Throwback Thursday. New Years 2001

New Years Eve.  2001. 

After meeting online in March of 2001 Gary and I began a long distance relationship.   I remember fondly our first New Years Eve together.  He had to work that week and so I did the 8 1/2 hour drive to his place.  He worked second shift so I was left alone to my own devices and so I conjured up a mini celebration dinner for the two of us to celebrate and to bring in the new year 2002.  There was a small market just blocks from his Chesterton, Indiana home and so I went there and gathered up some  jumbo shrimp, baked beans, potatoes and eggs, and a bottle of champagne.  I breaded those shrimp and fried them up real nice and made homemade potato salad and baked beans  and then I lit a candle just minutes before he walked in the door.  It was romantic and special.   I am thankful for pictures...  that remind me of those special moments from the past.

Dear Diary,

I remember...  twelve Christmas's ago...  when I was a Christmas present beneath a tree.  Oh the memories of those times!  Outrunning those who would run after me...  as they would try to punish me for doing something naughty...   Those days are over though.  It is doubtful that I could run that fast now.  Although dad could not catch me yesterday when I was running at the tennis courts.  I was moving!!  Trouble is, Yesterday I was moving... but today I can't even jump up on to the chair.  Guess the minds willing but the body...  oh... the body.. I move, I pay.   Gotta go.  Gotta rest.  Just as soon as mom lifts me onto the chair.  Gracie.

Has It Really Been That Long?

I have been blogging since June of 2010.  That date seems like it was yesterday.  I recently (after doing a lot of research and through trial and error) had my entire blog turned into a series of chapter books.  This was pretty costly, but the results are awesome and I'm not sorry that I made that investment.  

Upon looking at one of the books this morning, I ran across the blog entries from July of 2011 when we first opened our business.  It was a time of uncertainty, yet  a leap of faith.  

Much has happened in those five+  years.  A couple of years into the business, Gary retired and I became sole proprietor.  

Mine!  All mine!  (my thoughts at the time) 

Taking it on by myself was exciting to me!  I would be in control.  I would know exactly what goes on with every little detail.  No paperwork would be lost or misplaced.  Mistakes would be mine to make and Gary and I would not be at odds about finances or marketing ideas as we were in the past.  We had worked together for way too long.  Some space was in order....

First on the agenda, clear all Gary's stuff out and make way for mine.

Being organized is one of the most important things for me.  If I'm not organized, I become stressed.  When I'm stressed I don't do as good a job.

Hearing aids aren't what they used to be years ago.  A lot goes into testing, fitting, and adjusting for hearing aids.  They are computer programmable and more of a prescription now as opposed to amplification that at one time (years ago) basically made everything louder.  When adjusted correctly, hearing aids can give the wearer a more natural hearing experience.  When the aids come to me they first need 'put together' and then programmed according to the customer's hearing loss which I record onto the software that Siemens provides.

Then there are the accessories/parts etc.  Sometimes it takes a few tries to get a customer into the most comfortable and best fit.

I try to keep a good supply of accessories on hand.  There's that organization thing......   ha!

Keeping demo's in sight are helpful and give the customer a good look at what they can buy.

 Marketing. Sales. Adjustments. Bookkeeping. Appointments. Repairs. Testing. Etc.   There is a lot that goes into it.

There are some days when I want to scream!  

 But mostly, I am happy and extremely content with my job.

One day I said to myself...  "Self.  I do not want to work on Fridays anymore."   And just like magic, the three day weekend was created.  I eased my customers into the new schedule and they are fine with it.

All About Hearing has become very successful.  Gary and I have worked hard and prayed often.

 God has been good in giving me exactly what I need, just when I need it. (patience, strength, ideas, customers, peace, direction etc)

Cute story:  I was programming a set of hearing aids for a customer the other day.  The aids were laying on my desk.  When I finished programming them...  I handed the customer the right aid...  and went to hand him the left one and it had disappeared!

I looked everywhere!  On the floor.  Under the audiometer.  All over the desk..  what could have happened to that hearing aid!

And then...  DUH!  I found it!  My magnetic bracelet strikes again!!

Go ahead.  You can say it.  I am a Ditz!  

 haha!

Dear Diary,

Here's the thing.  I am getting sick and a little tired of my peeps coming home from Lindsey's with black dog smell on their hands and in their laps.  Now I hear that this new little addition to the family is supposed to be a good thing (for who??) but here is what I know.  she steals food from innocent children.  She pees and poops on the floor.  She rips furniture apart.  She destroys toys.  She jumps into peeps laps like whooohhh... look out!  Seriously.  Ellie is her name but my new name for her is Disaster.  Because.  That is what she is.  

Gracie.

The Dreamer In Us

I think many of us girls tend to be dreamers.  Our minds wander when reading a good book or watching a good movie.  Right? We get caught up in the moment.  We can become Jane Fonda, young, beautiful and vibrant, waiting on our equally beautiful new husband Robert Redford to come home to our petite, cold, empty third floor apartment so we can throw our arms around his neck and smother him with kisses.  Ahhhhh young love and newlyweds.  Jane Fonda even walks Barefoot in the Park in that movie and our imagination does too... is that not true?  Sounds romantic, eh?

And then there's Breakfast at Tiffany's.   You remember Holly Golightly (Audrey Hepburn) and how she'd have her morning coffee and donuts while  window shopping at Tiffany's? I loved the dreamer in her.  The ending of that movie was a happy one.  So romantic.  After seeing that movie I always had a desire to have a piece of jewelry from there,  just as Holly Golightly did ...  and then... like Holly, I'd be living happily ever after just like she did when she rescued the cat and fell into the arms of her handsome love.

Just for fun I recently googled Tiffany's and found a really cute necklace.  'They' asked me if I wanted to let a certain someone know that I was 'interested' in the necklace.  I said sure.

And wouldn't you know it, my love surprised me on our 14th anniversary with this....

Who needs Robert Redford or George Peppard when they have Gary Phillip....

It's no wonder I love him so....