Bienvenue

At least, I think that's how you spell it.  "Welcome," in French.  Or my favorite, in my native Texan:  Howdy.


I need another blog like I need a hole in the head, but I wanted to document, more or less regularly, the craziness that goes with owning and running a small business.  We're a month in, and so far, I haven't killed anyone, we haven't gone broke, and no one has gotten arrested.


I have trouble believing I'm a business owner.  I already have a full-time day job, one that leaves me in a quasi-zombie state many days.  I also write fiction, knit, and dabble (badly) in painting and drawing.  I have a house, a patient husband, and aging parents, not to mention a Diva who happens to have four feet.  My life is full.  


And then my friend MC asked me if I wanted to buy a thrift shop with her.  I said yes, and the rest is...well, not so much history as chaos.


Buying the business was equal parts terrifying and horrifying.  (I know they're synonyms.  Work with me.)  The legal stuff alone nearly sent us running for the nearest open bar.  Licenses, registering with our state, registering with the county, registering with the Feds, getting electricity and water set up in our names, buying supplies (toilet paper is our number one priority), cleaning.  Oh my Lord, the cleaning that went on.  Now add ripping up old carpet and removing elderly tiles and throwing away piles of junk.  Did I mention the cleaning?  Did I mention that we would go home covered in grime and sweat and would get up at 5 a.m. the next day to go to the day job?  Did I mention the whole feeling like a zombie thing?


I never really knew that starting a business was so much physical work.  I never knew just how committed our friends and families were to helping us succeed until they pitched in and went far above and beyond familial duty and friendship to help us get ready in time to open our doors.  A month in, and we're still exhausted, and Mark and Mr. Tom and Miss Bobbie are still helping us  stay sane.  


It's been amazing.