I survived.....

.... my first night with Eric being with DeAtly Crushing. But in defense of my survival, I drove to Kooskia last night. Eric called me and said that he forgot his coveralls, and that's a MUST plus his welding hood. So last night after I interview yet another person for daycare, I packed up the kids and left. I got there around 8:30ish and went straight to bed. Eric's shift is 4:30am til 2:30pm, usually Monday through Friday, but that is always subject to change on Friday afternoon. I got up at 3:45am and headed home, needless to say it's already been a long day. His position is called an "Oiler". Bluntly he's a grunt. When there is overtime to be had, Eric and one other person ( I forgot what he's called) has to stay behind and finish up, whether it's only a couple of hours or the whole weekend. The price we pay, I guess.
This morning when we woke up, I told Eric not to expect me to come up every night. That drive killed me, driving in the rain and at night. Where he's situated and parked isn't all that bad. The trailer was warm and roomy and it has running water. I'm heading back up on Friday morning, and we'll see if we come home for the weekend or just hang out there.

It's never easy...

That's pretty much the story of my life; it's never come easy. Poor Eric, I'd hate to be in his shoes right now. Just a week and a half ago he was hired for DeAtley. They did warn us it could be up to month before he could start. They have to look at each plant (crushing site) and see where to put him according to his qualifications. We even heard rumor of which plant he might be going to: plant 5 in Kooskia. No problem right? We can still draw unemployment for the time being. We are living just fine.
ATK calls him today to start back up with them. We had heard that they were hiring back the employees that they laid off this past January. It was by seniority only and we knew that Eric was on the low end of the totem pole. The thought crossed my mind this morning that it would put us in a crappy position if they called him and wanted to hire him back. I spoke (or thought) too soon. I got the text around 11ish for me to call him asap. Low and behold they had called him and asked him to come in and sign some stuff. I guess we are going to follow the ropes until DeAtley comes through on a start date. It's not what Eric wants to do, but if it draws a better income to house hold. He did say that he plans on telling them about DeAtley, and see what they have to say. But right now with this economy, we have to do what's best for the family. ATK has already put us out once, whose to say they won't do it again. DeAtley hasn't laid off at all in these troubled times, in fact they have picked up what the other crushing companies have lost due to closure. This summer should be hella busy for them.
So the question that's ran through my mind all day is WHY, WHY, WHY....?? Why can't it just come easy? It should be simple. But what lessons would we learn from God if it all came easy? Sometimes the best lessons come out of the hardest times. I just now wait for the answers to this test to see if we passed or failed. Time will only tell.

Kinda Lonely

Ever since Eric started at ATK this past August, I've had a hard time adjusting. In years past we've worked the same schedule and had the same days off. Economy took a turn for the worst, for the boat building business, and he was laid off. We scurried to provide the income that was abruptly lost and low and behold came ATK. They put him on nights/weekends. Totally opposite of what I work, 8-5 Mon-Friday. Needless to say, we never see each other. And now that Hunting Season has been in full swing, he feels he needs to partake in the barbaric ritual, all on his days off. Last week he took my son for three day, he came home enough to shower and hop into bed. Wake up, see me off to work, & he's gone to work before I get home. He works his weekend shift. I see him Monday morning when he gets home, I get ready for work, and he heads back up to the mountains, sans my son, as soon as I leave for work. It's now Wednesday night and he's not due to be home until tomorrow night, just to work Friday night. So will I see him, most likely not until next Tuesday, since he sleeps all day Monday. If he gets a hair, and doesn't sleep, that is the day that we all call "asshole day". No explanation is needed there. But all that aside, I miss him. It's nice to have adult conversation every now and again. I feel like he's missed so much even if it's only been two weeks. Hell, I have parent teacher conferences tomorrow for both the kids, and guess who will be elsewhere? He totally missed the election, and only the good Lord knows how he's gonna react to the results, but he didn't vote before he left so he can't bitch (right Amanda). The bed just seems too big and the flannel sheets just aren't warm enough. Here's hoping he got his ruggedness out and bagged his animal.