Odd jobs
Interesting — and unusual — jobs in New England.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Contortionist
Who: Chris Oakley
Where: Northampton
Can you fit into small spaces? I can cram myself into a luggage suitcase. I took a promo picture of myself inside a fridge, doing a back bend, holding a glass of milk.
Where: Northampton
Can you fit into small spaces? I can cram myself into a luggage suitcase. I took a promo picture of myself inside a fridge, doing a back bend, holding a glass of milk.
- Photos Stretched to the limit
Coast Guard lighthouse keeper
Who: Sally Snowman
Where: Little Brewster Island
Who's out at the lighthouse with you? My husband, James G. Thomson. He often wears a T-shirt that says "Keeper's Husband." We were married at the lighthouse in 1994, something I always dreamed about.
Where: Little Brewster Island
Who's out at the lighthouse with you? My husband, James G. Thomson. He often wears a T-shirt that says "Keeper's Husband." We were married at the lighthouse in 1994, something I always dreamed about.
Pet wheelchair maker
Who: Leslie Grinnell
Where: Western Massachusetts
Why do pets need wheelchairs? A dog that can't go outside can ultimately become extremely depressed and potentially suffer from secondary infections as well as skin ulcerations, pressure sores, and bladder infections.
Where: Western Massachusetts
Why do pets need wheelchairs? A dog that can't go outside can ultimately become extremely depressed and potentially suffer from secondary infections as well as skin ulcerations, pressure sores, and bladder infections.
Saxophone mechanic
Who: Bob Drinkwater
Where: Boston area
How did you get into saxophone repair? I worked for many years building flutes for the Wm. S. Haynes flute factory in Boston. That's where I learned my craft.
Where: Boston area
How did you get into saxophone repair? I worked for many years building flutes for the Wm. S. Haynes flute factory in Boston. That's where I learned my craft.
Ice cream truck vendor
Who: Peter Christopoulos
Where: Sweet Pete's based in Dracut
What else do you sell besides ice cream? I sell soda and candy as well. Sometimes, though, I get the strangest questions, from parents in particular. They ask if I have dog food, baby's formula, or even laundry detergent.
Where: Sweet Pete's based in Dracut
What else do you sell besides ice cream? I sell soda and candy as well. Sometimes, though, I get the strangest questions, from parents in particular. They ask if I have dog food, baby's formula, or even laundry detergent.
Pet waste remover
Who: Jack Sheehy
Where: DoodyCalls in Massachusetts
How much does it cost to get poop scooped? A typical backyard with one dog is $15.50 a week; an additional dog is $3. It's very affordable.
Where: DoodyCalls in Massachusetts
How much does it cost to get poop scooped? A typical backyard with one dog is $15.50 a week; an additional dog is $3. It's very affordable.
Kitchen tester
Who: Lisa McManus
Where: Brookline
What's the best way to break into this type of culinary career? To be a test cook at Cook's, you need significant restaurant or cooking experience and a culinary degree. My co-workers are all triple-threats, they can do it all.
Where: Brookline
What's the best way to break into this type of culinary career? To be a test cook at Cook's, you need significant restaurant or cooking experience and a culinary degree. My co-workers are all triple-threats, they can do it all.
Reverse glass painter
Who: Linda Abrams
Where: Waltham
How much can a reverse glass painter make? Between $40,000 to $60,000 a year, but there are no benefits. Although, you get a lot of personal satisfaction and you're helping to preserve beautiful old objects.
Where: Waltham
How much can a reverse glass painter make? Between $40,000 to $60,000 a year, but there are no benefits. Although, you get a lot of personal satisfaction and you're helping to preserve beautiful old objects.
Diver
Who: Chris Bauernfeind
Where: Giant Ocean Tank, New England Aquarium
Are you allowed to interact with the crowd? Not only allowed, it's part of my job almost. Sometimes I hang upside down in the window, wave at the kids.
Where: Giant Ocean Tank, New England Aquarium
Are you allowed to interact with the crowd? Not only allowed, it's part of my job almost. Sometimes I hang upside down in the window, wave at the kids.
Hypnotherapist
Who: Jean Fain
Where: Concord
What do you enjoy treating? Phobias. Phobias are fun. They're very responsive to treatment, and people get better fast. Flying phobias, performance anxiety, social phobias.
Where: Concord
What do you enjoy treating? Phobias. Phobias are fun. They're very responsive to treatment, and people get better fast. Flying phobias, performance anxiety, social phobias.
- Videos Exploring magic
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- Focus on the Twinkie
Ride attendant
Who: Jessica Johnston
Where: Six Flags New England
What's so great about the Superman ride? Are you kidding me? It's over 20 stories high, with a 221-foot drop, and goes 77 miles per hour with a mile-long track of twists and turns. What's not to like?
Where: Six Flags New England
What's so great about the Superman ride? Are you kidding me? It's over 20 stories high, with a 221-foot drop, and goes 77 miles per hour with a mile-long track of twists and turns. What's not to like?
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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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