Sean's Journal
Write Me

1. It is a green light for the bookstore. I've been looking at locations and while there are several vacant storefronts on Ashland that would suit my purpose, I'm afraid Ashland doesn't have enough foot traffic to be worth my while. I'm going to look at Lincoln next weekend to see what is available there. I walked by a store on Irving Park that is almost exactly what I want to have, but they didn't have a lot of books and were more Christian oriented. But the fact that they were staying in business was a good sign that I'm not completely off my rocker. I can't really recall how Paul did at Moon Mystic, I know that the end was bad with them no paying the bills. But he did grow from an Iowa location to a Chicago location, went through a successful move here (ah, maybe not so successful, leaving Belmont for North Halstead). Belmont, why did I avoid the obvious. I think it is because I expect the rent to be atrocious there, but there is already one bookstore on the street. On a side note, I miss Kokomo Cafe! I really wanted that space for my own, especially with the little theater to the side - imagine the vampire games I could have run there!

2. The other element of the plan is to focus on the short term goal of alternative income. I ruled out prostitution because of the time commitment. I'm toying with the idea of doing stupid flash photoalbums for people - vacation photos in a nifty Flash animation thing where you flip through it like a photo album that plays festive music. Click on a picture and you get a close up of it. I don't know how many people I could con into doing that but at the rate these babies are being born around here, there has to be some demand. They just don't know they are demanding it yet. Which means I have to create some demos (hey, I could also add video clips!) to pass around. I figure I'd just create several templates (Birthday, Anniversary, Vacation, Baby, and Generic) that I can just plop the pictures in with little fuss. $9 for a cd of six pictures plus $1 for each additional picture. If I have to scan the pictures, add an extra dollar per picture. It's an idea. Darkness in the News is getting more and more attention, so hopefully that will turn into an income generating venture. The other basic idea is essentially to start laying the ground work for the bookstore. Put together a catalog of esoteric books (meaning buy the books so I have them on hand) and gifts. Sell online and distribute the catalog through all the channels I have available.

3. The bookstore is definately the way to go because I can then also create the beginnings of a temple/monastary. Also, during the slow times, I can write, work on web projects (e.g. Darkness in the News and stuff for other people), and not have to start work until 10 or 11, work until 8 or 9 - be able to go out clubbing like I used to do when I was a temp, only I'd have money.

4. I could just quit and go on welfare/unemployment, maybe disable myself in some fashion on the job. These boxen are quite heavy - oops there goes my back. Damn. Oops, down the stairs I tumble. Oops, I guess those things should be stacked that high. Oops, this job has driven me clinically insane.

I think I'm coming out of my depressive episode, though I know it isn't done with. I'm not happpy by any stretch of the imagination.

I am looking forward to this weekend. I may go downtown to get Clive Barker to sign his new book for me.