I didn't buy the building, but I did buy everything in it plus the almost 4 years of previous marketing of the place. I have been running it since June of last year - reluctantly, at first. Now, I have put the utilities in my name, got an occupational license, and invested in more merchandise. It is the ideal spot to run my other business "Kindred Spirits...an astrological dating and human relations resource" or so the ad will say when it comes out August 15th. I have bought 3 months of advertising with this alternative newspaper here and have plans for more marketing with other sources. I have a (sort of) trade show this weekend where I hope to sell stuff and market my services. I am currently looking for a match for a couple of people, so this will be a fishing expedition as well.
I took Tuesday off this week so that we could spend a couple of days on the Gulf coast. I love it there. My children and I hung out in the water, swelling, for hours. There were no rip tides, jellyfish swarms, sharks, storms that prevented us from being beach combers, nor E-coli as Michael tried to tell me of prior to our making the snap decision to go. On the only whole day we had there, Michael napped and then came in the gulf for about 10 minutes. It is not his idea of fun. He likes water that he can see through, such as a pool, and only then for a little while. His idea of relaxing is puttering around our house. While we played putt putt our last night there, he circled the place and every now and again would stop at whatever hole we were on to see what our status was. The man needs lessons in relaxing. He watched Synchronicity for me one Saturday for a couple of hours, months ago when it was slow. He said it was the most boring place on Earth. I love it there too. I always have something to read if there is nothing else to do. What I love about him is that he will help me fix up the store; there is painting to be done and handyman stuff. He is on vacation this week and next, so I will have the advantage of his help in a lot of ways. Yesterday, he went to the grocery and cooked dinner for the family. I wouldn't trade that in for a relaxed man.
The store looks fantastic. Different from what I remembered. Maybe I didn't pay that much attention to the outside, but it really looks good. And of course you know I wish you good luck in it. I have very good feelings about it for you, mainly because I feel your great optimsm.
Congratulations, Janine.
Congratulations on your new purchase Janine!! You must be so excited to have it be "yours". The trip to the gulf looked great! Being in the water is so much fun. There's nothing like water to help kids get along and enjoy each others' company. Michael may not have the same definition of relaxing as some of us,but you are right, a man that goes grocery shopping and cooks is something to hang on to :). Carol
Congratulations Janine! It looks like a very cute shop! One of these days I've got to get back to LA.
I also think your trip to the Gulf looks so relaxing. The kids and I are headed to Itasca (headwaters of the Mississippi) after our get together at mom and dad's place this weekend. This will be our last camping trip of the summer, boo hoo! I'm sure any pictures we take will match your vacation picutres rather than the grandeur of Carol's vacation.
Carol, your vacation pictures are fabulous and you are much more courageous than I when it comes to staying on the water. Besides, you are truely blessed with great kids who get along. I am sure if that was me and mine, we would have had more than one "man overboard"!
Janine,
CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST OF LUCK!!!!! I am so excited for you and I don't think I have ever seen you this excited about anything. I think that is a good sign!!! It sounds very interesting from what you told me while we were in Milledgeville. Next time I'm on the Northshore I will have to look you up.
Janine: I'm happy to hear it's yours! Small business is rough but rewarding in so many ways. About that matchmaking...
Janice: How long will you be at Itasca? I'm dragging Paul and the boys out on their annual camping trip. This year it's Itasca. We're arriving (pending reservations tonight) on Friday, 8/12 through Monday 8/15. See you there?
Laura,
We'll just miss you. I make it a point to never camp on weekends. We value our privacy (my wild and crazy kids don't have to bother as many people that way!) and the quiet atmosphere too much to endure weekends. We'll arrive on Sunday eve and leave either Wed. or Thursday depending on the weather.
Congratulations, Janine! I am very happy for you and wish you lots of success.
Thanks, All. Now the hustle begins. I had nothing but printer and PC issues yesterday just when I need the printer most. That trade show this weekend is a big opportunity knocking and there is so much I need that PC for. I don't need these problems.
Camping sounds like fun too. We always went in the middle of the week in the dead of winter to avoid the crowds. We almost always had the sites to ourselves. My brother-in-law would park his camper on a site next to us and we'd have a trail to share. It was fun, but there is no appeal to it for me now that I live in the woods and the kids are in school during the winter. Another reason to home school... Not this year, though.
Okay, off to work I go.