A word from Walker (finally!)

The past couple of months have been the most trying and pressure filled of my life. My feet hit the floor at 5 every morning and I usually don't get home until 6 or 7. I have received very little help from my manager. It would be one thing if I was just handling the sales aspect, but that is only a portion of what I have to deal with. One of the most difficult tasks has been trying to find employees. I have a great operations supervisor and one of the best class A drivers and operators I have ever seen. I have to watch every cost and so when I send an applicant for a drug screen and a back ground check, that is a cost. As of now I am one for three. The one I am hiring had a kidnapping charge, but he explained to me that it was because he is black and his girlfriend was white and her parents found out and pressed charges. The other two I did not hire were felony drug charges. I have to balance my inventory to ensure that I do not have too much or too little. The problem with that is I know all the products that I need, but my sales will be so sporadic that I can't just bring in every item that I know that I eventually will need to have on hand. I don't have an accounting clerk, so I have to do most of the month end closing of the books. All of this amounts to an amazing learning opportunity, both mentally and physically (I have to run loads until people are hired). Starting a brand new center from nothing, is an experience that few people get to have. I have had one truck running loads for about 2 weeks, and after closing the books last night my profit margin looked great and I think that in month 2 we might even make money. If I am slow to return emails or calls during the week I apologize, but things are so hectic right now. I appreciate everyone's support and I hope to see you guys really soon.

Things That Go Bump in the Night

Maybe I'm the only one amused by such things, but I love to listen to big bugs fly into our windows at night. We have three windows across the back of the house and the giant mosquitoes outside want to come in really bad. Check out the little guy that tried to take advantage of the situation last night by climbing up the back door. He's about the size of a silver dollar (Carmen, you'd think he was so cute!)

There's a trail in the woods behind our house where the girls and I walk every day. There are two big mud puddles and I noticed a ton of tadpoles swimming around. Watching them grow will keep me occupied a while.

Walker's yard is open! He's working on getting some business, hiring drivers and warehouse, and waiting for furniture and computers. Baby steps...


In the meantime, we arranged the living room furniture (finally). This is the view from the entry hall-the brown thing on the bottom left is our couch and there's about 3 feet to the wall behind it. Our chairs are squared in front of the tv and there's about 4 feet to the wall behind them. That left room to show off the antique roll top desk in front of the windows, which still need treatments.

In case you haven't heard, Walker and I will be aunt and uncle in about 6 months!

Congratulations Alison and Michael!

So DirectTV offers local channels to 95% of the country now! Great, right? Sure, unless you're in the 5% that gets nothing...like we are. We plugged in the rabbit ears to watch the Cavs last night (a disappointment in itself).

I took some inspiration from my multi-tasking queen of a friend, Heather, and cranked up the music today-I have to get these boxes unloaded! Probably the only difference is I turned up the 90's (if you know her, you know what I mean). I started a new pile of boxes, which Reese thought was another bed.

Here's one for the kids: Can you find the animal dozing amidst the mess? Worthless!

Let's be fair-Dixie's had a tough day of defending her flip!

When I get out of the house more I'll have pictures of something besides the dogs!

Making Progress!

Don't worry-we have 2 matching La-Z-Boy chairs so there's no fuss. Walker says I have the better tv view, and I say he got the better bathroom sink...ah compromises!

The stack of boxes is getting taller (thanks, mom, for getting it started), which means we're getting settled, but the house is a mess. We visited the neighborhood pool for the first time Sunday and then took the dogs to the pond. We almost didn't get Dixie back home-she LOVES to swim and they were having so much fun they actually looked trained when a jogger came by!

So we spent most of last night doctoring dogs-I took them to the woods and something peculiar happened to Reese's eye...

Can you see how swollen it is? Dixie ambushed her in the woods, so she must have scratched it. Walker put a cold compress on it after we rinsed. Between that, allergies and ear infections, they're keeping us busy!

Walker has 2 employees now and product on the way. He's getting busier and Joy is helping us with marketing for the grand opening. I saw my classroom fo the first time Monday and will be able to move in soon!