Seriously, I haven’t posted since July 28th?!!! And it is August 12th.

The Commonwheel Artists 40th Anniversary Labor Day Art Festival I coordinate has consumed my time in ways it never has in the past coupled with the normal things I would be doing for it.

Then there is the Cottage tenant switch. Also a bit more time consuming that I had hoped at this time of year.

Then there is the rainy weather. I had to question a couple of times if I had moved to Oregon without telling myself. Thank Goodness the sun came out today and I got to sit in it a bit.

On the day of the Super Moon, it rained all day, then at 4am, I was awakened by a very bright light shining through my bedroom window onto my sleeping face. It was the Super Moon. I got up and walked out to absorb some its very beautiful energy.

Lets see if I can do a quick update of the days gone by since the last post.

July 28th, there was a Board Meeting. So much going on with the Co-op besides the Art Festival. Changes of members and the new POS system and now getting a Bar Coder Set up. I am very amazed at all our President has accomplished since taking that position on and dealing with all the flood issues, etc. I don’t think any past President could have accomplished half as much. And one of the Grants we/she applied for $10,000 was granted to us, but for $15,000. Wow! But very specific for use for the Shop, not Festival needs.

Posters, postcards and Flyers were scheduled to arrive and they looked great. The delivery person is someone I will be working with in my Mastermind group I am creating to work together starting in September. Introducing them all the Tony Laidig and the Expert Media Show program. And some other programs. I have bought and bought programs these last few weeks. All things I need to learn and so many have affiliate programs or I can just sell the programs after repackaging them. Those will all be showing up here soon and on web pages elsewhere. I am going to change my financial situation for the better very soon.

Next day had a Marketing Meeting at the Chamber. Got confirmed that there will be a Live Remote with The Peak at the Art Festival. That is a very good addition and will cost Commonwheel nothing. Part of an advertising package for events secured by the advertising company that the Chamber hired.

Ended the day, well, not really, but had a Webinar with Tony, then I am sure I did more work afterwards.

Met with Chief Ribiero and another Police officer on July 29th. Discussed emergency planning for the Art Festival. They have dire warnings, but having had 2 rainy days last year at Fields Park, will draw our own conclusions when we see what the weather brings us.

Big debate going on with a long time Festival Artist who missed the deadline by 13 days to cancel, who feel we should return their fee. Much negotiation and agreed to return half the fee this year and give them credit towards half booth fee next year. Commonwheel really can’t afford that type of loss of a double booth fee this year. We already are looking at being in the red, so not a good piece of news.

At 1pm, met with another person I want in my Mastermind group. She has technical computer experience and is an artist/designer. I blew her away showing her the possibilities and the tools that exist that she never had seen or had any idea existed. Ok, still giving myself away, but I believe if I gather some really good people together, we can work towards success better than going it alone.

Tony switched the Thursday webinar for the program I had bought to Wednesday. She hung out and watched some of that with me until she had to go to another meeting. Again, was amazed by the possibilities that are available for her.

Watched “So You Think You Can Dance” and was amazed again by the talented young kids on that show.

On Friday, I met with a couple of Festival committee members up at the storage unit. We pulled out the tents and sides and inventoried what was usable and what needed to be trashed. They figured out how to repair one of the frames. And one of them took the broken frame to a metal buyer afterwards. We are short good sides and the tops don’t have me totally happy. But had a good idea of what was in there on many levels – chairs, tents, signs, banners, etc. Took the banner to the Chamber days later when I went to the Marketing meeting.

I tried to listen to another webinar, but just couldn’t. Continued working on Festival details. I had thought I would go to the Singles Leo party, but the continuous rain and all that I needed to do, just couldn’t get motivated to do that.

I have written all of the Press Releases for the Art Festival for many years. Our Marketing person sends them out. She sent out the one I wrote about Food as focus, and got lots of Kudos for what a great job she did and that members loved it and they knew our patrons would also. GRRRR! And she didn’t say, “thanks guys, but Julia wrote this . . .” And there are more coming out soon. I woke up in the middle of the night with ideas for writing one that needs to go to the Patron News Letter and Pikes Peak Attractions, condensing the other 3, but with some different focal points. Still haven’t gotten that put on the computer. Really need an iPad so I could write on it rather than do it in my lousy handwriting. Someday soon!

First Friday, I haven’t driven around to that in quite a few months. But there were 2 artists openings, or so I thought I wanted to see. I found the first person’s at The Bridge Gallery. Interesting work and had a really interesting conversation with my artist friend. Then went off to search for the other person’s show. What I didn’t know was I had mis-read the email and she was just promoting The Bridge show. But it was auspicious that I went into galleries in Old Colorado City. Discovered why one artist wasn’t showing at the Art Festival this year. He turned 75 and was just done with doing Art Festivals. Can’t say as I blame him. Then at Hunter-Wolf chatted with a past Festival Committee member and he expressed an interest in doing the Security, for a higher cost than in the past, when I told him the trouble I was having getting security for a reasonable price this year. His offer is better than the ones I had found, but still about double of the past cost. More cost that will push the Festival towards being in the Red for the first time ever. Frustrating, but what can one do?

I had thought about going to a Book Fair in Denver, this weekend, but that just wasn’t going to happen. Rain and just too much to get done for the Art Festival. And did I really want to drive 1.5 hours and spend money? Not really. So on my way back from the Farmer’s Market I stopped at a Thrift Store and spent $10 on some books. One I think has big potential, the others, need to see what can be done with them. But now they are just in my pile of “Public Domain” books that I will work with in September.

Getting really frustrated about not getting out and hiking. But I do walk to any meeting and to the Gallery as much as I can even if it is raining.

OK, time to take a break . . .