Family and trains

A few things.

You sound kind of down that your father in law looks down at you.  Don’t be.  Maybe he can’t help it.  He is the father of a daughter and many of these people have the opinion that “No man is good enough for my little girl.”

There is nothing wrong with being a UPS driver.  I’m a retired Mechanical Engineer and I’m proud of what I accomplished as an engineer.  Years ago I worked in my family’s (four generations) newspaper delivery business and I was proud of my skills as a newspaper carrier.

Last but not least, do what makes you happy.  If that’s model trains, so be it.  There’s a reason it’s called the greatest hobby on earth.

hello Dan's Trains...........

Thank you...............

Tiffany

Warren Buffet has a train layout in his house.

I taught Advanced Placement Economics for many years (37) and I could not care less what anyone thinks of my playing with trains. 

I suggest that anyone who criticizes your train hobby be given the following instructions.

#1 Go immediately to the front door, open it and pass through.

#2 Repeat the process of going out the front door each time you criticize the train hobby of the home owner. In the event you are at all confused about instruction #2, refer to instruction #1.

Scrapiorn,

Well said.

Mikey

>>>As for me I am a ups driver and my father-in law is a retired ceo of a oil company east coast. That's probably why he looks down at me.

Oh now it all makes sense. You have a modest commendable & many times stressful occupation. One that besides your normal job duties comes the every day risk to your drivers license which jeopardize your lively hood. With him being someone that most likely skated his way into a poisson with time. Or for the most part just lucked out obtaining a high paying position with a title that is usually more impressive then the person behind it. One that received huge bonuses that IMO not only are not deserved but are just wrong in so many ways. But that is another story. However with that now no doubt receives a hefty retirement package & pension.

I know a few ceo 's & every one of them not only have that same arrogant self absorbed personality. But what bothers me the most is that they and many others out there seem to do little for the good of what ever they are in charge of, yet somehow continue to maintain their holier than thou position.

 Needless to say, don't ever for one minute ever feel down on yourself over him or any other person that thinks they are of a higher class citizen then you because of their title. Because as you see a title or bigger pay check does not make a person better or any more down to earth or simply real. 

Firefighter/paramedic, serving as Chief of Department for last ten years.  I love trains!. Model trains, real trains, railroad photography, railroad history.  I dream of trains more than I dream of women (if my wife asks, i don't dream of woman at al). Go easy on your FIL.  He just wants what's best for his daughter and if you are not into this hobby nor know anyone into the hobby, it could look a bit goofy from the outside (you spent how much on that scale steam engine?). You know what I mean?

Scrapiron,

I like your advice, with one suggestion: if Step 1 has to be repeated, there ought to be a boot involved as helper service.

Heck, with the old man being a retired oil company CEO, i'd talk your wife into acting like she's really into the hobby too and have her ask dad for a scale hudson, pacific and berk, all with matching passenger cars and a big boy to boot!

Tom Brokaw

Warren Buffett

Winston Churchill

Hermann Goring (I don't agree with his politics, but he was successful at what he did, no matter how bad it was)

Gene Hackman

Tom Hanks (modeling a Southern Pacific line)

Michael Jordan (N scale of Chicago)

Frank Sinatra

Bruce Springsteen 

Rod Stewart (multiple magazine features)

Bob Costas

Johnny Cash (did Lionel TV ads as well)

I doubt the old man is more successful or intelligent than any of the above.

And Gomez Addams...

bigdogjeff1

You are handling this all wrong

Kiss the old-man's [a--] backside

Tell him he is completely correct

The jerks on this forum are a bunch of losers

You want to be a real man---like him

"Barrow" some money [a boat load] from him to start your own dynasty

Tell him to put his money where his big mouth is 

That's his problem. It's not your problem. Don't absorb his problem.

It's often helpful to make a gratitude list, and think about all you have to be grateful for. I'm sure your list is long. Set the rest aside. Life's short - if you enjoy doing something, do it, and don't let yourself be affected by what others think. It's an often repeated cliche, but that's because it's true. Most other people, including your father-in-law, have their own demons they're fighting. Remember that you can't tell a person's inside by observing his outside.

Some people think money is life's report card. Your father-in-law may be one of those. Those people are missing out in the worst way. As for his viewpoint, put it in a box, set it aside, and disregard it. 

In a curious corollary, my Father In Law, some 25 years ago, when I first met him, accused me of drinking a beer out of the can. He thought it was "uncouth", really. His words. I pointed out that he wasn't cleaning the glasses. My Mother In Law and my Wife were. I didn't back down. I drank beer out of a can or bottle, when I visited and you know what? Oddly, he respected me over something as simple as that.  He was old school and I was new old school. I say this just to suggest you stand your ground. Lucky for you the FIL doesn't know about the Pet Rock/Beanie Babies investment that has not come up in conversation...

I handle IT Project Management, typically as a "cleaner" to get troubled projects back on track. I also have a law degree I earned while working full time. Taught computer science at a community college. Wasn't easy. Through all of that, I collected and operated trains as a hobby and still do. My kids don't get it. Neither do the rest of my family, but none of them belittles my hobby.

In the grand scheme of things and dealing with people in my personal and professional, I've found that to a person everyone knows more than he/she is given credit for and no one is as smart as he/she thinks he/she is. I suspect the father-in-law's comment was more of a cheap shot than anything else. When faced with the facts it will be interesting to see if he's smart enough to concede the point.

Who knew?  Brian Williams too?

There are not enough LIKE buttons MartyE.  Great Stuff!

Ron

Wow,another good one to remember.

My oh my, bigdogjeff1, maybe you should email him a link to this forum thread. You know, without UPS drivers I would not have my Legacy controls or my Legacy engines, keep up the good work. I also agree with Pine Creek Dave don't worry what others think, as long as you are doing an honest job and supporting your family, be your own man.

Ray

MartyE,

   That was great!

PCRR/Dave

I'm an IT Professional, with the majority of my career being in the Aerospace & semiconductor testing industry.  I've had many hats:  Department manager, project manager, computer systems administrator, network engineer (LAN, WAN, & security), SQL database & server administrator, Business Intelligence, MRP/ERP, Virtualization, software testing & evaluating, infrastructure, etc.

I love my job.  But I also love recreation, including my O gauge and other hobbies, and more importantly my family.  Work has it's place to be sure but I don't want it consuming every waking hour of my life, so I don't.

I wouldn't dignify the original comment on the first post here with a response other than handling him a catalog or magazine which shows the prices and saying, "These companies wouldn't be in business if adults with means weren't buying the stuff." If that bit of logic doesn't make your point, he can go take a flying leap.

But, all that said, in regard to the original post:

I have an IQ well over 150 when it was tested when I was a kid. I have degrees in Communications and Art. I'm also a former US Army officer and an accomplished artist, historian and cartoonist on the side (my day job is doing liability investigations for auto accidents). I've been published for each on numerous occasions and been on CNN, PBS and the History Channel over the years for various historical subjects. I was also a stand-up comedian for a while in my 20s, and you have to be quick witted for that, trust me there.

We are a diverse lot. For me, an assembly language programmer (Univac 1005), system programmer (Honeywell 6000 & Wang VS), Section Manager for NASA's Tracking and Data Relay System, Project Manager Reengineering a Court Record System from manual to digital (optical) technology, and for the past 15 years a Computer Security Auditor. MSBA, Certified Flight Instructor, Dive Master, Professional Photographer and former Army CPT.  

Take it a step further... You might not have a job at UPS delivering packages if adults did not par take in hobbies such as this or other "childish endeavors".

Ron

I just a poor old farmer.  

Nah, not really.  I've been into computers and electronics for many years.  Not quite as smart as Mark Boyd, I graduated with 3.9GPA, slacked off my senior year.  

No use trying to tell your father-in-law anything.  His lack of respect for you and your hobby is very disturbing!  You don't need his approval.

 

Some people think money is life's report card. 

WOW! Aome great advice!

Anyway to entertain your question,

I have two degrees: Associate Science- Busintess Administration, Bachelor OF Science Business Administration,twenty years in corporate as Customenr Service, Banking, CEO of Corporation, Limo Driver, and now:

reinvented myself to what will hopefully be a stable work/life/$$ environment as a mechanic for the USPS. GO APWU! I will not be rich but I can live the "American Dream"

Oh, hey, I know some doctors, lawyers, attorneys, army colonels, all into toy trains!

bigdogjeff1

UPS drivers do a great service for society..... they deliver happiness and joy to folks all day long..... and they ( the drivers )  get a good physical workout while doing so too.  Id say that is a pretty awesome job!!  

BigDog,

    In Laws are just strangers you wife knows.

JohnB

Retired Military Police officer and I have been playing with trains for over 40 years and will not stop.

Retired United States Post Office Postmaster 

Jeff,

It's a proven by the medical profession that young ladies seek out young men with qualities that they admire in their fathers. The other side of the coin shows that young men seek out young ladies with qualities that they admire in their mothers.

I'm retired from the medical profession. I was a RN-BSN with ICCU, ICCN certifications. Trains were and are my "chill pill". A bad day at my office was a matter of life and death.