Either no work today or working later... Jim's had a problem with his foot lately, he had surgery about a month ago to biopsy a nerve in his ankle, and he's had problems with his leg swelling up. He also had a huge blister on his foot that he couldn't feel because of the numbness caused by neuropathy that broke open last week. I imagine he's having problems getting around, so we'll probably go in early tomorrow morning instead. In the meantime I've been doing some research for him on donating old gym equipment and working on finding a suitable shredder/wood chipper to clear the brush out of his back yard. He also wants to mount some of his gun collection, and I'm having a hell of a time finding two gun racks that look nice enough to put in his house.

I just got back from getting brunch, so I'll work on that stuff and try calling him again, then get to work on my drawings. It'll be nice to have two days off in a row to get some things done. Lately I've been working 6 or 7 days a week, and going into Brooklyn Tuesday mornings, staying overnight and leaving late Wednesday evening. It's a hectic schedule, but half the time it doesn't even feel like work. The only difficult part is helping out downstairs in the lobby. His daughter has cerebral palsey and I've been assisting with the phones and greeting customers, directing calls and managing estimate appointments. I have to learn as I go because everyone is too busy with the new Progressive program to help teach me, so it's a bit nerve racking when something comes up that I can't deal with.

Besim is looking to move his business across town, and I went to take a look at the space this morning on my way to get breakfast. It's right next to Goldberg's bagels and the BCB. Not a bad location, but I worry about the type of clientele he'll be getting. If he could make the inside of the store look high end enough it might attract the customers that he's used to getting. If not, I think he'd be better off liquidating his inventory of expensive merchandise and expanding stock on items that have lower price points, otherwise it will be hard to move certain things. I hope everything works out for him. I've stayed on this long because I feel that I owe it to him. I know every item he sells inside and out, sometimes even better than he does, and I'm familiar with his customers and have the people skills to move product. I'd feel like a heel if I left him before he could find a suitable replacement. I want to try to stay on through the summer for the extra money and to train his next employee. Jim has offered to help me pick up the slack by sending me into Brooklyn on days when I'd normally work at the store, but I haven't taken him up on it because I feel this sense of obligation. Besim has helped me out and been there for me when I needed him, so I have to do the same for him.

I want to start photo-documenting progress on my pieces, so maybe I'll start that tonight. I'd like to have a record of how far I've come so that I can measure my progress. Sometimes it's hard to see where all of my efforts are leading, and that would help press home the point that every minute spent drawing is another step in the right direction.