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Tobin S.

(10,418 posts)
Thu May 10, 2018, 03:47 AM May 2018

I had to blast the bullshit out of my brain tonight and other musings.

I run a trucking route from Dayton, Ohio to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and back five nights a week. The day shift driver left his Sirius radio in the truck for me to use which was nice of him. On my way back from Pittsburgh, I turned off the CB, tuned the Sirius to channel 40 Liquid Metal, cranked the volume up to just below distortion level, and rode all the way back like that.

The heavy, thrashing music calmed me. It had been a long time since I had really had the chance to listen to some good heavy metal, and discover some new bands. As I drove through the night I entered a Zen-like state with little thought going through my mind; just absorbed in the music and riding and guiding. My mind has been stressed lately, and it was a welcome relief to be able to let go like that. My ears are ringing right now, though.

I live in Richmond, Indiana and it's hard to find decent paying work here. I've been commuting over to Dayton, Ohio that past couple of years for work. It's a one hour drive one way- about 50 miles. I've been looking locally for a good opportunity, and one popped up a couple of weeks ago on Craigslist. A company out of Chicago has a local job here here doing pick up and delivery for their LTL (less than truckload) freight. They needed a driver for day shift. It paid a little better and the job site is three miles from my house. They have comparable benefits to what I currently have, plus a sign on bonus and safety bonuses which I currently don't have. The work day is shorter, too, and that combined with being just a few minutes from the house will give me back three or four hours a day of free time. I applied and got an offer. I'll be starting on May 21st.

Changing jobs is always stressful, though, even if you are going to something better. And that's not the only thing that's had me uptight, lately. I've been trying to cultivate my heart and peace of mind for a while now. I can get into places where I feel loving and at peace, but I can't stay there. I'm not talking about my marriage. There is no issue there. I'm talking about the wider society outside the home. We don't live in a culture that values peaceful, loving people. Everybody is constantly on the move, cut off from each other, and tied to the clock. Our society is very busy, but at the same time it seems to be asleep. Most people seem oblivious to the world outside of their little sphere of influence- their bubble. This separation from each other, the lack of a deeper connection with our countrymen and women, is the antithesis of love and peace. We've lost sight of each others humanity.

Anton LaVey, the founder of the Church of Satan, called America the world's first Satanic nation, and proudly so. LaVey's brand of Satanism was simply about selfishness; putting yourself before others at all times. That is the true opposite of the example of Jesus. LaVey looked at our country with its selfish people and its stress on individual liberty, and just pushed it out to its natural conclusion in his philosophy. We are more selfish as a nation than we've ever been. That's Trump's legacy.

Here's a good new metal act I ran across tonight. I think I'm going to buy their album. Don't click on the video unless you like being pummeled by your music. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you August Burns Red.

6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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I had to blast the bullshit out of my brain tonight and other musings. (Original Post) Tobin S. May 2018 OP
I am so glad you've found a new, better job. PoindexterOglethorpe May 2018 #1
Good to hear a better job is coming for you irisblue May 2018 #2
I recently discovered Studio 54 channel on sirius... Phentex May 2018 #3
Congrats Tobin, your new gig sounds ideal. denbot May 2018 #4
Congratulations on the new job! mnhtnbb May 2018 #5
I also need music more. Corgigal May 2018 #6

PoindexterOglethorpe

(25,855 posts)
1. I am so glad you've found a new, better job.
Thu May 10, 2018, 04:39 AM
May 2018

You are absolutely right that changing jobs is stressful. That was true even in the Golden Past when jobs were plentiful. I'm not sure that Golden Past ever really existed.

I personally handle the stress of a culture that doesn't value peaceful, loving people, by tuning out. I don't happen to own a TV which is a good thing for me. I've been without TV several times in my life, and this one, which started almost exactly 10 years ago, is likely to be permanent. I can watch various shows on the internet, so trust me it's not as though I'm a righteous "I never watch TV" person. I'm just not hooked up to the immediacy of having a regular TV.

The main benefit is that I never see commercials, so when I watch some show on the internet I don't have to waste the time spent on commercials. More importantly, I'm completely removed from the constant messages to buy, buy, buy. Which is really nice since my income is somewhat less than the national median, but I don't feel deprived. I can afford the things I need and most of what I want, and that's quite sufficient.

Alas, I don't appreciate metal, but I'm sincerely glad you like it and have even found a new act. It does not get better than that, does it?

Phentex

(16,334 posts)
3. I recently discovered Studio 54 channel on sirius...
Thu May 10, 2018, 06:28 AM
May 2018

And I've enjoyed it the way you enjoyed your metal.

Good luck with the new job. I hope it works out well for you.

mnhtnbb

(31,386 posts)
5. Congratulations on the new job!
Fri May 11, 2018, 08:42 PM
May 2018

That's a LOT more free time in a week that I'm sure you'll enjoy having.

Americans have bought into the capitalist concept of living to work, rather than working to live. I'm glad you'll be turning that around a bit with this new job.

Corgigal

(9,291 posts)
6. I also need music more.
Fri May 11, 2018, 09:30 PM
May 2018

We didn't move for a job, but to retire. We moved to a eyeball beautiful area that has lots of wildlife. So I get boom my brain with music, then sit on the porch and if lucky, can hear some wildlife outside.

I'm not counting on humans at this stage of my life, but nature. We didn't do the retirement ocean thing because we lived so much of our lives near the water. I'm happy in my mountain now.

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