falling chips

The bookstore is officially a week old now. We had the ribbon cutting on Monday night and sold almost $100 in an hour to attendees. The mayor was there along with three of our five aldermen. Lots of other folks stopped in as well. It was a fun and exciting few hours. So far our little store has made more than $750. This is an amazing number considering that the majority of our items are less than $2.50. We are off to a great start, now the trick is to keep the momentum going.

I'm still working for an hour every morning with the first shift person. Next week I have three people coming for training and then I start my 'normal' routine. I expect I'll be in the store 5 hours a week. I don't even want to think about the time I spend at home working on store related issues.

When the normal routine kicks in, I'll have to figure out a way to work my writing back into the weekly schedule. I miss it.

I've added another plate to my collection of spinning dinnerware. To use another well worn image, by month end I need to let the chips fall where they may. I think having zero expectations for how my week shakes out could be the only way to insure I find time to write.

the store

Here's our big debut. The card table has since been replaced by our actual cash register stand, but this gives the general idea. Behind us is our wall of fiction hardbacks. I'd be the 'young' one with the dark hair:)

Today is Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting with the Chamber of Commerce. I have some paperwork to update, those P&Ps need tweaking, and some books to shelve and tidy.

Sorry I couldn't post an actual link to the article. For some reason the paper didn't upload any of Saturday's paper into their website. I'm not sure if they had a tech problem or if they just leave Saturday off.

Wish me luck:)

friday recap

The bookstore venture is off to a great start. We've already sold more in three days than we normally sold in a month from our old bookcase located at the back of the library. Amazing. The volunteers have been wonderful. The store looks great. The cash register is working well. It is all so good, the exhaustion I'm feeling is tempered by the sense of accomplishment.

Next week will be more of the same, except Monday is our grand opening and ribbon cutting. That should be fun. After the second week, my life should become easier. Maybe I can actually get a few things done around the house.

The reporter from the big local paper showed up yesterday and spent an hour with us. It should be a great story. The photographer came later and took a good dozen shots. I'll try and post a link to the article when it appears.

Have a good weekend.

energy applied

We always tell our kids the basic rule of physics: everything moves from a state of order to disorder unless energy is applied. This goes for schoolwork, bedroom organization, the family shoe rack to life. Sometimes they get it and apply the appropriate amount of energy, other times, they are afflicted with what I call 'buttinchair disease.' That is, they can't move their butts from the chair.

We've been on fall break around here. The kids had yesterday and today off from school. The first nine weeks are completed and report cards will be arriving soon. I already peaked at their grades online, all is well, in fact all is extremely well.

The bookstore opens today....the quiet, soft opening at 11:00. It will be interesting to see how this week goes. I'm wiped out from getting this project on its feet, but I'm ready for it to start walking. Nothing like real live situations and customers to poke holes in the policies and procedures I've been working on for two months now.

Lots of energy is being applied and we are staying clear of chaos for the moment. All the plates are spinning, some are wobbling a bit, but nothing is crashing to the floor. For now, it is working. I'll take it.

friday recap

Today is our final day of setup for the bookstore. It has gone really well. I'm mentally and physically worn out, but today will be a lighter day for both my brain and body.

Tuesday is our first day of business, but the grand opening isn't until the evening of the 15th.

So many folks have helped. It is amazing how hard these women and men work as volunteers.

Not much else to recap for this Friday. I'm still reading Stephen King's "On Writing" and enjoying every page of it. Kaycee and Dwight were dead on...one terrific and inspiring book.

Enjoy the weekend!

a pause in the action

Two days down and two to go....I've learned that while I love books, they don't always love me. My allergies are killing me. I've been digging through boxes of books and the sneeze factor has increased daily. The good news is I believe we are done digging and now we can move on to alphabetizing.

No bookstore work, per se, today. We do have our monthly meeting, so I'll be giving the progress report. Also on today's agenda, a haircut and a half hour of 'read to the class' time for the youngest. He's requested a Magic School Bus book and a chapter out of Little House on the Prairie. No prob.

Happy Wednesday!

ready, set, go

We start setting up the bookstore today.....keep a good thought for me. I'm going to need it.

On the soccer front, the kids came in second place in their tournament and in the final game eked out a 2-1 win with only 11 players and no subs.