giving up trying to figure it out

J went to his second AA meeting with his old friend, Russ, from the rock band days. They've been friends since middle school and this friend of his has struggled with alcohol since high school.  I remember his friend in treatment even before we knew of T's problem.  And now?  Russ is helping J.  * J told me that he's not ready to give up drinking completely - wants to still drink on weekends.  He got up fine this morning to go to work all day - so I don't know.  All I know is that he is trying.
T?  It's confusing so I'm not going to even try and figure him out.  He appears to be perfectly sober whenever we see him.  Today he came home from his friend's, cut the lawn, and stained the picnic table on our deck.  This was work he was supposed to do BEFORE my husband gave him cash but hubby paid him ahead of time and T took off. Today he does the work but then expects to be paid more money.  Glad hubby finally held his ground.  I had asked him to not pay T until AFTER the work is completed.  He didn't listen and over-road me but today he didn't give in when T asked for more.  I feel for T because his boss owes me some money.  On the other hand - when he gets a lump sum of money - it disappears.  And we aren't going to pretend we don't know what some of it's for.