Monday, October 30, 2006

Geo-Friggin-Awesome

So, awhile back I posted about Geocaching. Blake and I made a cache, and all that. It was fun. Well, read THIS. Yup, that's our cache in the Northern Student. I know, I know, it's not like we were featured in The Times, but it's still pretty cool.

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Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Neglect

But the reasons are good. First, and foremost, I just haven't felt like writing anything. All that means is nothing in my life needs figuring out. I have a new house, a new dog, and a new wife. What is there to figure out?

But work has been busy, and I would like to take a minute to talk about that. We had our best (financial) September in the history of the store. And now, we are already having our best October, with one week to go. Part of that is because Ken is opening up and buying more stuff. He is also around more, I think, and people like him, and like to deal with him.

But part of it is me, and I don't mind saying it. I have been working hard at making relationships with customers, and establishing my presence. And the store, countless consumers agree, is cleaner and better laid out now. That I took charge of, and that I am proud of.

I am also one hell of a salesman. Once I figure out how to get the lookers to buy, I will be where I need to be, but otherwise, I am doing great. I can get people to where they need to be, and make sure they get EVERYTHING they wanted there, whether they wanted it just then or not. And I don't have to be pushy to do it. I just joke and wink and smile, and get to know them, and then they want to buy what I tell them to buy. It's not my trick, but I use it anyway.

And, most of all, I like being there. Surrounded by sports equipment and sports addicts. I am not peddling something I don't believe in, and I am not talking to people I don't know. This IS my life: these ARE my people. It feels good to want to go to work every single day. I look forward to the store, and making a good day of sales, and arranging and placing and pricing and selling items.

And when I get home, it is just as nice. I wish I had more time here, with Carly, and Boscoe, in my new house. I feel comfortable. And awestruck, to be honest. My background, my teachers, have always been so damned poor. I didn't see myself buying a house for a full 5 more years. And here it is, and it is everything I hoped for. It has potential, without being a "fixer-upper".

And I think I can even like Bemidji, from a house like this. I can even like Bemidji, with a life like this.

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