I signed up for a magnet exchange through the Warm Glass Board. Every person who participates makes a magnet for everyone else. I chose to make mine glass that looks like rocks in the water. They turned out nicely and then I wrote up the description and made it on a card that fit the glass and tied it with red mizuhiki. It was a nice presentation, if I do say so myself. The other thing I did was sign up for "I am an artist" class held by the Artist Trust. It was a workshop where I gave an elevator speech about what I do in 2 min. I worked on my portfolio and am still working on that. But it gave me a big push and I got business cards printed and did some design work. Gathered ideas for packaging and worked out more of my goals. I have people who like the magnets and want to purchase them, so hope to sell some. I'm never sure how to price things like that. I was developing how to do it for the exchange, and now I have folks interested; how much do I need to charge for my time? That almost always stumps me. I need to keep the price low enough that people will want them, but enough to cover costs.
I spent this past week working at a rental with my helper, Todd. He's a nice man, who is really a wonderful cook/chef. He is conflicted with his profession because he has had issues with managing vs being the one who cooks. He likes the money of managing, but the misses the kitchen work. So he has not found a good fit yet. That has been my gain. He is a very likable person, positive, upbeat, capable, honest and prompt. All things I value in someone who helps me. He helped me to replace a toilet and refrigerator. First I had to find one that would fit the small space; finally found one, and after a trip across the toll bridge to Gig Harbor found it was too tall; so then had to shorten the cabinet to put in the too tall fridge, which necessitated cutting down the cupboard doors, shortening the cabinet by 4 inches and then putting it all back together. Meanwhile we took the toilet out, replaced it with a tall toilet that's non-clogging; however the floor around the toilet is a bit uneven and it has a bit of play. So we had to shim under the edges to help it not rock at all. The tenants are very large, 400 plus pounds each and there have been a number of issues with the toilet, which I believe relate to their weight. We got it in with little issue; then the water feed line was too short and the tank sat almost 4" from the wall. With the weight of the tenant compromising the water chamber seal was not an issue, so I had to build a support for the tank to the wall which I did with a 4" x 4" piece of pressure treated wood screwed to the wall and capped with a smooth board that would act like a shelf that spare toilet paper could be put on, or other products. I was never so happy to leave there as when we finished. Why? Because the nicotine is so thick in there the water supply line to the old toilet which I used to size the fittings, was so brown it made the silver wrapped line look bronze. The refrigerator was the same thing. When talking to them I began to cough, and had a hard time stopping as the smoke was so thick. This apartment would be charming if they didn't have a potty chair, wheelchair and layers of stuff around the living room. It was pretty gross. But I can understand the wheelchair that you had to walk around, but the potty could have been draped with a cover and that would have seemed better. There were options that would have made it seem much more attractive. But I'm not living there. So I'll fix it up when they leave, but until then... it is how they live. Not me.
The weather creates a lot of discussion, since it is always raining. We have had only one day, the news caster said, that could be classified as mostly sunny. It is hard to get excited for spring when it feels like winter. The high was 49°F when normal is 58°F. Then the wind starts up and it feels like 32°F! There will be a lot to do when the weather does improve. I have a deck to build on a duplex and I need to get the same building painted.
No rest for the weary. But I suppose that doing projects is what makes having rentals viable. If we had to hire all the work done, we couldn't afford them. I don't know how much longer I can last doing it though and without Todd's help, when he goes back to managing a kitchen, I'll be back to square one... trying to find someone to help me who is honest, reliable, and capable. Not easy to find.
Tomorrow the month is over. I am very happy that I have rowed 5,000 meters for 25 of March's 31 days. I posted them on the Concept2's website. I also signed up for the challenge of rowing from March 15 to April 15. I plan to continue rowing at 5,000 m/day. There are days when it is all I can do to get them in, but when I'm done I feel better about myself. I need to keep at it and building up my resolve. It is good for my health and mental wellbeing to continue. I have met a woman, named Karen Upright, who is a rowing buddy to me. She's younger, but has some health issues right now with her rotator cuff. So I'm actually rowing more than she. The motivation provided by Concept2 has been a boon to me, too. Which was a surprise to me. I didn't think I would be motivated by a certificate, but I was. When I began my rowing I was a few pounds heavier than now, but now I believe I'm more toned and have more muscle. I'll see how I feel on April 15, when I finish this next challenge. On ward, and I hope, down ward.
Well, the title was "In Like a Lion, Out Like a Dog". I chose to make the analogy to the oft quoted spring ditty because the weather we have had has been so awful. Windy. Cold, Rainy. And because I've worked hard at rowing. Hard with rentals. Hard on my glass... like a dog. Woof.
