100 Orphaned Beginnings.

So if I can write a blog every day -- sometimes more than one -- why can't I just go ahead and write fiction, too?

Well, the answer is, I can. I'm pretty sure I could write as many fictional words a day as I can blog words.

In fact, over the last 25 years, since I stopped writing fiction full-time, I've probably started 100 different stories, maybe more. Most of them may only go a page or two. Some are a full chapter -- I'd be willing to bet I've started at least 25 stories and gotten 3 or 4 chapters in. Maybe 8 or 10 that I've gotten even further.

None of them seemed strong enough to continue. There comes that moment when I can't just do it off the top of my head, anymore. That it requires what I used to have when I was writing full time -- the space and time and energy to really dwell in the fictional world and let my subconscious work out the problems.

A blog is a transitory thing. I go back and read past entries, and I find stupid mistakes and/or ways I could have said it better. But it's gone, like yesterday's news.

A novel -- or fictional story -- while it may be transitory to the average reader, for the writer needs to stand the test of time.

I can't know if the stories I started would have resulted in a good book -- I can't probably know until I'm halfway through.

So what really stopped me from fully committing, was the process of publishing itself. I got really tired of waiting a year for every submission. I got really tired of just missing because of timing, or because of my subject isn't in style, of my style isn't in style, or.....

It started to seem a little too arbitrary. A little too much hit and miss, luck, who you know.

I know, I know. The excuse of a writer who hasn't had enough gumption to keep trying.

But I've decided to try to pick up the pace of fictional writing -- and see if it leads anywhere. Maybe I'll start a blog and post them all; I'll call it:

100 Orphaned Stories.

Sat stats.

Sorry about the Shakespeare laden blog yesterday.

I googled to get one quote, and instead found quote after quote.

That Shakespeare is a pretty good writer. (I know, none of this is exactly a revelation.)

What kills me, is that so many of his best lines weren't created for the big "To be or not to be" type speeches, but are throwaway lines.

I suspect most modern writers would kill to have just one throwaway line become classic.

Maybe it's time to actually sit down and read Shakespeare straight through. Maybe I'm old enough to appreciate him. The language doesn't scare me as much as it used to. Maybe at 58 years old, I'm becoming about as smart as a smart 30 year old....maybe....

**********

Been gardening in 3 hour stretches. Which still make me more sore than I used to get. Mighty sore. (By the way, we got Mighty Thor #1 in this week, heh.)

As always, I'm amazed how much can be accomplished in that time span, once I get to work.

My plan this year was to start subdividing existing plants, and filling in the blank spots. Many of the original plants were placed too close to each other and need to be moved around anyway.

But, looking at some of the empty spaces, I think I need to let them lie fallow one more year so that I can be absolutely sure I've eliminated the weeds. I probably need more plants in the back, and I think I need more shrubs in front. And I need soil.

Some of the refuse piles I started a few years ago have become dirt, but not enough of it. I probably should just get a dumpload of dirt and another of manure. Put them over the current refuse pile, and kill two birds. (Speaking of birds, I'll have to make sure there isn't a quails nest -- I don't really want to KILL two birds.)

The architecture of my lot is such that I could have a spectacular garden someday. Little by little.

**********

I still have today to go, but it looks like this won't be the slowest month for Pegasus Books since the Great Recession started, but probably the second or third. The slowest was this January. So the trendlines aren't great.

But I'm talking about very small percentages, here. Less than 5% one way or the other.

What I find encouraging is that there seems to be a pretty solid floor, which is at or slightly above the baseline total I need to do a good job. I could survive at lower numbers, but it would be harder to have the kind of store I want.

My ideal total would be about 20% more than it is now. This was the goal I strove for throughout the 00's, and the store was well above it before the crash.

All in all, I'm feeling pretty good about it. The second half of the year is going to be better -- by failsafe.

Summer and Christmas.

The best thing I did was to lock into an automatic withdrawal for my savings -- so once I take care of that, all I need do is break even. This works so much better than the old idea of trying to save whatever was left over at the end of the month-- because of the way I spend, there was NEVER anything left over at the end of the month...

Hamlet : Tis a fault to heaven

"The devil hath power
To assume a pleasing shape."
- William Shakespeare, Hamlet, 2.2

I couldn't help it. The deals were too good. I had too much time on my hands.

The head is not more native to the heart."
- William Shakespeare, Hamlet, 1.2

I'll just count it as part of summer budget -- summer is coming, right?

"Neither a borrower nor a lender be;
For loan oft loses both itself and friend,
And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry."
- William Shakespeare, Hamlet, 1.3

Like I said, in the previous post, it takes a constant flow of cheaper material to make the cheaper material work.

And it just makes the store better.


"This above all: to thine own self be true,
And it must follow, as the night the day,
Thou canst not then be false to any man."
- William Shakespeare, Hamlet, 1.3

Hey, I'm showing faith in the store, and this was material that I needed for my store eventually.

"By indirections find directions out."
- William Shakespeare, Hamlet, 2.1

Even though this may be just about the slowest month of the recession.

Though this be madness, yet there is method in't."
- William Shakespeare, Hamlet, 2.2

But from now on, I shall order on best-selling material!

We go to gain a little patch of ground,
That hath in it no profit but the name."
- William Shakespeare, Hamlet, 4.4

Hamlet-y anguish.

With great Hamlet-y anguish, I have forgone the last three major bargains of the month.

The distributors, especially Diamond, have been hitting me with one deal after another. I don't mind stretching my budget, because my theory is -- if I keep buying at lower discounts, then eventually the lower discounts start having a real effect.

If I back off at any point, then that thread might get broken.

But I stretched and stretched the budget this month, and I cry uncle.

I assume that the pace of offers might slow down a bit, but I doubt they'll go away anytime soon.

So I'm preserving my budget in the last few days to see what we get offered next.

Upcoming flicks.

Was checking out Rotten Tomatoes and am amazed by the positive reviews some movies are getting.

Fast Five. 82%. --- Not really my kind of thing, except -- I like a good action flick and the reviews make this sound like something other than -- just -- noise.

Thor. 93% -- Well, the Australians really like this movie, so I guess we'll see if Americans like the same kind of movies...

The Beaver. 80%. -- I had no intention of watching this. It looked ridiculous. But apparently Gibson and Foster have pulled it off. Still have no intention of watching this.

Hobo with a Shotgun. 87%, -- A Snakes on a Plane title. But it sounds like gruesome fun.
I'll have to talk my wife into going. "No, really, honey. I'm sure it's a heartwarming drama.
The shotgun is probably just a metaphor...."

I think you might get away with this explanation once. After that, you'd be 'The boy who cried metaphor.'

Cave of Forgotten Dreams. 94%. -- If I had my druthers, this is the movie I'd see first. In 3-D.
I've always been fascinated by cave drawings. I had a print of a bison in my room when I was growing up. This really looks like a cool movie. But...foreign director; documentary. I hope it comes to Bend.

Dylan Dog. No reviews. -- Since it's opening this weekend, that's not a good sign. The trailers look pretty lame, which is a shame because it's based on a Euro comic.

Hey, you're a newspaper not a ticker....

The current Top 3 news stories on USA TODAY:

"Dozens of tornadoes kill 215 in in South."

"Dozens of tornadoes kill more than 250 in South."

"Dozens of tornadoes kill up nearly 250 in South."

As I was writing this, one of them changed to "nearly 270."

NOW you make this move?

So the latest news is that Barnes and Noble is supposed to start carrying monthly comics in a big way in June. (They've been carrying graphic novels for years now.)

This is obviously an attempt to piggyback on "Superhero Summer." Thor, Green Lantern, X-Men First Class, and Captain America are on schedule, to be followed by Avengers.

This assumes, of course, that the public will be inclined to buy comics because of the movies -- which is sort of doubtful. But I'm sure there will be some curious people, and there are people who would never wander into a comic store on a bet.

So the bright side of this is exposure.

Of which, I'm am doubtful as usual. Exposure doesn't mean a whole lot without intent or interest. But it's better than nothing.

Anyway, what I've always said is; comic are the one product that the mass market has never figured out how to sell. It's so specialized, that it's hard to know what numbers to order.

If -- and it's a big IF--they ever figured out HOW to sell monthly comics, the mass market could be a danger to us -- just as they have been in toys, games, cards, records, books, etc. etc.

As far as I can tell, they haven't actually figured out HOW to do it, but are just throwing comics on the wall. Much will depend on what kind of terms they got. If they can order tons of copies and return the unsold ones, then that could be a problem for me. I can't afford to over-order, because what I buy, I keep. It doesn't take a whole lot of extra comics to kill you. So -- I'm actually attempting to sell out every month on most comics.

Perfect ordering would be to have just enough to last the month on the popular titles, and maybe have one or two left. Perfect ordering would be to have just enough mid-list titles to sell out on the last day of the month. Perfect ordering would be getting just enough of the slower titles to satisfy demand.

The problem with Barnes and Noble's inevitable over-ordering will be that they'll have comics in stock past what most normal comic stores would dare. It may kill off their comic section, eventually, they may be bleeding money, but the customers don't know that.

If B & N get bailed out by Marvel or DC or Diamond, or whoever they have arrangements with, this could have an impact.

The other comic retailers over on the Comic Book Industry Alliance are almost completely dismissing the threat.

I'm not so sanguine. Like I said -- just ask indy bookstores or indy record stores if the mass market was a challenging competitor.

One retailer assured me that comic publishers were "too smart" to allows returns. That allowing returns would kill them. Well, we don't really know how "smart" they are, or maybe, how desperate. They may be willing to take the gamble. They may think they have figured out safeguards. (For instance, adjusting the discount rate.)

I guess after watching the smart MBA grads at the book publishers and game producers and card makers make one stupid, short-sighted decision after another, I don't have quite as much faith in the "smartness" of ANY corporate entity.

One thing's for sure -- SOMEONE is going to eat a bunch of extra and damaged comics.

I used to go into Waldenbooks, and the comics would be thrashed. They'd be in the corner, and it was obvious that no one cared about them. Customers pick up that attitude.

But we don't know that that will happen this time. Maybe they are under instructions to put comics front and center. Maybe they have a new genius ordering manager. Or some new algorithm that has totally sussed it out.

So, I'll be keeping a wary eye.

I think, like I said at the beginning, that this is an attempt to tap into the popular consciousness. The problem with that, is that once ensconced, comics may stay there. (I've noticed that no matter how bad a something declines, once in the mass market, they tend to stay there...)

It may even be a sign of desperation on the part of B & N.

I'm surprised, actually, that both the publishers and the mass market decided that now was the time to try this.

We'll see.

Qwest ain't the best.

Way back when I first connected to the internet at my store, Qwest had an offer of: "Sign up now and get this price forever."

I was told a couple of years ago, by a customer, that almost no one had that service anymore.

Yesterday I got a call from a Qwest guy. After hanging up on him, as usual, he called back and told me he wasn't trying to sell me anything.

"That's what they all say." But since he took the step of calling back, which never happens, I listened.

Turns out they were canceling my service because they "no longer had a contract with the company."

"Yes, but you have a contract with ME. And the agreement was that I would get this service at this price as long as I needed it."

"I can't do anything about that," he said. "Do you want the new service or not?"

"Do you know you work for a scumbag company?"

End of conversation.

So I may not have internet service as of the first of May at the store. I'll get something new, I suppose, but I'm so sick of the companies unilaterally pulling the rug out from under me that I can't even think about it.

Of course, the new service will cost more.

The Balls.

I really do try to stay away from politics.

But the balls of the following statement (from USA TODAY) had me spitting up my coffee.

"Meanwhile, Republican National Chairman Reince Priebus called the issue "a distraction" but seemed to blame Obama for the furor. "Unfortunately his campaign politics and talk about birth certificates is distracting him from our number one priority — our economy."

Oh, yeah. It was Obama's "talk about birth certificates."

Have these people no shame?

Peaceful blogging.

I have to admit, I've been a little surprised that I've not been attacked more often. I've heard many horror stories from other bloggers. So either I have a thicker skin than others, or I've escaped the worst.

I post something everyday. I'm pretty sure not everyone likes what I'm saying. I've gotten the impression that some Downtowners don't like my blog -- but I've also got the feeling that those not liking my blog often haven't actually read it. (A strange phenomenon that; I've seen it in my business over the years -- people believe what someone says instead of coming in and checking it out themselves.)

Anyway, I learned early on, that I need to stick to a subject -- and not personalities. I have to remember that if I post a name, there is a chance that the owner of that name will find out and read what I say. This blog has taught me that I don't have all the information to make judgments, so my opinions are always couched in the language of "I could be wrong about this, but this is what I think..."

I have no desire to make people feel bad.

So I try to stick to issues, not personalities.

I've tried to stay away from politics, except in the most general way.

I'll state that I'm a pragmatic liberal; and some of my best friends are conservative. But I don't think I can change anyone's political leanings one way or the other.

I don't respond to what mild attacks and disparagement's I have received, but instead try to deflect them.

Even when I'm feeling outraged, I find that using over-the-top language, while fun and attention getting, tends to lose the point of the argument. In other words, if you say something in a reasoned and un-attacking tone, just about anything can be addressed.

Because it's my blog, I figure if anyone becomes too aggressive or nasty, I can delete and ignore. I haven't had to do this but a handful of times.

Usually -- you know who. Buster amuses me, and he does say some very pertinent things. I try not to take offense -- but I wish he wouldn't personally attack others. I've let some attacks against Bruce, and Hollern, and Moss, and so on go; with a bit of a cringe, and thinking they are big boys and girls, and hoping they don't think it's me agreeing with those things.

I've tried not to comment on other people's blogs. I think everyone and anyone should able to say anything and everything they want. I may not be as intrigued and interested in Basset hounds, for instance, as some other blogger, but that's neither here nor there.

There is no reason why a blog can't be pertinent and pointed -- but at the same time calm and reasoned.

By the way, this entry isn't an invitation to start attacking. Just a kind of gratitude that that hasn't happened much.

Downtown Comings and Goings.

Hey, I like scooping the news as much as the next guy. I new about the new yogurt place last week, however all I could glean from my 'scout' was Bend Frozen Yogurt, and I knew that couldn't be right.

Anyway, according to the Bulletin this morning, it's called Bend Yogurt Factory. It's going into the Di Lusso Bakery space.

NEW BUSINESSES DOWNTOWN

Bend Yogurt Factory, Franklin/Bond, 4/26/11.
High Desert Lotus, Bond St. , 4/4/11.
Tryst, Franklin Ave., 3/11/11. (Formerly Maryjanes, **Moved**).
D'Vine, Wall St. , 2/9/11.
Let it Ride!, Bond St., 1/29/11.
Gatsby's Brasserie Bar, Minnesota Ave., 1/8/11
Tres Jolie, Wall St., 12/20/10.
Caldera Grill, Bond St., 12/7/10
Bond Street Grill, 12/7/10.
Perspective(s), Minnesota Ave., 11/20/10
Toth Art Collective, Bond St. 11/20/10
Boken, Breezeway, 11/20/10
Dalia and Emilia, Wall St., 10/3/10.
Antiquarian Books, Bond St., 10/3/10.
Giddyup, Minnesota Ave., 10/3/10.
The Closet, Minnesota Ave., 8/11/10.
Showcase Hats, Oregon Ave., 8/11/10,
Red Chair Art Gallery, Oregon Ave. 7/13/10.
Earth Sense Herbs, Penny's Galleria, 7/12/10.
Mad Happy Lounge, Brooks St., 6/2910
Common Table, Oregon Ave. , 6/29/10.
Looney Bean Coffee, Brooks St. , 6/29/10.
Bourbon Street, Minnesota Ave., 6/22/10
Feather's Edge, Minnesota Ave., 6/22/10
The BLVD., Wall St. , 6/13/10.
Volt, Minnesota Ave. 6/1/10.
Tart, Minnesota Ave. , 5/13/10
Olivia Hunter, Wall St. 4/5/10.
Tres Chic, Bond St. 4/5/10
Blue Star Salon, Wall St. 4/1/10.
Lululemon, Bond St. 3/31/10.
Diana's Jewel Box, Minnesota Ave., 3/25/10.
Amalia's, Wall St. (Ciao Mambo space), 3/12/10
River Bend Fine Art, Bond St. (Kebanu space) 2/23/10
Federal Express, Oregon Ave. 2/1/10
***10 Below, Minnesota Ave. 1/10/10
Tew Boots Gallery, Bond St. 1/8/10.
Top Leaf Mate, 12/10/09
Laughing Girls Studio, Minnesota Ave. 12/7/09
Lemon Drop, 5 Minnesota Ave., 11/12/09
The Curiosity Shoppe, 25 N.W. Minnesota Ave, Suite #7. 11/5/09
Wabi Sabi 11/4/09 (**Moved, Wall St.**)
Frugal Boutique 11/4/09
5 Spice 10/22/09
Cowgirls Cash 10/17/09
***Haven Home 10/17/09
Dog Patch 10/17/09
The Good Drop 10/12/09
Lola's 9/23/09
**Volcano Wines 9/15/09
Singing Sparrow Flowers 8/16/09
Northwest Home Interiors 8/5/09
High Desert Frameworks 7/23/09 (*Moved to Oregon Ave. 4/5/10.)
Wall Street Gifts 7/--/09
Ina Louise 7/14/09
Bend Home Hardware (Homestyle Hardware?) 7/1/09
Altera Real Estate 6/9/09
Honey 6/7/09
Azura Studio 6/7/09
Mary Jane's 6/1/09
c.c.McKenzie 6/1/09
Velvet 5/28/09
Bella Moda 3/25/09
High Desert Gallery (Bend) 3/25/09
Joolz
Zydeco
900 Wall
Great Outdoor Store
Luxe Home Interiors
Powell's Candy
Dudley's Used Books and Coffee
Goldsmith
Game Domain
Subway Sandwiches
Bend Burger Company
Showcase Hats
Pita Pit
Happy Nails
(Fall, 2008 or so).

BUSINESSES LEAVING

Donner's Flowers, Wall St. 3/11/11. (**Moved out of downtown**)
Maryjanes, Wall St. , 3/11/11. (new name, Tryst, moved to Franklin.).
Di Lusso, Franklin/Bond, 2/9/11.
Earth Sense Herbs, Penny's Galleria, 1/2/11
Marz Bistro, Minnesota Av., 12/20/10.
The Decoy, Bond St., 12/7/10.
Giuseppe's, Bond St., 12/1/10.
Ina Louise, Minnesota Ave., 11/3/10.
Laughing Girl Studios, 10/21/10
Dolce Vita, Bond St, 10/21/10
Diana's Jewell Box, Minnesota Ave., 10/15/10.
Lola's, Breezeway, 10/8/10.
Oxygen Tattoo, Bond St., 10/3/10.
Great Outdoor Clothing, Wall St., 10/3/10.
Volcano Vineyards, Minnesota Ave., 10/3/10.
Subway Sandwiches, Bond St. 9/2/10.
Old Bend Distillery, Brooks St., 6/19/10.
Staccato, Minnesota Ave. 6/18/10.
Showcase Hats, Minnesota Ave., 6/1/10 (Moved to Oregon Ave., 8/10/11.)
Cork, Oregon Ave., 5/27/10.
Wall Street Gifts, 5/26/10
Microsphere, Wall St. , 5/17/10.
Singing Sparrow, Franklin and Bond, 5/15/10
28, Minnesota Ave. and Bond, 5/13/10.
Glass Symphony, Wall St., 3/25/10
Bend Home Hardware, Minnesota Ave, 2/25/10
Ciao Mambo, Wall St. 2/4/10
***Angel Kisses 1/25/10 (Have moved to 'Honey.')
Ivy Rose Manor 8/20/09
***Downtowner 8/18/09 (moving into the Summit location)
Chocolate e Gateaux 8/16/09
Finders Keepers 8/15/09
Colourstone 7/25/09
Periwinkle 6/--/09
***Tangerine 7/21/09 (Got word, they are moving across the street.)
Micheal Cassidy Gallery 6/15/09
St. Claire Coffee 6/15/09
Luxe Home Interiors 6/4/09
Treefort 5/8/09
Blue 5/2/09
***Volcano Tasting Room 4/28/09** Moved to Minnesota Ave.
Habit 4/16/09
Mountain Comfort 4/14/09
Tetherow Property 4/11/09
Blue Moon Marketplace 3/25/09
Plenty 3/25/09
Downtown Doggie 3/25/09
***King of Sole (became Mary Janes)**
Santee Alley
Bistro Corlise
Made in Hawaii
EnVogue
Stewart Weinmann (leather)
Kebanu Gallery
Pella Doors and Windows
Olive company
Pink Frog
Little Italy
Deep
Merenda's
Volo
***Pomegranate (downtown branch)**
Norwalk
Pronghorn Real Estate office.
Speedshop Deli
Paper Place
Bluefish Bistro
(Fall, 2008 or so.)

5-year cycle?

I think there is like a five year institutional memory around here; new reporters, new city officials, new businesses, new customers.

New residents. The Bulletin published a truly astonishing stat about mid-way through the bubble, that 75% of the population of Bend had been here less than five years.

I've often said; I think the first couple of waves of immigrants to Bend adapted to Bend culture, took a look around before trying to change it all -- there were the occasional big shots who came to town to "Show Us" local yokels how it should be done, but they almost always crashed and burned. But most of them moved here because they liked the way it was, and settled in.

The last and biggest wave --was a whole nother breed. They seemed intent on changing Bend into what they had escaped. "OH, thank God, we FINALLY have a Pier One!"

Plus, they had no problem trying to change Bend without understanding the underpinnings. We aren't Portland, or even Eugene or Salem or Medford. We're isolated, we don't have a true 4 year college, we don't have an interstate, and we don't have a surviving native industry --

We have tourism, which is "the minimum wage" for most workers.

It also explained why my longevity in business didn't count for much, and why I would constantly get the remark "I didn't know you existed."

Ironically, about mid-1995, just about every local seemed to know about us -- and 15 years later, very few did.

Pardon me, if I feel the fault is on the part of the newcomers for not looking around. Not settling in. Trying to "improve" everything, without understanding anything.

They liked Bend, and then they changed it.

I could wish they hadn't been so -- I don't know, arrogant. I wish they had just settled in.

Instead of just stomping on the local ethos.

Green Madness.

Here we go again.

Like clockwork, every five years or so someone gets the brilliant idea of closing off the downtown streets.

Hell, I remember my best friend in high school, Wes Hare, who is now city manager of Albany, being part of a study that looked at a "downtown mall" idea back around 1970! (They concluded, if I remember rightly, that it might not be a great idea.)

Around 1985, just after I bought Pegasus Books, there was another sustained movement to close the streets. The "old reprobates" as I called them -- the shoe repair shop next to me, the barber shop across the street --- thought this was a horrible idea. I didn't know. It sounded kind of cool, except I remembered what Wes had said. Again, it didn't happen.

Eugene and Coos Bay both struggled with downtown malls.

As the years went by, not only did I conclude this would be horrible idea -- but I began to dislike even the weekend street closures, for festivals and such. It always seemed to hurt my business, and I saw NO evidence it created future customers. I just don't buy the notion anymore.

What happens, I think, is that you have a strong lobby for street closure -- the event planners, the media, a few stores who benefit, the vendors, the downtown organization whose reason for being is to create such events, and most importantly, the public itself.

Against that, you have a very weak opposition. You've got a downtown full of one third newbies, one third paying no attention, and the last third split between the few retailers who actively dislike these events and those who love these events.

At one point, the city council passed a limit -- but like all limits, there have been a number of loopholes and exceptions. Night events become all day events (Twilight Criterion); informal parades become official parades (Earth Day) and so on. Plus, since there are a limited number of events, they began to cluster around the "Core Weekends", as I call them; the busiest weekends of summer (which ironically would be packed with customers if left alone...)

I've given up, except for what H.Bruce Miller calls my "yearly rant" on this blog. The idea of closing streets sounds like a great idea -- on the surface.

So, today's Bulletin: "Downtown Bend, But Better." Another street closure idea, this time in service to the "Green."

Better for who? I can say right now, it wouldn't be better for my business. In fact, I wouldn't stick around. Period.

You know all those difficulties they have down by the river park? Just multiply that for the rest of downtown. You know that sense of busyness you get when you go downtown? That would be replaced by a few pedestrians -- who even if they equaled the actual number of shoppers would FEEL like much, much less.

It would be a pretty but static picture, when we need an interactive video game. (Cars create a sense of movement, folks. Parking, bustling. Don't underestimate it.)

Parking? Come on. The parking garage is almost never full-- in fact, if you're willing to walk one or two levels, NEVER full. It's no further to walk than most malls. But even there -- if people are balking at parking in the garage now, isn't that just a warning to all of us as to what would happen if they forced people to park outside the zone? Too busy? Isn't that like what Yogi Berra said about a restaurant? "No one goes there anymore, it's too busy...."

I want casual shoppers, people who drop by for 10 minutes, or 20 minutes. Not people who make a day trip of it.

On my travels, the best downtowns I've seen are Ashland and Bend, and neither have closed off the streets. I've seen dead downtowns which were turned into very pretty but very stale and sterile cityscapes.

This is like very expensive and dangerous plastic surgery, that could turn out very badly.

Downtown Bend is vibrant. It has very low vacancy rates. Don't mess with what works, dammit.

I don't suppose I really have much to worry about -- where's the money? Nor could they put these plans in place before I finish my career. (Greenwood closed off? Mercy me.)

I think these people need to look at some of the more recent studies of vibrant downtowns. I believe there is a consensus now that having a mix of businesses is best, having arteries is best.
Having a few older buildings isn't all bad. Having a few funky businesses just adds to the flavor.

It's like, since Juniper Ridge has been such a roaring success, they've decided that more pie in the sky plans are needed. More millions spent.

Hell, they can't even fix the potholes.

Contemplating the N.Y. Times again.

I don't know why I feel guilty when I spend the better part of the afternoon reading the New York Times.

It's surplus info, really.

Maybe it's sitting on the couch, on a nice day; I can hear my Mom's voice -- "Get outside and do something!"

**********

Speaking of guilty, they published some spring poems, each of which had a line I underlined:

"pride greed wrath sloth lust a list compiled by a parent always needing something to forgive you for..." Privet Hedge, Ellen Bryant Voigt.

Or this, about allergies:

"Riven & sweltering & swelling, they come into the body's sad lake, its blue bag of steam."
Allergenesis, Kiki Petrosino

And this, about a songbird:

"And he wouldn't work harder at his song,
if all the world prized it,
nor temper what sounds like ardor
if a public though him wrong."
The Word From His Song, Li-Young Lee


**********

I've noticed, I read the first section of the N.Y. Times last, because it seem the least useful to me these days.

The first section is mostly topical news.

Heh.

I get most of that news online, these days.

The newspaper really serves as more of magazine; more in-depth article and stories.

********

The Times also has more than it's share of puff pieces. The fashion news mostly leaves me cold, except to look quizzically at the bizarre clothing that no human would wear outside of 5th Avenue.

The Business section always has a couple of interview-the-C.E.O. columns which are totally useless. (I don't think any C.E.O. knows how to talk anything but useless generalities, jargon, and New-age businessspeak. Candor? Revealing? Forget about it.)

**********

Strangely, it's the only newspaper sports page I'm currently reading. Probably because it is more like the above mentioned magazine, than a simple recording of games and results.

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Even applying myself, I can't read the whole paper in one day, so I hold back my favorites; the Book Review and the Magazine, to savor later.

***********

Hey, if I'm going to spend hours reading the damn thing, it has to be blog fodder!

The Bicycle Pub and other oddities.

Have you seen the Bicycle Pub?

Weird looking thing. Those people are really peddling away.

Really working for their beer. They look a little like galley slaves.

It seems totally unappealing to me.

I doubt the wisdom of it.

Last time I exercised and drank at the same time, I threw up.

**********

Put the book "SALE" table out on the sidewalk. .50 for paperbacks, 1.00 for hardcovers.

I can already see that it is pulling people into the store.

Need to remind my employees to point out the other used books inside the store to these people...

**********

Did my first gardening yesterday.

I want to ease into it this year, so I don't burn out, so I did only a couple hours. As I was coming in, my cat was going out.

So I went back out and did another hour outside while she meandered around the garden and Panga and I bumped heads. She loves it when we're outside.

Saw a quail pair acting peculiarly around the brush pile. I suspect they have a nest, but I didn't go look. I'm pretty sure they'll be safer there than they were in the front of the house a couple years ago.

**********

5 "Most Popular" stories this morning on USA TODAY:

1.) Was Emma Watson Bullied out of Brown?
2.) Kate Hudson Hates Her New Big Breasts.
3.) Lindsay Lohan Released From Jail.
4.) They're Not Guys; New Gear For Female Soldiers.
5.) Pattinson's No Longer In the Twilight Zone.

We are a shallow people.

Only one of those stories really seems to matter.

Yep, Kate Hudson's Hateful Big New Breasts.

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Super Hero Summer.

I just now beginning to realize how much I'm going to be talking about Super Hero's this summer.

Thor.
Green Lantern.
Captain America.

I feel like I'm missing one.

Anyway, most everyone in the door will be wanting to talk about these movies -- which I can understand, but boy, it'll start repeating itself pretty quickly.

Oh, well. Maybe a few new customers will pick up a graphic novel.

I've got a huge stack of Thor graphic novels, and a stack of Green Lantern, but none of them are one to one with the movies. There isn't a "Go To" storyline, as there was with The Watchmen, or Scott Pilgrim, or Hellboy.

I'm going to try to be open, but realistic.

I once figured out if like one half of 1% of the opening weekend movie goers bought that month's comic, sales would double...

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"Putting on the Clown Suit."

There is an extensive interview of three comic retailers over on Comic Book Resources , in which one of the retailers says about digital comics: "Only a fool ignores a tsunami."

O.K.

Whatever.

I don't quite believe it. I think it is vast overstatement.

Especially this comment:

"It’s the difference between radio and television. And it’s here. Think about that. Print comics are radio. Digital comics are TV."

Oh, come on.

I just deep down don't buy the idea. In fact, I've been arguing the opposite. That digital can't replace the tactile experience of reading books and comics. (I won't go into all the reasons here; I've stated them over and over again.)

But with the realization that I could be wrong -- with the understanding that I have been wrong in the past with the advent of new technology...well......

...if I'm wrong, I'm near enough to the end of my career, that I can bail if I need to. ( A nice luxury that.)

Personally, I think there will be room for the old-fashioned bookstore, and the old-fashioned comic store, and the old-fashioned game store, and the old-fashioned record store --- not a whole lot of them but maybe one per town. And ironically, that one store may survive because the big boys -- the Blockbusters and the Borders and the Barnes & Nobles and the Best Buys crumble, leaving the field to those who remain faithful.

I mean to be that one store.

I call it "Making a virtue of necessity."

I've been hearing the opposite thing for the last 10 to 15 years. The internet is the answer. Having promotions is the answer. Outreach, advertising, special events....any and every harebrained idea, everything but, you know........... being a store.

A store. Selling product. (Book-books). Displaying and servicing and being knowledgeable about product. You know, all that boring stuff.

Take care of the basics. Have the product. Have enough, but not too much of the product. Display it nicely. Make sure you buy at as cheap of prices as possible, and sell for the best price possible. Know your product. Interact with the customer. Greet them when they come in the store. Make sure you keep regular hours. And so on.

No, we're doomed if we don't have a circus in front of our store every summer weekend.

I call it "Putting on the Clown Suit."

Hey, you know that girl with the guitar sign on the corner of 3rd Street and Wilson? It may be that all her dancing is effective -- but, really, is it worth it?

So I will reside in my dignity and look people in the eye and say, "We sell books. We sell comics. We sell games and toys and cards and DVD's. We don't discount. We don't sell online. We don't sell coffee and no, you can't sit at a table and play games all day, or lay on the couch and snore with a opened book over your eyes...."

We don't do anything but be a store. A real store, you know, with product....

I'm pretty used to the fact that the vast, vast majority of people don't know about my store. Despite having been in the same damn location for nearly 30 years. Despite having the same smiley (?) face behind the counter. Despite diligently doing my job.

I'm used to the fact that the vast, vast majority of people walk past my store.

I'm used to the fact that of those who do wander in my store, most don't buy much if anything.

So what else is new?

What I don't buy is that "Putting on the Clown Suit" will change the fundamental nature of that fact.

Here's what's kind of funny to me.

Most of those store owners who ARE interviewed about "Putting one the Clown Suit" appear to be way more worried about the future than I am. And what is also funny is all the stores that have come and gone in the last decade or so proclaiming to the high heavens that the way to survive is to promote, promote, promote.

And most of them are gone. Gone....and I'll bet you anything, they are still thinking probably that they didn't promote enough...

Maybe not funny. More sad.

I'd love for more people to know about my store.

I'd love for more people to walk into my store.

I'd love for more people to buy once they are in my store.

But I don't believe that "Putting on the Clown Suit" will accomplish that.

My longevity and viability and satisfaction in my store, bear that out, I think.

And like I said, I'm near enough to the end of my career that I can bail out if I have to. But I really believe that won't be necessary. I'll watch the circus outside my store and on the internet and shake my head and just keep on doing my thing...


So I will reside in my dignity and look people in the eye and say, "We sell books."

"Oh I used to be disgusted..."

"Oh i used to be disgusted
And now i try to be amused.
But since their wings have got rusted,
You know, the angels wanna wear my red shoes."

I totally have a hankering for Elvis Costello, My Aim is True era. And London Calling , The Clash. I wonder if Ranch Records has them in stock as CD's?

Called them, and they had both. Gave them my credit card number and asked them to deliver.

Hey, it's only a block away, you know. Shop local. Get it now. See the smile.

**********

My friend Clint came in to the store yesterday, and had a list of comics he had downloaded from a site called ifanboy.com. Turns out, they have short fan reviews, and comments on each title, and it made him interested in several he hadn't tried before.

After he left, I got to thinking. This is the KIND of promotion I wish I could do if I was more tech savvy and had more time.

Then again, why reinvent the wheel?

I'm sure both ifanboy and I would benefit if I tried pointing all my customers in that direction. The site doesn't seem too obnoxious about selling comics; though they do have ads from Amazon. Then again, I don't think Amazon or online buying is a secret nowadays, and I figure my customers are comfortable buying comics from me. So I'll chance it.

I think I'm going to try to make a point of telling every single regular about the site. Hell, it would be better than me doing it, because a third party always has more credibility.

So going to try that.

I'll leave the "Weekly Review" page on my store computer to show people, and then give them each a Pegasus Books business card, with the website address on the back. So's I won't sound obnoxious and repeat myself too much, I'll reach for the card and say, "Have I given you my business card yet?" If they say no, then I'll tell them about ifanboy.com.

Thing that has always been difficult here, it getting people aware of the new comics -- they mostly feel overwhelmed, so when I try to show them, they usually back away. This would be less threatening, I think.

And if each customer got interested in just a couple of new titles on average, it would have a dramatic effect on sales.

(Further refinement, write my blog title on the back of each card, and tell people about it, and tell them they can connect to my Pegasus Books site as well. Simple stuff I haven't done.)

**********

Whenever I get an idea like this -- or something new needs to happen at the store-- or I need to remind my employees of something, it's been a difficult task to know what I told to who.

So I've started writing these down on a piece of paper, with the names of Matt, Jasper and Cameron on the top. And as each is told, I put a checkmark next to their name. A simple thing, that seems to be working.

These are the kinds of refinements to business that I simply wasn't doing over the last decade because most of my attention and focus was on getting inventory in the store, and debt out of my bank accounts. Now that that is done, I feel more comfortable trying to work on things like efficiency and saving on discount levels and postage and stuff like that.

I dont' want to complicate things, though. I feel it's important to be simple and focused on the task of selling product to customers. I've seen too many small businesses get distracted by procedural stuff, the stuff that happens BEHIND the counter instead of IN FRONT of the counter.

So, as long as it's simple and effective, I'll be trying some of these things.

**********

The Human Cost.

The Bulletin this morning had a startling statistic: there were four suicides last month in Bend.

Now, I don't know how many of these suicides can be attributed to the economy, but chances are -- it doesn't help to be young and unemployed and hopeless or old and unemployed and losing your house.

We know that the horrible murder/suicide lately in the news might be traced back to day trading and the loss of the retirement nest-egg.

Compare that the high flying stock market, and multi-million dollar bonuses, and the upbeat news, and the hopeful new businesses and you'd think we were pulling out of this thing.

Yesterday's article in the Bulletin about housing starts, trumpeted a 45% increase in the first quarter of 2010. Which, if you read a little closer, is an increase of 31. Total building works out to about 33 per month -- which is still a bare fraction of the number during the housing boom.

I appreciated that the article included the caveats that I always try to point out: "Much of the recent home building has occurred in developments under way when the economy imploded in late 2008. Permits, or plans, for some had previously been approved..."

I know in my own business that it isn't always the best plan in the face of a downturn to keep cutting and cutting -- sometimes you have to buy and improve just to show you're still in the game, to make a point, to try to interest people in the "new."

In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if it isn't easier to sell a newly built house than a new house that has been sitting on the market for over a year. (Sort of like, I suspect it's easier for a newly unemployed person to find a job than one who has been sitting on the couch for over a year.)

It's as much psychology as it is real need for more houses. That and finishing up the job that you've already paid and been approved for...

I was talking to an older man from Sisters who had lost his house. He had bought at the absolute peak, but figured he could always get his money back "even if the house drops in half." (Boy, does that sound familiar -- it was my constant refrain during the first couple of business bubbles -- "We'll be all right, even if it drops in half.")

This man had been a professional, and had earned a good income through his life, and it was all gone.

Both Linda and I have had pretty slow months. It just doesn't feel like people are in the mood to spend money right now. I've got some hopes for summer, which is getting closer and closer, because I do believe other parts of the state and country are doing better than we are, and tourists might be willing to spend money.

Anyway, my overall feeling is -- despite all you hear or read, that Bend hasn't really started a recovery yet. We're really lucky that people still want to move here and still want to start businesses -- but that is only making the hole smaller, not disappearing the hole.

Thursday threads.

Real snow on April 21. I expect a Bend Sux column today.

To newcomers to the area: this can be a dangerous time of year. When my son was in college, two of his friends asked him to go hiking with him. He couldn't go with them. The two got caught in a sudden blizzard and one of them died from hypothermia.

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In a tangential way, Sandy Meyers sounds like another victim of the economy. Her husband was involved in "day trading" and had "substantial" losses. But it's on his head. Money is only money.

I think the police are trying to cover their asses about the body location. The family members found the body through information "given to them by police."

Right.

Cause the police would never think to check the backyard.

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This is so apropos to my comments about fantasy and comics credibility, that I have to post. N.Y. Time Sunday Magazine, 4/18/11:

"Every would-be writer needs comic books. I certainly did. I can still vividly recall my discovery of comic books, followed closely by the revelation that this reading stuff was actually good for something. Because comics had it all over Readers. Comic books had pictures, and so did Readers, bu in comic-book pictures somebody was flying or punching somebody, while in my Reader little Sally was crying about her little read boat.

Even in my prepubescent days I had this vague feeling that Wonder Woman had it all over Jane, although I couldn't put my finger on the reason. I did know that watching Spot run was a real drag, when I could watch Krypto the Superdog fly instead. And I knew that if they ever met, Krypto would bite Spot's head off.

So I read every comic I could get my hands on, and my reading got better and better. My teachers soon began to marvel that I read with such "expression," while the read of my class read....like....this. I knew the reason. You need a lot more expression for, "Aha, Superman, now my red kryptonite will turn you into a BOILED EGG!" than you do for "See Spot run. Run, Spot, run." So the schools don't do it.

Remember comic books. Maybe your kid won't be as quick as I was, and regular comic books won't do, but even that's no problem in this day and age. There's always the undergrounds. "Tales of the Leather Nun" should do it every time.

"Adapted from a speech delivered by George R.R. Martin at Ambercon 3 in Wichita, Kan., on May 31, 1981."

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I've decided not to say anything about our new esteemed district attorney. He sounds like the kind of guy who might decide to retaliate.

But I will say this. To the Bulletin:

Couldn't you have come up with all this revealing information BEFORE the election? Instead of spending the previous years tearing down Dugan and then giving him a lukewarm endorsement?

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I hope Utterly Boring won't mind me stealing his blog entry yesterday in it's entirety. Too funny to pass up:

Was This A Cow Suicide Mission?

Was the cow out there fighting back, or was this just an accident? You be the judge:

MADRAS, Ore. -- A truck hauling frozen beef struck and killed a cow on Highway 97 north of Madras Tuesday night, triggering a fiery crash that caused no injuries but destroyed the rig, damaged the trailer, sideswiped another truck and shut the road for four hours, Oregon State Police reported.

The cow's mission wasn't accomplished, as the frozen beef was moved to another trailer.

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A visit from a rep. Finally.

After 20 years, I finally got a visit from a Diamond rep.

Heck, I understood why they had never visited. A three and half hour drive over the mountains, and then a three and half hour drive back -- or even further in this case to the next store.

Tim e-mailed me he was coming, and said, "I've always wanted to visit Southwest Oregon."

Well, that stopped me. I wondered if he knew just how bloody big eastern Oregon is, and....well....how far it was from S.E. Or.

"Ummmm.....you realize that Bend is in Eastern Oregon, right? Toward the Central part of the state?"

"Oh...right... Well, after visiting your store, I'm heading south to Klamath Falls and Grants Pass and on to Ashland and then to North Bend."

I thought to myself, I hope he realizes that's a mammoth drive.

Anyway, he showed up right on time on Tuesday. And I gave him an extensive tour of my store.

I'm very proud of my store, and I don't get a chance to show it to people who have seen lots of other stores and can give me an appraisal.

Diamond has a feature on their website called, "From the Road," where they do a short interview with the owner and show six pictures of each profiled store. ( I'm not sure if the feature is available to guests.) One of the questions was, "How big is the store?" and when I told him it was 1000 sq. ft., he said, "NO.....that can't be right. Wow. You really have packed in the merchandise...."

I bought some pizza slices from Pizza Mondo for me and Cameron and Tim, and we had a nice long talk. He said is wife had been jealous that he was coming to Bend, because she had heard good things about it. "But since she just got back from Jamaica, I didn't feel too sorry for her..."

Tim had analyzed my orders, and had a list of suggestions. Plus product that was on Sale. I ordered some stuff, because I think this rep program is important. Diamond really needs some people out there on the ground to observe what's happening....

Turns out, he was going to stay overnight in Klamath Falls before he continued his trip.

Anyway, it was a pleasant visit and I think he was impressed. "People ask me all the time what my favorite stores are, and I have a new one to add to my list."

Awwww. I bet he says that to all the stores.