My Labors, Your Labors

[WilliamPitt]

I work most days of the week for Truthout as a writer, editor, proofer, reviewer and general swiss army knife.

Three nights a week, I work as a bouncer at a bar downtown to help make ends meet.

I am a health care provider for my wife, giving her daily injections to treat and manage her MS. That way, she can keep up with her labor, which is managing a large downtown store. My wife's labors are mighty, especially this weekend; eight hundred billion college students return to school in Boston this week, and all of them come to her store for the stuff they need. As I type this, I am mortally sure she is running around at work with her hair on fire

That's my labor, and my wife's. Tell me about yours.

P.S. "Labor" does not necessarily mean "Employment," as my third item indicates. If you don't have a job, I'd bet you still have labors.

Share them. This is your weekend, too.

:toast: :hug: :toast:

[lonestarnot]

1. Nope, nope. There is no way you could ever keep up. You are a male!

:evilgrin: :hug: How's dat Hairy Bastid?

[WilliamPitt]

2. Good point

Changed the OP title. :)

The Bastid is acclimating to his new home. He's still a little spooked, but he's coming around. Moves are tough on teh kittehs.

[Demeter]

3. Labors--Paid and Unpaid

Mother--I have a daughter on the autistic spectrum. She broke a window with her fist in a temper tantrum this week. I am paid $460/month by the state as her caregiver: she is a disabled adult. Her sister is working full time and going to school--I help her when I can.

Paid employment--for $10/hour, I also provide home care for elderly poor. It varies based on how much I do in a month. The flexibility enables me to care for my daughter. There is no way on earth I could hold a "real job". And she isn't going into the tender care of the State.

Paid employment--newspaper delivery. It averages $200/week for two mornings; younger daughter does dame for $80.

Unpaid labor--as a member of the Condo association, I am instrumental in seeing that our community is maintained. It is at least 6 hours each month of meetings, plus phone, email, etc, and stressful. I am protecting my investment and my home. It needs protection. We have had crooked/incompetent board members, crooked/incompent management companies, crooked/incompetent contractors, and crooked/incompetent lawyers. We have gotten rid of all but the last two in the past 6 years, and we are working on those last two now. It isn't easy or cheap. the alternative is bankruptcy and decay.

Choir/Music--unpaid at present. It is a respite, mostly.

Sometimes I even get to do my own housework/cooking. I am trying to do some renovations to fix what the older daughter has destroyed. It is hard to find the energy, let alone the money.

As I have passed the half-century, I find my ability and willingness to work like a dog for so little is declining. Ten more years, and I can collect Medicare. Health insurance today costs me $365/month for me and younger daughter--god forbid we should have to use it. Obamacare will make it even more expensive, and has already cut the older daughter's medicaid.