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Sue 67, Female Missouri United States: Share

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Yellowstone Employees

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Seasonal Addicts Anony...

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Older and Bolder

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Xanterra Grand Canyon South Rim

Replied Nov. 8, 2008

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Profile Information

Hometown:: Neosho, Missouri

About Me:: Widowed and retired from a major airline. Rving full time with a 30' Fifth Wheel and a 3/4 ton GMC pickup. I took a year off after retirement to just rest, go and look at one thing or another. This will be my first year for working a seasonal job since retirement. Have a current job for the summer season at Mt. Rushmore. I am excited about it and know I will enjoy it.

05/20/08 = UPDATE As of this date I have confirmed my arrival at Mt. Rushmore with the HR manager and I report to work on the 5 of June. I will be leaving my location here in SW Missouri and head up to Keystone, SD, it will take about 2 and half days to get there.

06/02/08 I made Keystone in 2 days and a few hours. No problems on the way. I start to work at Mt. Rushmore Thursday the 5th. So far OK. I have met some of the seasonal workers that are here. Very nice and helpful people.

08-27-08 I have enjoyed the work as well as the people here at Mt. Rushmore. this as been a summer to end all summers but hope to have many more.

10/18/2008 Completed my first contract for the summer of 2008. Back in southwest Missouri and am currently looking for a job for the winter. I prefer retail or office work.

Last Seasonal Job:: Xanterra Parks and Resorts/ Mt. Rushmore Memorial Natl. Park

Favorite Seasonal Job:: Don't know yet.

Where have you lived and worked?: I was born and raised in Southwest, MO. Then moved to OK. in 1964. I have lived and worked there until now. After retirement from a major airline I started full time RVing eventho I have never done that. I am having a blast. This is a great country to see and I want to see all that I can. This is the first year (2008) that I have worked seasonal work. I do enjoy it. Looking forward to new positions and places to see and work at.

Dream Job:: Doing what I want to do, not what I have to do.

Latest Activity

Sue commented on Dominic's group 'Seasonal Addicts Anonymous'

I completed my contract at Mt. Rushmore the last of Sept. I came South to Oklahoma to see the kids and at the end of Oct. heading for Arizona to play for the winter. They say old people don't know how to have fun. Just stand back and watch. Come S...

October 12

Sue left a comment for Barb

September 30

Barb left a comment for Sue

September 30

Sue added a photo

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July 20

Sue added a photo to the album 'New Babies'

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July 20

Sue commented on Cool Works tm's group 'Yellowstone Employees'

thank you, I have other questions but will do some checking on things first before I start asking for more details. But I like the sound of big RV space.

July 19

Sue commented on Cool Works tm's group 'Yellowstone Employees'

I am working on a plan for next year. I would like to work at Yellowstone, I have my own RV and that is my question. Can someone tell me about the RV Park for employees? Are they roomy, tight space, full hookups, and info will be greatly appreciated.

July 18

Sue joined Cool Works tm's group

Yellowstone Employees

Connect with Yellowstone buds or shake down Yellowstone alumni about working there.

July 18

Sue's Photos

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Sue's Blog

Settling Down For The Long Haul

Here I am already a month into the work here at Mt. Rushmore. So far we have had a mixed bag of weather, snow,rain and sunshine. Sometime all in one day. We just about have a full working crew and can settle down for the summer. One or two have washed out already, other's moved into new position. The RV park we stay in, is all but full. The new owner of Xanterra Parks and Resorts have started putting their changes in place. More will be coming as time goes by. Business has been steady. We make o… Continue

Posted on May 20, 2009 at 10:43pm — 5 Comments

Spring is about to get Sprung

Winter is about over, Spring is in the air in the desert. We have had some nice rains this winter and the desert is far greener than I thought it would or could be. The bushes that looked dead are green with life and ready to put on a show of color. I have not done much beyond eating and sleeping this whole winter. I did reads some good books. I have taken some side trips each month but all in all I have rested. Lost a brother this last Nov. but did get to visit with him before I came West. One… Continue

Posted on February 20, 2009 at 12:38pm — 1 Comment

Going to the Desert

10/20/08
Since I have not been able to secure a winter position that I want, I have decided to head for the
desert of West Arizona and sit out the winter. I love the fall season here in Southwest Missouri with the maple trees turning the leaves every color of red and yellow that you can think of. In sight of my window now is a maple that is deep reds and rust and in a few more week will be a wonderful tree to behold.
Now I have never lived around or on a desert so this will be a new experience f… Continue

Posted on October 20, 2008 at 9:42am — 5 Comments

End of Season One

I have completed my first seasonal contract and can't wait to go back. The job at Furnace Creek was withdrawn. They are asking for full time employment and I don't want full time. I don't mean 40 hours for a few months, I mean day in and day out for 12 months a year type fulltime. At this time in my life I just want to work for a few months then go do something else some place else. But this has been a summer to remember. I have worked with some wondeful people. People you want as life friend. T… Continue

Posted on October 15, 2008 at 8:29pm — 1 Comment

Big Fourth of July

Getting braced for the big day at Mt. Rushmore, the 3rd and 4th they expect somewhere between 20-30,000 people. While working in the gift shop that will seem like 3/4th of them will be kids. Just joking they come along with the money. I saw their display last year and it is well worth the effort to go see it. Best way if your not working there is to get a ticket for one of the many buses that will be taking people up. It will cost about $20 and is the only way to go. They take you to the front s… Continue

Posted on June 29, 2008 at 5:30pm — 2 Comments

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At 6:32pm on September 30, 2009, Barb said…: Hello Sue ! Are you home yet to MO? I made it home in time to visit my brother a couple hours before he passed away and I thank Xanterra for allowing me to leave a couple weeks early. It's getting cold here in MI and I am deciding when to leave for FL, probably a week before Thanksgiving if I can hang out here that long. Not sure where I'll end up next year but hope to run into you again.

At 11:20am on June 9, 2009, Barb said…: Ok, I'm packing stuff to bring out and the weather looks as cold there as it has been in Michigan all spring. I'm missing the warmth of Florida!! I stroll into the park on the 24th, will stop by the gift shop when I have a day off to say howdy.

At 4:50pm on April 16, 2009, Barb said…: You started work today! What are you doing this year? Do you still go through orientation? I won't be there till mid June but will be looking to meet you and your sis. My sis retired April 1st and she may be joining me on one of the work adventures also.
Hope you've got a jacket, it's cold out there today! It was 90 today in FL and will be heading back to Michigan next week and stay till I come out that way. I KNOW it will be warmer out there by then. lol.

At 5:48pm on February 13, 2009, Barb said…: Thanks for all that Sue!! Looking forward to seeing you. I hear Quartzsite isn't that busy this year and I too love that area. There is a golf course in Parker that is the coolest I've ever played.
I will be in the dorm and will get ahold of you before I come out. How long will you be there for? Didn't know you could walk on the heads there but that sounds like an excellent thing to do. Can't wait.
Talk to you then, enjoy AZ!

At 9:48am on December 27, 2008, Deb said…: Hi Sue, hope the holidays good for you. It is pouring down rain here in in Mo., several ice storms, black ice, light snow, wind, deep freeze...all this in December and now...tornado watches and rain and flash flood watches! Weird, weird, weird.

With economy and all I am being very careful about retiring..and taking a seasonal job. It is SO tempting...I have been waiting years for this. I am eligible to retire, but divorced this yr., so really should be prudent for another year or two. I'll pray and wait to get my answer.

In the meantime, what is your advice? Life is so short...my job is one that allows early retirement because it is so demanding...but like I said, the economy, trying to decide to give up a good job when so many have NO job. What do the seasoned pros say? Security or freedom?

Those pics of fireworks are great by the way.

At 8:48pm on November 9, 2008, Ann Carr said…: Great photos.. if you are interested in a retail, do apply at Grand Teton for the 2009 season! Congratulations on finishing your first seasonal job.

At 10:25am on October 20, 2008, Lisa J said…: Hi Sue - hope your weekend went well. I went to my local RV dealer this weekend just to look around and get ideas/prices, etc. Found out I could pull a very nice smallish trailer with a Toyota Tundra, so that is probably what I'm gonna set my sets on for the future.

At 4:09pm on October 16, 2008, Lisa J said…: oh BTW, after your suggestion of going with a Class C vehicle instead of a truck & 5th Wheel, I went online and started checking out what all a Class C has to offer and I was pleasantly surprised. Especially when I thought about towing my own little Toyota Celica behind it - that surely wouldn't be nearly as hard as driving a big ole truck with a loooong trailer behind it. Wheee!!! and the prices for the Class C's weren't all that bad as well. Totally put a new spin on my plans!

At 2:59pm on October 16, 2008, Lisa J said…: Sue, Thank you so much for your replies. You are so encouraging and an inspiration to me!! Here's a question: when you are on the road, on average, how much to you spend on gasoline, say like in a month? I know that figure would need to be a high priority monthly "bill" to put in my budget. That and auto/RV insurance premiums. Is the insurance really high as compared to just ins. on a car? Oh, and I'm a believer in roadside assistance programs - I'm with AAA rite now - it has been an invaluable service in the past, for sure! Thanks again for letting me "pick your brain."

At 7:53am on October 16, 2008, Lisa J said…: Hi Sue! Thanks for the info. Well, if anything, I've always had the feeling I can do whatever I put my mind to, so perhaps that is half the battle won! I've looked at RV's in person and online because I know one of these days I'm gonna make the jump from this cubicle out into the world of seasonal work - just waiting on my youngest daughter to graduate from college or at least get to a place where she is comfortable going it alone. I'm figuring 3 to 5 years. In that time, I'm gonna be making my plans and learning as much as I can from blogs like yours and websites like Coolworks and getting "my ducks in a row". Half of me says just live in the dorms but the other half says it would be so nice to have my own place where I can have a little peace & solitude and do things my own way - LOL! I once saw a beautiful 5th Wheel that is now my Standard of what I'd like to have, but I am aware there is a lot to learn and understand. I'm gonna try to track down some "RV classes" - hopefully they have such - to gets some instruction & experience working a rig. I also have a brother who is very experienced with trucking who will be retiring in about 5 years, so maybe I can get him to help me out in the beginning. Anyway, thank you again for your information & encouragement. I will continue to follow your blog and would like to add you as a Friend on this site. Lisa