Blackberrys dont bounce!

Like most Americans I carry a cell phone with me everywhere I go, for safety reasons, to keep up with twitter, answer emails from cookie customers, the normal reasons everyone has a smart-phone. Today was a beautiful day so I figured i'd take the opportunity to get in some road work On my way back home I was going at a pretty good clip and I hit a bump on the sidewalk, I went one way the chair went another and the cell phone went in another direction! as it hit the ground it crashed in a spectacular explosion of battery and buttons! So at the moment I'm cellphone-less but I'm in one piece. I'm thinking its time to offer a new flavor, blackberry :) I wouldnt be offended if some my faithful readers would like to order some cookies!

Keep on keeping on

Training, fencing and baking keep going, fencing get frustrating sometimes, training gets repetitive, and cookies sales get slow sometime, the trick at these times is to just keep going, and sometimes that is easier said then done. Last Saturday was a great practice and things are starting to lock into place, so despite the bumps, bruises, and  muscle strains the work is starting to pay off. This week the final NAC of the season is taking place and unfortunately I wasn't able to make it to Portland,  the next domestic event for me will be in Daytona Beach in October, not sure about anything international just yet, but it does give me time to get everything in place to make a great showing the next season. It seems each time I lock into a frame I'm showing signs of improvement, sometimes its slow and frustrating but the improvement is there, so I will keep drilling, keep practicing and keep working out, and doing what I can to excel in my chosen sport.

Cookie sales have there ups and downs like any business, sales are steady, but I'd be lying if I said I was happy with where sales were, of course I'd like to see cookies turn into my golden brown buttery ticket, and eventually open a brick and mortar storefront that will allow me to provide individuals with disabilities a place to work and earn a little extra pocket cash. Like the fencer I am I'll just put my head down, and keep at it one dozen at a time, one mile at a time and one practice at a time!
I always close these ramblings with a thank you to all  those who read this blog, and have supported me throughout the ups and downs of my fencing adventure and my cookie experiment. I couldn't have done any of what I have done thus far without all of you standing strongly in my corner.

Detroit and beyond

Detroit went well and I managed my first medal! All my opponents/ friends have noticed a vast  improvement in my fencing since Cincinnati in  October, and coach seems happy with what he has seen, so I'm happy.

The new gear worked great and I can't thank all of you enough for your support. My next goal for cookie profits is a new mask. The new mask will run about $275 so its a lot of cookies but it can be done!

I was not able to get the cash together to go to Portland either, but the deadline hit the day I got home from Detroit, and after 3 days in Detroit and the drive my bank account was a little light, not to worry there are other opportunities coming up and with your appetites I'm sure I'll be fencing at more and more events.
   

Making the best of it

Over the last two months I have been selling as many cookies as I could to get myself equipped for Montreal in March. Last weekend I managed to do just that, but then there was the registration fee for the event, its due tomorrow, it appears that I wont be able to get the cash together for that one. After feeling a little deflated I found that there is another event in Oregon so I'm going to try and get to that one, so it all works out in the end, I've sold more cookies in the last two month then I had previously, so my concept is valid and I will continue to sell cookies getting my name and product into as many people as I can. So in that way I am making the best of the current situation. Again thanks for reading and for all your support during this adventure 

Who Knew?

I had a great training camp this weekend. I learned a lot and identified things that I need to work on. I have good news, thanks to cookie sales a little luck and scrimping and saving I managed to get my new uniform, and two new weapons certified for international competition, not to mention picking up a new customer in the form of the fencing gear salesmen. I'm going to keep him in cookies :)

 That's the good news, the less then great news. I wanted to make sure I had the gear before I registered for Montreal, the problem is the registration deadline is Friday, and I need to sell 105 dozen shortbreads to have the entry fee! Its a VERY high goal and I realize that, and if I don't make it I don't make it. I have quality gear now that will last, but i haven't given up just yet, I may not make it but I'm not going to give up without a fight.

I can not express the gratitude I have for all of those who have supported me  throughout this adventure, the words of support and encouragement and by buying my cookies. Now its time to head out and go for a run.

5 Miles and one dozen at a time

The sales drive continues! so far I have sold 79/200 Not bad but i've still got a long way to go for the new equipment I need for Montreal. Last weekend I made some major modifications to my fencing chair and found my fencing groove. I also found out that I have a busy few months coming up, Ive got a tournament in March, coach wants me ready for Montreal in April and I'm working  towards that one dozen and 5 miles at a time! Two weeks after Montreal I have an event in Tampa Fl. Things are getting busy and I need to sling some cookies. If anyone knows of any where I can sell a bunch of cookies at one time I'm all ears! Things are going well but i'm starting to feel the fiscal  crunch. This weekend I have a  US National Wheelchair Fencing Training Camp to get me ready for the next phase of my fencing adventure!

 Physically and mentally I am ready now if I can get wheeling chef cranking out cookies I'll be ready with the cash! So if you've got friends that like cookies let them know about mine, heck if you have enemy's tell them too, Im making this happen one dozen and five miles at a time.
 

My Inner pirate

I got an email on Monday from the editor of Thrill-list Atlanta  asking if I had a few pics of my cookies they could use for a write up on me. I was in the middle of baking an order so I sent him some pictures, what could it hurt? I've got a goal of 200 by April so I can get to Montreal and every order helps. I sent the pics and waited to see what would come of it. Tuesday morning at  5:15am my trusty IPhone chirped letting me know I had an email and saw the  Thrillist article! At 8:30 the emails started coming in and so did the orders. I started this week with 29/200 sold and as of right now Ive sold 49. One dozen at a time i'm getting closer.

In many of the emails I received my clients said the line "getting in touch with my inner pirate" struck a chord with them. So I got to thinking, aside from fencing, this whole idea is rather piratical, at least from the romantic view.
Pirates are seen as men of fortune who have take destiny into their own hands  flouted the rules of society and  made things happen for themselves. That's what I have done with this business so in a way fencing helps gets me in touch with my inner but so does the business, I do things my way, and dont follow the conventional rule of what a cookie should be, remember the Guinness cookies?

So I shall continue my Piratical baking  ways plundering cash from my unwitting cookie addicts, whom we all know find themselves addicted at first bite, and continue in the pursuit of an arcane unknown but thrilling sport! As always thank you for reading!