Casual Conversations

I love chatting with the younger men in my life...just sayin'

After school conversation #1:

While traveling to the music store to obtain a trumpet for 5th grade band...Zach casually says, "Oh yeah, Mom, you're supposed to check me for lice."

I am, am I? Nice...I've been itching all night.

After school conversation #2:

So we are off to football practice...my nephew says, "Aunt Betsy, guess what? I bought a new skateboard...but I couldn't afford wheels." I reply, so your skateboard has NO wheels? Nephew says, "Yep, it is de-wheeled. I couldn't afford wheels."

Wow, who knew wheels were extra, kind of figured those were included.

One Week Down

I think this past week has been one of the longest I can remember...that would likely be said by all the immediate members of our family. The daily grind of high school really hit home for Em this week, though she really works that off each night at cross country...she remarked that sometimes the run is better after a bad day. Zach had several football practices this week and has been "caught" each night in his room studying his playbook. And the business is bus-i-ness...being that it is the first week of classes nearly nationwide, you can bet a lot of textbooks left the warehouse this week! Thanks to all for helping with that!

Tomorrow we embark on our first high school cross country meet...Go West High Trojans Girls and Boys! And then off to Solon for the football jamboree...Go Hawkeye Title 5th/6th Tackle Football. Zach's west side league was introduced tonight at the West High Football Game, he got to walk down the track with the other 189 boys...I don't think they let 189 play in high school, right?

Business tips for the week from your unexpected entrepreneur:
1. Know where your phone lines are before trimming up against your building.
2. Never pack a UPS box that weighs half as much as you do.
3. Talking while multi-tasking, not the best idea..imagine me having a problem here, I know, it is hard...
4. Write it down when you change your employee's hours so as not to text them to ask them where they are when they aren't supposed to be there.

August 22, 2010

A very productive Sunday spent with many...lunch with the family to celebrate both my mom's and my sister's birthdays! Yardwork with George Strait, Van Halen, the Talking Heads and AC/DC...those guys can really help get it done! And a 2 mile run with The Who, Green River Ordinance, Tom Petty and U2...nothing like some good music to make your legs work! :)

Things that I learned this weekend: Beware of squirrels! Yesterday, Finley George, our dog was once again stalked by the squirrel that lives under our deck, Irene. Irene normally climbs up and stays on the post all the while squawking...But things took a nasty turn when Irene actually came up onto the deck and took jab at Finley...Finley and I then retreated to the lower patio porch swing, where Irene hung out above us (literally) and watched for no less than 20 minutes while I was on the phone...then, so you know I don't use the word "stalk" lightly...I took Finley walking on the bike trail at the bottom of our yard...guess who decided to come along...that's right, Irene. She climbed a huge walnut tree and squawked at us some more. Beware of live-in squirrels!

Have a great week everyone...hi ho, hi ho, it is off to school and work we go! :)

August 20, 2010

Welcome! So I always wanted to become a writer, blogging wasn't quite in the plan, but I find myself mentally writing so much, it needs to come out on paper...the past couple of weeks, I've thought many times that I should start a blog entitled, "The Unexpected Entrepreneur"...for the past many, many days, I've had the challenge, joy, frustration and sheer feeling of exhaustion becoming a full-fledge business owner. So we will roll with this theme for a bit...

Taking over the family business was not really part of the Master Plan...But oh, we are so learning, there is no master plan...we are rolling with the punches these days!

Things I have come to know:

1. Online banking accounts can only be tied to one person...online bank accounts can be deleted and guess what...so can their history...so that was lesson #1, right out of the gate. The bad news is that everything had to be recreated, the good news is that I really learned all of our bank accounts forward and backward (inside out) in a very quick matter of time.

2. County Assessors can ask for a lot of information.

3. I'm pretty positive I must provide free entertainment for my accountant when he is lunching with friends after some of the questions I have asked..."I have this client..."

4. Paste a reminder note on the blank checks that includes a drawing of how they go into the printer so you don't continue to print them upsidedown.

So it is off to Quickbooks for me...always an adventure to be had there :)