One of my favorite sayings I got from Dr. Phil. Often at the end of each show he will say something like, "its a great day, make it yours!"
I just love that. Each day we have the opportunity to remake ourselves. Each day is a unit unto itself.
You can choose to be friendly.
You can choose to be helpful.
You can choose to hide yourself from others.
You can reach out.
You can go though your day just like all the others and be bored.
You can choose to find excitement.
You can sing.
You can be grumpy.
Oh, the list goes on and on. You get the idea. I choose THIS day, to love my wife, to smile more, to flirt a little. I choose THIS day to listen more and talk less.
Its my day dammit. God made it for me. Little old me. Its mine. I choose to make it a good one! David
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Monday, March 10, 2014
A small world
It seems my big brother has been on my mind a lot lately. He is often a part of my conversations with Rita.
After we reconnected, it was fun discovering all the many similarities in our lives. Mike and I love business. We love politics (thank goodness we mostly agree!). We love the outdoors. We love sports. We love fishing. The list goes on and on.
We have a few differences though. He likes broccoli and brussels sprouts. I like asparagus. Go figure.
Last night though, I discovered a difference that shocked me. He likes the Disney "Its a small world." Holy canarski Batman!
Don't get me wrong. The ride is fine. The dolls are cute and animated. The international theme is commendable. I loved taking my daughters to Small World when they were young. Seeing a little girls eyes light up, is an awesome experience.
Its that awful song. I would rather listen to screeching chalk on the chalkboard. It gets in your head and STAYS there. For weeks. Its worse than waterboarding! UGH!
I tried to convince him that song was a communist plot to soften our young children's minds and make them more susceptible to propaganda. He would have nothing of it. He likes it.
Oh well. His high patriarchal mantle has slipped a bit. Maybe even rusted.
Maybe he is just getting mushy in his golden years. Oh well. David
After we reconnected, it was fun discovering all the many similarities in our lives. Mike and I love business. We love politics (thank goodness we mostly agree!). We love the outdoors. We love sports. We love fishing. The list goes on and on.
We have a few differences though. He likes broccoli and brussels sprouts. I like asparagus. Go figure.
Last night though, I discovered a difference that shocked me. He likes the Disney "Its a small world." Holy canarski Batman!
Don't get me wrong. The ride is fine. The dolls are cute and animated. The international theme is commendable. I loved taking my daughters to Small World when they were young. Seeing a little girls eyes light up, is an awesome experience.
Its that awful song. I would rather listen to screeching chalk on the chalkboard. It gets in your head and STAYS there. For weeks. Its worse than waterboarding! UGH!
I tried to convince him that song was a communist plot to soften our young children's minds and make them more susceptible to propaganda. He would have nothing of it. He likes it.
Oh well. His high patriarchal mantle has slipped a bit. Maybe even rusted.
Maybe he is just getting mushy in his golden years. Oh well. David
Did we win?
Yesterday I wrote that my brother Mike and his wife Linda were coming over. They brought over some really nice cabinets that they had replaced in their kitchen. After getting a good look at them they will be perfect when we move our doll making facility into the office. We have been planning this for several months now.
I have found that, often, change is good simply for the sake of change. It gives new perspective, revitalizes enthusiasm, keeps the mind focused. I have a hard time doing the same thing over and over. I need mental stimulation.
This move will bring several things together for us. All our supplies will be more organized and readily available. Writing orders for more will be simpler because we will know exactly what we have.
But the best part, is Rita will have her own computer. We have two computers now, one in the office and one in the dining room where we currently make the dolls. They are both where I sit. In order for her to use one, she had to displace me in the dining room or go into the office. A hassle for both of us.
I am hopeful that our production will be more streamlined and it will make the dining room much nicer. Instead of being full of stuff like my sewing machine and Rita's doll paints, it will have a tablecloth and centerpiece. The doll clothes will be in a closet instead of hanging on a rack in the living room. I am looking forward to that!
So, for now, my restless brain has something new to do. Organize, improvise, adapt, find an new way to make things work.
As far as last night goes, we ate, we played, we talked, and we laughed. Mike and I had the lead in pinochle, I was thinking this would be a walk in the park. But no! The girls came up to tie us at the end and took the final hand. AAAAUUUGGGHHH!
To summarize last night, we lost at cards, but won in life. I can live with that. David
I have found that, often, change is good simply for the sake of change. It gives new perspective, revitalizes enthusiasm, keeps the mind focused. I have a hard time doing the same thing over and over. I need mental stimulation.
This move will bring several things together for us. All our supplies will be more organized and readily available. Writing orders for more will be simpler because we will know exactly what we have.
But the best part, is Rita will have her own computer. We have two computers now, one in the office and one in the dining room where we currently make the dolls. They are both where I sit. In order for her to use one, she had to displace me in the dining room or go into the office. A hassle for both of us.
I am hopeful that our production will be more streamlined and it will make the dining room much nicer. Instead of being full of stuff like my sewing machine and Rita's doll paints, it will have a tablecloth and centerpiece. The doll clothes will be in a closet instead of hanging on a rack in the living room. I am looking forward to that!
So, for now, my restless brain has something new to do. Organize, improvise, adapt, find an new way to make things work.
As far as last night goes, we ate, we played, we talked, and we laughed. Mike and I had the lead in pinochle, I was thinking this would be a walk in the park. But no! The girls came up to tie us at the end and took the final hand. AAAAUUUGGGHHH!
To summarize last night, we lost at cards, but won in life. I can live with that. David
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Time spent
Often, in this blog, I write of my own personal enjoyment of the little things in life. I am grateful I can appreciate the little things in life. A pretty morning, birds chirping, a good cuppa coffee.
Today, there will be something much more special. My big brother and his wife are coming over for dinner and cards.
The house is decorated nicely. Everything is clean. The food will be great. But the best part, is seeing Mike and Linda. Mike and I were estranged for many years. In the past few years, we have come back together as a family.
It feels good. It feels right. I missed him terribly.
He is still the grumpy old curmudgeon, giving everyone his wisdom whether we want it or not. That is his due. He is the patriarch now. And I am glad to have him back.
This world can be pretty tough if you have no one that loves you. I am so damned lucky. I have my wife, my sister, my kids, friends, and now Mike.
My life just seems fuller with him around. I often find myself wondering what Mike would do in certain situations. We are very different in many ways, yet we are very much the same. I could go on and on explaining that, but just know, I value his judgment.
I don't always follow it, but I value it.
Mom and Dad are gone. Some of my classmates are gone. We are getting older. Life seems shorter, Time is so very much of the essence.
Time, the gift He has given me. Today, I will spend my time enjoying my brother and his wife. I will spend my time, enjoying the gift of love He has given me through him.
Its gonna be fun. David
Today, there will be something much more special. My big brother and his wife are coming over for dinner and cards.
The house is decorated nicely. Everything is clean. The food will be great. But the best part, is seeing Mike and Linda. Mike and I were estranged for many years. In the past few years, we have come back together as a family.
It feels good. It feels right. I missed him terribly.
He is still the grumpy old curmudgeon, giving everyone his wisdom whether we want it or not. That is his due. He is the patriarch now. And I am glad to have him back.
This world can be pretty tough if you have no one that loves you. I am so damned lucky. I have my wife, my sister, my kids, friends, and now Mike.
My life just seems fuller with him around. I often find myself wondering what Mike would do in certain situations. We are very different in many ways, yet we are very much the same. I could go on and on explaining that, but just know, I value his judgment.
I don't always follow it, but I value it.
Mom and Dad are gone. Some of my classmates are gone. We are getting older. Life seems shorter, Time is so very much of the essence.
Time, the gift He has given me. Today, I will spend my time enjoying my brother and his wife. I will spend my time, enjoying the gift of love He has given me through him.
Its gonna be fun. David
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
enthusiasm
I just love it when we get a customer that is excited! It translates into my own energy and enthusiasm. The days just fly by. I just love making dolls with Rita! Who woulda thunk I would spend my days making dolls and enjoying it? David
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
A shout out and a hint!
Often my blogs have nothing whatsoever to do with dolls. I found that just gets plain boring for some people. I wanted this blog to be a way for people to get to know us a little bit more. No complaining, just life.
Today, though, I am compelled to bring up dolls. And our customers. When we first started our business, we did it on a shoestring and a prayer. We asked the Good Lord to bless our efforts, and to use our dolls to bless our customers. He said YES!.
Our dolls have gone to abuse victims, mothers of little ones that died, mothers of babies that have grown and moved away, little girls wanting to nurture, the list goes on and on. I had no idea when we started what He could do with Rita's talent and our hard work. I am still amazed.
Sunday, we sold a doll at auction. Now this story is not nearly so dramatic as those I just wrote about. But it was fun none the less.
We sold a doll at auction. Usually our dolls are at a set price, buy it now, no hassle with auctions. But during our slower months (January, February, March, June, July, August), we will put up a doll at auction. We start them at a very low price and hope for the best. One reason we do this is auctions generate a LOT of interest. It brings customers into our eBay store and they can look through all we have to offer.
So, the hint is, if you want one of our dolls at a lower price, the best way is to watch for our auctions! Bidding on an auction is fun and you can get quite a deal! Just be careful not to get too far into it and overspend. Its easy to do. I have done it.
My shout out is to Carla. Our newest auction customer. She won the auction for Candy by Donna Rubert. This was a new sculpt for us and she really turned out cute.
Carla, it turns out is just the nicest customer! She was really excited during the auction process. She said the nicest thing to us. She said, "I am beyond thrilled to have won this truly beautiful doll..just amazed! ..... I am still in shock I actually won.....never thought I could own one of your dolls!"
Rita was flattered beyond belief. To us, we just make dolls. We do our best to make a great doll that someone will enjoy. It turns out, Carla has followed our dolls, and even read this blog! How about that. A fan club. Seems kind of overwhelming.
I ride Rita's coattails. She does the artwork, I do the grunt work. I could make doll bodies and build dolls all day long, and not make them look like she does. I get to take the pictures and maintain the listings and database. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE doing it, but Rita is the true talent in this organization. Truly.
So, thank you to Carla, for that wonderful shot in the arm. It made us, once again, realize just how special our efforts are. David
Today, though, I am compelled to bring up dolls. And our customers. When we first started our business, we did it on a shoestring and a prayer. We asked the Good Lord to bless our efforts, and to use our dolls to bless our customers. He said YES!.
Our dolls have gone to abuse victims, mothers of little ones that died, mothers of babies that have grown and moved away, little girls wanting to nurture, the list goes on and on. I had no idea when we started what He could do with Rita's talent and our hard work. I am still amazed.
Sunday, we sold a doll at auction. Now this story is not nearly so dramatic as those I just wrote about. But it was fun none the less.
We sold a doll at auction. Usually our dolls are at a set price, buy it now, no hassle with auctions. But during our slower months (January, February, March, June, July, August), we will put up a doll at auction. We start them at a very low price and hope for the best. One reason we do this is auctions generate a LOT of interest. It brings customers into our eBay store and they can look through all we have to offer.
So, the hint is, if you want one of our dolls at a lower price, the best way is to watch for our auctions! Bidding on an auction is fun and you can get quite a deal! Just be careful not to get too far into it and overspend. Its easy to do. I have done it.
My shout out is to Carla. Our newest auction customer. She won the auction for Candy by Donna Rubert. This was a new sculpt for us and she really turned out cute.
Carla, it turns out is just the nicest customer! She was really excited during the auction process. She said the nicest thing to us. She said, "I am beyond thrilled to have won this truly beautiful doll..just amazed! ..... I am still in shock I actually won.....never thought I could own one of your dolls!"
Rita was flattered beyond belief. To us, we just make dolls. We do our best to make a great doll that someone will enjoy. It turns out, Carla has followed our dolls, and even read this blog! How about that. A fan club. Seems kind of overwhelming.
I ride Rita's coattails. She does the artwork, I do the grunt work. I could make doll bodies and build dolls all day long, and not make them look like she does. I get to take the pictures and maintain the listings and database. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE doing it, but Rita is the true talent in this organization. Truly.
So, thank you to Carla, for that wonderful shot in the arm. It made us, once again, realize just how special our efforts are. David
Saturday, March 1, 2014
Springtime!
Spring has sprung early at the Meese household! Time to clean and organize after the holidays.
One of our goals is to get our workshop out of the living room and into the office. It is a little smaller, but we can be much more organized. Shelving, lighting, storage, computers can all be positioned just the way we want them. I am looking forward to it.
Also, a side benefit is being able to cool only one room instead of the whole house! And it is right across from the wood burning stove so we can be warm in the winter. Nice.
I think it is vital that we take the time once or twice a year and shake things up a bit. Not just the house, but our jobs, our day to day life, our relationships. Take them out, dust them off, shine 'em up with Pledge. Take care of what we have and cherish our blessings.
I know. Its my common theme. But I try not to take what I have for granted. Its a way to be happy!
Have a great day all. David
One of our goals is to get our workshop out of the living room and into the office. It is a little smaller, but we can be much more organized. Shelving, lighting, storage, computers can all be positioned just the way we want them. I am looking forward to it.
Also, a side benefit is being able to cool only one room instead of the whole house! And it is right across from the wood burning stove so we can be warm in the winter. Nice.
I think it is vital that we take the time once or twice a year and shake things up a bit. Not just the house, but our jobs, our day to day life, our relationships. Take them out, dust them off, shine 'em up with Pledge. Take care of what we have and cherish our blessings.
I know. Its my common theme. But I try not to take what I have for granted. Its a way to be happy!
Have a great day all. David
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