Sherman 'n Deering

I make jokes about living where I do. Portland, Maine is a quaint city by most standards and has many small-town attributes in its favor. When I moved to this neighborhood that was all I could see. In the following months it showed me a different face.

Drug dealers would hang out on stoops under fluorescent lighting, cars would slow at night as they passed me walking- thinking I might be on the clock, I even started noticing that the street wasn't being cleaned on "street-cleaning" days. I let all of this fall into the background, choosing my choice apartment at an affordable rate to occupy my thoughts in its stead.

Then one night I awoke to the sound of a car horn. Not just a "beepbeep" from an impatient taxi, but one very long beep. Too long. To those of you who know me, know that I am talking about the time my little Honda was burnt to a crisp by some punk kid.

It was an upsetting experience to say the least. I considered moving. My neighbors considered moving. The people that lived in the house next door didn't get to make that choice, they moved. Yet here I am today, still living in the same apartment. I might even love my apartment even more now, after all that we have been through...

Really though, watching the neighborhood come together on that night opened my eyes to the reality of living in a so-called "bad neighborhood." We stick together. Cheesy, I know, but true just the same. My favorite time is just after a snow storm. Everyone comes out bundled up and with shovels to start on their own car, but before we go inside we've uncovered at least one additional car and usually pushed a few others out of spinning situations. The neighborhood unites behind a common cause, turning snow storms into a community activity.

But my most favorite thing of all is my neighbor across the way. I don't know his name, but I do know that he has bad allergies in the summer. I hear him blowing his nose all the time. Once, he helped me figure out how to use a gas can. And he has two cats. One is obese and orange. I just learned that all orange cats are male. The other is called the mirror cat. It sits on the window ledge directly across from my bedroom and looks exactly like my cat Bogart. Sometimes Bogart sees it and cranes his neck with curiosity. I would too.

I love where I live.

Funding is Fun!

Dear Readers,

You all know where I am coming from. A former student of design, a current student of entrepreneurship; with an established esthetic and a BIG dream. I want you to know there are no expectations here- but if you got it, by all means give it! Thank you in advance, dear reader, your cause is worthy and good.

Don't mind if I do!

Are they not just so lovely?

Championing my Cause

So, I'm on craigslist today, as usual, and I figured, "why not..."

And did something silly and desperate.

On a separate note, my new camera is waiting for me at the UPS holding cell. Then I will start doing a better job visually documenting this life I am living and really beef up my etsy shop.

More to come!!

Happy, Hopeful Hunting

While I might not be in the best position to be investment property prospecting, it seems something has come knocking at my metaphorical door. Tomorrow I am trekking down to the Greater Portland Landmarks' Library to dig up some history on this magnificent edifice.
Zarra and I checked it out yesterday. Built in 1890 by two esteemed Portland architects, it has four 1-bedroom units, four studios, and one large retail space. Holy crap. Did I mention I plan on opening a shop? Investors unite, I give you this common cause.

Here and Now

After many months of wasting my days I started school full time last week. When I quit Goodwill I had the best intentions of starting an Etsy store and accomplishing all kinds of things with my free time. Instead I knit, watched tv series, and snuggled with my cats. My knitting has come a long way...
That wasn't really what I was looking to accomplish.

So now I am making big with the changes. Three classes at SMCC, three times a week, and one class at MECA once a week. I'm working on an Entrepreneurship and Small Business Ownership Associates Certificate. Woo.Wee. As far as degrees are concerned I see this clearly is lacking in ambition, however; I love it and am pretty darn passionate about it.

"But, Lucy..." you may ask, "what are you planning to do with that Associates Certificate anyway?"

A valid curiosity.

To whit I reply, "Open a shop."

So, if you need to throw copious amounts of money at something- by all means look to me for the catching of it. Shops don't open themselves. And I want a Volvo. I'll need it. For the shop...