Hope everyone had an amazing weekend & is enjoying this effed up week of weather so far. WTF Mom Nature? Did us yinzers do something to piss you off? Ill be honest, this is far from my least favorite weather...I kinda dig gray cool & rainy. It makes green look so much greener and you can see all the world start to lush out...and I like that. Granted, I do love those crisp bright sunny days as much as any normal person, but I also genuinely enjoy days like the last few that are wet & chilly. Complain all ya want...I personally love the mix of SWPA weather...hence I live here.
Spent all afternoon/evening/night working on the menu for the new store. I cant procrastinate this anymore. We are less than 5 weeks from opening the doors and we cant open with no menu. Ill be honest, Ive been so damn swamped with tedious bullshit that I hadnt really given this menu more than a passing thought - and since I was planning on completely re-conceptualizing the menus for this particular breed of restaurant and that can get time consuming in the lay-out/design department as well as the actually thinking of the menu items area thats a horrible thing. I got The Wizard to let me take this restaurant concept and make it more Chef driven and allow my kitchen mangers to get more involved and have more of a say so in what they are cooking - in my opinion if they genuinely CARE about the food they are putting out it benefits all parties involved. This also means that I can stretch out of the bar food confines The Wizard stuck me in years ago and show him what its like to own a restaurant, not a glorified beer bar. I have no idea why hes all of a sudden willing to listen to me about these few things but I refuse to question...Ill just say thank you jebus! and take what I can get. I was pleasantly surprised by how well it came together from the nothing that was in my head. Im digging the design so far, I think I walked the line between my good taste and The Wizards silly hang ups for him to let it pass. Content wise I lightened it up a lot, removed a lot of items, freshened up some old favorites and took it in a healthier & food centric direction. We shall see what the end result looks like, but for 1 day of super heavy work I was pretty happy...now to just get it finished by the end of the week. Oiy!
All plans for my own thing have been perpetually sidelined at the moment. Between work, home & this new fitness thing Im trying out I just dont have the inclination to work on it. The Mister has had some interesting opportunities present themselves in the last couple weeks and I am tempted to sit back and see what develops with him before I make any moves. I am still totally in love with the idea of my bakery/coffee shop, but the more I am rolling around what I initially planned to do in my head the more I am sure that I am trying to be everything to everyone ~ and that my friends is a recipe for failure. The menu I had written for Mindys was recockulously huge. I had a little bit of all my favorite things to eat & make on there and that is one fuck of a list. Who's going to make it all? And beyond that I have never in my life eaten at a restaurant that was that unfocused, with that broad of a menu, that was able to execute precisely or perfectly. This is a problem. I cant handle half-assery. So I need to streamline the concept. And I just cant decide in which direction I want to trim. Bakery & coffee shop with limited soup/salad/sandwich menu or more cafe style with exceptional coffee? It all comes down to the baking. I either do the bakery, and do it right, spend the time to make what I want to make and make it better than anyone else or I keep it a fast casual cafe style menu. Im leaning toward wanting to go the bakery route. But Im still not 100% sure. And I cant do a damn thing until I am. I think I would love the bakery more. Feel free to chime in with opinions...
But then I had this other EPIC idea that I passed along to my dear sis-in-law that she should leave sunny San Diego with her man & her cats and return east to The Burgh where she can rent the space next door to where I want to open my place and open a funky bookstore! She has a thing for libraries...like currently in grad school to be the Queen of All Things Library, but also happens to be a truly unique human that I, for some unknown reason, have decided really needs to do this. Im not talking about a B&N or that other mega huge cant ever find a goddamn thing and why are there so many people sitting everywhere reading the books they are supposed to be buying at the bookstore bookstores, Im talking about someplace funky, like the Open Mind in Sewickley used to be until he closed it...a bookstore with personality. Yeah I have no idea WTF Im talking about...the only thing I know about books is I like to read them...but I think it would be cool to join the 2 places and create a whole unique space. Now all I have to do is convince her this is brilliant enough to warrant moving back across the country to where it isnt always so sunny with her whole life to jump off a cliff with me...should be sooo easy!
Im off today with no plans outside of Game 7 tonight. There is really nothing pressing I need to do, theres a few chore-y like things I really should do but if I dont they'll still be there tomorrow...I feel like Im playing hookie ;-)
Showing posts with label Mindy's. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mindy's. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Meh. You win some...you win some.
Been awhile since I've last posted. Been a long couple weeks. Lots of shift coverage, I got The Plague for a few days, went to the doc with some odd & persistent back pain, experienced my first (and really I do hope my last) MRI & are still waiting to see why it feels like someone is stabbing me. That kinda sucks. BUT the sun has been shining, Pittsburgh wasn't washed away in a flood & I have seen more green popping out of the earth. Spring. Sincerely my most favoritest time of the year. Almost time to take the roof off the Jeep...and for that day I'm already excited!
So decided to walk away from the partnership agreement today. I am feeling really good about it. Its been a few weeks and after quite a few frustrating meetings & exchanges I was having more doubts than anything else. She wanted the agreement changed to a larger percentage and more power as a managing partner and while initially I was willing to negotiate she pissed me off last night with an email. So I did something very uncharacteristic of me...I waited. I got said email in the middle of a beer dinner I was cooking for. Read it and got really irritated. When I got done a flew home & after taking the Queen & Princess Puppy Butt out for a walk and some dinner sat down and wrote out a long & honestly pretty severe email laying out in no uncertain terms exactly how I felt about our progress and things of that ilk. I hadn't decided if I was going to send it or not, but in talking to RK I listened to myself and realized that I did not want to do this. The only reason I had been willing to compromise was because I wanted that damn almighty check. And ya know what...money isn't enough. Money I can get, money is out there, money is easy compared to a good idea and the work & time involved with developing and making that idea into a real live thing. This was the 5th or 6th situation that had occurred with her that made me cringe because of how she dealt with it. I am leaving my current job to get AWAY from this bullshit, I sure as fuck have no intention of deliberately and legally binding myself to a new level of bullshit. The amount of training that she was going to require was unreal and her cash contribution not enough to make it worth it. I also got a very strong vibe off of her that she really had no fucking idea how HARD it is to work in a restaurant for a living. It is an honest living, it is exciting and fun...but it is hard. I just the vibe that 3 months into it when her manicure was fucked beyond repair, she was working too much to be able to go get a mani/pedi to fix the damage, her back & feet aching from a lot of running a restaurant and 3 months of not having her Saturdays to go shop that she'd fold on me. Granted that could be a blessing or a curse, but it kinda feels like agreeing to marry someone only because you know you can always get a divorce when it all turns to shit. Whats the fucking point?
So I deleted the email i angrily typed. I started a new one. I basically spelled it all out, I wasnt confident shed be able to do this, I was not willing to give her a higher percentage that the one her cash contribution gave her in that she brings nothing else to the table, there was no way I could comfortably allow her to be a managing partner with her lack of experience and our not having enough knowledge of each other as individuals for me to understand how she makes decisions. She had made a few through the last couple weeks that just made me shake my head they were so stupid in my opinion so not a whole lot of confidence building there. I was honest, but not aggressive or bitchy, just straightforward and to the point. I really dont know any other way to be. I even sent it out to Mister, RK & and my voice of reason, I will call her Nudge cuz thats why I love her, just to read before I sent it and make sure that i wasnt being too much...me I guess? And was assured that i made my points without attacking and spoke honestly. That was all I was after. So late afternoon I sent it. This is me...walking away from a nice chunk of change but feeling ok about it.
She emailed me back within the hour, rescinding her investment offer, telling me that I obviously am not interested in building a future with a partner that I need to be a sole proprietor. She may be right, she may be wrong, but I can say for certain that this partnership was not meant to be. She made the comment it was an unbalanced agreement. Well yes, my dear, it is. Its also an amazingly unbalanced partnership...the agreement should match. I sincerely think this is what is best for all parties involved. I think she would have ended up hating me...Im not terribly tolerant of people not pulling their weight.
So lessons learned and all that bullshit, and back to the proverbial drawing board as far as finding some money but I really do think that I won here. There is something to be said for knowing that you really cant be bought all that easily and that you are capable of making a grown up decision...and it didnt even hurt!
So decided to walk away from the partnership agreement today. I am feeling really good about it. Its been a few weeks and after quite a few frustrating meetings & exchanges I was having more doubts than anything else. She wanted the agreement changed to a larger percentage and more power as a managing partner and while initially I was willing to negotiate she pissed me off last night with an email. So I did something very uncharacteristic of me...I waited. I got said email in the middle of a beer dinner I was cooking for. Read it and got really irritated. When I got done a flew home & after taking the Queen & Princess Puppy Butt out for a walk and some dinner sat down and wrote out a long & honestly pretty severe email laying out in no uncertain terms exactly how I felt about our progress and things of that ilk. I hadn't decided if I was going to send it or not, but in talking to RK I listened to myself and realized that I did not want to do this. The only reason I had been willing to compromise was because I wanted that damn almighty check. And ya know what...money isn't enough. Money I can get, money is out there, money is easy compared to a good idea and the work & time involved with developing and making that idea into a real live thing. This was the 5th or 6th situation that had occurred with her that made me cringe because of how she dealt with it. I am leaving my current job to get AWAY from this bullshit, I sure as fuck have no intention of deliberately and legally binding myself to a new level of bullshit. The amount of training that she was going to require was unreal and her cash contribution not enough to make it worth it. I also got a very strong vibe off of her that she really had no fucking idea how HARD it is to work in a restaurant for a living. It is an honest living, it is exciting and fun...but it is hard. I just the vibe that 3 months into it when her manicure was fucked beyond repair, she was working too much to be able to go get a mani/pedi to fix the damage, her back & feet aching from a lot of running a restaurant and 3 months of not having her Saturdays to go shop that she'd fold on me. Granted that could be a blessing or a curse, but it kinda feels like agreeing to marry someone only because you know you can always get a divorce when it all turns to shit. Whats the fucking point?
So I deleted the email i angrily typed. I started a new one. I basically spelled it all out, I wasnt confident shed be able to do this, I was not willing to give her a higher percentage that the one her cash contribution gave her in that she brings nothing else to the table, there was no way I could comfortably allow her to be a managing partner with her lack of experience and our not having enough knowledge of each other as individuals for me to understand how she makes decisions. She had made a few through the last couple weeks that just made me shake my head they were so stupid in my opinion so not a whole lot of confidence building there. I was honest, but not aggressive or bitchy, just straightforward and to the point. I really dont know any other way to be. I even sent it out to Mister, RK & and my voice of reason, I will call her Nudge cuz thats why I love her, just to read before I sent it and make sure that i wasnt being too much...me I guess? And was assured that i made my points without attacking and spoke honestly. That was all I was after. So late afternoon I sent it. This is me...walking away from a nice chunk of change but feeling ok about it.
She emailed me back within the hour, rescinding her investment offer, telling me that I obviously am not interested in building a future with a partner that I need to be a sole proprietor. She may be right, she may be wrong, but I can say for certain that this partnership was not meant to be. She made the comment it was an unbalanced agreement. Well yes, my dear, it is. Its also an amazingly unbalanced partnership...the agreement should match. I sincerely think this is what is best for all parties involved. I think she would have ended up hating me...Im not terribly tolerant of people not pulling their weight.
So lessons learned and all that bullshit, and back to the proverbial drawing board as far as finding some money but I really do think that I won here. There is something to be said for knowing that you really cant be bought all that easily and that you are capable of making a grown up decision...and it didnt even hurt!
Monday, March 1, 2010
Ramblings & Brownies...again.
Another Monday off. It was pretty awesome, really. Slept in a little, had a quick breakfast, went to the gym, completed some domestic goddess duties...nice couple days off. Quite happy that I went to the gym. Its been a couple weeks since my last visit. I always feel better when I go but getting my lazy ass to actually go is a bit more challenging. Im planning to go again tomorrow or Thursday. I have also decided I wickedly prefer weights & lifting to cardio. I want to swim this week...that's cardio I don't mind.
I read over my LLC ppw today, added the info I needed to that and got it sent back out to my lawyer, too. I was slightly intimidated by the 14 pages, but found I got it...every damn word of it, and that made me feel pretty good. Does lead to this question though...why is all that bullshit necessary? Seems to me that the exact same things that she spelled out in legalese could have been much more simply and succinctly stated in plain english. The terms were common sense enough, and it defined some necessary areas of our partnership that needed it, but all of it could have been just as easily explained in simpler language that wouldn't require an interpreter or 8 year college degree. I like my lawyer, she's a very nice lady...and I know a couple lawyers that I like quite a bit. I'm not saying I want any of them out of work, but just seems to me they're are easier ways that wouldnt be quite so tedious to accomplish the same mission. ...so says the chick who will totally & gladly pay the bill when it comes for her lawyer's services!
Have to really get moving on the business plan. I made a good amount of headway last week the couple nights I worked on it but I've got a few more nights to go before it's near done. If I get in the zone I can plow through a ton quick...if only I knew how to flip THAT switch!
Ive nicknamed my partner...that way I have something to call her when I mention her ~ J. Simple and easy to type! So J. & I are meeting Wednesday night to get some planning work done and start laying down some details. Putting together a map to get from here ---------> there. The sooner the better!
Made another batch of brownies. They came out pretty good. Just about perfect actually. I had cut the initial recipe in half because I did not NEED a full half sheet tray of brownies. So I decided that an 8x8 pan would be sufficient. Upon further review I was wrong and should have used a 9x13 to get a more even bake. Texture and flavor were perfect...so I am definitely on the right track. Have to make them again and see if I can nail it! Once I'm done with the brownies I'll move on to a potentially brilliant idea for cinnamon rolls. If these turn out as good as I think they will they will be life-changing.
Then homemade granola bars & croissants. I'm going to be very busy...and will need eaters for all this shit. Mister & RK are NOT going to want to have to eat all these test recipes!
Not a bad start to the week. Last week was actually more good than bad considering what I was prepared for, got alot of shit done on my days off and may have finally captured my Great White Whale brownie recipe!!
I read over my LLC ppw today, added the info I needed to that and got it sent back out to my lawyer, too. I was slightly intimidated by the 14 pages, but found I got it...every damn word of it, and that made me feel pretty good. Does lead to this question though...why is all that bullshit necessary? Seems to me that the exact same things that she spelled out in legalese could have been much more simply and succinctly stated in plain english. The terms were common sense enough, and it defined some necessary areas of our partnership that needed it, but all of it could have been just as easily explained in simpler language that wouldn't require an interpreter or 8 year college degree. I like my lawyer, she's a very nice lady...and I know a couple lawyers that I like quite a bit. I'm not saying I want any of them out of work, but just seems to me they're are easier ways that wouldnt be quite so tedious to accomplish the same mission. ...so says the chick who will totally & gladly pay the bill when it comes for her lawyer's services!
Have to really get moving on the business plan. I made a good amount of headway last week the couple nights I worked on it but I've got a few more nights to go before it's near done. If I get in the zone I can plow through a ton quick...if only I knew how to flip THAT switch!
Ive nicknamed my partner...that way I have something to call her when I mention her ~ J. Simple and easy to type! So J. & I are meeting Wednesday night to get some planning work done and start laying down some details. Putting together a map to get from here ---------> there. The sooner the better!
Made another batch of brownies. They came out pretty good. Just about perfect actually. I had cut the initial recipe in half because I did not NEED a full half sheet tray of brownies. So I decided that an 8x8 pan would be sufficient. Upon further review I was wrong and should have used a 9x13 to get a more even bake. Texture and flavor were perfect...so I am definitely on the right track. Have to make them again and see if I can nail it! Once I'm done with the brownies I'll move on to a potentially brilliant idea for cinnamon rolls. If these turn out as good as I think they will they will be life-changing.
Then homemade granola bars & croissants. I'm going to be very busy...and will need eaters for all this shit. Mister & RK are NOT going to want to have to eat all these test recipes!
Not a bad start to the week. Last week was actually more good than bad considering what I was prepared for, got alot of shit done on my days off and may have finally captured my Great White Whale brownie recipe!!
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