Friday, May 29, 2009

I've not been feeling very well this week so I haven't been online as much. A few things have changed though. We rented vendor space at Blue Lagoon in Sylvan Beach. We will have this spot on week-ends thru Labor Day. Traffic last week-end was pretty good. This was the first time this was tried by the owners. The weather was good and people were out enjoying the beach. We made some contacts and had some sales, so time will tell. Relisted some items on etsy this afternoon and BANG!!! We had a sale of a relisted item. A fast return on our .20 cent investment. I wish it happened like that all the time.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Sale

This simple little 4 letter word has a tremendous effect on society. It seems like people just jump at the word. They don't really need to buy anything, but it's a sale! Off they go to spend the day at the mall. Once they get there, they can't find the right color or size. Then they find out that they can't get a raincheck. Now they are ticked off and head to the food court to relax. Who ever relaxed at the food court. Kids crying, others yelling and running around. All this fun makes me want to run right over to the mall right now! OH BOY!! For a quieter time at a sale, check out my etsy shop. All framed prints are on sale until 6/14. Go to OldTimeCountryCrafts.etsy.com and have a look around.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

I Stumbled

I'm disappointed with myself. I didn't stay strong in my commitment. I gave in to Nic yesterday and had a cigarette. I have not lost the battle against smoking, but it is step backwards. I will beat this. So it's off on day 3 in my battle with nicotine.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

48 Hours and Counting

Well it's off on day 3 of this smokeless adventure. I really think it's the habit that is the hardest to break, not the addiction. My habits tell me it's time for a smoke more than mine physical need for nicotine. Driving should be done with a cigarette. Meals taste better with a cigarette. All the things that I always did with a cigarette now seem different without one. But it's the habit of having one that makes me want one. My need for nicotine doesn't seem to be as great as my need to hold a cigarette between my fingers. On my way , 48 hours and counting.

Monday, May 18, 2009

24 Hours Later

It's been 24 hours since my last cigarette and so far ,so good. Good old Nic-O-Tine is right here waiting , teasing, and laughing at me. Just one puff, what can it hurt? Just one will take the edge off. I've heard, said, and made enough of those excuses in the past 33 years. Now it's time to just face myself and face life without nicotine. To be honest, I don't feel a real urge to have a smoke,but I find myself reaching for one just out of habit. So now it becomes mind over matter. I don't mind so nicotine doesn't matter. I refuse to be controlled anymore.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Competition; Nic and I

Once again, today I will try to beat an old nemesis. The battle will be fought on three fronts. Physical, emotional, and psychological . My nemesis, actually my old friend Nic, is a lazy little bum. Nic doesn't do anything but get you to do it all. I don't need a boss anymore. So much for the emotional battle. As for the physical battle, I'm just going to step on Nic and rub Nic in the dirt. Done deal. Just a spot on the ground. Right where Nic deserves to be, rubbed out. The psychological part may prove to be the tough fight. Nic has a hold on me, sometimes almost to the point of controlling me. When I put it that way, I guess I would be Nic's dog on a leash. Looking at Nic like this makes me think of a past employer. Irv was a big man, 6' 4" and over 300lbs. He used to laugh at me. He would say," Jay, you argue with me over the way we should do something and not be afraid at all. But when Nic speaks, the rest of the world stops. You have to listen to Nic!" Irv didn't like Nic at all, and with good reason. Nic interupted the work place and wasted time. More important though, Nic wasted money. I doesn't walk so I carried Nic around. When Nic called for my attention, I was there. But no more of this nonsense. Nic can't control me anymore. Today is the first day of the rest of my life. I have smoked for 33 years but I am done with Nic-O -Tine.

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Facts of Life

Is there anything out there that doesn't have an effect on our lives? We do create some of our own problems, that are ours alone, but many of life's problems are shared by all of us at one time or another. We all face growing older with it's multitude of changes and as far as I know, there is no fountain of youth. Oh how I miss the hair on the top of my head, and hate the hair in my ears. We all face money problems of one kind or another at some point in our lives. We have to adjust to the problem or fight a losing battle against a system with no mercy. Our health is our one solitary battle. Everybody is a little different. Symptoms are hidden so we don't even know we have them.The cure isn't always 100% and isn't always easy.The facts of life are not always fun facts.

Friday, May 15, 2009

Patience

Sometimes I get a little frustrated with myself over things that I shouldn't let control me. Competing in the internet world of marketing is huge and takes some time to get established, especially on a zero budget for advertising. Everyday I post here and on other sites to get attention for my shop and it's working, up to a point. I'm getting people looking at my shop and that's part of the battle won. If they find me once and look around, hopefully they will return at some point and buy. I know I can't sell to every person who comes along. That would be great but that's not going to happen. Patience is a virtue they say. They also say that all things come to those who wait. So it's off to another day of promoting and building. Later I have to load the truck for tomorrows craft show. I never thought I would be hunting for attention, I used to think I attracted it.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

The Good Old Days

What made the Good Old Days so good? It sure wasn't because life was easier. It wasn't because we didn't need things. I think the thing that made them good was our age. Because we were younger we were able to adjust quicker to change. We may have been more open minded which allowed us to accept change more willingly. Plus we had to prove to the "grown-ups" what we knew and what we could do. Every generation goes through this proving stage. New methods are born and the old way is passed by and retired. We have all been a part of this change process. Some invented the change, but most of us just followed along and did our part. So were the Good Old Days really any better or we just more adaptable?

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Things Change


Someone once said that the only thing that remains the same is change. When I move the cobwebs and stir up the dust in my mind I am reminded that change is constant. Each day is similar but different. We are not the same as we were yesterday. We're the same person in some ways but we are changed by life. Being a person who makes something to sell, these small daily changes provide us with the opportunity to be creative. Our creativity then becomes a force of change, and the ball of change rolls on. Not every person will like my work, some will find it just awful. But for those who do, I will try to keep up with the pace of change.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

TheJumble in my Mind

Everyday we make a countless number of decisions that affect our lives. We base these decisions on the information that we have available. Some of these decisions require no thought and are almost automatic. Others demand our attention. Today's dilemma for me is life altering. Which medical procedure do I choose? Which one will offer the best solution? 3 doctor's advice, 2 options, both with pros and cons. Both come with restrictions, but which one offers me the most freedom?
What to build today? What to promote today? These are simple to answer and require no real thought. What to do about my health problem is going to take me a little time. I first have to sort out the Jumble in my Mind.

Friday, May 8, 2009

Turtle Mode or Snail Speed

Everything today just seems to take f..o..r..e..v..e..r. Not that I'm in any great rush today but, gee whiz. When I can type faster than my computer can list it, something is wrong. I type using only one finger, never more than 10 words a minute. Truly Snail Speed! So my computer must be having a bad day or it just knows that it's 5 o'clock SOMEWHERE. My cell phone is having the same kind of day. I've been trying for an hour to send a picture to my son. The phone is in TURTLE MODE. Me and my electronic world, what a happy place to be.

Thursday, May 7, 2009

What is TODAY ?

A very small and simple question, the answer isn't small or simple. Someone once said ,"Today is yesterday's tomorrow." Someone else said,"What we are today is the sum total of our yesterday's." The mistakes we make are learning experiences that aid in making us who we are today. Almost everyone has said, " If I could only go back and change something." If we did go back , it would change everything from that point on, even us , to the extent that we would not be the same either. Sometimes I'm not content with myself but I know me. If my life had been different, maybe I wouldn't be any better off. I'd just be different.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Moving On

Today I'm going to try to remain positive. This could be quite a challenge since I am one of the world's great pessimists. I am always seeing the cup half empty, never half full.
So with that said, I will get back to work and I will try to keep not only my eyes open,but also my mind.

Monday, May 4, 2009

Still Learning


I haven't been feeling well lately, so I haven't kept up with my work like I should. I haven't been listing new items in our Etsy shop. I haven't been promoting like I should. I haven't been here to my blog. What I have been doing is slacking off and making excuses to myself. So now it's time to get off my lazy butt and get back to work.
In my quest to learn how to market online, I think I'm learning. Although I have to admit that it is a slow process and more complicated than I thought. There is alot of good advice to be obtained by reading what other people post. The things that work ,those that don't, and will it work for me. The thing I find the most amazing though is how much information is readily available. Just click and read. It can't get much easier than that.