So 2005 is almost over. Tomorrow is New Year's Eve, and I'll be busy at home getting drunk and watching videos. Just like tonight. And last night.
But tonight is as good a night as any to look back over the course of the year, and chart my progress. If any. How did this year start for me? Did I do anything at all? And where am I now?
Well, I started the year out of work, but not looking. I had recently made the decision to start my own business by purchasing into a franchise. At the turn of the year, I was researching 3 or 4 different possibilities.
January was a tough month for me. My beautiful cat of 11 years, Sophie, was suffering with a liver disease. In the matter of a few weeks, her weight dropped from her normal plumpitude of 12.5 pounds to 9 pounds. She lost her appetite, and stopped eating. She stopped personal grooming. She required numerous pills and liquid medicines every day. She became so dehydrated I had to take her to the all-night animal hospital for emergency hydration. She was so sick and weak that she couldn't even make it to the litter box to pee. And she was in pain. The medicines weren't helping, and I couldn't bear to see her in pain, or to cause her any further pain. So on January 17, it was time. I said farewell to my huckleberry friend.
I took some time to grieve, and then got back to researching possible businesses. Within about a month, I made my decision. All that I was waiting for was the sale of my condo, so that I could use the proceeds to buy and finance my business. That happened at the end of February, and wow! The San Francisco real estate market is something, really something. My real estate agent had prepared me for a modest profit, but I think even she was floored by the offers I got. So the house sold, my bank account got rather full, and I was ready to move forward.
I wrote out a big check for the franchise fee, and signed a really fat contract. And started looking for a location for my store. It took about 4 months to find a good location (or so I hope, I'm not open yet), including two months wasted trying to cut a deal with The Stupidest Landlord In The World. But finally I found a location, and signed a lease. The next step was having an architect draw up plans for remodeling the interior into my store. That took some time. And then finding a contractor. I got some ridiculous bids, but I've finally got one contractor to a level I can live with (which means, only $25,000 over budget!). I was hoping to sign a contract with him this week, but that ain't happening. Next week it should happen.
I have to get my plans approved by the city, so that the contractor can start work. The city wants me to make some ADA upgrades to the bathroom, so I'm getting a new set of plans from my architect. I'm hoping I can get those next week to, submit them to the city, and get them approved within a few days. My original goal was to be open by Labor Day. Then I was hoping to open by Thanksgiving. Then I thought, maybe by Christmas. Well, now I hope I can be open by February 1, when I start paying rent on the space.
Vacations taken: 1 (to Italy)
Trips taken: several (to San Diego, Cincinnati, St. Louis, and LA)
Number of cigarettes smoked: 0
Bottles of wine & beer consumed: 232
Number of dates gone on: 43
Number of times I've gotten laid: 0
Number of blowjobs given or received: 0
Well, that's been my journey this year. Your turn...
(crossposted at My Left Wing)
