Ahhh. I needed that.

I slept like a rock.

I guess I have pushed the envelope with my recovery. It was probably too much to drive two hours to and from work and then spend most of my time waiting the counter. I'm sure I needed the mental stimulation/routine to work through some of the grief.

Due to a lot of contributing circumstances, this past week has been difficult. Emotionally and financially. Funny thing is, when I have wrestled with the financial aspect it has helped me deal with losing my brother. Where he is at, he is not worrying about money or anything else. He is at peace. Everything else is trivial.

Yesterday, Chris and DJ had gone to lunch and I was in the store by myself and it was not busy at all! Hardly any traffic. I think during the hour they were gone I had one customer and sold him a whopping thirty-five cents worth of hardware accessories. I'll admit I was a little bored. All the sudden I thought of something I wanted to share with Fred and without even thinking, I picked up the phone. Oh well, he would have enjoyed it.

While the store has seen limited foot traffic this week, it has probably been a banner week sales wise. Lots of big ticket items! Add to this the fact that we continue to receive new applications for credit from contractors new to the area and we could still be riding the wave!

I met the truck pusher Fred had hired. He actually worked for a former creditor of the company. He said he quit because he felt the creditor was very unethical. This man has put together a very good program. He has gotten some things done that have needed to be done. I know the contractor they have been working for has given this man some orders or requests that have been nearly impossible to meet, yet he has met every one. While the contractor has ordered more and more equipment, the trucks have worked less hours on less days because they over run the construction equipment. They will haul in one day what it takes the contractor two days to spread and smooth.

I talked with Linda yesterday, she called the store looking for Pat. We touched on the tips of multiple subjects. I simply told her that this is a huge ball of yarn to try to get her arms around and it was going to be very ugly when she learned some information. While I can appreciate Fred trying to shield and protect, his family only has an inkling of what was going on with the business.

My "cheer" line used to be that the business didn't get where it was over night. It wasn't going to be healed overnight either. Now I can add that it will not be sorted through overnight either.

Thankfully this is not a timed event.

Pat was by the store yesterday and spent enough time there to realize that Chris was in a mood. I told her that it seems like the more successful day the business has, the more independent and fussy he becomes. She didn't want to stay around (I don't blame her) and she asked me to load up with her to go to Inadale to look at the wind farm progress. We made a quick trip up and back. I could not believe the progress. They have several wind turbines completely erected and many more are waiting for the generator and the blades to be lifted.

Call me crazy, but I find these things therapeudic. I think they are gorgeous!

I told Pat it was a shame they hadn't arrived ten or fifteen years earlier.

On my way home I ran by the pharmacy and did a couple of errands.

Have a day.

FATHER, YOU are my refuge. Shelter me.