The bossman (or woman)

day jobs and leaders

#1 - Lineah Smith. Wife of legendary UNC basketball coach Dean Smith (whom I did meet once). This started in June of 2002. She was a nice lady as long as a worker put their best foot forward. She was a pretty busy woman herself. I was working as a grounds keeper. My Mom used to clean house for them.

#2 - Harris Teeter, 2003 - Jeff Klubert, good guy; same thing, as long as a person did their job well, he was full of good humor: not quite the big hearty LOL kind, but he sure did smile a lot, and it would dwell. This was back in 2003. He was 40, looked like he was 30, and sometimes acted like he was 25. He was a good leader.

#3 - Winter of 2004-5 - Michael something. he was co-owner of a restaurant bar in Chatham County, NC. He was a good leader, always working on something. I was the dishwasher (which I learned through that job, can beat the shit out of the hands). That job taught me that restaurant jobs often mean you’ve gotta move! move! move! quickly! quickly!
Had to leave that one because it was too far away, wasn’t paying enough, and it was interfering with my college work.

#4 - Late June 2005 - Chuck Lasky (for all of 2 days). He was a friend of my mom’s. He was an asshole to work with. I myself was not the most motivated at the time, but I felt that was still no reason to yell at me all day. This was changing tiles on a roof (which I’ve never done again). But he was at least busting his own ass all day.

#5 - July 2005 - Fred Reno. He was a big guy, not overly motivated. He would tell us, “no need to be in any hurry, we've got all morning long” (about morning cleanup duties). This was at William B. Umstead State Park in Raleigh, NC. He was a hell of a backhoe operator, but otherwise not a great leader. He wanted to be the kind of mechanic who sits in his office chair and waits until something happens.

#6 - 2006/7? - Dan T Moore. didn’t care for him much after he took over maintenance. This was at the same park. He went off on a major power trip. But he at least had a good sense of humor. He was good leader until he got to be in charge of maintenance.

#7 - 2009 - Tara Wooding. She didn’t like doing too much. This was at Big Lots off Avondale Dr in Durham NC, which at least used to be right in the middle of the ghetto. That store was a depressing place to work. That was welcome to the Big Lots of we don’t like white employees. And I was there a year and 9 months.

#8 - 2010 - Boyd. Useless … repeat, useless. A fine example of a horrible leader. He would do pretty much anything to avoid working. I spied him at least once walking around the store with a box under his arm. This was at Big Lots still, a close-out company, meaning everything has to get priced individually. This guy, Boyd, once put a whole package on a top shelf still wrapped in plastic. I don’t think I’ve ever met someone who was so allergic to work … {ok actually come to think of it I have known someone who was more allergic (not friends with him any more)}. Boyd used to be the store manager but stepped down because he almost got fired for not doing his job.

Ok honorable mention here - the woman who took over the store after Boyd stepped down, woooweeee was she a peace! of! work! (Very dark sarcasm there). Luckily for me she was never my direct supervisor. That was the first time in my life I experienced racism as a white skinned male. All the employees of that store seriously disliked her.

#9 - 2011 - Steve Bennet. Food Lion, Mebane, NC. Very serious about the job getting done correctly and on time; (and this was a high volume store, so a person had to be not just fast but also very efficient). Other than that he was a pretty easy going guy. And he was always working … he was a good leader. He didn’t spend much time in one of the offices, only what was necessary.

#10 - 2012 - Ron Garrison, pale skinned redhead. As long as a person was at least trying to do the job correctly he’d leave you alone. This was at a different Food Lion: Haw River, NC; lower volume store and a much better fit for me. Now back to Ron. He was a leader … almost always working. I think most peoples first impression of him is that he’s an asshole, because of the vacant expression that was usually on his face. He was also a rather quiet guy. Once you got to know him though, he was a good guy; didn’t laugh much but he could take a joke, and that’s an important thing for me! I had to quit because I was getting depressed when I was there; and I was trying to get a full time job at a factory because I was dam tired of scraping by on $800 or less per month. {In fact the only reason I was getting through the hoop every month was because of financial aid from trade school}.

#11 - Leo something, Mexican feller (not that that matters). CKS Packaging (they make plastic bottles. Milk jugs, bleach bottles, shampoo bottles etc). When the shit hit the fan he’d get a bit pissy, otherwise he was a pretty easy going guy; and he would step in and help if a person’s line got backed up for whatever reason. He was a good leader.
I had to quit that place because I was getting depressed when I was there.

#12 - Bob White. Mostly an incompetent idiot. This was at Winnebago in Forrest City, Iowa. Pretty much his entire adult life had revolved around Winnebago. The day I was interviewed, I - for what ever reason - told him about when I had Rocky Mountain Spotted fever; his reply, “What the heck is that?”. He would preach “quality quality quality” to us a couple days a week: - and he would tell us over and over to show him problems so they could get fixed; but … nothing ever changed. His boss, the plant manager - from what I heard - told Bob he was “not to leave that office!” He only came out onto the floor when we had a problem {usually in Cab set}.
That became an extremely stressful place to work, and the future outlook wasn’t good.

#13 - Fall 2016 - Deon Cody. Talk about a guy who has “asshole” written all over his face. Curries Door Manufacturing in Mason City, Iowa (2nd shift blAH). If the line got back up for whatever reason, he would go to whatever station was backed up … and yell at the person to “MOVE, MOVE, MOVE!!!” with a horizontal twirling arm gesture … rather than calmly finding out first why whatever station was backed up, and doing whatever was necessary to keep the line moving. Hell, he yelled at me once for grabbing the right parts; and yes you read that correctly, ‘for grabbing the right parts’. And another time because my machine quit working . He roared in my face, “I I LEAVE FOR FIVE SECONDS AND YOU GOT AN ERROR” … to which I calmly responded, while pointing at the fuse box, “I can’t control what happens in there.” I was quite glad when he moved on! I think a lot of that crew was; he’d never tell anyone, “good job!”, but he wouldn’t hesitate an instant to yell in someone’s face.
He was nothing more than a pissed off 13 year old.
And … beating first shift … beating first shift: he was obsessed with it. There was, “we beat first shift last night, and I wanna do it again tonight”. Then there was - to the whole crew - “We kicked first shifts ass! They built #, we built # (higher). (Only time he sorta said “good job”.
He practically never told anyone “good job” (if ever): but he wouldn’t hesitate a second to yell! his head off at someone for going to slow or for making a mistake.
I’ll add this - when I went back to that hell hole (because my intuition told me too!) back in February of 2019: I kinda befriended a guy who worked on the Frame side; I can’t remember what we were talking about, but I mentioned that I used to be under Deon and he gave this sorta cynical laugh while leaning back then front and down again, then he says “I knew him in high school, he was piece of shit then! he’s a piece of shit now!
Deon was barely a hair more than a pissed off 12 year old in a mans body: I figure he’ll have a heart attack by age 70.

Ok a story within a story time. After a year and a half with that company I left to go travel among the rockies during late spring of 2018. When I got back I still had $10,000 and some change, so I took some more time off to pursue my new writing life.
In January 2019 I could no longer delay going back to that hell hole factory: … and only went back via intuition.

#14 - Dave Hill. Same company, same line. He took over from Deon. Soft spoken, easy going. If a person screwed up he would call it (and this I liked) a “learning experience”. That’s about alls I got to say on him. I liked working for him. He was a good leader.

Ok another honorable mention here. John Harrah (pronounced Hera). He became the Water Strider;

#15 - Winter through summer 2019 - Brad Eldridge. Same company, different line, different shift (days thank goodness). This guy's name rhymes well enough with “stands around”. Because that’s what he did most of the time. He would just stand there watching the doors go by; and then fuss at the rest of us for standing and not doing anything. He would stack doors on occasion; and take care of a couple other odds and ends as needed. But never ever saw him doing finishing work, {I don’t think he liked getting that dirty}. He was a horrible leader. I was depressed when I was there, but I had to suck it up and deal with it. Working with a crew that didn’t work as a team.
I heard from another guy that he'd been fired a couple times for getting into fights … and so, someone saw fit to make him a team leader. Pretty brilliant huh!

#16 - Fall/winter 2019 - People Ready Temp Service. A lot of odd jobs. I ended up nick-naming them “People need to get their shit together”. This was in the northern end of the “Front Range” of Colorado.

Ok slight intermission here. It was in May or June of 2021, I was approved for DisabilityThe bossman (or woman)


#1 - Lineah Smith. Wife of legendary UNC basketball coach Dean Smith (whom I did meet once). This started in June of 2002. She was a nice lady as long as a worker put their best foot forward. She was a pretty busy woman herself. I was working as a grounds keeper. My Mom used to clean house for them.

#2 - Harris Teeter, 2003 - Jeff Klubert, good guy; same thing, as long as a person did their job well, he was full of good humor: not quite the big hearty LOL kind, but he sure did smile a lot, and it would dwell. This was back in 2003. He was 40, looked like he was 30, and sometimes acted like he was 25. He was a good leader.

#3 - Winter of 2004-5 - Michael something. he was co-owner of a restaurant bar in Chatham County, NC. He was a good leader, always working on something. I was the dishwasher (which I learned through that job, can beat the shit out of the hands). That job taught me that restaurant jobs often mean you’ve gotta move! move! move! quickly! quickly!
Had to leave that one because it was too far away, wasn’t paying enough, and it was interfering with my college work.

#4 - Late June 2005 - Chuck Lasky (for all of 2 days). He was a friend of my mom’s. He was an asshole to work with. I myself was not the most motivated at the time, but I felt that was still no reason to yell at me all day. This was changing tiles on a roof (which I’ve never done again). But he was at least busting his own ass all day.

#5 - July 2005 - Fred Reno. He was a big guy, not overly motivated. He would tell us, “no need to be in any hurry, we've got all morning long” (about morning cleanup duties). This was at William B. Umstead State Park in Raleigh, NC. He was a hell of a backhoe operator, but otherwise not a great leader. He wanted to be the kind of mechanic who sits in his office chair and waits until something happens.

#6 - 2006/7? - Dan T Moore. didn’t care for him much after he took over maintenance. This was at the same park. He went off on a major power trip. But he at least had a good sense of humor. He was good leader until he got to be in charge of maintenance.

#7 - 2009 - Tara Wooding. She didn’t like doing too much. This was at Big Lots off Avondale Dr in Durham NC, which at least used to be right in the middle of the ghetto. That store was a depressing place to work. That was welcome to the Big Lots of we don’t like white employees. And I was there a year and 9 months.

#8 - 2010 - Boyd. Useless … repeat, useless. A fine example of a horrible leader. He would do pretty much anything to avoid working. I spied him at least once walking around the store with a box under his arm. This was at Big Lots still, a close-out company, meaning everything has to get priced individually. This guy, Boyd, once put a whole package on a top shelf still wrapped in plastic. I don’t think I’ve ever met someone who was so allergic to work … {ok actually come to think of it I have known someone who was more allergic (not friends with him any more)}. Boyd used to be the store manager but stepped down because he almost got fired for not doing his job.

Ok honorable mention here - the woman who took over the store after Boyd stepped down, woooweeee was she a peace! of! work! (Very dark sarcasm there). Luckily for me she was never my direct supervisor. That was the first time in my life I experienced racism as a white skinned male. All the employees of that store seriously disliked her.

#9 - 2011 - Steve Bennet. Food Lion, Mebane, NC. Very serious about the job getting done correctly and on time; (and this was a high volume store, so a person had to be not just fast but also very efficient). Other than that he was a pretty easy going guy. And he was always working … he was a good leader. He didn’t spend much time in one of the offices, only what was necessary.

#10 - 2012 - Ron Garrison, pale skinned redhead. As long as a person was at least trying to do the job correctly he’d leave you alone. This was at a different Food Lion: Haw River, NC; lower volume store and a much better fit for me. Now back to Ron. He was a leader … almost always working. I think most peoples first impression of him is that he’s an asshole, because of the vacant expression that was usually on his face. He was also a rather quiet guy. Once you got to know him though, he was a good guy; didn’t laugh much but he could take a joke, and that’s an important thing for me! I had to quit because I was getting depressed when I was there; and I was trying to get a full time job at a factory because I was dam tired of scraping by on $800 or less per month. {In fact the only reason I was getting through the hoop every month was because of financial aid from trade school}.

#11 - Leo something, Mexican feller (not that that matters). CKS Packaging (they make plastic bottles. Milk jugs, bleach bottles, shampoo bottles etc). When the shit hit the fan he’d get a bit pissy, otherwise he was a pretty easy going guy; and he would step in and help if a person’s line got backed up for whatever reason. He was a good leader.
I had to quit that place because I was getting depressed when I was there.

#12 - Bob White. Mostly an incompetent idiot. This was at Winnebago in Forrest City, Iowa. Pretty much his entire adult life had revolved around Winnebago. The day I was interviewed, I - for what ever reason - told him about when I had Rocky Mountain Spotted fever; his reply, “What the heck is that?”. He would preach “quality quality quality” to us a couple days a week: - and he would tell us over and over to show him problems so they could get fixed; but … nothing ever changed. His boss, the plant manager - from what I heard - told Bob he was “not to leave that office!” He only came out onto the floor when we had a problem {usually in Cab set}.
That became an extremely stressful place to work, and the future outlook wasn’t good.

#13 - Fall 2016 - Deon Cody. Talk about a guy who has “asshole” written all over his face. Curries Door Manufacturing in Mason City, Iowa (2nd shift blAH). If the line got back up for whatever reason, he would go to whatever station was backed up … and yell at the person to “MOVE, MOVE, MOVE!!!” with a horizontal twirling arm gesture … rather than calmly finding out first why whatever station was backed up, and doing whatever was necessary to keep the line moving. Hell, he yelled at me once for grabbing the right parts; and yes you read that correctly, ‘for grabbing the right parts’. And another time because my machine quit working . He roared in my face, “I I LEAVE FOR FIVE SECONDS AND YOU GOT AN ERROR” … to which I calmly responded, while pointing at the fuse box, “I can’t control what happens in there.” I was quite glad when he moved on! I think a lot of that crew was; he’d never tell anyone, “good job!”, but he wouldn’t hesitate an instant to yell in someone’s face.
He was nothing more than a pissed off 13 year old.
And … beating first shift … beating first shift: he was obsessed with it. There was, “we beat first shift last night, and I wanna do it again tonight”. Then there was - to the whole crew - “We kicked first shifts ass! They built #, we built # (higher). (Only time he sorta said “good job”.
He practically never told anyone “good job” (if ever): but he wouldn’t hesitate a second to yell! his head off at someone for going to slow or for making a mistake.
I’ll add this - when I went back to that hell hole (because my intuition told me too!) back in February of 2019: I kinda befriended a guy who worked on the Frame side; I can’t remember what we were talking about, but I mentioned that I used to be under Deon and he gave this sorta cynical laugh while leaning back then front and down again, then he says “I knew him in high school, he was piece of shit then! he’s a piece of shit now!
Deon was barely a hair more than a pissed off 12 year old in a mans body: I figure he’ll have a heart attack by age 70.

Ok a story within a story time. After a year and a half with that company I left to go travel among the rockies during late spring of 2018. When I got back I still had $10,000 and some change, so I took some more time off to pursue my new writing life.
In January 2019 I could no longer delay going back to that hell hole factory: … and only went back via intuition.

#14 - Dave Hill. Same company, same line. He took over from Deon. Soft spoken, easy going. If a person screwed up he would call it (and this I liked) a “learning experience”. That’s about alls I got to say on him. I liked working for him. He was a good leader.

Ok another honorable mention here. John Harrah (pronounced Hera). He became the Water Strider;

#15 - Winter through summer 2019 - Brad Eldridge. Same company, different line, different shift (days thank goodness). This guy's name rhymes well enough with “stands around”. Because that’s what he did most of the time. He would just stand there watching the doors go by; and then fuss at the rest of us for standing and not doing anything. He would stack doors on occasion; and take care of a couple other odds and ends as needed. But never ever saw him doing finishing work, {I don’t think he liked getting that dirty}. He was a horrible leader. I was depressed when I was there, but I had to suck it up and deal with it. Working with a crew that didn’t work as a team.
I heard from another guy that he'd been fired a couple times for getting into fights … and so, someone saw fit to make him a team leader. Pretty brilliant huh!

#16 - Fall/winter 2019 - People Ready Temp Service. A lot of odd jobs. I ended up nick-naming them “People need to get their shit together”. This was in the northern end of the “Front Range” of Colorado.

Ok slight intermission here. It was in May or June of 2021 I was approved for Disability, and one of the parameters is that I can work up to 20 hours a week.

#17 - Winter 2021-22 - Food Lion again. Raleigh, NC. The guy I worked with this time was a good worker. He would mostly just let me work at my own pace, which was fast enough for him apparently cause he never told me I was going too slow - I’m not the fastest worker, I just keep moving with whatever chore I’m workin’ on. … I’ll never work dairy again though, yeeeechhhh. Oh and the store manager was a pretty cool guy.

#18 - Summer 2022 - Mrs. Sinnie Strickland. Good woman! Good leader. She told me several times, “Just do your best and don’t stress it”. This was at Lowes Hardware, the Cary Story, NC: mixing paint … one of the funnest day jobs I ever worked!

#19 - Summer 2022 - can’t remember his name. Still at Lowes. I only worked with him for a week or two before I had to leave because of my mental health. But he seemed like a good guy, and he was a good team leader.

#20 - present day - Me myself and I. As I mentioned earlier, I’ve been on disability pay since June of 2021. … When my body tells me it’s ready, I think I’m gonna give DoorDashing a go 'round; this way I can work when I want to. I figure I’ll work my way up to 12 hours a week. And again, this way I can take time off for a road trip whenever I want.

So now, if you're wondering why I’ve worked so many places:
If your day job is only paying $6/hr (that was the state minimum at the time) … how long are you gonna stay
If your day job goes from 30 hours a week to 18 hours a week … how long are you gonna stay
If you suddenly get 0 hours 2 weeks in a row … etc. etc.



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Namaste ~ Wilder the quiet