We Live in Public

This has officially made its way to the "must see" list in my book. Caught this little gem of a documentary last night with friends and I really don't know what to think about it. It was compelling, intense, mind boggling and quite disturbing. The only other thing I can think of to say is...check it!

open question

So, I'm curious about something. Maybe you can help.

I eat at Subway every day, at least once a day. It's cheap, I can easily count my points, eat a solid meal and never get bored. But Subway isn't the issue I'm trying to get into here and it's beside the point...

You see, the Subway in downtown Troy just so happens to be located in the same building as the local Planned Parenthood. Yeah, I know. Now, I'm not going to turn this post into an abortion debate because I really don't give a damn about what anyone wants or does not want to do with their own bodies. Most days there's a slew of abortion protester folks across the street carrying signs and kicking and screaming for the cause. That's fine. They have just as much right to stand there and scream as I do to walk through those doors and have the procedure done. I do, however, have to walk by them, witness the disgusting posters of graphic material and listen to them berate the escorts standing outside the door, and all I want is my damn veggie footlong!!!

So what I want to know is...why are they all crusty old men? Where are the women? I think I've seen one woman there over the last three years. What's this all about? Is this a geographical thing or does this go on where you live too? I hope you have the answer because frankly I'm more than just a bit puzzled.

loaf

I know those of you who read this blog regularly probably roll your eyes back into your skulls when the obligatory Eric Bachmann / Crooked Fingers post pops up, but hey, it's that time of year I guess. Mr. Bachmann recently released another cover album, Reservoir Songs II, and it rocks. With any new album comes a tour, so here's hoping this fall tour includes a New York stop, and maybe even a Florida stop while I'm down there in November. Fingers crossed. I need a fix.

Oh, and for those old Verizon coworkers of mine who read this blog...yes, I do still do this. After 16 years it's a little hard to stop.

congrats

I think congrats are in order for my friend Alex and his wife Therese now that they've officially welcomed their new (and first) baby, Mary Jane, into the family. Best wishes, you two! Better you than me! Heh.

P.S. Photo credit goes to Mr. Alex himself. I snagged this from him like the sneaky bee that I am.

at last!

Hooray! IFC is now showing all episodes of Freaks and Geeks!!! Happened to stumble upon the pilot episode on Friday night and literally squealed until the dog came to see what my deal was. I have no clue why I was so excited...I own the box set of DVDs, but something about seeing it on cable makes it so much better. If you haven't had the opportunity to check this show out, please do. IFC, Friday nights at 11:00. I've also heard that IFC will follow this up with episodes of Undeclared as well, but I'm not sure yet. Check it!

long story short

So, I've been going back and forth about when the right time would be to post this, and you know, I'm just going to go for it. I thought if I posted it too early I'd do nothing more than add more grief to my day, but if I waited too long I might pass up an opportunity that might make this whole thing a little bit easier to swallow. So here goes...

My lease here at the shop is up on March 31st of 2011 and I'm not re-signing. There, it's out. The Paper Sparrow will close by April 1st at the very latest.

This little shop was such a delight to run and maintain over the last three years and I'm so glad I actually took the plunge and dove in head first. I knew nothing about running a business before I first opened my doors, and honestly, I can't say that I know everything there is to know about running a business now. But I've learned so much, met a ton of amazing people and experienced something that many people have told me they've always wanted to do but never had the guts. That said, if you're considering opening a business and don't think you can do it or don't know where to begin, get those wheels rolling. You CAN do it! If you can balance a checkbook, you can run a business.

Over the past two and a half years I've grown a bit weary of being here. When I first opened my doors the economy was in full swing and people were out and spending money left and right. Everything ran smoothly and the future looked bright. Then the economy took a nosedive and people were afraid to spend a cent, and yet somehow we still persevered. Locals were more than willing to spend their hard earned money in Troy, especially in our little store here, and I can't thank everyone enough for supporting us, even when your wallet contained nothing but cobwebs. Yes, there's always stress in owning a new business. Yes, there are always hurdles to overcome to keep moving. And yes, there have been way more good times here than bad. But I'm burned out and I'm looking to get out before I simply hate this whole thing. Plus, closing means a part time job for me and a little money in my pocket to help pay the mortgage...this is a good thing. Poor Ben has been supporting me and Olive for close to three years now and he's working his tail off on his own. I want to help out (I have a few plans up my sleeve and I'll fill you in on those soon enough). We all know that you don't make any money in your first three years of business, so I'm basically working for free here. I'm not complaining, it's worth it. I'm just ready to try something new.

So that puts me right here, right now. I wasted ten years of my life working for Verizon and hating everything about the job, my life, my attitude. I was miserable. And when I left I promised myself that I'd keep moving forward and never let a job that made me unhappy hold me back. I'm starting to get that same day-to-day blah feeling all over again and I refuse to let that happen here. So I'm calling it quits. I know this is going to upset a lot of people, and I know that bailing on a community that is struggling so hard to pull itself up doesn't help things, but this is the best thing I can do for myself right now. Does that make sense? I feel selfish even writing that out.

I'm fully prepared to hear all about how I'm making a mistake, or maybe making a smart move, or just being an asshole. I've heard it all before when I left my job with corporate America, and I'm braced and ready to deal with it all over again. Just please understand that this is something I not only have to do, but I want to do.

That said, I'm in a position where I'm willing to sell this business. The name, the logo, the wholesale and resale contacts, the names of consignors willing to stay here under new management, the merchandise, etc. I'm willing to talk with serious buyers as candidly as I possibly can. I'll be totally honest with you when you ask me questions about the good, the bad and the ugly. If I don't find the right opportunity to sell, you'll see some pretty serious in-store sales going on between January and March, and a kick-ass "Goodbye Troy" party on our last Troy Night Out. Stay tuned, folks. It's going to be a bumpy ride. And please be patient with me because this project was my baby for three years and it's going to be hard to let it go. With eight months left to go, it's starting to hit me.

For questions or inquiries about the sale of the business, please contact me at peonyandbee@gmail.com.

R.I.P. and WTF

R.I.P. Gretchen! She was a good little truck while she lasted. I bought her used and abused and then drove her into the ground. Hell, despite the recall way back when, I risked my life to drive her, broken, rusted frame and all and she was good to me no matter what. But all good little 1996 Toyota Tacomas have to eventually make their way to the big shiny Tacoma heaven up in the sky, and Gretchen made her slow ascent there yesterday. Sooooooooo, now I get to take the bus. I loathe the bus. If you see me hoofing it to/from work/bus stop, please take pity on me and give me a ride. I'm old.

Also, way to go New York State for taxing us yet again!!! $10 for a pack of cigarettes. Thank goodness Patterson's days are numbered. Lets hope his replacement just so happens to be a smoker with the cojones to undo all of this rigamarole. And before you go on lecturing me about the dangers of smoking, just let me vent here. I know smoking is bad for you. My two year old niece can tell you that. This is just insane. Raising the price isn't going to solve the budget crisis. It's also not going to get people to quit smoking.

But let's give them the benefit of the doubt. Let's assume that people are going to quit smoking because of the tax. Let's take a look at this process a little closer:

Step 1. Raise the tax on already overpriced luxury items to astronomical levels.

Step 2. People quit smoking, not because it's a healthy choice and they really should anyway, but because they're broke and have to choose between their cocaine and hooker habit and the cigarettes. No brainer. Cigarettes lose.

Step 3. People quit buying tobacco and therefore don't pay the tax.

What do these steps add up to???

No money made for the state! And a whole lot of pressure on one of the biggest industries we rely on in this already financially strapped country. Idiots. Does this make sense to you???

If you MUST tax something (I'm against taxes in general, but that's another post completely) increase the tax on alcohol or legalize weed and tax the living shit out of that. Problem solved.

P.S. For any of you smokers out there who are feeling the pinch, roll your own. Easy, inexpensive (for now...and it's still way less expensive than buying the big names), and a quiet way to (slightly) screw The Man. If you decide to take my advice on the DIY cigarette option, buy finely cut pipe tobacco instead of cigarette tobacco. Prices haven't increased on that yet, but they will within the next three months. Hey, who loves ya, baby?