Been Quilting instead of Writing – Got to Get a Job 

If you’ve been looking for the last 8 blog posts, they’re in this quilt.

It’s scraps of material I had on hand, and no pattern. It’s cut > Tetris > sew > repeat

Been deep in thought while doing so, I find sewing meditative. What I’ve been thinking about is:

I can’t figure out how to
make a blog make money.

Went for a drive yesterday afternoon in a 2015 BMW i8.

Instant torque never gets old eh.

Watching the scenery stream by, daydreaming still, thinking.

It’s not that I don’t have ideas to execute, one of which is genius – I dreamed up a way to 100% legally circumvent the tax system, while making it rain products and stuff every month. The problem is the execution; I need to hire help, but don’t have the money to do so.

The other problem are my principles. If I was okay bending them, life would be easier. I’d quietly write for the automakers like many do, or take money to promote a product I don’t believe in. But I don’t have that in me.

Remember when I quit the paper, and gave myself a set amount of time to figure it out?  That’s done around end of January. And what I’ve learned is: sure I can hustle enough to pay bills every month, but that’s it. There’s no real money this way.

And while yes, of course a blog can make money, each month it’s – a few hundred dollars per sponsored post, sell some Tweets, do a few freelance gigs, then my mortgage is paid, I’m in a press i8, life’s okay.

Problem is I cannot get excited about a few hundred bucks. Not for the amount of work going in. That’s not even close to a nice piece of jewellery.

My ideas and dreams are huge and have way more zeros… I want to pay down my mortgage in chunks, buy an i8. Make real money.

Drive over, back home, back to sewing-meditation.

Back to trying to figure out how to make a blog make money.  And I can’t.

‘Lack of Time’ is why a solo-run blog can’t make real money.

Advertising / banners forget it, and while yes sponsored posts pay, I don’t see it being a sustainable business model.

But even before that, take a step back.

Selling advertising it is easily a part-time job – the rate cards, emails, installing, maintaining and tracking the ads, running client reports – but with what time?

On top of being the producer, photographer, manager, PR, writer, publisher, stylist, video editor, IT department, run 3 social media channels, more. Moreover, I’m both the seller and the product, which is weird on the mind. And make sure to eat & sleep enough, no one wants to look at a haggard face. Also make sure to set aside imagination time, since that’s where ALL this comes from. Uh-huh.

I think there’s a tremendous amount of value in a blog – it opens a lot of doors, is good for discipline, and has greatly improved my writing and publishing skills. It got me the job at one of the largest newspapers in Canada. Many bloggers get sent lip gloss and sneakers, I get cars.

But I can’t find the amount of money,
that’s equal to the amount of work.

So here’s the conclusions:

  • I pushed the blog thing far as possible
  • it’s time to get a job. Not a bunch of freelance gigs, a job
  • the job will likely be in automotive
  • KeriBlog.com will act as the ‘World’s Most Elaborate Resume‘

And off we go.

>>> Look what I’ve done around here with nothing – no team, no resources or money – just me.  Imagine what I could do for your business. Hire me <<<

View Keri Potipcoe's profile on LinkedIn

The back of a quilt is almost cooler than the front.

 

 

An Animal is Living Under my House

Today was one of those days. Started at 2am when I realized there’s a animal living under my house. Beneath my living room, and loud too, like it’s having a party. It’s probably a racoon or … skunk.

Guess it’s lucky I slept on the couch eh, at least I know now.

Found where I think it’s getting in, and monitored the hole while I worked. Kind’ve pointless really, like what, I hope it emerges, stretches in the sunlight then takes a stroll, leaving me to plug the hole?

I’m just very worried, because what’s the worst case scenario:

it’s a skunk > I startle it > it sprays > house is now inhabitable

What’s the solution to avoid that? I’m Googling, calling animal control places, mass texting the same message, just freaking for advice.

One text said to build a trap door huh…

Then I start getting messages about an entirely different problem.

Seeing your blog is down feels like a sucker punch to the face, then all air leaves your lungs.

Do what I can, go back to the other problem.

One animal control receptionist’s honesty was the best advice of the day, “there is no clear answer to your skunk question, and there’s a chance it’ll just leave.

But basically, all the crew is going to do is scare it away, for $300.”

Okay then.

Where the sound is coming from, and the entry to the space, are the two furthest points of course.

If ever I’m in a conversation with someone about being new homeowners, and you see a look flash across my face, when someone with a condo compares our circumstances?

That look is this post.

I didn’t startle anything thankfully. Heard no evidence of an animal, it must’ve taken that stroll.

But there IS something living down there… that bio-evidence wasn’t there during the renovation 3 months ago.

My plan is – tomorrow I’ll put garbage bags over my outfit, crawl through the evidence to the other side, find its entry point, and seal it from both sides.

So we can get back to the far more fun topic of cars.

Sorry for the lack of them today.

(2016 Jeep Wrangler)

Blog tag = house

 

UPDATE – Sunday Dec. 6

Went under, crawled all the way in. Once I confirmed it wasn’t there I was fine, but until then, so scared. It’s SO dusty, I ended up in a bed of pink insulation, no wonder it likes here.

Found the entry point. Plugged it with cinderblocks. Will check on it next weekend, make sure it’s holding.

I’m pretty worried, neighbours estimate it’s 90% a skunk. Please keep your fingers crossed it does not spray, and I win this gross battle.

 

 

The All-new 2016 Mazda MX-5

This photo eh. One of my best in a while.

Except where I forgot to wipe the screen smudges.

Taken during a road-trip afternoon adventure. My co-pilot was a photographer, which is why these photos are so sharp.

This ‘Soul Red Mica’ paint job is +$300.

Non-car nerds: You may know the MX-5 by its more colloquial name – Miata. You can still call it that, but it shows your information is dated.

2016 is a big year for the MX-5.

The 26th model year is all-new and fully redesigned, a big deal since it’s the Guinness World Records best-selling two-seat roadster of all time. I bet the designers flipped between, “all right all-new!” and “well if it’s not broke…”

So when I reviewed the 2015 model, I said: because of the rumoured addition of driving aids and a dash screen, my vote goes to buying the outgoing, more pure model.

That’s why I booked a 2016 – did my prediction come true?

I know disliking dash screens makes me the odd one out, and the installation of one was inevitable. But it doesn’t clutter things up like I thought it would, actually, the opposite happened.

But what’s great is how wrong I was about the addition of driving aids – there’s not even a backup camera!

And while there is Blind Spot Monitoring and Lane Departure Warning, it’s offered only on the top 2 trims, therefore, totally avoidable.  Nice one Mazda.

The 2016’s more aggressive lines look sharp eh.

The trunk is now larger, too. According to Mazda, it will hold “a pair of standard carry-on bags.” For a barometer, below is one bag of groceries and This Weeks Flowers.

2016 Mazda MX-5 GS

2.0 L 4-cylinder engine
155 horsepower
148 lb.-ft. of torque

Rear-wheel drive
6-speed manual or automatic transmission

Mazda is the only automaker in Canada to offer an Unlimited Mileage Warranty

Starting at $31,900
This one $35,300

Top left > clockwise:

– it seems like your elbow will hit the drink holders while shifting, but it won’t

– it’s the same, slick manual-convertible design – put it down with one-hand in 12 seconds 

– 2 USB ports, a 12-volt power outlet, and Bluetooth is now standard

– a sleeker instrument cluster, reduced from 5 to 3 gauges

While available with an automatic transmission, to actually order one is eye roll.

But the MX-5’s best feature is one you can’t hold.

We drivers want to tear it up, always, everywhere we go. Maybe like me, you have to lecture yourself to stop constantly pressing on the throttle.

But because of the MX-5’s excellent power-to-weight ratio and low stance, the speed feels heightened. The driving experience is fast and exhilarating like we want, but at a speed the law wants, meaning…

… you can’t get yourself into too much trouble in an MX-5.

Blog tag = Mazda MX-5