1/10/2020 & 1/16/2020
Interesting: We’re trying to get our Blue Jug store re-opened in our wonderful new location and some of the most bizarre things are getting in the way. We’ve lamented about the plumber for weeks, about his “dragging the feet” in getting his work done. Well, he promised it would be done by the end of last week. mmm—Not quite. He did most of the work, but had 3 or 4 leaks, so he shut off the water, left and has not yet come to fix them!! How does he think like that? Oh, I see, this is just a part-time job for him.
Then, the electrician, twice during the week last week, he promised me he’d be done before the plumber was. He not only didn’t get done, he left the job without telling us we were on temporary power. So we set about to test our system and blew the breaker! Come to find out, there wasn’t enough direct circuits hooked up to test or run the system! So, I asked when to expect him, and he said by the end of this week. After, I pleaded, he has agreed to hurry that up a little. Ya think? Oh, I see, it’s just a part-time job for him, too! Incredible.
Every week we stay closed loses us a lot of 1.) money, and 2.) loyalty. We can’t even figure out a way to gauge that. We will get this store open, it will be beautiful and ample, we will have several more inventory items to choose from. But, we can’t yet tell you when. (“If in this life only we have hope in Jesus, we are of all men most miserable.”—1 Cor.15:19) (Thank God for grace, which takes us to eternal life in Christ!)
Isn’t it a bit ironic the SIMH today is “Just in Time”—I found you just in time, before you came my time was running low”—The song was written by the trio of writers Styne Jule, Green Adolph, Comden Betty, and introduced by Judy Holliday and Sydney Chaplin in the broadway play, “Bells Are Ringing.” But went popular by both Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. And I find it Just in Time to not go crazy with frustration. sigh.
1/16/2020
Guess what? The Blue Jug of Fort Payne will open this morning! The intercession of the landlord and our pleading has finally brought about the actual finish of our new store building. On Tuesday and yesterday we ran all the testing and filled the tanks with the world’s best water and so we’re officially opening this morning! Our customers will be so glad! Hope we do not disappoint them in any way.
Irony continues: This morning the SIMH was “Come On-a My House”— Rosemary Clooney. It’s my understanding that she hated this song and was talked into singing it against her will, yet it became a big hit in spite of that. Another little oddity is it was written by two men, Ross Bagdasarian (later known as David Seville who created Alvin and the Chipmunks) and his cousin William Saroyan (the famous author) in 1939 while they drove across New Mexico. It is said that as Ross Bagdasarian, he has a lot to answer for, but that is ancient history I suppose. for Rosemary Clooney, it was the first of several hit recordings from 1951 through 1957. She remain popular for many years with a large fan-base from the jazz and the “big band era.”
The new year has already brought us several new prospects for more water stores. This could be as good a year as I had hoped for on a previous blog. We know that if we grow into a group of stores we will switch over to being a franchisor and our stores will become franchisees one of these days. If you wonder why, it is due to regulatory mandates. When a company places regulations on their customers to any degree, the federal government wants to know the demands and the responses fit within their definition of an independent business. It doesn’t take very much involvement by the wholesale company to become doggedly followed by the agency-in-charge. So, when we reach a number, probably around 25 or so, it will be a necessity. It will be forced upon us, but it is also very exciting for which to look forward. PS: It will cost a lot of money and change the dynamic of running the wholesale side of this business a lot.
We now have further plans given to us for the Texas Bible Conference to be held once again in Round Rock this April 24-26. Not only is Barb going with me, but several other preacher friends and their wives will all be there. It promises to be a terrific weekend of fellowship as well as great bible teaching.
The first conference of the year is in about 6 weeks: Gatlinburg, TN. I always look forward to that felllowship weekend, also. Many people I only get to see once a year will be there. Praise the Lord for His marvelous grace which privileges us to have such times.
Thanks for reading, the Elder
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