In need of life advice...opinions......boobies????

[Staredge]

So....quick update for those of you who missed the previous posting, or forgot:

Still getting divorced......still unemployed.

I was offered a job at a casino in Harrisburg as a Table Games Dealer. The lady I interviewed with was of the opinion, based on my interview and my background that I could move up in the company. We talked for quite a bit longer than the other interviews. They are just opening up the table games, with play (and the job) to start at the beginning of July. Between now and then, two things have to happen. I have to take and pass 12 weeks of unpaid training (they are providing the training), and I have to get my PA Gaming License. The casino is 100 miles door to door from where I'm living. (still in the same house) The training will not affect my unemployment, although it runs out in May. (one month extensions have been approved..I'll have to apply for it) They'll let me take two sessions a day, so I'll come out knowing all 4 games instead of the 2 that everyone else will have. I am concerned about the license. My credit is shot. Things in default...charge-offs.....the residue of a marriage that affected a lot of things. I talked to my interviewer and she said that she thought it would be ok....the board was interested in more than just credit, and I needed to be honest above all. I'm planning on fixing a lot of these things, but being on unemployment makes that kind of hard.

So.....the good points:

I would LOVE to have this job. I'm aware of the downsides to the job, but I'd still love to do it.
It's a job offer. Haven't been offered anything else in the 4 months I've been employed.
It's close enough to my kids that, even after moving up the road, I'll be able to stay involved.
I REAAAAAALLLLLYYYY want this job!!!!!!


Bad points:

The license is an issue. I'm very worried about it falling through. Reading some of the dealer boards out there, it seems that bad credit isn't an automatic deal breaker.
Gas. 1000 miles a week, and I'm not likely to get much help from the STBX wife. Any money I was going to put away will be going for gas and....
Child care. We're going to have to put the kids in day care one if not two days a week while I'm in training. 40-80 a week...added to the gas bill. The STBX seems to be willing to help with this.


I'm taking a gamble on this one. Lots of things have to happen perfectly to make it work. I've got some people that are going to talk to friends...see if someone will let me crash with them a couple of nights a week while I'm in training. That will ease the burden a little bit, if it works out. Thought about trying to rent a room, but that'll cost just as much (if not more) than the driving.

So...what do you think? (just what I need...advice from a bunch of drunken parrotheads!!!!) (seems to be pretty solid though) the alternative is...I start looking again for a job that I really DON'T want. This is one of my dream jobs....I just don't know if I can pull the trigger on doing it.

[springparrot]

I got nothing, but
GOOD LUCK WILL!!!!

[sunseeker]

Will,

I say listen to your heart. Do what is best for you (and your kids) at this point. i will say 100 miles each way will eventually get old....BUT if it's your heart's desire then you will be able to tolerate it.

I wish you the best of luck.....

[Staredge]

Thanks for that, at least!!!

The other complication is....it's a tip job. $6.25 an hour, plus tokes. They'll be splitting the tokes between the whole crew. Casino projection, based on their history and their slot market now, is 35K on the low end. A lot of the dealers I've seen on the boards, both LV based and others, are making 50-60K.

[Staredge]

Yeah....the STBX said "isn't that a long way to drive every day???"


I'm sorry....when you said "I want a divorce" did you miss the whole not living together part?!?!?!?!?!?!?

I'll be moving shortly after I start a new job. I'm ready to be out of this house.

[thebeachbumm33]

I really can't tell you about the PA gaming division but with the NJ CCC you would not have an issue getting a gaming license provided there was no criminal background in your history. As previously stated the commute will get old fast. I'd also be concerned with the fact that most places over hire in the beginning so if they are offering you 4 games take them get as many as you can under your belt so they can use you where they need you. I also think the casino's projection is a bit high although I'm using AC numbers and the economic downturn in my figures for this area, I would think 35 will be closer than the 50-60 . As far as moving up within the industry it is very easy once your in the door.

Go for it and good luck

[Staredge]

That was her opinion as well....they were more worried about the criminal side. The commute won't be forever...just until July or August. I'll be moving closer to Harrisburg at that point.

I see your point about AC....but I look at it from a different side. AC is down, but I have a feeling that this areaa will pick up what they've lost. The slots are already pulling from the Baltimore/DC area, so I figure that the tables will also pull that market. No sense dealing with the drive when Harrisburg is easy to get to. (I-83 out of Baltimore is a straight shot)

[ph4ever]

If you don't go for it you'll regret it later. Life is too short to live with regrets. Worse case - you find out later you hate the job and then you look for another. I say go for it!!! I know of people who make 100 mile commutes daily. Money won't make the kids happy - a happy parent makes the kids happy. There were many times where I couldn't afford to do extra things with my son like trips to amusement parks, and we just had to settle for quality time together. Now that he's an adult he appreciates our quality time we spent together more than ever and misses it just as much as I do.

[sonofabeach]

I got to go with boobies on this one.

And good luck whatever you do

[pair8head]

What ever decision you make just be happy with it. Give it your best shot so there will be no regrets.


As for the commute? I know 3 guys who have just about the same commute as that and they are
doing fine with it. I know of another guy who has an even longer commute to the point that he found a cheap
studio apartment near work for the week and goes home on the weekends.

[Bubbaphan]

Freshly big D'd here as well. You gotta go with what feels right. Damn the torpedoes!
Also boobies. Also, got to my music page below and listen to the "Wal-Mart" song.

[SharkOnLand]

"Leap and the net will appear."

Also: Boobies.

[BFinnsUp]

You would be in our neck of the woods, Will. Still reasonably close to the kids and to The Lube for labor day. Tim (Backstreet77) and I are always looking for people to go to TJ Rockwell's during the summer, so that might be a down side. I understand that they are a good company to work for and they seem to be growing at a healthy rate. If it is a job you want, I think you should go for it.

[JollyMon66]

Hang in there. Been through the divorce thing 10 years ago - fortunately we have been able to remain friendly for the sake of our son. We even have gone on college visits together with him

I empathize with the job situation...a "big bank" merger in Central PA eliminated my job last October. I was good for 14 months then "sorry Charlie" we restructured and we no longer need your services here....thanks for the hard work. (Now a shameless plug for myself) If anyone in Central PA needs an experienced institutional investment and retirement plan relationship manager shoot me a PM.

Bfinnsup and Tim - ROCKWELL'S - I love Rockwells - send me a PM if you would like to meet there sometime this summer. Rockwell's, in part, inspired me to build a bigger deck several years ago.

[Skibo]

If you are considering dealing, drive to AC and talk to some dealers. The shared tips don't work out that well. Even if you kill in tips, there is at least one moron or two that the players hate that is dragging down the average. If you are dealing poker, tournies will drag down your payrate (tips/time are horrible). Also, the schedule isn't as fixed as it might seem. If the floor is slow, you may be sent home or called off. I am expecting the PA games to be pretty slow. (not really a tourist destination) It will be mostly local regulars. The poker players should come to like you and take care of you (when you work) You won't be seeing high rollers in the PA casino's. The ones without time will drive/fly to AC. The ones with time will fly to Vegas. The PA casinos will be taking money from the locals that can least afford to gamble.

[backstreets77]

Hang in there. Been through the divorce thing 10 years ago - fortunately we have been able to remain friendly for the sake of our son. We even have gone on college visits together with him

I empathize with the job situation...a "big bank" merger in Central PA eliminated my job last October. I was good for 14 months then "sorry Charlie" we restructured and we no longer need your services here....thanks for the hard work. (Now a shameless plug for myself) If anyone in Central PA needs an experienced institutional investment and retirement plan relationship manager shoot me a PM.

Bfinnsup and Tim - ROCKWELL'S - I love Rockwells - send me a PM if you would like to meet there sometime this summer. Rockwell's, in part, inspired me to build a bigger deck several years ago.

Deck opens in May. i was just there Sunday. Well have to pick a nice saturday and we can all meet up.

[backstreets77]

Will. I look at it like this.It's a job offer when alot of others are losing their jobs left and right so that's a very good thing in its own right in my opinion. If its your dream job that's another positive. I've always said to Anna - everything happens for a reason. So if you want to be an optimist you can look like your divorce may have lead you to a dream job. Who knows what other doors this change in life an open, If you see a crack in the door kick that BEATCH in.

[Glorfindel7]

I drive 70 miles one way to my job every day... it can be done if you really want to do it...

Good luck Will

[SMLCHNG]

I vote for going for it. And good luck, Will!!

[Dutch Harbor PH]

- First off....You can NEVER go wrong with Boobies...Period...end of THAT discussion
- Second... SOunds like you are in need of a change in your life and this may be thing that lights it up for you....Go for it if it makes you happy!
- Third.... Get as much training as you can...employers like EE's that are flexible and a happy EE is what they want. It projects the image they want and is not bad for tips too...