Drama Queen.

I am awake at 3:30 AM. I dont want to be, I am wandering around the house searching for a misplaced checkbook, or blogging, or whatever. I have made no secret of my romantic dalliance with a certain Caribbean man, who romanced me completely, and then turned to stone . Even as he claimed "working too much, and too tired to go out", he posted numerous pictures of himself OUT and about, even at my favorite date restaurant with the "sweet face" on and TWO plates on the table. He stood me up on my birthday, and blamed me because I was upset about not having a date on my birthday, so he made one and then did not show. A few booty calls later, and he is sometimes kind, sometimes cruel. We have not been "out" together in two months. I had not been romantically involved in so long, and I was (note WAS) fairly (completely) thrilled to have someone desire me.
I see though, the changes around me, Last weekend, he told me (after the fact) that he was in New Jersey, when he got back there was a receipt from universal studio resort in the floor of the front seat of his car. I just handed it to him and asked if he needed it .. Again tonight he is "angry" because I shared on his facebook page a very nice video, he threatened to unfriend me if I posted to him again.... OK, In my own defense he has been unfriended BY ME.  I have to find the courage to step away from this, I know destructive abusive behavior when I see it. All in all when he is on a level field he is wise, smart, giving and charming. On another level he is mean spirited, manipulative, and says things that are hurtful and then says he is playing, he is not, the hurt is already there. Only a fool would believe such behavior is "play" I am writing this most personal of things here as a public accountability post that I am stepping away from this. I have already deleted his number so I cant call him in moments of weakness or loneliness. now I cant look at his face on FB, and I cant "see" when he is online there.
 How can a man possible expect a woman to believe she is important to him, while he is never available, and is constantly bickering, or just plain rude. Is he doing what I used to do?? I would sabotage my relationships out of low self esteem, all the while acting cocky and independent, secretly waiting to be let down. I can imagine this is the situation, but remember I mentioned self esteem issues??? Yeah, Hard to take the "I am too good for him" road when you are just not sure. I will brave face and go through the separating steps. I pray for the strength to resist when he comes around to see if he can bend me back, because abusers will do whatever they need to to just break your will. My resolve is to be polite, respectful, not personal, and no "eyes" at him. I had made agreements with him to complete more work at the salon, and I will try to behave professionally . He will not be allowed to come to my house any more. I would just love to have a girly hissy at him, but it only makes me look ridiculous, so I will pass on that.
Good bye Nigel, it was fun, but I know one day soon I will look back and resent giving you what I did, you did not deserve me.

Home before dark...... fisrt time in a month or more!!

As each day unfolds at the new spot, new issues arise and must be dealt with. Even though this is the second week, the first was a very "soft" opening. Cable installed, credit card machine wont work. THREE days getting the bugs out of it. A lady got stuck in the bathroom because she did not have enough elbow grease to turn the sticky knob (it has been replaced). I have boxes and boxes of stuff to sort, organize, or toss. I got the stereo wired and set up while waiting for the cable guy, who went to our OLD address. How could he do that when the account has been moved, and furthermore, where the hell is my thirty dollars they promise if they miss an appointment??
 but TOMORROW is the big day for me. I am having my hair done wioth Vinnie at 9:30 and a pedicure with Kibby in the afternoon

. THEN my friends, I am going home. Not at 9pm, not even 7 pm, or 5 or even four. I am leaving for the day at  3PM, and I have a hundred dollar gift card to play with that is a gift for my hard work from a very good client.
I have fought and struggled to get this project done, and even I can see the weariness in my face. I think some salon care, and new jammies or underwear, and a nice big salad , and early bedtime will do the trick. CANT WAIT!!!

From Dream to Reality

Well, at this point, my brain is incapable of waking me up to babble. I am far to tired for that. I am less than one day away from inspection for my business license, and tomorrow is THE day. Over the weekend, my friend Nigel had done more than I could expect of many or any ONE person. He spent 11 hours running new hot water lines for me. He sat on his bucket with his tools and his torch and cut and pieced the copper all through the building, he sang and it seemed like he was genuinely happy helping me. I bought him lunch and made 5 trips to Home Depot. I took down a medicine cabinet that had been in that concrete wall for 60 years, It did NOT give up easily ! Then I hung a new light fixture to replace a horrible fluorescent . I still have to paint and make the bathroom presentable though. Tomorrow Kibby  is taking the day to help me finish up. We will scrub and wax the floors, with my big floor machine and a shop vac. The I bought a floor squeegee to apply the wax to 1000 sq feet of terrazzo! Our inspection is at 1 PM, and we PLAN on passing with flying colors! we need to transport some equipment just for the inspection, but that is no big deal after the work I have put forth so far. Debbie asked me today "how do you think you would have done on this project if you had not changed your eating habits and lost the weight" Something to ponder. I am exhausted and weary, but I am not HURTING. I can pull this right to the end!! I asked Kibby if, after the inspection she would like to just stay down at the new place and never go back, she said yes, and will be moving her stuff tomorrow , I think I will too!! We are running away and will live in our "fort" that we made. I have got to get some pictures tomorrow. Of all the things I have planned and hoped for this is by far the most rewarding. It has taken the longest, cost the most, been the most frustrating and tiring, but now we are on the verge of completing what God promised me almost two years ago. He sifted out my staff, and got rid of bad seeds. He allowed me to fully see the vision, and to realize it WOULD happen. The perfect location CAME TO ME!! I did not have to look for space. Even my own landlord denied me a larger space where I am (WAS). My only regret was in leaving behind the neighbors I had seen daily for nine years..... Amazing story..... My friend the Chiropractor, AND the insurance company (who is right next door) have both signed leases, and are moving with me !! I even get to keep my neighbors!!!!! what is that but a miracle?? We all get big new spaces, we all get to remain neighbors, and we are all excited and happy at our good fortune.

 The history of my new location is newsworthy, as it used to be the MOST troublesome hotel in West Palm, drugs and prostitution got it closed down, and eventually bankrupt. The woman who bought it has invested lots of money and ALL her sanity to renovate the place, and has about 75% occupancy. I will be the first to Open (of course!) I have asked our Mayor to consider a RE-dedication ceremony at the property (once everyone is open), and to invite the media, and to honor this woman with a plaque or something to show appreciation for her investment in the city of West Palm.  Would that not put the icing on the cake????? Oh, and there MUST be cake, right??!!!

Before

YAY!!

after

so much thinking to do.... why does my brain take it on at 4 am??

Yesterday I ran from pillar to post all day long. I managed to lock my keys in my car TWICE! .Probably because I am now in the possession of a whole NEW keyring of shop keys, plus my keys are divided between the truck and the car, so I am carrying three sets of keys around. I rented a big box truck to haul the equipment to the salon, and the box being one foot or more wider than the cab, enabled me to rip a rear view mirror right off a car. At least it belonged to the guy in the body shop across from where I had the furniture stored. I did not get a ticket, but I did lay down my credit card to pay for the damage. You kow having insurance is like a payment plan for this kind of thing. Your premium goes up with a "accident surcharge" for three years, and you can do the math and find out that you HAVE paid for the accident yourself. So I decided to cut the paperwork and pay now, less headaches.
After locking my keys in the second time, returning the truck (which was not damaged) I drove back to the new salon to continue working, and realized I had left my phone on the roof of my truck. Luckily it was till there. That might have thrown me over the edge into full-on postal mode.
Nigel remains distantly in the picture, and waited patiently  to help me load the truck while my "accident" was being documented. BTW I did not get a ticket, thank you Lord.
Later on he stopped by and handed me some fruit to snack on. After our p!ssing match on my birthday, we both stomped away mad, and guess who got the brown end of the stick, me of course.. I asked him how he was doing, and he said he was still about 5% angry. fine, whatever, I am 50% hurt feelings. I do believe that whatever we had is done, but we are remaining social because we must still finish this job together. That makes it hard, because I was so fiercely attracted to him, still am.

My painter has shown up one day out of five, and claims to not understand what I want from him, with my multi-color scheme. So last night, (even though each wall to be painted was marked with tape) I cracked the can and painted one foot high letters "BLUE" on each wall that will be blue.
BUT, all the new equipment is moved in now, and I am happy. I will take some pics and post later.
My power account has been transferred, and thye said I would NOT need an additional deposit! YAY!!
I am also learning the ins and outs of "minor interior modification" that means, according my sources ,do as little as possible to get yourself open for business, then hit it hard, and do the changes to lighting, and other interior stuff, LATER. Otherwise we are subject to
A. Hire a contractor (can do anything, ANYTHING on commercial space, only a contractor)
B. pay for drawings, to be submitted by contractorto building dept.
C Pay for a permit to install a water heater, and hang a door

Option two, go with what you got and do more a little at a time, and pay a carpenter and plumber.
UMMMM Monty, I'll take door number two!