I hope I don't have to worry!

[judy]

My son-in-law was working in Staten Island, a 3 1/2 hour trip from their new house
upstate. He was making great money. He worked it out to stay down here in their old house, which hasn't been sold yet, for 3 days every week. He's an electrician and union rates are very high, so they were doing fine.

His father holds the deed to the Staten Island house. He is an enabler, and I think Jessie talked him into finally leaving that job. There were several major problems with the job anyway. More than that, she doesn't want him around his Dad at this point. He's not drinking and their marriage is working out very well. I say
nothing about what I think, and I find that's best. I can't really say whether she's right or wrong anyway. She knows him and he's much happier not drinking.

He's been applying all over for work near where they live, but at this point, isn't working. He's pretty depressed that he's not working. I'm sure he's scared too - no more father to enable him, a house, a wife and 3 kids and no job.

I'm hoping a job turns up very soon. It won't pay what he was getting most likely, but he'll be home all week, etc. I'm just hoping and praying that he doesn't begin to drink again. I really feel for him. Alcohol is so hard to get off of and stay off.

Please send a prayer their way. Thanks!

[Janet]

Of course prayers are headed their way. Maybe his Union can help him find a job close to home.

[Marilyn]

Judy, sincerely hope he finds something soon. An electrician would have no problem finding work around here. It is so hard to find skilled labor. Construction companies are hiring people off the street to train because they cannot find people already qualified. Electricians are especially in demand. My husband has had problems keeping a good one.

Prayers will definitely be coming their way!!

[DianaB]

With all of the new construction going on all over the country I would think that he would be able to find a job soon. I'll be praying that a job comes up and that things will stay on an even course for their family.

[judy]

Thanks! I do think this is for the best. He wasn't going to keep the other job for long anyway. It's too difficult and the children really missed him. Besides, his Dad is selling the Staten Island house.

He applied to 2 unions up there and a couple of jobs on his own. One sounds great - less money, but close by and very stable. Electricians, like most construction jobs, are generally out of work at some point during the year because the union has to be sure everybody has work. Of course, construction in the winter is very slow.

Now, one of their dogs, Smootchie, ran away. I'm praying that they find him and that he just ran off nearby. I hate to think of anything bad happening to him! He's a Japanese Chin, not very friendly, but we love him.

[Janet]

I hope your son-in-law is able to find a job close. I don't think I could handle a job that had a long commute.

Poor little Smootchie. Hopefully they will find him quickly. Is it very cold there...will the cold bother him?

[judy]

Thanks Janet.

I'm hoping he's hiding inside somewhere. He likes the cold, but he's a little thing - about 12 pounds. I doubt if he'll survive the cold for too long.

[Gina]

Judy I will say a prayer that your SIL will find a job soon, hopefully the spring is coming and they will be hiring. I understand about the furlough my BIL is an electrician in NYC to. So he is off to at different lengths of times to keep everyone working as you mentioned..

Aww poor Smootchie I hope that they found him soon for it is very cold out there... Prayers for smootchie safe return home.

[Marilyn]

That's weird about the unions. We don't have them down here too much. Certainly not for electricians or craft type unions. Our Alcoa plant is part of the miners union or something. Around here if you want to work, and there is a job opening, and you're the most qualified, you work.

[judy]

Originally Posted by Marilyn

That's weird about the unions. We don't have them down here too much. Certainly not for electricians or craft type unions. Our Alcoa plant is part of the miners union or something. Around here if you want to work, and there is a job opening, and you're the most qualified, you work.

That's the kind of job interview he went on today. He originally turned it down because the pay was too low but they really want him and called him to come back for another interview.

You don't have to be in the union to work, but union wages for class A electricians are very high.

[judy]

There's some really bad karma going on at my daughter's this week! Smootchie is still lost. I'm very sad about that. The younger kids assume that he'll come home, but Mackenzie is devastated.

My SIL fell on the ice yesterday and really hurt his neck and back - MRI or x-ray time for him, after his job interview.

He was fixing some wiring in the basement last night. Some lint from the dryer caught on fire. He put it out right away. At about 9 PM, the fire department was there because an ember had gotten into the hole in the wall where he was working.

Luckily, nothing happened, but it was quite a scare with smoke alarms going off and standing in the snowy cold for a couple of hours while the Fire Dept. did their thing. They are wonderful! They were blessed that nothing worse happened. A fire in the wall in a wood home is so dangerous! The fire chief brought back his trainees because it's a great learning experience for them.

I'm praying this bad karma blows over very soon!

[DianaB]

Oh, how scary! I'm so glad that your daughter and her family are alright! It's a good thing that we've had all of these prayers going on for them!!!!

[judy]

Yes they are Diana, and let me thank you all right now for the prayers! They needed them much more than I ever thought!

4WT prayers are the best.

[Marilyn]

Sincerely hope everything settles down for them & hope your SIL is not seriously hurt. They certainly don't need that complication right now!!!!

Prayers are headed your way!!!

[judy]

Thanks for all your prayers! It is like Crisis Central there.

At the moment, I have to admit I'm avoiding Jessie a bit! She wants me to come up at the end of the week because Mackenzie is very upset about the dog. They're out of school for President'sWeek. I definitely would (and might), but I just came home last week and I'm going up on March 5th for a few days for my birthday. Jessie is coming down on March 4th for her disability appeal hearing and I'm driving her back up. My birthday is March 9th, so I'll stay a few days.

I'm avoiding her because I'm tired when I come home. It's a long drive, the kids are - well, kids - it's not my own house, I worry about how my dogs behave, and so on.

I'm also avoiding going up because I think Jessie should take Mackenzie out for a girl's day out, spend alone time with her, etc. to help her get through this. It's difficult for Jess because her husband is very demanding of her time.

I, as tactfully as possible, said that maybe she should spend time with Mackenzie instead of helping Steve so much. She spent most of yesterday going to Albany with him for his job interview! On the other hand, if this is how her marriage works, that's how it is and that's where a child needs a Grandma to spoil her and give her the time she needs.

I'll see what happens. Oh - and my ex is there for the week. You would think that with 2 grown men around, they could watch the 2 little ones and manage on their own so that she can tend to Mackenzie's needs. Men! Grown children!

Thanks for listening - I needed to vent.