Odd jobs
Interesting — and unusual — jobs in New England.
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More odd jobs
Astrologer
Who: Joyce Levin
Where: Cambridge
Do some people think you're a crackpot? Sure, of course. I had one man who wouldn't come near me, but then he read some things I wrote, based on the economy and long-term trends, and now he calls me all the time.
Where: Cambridge
Do some people think you're a crackpot? Sure, of course. I had one man who wouldn't come near me, but then he read some things I wrote, based on the economy and long-term trends, and now he calls me all the time.
Video game developer
Who: Jeffrey Steefel
Where: Turbine Inc., Westwood
I have to ask, are you a geek? My wife says I am. I make games for a living and I have every gadget known to man. I have so many gadgets that I need a special bag just to carry all the adaptors. So, yes, I am a geek.
Where: Turbine Inc., Westwood
I have to ask, are you a geek? My wife says I am. I make games for a living and I have every gadget known to man. I have so many gadgets that I need a special bag just to carry all the adaptors. So, yes, I am a geek.
Funeral director
Who: Jacquelyn Taylor
Where: New England Institute at Mount Ida College
The job prospects are great, right? Well, just remember the old adage: Nothing is certain except for death and taxes. No one wants to work for the IRS, so come on over to the funeral home.
Meteorologist
Who: Ryan Knapp
Where: Mount Washington Observatory
What's the view like up there? On a good day, you can see a 130-mile radius, which includes five states, New York, Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts.
Where: Mount Washington Observatory
What's the view like up there? On a good day, you can see a 130-mile radius, which includes five states, New York, Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts.
Costume designer
Who: Gail Buckley
Where: Costume Works Inc., Somerville
What's it like to make the Hasty Pudding costumes? Those skirts and tops need to be actor-proof in a way that normal costumes don't need to be, because they're worn by eager college-age boys.
Where: Costume Works Inc., Somerville
What's it like to make the Hasty Pudding costumes? Those skirts and tops need to be actor-proof in a way that normal costumes don't need to be, because they're worn by eager college-age boys.
Piano mover
Who: Greg Keane
Where: Deathwish Piano Movers, Allston
How's business? Business is picking up. Business is booming. Get it? Those are all our piano jokes, because we use cranes and our cranes are called boomings.
Where: Deathwish Piano Movers, Allston
How's business? Business is picking up. Business is booming. Get it? Those are all our piano jokes, because we use cranes and our cranes are called boomings.
OCC operator
Who: Dan Malone
Where: Big Dig Operations Control Center (OCC)
How long would it take someone to get used to all of the information here? I would say it would take a year to 18 months before someone is comfortable working alone without asking a lot of questions.
Where: Big Dig Operations Control Center (OCC)
How long would it take someone to get used to all of the information here? I would say it would take a year to 18 months before someone is comfortable working alone without asking a lot of questions.
Tattoo artist
Who: Siobhan Creedon
Where: Darkwave Tattoos in Roxbury
What does it feel like to get a tattoo? It can feel like being scratched by a cat, sort of a sharp scraping feeling. It can be even more painful in bony places like your sternum or collarbone, elbow, or rib cage.
Where: Darkwave Tattoos in Roxbury
What does it feel like to get a tattoo? It can feel like being scratched by a cat, sort of a sharp scraping feeling. It can be even more painful in bony places like your sternum or collarbone, elbow, or rib cage.
MedFlight paramedic
Who: Christine Kociszewski
Where: Boston MedFlight
Did you ever overcome your fear of flying? Yes, but it was initially a white-knuckle experience, especially the first few times in the helicopter. It was so loud, and there was a little bit of turbulence, and I didn't know what to expect.
Where: Boston MedFlight
Did you ever overcome your fear of flying? Yes, but it was initially a white-knuckle experience, especially the first few times in the helicopter. It was so loud, and there was a little bit of turbulence, and I didn't know what to expect.
Live animal curator
Who: Bunny Watson
Where: Museum of Science Boston
Have any of the animals ever escaped? We take care of these animals 365 days a year, with their care attended to by curatorial staff, interns, and volunteers. So yes, once in a while, someone slips and forgets to latch a cage.
Where: Museum of Science Boston
Have any of the animals ever escaped? We take care of these animals 365 days a year, with their care attended to by curatorial staff, interns, and volunteers. So yes, once in a while, someone slips and forgets to latch a cage.
Shoe designer
Who: Marc Loverin
Where: Stride Rite in Lexington
When you go out in public, is it difficult to stop thinking about kids' shoes? I look at shoes wherever I go. I have to make sure I don't come across as creepy, staring at other people's children. It's an occupational hazard of the job.
Where: Stride Rite in Lexington
When you go out in public, is it difficult to stop thinking about kids' shoes? I look at shoes wherever I go. I have to make sure I don't come across as creepy, staring at other people's children. It's an occupational hazard of the job.
Fishing rod craftsman
Who: Per Brandin
Where: Shelburne Falls
Do any celebrities use your fishing poles? Not that I know of. A fellow fly rod maker made a rod for someone in Pink Floyd, and also Eric Clapton, who is a big fly fisherman.
Where: Shelburne Falls
Do any celebrities use your fishing poles? Not that I know of. A fellow fly rod maker made a rod for someone in Pink Floyd, and also Eric Clapton, who is a big fly fisherman.
- Photos In the workshop
Candy developer
Who: Jeff Green
Where: Revere
How did you get into this career? I started my career in a meat company handling quality control. It was actually not much of a transition to go from meat to candy - processing and quality control translate across most food boundaries.
Where: Revere
How did you get into this career? I started my career in a meat company handling quality control. It was actually not much of a transition to go from meat to candy - processing and quality control translate across most food boundaries.
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Tell us about it.
E-mail: oddjobs@globe.com
Fax: 676-929-3183
Mail: Business News/Odd Jobs, The Boston Globe, P.O. Box 55819, Boston MA.
E-mail: oddjobs@globe.com
Fax: 676-929-3183
Mail: Business News/Odd Jobs, The Boston Globe, P.O. Box 55819, Boston MA.
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