Frustration

Have you ever wondered what life would be like without all the problems we face on a daily basis. As much as I complain about things, I think it would be too boring if all was well all the time. I could do with a few less things to deal with, but too little would be about the same as too much. We all have problems of one kind or another. So even though my life isn't exactly the way I had it planned as a teenager, it isn't as bad as it could be. We all face challenges on a daily basis. We just keep plugging away and do the best we can with what we have.

Hopefully on the way to recovery

I had my surgery last week. I'm tired and sore but once I heal, I will have to feel better than I have felt for a long time. I don't understand why more people with kidney problems don't opt for peritoneal dialysis instead of the normal hemo dialysis. I can do this at home, at night while I sleep and still have my day free to do what I have to do. I now have a catheter coming out of my stomach but I felt this was a small price to pay for my freedom. I change my fluids and hook-up the circulator, then go to sleep. In the morning, get up, change the fluid and I'm done until night. I felt this was a better option for me. Going to the hospital 3 times a week for up to 6 hours a day just didn't seem like a good fit for my lifestyle. So here's hoping I made the right decision.

As usual I'm a day late and a dollar short. The powers that be have gone and changed the system. I was just starting to understand a little about SEO and Meta Tags, and now I can learn the new way. The internet Guru's all make it sound so easy, but for an old farm boy like me it's a load of Blah Blah Blah. At least now I understand some of what they are saying and doing, I'm not completely in the dark. This internet system changes faster than the weather. New ideas, new systems, new avenues to explore. It just keeps growing. So now I'm off to find myself in cyberspace and try to make it so others can find me easier. It all in using the right words , at the right time, in the right places. Yee haw, here I go again.

It's Not Getting Any Better

I never considered myself in terms of being a "nice guy" or not. I always felt that I was fair to other people when dealing with them. But that isn't the way business is done in our society today. People don't stand behind their work anymore. I just had a new motor put in my old truck and I have been having problems ever since. Now my mechanic says it's not their problem, it's due to the age of my truck. The starter fell off going down the road. The mechanic says that couldn't happen, someone had to remove it. The mechanic as much as called me a liar when I said the truck was running and I had started it three times that morning. He told me that that didn't happen that way. I was there. I was driving. Don't tell me it didn't happen. So needless to say they won't fix it without charging me an arm and a leg to fix their screw-up. So the old saying "Nice Guys Finish Last" comes true once again. 10 years this shop has been doing all my vehicle repairs. I have purchased all my tires from them also. This must be the thanks I get for being a loyal customer. So I must be a nice guy after all because I 'm finishing last for sure.

Not having a Good Day

I'm TICKED RIGHT OFF!!!! My poor old truck is in trouble again. The 1st of April we had to put a new engine in our truck or junk it. We decided on the engine as our cheapest and best option at this point in time. When we got it back from the garage it ran well but it just wasn't right. We were assured that all was well. It started developing shifting problems. Once again we were told no problem. Today it became a problem. Going down the road and we heard a small bang. I thought I hit a stone or something and kept going. When we got to the Blue Lagoon, I parked to unload. After unloading I went to move the truck, turned the key and received a click. I opened the hood and got a shock, the starter was gone! I looked closer and found the guard on the bell housing was missing. No wonder the clutch wasn't working right! Yeah, I'm TICKED OFF!!!!!!!!

We have been busy this week increasing the size of our inventory. I have been building as fast as I can and Elaine has been painting up new things as fast as she can. Each week-end at the Marketplace at the Blue Lagoon has been a little better than the week before. Our hope is that this will continue. This week-end is village wide garage sale in Sylvan Beach so people will be out and about all week-end. It is always a crap-shoot at any event but so far this has worked out well and summer hasn't started yet. So we will build and paint and paint and build. No matter what, we will have a good time this week-end. We will be at the BEACH.

Making Progress

I can finally sayI'm making progress on all fronts. I have learned how to use Twitter better. That get us more exposure for our Etsy shop. Our week-end venture is working out well. With the summer season about to begin, our hopes are that this will continue and get better. Our new style frames seem to be accepted by the public so I'll continue to make them. And finally, after many Doctor visits, I'm now waiting for a surgical appointment. Maybe sometime soon I will be ready to start dialysis and get some of this backed up waste out of my system. I know I'm never going to be like I used to be, but I will have to be better than I am most of the time now. So all is going well at this point in time. We'll call that PROGRESS.

Promoting yourself can be real hard, but it has been fun learning. Everyday my Twitter following grows and we get more visitors to our ETSY shop. Promoting yourself seems like bragging in a way. You tell people what you have and tell them why they should buy from you instead of someone else. This isn't any secret. Big businesses have been doing this kind of advertising for years. We know it works so where's the problem. Money for a big add campaign! So I will keep posting and keep telling about our products the way I have been. Not because I'm too cheap to pay for advertising, I couldn't afford it even if I wanted to. It may take me some time to build up sales, but I'm having a good time learning and I'm meeting some great people along the way. Welcome to the 21st century Jay. The internet market is my oyster, I have to learn to open it.

Marketplace at the Blue Lagoon

The marketplace at the Blue Lagoon, in Sylvan Beach, has been a good time so far. Every week-end us vendors turn the lawn into a shopping center. Some of us are there every week-end and they add new sellers all the time. Since Sylvan Beach is a resort village, we have a new crowd of people every day. The weather and sales have been good and the summer season isn't really here yet. There is a nice variety of vendors. Some are crafters, some are retailers, some sell candy, and some are selling antiques. If a person can't find what they want at the marketplace they can still enjoy a round of miniature golf.

Twitter Works

My Twitter account just keeps growing. I'm not doing any gimmicks or anything crazy. I just keep following people who are in a similar business. I follow people who post interesting articles and points of interest. I follow these people in order to learn from them and most follow me in return. Now I have a large base to learn from. There is always something of interest right there on my twitter home page. Twitter is a good tool, all I have to do is learn how to use it properly. I post my new etsy listings on twitter and I post my new blogs there also. Twitter works. I know because I get views on my other sites after I post on Twitter. I get seen! That's proof enough for me that Twitter works!

Getting Ready

This week-end we are going back to the Marketplace at the Blue Lagoon in Sylvan Beach. So far, it has been pretty good and shows promise of getting better. This is the first year that the owners have tried this. Blue Lagoon is a miniature golf site and we set up on the lawn. Sylvan Beach is a small resort village on the east end of Oneida lake. There is a new crowd of vacationers, boaters, and tourists every week-end so it is different every week-end. The owners are hoping for more vendors when school is out and more people are available. So far , so good. The owners are happy, the vendors are happy, and most important, the customers and general public are happy. Ok, it's time to finish a few projects and start to load the truck. The weather is supposed to be good this week-end so people will be out and about. So we're off on another handmade adventure!

Spooky

That Darn Cat. I think it was Disney who made that movie, but I'm not sure. Our cat "Spooky" could star in the remake. Zing, zoom,bang and he's off! He might be just chasing his tail and away he goes. He has a leash to go outside. It only takes a little breeze to make him happy. The grass moves a bit and he's got a play toy. Then it's time for a nap. What a life! No worries, a warm dry bed, and all the food he can eat! I'm jealous!!! When he wakes up, his alter ego will appear. Just like people, he get's attitude. He goes from 12lb. lovey cat to a miniature tiger. Fingers become chew toys and legs become scratch trees. Then a few seconds later and the lovey cat is back. Time for a nap again

Can't seem to concentrate. Working on inventory for the marketplace this week-end and just can't get it together. Nothing is happening. My creative side is out to lunch. No new ideas are coming. I need to add something new, but nothing is jumping into my mind. I'm just blank. I know I'll come up with an idea when I'm not really ready for it, but at least I'll have it. It will come on it's own, I can't force it. So it's time to eat supper and maybe relax for a little while. Who am I trying to kid with that relax line. I know I didn't buy it. Did you?

Confused

When I looked at the calender today I got a little shock. It says today is June 1, no shock there, June 1 always follows May 31. Then I looked at the thermometer. 34 degrees. No way can this be true. But there it was. June 1 and I have my furnace running. That's just not right. Who ticked off Mother Nature this time? Here in central New York, we should be in the 80's during the day and the 60's at night by now. This is April weather not June.I'm so confused. Oh well, time to put on my coat and get started on my day. Maybe I'll build a clock today. Hmmm. That might not be a bad idea.