What happened?

Many things happen in your life that you never knew would ever happen. That promotion at work, that hot piece of ass at the bar you somehow talked into going home with you, the home run you hit in little league, or the first time you stepped onto a football field to either play, or perform. These things in life can change you, forever. They never come announced. Wouldn't it be great if these little events came with an RSVP card? Or maybe a calendar invite on your Blackberry?

Today one of those 'events' happened.

This morning was nothing but routine. Wake up, coffee, breakfast, drive to work. It's August in retail. Let the back to school specials begin. When I got to work I was greeted by 15 people waiting to get into the store. This day was shaping up to be the craziest day. With a short staff, and an average transaction time in the 20 minute range, welcome to my life. Grinding out sales from people who have such a tight hold of their money, I can see the imprints of the letters on their hand. People do not want to let go of anything. So thus, this is when I get to do my job. I need to change your perception of what I sell, and get you to part with your precious money. It's tiring work, but rewarding.

Now before you get all mad, I work in sales. I don't sell you something you don't need, because if you return it, I don't get paid, so what's the use of selling something to you that you are going to turn around and return?

But my day was trucking right along when the Blackberry on my hip chimed to life. It was from my good buddy Lou Duk. He was a recent Blog of Note, but I was one of the people who followed him before all that. His e-mail was simple. "you just got blog of note for today no joke"

My heart skipped a beat. I have been secretly in awe of anyone who has been named a Blog of Note. I met some pretty cool people who have been Blog of Note, or through some people who have been Blog of Note. Tangobaby was the first time I reached out to someone else that I didn't know in this vast world of blogs. I surprised at the response I got. She e-mailed me right back and checked my blog out as well. I felt really good. Someone whom I had never met, liked what I wrote to this blog. From there I would read her comments and I met a few other great people. Jules from Just Jules was another person I have met. I have personally helped her with her cell phones [I sell those]. I have also sold a phone to ~K over at Still Breathing.

Some people have come out and found me from Tangobaby. Lou was one of them.

Now that I am a Blog of Note, I feel undeserving. Tangobaby writes a wonderful blog and take some spectacular pictures, Lou is another one of those people who has an eye for photography which I feel I will never have. So as I am sitting back wondering about what the hell Blogger was thinking, I just feel I owe a thank you to those who have read when I wasn't expecting it, commented it when I needed it, and to all the new bloggers who find my little corner of the blogosphere intersting enough to click the follow button, and to all of you who follow, but don't make it publicly known, I still like you.

My statcounter is getting a workout today. Just some quick points.

• This is not just a blog, but also ground zero for my Podcast. You probably have listened to my latest episode and if you would like to follow the podcast in iTunes, just search for 'Throwing Quarters' in the Podcast Library.
  
• All of the banners and logo's on my blog were created by my wife. If you like what she has done, e-mail her and tell her how awesome it is. If you want to hire her to do some work for you [inexpensive] you can also e-mail her! She loves feedback and creating!
• If you know an unsigned musician, or a musician who is signed to a indie label, please have them e-mail me so I can get them on my Podcast.
  
• This blog is broadcast from Cleveland, Ohio! Word up to my Cleveland, Ohio fans!
• You will read a lot about my wife, my 7 year old daughter, and my new baby due in less than a month!
  
• You can follow me on Twitter.
• I like comments, and I like it when you tell your friends.
• The Crazy Lady has been good since posting my blog about her! Thanks for reading that, but she will make another blog, soon.
  

So, thank you for stopping by and saying hello!

I find myself.......

Sitting up in the morning, thinking, and typing on my wife's MacBook Pro.  I am secretly longing to have one of my own.  Besides the small differences in the mouse pad, and not having a right and left click button is driving me nuts, but for the most part I love it. 

The one thing that I have learned to love about Apple is that their design and ergonomics are wonderful and as they modify their iPhone and make it more inline with what I sell, I also find myself wanting to sell them.  It's not that it is superior to what I sell, it's just another product to sell, and the more choice I can give the customer, I more opportunity I have to capture their business.  

One thing I have really learned to hate is that registering a Podcast with iTunes is proving to be difficult.  It took me about 3 hours after work last night to figure it out.  With any luck, you should be able to search my Podcast in the iTunes Podcast directory, rather than having to go directly to my Podcast website and subscribing that way.  

Worn out isn't the word, but it's close.  

But I am currently working on a few things for my next Podcast.  We may finally get to talk to the guys from The Ohio Sky as they are playing another show I am going to try and get to on the 16th.  I might have some live tracks live from the Grog Shop.  If all goes well, we will have my buddy Adam Watt recording the live performance, my friend Moe photographing it, and you listening on the Podcast.  If you want to hear more from the Ohio Sky you can check their music out on Podcast #3 and then I play more on Podcast #4 and talk about how their show was.  

Until then, take care.  I have a busy day lined up today.