What now?

I have had a little time to think about the no bathroom situation and I really have no answer on what to do. I can't see charging people to come to take classes & workshops in a really nice studio setting with a price to match and then say "yeah, the crapper is the red port-a-john in the back yard". I would be too embarrassed and if it were me, I would feel jipped. I probably wouldn't come back. I did check out grants and loans and there is nothing easily available for me. I don't think I want to commit to a loan of $10,000 plus. As much as I have confidence in my idea, I am a realist too and can't risk taking out a loan and having the whole thing crash and owe a bank that much plus interest. The other long shot would be to look for some investors, but there is the commitment and obligation thing again. About the only thing that I can do, is really crank out some work, try to show and sell it and maybe rent out some space for anyone who might not mind coming into the house to use the bathroom. If anyone actually reads this, I am open for suggestions.

Update on my mom: I did get to see my folks yesterday and my mom was having a hard time getting around. She had the official hospital band on her wrist already too. Just gave me a reality check. Surgery is still schedule and my dad is pretty nervous. He wondered if this was necessary.

I have been able to switch my mental state a little now that the pressure is off having to open up shop. I have been kicking back a little and taking things in stride a little more. It feels good to do that.

Here is a video by Ani DiFranco I've always liked. I know she is all about the "power to the woman", but I still like here anyway. I remember starting my grad program at Edinboro and hearing her for the first time and being impressed with all that she can do and has done. Hearing her reminds me of that time.

Major Set Back!

The plumber came today to look at the leak in the basement wall and to give an estimate on a bathroom in the studio. The leak turned out to be a pin hole in a pipe spraying the wall. Cheap and easy. The studio is a different story however. The pipe in the cement floor that goes to the septic for the toilet doesn't actually go the existing septic. It just goes into the ground. I would need to install a seperate septic system which could run between $7,000 and $10,000 to have installed then I could install the bathroom for another dollar amount. Crap.
So it doesn't look like classes will happen this summer. I can't have class without a place to do your business and I don't want to send people in the house. I know there are other possibilities, but I don't want to run a hack studio. There are plenty of those around already. So I'll take my time and get the long list of things to do ready for next year.
I have always believed that things happen for a reason. Even if I don't know what the reason is just yet. This was meant to be. I know that there are reasons to be stalled/set back. I have faith that better things are on the horizon.
Please keep checking back from time to time to see how things progress. I hope to have the good looking, detailed, fun stuff done over the summer and plans for classes and workshops up over winter.

Here's another update on a personal note. My mother is going to Pittsburgh on June 5th to have an operation. There are removing all kinds of stuff including a mass that is attached to her pelvis. They will do a biopsy after to determine if it is cancerous or not. I plan to go up Monday and stay the night and be with my dad. Who knows what will come of this. I may be back and fourth a lot to Pittsburgh next week.

What's up

I have spent the last six days cutting and splitting up wood from the tree that came down. I should be done in 3 or four more days. It's a lot of wood! I have managed to move some things around in the barn and I hope to have a plumber over by the end of the week or early next to give me a price on installing a toilet and sinks. Once the tree is done, I hope to start cranking out the rest of the studio. There is a long list of what I want but a short one of what is needed to be functioning. If all goes well, then I should still be able to do a "quiet opening" in August.

I did just get a phone call from my brother letting me know my mom is going in for surgery on Tuesday for a hysterectomy and to remove a "unknown mass" too. Hmmm. Always something.

web sites

I have been asked a few times about my web site and if I made it myself or not. I wish I could say yes, but I can't. It is a template purchased through http://www.bludomain.com. Unlike most templates these templates allow you to customize and edit any time and instantly via your own "control panel". If you have never had a web site before let me just say that being in control of your own updates is a huge plus. When you have to rely on someone else to do this it becomes a huge pain in the butt. Sending images and text to someone else and waiting for them to post them and finding mistakes and fixing those and so on is too slow and a pain. Bludomain allows you to select from a number of templates with various looks and options. They often have a sale on a particular site or two so look at their blog as well for this info. After you purchase your template, you take your time to use what you want, change the colors, upload your info etc... When your ready to go live with your site, just email them and your done. You will be given your "control panel" web address and you can make changes any time you want and the best part is, your updates are instant.

They tend to cater to photographers but as you now see, they can be used for a lot of other things too. My site has a lot of other options that came with it that I do not currently use. When I am ready though, I can make my changes, use those parts and Bam! It's done.

new look

Just thought I would mix things up and go for new look. I could use something new in my life right now. I am working my ass off to get this place in shape. I do like to work myself real hard sometimes. Like a test or something to see how far I can push it.

Today was such a nice day outside. The temp was perfect with a nice cool breeze. There are somedays where the weather is like this and it just puts me in a great mood. It brings up all kinds of memories. I like the sound of the leaves blowing in the wind. So soothing.

I found this video of a man throwing a giant pot on the wheel in seconds. Freaking amazing. I'll never be this good, but maybe someday I could have him come to the studio to show us all how he does it.

So hard right now

So here is a little personal reality. I usually try to keep it business here, but I've been thinking about letting you in on a little more personal stuff about me and my thoughts. Not too much though. Not yet anyway. I do like to keep some secrets.
I feel pretty swamped right now. So many things on my plate. I never ever seem to have enough time to focus on myself and my art/studio. There always seems to be more responsibilities to take care of first. I tend to put the house, chores, girls, job, lawn, etc... first as I think that's the way it should be. Responsibilities first, extracurricular second. It can be quite one sided around here with that train of thought though which puts a bit more burden on me. There are times I want to not be responsible and let everything go to hell, but it's not in me. So I have to let things go at their pace as I push from behind to make things move. I just wish things would move along faster. I am too impatient and I want what I want.
My daughter caught a dragon fly with her bare hand yesterday. I thought she killed it. She opened her hand and it just sat there in her hand, not moving. We stared at it for at least a minute and then it flew away. It was very cool. I want to catch a dragonfly too.