All work and all play

[vaneramos]

Working for Judy and Brenda is a hoot. Framing and drywalling is a careful craft, but not as precise as building pipe organs. The girls have a common proverb for when a measurement turns out an eighth of an inch off: "We're not building a watch!" To tease me they have revised it: "We're not building an organ!"

Of course they were tickled when I showed up for work the first day with a brand new tool belt, or dyke belt as they call it. After wearing it for two weeks I was designated an honorary lesbian.

I never imagined this kind of work would suit me so well. The rhythm and variety please me. Dirty jobs don't bother me, and I have the patience for fussy ones. Brenda and Judy voice their feelings when a particular task or problem annoys them, so I also feel free to complain, too. I like that.

Overall the work is satisfying because of the quick results; in three days a basement is insulated, drywalled and ready for painting. Most of the people we work for are in our extended circle of acquaintances, so it feels like I'm contributing to my community.

This week they took two days off to entertain visiting friends, but one of our clients is under a deadline so she hired me to help paint. This is encouraging: an indication that my readiness and persistence will continue to be valuable for various opportunities.

The project in question is a new site for our friend Kim's store, Diaper Days. The business has been a success since the day it opened, and now it's moving to a much larger unit in the same plaza. I've already worked there with Judy and Brenda a few days, and Kim is getting ready to move on Monday.

Kim's stepfather came from Montreal to help for the week, so I'm working with him. Keith reminds me of my dad—energetic, amiable and dapper—enjoyable company. A crew of five or six straight men is working around doing wiring and other work. Two of them are remarkably handsome.

I worked ten hours today, moving scaffolding around, climbing up and down and painting the high walls. I pretended it was the Sistine Chapel.

Today I am in awe of artist avad's hammered nail pieces. They are mystical and meditative. You can see some of them on her website under "Readings", and more in a Flickr collection.

This photo from the Eramosa River this morning reminds me of a fragment of a musical score.

Comments

honorary lesbians

[queenmomcat.livejournal.com]

You should be proud, sir! Not everyone is accorded that honor--it takes more than a mere tool belt.

Re: honorary lesbians

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Well, a lot of my favourite human beings are lesbians, so I am honoured.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Great quotes, Mark!

[fivecats.livejournal.com]

"I was designated an honorary lesbian"

years ago we were doing a show up in the mountains and were visited by a lesbian woman and her new girlfriend. we had been buying opals from the first woman for a few years and had always spent a longer-than-usual amount of time talking with her because she was so interesting and full of life and adventure.

her new girlfriend took to bonn immediately but initially viewed me with a great deal of suspicion.

"oh, don't worry about him," our friend said, referring to me. "he's almost there."

we're still not entirely sure what that meant but her girlfriend immediately warmed up to me.

ever since then anytime my less-than-masculine side comes out bonn reminds me that it's okay, because i'm almost there anyways.

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[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

That is a hilarious story. I can relate to the second woman's misgivings (not with you in particular, but around straight men under certain circumstances), and to her relief at being able to be herself. The way her partner reassured her was comical and mysterious.

[fivecats.livejournal.com]

comical and mysterious as it was, it's also one of the finest compliments i've ever received. :)

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