Avon, Milo and Deer

Today, my Avon order came in early.

I spent two hours bagging all the products for delivery, complete with books and samples.

The trailer park owner sent some dude to pass out letters to all the people in the park. They raised the lot rent by $50. I told Gary (one of my housemates), "Do you know how much Avon I have to sell to make another $50?" They claimed it was because of the water rate increase. Gary started griping about President Trump, saying it was his fault. I wasn't sure what Trump had to do with the water rate increase, but I let him gripe. I didn't feel like debating today.

Then, I decided to deliver to my mom and sister.

My sister was in New Boston, about a mile away from me. She asked me to meet her at Wal-Mart. Her truck was hooked to a trailer so she didn't want to come to my house in the Trailer park. So, I gathered up her order, mom's order, and another customer's order to deliver along the way.

My mom was camping out at the lake, so after making the first two deliveries, me and my dog, Milo, went to the lake.

This morning, I had asked Milo, "You want to go with Mama to see MeeMaw?" He ran around in circles and jumped in my lap to try to lick my face. I told him, "Okay! OKay! Not right now! Later this evening!"

He waited by the door all day until it was time to go. I didn't have the heart not to take him with me. LOL

When we got to the camp site, Milo ran around peeing on every tree he came to. He was so excited to be there he was panting with thirst. So, I went into my mom's new camper and retrieved a bowl of water. Before I put it down, I made Milo bark "I love you!" Everyone got a kick out of that. Milo wanted water BAD!

Then, we saw 5 deer across the road. I took a picture (included in this post). I was afraid Milo would notice them and try to chase them, so I hooked him back on the leash until it was time for us to go home.

I am home now, fixing to label my new Avon books.

Have a blessed night!

Gratitude for Diversity

Hello, World

Today has been a day of reflection and gratitude. I look back and realize, as I contemplate my past, my present and my future, how utterly blessed I am.

This time of year is when I start "reflecting" the most.

I look at the people here on Facebook and otherwise that I am blessed to call "friends", and I see how diverse they all are. Some are cops, some are criminals. Some are Christian, and some are not. Some are family, and some are distant acquaintances who "pop in" from time to time. Some I run into at the store, or while I am out selling Avon, and others I wonder about.

Some are special friends. They were my teachers who taught me about loyalty and unconditional love. They taught me that imperfection is inevitable, and heart-aches are not permanent.

Some of them taught me that life is short, and to live each moment as if it is our last. Some lived those moments with me and made memories that we look back on with a smile, mixed with a little pain of wishful thinking about how we would like to go back and relive those times.

As I remember, I take stock of where I am and what I have gained since I came from there. I am thankful for every heart-break, every tear, every struggle and every failure. Those are what led me to where I am, in order to be who I am.

As I told a friend just today, I look at where I am, who I am, and I look around at everyone I've ever known and where they are, and I am thankful. Where I am and who I am could have turned out so much worse. I am so blessed.

So, if you are here reading this, then I want you to know how thankful I am to have you in my life. If you are feeling as if you don't matter, come talk to me -- because each of you, in your own way, have changed my life for the better.

I love you all.

Good night.

The 100

Today was HOT.

I left the house about 1:45 PM and went to the local Walmart and parked my car. Then I gathered up my books and started walking the parking lot, asking every lady I could if they needed an Avon Lady and showing them the catalog.

I talked to 100 People today.

20 said they wanted a book and that they would call me.

2 said they sold Avon and thought I was really working hard.

1 said she lived too far away. I showed her the website and explained that she could order online, and that I am only a phone call away if she needed me. She exclaimed, "WOW! Avon has really come a long way!"

2 said they had never ordered Avon before but would like to look at the book.

3 gave me their phone number.

5 said they had an Avon Lady already.

All the rest said they weren't interested. 77 said "No".

Not bad for a day's work.

I am out of catalogs for Campaign 21 already, and am only 2 days into the campaign. But, I still have about 100 Mini-catalogs to give out.

I'm hot and tired.

Room for Improvement

Today I woke up and saw a post that let me know that Flower Acres had a surprise shipment of food they were giving away. I left as soon after as I could, but by the time I got there, all the food was gone.

I then stopped at Mission Texarkana to give them the bus passes I had bought from my Bus Passes for the Homeless campaign. The lady in charge said she was about to go and buy some more, that the bus passes were more than appreciated!

Then, I came home because it was just so hot, and after yesterday's exhaustive day, I didn't want to deal with it. But, I did manage to make all my call-backs today.

One of my customers called to say she was ready for her delivery, so I took care of that.

Then, I cooked supper.

I only hit 35% this campaign. Things have definitely got to improve.

Jalapeno Fun

Jalapeno TreeWhat a day! Definitely taking advantage of the time to relax in the cool air. But, today was AWESOME!

I actually agreed to let a friend pick me up on his motorcycle for a lunch date. We rode all the way to Mount Pleasant via interstate, ate at the Jalapeno Tree there, (I actually had a Jalapeno Margarita, just so I could say I had one...LOL) Then, we took the scenic route back, stopping in Dekalb to get something to drink on the way. I hadn't realized that riding the back of a bike would make me so thirsty for water!

It was GREAT!

When I got home, I was so full from the lunch, I was glad he didn't take me to eat at the buffet. I laid down and napped for a little bit, and cooled off.

He was a perfect gentleman. And, I had fun!

Today I'm not working. I'm spending time at home, doing things I like to do when I am not working Avon.

Opportunity and Help

Today I went to Cash-Savers on New Boston Road to canvass. Beside the store, there is a another store that is empty, closed down, and used to be a Flea Market. On the window, in big pink letters, is the words, "AVON SOLD HERE".

I thought how sad it was that it didn't work out for them. But, here is an opportunity for ME.

I was able to secure one order and three more phone numbers during the two and a half hours I was there. Business was slow. I suspect due to the Four States Fair that is in town. Business ALWAYS slows down during this time of year.

So, after working in the hot 95 degree sun, I decided to go home.

But, OH NO! I left my key on! Now my battery was dead.

I got on the internet and put a call out for help, and Praise God! A friend from church was nearby to help me!

God is GREAT! (And my friends are AWESOME!)

I am $6000 away from President's club status in sales. And, my Avon order this campaign just hit the 35% commission mark. I need to make at least $250 more in sales to beat last campaign.

Click HERE to buy Avon!

Staying Chaste

One of the things that I have experienced from being chaste is that when men finally realize that you are serious in your commitment to stay that way until a commitment with them is reached, they want to turn tail and run.

Most men in this day and age will only get married for two reasons: they either knocked you up or they want to own you.

They only sleep with you for one reason: they are horny.

I'm sorry but neither of those is reason enough for me to spread my legs.

I want a man who is emotionally invested. So if a man is emotionally unavailable, he might as well not even try.

And, it's going to take a lot more than words to prove how emotionally invested he is. So if he isn't willing to spend time with me, or to talk to me about personal and intimate issues, and he doesn't believe in the things that I believe in, and he doesn't like to do the things that I like to do or vice versa, then I am not interested and it will never happen. And, it takes time to get to know all of this about each other. So, jumping right in bed is not an option.

I have ended up with enough losers in my life. I want to make good and sure I'm not going to end up with someone who is a loser again.

One of the things I've learned since I made the decision not to spread my legs about 5 years ago, is that you start to see things with a much clearer vision. I have realized that God doesn't make laws in order to trip us up or make us feel guilty. He makes his laws for our protection.

So when some loser comes along, and he doesn't stand the test of time that it takes to build a relationship, I praise God that I had his rules to guide me.

Honey Blossom and Avon Stories Collection

Today, I figured I could just sit the rest of this campaign out, since I didn't have any more books for this campaign; or, I could go ahead and work with the Campaign 21 books and see if I could put in whatever orders I got with the C-20 order, to try to build my order total and earnings percentage for this campaign.

Plus, I have a lot of perfumes on-hand I could sell.

So, I loaded up a small, decorated box with perfumes I knew were on sale this campaign. Packed the box with a few books and flyers and my order book, and set out to make some sales.

First I went down about 2 streets knocking on doors. I gave out a few books, left a few flyers on doors, and was able to collect 1 phone number. Then, I left there and went to the local businesses that were open after 5 PM.

I was able to introduce the Honey Blossom perfume to one lady who liked it and said she'd like to buy it but don't have the money right now. She asked if I could come back next week. I informed her that she could order one, and she wouldn't have to pay for it until the order came in. I told her when that should be. So, she made her order.

I left there and drove all the way to Texarkana, stopping at businesses, introducing the Honey Blossom Perfume and giving out books and flyers.

I ended up selling my bottle of Honey Blossom Perfume for half-price, since it was a demo, and having to start selling my Work Your Magic Perfume and introducing the "Storybook Series" that goes with it. Buy 2 for $19.

I ended up collecting 4 phone numbers today, on top of my order and my sale.

I think I'm getting good at this.

Some days are stones...

Some days are diamonds, Some days are stones. The old John Denver comes to mind while working this campaign. Some campaigns are better than others. Some are definitely not diamond grade.

Like this one.

I have made all the phone calls I can make this campaign, (except for about 5 I am giving some extra time for to view the book). I have only ended up with half the orders I had last campaign.

My brakes can be blamed for some of it. Lack of enough books can be blamed for some of it. I'm sure Fair season has a lot to do with most of it.

I've given out all my books for this campaign already and have no more to work with. I can only hope that I get a few more orders before Monday.

Today I went to Flower Acres to pick up some free produce. I ended up bringing on LOTS of Apples, Oranges, Onions and Potatoes.

I guess I can go ahead and start next campaign early, since I have lots of books to work with there.

Canvassing and Callbacks

Today I stuck close to home and knocked on doors on about 3 different streets. I have distributed all of my Campaign 20 books, with only a few flyers left.

I've made it a point to order some door hangers for door-knocking days so I can hang flyers on doors that don't answer the knock.

After I gave out all my books, I came home and decided to start doing my call-backs.

I have 78 numbers to call. I was only able to get through to 27 today, and all my orders so far total $118.

This campaign is looking good so far. Not as good as last campaign, but I still have about 50 call-backs to make.