The store is doing ok. January sales are healthy. We still have to work long and hard, but things are looking up. We have some cash in the bank account and can catch up on some of the bills.

C2 is going back to Iraq. He is intown visiting family and friends.

It sounds like his plan is to stay in Iraq as long as possible, which is probably two more years. The money is too good.

The nice thing about the old espresso machine is that it just worked the same way every time. If it didn't work, I just needed to plug it in. If it was seven in the morning and I wanted my coffee, it never blinked an error codes at me, tricking me into spending 15 minutes reading the manual only to discover that it just needed more water.

C2 is in town for the week. He is taking his earnings from Iraq and buying properties. He's bought a property on the Hood Canal and he is looking at condo's on Capital Hill. Good for him.

I have to admit that the espresso machine is very nice. You hit a button. A minute later a shot of espresso squirts out. The machine takes care of the grinding, tamping and brewing.

We are all a little over cafinated right now.

Matt found a $1000.00 automatic espresso maker on Craigslist for $200.00. He's driving over to pick it up.

RO things that Matt spends $200.00 a day on stuff. I think it's more like $50.00. Regardless, every day when we come home Matt has bought something new. A new cell phone. Ikea desks. A gallon of chocolate. A bread knife. An enameled dutch oven. A USB hub. Books. Stuff. Frivolous stuff.

RO is trying to talk to Matt about his shopping and to encourage him to save a little for emergencies.

I enjoy having Matt and Pat as room mates. There are downsides-- there is too much stuff in the house right now and its starting to look like a bunch of pack rats live there.

But there are also upsides. Someone different to talk to. More people to share the cooking and cleaning. Matt can be a great cook and has been making fresh bread most every day.

I sit all day at work, so I like to take a good walk in the evening. RO stands all day, so he likes to relax all evening. I usually end up walking alone. Now that Matt and Pat have moved in, Matt likes to walk with me after dinner, and Pat likes to chat wtih RO. Perfect.

Sunday, RO & I hung out with Matt & Pat. We had dim sum and traveled on the Seattle's new Link Light Rail.

The stops on the train are interesting, but not in a good way. For some reason two thirds of the stops are to Seattle's poorer neighborhoods. If I picked a stop at random and told a friend I went there, he'd probably make a joke about buying drugs.

I worry about Matt and Pat.

Matt is having income problems. He's an independant contractor with few customers. Customers who reguarly don't pay him on time. About every 2nd month he can't pay his rent on time because he's flat broke.

Pat doesn't have a work visa and is living on savings.

They regularly tell us how they are cutting back on expenses to save money. Yesterday they bought a big flat screen TV. They say the will eat at home more to save money. Starbucks is just down the road and our espresso machine is too old and manual for them.

This ends badly for someone. I hope it's not me.

Matt is dating someone new-- Pat.

Maybe dating is an understatment. Matt has been seeing Pat for a couple of months. Pat just moved into our house.

There are some logistics problems with their relationship. Pat is not an citizen. He is here on a travel visa which runs out in three months.

I guess Matt is not afraid of dramatic relationships.

We are charging them a little lower rent with the intent that Pat will clean.

Pat is a very nice guy. I hope it all works out for them.

Last night we had drinks at the neighbors. It was good to see them again. They are off to Brazil next week.

An old friend of theirs was over. I don't know if friend is the right word. They met this guy 20 years ago, lost touch, and then recently re-met. The guy only briefly mentioned why they lost touch for 20 years-- he spent three years in prision and did a lot of drugs.

How did this happen? For Christmas my parents sent me two pairs of nice Alpaca wool socks. I like them very much. I like my Christmas socks. They are my favorite gift. Now I find I don't want cheap socks. I want expensive, gentle wash cycle only, nice socks.

Is this what's in store for me my 40's? Slowly I'll become more minimalist but the few possessions that I own will be expensive.

RO says I should have realized that I was all grown up at least five years ago.

Christmas was stressful.

RO has a sister with stage 4 cancer. Two days before Christmas she collapsed and was sent to the hospital. She has since recovered, but the family is very worried about her. RO and I visited her a couple times over the holidays.

We also took a Christmas morning hike around Cougar Mountain and by the Coal Creak falls with two of RO's Bear 411 friends.

Christmas evening we hung out at RO's sister's place.

The store... The store... It's doing ok. Not well enough to pay all our creditors, but enough for rent, utilities and few other bills. Better than the old location. But not enough for a pay check.

Not bad for being open three weeks.

Since we've opened, three stores in the mall have closed. It reminds us how hard the recession has hit small business and retail. RO and I hope that we can hold things together until things pick up. We are struggling. We have a few angry creditors. But we are holding on.

Fun weekend.

Saturday evening was holiday party for my day job. They put on an excellent party this year. The space was interesting. They had decent entertainment. They had great service this year.

The service made a big difference. In the past, you had to wait in lines for drinks and food. This year waiters were constantly circulating through the crowd so I could spend all my time talking to my co-workers instead of waiting in line.

There was a henna artist at the party. RO had a henna dragon drawn on his head. It looks great.

After the work party, we went to J&J's Christmas party. We didn't arrive till late. Still, there where many people there. We had a good time chatting with everyone.

Tuesday, Clem and Bates had the neighbors over for drinks. It was great to see them.

Bates kept the alcohol flowing. Too much so. RO and I were drinking scotch. Bates kept walking by and filling our glasses. We asked him to stop, but he responed, "Oh, I have a sure fire fix for hangovers. Just take two asprins while you are drinking!" Within minutes he returned with asprin for us.

RO and I both got sick. We both thew up before going to bed. No hangover though.

I'm too old to drink that much.

At my day job, Andie has quit. She probably wasn't fired. She was very smart about managing her money and she joined two years before I did; back when when Dot Com bubble was churning out new millionaires every day.

RO has been working very long and hard at the store. I worry about him. I hope he can keep up the pace.

The store is getting better looking every day.

My day job-- an old co-work is having problems. He's been a marginal performer for years. This was fine in a good economy, but now that times are rough, the marginal are being pruned. He's had an offical warning from his manager. Technically he may have enough time to turn his performance around. In practice, this is the kiss of dead. He is fairly high up the ladder, past the stage where he is learning and well into the part of his career where he should be a consistently strong performer.

He's manager and I talked about this. I'm going to give him a "I heard something bad through the grape vine. I think it's in your best interests to find another job. Your boss cares for you and is pulling for you, but people who think otherwise are paying attention and speaking up."

Well, the store is open. Now we face the next major hurdle-- keeping it open. There are many challenges ahead of us. Opening sales are not strong. The mall hours are long.

But, the store looks great. And some of RO's friends and family are volunteering for the store until it takes off. It looks promising.

It's Thanksgiving Day. RO, Matt, D and I have been at the store all day trying to get it ready for tomorrow. I'm not sure we'll make it. There is so much work to do.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. I am thankful for my friends and my health.