I think it is time to tell you more about me, Jeff…husband, At Home Dad (AHD), domestic engineer, and teacher.
I grow up in Los Angeles, California. My teen years consisted of running up and down the beaches of Southern California and along Highway 1. I also enjoyed hanging with my CB buddies, cruising Westwood Village by UCLA, and watching the drag racers on Van Nuys Blvd among many other things. I worked for a large fast food chain (what is that girls name?) for over 2 years before I decided that I needed more in my life than managing a fast food restaurant. Boy is LA a fun place to live!
I spent 5.5 years in the United States Navy & left as an FGT2/ss. I did my boot camp in San Diego, Ca, then onto a year in Groton Ct. for my submarine and advanced schools, then back to San Diego. I was stationed aboard the USS Dixon (a sub tender) and the USS Houston (an LA class fast attack sub). I received an honorable discharge but I got out 6 months early when I divorced and took custody of my 2 young kids. I’ll elaborate more about my Navy life later.
After I got out of the Navy, reality set in. I realized that I, a man, could raise kids but I had to prove it to everyone and their uncle, sister, grandparents and the dog. After about 3 months out of the Navy, (yes I took a break…lol) I realized it was time to get moving on a career. Time to get my butt in gear. I started looking around San Diego but nothing really appealed to me. I then decided in after talking to my brother and doing some soul searching, that I needed a change. So I moved us to Reno, NV. What a place to prove that I can do it! All that snow…I was not prepared. I also went to school. I needed to do though, do it all on my own and it was a challenge, let me tell you. More about my challenge later.
I received a slot machanics degree from the Nevada Gaming School for gaming machine service, maintenance, and repair. I was working at the Circus Circus Hotel & Casino as a valet, working my way up to a training supervisor while going to school at night. I know what you are thinking, what about the kids? I had alot of help with the kids. I worked with some good people who helped alot and had a few very good kid sitters too. I worked for the Eldorado Hotel & Casino as a slot mechanic for about a year after CC.
After two years in Reno, I decided that my kids needed to know who their family was and I moved us to Los Angeles. We lived in the San Fernando Valley for over 3 years. I had various jobs over the years and it was rough at times. My family helped alot with the kids. As a single dad, I realized that my daughter needed a “woman’s touch,” so I went to Big Sisters for help. My daughter was as paired with a really sweet young lady who just adored my “Punky” and visa-versa. More about some of the ups and downs in LA later on down the line.
After 3+ years in LA and after some hard thinking about my future and where it was not going in LA, I went looking in Las Vegas. This was my second look at Las Vegas and I was hoping for something this time. I spent a long week running up and down the strip and downtown, talking with lead slot mechanics and department heads, hoping for a job. Nothing came of it but on the way home something inside me said “just do it.” Anyone ever feel that way, that you need to do it even thought all of the pieces are not in place? That gut reaction. I know what you are thinking…how can you just do it and hope it will all work out? I had 2 kids who needed me to do it better then everyone else. I planned it on the drive home and we were in Las Vegas in 3 weeks. I took a massive gamble and it paid off. It only took 3 1/2 months too, for a cool job to come my way. I will touch more on Las Vegas later.
Vegas turned out to be more than I thought it was going to be. I met a woman, got married, and we blended our families. I think that is for another time altogether.
Bye for now:)
