Floral Flatulence

It's over. Yes, I survived the big Valentine's Day. Sorry about no updates over the past few days. I worked tremendously long hours and got some well needed rest this weekend. Friday nite I wasn't in the best of moods and didnt want to come across excessively nasty. So I waited til today.

I had to order more roses on Thursday for delivery by FedEx Friday morning. Unfortunately, they decided to keep them in Memphis. I had to order more roses locally at 6 X the price of the ones from California.

I t was a good day on Friday. I had 4 drivers out; three of them had never delivered flowers before. Thankfully they all got done and as of today not a single complaint at all. I have received two phone calls and a personal visit from very satisfied clients. Yeahhhh...!!!!

The FedEx flowers arrived Saturday morning. I haggled with the shipper and was told take them and sell what you can. I was able to offer one of the drivers and his buddies roses at a great price. He is 18 so the girls I am sure are thrilled. I hope they will be back next year to order more. They were so fun to see them all excited about giving flowers. I suspect this maybe the first time they have ever given a dozen roses. I know they were pleased and I think they will be back to order flowers a bit more often.

Today is spent doing some much needed cleaning: buckets, coolers, counters and finding the floor again. Oh yeah and paperwork. My most favorite thing to do.. NOT!!!

11:00 am and the roses arrived. Yeah. Its a good day when the flowers that are the most crucial actually arrive a day late. My were they thirsty for water. Finished all of the mixed arrangements and started on dozens of roses. Left the store at 5 pm. That's actually pretty amazing for me on a holiday to be this prepared and confident. Now its time to sell the flowers. The weather forecast is looking good also. I have the drivers lined up. At this point everything looks good. My goal is to have to order more flowers because we have sold out. A tired florist here.

Countdown continues! I began my day by receiving a phone message from a client. They had wanted 20small vases. 10 all red and 10 all pink for Monday and same for Wednesday. No more than $8.00 each. Well there isn't much you can do in a vase for that amount. Spray carnations and standard carnations were used in the vases. They were cute and small as ordered. They decided they wanted a single rose in each instead for Wednesday going to do a single red or a single pink rose. Unfortunately the other 20 were made for Wednesday. Flexibility in a flower shop is crucial.

At 10:40 CST. I noticed that the roses hadn't arrived by FedEx. Not a good sign. I called my supplier. Seems there is a shipping delay. Looks like Wednesday arrival. Stress level went up a bit more. I'm trying to remember to breathe in and out.

6 days and counting arrrghhh. Valentine's Day stress began this morning. I contacted my normal holiday contract drivers and neither of them could deliver on Friday. Its great to have the arrangements made looking all pretty in my cooler. If I can't get them across town on the day to be delivered, I am in serious trouble. After a few emails and phone calls to friends that may know others I have 2 definite drivers and a possible other that is trying to switch days off. My friend Tom and I went to dinner. I told him I still don't want to talk about the nite in question nearly two weeks ago. That will be a post holiday conversation when the pressure is off. Roses arrive in the morning. So far sales are looking better than I had anticipated. LOng days are ahead calling it a nite soon.

No I haven't forgotten. Just been a bit preoccupied. Its only 6 days to one of the most crazy days in a floral shop. Valentine's Day is Saturday February 14th in case you didn't know. The mixed flower arrangements are primarily ready to go. The roses come tomorrow. At this point I am predicting a decrease from previous year. Simply because of the day of the week it falls upon makes a huge difference to a floral shop.


Irises, lilies, daisies, gerbera daises, carnations, spray carnations, stargazers, larkspur, snapdragons, sunflowers, statice, solidago, waxflower and of course roses are what I have in for this holiday so far. More to come soon.

Snow Snow Snow!!!!!!! Ok Enough is Enough! Got hit last week with 12" ( yes I mean snow). Now I am getting hit with another 12" ( yes more snow). Calgon take me away!!!!!

Let me back up a bit. Friday afternoon. Joe called me. He said he was working on taxes and would see me Tuesday. I would have liked to have seen him Friday and Tuesday but cant get greedy. Later Friday he called and wanted to come up. He lives an hour away. Told me he missed me awwwwwww... Well a few remarks were made and I told him I didn't like the remarks. Said he will work on it. Time will tell.

Was supposed to go to the exciting metropolis of Topeka Kansas on Sunday for a meeting.. What you have never heard of this famous city? Where are you from ?? Iowa?? Meeting was cancelled. Hibernated at home Saturday and only went to work on Sunday to make another funeral arrangement.

Looking ahead - Valentines Day. Will it be busy ? I, of course hope so. I don't have any person beating down my door to spend it with at this point. Joe?? Who knows.. Time will tell.

This coming weekend I will be going to Kansas City Missouri. Of course that is providing the winter warlock doesn't cast a blizzard on me. I and another friend are convincing another to enter a heartland Leather Man contest there. He definitely has the attitude, the leather oh and yea a great looking man. I wish him luck.

Update on my friend Kirk. Not good. I will know more soon. Looks like surgery again. I ask your thoughts and positive energy for him.