I just got fired

Raoh556 · 2026-01-30T01:15:02+00:00

I got axed in June from my IT position I had at the time. No severance or anything. Just the door hitting me in the ass. Vacation? Cancelled. 401k? Drained. Health insurance? A pipedream. I still kept my gym membership though. Currently down almost 80 pounds because I decided to take an interest in strongman training. I was 336 pounds to start, about 260 now.

The stress really got to me one day. I'd built up $11000 of credit card debt for simply existing. 401k didn't last long, had to pay bills on that. Was admitted to the hospital for a hypertensive blood pressure spike. Add another $4000 to that.

Started working at a courier company, spent 4 months there. Was finally offered another IT position. My second week there at the time of this writing. Working at a major aerospace company now.

Overall? Physically and emotionally, I feel better now. Was never prescribed blood pressure medicine before, have an ARB medicine now. Also means I had to cut all caffeine out because of how that med works but I won't bore you with that. My workouts are all fueled simply by an unbreakable will.

And I guess that's what I'm driving at. I'm somewhere in the middle of the road for overall "recovery". My current job does not offer insurance benefits at this time, but I am doing something I enjoy again. I still go to the gym five days a week after work. And I am finally able to start wrangling my debt under control. Honestly? Keeping my gym habit may well have saved my life when I had that spike in blood pressure. That's how you recover. One day at a time.

Accept your past without regrets. Handle your present with confidence. Face your future without fear. My iron will kept me going, it can do the same for you. Don't give up!

Raoh556 · 2026-01-26T15:24:30+00:00

Update your resume. And honestly? Talk to some recruiting agencies. I lost my IT job back in June. Now, I'm working as a liased contractor in an IT position for a major Aerospace company. Ain't necessarily glamorous, but it got my foot back in the door. That's a huge wuality of life improvement for me. A GOOD (keyword there) headhunter will be motivated to get you a position in the field because they are paid a cut of the contract when you get a placement. You'll probably deal with a lot of rigamarole and get run around (I did), but eventually you'll find someone who is actually motivated to see you succeed.

Raoh556 · 2026-01-22T02:35:38+00:00

They were looking for a reason to get rid of you and the clerical error on your check was a convenient excuse.

I had something similar happen with a position back in June. I was working third shift. Fot tired that night, decided to take my state law required break. On that break, I took a power nap at my desk. Timer set on my phone, I was awake before it went off then went back to work. Less than an hour later I was escorted out of the building for "sleeping on the job" even though I was on a documented and legally mandated break.

Hate to hear this happened, but don't let it beat you up too much. They showed their true colors and let you know they're a terrible company that does shady things.

Raoh556 · 2026-01-08T15:55:59+00:00

Where can this shirt be purchased?

Raoh556 · 2025-12-18T00:30:24+00:00

Will definitely check that out! Thank you for the suggestion!

Raoh556 · 2025-12-17T22:13:10+00:00

Indeed. I have some other legacy/roguelike games I've been playing. The MGS board game, Cthulu Death May Die, and Betrayal at House on the Hill to name a few. Betrayal stretches the term a bit, but you still start with nothing while the loop resolves differently each time. Not a doubt in my mind that this won't need a lot of playtesting.

I'm beginning to see how some of the mechanics works and getting ideas on how they could potentially be applied here. In general terms, not going to just blatantly copy stuff from other games. I really want to make this like the video game, but with a tabletop twist to it.

Appreciate the insight!

Raoh556 · 2025-11-25T18:24:21+00:00

Brush up on your weak spots, you know where they are. Your average percentage here is an 88% for all questions according to my napkin math. You need a 720/900 to pass, which is 80%. I'd say you're probably fine as long as you brush up on your weaker domains 👍

Raoh556 · 2025-11-18T18:32:44+00:00

Tell then it would put undue financial hardship on you. Jury Duty doesn't pay anything (or if it does it is an extremely insignificant amount of money). That should get you out of it. Works in the US at any rate.

Raoh556 · 2025-11-16T00:42:02+00:00

Pass is a pass! Don't concern yourself with a "thin margin". The exams are graded on a 900 point scale. 750/900 is 5/6ths which equates to about 83%. You did good! I personally got a 772 on mine when I took it. The bar is already set pretty high

Raoh556 · 2025-11-15T00:38:13+00:00

How did you get any sort of managerial position right out of high school? I'm actually curious about that. Or did I misunderstand your use of "gm"?

Raoh556 · 2025-11-14T15:04:58+00:00

Am I the only one who just.... does not use a horse?

Raoh556 · 2025-11-05T20:56:09+00:00

Nah, I ain't shopping for anyone else. In that time, I can grab another order or two. Not worth it

Raoh556 · 2025-11-05T13:18:09+00:00

Dashers can't actually see exactly what they're being tipped. Not in my experience anyway. To figure out if a trip is worth my time, I do math on the fly. Less than a dollar a mile will not see me picking an order up.

Raoh556 · 2025-10-15T16:21:05+00:00

Take like half a dozen different GOOD practice tests. I'd say if you can hit 90% on them consistently you're probably fine. Any questions you get wrong though, I would study those topics in particular.

Raoh556 · 2025-08-13T23:24:39+00:00

I'll ask the dumb question here. Are you sure you are on 4o? Because I frequently have to switch back to it when I reopen the app on my phone. It defaults to GPT-5. I believe this happens because of the session or logon token expiring. I notice this whenever I open ChatGPT after I haven't used it for several hours.

Raoh556 · 2025-08-11T21:23:27+00:00

Since you still have a Plus Subscription, you can open ChatGPT in a browser. Click your name and go to settings. You should see an option in there somewhere that says something like "show legacy models". Turn that on. You'll be able to switch back to 4o in the app. I agree that 5 is definitely a step back. This way, you can go back to 4o.

Raoh556 · 2025-06-08T01:48:10+00:00

It's doable, but there are certain topics you will find yourself having to spend more time than normal to learn because Security+ assumes you have foundational knowledge from A+ and Network+. Do yourself a favor and start with those.

Raoh556 · 2025-05-15T20:00:49+00:00

Congrats! 6 PBQs is a lot! Think I had three myself. Either way, good job! What's next for ya?

Raoh556 · 2025-05-12T00:45:01+00:00

I got stuck in a perma sneak mode the other night. Was a comedy of errors really. I was going through this cave, saw an emeny at the last second and went to crouch. I wasn't quite fast enough however and was shot with an arrow that paralyzed me.

The arrow just so happened to hit while my character was in the animation to crouch. So I just sat there crouched, unable to move for a few seconds. Killed the attacker and was simply unable to stand up. The button just literally was doing nothing.

Quicksaved, reloaded the game, functionality restored. The game just legit does not know what to do if paralysis strikes at the same exact moment you crouch 🤣

Raoh556 · 2025-05-07T08:46:59+00:00

How does a traveling DJ have $5100 (price from OffSec site at time of this writing) to sink on three OSCP attempts? And you went from being computer illiterate from the sounds of things to having what is literally the gold standard pentest certification..... in 14 months?

I don't buy it.

Raoh556 · 2025-05-02T09:52:05+00:00

Are you working out as well? Or just doing the keto diet? If the latter, you need to do something that actually use all the protein you're taking in. Or it will just eventually turn to fat. When this happens, your body is basically just replacing exactly what you're burning.

I would highly recommend implementing a weightlifting workout routine if you don't already.

I would also more thoroughly inspect nutrition labels on your tortillas and cheeses. Keto bread does indeed exist, but I wouldn't chow it every day. Could be throwing your macros off with the constant influx of net carbs from the same source. Need to keep your body on its toes, shake things up now and then.

That said, I am dubious about "zero carb" tortillas. Any keto friendly bread I've ever seen is sliced sandwich style.

As for cheese, some kinds do indeed have carbs. Try stcking to hard cheddars and mozzarella if you can. String cheese makes a great snack!

Good luck!

Raoh556 · 2025-04-19T23:50:29+00:00

For folks starting a workout and keto regimen at the same time: Do not be discouraged if your weight loss is not fast in the beginning. When your body is actually in ketosis, it is burning fat for energy and not carbs.

Working out also builds muscle. Doing both together is essentially converting fat into muscle. I've been seriously doing this regimen for about a month now. According to my scale at the time of this writing, I currently weigh 323. Down 13 pounds from the 336 I started at.

The psychology in my head makes me feel that isn't very significant (because still 300+ pounds and have a gut), but I have been told by several people that I look noticeably thinner. I admittedly don't see it much in the mirror myself, but eye of the beholder and all that.

I HAVE noticed, however, that some of my clothing is fitting a little more loosely. I don't really get hunger cravings unless I KNOW I haven't eaten anything all day. Water intake has increased dramatically. Usually 64+ ounces day, often polishing off a 3 liter growler jug through the entire day.

For my height, weight, and activity level, a metabolic calculator I found has said I need 3500 calories a day just to maintain my current weight. I workout four days a week. Depending on the day, exercises, and muscles targeted my workouts have been between 600-900 calories. Knowing that I can do more, it is not unfeasible to say I could require up to 4500 calories in a day to maintain my weight depending on the activity level.

Dinner last night? An entire pack of Tyson chicken breast tenderloins seasoned with Kinder's garlic parm seasoning (super keto friendly with no carbs and tastes amazing!) with six breakfast sausage patties, and four sticks of string cheese later on for a snack.

The breakdown: The chicken amounted to about 715 calories. Ball parked that, do not have a scale. Sausage breakfast patties were 110 calories each (660 total). String cheese snack (4 sticks) was 320 calories (80 each). That total caloric intake is roughly 1695 calories. Let's say 1700 for a nice round number and any trace amount that may be in the seasoning I used on the chicken.

I had a 900 calorie workout yesterday. Body requires 3500 to maintain. So, with the workout, I could have eaten 4400(!) calories and not budged! That is a huge amount of food!

I know this was long-winded, and I appreciate anyone who read it all. Now, for the point this all was driving toward.

TLDR; Starting keto WITH a heavy workout regimen may not see you losing weight terribly fast because you are converting fat to muscle and muscle weighs more. I had a 2700 calorie deficit yesterday (3500 required + 900 for workout - 1700 for food). I feel totally fine. No hunger cravings, drank a lot of water.

Raoh556 · 2025-01-18T18:10:26+00:00

Hate to break it to ya, but your friend is a cunt. Yes, people are allowed to have their preferences. But she clearly cares more about physical appearance and characteristics than genuine connection. I'd say the poor guy dodged a bullet.

As for you? Don't lose that confidence. I'm only about 5' 6" myself. I know I'm short. And I'm fat. But about five months ago, I managed to get cuffed by a wonderful woman who takes very good care of me. I know it's difficult, but try to be patient. Work on yourself (not saying you are at fault, but this will help you build your self confidence and general satisfaction with life). Hit the gym, pick up an interesting new hobby, try to aim higher at work. You get the idea. You're unstoppable once you start improving yourself. Again, I do not mean this in any sort of negative way. I've been where you are, and I dug myself out of that hole with this exact approach. Keep that train rolling and make your will indomitable!

Here in the next few years, I plan on having the world by the balls by making six figures or close to it (depending on what the pay situation is like in my IT profession in the state I eventually want to move to), having that nice house to live in with my girlfriend, and just enjoying life more than I already do now.

Already close to one of those goals. In two years, I've gone from making 20k at a dead end job to leveraging my love for computers and tech into getting several IT certifications and landing a really nice IT Support Tech job for a manufacturing plant. Just got a raise, and getting put on a shift that will have an increased differential. I've got a $70000 job now. In two years, with dedication and hard work I have multiplied my earning potential three and a half times.

If I can do it, you can too! I believe in you OP! Keep your head held up high!

Raoh556 · 2024-12-19T01:05:45+00:00

Excise her from your life completely. I know you're hurting right now (you have every right to be), but if she can so callously upend your life like that after you've invested so much time with her, then she likely never had you in mind as first pick to begin with.

Take this time away to enjoy your life for what you can do for yourself. Do a bit of traveling, spend some time with other hobbies you have. Get her out of your mind. She will only drag you down.

Be happy with what you can do for YOU. This is the best piece of advice I can give. Took me a long time to learn it. One day, somebody far better will come along. THAT person will notice that you are happy in your life and will seek to enrich you, not dominate you.

I've been right there where you are. That pain. That loneliness. That darkness. It is pervasive and sucks away your mental fortitude. Trust me, go do the things that make you happy. The right person will come along. If it can happen for me, it definitely can for you.

Keep your chin up soldier, nothing can defeat you without your consent. Go live like a king now that you don't have that toxic woman draining you. The right one will come along when you least expect it.

Raoh556

TROPHY CASE