Starting April 1st I begin a new project, with the option to work for Jim 5 days a week, 10+ hours a day. In addition I'll keep my job with Besim, and between the two I'll be taking home around $4000 a month. It's so exciting, and it's really only the beginning of what should be a lucrative career with him. My goal is still to make a living from my artwork, and I'm spending most of my free time working on my drawings. Jim knows a high profile individual involved in all art related events and spaces on the east end of Long Island. He's offered to introduce me once I get my feet fully under me and my portfolio is where I need it to be.

Last night I drove Jim up the island for dinner, and he gave me a little present. 3 tie tacks and two sets of cuff links that belonged to his father. It really meant a lot to me, and it's great because I always wanted to wear French cuff shirts, but I never had any cuff links. He's such a generous guy, and I really feel like he's taken me under his wing. I feel like I've landed on my feet, as the saying goes, and things keep getting better. Over the summer I will get to spend a lot of time with Jim at his house, hanging out and working, which means smoking cigars, use of the pool, going to the beach and other things. He doesn't really like people, but we get along perfectly despite the fact that we couldn't be more different. I think it has something to do with our attitude towards other people and how we think about and treat friendship. He knows that I always try to do the best that I can and that I go above and beyond the call of duty to make him happy, and he responds in turn. He knows that I would do anything for him, and he treats me the same way. Sometimes fate conspires to put two people together who need each other. I needed a job and a career, and having a mentor is a huge bonus. He suffers from peripheral neuropathy and has trouble getting around. He says that if he didn't have me he'd never leave the house, wouldn't be as involved in his business (his son runs it for the most part) and would never go out and do anything. It's obvious to me how much he appreciates having me around and the things that I do for him, and it makes me feel great to know that I'm helping someone who sees how much effort I put into my job and that I really do care about him. He knows that I'm not just getting through the hours to get a paycheck, and that makes me want to do more than what he expects as much as possible.

I'll post pictures of the cuff links, just for fun, later tonight. I'm going out after work, somewhere in East Hampton, probably to have a few drinks. It's been difficult to get up early enough to exercise, but I'm trying. Jim had surgery a month ago and is just getting over it, but he usually goes to the gym every day. Last night he said that if he can get back to going all the time he'd buy me a membership so that we could go together. That would be the ultimate motivation.