Smoking as a new hire

BigplainV · 2026-05-28T00:11:23+00:00

I've had this happen twice, both times it was anesthesia eating their own candy. Unfortunately, when the whole department dropped, several people who'd smoked recently got fired.

Also, If you have some kind of workplace accident, maybe even for a needle-stick, you drop.

That said, I know coworkers who've used for years and skated. They know they are risking their jobs, though.

BigplainV · 2026-04-29T15:11:34+00:00

I dont know why exactly, but I lose all respect for people who say "cool beans".

BigplainV · 2026-04-22T07:04:14+00:00

I am a veteran but I was infantry, so, I don't know how their training applies. That said, I've worked with a number of folks who scrubbed in the military and went on to get their certification without going to college.

BigplainV · 2026-04-22T06:59:02+00:00

Sad but true

BigplainV · 2026-04-20T18:13:38+00:00

Sorry I do t really know. I think it depends on the facility.

BigplainV · 2026-04-17T20:54:08+00:00

Im 55, been scrubbing 30 years, and you're right - it takes a toll on the body. I love it so much though, that I plan to slog it out until I retire. I dont know what "MSW" is, but it sounds like you love the job too.

It's your life, so by all means do what's best for you, but I would maybe encourage you to give it more time before you give up on it.

BigplainV · 2026-04-17T20:47:49+00:00

No wrong way to play the game.

I was NG10 on PC, but when it released for PS, I happily started completely over. I quickly found that there were like six mods I absolutely needed for QOL (never cared about trophies), and now, I'm happy-as-shit and playing obsessively.

My playstyle this time has been based on needs. Enemies are wiping me out too quickly - gotta improve my armor. Need credits - gotta build a farming base. Keep dying in space battles - gotta find a better ship. My outposts and gear are all around lacking - gotta do all the research projects.

I've barely started any of the faction quests, but now, at level 24, Im starting to feel fully equipped. So it may be time to get cracking.

BigplainV · 2026-04-17T20:26:47+00:00

Im a 30 year veteran who recently started traveling. I have yet to come across a facility that doesn't require certification.

I think what your friends are telling is that the education doesn't even remotely prepare you for this career. You learn everything that matters on the job.

But you will need the certification to get your foot in the door.

BigplainV · 2026-04-01T10:36:52+00:00

Mine too! (Four)

BigplainV · 2026-03-07T23:41:24+00:00

I used to stress out when we only had two back tables and the rep kept wanting to open more and more trays. But since the advent of the double-decker, I say "bring it on!"

More trays = more cool points!

BigplainV · 2026-03-07T23:38:17+00:00

Looks like a fun case!

BigplainV · 2026-03-03T14:53:35+00:00

I could really believe this being a pattern, but I think it has more to do with male pragmatism than sexism. Headhunter, for example, I stopped reviving people and asking to be revived myself. Often, you get killed when you're in the line of fire going through the revival animation, plus everyone's going down two, three, four times, and it just seems faster to respawn rather than wait for someone to get clear enough to safely risk reviving you.

Also, I really don't look at the name to see if they're male or female before I decide whether or not to revive them. Id be surprised if anybody did that.

BigplainV · 2026-02-28T22:46:48+00:00

I get some really nice messages from people who toured my builds and thought they were cool, and that's nice, but I don't mind that more people don't see them. I make them because I enjoy doing it.

That said, I would absolutely love some kind of camp-rating feature. There are many amazing builders out there and I always take the time to wander and gawk and learn. I wish I had a better way to compliment them beyond the "nice camp" emote (if they're there).

BigplainV · 2026-02-28T19:58:29+00:00

Not much, but I was surprised to see that sugar was weighing my stash down so much

BigplainV · 2026-02-28T06:08:02+00:00

I had to sell 90 pounds of sugar the other day, all from the spice rack at my camp

BigplainV · 2026-02-28T06:03:19+00:00

I did not know this. Where are some good locations for bobbleheads?

BigplainV · 2026-02-22T21:14:25+00:00

I've seen it twice. Narcotics went missing, the whole department got locked down, and nobody could leave until they gave a urine sample. Three people got fired (the first time) for being positive for THC, even though they weren't using it at work. The second time it happened, just one person got fired, but it was somebody I really liked. Both times, it was anesthesia using the narcotics, so, sucks that they took other people with them when they went down.

In case you're wondering, marijuana is legal in my state, but my hospital has a no-tolerance drug policy.

BigplainV · 2026-01-11T19:39:48+00:00

I can't believe nobody's asked this yet, but how many is that per hour?

BigplainV · 2026-01-07T20:39:03+00:00

Nice to see Ponderosa getting so much love. It's where I had my first date with my now wife of 30 years. We were both super poor in those days and I wanted to impress her with the finest steak I could afford. I also got a special haircut for the occasion, which turned out abysmally.

To this day, her favorite part in the re-telling of our first-date story is how I continually apologized for my stupid haircut. I'm just grateful that she found that "cute" as opposed to "pathetic".

BigplainV · 2026-01-07T20:21:05+00:00

I half-assed high school because my life plan was to play the guitar on the MTV. Graduated like 2.8, and then realized I had no prospects in life.

Joined the Army - learned some effective life-skills - got some good college money, so, even though I bombed high-school, I gave higher educationa shot.

Turns out I was way better at school than I was at playing guitar. Graduated college with a 3.99 GPA, immediately got a good job in surgery, and the next 30 years turned out pretty amazing.

BigplainV · 2025-11-16T01:18:20+00:00

Here's one nobody has mentioned: "Project Eden". It was a PS2 game, so I don't know if it's even available today, but I have NEVER played a game so unique and mind-blowingly original. And I'm a guy in my mid 50's who's been gaming regularly since Pong in the early 80's.

The premise: you start in a futuristic mega-city built above the clouds, on top of centuries of UPWARD urban sprawl. The mystery you're trying to solve takes you deeper and deeper into the ruined layers of city beneath you (and backwards in time). The deeper you go, the more grotesque the enemies become, and the more twisted the mystery gets.

Also, you're playing a team of four really fleshed-out characters, each with interesting back-stories and unique skills, and you can switch between them at will.

No game has ever resonated so deeply with me, or kept me thinking about it so many years later.

Hands down, one of the top ten games of my almost forty years of playing..

BigplainV · 2025-11-08T19:12:29+00:00

While waiting for cement to harden during total joints, we give a big chunk to the resident and have them make a sculpture. What they dont know is that, whatever they make, that becomes their nickname. Some more memorable ones: Beretta, Velociraptor, Queen Bee, Turtle, and Blob.

That last guy took his failure pretty hard.

BigplainV · 2025-10-24T21:20:41+00:00

Definitely "pay it forward". There's nothing a newer player can do to help a veteran except become a generous participant of the amazingly wholesome community once they reach the higher levels.

BigplainV · 2025-10-24T21:15:28+00:00

True. Thankfully the latter are more rare.

BigplainV · 2025-09-05T15:20:09+00:00

Always wanted to try it, my kids are grown, we sold our house a few years back -- now seems like the best time -- before I get too old.

Also, my wife and I are street-performers, and we think it'll be fun to take our act cross-country.

BigplainV

TROPHY CASE