Valerie:
I have been so caught up in running the business I haven't been keeping up with this blog. I knew there would be a lot to keep us busy but it's taking me some time to get used to this feeling like I will always be 5 days behind everything...

This is the run down from the past month..

The place is be coming increasingly steady in there. I believe the novelty has worn off which means that everyone that has been in there recently have been because they choose to be. Guests have made Vinos part of their nightly stops. For that we are pleased.

Our wine selection are be coming refined and heading in the direction we want to be taking it. While it is a nonstop battle with keeping the selection recognizable but new and different to our customers it seems to be working. Everytime we introduce a new wine we contemplate whether anyone will be interested someone ends up enjoying a bottle. If we could just get through all the holiday wine shows without getting tipsy we'll be alright.

Life seems to happening fast around me and it's becoming hard to digest everything. We've already gone through Fantasy fest, parrotheads, and boat racing with Thanksgiving dashing around the corner. Last week my boss from my other job Louies backyard Pat passed away. I had a lot of respect for her as a person and business woman and it's hard to believe that she is gone. It reminds you how the people behind a business really make a place. In the week and half that she has been gone the place is changing rapidly. Selfishly I liked having one place remain unchanged for the two days I worked there.

One of the best thing that happening right now is the personal touch that Clayton and I are able to put into the business. The place can evolve around our personalities and tastes to become a collabration between two very different persons. Clayton has this attention to detail in considering little ways to make the customer happy. He's put a little valet station in the bathroom in case someone needs a tampon, breath mint, and sewing kit and added lap blankets for when the air chills over the winter. Every night he's constantly adjusting the music and lights to create the perfect atmosphere. I've been able to bring in some enjoyable events to Vinos for unique touch. Every sunday we set out a mimosa bar with different fruit and nectars and we've brought the cook off to Vinos. This is a chance to try some good food and raise money for local charities.

All and all the place is evolving nicely and starting to really play up to it's potential. There is still a lot of work to do but we are getting there...

Looks like we made it...

The floor is getting that worn wine cellar look we wanted, the wine racks are filling up, the seats are filled with wine drinkers, cheese plates are being ordered. We are where we want to be. We are evolving the way we want to be. I heard someone the other day say that they were going to stop in at Vinos later. It was one of those pleasing moments as I thought I know that place. That's mine...

We've had some friends visiting from Alabama and New Jersey recently. These are the type of friends that support and believe in you on any adventure you undertake. It's nice to know how far you can come with real friends behind you. It makes all the hard work worth it.

Valerie:

We've done it! After everything we can open the doors and enjoy finally being open. It was a push at the end to get it down but we did. Underneath my layer of exhaustion is a relief. And pride. I can't remember a time I've been so proud of myself. I proud of what Clayton and I have accomplished. We've come a long way and it's only going to get better...

Valerie:

We are exhausted, I don't believe we have stopped moving for awhile. We jump out of bed and go immediately to work. That's not good for me. I like a nice big cup of coffee to help ease me gently into the real world.

Everything else is both exciting but frustrating. We have the feeling that we will be open in the next couple of days, of course we have felt that way for over a week now. We're waiting on one building inspection and approval. This city is killing us! Just let us open...

Valerie:

We're getting to part I've been most looking for..the wine tastings. Deciding on what to serve by the glass or bottle and what avenue to take as far as pricing and regions. One thing we both have decided on is that we want to be off mainstream, I don't want someone to enjoy a nice glass of wine at our bar to find it later in the supermarket. We have also decided that it's best to do the tastings later on in the day because there is no chance of getting anything done after...

Valerie:

We're getting so close I can almost taste the wine.

We're pretty much down to 4 inspections, going to the mainland to get our beer and wine license, finishing the electric, put in a hand sink, install the ice maker, get a beer cooler, and wine cooler, find a table for the banquette, set up all the software, finalize the merchants account, set up liability insurance, get locks for the door, decide on a wine list, paint and sand the railing, install a handicap door bell, have the banquette cushions made, wait to have the carpet installed, get wine accounts set up, order the wine, run the stereo cables, talk to local artists about consigning work, decorate the bar, buy stemware, set up beer accounts, organize and hire staff, label the wines, stain the bar, construct the bar top, paint the deck, paint the outside, and of course pay all the bills.

So it's you can imagine my face when I go through my pile of mail and notice I've been called for jury duty in 2 weeks...

Valerie:

We're getting them, starting to build some real steam. We have most of the outside done, just needs a good paint job and touch up. It's bigger than I thought the outside area would be. I can almost taste the zinfandel now as i relax on the porch with some good friends and solve all of the world problems..

I actually did some physical labour at the shop today. I linseed oiled the bathroom cedar wall. And it looks good. The extent of my work has been helping to haul materials about and cleaning. I have logged many hours doing paperwork, organizing, banking, ordering, pretty much everything but construction. There is nothing more satisfying as actually seeing a finished product. Seating in front a desk and filling out forms doesn't give the same feeling as accomplishment.

Valerie:

We've been getting a lot done recently. It's been real helpful having Clayton's sister Jennee and brother in law David here. Silly them thinking they were coming on holiday to relax and enjoy themselves. We have David helping out with the man stuff and Jennee helping collaborate on the finer touches. It's nice to have another sensible female's opinion around as Clayton sometimes has to be held back to not go overboard on being "creative".

Jennee and I just picked out the fabric for the banquette cushions and of course found out that Clayton told the seamstress the wrong fabric. Men...

Valerie:

We just got back from South Beach in Miami and picked up Clayton's sister Jennee and brother in law David from New Zealand. We had a wonderful time drinking margaritas and catching up. Found some great pieces for our bar stopping at antique and second hand shops. I love that idea of making the unique with random pieces. It's very important that our place not look too new and generic looking. Want it to look like it was built over time and not like anything else.

Valerie:

We did it!! We can officially have a bar. It's been a good weekend for us. I have been celebrating with nice champagne and wine. I could justify it because of waiting 5 months to get the planning department rubbish over with and it was my birthday. But I don't feel that I have to justify myself.

As much as I have enjoyed having the weight lifted off my shoulders it time to get serious again. The rush is on to get open and the list of things to be done is piling up.

Valerie:

We're starting on the bar. There's a lot involved with dimensions and heights. Again I notice how two bartenders can have a strong opinions about where everything should be behind the bar and what type of beer and wine coolers we should have.

They're doing a good job, really starting to look like a real bar. I have noticed that when I walk into the shop I end up standing behind the bar. Once a bartender always a bartender...

Valerie:

This is a big week for us. We're getting some major construction done and finally the planning board meeting is this thursday. I know that everyone is sick of us moaning about the planning department.

The more I see the bar being constructed, the more of reality it is becoming for me. This really could happen....

Valerie:

We've finally made the agenda for the planning board meeting. After months of waiting, the endless run around, and sleepless nights we're there. In 12 days 7 members of the board will sit down and decide whether we can have a bar. That's all we've wanted, a chance to be heard...

Valerie:

We're getting down to business, it feels good to have things happening. We've got the week lined up with meetings with lawyers and architects. Construction is right on schedule. Still haven't picked the last paint colors, but we'll get there.

Clayton's friend is coming up from Columbia to help out. Makes me feel better because he tends to hurt himself when he does projects himself..