Snow business

Here we go again. Snow is on its way, and the forecasts vary from 6 to 14" of the stuff. March is making itself known right away as the month when schools are announcing closures the night before the event. Ours isn't one of them, yet, but I'm pretty sure we'll start late at the least. I'll appreciate a slow re-entry to school after the vacation week.

I didn't accomplish everything on my "to do" list (Does anyone, ever?) but I did manage to read a book (The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, highly recommended), complete a 41 page research paper, make a slew of necklaces, bracelets and earrings, finished my box of Valentine's day chocolates, catch up on Days, post a few times on Facebook, do six crossword puzzles, have a couple of good conversations with friends, use the spa three times, see "Slumdog Millionnaire," grade a set of tests and update grades for one class. The chocolate chip cookies remain unmade and Wall-E is still in its wrapper, but I might have time for both if the weather cooperates tomorrow. That would be fun.

My pretty red car has been hidden under a layer of road crud, but my husband took advantage of a warmish day this past week to wash it for me. It's beautiful! The extra money I paid for the Simonize finish was quite worthwhile because it made the car easier to clean and shinier even after it dried. I like my spiffy looking ride, and I'm still thrilled at getting 41.7 miles per gallon.

Little by little I'm getting used to my BlackBerry Storm, my belated birthday present. My husband has wanted to get me "one of those iPod or iPhone things" for a couple years, so this time I did a little research and agreed to jump in. We do have coverage, although it's a little spotty even in our yard, but there's enough for the email, texting, and voice connections to work. We each have a Storm because Verizon was running a 2fer sale, so we're each poking around to figure out different features and sharing what we find with the other. I have to figure out how to make it silent if I'm going to carry it with me in my purse. Imagine me having to hand the phone over to the vice principal because my students find I'm using it during school hours. Nice example setting, eh?

I agreed to submit a grant request for a couple thousand dollars' worth of training to set up and maintain a professional-looking website for my small business. I hope I haven't gotten in over my head. It seems like there's lots of support out there for people who want to make their tiny businesses into booming ones, but I'm not ready to go full-time yet. Once I stop teaching, I won't be going back, so I have a few more years until that chapter in my life will be closed and this other one will likely open. I could also be getting the cart before the horse since the grant request being made by this statewide group supporting entrepreneurs and craftspeople in the state is going to a national organization that may not seriously consider this hick state to have worthy applicants. Time will tell.