Where do I even start?
Yes, it has been a very long time since I’ve made any sort of blog post. I’ve had this site since 2004. It has kept me sane. In time of need I’ve always had this as my outlet. When I had no one to turn to. My digital journal or I guess you can say journey. (*edit* journal is a written journey right? LOL.) I occasionally go back to look & read what I’ve posted by it sure does jog hidden memories.
What really brought me here today? I’ve been living life. Living and learning. What an amazing journey it has been. I left my job probably 2-3 years ago, (don’t remember off the top of my head its been that long,) project manager and multi-media specialist for a document imaging company. It paid very well but the stress got me to leave when I had the chance. The chance came when my mother decided to buy a Japanese/Thai restaurant and eventually opened a dress shop. When I was at my document imaging career I knew my mom couldn’t afford to pay me. Yet I took that chance. Low pay, food in my belly, roof over my head. I’ve lived like that before why not again right?
Well its been almost 2 years the family restaurant has moved to its current location. The dress shop which is now the dream dress shop my mother has never dreamt of having. Both businesses are doing well. My mother bought the building the boutique is in. And the restaurant was doing well enough she was comfortable buying that building as well. Both businesses pay rent like normal though. Its kinda complicated, I guess if you don’t understand how business structure and things work to protect assets etc…
Whats next? Well I feel the restaurant and boutique are doing well enough I can remove myself from the picture. I’ve done enough so both businesses have an online presence so people that travel to the area will find us on the internet. Although there’s things I’d change for both businesses if they were actually mine, its not my call. My stepfather wanted me to take a roll as management for the restaurant but I’ve declined. Regardless I’m there or on call at both businesses Monday-Saturday. Can’t just give me a position with 3 days and say I dont have to show up the rest of the days of the week. It doesn’t work that way I’m family I’m the only one they can call if it gets busy or someone calls in, I’m there no questions asked. I complain about it but thats life. LOL. As for the boutique, I tried to get my mom on to quickbooks pro point of sale system but she keeps forgetting and calls me. Gets me to run her transactions etc… Ive showed her many many times but she forgets if she doesnt do it every day. The layaway function is the main reason why we went pro. It sure does make thing easy tracking customer names and what dresses they buy.
oh yeah… I forgot to mention my credit repairing has been going well. With all the money I’ve been saving living with the family not paying rent or utilities… I bought a 2010 Toyota Tundra. I made the executive decision to replace the 2006 Acura MDX my mom bought 8 years ago with 75k miles. Mdx had 240k I think on it when I sold it. The fambam and I have driven that thing all over the place. It was time to retire it or spend money on maintenance, again. I mean sure I could have put a down payment on a 2016 Tundra or any car I wanted… But the decision on this Tundra was right. I’ve put 23,000 miles on it since I bought it in February. Its nearing 109k now. Due for new tires. Its nearly paid off anyways. I plan on having it paid off in the next year or so. I hate making car payments honestly. Reason why I still have my LS400 and bought a GS400 for my toy. If I sold my two Lexus sedans and mods I could trade in the tundra and get a Maserati I’ve been staring at for the past couple years, ha yeah right my mom would be like you don’t need a $60k car.
Anyhow… I decided I’m staying put here in the Carolinas. My drivers license is SC. My tundra is SC plate. Its been official since January. My heart will always be in the Midwest though. At least here 3hr drive any direction can be interesting and fun. Kinda like Kansas City and Chambana. Been house shopping for the past year waiting for my credit to clear up. Found a few houses never actually went to look at them. Well, when I was Kansas City visiting and then stopped in Illinois to visit… I got an email from my mom to check out a house. There it was 4 acres multiple bathrooms and rooms with a building on the land so I can have a work shop for my car hobby. The house was listed on like Thursday. I got the email from my mom Friday. I got back to town Saturday night. Sunday I emailed the realtor she called me Monday. Went to go look at the place. We were the second people to see it. There was other people coming to see it later that day. My mom loved the house I loved the house. I told her we had to make an offer or we gonna lose the chance. Fast forward to this week. Closing date is in I guess 8 days now. ITS SO FUCKING EXCITING!
The plan… Since I don’t want to manage the restaurant or put more effort into the local boutique location (its honestly too small we need more dresses and more girls to sell, LOL limited to what you can do with the space dont want to over do it and be over whelmed) I’ve decided to quit putting off what I’ve wanted to do for a long time… Going to put my all into my own business venture. I will be starting an automotive life styles company. I’ll keep the full details to my self… But this new house… has enough land for me. I will be setting up my screen printing equipment that has been in storage so I can make shirts and hats for the restaurant to sell. Probably make some other shirts that go with the town too… I’ll have my own production office, setup my multi-media equipment and other printing equipment. I guess I could find or make space for photography stuff. I’ll also probably flip cars and hustle car parts again. Little bit of everything…
I’ll end this for now.. Need sleep going to the temple in the morning.
Categories: Dear Journal