I have been a bail bondsman now going on 3 weeks. I work a shift from 11pm to 7am. I have written 1 bond, & started 2 others before my shift ended, & someone else finished them up. My biggest problem is that I must keep myself entertained for 8 hours without falling asleep. I can watch movies/cable tv, or read. There is no computer for me to use so my posting on ARFcom has dramatically dropped. I am waiting for some interesting story to post, but haven't got one yet really.
I did start a bond this morning for a guy named Mohammed Ouaiaoue. I have never saw a last name that was all vowels before. That's kinda interesting,....well kinda.

There are a ton of movies I haven't watched ever, so I guess I can find something to do for now, but I am concerned that I will get to board with nothing to do when I have seen enough useless dribble. Any suggestions, for something to do that won't get me fired or in trouble? I'm not allowed to sleep, but the person who had the job before me did all the time. I was told not to sleep by the boss, & would not disobey him, as it wouldn't be right.
It really is a cushy job though. No complaints on my part, just trying to figure a way to not loose interest, by not being challenged from my job. I think I'm getting desk sores for the same reason people get bed sores. They also have a cleaning service so they would prefer that I don't do any office cleaning.

Hit the local computer shows and find yourself a used laptop for $300 or so... then you'll be able to post here!

Pocket-PC, headphones and a 256MB memory card:

Books from alt.binaries.e-book and http://kickme.to/dr-gonzo
Scrabble
AvantGo
25 hours worth of music

Go get a PS2 and hook it up to the TV there.  Lots of excellent PS2 titles are only $19.99 a pop now (the Greatest Hits).  Time can go by rather fast that way.

Get a laptop.

Write a novel.

Study for your MBA.

Develop bailbond management system software.

Study a foreign language.

Study for your securities license and trade on foriegn exchanges overnight.

Whittle and spit.

Maybe some kind of hobby compatible with your environment? Could you reload at this place? Take up writing. Everybody has an idea for a book. Some are even good. Gay phone sex line?(just joking)

There has to be something interesting you could do. If you get a computer you can get a degree while on the job from University of Phoenix.

Like BenDover suggested, put that "free" time to good use. [:)]

I've been a Bondsman for about 4 years now. I  love it. You'll have your slow times, and then again there are times you'll not have time to take a piss. I own my own Agency so the boredom does'nt effect me that much. Does your Agency pick up their own skips ? If so use that time to do a little research on the next guy you have to go and pick up.

I'm in the same boat as you, Searcher.  Just don't tell my boss that [;)] .  I have a hard time keeping myself busy for most of my shift.  If I do my required work at a normal pace, I can finish my stuff in about 1 hour, sometimes I even put in 3-4 hours of work a night.  I make union workers jealous!  I post here a lot, used to read a lot, but that's a phase thing.  We watch some movies, but that just makes me want to sleep.  

Well, I got a lot of good ideas from ya'll, so I will go with the hobby idea 1st for a while, & I am going to dig out my bagpipe gear, & relearn how to play my pipes. It has been about 8yrs since I played them & I had never gotten to far into them when I quit having time, do to lifes comlications. So I will bring my practice chanter, & book 1 of bagpipe tutorial to work for a while to see what I can do!

Sally Struthers ought to be able to help you out.
[url]www.becomeanautomechanicnursepractionervacuumrepairguylocksmithorchoosefromtheseassociatedegrees.com[/url]

start studying towards a degree so you can get the hell out of such a dead-end job.

Great idea!! It just so happens I got one for sale hehehe...email me if you want it!

I agree, get a used computer.  Also try the local radio, like Shaun Hannady, O'Riley, Rush...

I imagine the main difference is the pay check part.[:D]

I would suggest that you consider a correspondence course in something that interests you.

Maybe theology?

How can you go out and chase the skips down if they will not let you bond them out first. What are this people thinking.

I had to travel a bit for the last job.  Not a big deal prior to 9/11, but afterwards it left me with up to four hours + a day to kill (just loved it when the airport says to show up 3 hours early and it took all of 10 minutes to get through security).

Laptop, DVD/CDRW drive, big harddrive, Civ III (rise of nations now) and some movies passed a lot of time.  

You can also research stuff you like online on your off hours, print out articles and take them with you to work.  I've done this on bat houses, paintball tournament tactics, gun stuff, etc.

Write your personal manifest on world domination.

Or play video games.  Get a PS2 or buy a laptop and get the game Counter-Strike.  That will keep you busy for months.

Workout, bring some barbells to work if you can, some sort of exercise, get a hobby, building intricate ships cars planes something detailed, watch porn, masterbate, you get the idea.

Tell them to fire the cleaning service and pay you to do it...make more $$$. Just tell 'em you'll keep the place cleaner for the same $$$ without the security risk of having an illegal working in the office.

Join NABRA, and then I'll give you some good ideas.

[b]I did start a bond this morning for a guy named Mohammed Ouaiaoue. I have never saw a last name that was all vowels before. That's kinda interesting,....well kinda.[/b]


you should donate the un-needed vowels to the "vowels for bosnia" program.

i hear the town of srbrntzy is looking for some.

Get a toy dart gun and practice while at work. Use coworkers as hostages/terrorists.

Get a sexatary.