Lord, I hope this day is good

Easy's first week at work went very well. The machine assembly they do is right up his alley and he cut a custom tool for them that let him show off some of his metal skills. It's good and he really likes the work.

He had put in for so many jobs in the last several months and heard nothing. Then he got a call from a place over two towns for minimum wages, this job place called him and the day he was gone for orientation, the best place in our area called him for testing. He was going to try to get in there because it's steady work near home. But he decided he likes this job better, even if it means some travel in the future. He called and gave up his testing appointment so someone else could have it. It made us both feel pretty good. 

We had no trouble getting him to work. (amen, vehicles both running and enough gas in them, too!)  He had no trouble wanting to get there! He's still short some tools but we are working on it. The new rolling tool box has been customized and will be very welcomed today. Hauling all his tools around was a long distance walking marathon in the huge buildings. Sprung for a pair of new boots, too. Hoping his feet appreciate them. Really hoping they are comfortable on that hard cement. These guys walk for miles every day on cement and up and down catwalks. 

I looked at shoes and boots for two days this weekend, trying to help him find a good pair. He was shooting for cheap but I was looking for something that would last longer than two weeks. I was surprised at the shoddy workmanship on the products set out for display. There was hot glue showing in the seams. There were tears where there should have been curves. They were tiny, but in leather that just means it will rip out. 

Sure, some of the stuff was "low end" but I will spend a little more to get something that will lasts. And if I do a job I like to do it right. I worked in upholstery done with hot glue tools. You don't over apply glue or get it on the material above the seam line....it's not hard to do, just takes being careful and is easier with experience. Not really any excuse for that much "slop". 

Most of what we looked at was glued. We had to really dig to find "leather uppers, thick rubber soles, stitched construction and padded arch supports", aka work boots. It shouldn't have been so time consuming. 

I looked for a pair of new tennis shoes for me, too. I pulled a pair that seemed pretty good, took off my shoe and realized I was buying the same brand again. That was okay by me, the last pair lasted three or four years! I can still use them but the velcro doesn't vel anymore. I'll have to try to be more careful. 

You get a construction helmet to wear at Easy's shop. You get to keep it and customize it. I spent some time this weekend making stickers for him. That was fun. And today he sits here just killing time till he can go to work. I'm loving seeing him smile. 

He talked about people complaining, like, "I'm not doing HIS work! He gets paid more than me". He is so glad to be working he just can't understand anyone griping about whatever it is they do to earn a living. 

I know it won't last. We all forget. In six months or a year he will probably be griping right along with them about something. For now he is aware of the joy of having a job and looking forward to having his "own" money again. I'm just tickled for him. 

And he's working where my "other brother" works, only on a different shift. I guess I need some new nicks. I try to keep them short and easy to remember but sometimes I just don't get inspired. Think I'll call the other foster brother MisterB and that makes the wife MissusB. They are the ones that got married in November. 

I was jammin with the guy from Thinks it's a big City yesterday. We are starting to make some progress. That means my brain is starting file lyrics again. I'm glad. It was getting toward dark when MisterB called and said put the coffee on. I shut down the rehersal and geared up for eucher. They brought a pie and we played six games. This time we switched partners, too. 

So we shopped, got chores caught up, had rehersal, played cards and darned if it wasn't almost a "normal" weekend. 

I still define normal as "like it used to be before I lost my mate". I don't know if I can ever define it as "like other people". With a little more love and a little less confusion in comunication between us, it might happen. 

Even if it doesn't, we've kept each other going through a long, hard winter. 

Today is good.