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What’s Your Day Job?

February 15th, 2009

I love reading all the comments you all post here on my blog and I also love reading comments on all the other blogs I read. Sometimes though, curiosity gets the best of me and I really want to know what you do, where you live, what you look like, etc. So I figured I’d go first and introduce myself for those of you who don’t know me.
hikers-by-waterfall
Mr Chiots and I got married back in 1998 (I can’t believe it’s been almost 11 years). Mr Chiot’s used to be a youth minister and we lived a few different places (Cincinnati, OH & Doylestown, OH) before settling here in Malvern, OH. Six years ago, we started a videography company (2nd Mile Productions). We do wedding videos, commercials, corporate videos and websites. Mr Chiots does the website work and most of the video editing and filming. I also film and do most of the office work and accounting for the business. Here are two short examples of our work. This first one is a recap from a wedding we shot last summer (2 min).

[flv:/video/scott_lana_recap.flv 480 270]

This is a short video we made for a church to introduce a new series (1 minute). And yes, that is Mr Chiots you see hiking through the video.

[flv:/video/Orrville.flv 480 320]

I also have another day job; I am a forwarding agent for my parents mission (The Colombian Christian Mission). Most people give me a funny look when I give them my job title, so I’ll explain. My parents are missionaries in Colombia, South America. I take care of most of the work here in United States, which means; accounting, donor relations, fund raising, newsletters, publicity, etc. I’ve been doing it for 10 years now and I enjoy it. Working for a non-profit won’t make you your first million but it is truly rewarding work.
004-web My sister and I looking at a little coati in Colombia.
Since my parents are missionaries, I was born and raised in Colombia. It’s kind of funny because it’s completely different than Ohio, especially this time of the year! Growing up in another country was quite an experience, particularly one as exciting and diverse as Colombia.
dale-jeanie-in-san-jose-web
My parents walking through the market in Colombia (that’s my older sister on my dad’s back and those are plantains on the ground).

So if you don’t mind sharing, what’s your day job?

32 Comments to “What’s Your Day Job?”
  1. kristin on February 15, 2009 at 7:52 am

    Nothing as interesting as yours. I do freelance copyediting for a company contracted with the federal government to study health conditions in third-world countries. So when I work, which is very sporadically, I read very long, very technical reports with lots of graphs and charts about the state of women’s health in Zimbabwe or something similar.

    My real day job is being a housewife/farmer. It takes up a lot more of my time, though it doesn’t pay very well. :-)

    kristin’s last blog post..Sound the Trumpets

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  2. kristin on February 15, 2009 at 7:53 am

    Ew. I hate it when the smiley face turns into one of those yellow cartoonish ones. It looks so stupid . . .

    kristin’s last blog post..Sound the Trumpets

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  3. Mooselovingmamabear on February 15, 2009 at 8:03 am

    Nothing really earth moving; I work in a Financial Aid office at a community college. The one area I do work in that brings me great joy, I work w/ giving away scholarships, so this brings a smile or two to my face knowing that I’m helping someone with their school cost.

    I’m a gardener after five and by night and weekends….

    Mooselovingmamabear’s last blog post..

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  4. Mangochild on February 15, 2009 at 8:21 am

    I like your job! Me…I’m an attorney – just starting out (2nd year) and (most times) I love it. Stress, yes, but the concepts and issues I work with are really interesting. I do wish I had more “me time” – I’m still working out the balance. My garden and my kitchen keep me sane!

    Mangochild’s last blog post..Bits and Pieces – Local In The News

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  5. Bridgett on February 15, 2009 at 8:48 am

    I am a mom and a wife. I am a former teacher turned real estate investor. Since the market took such a nose dive, I have been pursuing making money online via internet marketing. My dream job would be to make a good living cooking and baking. Still trying to figure out how to make that happen :) I live in Cincinnati, Ohio.

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  6. Jennifer on February 15, 2009 at 10:39 am

    I sell Lego. I have a basement full and sell individual Lego bricks and some sets at http://www.LittlePlasticBricks.com – I’m also a bookkeeper for a local pet sitting business, and sit the occasional kitty in my neighborhood. The Lego is full time though – the bookkeeping is only 1/2 day a week. The economy hasn’t had an affect on the Lego, but less people need dog walking in our area outside Boston.

    Reply to Jennifer's comment

  7. deborah on February 15, 2009 at 11:12 am

    Hi Suzy—
    How lovely to learn more about you. What a rich and enriching life.

    Coincidentally, I just posted about my other passion (besides gardening) on my blog. I suppose you could call managing and singing with a non-profit professional choir my day job; although you could also say I’m semi-retired. I wrote the post because I wanted people to know why I’ll be disappearing from my blog from time to time…and that I’m not slacking off. But I like your reasons better. It’s nice to get to know the folks in an online community.

    I had to laugh at your line about not making your first million at work for a non-profit. Totally true, but I love what I do and feel very rewarded by it… And there is that part about the satisfaction of making the world a little better place.

    Thanks for this very cool post.

    deborah’s last blog post..Dueling Passions

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  8. rachel on February 15, 2009 at 11:48 am

    I’m a painter. Art not houses (www.rachelbess.com). I taught life drawing for about 6 years and quit to make art full time. My husband’s an animator(flash)/digital retoucher/photo assistant… and since he got laid off, he’s only doing freelance work, which means most of the time we’re at home together which is pretty great.
    In addition to painting and the tiny farm, I volunteer for a few local organizations that have to do with sustainability and permaculture and I co-run a monthly drawing event at a local bar. whew.

    rachel’s last blog post..Seedling progress, tomato list

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  9. Maureen on February 15, 2009 at 11:55 am

    OMGoodness…what a beautiful wedding video!!! And growing up in Columbia – exciting, scary, interesting…what else? I’m with several other commenters…you are a tough act to follow.

    I’m actually a SAHM…and I love it! A few years ago I made a foray into photography doing a few senior photos and small children…then because of my own kids involvement in sports I started doing sports pics for the local paper as well as writing the stories (does that make me a photo-journalist?). It seemed a good way to start making a little extra money when things were pretty tight (hubby is a teacher, we have four kids, they eat a LOT….do the math)

    In the past year as our garden expanded, so did our vision. We decided my time and efforts (as well as my complete Joy) would be better spent in the garden moving towards a more sustainable lifestyle. In other words instead of me making more money, we could spend less and produce more of our own food.

    Things are still in the beginning stages, money is VERY tight, but we are SO excited to be on this road and very sure it is exactly where the Lord would have us at this point in our lives…as bleak as the future seems at times, we feel we are making a difference.

    Steve’s last blog post..Ramblin’

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  10. Maureen on February 15, 2009 at 11:58 am

    I SO need to learn to sign in before I post…..the above post by Steve (which is a heck of a name for a SAHM!!!) was actually written by ME.

    Steve is my wonderful hubby….thanks!

    Maureen’s last blog post..Happy Valentines Day!

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  11. deedee on February 15, 2009 at 12:08 pm

    my husband and i own a dog grooming/doggy daycare business. we also do a lot of pet sitting for people around the area. i would love to be a stay at home mom, but if i have to work, this is my best option!
    the videos are awesome… you guys are so talented!

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  12. N. on February 15, 2009 at 12:40 pm

    I’m a traveling salesperson which exactly sounds very cliche but I work with a lot of environmental type folks to manage our water resources (both quality and quantity) so it can be quite fulfilling. I consider it a bridge job between my last career in the military and whatever I end up doing. I’d like to go back to school and get my masters in the next couple years. And then who knows.

    N.’s last blog post.. For the Love of Chocolate

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  13. Frugal Trenches on February 15, 2009 at 3:57 pm

    This is my favourite post on your blog! Yes, we should get our heads together for Valentines week next year and do something for charity!

    Frugal Trenches’s last blog post.. Getting out of Debt & Downshifting has stopped my exhausted woman’s syndrome!

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  14. Judy on February 15, 2009 at 6:19 pm

    What an interesting and exciting life. I’m not nearly as interesting. By day I’m an Occupational Therapist working in on a medical/psychiatry unit. Evenings and weekends I tend the home and garden. My hubby was recently laid off his job as an editorial assistant for a publishing company so he will likely be spending more time in the garden than usual this year. We’re ramping up production in the garden to try to make up for his lost income.

    Judy’s last blog post.. Hope I can get it all done

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  15. Carol on February 15, 2009 at 9:18 pm

    I’m a SAHM and a very part-time bookkeeper for a custom home builder. I dabble in a few other things. In my former life (ha) I was a technical writer and editor. Now I’m wondering how Kristen got hooked up with her freelance job!

    Carol’s last blog post.. I Want To Do It Myself!

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  16. Chicago Mike on February 15, 2009 at 9:35 pm

    I am not sure what my real job is, but I imagine its something like Pirate Captain.

    Reply to Chicago Mike's comment

  17. cheesychick on February 15, 2009 at 10:46 pm

    Oh, I just stay at home on the farm and dream up schemes to make a little extra money. I’m getting ready to open a raw milk dairy and creamery with an on farm market for our other products. Just have to jump through all the legal hoops first.

    cheesychick’s last blog post.. Love is…

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  18. cheesychick on February 15, 2009 at 10:48 pm

    Oops, forgot to tell you that I liked this post and you have a beautiful smile.

    cheesychick’s last blog post.. Love is…

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  19. Susy on February 15, 2009 at 11:44 pm

    Thanks everyone for sharing. How very interesting how we all have very different jobs and yet all share a common hobby of gardening.

    Kristin – working from home is nice isn’t it. I love your stories of adventures on the farm (and Mr Chiots fixed the smiley face thing :).

    Mooselovingmamabear – I remember heading in to the financial aid office when I went to school. I’m sure you’re helping a lot of people achieve their dreams.

    Mangochild – an attorney, that’s very interesting. I bet you hear & see some crazy things. I remember when I was in jury duty, I thought – WOW, I can’t believe people deal with this stuff all day.

    Bridgett – MMM, cooking & baking. I’d come to your restaurant. When I was young I always told my parents I was going to open a bakery. Mr Chiots and I lived in Cincy for 5 years (we met at college there).

    Jennifer – selling legos, what a great job. Do you get to play with them often?

    Deborah – I did read through your post. I loved the photos!

    Rachel – I’ll check out your art. I love reading about your gardening & chicken/duck adventures on your tiny farm.

    Maureen – That’s fantastic that you have decided that gardening is worth the time. What great lessons to teach your children. We grew up growing a lot of our own food & preserving it since money was tight as well. We grumbled when we had to hoe the garden, but we enjoyed the healthy food all year long!

    DeeDee – oh what fun to be around dogs all day (although I’m sure it had it’s moments).

    N. – the military, how interesting. My brother was in the military. I’ve read a few things about your job on your blog. I bet you’re very aware of the water situations around the world.

    Frugal Trenches – Yes, let’s make sure we remember to do it next year.

    Judy – what a great idea to ramp up the gardening to help cover the lost income. I’m looking forward to seeing your harvests this summer!

    Carol – bookkeeping, I love it. I do a lot of that for both of my jobs.

    Chicago Mike – a pirate captain, how exciting.

    Cheesychick- thanks for the compliment. I hope your raw milk dairy does well. We buy our milk from a small local farm that’s probably a lot like yours.

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  20. Pampered Mom on February 16, 2009 at 12:25 am

    I’m a mom. My hubby often works long hours to make ends meet because he can make more between his two jobs than we could if we both had one full-time on each. This means I’m usually on my own with the two kids and am in charge of finances, meals, and other household maintenance type things. Before that I worked a lot of administrative jobs for a variety of companies including an insurance company and a mission organization. Hubby was actually a Children’s Pastor for a few years, but we’ve been out of that for 1 1/2 years now.

    Pampered Mom’s last blog post.. How Much Food Can I Grow in my Yard?

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  21. Sherri on February 16, 2009 at 7:06 am

    What a great post – and great to learn about everyone else too! How awesome you lived in Columbia. I’m always in awe when I get to see other cultures and how different they are from America. I think that would have been a really cool way to grow up!

    I’m a part-time CPA – found a great firm that lets me do it part-time – though that *might* be changing after our new “addition” gets here this summer. I stayed home with my son the first 2 years and it was by far the hardest thing I’ve ever done (and I used to be a director at a large financial services company!

    The rest of my time is spent w/ son and hubby. We love to garden, landscape and do home improvement projects. Our dream is to own land like his parents – 27 acres of heavily wooded land (that you have to drive through to get to their place) with a pond. They use the wood from trees in their wood furnace, have plenty of room for chickens, bees, orchard, garden….you get where I’m going. Plus hubby and I want to design and build our “dream” home – make it as green as possible. Someday!!!

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  22. warren on February 16, 2009 at 2:56 pm

    I am a software engineer by trade and a dreamer by heart! Isn’t that corny? I do mostly like what I do though nothing beats doing whatever I feel like. Short of that, I dig what I do by day. Anyhow, it is cool to find out more about folks…thanks for posting!

    warren’s last blog post.. Six

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  23. Throwback at Trapper Creek on February 16, 2009 at 10:46 pm

    This is a great post idea! I am a SAHM and farmer. Trying to take care of our land and growing our food keeps me busy. I used to work in the borrring accounting field, and still do books for several small companiesm, and when I can, I pick up free-lance work doing National Register nominations and farm management planning emphasizing rotational grazing and permaculture practices.

    Your childhood sounds fascinating and your photos and videos are stunning!

    Reply to Throwback at Trapper Creek's comment

  24. Sinfonian on February 16, 2009 at 11:49 pm

    I am an analyst for a bank in their commercial real estate group. I underwrite large real estate projects. Formerly I was a portfolio manager for a couple a hundred million in affordable housing projects and underwrote the new construction of said loans. It is very interesting and challenging. Unfortunately the market such as it is, is creating a panic in our group so it’s hectic to say the very least. At least I have a job. My wife is a stay at home mom of our two kids, so the loss of my income would be devistating. They know that and have us all over a barrel. So I work 55+ hours a week to keep my job and spend time with my family and the garden whenever I can.

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  25. Allie on February 17, 2009 at 10:56 am

    You do beautiful work! That wedding video is just so amazing! And so different from the usual linear wedding videos.

    I am a full-time writer. Before this, I was a headhunter.

    Allie’s last blog post.. What’s Going On

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  26. Kelly on February 17, 2009 at 7:30 pm

    Susy – this post and the responses were SO great to read! Thanks! You know all about me from my blog ;) and from being my friend for over TEN years now….I love ya girl!

    Kelly’s last blog post..

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  27. Teri on February 17, 2009 at 8:41 pm

    My day job, hmmmmm. Well, I guess I am a stay at home wife, who works very part-time as a therapeutic riding instructor. I am trained as on Occupational Therapist, but I have not practiced OT for 9 years now. I really enjoy staying home and taking care of the small acreage we are blessed with, the horses, the dogs, and this year a nephew in high school. Spring through Fall I work about one day a week teaching children with special needs to ride horses at Ride for Joy. A non-profit in Eagle, Idaho. I am very content.

    Teri’s last blog post.. 48/365

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  28. Andres Stell on February 17, 2009 at 10:17 pm

    I enjoy following your blog. It is inspiring me as I plan on expanding what I grow in our garden this year.
    I am an architect working on sustainable projects, primarily in the science and technology market, and my wife is a pediatric physical therapist, and we are both parents of two great children, one 20 months old, the other two months old.

    Andres Stell’s last blog post.. Early Planting (Spinach, Peas, Carrots, Radishes)

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  29. Granny Sue on February 18, 2009 at 10:24 am

    This is my first visit to your blog and what a great time to come–I know about you right up front, and am glad to have had the opportunity to read about your life.Your background is surprising–you must have some amazing parents. And the videos are beautiful work.

    I am a librarian but my job has morphed from being branch services manager to being facilities and security manager and ADA coordinator, booksale coordinator and a few other things thrown in. Sign of the times. My OTHER job, the one I love and would do full time if I could afford it, is professional storyteller. I get paid to tell stories and sing ballads. How cool is that.

    My other other job is taking care of homestead and family. We have 80 acres and grow most of our food; most of the land is wooded so we heat with wood and will sometime this year hook up the free gas from our gas well.

    It’s been interesting to see what others do. So many are freelancing out there, finding unique ways to make a living. I am impressed by all of you.

    Granny Sue’s last blog post.. Morning Light

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  30. Diane Friedman on May 13, 2009 at 10:35 am

    I love your website! I am a stay-at-home mom and a beekeeper. I am currently the secretary of the Carroll County Bee Club in Carroll County, Ohio and until recently, I have been a volunteer at Malvern Elementary School in Malvern, Ohio for 6 years.

    Reply to Diane Friedman's comment

  31. PaulusM on September 28, 2009 at 7:26 am

    I have been reading and lurking around for a bit, and this provides me with the perfect opportunity to step out of the shade :-)

    My current day job is ICT architect, but I also trained as a biophoton therapist, which leads me to my own garden and my current research into what happens with seeds & plants when I treat them with biophotons. (normally, I only do humans). Some lovely day not to far from now, I’ll move on to gardening full time if God and the weather both permit… ;-)

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  32. Richard on January 14, 2010 at 12:01 pm

    Hey Susy, Thanks so much for writing your blog. I don’t know about your other readers but I enjoy getting to live vicariously through you and your husband.

    At my current job I’m a software developer but I’m a not so secret wannabe small farmer. My wife and I are starting off small this year with a couple of raised bed gardens and about a dozen or so chickens (which we should be getting in March). Some will be for eggs and some will be for meat. I’m trying to get our family eating local and real food so I thought what better way to get to know where your food comes from than to grow/raise it yourself. Since we have no clue what it’ll be like to kill and process our own chickens we are starting out with a small number but I’m confident that once we do it and enjoy the reward of our local/real diet we’ll want to continue doing it every year.

    Thanks again for providing us with such a wonderful blog
    .-= Richard´s last blog ..Organic Food Is More Nutritious Say EU Researchers =-.

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About

This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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