The One Where She Rambles

Just popping in to say Hello and I'm sorry I haven't posted in awhile.  I mean, I know it's not like you guys are just sitting at home saying, "Geez, I wish Shara would post on her blog."  But, I haven't blogged in awhile and the "Are you okay?" emails and texts have started.  So, here I am saying I am okay.

The Junk Ranch is in fifteen days (minus a day for loading and a day for setting up, so that is really thirteen days) plus I am trying to do all my regular chores around here plus keep up with two booths, manage my ebay sales (slow, but picking up), hunt and gather Junk Ranch merchandise, get it organized and priced plus figure out the layout of the booth.  Lara and I have been in the back yard facing out into the parking lot for the past events, but this time we are up front - the second and third booth right by the gate with 248 booths out past ours.  Every single person will have to walk past our booth.  So, figuring out a new layout, what you want people to notice and all that is hard.  I can only guess and figure it out when I get there.  Luckily, Lara and I are together so we will make it work.  I am getting excited - still SO much to do make, organize, find, price and prepare.  But, it always gets done.  

Here is an article about The Junk Ranch on the State of Arkansas Website.  I saw the article and then I noticed that the ONLY photo for the entire Junk Ranch is MY BOOTH.  Eh gads.  I sent Lara a text  - "Look!  What were they thinking?"  To which she replied - "Who do you think wrote the article?"  I forgot she was doing the press for the event!  "I got your back," she said.  :)  SO between being featured on the STATE PAGE and the new gate side booth - the pressure for perfection is BIG TIME.

In between each Junk Ranch, I swear that I will get more organized here at home and have a designated area for all incoming merchandise that will be delegated to the Junk Ranch.  But, every time, I have things in my office, the living room (projects I am making), the garage, the driveway, the backyard and in both sheds.  Plus I always go pull things from both booths.  I have a lot of stuff scattered around between the house and the booths.  Sometimes during the Junk Ranch, when I am trying to go to sleep, I think about all the things I have in my house, plus both the booths and an entire tent full of things sitting out in a field and I start to get a little overwhelmed with my "stuff". But, it is how I contribute and make the money that I make, so it is what it is.  And, I LOVE doing it. I really, really do.  I will never complain about any of it except to say that I am exhausted by the time the show starts and that's when the work really begins!  

In my spare time, I am on the computer looking for jobs for The Breadman and filling out applications for him.  (I am the one looking on the computer because he works nights and has to sleep during the day when the jobs are being posted). His job is deplorable and I will find him a better job.  He just had his third pay cut in as many months.  I honestly don't understand how a job can cut your pay while you are still doing the very same job the entire time.  Plus, they will not pay him for more than a certain amount of hours, even if he works over that (which he does).  Then to add insult to injury - the first week of the last HUGE pay cut (a 35% weekly cut) they didn't even bother to pay him!  Oh, we forgot to turn in your hours.  Seriously.  This is not a Mom and Pop place - this is a huge nationwide company.  I don't understand it.  Having said that - this was not said to make you worry about us or feel sorry for us. But, damn, it's not right.  I'm sure you will agree!  So, a new job MUST happen.   *On a funny note - I get emails from all the job sites whenever a position comes in that he is qualified for so I can apply.  We get emails for Route, Sales and Delivery.  So  he gets job postings for truck driver routes, sales of everything from insurance to propane and delivery of everything from furniture to babies.  Yes, I said babies.  He gets all sorts of job openings delivering babies at the hospital!  So, if you ever go have a baby - I strongly recommend that you ask to see their credentials!  

Last night it stormed all night long.  The power went off at 3:00 and didn't come back on until after 10:00.  I am a bad sleeper already - I sleep with a fan to drown out sounds.  But with no power, I had no fan which meant I heard every single noise.  Including the husband (it was his night off) snoring like a freight train.  I kicked him in the shin to make him turn over and then he was quiet at least.  But it was windy and pouring rain and in the incredibly dark and quiet house, it was SO loud out there. Needless to say, I was up most of the night.  Honestly, I don't know why I am still up at nearly midnight tonight.  I am TIRED!

I will be back when I am less tired and less whiny.

That could take awhile.  

:)