Where's my bike helmet? Want to ride downtown ... 

My partner cleared out the car port where I had left it last and then put it, of course, exactly where it should be -- in my bike basket. 

My partner is meticulous. It's a quality that has served him well as a general contractor. Did the profession influence his behavior, or was it already present, as in a six year old who categorizes his sock drawer? 

His mother assured me that it was the former, because as a teen his room was typical -- strewn clothes, shoes, a trumpet for a period of time, frisbees, etc. 

His first construction project was the home where he was living in Minneapolis. His living and construction space were carefully separated by a plastic curtain, I imagine, and other neat markings. 

His father came to visit and described the scene. 

"I couldn't believe it! This same guy who had two feet of stuff on the floor of his room had created an impeccably separated work and living space. When I say 'work,' I mean construction, and all of the things that went along with it. I thought, 'What happened?'"

An impeccable work space has become his habit.  gotten worse since then. He is a hoarder, as most general contractors must be to some extent, but the hoarding is highly organized. Tools all have their place, along with bowls, baskets, and Tupperwares of nails, bolts, etc. (He has an affinity for Tupperware). The tools needed for a job are assembled the day before. 

Organization has merged with another quality, preparation. One of his sayings is, "And you're on your way." He makes himself ready to be "on his way" I'd say almost everyday. Traveling means a suitcase at least mostly packed the night before. It waits by the door for him hours before time to depart. (This truly drives me insane.)  He likes to lounge before leaving on a trip, watching golf on TV or a movie. In the meantime I'm in a frenzy between bathroom closet and make up bags. 

He's a regular at hot yoga, which generates a lot of laundry. No worries, because it's dropped off in the laundry room on the way into the house, and the bag of new work out clothes gets packed and set on the counter for the next day.

"And you're on your way" is his philosophy of being prepared: Be ready for what comes next. Not a bad way to live your life.  

photo of bike and helmet?  

Non-catering

 Okay, Gretchen, this is for you.

I've promised my little sister (Big Brothers / Big Sisters), now friend, Gretchen, that I'd start to blog again. Among Grethie's many wonderful qualities, she's stubborn and persistent. If I didn't start blogging tonight, she'd be on me until I did. 

I catered tonight. Not really, though I call it catering. "Catering" is more socially acceptable than working for a food service temp agency. You go to hotels, conference centers, and, as in tonight, college cafeterias, and fill in their work force. Yes, the benefit is that I can say "no" anytime. They text me pretty often because I've been with them a while (and there's a shortage of workers overall). I've met some cool people who have expanded my view of Savannah and life in general. 

As I was coming on my shift today at 3:15 PM, I saw Mary leaving. Mary looked like she had aged years, and I had to look a couple times to see if it was her. We worked together when I first began in late 2019. A few months after that (before COVID hit), I thought that she'd quit. She was helping her son with his hotel by managing the breakfast business, which I assumed would be her last gig before retirement. She didn't look up to say hello today, but she had kind of checked out from socializing the last time I'd seen her. 

It's time for a change. Can I make enough money without "catering" and other similar jobs? I've really needed this job at times, but hopefully I'm getting to the point where I can invest more time in areas where I can make more money. Mary was one of many signs to change while I can. I bet that she only works for the agency once in a while, anyway.