I last blogged in August last year and since then I have been so immersed in the business that it seems there just wasn’t time. And I also didn’t want to put what was actually going on in the biz out there in cyberworld!


But now things have changed.


Friends and family know I have been battling to keep mymixednuts going on a frayed shoestring. The shoestring finally broke, or more accurately, I gave up trying to keep it in one piece. It is a great idea, but the timing (recession) and the product (non-essential) combined, did not create a climate for success.


Annie has put a lot of money into the project; I put a lot of sweat and tears. I learned a huge amount about small business. And there are a couple of things that stand out: Pay yourself first and know your partners, and define responsibilities. Of course I know Ryan but the others… I only met Annie and Joe once. And then when we took on a marketing partner, a friend of Annie’s, things definitely started going downhill. I only met him once as well. Just too many cooks…


But I was desperate for work and so when Ryan suggested that I do this thing, I jumped at the chance. He saved my bacon. And it is really sad to have to walk away from what I consider a creation of mine as I really had very little help. From a single url to the site it is now is a big accomplishment for me. It would, of course, be more of an accomplishment if it was profitable.


Oh well.


So now I am back in the job market, looking for something to keep me going. I interviewed yesterday for a position in Port Townsend at a boat yard that needs someone in the shop and to do other stuff like marketing etc. It would be fun I think, but there was a tall stack of applications on the desk so who knows whether I will get it. This is a depressed area so everyone is looking for work.


But I hold the vision of warm water, swimming and snorkeling every day and sun! Every day! Instead of this cold, snow, rain, ice and gray that we are surrounded with here. 


The good news is my health is excellent, I live rent free, my kitties are wonderful. I actually feel a whole lot better since sending my resignation yesterday even though I am flat broke with no job! The stress of trying to keep the biz afloat would have killed me.


So now, anyone out there, I am available for anything legal (or not) to make some money.

• Love more – get ready for hugs and kisses
  
• Live more – make the effort to get out of the house, go to events, see more people, join some clubs or something!
  
• See and connect with my family more – and that means ALL my family and people who I consider family but may not necessarily be blood related
  
• Exercise more – walk 3 times a week 3.5 miles (regardless of the weather) and yoga (starts 1/14 twice a week)
  
• Eat better (not more!) consistently (no junk food) I haven’t been taking the time to cook properly recently, just picking at food and that is not good for my health, so I will get back onto my good diet of all natural, no junk, no processed foods. And of course drink lots of Kangen water
  
• Earn more – or to put it differently – create financial wealth, or as I like to say – Absolute Financial Freedom which means getting rid of debt and creating more income. And that means new business and Kangen
  
• Make more friends which goes along with getting the hell out of the house more
  
• Sell the house – actively market it in the spring, it’s already on craigslist
  
• Move where it’s warm – not sure where yet, I need more research
  
• Simplify my life – properties and debt gone, no junk in the house, cupboards and closets cleaned out – basically ready to move
  

So Happy and Prosperous New Year to everyone.

Susan came down this morning to help me getting the first order out. I had hoped to get it done yesterday but finally managed to prepare the mixes last night. Then we got going this morning filling the bags and making the gift baskets. I sure enjoyed having the moral support and it was quite fun. We brought everything into the house because the garage was so cold, but by the end of it we were pretty warm! The house looked like a bomb hit it, with squiggly stuffing stuff all over the place, and discarded paper and a few nuts here and there. But we got it done. Then I tried to get them to the Fedex place by five but just as I got to the bridge, it closed! So the packages will go out tomorrow.

Weather has changed; it’s not quite so bitterly cold (above freezing now) and it is raining. They threatened snow and some places got some but not us, thank goodness! It’s enough being cold – I don’t need to schlep around in snow too. But I suppose it will happen eventually. 

But it’s only a week until the days start getting longer and just a few weeks before I can start vege seeds, so there is hope!

Although today is cloudy, it’s not raining and it quite mild so went for a long walk on the beach, on our sand island that is accessible at very low tides.
The dredging is being done so took a quick pix of that with my cell and then further along, the trees are still  wonderful colors so here you go.

It was a fun weekend. Nothing extraordinary, just good.


On Saturday, I decided to go to the Farmers Market. It’s been ages since I went, so called Susan and we met there. The produce looked wonderful, lots of squash and late summer veges. The market has been extended to mid-December, but it really isn’t a lot of fun to go when it is cold, windy and raining! And it must be hell for the vendors, too. But Saturday was a pretty day, not too cold and no wind. Then we went to the little hole-in-the-wall coffee shop and sat and watched people. I don’t know why, but people in Port Townsend try to outdo themselves, looking and dressing weird! Some are just bizarre and I wonder what on earth they are thinking! Very individual!!!


Yesterday, the weather had turned nasty again (I saw the barometer dropping on my newly-installed weather system!) but Susan and I had planned a jaunt into Silverdale to the huge new thrift shop. The drive there was beautiful, trees of every autumn hue along the highway and in the town, giving it some personality. Silverdale is such a blah place, so the trees really perked it up. It is built around a mall – in fact Susan says it’s just one big strip mall! You can find just about everything you need, but it really isn’t a destination other than to get necessities. After finding some treasures at the store, we had a really nice lunch at Red Robin – enormous hamburgers – and mine is still with me this morning.


It is absolutely pouring today so no walks. But I did start yoga-pilates. I have a dvd so started this morning. Pilates is deceptively gentle and I know will be stiff tomorrow! But not getting out to walk is not good, so figured I better figure out something else to do.


The site is coming along well, the logo is almost there and the business side of things is supposed to be set up by the end of the week, so then I can order supplies like bags, labels etc. 


Today I will finish up the garage and have it ready to paint. Something I have been putting off but need to do soon so the paint can off gas before I have to be in there a lot.

It may not be the prettiest weather station installation, but it’s done and it works! I do have to get a compass and adjust the anemometer vein correctly. I guessed and lined it up with the TV satellite dish! I think I will most likely get a taller mast but I used what was around here so…

So now I can look at the panel in the house and get even more depressed! It’s wireless so the main control is in the house and I think I can hook it up to the internet and have my own official weather station. But not sure if it works with a mac so have to check that out and if it does, you will be able to commiserate during the winter and envy me in the summer!

This is a steeep learning curve! I thought I was pretty up on what is going on in the online world, but boy – this is eye opening.

Yesterday was a big day for young Oliver – he is a single digit!

So now it begins…

I want to be out of here by the end of September, beginning of October, regardless of whether the house is rented. I had some people who I thought were going to take it, and then they vanished! Amazing!

So I have spent several days, and will spend several more, getting ready for a garage sale next weekend. I cannot believe the stuff I have to sort through. This is a REAL garage sale, with such an eclectic selection of stuff, it’s not funny! From paints and boat stuff to candles and christmas decorations and anything else you can think of. There isn’t a kitchen sink, but there is a birdbath. Trying to put a price on things is a challenge but I am getting there. Some of the boat stuff, I come in and check prices on the internet, then discount madly and that’s what it is. Chris left a LOT of stuff. Just stuff. I am taking as little as possible with me. Everything is for sale except my bed and kitchen stuff.

I have no emotional attachment to anything, really. I just know it is time consuming and expensive to replace a kitchen, and Sleep Number beds are outrageously expensive so will deflate mine and take it with me.

Several neighbors area also having garage sales this weekend so I hope we have a good turnout. If everything doesn’t go, then I will do it again just before I leave.

And I have other stuff to get done – like last year’s taxes – and packing and finding a place to live down there. At least, I am not taking the antibiotics this week so I can have a glass of wine at the end of the day.

Days are getting shorter, and there is a nip in the air at night, although we have been have the most amazing weather. If it was like this all year, or even half the year, I would not be leaving. The days are sunny and warm, around 70F (16C) and the night are getting down to mid-forties (6C) and we have had NO rain. Which we actually need. Everything is bone dry.

Next week I am going back down to SoCal – it is Oliver’s first birthday and I can’t miss that. And I will be looking for a place to live. Then I will come back up here, pack things up (as little as possible) load Hinkley and Buddy in the car and head south. I am going to miss my friends up here, but I just cannot do another winter. I don’t understand people who love this climate of gray, mist, cold, wet… how depressing is that!