As you will see from this section of the MEMH newsletter, small business ain't ez........you don't make much money and you work all the time.....
A New Year
So now comes the time when we reflect on the year passed and look to the future. I'm kind of at a loss for words when it comes to 2007. It was not a great year. While we did have some great nights, overall it was way off from the norm. I am happy just to close the book on it knowing there is nowhere to go but up.Looking towards 2008 I feel a flicker of hope in the air. We can debate endlessly as to why things are as they are. There are many talking points and variables to consider. But for me, the buck stops at the top. Yes, I blame the leadership, beginning with the White House and spreading the blame throughout the government bureaucracy on both sides of the fence. It seems that leadership took a holiday these past eight years and now we find ourselves polarized as a people and diminished as a nation on the world stage. I now understand what they mean when they say trickle down economics works. It works very well for those who have been in power for all too long. They have spooned off the cream leaving the watery runoff to "trickle down" through the economic layers of our society leaving only a few drips for those trapped at the bottom. Maybe it wasn't a holiday they were taking... maybe it would be better defined as profit taking.Watching the endless debates, I'm beginning to believe that change is actually in the air. Almost all the candidates are talking about ending the war. Front runners are attacking the established system with two fists. We have at least one major candidate talking about "socialized medicine"... heaven forbid! Even the Republican front runner, Huckabee wants to abolish the IRS!!! I know those things won't happen, at least not right away. But the fact that they are openly talking about those things in the national spotlight tells me that they are beginning to get it. We are sick of the same ol same old. Blue or red, we want change.Unfortunately, in this "trickle down" economy, it will take time for any positive change to effect us here in the Valley. It will probably get worse before it gets better. Until something is done about the ever increasing price of oil, we will be facing very tight budgets. That brings us back to Middle Earth. When times get tight, the first expense to get shelved is the arts and entertainment budget. As our disposable income is consumed by necessities, we spend less on nights out. With that in mind, you will notice by looking at the schedule below that we have tightened up our schedule considerably. At least through the winter we will be open only one or two nights each week freeing me up to get back in the shop and hopefully generate some additional income to keep us fluid. To those of you who have inquired about woodturning lessons, I am working on it. There are some physical issues to be addressed in the shop as well as insurance questions yet to be clarified. If there are any additional folks out there who would like to learn how to turn firewood into family heirlooms, drop me an e-mail and I will add your name to the list. Just as soon as I get the bugs out I'll get back to you with the details.Brian and I are always looking for creative finish projects as well. While we can do straight up cabinet work, we are drawn to the off-beat and funky. Burly, bark edged furniture, coffee tables with hobbit feet, round wood chairs... If you are looking for something out of the ordinary, who ya gonna call?
802 222 4748 or chris@memh.com
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