March 11, 2004

Well... Finally

It looks like there are some rays of hope on the horizon for me and my life on the information super highway. I was off the air for a week while Verizon was trying to decide why I didn't have DSL service. I still had the phone and the alarm so I was still in business but it was a royal pain. Finally they sent a tech out and low and behold a problem in their office... Thank you and I can now get on with my computing life at the store.

At home we are still in a running feud with Dell. For some reason known only to God above they cant get rid of our old phone number of the Timeshare where we stayed when we first moved over here in 2001, and where we were when we ordered the computer. I know that I have changed the number when on the phone with them a number of times and Woody has as well. So the tech gets our service call and calls Paniolo Greens in Waikoloa,(on the other side of our island) and he or she thinks this is a prank or something and closes out our trouble ticket. On and on it goes. I am ready to ship the darn thing back and tell them something rude...Mr. Computer Fix It Man is coming next week. I will be waiting with baited breath.

Many events many things going on. March 6 was my 42nd birthday and we celebrated it in the usual style...not. We were at the store and that was a gift. Everything is really pretty and things are in good order. All I need is a few more customers and all will be well.

We did go to dinner at Luquins of Guadalahara We don't normally go into Pahoa on saturday night as it is a bit rowdy... but civilization is coming and we found it boisterous but not unpleasent. Had a nice dinner and went home.

We reopened the shop officially March 9. I have a trickle of business... its sort of like starting over, except we do have some of the legwork done, advertising in Drive Guide and This Week I have had more coupons for free charms here... Think that we are more accessable, with having the parking lot near by.

Woody has had that job at Hilo Self Storage up until friday. He's gone out every day and looked for something new. I know that he is trying and its hard to watch him struggle. I was speaking to a friend and he said that its "His age is against him, his weight is against him and his race is against him..." I find it so strange that we are dealing with RACE of all things .... Its hard to believe.

We are actively looking for a bench jeweler to set up here in the store. We have had some interesting possibilities. One is a carver of traditional Hawaiian Heirloom Gold, named Ash Kanahele, the other is a former benchman from LA, now working as a handyman and cabinet maker. He was originally from NY and is as rough around the edges as they come...also, he knows way too many people and too much gossip...(men are worst gossips than women, I think...) doesnt bode well. Woody likes him and in a way I do too. I have always had a yen for dangerous men. His tools are on the mainland and getting them here may be a challenge. I have no desire or money to set up someone or pay them as a employee. I was hoping that my future bencher would be self employed. I have plenty of room and perhaps having a tough guy in the store would be a good thing.

I hope and pray for more business soon. I have no reserves and I have nothing left in the bank account. It cost me twice as much to move as I thought that it would, but then that is how things are. I just hope I can scare up enough to pay the rent April 1.

The weather has been glorious here. We did have a bit of a storm blow in but all it was was wind, clouds and high surf. My little sign swings in the steady breezes that swoosh off Hilo Bay. Walk out my door and look to the left and you can see that beautiful water and a Hui (line or group) of surfers picking up rides on the high surf. Its a lovely place to be.