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Tuesday (late) update
Dec. 13th, 2011 21:34I really need to get back into the habit of writing. It seems like I only write when I'm sick which, I'll admit, finally, I am. Nothing new, the usual sniffling-sneezing-aching-coughing-stuffy head-fe--- no, no fever, thankfully. Took a vicodin last night as a cough suppressant. It worked remarkably well, and while I didn't sleep better than I usually do, I rested better.
I've just about lost my voice, and I hope I have it back by Friday. There's an informal gathering - what they're calling a "hootnanny" - with the regulars from Stone Bridge, a sort of pot-luck and jam session. I'd like to be able to sing, or at a bare minimum, chat. Right now I can barely make my voice function at all. I just got off the phone after three phone calls, and even though they were each shorter than five minutes my voice is just shot.
The Day Job
There has been some improvement there, at least potentially. We doing work for an "FDAF" - I don't remember what it stands for, but it's a group of Ford dealers who share ad dollars. Whenever you see a commercial on TV that isn't for one dealer in particular, it was paid for by a group of dealers pooling their money. Presently, it's for Cincinnati-South, a group of rural dealers stretching from Cincinnati, Ohio to Louisville, Kentucky. They're getting good responses to the work we're doing: sales are up 20% over last year.
On the other side, the Cincinnati-North FDAF's numbers are only up 6%. As an urban group, they usually smoke C-South and they're pissed off. They want to know why Donkey Bray Ford in Tater Wallop, Kentucky is doing better than Mr. Shiny Ford in Big City, Ohio. They're looking at us. We are happy to oblige.
C-North is one of the larger groups in the country. When they sign, it will garner some attention, attention that will hopefully be of real benefit to our bottom line.
Tights 'n' Stuff
Seamlyne is in its slow season, and neither of my attempts to drum up business have been productive. Between Black Friday weekend and a December sale we've only garnered four sales. Kinda dismal, though one of them is a rather larger order for shirts.
I would still dearly love to find a source for mill-dyed cotton-lycra. Dyeing is a very expensive process, and if we price our tights to make it truly worthwhile, we won't sell anything. My search has borne no fruit, however. I had an ally for a while, a salesman with a fabric distributor in North Carolina who, sensing an opportunity I'm sure, did some digging among all the folks he knows. Even with his industry contacts the search was a bust.
I haven't given up, yet.
Music
Because of health issues at home, I haven't played in front of an audience in many weeks, and I'm really missing it. Michelle's been through an anxiety-induced flavor of pleurisy, bronchitis/pneumonia, and now a succession of debilitating migraines. Because of the medications she takes to cope with it, she hasn't been consistently able to take part in everyday activities, so much of the running of the household has fallen to me, leaving little to no time for outside activities.
I'm going to be doing some recording over the next couple of weeks. My brother-in-law is going into hospital in Denver for a second kidney transplant. My sister will be living in a motel nearby through Christmas and I'm going to send her a CD of music for her to listen to while she's there. This suggestion came to me through a sister-in-law, who has had to listen my sister's copy of my CD many times and knows the gift will be appreciated. Another reason to want my voice back.
I've just about lost my voice, and I hope I have it back by Friday. There's an informal gathering - what they're calling a "hootnanny" - with the regulars from Stone Bridge, a sort of pot-luck and jam session. I'd like to be able to sing, or at a bare minimum, chat. Right now I can barely make my voice function at all. I just got off the phone after three phone calls, and even though they were each shorter than five minutes my voice is just shot.
The Day Job
There has been some improvement there, at least potentially. We doing work for an "FDAF" - I don't remember what it stands for, but it's a group of Ford dealers who share ad dollars. Whenever you see a commercial on TV that isn't for one dealer in particular, it was paid for by a group of dealers pooling their money. Presently, it's for Cincinnati-South, a group of rural dealers stretching from Cincinnati, Ohio to Louisville, Kentucky. They're getting good responses to the work we're doing: sales are up 20% over last year.
On the other side, the Cincinnati-North FDAF's numbers are only up 6%. As an urban group, they usually smoke C-South and they're pissed off. They want to know why Donkey Bray Ford in Tater Wallop, Kentucky is doing better than Mr. Shiny Ford in Big City, Ohio. They're looking at us. We are happy to oblige.
C-North is one of the larger groups in the country. When they sign, it will garner some attention, attention that will hopefully be of real benefit to our bottom line.
Tights 'n' Stuff
Seamlyne is in its slow season, and neither of my attempts to drum up business have been productive. Between Black Friday weekend and a December sale we've only garnered four sales. Kinda dismal, though one of them is a rather larger order for shirts.
I would still dearly love to find a source for mill-dyed cotton-lycra. Dyeing is a very expensive process, and if we price our tights to make it truly worthwhile, we won't sell anything. My search has borne no fruit, however. I had an ally for a while, a salesman with a fabric distributor in North Carolina who, sensing an opportunity I'm sure, did some digging among all the folks he knows. Even with his industry contacts the search was a bust.
I haven't given up, yet.
Music
Because of health issues at home, I haven't played in front of an audience in many weeks, and I'm really missing it. Michelle's been through an anxiety-induced flavor of pleurisy, bronchitis/pneumonia, and now a succession of debilitating migraines. Because of the medications she takes to cope with it, she hasn't been consistently able to take part in everyday activities, so much of the running of the household has fallen to me, leaving little to no time for outside activities.
I'm going to be doing some recording over the next couple of weeks. My brother-in-law is going into hospital in Denver for a second kidney transplant. My sister will be living in a motel nearby through Christmas and I'm going to send her a CD of music for her to listen to while she's there. This suggestion came to me through a sister-in-law, who has had to listen my sister's copy of my CD many times and knows the gift will be appreciated. Another reason to want my voice back.