Creative or just crazy?

Gee whiz it's happening again. I go through these phases at least once a year when I think that this will be the year that I really start a business. I consider myself a creative and multi-talented individual which makes it hard because I want to do a little of everything. What is everything? Well let's see, there's retail management and gift buying and resume writing and document creating (newsletters, etc.) and article writing and scrapbooking and party planning, And... (you get the point)

I put on my thinking cap and get going on a business name. Now, keep in mind that this is probably my first mistake. Business planning is much more about developing a "plan" financially speaking, determining what to do, and figuring out how to go about doing it than immediately coming up with a catchy name and logo. But that's just not how I do it. I have to start with a name and then I have to fool around for a few hours on my computer with fun fonts and clip art because, of course, I just have to come up with a cute logo and business card. Then I email my results to my friend Gabby, because she thinks about the business world a lot too.

That rush soon dwindles a bit though. I'm creative, but I'm not a graphic artist, so I eventually get frustrated as my logo in progress is not absolutely fabulous. And you know, when your name is out there in print, it just has to be great!

The title that seems to fit what I like to do the best is Creativity Consultant. A C.C. is going to help others in any way that they need creative help. Need party ideas? A new resume? A newsletter or flyer that will knock their customers' socks off? Need to plan a store event and don't know where to start? Need an advertorial written for your business? A Creativity Consultant is there to save the day. I could be there to save the day. I could do a lot of this via website and email...

But then the retail girl in me screams, "What about me?" And I think to myself, "You know you love retail, you should get a retail job." And it's true, I love and miss the retail world. But Dave and I made the decision for me to be at home with the kids. This is something that many families can't afford to do and we are lucky to be able to do that for the kiddos. I could work part-time doing that, but then again...

I would love to own my own gift store (possibly party too!). That's been my dream since my Roberts days and I would do such a good job! I loved my years at Roberts (Hallmark and Gifts) and I did a darn good job at it and built so many wonderful relationships with the customers. But there is always the subject of financing (gotta get myself one of those money trees!), and moreover there is the subject of time... the thing we never have enough of. I couldn't do it half way - it would have to be all or nothing.

Jim and Dorothy Roberts, a.k.a., "Mr. and Mrs. R" made great sacrifices in order to open and maintain their very successful retail business. For many years, Mr. R. worked seven days per week, from 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM (at least) and would then do the books at home. This was all taking place while Mrs. R. was at home, alone a lot, raising FOUR children! They did it somehow and had one of the most successful and loved stores in Napa for over 35 years, but can I commit to that?

Small businesses are tough. They take oodles of time and commitment and they don't show returns a lot of times for many years. Is that something we could afford? Probably not right now.

Getting back to the name game, there's been "Your Girl Friday" which I loved and used for a few years in Napa while writing for Napa Valley Marketplace Magazine and doing misc. other small jobs. Then there was "Kimberly Funk Communications". And since then there have been lots of playing with names; "Little Country Cottage" for one and most recently I came up with "Celebration Station". For what you ask? Well... I could use it for eBay sales and a few other things... there's also, "Marketing Magic" (market your business or market yourself).

See how my mind works? I get on an idea and my mind just starts going and going ! Luckily my friend Sarah owns a scrapbook store and lets me play idea games with her. I love sharing my ideas with her. (www.imascrapbookaddict.com)

So I ask you, am I creative or just crazy? Perhaps I should just call my business, "Creative Kim Strikes Again!"

Puppy Power

It's been three months since we lost Shelby, a.k.a. "Little Fat Girl", and already a year since we lost Maggie. We still miss them tremendously and I (personally) wasn't in a rush to get another dog, but it's amazing what power a cute little puppy can have over me! Dave knew Clearview Kennels (where we had boarded Maggie and Shelby on occasion) had two pregnant momma dogs that were due in March. To me that meant only one thing - that we were indeed getting a new dog and fairly soon at that!

What does that mean to an outsider? Simply put, when Dave says, "We'll just look", it's safe to say that we will indeed be taking something home, be it a puppy or other new "toy". That is how we ended up with Maggie and Shelby (a year apart) among many other things we have obtained over the years.

Anyway, we found out the pups had been born so Dave and Des went to go take a peek at them and loved them of course. The next week, the four of us went and visited with the puppies for a while. They were 10 days old and their eyes were about to "pop"/open at any time. What a treat! They were these sweet little creatures that looked like helpless little moles. That may not sound very adorable, but they were! By the next time we see them (next week), they will have their eyes open and start having their own little personalities - THEN we will pick which little girl will be going home with us.

Puppy Power indeed!

Little Man Lost

Little Man Lost is a poem I wrote for my "Grampa" Jensen back in 1993. Grampa had been suffering from the effects of Alzheimer's disease for quite some time when it was decided that he could no longer live on his own and that his live-in assistance just wasn't enough.

We were with him the day before he went into the home and my mom and Uncle Bob were to help him move the following day. I was so restless and emotional that night before the move that I just had to find a way to deal; knowing that it would be the last time he would ever see his home again was just unbearable to me. This poem started popping into my head and was finished within about an hour. I shared it with my roommate Lisa, and then drove over to my mom's to share it with her as I just couldn't sleep.

The picture above was taken of Grampa with his grandchildren at his surprise 70th birthday in 1987. He lost his battle in 1997. It's been over eight years since he passed away, and yet we still miss him so much!

Little Man Lost

The little man
With a heart as big as the sky.
We look at you now,
And ask God, "Why?"

Why would such pain
Be cast upon you?
Such anger and confusion,
Not knowing what to do.

You were always there for us,
With support and love,
And stories of the old days;
We could never get enough.

Life has its way of changing,
Though it's hard to understand,
But we're here for you Grampa,
Holding out our hands.

They say, "Time is a teacher".
You've taught us to be true,
Little Man Lost,
We sure do love you.

7/28/93