Earlier this year my family was blessed with our second child. It is a girl and she is healthy and happy. Between work, school, and caring for a new born I’ve found it very difficult to find the time to write. What time I have usually goes towards school work. Although I do regret those missed writing opportunities, I certainly don’t find it upsetting. I’m more than happy to put my website on the back burner while I desperately try to figure out why the new baby won’t stop crying!
The Next Venture
After I realized that the business wasn’t going to happen (and it was probably a good thing because of all the new competition in the area), I spent a little time looking around for other businesses but really didn’t see anything that appealed to me. I needed another plan because I suspected (and still do) that it’s only a matter of time before my current employer starts cutting back on labor. And, considering that I live way out in the middle of nowhere, it seems likely that I’d be the first to go. But the question remained, what options are really out there for me?
Holding My Feet to the Fire
One of the reasons behind starting this website was for personal accountability. I was trying to buy that business and wanted to make sure I saw the project through. In the past I remember undertaking several large projects and then never finishing them. I can’t say that I even failed but just simply stopped working on them. In such a case, I think failure would have been preferable.
This Is What Happens When You Don’t Listen To Your Plumber
The Door Problem
We never changed our locks after moving into the house five years ago. I did think about it, after all, it’s a very good idea, but it was never a high priority. Finally, sometime this summer I managed to lose my keys, including our only house key. We just didn’t lock the doors for quite a while, included at least two weekends away… Obviously this is a problem and a couple weekends ago I decided it was time I did something about it.
Appliance Ages
Our stove recently quite working and we were forced to get a new one. Actually, that story is pretty straight forward and successful. We bought a very good stove at a very cheap price (last years model bought on Amazon) and I installed it with no difficulties at all. As such, I won’t be telling that story.
Instead I wanted to tell everyone about a technique for checking the age of used appliances. This new stove is actually the 3rd stove we’ve had in the four years we’ve been living in our house. The first came with the house and the second we bought used. And that is where the problem comes in.
Final Business Update… For Now!
This last Thursday, at 5:00 PM, was the final moment before my offer expired. At 5:40 I hadn’t heard anything at all. Not a word. So I called the broker and after one ring he sent me to voicemail. And then sent a text message saying he couldn’t talk at the moment. I guess at the time of my offer expiring he decided to schedule another meeting? Seemed odd to me but oh well. I just told him to give me a call later. Continue reading
Business Update
So in the last month we have had more progress! I’ve talked to three different banks. One of them turned me down pretty quickly, another seems to be still thinking about it, and the last one has give formal acceptance of the acquisition. Fortunately the last one is the bank I was hoping to work with most! Now, we still need to convince the Small Business Administration, but my loan officer will be handling most of that. And she’s worked with the SBA enough that she is confident there won’t be any problems.
Business Update
Lots of big new from the last few weeks! After months of slow plodding things are now happening quite rapidly! It all started when I finished up my business plan. That was the key thing I needed before I could start talking to bankers and lawyers. I don’t have much to go off of except examples from the internet but I think I did a pretty good job on the plan and the financial projections! Continue reading
Making Hard Cider
One of my hobbies for a while now has been fermenting hard cider. A while ago someone asked me what was the point when you can buy very good beer/cider from any store? Well, because it’s fun and you get to drink it when your done! It gives you things to do and to learn. In fact, if you are so inclined, you can expand into biology and chemistry from the basics of home brewing. When Firecracker gets older I’ll enjoy teaching her all this while she helps me (not with the drinking part, mind you!). In the meanwhile I need to continue attempting to perfect my craft.
Hard Learning 