In an unexpected development, this shoe place and job have become quite the popular topic. Folks, really, I don’t know what to tell you. I’m just learning the trade myself, and there is no room for another person. When Alfredo and I need to change places, we have to each walk counter-clockwise around the central work table. You are on your feet all day. Another thing, wile at the counter, on the job and on the phone, you must be able to communicate in Spanish. I did not make the rules.If you don’t like getting your hands dirty, this is not your job. It is a fact that every repair involves rubber cement which is going to get on your fingertips. There are also inks, paints, polishes and dyes to content with. While it is not messy work, it is not for clean freaks. We even go through the floor sweepings before throwing anything out. Alfredo calls out each scrap as, “Money” or “No money”.
Did I say every repair uses glue? Yes, even if it is a stitch job, the cement is used to hold the patch in place and form a waterproof seal. Heels and soles are held the same and pounded with a hammer to ensure good contact before nailing. I can do the routine type of work but any specialty repairs, call Alfredo. I’m busy. There is nothing that cannot be repaired with the possible exception of the steel tube that is inside high-heel shoes. We can drill them out, but not replace them.
After work I found a five pound ham on sale. It turns out neither Wallace and I were hungry, so there it sat on the kitchen counter. Neither of us knows how to cook it. I roasted a one before and it was pretty darn good. We’ve been having good luck with trying new recipes so the consensus was meat is meat. Into the oven at 350 F for 15 minutes per pound. That seemed so abrupt, so I did those criss-cross cuts and put cloves at the intersections. Return for the report on how it turns out.
Now I have a hankering for that sweet mustard sauce that goes on ham. What is it called? Holy memory lapse. Maybe Google will turn out to be good for something after all (meaning to find recipes). If you are thinking, “Gee, since I started working, these blogs have become somewhat less inspired”, I’ve come to that same conclusion. If working puts a plug on my writing, think what it does for those who don’t share even my limited creativity. (I'm saying work stifles creativity and those
In a related thought, I’m reminded of the hush-hush experiment the phone company did with voice software back in 1986. You know, like Dragon Naturally Speaking, where you talk and the computer types. It worked, but 99% of the employees hated it because it revealed how dreadfully boring they were.
[Author's note 2014-06-04: For clarity, when the phone company tried to institute the use of Dragon Naturally Speaking, there was a dreadful outcry from the clerical departments. When the software printed out their spoken words, they refused to believe that it was them speaking because it revealed how boring they were to listen to. It was, especially among management, too embarrassing to tolerate. They ruled against the software.
Last, the ham is done and it is pretty darn good.
Return Home
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
