(no subject)

[mandie_rw]

In which I have decided...not to go to the Francaise dinner this year.

It's not so much that I can't afford to go, although I'd feel better about it if it were just the ticket and not all the extra costs added on...it's that if I'm going to make this "business" work (hah, I don't even feel right calling it a proper business yet!) I pretty much have to sink every extra penny and minute I have into it at this point to actually get it off the ground.

Within reason. ;) I'm still going to make the fur-trimmed pelisse! Not sewing for myself at all would drive me bonkers, I know me. But I think I need to cut down pretty stringently on the overnight events, at least through the summer. We'll see what happens after that. (Yes, I'm still keeping Williamsburg on the cards!)

I've been waffling back and forth on this for the past week or so, so I've decided to post it here so I can't change my mind again, haha. (Because that has never happened here, right??) As recently as yesterday I'd decided that dammit, I was gonna go, as evidenced by the poking of the brocade sacque.

And yes, I am bummed that I won't get to see everyone, especially you non-East-Coast-ers! (Anybody staying longer than the weekend, want to come up to Philly and visit? We're old and have nice architecture and cheese steaks and you only possibly might get shot...)

I know that many of you are far better with sewing and time management and money and what-have-you, and could probably manage to make this work, and do business start-up and FD stuff too, but I'm learning to accept my limits (not very graciously, mind you!). I am not good at all that. So, cheers and I'll look forward to the pictures!

Comments

[starlightmasque.livejournal.com]

I feel very sorry for myself that I don't get to meet you in person this year. But, building a business like this is so hard, and I fully understand all your reasons.

(but, you can totally deduct the entire dinner and all it's travelling and costuming costs from your taxes. That's the beauty of being a small little business like that! Every penny you put in to getting to and dressing for the dinner, you'll get back next year. Just something to think about!)

[mandie-rw.livejournal.com]

Meeting you (and the other non-East-coasters) was a really big point in the dinner's favor - the number of times I alllllmost convinced myself to buy a ticket over the past two weeks is a little silly, haha.

And I did remember that...but I really need the cash in hand now. If I could magically get reimbursed *this* year instead of next, I'd be all over it!

[jubilima.livejournal.com]

I hear ya loud and clear. I'm still holding out hope that I can find a way to go, but yeah, if it were just the cost of the ticket it would be so much easier to manage. Transportation plus lodging are putting this way over the top, more like a vacation budget, way beyond the level of a fun and special dinner out with friends.

A. is right about this being a business expense, though, especially if you contribute something to the raffle and/or bring samples for sale. If I manage to get there, I would have to bring some Bulldog & Baum products to make it possible.

[mandie-rw.livejournal.com]

It's such a wonderful event, and I love that it's started branching out to people beyond our little "fabulosity club", and I want to support it! But yeah, once you get into an overnight event, sometimes that just blows the budget, which it is definitely doing right now.

(We're kicking around the idea of a local consolation event, though, if you could manage that...I will call it the Anglaise Luncheon, har har.)

[jubilima.livejournal.com]

So I happened to find a good deal on a car rental. I was thinking of driving down to VA that afternoon, vending some ribbons, enjoying myself (sober) at dinner...and then driving back 4 hours that night. Am I crazy? Tell me I'm crazy to do that. Because I'm THISCLOSE to buying a ticket today.

[mandie-rw.livejournal.com]

You're crazy. ;) At least, *I* would be crazy to do that, but I'm not a safe driver when I'm tired. Your milage may vary, though. :D

[m-of-disguise.livejournal.com]

Aww, bummer! I was hoping to see you again, especially now that we know each other a bit better through LJ. :( But, I know how it is to have to keep money close. M and I were planning to roadtrip through the area after the dinner, but now it's looking like it would just cost too much, so we're just planning DC (which will be awesome within itself, since there's so much to see). Hopefully you can go next year!

[mandie-rw.livejournal.com]

Awwww! I did remember you'd mentioned potentially road-tripping through our region, so I was hoping. ;) Obviously I understand a budget, though! I hope next year I'm a little more put together and can manage the dinner!

[quincy134.livejournal.com]

We'll miss you Amanda!

(Though as folks have said up above, you can make it into a business-related trip....)

[mandie-rw.livejournal.com]

I'll be very sorry to miss it! It's really growing into a great event, I love how it's started branching out to people outside our little "fabulosity club".

I did think about that, and if I could get the money for it back *this* year instead of *next*, I would have done it! Hopefully I'm a little more put-together for moneys next year...