Congratulations Daughter

Well, she did it. My daughter finally graduated with her Masters Degree in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 8. How fantastic! We all flew out to spend this time with her, Howie, Anton, John and myself. It was my first Mothers Day with both of my kids in 9 years and was pretty special. We even went to see Cher at Caesers Palace, what an awesome show that was.

I am so proud of my daughter, to think she did this all on her own, with no real help from any of us. Alot of years of studying, working and finally she is done. Congratulations Michelle!

Walking

A gorgeous day here in Pa. yesterday. I got out for two nice, long walks. First one at the track, second one over Plum, Peach, 555, Apple, Teaberry etc. Coming home I looked to see if the lady was out that I talk to often when I walk. I haven't seen her since last summer and don't remember her name. think Cheri was with me last time I spoke to her. I sent an email to a neighbor who knows her to find out her name. I wrote it down somewhere but can't find it. Her puppy is Spike though. anyways, found out she is 90. she moves so quickly and is so spry that is hard for me to believe. It really makes me wonder though. How some people live so long and others go so young. I know that a good part of that is staying active, eating healthy, not smoking, etc. I know that the genes play a big role in it also. I cannot believe this lady is 90. She lives alone, in her own home still and takes care of a dog. Goes to show that it can be done.

Enjoy the day everyone.

My daughter

I am just so damn proud of my darling daughter. Yesterday was her last day of school, after God only knows how many years. I would have to stop and figure it out and we all know my math is terrible. Michelle is finally, after all these years, graduating with her Masters Degree in social work. She is now an MSW LSW and I sure hope I have those initials right. Michelle has done it on her own and we are so proud of her. She has sure had some ups and downs in these years, getting married, moving to Seattle, her husband going over to fight in the war, moving to Vegas, losing her beloved father to cancer, and finally here we are graduating. What a road it has been, but she has persevered and she has won! We are so damn proud of you dolly. Now, sit back, relax and enjoy reading a good book just for the fun of it. I love and miss you dolly and will see you soon! You are my darling daughter and I am just so damn proud of you!

Heaven

Read this on facebook and loved it.

"I wish Heaven had a phone so I could hear your voice again.. I thought of you today, but that is nothing new. I thought about you yesterday, and days before that too. I think of you in silence, I often speak your name. All I have are memories and a picture in a frame. Your memory is a keepsake, from which i'll never part. God has you in his arms.. I have you in my heart."

Busy

My life has changed about 190% in the past few months. It seems I don't have a second that my mind is not on the business. We are planning a large two day open house/ribbon cutting for June 16 and 17. CDS requires it to be "party like" which should be a lot of fun, plus a lot of work getting it all ready. I am brining in different vendors. have asked Lia Sophia, Silpada, Pampered Chef, Kettle Korn so far and they are all making arrangements to be involved. My mind is constantly thinking what can I do for the open house, plus what needs to be done now, plus still taking all the training classes to learn everything from working the machines to maintaining them to brining in new members to keeping them happy with incentives. Some days you will find me cleaning the toilets, the next minute on the phone scheduling ribbon cuttings or new appt. I absolutely love it!

Family Health Day

Today is quite different for me, actually the entire weekend has been. I closed the club at noon on Friday for Good Friday. Didn't reopen until this morning at 7 am so we had a long weekend. Mine was actually even a bit longer. Paula worked Thursday night and Frday am, so I have been off since Thursday afternoon. Something unheard of in my previous world of retail.

Today, I will be at the high school for Family Health Day 2010. We are setting up at 10 am and it starts at 1 with senior citizens, followed by the general public from 2 to 6. Should be an interesting day. Cheri is coming up to help me set up and I wish she could stay, but she will be leaving about the time we open. We are taking over the chest/back machine and a board and of course tons of literature. We are giving away free month certificates so I hope to drum up some interest.

The weekend was beautiful, sunny and warm. We spent a good part of it working in the yard and cleaning out the pond.

Hope to see some friends at the health fair today!

80's

How did we ever manage to get a day like today and to get two in a row is unbelievable this time of year. 80's, sunshine, pond is running, fountain going, spent the weekend outside cleaning up the yard. How wonderful! Now going to study if I can see the laptop screen enough to do that.

It's done

It is finally done. Curves became legally mine on St Patricks Day, March 17, 2010. Been mine for about a week and a half now, although I have been running it since Feb 5. We have gained over 30 new members now. things are going well and I love it. I am working most days from 7 am to 7 pm. Not getting much exercise besides our circuit but that is fine and I can feel the difference in my biceps, triceps and quads. Those machines are working it! Two months ago I had never even considered buying a Curves or owning my own business. How quickly things can change.

The reporter did a wonderful article and it did bring us some new business. Everyone is still talking about that article. Even had a phone call from a member in Florida who is coming home and wants to come back, she had read it there.Amy is coming back on Tuesday night to do a follow up article and picture and the food bank is coming for the groceries also. So that will be good and they will be gone.

Daily Press

Well, tomorrow i will be front page news. I had called to have a reporter come do a story for us about the food bank. we are collecting donations for the Christian Food Bank and anyone who joins Curves this month can do so without a sign up fee. I wanted that out there. I did not expect them to include a feature story on Curves in general, but they ran it all together, including a picture and will be front page on Monday. I am kind of nervous about that but guess it can't hurt. Hopefully it all sounds okay.

I am thinking it should all be final this week or next week at the latest. Melanie and Ashley were days late mailing back their final papers so it could hold it up a bit. Curves should have them hopefully the beginning of the week. All that is needed is for them to assign me a new franchise number and mail our copies back. Then its done, signed, sealed and delivered. Hopefully soon. I am still thinking of a party for my ladies.

and a few more

My biggest question right now is what to do about my Personal Trainer Certification. I was to have been done in May, that is not going to happen. I now have classes to take for Curves along with a 10 week club development program. Could file for an extension, that would cost me more $$ and give me 6 months to complete it. Going to have to think this through.

My new business

Finally, some new pictures of my place.

My life has changed about 99% in the past month and a half. I still cannot believe how I fell into this. Things have been moving very smoothly, please pray that it continues. The final legal documents are in the mail back to Curves. I had them signed,notarized and mailed yesterday. Now, it is just a matter of Curves Int adding their names and seals etc Hopefully a few more days but could be weeks yet. My name is on the door. Signs came and did that the other day. Everything I wanted done is done, carpets cleaned, desk moved, door changed, locks changed it is all done. All that is left to do is change electric, software programs, music license etc and I started all that yesterday.

I realise I have not been on Spark much, its hard to do with working 12 hour days most days. I do sometimes check in from work but right now there is so much computer stuff that needs updated its just not always possible.

We started my training on thursday, I have a 10 week club development program I have to do. Its interesting.
I am learning a lot. Any facebook users out there? You can check it out at Curves of St Marys. However, the page is really new. No pics yet.

Club Development

This should really be interesting. Curves Int now does a 10 week Club Development program via computer and phone. We are starting mine today. Curves Int called last night and had me print out tons of things that we need to start training today. We use a computer site that lets us both be on at the same time and train that way. I am excited about it, however, most of the training to start looks like things I have been doing for the past month. I realise my situation is a bit different considering the fact that most owners don't just up and leave before its final. Curves Int was surprised to hear that I have been running the place for the past month. I don't feel like I have done too badly either. I have gained 9 new members, finished the reports that needed done, cleaned up the entire place, changed locks, cleaned carpets, ordered business cards. 'and the list goes on. We even have a reporter coming to do a story on the Food Drive.

I have set up a facebook page also for Curves. Not much on it yet, but it will take some time to get it running. I am looking forward to starting this training, it gets me one day closer to being done with all of this.

Pre approval

An email from Curves yesterday tells me congratulations on pre approval and welcome to the Curves International family. the papers are now at the legal department and I should have the legal documents within 10 days, sign and return the hard copies, and then wait again for it to be processed. Looks like with 10 days to 3 weeks it should all be done. They included a list of things to be done once the legal documents are on the way back to Curves, things like change over accounts on phone, power, rent, etc. We are coming down the home stretch! I cannot wait.