"Digging" up the past

Homolovi Ruins State Park, near Winslow, Arizona, is mainly that - ruins. Most are buried, though you can see the outlines of houses and kivas. This is where the Hopi lived - along the Little Colorado River - before moving up to their current home on the three mesas. Before it became a state park and thus protected, a lot of damage was done by pot hunters who even brought in backhoes to dig up the ruin. Pothunters probably broke more than they found and are likely responsible for hundreds of shards scattered throughout the several ruin sites.

A group of archaeologists were doing a dig while we were there, led by a professor from the University of Michigan. Three students were participating for credit, the rest had grants to pay their way. They lived in RVs in the park campground.

It was hot out there on the dig, but all seemed dedicated to getting as much done in the two months of the dig as possible. At the end of that time, the sites would be reburied. One group was specifically looking for square pithouses; round ones had already been excavated in the past. They had surveyed underground by passing an electrical current through the ground to identify where there were likely structures. Every bit of dirt was sifted for sign of human habitation. They had already found a lot of pottery shards and jackrabbit bones.

If you would enjoy being part of a dig, for even a short time, a good source is Passport in Time (PIT), a volunteer archeology and historic preservation program of the USDA Forest Service program. PIT lists projects throughout the U.S. There is no fee to participate. Facilities for volunteers vary; some projects do have RV sites available. You might also volunteer at a national park. At Chaco Canyon National Historical Park, for example, one volunteer camp host couple volunteers for the archaeologist on their days off.

Shortly before we hit the road, Historic St. Mary's City in Maryland had a dig where the public could participate for the weekend. It was quite thrilling to sift dirt and find something besides rocks left on the screen. Almost like panning for gold! If you still like to play in the dirt or be part of unearthing a mystery, check out volunteering at an archaeological dig. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

For information on all kinds of volunteer opportunities, see Jaimie's 2nd edition ofSupport Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, available at the RVBookstore.com

Ain't Google something?

Yesterday I was contacted by a Jamie Bruzenak. She was astonished there was another person with the same name (even though we spell our first names different). She was searching Google for entries about herself and came across my name misspelled. It turns out her grandfather was George's father's brother so they are related. The spelling of Bruzenak was changed when the original Bruzenak came to Ellis Island so it is a one-of-a-kind name.

It's amazing what you can find on Google - and what others can find out about you. Have you searched your name on Google or other search engine? Many employers are doing a Google search of the names of candidates they are considering for employment. Would an employer be turned off by entries he found about you? Do you have photos of yourself that are less than dignified? Have you made a negative comment about an employer on your Web site or on a public forum or social media site? This sort of thing could give an employer a poor impression about you.

Do a search of Google and other search engines. See what comes up. If there is something offending remove it if you can or ask that it be removed. Don't let something from your past come back to haunt you. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

For information on Jaimie's 2nd edition of Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, see RVBookstore.com

RV makes beaders famous - to other beaders

Deanna and Greg Chase make glass beads and sell them at their Web site. For 4 1/2 years, they traveled in an RV and had a small photo on their Web site. At an ISBM Gathering, International Society of Glass Bead Makers, many people recognized them. They remembered them because of their "wacky" lifestyle.

If you are selling a product and have a blog or Web site, including information about your RV lifestyle and a photo of your rig could be the unique attention getter that makes people remember you. And isn't being distinctive what it is all about if you are selling a product? Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

For information on Jaimie's 2nd edition of Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, see RVBookstore.com

Do you have what it takes to be an RV salesman?

The Winona Daily News interviewed Joe Breza, RV sales and service manager for Breezee's RV Center in Homer MN for a weekly column. In it he talks about what it takes to be a successful sales person at an RV dealership. Compared to selling cars, he says, "it’s the same but you also need to know the mechanics of how everything works and operates." Of his combined job, he says, "You got to be kind of a jack of all trades. I’ll wash RVs, I’ll dump them, I’ll be in the shop rotating tires or changing batteries and I’ll sell them new, on consignment or for rent …"

If you've thought about doing either of these seasonally or full-time on the RV road, read his advice. He does add that at least 80 percent of his work is paperwork and that it is not 9 to 5. Those might be downsides or part of the picture we don't usually see. Being the manager, he probably has more paperwork and longer hours than employees under him.

Areas like Phoenix and Tucson in the winter and Alaska in the summer are examples of places where RV dealers hire during the busy season. You can find other areas too that are busier one time of the year than another that will hire extra employees for RV sales or service. Salespeople usually work on commission so those jobs can be easy to come by. For the service area, you can get training, as Joe mentions, as a technician. Other seasonal RV workers I know have mechanics training or can do walk-throughs where they check the systems out for buyers and then show the buyers everything at time of purchase and how to operate everything.

One more possibility for working on the RV road! Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

For information on working in RV industry-related jobs, see Jaimie's 2nd edition of Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, available at the RVBookstore.com

RV workers see slice of America

I came across an article titled "RV park owners see slice of America" about the owners of the St. Paul East RV Park in Woodbury, MN. The article mentioned their most unusual guests - members of the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus - and the fact they expected to house some delegates to the Republican National Convention - as well as the more typical RV park guest.

RV workers too see a slice of America if they are working in an RV park or resort or even a tourist attraction. They may not see the circus or delegates to a convention, but they do see a variety. RVers come in all ages. They include families, tourists from the U.S. and foreign countries in rented RVs. Some have pets, some travel with all sorts of toys. Some travel in new million dollar buses, others in pop-up trailers, tiny teardrops or ancient RVs that have seen better days. Those who do work near an event like Sturgis will get to see some real characters.

RV workers see both the best behavior and the worst. In the Workamper forums, workers on the RV road mention the RVers who don't clean up after their pets or let an aggressive dog run loose. They report on campers who leave unwelcome presents in the restrooms or who are nasty to camp personnel. That's the side we'd just as soon not see.

On the other hand, overall, RVers are a friendly lot. RV workers hear about many adventurers and different ways of living. If there is a problem or disaster, most RVers will pitch in to help, even going way out of their way to do so if illness or accident strikes a fellow RVer. Most are happy to share their knowledge, be it about places to go, a fix for a nonworking part or give a tour of their RV.

Yes, Workampers also see a slice of America - and of the world- as they work on the RV road. And, unlike the RV park owner, each season they can change to a new place and get a slightly different perspective, see a little different slice of life. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

For information working in many different places, see Jaimie's 2nd edition of Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, see RVBookstore.com

Tip for keeping more of your paycheck

Here's one way to keep more of your paycheck and keep your weight down too!

If you are working in an RV office or at an employer where snacks or sodas are available, make up your mind that these are off limits. Leave your money in your RV. Bring a bottle of water and perhaps some healthy snacks like nuts or carrot and celery sticks as an alternative. Your wallet will appreciate it and so will your waistline.

Sip your water throughout the day and you'll feel less like eating. If you have extra time at lunch, take a walk instead of staying around food, especially food you can purchase. You'll feel more energetic for the second part of your shift. Employee lunches, available in some resort areas, may be inexpensive, but you can probably eat for less in your RV and choose foods with less starch. If you eat at your place of work, brown-bag-it. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

For information on Jaimie's 2nd edition of Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, see RVBookstore.com

Radio interview on working on the road

RV Joey interviewed me about working on the road for his RV Time radio show that was aired on Sunday, June 8. You can listen at RVTime.net. Click on Archives. You can listen or download the show. (Warning- a few minutes of advertisements - and a great RV deal on a Winnebago - before the segment starts, so be patient!)

Get an intro to Workamping, ideas for short term jobs and where to look. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

For information on Jaimie's 2nd edition of Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, see RVBookstore.com

Why is a manhole cover round?

Have you gotten an oddball question like this during an interview? There is no correct answer. An interviewer would ask something like this to see how you react and if your answer showed good reasoning. The wrong thing to do would be to dismiss the question as a joke and not take it seriously.

If you are interviewing in person for a sales job, the interviewer might hand you something like a pen and say, "Sell it to me." She wants to see how you think on your feet and how you present yourself and the pen.

If you do get the manhole cover question, one that seems unrelated to the job or even one you weren't expecting, pause and say, "That's a good question." That gives you a few seconds to think before answering. When you make up an answer for the manhole question, speak confidently like you are the expert! It may just get you the job. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

For questions you should ask during an interview, see the 2nd edition of Jaimie Hall's Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, available at RVBookstore.com

Writing & illustrating children's books

If you are still in Arizona and interested in writing or illustrating children's books, consider this one day workshop in Payson, AZ up in the cool mountains.

The Arizona Press Women's, Payson Chapter, is putting on a one-day workshop on writing and illustrating children's literature. Details below:

When: June 28, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Where: Gila Community College, 201 N. Mud Springs Rd., Payson, AZ
Cost: $40. Register before June 21- $35. Lunch is included.

Speakers:
Conrad J. Storad - Making non-fiction books fun. He is the award-winning author of Don't Call Me Pig and others.
Linda Exley - New options for getting books published. She will talk about a co-publishing arrangement.
Michael J. Moorhead (age 12) - Kids can write books. He'll have a booksigning with his book, Zombie Island: Conquering the Rumor Monster.
Kathy Parks- how to get started as a book illustrator. She is the illustrator for Michael Moorhead's book and others.

Reservations required. Call AZ Press Women at 928-468-9269 or email bcbrown2@theriver.com

This is a great opportunity if you are in the area and have an interest in children's books. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

Work at state fairs

One of the free employment newspapers we picked up last winter in Florida had an ad for workers for the Florida State Fair, which is held in January each year. They were looking for ticket takers, ticket sellers, guest relations staff, trolley drivers, trolley attendants, ushers and more. Plus, vendors often hire local help for the fair. In my college days I once worked at the Orange Julius booth during the county fair in Del Mar, CA.

To find these events, keep your eyes open when looking at classified ads. Also, check WeekendEvents.com for a listing of all state fairs. Click on the state and you'll find the date it is held. You can give them a call or send an e-mail to find out when they hire and for what. This Web site also lists other festivals that may need extra workers. It's a great resource. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

For ideas for working short-term at special events, see the 2nd edition of Jaimie Hall's Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, available at RVBookstore.com

Job hunting and identity theft

In USA Weekend, a column warned that job hunting sites are the newest breeding grounds for identity thieves.Two important tips:

• Ignore e-mails that promise a "great" opportunity but ask for money or an ID.


• Never e-mail your social security number to a potential employer. The only exception might be that some government jobs require it on your application.

A site where an employer has a paying subscription like Workamper News protects job hunters. Some of the public sites with no cost may have non-employers registering as an employer to obtain information.

Another tip is to get a temporary e-mail from Hotmail, Yahoo or G-mail to use for your job hunt. You can close your account once you've found a position and avoid spam. Jaimie Hall Bruzenak

For information on Jaimie's 2nd edition of Support Your RV Lifestyle! An Insider's Guide to Working on the Road, see RVBookstore.com