Back to work

I think we spoke about Creekside Apartments and the owners asking us to do some coordination of work on it. From some misguided sense of loyalty, we agreed to get a contractor to put up security lights and security cameras. That doesn’t sound like such a tough job.

But the wires have been cut to and from some of the meter boxes and circuit breaker boxes. Even though someone was to secure the building, there are more doors opened each time we go. We’ll need a secure place for the modem for the wireless cameras. And the configuration of the buildings means that there will need to be many lights and cameras.

However, the more we email the owner, the more we realize he wants a lot done for not much money. We give him options and he says, “That’s too much money.” So the job is more work than anticipated as we have to spend time seeking other options and getting things properly done. We’ll need to meet with the utility company engineer. We need to create a game plan. We may need to get city approval for a permit as well as working on connecting phone and electricity (which ultimately the owner must do.)

I spoke with my mastermind group this week. I said, “I haven’t heard back from my “whale” of a prospective client. I’ve sent 3 emails and no response. I don’t thinks she liked the proposal.”  They told me what I’d tell someone else. “Don’t prejudge or assume. Keep trying to connect until you get a response.” So I sent a clever email entitled “Alligators?” About how it’s hard to drain the swamp when you’re up to you ankles in  alligators, so maybe she wasn’t responding because she had so many urgent demands. But since I hadn’t heard from her in a month, I wondered if the alligators had resulted in her demise and if so, I certainly wanted to send condolences.

I got a reply back in just a few hours: Hadn’t she emailed me already?  It was on the editor’s desk, along with a bunch of other things, and she’d try to address it next week. I was glad to know I didn’t need to send condolences!

I’ve also been getting more involved in this start-up group. I will likely be doing some writing for brochures going out to prospective investors. I was on a call with one financial advisor who helps clients use their self-directed 401k’s for alternative investments. A lot of people want choices other than stocks to put their retirement money into. The change in laws means that non-accredited investors can invest in these start up companies— but no more than 10% of their annual income in any one start up.

 I also have my first start-up company website to write content for in exchange for stock in the company. And I had a lovely call with the marketing director for Simpler Options. It’s a company I follow and have taken classes from, so I’m excited about the potential to work with them. At this point— lots of possibilities. No cash.

We had the young man who was baptized and the missionaries over for dinner and sat in on a new member discussion. I need to keep remembering these missionaries are only 18 so they don’t have years of experience Tom and I brought to our teaching of the lessons. The gospel is exciting and powerful!  It’s so much more effective when it’s taught that way.

My neighbor came over and I taught her how to make crocheted necklaces. She did a lovely job and is excited about the possibilities of marketing them. While our garden is not so attractive, it’s producing as many cucumbers and tomatoes as we can eat. I should be planting a fall garden now.

Saturday Tom and I went to see Antman, the movie. I enjoyed it. We did the afternoon matinee. Then I got into the car and drove to Deborah’s house. I got here a little before 10pm. Her church is at 8:30 so it was up early and off to church. A nice ward and good lessons.

Deborah had been having contractions off and on and hoped to go into labor on her own. She went into the hospital this evening to be prepped for an induction tomorrow. So one way or another, the baby will come shortly. I am grandma over the other children while she and Ian are at the hospital. The children are good kids and we are enjoying each other.

I had a call with the other stake auxiliary leaders tonight at 7pm and was a bit worried how that would go. But the kids were really good and quiet for the call. They were a little more vocal about bedtime… but all is quiet now.