Stuffed Baby Cheetah - Finally Online

I spent a chunk of the afternoon putting this little guy online in the gift shop. It all takes awhile, but I have finally had time and resources to get back to it. It's fun. I've loved web work since the day back in 1996 when Andy told me you can turn text into bold with a simple code (that I can't seem to render on the blog without it activating). That one spark of info really lit the fire. There's still so much to do here to get organized and things cleaned up and filed, but (Yay!) I am again having the time and energy for it. The cleared out space and ease of finding things is such a pleasure. Getting the stuff online in the gift shop that I've had around for awhile but have not put up yet is only part of it, and I'm on a roll. Over the past few days I've also put up the new cuttlefish and changed out the photo of the earthworm (do not ask me why they painted stupid white bands on it; it was nice when it was all one color with the bands being formed only by the change in texture). Before that, I put up the new larger plastic ammonite.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Sept 13, Astoria: Old technology, found while cleaning

I've been reorganizing my office this weekend to make it easier to reach things in storage boxes. Quitting Market America has opened up a few file drawers and bins, and that's probably what got me started on this particular Augean stable. So far, I'm liking it. I've been thinking of the various projects I want to work on over the next few years, and all of them entail easier access to the materials stored in boxes and files that have been essentially out of reach for awhile. There are also boxes of old files that have run their 7-year IRS mandate and can be gotten rid of (once reachable :)

Anyway, in the process I found this bit of old printout from an order of a number of years ago. It brought back the old days when I had so few orders and less sophisticated technology. A customer would place their order online, and I had to then e-mail them the total cost and the shipping amount. They would have to OK it and e-mail me back. Then I could ship the order. In the earliest years before that, I actually had to pack up the order and take it to the post office to get a mailing cost, then contact the customer! Back then, if I had a few boxes in a week, it was a lot. Now, of course, it comes in already approved by the credit card company and the customer has selected their shipping method, with the total right there for them to look at.

July 18, Astoria: I'm still here

As I write this, I haven't posted on this blog since June 30. I have lots of photos, and may get a chance to catch up somewhat. Everyone I talk to has been getting to hear about the fantastic new shopping cart that's been added to our online gift shop. It IS fantastic. It does what we want and need it to do (it's custom made!) but in the process, since it's one of a kind and the test environment doesn't allow Daryl to completely test before a new tweak goes live, it's been quite a process. In the meantime, the credit card processing company had a fire that kicked them offline and injected some chaos into our days, we also had to get a new printer, which shut down KKEE Radio by accident when we plugged it in, and - you know - just some of the usual stuff that happens day to day. We transferred banks, and we're very happy about that, but with credit card processing accounts and a few little glitches, it's kept me so busy that all I want to do at the end of the day . . . wait! I'm not sure I've been having ends of the day lately.

I started playing a new zoo-building game on Facebook to wind down a little, and I've been posting the Astoria, Oregon, Daily Photo blog every day, then posting it to Facebook and Twitter. It's fun, but most of the time it actually takes longer to post the one photo to that blog than several to this one. It's got a growing audience, and while that is validating, it's also a little daunting to think about. I'm also enjoying networking (visiting and reading the blogs) with the other City Daily Photo people. It takes a lot of time, but it's a great way to see the world, learn a few things, make friends, and bring traffic back to my blog, which helps Google placement for the business. Cool, huh?

Today I also got back to the N.C. Hudson book for awhile. I did more posting than writing, but this is how I wanted to start the project, so I feel good about it. I hope to develop some interest in the book while I keep tabs on the project. I feel today like I got through some of the preliminaries. There are three posts for July 18.

The photo above is just another of the same old wonderful view. I could probably take one 365 days of the year and they'd never be the same.

Tomorrow Lee gets back to Portland from fishing in Canada, and I'll go there for at least part of the day, trying to get back here early on Monday morning. I'd hoped the techno issues would be over with, but that didn't happen by the end of last week, so I should be here. It should settle down soon. It's clear that the shopping cart itself is allowing more people to place orders, and that's fantastic. I still have a bunch of HTML coding to do on some of the pages because the new cart uses a more precise system than the old one and some of the old coding doesn't translate. I like the results, but it will still take some time to get it all done. For instance, since I needed a separate order button for each plastic cup color of each animal, you can now see how each of the colors goes with each animal - you don't have to guess using the drop-down list.

Until the past few weeks, I'd been walking a lot. At the moment, I'm still getting used to taking my first yoga class. It's making me feel good about myself and helping my back, but I gotta tell you that at my age and with fibromyalgia, it's a lot harder on the old bod than a 5-mile hike. My muscles are very slow to adjust to the new stresses, and I've been relying on Torch more than ever to put me back together and keep moving forward. I feel that this week I may be able to do the yoga four times a week and take walks again, too. I'm looking forward to that!

March 11: A dynamic class in marketing for difficult economic times

It's rare these days when I get up in the dark, because I've been working the other end of the day, staying up late at the computer. But CEDR (Clatsop Economic Development Resource) was putting on a free seminar with marketing guru Robert Sherk from Portland as the speaker.

Our business class teacher, Jim Entler, said that Bob knew marketing like few people do, and I have to say this class was well worth getting up for. He was very entertaining, which is not necessary, but makes it more fun, of course, and he had tons of great ideas for businesses of any size. I took lots of notes as well as taking home the hand-outs. We'll be putting a lot of the ideas to work here at Tapir and Friends. I was pleased to note that we already do some of the things he mentioned quite well. Others were good reminders, and still others were new. His suggestions were illustrated with stories. All in all, it was a great experience. If you get a chance, keep an eye out for more CEDR presentations - and you can't beat the price. No, they didn't pay me to advertise this, it was really worthwhile. I don't know when I've been up early in the last few months, but I like it. I might try getting to bed on time, though that may take some doing. I love working into the night on stuff I enjoy.

The seminar was held at the Seaside Convention Center. Coming out after the class, I wanted to take a photo of a crow in a tree over the sidewalk, but I just didn't do it. Not sure why. I guess I wanted to get home to lunch. After conscientiously avoiding the complimentary doughnuts, sweet rolls, and muffins, I was hungry.

Plastic or rubber ammonite replica (extinct sea creature)

I finally got it! Taking pictures of animal figurines, replicas, stuffed animals, etc. for my online gift shop is fun for me, but every once in awhile I get one that for no apparent reason (until maybe later) has me SO frustrated. This was one of them. But with persistence and trying different backgrounds, lighting, cameras and settings, I finally got the colors almost exactly right and got an exposure I'm happy with. Sometimes I get them in one shot then mess with them a little in PhotoShop, but this one took about an hour. I don't know whether it was the gold, the bright white next to the darker colors, the specific color palette, or what. But here it is, I'm thrilled. By the time I was done with this plastic ammonite, I had a great appreciation for it. I really love it! Once I get some of the mechanical web production done, it will be fun to do the research. From the tag that comes with it, it sounds like a pretty interesting critter. There's a VERY cool representation of a living ammonite on this page. Now I'll find a good HTML template to adapt and go to work on it :)

When I was young, one of the things I wanted to be was a paleontologist. I often think that having an animal store and a web site gives me a lot of the satisfaction in studying a variety of things and producing them online that I might have wanted from a career like that. Plus, the variety of what I can do is endless. I love building stuff on the Internet, and so many people appreciate that we're here doing what we do. (I guess I'm enjoying myself today!)

December 17: Snow in Astoria, 2008

It began snowing during the night. It was one of those nights I stayed up into the morning and worked online, doing what I could to boost our visibility in the searches so our gift shop would generate much-needed orders. It was fun anyway. I love working with photos - blogging, Panoramio, web albums. . . .

The snow was a surprise. I'd forgotten all about it until I looked outside as I was getting ready for bed about 4:15 in the morning. I love these night pictures - the scenes look so gentle.

When I finally got up late in the morning, there was more snow yet. This is outside The Animal Store looking west toward town and the bridge.

But it wasn't all snow, and it wasn't all that cold. There was a lot of slush and water. The reports said the freeze was coming, though, so whatever was water now had the potential to become very slippery very soon.

I thought about the ice potential wherever I went today. I was driving. Although I have summer tires, it wasn't bad today. But it wasn't quite usual, either. A mound of slush had built up at the exit of the parking lot, and I almost ran over my friend Lisa. Oops. I love this pic with the reflected lights in the footprints and under the tree. After going up in flames, the Bank of America had moved into a portable building in the old Safeway parking lot. I thought it was fitting that it now looks like a fire engine. Maybe they took the motto to heart: "Be Prepared."

Here's another pic of the bank showing just how much it does look like a fire rig. Look at all the footprints in the wet snow. This is really a novelty in Astoria.

Next to the portable bank. I liked the track pattern, but also this shows what's in store when it freezes. That's all water and slush.

I went up to see Laurel and James and little Teagan. So cute. I held him for a long time. He likes to put his hands together. Laurel says it's a comforting gesture for him. He was also holding his mouth for long periods of time in a position as if he wanted to whistle. In this case, with the tongue out.

There you go. That's the whistling one; he does it quietly - no sound.

I'm learning to hold a young baby, since I haven't had much experience. I've held a few, of course, but it seems ages ago. My friends didn't have them till later, after they or I had moved, and I wasn't around much when my sister and brother's kids were young. I got out of Dodge and stayed out, pretty much.

Sleeping. I must be doing a good job. Note the hands again.

Here he is after Laurel (Mom) did the changing. I'm not ready for my diaper changing lessons yet, thanks. That will come in time. (Maybe.)

Swaddled and back in his crib. And now he's down for a long winter's nap.

Well, not really, he wakes up a lot, but outside it's looking more and more unmistakably like winter.

I returned to work. Isn't it wonderful when work can consist of plastic eels and such? I love it!

Lee in the snow in Astoria - some December online merchant musings

Here's Lee out in the snow in Astoria in front of The Animal Store leaving for the Area Properties Christmas Party. I took a bunch of time off yesterday and did some things, so I opted to stay inside where it's warm and work my tail off. This is the couple of weeks when online retailers go crazy filling orders, trying to get more orders when they slow down, or worrying when things break down, run out, etc. It keeps a person busy. Yesterday I did take time off and our orders slowed down, so today I'm working. Even making a blog post like this one can help link things together and boost our gift shop's findability online. Lee was busy all morning playing Santa by helping to fill orders.

Yesterday I went to Laurel's baby shower (photos to come in another blog post), to the pool to shower and relax in the hot tub (NO photos to come, no no no :), had dinner out with Jane and Tom, and watched a movie on our wonderful new hi def TV which replaced the ancient little one that had to be pulled right up to the foot of the bed so we could see it. Yeah! We saw Les Miserables with Liam Neeson, Geofrrey Rush, Uma Thurman and Claire Danes. We really enjoyed it, but now Lee wants to see a version with the original Dickens ending. I read the book in Jr. High or High School, but Lee didn't. We filled a lot of orders, too, but when I stop blogging and posting things online, the orders slow down. Every year there is some new thing to make December interesting!

The red journal: Money for tapirs; lots of orders

"2007. Wed. Snowing today. Sent $500.00 each to Wilson and Sergio - 1st 500 to each. New projects. Photos from camera traps in Santa Marta, have not seen them yet. Toes done in 5 colors at A-Nails. Busy again w/Google up. IMPACT = Important Areas for Conservation of Tapirs. Some anger about not having a nest."

Well, there you have it. Journaling in unsatisfactory code. That was the last post in the red book. It's a wonderful book, but I'm either going to write unrestricted or not write at all. In fact, I seem to be capturing the scenes of my life with the camera more than with words or art these days. It's easy to forget exactly what thoughts go with them, but it's fast and graphic, and that's what I'm attracted to now.

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"2007. Thurs. The site came back up in google tonight!!! After exactly a month of hard work & late hours fixing broken links & messed up code, IT IS BACK ON THE SEARCH (POS. 3) 'PLASTIC ANIMALS'!"

The red journal: I've about had enough

"2007. Wed. A lot of code fixing - reading & posting on Google webmaster board. Body hurting from lack of movement &/or from moving chair on rug. Back inflamed. Cramps. Need to stretch & exercise. Lee has been walking distances."

Second entry in the red journal

"2007. Tues. Somewhat rejuvenated after Bend although one day seems like the next working hard on the site. Postal holiday declared due to death of Gerald Ford, in his 90s. Lee helps w/ work of shipping."

Aug 2, Astoria: Balata rubber animals from Guyana

What fun! It was so exciting when I got this shipment of balata rubber animals (natural, sustainable) for the gift shop from a company in Guyana. As you can see, a lot of them are tapirs - babies and adults. But they were all nice.

I liked this hippo! There's such variety and they're design is a bit different each time I order. And each artist has his or her own style. This might be great for a brick-and-mortar store, but when you have to show the products online (or in a print catalog, which I don't do, thank god), people want to see what they're getting. That's a lot of photos and a lot of changing and updating. It's so labor-intensive, it hurts. I can remember years ago when I thought products shouldn't have to be uniform and conform and blah, blah, blah. Well, yes, it's art in a way, and as such it shouldn't have to. But I can now see the other side of the question, because I'm living it. And that's why these cute animals are already becoming such a headache. Which is sad. I don't have the answer.

Expanding - a new shelf

As the gift shop grew, I needed a bigger place for storage. We were lucky, this house had a huge garage, so I designed the shelves I wanted and set to it with the radial saw. I love that thing!

Here's part of the new cabinet. I'd made the shelves the right size to store plastic bins for merchandise and three-ring binders for other projects. The plastic bin with the blue paper holds "T is for Tapir" t-shirts.

Here's the area inside, where I was moving some of the stuff out of. The tapestry on the wall is one of the Salasacan weavings I kept for myself after we sold the ones with tapirs and most of the non-tapir tapestries. I loved having these beautiful works of art to look at.

A few of the plastic bins ended up in the art room, at least temporarily.

Bright lizard, dark day

OMG! Remember the collection of toy animals I received yesterday for my first big foray into non-tapir retailing? Here's an early attempt to photograph one of the items, a big hollow plastic jungle runner lizard. It came out horribly here, very over-exposed, but I did get a better photo of it later for the gift shop.

Here's another marker of the day - Mount Garfield enshrouded in low clouds. I still believe you can blink your eyes and it's never the same twice.

Adventures in toyland

This is the first big shipment of items for the online gift shop. It was also my first serious foray into non-tapir items. Until today, the gift shop has been about tapirs. Then what happened is, some of our tapirs came in sets with 11 other animals, such as a rainforest tube of plastic animals. What was I going to do with the 11 other animals when my gift shop was about tapirs? I was starting to accumulate jaguars, monkeys, and other critters, so I decided maybe it was OK for the tapir to have some friends. I started a "Tapir's Friends" gift shop separate from the tapir store and once that started to work, I delved into a vendor's catalog and came up with even more friends. It was scary (and fun), and here they are. Now the work starts to get them all online and see what happens!