...that you don't get to sleep in anymore.
I'm tired. But, so much to do, so much to do. I am enjoying the new job of karate school owner. It's waaay more about running the business than it is the teaching. No students, noone to teach. Pretty simple concept. So, ya, I'm happy we listened to the advise of the boss... keep on your teachers and we concentrate on running. I'm off to the accountant today. I'm hoping our meeting today will be better than my first contact. I need her to take the initiative and tell me what the steps are for opening a business. I don't even know what questions to ask, much less how to get those things done. heh. And, that's what I'm paying her to do, 'eh, get me up and running. Let's hope she does that.
The contract from the lawyer will be emailed to us today for our approval... then it's just off for the signing. Wow, Sept. 1st is coming up fast.
Views from CowTown
30 August 2005
28 August 2005
It's really going to happen - 12 hours from now
...and I'll have 2 kids packed off to school. 'Bout time! Then our oldest is off to middle school. Man, when did he get so old?
Friday's orientation over at the middle school was fun... I thought! heh. Unfortunately he is not on the same team as his best friend, but their schedules do have some overlap in the classes at the end of the day. So, all is ok. ;)
Saturday was my full workday at the karate school. I signed up my first student!! Even got him started in class! A guy and his kid just walked in, and I signed them up for the year! Cool! We are getting closer. This time, the school sale will be a done deal. We're busy turning over insurance coverage, utilities bills, phone service, contracts, etc. Next up, signing with the lawyer. We still have much to do to get organized. I have to have new things printed up with our corp. name on it... student sign-up cards, receipts... and the like. Kurt will go visit the cute Russian girlfriend at our bank and see about setting up our corporate banking.... Wow, there certainly is a lot to do when you have your own business!!
Saturday evening we hosted the big von S semi-anual birthday party. 27 guests, 13 of them celebrating bdays! The weather cooperated, Tabi had a puppy friend to play with, overall, the party was a success, and the dog slept well last night!
So, backpacks are loaded down with the necessary supplies, clothes are set out, showers have been taken, 2 boys' heads given a clean, buzz cut..... we're ready! Bring on the big, yellow bus!
Pics to follow, of course!
Friday's orientation over at the middle school was fun... I thought! heh. Unfortunately he is not on the same team as his best friend, but their schedules do have some overlap in the classes at the end of the day. So, all is ok. ;)
Saturday was my full workday at the karate school. I signed up my first student!! Even got him started in class! A guy and his kid just walked in, and I signed them up for the year! Cool! We are getting closer. This time, the school sale will be a done deal. We're busy turning over insurance coverage, utilities bills, phone service, contracts, etc. Next up, signing with the lawyer. We still have much to do to get organized. I have to have new things printed up with our corp. name on it... student sign-up cards, receipts... and the like. Kurt will go visit the cute Russian girlfriend at our bank and see about setting up our corporate banking.... Wow, there certainly is a lot to do when you have your own business!!
Saturday evening we hosted the big von S semi-anual birthday party. 27 guests, 13 of them celebrating bdays! The weather cooperated, Tabi had a puppy friend to play with, overall, the party was a success, and the dog slept well last night!
So, backpacks are loaded down with the necessary supplies, clothes are set out, showers have been taken, 2 boys' heads given a clean, buzz cut..... we're ready! Bring on the big, yellow bus!
Pics to follow, of course!
23 August 2005
Are you sitting down?
We, meaning Kurt, I, the big boss and his wife, met with the lawyer today.
Oh ya, I typed correctly. We have all sat down, hammered out details, shook hands, and by the end of next week we'll be signing the papers. The school is closer to ours.
Oh man, I'm going to be the president of our company! How totally exciting. How totally overwhelming! I meet with our accountant on Tues, one week from today to learn all about the business side of the business. wow. Pretty cool!
On another exciting note... I've just about purchased all the school supplies..... we're T-minus 2 days left!!! Can I get a big YAHOOOOOOOOOOO! Oh yes, Kurt, I'm shouting! heh. Heck, I've survived 11 weeks with the kids at home! That's deserving of at least a shout out, eh?!!
Oh ya, I typed correctly. We have all sat down, hammered out details, shook hands, and by the end of next week we'll be signing the papers. The school is closer to ours.
Oh man, I'm going to be the president of our company! How totally exciting. How totally overwhelming! I meet with our accountant on Tues, one week from today to learn all about the business side of the business. wow. Pretty cool!
On another exciting note... I've just about purchased all the school supplies..... we're T-minus 2 days left!!! Can I get a big YAHOOOOOOOOOOO! Oh yes, Kurt, I'm shouting! heh. Heck, I've survived 11 weeks with the kids at home! That's deserving of at least a shout out, eh?!!
21 August 2005
an evening playing Ghost in the Graveyard
.... that was us adults playing ghost in the graveyard with the kids. Heh. We spent yesterday evening at Kurt's brother and sister-in-law's house! Good dinner, plenty of wine or beer, fun conversation, sitting 'round the fire pit on their new stone patio... and finally we decided to join the kids running around playing in the dark before we finally left!
Well, it's been a whirlwind week.
Wed, it's Kurt's bday and this was the first of many phone calls from the big boss since he gave our money back the previous Sat.
Thursday morning I'm awakened by a phone call telling me he's made a decision to go with the 3 other head instructors. Ok. I call Kurt and we work through all the emotions.... many phone calls..... then Kurt decides to ask him 'why if we were given first choice, did he go with this?' .... I get a phone call back from Kurt asking me if I want a school. That evening we meet and Kurt gives him back the full payment for the school. It's a done deal. He tells his head instructors this is finished now. (Hmmmmmmmmm), the business is sold, it's over.
Fast forward to Sunday, today, and we're meeting at his house so we can put all our ideas, questions on paper to speed up the meeting with the lawyer coming up this Tues.
Do you think it's for real this time? We'll see...............................
Well, it's been a whirlwind week.
Wed, it's Kurt's bday and this was the first of many phone calls from the big boss since he gave our money back the previous Sat.
Thursday morning I'm awakened by a phone call telling me he's made a decision to go with the 3 other head instructors. Ok. I call Kurt and we work through all the emotions.... many phone calls..... then Kurt decides to ask him 'why if we were given first choice, did he go with this?' .... I get a phone call back from Kurt asking me if I want a school. That evening we meet and Kurt gives him back the full payment for the school. It's a done deal. He tells his head instructors this is finished now. (Hmmmmmmmmm), the business is sold, it's over.
Fast forward to Sunday, today, and we're meeting at his house so we can put all our ideas, questions on paper to speed up the meeting with the lawyer coming up this Tues.
Do you think it's for real this time? We'll see...............................
16 August 2005
15 August 2005
I need a computer
I'm so pathetic..... I lunge at the computer and the internet connection when Kurt brings home his laptop from work and connects to the internet!!! hahahah.... pathetic, eh?! ;)
So, it's going to be 92 by Friday..... sigh.....
Our money for the karate school was given back to us and I wasfired not needed to teach anymore, but "nothing has changed".... ya. You go figure it out..... I've been doing lots of soul searching .... feeling restless, mixed up.... anxious.... inside, and I just can't put my finger on why. Maybe it's because of this latest outcome, maybe it's 'cause my oldest is going to middle school in 10 days.... maybe I'm thinking of redirecting my energies to the house and home... being a mom and wife and housekeeper.... I dunno.
How come there's no stinkin' chocolate in the house again????? I was just at the store today and I didn't buy any. I have it programmed out of my head when I'm shopping... then I get home and it hits me that there is no freakin' chocolate to be found. ACK!
Oh, but, this is my latest fascination....
http://www.dodge.com/caravan/?pid=10423482&adid=11475240&rid=google
big enough to cart around 6 kids! heh.... 'cause I love hangin' with kids! =))
Ok.... enough ramblin. Besides, the battery is almost dead on the laptop.... sigh....
bis spaeter!
So, it's going to be 92 by Friday..... sigh.....
Our money for the karate school was given back to us and I was
How come there's no stinkin' chocolate in the house again????? I was just at the store today and I didn't buy any. I have it programmed out of my head when I'm shopping... then I get home and it hits me that there is no freakin' chocolate to be found. ACK!
Oh, but, this is my latest fascination....
http://www.dodge.com/caravan/?pid=10423482&adid=11475240&rid=google
big enough to cart around 6 kids! heh.... 'cause I love hangin' with kids! =))
Ok.... enough ramblin. Besides, the battery is almost dead on the laptop.... sigh....
bis spaeter!
13 August 2005
just sit right back and you'll hear a tale
....a tale of a fateful night. To steal the lyrics from 'Gilligan's Island'.... I'm sitting here on the floor of the barn. Want to know why? I'm going to tell it anyways.
Friday night, around 1am, in the middle of our first thunderstorm this summer.... a fierce thunder storm a huge, loud bolt of lightning strikes so very near our house.... we jump about 2 feet off the bed, the dog is startled.... weird how close and loud it sounded. Fast forward to 5am, Kurt is heading to his car to go to work and he see fire in the woods, our woods. He goes to the house to get a bucket of water to put out the fire, climbs up the hill and sees that the 8 foot diameter fire is not burning anything.... no wood, no grass... nothing. Now, he also realizes that he's being stung, and bees are clinging to him.... he didn't realize he stepped right into a bees nest on his way up the hill... and the angry bees are biting him, clinging to him, burrowing in to his skin.... I'm startled awake from my drug-induced sleep.... (still tossing and turning and stewing and giving myself a headace over karate and diabetes at midnight, I take a Tylenol PM which will put me into a deep sleep for 8 hours) ... by Kurt's bellow to come down.... I couldn't hear what he was saying.... but rather reacted to the urgency of his voice.... I check for any further bees, assure him he will not go into anaphylactic shock.... that will happen within 30 seconds if it's going to happen.... then I understand he's saying we have our gas line on fire from the lightning strike.... So, it becomes most urgent to call the fire department..... they arrive, along with the gas company, who shut off the main feed at the road, and the fire goes out.... a few hours later, they have uncovered our gas line and find a golf ball -sized hole in the gas line... all fixed and we have gas again. We still have no phone lines and our water well seems to be acting up now..... we hope it hasn't gone dry with the drought.... sigh... that would be another 10grand to drill a deeper well..... Ohhhh, right, bonus, 3 computers, 1 computer monitor and 1 alarm clock has also been zapped and fried beyond repair.... waaaahhhh, one of those computers.... was mine.... gone. Fried. All my stuff, lost..... fuck. Can it get any worse???
Oh yes! It did..... but that's another story for another time..... Kurt wants some time on the computer, his computer with the part of the phone line that he did repair..... tomorrow, we'll try to manage the phone wires to the main house so we can have phone service again..... waaaaahhhh. I'm so sad. So, sad.
Friday night, around 1am, in the middle of our first thunderstorm this summer.... a fierce thunder storm a huge, loud bolt of lightning strikes so very near our house.... we jump about 2 feet off the bed, the dog is startled.... weird how close and loud it sounded. Fast forward to 5am, Kurt is heading to his car to go to work and he see fire in the woods, our woods. He goes to the house to get a bucket of water to put out the fire, climbs up the hill and sees that the 8 foot diameter fire is not burning anything.... no wood, no grass... nothing. Now, he also realizes that he's being stung, and bees are clinging to him.... he didn't realize he stepped right into a bees nest on his way up the hill... and the angry bees are biting him, clinging to him, burrowing in to his skin.... I'm startled awake from my drug-induced sleep.... (still tossing and turning and stewing and giving myself a headace over karate and diabetes at midnight, I take a Tylenol PM which will put me into a deep sleep for 8 hours) ... by Kurt's bellow to come down.... I couldn't hear what he was saying.... but rather reacted to the urgency of his voice.... I check for any further bees, assure him he will not go into anaphylactic shock.... that will happen within 30 seconds if it's going to happen.... then I understand he's saying we have our gas line on fire from the lightning strike.... So, it becomes most urgent to call the fire department..... they arrive, along with the gas company, who shut off the main feed at the road, and the fire goes out.... a few hours later, they have uncovered our gas line and find a golf ball -sized hole in the gas line... all fixed and we have gas again. We still have no phone lines and our water well seems to be acting up now..... we hope it hasn't gone dry with the drought.... sigh... that would be another 10grand to drill a deeper well..... Ohhhh, right, bonus, 3 computers, 1 computer monitor and 1 alarm clock has also been zapped and fried beyond repair.... waaaahhhh, one of those computers.... was mine.... gone. Fried. All my stuff, lost..... fuck. Can it get any worse???
Oh yes! It did..... but that's another story for another time..... Kurt wants some time on the computer, his computer with the part of the phone line that he did repair..... tomorrow, we'll try to manage the phone wires to the main house so we can have phone service again..... waaaaahhhh. I'm so sad. So, sad.
08 August 2005
11% of all 722 photos
It's complete... I chose 11% of all my pictures! Heh, doesn't mean the rest were junk.... mostly, just lots of rocks (castle ruins) and insides of pubs! What a great trip it was indeed!
So, go on now.... take a peek. Certainly I'm the only one with a slow connection... oh, and Kurt at work too! ;)
07 August 2005
A little bit of this and that
I've added a few more pictures from the Wales trip to my flickr set. Only 1 final memory card, 142 pictures, to sort through now and end the trip! Heh.
Now, the good thing about our business meetings is they either take place in a bar or on someone's deck. Either way, adult beverages are on hand! Today's meeting took place at 2pm, on our new partner's deck with the big boss. So, there we have it, the latest of updates in the karate saga. Over Corona beers we hammered out some of the general things, and we have a new partner. No one has told the other instructor... the only one who we all know will go through the roof when he hears this latest news. He's the one who has been throwing wrenches in the works from the get-go... or so we think. On the up side, the price has come down, naturally, and the new partner is a guy who we can totally work with. A great guy, a terrific instructor, so generally a perfect asset to this business. We'll hammer out some more details when we get together for another meeting on our deck and/or in the hottub with the cold drinks this Wednesday. heh.
Oy, what a ride, 'eh?!
The new classes schedule is in effect this week. My hours are 1 hour early (now I know) to open up shop on Tues, Wed and Thurs. I'll then teach the first class on Wed and Thurs. And of course, there are 2 of my Friday morning classes left in the summer as well. Then I promised the kids that I'd finally take them and friends to the pool this week. It's going to be in the 90's by Wed..... And, we could use just a little hanging out, doing nothin' at the pool for the final 18 days before school starts.....
But who's countin'?!
;)
hhahahahahahahahahahahha
04 August 2005
80 effing 9 degrees again
A few years ago I would have loved a summer like this. Scorching hot and dry. Now, I'm sick of it. We get a break tomorrow, 81... but then it's back to the same ol' heat.
Then add to my discomfort and I get the boss yelling at me today as I walked in the door at 3:30, like I said I would. Oh no, I must have misunderstood, I need to come at 3pm.... Yelling at me like I'm an idiot and don't have a clue how to run the business. That coming off of a frantic call from the kids at home who couldn't figure out how to babysit themselves and fighting amoungst themselves.... sent me to the bathroom in tears. I call Kurt and tell him how sick of the shit we've been taking from him for the past several months. I'm ready to storm out there and tell him to write us a check for our money and we're gone. Kurt was behind any decision I felt necessary to make. I'm getting real tired of "yes sir'ing" to everything, and being talked to like I wouldn't know the first thing about what he does each day... how he comes in so early... and do I remember what happened to D? (oh, sure now throw in a threat....) except he was not comparing me to her.... so he said. WTF? I've just about had enough of him pushing me around.
We'll see.
*deep breath*
So, I taught class and actually found myself not thinking about it and got wrapped up in teaching some new white belts, with a smile on my face... like I was actually enjoying it. I got over it. Sort of. I just don't feel desperate. I don't need his charity. I don't need this business. It's a good position to be in. Thankfully, I can afford it, being in this position, that is. My family comes first, so that's the thought that helped me pull it together enough to leave the bathroom. He called me over for a chat then. "First thing," he says. "don't be so sensitive." I'm supposed to just let it go in one ear and out the next when he yells. He yells at all the instructors. Even in front of others.
Ya, well, that's one thing we feel is handled poorly. Anyways. It's been a hell of a day. Tomorrow can only be better, 'eh?
Then add to my discomfort and I get the boss yelling at me today as I walked in the door at 3:30, like I said I would. Oh no, I must have misunderstood, I need to come at 3pm.... Yelling at me like I'm an idiot and don't have a clue how to run the business. That coming off of a frantic call from the kids at home who couldn't figure out how to babysit themselves and fighting amoungst themselves.... sent me to the bathroom in tears. I call Kurt and tell him how sick of the shit we've been taking from him for the past several months. I'm ready to storm out there and tell him to write us a check for our money and we're gone. Kurt was behind any decision I felt necessary to make. I'm getting real tired of "yes sir'ing" to everything, and being talked to like I wouldn't know the first thing about what he does each day... how he comes in so early... and do I remember what happened to D? (oh, sure now throw in a threat....) except he was not comparing me to her.... so he said. WTF? I've just about had enough of him pushing me around.
We'll see.
*deep breath*
So, I taught class and actually found myself not thinking about it and got wrapped up in teaching some new white belts, with a smile on my face... like I was actually enjoying it. I got over it. Sort of. I just don't feel desperate. I don't need his charity. I don't need this business. It's a good position to be in. Thankfully, I can afford it, being in this position, that is. My family comes first, so that's the thought that helped me pull it together enough to leave the bathroom. He called me over for a chat then. "First thing," he says. "don't be so sensitive." I'm supposed to just let it go in one ear and out the next when he yells. He yells at all the instructors. Even in front of others.
Ya, well, that's one thing we feel is handled poorly. Anyways. It's been a hell of a day. Tomorrow can only be better, 'eh?
03 August 2005
The best thing for me
I had such an awesome time with our German family. I spoke almost entirely in German yesterday that it seemed really odd to switch to English the times I did for the kids... I was speaking to everyone in German that I found myself thinking and talking to myself in German! How cool is that. And now, I know it will be gone soon.... noone to have conversations with.... sigh.
So, it was another scorcher here in Chicago... we decided to rent a motor boat and cruise some of the lakes in the chain of lakes up here. We spent an hour zipping around, bouncing on the waves! Then, after a lunch of corn on the cob that we picked up earlier at the Woodstock Farmer's Markt, we decided to go to the Stadt Schwimbad! Kurt came home early from work, so he picked up the big kids from their canoe camp and brought them along to the pool! It was a great time! We left the pool at 1700 and came home to change for dinner on the river, our favorite river restuarant! After that it was back to our house for some Wein in unser Garten! They really enjoyed sitting on the porch with the fountain and no mosquitos! It was very pleasant at night.... thankfully, it does cool off a bit when the sun goes down!
What a great time. It was too short. I cried a bit when I dropped them off at the bus... sigh. They have invited us to Munich. Kurt says we can go in two years!! Vielleicht, Oktoberfest, 2007!
Their band is now off for more concerts in New York and Washington before heading back to Munich. I'm going to be following their adventure through the pictures and stories that one of their members updates on their website!!! Check it out!
And now, back to work I go... I have lots to do with the karate stuff....
So, it was another scorcher here in Chicago... we decided to rent a motor boat and cruise some of the lakes in the chain of lakes up here. We spent an hour zipping around, bouncing on the waves! Then, after a lunch of corn on the cob that we picked up earlier at the Woodstock Farmer's Markt, we decided to go to the Stadt Schwimbad! Kurt came home early from work, so he picked up the big kids from their canoe camp and brought them along to the pool! It was a great time! We left the pool at 1700 and came home to change for dinner on the river, our favorite river restuarant! After that it was back to our house for some Wein in unser Garten! They really enjoyed sitting on the porch with the fountain and no mosquitos! It was very pleasant at night.... thankfully, it does cool off a bit when the sun goes down!
What a great time. It was too short. I cried a bit when I dropped them off at the bus... sigh. They have invited us to Munich. Kurt says we can go in two years!! Vielleicht, Oktoberfest, 2007!
Their band is now off for more concerts in New York and Washington before heading back to Munich. I'm going to be following their adventure through the pictures and stories that one of their members updates on their website!!! Check it out!
And now, back to work I go... I have lots to do with the karate stuff....
02 August 2005
The germans
Oh man! So, their bus was a bit late... I had to leave and pick up the big kids from nature camp, drop them off at home, instruct them not to mess up the house... and go back to get the Germans! No problem!
Now, they are a lovely family from Zolling, Bavaria! And, they speak about as much English as I speak German. So, we have my handy German-English dictionary for the occassional odd word, and we're managing just splendid! Actually, much of the conversation is in German! I know my grammar is horrible, but I can put a hodge podge sentence together to get my meaning across! heh! Good fun to practice speaking again!! Yay! It came back so easily... sheesh, even found myself speaking German to the dog last night... hahaha
Anyways, the fun continued at a concert on the beach... There I am surrounded by 60+ Bavarians all in their excellent outfits... lederhosen und trachten!! Oh my gosh, I was in heaven. I mean could it get any better than this?? Well, ja, seems the Americans don't know you need a Bier Garten when listening to Deutschlieder und schunckeln! (that was our German lesson for the night!)
Anyways, I'm off to plan an outing for today and figure out if I can juggle kids and perhaps rent a bigger van.... sigh...
tschuess!
Now, they are a lovely family from Zolling, Bavaria! And, they speak about as much English as I speak German. So, we have my handy German-English dictionary for the occassional odd word, and we're managing just splendid! Actually, much of the conversation is in German! I know my grammar is horrible, but I can put a hodge podge sentence together to get my meaning across! heh! Good fun to practice speaking again!! Yay! It came back so easily... sheesh, even found myself speaking German to the dog last night... hahaha
Anyways, the fun continued at a concert on the beach... There I am surrounded by 60+ Bavarians all in their excellent outfits... lederhosen und trachten!! Oh my gosh, I was in heaven. I mean could it get any better than this?? Well, ja, seems the Americans don't know you need a Bier Garten when listening to Deutschlieder und schunckeln! (that was our German lesson for the night!)
Anyways, I'm off to plan an outing for today and figure out if I can juggle kids and perhaps rent a bigger van.... sigh...
tschuess!
01 August 2005
Crazy-ness
I have 2 hours to clean the 3 remaining rooms in the main house..... hah hah... can she do it?! Then I'm off to pick up our family from Munich! Thank you, Kaydee, for the menu suggestions! I've decided on the cajun jambalya, a greens salad with ranch dressing, and some Red Stripe beer from Jamaica or the Corona beer from Mexico. For breakfast, we have bagels and cream cheese, meats, eggs, and "Strong, hot coffee"!! There's also orange juice and sweet muffins! I've also found a bunch of other items that may not be familiar... such as Hawaiian bread!
The family is in for a surprise... I wonder what they'll think about all my German stuff around the house!!! hahahahah Ah yes, I'm eccentric! And crazy. What am I still doing on the internet when there's a house to put together?!!
heh.
More later.....
The family is in for a surprise... I wonder what they'll think about all my German stuff around the house!!! hahahahah Ah yes, I'm eccentric! And crazy. What am I still doing on the internet when there's a house to put together?!!
heh.
More later.....
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Herr und Frau CowTown
eeewwww....freaky....
