Fried oysters and brussels sprouts.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Quite the blogger
So I get on here for the first time since April, oh wait, I see I was on here in August and also noted that the whole interface had changed. Sigh. So So busy. Can't remember anything,
My unemployment ran out suddenly. I thought I'd get it through December, but not. So I am juggling around money. I have not had to do this in years. But I'm okay so whatever. I'm sure I've explained my financial plan on here before.
At the shop, we are offering Thanksgiving sides (mashed potatoes, sweet potato peach or green bean or corn casserole and some pies and deviled eggs, of course) for pickup and we have several orders but none for Turkey Day itself, which I thought would be the big draw. Apparently, the holiday is celebrated in a wide ranging manner.
The weeks just fly by. WHY have I not ramped any of my ancillary plans: cooking classes, old folks dinner night, the Big Damn Dinners, the lunchtime catering. And some retail. Like, uh. Ack. It's odd though that I have distributed probably 300 $1 off $10 coupons around town and not one has come back to the shop. Marketing, my nemesis.
Overall, things are pretty good at the shop. We're paying our bills which I understand is a good statement to be making this early on.
Also I have to deal with my car, the lease is ending, the tires are dangerously bad, I need a used car. I should put this on FB and see who knows where my next car is.
The Snaps are learning some new songs: Love Letter by Clairy Brown and the Banging Rackettes, and the Kinks' Sunny Afternoon and I Can See Clearly Now. We want to be the band that does songs no other band will do. LOL. No gigs on the horizon however.
Life out at the farm is restorative.
My unemployment ran out suddenly. I thought I'd get it through December, but not. So I am juggling around money. I have not had to do this in years. But I'm okay so whatever. I'm sure I've explained my financial plan on here before.
At the shop, we are offering Thanksgiving sides (mashed potatoes, sweet potato peach or green bean or corn casserole and some pies and deviled eggs, of course) for pickup and we have several orders but none for Turkey Day itself, which I thought would be the big draw. Apparently, the holiday is celebrated in a wide ranging manner.
The weeks just fly by. WHY have I not ramped any of my ancillary plans: cooking classes, old folks dinner night, the Big Damn Dinners, the lunchtime catering. And some retail. Like, uh. Ack. It's odd though that I have distributed probably 300 $1 off $10 coupons around town and not one has come back to the shop. Marketing, my nemesis.
Overall, things are pretty good at the shop. We're paying our bills which I understand is a good statement to be making this early on.
Also I have to deal with my car, the lease is ending, the tires are dangerously bad, I need a used car. I should put this on FB and see who knows where my next car is.
The Snaps are learning some new songs: Love Letter by Clairy Brown and the Banging Rackettes, and the Kinks' Sunny Afternoon and I Can See Clearly Now. We want to be the band that does songs no other band will do. LOL. No gigs on the horizon however.
Life out at the farm is restorative.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Oh my goodness
Since I last posted (in March...), the whole blogger interface has changed so I have no idea how this will look.
"I'm 83!" my mom declared today when I went to Delaware for our birthday celebrations. I gave her nothing but a bouquet picked from the farm yard. Plus the ham I had to take for dinner since she's out of money, plus the mashed potatoes and meatloaf and deviled eggs I brought from Good To Go. And then she asked "Why'd you buy so much ham??" And also opined that the cucumbers in sour cream had no taste. Several times, she opined this. Never satisfied.
I told her she should remember that when I always gave her $100 for her birthday and Mother's Day, I would tell her to take it, although she would demur, because someday I would be out of money. And now I am. And she said, "I didn't believe you."
She got me a t-shirt, navy blue with peacock feather swirls of gold, that my sister picked out at Kohl's. I told them I loved it. I don't.
This year has been the eye-opener vis-a-vis parental relationships for me. I don't enjoy going down there, largely because of my sister, but also because it's hard to see my mom failing. Although today she was at the top of her game. Which is not a very high top. Her only remaining sister lives in Georgia now. She told me she was being LEFT ALONE down there while my aunt's son visits Ohio. But when she and her sister talked about her coming up with them, my aunt asked "Where would I stay?" I asked my mom if she had offered to let her stay there and my mom tutted that away. "She drives me crazy." I know the feeling.
This year has also been a challenge with Chip's parents, the same age as my mom, who have had setbacks, his dad in terms of health and his mom in terms of mental acuity. We were there the other night and his mom just kept patting his knee and saying, "It's so nice to have you here." As if he doesn't see them every other week.
I felt this same kind of distance between me and my kids when we were in North Carolina for Jessica's wedding. They're on to their exciting lives and now I'm a remnant of their past that they no longer rely on for financial or other support. It's a weird feeling. I suppose I will just continue to deline in their eyes, as my mom does for me. And I don't want to watch either one.
Although I must say that whole wedding experience was less than satisfactory in oh so many ways.
On the other hand (which there always is), I'd prefer that my children not feel the obligation I do to continue on. Albeit at a very haphazard rate. I hadn't been down there in months, not even for Mother's Day, when I was moving out to the farm.
All in all, I think I'm doing pretty well with the stress: moving out of my house, feeling like I have no home of my own, working 12-hour days, dealing with Good To Go's ups and downs. Today my renter told me he'd had a bid accepted on a house, so now I'll need to find a new renter AND move all my stuff out of there.
I have an angry or stolid edge now that I don't think I had before. My lips are often pursed. I laugh less.
But, as I said on the radio yesterday, Hurricane Isaac is aiming for the Republican National Convention and there's a blue moon Friday, so maybe all this angst is for naught. LOL.
Also just let me say here: Facebook sucks. I've been timelined, nobody posts anything interesting or they're not letting me see it and they took away the ability to design specific pages for a business unless you're willing to buy some service they've hooked up with. Bah FB. May your stock continue to drop.
"I'm 83!" my mom declared today when I went to Delaware for our birthday celebrations. I gave her nothing but a bouquet picked from the farm yard. Plus the ham I had to take for dinner since she's out of money, plus the mashed potatoes and meatloaf and deviled eggs I brought from Good To Go. And then she asked "Why'd you buy so much ham??" And also opined that the cucumbers in sour cream had no taste. Several times, she opined this. Never satisfied.
I told her she should remember that when I always gave her $100 for her birthday and Mother's Day, I would tell her to take it, although she would demur, because someday I would be out of money. And now I am. And she said, "I didn't believe you."
She got me a t-shirt, navy blue with peacock feather swirls of gold, that my sister picked out at Kohl's. I told them I loved it. I don't.
This year has been the eye-opener vis-a-vis parental relationships for me. I don't enjoy going down there, largely because of my sister, but also because it's hard to see my mom failing. Although today she was at the top of her game. Which is not a very high top. Her only remaining sister lives in Georgia now. She told me she was being LEFT ALONE down there while my aunt's son visits Ohio. But when she and her sister talked about her coming up with them, my aunt asked "Where would I stay?" I asked my mom if she had offered to let her stay there and my mom tutted that away. "She drives me crazy." I know the feeling.
This year has also been a challenge with Chip's parents, the same age as my mom, who have had setbacks, his dad in terms of health and his mom in terms of mental acuity. We were there the other night and his mom just kept patting his knee and saying, "It's so nice to have you here." As if he doesn't see them every other week.
I felt this same kind of distance between me and my kids when we were in North Carolina for Jessica's wedding. They're on to their exciting lives and now I'm a remnant of their past that they no longer rely on for financial or other support. It's a weird feeling. I suppose I will just continue to deline in their eyes, as my mom does for me. And I don't want to watch either one.
Although I must say that whole wedding experience was less than satisfactory in oh so many ways.
On the other hand (which there always is), I'd prefer that my children not feel the obligation I do to continue on. Albeit at a very haphazard rate. I hadn't been down there in months, not even for Mother's Day, when I was moving out to the farm.
All in all, I think I'm doing pretty well with the stress: moving out of my house, feeling like I have no home of my own, working 12-hour days, dealing with Good To Go's ups and downs. Today my renter told me he'd had a bid accepted on a house, so now I'll need to find a new renter AND move all my stuff out of there.
I have an angry or stolid edge now that I don't think I had before. My lips are often pursed. I laugh less.
But, as I said on the radio yesterday, Hurricane Isaac is aiming for the Republican National Convention and there's a blue moon Friday, so maybe all this angst is for naught. LOL.
Also just let me say here: Facebook sucks. I've been timelined, nobody posts anything interesting or they're not letting me see it and they took away the ability to design specific pages for a business unless you're willing to buy some service they've hooked up with. Bah FB. May your stock continue to drop.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Personally
It's been hectic. You can read the business blog here. But I am still maintaining my busy life.
Last Friday we played poker out at the man shack. Best $10 I spent last week, losing it at cards. Saturday, Chip and I went to the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo fundraiser at One Seagate and had a swell time. See my FB. Then we went out to Doc's in Tontogany where I was called upon to sing Mustang Sally with the band while dressed up, complete with fishnets and high heels.
That magnolia tree picture posted below was of a short-lived event. By Sunday, all the blossoms were down and I raked them up. Mowed once in the back already, after raking up all that pine tree detritus. Uncovered many perennial sprouts and have been to the yard waste several times.
Ginger and the Snaps played during a Welders break at Howard's on March 10. Comments were gracious.
____________________________
Last Friday we played poker out at the man shack. Best $10 I spent last week, losing it at cards. Saturday, Chip and I went to the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo fundraiser at One Seagate and had a swell time. See my FB. Then we went out to Doc's in Tontogany where I was called upon to sing Mustang Sally with the band while dressed up, complete with fishnets and high heels.
That magnolia tree picture posted below was of a short-lived event. By Sunday, all the blossoms were down and I raked them up. Mowed once in the back already, after raking up all that pine tree detritus. Uncovered many perennial sprouts and have been to the yard waste several times.
Ginger and the Snaps played during a Welders break at Howard's on March 10. Comments were gracious.
____________________________
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Wednesday, March 07, 2012
March
And no ill effects of winter have been felt. Since I've been so crazy busy, I didn't even notice it was winter. Although I guess I would have if had ever got below freezing.
The business consumes me. Blog here.
I had a crazy idea that I would fly to California next weekend and see my kids, flying Anne up to San Fran. But between the conception of the idea and the booking flights, the prices skyrocketed so I'm not going. Plus my son's girl called me today and she's not even in SF right now and said they'd prefer I came out after they got a better apartment so I'll just hold off and make some sensible plans some other time.
My mom was in the hospital again for water retention so I zoomed down there Sunday but she was recovering. I'm sure this is just another hospital stay in a long line of them.
Today it was beautiful and sunny and 65 degrees but so so windy.
This weekend the Snaps are playing during a Welders break at Howard's but our drummer has the flu today so that could be iffy. Tonight is GNO, so since practice was cancelled, I'm attending for a bev or two.
Book club next week. Slogging through...
The business consumes me. Blog here.
I had a crazy idea that I would fly to California next weekend and see my kids, flying Anne up to San Fran. But between the conception of the idea and the booking flights, the prices skyrocketed so I'm not going. Plus my son's girl called me today and she's not even in SF right now and said they'd prefer I came out after they got a better apartment so I'll just hold off and make some sensible plans some other time.
My mom was in the hospital again for water retention so I zoomed down there Sunday but she was recovering. I'm sure this is just another hospital stay in a long line of them.
Today it was beautiful and sunny and 65 degrees but so so windy.
This weekend the Snaps are playing during a Welders break at Howard's but our drummer has the flu today so that could be iffy. Tonight is GNO, so since practice was cancelled, I'm attending for a bev or two.
Book club next week. Slogging through...
Thursday, February 16, 2012
OMFG
It's about impossible to describe my life now. Most days I'm dealing with the business: meeting contractors at the site for quotes and approvals, lining up vendors, discussing logos, working on the website, the menus, the promotional materials, thinking about the design of the non-kitchen space.
Yesterday, I went out to see that the walls had been studded in for two sides of the kitchen and to OK the remaining two walls. The concrete has been sawed for the plumbing. Tomorrow I need to order the cooking equipment. And meet a guy about the phone and internet service.
Today, we angsted over the takeout containers. I wanted to get it down to the least common denominators of types of containers, which we did, although I have not cooked in any of them yet.
Tonight was book club, where we discussed the book for an hour and then discussed the business for an hour, where I picked up many interesting and useful tips. Mainly, people are not clear on what exactly the place will be doing or serving, so I need to crystallize that and get it out to my audience.
I thought my friend Doug could do a logo, but alas, he showed me some graphics but what I'm looking for is a logo TYPE so I made some of those in Photoshop tonight that I need to show to a sign guy.
The place will be called Good To Go. That's it. No more debate. I'm just waiting for the Stimmel's people to get the rest of their shelving and display racks out of there so I can start on the design of the front of the business. I've decided I'll have a few tables so if people want to eat their takeout food in there, they can, but no table service.
I've talked to tax accountants, and decided that with Quickbooks, Amy can do my accounting and we can do payroll by hand until I get dozens of employees. And I got a vendor's license. And a business checking account. And while I thought I wanted to get a fancy POS cash register system, I think now I will just opt for the credit card/check reader and buy some regular cash register.
I just want to get in there and cook, which I still plan to do by the middle of March, with opening being April 2, which is 6 weeks away.
The BG loan people didn't meet last week like I thought they were going to so I'm still up in the air about that but I'm forging on with the individual loans and retirement money I've invested so far.
The architect is working on the drawings to submit to the building code folks and the health dept.
Tomorrow I will make a decision on who will install the range hood and pay Ed for some of the work he's done.
I need to find some kitchen help. And firm up who of my friends will work when. And talk to produce vendors, names of some of whom I got tonight at book club.
Whew.
Also my mom DID get out of the nursing home and I spent three working days down there dealing with that and I had to do follow-up correspondence today with the guy who's dealing with her Medicaid application. But I haven't heard from my mom or sister in a week so that's good in the "no news is good news" way.
__________________________________
Yesterday, I went out to see that the walls had been studded in for two sides of the kitchen and to OK the remaining two walls. The concrete has been sawed for the plumbing. Tomorrow I need to order the cooking equipment. And meet a guy about the phone and internet service.
Today, we angsted over the takeout containers. I wanted to get it down to the least common denominators of types of containers, which we did, although I have not cooked in any of them yet.
Tonight was book club, where we discussed the book for an hour and then discussed the business for an hour, where I picked up many interesting and useful tips. Mainly, people are not clear on what exactly the place will be doing or serving, so I need to crystallize that and get it out to my audience.
I thought my friend Doug could do a logo, but alas, he showed me some graphics but what I'm looking for is a logo TYPE so I made some of those in Photoshop tonight that I need to show to a sign guy.
The place will be called Good To Go. That's it. No more debate. I'm just waiting for the Stimmel's people to get the rest of their shelving and display racks out of there so I can start on the design of the front of the business. I've decided I'll have a few tables so if people want to eat their takeout food in there, they can, but no table service.
I've talked to tax accountants, and decided that with Quickbooks, Amy can do my accounting and we can do payroll by hand until I get dozens of employees. And I got a vendor's license. And a business checking account. And while I thought I wanted to get a fancy POS cash register system, I think now I will just opt for the credit card/check reader and buy some regular cash register.
I just want to get in there and cook, which I still plan to do by the middle of March, with opening being April 2, which is 6 weeks away.
The BG loan people didn't meet last week like I thought they were going to so I'm still up in the air about that but I'm forging on with the individual loans and retirement money I've invested so far.
The architect is working on the drawings to submit to the building code folks and the health dept.
Tomorrow I will make a decision on who will install the range hood and pay Ed for some of the work he's done.
I need to find some kitchen help. And firm up who of my friends will work when. And talk to produce vendors, names of some of whom I got tonight at book club.
Whew.
Also my mom DID get out of the nursing home and I spent three working days down there dealing with that and I had to do follow-up correspondence today with the guy who's dealing with her Medicaid application. But I haven't heard from my mom or sister in a week so that's good in the "no news is good news" way.
__________________________________
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
Woo hoo!!!!
Today I turned in my BG loan application and Sue Clark, the director there, was enthusiastic, pointing out that that's the direction the city is expanding and that my place is a GREAT IDEA (where have I heard that before??). The committee meets toward the end of next week. She cautioned me not to "undercapitalize" so maybe they'll give me even more than I asked for. Although as you know, I am trying to borrow as little as possible. She pointed out that, as it's a change in use, I also need to submit my plan to the city planning committee, but sort of indicated that it was a formality. I had to admit I have no experience in quantity food production but I'm sure my enthusiasm makes up for it. LOL.
I also went to the bank and set up my business checking account and the bank manager told me the SBA specialist and she are meeting tomorrow to discuss my options for an SBA loan.
Still getting insurance quotes. Although I have one solid one from my own peeps so if all else fails, they're on. For $770 year, under what I've budgeted.
Started on the website today. Will work on content and develop as time goes along. Website. No prob.
My mom is getting out of the nursing home tomorrow so after my meeting with Ed and the architect, I'm shooting down there to stock her fridge and get her meds together and take down her Christmas decorations.
Tonight, it's GNO at Cindy P's and I'm taking chicken salad and deviled eggs and thumbprint cookies and brie/crackers (gluten-free) and cashews and a box of chocolates left over from Xmas and stuffed dates. And plenty o wine. Let's party, wimmen!
_____________________________
I also went to the bank and set up my business checking account and the bank manager told me the SBA specialist and she are meeting tomorrow to discuss my options for an SBA loan.
Still getting insurance quotes. Although I have one solid one from my own peeps so if all else fails, they're on. For $770 year, under what I've budgeted.
Started on the website today. Will work on content and develop as time goes along. Website. No prob.
My mom is getting out of the nursing home tomorrow so after my meeting with Ed and the architect, I'm shooting down there to stock her fridge and get her meds together and take down her Christmas decorations.
Tonight, it's GNO at Cindy P's and I'm taking chicken salad and deviled eggs and thumbprint cookies and brie/crackers (gluten-free) and cashews and a box of chocolates left over from Xmas and stuffed dates. And plenty o wine. Let's party, wimmen!
_____________________________
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Espionage
I have seen the enemy and they is not us. I figured my main three competitors for business are Bob Evans, Pagliai's and Super Suppers. So I've got their goods and here's the reports:
Bob Evans: ordered the meatloaf dinner for 4 or family style or whatever. Got 6 slices of meatloaf (about a pound, I'm guessing), a tub of mashed potatoes, a salad with dressing and six rolls for $24. The mashed potatoes were pretty good. The meatloaf was drenched in that gravy. The salad was large enough but other than lettuce, it contained 6 cherry tomatoes. Four people could have eaten a complete meal off this so, except for the meat and salad being heinous, it was a good deal.
Pagilai's: ordered the single lasagna dinner for pickup. Split it with Amy. The lasagna hunk was about 4" x 4" and tasteless. I'm not just being catty here: it didn't taste like meat or tomato sauce or garlic or anything. And it seemed like it was just noodle pile with some sauce on top. And the "garlic bread" was 2 pieces of plain ol white bread sort of grilled with no garlic flavor whatsoever. The salad was fine. $8.50.
Super Suppers: bought a Groupon for $15 for tasting event which is usually $15 anyway but this deal included two sides and a dessert along with the one 2-3 person entree that usually comes with the tasting event. Which said entree would be $12 if you just bought it so I guess your other $3 was for the snacks and winey beverage they provided. The thing about SS is you buy this stuff frozen OR you go in and prepare it for yourself from raw ingredients at these stations and then you have to go home and cook it. I made the meatloaf for my entree which was OK but again, a pound of meat with some onion, GP, tomato sauce, egg, bread crumbs and spices which if knew how to cook would cost you about $5. Plus you have to take it home and cook it for 45 minutes. Where's the time economy in that? For my two sides I chose the sweet potato casserole which was good but $4.50 and the pasta with tarragon butter which was way too salty and you had to cook the pasta and add in this 2 T. of herbed butter stuff. And $4.50 for about 30 cents worth of materials. And the dessert Chocolate Lovers Paradise was some chocolate mousse with some oreos crumbled into it. So to get a whole 2-3 person meal from them would cost $22 at least, the sides are frozen and you have to cook it.
Last week turned out fairly well after my initial feeling like I was at a standstill. I got my hood quotes which seem low enough. Met with an equipment guy and the building owner and got some questions answered. Went to the bank and applied for some SBA loans and got a checking account and got details on a debit card swiping system (too many details to explain here). At the bank, one of the women I met with said, after they quizzed me on my business plan, "Either you have been coached really well or you have done a ton of research" because I had a good answer for everything they threw at me.
Tomorrow I'm turning in my BG loan app without one piece: my damn 2009 tax return. Thursday I meet with an architect for some Q-and-A on my layout so he can get on with stamping my plan for approval.
I feel like I'm behind time-wise some but nothing I can't make up with a lot of concentrated action over the next couple of weeks.
Bob Evans: ordered the meatloaf dinner for 4 or family style or whatever. Got 6 slices of meatloaf (about a pound, I'm guessing), a tub of mashed potatoes, a salad with dressing and six rolls for $24. The mashed potatoes were pretty good. The meatloaf was drenched in that gravy. The salad was large enough but other than lettuce, it contained 6 cherry tomatoes. Four people could have eaten a complete meal off this so, except for the meat and salad being heinous, it was a good deal.
Pagilai's: ordered the single lasagna dinner for pickup. Split it with Amy. The lasagna hunk was about 4" x 4" and tasteless. I'm not just being catty here: it didn't taste like meat or tomato sauce or garlic or anything. And it seemed like it was just noodle pile with some sauce on top. And the "garlic bread" was 2 pieces of plain ol white bread sort of grilled with no garlic flavor whatsoever. The salad was fine. $8.50.
Super Suppers: bought a Groupon for $15 for tasting event which is usually $15 anyway but this deal included two sides and a dessert along with the one 2-3 person entree that usually comes with the tasting event. Which said entree would be $12 if you just bought it so I guess your other $3 was for the snacks and winey beverage they provided. The thing about SS is you buy this stuff frozen OR you go in and prepare it for yourself from raw ingredients at these stations and then you have to go home and cook it. I made the meatloaf for my entree which was OK but again, a pound of meat with some onion, GP, tomato sauce, egg, bread crumbs and spices which if knew how to cook would cost you about $5. Plus you have to take it home and cook it for 45 minutes. Where's the time economy in that? For my two sides I chose the sweet potato casserole which was good but $4.50 and the pasta with tarragon butter which was way too salty and you had to cook the pasta and add in this 2 T. of herbed butter stuff. And $4.50 for about 30 cents worth of materials. And the dessert Chocolate Lovers Paradise was some chocolate mousse with some oreos crumbled into it. So to get a whole 2-3 person meal from them would cost $22 at least, the sides are frozen and you have to cook it.
Last week turned out fairly well after my initial feeling like I was at a standstill. I got my hood quotes which seem low enough. Met with an equipment guy and the building owner and got some questions answered. Went to the bank and applied for some SBA loans and got a checking account and got details on a debit card swiping system (too many details to explain here). At the bank, one of the women I met with said, after they quizzed me on my business plan, "Either you have been coached really well or you have done a ton of research" because I had a good answer for everything they threw at me.
Tomorrow I'm turning in my BG loan app without one piece: my damn 2009 tax return. Thursday I meet with an architect for some Q-and-A on my layout so he can get on with stamping my plan for approval.
I feel like I'm behind time-wise some but nothing I can't make up with a lot of concentrated action over the next couple of weeks.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Venting
This week I feel I'm at a standstill on the food operation. I need two years of tax returns which I don't save copies of so I ordered them from the IRS and yesterday one came. Where's the other one?
And I just need a couple things (including said tax returns) to file for the loan with the BG econ development folks and it seems like I'll never have all the stuff together. I guess right now the last thing I need that I have no control over getting is the estimate on hood installation.
THEN when I submit the application for the loan, who knows how long the committee will have it before I know the outcome?? I have a meeting with Huntington Bank Friday to open a checking account and get advice on applying for an SBA loan. Maybe this Mini Loan.
I HAVE recently received my required DUNS number and my certificate from the state that I'm an incorporated LLC. And I hit (just) my Kickstarter goal. And have one $1,000 lender on board.
And then of course, there's all that recent flak about the name Daddy's Girl. How some think it's too risque and then suddenly people who had had no opinion agreed that it at least gave no indication of the nature of the business and at worst sounds like a slutty lingerie store. So now I guess it will be Good To Go by Daddy's Girl or just Good To Go. Which means unless I don't care what people think about website names, I need to buy another domain instead of the DaddysGirlEats.com that I paid $238 for three years for. Not that big an outlay but still. Grrrrr.
Tomorrow I'm meeting a guy out at the shop who sells kitchen equipment on commission for some company in Detroit (who gave me quote #2 on the goods) for him to try and determine if my proposed layout needs any adjustment before it goes to an architect. And about those architects: Ed says his wants $2,500 to finalize the plans and Chip says his will take $2,000 but I'm not sure the latter would do everything right for Wood Co. purposes. Angst again....
I just wanna get the equipment in there and practice cooking in quantity and holding it at an edible temperature and assessing my customer base.
I guess the upside is, between the mild weather and my preoccupation with this project, I haven't got those wintertime blues. Yet.
________________________________
And I just need a couple things (including said tax returns) to file for the loan with the BG econ development folks and it seems like I'll never have all the stuff together. I guess right now the last thing I need that I have no control over getting is the estimate on hood installation.
THEN when I submit the application for the loan, who knows how long the committee will have it before I know the outcome?? I have a meeting with Huntington Bank Friday to open a checking account and get advice on applying for an SBA loan. Maybe this Mini Loan.
I HAVE recently received my required DUNS number and my certificate from the state that I'm an incorporated LLC. And I hit (just) my Kickstarter goal. And have one $1,000 lender on board.
And then of course, there's all that recent flak about the name Daddy's Girl. How some think it's too risque and then suddenly people who had had no opinion agreed that it at least gave no indication of the nature of the business and at worst sounds like a slutty lingerie store. So now I guess it will be Good To Go by Daddy's Girl or just Good To Go. Which means unless I don't care what people think about website names, I need to buy another domain instead of the DaddysGirlEats.com that I paid $238 for three years for. Not that big an outlay but still. Grrrrr.
Tomorrow I'm meeting a guy out at the shop who sells kitchen equipment on commission for some company in Detroit (who gave me quote #2 on the goods) for him to try and determine if my proposed layout needs any adjustment before it goes to an architect. And about those architects: Ed says his wants $2,500 to finalize the plans and Chip says his will take $2,000 but I'm not sure the latter would do everything right for Wood Co. purposes. Angst again....
I just wanna get the equipment in there and practice cooking in quantity and holding it at an edible temperature and assessing my customer base.
I guess the upside is, between the mild weather and my preoccupation with this project, I haven't got those wintertime blues. Yet.
________________________________
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Almost February
We had Snaps practice tonight and when we said the next practice is Jan. 24, I thought OMG, it's almost February. I've totally lost the first month of 2012. I'm sure I will be glad to have lost another few months when it's closer to presidential election time.
So, Kickstarter update: $2,160 so I'm assured of hitting my goal of $2,500 since I have 14 days left and I haven't beaten up everyone I could have. Pledge here: Kickstarter.
Also I am trying to get up the nerve to ask individuals for $1,000 loans. Wrote the email. Haven't sent it.
Last week, I went to Delaware on Monday to work on the paperwork, was thwarted, went back Wednesday and then spent most of Thursday tying up loose ends on that. My mom was incredibly lucid and discussed Daddy's Girl with me. She felt I needed to make sure and advertise AND to post the hours of operation on the window so if somebody drives up and I'm closed, they'll know when they can return. Good points.
I'm sorry to say I haven't talked to her since Weds. but my sister has and apparently things are going OK although she wants to go home but I haven't heard anything about the pre-release family conference. Maybe they're just milking Medicare for everything they can before they turn her loose. At any rate, I think she WILL be going home, possibly to start her bad habits all over again. I talked to my sister about this and she seems resigned to the fact.
I was delighted to find out that I can get a good chunk of change out of my Roth IRA that even my financial guy said was a good idea as it's already taxed money that's not making a boatload of investment income. So with that and Kickstarter, I'm good for about $18,000. Plus I am this | | close to having my loan application for the BG econ dev folks ready. And I have two architects looking at my layout drawing.
Also I called banks about business checking accounts and have the names of 2 tax people that I will call tomorrow. The state has approved my LLC and I should be getting that document in the mail tomorrow. By the end of January, I should have all financing in place. Also, I called Doug Black about logos. Playing phone tag...
The timeline has February being focused on food: making it in quantity, costing it out for real, talking with wholesale vendors, choosing takeout containers.
In March, I will sign the lease and start moving equipment in. And work on the front construction and interior design.
Chip and I had a big discussion on the ordering process that was helpful.
Unfortunately, I have been lax in finding jobs to apply for for my unemployment requirement. Hmmmmm.
___________________________________
So, Kickstarter update: $2,160 so I'm assured of hitting my goal of $2,500 since I have 14 days left and I haven't beaten up everyone I could have. Pledge here: Kickstarter.
Also I am trying to get up the nerve to ask individuals for $1,000 loans. Wrote the email. Haven't sent it.
Last week, I went to Delaware on Monday to work on the paperwork, was thwarted, went back Wednesday and then spent most of Thursday tying up loose ends on that. My mom was incredibly lucid and discussed Daddy's Girl with me. She felt I needed to make sure and advertise AND to post the hours of operation on the window so if somebody drives up and I'm closed, they'll know when they can return. Good points.
I'm sorry to say I haven't talked to her since Weds. but my sister has and apparently things are going OK although she wants to go home but I haven't heard anything about the pre-release family conference. Maybe they're just milking Medicare for everything they can before they turn her loose. At any rate, I think she WILL be going home, possibly to start her bad habits all over again. I talked to my sister about this and she seems resigned to the fact.
I was delighted to find out that I can get a good chunk of change out of my Roth IRA that even my financial guy said was a good idea as it's already taxed money that's not making a boatload of investment income. So with that and Kickstarter, I'm good for about $18,000. Plus I am this | | close to having my loan application for the BG econ dev folks ready. And I have two architects looking at my layout drawing.
Also I called banks about business checking accounts and have the names of 2 tax people that I will call tomorrow. The state has approved my LLC and I should be getting that document in the mail tomorrow. By the end of January, I should have all financing in place. Also, I called Doug Black about logos. Playing phone tag...
The timeline has February being focused on food: making it in quantity, costing it out for real, talking with wholesale vendors, choosing takeout containers.
In March, I will sign the lease and start moving equipment in. And work on the front construction and interior design.
Chip and I had a big discussion on the ordering process that was helpful.
Unfortunately, I have been lax in finding jobs to apply for for my unemployment requirement. Hmmmmm.
___________________________________
Friday, January 13, 2012
Sunday, January 08, 2012
Random thoughts
One, I've been meaning to post about how 2011 was a year of loss for me: lost my job, both my cats died, big tree in front of my house cut down. Maybe I can just look at this as simplifying...
More on the mom saga. After it was determined by the medical staff at the hospital that she shouldn't be living alone because of her vagueness, our job was to convince her she should go into a nursing home. Partly because somehow she developed leg pain that makes her unable to walk. Anyway, after Jedi mind tricks, I got her to agree and we took her to the Arbors in Delaware. It's very hospital-like: brightly lit, swarms of staff, two beds to a room. Nowhere I'd think would be comfortable for the long-term.
But if she could indeed get her walking power back and recover some from her vagueness, she could go back home. Much to my sister's chagrin, as probably my mom's failure to eat right to control her blood sugar will just land her back in the hospital, possibly over and over.
The vagueness is more than just the old people repetitiveness. For example, I had given her some current photos of my kids that I had printed out large and she said she didn't know any of the people in those pictures. Sigh.
After I got home, my sister texted me to say that my presence had made mom agitated and that I didn't need to come back down there - ever. She's not the most helpful...
So basically I lost the first week of the new year with that instead of soldiering on with Daddy's Girl, my food takeout venture. Costs are starting to mount up for that, with equipment and plumbing etc. NO TURNING BACK NOW. Really, read the blog on that for more info.
I did apply for a federal EIN and sent my app to the State of Ohio to register as an LLC. Next week, I have an appointment with my financial adviser on various things, like finding a tax guy and if I can get some of my retirement money out for start-up costs. And today I FB messaged about 50 people with my Kickstarter plea. After the initial days, it's sort of stopped. But I've got three weeks to go.
While I was messaging all those people, a message from FB popped up that said it looked I was using this feature in a way that it's not intended for and to slow down or I might face some restrictions. FB. Bah. Although I am counting on FB to be very helpful when Daddy's Girl opens.
For tonight I've online ordered the family meatloaf dinner from Bob Evans to pick up at 5:30. I want to see what people get there for their $24. Next week, I'll get a Pagliai's lasagna dinner because they're my main competitor in that food.
I'm also working today on a timeline of opening, just to make sure I'm doing all I can in a timely manner. On to that now....
________________________________
More on the mom saga. After it was determined by the medical staff at the hospital that she shouldn't be living alone because of her vagueness, our job was to convince her she should go into a nursing home. Partly because somehow she developed leg pain that makes her unable to walk. Anyway, after Jedi mind tricks, I got her to agree and we took her to the Arbors in Delaware. It's very hospital-like: brightly lit, swarms of staff, two beds to a room. Nowhere I'd think would be comfortable for the long-term.
But if she could indeed get her walking power back and recover some from her vagueness, she could go back home. Much to my sister's chagrin, as probably my mom's failure to eat right to control her blood sugar will just land her back in the hospital, possibly over and over.
The vagueness is more than just the old people repetitiveness. For example, I had given her some current photos of my kids that I had printed out large and she said she didn't know any of the people in those pictures. Sigh.
After I got home, my sister texted me to say that my presence had made mom agitated and that I didn't need to come back down there - ever. She's not the most helpful...
So basically I lost the first week of the new year with that instead of soldiering on with Daddy's Girl, my food takeout venture. Costs are starting to mount up for that, with equipment and plumbing etc. NO TURNING BACK NOW. Really, read the blog on that for more info.
I did apply for a federal EIN and sent my app to the State of Ohio to register as an LLC. Next week, I have an appointment with my financial adviser on various things, like finding a tax guy and if I can get some of my retirement money out for start-up costs. And today I FB messaged about 50 people with my Kickstarter plea. After the initial days, it's sort of stopped. But I've got three weeks to go.
While I was messaging all those people, a message from FB popped up that said it looked I was using this feature in a way that it's not intended for and to slow down or I might face some restrictions. FB. Bah. Although I am counting on FB to be very helpful when Daddy's Girl opens.
For tonight I've online ordered the family meatloaf dinner from Bob Evans to pick up at 5:30. I want to see what people get there for their $24. Next week, I'll get a Pagliai's lasagna dinner because they're my main competitor in that food.
I'm also working today on a timeline of opening, just to make sure I'm doing all I can in a timely manner. On to that now....
________________________________
Thursday, January 05, 2012
Hope to be home later
Hope to be home later today and maybe back here on the weeknd. Keeping a journal of the whole deal so i remember what was said n done by drs etc
My mom is in a
My mom is in a nursing home. Incredibly vague. Im at her apt doing dishes n laundry n taking out trash. Blogging from my phone. No wifi
Monday, January 02, 2012
Holidaze
First, let me ask that you not share my blog on Facebook. Some people don't know it exists. Thank you.
As you know, I was going to go to Austin with my kids for Christmas. That all fell through when my son had to work Christmas Eve.
Instead, it's been a hectic couple of weeks but it's over now.
There was a party out on a little cottage on the river by Grand Rapids with some friends of Chip's, including a guy who I was a French major with at BGSU back in the 70s.
The next night, the Joe Baker Band played at Howard's and they let me sing Santa Baby. Then I sang Mustang Sally while Ginger played bass with the guys.
Christmas Eve, Chip had his family over for lunch and gifts, where I received many. Thank you all. My daughter had called me earlier that day from her car while driving up to San Francisco to be with her brother for Christmas. I was comforted that she was using Bluetooth, so not as dangerous.
Christmas Day, Chip accompanied me to Delaware. My Aunt Midge had sprung for the Kroger takeout dinner, so we had ham and mashed potatoes and green bean casserole and rolls and sweet potato casserole that I made and too many desserts. Gifts were exchanged. I got two pairs of earrings and some other stuff. We got out of there and home by 5.
My Aunt Midge announced that she was moving to Georgia Jan. 4 where her son lives. A silence fell over the table. My mom overall was pretty good. She did allow that the stuffing was not as heinous as the previous two years. She didn't fall asleep immediately after we ate. She liked the robe I got her.
This last Friday, we went to a party at the Balles. Delicious snacks and a good crowd. Thanks to Kerry for driving again.
Saturday, I thought I had a radio show but alas I was preempted. So stay tuned for my end-of-year concerts-I-saw show on Jan. 14.
Yesterday, I made a bunch of snacks (stuffed dates and stuffed mini-peppers and deviled eggs and jam thumbprint cookies and hummus with veggies and guacamole) and Chip cooked some brats and about 10 people went out to his place for football and eating. And light drinking.
On Friday, my sister took my mom to the ER because her blood sugar was way high and she was incoherent and more aggressive than usual. So during all this hectic weekend, I was in contact with my sister non-stop about this. Karen was concerned that mom would be released to Karen's care, which would be bad as Karen can't go stay with mom and mom can't stay at Karen's place. Apparently, my mom was telling my sister that the medical staff was holding her against her will AND that no one else was at the hospital except my mom AND that her roommate (she had none) was up and down all night.
Yesterday, I called the nurse station there but no one was available familiar with my mom's situation and no one called me back. Today, she's still in the hospital. I called her. She didn't know who I was. She asked where I was and I said Home. She said In Michigan? I said In Bowling Green. She said What are you doing THERE? She told me the doctor was in with her so I asked if I should call her back and she agreed. Karen then called later to say mom had called her and asked who that woman was who had called her from BG. It seems that if this were an issue connected to moderating her blood sugar, she would have come out of it by now with round-the-clock medical attention.
And in between all this, I've been busy with trying to launch Daddy's Girl, a takeout food place. I've done massive online research into suppliers and regulations. Tomorrow I can apply online for a federal tax number which I need before I start in on the mountain of forms for starting a LLC and getting a bank account and getting certified for food service, etc. etc.
I've talked to Ed Tyrell who owns the Stimmel's Market, half of which is where I plan to put Daddy's Girl. I bought the domain name DaddysGirlEats.com. I made a Facebook page. I got a gmail account. I created this blog to keep updates going while I'm in ramp-up mode. I've talked with the BG economic development folks about getting a low-interest loan. I've been in touch with the health department about their requirements.
I've started making and costing out recipes, things like meatloaf and lasagna and pasta dishes and stuffed peppers and for when warmer weather comes, BBQ sides. Also desserts. And appetizers that I will take orders for but not sell regularly.
Most importantly, I've started a fund-raising campaign on Kickstarter.com, where people can give small amounts of money that will hopefully accumulate to my goal of $2,500 by the end of January. As of now I've got 4 backers, with $165. Thank you.
Now, I need to try and get some bigger investors on board with small loans that I will pay back in two years.
It's all really nerve-wracking but my alternative is to get to May when my unemployment and buyout money runs out and have to get some low-paying job that won't even make my house payment.
So that's the end of 2011. Let's hope 2012 is great.
________________
As you know, I was going to go to Austin with my kids for Christmas. That all fell through when my son had to work Christmas Eve.
Instead, it's been a hectic couple of weeks but it's over now.
There was a party out on a little cottage on the river by Grand Rapids with some friends of Chip's, including a guy who I was a French major with at BGSU back in the 70s.
The next night, the Joe Baker Band played at Howard's and they let me sing Santa Baby. Then I sang Mustang Sally while Ginger played bass with the guys.
Christmas Eve, Chip had his family over for lunch and gifts, where I received many. Thank you all. My daughter had called me earlier that day from her car while driving up to San Francisco to be with her brother for Christmas. I was comforted that she was using Bluetooth, so not as dangerous.
Christmas Day, Chip accompanied me to Delaware. My Aunt Midge had sprung for the Kroger takeout dinner, so we had ham and mashed potatoes and green bean casserole and rolls and sweet potato casserole that I made and too many desserts. Gifts were exchanged. I got two pairs of earrings and some other stuff. We got out of there and home by 5.
My Aunt Midge announced that she was moving to Georgia Jan. 4 where her son lives. A silence fell over the table. My mom overall was pretty good. She did allow that the stuffing was not as heinous as the previous two years. She didn't fall asleep immediately after we ate. She liked the robe I got her.
This last Friday, we went to a party at the Balles. Delicious snacks and a good crowd. Thanks to Kerry for driving again.
Saturday, I thought I had a radio show but alas I was preempted. So stay tuned for my end-of-year concerts-I-saw show on Jan. 14.
Yesterday, I made a bunch of snacks (stuffed dates and stuffed mini-peppers and deviled eggs and jam thumbprint cookies and hummus with veggies and guacamole) and Chip cooked some brats and about 10 people went out to his place for football and eating. And light drinking.
On Friday, my sister took my mom to the ER because her blood sugar was way high and she was incoherent and more aggressive than usual. So during all this hectic weekend, I was in contact with my sister non-stop about this. Karen was concerned that mom would be released to Karen's care, which would be bad as Karen can't go stay with mom and mom can't stay at Karen's place. Apparently, my mom was telling my sister that the medical staff was holding her against her will AND that no one else was at the hospital except my mom AND that her roommate (she had none) was up and down all night.
Yesterday, I called the nurse station there but no one was available familiar with my mom's situation and no one called me back. Today, she's still in the hospital. I called her. She didn't know who I was. She asked where I was and I said Home. She said In Michigan? I said In Bowling Green. She said What are you doing THERE? She told me the doctor was in with her so I asked if I should call her back and she agreed. Karen then called later to say mom had called her and asked who that woman was who had called her from BG. It seems that if this were an issue connected to moderating her blood sugar, she would have come out of it by now with round-the-clock medical attention.
And in between all this, I've been busy with trying to launch Daddy's Girl, a takeout food place. I've done massive online research into suppliers and regulations. Tomorrow I can apply online for a federal tax number which I need before I start in on the mountain of forms for starting a LLC and getting a bank account and getting certified for food service, etc. etc.
I've talked to Ed Tyrell who owns the Stimmel's Market, half of which is where I plan to put Daddy's Girl. I bought the domain name DaddysGirlEats.com. I made a Facebook page. I got a gmail account. I created this blog to keep updates going while I'm in ramp-up mode. I've talked with the BG economic development folks about getting a low-interest loan. I've been in touch with the health department about their requirements.
I've started making and costing out recipes, things like meatloaf and lasagna and pasta dishes and stuffed peppers and for when warmer weather comes, BBQ sides. Also desserts. And appetizers that I will take orders for but not sell regularly.
Most importantly, I've started a fund-raising campaign on Kickstarter.com, where people can give small amounts of money that will hopefully accumulate to my goal of $2,500 by the end of January. As of now I've got 4 backers, with $165. Thank you.
Now, I need to try and get some bigger investors on board with small loans that I will pay back in two years.
It's all really nerve-wracking but my alternative is to get to May when my unemployment and buyout money runs out and have to get some low-paying job that won't even make my house payment.
So that's the end of 2011. Let's hope 2012 is great.
________________
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