a comprehensive ranking of the worst occupations, based upon several key criteria, including salary, stress and physical demand. What are the ten worst jobs in the country?

10. Iron Worker

This job requires you to work with hot metal, usually at great heights and for little reward. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the median hourly income of Iron Workers below $20. Work can be irregular at times, because of bad weather, the short-term nature of construction jobs and economic downturns. Beware: This job category has the fourth-highest fatality rate in the country, at 61.0 deaths per 100,000 workers.

9. Roustabout

If you're not sure what a Roustabout is, you're probably not alone. A relatively specialized field, roustabouts perform maintenance on oil rigs and pipelines, using hand and power tools. The BLS expects the demand for roustabouts to decline slowly over the next decade. Median Salary: $29,000

8. Welder

The job of a welder involves melting metal joints together, usually behind a protective mask and visor to prevent serious injury. The BLS says only the top 10 percent of welders earn above $22.50 an hour.

7. Garbage Collector

No need to describe this one. Although wages vary significantly based upon experience and responsibilities, the BLS lists median hourly earnings at just $13.93. Garbage collectors also rank as the sixth deadliest job in America, with a fatality rate of 41.8 per 100,000 jobs.

6. Roofer

The BLS reports that most job openings in this field "arise from the need to replace those who leave the occupation because the work is hot, strenuous, and dirty, causing many people to switch to jobs in other construction trades." With a median hourly wage of $15.51, being a high-flying roofer is still near the bottom of the barrel.

5. Emergency Medical Technician

People's lives often depend on EMTs and other first responders, so they're on-call 24 hours a day, which tends to result in quite irregular hours. Although wages vary by region, median annual pay is $27,070, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

4. Seaman

A broad category, it includes boat workers and fishermen, who tend to spend long periods of time at sea in cramped circumstances and poor weather conditions. Fishermen also have the deadliest job in the country, with a 141.7 fatality rate per 100,000. Not the kind of odds most people would take for a median salary of $34,000 per year.

3. Taxi Driver

Although many taxi drivers and chauffeurs have extremely flexible schedules and generally work unsupervised, the job still ranks near the bottom. The BLS estimates there are approximately 229,000 jobs of this nature in the country. Although wages vary greatly based on location, type of company and amount of tips, the median hourly wage is $10.62.

2. Dairy Farmer

Raising cattle for milk production entails strenuous labor, long hours and poor working conditions, Various government estimates put net income at just over $15,000 a year. Wages do not include government subsidies and can vary with fluctuations in commodity prices and market demand.

1. Lumberjack

That's right, being a Lumberjack is the worst job in America, based upon the study by JobsRated.com. These workers spend all their time outdoors, in poor weather, and often in isolated areas. It's also the third most deadly occupation with a fatality rate of 82.1 per 100,000 jobs per year. Long hours, a high -stress environment, strenuous work and low pay - often starting at minimum wage, with a median hourly wage at $13.80 - all contribute to make this the #1 worst job in the country.

Visiting nightmares

Have you been to this friend's home,and within half an hour of your visit wondered,"Why did I ever come here in the first place !" It happens to me once in a while and those casual visits are the worst moments I hate even thinking about.Usually,I tell my husband,can we just put it off,can we meet with them some other time?


You meet with these people,coz you have to and then after exchanging 'hi's' and 'hellos',and asking how are they and their entire family,you go quiet and wonder what do I say next? What topic can I start discussing before I turn into this smiling zombie saying yes and no ! It is the worst hour one can spend.I always imagine that boring people make the perfect suicide bombers.Drop them among a group of people you hate and then within the hour,you will see people dropping dead,one by one.

For a couple of years ,I would sit through it with this glaze on my eyes.It was like I could see them but my tongue and body was frozen.Nothing sensible would come out and before I realised so,I began yawning beyond control,that one tear would well up and sit in the corner of my eye and I would try hard not to blink,so that it didnt roll down my cheek.

What do say other than,"So,what else is new?" When people ask this question,its a done deal that this visit is becoming a sourpuss.When I have nothing to contribute,I switch to asking,how are the kids faring,or how are your folks back home and when Im done asking how each and everyone from one end to the very last standing grandma...I know this is it..!

Not that Im perfect.I can be boring too.When Im tired or ill,I cannot masquerade.But thats rarely.I cannot be the only person making an effort,ek haath se thali nahi bajthi,right ! So can no one save a one sided conversation.

I dont understand how can people be 'boring'.Over the years I have learnt a few tricks to avoid such sticky situations.I dont like sitting in a place,where the hosts are talking among themselves and all you can do is sit and wonder if they even live together coz its just now,they remember all these things to delight one another or remind each other.When I visit a friend's home,my husband and I go our separate ways.After my polite "how are you?" "Bhalo bhashi",huggin girlfriends and air kissing them thrice, We ladies move on to the kitchen or bedroom or wherever we can find a private space and begin within the daily doordarshan service.Amidst all the crazy children running around you,screaming "aunty aunty",we always can hear each other and continue talking in the noise.

The men can catch up with their yakking and so can we.I even have these signals or signs I tell my husband,that if you find me doing this,and you wanna leave as well,Move it ! After all these years,I know where my husband is comfortable or Im and where we aren't.If I know my hubby is having a good time while Im picking on my imaginary shotgun to shoot myself in the head,I dont bug him.I let him be and have fun.I can always take the bullet coz I know he will do the same for me.I used to be initially but am not now,that chipku wife.I know we have separate likes and dislikes and are respectful of both.Giving each other space is very important which every couple learns, over the years ,eventually.

My girlfriends are quite frank that we tell each other on the face that we are bored and to avoid torturous moments,we immediately set out to the beach or garden or malls or just about anywhere.We are at home day in and out,taking care of our families,cooking twice a day sometimes,cleaning,basically running the house 24/7,that one day of your weekend,is absolutely necessary to vent it out.
 
On an odd note,Reading the heading visiting nightmare,I watched this horror flick" Shutter" and AT 7am in the morning,I found myself scared to look into the mirror,thinking what if I saw that crazy Japanese chick !

Racing through life !

As you grow into this world,we learn that ambition is very important.Striving to do more and expect more of life,an important characteristic of a person who will fare well in life.I was talking to someone and this topic just hit me.

That is the one thing I never was.My folks thought it was weird for me for not going paranoid searching for jobs and not crying over it.They thought,and many others did,that I had it easy coz my parents were supporting me while I was being jobless.What am I suppose to do if I hadnt got the job or didnt nail the interview? I was not the kind who cried and boohooed over stuff like this.As long as I dont have to resort to sleeping on the sidewalks or begging,I thought it was okay.I need not be crying.But people thought this was odd.WHy wasnt I going nuts,or being frustated or being depressed? I was young,marriage was not in the books and I just wanted to walk through it,calm and quiet and hoping it would eventually come to me.

I never give a second thought to money.If life becomes difficult,I will adjust,I can always do something about it.Ask any person in this world,money has not brought emotional happiness to anyone.One who has little,is working their butt of for more.One who has a lot,is still working to make more.Noone is happy in this world.It is human nature not to be happy with what we have.We always wish for a little more.Nothing isnt enough.We arent grateful or thankful for anything.Money makes life easy,money isnt life though.Im what my heart is,Im not what my clothes,cars and bank balance says.

I remember waking up at 6 in the morning,getting dressed,taking my qualifications in a folder and getting into a local bus and then on ,to the destined address for an interview.Sometimes i would change 2 buses,sometimes 3,walk in this heat,to a entirely new place,scared to the brink,where I would wait to be called upon for the interview.I had my share of struggle but didnt go beserk or found it heart breaking.Sometimes it was positive,but mostly,it was 'We will let you know in a couple of days'.

A year before this,I had gone through the worst unimaginable nightmare of anyone's life.I had nobody to count on except a couple of friends who stood by me throughout that long devastation.The lesson I learnt out of it all, was when things went bad,you can count only on yourself and you alone.And nothing is worth more in life than having peace of mind.Money is the last thing.So as long as I didnt have to move into the streets,I wouldnt go crying over something like failing a job interview or not finding "the job".

So many people,they go into depression and cry their eyes out.They feel useless and ruin not only their own minds but of everyone around.I remember going to church and standing in front of the grotto and asking God to give me a job,so my parents would get off my back and I could find peace of mind somewhere in all this mess.Everyone wants that great paying job,they struggle day in and out and work their asses off.And years go by and life comes to an end.I know one does have to work for their families, for a better lifestyle and prove themselves worthy in the eyes of everyone around them.I get that,I really do
Money,money,ruthba,bangla ,gaadi.......No sukoon,no life ! Simple as that.

When we got married,I was worried how will we make ends meet,how will we support my inlaws and their lifestyle and then our own homes.How ,how ,how??? To such an extent,that I couldnt sleep well at night and wondering about this future.In this mad race for saving for the future,My present was rushing away like those rapids of water.

What are we working for? To own a house,to send our children to wonderful schools,to wear branded clothes,to have cars,to eat great food at great restaurants,save something for when we are old and cant work anymore.Right ! Meanwhile,we have no time to take our kids out,we dont find time for each other,we have no time to have friends around,we are burned out all the time.Even when taking a vacation,we are counting the money,the days and for each and everything.We are still not at peace.

Im not saying why work like this...Im saying why not appreciate life as we make it along the way.Be happy with what is there in the present instead of burning out for the future.I have friends who own companies and they have struggle to spend a single day out to spend with their families.They usually talking over the phone with their clients even then,discussing jobs and cant wait to go home and catch up on some sleep ,so they can slog through their coming entire week.While I have some friends,who manage their home and business very well.The philosophy being,this time,this "now" will go by just once and never come back.They have realised that nothing was worth missing out on than seeing your family blossom in love.

I remember telling a friend,they are 5 now and will be just this once.Take all the love you can from them,coz once they grow out,you cannot run around asking for hugs and kisses.You will miss out on the very thing you work for and live for.

Havent you heard an elderly in your house say,"I have no idea how my life went? I worked and slogged all my life and cannot pin point a single joyous moment.Ahh! The time I had my babies ." Or they will pinpoint that moment when my children did this or that,when something bad happened or when someone died or when someone did this something special for me and of course the childhood.Their advice will always be,beta,dont go through life like a bullet train.Live your life,look at me..I dont know how it passed by! People never forget their childood.Why? Because they lived it with love and fun in their heart.They didnt compete for anything but just lived.

Im told by my brother,Im not very serious with life.Im living the life that I and trillion others wish for.So what if Im at the beach,if I want to slow dance and make my friends do the same with me and have a good laugh over it.So what if my niece says,I want to twirl like a princess in the middle of this happening mall,I tell her go ahead and do so.No one can stop you.So what if I want to sit on a merry go around and clap as Im riding my horse.I dont care if I look silly,I want to live in this" now" coz this wont come again tomorrow.I keep in touch with my friends regularly and we generally offer an outlet to each other's crazy pressure cooker life.Im depressed and I call my friends and brighten my day.Each of us are completely different by nature but we all understand,that good friends see beyond matching wavelengths and money or anything else.I dont want to fret myself silly over things,but I want to make this ride of life,easy on the legs and heart and mind.When Im bored,I cook,I call up my friends,speak to their kids.When im sad,I pray and know in my heart,God will guide me through it.f I do my hard work,I know the answer to it is just round the corner.

Live just once...live it well.

Good service - Hospitality

When you go to a new country,out of the many things,one always wonders how hospitable people out here are.When people enter your household as guests,a certain code is followed.What is this code?


Someone put forward this question to me recently as to why when you visit someone,some go out of their way to welcome you.

Showing hospitality is showing respect to the people who grace your home.When someone comes home,its respectful to ask for water or something to drink .When I was newly married,the idea of inviting people over,brought so much stress and anxiety that I would be all nervous and clenched up.Though my husband helped me out with cooking and guiding me through it (coz ,I had not learnt any cooking at all)I felt strung out,wondering what will they say about me,my food and my manners.I insisted they would keep it very simple when we came over.

Thanks to my husband,over the years,I have changed my thinking and attitude.Instead of thinking someone was showing off how good they were,I learnt it was all about showing love,giving respect and actually potraying what you have learnt over the years on your own and from your family.

My mom was an excellent hostess.She cooked these absolutely to die for meals ,especially when we entertained friends.She put out the best chinaware,she cooked what she thought people would immediately dive into and was calm and poised eventhough she had been slogging for hours.I used to wonder why? But as a wife,now I know.

When Im at a good friend's place or when they drop by,even when we are on our own,we make it a point to serve tea and snacks before sitting down to catch up on gossip.IF not some cold drinks and whatever can be served as hor d'ourves.I find this a gracious act and feel Im welcome.

In many cultures,having guests and entertaining them is a great deal.The well known hospitable people in the world are the pathans.The saying "Athithi devo bhava" is self explanatory as to how even in Indian culture,we are to respect our guests,honour their presence and make the bonds strong by being generous and kind.Even the arabs are well known for their hospitality bestowed on anyone entering their homes.MAking someone feel as if they were a part of their home is the common idealogy behind it all.

It shows what kind of a person we basically are.How well we treat our guests,reflects on the kind of person we are.It is a highly admired virtue to have.It took me years to change my concept of thinking and for some well received advice from various aunties and good friends.

Of course,they are times,when people take advantage of your generosity.It has happened to me several times but even then ,I dont mind unless it becomes too obvious to ignore.Then I let go of my kind side and 'I shall not divulge on my secret here'.My husband doesnt approve of it at all but kabhi maza chakana bhi ,mazedaar hota hai.